GB2564903A

GB2564903A - A Hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2564903A
Application number: GB1712105.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stoneman Mike
Original assignee: Lohydrogen Ltd
Current assignee: Lohydrogen Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-27
Filing date: 2017-07-27
Publication date: 2019-01-30
Also published as: GB201712105D0

Abstract

A hinge comprises first and second hinge members/plates 1, 3 and a catch biased into an extended position where it may abut an intermediate protrusion 23 to prevent rotation and is retracted by the action of closing the hinge completely. A reset plate 9 is rotatable between a holding position which retains the catch in the retracted position and a release position un-impeding the catch. Preferably the reset plate includes an arcuate slot 13 in which is a pin 15 mounted to the first hinge and the reset plate is held in the holding position by catch engaging a small indent 11; fully opening the hinge rotates the reset plate into the release position (due to pin 15 engaging the end of the slot 13) in which catch is proximal a large detent 11. At this position the catch engages the periphery of the first hinge plate (fig.4) until it is rotated back past the intermediate protrusion 23. The hinge may be for a pivotal armrest of a vehicle.

Description

A HINGE

The present invention relates generally to a hinge and a method of operating a hinge and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in hinges for folding furniture.

Hinges that are fixable into one or more positions are known. It is also known for these hinges to be transitioned from a state in which they are free to rotate to a fixed state by opening and/or closing the hinge fully. These fixable hinges may be useful in applications where a component is required to be rotatable, whilst also being fixable in a predetermined desirable position without the need of an external button or lever. An exemplary use of such a hinge is in connecting an armrest to a chair, particularly a chair that is mounted from the side such as on a coach or other vehicle. In this example, the arm rest may be rotated to a stowed position such that it will not impede a passenger from entering the seat, and then further rotated and locked into a comfortable position. However, these known hinges typically allow for an operational angle which is limited to approximately 90 degrees, and allow for a small number of lockable positions such as one. Furthermore, these hinges are not able to withstand a large force when in a locked position and therefore are not typically used for structural applications.

According to a first aspect of die invention, there is provided a hinge comprising: a first hinge member comprising: a maximum range protrusion located at a maximum location on the first hinge member; and at least one intermediate protrusion located at an intermediate location on the first hinge member; a second hinge member pivotably attached to the first hinge member such that the second hinge member is rotatable relative to the first hinge member about an axis, the second hinge member comprising: a stop arranged to engage with the maximum range protrusion to limit the rotation about the axis of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to a maximum opening; a catch moveable between: an extended position in which the catch is engageable with the at least one intermediate protrusion to limit the rotation about the axis of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to an intermediate opening less than the maximum opening; and a retracted position in which the catch is spaced from the at least one intermediate protrusion; a biasing member arranged to urge the catch from the retracted position toward the extended position; and a reset member movable between: a hold position in which the reset member is arranged to hold the catch in the retracted position; and a release position in which the catch is free to be urged into the extended position by the biasing member; wherein the hinge is configured to: move the reset member into the hold position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member substantially to a closed position; and move the reset member into the release position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member substantially to the maximum opening position.

In this way, the hinge may be opened from a closed state, through an intermediate state, directly to a maximum opening state, and may be closed again from the open state, through the intermediate state, directly to the closed state. However, partially closing the hinge from the maximum opening state, through the intermediate state, toward (but not all the way to) the closed state prevents opening of the hinge again back past the intermediate state, toward the maximum opening state, without first closing the hinge fully to the closed state.

The first and second hinge members may comprise metal, polymer, reinforced polymer, ceramic, and/or any other known material.

The first and second hinge members may have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 100 MPa, 200 MPa, 300 MPa, 400 MPa, 500 MPa, 1000 MPa, and/or 1500 MPa.

The first and second hinge members may be cast, fabricated, extruded, injection moulded, 3D printed, and/or manufactured by any other known method.

A protrusion may extend away from a surface. Alternatively or additionally, a protrusion may comprise the region immediately adjacent to an indent. The protrusion may be substantially stiff, and/or may not bend and/or deform in use. A protrusion on a member may be integral with the member. Alternatively, the protrusion may be coupled to the member.

The maximum location and intermediate location may be on a surface of the first hinge member.

