Adjustable door hinge monitoring device

• US 6,577,235 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Markar Architectural Products, Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Markar Products, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frys, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/845,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 340/547, 340/545.1, 340/545.7, 340/545.8, 340/545.6, 340/551, 340/550, 340/561, 340/567, 340/572.8, 335/205, 335/153, 335/207
• US Class Current: 340/547
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0068 Door closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/46 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/81 Feedback to user, e.g. tactile
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/10 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

The invention is in a device for monitoring the position of a swinging door that is mounted on a stationary frame, the device essentially comprises a magnet and magnetic proximity sensor which are mounted in coaxially aligned relation on a pair of opposing leafs of a hinge. Means are provided for moving the magnet to and from the sensor to correspondingly vary the gap or spacing between them.

Claims

1. A continuous, piano-type swinging door hinge and door monitoring device, comprising:

a) a first and a second leaf hinged together by a single pivot pin for relative swinging rotation, the leafs and pivot pin being substantially coextensive with the height of a door when the door is hinged to an adjacent side frame of a fixed opening, each leaf having a relatively short section between opposing ends thereof, the leaf sections being separate from adjacent portions of the leafs and hinged together by the single pivot pin for unitary and independent swinging rotation with, and relative to, said portions of the leafs;

b) a magnetic proximity sensor;

c) a first means for securing the sensor to the section of the first leaf, the first means including a hollow first cylinder with an outstanding flange which is firmly secured to the flat surface of the first leaf section farthest spaced from the second leaf when the hinge is closed where the leafs are in closest spaced relation, the first cylinder having a longitudinal axis which is normal to the first leaf section and designed to detachably receive the sensor therein, such that the sensor is in fixed, closely spaced relation to the flat surface of the first leaf section;

d) a magnet;

e) a second means for securing the magnet to the second leaf section, such that the magnet and sensor are in confronting spaced relation, when the hinge is closed, the second means including, i) an internally threaded, hollow second cylinder with an outstanding flange which is firmly secured to a flat surface of the second leaf section farthest spaced from the first leaf section when the hinge is closed, the second cylinder having a longitudinal axis which is coaxially aligned with the first cylinder when the hinge is closed, and ii) an externally threaded, hollow third cylinder threadably received in the second cylinder in coaxially alignment, the magnet being detachably secured in the hollow third cylinder and protruding therefrom into the hollow second cylinder for confronting relation with the sensor; and

f) a third means for rotating the third cylinder and attached magnet within the second cylinder to and from the sensor to vary the gap between the magnet and sensor.

2. The hinge and door monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor and magnet are each generally cylindrical, in shape, and the sensor has an outstanding annular flange which abuts the first cylinder, when the sensor is, in position, within the first cylinder.

3. The hinge and door monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the third means includes a configured opening in the outer end of the third cylinder for receiving a tool for rotating the third cylinder to move the magnet axially to and from the sensor.

4. The hinge and door monitoring device of claim 3, which includes:

g) an electrically responsive signaling device remote from the sensor; and

h) means for electrically connecting the sensor to the signaling device to carry low voltage electric current from the sensor to the signaling device.

5. The hinge and door monitoring device of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cylinders with outstanding annular flanges include a weld nut which has an outstanding annular flange around which are equally angularly spaced a plurality of similar size projections for welding to adjacent metal hinge leaf sections.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein metals used in the device are metals from the group of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, brass and bronze.

7. The hinge and door monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the leaf sections have the same length, measured longitudinally of the hinge, of about twelve inches.