Patent Publication Number: US-7213374-B2

Title: Hinge for an enclosure

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to devices for pivotably attaching lids or doors to an enclosure. Typically, such devices allow the lid or door to pivot about its longitudinal edge. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Enclosures such as storage sheds, temporary shelters, and portable restrooms typically have a plurality of sides walls, a roof, a floor and a lid or a door which together define an interior space. Typically, the lid or door is pivotally attached along an edge to one of the sides of the enclosure. If the enclosure is a temporary shelter or portable restroom, the door would be pivotally attached along its edge to a door jamb. Many different hinge devices are known in the art to pivotally secure the lid or door to the enclosure. For example, a typical hinge device includes first and second plates joined by a pin where the first plate is attached to the door jamb or side wall of the enclosure and the second plate is attached to the lid or door. The hinge plates are generally attached using rivets or screws. Typically, multiple hinges are disposed along the edge of the lid or door to pivotably secure same to the side wall or door jamb of the enclosure. 
   While prior art methods for attaching lids or doors to enclosures achieve their intended purpose, problems still exist. For example, over time the door or lid may sag or loosen because it is only attached to the side wall or door jamb of the enclosure at discrete locations along the edge of the side wall or door jamb. Further, it has been observed that enclosures made of plastic over time will wear at the hinge attachment locations causing the door or lid to sag and pull away from the hinge device. 
   Therefore, a new and improved device for attaching a lid or a door to an enclosure is needed. The new and improved device should prevent the door or lid from sagging and pulling away from the side wall or door jamb of the enclosure. 
   SUMMARY 
   In an aspect of the present invention a hinge for an enclosure is provided. The hinge includes a hinge rod and a bushing. The hinge rod is secured to one of a door and a door jamb of the enclosure. The bushing is secured to the other of the door and the door jamb of the enclosure. Further, the hinge rod slidably engages the bushing to allow the door to pivot about the door jamb. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the bushing includes a through bore for receiving the hinge rod therethrough. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the bushing is secured to the doorjamb. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the hinge rod is secured to the door. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the hinge rod has a length that is substantially equal to the length of the jamb. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the bushing includes a bushing base that supports a bushing member having a generally cylindrical bore. 
   In yet another aspect of the present invention, the door includes a plurality of finger members having apertures for receiving the hinge rod. 
   In yet another aspect of the present invention, the doorjamb includes a plurality of finger members that interlace with the plurality of finger members of the door. 
   In yet another aspect of the present invention, the bushing is disposed in at least one of the plurality of finger members of the doorjamb. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, an enclosure is provided. The enclosure includes a plurality of side walls, a back wall, a roof, a door, and a door jamb. The back wall is joins the plurality of side walls along an edge thereof. The roof joins the plurality of side walls and back wall along a peripheral edge thereof. The door has a hinge rod attached to a longitudinal edge of the door. The door jamb has a bushing attached thereto. The bushing slidably engages the hinge rod to allow pivotal movement of the door about the longitudinal edge of the door. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the door jamb is a dual wall construction that defines an interior door jamb space. 
   In still another aspect of the present invention, the bushing is disposed within the interior door jamb space of the door jamb. 
   In yet another aspect of the present invention, three bushings each of which are disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of finger members of the door jamb. 
   These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in combination with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure or temporary shelter such as a portable restroom having sides walls, a roof, a floor and a door defining an interior space, wherein the door is pivotably attached to a door jamb, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway view of the door jamb and door of the enclosure and further illustrating a hinge device for pivotably attaching the door to the doorjamb, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bushing of the hinging device for securing the door or lid to the enclosure, in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through the door jamb, door, and hinge device at a location indicated in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an enclosure is illustrated in perspective view and herein referenced by numeral  10 , in accordance with and embodiment of the present invention. Enclosure  10  may be used for many purposes including but not limited to a storage shed, a temporary shelter or a portable restroom facility. Generally, enclosure  10  includes a top or roof  12 , sides walls  13 ,  14  and  15 , bottom or floor  16  and door or lid  18 . While only one side wall  14  is illustrated, it should be understood that a substantially similar side wall  15  opposite side wall  14  would be provided and join a rear or back side wall  13  (not shown). Generally, roof  12 , side walls and back wall  13 ,  14  and  15  and bottom  16  join at their edges to define an interior space. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, enclosure  10  is fitted with a pair of skids  28  and  30  to allow enclosure  10  to be easily transported or slid across a support surface. Enclosure  10  may include corner moldings  20  that join the edges of side walls and back wall  13 ,  14  and  15  of enclosure  10 . Door  18  is pivotally fixed to a door jamb  22 , as will be described in detail below. Door jamb  22  is secured along its perimeter to side walls  14  and  15  using for example, corner molding  20 . Of course, other attachment means may be used including but not limited to screws, bolts, rivets and the like. 
   Door jamb  22  is fitted with a hinge device  24  for pivotably securing door  18  along a longitudinal edge  26  to door jamb  22 . Thus, door  18  is allowed to pivot along edge  26  between an open and closed position allowing entry end exit to and from enclosure  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a partial cutaway view of door  18  and door jamb  22  is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As previously stated, door  18  is pivotably secured to door jamb  22  by a hinge device  24 . Hinge device  24  includes a bushing  40  and a hinge rod  42 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , several hinge devices  24  may be disposed along edge  26  and within door jamb  22  to pivotally secure door  18  to the door jamb. While  FIG. 1  depicts three hinge devices spaced apart vertically along door jamb  22 , the present invention contemplates the use of additional hinge devices  24  or fewer hinge devices  24  for pivotably mounting and securing door  18  to door jam  22 . 
   In an embodiment of the present invention door jamb  22  has a dual wall construction having an inner and outer walls  72 ,  74 . Bushing  40  is inserted into an aperture  70  in inner wall  72  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and resides in the interior space between the inner and outer walls. Bushing  40  is secured to door jamb  22  using conventional screws or rivets. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plurality of finger members  49  extending from door jamb  22  toward door  18 . Each finger member  49  have through apertures  48  and  50 . Hinge rod  42  is threaded through apertures  48  and  50  provided in each finger member  49  of door jamb  22 . Additionally, a plurality of finger members  53  extend from door  18  toward door jamb  22  and interlace with the finger members  49  of door jamb  22 . Hinge rod  42  is also threaded through apertures  52  and  54  disposed in finger members  53  of door  18 . Further, hinge rod  42  is threaded through a cylindrical through bore  56  provided in bushing  40 . By the interaction of hinge rod  42  with threaded through apertures  52 ,  54  in finger members  53  and bushing  40  door  18  is allowed to pivot about it longitudinal edge  26 . Moreover, bushing  40  prevents the elongation or widening of apertures  48  and  50  in finger members  49  of door jamb  22  preventing sagging of door  18  relative to door jamb  22 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a magnified perspective view of bushing  40  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Bushing  40  includes a base  60  that supports a bushing member  62 . Base  60  is generally planar having a flat bottom surface  61 . Additionally, ribs  65  may be formed in base  60  to prevent twisting or bending of base  60 . Bushing member  62  is attached to base  60  through a plurality of rib walls  64 . Rib walls  64  provide the structural support for bushing member  62  and position the bushing member  62  at a desired distance from base plate  60 . As previously described, a generally cylindrical through bore  56  is provided in bushing member  62  for receiving hinge rod  42 . Hinge rod  42  slidably and rotatably engages through bore  56  and is allowed to freely rotate within through bore  56 . Bushing  40  may be made of any suitable material that does not yield under normal operation and extended use of door  18 . For example, bushing  40  may be a cast or machined metal or a composite plastic such as a fiber reinforced plastic. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view through the door jamb  22  and door  18  is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, door jamb  22  has an inner wall  72  and an outer wall  74  that defines an interior space  78 . As previously described, aperture  70  is provided in inner wall  72  and bushing  40  is positioned within aperture  70  door jamb  22  and extends into interior space  78 . Bushing member  62  is disposed a predefined distance from base plate  60  to align through bore  56  with apertures  48 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  in door jamb  22  and door  18 . Accordingly, hinge rod  42  once threaded through apertures  48 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  in jamb  22  and door  18  and through bore  56  form hinge device  24  to pivotably secure door  18  to doorjamb  22 . 
   As any person skilled in the art of devices for attaching an enclosure member such as lids and doors to an enclosure will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.