Double-sided hinges

A safety interlock adapted to be used on one side of a cabinet frame and a door capable of being pivotally opened from either side of the frame about first and second separate hinge axes, said interlock including:

• a) at least two hinge pickups in axial alignment with said first hinge axis, each pickup including a circular disc, a semicircular disc having a semicircular edge and a diametric straight edge, and a coplanar semicylindrical post, said semicircular disc joined to but spaced from said circular disc by the post, the straight edges of said semicircular disc and post being in axial alignment with said first hinge axis;
• and b) a hinge element associated with each pickup and rotatable into interlocking engagement with respect thereto upon opening of said door about said first axis, and wherein the hinge element is separable from the respective hinge pickup when said door is opened about its second hinge axis, said hinge element comprising a semicircular disc having a semicircular edge and a planar diametric edge, said disc containing a recess in communication with said planar edge thereof, said recess facing the planar surface of the semicircular post of the corresponding hinge pickup when the door is closed, said recess adapted to engage the semicircular surface of the post to permit said door to be opened about said first hinge axis whereby the door becomes mechanically coupled to said cabinet when said door is open.

A cabinet having a frame defining an opening, a generally rectangular hinged door enclosing said opening and including hinged closure means on two opposing sides of said door, the closure means on one side being coupled to the frame of the cabinet when the door is opened from the other side, the improvement wherein each of said closure means comprises:

• a) an interlock including at least two hinge elements spaced apart from one another and mounted in axial alignment along a swivel axis of said door, and corresponding hinge pickups mounted in the frame of the cabinet to receive each of said hinge elements when the door is opened about the swivel axis passing through the hinge elements, each hinge element in the shape of a semicircular disc having a semicircular edge and a planar diametric edge, the disc having a recess on one side of the axis intersecting the planar diametric edge and in communication therewith, each hinge pickup comprising two discs, a circular disc, and a semicircular disc having a planar edge;
• the two discs joined together by a semicircular post having a planar surface, the discs of each pickup being spaced from one another a distance sufficient to receive the semicircular hinge element therebetween;
• and,
• b) a hinge rod between and axially aligned with said hinge elements mounted along one side of said door, a semicircular receiver integral with the cabinet frame, and magnetic coupling means whereby said hinge rod is magnetically engaged with the corresponding receiver to retain the door on the cabinet when closed, the planar surface of said post and the planar edge of the semicircular disc of the pickup being coplanar with the opening of said semicircular receiver.