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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/221,711, entitled “ADJUSTABLE HINGE TO ELIMINATE SHIMMING”, filed Sep. 22, 2015, from which priority is claimed, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to hinges and door systems, and, more particularly, to adjustable hinges and door systems that use the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    During the lifetime of a dwelling or office, the walls and other parts of the structure tend to get out of alignment. This frequently results in the door latch of a door no longer lining up with the strike located on the door frame, so that the door no longer latches properly when it&#39;s closed. In order to realign the door latch with the door strike, it is necessary to make an adjustment at the door hinges. The problem is, a technician must remove the screws from a hinge on a door to make any adjustment. And usually this means that the technician must adjust more than just one hinge. In fact, multiple hinges on the door need to be brought into line. The adjustment is presently made by inserting shims between the hinge(s) and the door frame. This creates or changes a gap between the hinge and the door frame. Depending upon the location of a particular shim, the act of creating or changing the gap causes the door to be adjusted vertically, horizontally, and/or angularly, relative to the frame, and thus changes the orientation of the door latch to the door strike so that the door latches correctly. As may be imagined, by the time this procedure has been repeated for all of the hinges, it has become a tedious and time-consuming process, and consequently has entailed a considerable expense. 
         [0006]    Attempts have been made to simplify this process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,863,358 to Ochs discloses the use of lifting elements threadedly attached to a hinge plate via threaded holes formed in the hinge plate. As a particular lifting element is rotated in the hinge plate, such as, for example, by a screwdriver, the lifting element extends beyond the rear surface of the hinge plate to cause a separation between the hinge plate and the door jamb or frame. The difficulty is, that in order to use this system, the hinge plate must also be equipped with separate holes for receiving conventional screws of the type that are typically used for connecting the hinge plate to the door and frame. This causes the hinge plate to be peppered with holes and fasteners, and is unsightly when installed on a door and door frame. Furthermore, this system requires additional forming operations when manufacturing the hinge. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, what is needed is a hinge that can be adjusted using a single set of apertures formed in the hinge plate, each aperture accommodating both an adjuster and the conventional fastener for connecting the hinge to the door or the door frame. The present invention provides such a solution. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a hinge having a hinge pin, a hinge plate coupled to the hinge pin, the hinge plate defining at least one threaded aperture, and an adjuster configured to threadedly engage each threaded aperture, such that the adjuster defines a central pass-through bore for receiving a fastener configured to fasten the hinge plate to a door or door frame, the adjusters being operatively associated with the surface of a frame or door to change the distance between the hinge plate and the surface of the frame or door. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the adjustable hinge of the present invention, the adjustable hinge includes a frame hinge plate and a door hinge plate; the frame hinge plate defines a plurality of threaded apertures for threadedly receiving the adjusters, and is coupled to the door hinge plate via a hinge pin. The door hinge plate, on the other hand, includes a plurality of apertures configured to accept conventional fasteners for attaching the door hinge plate to a door. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the adjustable hinge of the present invention, the door hinge plate includes a plurality of threaded apertures instead of the conventional apertures. 
         [0011]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, the adjusters each include a shoulder formed on a front face of the adjuster to provide extra strength when the adjuster is threaded into a respective threaded aperture. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge plate defines annular shoulders proximate the threaded apertures, the adjusters including first and second members threadedly attached to one another, so that they can be advanced or retracted in the hinge plate threaded aperture as a single unit or assembly. One of the first and second members is configured to engage the hinge plate shoulder to limit the amount of axial travel of the first and second members in the hinge plate threaded aperture. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the present invention, an anti-rotation member is operatively associated with the first and second members to prevent relative rotation therebetween. 
         [0014]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, the adjuster includes a tool-engaging feature configured for engagement by a tool for rotating the adjuster in its respective threaded aperture. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, the tool includes a cylindrical body configured to be slipped over the fastener, and into engagement with the adjuster tool-engaging feature. 
