Tool and Method for Removing a Pin From a Door Hinge

A tool and method of using the tool for removing a pin from a cylinder portion of a hinge. The tool comprises a grip portion, a peg portion and an indent portion. The peg portion is adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge. The indent portion is adapted to engage a head of the pin. The tool comprises a first surface opposite to the peg portion adapted to be hit, once the peg portion is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The tool also comprises a second surface adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tool and a method for using the tool for removing a pin from a cylinder portion of a hinge are provided. The tool in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, while it may be useful in other applications, is referred to as a pin remover for the sake of simplicity. One exemplary advantage of the pin remover is that it becomes possible to use the pin remover and a hammer, without additional tools, to remove a pin from the cylinder portion of a door hinge. Skilled persons will understand that some users may still prefer to use multiple tools in addition to the pin remover, which does not affect the innovative features of the tool.

Reference is now made to the drawings, in whichFIG. 1shows an exemplary pin remover100in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pin remover100comprises a grip portion110for allowing a user to hold it, a peg portion120and an indent portion130. The peg portion120is adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge (not shown). The indent portion130is adapted to engage a head of the pin (not shown). The pin remover100comprises a first surface140opposite to the peg portion120adapted to be hit, once the peg portion120is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The pin remover100also comprises a second surface150adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

In the example ofFIG. 1, the peg portion120is located at a first end160and the indent portion130is located at a second end170of the pin remover100. The peg portion120and the indent portions130are substantially parallel to the grip portion110. The second surface150is located near the peg portion120, at the first end160and the first surface140is located near the indent portion130, at the second end170. The second surface150may further be located at the second end170(not numbered for the sake of clarity) if, for instance, the indent portion130is inserted under the head of the pin substantially perpendicularly to the pin. As it is also illustrated on other Figures, this set of features illustrates only one of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

In terms of exemplary measurements, the pin remover100ofFIG. 1may present the grip portion110of about 1.5 inch wide and between about 0.125 to 0.375 inch thick, a tip of the indent portion140of about 0.75 inch wide. The length of the pin remover110could be between around 6 and 12 inches. The peg portion120could present a peg of between about 0.125 to 0.375 inch in diameter or side, determined based on the expected size of the cylinder of the hinge. The peg may be generally round, square or otherwise, as long as it is usable to displace the pin of the hinge.

FIG. 2shows an exemplary pin remover200in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pin remover200comprises a grip portion210for allowing a user to hold it, a peg portion220and an indent portion230. The peg portion220is adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge (not shown). The indent portion230is adapted to engage a head of the pin (not shown). The pin remover200comprises a first surface240opposite to the peg portion220adapted to be hit, once the peg portion220is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The pin remover200also comprises a second surface250adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

In the example ofFIG. 2, the peg portion220is located at a first end260and the indent portion230is located at a second end270of the pin remover200. The peg portion220extends substantially perpendicularly from the grip portion210and the indent portion240is substantially parallel to the grip portion210. The first surface240and the second surface250are located near the peg portion220, at the first end260. The second surface250may further be located at the second end270(not numbered for the sake of clarity) if, for instance, the indent portion230is inserted under the head of the pin substantially perpendicularly to the pin. As is also illustrated on other Figures, this set of features illustrates only one of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3shows an exemplary pin remover300in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pin remover300comprises a grip portion310for allowing a user to hold it, a peg portion320and an indent portion330. The peg portion320is adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge (not shown). The indent portion330is adapted to engage a head of the pin (not shown). The pin remover300comprises a first surface340opposite to the peg portion320adapted to be hit, once the peg portion320is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The pin remover300also comprises a second surface350adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

In the example ofFIG. 3, the peg portion320is located at a first end360and the indent portion330is located at a second end370of the pin remover300. The peg portion320extends substantially perpendicularly from the first end360and the indent portion340is substantially parallel to the grip portion310. In the example ofFIG. 3, the grip portion310provides an S-shaped offset with the indent portion330. The second surface350may thus be located on the S-shaped offset as shown or at the first end360(350′). The first surface340is located near the peg portion320, on an opposite face of pin remover300at the first end360. The S-shape offset is formed by angles θ and α. The angles θ and a are shown as being substantially congruent, but it should be understood that other combinations of angles could be used, which would lead to the grip portion310and the second end370not being perpendicular. As is also illustrated on other Figures, this set of features illustrates only one of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 4shows an exemplary pin remover400in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pin remover400comprises a grip portion410for allowing a user to hold it, a peg portion420and an indent portion430. The peg portion420presents a first pin420A and a second pin420B, which are adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge (not shown). The indent portion430is adapted to engage a head of the pin (not shown). The pin remover400comprises a first surface440opposite to the peg portion420adapted to be hit, once the peg portion420is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The pin remover400also comprises a second surface450adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

In the example ofFIG. 4, the peg portion420is located at a first end460and the indent portion430is located at a second end470of the pin remover400. The peg portion420extends substantially perpendicularly from the first end460and the indent portion440is substantially parallel to the grip portion410. In the example ofFIG. 4, the grip portion410and the indent portion430are at an angle cp, which is expected to be between 80 and 280 degrees (180 degrees being illustrated on other Figures), more preferably between about 90 and about 150 degrees. The first surface440is located near the peg portion420, on an opposite face of pin remover400at the first end460. As is also illustrated on other Figures, this set of features illustrates only one of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5shows an exemplary pin remover500in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pin remover500comprises a grip portion510for allowing a user to hold it, a peg portion520and an indent portion530. The peg portion520presents a first pin520A and/or a second pin520B, which are adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge (not shown). The indent portion530is adapted to engage a head of the pin (not shown). The pin remover500comprises a first surface540and/or540′ opposite to the peg portion520adapted to be hit, once the peg portion520is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin. The pin remover500also comprises a second surface550adapted to be hit, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

In the example ofFIG. 5, the peg portion520is located at a first end560and the indent portion530is located at a second end570of the pin remover500. The peg portion520extends from the first end560and the indent portions540is substantially parallel to the grip portion510. In the example ofFIG. 5, the per portion520and the indent portion530are laterally offset from one another around an axis580. The first surface540is located near the peg portion520, but not directly thereon, at the first end560. The second surface540is located near the indent portion530, but not directly thereon, at the second end570. As is also illustrated on other Figures, this set of features illustrates only one of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

As is also illustrated onFIGS. 1 to 5, different set of features are provided to illustrate some of the multiple configurations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the different options of shapes and positions of the different elements shown on theFIGS. 1 to 5can be interchanged between illustrated examples without affecting the present invention. All the permutations are expected to be within the teachings of the present invention.

The different exemplary grip portions110-510are generally flat. Skilled persons will readily understand that any one of them could be cylindrical (not shown), shaped otherwise (not shown), or be of a different length without affecting the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 6shows an exemplary flow chart600illustrating a method for using an exemplary pin remover for removing a pin from a cylinder portion of a hinge. The method comprises positioning a peg portion of the pin remover under the pin610. The peg portion is adapted to fit within the cylinder portion of the hinge. The method also comprises hitting a first surface of the tool620, once the peg portion is positioned under the pin, for applying upward force on the pin causing a gap between a head of the pin and the top of the cylinder portion of the hinge. Optionally, the method may comprise flipping the tool630. Thereafter, the method comprises positioning an indent portion of the tool in the gap between the head of the pin and the hinge640. The indent portion is adapted to engage the head of the pin. The method then comprises hitting650, once the indent portion is positioned below the head of the pin, for applying upward force to the head of the pin.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments were chosen to explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention in order to implement various embodiments with various modifications as might be suited to other contemplated uses. Elements of the drawings are not drawn to scale.