Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-28
2001-01-16
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
C016S286000, C016S291000, C016S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173476
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hinge assembly and more particularly to a grounding hinge assembly for use with a junction box for electrical components or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Junction boxes for electrical components, such as transformers, are usually made of metal and comprise a base and a cover which are hinged together with a metal hinge. The box is mounted on a metal support which acts as a ground. A separate grounding cable is ordinarily provided to electrically connect the cover to the base so that any electrical impulse will be grounded to protect the workers as well as to protect the box and the instruments therein. However, sometimes, inadvertently, it is possible to forget either adding the grounding cable between the cover and the base or to re-connect a grounding cable that has been disconnected while servicing other components in the box. This can produce a dangerous situation.
In addition, it has been found that when the box is closed, separate mechanisms, such as latches, are used to keep the box closed and prevent it from opening inadvertently. It has also been found that when the box is open, other mechanisms are used to keep the box open and to prevent the box from closing inadvertently.
Therefore, there is a need for a hinge assembly which keeps the box in its open or closed position and prevents it from opening or closing inadvertently and which acts as a ground between the base and the cover of a box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a hinge assembly that keeps a junction box closed or open and which acts as a ground between the base and the cover of the junction box.
The hinge assembly of the present invention has two sections. One of the sections is a spring section and the other section is a hinge section having two pivoted segments. The force that is exerted on the hinge section by the spring section not only produces an excellent electrical connection between the two segments of the hinge section to therefore provide a grounding between the cover and the base of the box but also will keep the box in either the open or closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 431349 (1890-07-01), Hart
patent: 783410 (1905-02-01), Bergoff
patent: 1319554 (1919-10-01), Anderson
patent: 2290219 (1942-07-01), Ulfving
patent: 2433483 (1947-12-01), Root, Jr.
patent: 3121909 (1964-02-01), Young
patent: 3233820 (1966-02-01), Williams
patent: 3385344 (1968-05-01), Andrews
patent: 4452373 (1984-06-01), Pearce
patent: 4765027 (1988-08-01), Andric
patent: 931710 (1955-08-01), None
patent: 521557 (1940-05-01), None
Avaya Technology Corp.
Mah Chuck Y.
Miskin Howard C.
Tsui-Yip Gloria
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