Pivotal bearing for door frames

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6205616
  • Patent Number
    6,205,616
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 2, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 27, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
The present invention is about an improved pivot bearing for door frames with a spring installed within, such that a protruding pivotal portion is made elastic, facilitating easy assembly of shelves and cabinets. In assembling shelves and cabinets, various boards are connected first, only thereafter are the door frames, equipped with the pivotal bearing of the present invention, installed in place. In this manner, the assembly of shelves and cabinets is made easier, fulfilling the purpose and object of Do-It-Yourself design.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This present invention relates to a pivotal bearing for door frames; especially to a pivotal bearing suitable for use in self-assembly shelves and cabinets, which should facilitate the ease and efficiency of such assembly by users.




DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART




In the current furniture market, many shelves and cabinets require the purchasing users to perform the assembly, this is the so-called “DIY” (Do It Yourself).




For the suppliers, the DIY design tends to reduce the storage space, facilitate easy transportation, and lower the cost for assembly. In the DIY design, whether the manner of assembly, namely, the procedural steps involved in the assembly, can be easily followed by the purchasing users is an important consideration. Therefore, any improvement in making the assembly easier to accomplish not only is a high priority in the DIY design, but also can increase the efficiency of preliminary assembly at the production lines.





FIG. 1

shows a side view of the conventional pivotal bearing for door frames. The fixing portion


11


of the conventional pivotal bearing


1


is used for fixing to the door; and a protruding pivotal portion


12


, installed on top of the fixing portion


11


, acts as a pivot for the door.

FIG. 2

shows the conventional procedural steps for assembling shelves and cabinets: the top board


52


, side board


51


, and the bottom board


53


are usually jointed together via the use of tenons


511


,


512


, and the mortice


521


,


522


, and


523


. However, in assembling the cabinet door


50


installed with a pivotal bearing having a protruding pivot


12


on top, the door


50


, side board


51


, and the bottom board


53


must be jointed together before the top board


52


is to be installed in place. In installing the top board


52


, the user must aim the protruding pivot


12


of the pivotal bearing


1


, and the two tenons


511


,


512


of the side board accurately with respect to the mortice of


522


,


521


, and


523


of the top board


52


respectively to effect proper jointing, an task not easy for most users. Especially in assembling a shelve or cabinet, an user is faced with the task of jointing the two symmetrical doors with the top board by pivotal bearings, and jointing of the side boards with the top board by tenons and mortice simultaneously. The fact that the two doors are free to swing via the bearings on top of the bottom board


53


makes the insertion of the protruding pivotal portion


12


of the pivotal bearing


1


into the mortise


523


of the bottom board


52


less easy to accomplish. Furthermore, subsequent to the assembly of the shelves and cabinets, the door


50


becomes difficult to remove, because the top board


52


must be removed first, making it inconvenient for the user.




Use of the conventional pivotal bearing


1


entails the cumbersome manner of board jointings, as described above, in the assembly process. Therefore, the present invention devises an improved pivotal bearing for door frames with elastic pivot, furthering the industrial utility and practicality.




The object of the present invention is to provide a pivotal bearing for door frames with a elastic pivot.




An alternative object is to provide a pivotal bearing for door frames which facilitates the assembly of shelves and cabinets.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the fact that the installation of the conventional pivotal bearings for door frames makes the assembly of shelves and cabinets cumbersome, less efficient, and the removal of door frames, once installed, difficult to accomplish, the present invention seeks to improve upon the conventional pivotal bearings, such that the fixing portion is equipped with a spring inside, so as to render elasticity to the protruding pivotal portion and facilitate ease to the assembling process. The respective boards may be jointed with one another first, then the door frames equipped with the pivotal bearings of the present invention may be installed into positions, so that the ease of assembly is increased, and the purpose and function of the DIY design fulfilled.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1. A

side view of the conventional pivotal bearing for door frames.




FIG.


2


A. The conventional process of assembling shelves and cabinets.





FIG. 3A. A

cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing for door frames of the present invention.





FIG. 3B. A

cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing for door frames shown in

FIG. 3A

in another state.




FIG.


4


. The process of assembling shelves and cabinets with the use of the pivotal bearing for door frames of the present invention.





FIG. 5A. A

cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing for door frames of the present invention in another instance of embodiment.





FIG. 5B. A

cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing for door frames of

FIG. 5A

in another state.




FIG.


6


. The process of assembling shelves and cabinets using the pivotal bearing for door frames of FIG.


5


A.















Numbering Scheme
























Conventional pivotal bearing for door frames




1






Pivotal bearing for door frames of the present invention




2,3






Fixing portion




11,21,31






Protruding pivotal portion




12,22,23






Spring




23






Lever




322






Pulling portion




323






Door frame




50






Side board




51






Top board




52






Bottom board




53






Protruding tenons




511,512






Mortice




521,522,523





















DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to

FIG. 3A

, which shows a cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing for door frames of the present invention, the pivotal bearing


2


having a hollow fixing portion


21


, a spring


23


is lodged therewith; and a protruding pivotal portion


22


having side wings at its bottom such that when the spring


23


pushes the protruding pivotal portion


22


upwards, said side wings can hold the protruding pivotal


22


in place.




