Patent Publication Number: US-2023151652-A1

Title: Spring hinge with handle latch

Description:
BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior that presently appears relevant: 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patents 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Patent Number 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 2159564 
                 B1 
                 May 23, 1939 
                 McPherson 
               
               
                 2879119 
                 B1 
                 Mar. 24, 1959 
                 Bullock 
               
               
                 5365861 
                 B1 
                 Nov. 22, 1994 
                 Gutgsell 
               
               
                 2660498 
                 B1 
                 Nov. 24, 1953 
                 Norquist 
               
               
                 2230220 
                 B1 
                 Feb. 4, 1941 
                 Cummins 
               
               
                 2621095 
                 B1 
                 Dec. 9, 1952 
                 Haumerson 
               
               
                 1807184 
                 B1 
                 May 26, 1931 
                 Wagner 
               
               
                 8051784 
                 B2 
                 Nov. 8, 2011 
                 Hsu 
               
               
                 7096535 
                 B2 
                 Jun. 13, 2006 
                 Koshikawa et al. 
               
               
                 10800584 
                 B2 
                 Oct. 13, 2020 
                 Giraud et al. 
               
               
                 7640870 
                 B2 
                 Jan. 5, 2010 
                 L. Curtis Strong et al 
               
               
                 8555791 
                 B2 
                 Oct. 15, 2013 
                 Ju-Young Jin, Cai Yixian 
               
               
                 11149481 
                 B2 
                 Oct. 19, 2021 
                 Tanriverdi 
               
               
                 11111708 
                 B2 
                 Sep. 7, 2021 
                 Kruedener et al. 
               
               
                 4058333 
                 A1 
                 Nov. 15, 1977 
                 Roe et al. 
               
               
                 5067625 
                 A1 
                 Nov. 26, 1991 
                 Numata 
               
               
                 4969586 
                 A1 
                 Nov. 13, 1990 
                 Ostroski 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Nonpatent Literature Documents
     https://www.rockler.com/posi-lock-folding-leg-bracket   https://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=348571   https://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=366740   

