AU632878B2

AU632878B2 - Cam door hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: AU632878B2
Application number: AU67905/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard J. Richardson
Original assignee: Anthonys Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Anthonys Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1989-12-21
Filing date: 1990-12-07
Publication date: 1993-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-07
Also published as: GB2239290B; DE4038259A1; GB9027942D0; GB2239290A; AU6790590A; JPH04118486A; IT9048598A0; IT1242188B; IT9048598A1; FR2656365A1

Description

632878 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class 4 kA Application Number: Lodged: S.Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: SPriority: t lelated Art: Name of Applicant: ANTHONY'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.

,Address of Applicant: 12812 Arroyo Street, San Fernando, California 91342, United States of America '-Actual Inventor: Richard J. Richardson Address for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "CAM DOOR HINGE ASSEMBLY" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 1 CAM DOOR HINGE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to hinges used for doors and, more particularly, to a cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door having mating cam elements biased together by a coil spring. One of the cam elements rotates with the door and has rails which move in tracks mounted inside the door when the door is opened, causing the cam element with the rails to move vertically up the rod disengaging the cam elements. The cam elements are biased Sback into mating engagement with each other by the spring ae o after the door is released, automatically returning the door boo. to a closed position.

0000 5 0 In the past, different hinges have been developed for 0 o automatically closing doors. For example, U.S. Patent No.

o0 4,235,449, issued to Loikitz on August 5, 1980, d-iscloses a self-closing hinge in cartridge form which fits into a socket in a door. The hinge mechanism, including mating cam elements, fits inside a housing and uses a coil spring to return the door to a closed position. However, this hinge assembly is complicated and expensive to manufacture because I it uses a number of parts including a flange attached to the housing for anchoring the housing to the edge of the door.

Another self-closing hinge is described in U.S. Patent No.

3,518,716, issued to Larpon on July 7, 1970. This patent i describes a hinge having mating cam elements which are also located within a housing. The housing is secured to a door and rotates on a shaft extending into the housing. An upper cam element moves upward when the door opens and is forced back into mating engagement with a lower cam element by a coil spring when the door is released. This hinge is also expensive to manufacture.

Other door hinges are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.

3,602,942 issued to Neff, Sr. et al. on September 7, 1971; 3,537,126 issued to Nakaniski on November 3, 1970; and 2,538,679 issued to Foltis on January 16, 1951. However, use of these hinges is limited.

la SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door which may be easily installed on a door.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door that allows the door to be easily removed from its door frame, and the hinge assembly to be removed or replaced, if necessary.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by a cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door having upper and lower mating cam elements biased together by a coil spring. The lower cam element is fixed to a rod placed vertically inside the door which extends through an aperture in the bottom of the door and has its lower end engaged to an aperture in the bottom door frame that prevents rotation of the rod. The upper cam element has a central bore which allows the element to slidably engage the rod. The upper and lower cam elements are forced into mating engagement by the coil spring which fits around the rod. The coil spring is positioned between a sleeve member at the top of the rod held in position by a nut threaded onto the top of the rod.

The upper cam element rotates with the door and has rails attached to it which move in tracks mounted inside the door when the door is opened, causing the cam element with the rails to move vertically up the rod and the cam elements to disengage. The cam elements are biased back into mating engagement with each other by the spring after the door is released, automatically returning the door to a closed position.

The various features of the present invention will be best understood together with further objects and advantages by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a self-closing door with a cam door hinge assembly of the present invention used at the lower left-hand corner of the door; FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the door in a closed position; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the o door in an opened position; c, FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of an aperture in a bottom portion of a door. frame surrounding the door; FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detailed cross-sectional view of the portion of the cam door hinge assembly indicated by o. o arrows 6-6 in FIG. 3; 0000 FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of part of the cam door hinge assembly; FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the a direction of arrows 8-8 shown in FIG. 7; and rsoi FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the 0 0 I direction of arrows 9-9 shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings sets forth the preferred embodiment of the present invention in such a manner that any person skilled in the art can make and use the invention. The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention in a commercial environment, although it should be understood that various modifications can be accomplished within the parameters of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a self-closing door 10 with a preferred embodiment of a cam door hinge assembly 12 of the present invention used at the lower left-hand corner of the door The cam door hinge assembly 12 is shown mounted inside the door 10 in FIGS. 2 through 4 and 6. A bottom end 14 of a

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i: I i -r 1 *0 04 0 rod 16 used for the assembly 12 engages an aperture 18 (see FIG. 5) in bottom portion 20 of a door frame 22 so that the rod 16 is prevented from rotating when the door 10 is opened. Any shape aperture 18 may be used that will engage end 14 and prevent rod 16 from rotating. Any other conventional hinge assembly 13 may be used at the top left-hand corner of the door 10 for the purpose of supporting (hinging) the top of the door 10 to the door frame 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 9, a lower cam element 24 is integrally formed with or otherwise fixed to rod 16.

