Friction hinge having a balancing spring

A friction hinge arrangement for connecting a cover to a base, such as in a record player, the cover being pivotal relative to the base between a closed and an open position and being retainable in the open or any other position between the closed and open positions by friction forces in the hinge, which counteract the force of gravity tending to close the cover, comprising

• a plastic friction member formed as a strip-shaped part which is doubled over to form two strip-shaped limbs interconnected by a bend, the limbs being substantially parallel to and spaced from each other, recesses being formed in the limbs at the bend to define a hinge axis,
• a hinge member having a cylindrical portion which functions as a hinge pin, disposed in said recesses, and a connection portion for connection to a cover, said hinge member being movable about the hinge axis between a first position corresponding to the closed position of the cover, and a second position corresponding the the open position of the cover, and
• clamping members for urging the limbs of the friction member toward each other and thus clamping the hinge pin between the limbs,
• characterized in that the hinge pin is formed with an opening extending transversely to the hinge axis, and the hinge comprises a wire spring helically wound around a part of the hinge pin, said spring having a first free end and a second free end, the first free end being lodged in the transverse opening of the hinge pin, and the second free end being disposed at some distance from the hinge pin and arranged to transmit spring forces for exerting a resilient compensation moment on the hinge member in a direction toward its second position, corresponding to the open position of the cover, so as to compensate partly for the force of gravity on the cover.