Abstract:
Manually adjustable hinges for gates, doors and other hinge applications where a first hinge is adjustable using an ordinary wrench in a first direction coaxial with the hinge pin, and as the first hinge is adjusted in the first direction the other hinges follows the movement of the first hinge to prevent the first hinge from binding the other hinges. All hinges are manually adjustable in a second direction perpendicular to the hinge pin using the wrench.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This utility patent application claims rights under 35 U.S.C. 119( e ) from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/546,923 entitled “Adjustable Hinge”, and filed Feb. 23, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an adjustable hinge that provides the ability to adjust a hinge in two orthogonal directions after the hinge is attached to a fixed member and a swinging member.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In mounting a door to a frame, it is often difficult to obtain precisely the desired position of the door relative to the frame. For this reason, it is common for door manufacturers to market pre-hung doors in which the door is mounted to the frame at the factory under controlled conditions so that precise positioning of the door can be obtained. The door and frame assembly is then shipped as a unit to the construction site for installation into an opening formed in a wall.  
         [0004]     However, there are times when pre-hung doors cannot be employed and it is necessary to hang a door in an existing opening in which a frame has been constructed. In addition, not all doors for new construction are available in pre-hung form, making it necessary to construct a frame within an opening and to fit the door into the frame. In these instances, obtaining precise positioning of the door within the frame is a difficult and time consuming task even for the most skilled workman.  
         [0005]     Hinges are also used to mount metal or wooden swinging gates to posts for outdoor usage. Such gates must be positioned and mounted as they are being installed. It is difficult to precisely obtain the desired position of the gate relative to the post to which it is being mounted. Since such gates are not received pre-hung alike doors and frames used indoors, there is always some difficulty in mounting such gates. In addition, even after gates are hung, the poles to which the gates are attached via hinges often shift as the earth settles in which the poles are set. As a result the bottom of the gate sags down and too often hits the ground and/or hits an adjacent pole of the fence to which latching side of the gate latches. This is an unacceptable situation.  
         [0006]     Thus, there is a need in the art for an adjustable hinge that makes it much easier to install a door, gate or swinging member and to readjust the positioning of the door, gate or swinging member at a later time. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]     The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a blow up drawing showing the individual parts that make up an adjustable hinge;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an adjustable hinge assembled from the parts shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3 a  blow up drawing showing the individual parts that make up a hinge that self adjusts as a mating hinge is adjusted; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled self adjusting hinge assembled from the parts shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     In the following detailed description the novel hinges described are described as being used with a door or gate, but the hinge may be used in any application where one member is connected to another member and must move in a hinged fashion therewith. All the parts of the preferred embodiment of the hinges disclosed herein are made from metal, but in alternative embodiments of the invention where light loads are contemplated, some of the parts may be made from tough plastics. Further, while the novel hinges are described hereinafter as being used with a door or gate, they hinges may be used with a swinging member that swings about its top edge.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show one embodiment of our novel manually adjustable hinge  10 , and  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second embodiment of the hinge  30  which self adjusts. In use, at least one manually adjustable hinge  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is utilized with a gate or door  33 , and preferably hinge  10  would be the uppermost hinge of a set of hinges, and the self adjusting hinge  30  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  would be used for all middle and lower hinges of the set of hinges. The novel hinges  10 ,  30  may be used in different applications where a first member is connected to a second member in a hinged relationship, no matter if the two members are vertical, horizontal or at any other orientation. When there are two or more hinges  10 ,  30  used, then hinge  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is used as one of the hinges, no matter where is located with relationship to the other hinges  30 .  
         [0014]     In the following description  FIGS. 1 and 2  show an upper adjustable hinge  10 , and  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a middle or lower hinge  30 . Some of the parts in the different figures appear to be the same have the same element numbers and some do not. Those parts, such as metal plates  11  and  12 , bolt  18 , and nuts  18   a ,  21  and  22  are the same for both hinges  10  and  30 . In addition bracket  14  is the same. Although the first connecting member first connecting member T-bracket  16  in  FIG. 1  and first connecting member T-bracket  28  in  FIG. 2  appear to be the same they are not, thus the different element numbers. A hole through vertical portion  16   a  of first connecting member T-bracket  16  is threaded while the hole through vertical portion  28   a  of first connecting member T-bracket  28  is not threaded but smooth.  
