Abstract: A hinge is provided with two elements pivotally connected together for relative rotational movement about a hinge axis. The hinge has a spring formed of bent wire. The spring is mounted on one of the elements and a mechanism causes it to apply a biassing force between the two elements over at least part of their relative rotational movement. The biassing force is transmitted via a finger on the spring. A spreader is arranged to fit over the finger for engagement with the other element. The spreader extends continuously over the finger and engages substantially the whole of the finger.

Abstract: A damper assembly is provided for a toggle type hinge with a mounting flange (13) and an arm assembly (11) pivotally connected thereto. The assembly comprises a damping device (16) that is actuable along a linear axis and a housing (20) mounted on the mounting flange to retain the damping device. The assembly further comprises means for converting pivotal movement of the hinge into linear actuation of the damping device. This comprises an actuating lever (21) connected to the damping device and engageable with the hinge arm assembly via a first camming mechanism causing the actuating lever to rotate in response to pivotal movement of the hinge arm assembly. A second camming mechanism causes linear displacement of the actuating lever in response to its rotational movement.

Abstract: A damped hinge assembly for mounting a first member for rotational movement relative to a base member about a hinge axis is provided. The assembly includes a first linearly acting damping device, and first camming means for converting rotational movement of the first member in a first direction into linear actuation of the first damping device to cause it to impart a damped resistive force to the first member over at least part of its movement in said first direction. The first damping device is mounted with its linear axis coincident with the hinge axis, with the first damping device acting as a fulcrum for said rotational movement of the first member.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the motion of a movable member such as a sliding door. The device comprises two springs. Each spring has its own catch for releasably holding it in a pre-loaded condition. The catches are releasable by motion of the door to apply force to its closing movement. The catches are arranged so that one of the springs will exert force on the door before the other.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a hinge includes a damper unit (10) with a piston arranged to be moveable over a working stroke within a cylinder (15) containing damping fluid. The damper unit (10) is mounted on a bracket (11) and retained in position by a housing (12). A mechanism is provided for converting rotational movement of the hinge in at least part of one direction into actuation of the damper unit (10) on its working stroke. The movement converting mechanism is arranged to act on the cylinder (15) at a position substantially outside the range of movement of the piston on its working stroke. The arrangement minimises the transmission of radial forces from the movement of the door to the cylinder (15).

Abstract: A hinge assembly has first and second parts pivotally connected together. One of the parts has a hinge cup (13) and is connectable to a first element such as a cupboard door. The other part is connectable to a second element such as the cupboard carcase. The assembly includes a linear damping device (17), which is actuable to provide a damped resistive force over at least part of the range of relative pivotal movement between the two hinge elements. The linear damping device (17) is conveniently mounted within the hinge cup (13).

Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper is provided, with a cylinder (11) having a piston assembly (15) mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston assembly (15) divides the cylinder (11) into two separate chambers (12a, 12b), with a restricted flow path (30, 31) for passage therebetween of damping fluid contained within the cylinder. A piston rod (13) is mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to the cylinder (11) and acts via a first one of the chambers (12a) on the piston assembly (15) in a first direction. A seal assembly (17) is provided for sealing between the piston rod (13) and the cylinder (11) in order to retain damping fluid in the first chamber (12a). The seal assembly (17) is movable axially with respect to the cylinder (11), with the cylinder further including a centering device (24) for assisting alignment of the seal assembly (17).

Abstract: A fastening element (20) is provided for use with a tightening element (14) in a device for forming a joint between two panels (18,22). The fastening element is elongate and has a head (13) at one end for engaging the tightening element, an expander (15) at the other end and a shank (11) extending there between. The fastening element further comprises a sleeve (10) having an expandable section (16) at one end extending over the expander, with the expander operatively engaging the sleeve to cause outward movement of its expandable section upon axial displacement of the fastening element relative to the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one outwardly facing cutting edge (19) on its expandable section. The cutting edge has sufficient strength to cut into the panel material in use of the device, when the expandable section is inserted into a face hole in a first one of the panels.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a cylinder (10) having a piston assembly (14) mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston assembly (14) divides the cylinder (10) into separate chambers with a restricted flow path therebetween for passage of damping fluid contained within the cylinder. The restricted flow path is defined between elements whose shape and/or relative position is designed to vary with temperature.

Abstract: A hinge assembly in the form of a toggle type hinge includes an arm assembly (11) anchorable in use to a first member and a cup flange (13) pivotally connected thereto and anchorable in use to a second member. The assembly includes a linear damping device (15) and a mechanism for converting pivotal movement of the hinge into actuation of the damping device, at least over part of the range of this pivotal movement. The movement converting mechanism is arranged to produce the actuation of the damping device (15) through rotational movement about its linear axis via transmission of at least two equal and opposite forces acting symmetrically about this axis.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the closing movement of a sliding door. The device comprises a housing (10) containing a spring (11) which is actuable to provide a pulling force to the closing movement of the door. The housing (10) also contains a damper (12) which is actuable to impart a damped resistive force to the closing movement of the door. Incorporated within the device is a gearing mechanism for converting the rate of the closing movement of the door into two or more rates of actuation of the damper over at least part of the door's travel.

Abstract: A touch-latch device used in furniture especially for initial opening of an opening furniture component, comprising a housing with an axially arranged groove, in which a push element is slidingly arranged, said element being actuated by a helical spring and controllable by a dual-position guide mechanism comprising a cam groove guide and an S-pin, wherein the device comprises a push element controlled by two dual-position guide mechanisms, wherein each cam groove guide of a dual-position guide mechanism is arranged on a lateral side of the push element and the S-pin is pivoted in the lateral wall of the groove of the housing, and that the push element is provided at its free end with a regulation plug arranged by means of a bolted joint, said plug being displaceable in axial direction, wherein the axial displacement of the regulation plug is limited by an arrester arranged therein.