Patent Publication Number: US-9834968-B2

Title: Shower door hinge limiter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to door hinges, and more specifically to a shower door hinge with a range limiting mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shower doors, and particularly glass shower doors, are generally provided as either a sliding door or a hinged door. When a glass door is hinged, it often includes two or more hinge mechanisms that clamp against the glass and provide for a full range of motion in either direction. Examples of such hinges are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,867,869 and 6,560,821, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. When it is desired to limit movement to only one direction, the opposite side of the glass door may be beveled to create a stop against an adjacent portion of the shower door enclosure. A stop may also be placed on the wall opposite the hinge as illustrated in  FIG. 12  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869. 
     However, it may be desired to selectively limit the range of motion of a glass shower door, such as to prevent impact of the glass against objects within or outside the shower. For example, it may be desired to selectively limit the range of the shower door at a chosen angle as not to impact a shower head or a towel bar. Prior art hinge mechanisms do not provide a mechanism to do so. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door hinge with one or more hinge limiting mechanisms for selective adjustment of the range of rotation of the door. 
     These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a hinge for a door, such as a glass shower door, having a back plate, a hinge block attached to and/or extending from the back plate, and a clamp rotatably coupled to the hinge block. The hinge block includes one or more hinge limiters attached to a front or back exterior surface thereof. In some embodiments, the clamp includes a stop plate on an interior surface adjacent to a distal end of the hinge block which is adapted to contact the one or more hinge limiters upon rotation of the clamp. 
     In some embodiments, the hinge limiter has a length equal to or less than a length of the hinge block and a width less than a width of the hinge block. The hinge limiter may also have a distal end, in the width-wise direction, which is curved, chamfered, or filleted. 
     Further provided is a customizable hinge system including a hinge having a back plate, a hinge block attached to and/or extending from the back plate, and a clamp rotatably coupled to the hinge block. The system further includes two or more hinge limiters adapted to attach to front or back exterior surfaces of the hinge block. The two or more hinge limiters may include one hinge limiter having a first thickness and a second hinge limiter having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The two or more hinge limiters may also include one hinge limiter having a first width and a second hinge limiter having a second width longer than the first width. 
     Also provided is a method of selectively limiting the pivotal range of a door. The method includes the steps of providing a hinge having a back plate, a hinge block attached to and/or extending from the back plate, and a clamp rotatably coupled to the hinge block. At least one of a plurality of hinge limiters are selectively attached or adhered to front or back exterior surfaces of the hinge block to achieve a desired pivotal range of the clamp and/or door. 
     The method may also include a step of removing the at least one of a plurality of hinge limiters from the hinge block and attaching another one of the at least one of a plurality of hinge limiters to the front or back exterior surfaces of the hinge block to achieve a different pivotal range. 
     In some embodiments, the hinge limiter has a thickness of 30% or less of a thickness of the hinge block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a shower door hinge adapted to receive a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a shower door hinge adapted to receive a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a shower door hinge adapted to receive a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate range limiting mechanisms according the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a shower door hinge including a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a shower door hinge including a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are top sectional views of a shower door hinge including a range limiting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are top sectional views of a shower door hinge including range limiting mechanisms according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a door hinge  10  adapted to receive a range limiting mechanism according to the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a front view of the hinge  10  and  FIG. 2  is a top view of the hinge  10 .  FIG. 3  is a side or end view of the hinge  10 . The hinge  10  includes a back plate  12 , a hinge block (or tram)  14 , and a clamp  20 . The back plate  12  attaches the hinge  10  to a wall, such as with mechanical fasteners  11 . The hinge block  14  extends (e.g., perpendicularly) from the back plate  12  and includes a center pin  16  for rotation of the hinge  10 . 
     The clamp  20  includes a front clamp plate  24 , a rear clamp plate  22 , and a center block  26 . The clamp  20  may also include two gaskets  28 . The clamp plates  22 ,  24  may be attached to the center block  26  and/or a door by mechanical fasteners. In some embodiments, one or both of the clamp plates  22 ,  24  may be formed as a single (e.g., metal) piece with the center block  26 . 
     The door hinge  10 , and particularly the clamp  20 , is adapted to attach to a door, such as glass shower door panel, to provide a hinge for the door. In particular, a glass panel may be clamped between the front and back clamp plates  22 ,  24  and gaskets  28 . The clamp  20  may attach to the panel using mechanical fasteners  21 , such as hex bolts. While the preferred embodiment relates to a glass shower door, one skilled in the art would understand that the hinge  10  may be used for other types of doors and enclosures. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate various range limiting mechanisms, or hinge limiters, according the present invention. The hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  have a back surface that attaches to the hinge block  14  and a front (exterior) surface. As shown, the hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  may have any number of different thicknesses depending on the desired angle limitation. For example, the thicknesses may be between 10% and 30% of a thickness of the hinge block  14 . Some hinge limiters have a thickness of less than 25% (e.g., 20%, 15%) of the thickness of the hinge block  14 . In some other embodiments, the hinge limiters may have a thickness of up to 35%, up to 40%, or up to 50% of the thickness of the hinge block  14  depending on the degree of limitation desired. In one embodiment, the hinge limiters are ⅛ inch thick and 3/16 inch thick. In some embodiments, the widths may also vary to assist with adjusting the desired angle. The widths (in the direction of the curved distal edge) are generally greater than 50% of a total width of the hinge block  14 , such as at least 60%, 75%, 85% or more. The hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  are also sized to fit against various different hinge blocks  14 , having an equal or lesser top to bottom length. 
     A distal end of each hinge limiter  30 ,  32 ,  34  has a curved, chamfered, or filleted end. The hinge limiters also have attachment elements  31 ,  33 ,  35  on the back surface of the hinge limiter. The attachment elements  31 ,  33 ,  35  may be, for example, adhesive layers (e.g., double sided tape), epoxy, or mechanical fasters such as screws (e.g., extending through the hinge limiter in the thickness direction). As described in more detail below, the hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  of  FIGS. 4A-4C  may be provided together as part of a customizable system or kit with a hinge  10 . 
       FIGS. 5-6  show the hinge  10  including a hinge limiting mechanism  30 , or hinge limiter. The hinge limiter  30  is adhered to a front surface of the hinge block  14 , such as with an adhesive or epoxy. The hinge limiter  30  may also be attached with mechanical fasteners  37  such as screws or hex bolts. The hinge limiter  30  is preferably made of the same material as the clamp  20 , e.g., polished metal, for strength and aesthetics. However, the invention may be achieved with any number of different materials, such as plastic. 
     The hinge limiter  30  is sized to fit against the hinge block  14 , having an equal or lesser length. The hinge limiter  30  has a length (up and down direction) that is equal to or less than a length of the hinge block  14 , and a width (in a direction away from the back plate  12 ) that is generally less than a width of the hinge block  14 . In other embodiments (e.g., when it is desired to prevent any rotation in one direction), the width may be equal to the width of the hinge block  14 , or even slightly greater. A distal end of the hinge limiter  30  has a curved, chamfered, or filleted end. 
     The clamp  20  may include a stop plate  40  adapted to impact the hinge limiter  30 . Preferably the stop plate  40  impacts the front surface of the hinge limiter (i.e., compressing the limiter  30  against the block  14 ), though it may also at least partially impact the curved distal edge depending on the size/shape of the limiter  30  and the desired stop angle. The stop plate  40  is attached or adhered (e.g., with adhesive or epoxy) to an interior surface of the clamp  20  adjacent to a distal end of the hinge block  14 . The stop plate  40  may be made of any material, but it preferably a nylon or plastic element. The stop plate  40  may protect the hinge limiter  30  and clamp  20 , and also dampen noise. 
       FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate how the clamp  20  rotates about the hinge block  14 . In  FIG. 7A , the clamp  20  is free to rotate ninety degrees (or more) in a back direction. In the front direction, the rotation is limited by the hinge limiter  30 . In particular, the stop plate  40  impacts the hinge limiter  30  to arrest rotation of the clamp  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C , hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  may be attached to either or both sides of the hinge block  14 . The thickness of the hinge limiter  30 ,  32 ,  34  may be changed to provide for different maximum angles of rotation for the shower door. In some embodiments, the width of the hinge limiter  30 ,  32 ,  24  may also be varied to likewise adjust the maximum angle of rotation. The hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  may be permanently attached to the hinge block  14  or removable in the event that it is desired to change the maximum angle of rotation. 
     The present invention may be embodied in a customizable system or kit to allow an installer of a shower door to easily set maximum angles of rotation in the field. The system may include the hinge  10  packaged with a plurality of hinge limiters (e.g.,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ) adapted to attach to front or back exterior surfaces of the hinge block  14 . The plurality of hinge limiters in the system may include one hinge limiter having a first thickness (e.g., ⅛ inch) and a second hinge limiter having a second thickness (e.g., 3/16 inch) greater than the first thickness (e.g., limiters  30 ,  32 ). The plurality of hinge limiters in the system may also include one hinge limiter having a first width and a second hinge limiter having a second width longer than the first width (e.g., limiters  30 ,  34 ). The system may also include attachment elements such as adhesive (e.g., strips sized to the back of the hinge limiters), epoxy, or mechanical fasteners to enable attachment of the hinge limiters  30 ,  32 ,  34  to the hinge block  14 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.