# US 2025/0084686 A1 · Self-Close and Slow-Close Hinge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0084686 A1 - Document ID: US20250084686A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/958,156 - Filed: 2024-11-25 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-07-24 - Assignees: Cosmetal Fab LLC - Applicants: Cosmetal Fab LLC - Inventors: Ivan Fisher; Jeff Davis; Mason Rhine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250084686A1 ## CPC - E05D 3/02: with one pin - E05F 3/20: in hinges - E05F 1/1215: {with a canted-coil torsion spring} - E05Y 2201/21: Brakes - E05Y 2201/484: Torsion springs - E05Y 2900/132: Doors - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A hinge includes a hinge body, a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, and a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body. The hinge body has a first portion rotatable with respect to a second portion between an open position and a closed position. The self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion. The closing force urges the first portion to the closed position. The slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position. The damping force slows a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hinge, comprising: a hinge body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion between an open position and a closed position; a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion, the closing force urging the first portion to the closed position; and a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the damping force slowing a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the opened angle of rotation is greater than 0° and less than or equal to approximately 180°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the opened angle of rotation is less than approximately 20°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the opened angle of rotation is greater than or equal to approximately 45°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the slow-close mechanism has a damping element including a damping housing, a shaft extending from the damping housing, and an engagement mechanism positioned within the damping housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hinge of claim 5, wherein the damping housing defines a mechanism receiving space containing the engagement mechanism and a viscous liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hinge of claim 5, wherein the engagement mechanism includes a one-way clutch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hinge of claim 7, wherein the engagement mechanism includes a plurality of gears and an inner rotor, the one-way clutch is engaged with the gears and the inner rotor when the shaft rotates in a first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hinge of claim 8, wherein engagement of the one-way clutch with the gears and the inner rotor applies the damping force to the shaft as the shaft rotates in the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The hinge of claim 8, wherein the one-way clutch slips and the shaft rotates freely in a second direction opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hinge of claim 10, wherein the shaft rotates in the second direction during rotation from the closed position to the opened angle of rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hinge of claim 9, wherein the damping element is a rotary hydraulic damper when the shaft rotates in the first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The hinge of claim 5, wherein the slow-close mechanism has a damper stop disposed on the shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hinge of claim 13, wherein the damper stop has a damper protrusion engaging the second portion of the hinge body, the damper stop and the shaft rotate with the second portion of the hinge body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The hinge of claim 5, wherein the damping housing rotates with the first portion of the hinge body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the self-close mechanism includes a center pin, a bottom pin, and a torsion spring held between the center pin and the bottom pin, the torsion spring applies the closing force. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hinge of claim 16, wherein the bottom pin is rotatable within the hinge body to adjust the closing force by rotating the torsion spring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The hinge of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a first housing and a first flange extending from the first housing, and the second portion has a pair of second housings connected by a second flange, the first housing is positioned between the second housings, the self-close mechanism and the slow-close mechanism are positioned in the first housing and the second housings. ### Claim 19 A door assembly, comprising: a door; and a hinge attached to the door and controlling rotational movement of the door, the hinge including: a hinge body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion between an open position and a closed position; a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion, the closing force urging the first portion to the closed position; and a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the damping force slowing a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The door assembly of claim 18, wherein the door has a panel, the first portion is attached to a hinge side of the panel and the door has a frame piece with an angled flange on a free side of the panel opposite the hinge side.