Cam element 24 has mating cam surface 26 as shown in FIG. 8.

0o An upper cam element 28 with mating cam surface 30 has a 0. central bore 32 which allows the element 28 to slidably engage upper extension 34 of rod 16.

15 A coil spring 36 fitting around upper extension 34 o biases the lower and upper cam elements 24 and 28 together o so that mating cam surfaces 26 and 30 engage each other.

Spring 36 is positioned between top ledge 36 of cam element 28 and flange 38 of a sleeve 40 having central bore 42 which allows the sleeve 40 to slidably engage upper extension 34.

0*0 Spring 36 biases sleeve 40 against a nut 44 threaded onto threads 46 at the top of upper extension 34. Screw 44 may be threaded as far down extension 34 as desirFA to compress S spring 36 providing the desirable amount of biasing force necessary to resist upward movement of cam element 28.

An annular groove 50 exists near the bottom end 14 of rod 16. As shown in FIG. 2, rod 16 fits through aperture 52 at the bottom of door 10 and a clip device 54 fits in annular groove 50 preventing bottom end 14 from sliding inside the door 10. The clip device 54 may be a spring clip device or any other suitable device which may be fitted into annular groove 50 and later removed if necessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, upper cam element 28 has rails 48 integrally formed therewith or otherwise attached thereto. Rails 48 engage elongated grooves 56 in tracks 58 mounted inside the door 10. The tracks 58 may be welded, bolted, riveted, or otherwise attached to the inside of the door 10. Door 10 is shown closed in FIG. 3. As the door 10 is opened as shown in FIG. 4, upper cam element 28 4

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is caused tbo rotate about upper extension 34 due to the engagement of rails 48 in elongated grooves 56. Mating cam surfaces 26 and 30 then cause upper cam element 28 to move upward as element 28 rotates against the biasing force of spring 36 causing the spring 36 to compress. When the door is released, spring 36 forces upper cam element 28 back into mating engagement with lower cam element 24 causing thG door 10 to shut. As such, the cam door hinge assembly 12 allows the door 10 to function like a self-closing door.

Cam elements 24 and 28 provide a hold open feature.

The door 10 will be held open when cam element 28 has moved o upward far enough to allow bottom surface 25 of element 28 oao to rest on top of upper surface 27 of cam element 24 (see COCO FIGS. 2 and Subsequently, the door 10 may be closed by 0 C "15 simply pulling on the door 10 until surface 25 slides off 0.

surface 27 and the coil spring 36 biases cam elements 24 and o000 28 together. Alternatively, detents (not shown) may be provided in cam surface 26 near upper surface 27 so that portions of bottom surfaces 25 engage the detents in order 20 to hold the door 10 open. :uch detents may be like detents 00.0 CocP 56 disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,518,716, issued to Larson o 0 U on July 7, 1970 (see FIG. the disclosure of which is 0 0 hereby incorporated by reference.

co o Instead of using aperture 18 in bottom portion 20 of 0 0 o door frame 22, bottom end 14 of the rod 16 may be fit into o o an anchoring device such as the device disclosed in U.S.

o Patent No. 4,696,078, issued to Stromquist on September 29, 1987, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, any type of clamping or fastening device may be used instead of nut 44 such as clamps, cotter pins, spring-loaded fastening devices, or the like. Also, sleeve 40 may be removed and spring 36 may bottom directly on nut 44 if desired.

The cam door hinge assembly 12 may be removed and replaced by removing clip device 54 from annular groove and sliding rod 16 inside the door 10 through aperture 52.

The assembly 12 may then be removed from inside the door through an opening (not shown) in the end of the door Likewise, a new hinge assembly 12 may be easily installed by inserting the assembly inside the door 10 through the opening and passing rod 16 through aperture 52 at the bottom of the door 10. Device 54 may then be placed in annular groove 50 as explained above.

The above description discloses the preferred embodiment in the present invention. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art are capable of numerous modifications once taught these principles. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

0o0o o000 V 0 0 0 0 4 9 090

Claims

1. A cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door, said door having an aperture therein and a corresponding door frame with an aperture therein, said assembly comprising: an elongated rod extending from an upper free end positioned inside said door to a bottom end passing through said aperture in said door and removably engaging said aperture in said door frame so that said rod is not free to rotate, said elongated rod having an annular groove at said bottom end thereof; S a first cam element fixed to said elongated rod, S' said first cam element having a cam surface thereon; H a second cam element slidably engaging said Selongated rod and being located above said first cam Si !15 element, said second cam element having projections and a cam surface thereon; tracks mounted inside said door, said projections i of said second cam element slidably engaging said tracks; I I spring means mountt on srid elongated rod for biasing said first and second cam elements into mating S|I engagement with said cam surfaces so that opening of said door causes said second cam element to rotate and to move j upward compressing said spring means, said spring means for biasing said first and second cam elements back into engagement after said door is released causing said door to close; and a clip device removably engaging said annular groove to allow said hinge assembly to be removed from b Of n~1'. <n aF4 ~e~ S09 000 090 9 09* 0 9 910 9 099 0q *0 0 I S e a *900l O a,( 0 44 @9 0,94 I 9 4s I 0 99 99 9 4 said door by first removing said clip device from said annular groove and then by progressing said elongated rod into said door.

2. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve slidably engaging said elongated rod and a nut threaded onto said rod so that said spring means is disposed between said sleeve and said second cam element.

3. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 2 wherein said tracks have elongated grooves therein, said projections of said second cam element slidably engaging said elongated grooves.

4. A cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door, said door having an aperture therein and a corresponding door frame with an aperture therein, said assembly comprising: 5 an elongated rod extending from an upper free end positione inside said door to a bottom end passing through said aperture in said door and removably engaging said aperture in said door frame so that said rod is not free to rotate, said elongated rod having an annular groove at said bottom end thereof; a first cam element fixed to said elongated rod, said first cam element having a cam surface thereon; a second cam element slidably engaging said elongated rod and being located above said first cam element, said second cam element having projections and a cam surface thereon; track means mounted inside said door for guiding 8 0iL'~ SE: said projections; spring means mounted on said elongated rod for biasing said first and second cam elements into mating engagement so that opening of said door causes said second cam element to rotate and move upward compressing said spring means, said spring means for biasing said first and second cam elements into engagement after said door is released causing said door to close; adjustable fastening means mounted on said elongated rod for adjusting the compression of said spring means; and J a clip device removably engaging said annular S 30 groove to allow said hinge assembly to be removed from said door by first removing said clip device from said annular groove and then prolressing said elongated rod into said door.

The cam door hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein said adjustable fastening means comprises a sleeve slidably engaging said elongated rod and a nut threaded onto said rod so that said spring means is disposed between said sleeve and said second cam element.

6. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 5 wherein said' track means comprises tracks mounted inside said door having elongated grooves therein, said projections of said second cam element slidably engaging said grooves.

7. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein said spring means is a coil spring fitting around said elongated rod.

8. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 7 wherein said ThTh. 9 :i IWiP1S=TTs;~;ir*-rl.C~ ~llllll~IIICI second cam element has a central bore, said elongated rod slidably engaging said central bore.

9. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 8 wherein said second cam element has two projections slidably engaging grooves in two tracks.

A cam door hinge assembly for a self-closing door, said door having an aperture therein and a corresponding door frame with an aperture therein, said assembly comprising: an elongated rod extending from an upper free end positioned inside said door to a bottom end passing 0 04 through said aperture in said door and removably engaging 0 0 004o o0040 said aperture in said door frame so that said rod is not 0 free to rotate, said elongated rod having an annular I S 10 groove at said bottom end thereof; a first cam element formed integrally with said o a elongated rod, said first cam element having a cam surface thereon; a second cam element slidably engaging said 15 elongated rod and being located above said first cam 4 o' element, said second cam element having projections and a cam surface thereon; tracks mounted inside said door having elongated jgrooves therein, said projections slidably engaging said elongated grooves; a coil spring fitting around said elongated rod, said spring biasing said first and second cam elements into mating engagement so that opening of said door causes said second cam element to rotate and move upward "0~ I e r ;l !ii-l- -i i" lr compressing said spring, said spring biasing said first and second cam elements into mating engagement after said door is released causing said door to close; an adjustment mechanism engaging said rod so that said spring is disposed between said adjustment mechanism and said second cam element; and a clip device removably engaging said annular groove in said bottom end of said elongated rod to allow 4| said hinge assembly to be removed from said door by first removing said clip device from said annular groove and 35 then progressing said elongated rod into said door.

11. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 10 wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a sleeve slidably engaging said elongated rod and a nut threaded onto said rod so that said spring is disposed between said sleeve 5 and said second uam element. S

12. The cam door hinge ass; nbly of claim 11 wherein said second cam element has a central bore, said 1 elongated rod slidably engaging said central bore.

13. The cam door hinge assembly of claim 12 wherein said second cam element has two projections slidably engaging grooves in two tracks.

14. A cam door hinge assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 30th day of October, 1992 ANTHONY'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. Attorney: LEON K. ALLEN Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS 11