         [0016]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the tool includes a handle portion connected to an annular portion which defines a central aperture, which is configured to slip over the fastener, and which further defines tangs for engagement with mating recesses formed in the adjuster. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, a door system includes a door pivotably connected to a door frame via a plurality of adjustable hinges according to the present invention, the hinges including first and second hinge plates coupled to a hinge pin, wherein at least one of the first and second hinge plates define a plurality of threaded apertures. A plurality of threaded adjusters are engaged with respective threaded apertures and are configured to selectively axially bear against a surface of the door or door frame to change the distance between the at least one of the first and second hinge plates and a surface of the door or door frame, the adjusters further defining respective central pass-through bores for receiving a fastener, the fastener being disposed in each pass-through bore and configured to fasten the hinge plate to the door or door frame. 
         [0018]    Finally, in still another embodiment of the present invention, a method of changing the spacing between a hinge plate mounted on a door or door frame and the surface of the door or door frame includes loosening a fastener connecting the hinge plate to the door or door frame; then rotating an annular threaded adjuster disposed in a threaded aperture formed in the hinge plate about, and coaxial with, the fastener, so that the distance between a rear surface of the hinge plate and the surface of the door or frame changes; and then tightening the fastener. 
         [0019]    The present invention accordingly yields an adjustable hinge which is inexpensive to manufacture, presents a much cleaner appearance when installed on a door or door frame, and provides considerably faster adjustment than is currently available in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable hinge according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable hinge according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective exploded detail view of the adjustable hinge of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a fastener driver coaxially aligned with a tool, a fastener, an adjuster, and a threaded aperture of a frame hinge plate, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame hinge plate being shown embedded in the surface of a door frame. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective exploded detail view of an adjustable hinge, similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 , but illustrating the embodiment of the adjustable hinge shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are enlarged sequential schematic sectional detail views of the adjustable hinge of  FIG. 1 , shown attached to a door frame, and illustrating a method according to the present invention for adjusting a gap between the frame hinge plate of the present invention and a surface of the frame. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top plan and side elevational detail views, respectively, of an adjuster of the adjustable hinge of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6C  is a top plan detail view of a frame hinge plate of the adjustable hinge of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are top plan and side elevational detail views, respectively, of an adjuster of the adjustable hinge of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 7C  is an elevational sectional detail view taken along lines  7 C- 7 C of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0030]      FIG. 7D  is a top plan detail view of a frame hinge plate of the adjustable hinge  FIG. 2 , illustrating the shallow annular recesses formed around the threaded apertures for accepting the annular shoulders of the adjuster of  FIG. 2   
           [0031]      FIGS. 8A and 8C  are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of a detail of a multi-part adjuster of another embodiment of an adjustable hinge according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8B  is an elevational sectional detail view of the adjustable hinge of the present invention using the adjusters of  FIGS. 8A and 8A , the section being taken along lines  8 B- 8 B of  FIG. 8A . 
           [0033]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are sequential elevational sectional detail views illustrating the method of assembling the multi-part adjuster and hinge plate of the adjustable hinge of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C . 
           [0034]      FIGS. 9D and 9E  are exploded perspective detail views of another embodiment of a multi-part adjuster and hinge plate of the adjustable hinge of the present invention, and illustrate the use of a square anti-rotation member. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 10A-10C  are views similar to those of  FIGS. 8A-8C , and illustrate the use of a triangular anti-rotation member of another embodiment of the adjustable hinge according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 10D and 10E  are exploded perspective detail views, similar to those of  FIGS. 9D and 9E , of another embodiment of a multi-part adjuster and hinge plate of the adjustable hinge of the present invention, and illustrate the use of a triangular anti-rotation member. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are exploded perspective detail views, similar to those of  FIGS. 9D and 9E , of another embodiment of a multi-part adjuster and hinge plate of the adjustable hinge of the present invention, and illustrate the use of a circular anti-rotation member. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective detail view of an adjuster-engaging tool for an embodiment of an adjustable hinge of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 12B  is a front elevational detail view of the tool shown in  FIG. 12A . 
           [0040]      FIG. 12C  is a side elevational detail view of the tool shown in  FIG. 12A . 
           [0041]      FIG. 12D  is a top plan view of the tool shown in  FIG. 12A . 
