Tool and method for straightening a door hinge

Details Tool and method for straightening a door hinge Tool and method for straightening a door hinge

2001-01-22

2002-09-17

Jones, David (Department: 3725)

Metal deforming

By or with work-constrainer and/or manipulated work-forcer

C029S011000, C072S479000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06450003

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to adjusting door hinges and particularly to a tool that slides onto an installed door hinge and straightens the door hinge.
BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
The typical door hinge
11
, shown in
FIG. 1
, includes two hinge plates
14
,
18
, and a hinge pin
20
. Each hinge plate,
14
,
18
has one or more knuckles
16
that are aligned with the one or more knuckles
16
of the other hinge plate. The hinge pin through the knuckles secures the hinge plates
11
together.
Most metal doors and door frames have hinges attached to a mounting plate which is secured to the door frame.
A cross-section of the assembled hinge
11
is shown in
FIG. 2. A
bend
21
in each hinge plate (called a “swage”) is formed in order that, when the door is closed, the door will close properly.
However, as the door ages, and even oftentimes with new doors, the door will not close properly
A number of devices have been disclosed related to the mounting of doors on door frames with hinges.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,535 to Cannoy discloses a hinge pin removal tool comprising an elongated handle with an extension having a wedge shaped tip and pin for loosening the pin and driving the loosened pin from the knuckles of the hinge,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,030 to Phillips discloses a tool for performing three functions. A punch mounted orthogonally near one handle is used initially to dislodge the pin from the knuckle. The other end of the handle has a wrench-like spanner configuration that is engaged with the hinge. Force is applied to the handle to straighten bends in the hinge. The magnitude of force applied by the carpenter directly against the tool to bend the hinge is a matter of the carpenter's judgement so that the adjustment is not accurate.
Such misalignment generally originates in the “swage” in the door hinge. In the context of this specification, the term “swage” ( a common term in the art of door hinges) means the offset of the axis of the knuckles of each hingeplate from the plane of the respective hinge plate that enables the two hinge plates to rotate to flush against one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,132 to Henderson et al discloses a flat bar (strap) with a bent portion on each end of the bar. Each bent portion has a notch for engaging the top or bottom flange of a hinge permitting a carpenter to apply a bending force to straighten the hinge. None of these disclosures addresses the problem of misalignment of the door hinge that can occur after the door is hung.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a tool that is applied to bending or changing the swage or mounting plate of a door hinge with the edges of the door and door frame.
The tool of this invention is directed toward a tube having a straight slot extending from one open end to the other open end of the rube. In applying the tube to adjusting the swage of the hinge or mounting plate, the tube is slid onto the knuckles of the hinge. A “stop” (screw in one end of the tube position the tube on the hinge. The door is then opened sufficiently (a few inches) to adjust (bend) the swage or mounting plate.


REFERENCES:
patent: 407851 (1889-07-01), Cheney
patent: 780756 (1905-01-01), Lakin
patent: 2732743 (1956-01-01), Hart
patent: 4034595 (1977-07-01), Smith
patent: 4188701 (1980-02-01), Ludwig
patent: 4619132 (1986-10-01), Mcbee
patent: 4641516 (1987-02-01), Satoh
patent: 5435030 (1995-07-01), Phillips
patent: 5875535 (1999-03-01), Canoy
patent: 5951818 (1999-09-01), Gaetano

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