Abstract:
A door hinge assembly with hinge members having axially aligned cylindrical passages with interior surface shape, and a selectively depressible hinge pin with an exterior shape that matches the interior hinge member passages so as to permit selective locking of the hinge members.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/153,585 filed Feb. 18, 2009 (Feb. 18, 2009). 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0005]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0007]    The present invention relates generally to hinge assemblies, and more particularly to hinges for closures, such as doors, windows, hatches, lids, ports, and the like, and also for panels or surface members that pivot in relation to another panel or surface member, such as shelves, awnings, ramps, gates, and the like. 
         [0008]    2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97, 1.98 
         [0009]    Locking hinges and hinge assemblies are known. Exemplary publications teaching such technology include: 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,288 to Cole, which teaches an adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism. The tool may be moved between a number of selectable positions through the use of a hinge pin, which is splined along its length and holds the portions of the tool together. The hinge pin is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the tool is adjustable, and in the locked position the tool is fixed in position and ready for use. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,718 to Brockhaus shows a door hinge including a first and a second hinge member each having eyes with a hinge pin inserted through the eyes of the hinge members to connect them operatively together. The hinge pin is mounted so as to be freely rotatable relative to a first eye but secured against axial movement relative thereto. The hinge pin and a second eye are formed with axially extending splines engaged between them, and axially adjacent the splines, the hinge pin is formed with a cylindrical section which engages within a complementary cylindrical recess in the second eye, the cylindrical section having a diameter which is slightly greater than the addendum circle diameter of the splines. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,486 to Wright, teaches a locking hinge with a sliding adjustable pintle for locking cabinets, doors, lids, and the like. The pintle is formed with splines and is adjustable to a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position the splines engage hinge knuckles such that the hinge is prevented from turning. In the open position, the splines are disengaged from the knuckles and the hinge is free to turn. 
         [0013]    The foregoing prior art reflects the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, this prior art is intended to aid in discharging Applicant&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated publications disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention is a novel hinge assembly that includes a first hinge member having a leaf and a lower sleeve. The lower sleeve includes an upper cylindrical passage with a first diameter and a lower cylindrical passage axially disposed immediately under the upper cylindrical passage and having a second diameter smaller than that of the upper cylindrical passage. The lower cylindrical passage has an interior wall with either a geometrical shape or surface topography. A second hinge member includes a leaf portion and an upper sleeve, the upper sleeve including an upper female portion and a lower male element extending axially downwardly from the female portion and has an outer diameter sized to fit tightly into the opening of the upper cylindrical passage of the lower sleeve so as to provide a smooth pivotal connection between the first and second hinge members. The male element further includes a lower portion with an interior wall configured substantially identically to that of the interior wall of the lower cylindrical passage of the lower sleeve. A through hole passes through the upper sleeve elements. When the male element of the upper sleeve is inserted into the lower sleeve, the through hole is axially aligned with the upper cylindrical passage and the lower cylindrical passage of the lower sleeve. A hinge pin is inserted into the upper cylindrical passage of the second hinge member and the lower cylindrical passage of the first hinge member. The hinge pin includes an outer surface configured or contoured in such a way to cooperate with the configuration of the interior wall of the lower sleeve. The hinge pin has an elevated unlocked position and a depressed locked position, such that when in the unlocked position no portion of the hinge pin outer surface engages the interior walls to prevent pivotal rotation of the hinge members in relation to one another, and when pushed into the down and locked position, the outer surface of the hinge pin engages the interior walls to prevent the hinge members from rotating in relation to one another. 
         [0015]    The foregoing summary broadly sets out the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention will be better understood and its objects and advantages will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an upper front perspective view showing the inventive hinge assembly in a fully open and unlocked position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an upper front perspective view showing the possible hinge leaves rotation about the hinge pin when in an unlocked position so as to assume a partly closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows the hinge assembly in a partly closed position and the hinge pin pushed into a locked position to prohibit all hinge leaf rotation; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an exploded upper front perspective view of the hinge of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded front view in elevation showing the upper and lower hinge sleeves in cross section; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a partial cross-sectional front view in elevation taken along section lines  6 A- 6 A showing the hinge in a locked position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a partial cross-sectional front view in elevation showing the hinge in an unlocked position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a detailed view taken along section line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6B , showing the spring loaded ball bearing detent used to prevent unwanted migration of the hinge pintle from either the unlocked or locked position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is an upper cross-sectional view showing the splined interior of the lower hinge leaf taken along section line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9A  shows an alternative configuration or shape for the exterior of the locking element of the hinge sleeve; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9B  shows yet another alternative configuration for the locking element of the hinge sleeve; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing the upper and lower sleeve portions and hinge pin of a second preferred embodiment of the inventive locking hinge; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing the upper and lower sleeve portions and hinge pint of a third preferred embodiment; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing the upper and lower sleeve portions and hinge pint of a fourth preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 12 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved locking hinge assembly, generally denominated  100  herein. These views collectively show that the inventive hinge assembly includes a first hinge member  110  having a leaf portion  120  and a lower cylindrical sleeve portion (a gudgeon or eye)  130 , which is roughly half the height of the leaf portion in dimension and extends along and is integral with the lower half of the interior edge  140  of the leaf portion. The lower sleeve  130  has an upper cylindrical passage  150  with a first diameter  160  and a lower cylindrical passage  170  axially disposed immediately under the upper cylindrical passage  150  and having a second diameter  180  smaller than that of the upper cylindrical passage. The lower cylindrical passage has an interior wall  190  that is splined ( FIG. 8 ) or otherwise provided with a surface topography, e.g., gear teeth  192  ( FIG. 9A ) or with a cross-sectional shape  194  ( FIG. 9B ) so as to function as a locking element in cooperation with the hinge pin (described fully below). 
