Hinge for a glass shower door

• US 5,588,181 A
• Filed: 03/23/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Sutton
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Sutton
• Inventors: Sutton, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachuba, M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIRKMAN, CHRISTOPHER HUNTER
• Application Number:
  US08/409,200
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 16/252, 16/382, 16/388, 16/387, 16/389, 16/391, 16/390, 49/381, 49/501, 49/399, 4/607, 4/557, 4/614
• US Class Current: 16/252
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/36 Articulated screens
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0246 for attachment to glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/672 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/114 for showers

Abstract

A hinge assembly having a strip shaped like a lower case h which attaches to a supporting surface and a generally U-shaped clamping member. The end of one of the legs of the clamping member attaches to the end of the top leg of the h. This attachment location forms the point of rotation of the hinge. The U-shaped strip has ribs down the inner sides of the legs. Along the base of the legs of the U, there are holes. To install, a sheet of glass is place in the slot formed by the legs of the U. A threaded screw is inserted through the holes in the first leg of the U. When the threads of the screw reach the hole on the opposed side, they engage the threads there. The screw is turned until the head of the screw reaches the base of the hole in the first side of the U. As turning continues, the screw begins pressing the legs of the U together. This presses the ribs firmly again the glass, thereby providing a firm hold on the glass.

Claims

1. A hinge, comprising:

at least one clamping member, said clamping member being generally U-shaped, said clamping member having a first leg and a second leg, said first leg having an end,

a strip member, said strip member being generally shaped like a lower case h, said strip member having an upper leg, said upper leg having an end,

and a point of rotation at which said end of said first leg of said clamping member is joined with said end of said upper leg of said strip member.

2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said first and second legs of said clamping member have internal clamping surfaces, and said internal clamping surfaces have ridges.

3. The hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one hole located in said first leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being smooth,

at least one hole located in said second leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being threaded,

and at least one screw sized to fit with said holes in said first and second legs of said clamping member.

4. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said at least one clamping member is two clamping members, said two clamping members being rotatably attached to said strip member.

5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein:

said ends of said first leg of said clamping member and said upper leg of said strip member have channels running through them,

said end of said upper leg of said strip member has at least one section cut out such that said channel of said clamping member may be placed collinear with said channel of said strip member,

and a pin sized to fit within said channels.

13. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said hinge has a first position, and wherein, in said first position, said first leg of said clamping member is located adjacent said upper leg of said strip member.

14. The hinge of claim 13 wherein said second leg of said clamping member lies generally coplanar with a lower leg of said strip member.

15. The hinge of claim 13 wherein said hinge has an interior side, and in said first position said clamping member and said strip member block any direct line of travel toward said point of rotation from said interior side.

16. The hinge of claim 1 wherein said clamping member has a base, and wherein said first leg of said clamping member has a second end, said second end being attached to said base.

17. The hinge of claim 16 wherein said strip member has a lower leg, and wherein said upper leg has a second end, said second end of said upper leg being attached to said lower leg.

6. A door frame assembly, comprising:

a door,

a door frame,

and a hinge member comprising;

at least one clamping member, said clamping member being generally U-shaped, said clamping member having a first leg and a second leg, said first leg having an end,

a strip member, said strip member being generally shaped like a lower case h, said strip member having an upper leg, said upper leg having an end,

and an attachment means for attaching said end of said first leg of said clamping member to said end of said upper leg of said strip member,

wherein said hinge rotatably attaches said door to said door frame.

7. The door frame assembly of claim 6 wherein said first and second legs of said clamping member have internal clamping surfaces, and said internal clamping surfaces have ridges.

8. The door frame assembly of claim 6 further comprising:

at least one hole located in said first leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being smooth,

at least one hole located in said second leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being threaded,

and at least one screw sized to fit with said holes in said first and second legs of said clamping member.

9. The door frame assembly of claim 6 wherein said at least one clamping member is two clamping members, said two clamping members being rotatably attached to said strip member.

10. The door frame assembly of claim 6 wherein said attachment means comprises:

a channel running through said end of said first leg of said clamping member,

a channel running through said end of said upper leg of said strip member, said channel having at least one section cut out such that said channel of said clamping member may be placed collinear with said channel of said strip member,

and a pin sized to fit within said channels.

18. The door frame assembly of claim 6 wherein said clamping member has a base, and wherein said first leg of said clamping member has a second end, said second end being attached to said base.

19. The door frame assembly of claim 18 wherein said strip member has a lower leg, and wherein said upper leg has a second end, said second end of said upper leg being attached to said lower leg.

11. A door frame assembly, comprising:

a door,

a door frame,

and a hinge member comprising;

at least one clamping member, said clamping member being generally U-shaped, said clamping member having a first leg and a second leg, said first leg having an end, said first and second legs of said clamping member have inside faces, and said inside faces have ridges,

at least one hole located in said first leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being smooth,

at least one hole located in said second leg of said clamping member, said at least one hole being threaded,

and at least one screw sized to fit with said holes in said first and second legs of said clamping member

a strip member, said strip member being generally shaped like a lower case h, said strip member having an upper leg, said upper leg having an end,

and an attachment means for attaching said end of said first leg of said clamping member to said end of said upper leg of said strip member,

wherein said hinge rotatably attaches said door to said door frame.

12. The door frame assembly of claim 11 wherein said attachment means comprises:

a channel running through said end of said first leg of said clamping member,

a channel running through said end of said upper leg of said strip member, said channel having at least one section cut out such that said channel of said clamping member may be placed collinear with said channel of said strip member,

and a pin sized to fit within said channels.

20. The door frame assembly of claim 11 wherein said clamping member has a base, and wherein said first leg of said clamping member has a second end, said second end being attached to said base, and wherein said strip member has a lower leg, and wherein said upper leg has a second end, said second end of said upper leg being attached to said lower leg.