Patent ID: 6607236
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: E05D,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A door support system for supporting a door on a body for movement in opposing opening and closing directions, said door support system comprising:a door hinge system comprising (a) a pair of first mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to one of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, and (b) a pair of second mounting structures constructed and arranged to be mounted to the other of the door and the body in spaced apart relation, said first mounting structures and said second mounting structures being pivotally coupled to support the door and provide for said movement of the door relative to the body in said opening and closing directions; and an infinite door check system comprising first and second one-way check devices, each of said check devices comprising: a drive structure fixed with respect to said one of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures; a pivot structure mounted for pivotal movement in opposing first and second directions relative to the other of said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures; a biasing structure connected between the other of said pairs of mounting structures and said pivot structure, said biasing structure being constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to said pivot structure to resist relative pivotal movement between pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures; a clutch being movable between (a) an engaged position operatively coupling said drive structure and said pivot structure for movement together so that said biasing force resists relative movement between said pair of first mounting structures and said pair of second mounting structures by virtue of said drive structure being fixed with respect to said one of said pairs of mounting structures, said biasing force resisting relative pivotal movement between said pivot structure and the other of said pairs of mounting structures, and (b) a released position wherein said pivot structure is decoupled from said drive structure to enable said drive structure and said pivot structure to pivot relative to one another substantially free from resistance by said biasing force; said biasing structure of said first check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch of said first check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the closing direction of the door against said biasing structure of said first check device; said biasing structure of said second check device applying its biasing force against a pivotal movement of said pivot structure relative to said one of said pairs of mounting structures in a direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch of said second check device being constructed and arranged to remain in said engaged position as said first and second mounting structures are pivoted relative to one another in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door, said clutch responsively moving to said released position upon said first and second mounting structures being pivoted relative to one another a predetermined angular distance in the direction corresponding to the opening direction of the door against said biasing structure of said second check device.