Hinge with means for conducting electricity therethrough

Claim 2

In a hinge having leaves pivotally secured together on a pin, the improvement wherein one of said leaves has means connected thereto adapted to cooperate with means on the other leaf, each of said means being an electrical conductor, one of said means being movable through said one leaf and being biased toward said other leaf, and the other of said other leaves has cooperating means connected thereto for being contacted by said one of said means when said leaves are in substantial parallel relation in a door-closed position, thereby establishing electrical contact between said leaves and permitting the flow of electricity through said means in said leaves when said leaves are in their door-closed position.

Claim 3

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said means biased toward said other leaf comprises a plunger which normally extends forwardly of the surface adjacent to said plunger in a direction toward said other hinge leaf.

Claim 4

The improvement set forth in claim 2 wherein said plunger contacts said means on said other leaf when said hinge is closed, but does not contact said means in said other leaf when said hinge is open.

Claim 5

The improvement set forth in claim 2 wherein each leaf is mounted on its respective door and door frame and said plunger is biased toward said electrical conductor in said other hinge leaf by a spring and is partially retracted against the compressive force of said spring by said electrical conductor on said other hinge leaf when said door is in its door-closed position.

Claim 6

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said means biased toward said other leaf comprises a pair of plungers, each of which normally extends forwardly of the surface adjacent to said plungers in a direction toward said other hinge leaf and wherein each of said plungers is adapted to contact separate electrical conducting means connected to said other hinge leaf.

Claim 7

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein each conductor which is connected to each of said hinge leaves is insulated from said hinge leaf by means of a circumscribing insulator mounted in each hinge leaf.

Claim 8

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said leaves has an inner surface and an outer surface, and each has an opening therethrough for receiving an insulating material with an opening therethrough for receiving each said electrical conductor, said each electrical conductor being adapted to be connected to an electrical conduit, said each electrical conductor connected to one of said leaves having a surface flush with the inner surface of the leaf to which it is connected, said each electrical conductor connected to the other of said leaves having a plunger biased at all times toward said other leaf, said plunger being extended forwardly of said inner surface of the leaf to which it is connected and being moved inwardly when contacted by the other electrical conductor on said other leaf as the leaf of the hinge is moved to its door-closed position.

Claim 9

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on one leaf extends forwardly of the inner face of said leaf and is adapted to extend into said means in the other leaf when the leaves are in their door-closed position.

Claim 10

The improvement set forth in claim 8 wherein one of said means comprises a plunger in one of said leaves mounted rearwardly of the inner surface of said leaf and is adapted to move at all times in positions rearwardly of the inner surface.

Claim 11

The improvement set forth in claim 10 wherein each washer has a pair of contacts thereon connected to a pair of connectors, said connectors having an insulator therebetween.

Claim 12

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein each leaf is mounted on its respective door and door frame and is provided with a washer having a pair of electricity conducting means therein, one of said washers having a recess therein, the other of said washers having a portion adapted to extend into said recess when the door is in its door-closed position.