US3869753A

US3869753A - Removable hinge arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3869753A
Application number: US362017A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Boback
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-21
Filing date: 1973-05-21
Publication date: 1975-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-11

Abstract

A removable hinge arrangement for structures such as refrigerators or the like. A single-door refrigerator is provided with an upper hinge means that is detachably clamped to the outer skin of the refrigerator and has a top hinge pin extending vertically downwardly into the door. A tab member on the upper hinge means is pivotably mounted on a top plate thereof and a handle on the upper hinge means rotates the tab means from an insertion position where it may be inserted through an aperture in the skin to a clamping position where it frictionally retains the skin between the tab member and the plate member. A bottom hinge means which may be rigidly or, if desired, detachably coupled to the refrigerator, also has a bottom hinge pin extending vertically upwardly into the door, and the door is pivotably movable on the upper and lower hinge pins. When the direction of opening the door of the refrigerator is to be changed, or the refrigerator discarded, the tab on the top hinge means is placed in the removable position and removed from the skin of the refrigerator and the top hinge pin may be withdrawn from the door. The door may then be lifted from the bottom hinge pin to allow complete removal of the door from the refrigerator. In those embodiments where the direction of opening of the door is to be changed, the bottom hinge means may then be re-installed on the opposite side of the refrigerator, the door placed thereon and the top hinge means reinstalled on the opposite side. Suitable plugs or plates may cover the unused apertures in the refrigerator.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Boback 1 1 REMOVABLE HINGE ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventor: John G. Boback, PO. Box 1227,

Hawthorne, Calif. 90250 221 Filed: May 21,1973

21 Appl. No.: 362,017

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Don B. Finkelstein [57] ABSTRACT A removable hinge arrangement for structures such as refrigerators or the like. A single-door refrigerator is provided with an upper hinge means that is detachably clamped to the outer skin of the refrigerator and has a [451 Mar. 11, 1975 top hinge pin extending vertically downwardly into the door. A tab member on the upper hinge means is pivotably mounted on a top plate thereof and a handle on the upper hinge means rotates the tab means from an insertion position where it may be inserted through an aperture in the skin to a clamping position where it frictionally retains the skin between the tab member and the plate member. A bottom hinge means which may be rigidly or, if desired, detachably coupled to the refrigerator, also has a bottom hinge pin extending vertically upwardly into the door, and the door is pivotably movable on the upper and lower hinge pins. When the direction of opening the door of the refrigerator is to be changed, or the refrigerator discarded, the tab on the top hinge means is placed in the removable position and removed from the skin of the refrigerator and the top hinge pin may be withdrawn from the door. The door may then be lifted from the bottorn hinge pin to allow complete removal of the door from the refrigerator. In those embodiments where the direction of opening of the door is to be changed, the bottom hinge means may then be re-installed on the opposite side of the refrigerator, the door placed thereon and the top hinge means reinstalled on the op posite side. Suitable plugs or plates may cover the unused apertures in the refrigerator.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3. 869.753 sum 2 95 3 l REMOVABLE HINGE ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the hinge art and more particularly to a removable and re-installable hinge arrangement particularly adaptable to utilization on refrigerators and other storage cabinets to allow removal of the doors thereof when the structure is to be discarded or the direction of opening of the door is to be changed.

2. Description of the Prior Art Discarded refrigerators and other similar structures wherein there is an internal cavity and a door hingedly mounted on the structure that closes and seals the cavity and generally is not operable from the inside thereof, have long presented a serious hazard to small children. That is, small children in their play often climb into such a structure and the door is then shut. If no one opens the door in time, the child often suffocates to death. v

Thus, there has long been a demand for a structural arrangement to alleviate this problem. One proposed type of structure involved the incorporation of an interior latch so that the door may be opened from the inside. However, such a structural arrangement has not proven to be completely satisfactory nor commercially acceptable because of the increased cost associated therewith since, it will be remembered, the interior latch would only by utilized after the refrigerator is discarded. Thus the original cost for such an interior latch arrangement would provide no utilitarian benefit during the useful life of the structure.