Pivotably attached may mean connected in such a way that the first and second hinge members are able to relatively rotate about one rotational axis. Pivotably attached may mean connected in such a way that the first and second hinge members are able to relatively rotate about two rotational axes. Pivotably attached may mean connected in such a way that the first and second hinge members are able to relatively rotate about three rotational axes.

The first and second hinge members being relatively rotatable may mean that the rotational angle between the first and second hinge members is changeable. The first hinge member may be stationary and the second hinge member may move. The second hinge member may be stationary and the first hinge member may move. The first and second hinge member may both move relative to an external reference point.

The second hinge member may be pivotably attached to the first hinge member by: a bolt, a pin, a rod, and/or any other known component.

A rotational axis may be located along a centreline of the hinge, and may be an axis of the bolt, pin, rod, and/or any other known component used to pivotably attach the second hinge member to the first hinge member. For example, if the bolt, pin, rod, and/or other known component used to pivotably attach the second hinge member to the first hinge member has a substantially cylindrical shape, the axis may be a line which intersects the centre point of each circular face, and is equidistant from all points of the curved surface.

The hinge may further comprise a further intermediate protrusion located at a further intermediate location on the first hinge member. The further intermediate location may be located between the intermediate location and the maximum location. The further intermediate location may be located on a surface of the first hinge member. The hinge may further comprise a third intermediate protrusion located at a third intermediate location on the first hinge member. The third intermediate location may be located between the intermediate location and the maximum location. The further intermediate location and third intermediate location may be located on a surface of the first hinge member. In this way, the relative rotation of the first and second hinge members towards the maximum opening may be prohibited in more angular positions.

The stop may comprise a protrusion, indent or recess.

Engage may mean to touch, contact, connect, adjoin, interlock, grip, and/or press against.

Limiting the rotation may mean that rotation about a given axis is prohibited, blocked, restricted, and/or not possible. The rotation about a given axis may be limited in only one of the two rotational directions. The rotation about a given axis may be limited in both of the two rotational directions.

The maximum opening position may be the position in which an increase in relative angular rotation of the first and second hinge members is prohibited.

The catch may be a catch plate. The catch may comprise a surface, a hook, a bar, a rod, a wedge, a block, and/or a pin.

The catch may rotate, pivot, translate, telescopically extend, move linearly, unfold, and/or move by any other known means when moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

The catch may comprise metal, polymer, reinforced polymer, ceramic, and/or any other known material.

The catch may have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 100 MPa, 200 MPa, 300 MPa, 400 MPa, 500 MPa, 1000 MPa, and/or 1500 MPa.

The catch may be cast, fabricated, extruded, injection moulded, 3D printed, and/or manufactured by any other known method.

Moveable may mean capable of being moved relative to another component. Alternatively and/or additionally, moveable may mean mobile, adjustable, and/or portable. The catch may be movable relative to a main body of the first and/or second hinge member. The catch may be moveable relative to the reset member.

When in the extended position, die catch may engage with the reset member.

The catch being engageable with the at least one intermediate protrusion may mean that the catch is arranged to engage with the at least one intermediate protrusion. Additionally and/or alternatively, the catch may only engage with the at least one intermediate protrusion when the intermediate protrusion is in a given rotational position. Being engageable may mean that the two components do not engage if the at least one intermediate protrusion is not in the given rotational position.

Retracted may mean withdrawn and/or held back.

Spaced may mean distanced, separated, and/or positioned apart.

In the retracted position, the catch may be spaced from the at least one intermediate protrusion at all rotational positions, and/or at the relevant rotational position. The relevant rotational position may be the position in which the at least one intermediate protrusion engages with the catch when the catch is in the extended position.

Bias may mean to cause a component to move preferably in a given direction, either rotationally or translationally. Bias may mean to cause a component to move less preferably in a given direction. A biased component may be caused to move along a first path more preferably than a second path.

The biasing member may urge the catch to move preferably from the retracted position to the extended position. The biasing member may comprise: a spring, a coil spring, a compression spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a leaf spring, a cantilever spring, a constant force spring, an elastic material, and/or any other known means of urging a component from one position to another.

Urge may mean applying a force to move the catch from the retracted position to the extended position, in the absence of a counteracting force.

