Springless self-latching hinge having a resilient hinge member

A self-latching hinge comprising:

• 1. a hinge pin,
• 2. a unitary first hinge member of resilient material having:
• a. a base portion having a central region,
• b. a spaced pair of knuckles projecting from said base portion and provided with coaxial openings receiving said hinge pin,
• c. a force transmitting boss extending between said knuckles toward said pin,
• 3. a second, rigid hinge member having:
• d. a mounting plate, and
• e. a hinge knuckle extending therefrom,
• f. the end of said hinge knuckle being curled to form a hinge pin bearing sleeve, at least a portion of said bearing sleeve incompletely encircling said pin to define a recess receiving said boss when said hinge is closed, said bearing sleeve depressing said boss to compress said base central region when said hinge is opened, the resilience of said first hinge member thereby releasably maintaining said hinge closed;
• 4. the said central region of said base portion of said first hinge member being bowed slightly toward said pin and said knuckles, said base portion and said boss of said first hinge member forming a one-piece integral structure.

In a self-latching hinge structure:

• a. a pair of hinge members;
• b. one of said hinge members having a latch element made of resilient plastic material and bowed toward the other of said members;
• c. the other of said hinge members having a relatively rigid latch element positioned to interact with said latch element of said one hinge member;
• d. said latch elements having a configuration to provide a snap closing under the influence of the resilience of said one latch element;
• e. a pair of fasteners connected to said one hinge member at spaced positions for confining the ends of said bowed latch element to provide a high spring constant as said bowed element flattens upon interaction with said other latch element whereby a high holding force is developed;
• f. said bowed latch element assuming a flatter curvature upon being increasingly stressed by said relatively rigid latch element such that at the closed position of said hinge members a positive interaction and positive closure at said closed position is provided.