Hinged stand with breakaway action

Abstract

The present invention provides a hinged stand for supporting an article, which includes a first member that includes a first support recess and a first bearing surface; a second member that includes a second support recess and a second bearing surface; and a breakaway hinged connection between the first and second members, which includes a hinge; and a first bias to constrain the first and second members at an operational non-zero angle relative to one another about the hinge. Another embodiment provides a hinged stand for supporting an article, which includes a first member that includes a hinge pin, a first support recess, and a first bearing surface; and a second member that includes a hook-shaped hinge support, a second support recess, and a second bearing surface; wherein the hook-shaped hinge support is adapted to receive the hinge pin, the hook-shaped hinge support and hinge pin cooperating to provide a breakaway hinged connection between the first and second members. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method, which includes contacting, supporting, or displaying at least one article selected from the group including a musical instrument, stringed musical instrument, guitar, book, sign, picture, placard, display case, and painting with the hinged stand.

1 . A hinged stand for supporting an article, comprising: 
 a first member comprising a first support recess and a first bearing surface;    a second member comprising a second support recess and a second bearing surface; and    a breakaway hinged connection between the first and second members, comprising: 
 a hinge; and  
 a first bias to constrain the first and second members at an operational non-zero angle relative to one another about the hinge.  
   
   
   
       2 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bias comprises: 
 at least one selected from the group consisting of catch, pawl, dog, detent, indentation, protrusion, spring, rod, groove, spring detent, snap, hinged strip, hook and loop fabric, magnet, and combination thereof on said first member;    in cooperation with at least one selected from the group consisting of catch, pawl, dog, detent, indentation, protrusion, spring, rod, groove, spring detent, snap, hinged strip, hook and loop fabric, magnet, and combination thereof on said second member.    
   
   
       3 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises one or more living hinge, butt hinge, butterfly hinge, flush hinge, barrel hinge, concealed hinge, continuous or piano hinge, slip hinge, flag hinge, hinge having interspersed hinge supports joined by one or more hinge pins, or combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a plurality of hinge pins in contact with the first member, the hinge pins having a common central axis.  
   
   
       5 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a plurality of hinge supports in contact with the second member, the hinge supports having a common central axis.  
   
   
       6 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakaway hinged connection further comprises a second bias to constrain the first and members at an angle of approximately zero degrees relative to one another about the hinge.  
   
   
       7 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is such that when the first and second members are so biased, the first and second support recesses cooperate to support the article.  
   
   
       8 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is between zero and 140 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is between zero and 90 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is such that when the first and second members are so biased, the first and second bearing surfaces cooperate to support the hinged stand.  
   
   
       11 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakaway hinged connection further comprises an axial portion with first and second ends thereof, the first end being adjacent to the first and second support recesses, and the second end being adjacent to the first and second bearing surfaces; and wherein the first end provides an additional support surface that cooperates with the first and second recesses for supporting the article.  
   
   
       12 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakaway hinged connection further comprises an axial portion with first and second ends thereof, the first end being adjacent to the first and second support recesses, and the second end being adjacent to the first and second bearing surfaces; and wherein the second end provides an additional bearing surface that cooperates with the first and second bearing surfaces to support the hinged stand in an operational position.  
   
   
       13 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members may repeatedly be moved between an angle of zero degrees and an angle larger than zero degrees relative to one another about the hinge without damaging the stand.  
   
   
       14 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members may repeatedly be moved between the non-zero degree angle and an angle of approximately 180 degrees relative to one another about the hinge without damaging the stand.  
   
   
       15 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinged stand is adapted to support at least one article selected from the group consisting of a musical instrument, stringed musical instrument, guitar, book, sign, picture, placard, display case, and painting.  
   
   
       16 . A method, comprising contacting, supporting, or displaying at least one article selected from the group consisting of a musical instrument, stringed musical instrument, guitar, book, sign, picture, placard, display case, and painting with the hinged stand according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . A hinged stand for supporting an article, comprising: 
 a first member comprising a hinge pin, a first support recess, and a first bearing surface; and    a second member comprising a hook-shaped hinge support, a second support recess, and a second bearing surface;    wherein the hook-shaped hinge support is adapted to receive the hinge pin, the hook-shaped hinge support and hinge pin cooperating to provide a breakaway hinged connection between the first and second members.    
   
   
       18 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge supports further comprises at least one recess that is adapted to receive the hinge pin at a right angle to its central axis.  
   
   
       19 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the breakaway hinged connection further comprises a first bias to constrain the first and second members at an operational non-zero angle relative to one another having the hinge pin at its vertex, and wherein the first bias comprises a detent on an outside portion of the hook-shaped hinge support in cooperation with a springed rod on the second member, the springed rod having an axis defined by its two ends that is approximately parallel to a central axis of the hinge.  
   
   
       20 . The hinged stand according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook-shaped hinge support comprises a convex outer portion and a hook-shaped inner recess, the inner recess adapted to receive the hinge pin.