US2164358A - Closure controlling device - Google Patents

Description

I'July 4, 1939.

-Filed Jan. 22, 1937 B. F. STANNARD cLosURE GONTROLLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BENJAMIN E 57AM/ARD -ArToRvEg/s 7 July 4, 1939 s. F. s'rANNARn CLOSRE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 193'? /NVEN TOP; 5gg/AMW F. SMN/wien Arroz/vens Patented July 4, 1939 i UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,164,358 CLOSURE CON TROLLIN G DEVICE Benjamin F. Stannard, Los Angeles, Calif., as. signor of forty per cent to A. B. Leavelle, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 22, 1937, Serial No. 121,752 20 Claims. (Cl. 16 54) This invention relates to closure controlling de- Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on Vices of the general character embodied in my cothe line 9 9 of Figure 1; pending application field May 20, 1936, Serial No. Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional 80,813. View taken on the line I I0 of Figure 9;

An object of the present invention is to provide Figure 11 is a yfragmentary view in side eleva- 5 a closure controlling device performing the function partly broken away, and illustrating a yieldtions of a hinge and check by highly eilicient and able retaining means embodied in the invention. extremely rugged mechanism having the desirable Referring specically to the drawings, this emqualities of structural simplicity and compaotbodiment of the invention comprises hinge memness and positively controlling the closure with bers I9 and II constructed of metal, the member l0 which it is associated, in a manner to insure I0 having an elongated and approximately quarm.ovement of the closure to its closed position ter-cylindrical portion I2 from the ends of which silently and smoothly from any open position, yet project circular heads I3 and I4, and from one permitting unrestricted opening movement of longitudinal edge of which projects a rectanguthe closure. lar attaching plate I5 having suitable openings l5 Another object of the invention is to provide a through which screws I'I are adapted to be passed closure controlling device of the above described to secure the member to the hinge edge of a door character which embodies means enabling such D as shown in Figure 3. adjustment of the checking mechanism to be ef- The member II is constructed to provide an footed as Will render the device applicable to elongated and externally cylindrical portion or 20 closures of different Weights by compensating casing I8 which is of the same externaldiameter therefor, in a manner to insure operation of the as that of the heads I3 and I4 and is composed checking mechanism with maximum efliciency irof an inner tube I8a and outer tube sections I8b respective of the weight and size of the closure. and IBc spaced apart at their confronting ends A further object of the invention is to provide except for a connection provided by a radially 25 a closure controlling device embodying means for projecting attaching plate I9 having suitable retaining the closure in various open positions openings receiving screws 2I to secure the memfrom which the closure can be readily released ber II to the jamb J of the door D. The inner for movement, all While insuring that should an tube' I8a isI a force fit within the outer tube secattempt be made to force the Closure from the tions so that the resulting composite structure is 30 Open DOSitiOrl Without releasing the retaining integral for all practical purposes. The inner means, the latter will yield to positively preend of the tube section I8b terminates in an anvent damage to the device and/or the closure. nular flange or skirt Id of enlarged diameter With these and other objects in view, the inwhich is utilized in conjunction with a yieldable vention consists in the combinations, arrangeretaining or holding means to be later fully de- 35 ments and functional relationships of elements scribed.

as set forth in the following spcication and par- The endsy of the casing I8 are closed by plugs ticularly pointed out in the appended claims. 22 and 23 threaded at 24 and 25, respectively, In the aCCOrrlDaIlyiIlg drawings: into the inner tube 18a of the casing, the lower lo Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal secplug 23 being locked to the casing by pins 2E 26 40 tional View of the closure controlling device, and as shown in Figure 1 illustrating the positions occupied by the working Projecting axially from the lower plug 23 is a parts of the device When the closure is Closed; trunnion 32, the end portion of which is threaded Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional at 33. The trunnion is adapted to be freely re- View taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l, and ilceived in a radial slot 34 formed in the head I4 45 lustrating the positions occupied by the working and bounded at its closed end by a circular re- DariS in 2m aDDlOXiml'ely 130 @Den DOSiiOIl Of cess 35 in which is' freely receivable a cylindrical the closure: projection 36 of a cap nut 31 when screwed on Figure 3 iS a plan View 0f the Closure eorltrollthe threaded portion 33 as shown in Figure 1. ing deViCe applied GO the ClOSuIe; Rotatably mounted in the upper plug 22 is the 50 Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional journal 39 of an actuating member A in the views taken, respectively, on the lines 4 4, 5 5, form of a spirally twisted bar 40 of rectangular 6 6 and 1 7 of Figure 1 cross section, the bar being confined against axial Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional displacement by a circular flange 39a on the view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4; journal 39 seating in a circular recess 22a in 55 the plug and co-acting with a flanged collar 4I secured to the journal by a diametrically extending pin 42 therethrough, all as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

From the upper end of the journal 39 projects a trunnion 43, the outer end of which is lefthand threaded at 44 to receive a cap nut 45. The trunnion 43, which is square in cross section, passes freely through the circular end portion of a radial slot 45 in the head I3 as shown in Figure 5. Said circular end portion of the slot 46 is bounded by a collar 41 freely receivable in a circular recess 48 formed in the central portion of a disk '49 having a square opening 58 centrally thereof through which the square trunnion 43 extends to provide an operative connection between the disk and trunnion. The disk 48 is yieldingly urged axially into engagement with the head I3 by a short coil spring 5I, and the disk and spring are enclosed by a cupshaped cap 52 having a central opening freely receiving the trunnion 43, and being confined thereon by the nut 45.

The disk 49 is provided with a circular series of openings 53 with any of which pins 54 on the head I3 are adapted to co-act in providing an operative connection between the hinge member I8 and the disk, As shown in Figure 8, each pin 54 is beveled in a direction circumferentially of the head I3 to provide a cam surface 55, and as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the disk 48 is provided with a depending lug 56 projecting through a slot 51 in the cap 52 and adapted to co-act with lugs 58 and 58 on the head I3 to limit circumferential adjustment of the disk on the head, all for a purpose to be fully described hereinafter.

It is to be noted that with the hinge members I and II secured, respectively, to the door D and jamb J, the door can be hung and unhung when the lower nut 31 and the upper assembly consisting of the nut 45, cap 52, spring I and disk 49, are removed, as the hinge member I8 can be separated laterally from the hinge member II by the provision of the radial slots 34 and 46 in the heads I4 and I3, respectively, which permit the trunnions 43 and 32 to be disengaged from the heads. However, it will be clear that when the nut 31 and the aforestated upper assembly are applied as shown in Figure 1, they co-act with the heads to maintain the hinge members connected in hinging relationship.

The actuating bar 48 co-acts with a nut N in the form of a partially flattened and spirally twisted portion 60 of a tube 6I- enlarged at one end to provide a piston 62 working in the cylinder defined by the casing I8. The nut and piston unit are confined against rotation and to movement axially in the casing by a stud 63 of rectangular cross section fixed by a pin 54 to the lower plug 23 and having a slidable keyed co-action with a rectangular opening 65 inthe piston portion of the nut N.

A relatively heavy coil spring 66 is mounted in the casing I8 to surround the actuating member A and the nut N, the upper end of the spring having a hooked connection at 61 with the projecting extremity of the pin 42, whereas the lower end of the spring has an identical hooked connection at B8 with a pin 59 projecting from the nut N.

As the actuating member A is rotated relative to the casing I8 upon each hinging movement of the member I8 relative to the member II as will eiectopening of the door D, the actuating member will co-act with the non-rotatable nut N to feed the latter axially from the position shown in Figure l towards that shown in Figure 2 so as to compress the spring 66 between the collar 4I and the piston 62. Due to the hooked connection of the spring BE to the actuating member A through the medium of the pin 42, and to the nut N through the medium of the pin 69, the spring will be wound and loaded torsionally as well as compressionally or axially during opening movement of the door.

The interior of the casing provides a fluid chamber C, and all unoccupied space therein is intended to be lled with a suitable liquid such as castor or other oil which acts as a checking medium to retard the closing movement of the door during which the liquid is forced to bypass from the upper to the lower side of the piston 52 through the annular space provided by a pre-calculated clearance between the piston and the internal wall of the casing I8.

The piston 62 is provided with ducts 10-10 extending from one side of the piston to the other and controlled by a valve 1I in the form of a spring metal plate secured in any suitable manner, such as by soldering, at one point 12 in its periphery to the piston. The plate freely works in a recess 13 in the piston and is bifurcated to freely straddle the stud 63 and cover the ends of the ducts during closing movement of the door, yet to fulcrum about the point of attachment 12 during opening movement of the door in response to pressure of liquid in the ducts, whereby to permit the by-passing of liquid through the piston in a relatively large volume, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, so that the opening movement of the door will be unrestricted. In order to permit free passage of liquid into and out of the tube 6I, an opening 14 is provided therein.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

With the door closed, the parts of the device will occupy the position shown in Figure l. Upon opening the door, a corresponding angular movement will be imparted to the actuating member A from the hinge member I8 through the medium of the intervening operative connection provided by the disk 49, thus causing the actuating member to co-act with the non-rotatable nut N in axially feeding the latter towards the position shown in Figure 2, `during which movement the liquid in the chamber C is free to bypass through the ducts 18-18 of the piston 62. Thus the opening movement of the door` will be unrestricted by the liquid and will serve to load the spring 86 oompressionally and torsionally.

