Door hinge
AssigneeLiberty Hardware Mfg. Corp.
InventorEarl David Forrest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example hinge includes a hinge pin extending along an axis and a first knuckle for receiving the hinge pin. The first knuckle is rotatable about the axis. A second knuckle for receiving the hinge pin and is rotatable about the axis. At least one bearing limits relative rotation between the first hinge knuckle and the hinge pin. The example hinge assembly may include a tolerance ring between the hinge pin and the first knuckle to urge the bearing away from the axis. An example method of producing a hinge includes the steps of permitting a first hinge plate to move relative a hinge pin and limiting movement of a second hinge plate relative a hinge pin. The method biases a bearing adjacent the hinge pin to limit movement of the second hinge plate relative the hinge pin.
Claims18
A hinge, comprising:
- a hinge pin extending along an axis;
- a first hinge plate including a first knuckle receiving said hinge pin and rotatable about said axis;
- a second hinge plate including a second knuckle receiving said hinge pin and rotatable about said axis;
- at least one first bearing disposed between said first knuckle and said hinge pin for limiting relative rotation between said first knuckle and said hinge pin;
- and
- a tolerance ring between said hinge pin and said first knuckle, said tolerance ring urging said at least one first bearing away from said axis, wherein said tolerance ring is a separate piece.
A method of arranging a hinge assembly, comprising the steps of:
- (a) permitting a first hinge plate to move relative a hinge pin about an axis;
- (b) limiting movement of a second hinge plate relative the hinge pin, wherein the hinge pin is received within a first knuckle and a second knuckle, the first knuckle extending from the first hinge plate, and the second knuckle extending from the second hinge plate;
- (c) using a first biasing member to bias a first bearing to limit movement of the second hinge plate relative the hinge pin, at least a portion of the first bearing positioned radially between the second knuckle and the hinge pin;
- (d) biasing the first bearing away from the axis;
- and
- (e) biasing a second bearing toward the axis using a second biasing member, the second bearing positioned radially between the first knuckle and the hinge pin.
A hinge assembly, comprising:
- a hinge pin extending along an axis;
- a first hinge plate assembly that includes a first knuckle receiving at least a portion of said hinge pin, said first hinge plate assembly rotatable about said axis;
- a second hinge plate assembly that includes a second knuckle configured to receive at least a portion of said hinge pin, said second hinge plate assembly rotatable about said axis;
- a first bearing disposed between said first knuckle and said hinge pin;
- a first biasing member configured to bias said bearing toward said first knuckle or said hinge pin to limit relative rotation between said first knuckle and said hinge pin;
- and
- including a second bearing disposed between said second knuckle and said hinge pin, and a second biasing member biasing said second bearing toward said hinge pin to limit movement of said hinge pin away from said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.