GB2203484A

GB2203484A - A hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2203484A
Application number: GB08728476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl-Otto Prentler
Original assignee: GEDIA Gebrueder Dingerkus GmbH
Current assignee: GEDIA Gebrueder Dingerkus GmbH
Priority date: 1987-04-11
Filing date: 1987-12-04
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Also published as: ES1010499Y; DE8705410U1; GB8728476D0; ES1010499U

Abstract

A hinge for supporting the back support of a rear seat in an automobile comprising a first hinge part (1) fixed to the automobile and a second hinge part (2) carried on the back support; these hinge parts being connected by a hinge axle (3). The hinge part (2) is held between resilient annular discs (8) mounted in compression and having flanges (9, 10) which abut the hinge parts (1, 2) or the flange (9) of the right hand disc (8) may abut the rivet head (7). The hinge is held in position by frictional resistance between the parts (1, 2) and the discs (8). <IMAGE>

Description

A HINGE The invention concerns a hinge, especially for use in automobiles, for supporting the back support of a rear seat, consisting of a first, permanently fixed hinge part and a second movable hinge part, carried on the back support, which are pivotally connected to one another by means of an axially fixed hinge axle which passes through both hinge parts.

Easily movable hinges of this type, which allow the back supports to be tipped from their almost vertical position into an almost horizontal position, are well known.

The object of the invention is to improve a hinge of the type mentioned above which is easily adjustable and relatively easily made, and by means of which uniform pivoting movement is obtained for equal applied effort.

According to the invention there is provided a hinge, especially for use in automobiles for supporting the back support of a rear seat, comprising a first hinge part adapted to be fixedly mounted on an automobile and a second hinge part adapted to be carried on the back support of a rear seat, the hinged parts being pivotally connected in use by means of an axially fixed hinge axle extending through both hinge parts, wherein the second hinge part is restrained between two generally conical resilient annular discs mounted on the hinge axle under compression and wherein the discs are provided at each axial end thereof with radial flanges by means of which they bear against the first and second hinge parts.

Because of the relatively large supporting surfaces of the annular discs the articulated hinge parts are constrained without additional means by frictional resistance, such that a back support held by such a hinge is securely held by friction in its end position. However, the back support can still relatively easily be moved by overcoming the surface frictional resistance between the annular discs, and hinge parts without the need to release any kind of stopping mechanisms such as have frequently been provided in prior hinges.

The expenditure on materials, preparation and fitting as well as the space taken up by the annular discs is almost negligible.

An especially favourable form of the annular discs, from the technical preparation aspect, has the annular discs each having an outwardly directed flange in the region of their large diameter end and an inwardly directed flange in the region of their small diameter end, so that if necessary both flanges of an annular disc can be made in a single process.

Further arrangements advantageous for the objective are set out in Claims 3 and 4.

An example of an embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in front view a hinge for holding the back support of a rear seat of an automobile; and Figure 2 shows the same in side view, partially cut away.

This hinge comprises a first, permanently fixed hinge part 1 adapted to be fixedly mounted on an automobile and a second hinge part 2 adapted to be carried on the back support of a rear seat (not shown). The hinge parts 1 and 2 are permanently articulated to one another by means of an axle 3 which extends through both hinge parts 1 and 2.

The first hinge part 1 consists of two base parts 4 and 5, with vertical legs plane parallel to one another, and feet, at right angles to the legs, pointing away from each other.

These feet are used to fasten the hinge to the automobile.

The axle 3 is axially fixed at one end by a head 6 and at the other end by a rivet head 7, and extends through the two legs of the base parts 4 and 5.

The hinge part 2, is likewise penetrated by the axle 3 so that it can rotate, and is held between two generally conical annular discs 8 made of spring steel placed around the axle 3. The annular discs 8 are mounted on the axle under compression and each disc is provided at its ends with radial flanges 9 and 10 respectively by means of which the annular discs 8 bear against the hinge parts 1 and 2.

The flanges 9 are each formed directed radially outwards on the axial end of the annular discs with the large diameter, whilst each of the flanges 10, on the axial end of the annular discs 8 with the small diameter, project radially inwards.

Moreover, the small diameter ends of the annular discs 8 are turned towards the hinge part 2.

In some circumstances it can also be advantageous to fasten the axle 3 to the hinge part 1 so that it cannot rotate, so that only the hinge part 2 can be pivoted on the axle 3.

If the hinge part 1 is provided with only one leg, one of the annular discs 8 will bear against the rivet head 7 and in this case the rivet head 7 will have a diameter at least equal to that of the large diameter end of the disc.

Claims

Claims:

1. A hinge, especially for use in automobiles for supporting the back support of a rear seat, comprising a first hinge part adapted to be fixedly mounted on an automobile and a second hinge part adapted to be carried on the back support of a rear seat, the hinged parts being pivotally connected in use by means of an axially fixed hinge axle extending through both hinge parts, wherein the second hinge part is restrained between two generally conical resilient annular discs mounted on the hinge axle under compression and wherein the discs are provided at each axial end thereof with radial flanges by means of which they bear against the first and second hinge parts.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1, wherein the annular discs (8) each have an outwardly directed flange (9) at their large diameter end and an inwardly directed flange (10) at their small diameter end.

3. A hinge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the ends with samll diameters of the annular discs (8) are arranged to be axially braced against the second hinge part (2).

4. A hinge according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first hinge part (1) consists of two base parts (4,5) arranged beside one another with a gap therebetween, the hinge axle (3) extends through both base parts and wherein the second hinge part (2) is located between the two base parts (4,5).

5. A hinge substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.