           [0042]      FIG. 13A  is a top plan view of another embodiment of an adjuster-engaging tool for an adjustable hinge of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 13B  is a side elevational view of the tool shown in  FIG. 13A . 
           [0044]      FIG. 13C  is an elevational sectional view taken along lines  13 C- 13 C of  FIG. 13A . 
           [0045]      FIG. 13D  is a perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 13A . 
       
    
    
       [0046]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0047]    Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1, 3 and 6A-6C , there is shown an adjustable hinge  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The adjustable hinge  10  includes a hinge pin  12 , a frame hinge plate  14  coupled to the hinge pin via frame hinge plate knuckles  16 , and a door hinge plate  18  coupled to the hinge pin via door hinge plate knuckles  20 . The frame hinge plate  14  defines a plurality of threaded apertures  22 . In this embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention, four threaded apertures  22  are formed in the frame hinge plate  14 ; however, it can be appreciated that fewer or more than four threaded apertures may be used, depending upon the requirements of the particular application. The hinge plates  14 ,  18  may be formed of steel, which may be manufactured according to BHMA Standard A156.1, Section 3.8. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 1 and 3  show that, on the other hand, the door hinge plate  18  of this embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention defines a plurality of conventionally-chamfered through-holes  24 . Again, fewer or more than four through-holes  24  may be used, depending upon the requirements of the particular application. 
         [0049]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1, 3, 6A and 6B , the adjustable hinge  10  further includes an adjuster  30  configured to threadedly engage each threaded aperture  22 . The adjuster  30  defines a longitudinal axis  32 , and is formed as an annular body having an annular front face  34 , and an annular rear face  36  engageable with a surface of a door frame  38  or a door  40 . The front face  38  and the rear face  36  lie in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  32 . The adjuster  30  further defines an outer annular surface  42  threaded to match the threads of the threaded aperture  22 , and an unthreaded central pass-through bore  44 . The pass-through bore  44  has a first diameter  46  proximate the front face  38  and a second diameter  48  proximate the rear face  36 , the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, such that the pass-through bore forms a truncated cone or chamfer  49 . Furthermore, the adjuster  30  defines a tool-engaging feature  50  for engagement by a tool  52  for rotating the adjuster  30  in its respective threaded aperture  22 . As may be imagined, the tool-engaging feature  50 , and tool  52 , may be any suitable combination which causes the adjuster  30  to be advanced or retracted within the threaded aperture  22 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 3 , tool  52  is configured to be slipped over a conventional fastener  54 , such as a screw having a chamfered fastener head  56  (a Phillips-head screw is illustrated, but may be any suitable fastener for attaching the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention to a door frame  38  or door  40 ), and into engagement with the tool-engaging feature  50  (arrow  53 ). This enables a fastener driver  57  to engage the fastener head  56 , and rotate the fastener  54  in the door frame  38  and into or out of engagement with the chamfer  49  of adjuster  30  without disturbing the position of the adjuster  30 . According to an embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention, the tool-engaging feature  50  is defined by radially-opposed axial slots formed in the front face  34  of the adjuster  30 . 
         [0050]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1, 3 and 6A and 6B , for the example of an adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention described above, the adjuster  30  may be formed of stainless steel or high-strength carbon steel, or any other high-strength material suitable for bearing the loads and resisting the stresses associated with steel door hinges pivotably connecting doors to door frames. It may have an outer diameter of 0.500″, an inner diameter of 0.325″ and define a chamfer  49  of 82°. The threads formed on the outer annular surface  42  may be ½-20, corresponding to the ½-20 threaded apertures  22  in the frame hinge plate  14 . The slots  50  may be 0.125″ wide and have an axial depth of 0.065″. Furthermore, the adjuster  30  may have a height of 0.190″. Of course it should be understood that these dimensions are purely illustrative; the adjuster  30  may be configured in any way desired for a particular application of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention. Next, various embodiments of the tool  52  of the present invention will be described. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 12A-12D , one embodiment of a tool  52  for the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention includes a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis  32  having an annular exterior surface  58  including a knurled portion  60  for gripping by the fingers of a person&#39;s hand, or by a wrench. The tool  52  also defines an axial end  62 . Two radially-opposed tangs  64  extend axially away from the end  62 , and are configured to engage the slots  50  formed in the front faces  34  of the adjusters  30 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This tool  52  may be formed out of steel tubing, but it will be understood that the tool may also be formed of any material suitable for holding the adjuster  30  in place while a driver  57  advances or retracts the fastener  54  within the adjuster  30  and door frame  38 . Tool  52  is designed to be reusable, and therefore included in the tools carried in the technician&#39;s toolbox. Referring to  FIGS. 12A-12D , for the example of an adjustable hinge of the present invention described above, the tool  52  may be formed of 0.049″ wall steel tubing having an outer diameter of 0.500″. It may further have a length of 1.650″, with the knurled portion  60  being 0.900″ long. The tangs  64  may have the same thickness as the steel tubing, and may be 0.110″ wide and extend axially 0.060″ from the end  62  of the tool  52 . Of course it should be understood that these dimensions are purely illustrative; the tool  52  may be configured in any way desired for a particular application to various embodiments of the adjustable hinge of the present invention. 
