Food Grating Device And Improved Hinge Mechanism

Abstract

The present invention comprises a hinge device. The hinge device is located within a housing, and may comprise a rotating drum mounted on a hinge bar. The rotating drum is slidable between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position, and also rotatable with respect to the housing. The hinge device may also comprise a engagement wall positioned within the housing and having a shelf and at least one locking slot. A locking member may be formed on the rotating drum and may cooperate with the engagement wall when the rotating drum is in the first, locked position to prevent the rotating drum from rotating with respect to the housing. A biasing spring may be located within the housing, which biases the rotating drum toward the first, locked position.

1 . A hinge assembly for use with a first and a second member rotatable with respect to one another, the hinge assembly comprising: 
 a hinge bar engaged to the first member;    a drum rotatably and slidably disposed on the hinge bar, the drum comprising a first end and a second end and slidable along the hinge bar between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position;    a locking member located on the first end of the rotating cylinder;    a locking wall disposed within the hinge assembly proximate to the first end of drum, the locking wall comprising at least one locking slot, and wherein the locking member engages the at least one locking slot when the drum is in the first position, preventing the drum from rotating about the hinge bar; and    a spring engaged to the second end of the drum to bias the drum to the first, locked position.    
   
   
       2 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the locking wall comprises a plurality of locking slots, and wherein the locking member engages one of the locking slots when the drum is in the first position, preventing the drum from rotating about the hinge bar.  
   
   
       3 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second member is engaged to the drum.  
   
   
       4 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the drum is integrally formed from the second member.  
   
   
       5 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a food grating surface and the second member comprises a handle.  
   
   
       6 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is positioned on the opposite side of the hinge bar from the first portion.  
   
   
       7 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the locking wall abuts the first surface of the drum when the drum is in the first, locked position.  
   
   
       8 . A hinge assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    a rotating drum comprising a first end and a second end, the rotating drum being positioned at least partially within the housing and slidable between a first and a second position, and rotatable with respect to the housing;    a locking wall disposed at least partially in the housing and positioned proximate to the first end of the rotating drum, the locking wall comprising at least one locking slot;    a locking member formed on the first end of the rotating drum, wherein the locking member engages the at least one locking slot when the rotating drum is in the first position, preventing the rotating drum from rotating.    
   
   
       9 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a hinge bar disposed within the housing, wherein the rotating drum is slidably and rotatably disposed on the hinge bar.  
   
   
       10 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a biasing spring disposed within the housing and engaged to the rotating drum, wherein the biasing spring biases the rotating drum to the first position.  
   
   
       11 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the locking wall comprises a plurality of locking slots, wherein the locking member engages at least one of the locking slots when the rotating drum is in the first position, preventing the rotating drum from rotating.  
   
   
       12 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a first member is engaged to and extends from the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the first member is integrally formed with the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein a second member is engaged to the rotating drum.  
   
   
       15 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a first and a second cap, wherein the first and the second caps are engaged to the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the locking wall comprises a first portion, integrally formed with the first cap, and a second portion, integrally formed with the housing.  
   
   
       17 . A hinge assembly for use in connecting a handle to a body member in multiple operative positions, the hinge assembly comprising: 
 a hinge bar engaged to the body member and positioned within a cavity formed in the body member;    a rotating drum having a first end and a second end, the rotating drum rotatably and slidably mounted on the hinge bar, the rotating drum slidable between a first sliding position and a second sliding position and rotatable between a first locked position, a second locked position and a third locked position;    a locking member formed on the first end of the rotating drum;    an engagement wall positioned within the cavity, proximate to the first end of the rotating drum and comprising a shelf and a locking slot, wherein, when the rotating drum is in the first sliding position, the shelf cooperates with the locking member to selectively lock the rotating drum in either the first or third locked positions or, alternatively, the locking slot cooperates with the locking member to selectively lock the rotating drum in the second locked position.    
   
   
       18 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a biasing spring engaged to the rotating drum, wherein the biasing spring biases the rotating drum toward the first sliding position.  
   
   
       19 . A hinge assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    a first member engaged to and extending from the housing;    a hinge bar disposed within the housing;    a rotating drum positioned at least partially within the housing, the rotating drum disposed on the hinge bar and comprising a first end and a second end and slidable between a first position and a second position, and rotatable about the hinge bar;    a second member engaged to and extending from the rotating drum;    a locking wall positioned proximate to the first end of the rotating cylinder and at least partially within the housing, the locking wall comprising at least one locking slot; and    a locking member formed on the first end of the rotating cylinder, wherein the locking member engages the at least one locking slot when the rotating cylinder is in the first position, preventing the rotating cylinder from rotating.    
   
   
       20 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the first member is integrally formed from the housing and the second member is integrally formed from the rotating cylinder.  
   
   
       21 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising a biasing spring engaged to the rotating cylinder, wherein the biasing spring biases the rotating cylinder to the first position.  
   
   
       22 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising a first cap, wherein the first cap is engaged to the housing.  
   
   
       23 . The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the locking wall comprises a top half, integrally formed from the first cap, and a bottom half, integrally formed from the housing.