Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Having means to facilitate assembly and disassembly of hinge...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-05-08
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Having means to facilitate assembly and disassembly of hinge...
C016S255000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226835
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hinge used to mount a cabinet door to a frame. The present invention particularly relates to a concealed cabinet hinge having a mounting cup that is received in a bore in a cabinet door and pivotally attached to a frame wing that is mounted to the cabinet frame. The present invention also particularly relates to a process for assembling the hinge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many known types of hinges that allow a door to be mounted to a frame. One type is a concealed self-closing/self-latching hinge of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,726 entitled “Self-Closing/Self-Latching Hinge,” issued to Cress on Aug. 10, 1993, incorporated by reference herein. Such concealed self-closing/self-latching hinges pivotally couple a cabinet door to a frame and provide for “self-closing” and “self-latching” effects, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,726. Concealed hinges have grown in popularity because of the aesthetic appeal of cabinets is often considered to be enhanced if hinges are not visible (i.e., when the cabinet door is closed). Such hinges have a two part arrangement, with one part of the hinge coupled to the door and the other part of the hinge coupled to the frame. Concealed hinges of this type are commonly assembled using a separate hinge pin that is inserted to pivotally couple each part of the hinge during the manufacturing process, which may present difficulties for a cabinet installer during installation of the hinge (i.e., the cabinet door to the frame) in a particular application.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for a hinge having a door member configured to be mounted on a cabinet door and a frame member configured to be mounted to a cabinet frame that may thereafter be pivotally coupled during installation of the hinge (i.e., the door to the frame). It would also be advantageous to provide for a hinge that allows an installer to conveniently couple the door member to the frame member by hand during assembly and/or disassembly. It would further be advantageous to provide for a self-closing and/or self-latching hinge configured for pivotal coupling of the door member to the frame member during installation of the hinge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hinge for mounting a door to a frame. The hinge includes a door member configured to be mounted on the door and a frame member pivotally coupled to the door member by a pivot. The door member has a receiving area configured to receive the pivot. The door member and the frame member are configured to be assembled by spreading open the receiving area to allow passage of the pivot into the receiving area.
The present invention also relates to a hinge for mounting a door to a frame. The hinge includes a flexible door member configured to be mounted on the door and a frame member pivotally coupled to the door member by a pivot. The door member has an aperture that is configured to allow the door member to be flexed from a substantially first state to a deformed state for insertion of the pivot into the door member. The door member may be moved to the substantially nominal state after insertion of the pivot to capture the pivot.
The present invention further relates to a method for assembling a hinge. The method includes enlarging a receiving area in a door member to allow passage of a pivot coupled to a frame member. The method also includes inserting the pivot of the frame member into the receiving area of the door member. The method further includes causing the door member to substantially retain its nominal shape to capture the pivot of the frame member in the receiving area of the door member.
The present invention still further relates to a hinge. The hinge includes a door member configured to be coupled to a door and a frame member configured to be coupled to a frame. A cam surface is provided on one of the door member and the frame member, the cam surface engageable with the other of the door member and the frame member, the cam surface configured to develop at least a partial closing force of the door relative to the frame. The door member and the frame member are configured to be selectively pivotally coupled and decoupled.
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Foley & Lardner
Newell Operating Company
Sandy Robert J.
LandOfFree
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