Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a novel hinge arrangement.
More specifically, the invention relates to a hinge arrangement
which is especially useful for shelving units, and for shelving
units including the novel hinge arrangement.
It is known to use door hinges for providing pivot-
ing support of a shelf in a shelving unit. The door hinge in-
cludes a base, or fixed member, and a swivelling member, each
said member having a series of spaced cylinders disposed along
an edge thereof, the cylinders of the base member being arranged
for mating engagement with the cylinders of the swivelling mem-
ber. A pin is inserted in the mated cylinders to maintain the
swivelling member in pivoting engagement with the base member.
The base member is connected to an anchored or fixed part of
the shelving arrangement, while the swivelling member is connec-
ted to the shelf, whereby the shelf is pivotally connected to the
fixed part.
In this unit, no support is provided for the shelf
` in its horizontal position. To maintain the shelf in its hori-
zontal position, it is necessary to provide support members
which extend, under the shelf, outwardly from the fixed part.
Hinges including an elongated connecting member are
also known as is evidenced in United States Patent No. 916,648,
Aurand, March 30, 1909. However, this hinge is not contemplated
for use in a shelving unit, and is further different in con-
cept, structure and operation from the inventive hinge herein.
.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel
hinge arrangement.
`~ More specifically, it is an object of the invention
,
i to provide a novel hinge arrangement which is useful in shelv-
ing units.
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It is a further object of the invention to provide a
shelving unit employing such a hinge arrangement, whereby, when
the shelf is disposed in its horizontal position, the shelf will
be supported by the fixed part of the shelving unit.
In accordance with the invention a hinge arrangement
comprises, in combination: a base member having a first end; a
swivelling mem~er having a first end; the first end of the base
member being disposed contiguous to the first end of the swivel-
ling member and first and second connecting members pivotally
connecting said base member with said swivelling member at the
first ends thereof; said first connecting member being pivotally
conne~ted, at one end thereof, to one side of the one end of said
base member, and, at the other end thereof, to the corresponding
side of the one end of said swivelling member; said second con-
necting member being pivotally connected, at one end thereof, to
the other side of the one end of said base member and, at the
other end thereof, to the other side of the one end of said swivel-
ling member.
In one embodiment, extensions are provided at each
side of the one end of said base member, said extensions extending
; in the direction of said swivelling member; said first and second
connecting members being connected, at the one ends thereof, to
respective ones of said extensions.
The hinge arrangement may further comprise an arcu-
ately shaped extension extending outwardly and in the direction
of said base member from one side of the one end of said swivelling
~ member; said first and second connecting members being connected,
!~ ~ at the other ends thereof, to the base and tip respectively of
said arcuately shaped extension. --
The first and second connecting members may be arcuate
in shape, whereupon the bowed portions of said connecting members
face each other.
From another aspect, in accordance with the invention,
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a shelving unit comprises, in combination: a fixed part having a
bottom edge and a right hand edge and a left hand edge, a shelf
part having a top edge and a right hand edge and a left hand
edge; the shelf part being disposed such that the bottom edge
thereof is contiguous to the top edge of the fixed part and the
right hand and left hand edges thereof are adjacent the right
hand and left hand edges respectively of the fixed part, and hinge
arrangements disposed at the right hand edges and left hand edges,
respectively, of said fixed part and said shelf part, each hinge
arrangement comprising: a base member having a first end: a
swivelling member having a first end, the base member and the
swivelling member of the right hand hinge arrangement being con-
nected, to the right hand edges of said fixed member and said
shelf member, respectively; the base member and the swivelling
member of the left hand hinge arrangement being connected to the ;
left hand edges of the fixed member and the shelf member, respect-
ively; first and second connecting members pivotally connecting
each said base member with a respective one of each said swivel-
"
ling member at the first ends thereof, each said first connecting
member being pivotally connected, at one end thereof, to one side
of the one end of its respective base member and, at the other
end thereof, to the corresponding side of the one end of the res-
pective swivelling member, each said second connecting member
being pivotally connected, at one end thereof, to the other side
of the one end of its respective base member and, at the other
end thereof, to the other side of the one end of the respective
swivelling member, whereby said shelf part is pivotally con-
nected to said fixed part.
,:
~:- The invention will be better understood by an exam-
ination of the following description, together with the accom-
panying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a right hand
hinge in accordance with the invention
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in its midway position,
Figure 2 is a view of the hinge in Figure 1 with the
swivelling member disposed at right angles
to the base member;
Figure 3 is a view of the hinge of Figure 1 with the
swivelling member in line with the base mem-
ber;
Figure 4 is a partial side view of a shelving unit
using the hinge arrangement with the shelf
part in line with the fixed part, and
Figure 5 is a partial side view of a shelving unit
using the hinge arrangement with the shelf
part at right angles to the fixed part.
Referring now to the drawings, the novel hinge arrange-
ment includes a base member 1 and a swivelling member 3, the mem-
bers being joined by elongated connecting members 5 and 7. In the
preferred embodiment, the members 5 and 7 are arcuate in shape,
and they are disposed in the arrangement such that the bowed por-
tions of the members face each other.
The member 5 is pivotally connected, at one end there-
of, to one side of one end of the member 3 by means such as a
rivet 9, and is pivotally connected, at the other end thereof, to
the corresponding side of one end of the member 1 by means such
as a rivet 11. In the same way, member 5 is pivotally connected,
at respective ends thereof, to corresponding sides of the one
end of member 1 and the one end of member 3 by rivets 13 and 15
respectively. Preferably, the member 1 includes extensions 17
and 19 at either side of the one end thereof, and the connecting
members 5 and 7 are connected to the extensions 19 and 17 res-
pectively.
The member 3 includes an elongated extension 21, which
is preferably arcuate in shape and which extends outwardly and
downwardly from the one end of the member 3. The other ends of
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members 5 and 7 are connected, respectively, to the tip and base of
the extension 21.
With this arrangement, the tip of extension 21 is
pivotal relative to the member 5 ~and vice versa) which is, in
turn, pivotal relative to the extension 19 (and vice versa). The
base of 21 is pivotal relative to the member 7 (and ~ice ~ersa)
which is, in turn, pivotal relative to the extension 17 (and vice
versa). Thus, the member 3 is pivotal relative to the member 1,
in the directions indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1.
Figure 2 illustrates the relationships of the various
parts of the hinge arrangement when the swivelling member 3 is at
right angles to the base member 1, and figure 3 illustrates the
relationships of the various parts of the hinge arrangement when
the swivelling member 3 is in line with the base member 1.
Turning now to figures 4 and 5, the hinge members are
mounted at either edge of a fixed part 23, such as a wall,of a
shelving arrangement and a shelf part 25 of the shelving arrange-
ment. In this regard, the hinge which is mounted on the right
edge of the parts 23 and 25 will have its parts arranged differ-
ently than a hinge arrangement which is mounted on the left hand
side. Thus, if the member 3 comprises an angle iron (see figure
1) having an edge engaging portion 29 and a front engaging portion
31, 31 extends at right angles to 29 in the direction of the arrow
B for a right edge hinge, but extends at right angles to 29 in the
direction of the arrow C for a left edge hinge. In the same way,
when 1 comprises an angle iron having an edge engaging portion
33 and a front engaging portion 35, 35 extends at right angles to
33 in the direction of arrow D for a right edge hinge, and in the
direction of arrow E for a left edge hinge.
The hinges are attached to their respective parts by
means such as screws 27.
As can be seen in figure 4, when the shelf is in the
upright position, the bottom edge of 25 abuts the top edge of 23
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to retain the shelf in its upright position. When the shelf isopened (in its horizontal position), as seen in figure 5, the
bottom edge of 25 abuts the front face of 23. Any downward pres-
sure on 25 will be absorbed by the front face of 23, and the shelf
is supported in its open or horizontal position. As is clear,
no further support means are necessary for the shelf.
Although only one embodiment was above described, this
was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting the inven-
tion. Various modifications, which will come readily to the
mind of one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the inven-
tion as defined in the appended claims.
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