Abstract:
Devices and assemblies for facilitating the level installation of doors, and are particularly useful for the installation of pre-hung doors.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to devices and assemblies which facilitate the level installation of doors, particularly pre-hung doors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The installation of doors, particularly interior doors is common during new construction and remodeling of existing building space. Doors are typically hung by carpenters or other workmen. In order for doors to function properly after installation, it is important that the doors are hung in a level manner. While doors can be and have often been installed by positioning hinges into an existing doorway, it is now common for many types of doors to be sold with a frame to which the door is already attached. These doors are commonly referred to as “pre-hung” doors. Pre-hung doors are generally recognized as being easier for the workmen to install at the construction site. Typical installation of a pre-hung door requires one or more people to position the frame of the door within the pre-existing doorway structure, utilize a level to position the door in a level position and then attach the frame to the existing doorway, for example with a nail gun, screw gun, or fasteners and tools. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different construction locations will require the replacement of fasteners at different points along the door frame. Therefore, it is most desirable to provide the widest range of available sites for placing such fasteners. Therefore, it is undesirable to cover frames with leveling devices which would impede position fasteners in those locations in the frame.  
         [0003]     Some doors have right handed hinges while other doors have left-handed hinges, when considered from the same perspective. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a device which facilitates the level installation of a door regardless of whether the door has right-handed hinges or left-handed hinges.  
         [0004]     It would also be desirable to provide devices and assemblies for the level installation of doors wherein the devices and assemblies are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The various embodiments of the present invention provides devices and assemblies for the level installation of doors. The embodiments of the present invention can be used with pre-hung doors and are particularly useful for the installation of pre-hung doors.  
         [0006]     One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a body having a generally U-shaped channel on one side and at least one, and preferably two recesses on the opposite side. An attaching member is also provided for securing a common level within the generally U-shaped channel. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the recesses on the back side of the device is dimensioned to slide over a common door hinge and to sit relatively snugly. Preferably, at least two such devices are placed over at least two hinges of a door. A common level is then positioned within the U-shaped channel and secured to the channel with an attaching member. A preferred attaching member of the present invention comprises a thread rod having a knob which is simply tightened onto the level after the level is placed in the U-shaped channel. Once the level is secured to the hinges, the door installation can proceed without requiring any hands to hold the level. The devices used to secure the level to the hinges can be shorter than the length of the hinges and therefore do not impede placement of fasteners at any desired locations along the door frame. The devices of this embodiment of the present invention are particularly easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates two devices of the present invention positioned on a door.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a close-up view of one of the devices of the present invention located on a hinge.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates an assembly of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 7 and 7 A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a level comprises hinged-receiving slots.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention comprising a level designed for releasable attachment to a single hinge at one time.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     One preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  comprises a device  50  having a U-shaped channel defined by a base  52 , left sidewall  54  and right sidewall  56 . The general U-shaped channel is dimensioned to receive a common level. Since levels can come in different sizes in order to secure a level within generally U-shaped channel an attachment member  60  comprising a threaded rod  62  and knob  64 . Threaded rod  62  passes through a threaded bore of side wall  54  for reasons which will be explained in further detail blow. A threaded through hole  58 ′ is similarly located in right side wall  56 .  
         [0017]     According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the back side of device  50 , i.e., the side opposite the general U-shaped channel, comprises to recesses  72  and  74 . Each of these recesses has a generally key-hole shape and extends along a substantial segment of the height of the device, terminating in an end wall  73 . Recess  72  terminates at end wall  73  while recess  74  terminates at end wall  75 . Each of these recesses is designed to allow device  50  to be slid over a door hinge and to fit snugly on the hinge in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 .  
         [0018]     In order to use the device of the present invention, the device is simply slid over a hinge of a door to be hung wherein the hinge is placed in a recess on the side opposite the general U-shaped channel. While the preferred embodiment has two recesses  72 ,  74 , it is also within the scope of the present invention to have a single recess. It is also possible to have recesses of different sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , it is preferable to have at least two devices positioned over hinges on a door.  FIG. 5A  is a close up view of a clamping device positioned on a hinge. Once the devices are positioned on hinges, a level is then positioned within the devices and secured in place by rotating knob  64  which causes threaded rod  62  to advance and clamp the level in place as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0019]      FIGS. 7 and 7 A illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a level is integrally formed with recesses designed to receive two, spaced hinges of a door. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the level  80  is integrally formed with a first flange  81  and a second flange  82  comprising recesses designed to receive spaced apart hinges, respectively. This embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need for separate devices and the connection of the separate devices to a level. The illustrated flange advantageously extend outwardly from both sides of the level to facilitate attachment to right handed and left handed doors.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a still further embodiment of the present invention wherein a device  150  is generally in the form of a block and comprises one or more levels. In the illustrated embodiment, device  150  comprises two levels readily visible from separate surfaces of device  150 . This embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of slots  172  and  174  comprising terminal and ______  173  and  175 , respectively. As in the embodiments described above, these slots are designed to allow device  150  to be slid over hinges. In this illustrated embodiment, the surface of device  150  opposite the recesses comprises a level  110  while the surface adjacent the openings of the recesses comprises another level  120 . While this embodiment of the present invention comprises two levels, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide one or more levels which can be visible from one or more angles. For example, a single level can be provided which is visible from above, below, straight on, and from either side of the device.  
         [0021]     When the level is securely connected to the hinges, the door can be readily moved into position and secured without concern for holding the level.  
         [0022]     Therefore, one aspect of the present invention comprises a device for installation of a door comprising: means for releasably attaching a level; and means for releasably connecting said attaching means to a hinge on a door.  
         [0023]     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a device for facilitating installation of a pre-hung door comprising: a generally U-shaped block comprising at least one notch on either side of the block extending through most of the block and dimensioned to slide over a hinge of a door; and a threaded rod extending through one portion of the U-shaped block comprising a knob which facilitates the advancement and retraction of the rod for releasably securing a common level to the block.  
         [0024]     Another aspect of the present invention comprises an assembly for installation of a pre-hung door comprising: a level; and means for releasably attaching said level directly to a hinge on a pre-hung door.