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US 4,215,449 AGranted
Self-closing hinge
AssigneeStandard Keil Hardware Manufacturing Co.
InventorFrank F. Loikitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-closing, non-rising hinge in cartridge form fits into a socket, generally, in the upper edge of a door. The hinge mechanism is completely enclosed within a housing and provides a strong returning force for closing a door. The hinge is reversible in that it can be mounted for opening the door either from the left or from the right. Where two doors are present, one above the other, as in refrigerators, the hinge may be inserted, in inverted position, into the lower edge of the door to minimize space requirements.
Claims13
A non-rising, reversible-hinge in cartridge form, comprising:
- an elongated housing shaped for fitting vertically into a socket in the top or bottom edge of a door, said housing when positioned for mounting in said top edge having an upper end and a lower end, and vertical slot means in the interior thereof;
- top flange means rigidly affixed to said housing for anchoring said housing to said top edge of said door and thereby assuring that said housing will rotate with said door;
- pin means within the upper portion of said housing and extending sufficiently above said housing to engage a support bracket, said housing and said flange means being arranged and constructed for permitting said pin means to protrude through said upper end and for permitting revolution of said housing relative to said pin means;
- said pin means having an upper end arranged and constructed for keying into said support bracket for preventing rotation of said pin means when said door is open;
- a male cam member rigidly affixed to said pin means and having a lower cam surface;
- a female cam member having an upper cam surface for engaging with said lower cam surface, a vertical, generally cylindrical exterior surface, and projection means on said exterior surface for engaging said vertical slot in said housing, thereby providing for rotation of said female cam member with said housing and for rotation of said female cam member relative to said male cam member;
- and
- coil spring means disposed between said female cam member and said lower end for biasing said female cam member upwardly against said male cam member, said cam surfaces being shaped for forcing said cam members apart against the urging of said coil spring means when said door is opened and for converting the upward force of said spring means into a torque directed for closing said door, said coil spring means being free of pin means within same.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.