Releasable folding link member for providing opening torque

A releasable linkage including:

• a first rod member having a bifurcated end portion and a remainder portion;
• an elongate link member having ends and means for pivotally mounting said link member about one of said ends within said bifurcated end portion, the relative rotational positions of said rod member and link member defining closed, intermediate and open positions of the linkage;
• a sleeve slidable on said rod member over said end portion;
• means for limiting the sliding movement of said sleeve over said end portion;
• and
• a coil spring means, located around said rod member, for urging said sleeve against the link member, said coil spring means, said sleeve and said link member comprising a means for providing a torque and for rotating said link member relative to said rod member from said closed position to said open position of the linkage, wherein a second rod member having a bifurcated end portion is provided, said elongate link member is generally symmetrical in form and includes means for pivotally mounting one end within said bifurcated end portion of said second rod member, in which one of said first and second rod members includes a lateral stud and the other of said first and second rod members includes a sleeve of sufficient length to cover said elongate link member and having an axially-extended nib portion for engaging said elongate link member when the linkage is in the closed position and for engaging with said stud to provide the linkage with rotational stability when the linkage is in the open position.