Referring to

FIG. 3B

, which shows a cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing in a separate state, as a force F exerts on the protruding portion


22


, it may be pushed into the hollow shaft of the fixing portion


21


, and compresses the spring


23


. When the force F is removed, the pivotal bearing restores to its former position shown in FIG.


3


A.





FIG. 4

shows the process of assembling shelves and cabinets with the use of the pivotal bearing of this invention. By virtual of the elastic protruding pivotal portion


22


of the pivotal bearing


2


, the order of assembling steps may be changed. The two side boards may directly joint with the top board


52


and the bottom board


52


first. The side board


51


may be fixed on the bottom board


52


first. And as the mortice


521


,


522


of the bottom board


52


and tenons


511


,


512


of the side board


51


are matching pairs, the top board may joint to the side boards with greater ease. Thereafter, both doors may separately be installed into their respective places. In installing door-frame


50


, the protruding pivotal portion


22


of the pivotal bearing


2


can be depressed into the fixing portion and as the door-frame


50


is brought into place, said protruding pivotal portion


22


, by virtual of the elasticity provided by the spring


23


, will be thrust and inserted into either mortise of the top board


52


or bottom board


53


.




Referring to

FIG. 5A

, a cross-sectional view of another instance of pivotal bearing of the present invention. The pivotal bearing


3


of the present invention has a hollow fixing portion


31


, wherein a spring


23


contained therewith; and a protruding pivotal portion


321


, from the bottom of which, an elongated body is extended, and through the fixing portion


31


, and forms as a pulling handle


323


, said pulling handle


323


can help keeping the protruding pivotal portion


321


in place.




Referring to

FIG. 5B

, a cross-sectional view of the pivotal bearing shown in

FIG. 5A

in a separate state, when pulling handle


323


is being pulled by a force F, the protruding pivotal portion


321


, which is integrally connected with the pulling handle, will be pulled into the hollow shaft of the fixing portion


31


, and compresses the spring


23


. When the pulling force F is removed, pivotal bearing


3


will revert to its former position shown in FIG.


5


A.





FIG. 6

shows the process of assembling shelves and cabinets using the pivotal bearing shown in FIG.


5


A. By virtual of the elastic protruding pivotal portion of the pivotal bearing


3


, the assembly is made easier. Just as in the previous mode of embodiment, various boards may be jointed together first. And prior to installing door frame


50


, a pulling force F can be applied to handle


323


of the pivotal bearing


3


, so that the protruding pivotal portion


321


is pulled inside the fixing portion


31


, and as the door frame


50


is brought into place, the protruding pivotal portion


321


thrusts into either mortise of the top board


52


or bottom board


53


by virtual of the spring force


23


, and completes the pivotal bearing connection. When the user wishes to remove the door frame, simply by pulling down the pulling portion


323


so that the protruding pivotal portion


321


is pulled out of the mortise, and thereby removes the doorframe easily.




After a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the prior art may undertake further modifications and improvements within the scope and the spirit of the claims of this invention. Neither is this present invention restricted to the modes of preferred embodiment as described in this specification.




EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INVENTION




By using the pivotal bearing of the door frame of the present invention, the drawbacks of the conventional pivotal bearing may be effectively eliminated, the ease and efficiency of assembly procedures improved, and greatly enhancing users' ability to assemble with ease, fulfilling the aim of DIY concept.




In summary, this present invention has many superior features, solving many drawbacks and inconveniences associated with the application of the prior art, thereby achieving values of novelty and economical efficiency. As such, it meets the statutory requirements for a patent of utility model. A request is made to your esteemed Bureau for the issuance of a patent so that our rights may be properly protected. Your benevolence to the needs of people is duly noted and appreciated.



Claims
  • 1. A pivotal bearing adapted for a doorframe bearing connection, which comprises:a fixing portion adapted to be fixed on a doorframe, said fixing portion containing therein a spring, and a protruding bearing portion which can be brought inside said fixing portion by compressing said spring and wherein an elongated body extends from a laterally outward extending flange at the bottom of said protruding bearing portion, through said fixing portion, to form a pulling handle for compressing said spring and bringing said protruding bearing portion inside said fixing portion.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
87211373 Jul 1998 TW
US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
665603 Henry Jan 1901
1328874 Henault Jan 1920
2186789 Rosengerg Jan 1940
2249329 Rosengerg Jul 1941
2369148 Langhorst Feb 1945
2379528 Kelliher Jul 1945
4620392 Kerpers et al. Nov 1986
5490305 Domingo Ribot Feb 1996