Another type of structure that has heretofore been proposed is a removable hinge arrangement wherein the hinges may be removed from the structure when the structure is discarded and thus the door removed also from the structure. However, in general, the hinges incorporated were often only removable with exceeding difficulty and involving the use of hand tools which may not be generally available.

In another application, removable and re-installable hinges are desired to provide a structure wherein the direction of opening of the door, that is left hand or right hand, may be quickly and easily changed with utilization of special tooling or complicated procedures. Such an arrangement tends to reduce manufacturing costs since structures need not be fabricated and stocked in both right and left hand opening models. Additionally, when the structure is moved by the purchaser, the direction of the door opening may be readily changed thus eliminating the need to purchase a new structure merely because the direction of the door opening is wrong in the new location.

In the U.S. Pat. No. 565,983, there is shown a pin plate hinge in which one leaf is detachably held against another leaf by means of a rotatable latch. One leaf is permanently attached to the door and the other is permanently attached to the jamb. Such leaf plate hinges as shown are generally not adaptable to utilization in structures such as refrigerators because of the structural integrity required for the comparably heavy doors of a refrigerator, and do not allow rapid change of the hinge structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,823 shows a hinge arrangement for a double hung door on a structure such as a refrigerator that may be operated by a foot pedal so that it may be opened from either side. Two sets of hinges are required and are permanently installed. Such a structure did not provide any convenient means for removing the door entirely when the refrigerator was discarded.

U.S. Pat-No. 2,701,384 shows a hinge structure specifically for refrigerator doors wherein the pin supporting the doors is removable. This allowed convenient removal of the pin if the proper tools were available and thus removal of the door, but the rigidity desired for supporting the door in sealing proximity to the main structure of the refrigerator is generally not achievable because of the play associated in the pin mounting arrangement. Further, change in door opening direction was not readily available.

U.S. Pat. No. 997,433 shows a pin plate mounting for heavy doors wherein the pin is part of the door structure itself and fits into a socket on a socket plate. The socket plate, in turn, is detachably mounted to a base plate that is permanently attached to the jamb. The socket plate is removable by unscrewing a thumb screw. Such a structure required a modification to the standard 'pin arrangement for refrigerator doors and has not proven commericially successful.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,143,218 shows a pin hinge in which one plate is coupled to the door jamb and one leaf of the-pin hinge is coupled to the door. The other leaf has slots for detachably mounting on retainers that are coupled to the plate permanently attached to the jamb. Thus, the entire door structure must be lifted to remove the hinges of this structure and required duplicate hinge structure mounted on each side for changing direction.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,186,528, 1,863,323, 2,277,549, 2,999,269, 3,172,147 and 753,311 all show various arrangements attempting to provide an economical structurally reliable, easily removable hinge arrangement. None of these structures has proven to be commercially satisfactory to provide a hinge arrangement allowing quick and easy removal of the hinge to allow quick and easy change in opening direction of the door on the structure such as a refrigerator or removal when the unit is discarded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved removable arrangement for structures having walls defining a cavity and a door pivotably mounted on the hinges for closing the cavity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a removable hinge arrangement particularly adaptable to refrigerators to allow both quick and easy removal of the hinges and re-installation for changing door opening direction and removal of the doors supported thereon when the structure is discarded.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removable hinge arrangement that may be economically fabricated and utilized in current refrigerator manufacturing practice.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a removable hinge arrangement that operates satisfactorily as a hinge for the door during utilization of the structure and may be quickly and easily removed and/or reinstalled without utilization of special tools.

The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment as utilized, for example, on a refrigerator. It will be appreciated, however, that the principals of the present invention may equally well be utilized in many structures other than a refrigerator wherein it is desired to be able to remove the doors quickly, easily and conveniently.

The present invention is utilized on a structure such as a refrigerator having top, bottom, back, front and side walls, and the walls are generally comprised of a rigid outer skin. The front wall has edges defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity defined by the walls of the structure. The door is pivotably mounted adjacent the front wall for closing the aperture therein and thus closing the cavity.

The removable hinge structure of the present invention, as illustrated on a single-door refrigerator embodiment, generally comprises a top hinge means detachably mounted on the structure adjacent the intersection of the front and top walls thereof and removably insertable in one of a plurality of tab accepting apertures in the rigid outer skin which, preferably, are on both sides of the structure to allow change in door opening direction. The top hinge generally comprises a plate member adjacent the outer skin having a tab portion removably positionable into one of the plurality of apertures in the skin and has a clamping portion for frictionally clamping the skin between the plate member and tab member. The top hinge pin is coupled to the plate member and spaced a pre-selected distance from the front wall and aligned along a first axis.

A bottom hinge means is coupled to the structure adjacent the intersection of the front wall and the bottom wall thereof, and may be either rigidly or detachably mounted on the structure. The detachable mounting is utilized where the direction of door opening is to be changed. The bottom hinge means has a bottom plate member adjacent the rigid outer skin and a hinge pin coupled to the bottom plate member and spaced the first preselected distance from the front wall of the structure and coaxially aligned along the first axis of the top hinge pin. The top hinge pin extends vertically downwardly into the door and the bottom hinge pin extends vertically upwardly into the door of the structure.

Upon assembly, the bottom hinge means is coupled to the structure and the door is placed thereon. The upper hinge pin is then detachably mounted on the structure and placed into the frictional engagement for retention thereon. Simultaneously the top hinge pin is inserted into the door for pivotable support thereof. Thus the door is pivotably mounted between the top and bottom hinge pins. When the direction of opening of the door is to be changed or, structure is to be discarded, the frictional retention of the top tab member with the skin of the structure is removed and the entire top hinge may then be lifted from the structure and the door. The door is then lifted from the bottom pin. The bottom hinge means may then be removed and reinstalled on the opposite side, when the direction of opening is to be change, and the door positioned thereon. The top hinge means may then be installed on the opposite side. The door, of course, has pin accepting apertures on both sides thereof.

When the unit is discarded, the door may be quickly and easily removed without utilization of special tools providing a safe structure in which invertent suffocation cannot occur. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other embodiments of the present invention may be fully understood from the following de- 4 tailed descriptiontaken together with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a top hinge means useful in the practice of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the top hinge means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom hinge means useful in the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bottom hinge means shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a top hinge means useful in the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an intermediate hinge means useful in the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The principals of the present invention may be illustrated in utilization on a refrigerator. A refrigerator has been chosen for this illustration of the comparative frequency of door direction opening changes and because of the ever present danger of small children suffocating when trapped within a discarded refrigerator. However, utilization of the refrigerator as the preferred embodiment of the present invention is not limiting thereon. The principals of the present invention may equally well be utilized in many other structures wherein it is desired to provide a removable hinge arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention generally designated 10 comprising a refrigerator 12 having a top wall 14, bottom wall 16,

side walls

18 and 20, back wall 22 and front wall 24 defining a cavity 26. Front wall 24 has edge portions 28 defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity 26. A door 30 is pivotably mounted for closing the aperture in the front wall 24. In general, the walls of the refrigerator 12 and, if desired, the door 30 may be provided with a rigid outer skin in accordance with current refrigerator manufacturing practice. The rigid outer skin, as described below in greater detail, is provided with a plurality of tab accepting apertures therethrough in a preselected array. The door 30 is pivotably mounted on refrigerator 12 by a top hinge means 32, detachably coupled to the structure adjacent the intersection of front wall 24 and top wall 14 thereof, and a bottom hinge means 34, coupled to the structure adja cent the intersection of the front wall 24 and bottom wall 16 thereof.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the top hinge means 32. As shown, the top hinge means 32 generally comprises a top plate member 36 which, in the embodiment 10 of the present invention, is adjacent the rigid outer skin 14' of the top wall 14. The plate member 36 has a tab member 38 mounted thereon and tab member 38 is insertable in one of a plurality of apertures 40 in the rigid outer skin 14. The tab member 38 has an insertion and removal position, illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein a top hinge means 32 may be moved in the direction indicated by the double ended arrow 42 for insertion and removal of the tab member 38 through the tab accepting aperture 40 and a clamping position, illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the rigid outer skin 14 is clamped with a predetermined frictional force between the top tab member 38 and the top plate member 36. In the top hinge means 32, the tab member 38 is pivotably mounted on the top plate 36 and is rotated in the direction shown by the double-ended arrow 44 in FIG. 2 by a handle means 46 coupled thereto. Rotation of the handle means 44 rotates the top tab member 38 from the insertion and removal position shown in FIG. 4 to the clamping position shown in FIG. 3.

A top hinge pin 48 is coupled to the top plate member 36 and spaced a first preselected distance from the outer surface of the rigid outer skin 24' of the front wall 24 and is aligned along a first axis 50. The top hinge pin 48 is extendable vertically downwardly into a hinge pin accepting aperture 31 in the door 30.

To prevent horizontal motion of the top hinge means 32 it may be desired, in some embodiments of the present invention, to provide a plurality of pin means 50 coupled to the top plate member 36 and extending through other apertures in the skin 14 with a predetermined frictional fit therebetween.

Thus, the top hinge means 32 may be quickly and easily installed in the structure 12 by rotating the handle 46 through the insertion removal position shown in FIG. 4 and inserting the tab 38 through the tab accepting aperture 40 in the skin 14 while, simultaneously, the door 30 is positioned to receive the top hinge pin 48 extending vertically downwardly therein in aperture t In those applications wherein it is desirable to change the direction of door opening from the left hand opening, described above and shown on FIG. 1, to a right hand opening, tab accepting apertures 41, identical to tab accepting apertures 40 are placed in the skin 14 at +6 taped adjacent the side wall 18, in addition to the tab accepting apertures 40 adjacent the side wall 20. The top hinge means 32 may then be quickly and easily removed from the +6 position shown on FIG. 1 and reinstalled in tab accepting apertures 41. Similarly, +6 door 30 has a pin hinge accepting aperture 33, similar to pin hinge accepting aperture 31, but on the opposite side of +6 door 30. The apertures in the skin 14 and +6 door 30 that are not in use may be sealed by an appropriate plug or plate (not shown). If desired, magnetic latching may be utilized to hold +6 door 30 in the +6 closed position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the bottom hinge means 34 useful in the practice of the present invention and, as shown, the bottom hinge means 34 comprises a bottom plate member 52 adjacent the outer surface of the rigid outer skin 24' of the front wall 24. The bottom hinge means 34 may be rigidly secured to the structure 12 or where change in door direction opening is desired, detachably secured. A bottom tab member 54 is coupled to the bottom plate member 52 and extends through another tab accepting aperture 56 in the rigid outer skin 24 and frictionally clamps the rigid outer skin 24' between the tab member 54 and the bottom plate member 52. In addition to, or in place of the bottom tab member 54, the bottom hinge means 34 may be coupled to the structure 12 by screw means 58 to provide a permanent mounting of the bottom hinge means 34 thereon.

A bottom hinge pin 60 is coupled to the bottom plate member 52 and is spaced the first preselected distance from the outer surface of the rigid outer skin 24 of the front wall 24 as the top hinge pin 48 and is co-axially aligned therewith along the first axis 51. The bottom hinge pin 60 is extendable vertically upwardly into hinge pin accepting aperture 37 in the door 30 and thus, in combination with the top hinge 48 pivotally supports the door 30 on the structure 12.

When the structure 12 is discarded the door 30 thereon may be quickly and easily removed to prevent suffocation of children in the cavity 26 by rotating the handle 46 on the top hinge means 32 to position the tab 38 and the insertion in the removal position thereof and then liftingthe entire top hinge means 32 vertically up wardly. The tab 38 passes through the aperture 40 in the rigid outer skin 14' of the top wall 14 and out of the door 30..The top hinge means 32 may then be discarded. The door 30 is then lifted from the bottom hinge means 34 and thus, the cavity 26 is left completely open.

Where it is desired to change the direction of door opening, the bottom hinge means 34 may be removed from the aperture 56 and reinstalled in tab accepting aperture 57 in the outer skin 24' of front wall 24 and adjacent the side wall 18. The door 30 has another hinge pin accepting aperture (not shown) aligned with hinge pin accepting aperture 33 and the door 30 may thus be positioned on bottom hinge means 34. The top hinge means 32 may be reinstalled in

apertures

41 and 33 as above described. Thus, the direction of door opening may be readily changed as desired without utilizing special tools, or the like.

In the embodiment of the top hingee means 32 described above it was shown detachably coupled to the top wall 14 of the structure 12. FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the top hinge means, generally designated 70, useful in practice of the present invention, and which may be utilized in conjunction with the bottom hinge means 34 for supporting the door 30 on the structure 12. In the embodiment of the top hinge means there is provided a top plate member 72 adjacent the outer surface of the rigid outer skin 24' of the front wall 24 of the structure 12 and a plurality of

top tab members

74 and 76 extend through apertures 78 in the rigid outer skin 24' and frictionally clamp the rigid outer skin 24' between the

tab members

74 and 76 and the top plate member 72.

A top hinge pin 80 is coupled to the top plate member 72 and spaced the first preselected distance from the outer surface of the rigid outer skin 24 of the front wall 24 and aligned along the axis 51. The top hinge pin 80 extends vertically downwardly into the hinge pin accepting aperture 31 of the door 30.

To remove the top hinge means 70 the ring handle 82 may be grasped and the entire top hinge means 70 moved upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 84 until the

tab members

74 and 76 are moved from their clamping position, shown in FIG. 7, until they are aligned with the apertures 78 in their insertion and removal position thereof. Simultaneously, of course. the top hinge pin 80 is lifted from the hinge pin accepting aperture 31 of the door 30. The size of the apertures 78 and tab 76 are selected so that the top hinge pin 80 is free of the door 30 when the

tab

74 and 76 are in the insertion and removal position thereof. The top hinge means 70 may be reinstalled in tab accepting apertures 79 to change the direction of door opening.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention generally designated 90 in which the principals of the present invention are utilized in a double ity 103 and a lower cavity 103". Upper door 108 is pivotally mounted on the refrigerator 92 for closing the aperture defining the opening to the upper cavity 103' and a lower door 110 is pivotally mounted on the refrigerator 92 for closing the aperture defining the opening to the lower cavity 103". The upper door 108 is pivotally supported by a top hinge means 112 which, for example, may be similar to the top hinge means 32 described above and an intermediate hinge means 114 detachably mounted adjacent the cross member 106 of the front wall 104. The lower door 110 is pivotally mounted on the refrigerator 92 by a lower hinge means 116 which, for example, may be similar to the lower hinge means described above and the intermediate hinge means 114.

I FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the intermediate hinge means 114 useful in the practice of the embodiment 90 of the present invention. As shown, the intermediate hinge means 114 is comprised of an intermediate plate member 118 adjacent the outer surface of the outer skin 106' of the cross member 106 and the outer skin 104 of the front wall 104. An intermediate tab member 120 is coupled to the intermediate plate member 118 and extends through another of the plurality of apertures 122 in the rigid outer skin 106'. The tab member 120 may be similar to the

tabs

54, 74 and 76 described above or, if desired, may be similar to the pivotally mounted tab 38 described in connection with the top hinge means 32. As shown on FIGS. 9, l and 11, the tab 120 is pivotally mounted on the intermediate plate 118 and movable from an insertion-removal position, wherein the intermediate tab 120 may be inserted and removed through the aperture 122 and a clamping position, as illustrated in FIGS. and 11 wherein the rigid skin 106 is rigidly clamped between the intermediate tab 120 and the intermediate plate member 118. Rotation is achieved by the handle means 124 coupled to the intermediate tab 120.

