Hinge Mechanisms and Foldable Furniture

摘要

Embodiments generally relate to hinge mechanisms. Many of the hinge mechanism embodiments may be used in foldable furniture. The foldable furniture may be a foldable seat or table. The hinge mechanism may include a central cylinder with a body defining a hinge axis. The central cylinder may have rotate channel(s) transverse to the hinge axis and locking channels extending axially from the rotate channel(s). Collar(s) may couple with the central cylinder and may include pin(s) that protrude inwardly into the rotate channel(s) and locking channel(s) of the central cylinder. In some embodiments, an intermediate cylinder may be disposed between the central cylinder and the collar(s). The intermediate cylinder may have slots corresponding to the rotate channel(s) of the central cylinder. When pin(s) and locking channel(s) are aligned, the central lock cylinder may move axially to lock the collars in a desired angular position (e.g., a deployed or folded configuration).

主权项

1. A hinge mechanism comprising:
a central lock cylinder having an elongate length defining a hinge axis, the central lock cylinder comprising: a first rotate channel transverse to the hinge axis, the first rotate channel including a first end and a second end and an angular length therebetween; a first locking channel extending from the first rotate channel in an axial direction; a first collar disposed about the central lock cylinder, the first collar comprising a first collar pin protruding inwardly from the first collar into the first rotate channel of the central lock cylinder; wherein the first collar pin of the first collar cooperates with the first rotate channel to limit an axial range of movement between the first collar and the central lock cylinder in the axial direction; wherein the first collar has a rotational range of motion about the hinge axis relative to the central lock cylinder when the first collar pin is positioned within the first rotate channel; and wherein, when the first collar pin of the first collar is rotationally aligned with the first locking channel, the central lock cylinder is movable in the axial direction relative to the first collar to transition the hinge mechanism into a first locking configuration where at least a portion the first collar pin of the first collar is positioned within the first locking channel; and wherein, when at least a portion the first collar pin of the first collar is positioned within the first locking channel, the rotational range of motion of the first collar about the hinge axis relative to the central lock cylinder is reduced.