     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to spring hinge with handle latch comprising a spring hinge with an attached handle and an optional anchor for attaching the device. The present disclosure also relates to various possible uses of the spring hinge with handle latch herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, there is market demand for improving home organization and maximizing living space. As such, portability and storage of furniture and other household items is often desirable. 
     Locking hinges on furniture, collapsible carts, and other items provide the ability to make their respective units compact for easier storage and/or transporting. 
     Locking hinges also allow furniture arms and legs, carts, and other items to extend back into place while also locking to prevent collapsing back into their compacted positions. 
     While useful and very common, many available locking hinges present a safety risk to users having their fingers pinched. Because of this, many locking hinges available on the market today can be unsafe for adults with delicate skin and/or brittle bones or for children. In addition, many locking hinges require a degree of dexterity and strength that many adults and children do not have. 
     In addition, this invention provides the ability to secure doors and container lids and this use is noted herein. 
     The manufacturing costs of currently available locking hinges can likely be reduced with a device requiring fewer parts such as this invention. 
     This invention serves these market needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein is a spring hinge with handle latch with an optional anchor for attaching the device. The present disclosure also relates to various possible uses of the spring hinge with handle latch herein. 
     There are two embodiments of the spring hinge with handle latch: one embodiment including the spring hinge, handle latch and optional anchor, and one embodiment without an anchor. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    depicts the spring hinge with handle latch including the optional anchor.  FIG.  1    depicts a front-view,  FIGS.  2  and  3    depict perspective-views, and  FIG.  4    depicts a side-view. 
     The spring hinge is a self-closing hinge that could be made of metal or another material that would provide spring coil tension for the hinge. The handle latch could be made of any material with sufficient substance and strength to enable the user to pull the spring hinge into an open position. The handle latch also serves to hold another hinged object in place (e.g. a table leg or a cabinet door). 
     The optional anchor could be made of the same material as the handle or something different, as long as it provides sufficient strength for attaching the spring hinge with handle latch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Disclosed herein is a spring hinge with handle latch with an optional anchor for attaching the device. The present disclosure also relates to various possible uses of the spring hinge with handle latch herein. 
         FIG.  1    depicts a front-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle latch disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  2    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle latch disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  3    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle latch disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  4    depicts a side-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle latch disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  5    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table and holding a hinged table leg in a stored position. 
         FIGS.  6  and  7    depict side-views of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table and holding a hinged table leg in a stored position. 
         FIG.  8    depicts a side-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table. Here, the spring hinge with handle latch is opened so that the hinged table leg is able to swing freely on its hinge. 
         FIG.  9    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table. Here, the spring hinge with handle latch is opened so that the hinged table leg is able to swing freely on its hinge. 
         FIG.  10    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table. Here, the spring hinge with handle is closed to enable the hinged table leg to be extended and secured by the spring hinge with handle abutting against it. This shows table leg&#39;s intended position for the table to stand upright. 
         FIGS.  11  and  12    depict side-views of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to the underside of a table. Here, the spring hinge with handle is closed to enable the hinged table leg to be extended and secured by the spring hinge with handle abutting against it. This shows table leg&#39;s intended position for the table to stand upright. 
         FIG.  13    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to a collapsible hand cart. In this view, the spring hinge with handle is in a closed position holding the foldable cart sections together. 
         FIG.  14    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to a collapsible hand cart. In this view, the spring hinge with handle is again in a closed position; however, here, it is securing a hinged handle of a collapsible cart in its extended position. 
         FIG.  15    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to a storage bin (such as in a recreational vehicle, airplane, bus, train, etc., however, not limited to vehicles). In this embodiment, the spring hinge with handle holds a bin door with a hydraulic hinge secure in a closed position. Without it, the door would spring open. Pulling the handle+6 of the device releases the door and allows it to open.  FIG.  16    depicts said embodiment while the storage bin door is open. 
         FIG.  17    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to a ceiling hatch, floor hatch, escape hatch, or other hatch door.  FIG.  17    depicts the spring hinge with handle is in a closed position and it is securing the door closed.  FIG.  18    depicts said embodiment while the hatch door is open. 
         FIG.  19    depicts a perspective-view of one embodiment of a spring hinge with handle disclosed wherein which is mounted to a cabinet frame.  FIG.  19    depicts the spring hinge with handle in a closed position and it is securing the cabinet door closed.  FIG.  20    depicts said embodiment while the cabinet door is open. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  handle 
           20  spring hinge 
           30  anchor (optional) 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein is a spring hinge with handle latch with an optional anchor for attaching the device. Without the optional anchor, the spring hinge with handle latch is attached directly from the spring hinge. This can be accomplished with screws or bolts through mounting holes on the spring hinge or any other methods such as welding, gluing, strapping, etc. 
     The present disclosure and drawings also relate to multiple examples of use of the spring hinge with handle latch herein. 
     The spring hinge with handle latch disclosed herein can be any fixture wherein securing or releasing a hinged object or a container lid could be desirable. In some embodiments, the spring hinge with handle latch is a hardware device for securing and releasing components of furniture, cabinetry, containers, doors, carts, and other items with hinged parts. 
       FIGS.  5 - 20    depict exemplary embodiments of the spring hinge with handle latch described herein. 
     One embodiment of the spring hinge with handle latch is illustrated in  FIG.  1    (front view),  FIG.  2    (front perspective view),  FIG.  3    (rear perspective view), and  FIG.  4    (side view). 
     The spring hinge with handle latch consists of a spring hinge  20  with two fabricated attachments  10  and  30 , one of which is optional  30 . 
     The handle latch  10  is affixed to one of the leaves of the spring hinge and serves four primary roles:
         1. as a handle for leverage to open and close the device.
           Pulling on the handle releases a hinged table leg, door, or other hinged extension so that the table leg, door or other extension is free to move into its extended or other positions.   
           2. to secure a hinged part of an apparatus (e.g., a table leg, door, or container lid) into a stored or closed position.
           The closed/released position of the spring hinge with handle latch (i.e., device handle released by user) enables it to hold a table leg, door, or other hinged extension into its stowed or closed position, as depicted in  FIGS.  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17 , and  19   .   
           3. to secure a loose part of an apparatus (e.g., container lid) to the main body of said apparatus.
           When in the closed position, the handle secures and/or stabilizes table legs, carts, doors, etc. on respective affixed apparatuses.   
           4. to secure and/or stabilize a hinged part of an apparatus (e.g., table leg) in said part&#39;s extended position, as depicted in  FIGS.  10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  14   .
           The other attachment  30  affixed to the opposite spring hinge leaf  20  serves as an anchor component. This anchor is optional depending on the surface requirements for attaching the device.