Patent ID: 7784154

Claim:
A hinge with variable friction comprising: a pintle being non-circular in cross section having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a hinge axis; a stationary leaf being connected to the pintle and having a main panel; an activating panel being formed perpendicularly on the main panel and having an activating edge and an outer surface; and a mounting panel being formed perpendicularly on the main panel near the outer surface of the activating panel, being mounted rotatably around the pintle and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and a washer assembly being mounted around the pintle and having a biasing member being mounted around the pintle; a movable washer being mounted movably around and being rotated by the pintle adjacent to the biasing member and having an inner surface; an outer surface; an annular edge; a center; an elongated hole being formed through the movable washer, corresponding to and being slidably mounted securely around the pintle; multiple teeth being formed on the inner surface of the movable washer; two displacement protrusions being formed on and protruding transversely out from the annular edge of the movable washer, being opposite to each other, selectively abutting the activating edge of the activating panel and each displacement protrusion having an end being a distance from the center of the movable washer; and a replacement protrusion being formed on and protruding transversely out from the annular edge of the movable washer, being opposite to each other, selectively abutting the activating edge of the activating panel and each replacement protrusion having an end being a distance from the center of the movable washer shorter than the distance from the end of a displacement protrusion to the center; an abrasion washer being mounted securely on the pintle adjacent to the movable washer and having an outer surface; and multiple teeth being formed on the outer surface of the abrasion washer and selectively engaging the teeth of the movable washer; and a fastener mounted securely on the distal end of the pintle; whereby the movable washer moves perpendicular to the hinge axis along the elongated hole when the two displacement protrusions and the replacement protrusion selectively abut the activating edge during an opening and closing movement of the hinge so as to alternately align and misalign the teeth of the abrasion washer and the teeth of the movable washer to decrease opening friction and increase closing friction respectively.