US 7,484,271 B2
Device case opening/closing device, and 2-axis hinge device
Kazuyoshi Oshima, Naruto-machi (Japan); Kenji Tomizawa, Shibayama-machi (Japan); and Manabu Hasegawa, Chiba (Japan)
Assigned to Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Appl. No. 10/551,623
PCT Filed Apr. 02, 2004, PCT No. PCT/JP2004/004853
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Sep. 30, 2005,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/090355, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 21, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-100482 (JP), filed on Apr. 03, 2003; and application No. 2003-315570 (JP), filed on Sep. 08, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2006/0179612 A1, Aug. 17, 2006
Int. Cl. E05D 3/06 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 16—366  [16/330] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An opening/closing apparatus for an equipment case comprising a first case having a first hinge, a second case having a second hinge, and a hinge apparatus having a hinge main body comprising a first end part that is turnably connected to said first hinge of said first case about a first turning axis and comprising a second end part that is turnably connected to said second hinge of said second case about a second turning axis parallel to said first turning axis, said hinge main body being turned with respect to said first case and said second case being turned with respect to said hinge main body, thereby said second case being turnable with respect to said first case between a folded position and a developing position,
wherein said first hinge comprises a first turnable member that is turnably connected to a first fixing member, said first fixing member being non-turnably connected to one of said hinge apparatus and said first case, said first turnable member being non-turnably connected to the other of said hinge apparatus and said first case,
wherein said second hinge comprises a second turnable member that is turnably connected to a second fixing member, said second fixing member being non-turnably connected to one of said hinge apparatus and said second case, said second turnable member being non-turnably connected to the other of said hinge apparatus and said second case,
wherein between said first case and said hinge main body, there are provided a first stop means adapted to stop said hinge main body in a predetermined initial position when said hinge main body is turned to said predetermined initial position in a first direction so that said second case is turned toward said folded position from said developing position, a second stop means adapted to stop said hinge main body in a predetermined terminal position when said hinge main body is turned to said predetermined terminal position in a second direction so that said second case is turned toward said developing position from said folded position, a first turn prohibition means adapted to prohibit said hinge main body from turning in the second direction from said predetermined initial position with a predetermined force generated from a first biasing means, and a second turn prohibition means adapted to prohibit said hinge main body from turning in said first direction from said terminal position with a predetermined force generated from the first biasing means,
between said second case and said hinge main body, there are provided a third stop means adapted to stop said second case in a predetermined intermediate position when said second case is turned to said predetermined intermediate position on the way toward said folded position from said developing position in an opening direction with respect to said hinge main body, a third turn prohibition means adapted to prohibit said second case from turning in said opening direction from said folded position with a predetermined force generated from a second biasing means, and a fourth turn prohibition means adapted to prohibit said second case from turning toward said folded position from said intermediate position in a closing direction with a predetermined force generated from the second biasing means, and
said prohibiting force of said first turn prohibition means is set to be larger than said prohibiting force of said third turn prohibition means, and said prohibiting force of said fourth turn prohibition means is set to be larger than said prohibiting force of said second turn prohibition means.