Patent ID: 7966697

Claim:
A hinge comprising: a first leaf and a second leaf foldably connected by pin means defining an axis of rotation between the said leaves, each of said first and second leaves having an edge formed with at least two spaced apart aligned pin-retaining sleeves embracing the pin means whereby the said pin means are engaged with each leaf, and the said spaced apart aligned sleeves on each leaf edge are staggered along the pin means, such that a said pin-retaining sleeve of said first leaf is located between two spaced apart pin-retaining sleeves of said second leaf, and a said pin-retaining sleeve of said second leaf is located between two spaced apart pin-retaining sleeves of said first leaf; wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are movable relative to one another along the axis of the pin means by virtue of the spacing between the said spaced apart sleeves being greater than the length of the sleeve therebetween; spring means adapted to bias the respective leaves axially from a first axial position relative to one another on the pin means towards a second axial position relative to one another on the pin means; and abutment means on each said leaf; wherein the said abutment means are provided with abutment surfaces and are so located and dimensioned that (a), when the leaves are in the second axial position, rotational movement of the leaves with respect to one another is limited by a stop formed by the mutual abutment of opposed rotation-limiting abutment surfaces of the respective abutment means, and (b) when the leaves are in the first axial position, against the bias of the spring means, the abutment means on the two leaves are axially displaced so that the respective rotation-limiting surfaces are not opposed and rotational movement of the leaves with respect to one another is not so limited by such stop, and upon rotational movement of the leaves beyond a rotational position corresponding to that of such stop the leaves are freely relatively rotatable while being held in said first axial position by a stop formed by the mutual abutment under the bias of the spring means of opposed axially-directed abutment surfaces of said respective abutment means.