Patent ID: 7779508

Claim:
A door closer configured to adapt a storage device having a body and a swinging door for automatic closing comprising: a hinge including, a cylindrical body defining an axis, a first hinge element having at least one planar face and a second hinge element having at least one planar face, each of said hinge elements having a length dimension and a height dimension parallel said axis and being configured to rotate about said axis; the first hinge element including a first plate member and a second plate member, the first plate member and the second plate member being coupled with the body at axially overlapping locations and each including an inboard edge adjoining the body, and an outboard edge; the at least one planar face of each one of the first plate member and the second plate member including an outer planar face extending from the corresponding inboard edge to the corresponding outboard edge, and an inner planar face extending from the corresponding inboard edge to the corresponding outboard edge; the inner planar face of the first plate member and the inner planar face of the second plate member defining an inner right angle and an outer right angle sharing a vertex which is parallel the axis, the inner right angle and the outer right angle being opposite angles, and the axis being located within the outer right angle; the second hinge element including a third plate member, the third plate member being coupled with the body at a location axially overlapping with the first plate member and the second plate member, and having an inboard edge adjoining the body and an outboard edge, the third plate member further including an inner planar face extending from the corresponding inboard edge to the corresponding outboard edge, and an outer planar face extending from the corresponding inboard edge to the corresponding outboard edge; a biasing device coupled with each of said first and second hinge elements and configured to rotationally bias said first and second hinge elements in opposing directions about said axis, said biasing device having a spring force; and a panel coupled with said second hinge element and having a length dimension greater than a length dimension of said first hinge element; wherein said door closer is configured via the spring force of said biasing device to bias a swinging door of a storage device toward a closed position against a body of the storage device when coupled to an exterior of the storage device, at least in part via an interaction between one of said hinge elements and the door, and an interaction between the other of said hinge elements and the body via said panel.