(ModeL) L. M. DEVORE & P. W. HOEFER.

SPRING HINGE.

No. 396,031. Patented Jan; 8, 1889.

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mm. ml 1m" n. PETERS. Phulml lhogrzphur. Washington olic UNITED TATES ATENT rricn.

LEVI M. DEVORE AND FRED. HOEFER, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS,

BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STOVER MANUFACTUR- SPRING- HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,031, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed February 2'7, 1888. Serial No. 265,460. (Mudeh) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LEVI M. DEX ORE, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, and FRED. IV. HOEFER,

also a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-l-linges; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvmncnts in spring-hinges, and is fully described and explained in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a hinge embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a section through the lines a; on, Fig. 1,and 3 1 ,l ig.2. Fig. 4 is a section of a modified form, the position of the plane of section being the same as that of the plane of section in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A A are two hinge-leaves formed, respectively, with ears a a a a, connected by short pintles p p in a manner common in hinges of this class. The leaf A is provided with a rod, R, parallel to the axis of the hinge, but at one side thereof, the rod 0 being supported at its ends by the ears a a.

of the leaf and at its center by braces r 0', formed integrally with the rod and the leaf. The leaf A is preferably formed with a hood or shell, 13, adapted to inclose and conceal a spring, and within this shell is an arbor, C, parallel with the axis of the hinge and having its ends seated in suitable bearings, 0. Two coiled springs, S S, are coiled about the arbor in opposite directionsz'. 6., one right 40 hand and the other left handand the outer ends, .9 s, of the two coils are secured to the leaf in any suitable manner, as bypassing through openings in the shell 13.

The inner contiguous ends, 5- s, of the two coils are extended at right angles to the arbor C toward the rod R, their extremities being formed with hooks lying immediately under the axis of the hinge. The hooks engage the lower end of a link, L, whose upper end is hooked over or otherwise pivotally connected to the rod R at its center. The arrangement of the spring, the link, and the rod is such that the force of the spring tends to draw the rod downward or toward the base of the hinge, and when the hinge is closed, as shown in the figures, this force is evidently exerted to hold it closed and resists any effort to move the leaf A in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. If, however, the leaf be r0- tated in the direction indicated by the arrow until the rod R reaches a position directly above the axis of the hinge, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the rod R, the axis of the hinge, and the hooks s at the ends of the springs S are all in the same plane, and the hinge is at its dead-point, the force of the spring having no tendency to either open or close the hinge. If the rotation of the leaf be continued still farther in the same direction, the rod R passes beyond the vertical 7o plane of the axis of the hinge, and the force of the spring then tends to throw the hinge open. As shown, the hinge reaches its deadpoint when opened about one hundred and twenty degrees from its closed position; but the position of the rod and the spring may be so varied as to bring the dead-point in any desired position.

Fig. 4: shows a hinge in which a flat spring, S, is wound about a suitable arbor, one of its ends being secured in a slot therein, while its other end, 5, is hooked to a link, L, corresponding in position and function to the link in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The operation of this hinge is the same as that of the one illustrated in the first three figures.

It is evident that other modifications may be evolved by any skilled mechanic from those illustrated and described. These forms are shown, therefore, simply as illustrations of the principle of operation which is common to them all, and not with the intention of setting forth all the variations that have occurred to us or that may be suggested to others upon examination of the drawings herein. In all the forms shown the link lies upon one side of the axis of the hinge when the hinge is closed and on the opposite side of the axis suitably-eonneeted leaves, one of which provided with a pivotal rod or pin, a springeoil mounted parallel to the hinge-axis upon.

the other of said leaves and having its free I or working end upon the side of the eoil next the door or jamb, and a link eonneeting said free end with said pivotal rod, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the lead A, of the leal A, connected therewith by suitable pintles and having the rod R at one side of the axis of the leaves, the arbor C, mounted on the leaf A, the springs S b, eoi]ed about the arbor U and having their outer ends, 3 s, secured to the leaf A and their inner ends, 3 5, extending toward the rod lft, and the link L, connecting the ends 3' .5" and the rod R and adapted to cross the axis of the hinge as it is opened or closed, and thereby to reverse the operation of the spring upon the leaves, subst:tntially as and tor the purpose set forth.

The combination oi? the leaves A A, one Inovided with the rod R at one side of the axis of the leaves and the other with the hood or shell 1 the arbor lying within the shell ll and having its ends secured in bearings e e in the leaf, the springs S S, coiled about the arbor and having their ends 3 s secured by passing through the shell and their ends 5 .9 ex ended toward the rod R, and the link ll, etmneeting the ends 5- .s" with the rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this speeitieation in the presence of two subserio ing witnesses.

LEVI M. DEVORE. FRED. W. HOEFER.

\Vitnessec:

J. A. (11mm, Jos. B. SMITH.