Abstract: A hinge including a pair of pivotally connected elements. One element of the hinge has an undulate cam surface extending about the pivot axis of the hinge and the other element has a base surface and a groove in the base surface. A spring having a straight leg and an arm extending from one end of the leg may be engaged in the groove so that the free end of the arm bears on the cam surface to provide detent and drag functions for controlling relative pivoting motion of the hinge elements. When the hinge elements are attached to structures such as panels of a folding door assembly, the structure associated with the grooved element helps to retain the leg of the spring in the groove. The hinge elements may be provided with tabs which abut one another, providing a stop to limit relative motion of the hinge elements.

Abstract: A hand tool for fastening and unfastening snap fasteners includes a handle and a tool element fixedly secured thereto at one end thereof. The tool element has laterally spaced, co-planar prong members which are adapted to be disposed about the head of a fastener element for grasping and holding the same during a fastening or unfastening operation, the plane of the prong members being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The pronged element is fabricated of spring steel and is folded substantially in half so as to have a substantially U-shaped configuration in side elevation whereby the pronged members are, in effect, supported in a cantilevered manner with respect to the handle. In addition, the operational axis of the pronged members is aligned with that of the handle so as to be able to receive forces transmitted from the handle during a fastening or unfastening operation.

Abstract: A hand tool for fastening and unfastening snap fasteners includes a handle and a tool element fixedly secured thereto at one end thereof. The tool element has laterally spaced, co-planar prong members which are adapted to be disposed about the head of a fastener element for grasping and holding the same during a fastening or unfastening operation, the plane of the prong members being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The pronged element is fabricated of spring steel and is folded substantially in half so as to have a substantially U-shaped configuration in side elevation whereby the pronged members are, in effect, supported in a cantilevered manner with respect to the handle. In addition, the operational axis of the pronged members is aligned with that of the handle so as to be able to receive forces transmitted from the handle during a fastening or unfastening operation.