When researching the different types of hinges, you may encounter counter-flap. They are used to join two surfaces while simultaneously allowing a limited angle of rotation between them. Counter-flap hinges, however, feature a unique design. They don’t have a central pin-secured knuckle. What is a counter-flap hinge exactly, and how does it work?
What Is a Counter-Flap Hinge?
A counter-flap hinge is a type of mechanical bearing that’s designed to lie flat when closed. Both of the counter-flap hinge’s leafs will remain flat on top of the two objects on which they are installed. You can open the counter-flap hinge by pulling up on one of the objects.
Most hinges, of course, are installed upright. You can open them by pulling the objects on which they are installed from the side. To open a counter-flap hinge, you’ll need to pull the objects up. A
How Counter-Flap Hinges Work
All counter-flap hinges are designed for use in applications that require an upward pulling motion. For a sideways pulling motion — doors, gates, etc. — you should stick with a traditional hinge. For applications that require an upward pulling motion, you may want to choose a counter-flap hinge.
You can install each of the counter-flap hinge’s two leafs on the surfaces that you want to join. They are commonly used on tables. If the edges of a table can be folded, counter-flap hinges may be used to create the folding edges. Counter-flap hinges are also known as card table hinges. Many card tables feature these same folding edges, making them ideal for counter-flap hinges.
Benefits of Using Counter-Flap Hinges
Counter-flap hinges make it easy to open table surfaces from overhead. You don’t have to use a lot of force. On the contrary, gently pulling on the table surface — such as a folding edge — will open it.
You can install counter-flap hinges using traditional threaded fasteners. They may feature a unique design, but they require the same installation process as most other hinges. Just place the counter-flap hinge in the appropriate position, after which can you drive a set of threaded fasteners through the installation holes.
In Conclusion
Not all hinges are designed the same. While most of them do, in fact, have two leafs, some of them are designed for different applications than others. Counter-flap hinges fall under this category. They feature two leafs, but counter-flap hinges are designed specifically for applications that require an upward pulling motion.