Multiple axis hidden hinge

The combination of a flat door with an edge, a flat stile with an edge, and at least two hinges mounting said door onto the edge of said stile in a position in which the flat surface of the door, when closed, forms a single unbroken plane with the flat surface of said stile, each said hinge comprising

• (a) a first and a second mounting plate, each said plate having a front surface and a rear surface, each said front surface containing a pair of bracket members, and each said rear surface being the surface which faces the door or the stile when the hinge is mounted, said first plate being mounted in a routed-out portion of the edge of the stile or door and said second plate being similarly mounted onto a routed-out portion of the edge of the stile or door opposite.
• (b) a substantially U-shaped link having a base and two substantially parallel arms, the first arm of said link being pivotally attached near its end to and between said first plate bracket members, the second arm of said link being similarly attached to and between said second plate bracket members, the axis of rotation of each said attachment being substantially perpendicular to the U-shaped plane of the link and parallel to the rear surface of each said plate, said link and said mounting plates being pivotable between a first limit and a second limit that is at least 90.degree. of arc away from said first limits, these limits provided by stop mechanisms in said link arms and said bracket members;
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• (c) a coil spring mounted around the axis of rotation of said first link arm, one end of said coil spring exerting torque against said first mounting plate, the other end of said coil spring exerting an opposite torque against said first link arm, said hinge having no such coil spring mounted between said second mounting plate and said second link arm.

The combination of a flat door with an edge, a flat stile with an edge, and at least two hinges mounting said door onto the edge of said stile in a position such that the plane of the flat surface of said door, when closed, forms a right angle with the plane of the flat surface of said stile, each said hinge comprising

• (a) a first and a second mounting plate, each having a front surface and a rear surface, each said front surface containing a pair of bracket members, said first plate being mounted in a routed-out portion of the edge of said door, said second plate being mounted in a routed-out portion of the edge of said stile,
• (b) a substantially U-shaped link having a base and two substantially parallel arms, the first arm of said link being pivotally attached near its end to and between said first plate bracket members, the second arm of said link being similarly attached to and between said second plate bracket members, the axis of rotation of each said attachment being substantially perpendicular to the U-shaped plane of the link and parallel to the rear surface of each said plate, said link and said mounting plates being relatively pivotable between a first limit and a second limit that is at least 90.degree. of arc away from said first limits, these limits provided by stop mechanisms in said link arms and said bracket members;
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• (c) a coil spring mounted around the axis of rotation of said first link arm, one end of said coil spring exerting torque against said first mounting plate, the other end of said coil spring exerting an opposite torque against said first link arm, said hinge having no such coil spring mounted between said second mounting plate and said second link arm;
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• (d) a means for attaching said second mounting plate to a surface of said stile which is substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of said second mounting plate.

The combination of a table having a top with an edge, and a fold-up leaf having an edge, and at least two hinges mounting said leaf to the edge of said table-top, each said hinge comprising

• (a) a first and second mounting plate, each said plate having a front surface and a rear surface, each said front surface containing a pair of bracket members, and each said rear surface being the surface which faces the edge of said leaf or said table-top when the hinge is mounted, one said plate being mounted in a routed-out portion of the edge of said table-top or leaf, the other plate being similarly mounted in a routed-out portion of the edge of the table-top or leaf opposite,
• (b) a substantially U-shaped link having a base and two substantially parallel arms, the first arm of said link being pivotally attached near its end to and between said first plate bracket members, the second arm of said link being similarly attached to and between said second plate bracket members, the axis of rotation of each said attachment being substantially perpendicular to the U-shaped plane of the link and parallel to the rear surface of each said plate, said link and said mounting plates being relatively pivotable between a first limit and a second limit that is at least 90.degree. of arc away from said first limits, these limits provided by stop mechanisms in said link arms and said bracket members;
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• (c) a coil spring mounted around the axis of rotation of said first link arm, one end of said coil spring exerting torque against said first mounting plate, the other end of said coil spring exerting an opposite torque against said first link arm, said hinge having no such coil spring mounted between said second mounting plate and said second link arm.