Patent Publication Number: US-7594302-B2

Title: Pivot hinge assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority on U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/972,426, filed on Sep. 14, 2007. All documents above are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a pivot hinge assembly. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a pivot hinge assembly for glass pane. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A number of pivot hinge assemblies, adapted for use on glass panes of glass structures such as shower doors, for example, are known in the art. Typically, such pivot hinge assemblies are suitable for use as a top or bottom hinge for the glass door, and provide self-closing forces that tend to close the door and hold it in a closed position thereof. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a shower stall generally indicated at  10 . The shower stall  10  has a front bottom wall  12 , front side walls  14 , and a front upper wall  16 , for example, extending between the side walls  14 . The walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  define an opening which receives a shower door  20 , pivotally mounted in the opening by a bottom hinge  22  and a top hinge  24 , for example. 
   There is still a need in the art for pivot hinge assemblies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly, comprising a base adapted to be secured to a support for a pane to be hinged; a first cover and a second cover adapted to lie on each side of the pane; a block secured between said first and said second covers; the block having a flat surface flush with a flat edge of the first cover and a flat edge of the second cover, and being recessed inwardly from lateral edges and back edges of the first and the second covers respectively so as to accommodate the pane, the pane being cutout at a mounting location thereof so as to match the contour of the block; the block having a first bore extending into the block perpendicular to the flat end thereof, the block having a second bore in a first lateral edge thereof and a third bore in a second lateral edge thereof opposite the first lateral edge, each of the second and third bores extending inwardly from a respective lateral edge and intersecting the first bore; wherein the base is secured to the block by a shaft extending from the base and engaging the first bore of said block, the second and the third bores each receiving a spring pressing against a surface of the shaft thereby moving the shaft to a selected position relative to the base and providing on the shaft a detent force that maintains the pane closed in a closed position, and a restoring force closing the pane when the pane is part way open. 
   There is further provided a method for pivotally mounting a door pane in an opening defined by a front bottom wall, front side walls and a front upper wall, by at least one hinge, the method comprising providing a cutout at a mounting location of the pane; securing a shaft extending from a base to a first cover supporting a block by inserting the shaft into a first bore in an end surface of the block; securing a spring in each one of a second bore and a third bore, the second and third bore being provided on each side surface of the block perpendicular to the end surface of the block respectively, and intersecting the first bore; securing a second cover on a second side of the pane on top of the block opposite the first cover; and connecting the base to a mounting located on the perimeter of the door pane opening by turning the first and second covers and the base relative to each other. 
   There is further provided a pivot hinge assembly adapted to be clamped to a glass pane, comprising a first and a second covers adapted to lie in parallel planes on each side of the glass pane and having a pair of ends lying in a common plane, a block being provided between the first and second covers, the block having a flat end flush with ends of the first and second covers, the block having first and second lateral surfaces extending at right angles to the flat end of the block and the lateral sides of the first and second covers, the block having a main bore extending into the block perpendicular to the flat end thereof, the block having a first aperture in the first lateral surface thereof and a second aperture in the second lateral surface thereof, each of the first and second apertures extending perpendicular to its respective lateral surface and intersecting the main bore; a base having a flat end surface adapted to overlie the flat end of the block, an axis protruding from the end surface of the base and extending into the main bore, the axis having a shaft rounded in cross-section with a pair of opposed flat surface portions one extending along each side thereof; a spring being provided in each one of the first and second bores, each spring generating, on the shaft, a detent force that maintains the glass pane in a closed position, and a restoring force bringing the glass pane in the closed position when the glass pane is part open. 
   Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the appended drawings: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a shower stall as known in the art; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pivot hinge assembly according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a first exploded view of the pivot hinge assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a glass pane used with the pivot hinge assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows details of the pivot hinge assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a second exploded view of the pivot hinge assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows the pivot hinge assembly of  FIG. 6 , assembled, in transparency; and 
       FIG. 8  shows the covers and the base rotated relative to each other. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
   A hinge  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 - 7  of the appended drawings comprises a base  42 , a first cover  66  and a second cover  68 . 
   The base  42 , best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , is typically a flat, relatively thin rectangular member. It comprises holes  46  adapted to receive heads of screws (not shown) used, for example, to secure the base  42  to a surface on the perimeter of the aperture for a door, such as the upper surface of the bottom wall  12  of  FIG. 1  for example. 
   A bore  52  across the thickness of the base  42  opens into a square recess  50 , best seen in  FIG. 3 , for receiving a square head  54 , for example, of an axis  56  comprising a shaft  58  extending from the square head  54  to a free end  62  thereof (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   Typically, as shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, the shaft  58  of the axis  56  comprises an inner bore  64  extending into the square head  54 , and has flat surfaces  57  on each side thereof and convex surfaces  59  on the other two sides thereof. The inner bore  64  receives a screw  65  for securing the axis  56  to the base  42  once the axis  56  is introduced into the bore  52  of the base  42 , the head  54  remaining on the inner side of the base  42  (see  FIG. 6 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , a lock washer  67  may be placed underneath the head of screw  65  to prevent loosening in bore  52 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , for example, the first cover  66  and the second cover  68  are intended to lie on each side respectively of a glass pane  100  shown, for example, in  FIG. 4  and forming part of the door or other structure to be hinged, as well known in the art. The glass pane  100  is clamped therebetween by tightening screws  83  in holes  84  of the fist cover and holes  86  described hereinbelow in relation to  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , for example. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the second cover  68  comprises lateral edges  70 , a back edge  72 , a flat pivot edge  74  and an inner surface  76 . 
   A block  78  protrudes from the inner surface  76 . The block  78  has flat pivot end surface  80  flush with the flat pivot edge  74 , thereby forming a common flat pivot end surface, and its lateral edges  88  and  90  and back edge  81  are recessed inwardly on the inner surface  76  from the lateral edges  70  and the back edge  72  respectively of the second cover  68 . 
   The block  78  comprises a bore  82  extending thereinto from the end surface  80  thereof. The bore  82  may terminate inside the block  78  at a distance from the back edge  81  of the block  78  opposite the end surface  80  thereof (See  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the glass pane  100  has a cutout corresponding to the contour of the block  78 , so that the block  78  can be inserted in the glass cutout for assembly as will be described hereinbelow. 
   Thus, as well known in the art, the second cover  68  may be positioned on a first side of the glass pane  100  with the block  78  accommodated into the shape of the glass pane  100 , while the first cover  66  may be positioned on a second side of the glass pane  100 . As will be described hereinbelow in relation to  FIG. 6 , the glass pane  100  may be sandwiched between gaskets  110 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the first cover  66  may be secured on the second side of the glass pane by screws  83  received in holes  84  of the first cover  66  and into communicating threaded holes  86  of the block  78 , positioned on each side of the bore  82  of the block  78 , for example. 
   The two lateral edges  88  and  90  of the block  78  thus extend between the first cover  66  and the second cover  68 , generally parallel to the bore  82  of the block  78 , and perpendicularly to the end surface  80  of the block  78 . 
   The lateral edge  90  of the block  78  comprises an aperture  91  extending into the block  78  parallel to the surface  80  of the block  78 . Similarly, an aperture  91  is provided on the lateral face  88  of the block  78 . A single aperture  91  may be contemplated, extending from the side face  88  to the face  90  of the block  78 . These apertures  91  are aligned one relative to the other, and intersect the bore  82  of the block  78  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
   When the base  42  is secured to the second cover  68 , the axis  56  of the base  42  (see  FIG. 3 ) extends into the bore  82  of the block  78 . As known in the art, metal to metal contact may be prevented by providing a cushioning pad  79 , such as a graphite pad covered with lubricant for example, between the surface of the shaft  58  and the inner surface of the bore  82  inside the block  78 . 
   By using an axis with a square head  54  and an outer screw  65  as described hereinabove in relation to  FIG. 6 , the shaft  58  may be inserted into the second cover  68  before or after the shaft  58  is connected to the base  42 . 
   When the shaft  58  is inserted into the second cover  68 , a compression spring  92  is housed in each aperture  91  of the lateral edges  88  and  90  of the block  78 , between a plunger  94  and a spring plate  96  as shown in  Figure 3 . Each spring plate  96  is held in position on the respective lateral edges  88 ,  90  using screws  98  received through holes  104  in the spring plates  96  into threaded bores  102  on each side of the aperture  91 , for example (see  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ). The size of the plate may vary, as long as it covers sufficiently the mouth of the bore  91  so as to retain the spring  92  therein. 
   On each side of the shaft  58 , a compression spring  92  presses the head of a plunger  94  against surfaces of the shaft  58 , thereby maintaining the shaft  58  into the bore  82 , and further maintaining it in place in the closed position of the door, as will be described hereinbelow. The springs  92  are selected relatively large and strong, so as to exert a pressure generating a detent and self-closing force against the shaft  58 . 
   For installation on a door, the shaft  58  of the base  42  is first inserted into the bore  82  of the block  78 . Then a spring  92  and a plunger  94  assembly is inserted into the aperture  91  of each one of the two lateral edges  88  and  90  of the block  78 , and secured in place by a spring plate  96  as discussed hereinabove. 
   The plunger  94  contributes to maintaining the shaft  58  in the bore  82  of the block  78 . 
   Pressure is submitted on flat surfaces  57  of the shaft  58  by the head of the plungers  94  via the compression springs  92 . 
   Then the cover  66  may be mounted on top of the block  78  as described hereinabove. The assembly of the first and second covers  66 ,  68  is turned relative to the base  42  to expose screw holes  46  and  48  of the base  42  ( FIG. 8 ) to allow connecting the base  42  to the top surface of bottom wall  12  using the screw holes  46  and  48  of the base  42  (see  FIG. 3 ) as described hereinabove. 
   When the door is more than half way open, since the spring and plunger assembly on each side of the shaft  58  presses on the convex surfaces  59  of the shaft  58 , the door stays open. 
   Typically, the hinge assembly is made in brass, for example, and the spring in stainless steel for resistance to corrosion. 
   Gaskets  110 , made in rubber or vinyl, for example, may be accommodated between the first cover  66  and the second cover  68 , around the block  78  to separate the metallic material of the hinge assembly from the material of the glass door to be hinged, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   From the foregoing, people in the art will now be in a position to appreciate that there is provided a sturdy yet compact pivot hinge assembly using a preset spring and plunger assembly comprising a spring between a plunger and a spring plate, on each side of the shaft  58 , which provides, on the shaft  58 , a detent force that maintains the door closed when the door is closed and a restoring force closing the door when the door is part way open. 
   There is therefore provided a pivot hinge assembly adapted to be clamped to a glass pane, comprising a base, a first and second covers adapted to lie in parallel planes one on each side of the glass pane and having a pair of ends lying in a common plane, a block being provided between the first and second covers, the block having a flat end flush with ends of the first and second covers, the block having first and second side surfaces extending at right angles to the flat end of the block and the ends of the first and second covers, the block having a main bore extending into the block perpendicular to the flat end thereof, the block having a bore in the first side surface thereof and a second bore in the second side surface thereof, each of the first and second bores extending perpendicular to its respective side surface and intersecting the main bore; the base having a flat end surface adapted to overlie the flat end of the block, an axis connected to and protruding from the end surface of the base and extending into the main bore, said axis being rounded in cross-section with a pair of opposed flat surface portions one extending along each side thereof; a preset spring and plunger assembly being provided in each one of the first and second bores of the block, the spring and plunger assembly comprising a spring between a plunger and a spring plate, on each side of the main bore of the block receiving the axis, to generate, on the axis, a detent force that maintains the door closed when the door is closed and a restoring force closing the door when the door is part open. 
   Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it may be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as described herein.