US3813730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinges for use on folding doors and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-23
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A hinge adapted to low cost production and suited to use in connecting planar panels of folding doors and the like together for swinging movements relative to one another and to and from coplanar relationship, said hinges having plug-type mounting portions insertable into, and securable in precisely located openings that may be jig-bored or prefabricated in the panels prior to installation, thereby to minimize both product and installation cost and to effect proper positioning and alignment of the hinge axes. The hinge is also reversible and interchangeable for use at both top and bottom positions on the door panels, thus to limit inventory of parts and reduce possibilities of errors in assembly or placement.
Inventors
- 👤 L Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:07
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D5/00; E05D5/02; E05D15/00; E05D15/26; E05D15/264; E05D11/00; E05D11/0009; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/13; E05Y2900/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A hinge of a type suited for use in connecting planar panels of folding doors for relative swinging movements about a hinge axis spaced outwardly of the planar panel surfaces and in substantial alignment with adjacent side edges of the panels connected by the hinges, said connected panels also being relatively swingeable about said hinge axis from and toward coplanar positions in which said adjacent side edges thereof are in substantial abutment with one another, said hinge comprising a pair of hinge elements which each include means through which the elements are connected for relative swinging movements about the aforesaid hinge axis, said hinge elements having mounting plate portions which, when the elements are connected, have reference surfaces in coplanar relationship to one another, each said mounting plate portion having a plug-type mounting portion thereon and projecting in perpendicular relationship from the mid-region of said reference surface, and each said mounting plate portion also having a reference and locating flange thereon which extends in right angular relationship to the reference surface from one margin of the mounting plate portion in spaced and parallel relationship to said plug-type mounting portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A hinge of a type suited for use in connecting planar panels of folding doors for relative swinging movements about a hinge axis spaced outwardly of the planar panel surfaces and in substantial alignment with adjacent side edges of the panels connected by the hinges, said connected panels also being relatively swingeable about said hinge axis from and toward coplanar positions in which said adjacent side edges thereof are in substantial abutment with one another, said hinge comprising a pair of hinge elements which each include means through which the elements are connected for relative swinging movements about the aforesaid hinge axis, said hinge elements having mounting plate portions which, when the elements are connected, have reference surfaces in coplanar relationship to one another, each said mounting plate portion having a plug-type mounting portion thereon and projecting in perpendicular relationship from the mid-region of said reference surface, and each said mounting plate portion also having a reference and locating flange thereon which extends in right angular relationship to the reference surface from one margin of the mounting plate portion in spaced and parallel relationship to said plug-type mounting portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hinge as defined in claim 1 and wherein said means through which the elements are connected for relative swinging movement are disposed on the same side of the mounting plate portions as said mounting and locating flanges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hinge as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by means on said plug-type mounting portions for resisting the removal thereof from closely fitting door panel openings into which they are inserted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A hinge as defined in claim 1, and wherein said means through which the elements of each pair of hinges are connected for relatively swinging movements comprise a portion projecting from one of the hinge elements of the pair and having a support surface substantially flush with the reference surface thereof, said flange of the other hinge element having another support surface thereon and substantially flush with the reference surface thereof, said portions of the pair of hinge elements being disposed to overlap when the hinge elements are assembled, and means connecting said projecting and flange portions of the hinge elements for relatively swinging movements when the support surfaces thereof are in contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A hinge as defined in claim 4, and wherein said means connecting said projecting and flange portions of the hinge elements comprises an integral hinge pin on the projecting portion of one of the hinge elements which fits rotationally into a bearing opening in the flange portion of the other hinge element of the pair.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A hinge suited for use for connecting planar panels of folding doors and the like for relative swinging movements and adapted to mounting against top and bottom end edge surfaces of said panels, said hinges comprising a pair of hinge elements, said hinge elements having mounting plate portions which have thereon mounting surfaces that are in substantially coplanar relationship when the hinge elements are assembled and which have thereon mounting surfaces for engagement with the end surfaces of adjacent doOr panels connected by the hinge, said mounting plate portions each having thereon a plug-type mounting portion projecting in perpendicular relationship from the mounting surface for the location and securement of the hinge element relative to a door panel, projections on said mounting plate portions and extending to positions spaced outwardly of the hinge from adjacent end edges of the hinge elements when assembled, said projections having thereon surfaces which are engageable in overlapping relationship as door panel supporting surfaces when the hinge elements are assembled, and means connecting said projections for rotationally swinging movements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
