Combined adjustable door hinge pin socket and adjustable torque rod anchor device

• US 4,696,078 A
• Filed: 05/06/1982
• Issued: 09/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New Anthony Inc (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corporation.
• Inventors: Stromquist, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Howard N.
• Application Number:
  US06/375,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 16/239, 16/245, 16/246, 16/250, 16/308, 16/298, 16/309, 16/299, 16/300, 16/301, 74/425, 74/89.14
• US Class Current: 16/301
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/081 the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/123 with a torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/202 for display cabinets, e.g. for refrigerated cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges

Abstract

A self-closing door is disclosed being hinged at the top and at the bottom to swing between open and closed positions. A torque rod is aligned in the pivot axis of the door and is anchored at the bottom to a device secured to the cabinet frame. This device receives the end of the torque rod and serves as both the bottom hinge socket for the door'"'"'s hinge pin associated with the torque rod assembly and as the bottom anchor for the torque rod. This device is provided with a worm wheel adjustable by a worm to provide the desired torque to the torque rod. The device is also provided with an apparatus to laterally adjust the bottom hinge socket so as to adjust the vertical alignment of the door'"'"'s pivot axis to compensate for sag in the door and to insure that the horizontal frame members of the door are aligned with the cabinet.

Claims

1. A torque rod adjustment device for use in a torsionally operated door assembly having a door that swings on hinges about a vertical pivot axis on one side of the door, and a surrounding cabinet wherein a torque rod is positioned along the pivot axis of the door and has one of its ends secured to the door to prevent rotation of said end relative to the door and has its other end secured to the cabinet to prevent rotation of this end relative to the cabinet, said torque rod adjustment device comprising:

a base member adapted to be fixedly secured to the cabinet;

a cover connected to the base member and having an anchor therein to receive the end of the torque rod to be secured to the cabinet;

a worm wheel rotatively housed in the cover and having a central aperture adapted to matingly receive the end of the torque rod in a non-rotative relationship; and

a worm housed by the cover in engaging relationship with the worm wheel and adapted to be selectively turned so as to adjust the torque of the torque rod.

2. A device for adjusting the torque rod in a torsionally-operated door assembly and for adjusting the pivot axis for the door wherein the door assembly has a door that swings on hinges disposed at the top and at the bottom, and a surrounding cabinet providing two vertical structural members at the sides of the door and two horizontal structural members, one at the top and one at the bottom of the door, wherein the hinges comprise vertical hinge pins protruding from the top edge and bottom edge of the door and defining the pivot axis of the door, said vertical hinge pins engaging and mating with axial sockets secured to the top and bottom horizontal structural members of the cabinet, said door assembly further comprising a torque rod positioned along the pivot axis of the door having one of its ends secured to the door to prevent rotation of said end, when opening the door, relative to the door, and has its other end secured to the cabinet to prevent rotation of this end, during opening of the door, relative to the cabinet, wherein the end of the torque rod that is secured to the door also provides one of the vertical hinge pins;

said device comprising;

a base member adapted to be fixedly secured to the cabinet;

a cover disposed over the base member and having a socket adapted to matingly receive the end of the torque rod thereby combining to serve as a hinge for the door;

means for adjusting the lateral relationship of the cover with the base member so as to adjust the lateral position of the hinge pin socket;

a worm wheel rotatively housed in the cover and having a central aperture adapted to matingly receive the end of the torque rod in a non-rotative relationship; and

a worm housed by the cover in engaging relationship with the worm wheel and adapted to be selectively turned so as to adjust the torque of the torque rod.

3. The device claimed in claim 2, wherein the lateral adjusting means comprises:

an adjustment member integral with the base member and provided with a threaded hole parallel with the line of lateral adjustment;

said cover being provided with at least one non-threaded guide hole aligned with the threaded hole; and

a screw positioned through the guide holes and threaded into the threaded hole of the adjustment member, said screw having a means for maintaining its lateral relationship with the cover;

so that when the screw is turned, the lateral relationship of the cover and the base member is changed thus altering the lateral position of the hinge pin socket.

4. A device for use in a side-swinging door assembly having a door that swings on hinges disposed at the top and at the bottom of the door, and a surrounding cabinet, wherein the hinges comprise vertical hinge pins protruding from the edge of the door and defining the pivot axis of the door, said vertical hinge pins engaging and mating with axial sockets disposed in the cabinet, said device also for providing the axial socket to receive one of said vertical hinge pins, said device comprising:

a base member adapted to be fixedly secured to the cabinet;

a cover disposed over the base member and having a socket adapted to matingly receive one vertical hinge pin; and

means for adjusting the lateral relationship of the cover with the base member comprising an adjustment member integral with the base member and provided with a threaded hole parallel with the line of lateral adjustment;

said cover being provided with at least one non-threaded guide hole aligned with the threaded hole; and

a screw positioned through the guide holes and threaded into the threaded hole of the adjustment member, said screw having a means for maintaining its lateral relationship with the cover;

so that when the screw is turned, the lateral relationship of the cover and the base member is changed thus altering the lateral position of the hinge pin socket.