If desired, a rigid tab member 126 may also be coupled to the intermediate plate member 118 and extends through tab accepting aperture 127. The rigid tab member 106 is similar to the tab 54 shown in FIG. 6 for frictionally clamping the rigid outer skin 104' between the rigid tab 106 and the intermediate plate member 118. Alternatively, if desired, a plurality of intermediate pin means 128 may be coupled to the intermediate plate member 118 in place of the rigid tab 126 and extending through a plurality of pin accepting apertures properly aligned in the rigid outer skin 106 for additional support of the intermediate hinge means 114.

An intermediate hinge pin 130 is coupled to the intermediate plate member 118 and is spaced the first preselected distance from the outer surface of the rigid skin 104' as is the top hinge pin of the top hinge means 112 and bottom hinge pin of the bottom hinge means 1 16 and co-axially aligned therewith along the axis 132. The intermediate hinge means has an upper portion 134 extendable vertically upwardly into hinge pin accepting aperture 107 in the upper door 108 extending from the bottom edge 136 thereof and a bottom portion 138 extendable vertically downwardly into the hinge pin accepting aperture 111 in the lower door 110 extending from the upper edge 140 thereof.

The intermediate hinge 114 may be installed and removed in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the top hinge means 32. Thus, the top hinge 112 may be removed from the refrigerator 92 as described above and the upper door 108 removed from the intermediate hinge means 114. The intermediate hinge means 114 may then be removed from the refrigerator 92 and the lower door 110 lifted from the bottom hinge means 116, and bottom hinge means 110 removed. The intermediate hinge means may be turned end for end and reinstalled in

apertures

123 and 124 to change the direction of door opening.

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptations thereof and the appended claims are intended to cover all such variations and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A removable hinge arrangement for structures having front, back, side, top and bottom walls defining a storage cavity, the front wall having edge portions defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity, the walls having a rigid outer skin with a plurality of tab accepting apertures therethrough, in a predetermined array, and door means hingedly coupled adjacent the front wall for closing the aperture, and comprising, in combination:

a top hinge means removably coupled to the structure adjacent the intersection of the top wall and front wall thereof and comprising:

a top plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin;

a top hinge pin coupled to said top plate member and spaced a first preselected distance from the first wall, said top hinge pin extendable vertically downwardly into the door and alignable therein on a first axis; and

a top tab member coupled to said top plate member and removably extendable into first of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin, and said tab member having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said tab member into and from the aperture in the skin, and having a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin and having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said top tab member and said top plate member;

a bottom hinge means coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and the bottom wall thereof and having a bottom hinge pin extendable vertically upwardly into the door, and said bottom hinge pin spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and alignable coaxially along said first axis with said top hinge pin.

whereby the door is pivotally movable on and supported by said top and bottom hinge pins.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom hinge means further comprises:

a bottom plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin;

said bottom hinge pin is coupled to said bottom plate member; and

a bottom tab member coupled to said bottom plate member and removably extendable through second of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said bottom tab member in the skin and a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin for clamping the skin between said bottom tab member and said bottom plate member.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein:

said top plate member of said top hinge means is adjacent the top wall of the structure and said top tab member extends vertically downwardly through the tab accepting aperture in the skin;

said top tab member is pivotally coupled to said top plate member and pivotally movable thereon from said insertion position to said clamping position thereof;

and further comprising:

a top handle member coupled to said top tab member and extending outwardly from said top plate member for moving said top tab member between said insertion and said clamping positions thereof.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said top hinge means further comprises:

a plurality of pin means coupled to said top plate member and extending through third of said plurality of apertures in the skin in a vertically downward direction for resisting horizontal movements of said top hinge means.

5. A removable hinge arrangement for structures having front, back, side, top and bottom walls defining a storage cavity, the front wall having edge portions defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity and the front wall further having a cross member extending between the side walls and intermediate the top and bottom walls dividing the aperture into an upper aperture and a lower aperture, and the walls and the cross member having a rigid outer skin with a plurality of tab accepting apertures therethrough, and an upper door means hingedly coupled adjacent the upper aperture and a lower door hingedly coupled adjacent the lower aperture, comprising, in combination:

a top plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin;

a top hinge pin coupled to said top plate member and spaced a first preselected distance from the front wall, said top hinge pin extendable vertically downwardly into the upper door and alignable therein along a first axis;

a top tab member coupled to said top plate member and removably extendable through first of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said top tab member in said skin and a 10 clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said top tab member and said top plate member;

a bottom hinge means coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and the bottom wall thereof and having a bottom hinge pin spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and extendable vertically upwardly into the lower door and said bottom hinge pin alignable coaxially along said first axis with said top hinge pm;

an intermediate hinge means detachably coupled to the cross member on the rigid outer skin thereof and comprising:

an intermediate plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin;

an intermediate hinge pin coupled to said intermediate plate member and spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and coaxially aligned with said top and bottom hinge pins along said first axis, and said intermediate hinge pin having an upper portion extendable vertically upwardly into the upper door for pivotally supporting the upper door, and a lower portion extendable vertically downwardly into the lower door for pivotally supporting the lower door; and

an intermediate tab member coupled to said interm ediate plate member and removably extendable through second of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said intermediate tab member in the skin and a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said intermediate tab member and said intermediate plate member.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 5 wherein:

said bottom hinge means is removably coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and bottom wall thereof, and said bottom hinge means further comprising:

a bottom plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin;

said bottom hinge pin coupled to said bottom plate member; and

a bottom tab member coupled to said bottom plate member and removably extendable through third of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said lower tab member in said skin and a clamping position providing a predetermined frictional force for clamping the skin between said bottom tab member and said bottom plate member.

' 7. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein:

said top tab member is pivotably coupled to said top plate member and pivotally movable thereon from said insertion position to said clamping position thereof;

and further comprising:

a top handle member coupled to said top tab member and extending outwardly from said top plate meman intermediate handle member coupled to said intermediate tab member and extending outwardly from said intermediate plate member for moving said intermediate tab member between said insertion and said clamping positions thereof.

9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein said top hinge means further comprises:

a plurality of pin means coupled to said top plate member and extending through fourth of said plurality of apertures in the skin in a vertically downward direction for resisting horizontal movement of said top hinge means.

Claims

1. A removable hinge arrangement for structures having front, back, side, top and bottom walls defining a storage cavity, the front wall having edge portions defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity, the walls having a rigid outer skin with a plurality of tab accepting apertures therethrough, in a predetermined array, and door means hingedly coupled adjacent the front wall for closing the aperture, and comprising, in combination: a top hinge means removably coupled to thE structure adjacent the intersection of the top wall and front wall thereof and comprising: a top plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin; a top hinge pin coupled to said top plate member and spaced a first preselected distance from the first wall, said top hinge pin extendable vertically downwardly into the door and alignable therein on a first axis; and a top tab member coupled to said top plate member and removably extendable into first of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin, and said tab member having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said tab member into and from the aperture in the skin, and having a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin and having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said top tab member and said top plate member; a bottom hinge means coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and the bottom wall thereof and having a bottom hinge pin extendable vertically upwardly into the door, and said bottom hinge pin spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and alignable coaxially along said first axis with said top hinge pin, whereby the door is pivotally movable on and supported by said top and bottom hinge pins.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom hinge means further comprises: a bottom plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin; said bottom hinge pin is coupled to said bottom plate member; and a bottom tab member coupled to said bottom plate member and removably extendable through second of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said bottom tab member in the skin and a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin for clamping the skin between said bottom tab member and said bottom plate member.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein: said top plate member of said top hinge means is adjacent the top wall of the structure and said top tab member extends vertically downwardly through the tab accepting aperture in the skin; said top tab member is pivotally coupled to said top plate member and pivotally movable thereon from said insertion position to said clamping position thereof; and further comprising: a top handle member coupled to said top tab member and extending outwardly from said top plate member for moving said top tab member between said insertion and said clamping positions thereof.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said top hinge means further comprises: a plurality of pin means coupled to said top plate member and extending through third of said plurality of apertures in the skin in a vertically downward direction for resisting horizontal movements of said top hinge means.

5. A removable hinge arrangement for structures having front, back, side, top and bottom walls defining a storage cavity, the front wall having edge portions defining an aperture therethrough providing communication to the cavity and the front wall further having a cross member extending between the side walls and intermediate the top and bottom walls dividing the aperture into an upper aperture and a lower aperture, and the walls and the cross member having a rigid outer skin with a plurality of tab accepting apertures therethrough, and an upper door means hingedly coupled adjacent the upper aperture and a lower door hingedly coupled adjacent the lower aperture, comprising, in combination: a top hinge means removably coupled to the structure adjacent the intersection of the top wall and front wall thereof and comprising: a top plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin; a top hinge pin coupled to said top plate member and spaced a first preselected distance from the front wall, said top hinge pin extendable vertically downwardly into the upper door and alignable therein along a first axis; a top tab member coupled to said top plate member and removably extendable through first of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said top tab member in said skin and a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said top tab member and said top plate member; a bottom hinge means coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and the bottom wall thereof and having a bottom hinge pin spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and extendable vertically upwardly into the lower door and said bottom hinge pin alignable coaxially along said first axis with said top hinge pin; an intermediate hinge means detachably coupled to the cross member on the rigid outer skin thereof and comprising: an intermediate plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin; an intermediate hinge pin coupled to said intermediate plate member and spaced said first preselected distance from the front wall and coaxially aligned with said top and bottom hinge pins along said first axis, and said intermediate hinge pin having an upper portion extendable vertically upwardly into the upper door for pivotally supporting the upper door, and a lower portion extendable vertically downwardly into the lower door for pivotally supporting the lower door; and an intermediate tab member coupled to said intermediate plate member and removably extendable through second of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said intermediate tab member in the skin and a clamping position providing a frictional engagement with the skin having a predetermined frictional force clamping the skin between said intermediate tab member and said intermediate plate member.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 5 wherein: said bottom hinge means is removably coupled to the structure in regions adjacent the intersection of the front wall and bottom wall thereof, and said bottom hinge means further comprising: a bottom plate member adjacent the outer surface of the rigid skin; said bottom hinge pin coupled to said bottom plate member; and a bottom tab member coupled to said bottom plate member and removably extendable through third of the plurality of tab accepting apertures in the skin and having an insertion position allowing insertion and removal of said lower tab member in said skin and a clamping position providing a predetermined frictional force for clamping the skin between said bottom tab member and said bottom plate member.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein: said top plate member of said top hinge means is adjacent the top wall of the structure and said top tab member extends vertically downwardly through the tab accepting aperture in the skin; said top tab member is pivotably coupled to said top plate member and pivotally movable thereon from said insertion position to said clamping position thereof; and further comprising: a top handle member coupled to said top tab member and extending outwardly from said top plate member for moving said top tab member between said insertion and said clamping positions thereof.

8. The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said intermediate hinge plate member of said intermediate hinge means is adjacent the rigid skin on the cross member of the front wall of the structure, and said intermediate tab member extends horizontally through the tab accepting aperture in the skin thereof; said intermediate tab member is pivotally coupled to said intermediate plate member and pivotally movable thereon between said insertion position and said clamping position thereof; and further comprising: an intermediate handle member coupled to said intermedIate tab member and extending outwardly from said intermediate plate member for moving said intermediate tab member between said insertion and said clamping positions thereof.