Improvements in Spring Hinges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Hinges.
I, FRANK NICHOLS KELSEY, of 319 Elm Street, Northampton, County of
Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in spring hinges, the same being especially
applicable for the hanging of doors and blinds, and capable of exerting such a
spring action that the door or blind may be maintained in any one of several
positions, the same nevertheless, being capable of having its position changed on
the proper application thereto of such a force as to overcome the resistance exerted
thereon by the spring. Under the improvements in its construction the spring
hinge is of unusual simplicity and durability, easy of application; and the inven-
tion consists in the construction and combination or arrangement of parts all
substantially as will hereinafter more fully appear and be set forth in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the present invention is
illustrated,
Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a window casing and of a
blind, showing in plan view the present improved hinge as applied between the
said casing and blind.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the spring-containing casing or socket which also
forms one member of the hinge.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bushing for the hinge.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of said socketed hinge member taken on the
line 4-4, of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is in part a section and in part a plan view of the improved hinge
with one element illustrated in the hinge of the preceding figures dispensed
with.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the form of spring which may be advan-
tageously employed in the hinge of the latter form.
In the drawings, A indicates a portion of the window casing having the usual
rabbet or rest, B represents the blind, and C the hinge, as a whole, uniting
said casing and blind and forming the medium of support for the latter upon the
former.
The hinge essentially comprises the two members, one constituted by the spring-
containing casing or socket a, provided at its outer end with the separated ear-
pieces, or lugs b, b., and the other constituted by the bracket c, pivotally connected
to said first member by the pin d.
The socket or casing member a, is in the form of a thin cylindrical shell,-
having a closed bottom but open at its top,-and is let into a correspondingly
formed opening bored therefor in the casing, and is provided at its outer portion
with the externally projected flanges a', u'. The said ear-pieces b, b, stand at
opposite sides of the opening in the upper end of said casing and are of hooked
form substantially as shown at e, it being noted that the overhanging portion e', of
the hook is formed full so that when the hinge is in its application and position as
shown in Figure 1, the said full portion has a dip or depression inside of the plane
indicated by the dotted line ww, Figure 1, parallel with the bearing of the blind
on the rabbet-seat a, therefor, and the opposing portion e², of the hook-forming lug
being also formed substantially, as shown, with a separation between it and the
part e, about equal to the diameter of the pin, there is no liability under usual con-
ditions of the pin and bracket c, which carries same, escaping from its engagement

page_text: with the said hook lugs of the casing member a, when the blind is closed, or when
swung away back against the side of the building, although when the blind and
bracket are swung into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the
pin may be disengaged from the hook, it however then being necessary to over-
come the binding force which is exerted on the bracket and pin thereof by the
spring f, applied as shown and the manner of which application will be stated.
The end of the bracket is formed rounded, concentrically with the pivot-pin d,
but has at different intervals in its rounded surface the rests or flats 1 and 2,
and on its back the one 3.
The spring, let into the casing and resting by one end on the closed bottom
thereof, exerts a forcing action outwardly upon the portion of the bracket which is
between the mouth of the casing and the pivot d, the tendency of which is to hold
the bracket and part supported. thereon in whatever position it may be left, but
with the greater certainty when one or another of the flat-portions 1, 2, or 3, are
borne upon by the spring, for then in order that the bracket may be swung it must
exert a cam-action against the spring to further compress the latter.
It is preferred to provide a bushing for the end of the spring to afford a flat
bearing for resisting the contact of the bracket extremity, and one in the form
shown at is an advantageous and practical one, the same consisting in the hollow
cylindrical part with a flat closing head at one end the extremity of the spring
entering the bushing and bearing against the inner side of its head.
The said bushing is movable axially relative to the casing a, and is limited in its
outward movement by the stop-lugs, bearing against the circular ledge k formed
on the inner wall of the casing near the mouth thereof.
The ledge is vertically grooved as at j, to permit the entrance therebelow of the
said stop-lugs, which after being passed through said grooves are disposed out of
line therewith.
In lieu, however, of a bushing for the spring independently provided, the end
bearing portion thereof, of the desired flat form, may be constituted by giving to
the extremity of the wire one or more return bends, the same being disposed in a
plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the spiral spring, as shown at m,
in Figures 5 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :
1. A spring hinge consisting of two members a and c, the one comprising the
socketed casing open at its outer end and provided thereat with the hook shaped
lugs e, e, standing at opposite sides of the socket, the other member c, carrying the
pin d, for engaging said hook-lugs, and the spiral spring disposed in said casing
and exerting an outward forcing action with relation to the member c, substantially
as described.
2. A spring hinge consisting of two members a and c, the one comprising the
casing socket open at its one end and provided at opposite sides of the mouth with
lugs, and internally provided with the grooves, j, and the other member provided
with the flat portions 1, 2 and 3, and the pivot-forming pin d, the bushing g
having the studs and the spring, all combined for operation substantially as
described.
Dated this 10th day of March 1891
FRANK NICHOLS KELSEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.