Self-centering pivot door hinge system

Abstract
A pivot door hinge having a door receiving channel member pivotally connected to a fixed base plate member, the base plate member having a pair of opposing parallel ridge members defining an alignment channel, such that the channel member is retained within the alignment channel until pivoted from the centered orientation, whereby the channel member rests on the ridge members.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to the field of door or panel hinges, and more particularly to the field of pivot hinges attached to the top and bottom edges of the door or panel member. Even more particularly, the invention relates to such hinges that are self-centering or self-aligning, whereby the structure of the hinge causes the door or panel to seat in a preferred position when closed.




Pivot door hinges are well known in the field of doors, gates, shower doors and any panel members that open in a non-sliding manner by pivoting about a vertical axis. A typical pivot hinge comprises a vertically oriented post or pin member connecting a mounting portion of the hinge attached to the top and bottom edges of a panel to a fixed portion of the hinge attached to the base, curb, soffit, header or wall.




Pivot hinges are of particular use with glass shower doors, where modern aesthetics prefers door mounting systems which utilize the least amount of hardware to provide a clean and uncluttered visual presentation. Modern designs also prefer that the glass shower doors be self-centering, such that the doors will remain in the closed and properly aligned position without the need for the free edge to abut against a fixed sealing member or jamb mounted on the opposing wall or panel member. To this end, a number of pivot hinges for glass doors and self-centering pivot hinges have been developed.




Examples of such devices or systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,312,667, issued to Ayres on Aug. 12, 1919, U.S. Pat. No. 1,318,824, issued to Alary on Oct. 18, 1917, U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,956 to Ullman, Jr. on May 6, 1980, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,272, issued to Marlowe et al. on May 23, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,276, issued to Franz on Mar. 25, 1997, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,255, issued to Garrett on Dec. 19, 2000.




The Ayers hinge device has a base plate member having a semi-circular groove within which a ball bearing mounted on the underside of the door rides as the door is opened in either direction. Depressions are provided at each end of the groove and in the middle, such that the door will be detained in each of these positions unless pivoted by force. The groove slopes on each side down to the middle depression, such that the weight of the door will cause it to self-center unless the ball bearing is detained by one of the end depressions. The Alery hinge uses a roller member mounted onto the underside of the door that rides on the upper edge of a symmetrical flange extending upward from the base plate member, the flange bottoming out in the center and having a pair of dips on each side corresponding to the 90 degree open position for the door. Ullman, Jr. discloses a unique mounting system using a standard pivot hinge. Marlowe et al. shows a pivot hinge with a base member having an upwardly extending flange with a pair of opposing deep depressions extending in a direction perpendicular to a pair of opposing shallow depressions, where a horizontally disposed pin member rides on the upper edge of the flange. Franz discloses a pivot hinge wherein the base plate member has a circular recess with pair of opposing depressions that receive a horizontally disposed, semi-cylindrical member mounted on the underside of the door mount member and extending to either side of the vertical post member. Garrett shows an improved but complicated pressure hinge, wherein the self-centering is accomplished due to spring-biased roller pins that are pressed laterally against a pivoting cylindrical member with a pair of vertical channels disposed thereon. All of these devices either involve mechanical components which complicate the operation of the hinge and require excessive mounting and hardware components such that utilizing the hinges with a glass door is not aesthetically pleasing, or are excessively complicated requiring difficult installation, adjustment and cleaning, or do not adequately meet the need for efficient self-aligning.




It is an object of this invention to provide a pivot door hinge device and system that overcome and avoid the problems inherent in the known systems. It is a further object to provide such an invention that is most suitable for use with a glass door, such that the door will be self-centering or self-aligning in the closed position, yet can be easily opened and closed. It is a further object to provide such an invention that is relatively easy to manufacture and install, that is aesthetically pleasing, and that is easy to clean and maintain. It is a further object to provide such an invention that operates in a relatively simple manner, such that mechanical components are minimized and biasing members are not required for operation.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention is in general a base pivot door hinge, primarily intended for use with glass shower doors but which may be used with any type of door or panel member where a pivoting opening movement is desired. The hinge forms a part of door system in conjunction with a second hinge, such that the door is supported on its bottom edge by a pivot hinge of novel design mounted onto a stationary lower horizontal structural member such as a floor, curb, threshold or the like, while its top edge is retained by a pivot hinge which is affixed to either a stationary upper horizontal structural member such as a soffit, header, ceiling or the like, or to a lateral wall or other vertical member. Most preferably, both hinge devices are affixed to the door by clamping mechanisms, such that the door does not need to be notched, drilled or otherwise altered.




The base pivot mounting hinge comprises in general door attachment means to receive the door or panel member in a secure manner along its bottom edge, pivoting means to allow the door to be pivoted about a vertical axis, base attachment means to secure the device to a lower stationary surface, and self-centering means to cause the door to rest in a desired orientation and alignment. Structurally, the base pivot mounting hinge preferably comprises a U-shaped in cross-section channel member which receives the bottom edge of the door, the channel member having a generally rectangular bottom. A pivot pin member extends downward from the channel member and is received by a socket member disposed in a base plate member. The base plate member is preferably a generally flat member having a generally rectangular configuration, wherein the socket member is generally centrally positioned. A pair of longitudinally disposed parallel ridges extend upward on opposing sides of the base plate member to define a longitudinal channel having linear sides, the width of the channel being slightly greater than the width of the bottom of the channel member attached to the lower edge of the door, such that the channel member seats between the ridges when the door is aligned parallel to the pivot base member, the interior sides of the ridges acting to center the door and temporarily fix the door to prevent pivoting until sufficient pressure is applied. The ends of each of the ridges are beveled, sloped or curved such that the ridge diminishes in height towards each end. Preferably, the inner edges of the ridge are beveled, sloped or curved as well, such that the interior wall of each ridge is not perpendicular to the upper surface of the base plate member.




The upper portion of the door is secured in a pivoting manner to an upper stationary support member, such as a horizontally disposed soffit, header or ceiling by an upper pivot hinge member. Alternatively, the upper pivot hinge may be affixed to a lateral wall or other vertical member. Preferably, the upper hinge member comprises clamping means for retaining the door along its upper edge.




In the passive or closed position, a door utilizing the hinge device of the invention remains aligned with and seats within the base plate channel, the bottom of the door receiving channel member residing between the two alignment ridges of the base plate. When the door is pivoted in either direction by applying force, one side of the bottom edge of the door receiving channel member will ride up the inclined end of one of the alignment ridges while the other side of the bottom edge of the door receiving channel member will ride up the inclined end of the other alignment ridge, lifting the door slightly. The door receiving channel member now rests on the upper surfaces of the alignment ridges. A transverse set of grooves, set for example perpendicularly to the base plate channel, may be cut into the alignment ridges, such that the door will be temporarily retained by the transverse grooves at a desired location. When the door is closed, the bottom of the door receiving channel slides along upper surface of the alignment ridges until it approaches the passive alignment, at which time the door receiving channel slides down the inclined ends of the ridges and seats within the base plate channel.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a view of a door mounted using the base pivot hinge member of the invention and showing the upper hinge member affixed to a wall.





FIG. 2

is a perspective and partially exploded view of the base pivot hinge.





FIG. 3

is an end and partially exploded view of the base pivot hinge showing the door in the aligned or centered position.





FIG. 4

is an end view of the base pivot hinge showing the door in the fully open position.





FIG. 5

is a top view of the base plate member of the base pivot hinge.





FIG. 6

is a side view of the base plate member of the base pivot hinge.





FIG. 7

is a top view an alternative embodiment of the base plate member.





FIG. 8

is perspective view of an upper pivot hinge.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail, with further regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. In a most general sense, the invention is a base pivot hinge device and assembly which supports a door or similar panel member in a manner which allows the door to be pivoted about a vertical axis, with the base pivot hinge typically positioned near a lateral edge of the door, wherein the construction of the base pivot hinge creates a self-centering or self-aligning effect such; that the door automatically assumes an aligned or centered position, typically the closed position relative to the door opening, when the door is pivoted to an orientation relatively near the centered position. The invention comprises such a base pivot hinge, as well as a system or apparatus as a whole incorporating an upper pivot hinge and the door or panel member in addition to the base pivot hinge. In another general sense, the invention is a base pivot hinge comprising means to receive and retain a door, base attachment means to affix the hinge to a lower stationary support member, pivoting means connecting the door receiving and retaining means to the base attachment means, and door self-centering means.




A door pivoting system or apparatus incorporating the invention is illustrated in

FIG. 1. A

door or similar panel member


90


, which may be composed of any material but which is shown herein as a glass door, is supported or suspended in a manner such that it may be pivoted about a vertical axis in one or opposing directions from a centered or aligned position, shown as the closed position in the illustration, into a non-centered or non-aligned open position. The door


90


is supported above a lower stationary support member


99


, shown in the illustration as a raised curb of a shower stall, but which may comprise any fixed member disposed below the door


90


, such as a floor, the bottom of a cabinet, a wall mount member, etc. The door


90


is suspended from an upper stationary support member


98


, which is shown in the illustration as a wall mount device affixed to a lateral structural member of the door opening, but the upper stationary support member


98


may also be a soffit, a header, a ceiling, etc. The door


90


has a top or upper edge


92


and a bottom or lower edge


91


, and the base pivot hinge is connected to the door


90


so as to retain or be disposed beneath the door bottom edge


91


.




The base pivot hinge


10


is detailed in

FIGS. 2 through 4

and comprises in general a door receiving channel member


20


and a base plate member


30


, wherein the base plate member


30


is adapted to be affixed in stationary manner to a lower stationary support member


99


and wherein the door receiving channel member


20


is adapted to pivot relative to the stationary base plate member


30


from an aligned or centered orientation, as depicted in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, to any non-centered or non-aligned orientation, such as depicted as a right angle orientation in FIG.


4


. The aligned or centered orientation is defined herein as the orientation wherein the longitudinal direction of the channel member


20


and door bottom edge


91


is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base plate member


30


.




The door receiving channel member


20


is shown as a generally U-shaped member having a generally rectangular bottom


21


with a pair of opposing longitudinal linear edges


22


, although it is to be understood that this terminology as used herein may also refer to any door receiving component which may be attached to the lower portion of the door


90


along the bottom edge


91


provided that the pair of linear edges


22


is presented. The U-shaped configuration as shown is most preferred in that this allows a door composed of glass or any other material to be retained with the necessity of cutting, notching, boring or otherwise altering and damaging the door


90


. Retention of a glass door


90


as shown is accomplished by providing a rectangular compression plate member


23


that is disposed within the interior channel of the channel member


20


adjacent the door


90


. Set screws


24


are then inserted into threaded apertures


25


and tightened to force the compression plate


23


securely against the door


90


. Tape or other padding means may be inserted between the door


20


and the channel member


20


and compression plate


23


to protect the door surface. The lower linear edges


22


may be slightly rounded, beveled, chamfered or the like such that a right angle edge configuration is not present. A generally longitudinally centrally disposed pivot pin member


26


depends from the bottom


21


of channel member


20


. The transverse position of the pivot pin


26


as shown is centered under the door


20


, which results in it being offset relative to the channel member


20


, which is provided with a thicker side to accommodate the set screws


24


and compression plate


23


. The channel member


20


is preferably composed of a metal or a material of similar structural and durability properties.




The base plate member


30


of the base pivot hinge member


10


is separately illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

in addition to

FIGS. 2 through 4

. The base plate member


30


is generally rectangular with a relatively low profile, and is adapted to be securely connected to or affixed to the lower stationary support member


99


. The base plate member


30


is most preferably composed of a hard plastic, such as for example DELRIN brand plastic, which serves to reduce friction between the base plate member


30


and the door receiving channel member


20


, but may alternatively be composed of metal or other materials of suitable properties. Means to affix the base plate member


30


to the lower stationary support member


99


may comprise any suitable mechanism, such as an adhesive, mechanical fasteners, mechanical interlock or the like, but preferably the base plate member


30


is provided with a plurality of depending mounting post members


37


as shown. The post members


37


are inserted into apertures bored into the lower stationary support member


99


and serve to prevent movement of the base plate member


30


in addition to the adhesive or mechanical fasteners. Generally longitudinally centrally disposed within the base plate member


30


is a pivot socket


38


, which as shown is the hollow interior of the central post member


37


. The pivot socket


38


as shown is off-centered transversely within the alignment channel


33


to correspond to the position of the pivot pin


26


. The pivot socket


38


is sized to receive the depending pivot pin member


26


of the channel member


20


in a relatively snug manner, such that only rotational relative movement occurs between the pivot member


26


and the pivot socket


38


, with minimal relative movement in the horizontal direction. While not preferred, it is also possible for the base pivot hinge to comprise a pivot pin that extends upward from the base plate member


30


and mates with a pivot socket disposed in the channel member


20


.




