Patent Application
20080115328
The field of invention relates to hinges and the means to lubricate.
The present invention relates to a method and device for applying lubrication to a hinge. Hinges for doors, gates, cabinets, etc. typically include a hinge pin inserted downward from the top of the hinge. Since the 2 hinge pieces which are secured to the door and the door opening must rotate around the hinge pin, lubrication is required. After repeated use and over time the lubrication must be reapplied. The common method to add lubrication involves at least partially removing the hinge pin, adding lubrication and reinserting the hinge pin fully into the hinge.
Even partially removing the hinge pin can be a real problem, especially where a hinge is located close to a floor or other surface under the door. If the hinge pin is removed too for the part of the hinge secured to the door may shift require realigning the 2 secured pieces to each other to allow reinsertion of the pin.
This invention addresses these problems in lubricating a hinge by providing a device and method to allow adding lubrication without requiring even partial removal of the hinge pin.
As depicted in
A dust cap (7) covers the hole when lubrication is not being added. In addition, a drip cap (8) can be added on the bottom of the pin and designed to accept any excess oil which makes it to the bottom of the pin.
When the hinge requires lubrication, the dust cap (7) is removed and lubrication added into the hole (5) in the top of hinge pin (4). For a typical house door or gate only a few drops of oil would be required. The door or gate is then swung back and forth in open and closed directions to facilitate the coating of the hinge pin (1) and the hinge pieces (2 and 3) by the lubricant. If required, additional lubricant can be added until the hinge is properly lubricated which is typically evidenced by no more squeaking. The drip cap (8) can be removed when the lubrication is done to empty any excess lubricant it has captured.
In another embodiment of this invention, in lieu of the hole (5) the top of the hinge pin (4) has a notch in the external circumference and extending to the channel (6). The notch can be sized to allow space for an appropriate reservoir between the pin (1) and the hinge pieces (2 and 3). If a dust cap is desired for the embodiment, it is designed appropriately to cover the notch. While a channel facilitates penetration of the lubricant down the pin, providing access to the space between hinge and pin without a channel may be sufficient. Thus in a further embodiment a notch or hole to the space between hinge and pin is provided with no channel.
The drip cap (8) can be designed with open space to capture excess lubricant as envisioned to be warranted based on size of hinge and intended lubricant.
In another embodiment of this invention, as depicted in
In another embodiment of this invention a hole is drilled from the outer surface of a hinge piece into the space designed to capture the hinge pin. Thus this can easily be done on existing hinges without replacement.
The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. Those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed herein and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure.
