Hinge mechanism

In combination, a hinge mechanism for operative pivotal attachment of a moveable member to a fixed frame member and a fixed frame member defining a linear edge of an opening, for pivotal movement of the moveable member relative to the fixed frame member between an open position and a closed position about a pivot axis aligned parallel to and adjacent to said linear edge and positioned in offstanding spaced relation to the linear edge, wherein the moveable member is positioned substantially within the opening in the closed position, said hinge mechanism comprising:

• a fixed hinge component and a moveable hinge component;
• the fixed hinge component defining a generally concave interior surface and comprising a base portion, a longitudinally extending pin portion and a support arm extending between said base portion and said pin portion in connecting relation therewith, with the base portion being adapted to be mountable upon the fixed frame member and the pin portion having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and being terminally positioned on the support arm, a portion of said substantially cylindrical outer surface defining a first bearing surface, wherein the first bearing surface is directed generally toward the opening when the base portion is operatively mounted upon the fixed frame member, such that the longitudinal axis of the pin portion is coincident with said pivot axis, the support arm having a main body portion extending outwardly from the base portion in operatively overlying relation to the pin portion and a web portion directed radially inwardly from the main body portion toward the longitudinal axis of the pin portion in substantially normal relation to a lateral plane defined by the movable member in the closed position so as to connect with said pin portion as aforesaid, the main body portion of the support arm having a generally convex outer surface shaped and dimensioned to act as a drip-edge when the linear edge of the opening is a horizontal linear edge and the fixed hinge component is operatively mounted upon the fixed frame member with the longitudinal axis of the pin portion being oriented substantially parallel to said horizontal linear edge, and wherein the concave interior surface of the fixed hinge component defines a substantially semi-circular channel operatively co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the pin portion and circumferentially extending between the web portion and the base portion;
• the moveable hinge component having a pivoting portion and a swinging portion, the swinging portion being adapted for attachment to the moveable member, the pivoting portion having a concave inner second bearing surface concentric with the first bearing surface and being operatively mounted about said first bearing surface so as to provide for said pivotal movement of the moveable member, the pivoting portion further having a convex outer surface substantially coaxial to the inner concave second bearing surface;
• and
• an arresting means comprising:
• a first longitudinally extending shoulder projecting radially from the convex outer surface of the pivoting portion of the moveable hinge component;
• and
• a second longitudinally extending shoulder projecting radially from the concave interior surface of the fixed hinge component,
• said first and second shoulders being arranged such that, upon pivotal movement of the moveable hinge component to the open position, the first shoulder impinges upon the second shoulder to arrest further opening rotation.