Self-Closing Mechanism

A spring or hydraulic device built into a hinge or added to a cabinet door that pulls the door shut automatically from a partially open position, typically the last 15–25 degrees of travel.

In Detail

Self-closing mechanisms come in three types: (1) Spring-loaded hinges use a coil spring to pull the door closed — fast and inexpensive but can slam. (2) Soft-close dampers (hydraulic or pneumatic) decelerate the door in the last 2"–3" of travel for a gentle, silent close. (3) Combination hinges integrate both spring-close and soft-close in a single unit. In pool fence gates, self-closing mechanisms are code-required to ensure the gate always returns to the latched position.

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