Abstract:
An adjustable hinge block includes first and second complementary members, each defining therein a first and a second slit respectively. The members are adapted to mate with each other such that the first and second slits at least partially align with each other to define a third slit. First and second wing members protrude from the members respectively such that the wing members lie on opposite sides of the third slit when the members mate with each other. The wing members each define therein a first and a second aperture respectively, which first and second apertures are adapted to receive a fastener. First and second side members, each define therein a third and a fourth aperture respectively, such that the third and fourth apertures is adapted to align with the first and second apertures respectively.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention was made with United States Government support under Contract Number N68786-06-C-6205 awarded by the United States Navy and the United States Government may have certain rights in the invention. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to hinge mounting blocks and particularly to adjustable hinge mounting blocks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In some cases, such as in a submarine, structural posts are welded between the floors and ceilings. The areas between the posts are called “bays” and may be used to install electronic and other equipment. Doors may be mounted between the structural posts to protect the equipment and sometimes to create an air tight seal. These bays may be cooled by heat exchangers and thus, it is important to keep bays cool and not allow cool air to escape out of the bays. 
     A hinge block, such as one illustrated in  FIG. 1 , has been used to mount two doors on a single structural post. This method works well only if all the structural posts are “true” or orthogonal with respect to the floors and ceilings and simultaneously parallel to each other. If there is even a slight misalignment between two posts, installation of two doors on two bays, between three structural posts becomes difficult and laborious. Adjusting each door then requires extra labor and force which may result in damage to the hardware as well as to the doors themselves, which may become warped. Alternatives are desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, an adjustable hinge block includes first and second complementary members each defining therein a first and a second slit respectively. The first and second members are adapted to mate with each other such that the first and second slits at least partially align with each other to define a third slit. The hinge block further includes first and second wing members protruding from the first and second members respectively such that the first and second wing members lie on opposite sides of the third slit when the first and second members mate with each other. Each of the first and second wing members defines therein a first aperture and a second aperture respectively. The adjustable hinge block also includes first and second side members, each defining therein a third and a fourth aperture respectively, such that the third and fourth apertures are adapted to align with the first and second apertures of the first and second wing members respectively. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a method of installing two doors on a structural member includes a step of mounting an adjustable hinge block on the structural member. The adjustable hinge block includes first and second members, each defining therein first and second slits respectively. The first and second members are adapted to mate with each other such that the first and second slits at least partially align with each other to define a third slit. The adjustable hinge block further includes first and second wing members protruding from the first and second members respectively such that the wing members lie on opposite sides of the third slit when the first and second members mate with each other. Each of the first and second wing members defines therein a first and a second aperture respectively. The method then includes a step of connecting the first and second complementary members to the structural member using a fastener, which fastener passes through the third slit. The method includes the step of connecting the first and second side members to the first and second members using a fastener. The first and second side members are adapted to provide symmetrical and asymmetrical connections with respect to the first and second complementary members. The method further includes the step of connecting a door to each of the first and second side members using a fastener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a prior art hinge block used to install two doors on a single structural post; 
         FIG. 2  is a prior art method of installing two doors to a single structural post using the prior art hinge block of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a pair of complementary hinge block members as per an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a side member as per an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an assembled adjustable hinge block as per an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the assembled adjustable hinge block of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a drop behind shim; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the drop behind shim of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the assembled adjustable hinge block of  FIG. 5  with the drop behind shim of  FIG. 7A ; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the installing of two doors to a single structural post using an adjustable hinge block as per an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical hinge mounting blocks. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a prior art hinge block  100  is illustrated. Hinge block  100  includes a machined block  110 , generally made of metal. A longitudinal slit  120  is formed generally in the central part of block  110 . A series of apertures  130  are made in each corner of block  110 . Apertures  130  are adapted to receive fasteners. Hinge pins (not shown) and door closure hardware (not shown) are mounted to hinge block  100  using fasteners (not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a prior art method of mounting two doors  220  on a single structural post  210  using hinge block  100  is described. Occasionally, each door  220  will be connected to both the structural posts  210  on either side of door  220 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that a slight misalignment between first post  210  and first door  220  will make the alignment of first door  220  and second post  210  difficult and such misalignment will propagate and even amplify as subsequent doors  220  are sequentially connected to subsequent posts  210 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a pair  300  of complementary hinge block members  310   a ,  310   b  is illustrated. Each member  310   a ,  310   b  has a generally planar structure  315   a ,  315   b  and a projection  317   a ,  317   b  generally perpendicular to structure  315   a ,  315   b , respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, structure  315   a ,  315   b  is generally rectangular in shape. Other shapes are also possible. Each planar structure  315   a ,  315   b  has a longitudinal slit  320   a ,  320   b  respectively defined therein. The term “longitudinal” denotes a shape that has a high length to width ratio. In an exemplary embodiment, slits  320   a ,  320   b  has beveled edges. Projections  317   a ,  317   b  have generally half the width of structures  315   a ,  315   b.  Each member  310   a ,  310   b  has a wing member  330   a ,  330   b  projecting generally orthogonally from structures  315   a ,  315   b , respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, wing members  330   a ,  330   b  are generally square in shape; however, other shapes are also possible. Each wing member  330   a ,  330   b  has through apertures  340  defined therein. In the illustrated embodiment, each wing member  330   a ,  330   b  has two (2) apertures  340  each. In other embodiments, wing members  330   a ,  330   b  may have more or less than two (2) apertures. Apertures  340  are adapted to receive fasteners such as screws and bolts. Apertures  340  may or may not have internal threads (not shown) for engaging with fasteners (not shown). Members  310   a ,  310   b  are adapted to mate with each other such that structure  315   a  is in sliding contact with projection  310   b  and structure  315   b  is in sliding contact with projection  310   a . When members  310   a ,  310   b  mate with each other, slits  320   a ,  320   b  at least partially align with each other to define a single slit  520  (of  FIG. 5 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a side member  400  according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Side member  400  has an upper surface  410  and a lower surface  420 . An indentation  430  is formed in the lower surface  420 . Indentation  430  is generally dimensioned to mate with wing member  330   a  or  330   b . Side member  400  has through apertures  440  defined therein, which apertures  440  open in indentation  430 . Apertures  440  are adapted to mate with apertures  340 , but are wider than apertures  340 . In an exemplary embodiment, apertures  440  are generally oval along the width of side member  400 , whereas apertures  340  are generally circular. In an exemplary embodiment, apertures  440  have beveled edges. In the illustrated embodiment, side member  400  has two (2) apertures  440 . In other embodiments, apertures  440  may be more or less than two (2) in number, generally but not necessarily being the same in number as apertures  340  in each of wing members  330   a ,  330   b . Side member  400  also has other through apertures  450  defined therein on either side of apertures  440 . Apertures  450  may or may not be of the same size and are adapted to receive various fasteners such as screws and bolts. Apertures  450  may or may not have internal threads (not shown) for engaging with fasteners (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, apertures  450  are in clusters of three (3), generally in a triangular pattern. In other embodiments, apertures  450  may have different pattern and be more or less than three (3) in number. In an exemplary embodiment, side member  400  has a length generally equal to that of members  310   a ,  310   b . In another embodiment, side member  400  may have a length shorter or longer than that of members  310   a ,  310   b.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an assembled hinge block  500  according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Complementary members  310   a ,  310   b  mate with each other to form a single slit  520 . In the illustrated embodiment, member  310   a  is illustrated slightly offset in longitudinal direction with respect to member  310   b  to illustrate the concept of adjustment in a longitudinal direction available in the exemplary adjustable hinge block  500  of the present invention. Arrows  530  illustrate a direction in which a certain flexibility or degree of adjustment is available for arranging members  310   a ,  310   b  relative to each other. Two side members  400   a ,  400   b  are positioned in each side of slit  520 , such that apertures  440  generally align with apertures  340  of wing members  330   a ,  330   b  respectively. Indentations  430  (of  FIG. 4 ) of side members  400   a ,  400   b  align and mate with wing members  330   a ,  330   b  respectively. Apertures  440  are generally wider than apertures  340  generally in a direction transverse to longitudinal slit  520 . Because of extra width of apertures  340 , a certain flexibility or degree of adjustment is available in the direction shown by arrows  540 . Slight angular adjustment may also be made as shown by arrows  550  because apertures  440  are slightly bigger than apertures  340 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the assembled adjustable hinge block of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7B , a drop behind shim  700  as per an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Shim  700  has a generally thin planar metal base  710 . Two planar prongs  720 ,  730  extend from base  710  and define a gap  750 . An angular projection  740  projects from base  740 , angling away from the plane of base  710  and prongs  720 ,  730 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a method of using drop behind shim  700  is illustrated. Shim  700  may be used for leveling hinge block  500  mounted on a structural post (not shown). Occasionally, the need to level block  500  may be realized after fasteners  810  have been installed to mount block  500  to a structural post. Shim  700  with two prongs  710 ,  720  (of  FIG. 7 ) facilitates such leveling without having to remove fasteners  810 . Shim  700  may be inserted in a slight gap between block  500  and a structural post (not shown) such that prongs  710 ,  720  each slide on each side of fasteners  810 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a method of installing two doors  220   a ,  220   b  to a single structural post  210   b  using an exemplary embodiment of adjustable hinge block  500  is illustrated. The term “door” includes, by way of example only and not limited to, any structural element that is movable barrier for opening and closing an entranceway, cupboard, cabinet, or the like, commonly turning on hinges. Complementary members  310   a ,  310   b  are mated with each other and combinedly mounted to structural post  210   b  using fasteners  910 . Fasteners  910  pass through longitudinal slit  520 . Members  310   a ,  310   b  may be adjusted slightly in a longitudinal direction based on the height requirement of doors  220   a ,  220   b.  Side members  400   a ,  400   b  are mounted to wing members  330   a ,  330   b  (of  FIG. 5 ), respectively, using fasteners  920 . 
     A hinge pin  930  is used to mount door  220   b  to structural post  210   b  via hinge block  500 . Hinge pin  930  is mounted to side member  400   a  using fasteners (not shown). Hinge pin  930  allows door  220   b  to open and close. Door  220   a , on other hand, is locked to structural post  210   b  using an L-bracket  940 . L-bracket  940  is mounted to block  500  using fasteners  950 . Fastener  950  may, by way of example only, a thumbscrew. L-bracket  940  is installed on door  220   a  using fasteners  960 . 
     If there is a slight misalignment resulting from mounting (not shown) of door  220   a  to post  210   a , adjustable hinge block  500  may be adjusted to mount door  220   a  to post  210   a , without propagating the misalignment to the mounting of door  220   b  to post  210   b . If there is no misalignment between posts  210   a ,  210   b,    210   c  and doors  220   a ,  220   b , side members  400   a ,  400   b  will be symmetrical with respect to complementary members  310   a ,  310   b . If there is some misalignment, side members  400   a ,  400   b  will be asymmetrically connected with respect to complementary members  310   a ,  310   b  and thus compensate for the misalignment. 
     Although the present invention has been set forth in terms of the exemplary embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and/or alternative applications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.