TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to devices for lubricating a hinge, such as a hinge for a door.

BACKGROUND

Typical hinges for a door include a first side plate that is fixed to a door (e.g., by one or more fasteners), a second side plate that is fixed to a wall that is adjacent to the door (e.g., by one or more fasteners, and a pin. The first side plate has one or more knuckles for connecting the first side plate to the pin such that the first side plate can pivot about the pin, and the second side plate has one or more knuckles for connecting the second side plate. The one or more knuckles are hollow tubes that fit over a shaft of the pin, and the pin has a top tip and a bottom tip fork keeping the knuckles on the shaft of the pin.

As a door is moved between the open and closed positions, the knuckles of the side plates engage with each other and with the pin, which creates a frictional force between the components. If this frictional force becomes too high, the engagement between the knuckles and the pin causes a squeaking noise when the door is moved between the open and closed positions. In addition, the friction between the components often results in small-particle swarf or grim accumulating on the hinge assembly.

This squeaking noise can be prevented by lubricating the door hinge with a lubricant (e.g., WD-40®, PB Blaster®, silicone spray, silicone grease, etc.) that reduces the friction between the various components of the hinge. Lubricant can be applied to a hinge by disassembling the hinge and applying lubricant to the component parts prior to reassembly, spraying the lubricant on the hinge without first taking it apart and then wiping the excess lubricant with a towel, or applying the lubricant to an applicator (e.g., a fabric material, towel, a brush, a sponge, etc.) and wiping the hinge with the applicator. Lubricant can also be applied to a device that is subsequently attached to a hinge, and the lubricant moves from the device to the hinge by a capillary action.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of a device for lubricating a hinge includes a housing have a first portion and a second portion that is in fluid communication with the first portion. The housing also has a hinge opening and a lubricant opening, in which the hinge opening is configured to receive a hinge such that the hinge is disposed within the first portion of the housing. The second portion is configured to receive an absorption element. When a hinge is disposed within the first portion of the housing and absorption element is disposed within the second portion of the housing, the absorption element is disposed below the hinge such that lubricant applied through the lubricant opening moves through the first portion of the housing and into the second portion of the housing to be absorbed by the absorption element.

Another exemplary embodiment of a device for lubricating a hinge includes a housing, a first elongated opening, a lubrication opening, a lubrication collection chamber, and an absorption element. The first elongated opening allows the housing to be placed over a portion of a hinge. The lubrication opening is for receiving a lubrication straw. The lubrication collection chamber is located at a bottom of the housing, and the absorption element is located within the lubrication collection chamber.

An exemplary method of lubricating a hinge includes placing a lubrication device over a hinge. The lubrication device includes a housing and an absorption element disposed within the housing. The housing includes a lubricant opening and a hinge opening, in which the lubrication device is placed over a hinge by moving the hinge through the hinge opening such that the hinge is disposed within the housing and above the absorption element. The method further includes applying lubricant to the hinge through the lubricant opening.