         [0015]     In Figure shown  1  is shown a blow up drawing showing the individual parts that make up a manually adjustable hinge  10 . There is a metal plate  11  that is mounted to a door jam, post or other fixed member  33  using screws or bolts (not shown) that pass through holes  13 . While two holes  13  are shown there may be more than two holes.  
         [0016]     There is a plate  12  that is mounted to a swinging door, gate or other swinging member  32  using screws or bolts that pass through holes  13   a . While four holes  13   a  are shown there may be more or less than four holes  13   a.    
         [0017]     When manually adjustable hinge  10  is to be used to mount a metal gate, door or other swinging member  33  to a doorjamb, post or other fixed member  32  that is also made of metal, rather than wood or other material, metal plates  11  and  12  may be eliminated. Instead metal bracket  11  may be welded or otherwise fastened to a metal post, door jamb or other fixed member  33 ; and metal bracket  12  may be welded or otherwise fastened to a doorjamb, post or other fixed member  32 . Alternatively, upper hinge  10  may be attached to a combination of a wooden or metal gate or door  33  and a wooden or metal post or jamb  32 . As appropriate one of metal plates  11  and  12  may be eliminated for such configurations.  
         [0018]     Bracket  14  is U-shaped with its legs  14   a  and  14   b  being vertical to the plane of plate  11 . Bracket  14  is made very sturdy because it bears the weight of a gate, door or other swinging member  33 . Legs  14   a  and  14   b  of bracket  14  are oriented perpendicular to the plane of plate  11  and each has a hole there through (not shown) that is larger than the diameter of a hinge pin bolt  17 . Hinge pin bolt  17  passes through the hole through each of legs  14   a  and  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 2  when hinge  10  is assembled. Bracket  14  is welded to metal plate  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or is welded directly to a metal post or doorjamb  32  as described above. During assembly the hex headed hinge pin bolt  17  passes downward, first through the hole through upper leg  14   a , then passes through a threaded hole that passes coaxially through the vertical portion  16   a  of first connecting member T-bracket  16 , and finally passes through the hole through lower leg  14   b . This is shown in and described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0019]     First connecting member T-bracket  16  also has a horizontal portion  16   b  in which is a threaded hole  16   c  the purpose of which is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 2 . Briefly, threaded member  18  screws into threaded hole  16   c  and is preferably welded therein forming an extension to first connecting member  16  that is the main point of attachment for or gate  33  to a frame or post  32 .  
         [0020]     Second connecting member bracket  15  is made of strong metal, is tubular in shape and has a hole coaxially through it. The diameter of threaded extension  18  permits it to pass through the hole. Second connecting member bracket  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0021]     Threaded extension  18  is headless and its left end passes through second connecting member bracket  15  and screws into threaded hole  16   c  of first connecting member T-bracket  16  where it is welded. Thereafter, during assembly nut  21  is first turn onto threaded member  18 , then second connecting member bracket  15  welded onto plate  12  is slid onto threaded extension  18  so extension  18  passes through the longitudinal hole through bracket  15 . Then nut  22  is threaded onto the outer end of extension  18 , and finally locked nut  18   a  is turned onto the outer end of threaded extension  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The two nuts  21  and  22  function as locking nuts and are used to lock threaded extension  18  to second connecting member bracket  15 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows an assembled upper hinge  10  made from the individual parts shown in  FIG. 1  used to mount a door  33  to a frame  32 . During assembly U-bracket  14  is first welded to metal plate  11  as shown, and tubular second connecting member bracket  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as shown. Hinge pin bolt  17  is first inserted down though the hole through upper leg  14   a  of U shaped bracket  14 . The threaded shaft of hinge pin bolt  17  is then screwed through the mating threaded hole longitudinally through portion  16   a  of first connecting member T-bracket  16 . Hinge pin bolt  17  is continued to be screwed through portion  16   a  and then passes through the hole (not shown) through lower leg  14   b  of U shaped bracket  14 . Nut  20  is then screwed onto the end of bolt hinge pin  17 . There is a hole  27  through the end of hinge pin  17  through which a cotter pin (not shown) is then inserted that prevents nut  20  from accidentally being removed from hinge pin  17 . Nut  20  functions as a jam nut after the assembly of bracket  10  in  FIG. 2  and prevents hex headed hinge pin bolt  17  from turning about its longitudinal axes after nut  20  is turned tightly against lower leg  14   b . Hinge pin bolt  17  is used to manually adjust the vertical position of first connecting member T-bracket  16  and thereby adjust the vertical position of a gate or door as described hereinafter.  
         [0023]     During assembly second connecting member bracket  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as shown in  FIG. 2  as previously described. Nut  21  is then turned onto threaded extension  18  until it is positioned approximately as shown. Bracket  15  on plate  12  is then slipped over threaded extension  18  until it rests against nut  21 . Nut  22  is then turned onto threaded extension  18  until it is approximately as shown against the right end of second connecting member bracket  15 . Nuts  21  and  22  function as locking jam nuts as described hereinafter and are used for the horizontal adjustment of the gate or door  33  on which hinge  10  is mounted. Finally, lock nut  18   a  is turned onto the right end of threaded extension  18 . Alternately, a standard nut with a thread lock compound on its threads may be utilized.  
         [0024]     When an upper hinge  10  is utilized its metal plate  11  is attached to a fence post, door jamb or other solid member  32 , and its metal plate  12  is attached to a gate, door or other swinging member  33  as previously described. After mounting, to adjust the height of the gate, door or other member  33  off the floor or ground, nut  20  is first loosened and the hexagonal head  17   a  of hinge pin bolt  17  is turned clockwise or counter clockwise. Since the threads of hinge pin bolt  17  are being turned in the mating threads in the interior of the vertical part of bracket portion  16   a , first connecting member T-bracket  16  moves up or down along the threads of hinge pin bolt  17  as the bolt is turned. This moves the gate, door or other swinging member  33  attached to metal plate  12  up or down to adjust its height from the ground or floor. When hinge pin bolt  17  as a right handed thread, as the head  17   a  is turned clockwise looking down from the top in  FIG. 2 , first connecting member T-bracket  16  moves upwards along hinge pin bolt  17 . Visa versa, when head  17   a  is turned counter clockwise looking down from the top in  FIG. 2 , first connecting member T-bracket  16  moves downward along hinge pin bolt  17 . The head  17   a  is a standard hexagonal head and may be turned with a standard box wrench, open end wrench or adjustable wrench, thus no special tools are required to accomplish the vertical adjustment of hinge  10 . The same wrench is used to loosen or tighten locking nut  20 .  
         [0025]     When the vertical adjustment is completed, using the same wrench nut locking  20  is turned so that it is tight against lower leg  14   b  of bracket  14  to function as a jam nut to prevent hinge pin bolt  17  from rotating thereafter. This is important because any later rotation of bolt  17  will change the vertical adjustment of the door, gate or other swinging member  33 .  
         [0026]     If at a later time it is desired to readjust the height of the gate, door or other swinging member  33  locking nut  20  is first loosened and then head  17   a  of hinge pin bolt  17  is rotated to move first connecting member T-bracket  16  up or down along the threads of hinge pin bolt  17  as previously described. When the height adjustment is completed locking nut  20  is again tightened against lower leg  14   b  to prevent hinge pin bolt  17  from rotating. U-bracket  14  is made of heavy gauge metal that it is not deformed when locking nut  20  is tightened against lower leg  14   b . It is also important that bracket  14  be made of heavy gauge metal because a lot of weight of the gate or door  33  is supported by this bracket.  
         [0027]     To adjust the horizontal distance of the gate, door or other swinging member  33  to which metal plate  12  is fastened, from metal plate  11  and the post or jamb  32  to which is connected, locking nuts  21  and  22  are turned so they are backed away from either end of second connecting member bracket  15  and are not jammed against bracket  15 . If the gate or door is to be moved away from plate  11  and the post or doorjamb  32  to which is attached, locking nut  22  is turned to move it to the right. Then nut  21  is then turned to move to the right and push against the left end of bracket  15  which thereby forces plate  12  and the gate or door  33  attached to it to the right.  
