Stackable hinge connection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hinge connection comprising a male member applied on a base plate, and having protrusions provided to be hinged and resiliently fitted between a pair of female members applied on a further base plate. The male member of the hinge connection is being formed by two parallel male legs, wherein each leg comprises protrusions comprising cogs or cut teeth. The female member is formed by two parallel female legs and each of the female members comprises a through hole for engaging said protrusions of the male legs. The present invention further provides construction elements comprising the hinge connection members of the instant application. In a particular embodiment such construction elements are stackable, and allow the construction of complex three-dimensional structures without loss of flexibility.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a hinge connection comprising a male member applied on a base plate and a pair of female members applied on a further base plate, said male member having protrusions provided to be hinged and resiliently fitted between the pair of female members applied on a further base plate. The male member of the hinge connection is being formed by two parallel male legs, wherein each leg comprises protrusions comprising cogs or cut teeth. The female member is formed by two parallel female legs and each of the female members comprises a through hole for engaging said protrusions of the male legs. The present invention further provides construction elements comprising the hinge connection members of the instant application. In a particular embodiment such construction elements are stackable, and allow the construction of complex three-dimensional structures without loss of flexibility.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Hinge connections a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a hinge connection (1) comprising a male member (2) applied on a base plate (4) and a pair of female members (5) applied on a further base plate (7) wherein said male member has protrusions (8) provided to be hinged and resiliently fitted between a pair of female members (5) applied on said further base plate (7). The male member (2) is formed by two parallel male legs (3), wherein each leg comprises one of said protrusions, wherein said female member (5) is formed by two parallel female legs (6) and wherein each of said female members comprises a through hole (10) for engaging one of said protrusions, wherein the two parallel female legs (6) are connected by an intermediary piece (9) and wherein said through hole (10) extends through said female legs (6) and said intermediary piece (9). Typical for the present invention is that the protrusions (8) on each leg of the male member comprise cogs or cut teeth and that the through hole (10) of the female member (5) comprises cogs or cut teeth to accommodate the cogs or cut teeth of said male protrusions. Further, and also typical for the present invention is that the intermediary piece (9) and / or the female legs (6) of the female members (5) are interrupted, resulting in an increased ease of use without loss of stability of the hinge connection.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of these smooth surfaces of both the protrusions and the through hole is that the hinge connection is not stable and quite some backlash is present.

In particular, the hinge connection allows the construction elements to rotate 180°, but because of the smooth surfaces it does not allow the construction elements to stay in certain fixed positions between 0° and 180°.

This is particularly disadvantageous when creating complex structures.

Another disadvantage of the hinge connection as disclosed in WO9830808 is that after fitting of the male member between a pair of female members, the hinge connection is firmly established and can only be disconnected by exerting a considerable amount of power.

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