Shower door system with gravity hinge
First Claim
Patent Images
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 arc sectors 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 low arc sectors 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 inclined arc sectors interconnect the raised arc sector with the low arc sectors;
wherein, the rotating portion of the lower hinge includes raised arc sectors disposed about a circular hole and located at 90° and
270°
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 arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge with the low arc sectors 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 arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to disengage from the low arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and travel upwardly along the inclined arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge until the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of the upper hinge contact and travel along the raised arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge, whereby the door is in an open position;
wherein, inward movement of the door from the open position causes the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to engage the inclined arc sectors of fixed portion of the lower hinge wherein upon engagement, the weight of the glass door causes the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of lower hinge to travel down the inclined arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and engage the low arc sectors 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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Accused Products
Abstract
A shower door and hinge assembly comprising a glass shower door, a sloping sill, a sill angle adapter, upper and lower horizontal door frame rails, and upper and lower shower door hinges where the lower hinge is a gravity style hinge featuring a self-closing action, is presented. The hinges of the present invention shower door and hinge assembly attach only to horizontal edge surfaces of the glass door. The hinges do not attach to any vertical surface of the door.
45 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A shower door and hinge assembly comprising:
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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 arc sectors 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 low arc sectors 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 inclined arc sectors interconnect the raised arc sector with the low arc sectors;wherein, the rotating portion of the lower hinge includes raised arc sectors disposed about a circular hole and located at 90° and
270°
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 arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge with the low arc sectors 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 arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to disengage from the low arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and travel upwardly along the inclined arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge until the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of the upper hinge contact and travel along the raised arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge, whereby the door is in an open position; wherein, inward movement of the door from the open position causes the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of the lower hinge to engage the inclined arc sectors of fixed portion of the lower hinge wherein upon engagement, the weight of the glass door causes the raised arc sectors of the rotating portion of lower hinge to travel down the inclined arc sectors of the fixed portion of the lower hinge and engage the low arc sectors 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A shower door and hinge assembly comprising:
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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 upper hinge are pivotally connected;means located within the lower hinge for biasing the door to a closed position; wherein the fixed portion of the lower hinge is attached to a sill 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification