US600318A - Combined hinge and fastener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

L. L. FLETCHER. COMBINED HINGE AND PASTBNER.

Patented Mair. 8

c T L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI L. FLETCHER, OF MALTA, OHIO.

COMBINED HINGE AND FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,318, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed December 5, 1896. Serial No. 614,612. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI L. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malta, in the county of Morgan and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined Hinge and Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined hinges and fasteners; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful device of this type, forming a combined hinge and fastener for coffin-lids or other similar objects, whereby the lid or other object may be lifted at either edge, while the opposite edge maintains its hinged relation to the box or frame to which it is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive combined hinge and fastener which admits of the lid, cover, or other object to which the same is fitted bein g entirely removed from its support.

WVith these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssectional View of the upper portion of a casket or box, showing the hinge and fastener in its applied position. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sectional views showing, respectively, different positions of the casket or box lid to which the hinge is applied. Fig. 4: is a detail in perspective of the catch member of the hinge. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the catch member with the housingcap removed. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the fixed member of the hinge. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing a modified form of the fixed member of the hinge.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate, respectively, the fixed and movable members of the hinge, the member 2 being properlytermed a catch member, as the same is designed to have a locking as well as a pivotal connection with the fixed member, so that the device will form both a hinge and a fastener for the lid or other similar object to which the same is applied.

For convenience in describing the invention the hinge is illustrated as applied to the lid of a casket or box, and the fixed member 1 of the hinge is adapted to be secured to the upper edge of said casket or box in a fixed position.

The fixed member 1 of the hinge essentially comprises a fiat base-plate 8, provided with oppositely-located screw-holes 4 for receiving the screws or other fasteners which secure the fixed member in its proper applied position, and said base-plate 3 is cut away at one side, as at 5, and is formed at the inner wall of the cut-away portion 5 with an integral upwardly-disposed hinge-postti, having an outwardly and downwardly curved hook 7 at its upper end, which hook is designed to 006perate with the catch member of the hinge to provide for the interlocking engagement of the two members and also for the pivotal turning of the catch member on the fixed member, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings.

The movable catch member 2 of the hinge is designed to be fitted to the under side of the lid or cover of the casket adjacent to the edge thereof contiguous to the portion of the casket to which the fixed member 1 is fitted, and the said member 2 is provided with a fiat base-plate 8, having a plurality of screw-receiving holes 8 and bent at its outer edge to form a right-angularly-disposed guide-flange 9, which fits against the outside edge of the lid or cover, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Adjacent to the outer guide-flange 9 the base-plate 8 is formed with a post-receiving opening 10, communicating at its outer end with a. guide-slot 11, formed longitudinally in the flange 9 at the point of junction between such flange and the body of the plate 8. At the inner end of said postreceiving opening in the base-plate the latter is provided with an integral upturned restear 12, against which bears one end of the retracting coiled spring 13, arranged on top of the base-plate 8 and lying within the inner end portion of the longitudinally-disposed slot 14 of the flat slidable latch-plate 15. The flat slidable latch-plate 15 is normally retracted inward by the spring 13 and has the inner portion thereof guided within a housing cap or plate 16, spanning the plate 15 and spring 13 and secured at its edges to the body of the base-plate, said housing cap or plate being provided in the crown thereof'with a longitudinally-disposed seat 17, conforming with the upper side of the spring 13 to assist in properly retaining the latter in place. The spring-retracted slidable latch-plate 15 of the catch member works fiat on top ofthe baseplate, and the longitudinal slot 14 therein communicates with the post-receiving opening 10 of the base-plate. The outer end portion of the latch-plate slides through the guide-opening 11 of the flange 9 and is formed at opposite side edges with the stop-shoulders 18, engaging. against the outer side of the flange 9 to limit the inward movement of the latch-plate. The said outer end portion of the latch-plate is further provided with an opening 19, in which is tied the pull cord or string for drawing said plate outward to release the same from the hook 7 of the hingepost 6.

