US3931663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Springless self-latching hinge having a resilient hinge member
Assignee: JAYBEE Manufacturing CORP
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Filing: 1974-12-06
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Granted: 1976-01-13
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Expires: 1994-12-06
Abstract
Abstract In a springless self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, one hinge member is formed of resilient material configured releasably to maintain the hinge closed. This resilient hinge member includes a spaced pair of hinge pin receiving knuckles extending from a base portion which may be slightly bowed toward the pin. The other hinge member has a hinge knuckle terminating at a bearing sleeve a portion of which incompletely encircles the pin to define a recess. A boss projects from the central base portion of the resilient hinge member to engage the bearing sleeve recess when the hinge is closed. As the hinge is opened, the bearing sleeve depresses the boss to place the central region under compression. Thus the hinge is held releasably closed until sufficient opening effort is exerted to rotate the hinge and thereby compress the resilient member. In an alternative embodiment, the resilient hinge member contains a central pin receiving knuckle and a pair of bosses which cooperate with a pair of recessed bearing sleeves on the other hinge leaf to perform the latching function.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank A. Holmes
- 👤 Benjamin H. Stansbury, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:49
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D11/00; E05D11/10; E05D11/1014; E05D5/00; E05D5/02; E05D5/04; E05D5/046; E05D11/1028; E05D11/105; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S16/00; Y10S16/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
In a self-latching hinge structure for a cabinet: a. a pair of hinge members connected together for angular movement about a hinge axis; b. means determining a limited closed position of said hinge members; c. one of said hinge members being made of relatively flexible, resilient molded plastic material; d. means relatively rigidly securing spaced portions of said one hinge member to a relatively rigid cabinet to limit flexure between said spaced portions; e. said hinge members having interacting parts developing stress in said one hinge member as a function of angular movement therebetween, said parts being positioned to maximize said stress just prior to arrival of said hinge members at said closed position; f. said stress acting in a direction to impose a stress on said cabinet at said securing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a self-latching hinge structure for a cabinet: a. a pair of hinge members connected together for angular movement about a hinge axis; b. means determining a limited closed position of said hinge members; c. one of said hinge members being made of relatively flexible, resilient molded plastic material; d. means relatively rigidly securing spaced portions of said one hinge member to a relatively rigid cabinet to limit flexure between said spaced portions; e. said hinge members having interacting parts developing stress in said one hinge member as a function of angular movement therebetween, said parts being positioned to maximize said stress just prior to arrival of said hinge members at said closed position; f. said stress acting in a direction to impose a stress on said cabinet at said securing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The self-latching hinge structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said one hinge member has a normally bowed configuration between said spaced portions that assumes a flatter curvature upon being increasingly stressed by said interacting parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
A self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, characterized in that one hinge member has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles said pin to define a bearing sleeve providing a latching recess, the other hinge member being formed of a resilient material and including a spaced pair of hinge pin receiving knuckles separated by a base portion having a boss extending toward said hinge pin to engage said recess when said hinge is closed, said bearing sleeve compressing said boss and base portion away from said pin when said hinge is opened, the resilience of said base thereby acting through said boss releasably to maintain said hinge closed; the region of said base portion being slightly arcuate to permit deflection of said region away from said pin as said base portion is compressed by said bearing sleeve; said knuckles, said base portion and said boss of other hinge member forming a one-piece integral structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
A self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, characterized in that one hinge member has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles said pin to define a bearing sleeve providing a latching recess, the other hinge member being formed of a resilient material and including a spaced pair of hinge pin receiving knuckles separated by a base portion having a boss extending toward said hinge pin to engage said recess when said hinge is closed, said bearing sleeve compressing said boss and base portion away from said pin when said hinge is opened, the resilience of said base thereby acting through said boss releasably to maintain said hinge closed; the region of said base portion being slightly arcuate to permit deflection of said region away from said pin as said base portion is compressed by said bearing sleeve; said knuckles, said base portion and said boss of other hinge member forming a one-piece integral structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A self-latching hinge according to claim 3 wherein said resilient hinge member includes one or more integral mounting members projecting therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A self-latching hinge according to claim 3 wherein the width of said boss is less than the distance between said pin receiving knuckles, and wherein said boss has a concave curvature generally conforming to the convex curvature of said bearing sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A self-latching hinge according to claim 3 wherein said one hinge member is rigid and formed of metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
