Patent attributes
A spring-loaded hinge assembly including a hinge support bracket and a leaf that is pivotally mounted to the hinge support bracket. A coil spring is supported on a spring support member, which includes a pivot bush. The coil spring applies a biasing force to the spring support member, which operates to push the pivot bush against a cam on the leaf. A lock configured to rotate between locked and unlocked positions includes a finger that engages an engagement feature on the hinge support bracket when the lock rotates to the locked position as the leaf swings toward the open position. In the locked position, the lock holds the coil spring in a partially compressed, pre-load condition and the pivot bush at a partially retracted position relative to the cam until the lock is subsequently released by contact between the cam and the pivot bush during subsequent closure.
