HINGE PIN AND ASSOCIATED DOOR HINGE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A hinge pin that allows for clean and convenient internal lubrication of associated door hinge assemblies, including: a head, a body, and a tip; wherein the head includes a fluid reservoir, and a fluid input aperture; wherein the body includes a first end, a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a length therebetween, at least one fluid output aperture, a primary bore, and a secondary bore; and wherein the primary and secondary bores are positioned between the fluid input aperture and the at least one fluid output aperture, and define a pathway for fluid flow therebetween.

Claims

1. A hinge pin that allows for clean and convenient internal lubrication of associated door hinge assemblies, comprising: a head, a body, and a tip; wherein the head includes a fluid reservoir, and a fluid input aperture; wherein the body includes a first end, a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a length therebetween, at least one fluid output aperture, a primary bore, and a secondary bore; and wherein the primary and secondary bores are positioned between the fluid input aperture and the at least one fluid output aperture, and define a pathway for fluid flow therebetween.

2. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a generally annular sidewall.

3. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a generally annular sidewall.

4. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein the primary bore is positioned parallel to the length of the body.

5. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein the secondary bore is positioned perpendicular to the length of the body.

6. The hinge pin according to claim 1, further comprising a tertiary bore positioned below the primary and secondary bores.

7. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluid output aperture comprises two apertures.

8. The hinge pin according to claim 7, wherein two output apertures are evenly spaced apart from each other.

9. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluid output aperture comprises four apertures.

10. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the body comprises a concave sidewall proximate the at least one fluid output aperture.

11. The hinge pin according to claim 1, wherein the hinge pin is fabricated from a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, wood, and/or combinations thereof.

12. A door hinge assembly, comprising: a first hinge plate, wherein the first hinge plate includes at least one knuckle; a second hinge plate, wherein the second hinge plate includes at least one knuckle; and a hinge pin, comprising: a head, a body, and a tip; wherein the head includes a fluid reservoir, and a fluid input aperture; wherein the body includes a first end, a second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a length therebetween, at least one fluid output aperture, a primary bore, and a secondary bore; and wherein the primary and secondary bores are positioned between the fluid input aperture and the at least one fluid output aperture, and define a pathway for fluid flow therebetween.

13. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein the head includes a generally annular sidewall.

14. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein the body includes a generally annular sidewall.

15. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein the primary bore is positioned parallel to the length of the body.

16. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein the secondary bore is positioned perpendicular to the length of the body.

17. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a tertiary bore positioned below the primary and secondary bores.

18. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least one fluid output aperture comprises two apertures.

19. The door hinge assembly according to claim 18, wherein two output apertures are evenly spaced apart from each other.

20. The door hinge assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least one fluid output aperture comprises four apertures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted.

[0031] It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0032] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a hinge pin in accordance with the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 of the drawings is a front view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 of the drawings is a rear view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 4 of the drawings is a left side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 5 of the drawings is a right side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 6 of the drawings is a top view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 7 of the drawings is a bottom view of the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 8 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the hinge pin taken along line VIII of FIG. 2;

[0041] FIG. 9 of the drawings is a perspective view of a hinge pin assembly utilizing the hinge pin of FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 10 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hinge pin in accordance with the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 11 of the drawings is a front view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0044] FIG. 12 of the drawings is a rear view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0045] FIG. 13 of the drawings is a left side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0046] FIG. 14 of the drawings is a right side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0047] FIG. 15 of the drawings is a top view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0048] FIG. 16 of the drawings is a bottom view of the hinge pin of FIG. 10;

[0049] FIG. 17 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the hinge pin taken along line XVII of FIG. 10;

[0050] FIG. 18 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hinge pin in accordance with the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 19 of the drawings is a front view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0052] FIG. 20 of the drawings is a rear view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0053] FIG. 21 of the drawings is a left side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0054] FIG. 22 of the drawings is a right side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0055] FIG. 23 of the drawings is a top view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0056] FIG. 24 of the drawings is a bottom view of the hinge pin of FIG. 18;

[0057] FIG. 25 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the hinge pin taken along line XXV of FIG. 18;

[0058] FIG. 26 of the drawings is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hinge pin in accordance with the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 27 of the drawings is a front view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26;

[0060] FIG. 28 of the drawings is a rear view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26;

[0061] FIG. 29 of the drawings is a left side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26;

[0062] FIG. 30 of the drawings is a right side view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26;

[0063] FIG. 31 of the drawings is a top view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26;

[0064] FIG. 32 of the drawings is a bottom view of the hinge pin of FIG. 26; and

[0065] FIG. 33 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the hinge pin taken along line XXXIII of FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0067] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

[0068] Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-8 in particular, hinge pin 10, for use in association with a hinge assembly, is shown as generally comprising head 12, body 14, and tip 16. In accordance with the present invention, hinge pin 10 allows a user to quickly, cleanly, and conveniently lubricate an associated door hinge (See FIG. 9) without, for example, overspray onto doors, doorjambs, walls, and/or the door hinge assembly itself—when using conventional lubricant sprayed from a can.

[0069] Head 12 includes fluid reservoir 18 for containing/retaining a lubricant (e.g., a petroleum-based lubricant, a silicone-based lubricant, etcetera) and fluid input aperture 20. Head 12 preferably includes a generally annular sidewall.

[0070] Body 14 includes first end 22, second end 24. The length of body 14, and, in turn, hinge pin 10 is defined between the first and second ends. Body 14 also includes one or more fluid output apertures 26 for dispensing lubricant. Primary bore/pathway 28 and secondary bore/pathway 30 are positioned between fluid input aperture 20 and one or more fluid output apertures 26, and cooperatively define a pathway for fluid flow (e.g., lubricant) therebetween. Body 14 preferably includes a generally annular sidewall.

[0071] Preferably primary bore 28 is positioned generally parallel (i.e., +/−15 degrees) and/or parallel to the length of body 14, and secondary bore 30 is preferably positioned generally perpendicular (i.e., +/−15 degrees) and/or perpendicular to the length of body 14.

[0072] Hinge pin 10 is preferably fabricated from a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, wood, and/or combinations thereof.

[0073] Referring now to FIG. 9, door hinge assembly 100 comprises first hinge plate 102 having knuckles 104, second hinge plate 106 having knuckles 108, and hinge pin 10 (e.g., hinge pin 10 from FIGS. 1-8).

[0074] Referring now to FIGS. 10-17, in one embodiment of the present invention, body 14 of hinge pin 10 includes concave sidewall portion 32 proximate the fluid output aperture. The concave sidewall region serves as a secondary reservoir and enhances broader displacement of lubricant throughout the door hinge assembly.

[0075] Referring now to FIGS. 18-25, in one embodiment of the present invention, hinge pin 10 includes tertiary bore/pathway 34 positioned below primary and secondary bores/pathways 28 and 30, respectively. In this embodiment, hinge pin 10 comprises four output apertures 26 that are staggered 90 degrees from each other.

[0076] Referring now to FIGS. 26-33, in one embodiment of the present invention, hinge pin 10 includes tertiary bore/pathway 34 positioned below primary and secondary bores/pathways 28 and 30, respectively. In this embodiment, hinge pin 10 comprises two pair (four) output apertures 26 that are staggered 180 degrees from each other.

[0077] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0078] While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0079] The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” etcetera shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Additionally, the phrase “consisting essentially of” will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase “consisting of” excludes any element not specified.

[0080] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0081] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0082] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etcetera. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etcetera. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

[0083] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0084] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.