# Patent

## Title
Horizontally adjustable hinge

## Abstract

A horizontally adjustable hinge is disclosed. The hinge comprises a base member having a slot and a chemical generally perpendicular to the slot, an adjustment nut disposed in the channel, the adjustment nut having a generally circumferential recess and a threaded axial bore, the adjustment nut being rotationally fixed within the channel, a screw threadably engaged in the threaded axial bore and axially fixed relative to the base member and a leaf for insertion into the slot. The leaf has a slot dimensioned to receive the circumferential recess, wherein rotation of the screw moves the adjustment nut axially in the channel, thereby moving the leaf in the slot.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/548,845, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 27, 2004, and provisional patent application No. 60/555,223, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 22, 2004.


FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an adjustable hinge system, such as for a door.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable hinges are desirable, as they permit adjustment as needed such as when a house settles. Typically such adjustable hinges have been complicated and have required multiple fastening components.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable hinge of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the adjustable hinge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a generally top view of the hinge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hinge of FIG. 1, which hinge is not vertically adjustable;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a the hinge of FIG. 1, which hinge is vertically adjustable;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a frame wing of the vertically adjustable hinge of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a further perspective view of a frame wing of the vertically adjustable hinge of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of a frame wing of the vertically adjustable hinge of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a hinge having an alternative arrangement for securing the door leaf to the housing;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a door leaf of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a spring pocket of the embodiment of FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a spring pocket of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a hinge having an alternative arrangement for horizontally adjusting the hinge;
FIG. 14 is a further sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an adjustment screw as used in the embodiment of FIG. 13; and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an adjustment nut as used in the embodiment of FIG. 13.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
A first embodiment of a horizontally adjustable hinge 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The hinge 12 includes a receiver assembly 14 and a steel door leaf 16. The receiver assembly 14 includes a die cast housing 20 and a steel or brass cover 22. The housing 20 has a tapered slot 24 extending from a housing opening 26. The cover 22 has a slotted opening 28 aligned with, but slightly smaller than, the housing opening 32. The receiver assembly 14 includes four aligned holes 30 to receive screws (not shown) to secure the receiver assembly 14 to a door (not shown).
The door leaf 16 includes a slotted leaf 34 and a retaining spring 36. The retaining spring 36 is attached to, and extends from, the slotted leaf 34. The slotted leaf 34 has a leaf slot 38. The retaining spring 36 terminates with a release tab 40. The door leaf 20 further includes first and second opposed posts 42.
The slotted leaf 34 is inserted into the tapered housing slot 24. As the slotted leaf 34 is inserted, the retaining spring 36 is squeezed by the cover opening 28, until the spring 36 passes the cover opening 28, at which time the spring 36 expands, locking the slotted leaf 34 in the tapered slot 24. The slotted leaf 34 can be removed by depressing the tab 40, such as with a screw driver.
The hinge 12 includes an adjustment screw 44. The adjustment screw 44 includes a threaded portion 46 and a circumferential grooved portion 48. The threaded portion 46 is screwed into a cooperatively threaded hole (not shown) in the housing 20.
As the slotted leaf 34 is inserted into the tapered housing slot 24, the leaf slot 38 captures the grooved portion 48 of the adjustment screw 44. Rotation of the adjustment screw 44, such as with an Allen wrench, axially moves the adjustment screw 44, thereby horizontally moving the door leaf 16.
The hinge 12 further includes a steel frame wing 52 for attachment to a door frame (not shown). The frame wing 52 includes first and second opposed knuckles 54. Bearings 56 are placed over the first and second posts 42, which are then placed into respective first and second knuckles 54. Decorative steel end caps 60 are placed over outer openings of the knuckles 54. A decorative steel shroud 62 is disposed between the knuckles 54.
The hinge 12 can also be vertically adjustable, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-8.
To make the hinge 12 vertically adjustable, the bottom one of the knuckles 54′ is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded vertical positioning screw 66. Rotation of the vertical positioning screw 66 vertically adjusts the door leaf 34 relative to the frame wing 52. The decorative end cap 60 is placed over the opening of the other knuckle 54. Which knuckle is threaded depends upon whether the hinge is to be a right hand hinge or a left hand hinge.
Such vertical adjustment systems are known, but have been subject to a problem of having the vertical positioning screw 66 lock when it is rotated past the threads of the threaded knuckle 54′.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the threaded knuckle 54′ is provided with a stop surface 70. The vertical positioning screw 66 includes a circumferential groove 72, which receives a wing stop 74. The wing stop 74 is preferably formed of steel, and includes a stop tab 76. As the vertical positioning screw 66 is rotated into the threaded knuckle 54′, the stop tab 76 travels along a knuckle slot 78, until the stop tab 76 ultimately engages, and is blocked by, the stop surface 70, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
A second embodiment of a system for retaining a door leaf 16′ in a modified housing 20′, using a modified retaining spring 36′′, having spring apertures 80, is illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. As discussed below, other changes include two threaded release pins 84 for insertion in corresponding threaded passages 86 in the housing 20′. In addition, a modified tapered slot 24′ includes a pocket 88 along opposed walls 90 of the modified tapered slot 24′. The pocket 88 is best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12.
As the retaining spring 36′ is inserted into the tapered slot 24′, a distal portion of the spring 36′ passes over tips 84a of the release pins 84, until the tips 84a of the release pins 84 extend into the spring apertures 80, locking the slotted leaf 34′ in the housing 20′. In order to subsequently remove the slotted leaf 34′ from the housing 20′, the release pins 84 are first unthreaded from the housing 20′, and the slotted leaf 34′ is slid out of the tapered slot 24′.
As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tapered slot 24′ includes the pocket 88, dimensioned to receive the spring 36′ when the slotted leaf 34′ is drawn towards the wall 90, providing precise horizontal positioning of the slotted leaf 34.
A second embodiment of a horizontal hinge adjustment system for an adjustable hinge 12′ is illustrated in FIGS. 13-16. The adjustable hinge 12′ includes a receiver assembly 14′, a stop plate 92 and a cover 22′, collectively to be mounted to a door (not shown). The adjustable hinge 12′ further includes a slotted leaf 34. The slotted leaf may be either of the above-described slotted leafs.
The hinge 12′ includes a horizontal adjustment screw 94, preferably formed of stainless steel. The horizontal adjustment screw 94 is threaded into a threaded passage of a horizontal adjustment nut 96. The horizontal adjustment nut 96 is preferably formed of steel. As the horizontal adjustment screw 94 is rotated, the horizontal adjustment nut 96 moves axially along the horizontal adjustment screw 94. The horizontal adjustment nut 96 has a generally squared portion 96a, which fits into a complementarily shaped portion 14a in the receiver assembly 14′, to prevent rotation of the horizontal adjustment nut 96.
The horizontal adjustment nut 96 includes a circumferential grooved portion 46 to receive the leaf slot 38′ in the door leaf 34.
Rotation of the horizontal adjustment screw 94 in a first direction moves the door leaf 34′ to a first horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 13. Rotation of the horizontal adjustment screw 94 in a second, opposite direction moves the door leaf 34′ to a second horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 14.
The groove in the adjustment nut and the slot of the slotted leaf are sized to minimize play between the components during adjustment. The centerline of the slot of the slotted leaf and the centerline of the adjustment nut will be coincident in the nominal position.
The horizontal positioning feature and the vertical positioning feature can be implemented in a single hinge. Alternatively, a hinge may include only one of the features. It is believed to be more desirable to the end consumer to utilize, in a three hinge system, horizontally adjustable hinges as the upper and lower hinges, and a vertically adjustable hinge as the center hinge.
If a hinge only includes the vertical adjustment feature, no horizontal adjustment screws are required. To cover the opening for the adjustment screw, a cover solid at that location can be provided.

