US3678536A

US3678536A - Hinge latch

Info

Publication number: US3678536A
Application number: US2150A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl H Little
Original assignee: Weber Knapp Co
Current assignee: Weber Knapp Co
Priority date: 1970-01-12
Filing date: 1970-01-12
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet including a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of the door and cabinet and joined by a hinge pin, a strike carried on one of the hinge parts, and a resiliently biased keeper movably mounted within a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of the hinge parts; the keeper cooperating with the strike to latch the door in closed position. The keeper is formed of a plastic material and characterized by a construction including a head portion shaped to define a generally wedge-shaped cam surface engageable by said strike and deformable leg portions adapted to secure the keeper in assembled relation within the keeper mounting assembly.

Description

United States Patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,973 2/l88l Hart ml ..i6/l44 Stokes Little 1 July 25, 1972 [54] HINGE LATCH Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay [72] Inventor: Curl ll. Little, Jamestown, N.Y. jiziz gfzi gggs Tromman [73] Assignee: Weber-Knapp Company, Jamestown, I 22] Filed: .len. 12, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet including a i Appl' zlso pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of the door and cabinet and joined by a hinge pin, a strike carried on one of US. Cl. t "16/144 the hinge pans and a resilicnuy keeper movably [51] Int. Cl. "E05d "/10 mounted within a kecpcr mounting assembly carried on he [58] Field of Search ..l6/ 145, 142, I44, 141, I80, othelofthe hinge pans; the keeper compel-Ming with the strike 186; 24/214 to latch the door in closed position. The keeper is formed of a {56] dm Cited plastic material and characterized by a construction including a head portion shaped to define a generally wedge-shaped cam surface engageable by said strike and deformable leg portions adapted to secure the keeper in assembled relation within the keeper mounting assembly.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL251972 357 535 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVEN'TOR. CHEL H. LITTLE A T TORNEYS PATENTEUJULZSIBIZ 3 57 535

sum

2 or 2 INVEN'I'OR. CHQL H. L/T TL 5 A TTOBNEY-S HINGE LATCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hinge latch adapted to perform the dual functions of hingedly supporting a door on a cabinet or the like and latching same in closed position.

The present hinge latch includes a pair of hinge parts, which are adapted to be mounted one on each of the door and cabinet; a strike carried by one of the hinge parts; and an integrally formed plastic keeper movable within a keeper mounting assembly carried by the other hinge part. Each of the hinge parts include mounting flanges and cooperating bearing flanges apertured to receive a common hinge part; the strike and keeper mounting assembly being formed integrally with the respective hinge parts. The keeper assembly includes a pair of parallel guide flanges apertured to receive head and spindle portions of the keeper; the keeper head portion being biased in a direction outwardly through its guide flange by spring means arranged intermediate the head and the guide flange defining the spindle guide aperture. Depending from the keeper head portion are a pair of leg portions deformable to secure the keeper in assembled relau'on within the keeper mounting assembly.

The strike-keeper arrangement tends to prevent slamming of the door, while permitting the door when swung to a desired point to be self closing without bounceback or accidental opening. Also, it is a feature of this invention that the latch is operable through only a small degree of door swing, thus permitting the door to stand substantially in any desired open position.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a cabinet and door embodying a hinge constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3-3a are fragmentary top plan views of the door illustrating the arrangement of parts as the door is moved progressively toward a fully closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 30;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the hinge embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a second alternative embodiment of the present invention adapted for use with flush mounted cabinet doors; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the hinge embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, the hinge according to the present invention is generally designated as l and shown as mounting a door 2 on a cabinet 3. Cabinet 3 is shown for purposes of reference as including side walls 5, a hinge frame member or stile 6 and a door stop frame member or stile 7. For purposes of reference, frame members 6, 7 are shown as having forwardly facing finished surfaces 60, 7a, and facing surfaces 6b, 7b, which cooperate to define the cabinet opening to be closed by door 2.

Door 2 may be provided along one or more marginal edges thereof with a recess 8 to facilitate gripping of the door by a user for the purpose of opening same, and, if desired, one or the other of frame member 7 and door 2 may be provided with a suitable door stop bumper 9, as is well known. Alternatively, opening of the door may be facilitated by the provision of a suitable door mounted pull, not shown.

Hinge l is shown particularly in FIG. 2 as including a pair of generally L-shaped hinge parts 10 and Ill defined by mounting

flange portions

12, 13 and bearing flange portions l4, 15, respectively; a strike 16; and a keeper 1?, which is movable within a keeper mounting assembly 19. Preferably, strike 16 and assembly 19 are formed integrally with mounting flange portions 12 and 113, respectively.

Hinge parts 10 and 11 are hingedly interconnected by a hinge pin 21, which is receivable within

apertures

22, 23 provided in

bearing flange portions

14 and 15, respectively, and is adapted to have its ends peened to retain the hinge parts in a stacked relationship. Preferably, a friction reducing bearing washer 25 is carried by hinge pin 21 intermediate facing surfaces of bearing flange portions l4, 15 in order to facilitate relative pivotal movement therebetween within substantial parallel planes.

While hinge parts 10 and 11 may with slight design changes he alternatively mounted on the door and frame, they are shown in the drawing for purposes of reference as being mounted on the rearwardly facing surface of door 2 and the forwardly facing surface 611 of frame member 6, respectively, as by

screws

26 and 27, which are receivable within

apertures

28 and 29 provided in mounting

flange portions

12 and 13. Mounting of hinge 1 on door 2 is facilitated by forming the door with a rear surface-side edge surface opening slot 32, which is of sufficient thickness and depth to permit free pivotal movement between the hinge parts when assembled by hinge pin 21. Strike 16 is in the form of a blade, which is arranged at an angle a of between about and with respect to mounting flange l2, and formed with a downwardly facing, generally V-shaped cam surface 36 defined by first and second

cam surface portions

36a and 36b, and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion 36c.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Keeper 17 is best shown in FIGS. 2-6 as being of one piece molded plastic construction including a head portion 39 anda cylindrical spindle portion 41. Head portion 39 is formed with an upwardly facing or inverted wedge-shaped cam follower surface 43 having a rounded apex portion 45, which is adapted to cooperate successively with strike cam surface portions 36a-36 to effect latching of door 2. If desired, strike 16 and keeper 17 may be inverted relative to their positions shown in FIGS. 16 by modifying hinge parts 10 and 11 to permit hinge part III to be placed vertically above hinge part 10.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that head portion 39 is shaped to define a pair of

deformable leg portions

47a, 47b, which include resiliently deformable web portions 43a, 48b, which extend downwardly from cam follower surface 43 on opposite sides of apex 45, and

end portions

49a, 49b having camming surfaces 5 la, 51b and lock or stop surfaces 53a, 53b. Preferably, one end of head portion 39 is extended so as to, define a guide element 55, which is disposed

intermediate leg portions

47a and 47b.

Keeper mounting assembly 19 includes a generally U- shaped flange defined by intermediate guide flange 57a and parallel upper and

lower guide flanges

57b, 57c, respectively. Intermediate guide flange 57a is formed integrally with mounting flange l3, and the upper and lower guide flanges 57b, 570 are provided with

apertures

59, 61, which are adapted to slideably receive keeper head 39 and spindle 41, respectively. Upper flange aperture 59, which is T-shaped and conforms generally to the plan view configuration of keeper head 39, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 3a, is preferably produced by a stamping operation which results in the forming of a pair of smoothly

downturned guidestop tabs

63a, 63b. By referring to FIG. 6, it will be understood that flanges 57b, 570, which abut against frame member surface 6b, cooperate with mounting flange 13 to orient hinge l on hinge frame member 6, and the assembly 19, as a whole, cooperates with mounting flange 13 to conceal keeper 17, except for cam follower surface 43 and the lower extent of spindle 41.

Keeper 17 may be assembled within mounting assembly 19 by positioning a coil type compression spring 65

intermediate flanges

57b, 57c and thereafter inserting spindle 41 downwardly through upper flange aperture 59, through spring 65 and into lower flange aperture 61. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be understood that during the above described inserting movement, leg cam surfaces 51a, 51b are brought into engagement with the smoothly contoured upper inner surfaces of guide-

stop tabs

63a, 63b, such that leg web portions 48a, 48b are progressively deformed and together with

leg end portions

49a, 49b are moved into the phantom line position illustrated.

When

leg end portions

49a, 49b are moved downwardly, sufficiently to clear the lower ends of

tab

63a, 63b, leg web portions 48a, 48b are permitted to resume or snap back into their original shaped, so as to position leg lock or stop surfaces 53a, 53b in alignment with

tabs

63a, 63b, which thereafter cooperate to lock keeper 17 within assembly 19. During assembly of keeper l7, spring 65 is compressed between head portion 39 and lower guide flange 57c, and thereafter serves to normally bias the keeper into its full line extended position shown in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that when door 2 is in an open position, such as is illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to afiord access to the interior of cabinet 3, keeper 17 is in its normal full line position, shown in FIG."4, and hinge parts 10 and 11 permitted to move freely with respect to each other. When door 2 is swung towards its closed position, illustrated in FIG. 1, cam surface 36a is initially brought into sliding surface contact with keeper apex portion 45, as indicated in FIGS. 3a and 4, so as to initiate downward movement of keeper 17 within assembly 19 and compression of spring 65. Continued closing movement of door 2, positions strike apex portion 36c in overlying relationship with keeper apex portion 45, so as to move keeper 17 into its full downward position, illustrated in phantom line in FIG? 5. The energy absorbed by compression spring 65 upon deformation thereof increases the force necessary to effectclosing of the door, and thus tends to reduce the likelihood of the door being slammed, should too much closing force be exerted by a user. Upon continued movement of door 2 into its fully closed position, strike apex portion 36c moves beyond keeper apex portion 45, so as to permit the energy previously absorbed by compression spring 65 to force keeper apex portion 45 upwardly against strike cam surface 36b.

By referring to FIGS. and 6, it will be understood that when door 2 is in its fully closed position, as determined by door stop bumper 9, stop surfaces 53a, 53b are spaced from

tabs

63a, 63b. Thus, keeper 17 tends to cam the door beyond its fully closed position in order to prevent rattling thereof.

It will be understood that

tabs

63a, 63b, in addition to cooperating with keeper leg stop surfaces 53a, 53b for the purpose of retaining the keeper in assembled condition, also provide relatively extensive vertically rising guide surfaces for

keeper leg portions

47a and 47b during reciprocation of the keeper to and from its phantom line position shown in FIG. 5. By providing relatively extensive guide surfaces, the pressure per unit area between keeper 17 and

tabs

63a, 63b, due to the sidewise directed force exerted on the keeper during opening and closing of the door, is reduced. Guiding of keeper 17 in a direction disposed at right angles to

tabs

63a, 63b is controlled by intermediate flange 57a, which is engageable with guide element 55, and the vertically rising aperture edge surface 59a of upper guide flange 57b.

It will be noted that during the thus described closing movement of door 2, strike 16 wipes over and lengthwise of keeper apex portion 45 along the path indicated by broken line 70 in FIG. 3. Thus, strike 16 is arranged at an acute angle with respect to keeper apex portion 45, when keeper apex portion 45 is in engagement with either of strike

cam surface portions

36a, 36b, whereas it is arranged at an angle of approximately with respect thereto when keeper apex portion is engaged by strike apex portion 360, due to the positioning of strike 16 at an angle a with respect to door mounting flange 12. It will be understood that by this arrangement a substantially greater extent of the surface of keeper apex portion 45 is wiped by the strike, than would be the case if path 70 were arranged at a 90 angle with respect to keeper apex portion 45. For any given inclination or slope of

cam surfaces

36a and 36b, this arrangement permits the keeper to be effective for latching purposes over a greater extent of door swing.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention, which is designated as 1a in FIGS. 7 and 8, features hinge parts 100, 11a, which are designed so as to permit keeper mounting assembly 19 to be positioned out of view adjacent to the rearwardly facing surface 6C of frame member 6 and the hinge parts to be inverted relative to the positioning of hinge parts 10, 11 shown in FIGS. l-6. In this construction, mounting flange portion 13a is fixed to frame member facing surface 6b by screws 27a passing through apertures 29a, and strike 16a is formed as an integral extension of bearing flange portion 14a arranged substantially parallel to door mounting flange portion 12a. The construction and mode of operation of hinge la is otherwise identical to that discussed with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A second alternative embodiment of the present invention, which is designated as lb in FIGS. 9 and 10, features hinge parts 10b, 11b, which are designed so as to permit door 2 to be mounted flush with the forwardly facing

frame member surfaces

6a, 7a. As in the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge parts are inverted relative to the positioning of the hinge parts in FIGS. l-6, and mounting flange portion 13b is fixed to frame member facing surface 6b by screws 27b passing through apertures 29b, so as to position keeper mounting assembly 19 out of view adjacent the rearwardly facing frame member surface 6c. However, in this arrangement, strike 16b is formed as an integral, parallel extension of door mounting flange portion 12b and the closed position of door 2 is determined by one or more bumper or limit strips 80, which extend between frame members 6, 7. Alternatively, a suitable door movement limiting device, not shown, may be carried adjacent the rear of frame member 7. Otherwise, the construction and mode of operation of hinge lb is identical to hinge 1.

By constructing the hinge latch of the present invention in the manner described, there is provided a self contained unit, which may be easily assembled to provide a simple low cost hinge and latch combination.

I claim:

1. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination:

a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet;

a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis;

a strike carried on one of said hinge parts;

a keeper, said keeper having anchoring means and a cam surface, said cam surface being adapted to cooperate with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said anchoring means including a pair of opposed leg portions, said leg portions including resiliently deformable web portions depending from adjacent said keeper cam surface and enlarged end portions carried by free ends of said web portions, said end portions having cam portions and stop surface portions;

a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said cam surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike and including means bounding said opening for constraining said keeper for reciprocating movement through said opening in a direction essentially parallel to said pivot axis, said constraining means including guide tabs having facing guide surfaces extending inwardly of said assembly from adjacent said opening, said guide tabs terminating in free end portions, said web portions being resiliently deformed when said keeper is forced inwardly through said opening by engagement of said cam portions with said facing guide surfaces such that when said enlarged end portions are disposed within said assembly in wardly of said guide tab free end portions said web portions automatically flex outwardly into sliding engagement with said facing guide surfaces of said guide tabs thereby to arrange said stop surface portions in alignment with said guide tab free end portions in the direction of keeper reciprocation whereby to retain said keeper mounted within said assembly; and

spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias said stop surface portions into contact with said guide tab free end portions such that said keepercam surface is resiliently biased outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike.

2. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a hinge frame member and a door stop frame member having facing surfaces bounding an opening of said cabinet, said hinge frame member having an outwardly facing hinge mounting surface and said stop frame member having outwardly facing door stop surface, the marginal edges of said door extending beyond said cabinet opening, said assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining a guide aperture disposed in alignment with said opening, and said keeper includes a head portion carrying said cam surfaces and said opposed leg portions and a spindle portion depending from said head portion from between said opposed leg portions, said spindle portion being slideably received within said guide aperture, and said spring means being a coil spring disposed about said spindle portion intermediate said head portion and said second flange member, each said hinge parts being of generally L-shaped configuration and including bearing flange portions apertured to receive said hinge pin and mounting flange portions, said one hinge part being mounted on said door by fastening means passing through apertures provided in said mounting flange portion thereof, said other hinge part being mounted on said hinge frame member by fastening means passing through apertures in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said hinge mounting surface of said hinge frame member, said strike member being carried by said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part, said assembly flange members extending substantially at right angles with respect to said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part and having edge portions thereof engageable with said cabinet opening bounding surface of said hinge frame member so as to orient said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part with respect to said hinge frame mounting surface, said assembly also including a flange member interconnecting said first and second assembly flange members, said flange members of said assembly cooperating with said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part to conceal said opposed leg portions and said spring means from view when said door is in an open position.

3. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a hinge frame member and a door stop frame member bounding an opening of saidcabinet, said door having marginal edges thereof extending beyond said cabinet opening, said door being hingedly supported on said hinge frame member adjacent one marginal edge thereof such that a spaced marginal edge of said door cooperates with said door stop frame member to determine the closed position of said door, said strike having a generally Vshaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion, said keeper cam surface including an elongated apex portion and being successively engageable with said first, said apex and said second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards said closed position along a line disposed at an angle of less than about with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion thereby to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly and compress said spring means, and said stop surface portions being maintained out of contact with said guide tab free end portions when said door is in said closed position due to engagement of said keeper cam surface with said second surface portion of said strike, whereby said spring means tends to cam said door beyond said closed position.

4. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a pair of frame members provided with forward surfaces, facing surfaces and rear surfaces, said facing surfaces bounding an opening of said cabinet, each of said hinge parts including bearing flange portions apertured to receive said hinge pin and mounting flange portions, said one hinge part being mounted on a rear surface of said door by fastener means passing through apertures provided in said mounting flange portion thereof, said other hinge part being mounted on one of said frame members by fastener means passing through apertures in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said facing surface of said one frame member, said strike member being carried on said one hinge part adjacent said rear surface of said door, and said assembly being carried by said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part such that it is disposed out of view adjacent said rear surface of said one frame member.

5. A hinge latch according to claim 4, wherein said assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining a guide aperture disposed in alignment with said opening, said keeper includes a head portion and a spindle portion depending from said head portion, said head portion defining said cam surface and said anchoring means, said spindle portion being slidably received within said guide aperture, said spring means being a coil spring disposed about said spindle portion intermediate said head portion and said second flange member, and said assembly flange members extend substantially at right angles with respect to said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part and having edge portions thereof engageable with said rear surface of said one frame member so as to orient said mounting frame portion of said other hinge part with respect to said one frame member.

6. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having door stop means and a pair of frame members provided with forward surfaces, facing surfaces and rear surfaces, said facing surfaces bounding an opening in said cabinet to be closed by said door, said door when in cabinet opening closed position as determined by said stop means having the forward surface thereof disposed substantially flush to said frame member forward surfaces, said door being hinge supported adjacent one marginal edge thereof on one of said frame members for movement between an open position and said closed position, said strike having a generally V-shaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex portion, said keeper cam surface being in the form of an elongated rounded apex portion of a generally wedge-shaped keeper cam surface, said keeper apex portion being successively engageable with said first, said apex and said second surface portions of said strike along a line disposed at an angle of less than about 90 with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion as said door is moved towards said closed position to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly and compress said spring means, and said stop surface portions being maintained out of contact with said guide tab free end portions when said door is in said closed position due to engagement of said keeper apex portion with said second surface portion of said strike, whereby said spring means tends to cam said door beyond said closed position.

7. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination:

a pair of binge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet;

a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertical pivot axis;

a strike carried on one of said hinge parts;

a keeper, said keeper having anchoring means and a cam surface for cooperating with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said cam surface including an elongated rounded apex portion;

a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said cam surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike, said assembly constraining said keeper for reciprocation along a path arranged esentially parallel to said pivot axis, said cam surface being orientated relative to said strike whereby during closing of said door said strike engages said cam surface along a line disposed at an angle less than 90 with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said apex portion, said anchoring means being disposed to engage an interior wall portion of said assembly for mounting said keeper within said assembly; and

spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias anchoring means into contact with said interior wall portion such that said cam surface is disposed outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike to releasably latch said door in closed position.

8. A hinge latch according to claim 7, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a pair of frame members provided with forward surfaces, facing surfaces and rear surfaces, said facing surfaces bounding an opening of said cabinet, each of said hinge parts including bearing flange portions apertured to receive said hinge pin and mounting flange portions, said bearing and mounting flange portions being disposed in right angular relationship, said one hinge part being mounted on a rear surface of said door by fastener means passing through apertures provided in said mounting flange portion thereof, said other hinge part being mounted on one of said frame members by fastener means passing through apertures in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said facing surface of said one frame member, said strike member being carried on said one hinge part adjacent said rear surface of said door, and said assembly being carried by said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part such that it is disposed out of view seated in engagement with said rear surface of said one frame member whereby to orient said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part with respect to said facing surface of said one frame member, and said strike being arranged to lie rearwardly of and adjacent to said rear surface of said one frame member when said door is in closed position.

9. A hinge latch according to claim 7, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a hinge frame member and a door stop frame member having facing surfaces bounding an opening of said cabinet, said hinge frame member having an outwardly facing hinge mounting surface and said stop frame member having outwardly facing door stop surface, the marginal edges of said door extending beyond said cabinet opening assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining an aperture disposed in alignment with said opening and cooperating therewith to constrain said keeper for reciprocating movements as aforesaid, each said hinge parts being of generally L-shaped configuration and including bearing flange portions apertured to receive said hinge pin and mounting flange portions, said one hinge part being mounted on a rear surface of said door by fastening means passing through apertures provided in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said rear surface of said door, said other hinge part being mounted on said hinge frame member by fastening means passing through apertures in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said hinge mounting surface of said hinge frame member, said strike member being carried by said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part, said assembly flange members extendingflsubstantially at right angles with respect to said mounting ange portion of said other hinge part and having edge portions thereof engageable with said cabinet opening bounding surface of said hinge frame member so as to orient said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part with respect to said hinge frame mounting surface, said assembly also including a flange member interconnecting said first and second assembly flange members, said flange members of said assembly cooperating with said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part to conceal said anchoring means and said spring means from view when said door is in an open position.

10. A hinge latch according to claim 9, wherein said strike is in the form of a blade having a V-shaped cam surface disposed along vertically facing edge surfaces thereof, said keeper cam surface being successively engageable with first, apex and second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards closed position, said strike blade being fixed to extend rearwardly in an essentially vertically disposed plane from adjacent a marginal edge portion of said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part arranged remote from and essentially parallel to said hinge pin, and said strike blade forming an angle of less than about with respect to said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part.

11. A hinge latch according to claim 7, wherein said strike is in the form of a blade having a V-shaped cam surface disposed along vertically facing edge surfaces thereof, said keeper cam surface being successively engageable with first, apex and second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards closed position, said one hinge part being can-ied by said door to position said strike blade to extend rearwardly of said door within an essentially vertically disposed plane, said strike blade forming an angle relative to the rear surface of said door intermediate said strike blade and said hinge pin pivot axis of less than 90 whereby when said door is closed with second surface portion in engagement with said keeper cam surface said strike blade forms an angle of other than 90 with respect to said line drawn lengthwise of said apex portion.

l 8 i l

Claims

1. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination: a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet; a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertically disposed pivot axis; a strike carried on one of said hinge parts; a keeper, said keeper having anchoring means and a cam surface, said cam surface being adapted to cooperate with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said anchoring means including a pair of opposed leg portions, said leg portions including resiliently deformable web portions depending from adjacent said keeper cam surface and enlarged end portions carried by free ends of said web portions, said end portions having cam portions and stop surface portions; a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said cam surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike and including means bounding said opening for constraining said keeper for reciprocating movement through said opening in a direction essentially parallel to said pivot axis, said constraining means including guide tabs having facing guide surfaces extending inwardly of said assembly from adjacent said opening, said guide tabs terminating in free end portions, said web portions being resiliently deformed when said keeper is forced inwardly through said opening by engagement of said cam portions with said facing guide surfaces such that when said enlarged end portions are disposed within said assembly inwardly of said guide tab free end portions said web portions automatically flex outwardly into sliding engagement with said facing guide surfaces of said guide tabs thereby to arrange said stop surface portions in alignment with said guide tab free end portions in the direction of keeper reciprocation whereby to retain said keeper mounted within said assembly; and spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias said stop surface portions into contact with said guide tab free end portions such that said keeper cam surface is resiliently biased outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike.

3. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a hinge frame member and a door stop frame member bounding an opening of said cabinet, said door having marginal edges thereof extending beyond said cabinet opening, said door being hingedly supported on said hinge frame member adjacent one marginal edge thereof such that a spaced marginal edge of said door cooperates with said door stop frame member to determine the closed position of said door, said strike having a generally V-shaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex surface portion, said keeper cam surface including an elongated apex portion and being successively engageable with said first, said apex and said second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards said closed position along a line disposed at an angle of less than about 90* with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion thereby to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly and compress said spring means, and said stop surface portions being maintained out of contact with said guide tab free end portions when said door is in said closed position due to engagement of said keeper cam surface with said second surface portion of said strike, whereby said spring means tends to cam said door beyond said closed position.

6. A hinge latch according to claim 1, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having door stop means and a pair of frame members provided with forward surfaces, facing surfaces and rear surfaces, said facing surfaces bounding an opening in said cabinet to be closed by said door, said door when in cabinet opening closed position as determined by said stop means having the forward surface thereof disposed substantially flush to said frame member forward surfaces, said door being hinge supported adjacent one marginal edge thereof on one of said frame members for movement between an open position and said closed position, said strike having a generally V-shaped cam surface defined by first and second cam surface portions and an intermediate rounded apex portion, said keeper cam surface being in the form of an elongated rounded apex portion of a generally wedge-shaped keeper cam surface, said keeper apex portion being successively engageable with said first, said apex and said second surface portions of said strike along a line disposed at an angle of less than about 90* with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said keeper apex portion as said door is moved towards said closed position to reciprocate said keeper with respect to said assembly and compress said spring means, and said stop surface portions being maintained out of contact with said guide tab free end portions when said door is in said closed position due to engagement of said keeper apex portion with said second surface portion of said strike, whereby said spring means tends to cam said door beyond said closed position.

7. A hinge latch for attachment of a door to a cabinet comprising in combination: a pair of hinge parts mounted one on each of said door and cabinet; a hinge pin joining said hinge parts for movement about a vertical pivot axis; a strike carried on one of said hinge parts; a keeper, said keeper having anchoring means and a cam surface for cooperating with said strike to latch said door in closed position, said cam surface including an elongated rounded apex portion; a keeper mounting assembly carried on the other of said hinge parts, said assembly defining an opening through which said keeper projects in order to position said cam surface outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike, said assembly constraining said keeper for reciprocation along a path arranged essentially parallel to said pivot axis, said cam surface being orientated relative to said strike whereby during closing of said door said strike engages said cam surface along a line disposed at an angle less than 90* with respect to a line drawn lengthwise of said apex portion, said anchoring means being disposed to engage an interior wall portion of said assembly for mounting said keeper within said assembly; and spring means cooperating with said assembly to normally bias anchoring means into contact with said interior wall portion such that said cam surface is disposed outwardly of said assembly for cooperation with said strike to releasably latch said door in closed position.

9. A hinge latch according to claim 7, wherein said hinge latch is adapted for use with a cabinet having a hinge frame member and a door stop frame member having facing surfaces bounding an opening of said cabinet, said hinge frame member having an outwardly facing hinge mounting surface and said stop frame member having outwardly facing door stop surface, the marginal edges of said door extending beyond said cabinet opening, said assembly includes spaced flange members, a first of said flange members defining said opening and a second of said flange members defining an aperture disposed in alignment with said opening and cooperating therewith to constrain said keeper for reciprocating movements as aforesaid, each said hinge parts being of generally L-shaped configuration and including bearing flange portions apertured to receive said hinge pin and mounting flange portions, said one hinge part being mounted on a rear surface of said door by fastening means passing through apertures provided in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said rear surface of said door, said other hinge part being mounted on said hinge frame member by fastening means passing through apertures in said mounting flange portion thereof and into said hinge mounting surface of said hinge frame member, said strike member being carried by said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part, said assembly flange members extending substantially at right angles with respect to said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part and having edge portions thereof engageable with said cabinet opening bounding surface of said hinge frame member so as to orient said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part with respect to said hinge frame mounting surface, said assembly also including a flange member interconnecting said first and second assembly flange members, said flange members of said assembly cooperating with said mounting flange portion of said other hinge part to conceal said anchoring means and said spring means from view when said door is in an open position.

10. A hinge latch according to claim 9, wherein said strike is in the form of a blade having a V-shaped cam surface disposed along vertically facing edge surfaces thereof, said keeper cam surface being successively engageable with first, apex and second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards closed position, said strike blade being fixed to extend rearwardly in an essentially vertically disposed plane from adjacent a marginal edge portion of said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part arranged remote from and essentially parallel to said hinge pin, and said strike blade forming an angle of less than about 90* with respect to said mounting flange portion of said one hinge part.

11. A hinge latch according to claim 7, wherein said strike is in the form of a blade having a V-shaped cam surface disposed along vertically facing edge surfaces thereof, said keeper cam surfaCe being successively engageable with first, apex and second surface portions of said strike as said door is moved towards closed position, said one hinge part being carried by said door to position said strike blade to extend rearwardly of said door within an essentially vertically disposed plane, said strike blade forming an angle relative to the rear surface of said door intermediate said strike blade and said hinge pin pivot axis of less than 90* , whereby when said door is closed with second surface portion in engagement with said keeper cam surface said strike blade forms an angle of other than 90* with respect to said line drawn lengthwise of said apex portion.