         [0052]    Another embodiment of a tool  52 ′ for the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-13D , and is in the form of a flat wrench  66  including a handle portion  68  connected to an annular portion  70 . Preferably, the handle portion  68  defines a knurled portion  72 , which may be created by a series of shallow parallel slots, and is oriented at an angle  74  to the annular portion  70 . The annular portion defines an annular aperture  76 , which further defines two radially-opposed, downwardly-extending tangs  78  configured for engagement with the slots  50  of the adjuster  30 . If desired, this embodiment of tool  52 ′ may be inexpensively formed of a suitable plastic, including without limitation high-strength ABS or polycarbonate, so that it may be included in the package containing the components of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention, and then either retained or recycled. On the other hand, if desired, the flat wrench  66  may be formed of 0.074″ cold rolled steel. Still referring to  FIGS. 13A-13D , for the example of an adjustable hinge of the present invention described above, the tool  52 ′ handle portion  68  may be 0.400″ wide and 0.788″ long and extend from the annular portion  70  at an angle  74  of 10°. The annular portion  70  may have an outer diameter of 1.000″ and define an annular aperture  76  having a diameter of 0.562″. The tangs  78  may be 0.100″ wide and extend downwardly from an upper surface of the annular portion for distance of 0.130″. The tangs  78  may have approximately the same thickness as the material from which the flat wrench  66  is formed. Of course it should be understood that these dimensions are also purely illustrative; the tool  52 ′ may be configured in any way desired for a particular application to various embodiments of the adjustable hinge of the present invention. Next will be described a method for using the tools  52 ,  52 ′ in conjunction with the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 5A-5D , in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , illustrate a method according to an embodiment of the present invention for using the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention to adjust the spacing between a door frame hinge plate  14  and a surface of the door frame  38 . Note that the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention may also be used to adjust the spacing between a door hinge plate  18 , and a surface of a door  40 , using the same method. Furthermore, the method shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5A-5D  is also applicable to various alternative embodiments of the adjuster  30  of the present invention, as will be described below. 
         [0054]    First, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5A , a tool  52  is axially aligned with adjuster  30  so that its tangs  64  engage the slots  50  formed in the adjuster, and so that the adjuster is held in place. For best results, at this stage, the rear faces  36  of the adjusters  30  should not protrude from a rear face  79  of the door frame hinge plate  14 . Then, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5B , the driver  57  is inserted into the tool  52 , such that the driver drivingly engages the head  56  of fastener  54 . The fastener  54  is then slightly loosened or backed out as shown by arrow  80 , creating a small space  82  within the door frame  38 . It should be noted that, although tool  52  is illustrated as being used in this method of the present invention, the embodiment of the flat wrench  66  (tool  52 ′) of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13A-13D  may also be used, whereby the flat wrench annular aperture  76  is placed upon the adjuster  30  so that the downwardly-extending tangs  78  engage the grooves  50  in the adjuster. Then the driver  57  may be inserted through the annular aperture  76  of the flat wrench  66  to drivingly engage the fastener head  56 , as set forth above. 