## Claims

1. A horizontally adjustable hinge comprising:
a base member having a slot and a channel generally perpendicular to the slot;
an adjustment nut disposed in the channel, the adjustment nut having a generally circumferential recess and a threaded axial bore, the adjustment nut being rotationally fixed within the channel;
a screw threadably engaged in the threaded axial bore and axially fixed relative to the base member;
a first leaf for insertion into the slot, the leaf having a slot dimensioned to receive the circumferential recess, wherein rotation of the screw moves the adjustment nut axially in the channel, thereby moving the leaf in the slot of the base member; and
a second leaf pivotably connected to the first leaf.

2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the channel and the adjustment nut have engaging surfaces cooperatively shaped to prevent the rotation of the adjustment nut within the channel.

3. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the channel is generally square.

4. The hinge of claim 1 including means for releasably retaining the leaf in the slot of the base member.

5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the leaf includes a spring for biasing the leaf relative to the slot of the base member.

6. A horizontally adjustable hinge comprising:
a base member having a slot and a channel generally perpendicular to the slot;
an adjustment nut disposed in the channel, the adjustment nut having a generally circumferential recess;
moving means for moving the adjustment nut axially in the channel while preventing rotational movement of the adjustment nut;
a first leaf for insertion into the slot, the leaf having a slot dimensioned to receive the circumferential recess, wherein rotation of the moving means moves the adjustment nut axially in the channel, thereby moving the leaf in the slot of the base member; and
a second leaf pivotably connected to the first leaf.

7. The hinge of claim 6 wherein the adjustment nut is disposed in the channel, the adjustment nut having a generally circumferential recess and a threaded axial bore, the adjustment nut being rotationally fixed within the channel; and
the moving means comprises a screw threadably engaged in the threaded axial bore and axially fixed relative to the base member.

8. The hinge of claim 7 wherein the channel and the adjustment nut have engaging surfaces cooperatively shaped to prevent the rotation of the adjustment nut within the channel.

9. The hinge of claim 8 wherein the channel is generally square.

10. The hinge of claim 6 including means for releasably retaining the leaf in the slot of the base member.

11. The hinge of claim 6 wherein the leaf includes a spring for biasing the leaf relative to the slot of the base member.

12. An adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing having a cavity and a channel therein;
a nut positioned in the channel, the nut having a recess and a threaded axial bore, the nut being fixed against rotational movement relative to the housing;
a screw threadably engaged in the bore of the nut;
a first leaf extending into the cavity, the leaf having a slot, the leaf engaging the nut such that the slot of the leaf engages the recess of the nut, wherein rotation of the screw moves the nut axially in the channel, thereby moving the leaf within the cavity; and
a second leaf pivotably connected to the first leaf.

13. The hinge of claim 12 wherein the channel and the nut have engaging surfaces cooperatively shaped to prevent the rotation of the adjustment nut within the channel.

14. The hinge of claim 12 wherein the channel is generally square.

15. The hinge of claim 12 including means for releasably retaining the leaf in the cavity.

16. The hinge of claim 12 wherein the leaf includes a spring for biasing the leaf relative to the cavity.

17. The hinge of claim 12 wherein the first leaf is generally planar and the screw is positioned substantially perpendicular the first leaf.

18. The hinge of claim 17 wherein the nut is positioned so the bore is substantially perpendicular to the first leaf.

19. The hinge of claim 12 wherein a portion of the first leaf is received within the recess of the nut.