A hinge suited for use for connecting planar panels of folding doors and the like for relative swinging movements and adapted to mounting against top and bottom end edge surfaces of said panels, said hinges comprising a pair of hinge elements, said hinge elements having mounting plate portions which have thereon mounting surfaces that are in substantially coplanar relationship when the hinge elements are assembled and which have thereon mounting surfaces for engagement with the end surfaces of adjacent doOr panels connected by the hinge, said mounting plate portions each having thereon a plug-type mounting portion projecting in perpendicular relationship from the mounting surface for the location and securement of the hinge element relative to a door panel, projections on said mounting plate portions and extending to positions spaced outwardly of the hinge from adjacent end edges of the hinge elements when assembled, said projections having thereon surfaces which are engageable in overlapping relationship as door panel supporting surfaces when the hinge elements are assembled, and means connecting said projections for rotationally swinging movements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hinge as defined in claim 6, and wherein said mounting plate portions have thereon means for effecting orientation of the respective hinge elements with surfaces of the door panels upon which they are mounted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hinge as defined in claim 6, and wherein each of said plug-type mounting portions has an external non-circular perpendicular surface configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A hinge as defined in claim 6, and wherein said adjacent end edges of the hinge elements are in adjacent and closely spaced relationship when the hinge elements are relatively disposed to provide substantially coplanar relationship of panels connected thereby, and said means connecting said projections for rotationally swinging movements being displaced laterally from the panels thus connected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A hinge for connecting planar panels of folding doors and the like for swinging movements relative to one another and adapted to mounting at precisely located positions near adjacent side edges of said panels, said hinges comprising a pair of hinge elements, each of said hinge elements including a unitary and integral molded body having a mounting plate portion, one surface of which mounting plate portion serves as a mounting surface engageable with one surface of a door panel, said body for further having a plug-type mounting portion projecting in substantially perpendicular relationship from the mid-region of the mounting surface on the mounting plate portion, said mounting plate portions of the two elements of a pair having projections thereon at different levels and for engagement in overlapping relationship as relative supporting surfaces when the pair of elements is assembled, and means providing a hinge pin connection between said side projections of the elements of the pair to join the elements for swinging movements about an axis displaced from said mounting plate and plug-type mounting portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
A hinge for connecting planar panels of folding doors and the like for swinging movements relative to one another and adapted to mounting at precisely located positions near adjacent side edges of said panels, said hinges comprising a pair of hinge elements, each of said hinge elements including a unitary and integral molded body having a mounting plate portion, one surface of which mounting plate portion serves as a mounting surface engageable with one surface of a door panel, said body for further having a plug-type mounting portion projecting in substantially perpendicular relationship from the mid-region of the mounting surface on the mounting plate portion, said mounting plate portions of the two elements of a pair having projections thereon at different levels and for engagement in overlapping relationship as relative supporting surfaces when the pair of elements is assembled, and means providing a hinge pin connection between said side projections of the elements of the pair to join the elements for swinging movements about an axis displaced from said mounting plate and plug-type mounting portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10, and wherein said plug-type mounting portions have non-circular peripheral contours to prevent rotation thereof when pressed into an opening in a door panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10, and further characterized by means on opposed side surfaces of the plug-type mounting portions and having integral tangs projecting angularly therefrom in a direction outwardly from the plug-type mounting portions and toward the mounting surfaces to resist removal of the hinge elements from panels after the plug-type mounting portions are pressed into openings in the door panels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10, and further characterized by means on each of the hinge elements for determining the position of that element peripherally of the plug-type mounting element with respect to the panel on which it is mounted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10, and further characterized by a flange on the mounting plate portion of each hinge element and extending in angular relationship to said mounting surface and spaced from the plug-type mounting portion for engagement with an external surface of the panel other than said one surface upon which it is mounted and angularly disposed relative thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |