Laterally swinging hinge device

A hinge structure comprising a vertically positionable cylinder (3 or 32) having an internal annular flange (22 or 37);

• a ring of anti-friction balls (17 or 42) seated on the upper face of said annular flange;
• a shaft (7 or 35) extending through the space circumscribed by said cylinder, said shaft including a spherical center section (12 or 38) seated on said ring of anti-friction balls, a first rod-like section (8 or 40) extending downwardly from the shaft center section to a point below the cylinder, and a second rod-like section (13 or 39) extending upwardly from the shaft center section to a point above the cylinder;
• a second ring of anti-friction balls (16 or 41) seated on the upper surface of the spherical center section;
• an annular socket member (18 or 43) positioned in the cylinder directly above the second ring of anti-friction balls, said socket member having a lower face extending normal to the cylinder axis in direct contact with the second ring of antifriction balls;
• an annular threaded sleeve (34 or 45) threaded into the upper end section of the cylinder in pressure engagement with the annular socket member to cause said socket member and annular flange to exert a controlled force on the anti-friction balls and spherical center section of the shaft, thereby preventing axial play between the shaft and cylinder;
• a first hinge member (1 or 31) affixed to the cylinder;
• and a second hinge member (2 or 47) affixed to the shaft;
• the rod-like sections of the shaft having substantial radial clearances relative to the annular flange, annular socket member and threaded sleeve whereby the shaft axis can be obliquely angled to the axis of the cylinder.