Adjustable hinge assembly

Details Adjustable hinge assembly Adjustable hinge assembly

1999-03-15

2001-09-18

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Hinge

Including adjustment for changing relative orientation of...

C016S237000, C016S374000, C220S810000, C220S845000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06289555

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
“Not Applicable”.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
“Not Applicable”.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally a hinge assembly for use on a receptacle closure and, more particularly, to an adjustable hinge assembly for use on a ventilator apparatus for supporting a ventilator end cap of the apparatus for pivotal movement between open and closed positions.
It is known to provide a ventilator apparatus for use on the roof of a building or other structure for venting warm air and other gases from the structure. An exemplary ventilator apparatus constructed for this purpose includes a centrifugal ventilator, a curb secured to the roof of the structure and protruding upward to define an interior plenum, and a cap that supports the ventilator on top of the curb and that is removable to permit access to the plenum for cleaning and service.
The curb is constructed over a hole or duct in the roof of the structure, and is typically rectangular in plan shape, including four upstanding side walls that surround the hole and define the plenum. The top of the curb is open, and the cap is sized for receipt over the curb so that the plenum is enclosed by the curb and cap. Preferably, the cap includes depending side walls that are received over the side walls of the curb to hold the cap in place, and a top wall presenting a hole over which the ventilator is received so that warm air or gases are drawn up through the plenum and the ventilator during operation, venting the gases to the atmosphere.
The ventilator of the exemplary apparatus is a centrifugal roof ventilator (CRV) designed for kitchen use, and is available in a number of different sizes, each presenting a lower venturi base having unique dimensions. The ventilator is fixed to the top wall of the cap, and moves with the cap when the cap is removed from the curb. It is conventional to provide a hinge assembly that is adapted to be connected between the cap and the curb for permitting the cap to be pivoted between a first position in covering relation to the curb, and a second position exposing the plenum of the curb for service and cleaning. It is also conventional to construct the hinge assembly with a first component secured to both the cap and the venturi base of the ventilator, a second component secured to the curb, and a hinge pin or the like for permitting relative pivotable movement between the components.
Several technical problems are encountered in the use of the conventional hinge assembly. For example, in order to permit the first component of the known hinge assembly to be connected to both the cap and the venturi base of the ventilator, it must be customized for use with each particular size of ventilator. As such, it is necessary to provide a different hinge assembly construction for each size of ventilator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve this and other technical problems left unaddressed by the prior art, and to provide an adjustable hinge assembly that is capable of use with ventilators of various sizes. In addition, the adjustability of the hinge assembly also permits the assembly to be used on curbs of various sizes such that a single assembly can be installed on many different sizes of curbs, and used with several different sizes of ventilators.
In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjustable hinge assembly is provided for use on a ventilator apparatus, wherein the ventilator apparatus includes a curb, a removable curb cap covering the curb and presenting side and rear edges, and a ventilator supported on the curb cap. The assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced curb cap support plates, each including a first arm secured to the curb cap along one of the side edges, and a second arm secured to the curb cap along the rear edge of the cap.
A back plate is connected to and between the support plates, and a pair of laterally spaced curb plates are secured to the curb and define a pivot axis about which the curb cap support plates are supported for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the cap covers the curb, and an open position in which the cap is raised from the curb. Preferably, a number of adjustable brackets are also provided for securing the back plate of the assembly to the venturi base of the ventilator to support the ventilator in the open position of the cap.
By providing a construction in accordance with the present invention, numerous advantages are realized. For example, by providing an assembly in which a back plate is provided for securing two laterally spaced support plates together on the curb cap, a construction results in which the assembly can be fitted on curbs of various dimensions, rendering the assembly adaptable to different ventilator apparatuses. In addition, by providing brackets for securing the back plate of the assembly to the base of the ventilator, it is possible to adjust the positioning of the brackets on the back plate to tailor the assembly for use with different sizes of venturi bases.


REFERENCES:
patent: 850126 (1907-04-01), Bayley
patent: 1164395 (1915-12-01), Reiselt
patent: 2536235 (1951-01-01), Steelman et al.
patent: 2875678 (1959-03-01), Shepherd
patent: 3960063 (1976-06-01), Siemes et al.
patent: 5160140 (1992-11-01), Starrett
patent: 5400993 (1995-03-01), Hamilton
patent: 5816909 (1998-10-01), Wunder

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