A self-latching hinge comprising: 1. a hinge pin, 2. a unitary first hinge member of resilient material having: a. a base portion having a central region, b. a spaced pair of knuckles projecting from said base portion and provided with coaxial openings receiving said hinge pin, c. a force transmitting boss extending between said knuckles toward said pin, 3. a second, rigid hinge member having: d. a mounting plate, and e. a hinge knuckle extending therefrom, f. the end of said hinge knuckle being curled to form a hinge pin bearing sleeve, at least a portion of said bearing sleeve incompletely encircling said pin to define a recess receiving said boss when said hinge is closed, said bearing sleeve depressing said boss to compress said base central region when said hinge is opened, the resilience of said first hinge member thereby releasably maintaining said hinge closed; 4. the said central region of said base portion of said first hinge member being bowed slightly toward said pin and said knuckles, said base portion and said boss of said first hinge member forming a one-piece integral structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
A self-latching hinge comprising: 1. a hinge pin, 2. a unitary first hinge member of resilient material having: a. a base portion having a central region, b. a spaced pair of knuckles projecting from said base portion and provided with coaxial openings receiving said hinge pin, c. a force transmitting boss extending between said knuckles toward said pin, 3. a second, rigid hinge member having: d. a mounting plate, and e. a hinge knuckle extending therefrom, f. the end of said hinge knuckle being curled to form a hinge pin bearing sleeve, at least a portion of said bearing sleeve incompletely encircling said pin to define a recess receiving said boss when said hinge is closed, said bearing sleeve depressing said boss to compress said base central region when said hinge is opened, the resilience of said first hinge member thereby releasably maintaining said hinge closed; 4. the said central region of said base portion of said first hinge member being bowed slightly toward said pin and said knuckles, said base portion and said boss of said first hinge member forming a one-piece integral structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A self-latching hinge according to claim 7 wherein said first hinge member includes integral mounting members projecting therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a self-latching hinge structure: a. a pair of hinge members; b. one of said hinge members having a latch element made of resilient plastic material and bowed toward the other of said members; c. the other of said hinge members having a relatively rigid latch element positioned to interact with said latch element of said one hinge member; d. said latch elements having a configuration to provide a snap closing under the influence of the resilience of said one latch element; e. a pair of fasteners connected to said one hinge member at spaced positions for confining the ends of said bowed latch element to provide a high spring constant as said bowed element flattens upon interaction with said other latch element whereby a high holding force is developed; f. said bowed latch element assuming a flatter curvature upon being increasingly stressed by said relatively rigid latch element such that at the closed position of said hinge members a positive interaction and positive closure at said closed position is provided.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a self-latching hinge structure: a. a pair of hinge members; b. one of said hinge members having a latch element made of resilient plastic material and bowed toward the other of said members; c. the other of said hinge members having a relatively rigid latch element positioned to interact with said latch element of said one hinge member; d. said latch elements having a configuration to provide a snap closing under the influence of the resilience of said one latch element; e. a pair of fasteners connected to said one hinge member at spaced positions for confining the ends of said bowed latch element to provide a high spring constant as said bowed element flattens upon interaction with said other latch element whereby a high holding force is developed; f. said bowed latch element assuming a flatter curvature upon being increasingly stressed by said relatively rigid latch element such that at the closed position of said hinge members a positive interaction and positive closure at said closed position is provided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The self-latching hinge as set forth in claim 9 in which said one hinge member is substantially unstressed when the hinge is in open position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The self-latching hinge structure as set forth in claim 9 in which said one hinge member is made of one-piece plastic unit with said pair of fasteners and adapted to be rigidly secured to a cabinet structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The self-latching hinge structure as set forth in claim 9 in which said bowed latch element is inwardly bowed at its under surface and is adapted to oppose and to flex toward a surface of said cabinet structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-12 | 1979-07-14 | 1980-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-12 | 1983-07-14 | 1984-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-12 | 1987-07-14 | 1988-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |