Patent ID: 6976290

Claim:
A hinge biased toward open and closed positions, comprising: a first bracket adapted to be mounted to a first workpiece, said first bracket comprising a generally tubular sleeve and opposed spaced-apart surfaces including first openings that are aligned with each other; a second bracket adapted to be mounted to a second workpiece, said second bracket comprising opposed spaced-apart surfaces including second openings that are aligned with each other; said first bracket and said second bracket being oriented with respect to each other effective to align said first openings with said second openings; a hinge pin received in said first openings and said second openings effective to enable said first bracket to be pivotally movable relative to said second bracket, said tubular sleeve extending generally parallel with an axis of said hinge pin; a spring having a serpentine geometry and a generally L-shape in a direction of said hinge pin axis when said spring is in a relatively stable state, said spring comprising first and second end portions, said first end portion being pivotally received in said sleeve and extending generally parallel with said hinge pin and said second end portion contacting said second bracket and extending generally parallel with said hinge pin, a center reference line extending between said hinge axis and an axis of said second end portion of said spring; wherein when said first bracket is pivoted relative to said second bracket said first end portion of said spring disposed in said sleeve travels in a substantially arcuate path around said hinge pin axis between open and closed positions of the hinge, and movement of said hinge between said open and closed positions that locates said first end portion near said center line reduces a distance between said first end portion and said second end portion thereby generating a spring force that urges said first end portion away from said center line and said hinge toward one of said open and closed positions.