Patent ID: 7000289

Claim:
A low friction gravity hinge consisting essentially of: an upper cylindrical knuckle having a first terminating surface and an opposing second terminating surface, said second terminating surface being oblique to the axis of said upper knuckle across its entire surface; a lower cylindrical knuckle having a first terminating surface and an opposing second terminating surface said first terminating surface of said lower cylindrical knuckle being oblique to the axis of said lower knuckle and at the same angle across its entire oblique surface as said second surface of said upper knuckle; an oblique polymeric bushing between said upper and lower knuckles, said bushing having substantially the same oblique angle as said second terminating surface of said upper knuckle and said first terminating surface of said lower knuckle; a spindle received by at least one of said knuckles and said bushing for establishing rotating communication between said upper and lower knuckles; said polymeric bushing having a lower coefficient of friction with respect to said respective oblique surfaces of said upper and lower knuckles than said respective surfaces have for each other and wherein said bushing and said knuckles form a continuous cylinder when said knuckles are in a resting position; and a cylindrical polymeric sleeve within said upper knuckle between said knuckle and said spindle for reducing rotational friction therebetween.