         [0034]    The hinge assembly next includes a second hinge member  200  having a leaf portion  210  and an upper sleeve (eye or gudgeon)  220 , the upper sleeve including an upper female portion  230  also comprising roughly half the height of the leaf portion and integral with the upper half of the inner edge  240  of the leaf portion. The upper sleeve further includes a lower male element  250  extending axially downwardly from the female portion and having an outer diameter  260  sized for a tight fit insertion into the opening of the upper cylindrical passage  150  of the lower sleeve  130  in a manner well known in the art so as to provide a smooth pivotal connection between the two hinge members. A lower portion  270  of the male element interior wall  280  is splined  290  or otherwise configured or shaped identically to that of the interior wall  190  of the lower cylindrical passage  170  of the lower sleeve  130 . 
         [0035]    The upper sleeve includes a recess  300  (or countersink) at its upper end  310  and having a first diameter  320  and a cylindrical through hole  330  having a second diameter  340 . When the male element of the upper sleeve is inserted into the lower sleeve  130 , the through hole  330  is axially aligned with the upper cylindrical passage  150  and the lower cylindrical passage  170  of the lower sleeve  130  so as to accommodate insertion of a hinge pin  350 . The hinge pin includes an upper end  360  capped by an upper nut  370  threadably installed on the hinge pin. A helical compression spring  380  is disposed between the underside of the upper nut and the base  390  of the recess  300  in the upper sleeve. A lower nut  400  is threadably installed on the lower end  410  of the hinge pin. The helical compression spring is optional and is needed only when a single leaf hinge is employed, such as in a gate installation. While the spring may be employed to assist in keeping the hinge pin in an elevated (unlocked) position, the detent mechanism described below is sufficient for most applications. 
         [0036]    Next, the outer surface  420  of a lower portion  430  of the hinge pin includes splines, gear teeth, or a shape or geometric cross-sectional configuration  440  that cooperates with the splined interior wall  190  of the lower sleeve  130  to prevent rotation of the hinge pin. It will be seen that when the hinge is pushed up into the unlocked position, no portion of the hinge pin splines engages the splines (or other topography or shape) to prevent pivotal rotation of the hinge. 
         [0037]    The hinge pin further includes at least one, and preferably two, detent mechanisms, comprising first and second ball and spring combinations  450 ,  460 , disposed in a through hole  470  drilled through the pin. A single spring may be employed with balls disposed at each end, and the balls are thus biased against the opposing sides of the interior portion of the female portion of the upper sleeve as the hinge pin travels through the upper sleeve. It will be seen that when the hinge pin is pushed down into the unlocked position ( FIG. 6A ) ball and spring combinations disposed in the through hole of the hinge pin cooperates with female portion of the upper sleeve prevent excursion of the hinge upwardly. When the hinge pin is pushed upwardly and out of the locked configuration ( FIG. 6B ), the helical compression spring  380  (if provided) and the ball and spring combinations  450 ,  460  work to prevent unwanted drop of the hinge pin back into the locked position. When in the locked position, the splines on the hinge pin engage both the interior wall  190  of the lower cylindrical passage  170  of the lower sleeve  130  and the splines of the male element interior wall  290  such that the hinge members are prevented from pivoting relative to one another. 
         [0038]    In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hinge members are shown as conventional butt/mortise door hinges, each having a plurality of holes  480 ,  490 , for securing the hinge member to a door and/or door frame, though countless other hinge styles and configurations may incorporate the inventive system disclosed herein. 
         [0039]    Referring next to  FIGS. 10-12 , there is shown a second, a third, and a fourth preferred embodiments, respectively,  500 ,  600 ,  700 , of the novel locking hinge assembly, each providing a slightly different structural relationship of the operative elements of the invention. It will be appreciated that the changes relate principally to the relocation of the cooperative splined elements and the detent mechanism either upwardly or downwardly from the positions shown in the first preferred embodiment. In all other material respects, the inventive apparatus is essentially functionally identical to the above-described first preferred embodiment. 
         [0040]    In each of the second, third, and fourth preferred embodiments, the apparatus includes an upper sleeve portion  510 ,  610 ,  710 , a lower sleeve portion  520 ,  620 ,  720 , having a male element  530 ,  630 ,  730 , and a hinge pin  540 ,  640 ,  740  with splines  550 ,  650 ,  750 , disposed around its exterior circumference that engage splines  560 ,  660 ,  760  disposed on the interior wall of some portion of the lower sleeve when the pin is in the locked position (shown in all three views). The spring detents  570 ,  670 ,  770  prevent the pin from moving from its locked position. When pushed into the unlocked position, splines  580 ,  680 ,  780 , at one end of the hinge pin engage splines  590 ,  690 ,  790  disposed in the upper sleeve portion. 
         [0041]    In relation to known conventional door hinges, the most significant distinguishing features of the inventive locking hinge reside in the effect of removing the hinge pin. In the case of the prior art, the hinges essentially separate when the hinge pin is removed, much to the consternation of any handyman who has tried to remove or hang a door. By contrast, the inventive locking hinge includes a male element that slips into a female element so as to prevent such a separation. Indeed, the combined hinge members provide a fully functional hinge even without the hinge pin installed. The hinge pin provides further stability, but its essential function is not to hold the hinge members together, but to provide a rapid locking/unlocking mechanism. 
         [0042]    The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. 
         [0043]    Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.