Patent Publication Number: US-2012023706-A1

Title: Hinge stop

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Early hinges were formulated to operably connect heavy, solid wood doors. The knobs and other hardware mounted to such doors could cause considerable damage to, for example, plaster walls if opened rapidly. As a result, a number of structures to impede either the door or the hinge have been developed through the years. 
     The following patents provide some examples of attempts to modify hinges to prevent damage to walls: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,280,655, 3,602,942, 3,971,099, 4,738,002, 4,998,941, 5,727,289, and 5,881,431. 
     Often, the known implementations to reduce or slow the travel of a hinge are cumbersome and/or reduce the integrity of the hinge by the removal of structure from the rotating cylinder members. 
     SUMMARY 
     A durable hinge with integrated stops includes stops formed on the exterior of the rotating cylinder members near top and bottom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a hinge with integrated stop assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  hinge with integrated stop assembly with the hinge plates in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  hinge with integrated stop assembly with the hinge plates in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, the discussion that follows, will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  a durable hinge  10  includes a first plate  12  and a second plate  14 . The first and second plates  12 ,  14  can be secured to an operable opening structure, such a a door or a window via any suitable means, such as with screws (not shown) secured, for example, through apertures  16  in the first and second plates  12 ,  14 . The plates  12 ,  14  can be formed of any suitable material, such as, for example, brass, steel, steel alloy, plated metal, or any other suitable material, and can include one or more cylindrical members, such as cylindrical members  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 , respectively, for securing plate  12  to plate  14  via a generally cylindrical pin  26 . Other hinge configurations having, for example, a single cylinder on one plate and a pair of cylinders on a second plate is contemplated herein. Cylindrical members  18 ,  20  can be fixedly attached to plate  14 , while cylindrical members  22 ,  24  can be fixedly attached to plate  12 . At least one hinge stop, such as hinge stops  28 ,  30  can be provided on at least one of the cylinders, such as, for example, on cylinder  18  of plate  14  and on cylinder  24  of plate  12 . The at least one hinge stop is secured to or integrally formed with at least one of the cylindrical members  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . For example, the cylinder and hinge stop can both be formed of the same material, such as a metal or combination of metals, and the hinge stop can be formed during the of the same stock as the cylinder. Alternatively, the cylinder and hinge stop can be formed of common or mixed materials, and the hinge stop can be suitable adhered to the cylinder, such as by welding, using a metal post, or any other suitable method. 
     The at least one hinge stop can be decorative or plain and formed in a suitable shape, such as a generally rectangular shape, and can be rounded at ends  32 ,  34 , if desired. The structural consideration regarding the shape of the hinge stop is strength, as it is important that the stop does not break during operation of the hinge. 
     In operation, the plates  12 ′,  14 ′ of the hinge  10  can be separated by rotating at least one of the plates  12 ,  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for example, plate  14 ′ can be rotated counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow toward the stop  30 ′ until it comes into contact with the stop  30 ′. The stop  30 ″ prevents the swinging operation from proceeding further, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.