Integral spring and cam unit

Claim 2

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cams means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member is comprised of a molded plastic composition having elastic properties.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced, planar sections connected at two separated positions by integrally molded connecting portions.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of said loop comprising the cam engaging portion for engaging said cam surface.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said member comprises first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface comprising said engaging portion, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface can drive said engaging portion.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said hinge construction includes means on said leaves for holding said cam in a non-sliding position intermediate said cam surface and said cam engaging portion, and wherein said member includes projecting portions for cooperation with said means for holding.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially transverse to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions are substantially parallel to the direction of movement imparted by the cam surface to the cam member upon operation of the hinge construction.

Claim 10

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging pOrtion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second spaced, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 11

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging pOrtion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second spaced, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 12

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 13

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 14

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 15

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising at least first and second substantially parallel, planar sections connected at least at two separated positions by material integral with said member.

Claim 16

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of the loop comprising the portion for cooperation with the cam surface.

Claim 17

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising a molded, closed loop of flexible, elastic material, one side of the loop comprising the portion for cooperation with the cam surface.

Claim 18

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral Deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface drives said runs relative to each other upon operation of the hinge construction.

Claim 19

In a self-closing hinge construction of the type including first and second leaves connected by a hinge pin, one of said leaves having a non-resilient cam surface and the other of said leaves including a cam engaging portion for holding cam means against said cam surface, the improvement comprising a single, integral elastic cam member interposed between said cam surface and the cam engaging portion, said cam member including a portion for cooperation with said cam surface and also including an integral Deformable elastic portion, said cam member being deformable exclusively in the region intermediate said cam surface and the engaging portion of said other leaf, said deformation being substantially uniform along any given axis through said cam member in a plane substantially transverse the direction of deformation imparted by said cam surface to said cam member, said member comprising first and second substantially parallel, spaced runs, the outside surface of one run having at least a portion thereof projecting to engage said cam surface, said runs being interconnected at separate spaced positions, said runs being spaced a distance at least equal to the maximum distance said cam surface drives said runs relative to each other upon operation of the hinge construction.

Claim 20

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions comprise first and second spaced projections extending perpendicular to said pin, said projections being cooperative with one of said leaves to inhibit movement of said member in a direction parallel to said pin. 0

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said projecting portions comprise extensions from said member in a direction substantially parallel to said pin, said extensions being cooperative with one of said leaves to inhibit movement of said member in a direction parallel to said pin.