Door hinge assembly

Abstract

A door hinge assembly that allows installation and removal of a door by one person. The door hinge assembly comprises: (1) a top hinge plate for attachment to a door comprising a top leaf and a top tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the top leaf; (2) a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb comprising a bottom leaf, a bottom tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion being fixed inside the bottom tubular member, the top portion extending beyond the bottom tubular member for insertion into the top tubular member and having a threaded end; and (3) a top cap having an internal thread that is engageable with the threaded end of the hinge pin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of design Application No. 29/194,123, filed Nov. 19, 2003, which is incorporated herewith by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, doors are attached to a door jamb by two or more conventional door hinges. Each of these conventional door hinges is provided with a pair of metal hinge plates, one for attachment to the door jamb and the other for attachment to the door. Both hinge plates have two or more tubular members extending from their vertical edges. The tubular members are vertically spaced on each hinge plate so that they can be coaxially aligned and interlocked. After attaching one hinge plate to the edge of the door and interlocking the tubular members, a hinge pin is inserted through the coaxially aligned tubular members of both hinge plates so that the pair of hinge plates are operatively connected for pivoting about a common axis. Thus, the door is able to pivotally swing between closed and opened positions. For installing a door with the conventional door hinges, a person has to hold the door at a position where the tubular members of both hinge plates can be interlocked for another person to insert a hinge pin through the tubular members. Furthermore, a slight misalignment of the hinge plates prevents tubular members from interlocking.

Conventional door hinges are also available as a unitary construction. A hinge pin is permanently fixed in the interlocking tubular members of the two hinges plates. To install a door with the door hinges of a unitary construction, usually one hinge plate should be attached to the door jamb first. Then one person has to hold the door at a position close to the door jamb for another person to attach another hinge plate hanging from the door jamb to the door. Typically, the hinge plates are attached to the door jamb and the door by screwing through the holes on the hinge plates. Although these door hinges of a unitary construction are easier to operate than door hinges with multiple elements, they still cannot be installed by one person without another person holding the door in place for installation.

In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a door hinge that is simple in structure and allows easy installation of a door by one person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door hinge that allows quick and easy assembly by one person without the assistance of another person.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a door hinge that allows a door installed with the door hinge to be easily removed by unscrewing a ball tip and lifting off the door.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door hinge that is simple in structure and easy to manufacture.

The present invention generally provides a door hinge assembly comprising: (1) a top hinge plate for attachment to a door, the top hinge plate comprising a top leaf provided with mounting means, and a top tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the top leaf; (2) a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb, the bottom hinge plate comprising a bottom leaf provided with mounting means, a bottom tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion of the hinge pin being fixed inside the bottom tubular member, the top portion of the hinge pin having an externally threaded end and extending beyond the bottom tubular member for a length so that when the hinge pin is inserted through the top tubular member for assembling the door hinge assembly, the externally threaded end is exposed beyond the top tubular member; and (3) a top cap having an internal thread, the top cap being engageable with the externally threaded end of the top portion of the hinge pin. The mounting means is preferably at least one mounting hole.

While some of the main advantages have been mentioned above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many more of the advantages and objectives of this invention upon reviewing the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating a hinge assembly having a top hinge plate, a bottom hinge plate and a top cap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a dissembled condition;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view illustrating a hinge assembly having a top hinge plate, a bottom hinge plate and a top cap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled condition; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an upper hinge plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a door hinge assembly according to the present invention. The door hinge assembly comprises a top hinge plate 1 for attachment to a door, a bottom hinge plate 2 for attachment to a door jamb, and a top cap 10.

The top hinge plate 1 comprises a top hinge leaf 3 and a top tubular member 5 protruding from one of the vertical edges of the top hinge leaf 3. The top hinge leaf 3 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 7 through which screws may be inserted for attachment of the top hinge plate 1 to the door. The top tubular member 5 extends from the top hinge leaf 3 and is curved to form the top tubular member 5 as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the top tubular member 5 is a separate element connected to an vertical edge of the top hinge leaf 3.

The bottom hinge plate 2 comprises a bottom hinge leaf 4, a bottom tubular member 6 protruding from one of the vertical edges of the bottom hinge leaf 4, and a hinge pin 8. The bottom hinge leaf 4 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 7 through which screws may be inserted for attachment of the bottom hinge plate 2 to the door jamb. The bottom tubular member 6 extends from the bottom hinge leaf 11 and is curved to form the bottom tubular member 6. Alternatively, the bottom tubular member 6 is a separate element connected to an vertical edge of the hinge leaf 4. The hinge pin 8 has a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion of the hinge pin 8 is fixed inside the bottom tubular member 6. The hinge pin 8 may be permanently fixed inside the bottom tubular member 6 by a bottom cap 9, such as a ball tip, that is permanently mounted to the hinge pin 8 so that the hinge pin 8 can not be removed or turn in the bottom tubular member 6. The top portion of the hinge pin 8 has a threaded end 11 and extends beyond the bottom tubular member 6 for a length so that when the hinge pin 8 is inserted through the top tubular member 5 for assembling the door hinge assembly, the threaded end 11 is exposed beyond the top tubular member 5.

The top cap 10, such as a ball tip, is provided with an internal thread 12 which is engageable with the externally threaded end 11 of the top portion of the hinge pin 8.

The top and bottom hinge leaves 3, 4 can have any configurations that can be mounted to the door jamb or the door without interfering with the installation of a door or operation of an installed door. Preferably, the hinge leaves each have a substantially rectangular or square configuration.

To install a door with the door hinge assembly of the present invention, the bottom hinge plate 2 is attached to a door jamb and the top hinge plate 1 is attached to a corresponding position at a side edge of the door to be installed, for example, by screwing through the mounting holes. Next, the door is lifted and the extended top portion of the hinge pin 8 of the bottom hinge plate 2 on the door jamb is inserted into the top tubular member 5 of the top hinge plate 1 on the door so that the top tubular member 5 is coaxially aligned with and sits on the bottom tubular member 6 allowing the bottom tubular member 6 to at least partially support the weight of the door. Thus, the need for another person to hold the door for subsequent installation steps can be eliminated. Then, a top cap 10 is screwed to the threaded end 11 of the hinge pin 8 to hold the hinge assembly in position. FIG. 2 illustrates a door hinge assembly in an assembled condition.

Typically, two or more door hinges are used to attach a door to a door jamb. Once all the door hinges are in place, the door is able to pivot about the hinge pin 8 and swing between closed and opened positions.

The door can be easily removed from the door jamb by unscrewing the top cap 10 and then lifting the door off the hinge pin 8.

Having now described one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is illustrative only and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same purpose, and equivalents or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Therefore, numerous other embodiments of the additions and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A door hinge assembly comprising:

a top hinge plate for attachment to a door, said top hinge plate comprising a top leaf provided with at least one mounting hole, and a top tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of said top leaf;

a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb, said bottom hinge plate comprising a bottom leaf provided with at least one mounting hole, a bottom tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of said bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, said bottom portion of said hinge pin being fixed inside said bottom tubular member, said top portion of said hinge pin having an externally threaded end and extending beyond said bottom tubular member for a length so that when said hinge pin is inserted through said top tubular member for assembling said door hinge assembly, said externally threaded end is exposed beyond said top tubular member; and

a top cap having an internal thread, said top cap being engageable with said externally threaded end of said top portion of said hinge pin.

2. The door hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom leaves each have a substantially rectangular or square configuration.

3. The door hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom leaves each have a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.

4. The door hinge assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bottom cap permanently mounted at an end of said bottom portion of said hinge pin.

5. The door hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein said top tubular member and said bottom tubular member are substantially equal in length.

6. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said hinge pin is permanently fixed inside said bottom tubular member so that it cannot be removed or turned in the bottom tubular member.

7. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein in an assembled condition, said top tubular member is supported by said bottom tubular member and pivots about said hinge pin.

8. The door hinge of claim 1, which is assembled by inserting said top portion of said hinge pin into said top tubular member of said top hinge plate and engaging said top cap with said externally threaded end of said hinge pin.

9. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein said top cap is a ball tip.

10. The door hinge of claim 4, wherein said bottom cap is a ball tip.

11. The door hinge of claim 1, wherein said tubular members extend from said hinge leaves and are curved to form said tubular members.