Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including adjustment for changing relative orientation of...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-18
2002-10-29
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including adjustment for changing relative orientation of...
C016S241000, C016S242000, C016S246000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06470531
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application filed simultaneously herewith, entitled “Adjustable Hinge” and incorporated herein by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge for mounting a door on a frame of a furniture article and more particularly to a hinge with an adjustable hinge arm which enables adjustment of the mounted door relative to the supporting frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of hinges for mounting a door on a furniture article such as a desk or cabinet have been used in the furniture and cabinetry industry for many years. An example of one such device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,622. Many of such devices include multiple adjustment components making them bulky, difficult to adjust, quick to wear, and unstable. Typically, one or more screws must be loosened, an adjustment made manually, and then one or more screws must be re-tightened to secure the adjustment. Examples of such hinges include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,282, 5,392,493, and 5,511,287. Accordingly, many adjustable hinges may require more than one person to accomplish the adjustment.
To provide adjustable hinges that are operable with greater efficiency and more precise reliability, it has been determined that more refined design engineering skills are required, and the present invention addresses this need and interest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved hinge for mounting a door on a frame of a furniture article such as a cabinet or desk and with an adjustable hinge arm for adjusting the door relative to the supporting frame that has all of the advantages of prior art hinges and none of the disadvantages. The present invention provides a hinge which is microadjustable, or continuously adjustable in a precise manner, throughout the range of adjustment provided. Further, the present invention provides a hinge which enables stable microadjustments by actuating a single adjustment screw. The components of the hinge remain stably secured to each other, and to the door and the frame of the furniture article throughout the adjustment. Adjustment may be accomplished by a single person without the door becoming unsecured or unstable relative to the frame of the furniture article.
A representative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings. The hinge of the present invention makes use of a first hinge member in the form of a cup mountable flush in a bore hole with fastening screws in a known way in the back of a door and a second hinge member adapted to be affixed to a frame. The second hinge member includes a substantially flat portion with an opening in the form of a closed-end or open-end slot through which a fastening screw can be driven into the frame, likewise in a known way.
Herein, the terms “rearward” and “forward,” unless otherwise noted, are independently determined for each hinge arm segment. For each hinge arm segment the more rearward portion is that which is proximal to its connection to either a door or frame. The more forward portion of each hinge arm is that portion which is distal to its connection to either a door or frame. Accordingly, the adjustable hinge of the invention relates to two hinge arm segments which are adjustably connected at their forward ends to one another.
Accordingly in one aspect, the present invention relates to a hinge for mounting a door on a frame of a furniture article, comprising a first hinge member adapted to be affixed to the furniture door; a first hinge arm segment having a rearward end portion pivoted to the first hinge member on a pivot axis and having a forward end portion on which is formed a first adjustment plate comprising two segments, the more forward segment forming a right angle with the more rearward segment and comprising an aperture; a second hinge member adapted to be fastened to the furniture article frame; a second hinge arm segment having a rearward end portion extending from the second hinge member, the second hinge member and second hinge arm segment being formed as one piece, and the second hinge arm segment having a forward end portion on which is formed a second adjustment plate comprising two segments, the more rearward segment comprising an aperture and forming a right angle with the more forward segment; wherein the first and second hinge arm segments being adjustably connected to one another by a screw cooperating with the adjustment plates through one of the apertures which is threaded and one aperture which is unthreaded.
In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment screw of the invention further comprises an unthreaded portion proximal to a head of the adjustment screw, and the unthreaded portion engages one of the adjustment plate apertures which is unthreaded.
In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second adjustment plates further comprises opposing lateral edges from which depend a pair of opposing side members which define a channel for receiving the other adjustment plate. More preferably, the opposing lateral edges are spaced from one another a distance which defines a width of the adjustment plate. Most preferably, the opposing side members are spaced from one another a distance which is at least as great as the width of the other adjustment plate.
In another preferred embodiment, longitudinal movement of the adjustment screw is restricted relative to the adjustment plates comprising the unthreaded aperture by a retaining pin perpendicular to the adjustment screw which contacts an annular groove circumscribing the adjustment screw. More preferably, the retaining pin is secured by end portions inserted in opposing apertures formed in the opposing side members of the adjustment plate which comprises the unthreaded aperture.
In another preferred embodiment, the adjustment plate which is received in the channel also comprises opposing lateral edges and a pair of opposing side members depending therefrom. More preferably, these opposing side members contact the retaining pin along edges of the opposing side members which are perpendicular to the retaining pin.
In another preferred embodiment, the adjustment plate comprising the threaded aperture further comprises a raised portion which contacts and stabilizes the adjustment screw on the side of the adjustment screw opposite its contact with the retaining pin. More preferably, the raised portion further comprises lateral flange members which contact opposing sides of the adjustment screw, perpendicular to the opposing sides of the adjustment screw contacted by the retaining pin and the raised portion. Most preferably, the adjustment screw further comprises an unthreaded portion distal to a head portion of the adjustment screw, and the unthreaded portion contacts the raised portion of the adjustment plate.
A three-way adjustment aspect of an embodiment of the adjustable hinge of the present invention not only allows adjustment of the position of a cabinet door vertically up and down relative to the supporting cabinet (e.g., up and down with the door in the closed position to achieve desired spacing of the door from the top and bottom of the cabinet door opening) and horizontally from side to side relative to the supporting cabinet (e.g., from side to side with the door in the closed position to achieve desired spacing of the door from the opposite sides of the cabinet door opening), but also enables adjustment of the cabinet door horizontally in and out relative to the supporting cabinet (e.g., to and fro with the door in the closed position to achieve desired alignment of the front face of the door with the front of the cabinet).
In the three-way adjustment aspect of the hinge for an embodiment of the present invention, a hinge for mounting a door on a furniture article frame for movement between open and closed positions of the door relative to the furniture art
Domenig Georg
Peer Manfred
Grass America Inc.
Harrington John M.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Knight Anthony
Williams Mark
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