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US 12,241,298 B1Granted
Gravity hinge system for use with glass doors
AssigneeC.R. Laurence Co., Inc.
InventorMarco Gaebel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge system for use with frameless glass shower doors is presented. The hinge system is self-closing or self-centering and includes angular adjustability in two planes to aid in door alignment. The door hinge system further includes drop-in pivot pins which aid in shower door installation and also includes adapter plates that allow for installation to glass walls and further includes adapter plates that allow door panels equipped with the hinge system to be installed as fixed panels at various angles.
Claims13
A door hinge system, comprising:
- a lower hinge, an upper hinge and a door panel;
- the lower hinge and upper hinge having a pivot axis;
- the upper hinge including an upper fixed hinge bracket and an upper movable hinge bracket interconnected by an upper pivot pin;
- the lower hinge including a lower fixed hinge bracket and a lower movable hinge bracket, interconnected by a lower pivot pin;
- wherein the lower pivot pin is disposed in the lower movable hinge bracket and includes a u-shaped socket;
- wherein the lower fixed hinge bracket includes an engagement pin, the lower fixed hinge bracket and lower movable hinge bracket configured such that when the engagement pin is centered in the u-shaped socket, the door panel is in a closed position;
- wherein, rotational movement of the lower movable hinge bracket from the closed position causes a side of the u-shaped socket to ride upwardly on the engagement pin;
- wherein for rotational movement of the lower movable hinge bracket wherein the u-shaped socket does not ride over the engagement pin, a weight of the lower and upper movable hinge brackets and the door panel connected thereto biases the lower movable hinge bracket to the closed position;
- wherein for rotational movement of the lower movable hinge bracket wherein the u-shaped socket rides over the engagement pin, the lower movable hinge bracket, upper movable hinge bracket and door panel connected thereto will remain in an open position;
- and,
- means for fixing a door panel to the lower and upper movable hinge brackets;
- wherein the lower hinge further includes an adjusting means for angularly adjusting the lower movable hinge bracket, rotationally about the pivot axis, the adjusting means comprising a slot and a positioner;
- wherein the slot is formed on an outer surface of the lower pivot pin, parallel to the pivot axis;
- wherein, the positioner is disposed in the lower movable hinge bracket and includes a disk configured to engage with the slot;
- wherein rotation of the positioner causes an angular change in the position of the lower pivot pin and the lower movable hinge bracket and door panel connected thereto.
12 more elements
A door hinge, comprising:
- a fixed bracket and a movable bracket, interconnected by a pivot pin, the movable bracket disposed above the fixed bracket;
- wherein the pivot pin is disposed in the movable bracket and includes a u-shaped socket;
- wherein the fixed bracket includes an engagement pin, the fixed bracket and movable bracket are configured such that when the engagement pin is centered in the u-shaped socket, the door hinge is in a closed position;
- wherein, rotational movement of the movable bracket with the pivot pin from the closed position causes a side of the u-shaped socket to ride upwardly on the engagement pin;
- wherein for rotational movement of the movable bracket where the u-shaped socket does not ride over the engagement pin, a weight of the movable bracket biases the movable bracket to the closed position;
- and
- wherein for rotational movement of the movable bracket where the u-shaped socket rides over the engagement pin, the movable bracket remains in an open position;
- further including an adjusting means for angularly adjusting the movable bracket, the adjusting means comprising a slot and a positioner;
- wherein the slot is formed on an outer cylindrical surface of the pivot pin, parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot pin;
- wherein, the positioner is disposed in the movable bracket and includes a disk configured to engage with the slot;
- wherein rotation of the positioner causes an angular change in the position of the pivot pin and the movable bracket connected thereto.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.