HINGE STRUCTURE

• US 3,810,275 A
• Filed: 06/26/1972
• Issued: 05/14/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Camco, Inc. (Nevada) (FirstCash Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: William E. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay, Bobby R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US05/266,368
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 16/189,138,72,76 248/378,383 297/333
• US Class Current: 16/298
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1215 with a canted-coil torsion spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/306 for freezers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/10 Refrigerator top-coolers

Abstract

A counterbalancing hinge structure according to the invention comprises first and second hinge arms with a pintle connecting the arms for relative movement about the axis of the pintle. One of the arms is fixed to said pintle, and the other of the arms is swingable about the pintle axis, and a torsion spring is provided having a main coiled portion sleeved on the pintle with one end anchored against rotation about said pintle, and the other end extending generally radially of said pintle axis, and connected to the swingable arm.

Claims

1. A counterbalancing hinge structure comprising first and second hinge arms, a pintle connecting said arms for relative movement about the axis of the pintle, one of said arms being fixed to said pintle, the other of said arms being swingable about the pintle axis, and a torsion spring having a main coiled portion sleeved on said pintle and being anchored against rotation about said pintle at a point removed from one end, said one end of said torsion spring having an extension extending generally radially of said pintle axis, and means connecting said spring extension to said swingable arm, said arm fixed to said pintle comprising a bayonet arm having a first portion extending away from said pintle generally in the same direction as said swingable arm and a second portion extending generally transversely of said swingable arm when the hinge is closed.

2. A hinge structure as Claimed in claim 1 in which bracket means are provided to receive and guide the free end of said bayonet arm, said bracket means having clamp means associated therewith and movable transversely of the free end of said bayonet arm to clamp said bayonet arm in adjusted positions in said bracket means.

3. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said means connecting said spring extension to said swingable arm are adjustable to displace said extension about the axis of said pintle with said hinge arms held in fixed relative relation to alter the tension in said torsion spring.

4. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 2 in which means are provided to limit relative movement of said hinge arms.

5. A counterbalancing hinge structure for a chest freezer or the like comprising a first hinge arm having spaced flanges and a connecting web therebetween forming a channel arm, a pintle extending between and journalled in said spaced flanges, a second hinge arm fixed to said pintle, a torsion spring sleeved on said pintle between said flanges and anchored against rotation relative to said pintle at a point removed from one end of said spring, the said one end of said torsion spring having an extension extending generally radially of said pintle, and means connecting said spring end extension to said first hinge arm;

said spring acting to urge relative rotation of said arms in a hinge opening direction and to resist relative arm rotation in a hinge closing direction, said second fixed arm comprising a bayonet arm having with the flange closed a first portion extending away from said pintle in the same direction as said first arm and a second free end portion extending generally at right angles to said first arm.

6. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 5 in which bracket means are provided to receive and guide said free end portion of said bayonet arm, and means moveable on said bracket transversely of said free end for locking said bayonet arm in adjusted positions in said bracket.

7. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said bayonet arm is fixed to one end of said pintle outside said channel arm contiguous one of the flanges thereof and lies generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pintle.

8. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said spring end extension extends within said channel and said means connecting said spring end extension to said channel shaped hinge arm are adjustable to effect movement of said spring end towards and from the web of said channel shaped hinge arm to alter spring tension urging hinge opening and resisting hinge closing.

9. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 7 in which said bayonet arm is provided with a pin projection and said flange of said channel arm contiguous said bayonet arm is provided with a slot in which said pin projection rides to limit relative movement of said first and second hinge arms.