Patent ID: 6611993
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: E05D,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A hinge mechanism for joining a door to a vessel, the hinge mechanism comprising:a housing having a first end and a second end; a rod reciprocally disposed in the housing, the rod having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted to pivotally engage the door; and a spring disposed within the housing, the spring including a first end and a second end, the first and second ends operatively connected to a corresponding end of the rod by first and second slidable couplings, the first slidable coupling arranged to bias the rod in an inward direction in response to movement of the rod in an outward direction, the second slidable coupling arranged to bias the rod in the outward direction in response to movement of the rod in the inward direction, the spring, the rod, and the ends of the housing cooperating to permit movement of the rod between an outward position, an inward position, and a neutral position between the outward position and the inward position, the spring and the couplings further arranged to bias the rod toward the neutral position.