         [0055]    Next, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5C , the tool  52  is rotated (arrow  85 ) to advance the adjuster  30  in the threaded aperture  22  so that its rear face  36  engages a surface  83  of the door frame  38 . The adjuster  30  is advanced (or retracted) to create the desired gap  84  between the frame hinge plate  14  and the surface  83  of the door frame  38 . For best results, the maximum extent that the adjuster  30  should protrude from the rear surface  79  of the frame hinge plate, and therefore, the maximum gap  84  created thereby, should be no greater than 0.063″, which is the equivalent thickness of three standard hinge shims. 
         [0056]    Finally, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5D , while the adjuster  30  is still held in place by tool  52 , the driver  57  is rotated in the opposite direction to return the fastener  54  to its original position in the frame  38  (arrow  86 ), thereby tightening the fastener against the adjuster and locking it in place so that the gap  84  is maintained. 
         [0057]    The method of the present invention for adjusting the gap  84 , as set forth, above may also be used when adjusting the gap  84  to be smaller. Accordingly, it can be recognized that by using the process according to the present invention described above, the cumulative time saved per door, compared to conventional shimming techniques where the hinges must actually be totally removed from the door frame, followed by inserting one or more shims by trial and error, can be considerable, inasmuch as several such adjustments may be required to be made for each hinge of a door and door frame. 
         [0058]    Having thus described the structure and operation of one embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10  of the present invention, additional embodiments will now be described. The method according to the present invention for adjusting the gap  84 , as described above, is equally applicable to such additional embodiments of the adjustable hinge of the present invention. 
         [0059]    An additional embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10 ′ of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 , in which the conventional chamfered through-holes  24  formed in the door hinge plate  18  of  FIG. 1  have been replaced by threaded apertures  22  formed in the door hinge plate  18 ′. Now, if desired, the adjustable hinge  10 ′ of the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with a door  40 , as well as a door frame  38 . In that event, the same adjusters  30  used in the frame hinge plate  14  may be threadedly engaged with the door hinge plate  18 ′, and the same method of the present invention for adjusting the gap  84  between the frame hinge plate  14  and the surface  83  of the frame  38 , as was described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5A-5D , may be used to adjust the gap between the door hinge plate  18  and a surface of the door  40 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 4 and 7A-7C  illustrate another embodiment of the adjustable hinge  10 ,  10 ′ of the present invention. If desired, adjustable hinge  10 ,  10 ′ may include an adjuster  30 ′ which has been modified for additional strength to define an annular shoulder  90 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . The annular shoulder  90  has an inner diameter  88  and an outer diameter  89 , and defines a front face  34 ′ of the adjuster  30 ′. The adjuster  30 ′ defines a cylindrical pass-through bore  94  and a threaded annular outer surface  42 ′ which is threadedly engageable with a threaded aperture  22 ′ formed in a frame hinge plate  14 ′. The frame hinge plate  14 ′ further defines an annular recess  96  disposed concentrically with the threaded aperture  22 ′ in a front face  97  of the frame hinge plate  14 ′, the annular recess  96  being configured to receive the annular shoulder  90 . The adjuster  30 ′ shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C  may be so dimensioned that the outer diameter  89  of the shoulder  90  may be 0.625″ and the inner diameter  88  may be 0.450″, a chamfer  92  may be formed at an 82° angle, and the pass-through bore  94  may have a diameter of 0.325″. Furthermore, the height of the threaded outer annular surface  42 ′ may be 0.125″, the threads of which being ½-20, which again correspond to the threads of the threaded aperture  22 . Of course, as previously noted, it should be understood that these dimensions are purely illustrative; the adjuster  30 ′ and the frame hinge plate  14 ′ may be configured in any way desired for a particular application to various embodiments of the adjustable hinge of the present invention. 