The base plate member


30


further comprises a pair of opposing, parallel ridge members


31


which each extend upward a relatively short distance above a generally planar channel bottom surface


32


. The pair of upstanding, opposing, parallel ridge interior walls


34


in combination with the channel bottom surface


32


define an alignment channel


33


extending in the longitudinal direction. The ridge members


31


further each comprise a ridge upper surface


35


, preferably planar, and sloped end members


36


. The sloped ends


36


are inclined, beveled, flattened, curved or otherwise tapered downward from the ridge upper surfaces


35


, such that the height of the ridge interior walls


34


diminishes towards the outer ends of the base plate member


30


. Most preferably, the ridge interior walls


36


are angled, beveled, chamfered or rounded, such that the linear junction between the interior walls


36


and the ridge upper surfaces


35


is not a right angle. In the most preferred embodiment, the ridge interior walls


34


are angled outwardly at about 45 degrees from the channel bottom surface


32


, and the sloped ends


36


extend about ½ inch on a base plate member


30


which is about four inches long, with the height of the ridge members


31


being about {fraction (40/1000)} of an inch above the upper channel surface


32


.




As shown in

FIG. 8

, the door top edge


92


is retained by an upper pivot hinge


50


, which preferably comprises a generally U-shaped channel member


51


having a compression plate member


52


that is pressed against the door


90


by the insertions of set screws


53


into threaded apertures


54


. An upwardly extending pivot pin member


55


is mounted generally centrally atop the channel member


51


, such that the pin member


55


is received by a receiving socket


56


as shown, the receiving socket being adapted to be mounted into any upper stationary support member


98


, such as for example a soffit, header, ceiling, lateral wall mount or similar device. The upper pivot hinge


50


is aligned with the base pivot hinge


10


to define a single vertical axis about which the door


90


will pivot. Alternative constructions for the upper pivot hinge


50


are possible, as the upper pivot hinge


50


serves as an alignment member rather than a true suspension member, the weight of the door


90


being borne by the base pivot hinge


10


.




The base pivot hinge


10


works in the following manner. In the centered or aligned orientation, when the channel member


20


and bottom door edge


91


are aligned longitudinally with the fixed base plate member


30


, the rectangular bottom


21


of the channel member


20


rests between the parallel ridge members


31


of the base plate member


30


with the linear edges


22


of the channel bottom


21


aligned in parallel with the ridge interior walls


34


, preferably with the channel bottom


21


resting on the channel bottom surface


32


of the base plate member


30


. In this manner the door


90


is retained in the desired centered orientation. The door


90


is opened by pulling or pushing such that the door


90


pivots about the vertical axis defined by the upper pivot hinge


50


and the base pivot hinge


10


. As the door


90


begins to pivot the depending pivot pin member


26


rotates within the pivot socket


38


and the leading linear edges


22


of the channel member bottom


21


begin to ride up the ridge interior walls


34


and the sloped ends


36


of the base plate member


30


, lifting the door


90


a distance equal to the height of the ridge members


31


once the door


90


has been pivoted beyond the sloping ends


36


. The channel member bottom


21


now rests atop the ridge upper surfaces


35


, as shown in

FIG. 4

, wherein the door


90


is oriented at 90 degrees from the centered orientation. The door


90


is closed by pivoting it back toward the centered orientation. As the orientation of the door


90


approaches the centered orientation, the rectangular bottom


21


of the channel member


20


begins to slide down the sloped ends


36


of the parallel ridge members


31


. The weight of the door


90


causes the channel member


20


to automatically drop into the centered and aligned orientation between the ridge members


31


, and the ridge interior walls


34


maintain the door


90


in the centered orientation until a force is applied to open it.




An alternative embodiment for the base plate member


30


is illustrated in

FIG. 7

, which shows the provision of a transverse channel


41


extending perpendicularly to the alignment channel


33


at the location of the pivot socket


38


. The transverse channel


41


is defined by the combination of the channel bottom surface


32


and two pairs of opposing transverse ridge walls


42


which join the ridge upper surfaces


35


to the channel bottom surface


32


in the same manner as the ridge interior walls


34


. Preferably the transverse ridge walls


42


are angled, beveled, chamfered or rounded, such that the linear junctions between the transverse ridge walls


42


and the ridge upper surfaces


35


are not a right angle. In this embodiment, when the door


90


is pivoted 90 degrees from the aligned or centered orientation, the door


90


will be temporarily retained in the perpendicular orientation.




It is contemplated that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A pivot door hinge device comprising door self-centering means;said door self-centering means comprising a door receiving channel member having a generally rectangular bottom, and a base plate member comprising an alignment channel defined by a pair of generally parallel ridge members, wherein said channel member bottom is pivotable from a centered orientation within said alignment channel and between said ridge members to non-centered orientation wherein said channel member rests upon said ridge members.
  • 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said ridge members each comprise sloping ends.
  • 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said channel member further comprises a depending pivot pin member and said base plate member further comprises a pivot socket member which receives said pivot pin member.
  • 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said channel member is generally U-shaped.
  • 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said channel member further comprises a compression plate member.
  • 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said ridge members further comprise angled ridge interior walls.
  • 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said base plate member further comprises mounting posts.
  • 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said base plate member further comprises a transverse channel extending perpendicularly to said alignment channel adapted to receive said channel member when said channel member is pivoted to a non-centered orientation corresponding to the orientation of said transverse channel.
  • 9. A pivot door hinge device comprising:a door receiving channel member comprising a generally rectangular bottom; a base plate member comprising generally parallel ridge members and a channel bottom surface, said ridge members comprising ridge upper surfaces, ridge interior walls and sloped ends, said ridge interior walls and said channel bottom surface defining in combination an alignment channel adapted to receive said bottom of said channel member; pivot means connecting said channel member to said base plate member whereby said channel member may pivot from a centered orientation with said channel member bottom disposed within said alignment channel to a non-centered orientation with said channel member disposed on said ridge upper surfaces.
  • 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said pivot means comprises in combination a depending pivot pin member extending beneath said channel member and a pivot socket disposed in said base plate member.
  • 11. The device of claim 9, wherein said channel member is generally U-shaped and further comprises a compression plate member.
  • 12. The device of claim 9, wherein said ridge interior walls are angled.
  • 13. The device of claim 9, wherein said base member further comprises mounting post members.
  • 14. The device of claim 9, said base member further comprising a transverse channel extending perpendicularly to said alignment channel.
  • 15. A pivoting door assembly for pivotally mounting a door between an upper stationary support member and a lower stationary support member, said assembly comprising:a door member; a base pivot hinge member connected to said door member; an upper pivot hinge member connected to said door member; said base pivot hinge member comprising a door receiving channel member comprising a generally rectangular bottom pivotally connected to a base plate member having generally parallel ridge members and a channel bottom surface, said ridge members comprising ridge upper surfaces, ridge interior walls and sloped ends, said ridge interior walls and said channel bottom surface defining in combination an alignment channel adapted to receive said bottom of said channel member in a centered orientation; whereby said channel member is pivotable from said centered orientation to a non-centered orientation wherein said channel member rests on said ridge upper surfaces.
  • 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said channel member further comprises a depending pivot pin member and said base plate member further comprises a pivot socket.
  • 17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said ridge interior walls are angled.
  • 18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said channel member is generally U-shaped and further comprises a compression plate member.
  • 19. The device of claim 15, wherein said base member further comprises mounting post members.
  • 20. The device of claim 15, said base member further comprising a transverse channel extending perpendicularly to said alignment channel.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Number Name Date Kind
1312667 Ayres Aug 1919 A
1318824 Alary Oct 1919 A
2284074 Stahl May 1942 A
3378881 Hentzi et al. Apr 1968 A
3390486 Walters Jul 1968 A
3546736 Booth Dec 1970 A
3648327 Edeus Mar 1972 A
3722031 Bourgeois Mar 1973 A
3858274 Burton et al. Jan 1975 A
4090274 Bourgeois May 1978 A
4200956 Ullman, Jr. May 1980 A
4787120 Haigh Nov 1988 A
4897889 Baus Feb 1990 A
5417272 Marlowe May 1995 A
5613276 Franz Mar 1997 A
5867869 Garrett Feb 1999 A
5908064 Bruce Jun 1999 A
6035460 Borter Mar 2000 A
6070294 Perkins Jun 2000 A
6161255 Garrett Dec 2000 A