Upon releasing the door the spring 55 will urge the door closed, but the closing movement will be effectively retarde-d by the liquid, which can now only by-pass around the piston.

In order to compensate for doors of different weights which require different loadings of the spring 56 to restore the door to closed position, the disk 48 can be circumferentially adjusted, preferably when the door is closed, so as to vary the initial loading of the spring.

For example, should the spring loading be insufficient to close the door, a turning movement exerted with a wrench upon the nut 45 in a direction to tighten the latter (counter-clockwise in Figure 1) will correspondingly rotate the actuating member A to increase the torsional and compressional loading of the spring 56. It will be apparent that the disk 49 will be correspondingly rotated due to the fact that it rides over .m

the cam surfaces 55 of the pins 54 which enter successive openings 43 of the disk as the disk is advanced rotationally, the spring 5I yieldingly retaining the disk in the selected position of circumferential adjustment, so as to maintain the desire-d initial loading of the spring 66. Thus the disk 49 and its associated parts broadly constitute a means by which the loading of the return spring 66 can be varied to compensate for doors of different weights in order to insure operation of the device with maximum efliciency.

Mounted on the inner tube I8a of the casing I8 between the outer tube sections I 8b and I 8c so as to normally rest by gravity on the annular1 shoulder formed by the upper end of the tube section IBc is a sleeve I5 which constitutes a holding means and passes freely through an opening I6 in the portion I 9 of the member I I.

'I'his sleeve is provided on its upper edge with a circular series of notches TI and with a radial lug 'I8 which projects into a slot 'I9 in the portion I 2 of the member I 0 so that the sleeve is confined against rotation relative to this member yet is capable of vertical adjustment on the tube I 8a of the casing I8.

Mounted on the tube I8a above the sleeve 'I5 so as to be concealed by the skirt I8d is a torsional spring 80 which is normally constricted upon the tube I8a and terminates at one end in a laterally bent extremity constituting a lug BI adapted to enter any one of the notches ll' upon manually raising the sleeve l5.

When it is desired to retain the door in an open position, the sleeve 'I5 is raised to engage the lug 8| with one of the notches '11, so that by temporarily holding the sleeve raised until the door is release-d, the action of the spring 66 in tending to close the door, will force the lug tightly against one wall of the co-acting notch. As the force with which the spring 80 is constricted upon the tube I8a is suicient to prevent its rotation on the tube under the urging action of the return spring 66, the sleeve will be maintained in its raised position to hold the door in the selected open position.

However, should an attempt be made to force the door closed when thus held open, the constricting force of the spring Btl upon the tube IBa will be overcome, thus permitting the spring 80 to be rotated on the tube by the sleeve 'I5 and the door to be closed without damage to the device and/or to the door. It will thus be appreciated that the sleeve 15, spring 89 and the associated parts broadly constitute means by which the door can be releasably maintained in various open positions, yet yielding to an excessive force applied to the door by permitting the latter to be moved in order to prevent damage to -the door and the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a uid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; means in the chamber operatively connected to said spring and co-acting with said members to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the members in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in said chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of said members under the urging action of the spring, yet rende-r the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; and means including an element rotatable about the hinging axis of said members by which the initial loading of the spring can be varied to compensate for closures of different weights.

2. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a iiuid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; means in the chamber operatively connected to said spring and co-acting with said members to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the members in one direction; means co-acting with uid in said chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of said members under the urging action of the spring, yet render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; a load adjusting element operatively associated with the second means; and means on sai-d element and one of the hinge members by which a variation in the initial loading of said spring by an adjustment of the element, is caused to be retained.

3. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members one having means defining a :Huid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; means in the chamber operatively connected to said spring and co-acting with said members to load the spring compressionally and torsionally in response to relative hinging movement of the members in one direction; means co-acting with lluid in said chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of said members under the urging action of the spring, yet .render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the uuid; a load adjusting element means for mounting said element for rotation about the hinging axis of said members and operatively associating the element with the second means to vary the initial loading of said spring in response to rotation of the element; the element and one of the hinge members having co-acting means for retaining the element in the selected position of adjustment.

4. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a iluid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; an actuating member inv the chamber mounted for rotation about the hinging axis of the hinge members; means for operatively connecting the actuating member to one of the hinge members for rotation thereby; means in the chamber coacting with the actuating member to load the spring in response to relative rotation` of the hinge members in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet rendering movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; means by which said actuating member can be rotated independently of the hinge members to vary the initial loading of said spring; and means by Which the actuating member can be retained in a selected position of rotary adjustment relative to one of the hinge members so as to maintain the spring loading.

5. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a uid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; an actuating member in the chamber, mounted for rotation about the hinging axis of the hinge members and having a non-circular trunnio-n; a disk having a slidable keyed connection with said trunnion and provided with a circular series of openings; a pin carried by one o-f the hinge members and adapted to enter any one of said openings to vary the relationship of the disk and said one of the hinge members rotationally and provide anoperative connection therebetween; means in the chamber operatively connected to the other hinge member and co-acting with the actuating member through the medium of said spring to load the latter in response to rotation of the actuating member by said one of the hinge members in one direction relative to the other hinge member; and means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet rendering movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid.

6. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a fluid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; an actuating member in the chamber, mounted for rotation abo-ut the hinging axis of the hinge members and having a non-circular trunnion; a disk having a slidable keyed connection with said trunnion and provided with a circular series of openings; a pin carried by one of the hinge members and adapted to enter any one of said openings to vary the relationship of the disk and said one of the hinge members rotationally and provide an operative connection therebetween; means for yieldingly urging the disk axially in a direction for the pin to enter the openings; the pin having a cam surface with which the disk is adapted to co-act in clearing the disk from the pin When the disk is rotated in one direction, whereby to enable the disk to be advanced in said one direction for co-action with the pin in different positions of adjustment of the disk; means in the chamber operatively connected to the other hinge member and co-acting with the actuating member through the medium of said spring, to load the latter in response to rotation of the actuating member by said one of the hinge members in said one direction relative to the other hinge member; and means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet rendering movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the iiuid.

7. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members one having means dening a fluid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; means in the chamber operatively connected to said spring and co-acting with said members to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the members in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in said chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of said members under the urging action of the spring, yet render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; the second means including an actuating member mounted for rotation about the hinging axis of the hinge members and having a non-circular trunnion; a load adjusting element mounted on said trunnion and having a keyed connection therewith; said element and one of the hinge members having co-acting means by which the element can be retained in different positions of rotational adjustment relative to said one of tho hinge members, to vary the initial loading of the spring; and means by which the element can be adjusted.

8. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members one having means dening a fluid chamber; a coil spring in the chamber; means in the chamber operatively connected to said spring and co-acting with said members to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the members in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in said chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of said members under the urging action of the spring, yet render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; the second means including an actuating member mounted for rotation about the hinging axis of the hinge members and having a noncircular trunnion; a load adjusting element slidably keyed on said trunnion and having a circular series of openings; a pin on one of the hinge members adapted to enter any one of said openings to retain said element in a selected position of rotational adjustment; a spring for yieldingly urging the element axially towards the pin; the pin having a cam surface with which the element co-acts to enable the latter to be rotaticnally adjusted in one direction against the urging of the last mentioned spring; a nut on the trunnion; and a cap confined by the nut to enclose the element and last mentioned spring.

9. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a fluid chamber; an actuating member journaled in one of the hinge members co-axially therewith, and having a spirally formed portion extending into said chamber; means operatively connecting the actuating member to the other hinge member for rotation thereby; a nut in the chamber having a piston working therein and a spirally formed tubular portion receiving said spirally formed portion of the actuating member; means co-acting with the nut to prevent rotation thereof relative to said one of the hinge members yet render the nut free to be axially fed by the actuating member in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members; a coil spring operatively connected to the actuating member and nut so as to be loaded in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members in one direction; and means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge member under the action of the spring, yet rendering the movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid.

10. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members. one having means dening a fluid chamber; an actuating member journaled in one of the hinge members, co-axially therewith, and having a spirally formed portion extending into said chamber; means operatively connecting the actuating member to the other hinge member for rotation thereby; a nut in the chamber having a piston working therein and a spirally formed tubular portion receiving said spirally formed portion of the actuating member; means co-acting with the nut to prevent rotation thereof relative to said one of the hinge members yet render the nut free to be axially fed by the actuating member in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members; a coil spring operatively connected to the actuating member and nut so as to be loaded in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members in one direction; means (rc-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge member under the action of the spring, yet rendering the movement of the hinge member in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; and means by which the operative connection between the actuating member and said other of the hinge members can be varied rotationally to vary the initial loading of the spring.

11. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members, one having means defining a fluid chamber; an actuating member journaled in one of the hinge members co-axially therewith, and having a spirally formed portion extending into said chamber; means operatively connecting the actuating member to the other hinge member for rotation thereby; a nut in the chamber having a piston working therein and a spirally formed tubular portion receiving said spirally formed portion of the actuating member; means co-acting with the nut to prevent rotation thereof relative to said one of the hinge members yet render the nut free to be axially fed by the actuating member in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members; a coil spring operatively connected. to the actuating member and nut so as to be loaded in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge member under the action of the spring, yet rendeiing the movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the iuid; and co-acting means on the actuating member and said other of they hinge members by which relative rotational adjustment therebetween can be eifected to providev the operative connection in different positions. of adjustment, whereby to enable the initial loading of the spring to be varied.

12. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hinge members, one having a casing dening a fluid chamber; plugs closing the ends of the chamber; a trunnion on one plug; a spirally formed actuating member in the chamber, journaled in the other plug and having a trunnion; means coacting with the trunnions and the other hinge member to hingedly connect the hinge members; means for operatively connecting the actuating member to the other hinge member for rotation thereby; a nut in the chamber having a piston Working therein and a spirally formed tubular portion receiving said actuating member; a stud fixed to the first mentioned plug and with which the nut has a slidable keyed connection; a coil spring in the chamber; means operatively connecting said spring to the actuating member and nut so as to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge members in one direction; and means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid.

13. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hinge members, one having a casing defining a iiuid chamber; plugs closing the ends of the chamber; a trunnion on one plug; a spirally formed actuating member in the chamber, journaled in the other plug and having a trunnion; means co-acting with the trunnions and the other hinge member to hingedly connect the hinge members; means for operatively connecting the actuating member to the other hinge member for rotation thereby; a nut in the chamber having a piston Working therein and a spirally formed tubular portion receiving said actuating member; a stud xed to the first mentioned plug and with which the nut has a slidable keyed connection; a coil spring in the chamber; means operatively connecting said spring to the actuating member and nut so as to load the spring in response to relative hinging movement of the hinge member in one direction; means co-acting with fluid in the chamber to check the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet render the movement of the members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted by the fluid; and means co-acting with the actuating member and said other hinge member by which they can be operatively connected in diierent relative positions rotationally in order to vary the initial loading of the spring.

14. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair of hingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, means operatively connected to one member to rotate therewith and be free for latching adjustment relatively thereto; means on the other hinge member with which the first means when adjusted to a latching position co-acts to retain the members in any one of a plurality of relatively adjusted positions against the urging action of the members; and means for rendering said means ineffective to retain the members in the selected adjustment position as aforestated, should manual force be exerted to adjust the members relatively in said one direction.

15. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair of hingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, means operatively connected to one member to rotate therewith and be free for latching adjustment relatively thereto; and a member frictionally correlated with the other hinge member and having means co-acting with the first means when adjusted to a latching position, to frictionally hold the hinge members in any one of a plurality of relatively adjusted positions against the urging action of the hinge members.

16. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair of hingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, means operatively connected to one member to rotate therewith and be free for latching adjustment relatively thereto; and a coil spring constricted upon the other member to frictionally grip the latter, and having means with which the first means when adjusted to one position, can co-act to retain the members in any one of a plurality of relatively adjusted positions against the urging action of the members.

1'7. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair ofhingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, a sleeve mounted to rotate with one hinge member about the hinging axis of the members, and to gravitate to a non-latching position in the applied position of the hinge on a closure; a coil spring constricted on the other hinge member to frictionally grip the latter; and means 0n the sleeve and spring adapted to co-act when the sleeve is raised to a latching position, to retain the hinge members in any one of a plurality of relatively adjusted positions against the urging action of the members.

18. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair of hingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, means operatively connected to one member to rotate therewith and be free for latching adjustment relatively thereto, and a member operatively associated yieldingly with the other hinge member and having means co-acting with the first means when adjusted to a latching position, to yieldingly hold the hinge members in any one of a plurality of relatively adjusted positions against the urging action o the hinge members.

19. In a hinge door check of the type which includes a pair of hingedly connected members urged to hingedly move relatively in one direction, means co-acting with the hinge members to releasably retain them in a relatively adjusted position against the urging action of the members; and means by which the first means is rendered ineffective to retain the hinge members as aforestated should a predetermined force be exerted to relatively adjust the members.

20. A closure hinge comprising a pair of hingedly connected members; a coil spring; means operatively connecting the spring and members by which the spring is caused to be loaded compressionally and torsionally in response to relative rotation of the hinge members in one direction; fluid means for checking the reverse hinging movement of the hinge members under the action of the spring, yet rendering movement of the hinge members in said one direction comparatively unrestricted; and means operatively connected to the spring, by which the initial loading thereof can be effected.

BENJAlVDlN F. STANNARD.

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