The reset member may comprise metal, polymer, reinforced polymer, ceramic, and/or any other known material.

The reset member may be cast, fabricated, extruded, injection moulded, 3D printed, and/or manufactured by any other known method.

Hold may mean touch, secure, lock, support, and/or retain.

When the reset member is in the release position, the reset member may be spaced from the catch. Alternatively, the reset member may be in engagement with the catch.

The hinge may be configured to move the reset member into the hold position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to: within 1 degree of the closed position, within 10 degrees of the closed position, within 15 degrees of the closed position, and/or within 20 degrees of the closed position.

The closed position may be the position in which the first hinge member and the second hinge member have a relative rotational angle that is spaced between 90 and 270 degrees from the maximum opening position, in particular between 120 and 240 degrees, more particularly between 150 and 210 degrees, for example approximately 180 degrees. The closed position may be spaced approximately 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 150 degrees, or 170 degrees from the maximum opening position. The first and/or second hinge member may comprise a closure-stop arranged to prevent the rotation of the second hinge member past the closed position.

The hinge may be configured to move the reset member into the release position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to: within 1 degree of the maximum opening position, within 10 degrees of the maximum opening position, within 15 degrees of the maximum opening position, and/or within 20 degrees of the maximum opening position.

The first hinge member may be arranged to at least partially move the catch from the extended position to the retracted position when the hinge is moved from an intermediate position, wherein the catch is adjacent the at least one intermediate protrusion, to the closed position. The first hinge member at least partially retracting the catch means that the reset member is required to retract the catch a lesser distance, which means that less force is required from a user to fully retract the catch when moving the reset member from second position to first position.

The term adjacent may mean abutting and/or may mean spaced by up to 1 mm, 2 mm, 5 mm, and/or 10 mm.

The reset member may be a plate arranged to rotate within a plane of the plate. In this way, torsional forces due the interaction with the catch are minimised and/or negated.

A surface of the reset member may be configured to hold the catch in the hold position. The reset member may be arranged to provide a force which opposes any force provided to the catch by the biasing member.

The reset member may comprise manual realignment means such that die reset member may be manually realigned with the catch. In this way, if the reset member was to become misaligned with the catch, the reset member may be realigned with the catch such that the hinge is operable as intended.

The first hinge member may comprise a plurality of substantially parallel plates which are spaced at least by the second hinge member. Additionally and/or alternatively, the second hinge member may comprise a plurality of substantially parallel plates which are spaced at least by the first hinge member. In this way, bending forces may not cause twist in the hinge.

The first hinge member may further comprise an engagement member positioned in a channel in the reset member, the engagement member arranged to engage the reset member in response to the relative rotation of the first and second hinge members and move the reset member between the hold and release positions.

The engagement member may be a pin, rod, a bar, a peg, a bolt, a pole, a shaft, a spar, and/or any other known structure.

The engagement member may be positioned in a channel in the reset member. The engagement member may be positioned in a groove in the reset member. The engagement member may be configured to push against a part of the reset member, for example a reset protrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a hinge, the method comprising the steps of: providing the hinge according to any preceding claim; rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the closed position to the maximum opening such that the reset member is placed in the release position and the catch is free to engage the intermediate protrusion; rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the maximum opening past the intermediate position such that the rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member toward the maximum opening is substantially prohibited by the catch engaging with the intermediate protrusion; rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the intermediate position to the closed position such that the reset member is placed in the hold position and holds the catch in the retracted position, such that rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the closed position to the maximum opening is allowed.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a hinge in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the internal mechanism of the hinge of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the hinge of figure 2 positioned in the intermediate position with the reset member in the hold position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the hinge of figure 3 positioned in the maximum opening position.