In the event of the sides of the casket or box being very thin or composed of fragile material a modified form of the fixed member of the hinge may be employed, as illustrated matic engagement.

in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. In the modified construction of fixed member referred to the base-plate 3 of the fixed member is formed at one edge with a pendent flange 21, fitting the inner surface of the casket sides, and from the ends of which flange are projected depending securing-arms 22, provided at their lower ends with right-angularly-disposed terminal spurs or prongs 23, which are driven into the wood, and thereby obviate the pulling out of the screws used in securing the other form of fixed member in place.

In using the combined hinge and fastener any desired number of the same may be fitted to opposite sides of the box and the lid or cover thereof, and in applying such lid or cover the slidable latch-plates 15 of the hinges may be drawn outward to permit the lid or cover to be lowered over the hinge-post 6, after which the latch-plates are-released, so that the same will spring into engagement with the hinge-posts below the terminal hooks 7 thereof, thereby fastening the lid'or cover securely on the box or casket. It will be observed that when the latch-plates are retracted to their inward limit of movement the area of the exposed portions of the slots 14 is less than the Width of the hook-terminals 7, thereby preventing the disengagement of said hook-terminals from the latch-plate until the latter are drawn outward sufficiently far-to uncover a sufficient portion of their slots 14 to permit the hook-terminals 7 to readily pass 'therethrough. Whilethe latch-plates may be drawn outward in engaging the catch members of the hinges with the fixed members, this is not necessary nor usually resorted to, inasmuch as the rounded form of the hookterminals 7 permits the catch members to be forced into engagement therewith, the latchplates sliding outward to permit of this auto- Should it be desired to lift the lid from one side of the casket or box,

the latch-plates of the hinges at that side are pulled outward to permit of their disengagement from the fixed members, after which the lid may be lifted and the catch members of the hinge at the opposite edges of the lid will swing or turn upon the hinge-posts which form the fulcrum. At this point it will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that when the device acts in the capacity of a hinge one end or wall of the slot in the latch-plate-is adapted to hinge or turn in the loop of the'open' hook 7.

The construction .of hinge herein described is especially adapted for use in connection with burial cases or caskets, where it is often necessary to obtain access to the casket upon one side or the other and also where it is necessary at times to quickly remove and replace the lid, all of which results can be conveniently accomplished by the use of the particular hinge described.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined hinge and fastener consisting of a fixed member comprising a base-plate having an integral upwardly-disposed post bent downwardly at its upper end to form an open hook, and a movable catch member comprising a base-plate, a slidable latch-plate mounted on the base-plate and having a longitudinal slot receiving the post and adapted to have one end or wall thereof hinge in the loop of said hook, and a spring arranged within the slot of the latch-plate and having a connection at one end with the base-plate, substantially as set forth.

2. A combined hinge and fastener comprising a fixed member having an integral upwardly-disposed post formed with an outwardly-curved terminal hook at its upper end, and a movable catch member comprising a base-plate provided near its outer edge with a post receiving opening, and a slidable spring-retracted latch-plate mounted on the base-plate and having a longitudinally-disposed slot adapted to receive said post, substantially as set forth.

3. A combined hinge and fastener comprising a fixed member having a hinge -post formed at its upper end with a hook, and a movable catch member comprising a baseplate provided with a post-receiving opening and at its outer edge with a guide-flange having a longitudinally-disposed guide-slot communicating with said opening, said base-plate being further provided at the inner end of the opening therein with an upturned restear, a fiat slidable latch-plate sliding on the base-plate through the guide-s1 0t of the guideflange and provided at opposite side edges of its outer end portion with stop-shoulders, said end to form an open hook, and a movable member having a slidable slotted latch-plate, one Wall of whose slot is adapted to turn in and out of engagement with the loop of said hook, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEVI L. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

J. F. DAVIS, OHAs. I-I. FAUTS.

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