Hinge apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443893-B2
Application number	US-201816018572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A hinge apparatus comprising structure to support a user interface incorporated into the cabinet housing of an electro-mechanical system for improved viewing and interaction with the user interface when the cabinet housing is opened during technician service, while simultaneously not obstructing access to the cabinet interior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge apparatus for mounting a user interface to a door of an electro-mechanical system cabinet, the hinge apparatus comprising:
a base frame, defining a substantially rectangular opening, for fastening said hinge apparatus to said door of said electro-mechanical system cabinet, said base frame comprising
a first vertical member,
a second vertical member distal from said first vertical member,
a first horizontal member joined between said first vertical member and said second vertical member, comprising, a first base tang, and a second base tang,
a second horizontal member, distal from said first horizontal member and joined between said first vertical member and said second vertical member, comprising a third base tang; and

an interface frame, defining a substantially ‘C’ shape, hingedly mounted to said base frame, for affixing said user interface, said interface frame comprising
a vertical interface member,
a first horizontal interface member joined to said vertical interface member and comprising
a first interface tang, and

a second horizontal interface member distal from said first horizontal interface member comprising
a third interface tang, and
a fourth interface tang distal from said third interface tang,

said interface frame via said first interface tang and said second horizontal interface member hingedly mounts to said base frame with said first base tang and said third base tang respectively,
wherein, said interface frame allows mounting of said user interface via said first horizontal interface member, said vertical interface member and said fourth interface tang, and said hinge apparatus allows unobstructed access to said user interface and said electro-mechanical system cabinet.

2. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface flame is rotatably positioned in a closed position for operational use.

3. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface frame is rotatably positioned in an open position for operating said user interface while servicing said electro-mechanical system.

4. The hinge apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said open position of said interface frame allows concurrent interaction with said user interface when said door of said electro-mechanical system cabinet is open.

5. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said base frame comprises an upper hinge pin mounted in said first base tang, and a lower hinge pin mounted in said third base tang.

6. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface frame is removable from said base frame.

7. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface frame is hingedly mounted to said base frame in an orientation chosen from the group comprising: a left-swing orientation, a right swing orientation, an up-swing orientation, and a down-swing orientation.

8. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface frame is hingedly mounted to said base frame in a right-swing orientation.

9. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said base frame comprises one or more locating holes within said first base tang.

10. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first interface tang of said interface frame comprises a locating pin corresponding to one or more locating holes in said first base tang of said base frame.

11. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interface frame comprises a locating pin mounted to said first interface tang and corresponding to one or more locating holes in said first base tang of said base frame and one of said one or more holes is associated with a fully open position of said interface frame.

12. The hinge apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said fully open position coincides with a substantially 180 degree angle between said interface frame and said base frame.

13. The hinge apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said substantially 180 degree angle between said interface frame and said base frame allows an operator to concurrently interact with said user interface and contents of said electro-mechanical system cabinet.

14. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second base tang of said base frame comprises a release pin receiving hole.

15. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first horizontal interface member further comprises a second interface tang, distal from said first interface tang, and comprises a release pin corresponding to a release pin receiving hole in said second base tang of said base frame, whereby alignment of said release pin with said release pin receiving hole coincides with a locked position of said hinge apparatus.

16. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said base frame comprises two affixed hinge pins, and said interface frame comprises two hinge pin receiving holes for hingedly mounting said interface frame; and said interface frame comprises a release pin distal to one of said two hinge pin receiving holes.

17. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first vertical member and said second vertical member of said base frame allows for fastening said base frame to door of said electro-mechanical system cabinet.

18. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein material for fabricating said base frame and said interface frame are chosen from the group comprising: metal, plastic, and composite.

19. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electro-mechanical system is a boiler.

20. The hinge apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electro-mechanical system is a hot water heater.

Assignees

• Harsco Technologies LLC

Inventors

• Arnold Robert H
• Moyer Steven

Classifications

• F23M7/00

  Doors · CPC title

• G09F7/22

  for rotatably or swingably mounting, e.g. for boards adapted to be rotated by the wind · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• E05D3/06

  with two or more pins (E05D7/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24H9/02 Primary

  Casings; Cover lids; Ornamental panels · CPC title