         [0061]    So far, one-piece adjusters  10 ,  10 ′ have been described for use with the adjustable hinges  10 ,  10 ′ of the present invention. However, it may become desirable to construct the adjusters as multi-piece units, which may entail modifying the frame hinge plate  14 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9C , an embodiment of an adjustable hinge  100  of the present invention incorporating such a multi-piece adjuster includes a frame hinge plate  102  defining a top annular recess  104  having a depth  106 , and a bottom annular recess  108  having a depth  110 , the bottom annular recess being coaxially aligned with the top annular recess along a longitudinal axis  109 . The top annular recess  104  coacts with the bottom annular recess  108  to define a frame hinge plate threaded annular shoulder  112 , the threads of which may be selected to be the same as the threads in the threaded apertures  22 ,  22 ′. As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the hinge plate threaded annular shoulder  112  defines a threaded cavity  114 . A multi-piece adjuster  116  according to the adjustable hinge  100  of the present invention includes a bottom bushing or first member  118  threadedly engageable with a top bushing or second member  120 . The bottom bushing  118  and top bushing  120  define respective cavities  123 ,  125  coaxial with the longitudinal axis  109 , each cavity defining a square cross-section. The bottom bushing  118  further defines an axially-extending cylindrical wall  124 , which in turn defines outer exterior threads  126  and inner exterior threads  128 . The outer exterior threads  126  are configured to threadedly engage the threaded shoulder  112  of the frame hinge plate  102 . The bottom bushing  118  also defines an annular outer shoulder  132 , which is configured to engage the frame hinge plate threaded shoulder  112 , a bottom surface  133  of the threaded shoulder  112  acting as a hard stop limiting upward travel of the bottom bushing as it is threaded into the frame hinge plate  102 . 
         [0063]    Still referring to  FIGS. 8A-8C  and  FIGS. 9A-9C , the top bushing  120  further defines two radially-opposed slots  121  ( FIG. 8A ) for engagement by the tangs  64 ,  78  of tools  52 ,  52 ′, respectively. In addition, the top bushing  120  defines a chamfered through-bore  136  for accepting the head  56  of a fastener  54 , and further includes an annular shoulder  138  configured to be accepted into the top annular recess  104  of the frame hinge plate  102 . The top bushing  120  also defines a through-bore  137  disposed immediately below the chamfered through-bore  136 , both of which bores  136 ,  137  being coaxial with the longitudinal axis  109 . When the top and bottom bushings  120 ,  118  are threadedly connected together, they are configured to be advanced or retracted as a single unit or assembly within the frame hinge plate  102 , such that the bottom bushing engages the surface of a frame or door to create the gap  84 , as was previously described with respect to  FIGS. 5A-5D . In this respect, a top surface  139  of the threaded shoulder  112  of the frame hinge plate  102  is configured to provide another hard stop to prevent the coupled upper and lower bushings  120 ,  118  from being advanced a greater distance out of the frame hinge plate  102  than 0.063″, this distance being reflected in gap  142  (see, for example,  FIG. 9C ). Finally, the top bushing  120  defines a threaded cylindrical wall  140  adapted to be threadedly engaged with the inner exterior threads  128  of the bottom bushing cylindrical wall  124 . 
         [0064]    An anti-rotation member  122  having a square cross-section, and defining an annular through-bore  127  coaxial with longitudinal axis  109 , engages the square cavities  123 ,  125  of the bottom and top bushings  118 ,  120 , respectively, to ensure that no relative rotation occurs between the bottom and top bushings  118 ,  120  during the advancement or retraction of the coupled bushings. The diameter of a through-bore  127  of the anti-rotation member  122  is the same as the diameter of through-bore  137  defined by the top bushing  120 ; both through-bores  127  and  137  are configured to accept the fastener  54  during the process for creating a gap  84 , as was described above with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D . 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9A-9C , the multi-piece adjuster  116  of the present invention is assembled by first inserting the lower bushing  118  into cavity  108  and threading it into engagement with the threaded shoulder  112  of the frame hinge plate  102 , as shown by arrow  143  in  FIG. 9A . Then the upper bushing  120  is inserted into cavity  104  and is threaded into engagement with the inner exterior threads  128  of the lower bushing  118 , as shown by arrow  144  of  FIG. 9B . To complete the assembly, the square anti-rotation member  122  is press-fit into mating cavities  123 ,  125  of the bottom and top bushings  118 ,  120 , respectively, as shown by arrow  145  of  FIG. 9C . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 9D and 9E  illustrate a simplified version of the multi-piece adjustable hinge of the present invention described above. An adjustable hinge  200  of the present invention includes an adjuster  202 , which is composed of only two parts, namely, a bottom annular member  204  and a top annular member  206 , which are coaxially aligned with a threaded aperture  22  of a frame hinge plate  14 , along a longitudinal axis  208 . The bottom annular member  204  includes a threaded cylindrical wall  210 , which is configured to threadedly engage the threaded aperture  22  of frame hinge plate  14 . The bottom annular member  204  further includes an annular shoulder  212  and a face  214 , in which is formed a recess  216  having a square cross-section. A through-bore  218  coaxial with the longitudinal axis  208  is configured to accept a fastener  54  in a fashion similar to that shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5A-5D . 
