1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hinges, and in particular, to hinges that are self-indexing.
2. Problems in the Art
Many different styles and configurations of hinges have been developed over the years. The style and configuration of a hinge can depend substantially upon special needs for the hinge. For example, sometimes there is a need or desire for self-indexing. By self-indexing it is meant that the hinge will hold the pivoting door in a certain position until or unless someone provides sufficient force to move it out of that position. The position discussed is the indexed position.
Therefore, with or without a latch, the door may be kept in a normal or in an indexed position without the door freely pivoting. Then the door can be indexed to one or more positions.
Certain hinges also must support heavy doors. Some must work with doors that are difficult to mount to a hinge. An example of a heavy and difficult to mount door is a glass panel door, an example of which is a 3/8" to 1/2" glass shower door.
Some hinges also must operate in difficult environments. An example is a shower door which will be in a very humid environment. The hinges will experience substantial humidity and direct contact with water. They also may experience harsh cleaning agents or procedures.
As can be appreciated, certain materials and certain hinge needs therefore require special handling. For example, glass panel shower doors are heavy, difficult to mount, the environment is difficult, and it is many times desirable to have self indexing so that the door cannot freely pivot.
Co-owned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, incorporated by reference herein, discloses a hinge that can be advantageously used with glass panel shower doors and provide self or automatic indexing. A main pivot pin includes at least one indexing detent parallel to the pivot axis for the hinge. A subroller pin is held against lateral movement but is biased against the main pivot pin in alignment with a portion of the pin bearing the detent. The main pivot pin rotates with the opening and closing of the shower door. When the main pivot pin and subroller pin are aligned, the subroller pin is forced into at least a part of the detent. This provides the indexing. One only has to apply enough force to the door to cause the subroller pin to move out of the detent to pivot the door and move the door out of its self indexed position.
The above described hinge represented a durable and improved apparatus and method for a self indexing door, especially for glass panel shower doors. The position of the detent is adjustable relative to flattened opposite portions of the main pivot pin that matingly fit into receivers in the other half of the hinge so that different indexed positions are possible. The flattened portions in the receivers thus keep the detent in a stationary position. Rotation of the door would cause the main pivot pin and detent to rotate relative to the fixed sub roller pin. Thus the detent, in operation, was always fixed relative to the door. Different main roller pins could be manufactured with the detents in different positions to provide different self-indexing positions.
Although the above hinge represented in an improvement in the art, it has become recognized that there is still room for improvement. With the above-described hinge, the installer must very accurately mount the portion of the hinge that receives the main pivot pin. If mis-aligned even slightly horizontally relative to the other half of the hinge the indexing may not work properly. Also, the hinge, as disclosed in Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is attached only to the side of the door. There are situations where hinges at the top and bottom of the door might be desired.
Real needs in the art have therefore been identified. It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which improve upon the state of the art. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention include:
1. Positive yet adjustable self-indexing of a pivoting door. PA1 2. Durability in many environments including high humidity and direct contact with water. PA1 3. Adaptability to many different uses. PA1 4. Reduction in the need for highly precise mounting of the hinge halves. PA1 5. Adaptability to top and bottom hinges or side hinges. PA1 6. Multiple indexing positions. PA1 7. Strength to support relatively heavy doors.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying specification and claims.