         [0028]     Conversely, if plate  12  and the gate or door  33  to which it is attached is to be moved closer to the post or jamb  32 , nut  21  is turned to move it to the left and nut  22  is turned against the right end of bracket  15  forcing it closer to the post or doorjamb  32 . When the upper part of the gate or door  33  is spaced the correct distance from the post  32 , locking nut  21  is turned against the left end of second connecting member bracket  15 . Locking nuts  21  and  22  are then turned slightly against bracket  15 , thereby jamming the nuts  21  and  22  so they are prevented from turning. This maintains the horizontal adjustment of hinge  10 .  
         [0029]     When the gate or door  33  is spaced the correct distance from the post or jamb  32 , locking nut  22  is turned tightly against the right end of second connecting member bracket  15 . Locking nuts  21  and  22  are then both locked against bracket  15 , thereby jamming the locking nuts so they are prevented from inadvertently turning. This maintains the new horizontal adjustment of hinge  10 .  
         [0030]     In  FIG. 3  is shown a blow up drawing showing the individual parts that make up a self adjusting lower or middle hinge  30 . There is a metal plate  11  that is mounted to a post, door jam or other fixed member  32  using screws or bolts that pass through holes  13 . While two holes  13  are shown there may be more than two holes.  
         [0031]     There is a plate  12  that is mounted to a swinging door, gate or other swinging member  33  using screws or bolts that pass through holes  13   a . While four holes  13   a  are shown there may be more or less than four holes  13   a.    
         [0032]     When self adjusting hinge  30  is to be mounted to a door or gate  33  that is made of metal, rather than wood or other material, metal plates  11  and  12  may be eliminated. Instead metal bracket  14  may be welded or otherwise fastened to a post, doorjamb or other fixed member  32  made of metal, and metal bracket  15  may be welded or otherwise fastened to a metal gate, door or other swinging member  33  made of metal. Alternatively, upper hinge  10  may be attached to a combination of a wooden or metal gate/door  33  and a wooden or metal post or jamb  32 . As appropriate the one of metal plates  11  and  12  may be eliminated for such configurations.  
         [0033]     Bracket  14  is U-shaped with its legs  14   a  and  14   b  being vertical to the plane of plate  11 . Bracket  14  is made very sturdy because it helps bear the weight of a gate, door or other swinging member  32 . Legs  14   a  and  14   b  of bracket  14  are oriented perpendicular to the plane of plate  11  and each has a hole there through (not shown) that is slightly larger than the diameter of a non-threaded hinge pin  26 . Hinge pin  26  passes through the hole through each of legs  14   a  and  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 2  when hinge  30  is assembled. During assembly the hinge pin  26  passes first through the hole through upper leg  14   a , then passes through a hole that passes coaxially through vertical portion  28   a  of first connecting member T-bracket  28 , then passes through the hole through lower leg  14   b.    
         [0034]     First connecting member T-bracket  28  also has a horizontal portion  28   b  in which is a threaded hole  28   c  the purpose of which is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 4 . Briefly, threaded extension  18  screws into threaded hole  28   c  and is preferably welded therein.  
         [0035]     Second connecting member bracket  15  is made from strong metal, is tubular in shape and has a hole coaxially through it. The diameter of threaded extension  18  permits it to pass through the hole. Bracket  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0036]     Threaded extension  18  is headless and its left end passes through second connecting member bracket  15  and screws into threaded hole  28   c  of first connecting member T-bracket  28  where it is welded. Thereafter, during assembly nut  21  is first turn onto threaded extension  18 , then bracket  15  welded onto plate  12  is slid onto threaded extension  18  so extension  18  passes through the longitudinal hole through bracket  15 . Then nut  22  is threaded onto the outer end of extension  18 , and finally lock nut  18   a  is turned onto the outer end of threaded member  18  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The two nuts  21  and  22  function as locking nuts and are used to lock threaded extension  18  to bracket  15 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled lower or middle hinge  30  made from the individual parts shown in  FIG. 3 . During assembly U-bracket  14  is first welded to metal plate  11  as shown, and second connecting member bracket  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as shown. Hinge pin  26  is inserted down though the hole (not shown) through upper leg  14   a  of U-shaped bracket  14 , through the non-threaded longitudinal hole through bracket piece  28   a  and then passes through the hole (not shown) through lower leg  14   a  of U-shaped bracket  14 . There is a hole  27  through the end of hinge pin  26  through which a cotter pin (neither shown) is inserted that prevents hinge pin  26  from being removed from bracket  14 . In an alternative embodiment of the invention, to minimize the number of different parts between the adjustable hinge shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the self adjusting hinge shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the threaded hinge pin bolt  17  and nut  20  may be used in lieu of hinge pin  26 . In this case the only difference between the two hinges is that first connecting member T-bracket  28  is not threaded through its vertical hole.  
