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Shower door system with gravity hinge

  • US 10,392,846 B2
  • Filed: 02/07/2017
  • Issued: 08/27/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A shower door and hinge assembly comprising:

  • a shower door having a weight and an upper horizontal edge and a lower horizontal edge;

    an upper horizontal rail attached to the upper horizontal edge of the shower door;

    a lower horizontal rail attached to the lower horizontal edge of the shower door;

    an upper hinge, the upper hinge comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the upper hinge and lower portion of the upper hinge are pivotally connected;

    a lower hinge;

    the lower hinge having a fixed portion and a rotating portion, wherein the fixed portion of the lower hinge and the rotating portion of the lower hinge are pivotally connected;

    wherein, the fixed portion of the lower hinge includes raised surfaces disposed about a circular hole and located at 0° and

    180°

    with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and includes grooves disposed about the circular hole and located at 45° and

    270°

    with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fixed portion of the lower hinge, wherein ramps interconnect the raised surfaces with the grooves;

    wherein, the rotating portion of the lower hinge includes raised surfaces disposed about a circular hole and located at 90° and

    27°

    with respect to a longitudinal axis of the rotating portion of the lower hinge;

    wherein, the fixed portion of the lower hinge and the rotating portion of the lower hinge are engageable;

    wherein, engagement of the raised surfaces of the rotating portion of the lower hinge with the grooves of the fixed portion of the lower hinge biases the glass door to a closed position, wherein outward movement of the glass door causes the raised surfaces of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to disengage from the grooves of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and travel upwardly along the ramps of the fixed portion of the lower hinge until the raised surfaces of the rotating portion of the upper hinge contact and travel along the raised surfaces of the fixed portion of the lower hinge, whereby the door is in an open position; and

    wherein, inward movement of the door from the open position causes the raised portions of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to engage the ramps of fixed portion of the lower hinge wherein upon engagement, the weight of the glass door causes the raised surfaces of rotating portion of lower hinge to travel down the ramps of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and engage the grooves in the fixed portion of the lower hinge, whereby the door is biased in a closed position;

    wherein the fixed portion of the lower hinge is attached to a sill; and

    wherein the sill has a top surface angled inwardly towards an interior of a shower enclosure wherein the angled top surface of the sill assists in preventing water release exterior of the shower enclosure.

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