         [0067]    Still referring to  FIGS. 9D and 9E , the top annular member  206  includes an annular shoulder  220  and an anti-rotation member  222  having a square cross-section, the anti-rotation member  222  being configured to mate with the square recess  216  of the bottom member  204  with a press-fit. The top annular member  206  further defines an annular chamfer  224  configured to accept the head  56  of a fastener  54 , as well as an annular through-bore  226  configured to accept the fastener. Finally, the top annular member defines two radially-opposed slots  228  configured to be engaged by the tangs  64 ,  78  of tools  52 ,  52 ′, respectively. The anti-rotation member  222 , the chamfer  224  and the through-bore  226  are coaxial with the longitudinal axis  208 . 
         [0068]    The adjuster  202  of this embodiment of an adjustable hinge  200  of the present invention is assembled by first threading the bottom annular member  204  into the threaded aperture  22  of the frame hinge plate  14 . Then the top annular member  206  is oriented with the bottom annular member  204 , such that the anti-rotation member  222  is aligned with its mating recess  216 , and the bottom and top annular members  204 ,  206 , are pressed together, creating an adjuster assembly  202  around the frame hinge plate  14 . This adjuster assembly  202  can then be threaded in and out of the frame hinge plate  14 , and is configured to use the coaction of the respective shoulders  212 ,  220  of the bottom and top annular members  204 ,  206 , respectively, with the hinge plate  14  as hard stops, similar to the hard stops described with respect to the three-piece embodiment of the adjustable hinge  100  of the present invention described above. 
         [0069]    The anti-rotation member  222  is not limited to having a square cross-section. For example,  FIGS. 10A-10C , and  FIGS. 10D and 10E  illustrate adjustable hinges  300 ,  400  of the present invention, which are identical to adjustable hinges  100  and  200  of the present invention, except for the use of an anti-rotation member  302 ,  402  having a triangular cross-section. Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , which are similar to  FIGS. 9D and 9E , respectively, an adjustable hinge  500  of the present invention includes an anti-rotation member  502  having a circular cross-section and may include a square orienting feature  504 . The circular anti-rotation member  502  is press-fit into a circular recess  506  with the square orienting feature  504  engaging a square recess  508 , similar to the assembly process described above with respect to the adjustable hinge assembly  200  of the present invention. 
         [0070]    Although the adjustable hinges of the present invention have been described primarily in connection with a frame hinge plate, it should be understood that the present invention is similarly usable in conjunction with a door hinge plate. 
         [0071]    It can now be seen that the present invention encompasses a door system including a door pivotably connected to a door frame via a plurality of adjustable hinges, according to various embodiments of the present invention, resulting in a significant cumulative reduction in time required to adjust the hinges of the door system. 
         [0072]    While the present invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limitations of the appended claims.

Summary:
An adjustable hinge of the present invention includes a hinge pin and a hinge plate coupled to the hinge pin and a plurality of adjusters configured to threadedly engage a plurality of threaded apertures formed in the hinge plate. The adjusters define respective central pass-through bores for receiving a fastener configured to fasten the hinge plate to a door or door frame. The adjusters are operatively associated with a door or door frame, so that, after slightly loosening the existing fastener, rotating the adjuster changes the gap between the hinge plate and the surface of the door or door frame. Once the desired gap has been obtained, the fastener is tightened against the adjuster, and into the door or door frame, thereby maintaining the gap.