         [0038]     During assembly and bracket piece  15  is welded to metal plate  12  as previously described. Nut  21  is turned onto threaded extension  18  until it is approximately as shown. Piece  15  on plate  12  is then slipped over threaded extension  18  until it rests against nut  21 . Nut  22  is then turned onto threaded extension  18  until it is approximately as shown against the right end of bracket piece  15 . Nuts  21  and  22  function as locking jam nuts as described hereinafter and are used for the horizontal adjustment of the door or gate on which hinge  30  is mounted. Finally, lock nut  18   a  turned onto the right end of threaded extension  18 . Alternately, a standard nut with a thread lock compound on its threads may be utilized.  
         [0039]     When a hinge  30  is utilized its metal plate  11  is attached to a fence post, doorjamb or other solid member  33 , and its metal plate  12  is attached to a gate, door or other swinging member  32  as previously described. With hinge  30  there is no vertical adjustment to set the height of the gate or door  33  off the floor or ground. That adjustment is made solely with threaded hinge pin bolt  17  of upper hinge  10  as previously described. As first connecting member T-bracket  16  in  FIG. 2  is moved up or down as previously described with reference to  FIG. 2  to adjust the height of the gate or door  33 , first connecting member T-bracket  28  of hinge  30  automatically moves vertically along hinge pin  26 . By using the vertically self adjusting hinge  30  with adjustable hinge  10  there is never a problem of the vertical adjustments of two adjustable hinges  10  straining against each other.  
         [0040]     To adjust the horizontal distance of the gate, door or other swinging member  33  to which metal plate  12  is fastened, from metal plate  11  and the post or jamb  32  to which is connected, locking nuts  21  and  22  are turned so they are backed away from either end of metal bracket  15  and are not jammed against bracket  15 . If the gate or door  33  is to be moved away from plate  11  and the post or doorjamb  32  to which is attached, locking nut  22  is turned to move away from bracket  15 . Then nut  21  is then turned to move to the right and push against the left end of bracket  15  which thereby forces plate  12  and the gate or door  33  attached to it to the right.  
         [0041]     Conversely, if plate  12  and the gate or door  33  to which it is attached is to be moved closer to the post or jamb  32 , nut  21  is turned closer to first connecting member T-bracket  28  and nut  22  is turned against the right end of bracket  15  forcing it closer to the post or jamb  32 . When the lower part of the gate or door  33  is spaced the correct distance from the post  32  locking nut  21  is turned against the left end of bracket piece  15 . Locking nuts  21  and  22  are then turned slightly against bracket  15 , thereby jamming the nuts  21  and  22  so they are prevented from turning. This maintains the new horizontal adjustment of hinge  30 .  
         [0042]     After installation of a set of hinges  10  and  30  to a post and gate  33  the post may shift in the ground and the outer, bottom end of the gate  33  may sag and touch the ground. To correct for this sag upper hinge  10  and middle and lower hinges  30  may be re-adjusted. Upper hinge  10  is re-adjusted to move plate  12  closer to plate  11  while middle and lower hinges  30  or re-adjusted to move them away from their plate  11 .  
         [0043]     In  FIGS. 1-4  hinges  10  and  30  are shown in the orientation they would be to mount a gate on the right side of a post, jamb or other fixed member  32 . To mount these hinges so that a gate  33  is on the left side of a post, jamb or other fixed member  32 , before mounting the hinges their plate  12  with bracket  15  are rotated one hundred eighty degrees about extension  18  and are then swung about their hinge pin bolt  17  or hinge pin  26  to be to the left of their plate  11  and bracket  14 .  
         [0044]     While what has been described hereinabove is the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.