Figure 5 is a side view of the hinge of figure 4 positioned in the intermediate position with the reset member in the release position.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. ft means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term “connected”, used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. “Connected” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a hinge comprising a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member comprises two parallel plates la, lb spaced apart from one another by spacer lc. The second hinge member comprises two parallel plates 3a, 3b spaced apart from one another by spacers 3c, 3d, and 3e. The first hinge member is pivotably attached to the second hinge member by a substantially cylindrical pin 5. The rotational axis of the hinge is located along a line that intersects the centre point on each circular face of the substantially cylindrical pin 5. Each of die parallel plates la, lb, 3a, 3b is mounted on the pin 5, such that the plates la and lb of the first hinge member are positioned between the plates 3a and 3b of the second hinge member. Located between the plates la, lb of the first hinge member is a reset spacer 7, and a reset member 9 in the form of a flat disc. The reset spacer provides a space between parallel plates la and lb for the reset member 9 to freely rotate within. In this way, moving along the axis 5 one first encounters a plate 3a of the second hinge member, followed by a plate la of the first hinge member, then the reset member 9, then a plate of the first hinge member lb, and finally a plate of the second hinge member 3b. The first hinge member further comprises external spacers Id, le such that the outermost surfaces of the external spacers Id, le are in a plane with the outermost surfaces of the two parallel plates 3a, 3b of the second hinge member. The reset member 9 is substantially circular in shape, and is provided with three indents of different dimensions in its periphery: a small indent 11, a large indent 21 and a sloped indent 51. The sloped indent 51 allows a user to manually realign the reset member 9. The reset member 9 is further provided with an arc-shaped slot 13 centred on the axis of the pin 5. The first hinge member comprises an engagement member 15 that extends between the plates la, lb, and passes through the slot 13 in the reset member 9. The engagement member 15 takes the form of a second pin. The slot 13 allows the engagement member 15 to move freely within it for approximately 160 degrees of relative rotation of the first and second hinge members. The reset member 9 is rotatable about the axis of the hinge. The second hinge member comprises a catch 17 that is pushed substantially axially toward the axis of the pin 5 by a spring 19.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the internal mechanism of the hinge of figure 1, showing only one plate la of the first hinge member in solid lines, the spacer 3e of the second hinge member (spacing apart the two spacers 3c and 3d, and the two outside plates 3a and 3b of the second hinge member) also in solid lines, and the reset member 9 in the form of a flat disc shown in dashed lines.

In figure 2, the reset member 9 is positioned in a hold position in which the small indent 11 on the surface of the reset member 9 is positioned adjacent to the catch 17, and is spaced from the large indent 21. In turn the catch 17 is biased into the small indent 11 by the spring 19. The reset member 9 therefore holds the catch 17 in the retracted position which compresses the spring 19, and the catch 17 holds the reset member 9 in the hold position, preventing it from rotating. When the hinge is in the closed position, the sloped indent 51 is aligned with the intermediate protrusion 23. This alignment allows a user to manually realign the reset member accurately.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the hinge of figure 2 where the first hinge member, shown only as plate la for clarity, has been rotated relative to the second hinge member, shown only as spacer 3c for clarity, such that the hinge is in the intermediate position and is opened to approximately 90 degrees. Plate la of the first hinge member comprises an intermediate protrusion 23 located on its outer surface. The reset member 9 is in the hold position and is holding the catch 17 in the retracted position by compressing the spring 19. In the retracted position, the catch 17 is held proximal to the intermediate protrusion 23 such that they do not engage at any rotational orientation. When the catch 17 is in the retracted position, there are no obstructions to the relative rotation of the first hinge member and the second hinge member from the intermediate position to the maximum opening. The engagement member 15 is located within the slot 13, and has moved through approximately 90 degrees of the approximately 160 degrees of available free movement due to the hinge being opened by approximately 90 degrees to the intermediate position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the hinge of figure 3 where the first hinge member, shown only as plate la for clarity, has been further rotated relative to the second hinge member, shown only as spacer 3c for clarity, by approximately 90 degrees, totalling approximately 180 degrees of rotation from the arrangement shown in figure 2, such that the hinge is in the maximum opening position. When moving past the intermediate position, the catch 17 is held away from the intermediate protrusion 23 such that they do not engage. When moving from the intermediate position to the maximum opening position, the engagement member 15 is forced to engage a surface of the slot 13 on the reset member 9 approximately 70 degrees from the intermediate position and approximately 20 degrees from the maximum opening position and rotate the reset member about the pin 5 into the release position. In the release position, a large indent 21 located on an outer surface of the reset member 9 is positioned adjacent to the catch 17. The spring 19 biases the catch 17 into a position in which a surface of the catch 17 is in contact with a surface of plate la. A maximum range protrusion 25 integral with the plate la of the first hinge member abuts a stop 27 integral with the spacer 3c of the second hinge member, which prevents further opening of the hinge past approximately 180 degrees. In the maximum opening position, the first hinge member is free to rotate relative to the second hinge member from the maximum opening position to the intermediate position.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the hinge of figure 4 where the first hinge member, shown only as plate la for clarity, has been rotated relative to the second hinge member, shown only as spacer 3c for clarity, such that the hinge has moved through approximately 90 degrees from the maximum opening position back to the intermediate position. In closing the hinge, the engagement member 15 disengages with the surface of the slot 13 and again has approximately 170 degrees of free movement within the slot 13. After approximately 90 degrees of rotation from the maximum opening position to the intermediate position, the catch 17 passes over the intermediate protrusion 23 and the spring 19 pushes the catch 17 into the large indent 21 on the reset member 9, such that the catch is in the extended position. A side surface of the catch 17 abuts the intermediate protrusion 23, which prevents the hinge being opened from the intermediate position to the maximum opening position. The hinge is free to rotate from the intermediate position towards the closed position.

Referring again to figure 2, when the hinge of figure 5 is rotated approximately degrees from the intermediate position toward the closed position, the engagement member 15 engages a surface of the slot 13 in the reset member 9 and rotates the reset member 9 about the pin 5 and positions the reset member 9 in the hold position. In the process of rotating the reset member 9 from the release position to the hold position, a surface of the reset member 9 moves the catch 17 axially away from the pin 5 from the extended position to the retracted position, compressing the spring 19. The catch 17 is 10 again positioned adjacent to the small indent 11. Arranging the catch 17 in the retracted position allows the hinge to once again open from the closed position past the intermediate position to the maximum opening position without the catch 17 engaging with the intermediate protrusion 23.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a first hinge member comprising:

a maximum range protrusion located at a maximum location on the first hinge member; and at least one intermediate protrusion located at an intermediate location on the first hinge member;

a second hinge member pivotably attached to the first hinge member such that the second hinge member is rotatable relative to the first hinge member about an axis, the second hinge member comprising:

a stop arranged to engage with the maximum range protrusion to limit the rotation about the axis of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to a maximum opening;

a catch moveable between:

an extended position in which the catch is engageable with the at least one intermediate protrusion to limit the rotation about the axis of die second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to an intermediate opening less than the maximum opening; and a retracted position in which the catch is spaced from the at least one intermediate protrusion;

a biasing member arranged to urge the catch from the retracted position toward the extended position; and a reset member movable between:

a hold position in which the reset member is arranged to hold the catch in the retracted position; and a release position in which the catch is unimpeded by the reset plate in being urged toward the extended position by the biasing member;

wherein the hinge is configured to:

move the reset member into the hold position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member substantially to a closed position; and move the reset member into the release position in response to rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member substantially to the maximum opening position.

2. The hinge of claim 1, in which the first hinge member is configured to at least partially move the catch from the extended position to the retracted position in response to the hinge being moved from an intermediate position, in which the catch is adjacent to the at least one intermediate protrusion, to the closed position.

3. The hinge of claim 1 or claim 2, in which the reset member is a plate arranged to rotate about the axis.

4. The hinge of any preceding claim, in which the first hinge member comprises a plurality of substantially parallel plates which are spaced at least by the second hinge member.

5. The hinge of any preceding claim, in which the second hinge member comprises a plurality of substantially parallel plates which are spaced at least by the first hinge member.

6. The hinge of any preceding claim, in which the first hinge member further comprises an engagement member arranged to move the reset member between the hold and release positions in response to the relative rotation of the first and second hinge members.

7. A method of operating a hinge, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the hinge according to any preceding claim in the closed position; rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the closed position to the maximum opening such that the reset member is placed in the release position and the catch is free to engage the intermediate protrusion;

rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the maximum opening past the intermediate position such that the rotation of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member toward the maximum opening is substantially prohibited by the catch 5 engaging with the intermediate protrusion;

rotating the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member from the intermediate position to the closed position such that the reset member is placed in the hold position and holds the catch in the retracted position, such that rotation of the second hinge member relative to the 10 first hinge member from the closed position to the maximum opening is allowed.