Simplified hinge apparatus and associated joining methods

Abstract

A cover plate is operatively secured to the body of a housing structure, over an access opening therein, by a pair of button clinch joints which interlock two tab portions of the cover plate with two wall portions of the housing body positioned on opposite sides of the access opening. The button clinch joints function as hinges which permit the cover plate to be pivoted between closed and open positions to respectively block and unblock the access opening. In addition to other manufacturing and operational advantages, the use of button clinch joints as hinge structures provides for very rapid and economical joining of the housing body and cover plate, and eliminates the necessity for welding or in any manner puncturing the cover plate or housing body to effect the cover plate attachment. The elimination of both welding and puncturing, in turn, advantageously permits the use of pre-coated cover plates and housing bodies since the clinching process used to form the cover plate hinge joints does not appreciably mar these pivotally connected components. Moveover, the pivotally interconnected cover plate and housing body remain securely affixed to one another without the use of screws, rivets or any other additional fastening parts.