Abstract:
A cabinet having a quiet, frictionally adjustable door hinge is disclosed. The cabinet door can be positioned anywhere between fully opened and fully closed positions. The cabinet comprises an adjustable hinge having an expandable member which contacts a bearing surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cabinets and, more particularly, to a cabinet having a door mounted by an adjustable hinge. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The bathroom cabinet industry generally uses metallic hinge assemblies for supporting the doors of the cabinets. These hinges are typically free swinging, i.e., the hinges are generally free of friction, such that the cabinet door is easily movable from the closed position to a fully opened position or at any other position. Unless the cabinet and door were perfectly mounted, i.e., with the door perfectly level, the force of gravity would cause the door to tend to either open or close (depending upon the balance of the door). Thus, prior art cabinets often required a catch or latch for holding the door in the closed position and/or some other type of movable device to hold the door in an open or partially open position. Moreover, all-metallic hinges typically have noise problems. 
     The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a hinge system comprised of a non-metallic hinge pin which is expandable to provide a controlled amount of hinge friction for holding a cabinet door in any desired position of its swing, i.e., wherever a user positions the door, without the use of any catches or other additional components. Additionally, the noise problems associated with allmetallic hinges are overcome. The present invention is also useful in reducing instances of slamming of a cabinet door, thereby decreasing the likelihood of breakage of a door mirror. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a cabinet having an adjustable hinge for mounting a cabinet door. The cabinet comprises a cabinet body having an internal storage area for receiving items to be stored and an opening for accessing the storage area. The cabinet additionally comprises a cabinet door pivotally mounted to the cabinet body and adjustable hinge means interconnected between the cabinet door and the cabinet body supporting the cabinet door. The hinge means allows the cabinet door to pivot with respect to the cabinet body between a first position wherein the cabinet door is positioned proximate the cabinet opening for closing the opening and a second position wherein the cabinet door is positioned away from the opening. The hinge means also allow for adjusting the force necessary to move the cabinet door between the first and second positions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a cabinet having an adjustable hinge for mounting a cabinet door in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view view of a portion of the cabinet of FIG. taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 showing the adjustable hinge means; and 
     FIG. 4 view similar to FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, Wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIG. I a cabinet 10 having a cabinet body 11 an internal storage area 22 (not shown in FIG. 1) and a cabinet door 13. In the presently preferred embodiment, the cabinet door 13 is comprised of a mirror 12. Adjustable hinge means 14 pivotally mount the cabinet door 13 to the cabinet body 11. 
     It is understood by those skilled in the art, that the present invention is not limited to any specific type, shape or size cabinet and that the cabinet 10 can be surface or recess mounted. That is, the cabinet 10 is of the type which is known to those skilled in the art, and therefore, further description thereof is omitted for convenience only, and is not limiting. However, in the present embodiment it is preferred that the present invention be used in conjunction with a bath-type cabinet wherein the cabinet door 13 comprises a mirror 12. 
     The cabinet body 11 of the cabinet 10 comprises right and left side channel members, 16a and 16b, respectively, a top channel member 20, and a bottom channel member 18. In the presently preferred embodiment, the adjustable hinge means 14 pivotally mounts the cabinet door 13 to both the top and bottom channel members 18 and 20. 
     It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to a cabinet unit having a door with two hinges. It is also understood by those skilled in the art that only one hinge can be used to pivotally mount the cabinet door 13 to the cabinet body 11. Similarly, the cabinet body 11 need not be comprised of four channel members. Only one channel member, capable of connection with the adjustable hinge means 14, need be present. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, the adjustable hinge means 14 comprises a hinge member including a generally cylindrical pin 46 and securing means for attachment of the hinge member 46 to the cabinet door 13. In the presently preferred embodiment, the adjustable hinge means 14 is secured to a door rib 40 by door rib mounting screws 44. The mirror 12 is mounted on the door rib 40 by a double-sided adhesive pad 42. Of course, the mirror 12 may be mounted in any other suitable manner. 
     Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustable hinge means 14 further comprises a channel member, such as the bottom channel member 18 capable of accepting the hinge pin 46. In the presently preferred embodiment, the bottom channel member 18 comprises a first wall 24, a second wall 26, and a third wall 50. The walls 24, 26 and 50 are generally parallel to each other and, in the illustrated embodiment, are generally horizontal. The channel members 16a, 16b, 18 and 20 are preferably fabricated out of a strong, lightweight metallic material such as aluminum. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the channel members can be constructed of other materials, such as a polymeric material or wood. 
     The first wall 24 includes a generally circular pivot aperture 48 for receiving the hinge pin 46. The hinge pin 46, fabricated out of a strong, non-metallic material such as nylon, comprises a cylindrical expandable member 28 having an outer radial surface 34 which contacts a bearing surface 30 of the pivot aperture 48. The second wall 26 and third wall 50 have access apertures 32 and 52, respectively, for accessing the expandable member 28. The second wall 26 also functions as a support member for supporting the hinge pin 46 and the weight of the cabinet door 13. 
     Disposed centrally within a bore 36 extending into the expandable member 28 along a longitudinal axis thereof is a cylindrical externally threaded member, such as a screw 38, which serves to expand and contract the expandable member 28. The screw 38 can be adjusted inwardly with a screw driver 54 through the access apertures 32 and 52 such that a desired amount of hinge friction is obtained between the bearing surface 30 and the expandable member radial outer surface 34. 
     The screw 38 is turned inwardly until the hinge friction is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity and to effectively hold the cabinet door 13, either in the closed position (without the use of a magnetic or any other type of catch) or at any other location along its swing. This configuration enables a person to use a mirrored door at a particular angle in order to obtain three-way viewing; one merely opens the door to the desired angle and the door stays at that particular angle because the friction between the bearing surface 30 and the expandable member radial outer surface is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity and hold the door in the precise location where it is positioned. 
     A hinge construction of this type allows the same hinge to be used with a plurality of doors having a different weights and configurations without regard to the manner in which the cabinet is mounted (i.e. even if the cabinet or door are not perfectly level), since, once the cabinet is mounted and in place, its hinge pin is individually adjusted to provide the proper amount of hinge friction. Additionally, as a door opens and closes and the amount of friction on the hinge pin causes the hinge pin or hinge to wear, the expandable member 28 may again be adjusted in order to maintain the correct amount of friction for holding the door at a desired position. Moreover, the bearing surface of the hinge pin 46 makes little or no noise as it turns with respect to the bearing surface 30. 
     From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention comprises a cabinet having an adjustable hinge for mounting a cabinet door. The construction of the hinge enables noise-free operation of the cabinet door and enables the user to position the cabinet door at any angle desired. It also reduces the likelihood that a mirrored door will be broken by decreasing the likelihood that the door will be slammed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.