SEPARABLE MOUNTING HINGE DEVICE

Abstract

A separable mounting hinge device including two detachably engageable leaf hinge members wherein the first hinge member includes at least two knuckles affixed around a pin leaving at least one open knuckle seat therebetween. The second hinge member includes at least one open knuckle capable of operationally engaging around the pin and at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion. The second hinge member may also include a retention member. These hinge members' knuckle(s) and affixed pin open knuckle seat(s) operationally interlock thereby allowing for typical hinge movements, while detachment of said members simply requires the application of force within specifically designated angular ranges to overcome the protrusion, and potentially included retention member. As designed, the separable mounting hinge device minimizes the likelihood of any incidental or accidental detachment and obviates the need to unfasten at least one hinge from a door, panel, or frame only to refasten it later.

Claims

1. A separable mounting hinge device comprising: a first hinge member comprising: a first leaf having a proximal edge, a distal edge, and two shorter edges therebetween; an affixed pin; at least two affixed knuckles extending from the proximal edge and curled around the affixed pin; and at least one open knuckle seat between the affixed knuckles about the affixed pin; and a second hinge member comprising: a second leaf having a proximal edge, a distal edge, and two shorter edges therebetween; at least one open knuckle extending from the proximal edge having an edge and a curled body; and at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion disposed about where the at least one knuckle extends from the proximal edge of the second leaf; wherein the at least one open knuckle of the second hinge member is disposed to detachably engage with the at least one open knuckle seat of the first hinge member but only when insertion or removal occurs within a specified angular range;

2. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the curled body of the at least one knuckle of the second hinge member is formed to an arc complementary to the section of the affixed pin present along the at least one open knuckle seat.

3. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the at least one knuckle of the second hinge member possesses a squared off, angle cut, or rounded edge.

4. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the first hinge member further comprises at least one aperture extending through the first leaf.

5. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the second hinge member further comprises at least one aperture extending through the second leaf.

6. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the length of the curled body of the at least one knuckle of the second hinge member measures between to of the length of one of the at least two knuckles curled around the affixed pin.

7. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion of the second hinge member maintains the detachable engagement of the first and second hinge members until they are opened at a specified angular range and force is applied to traverse the protrusion and remove the second hinge member from the first hinge member.

8. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 7 wherein the at least one open knuckle of the second hinge member is only capable of operationally engaging with, or disengaging from, the at least one open knuckle seat of the first hinge member when inserted at a specified angular range of fifteen to fifty-five degrees.

9. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the shape of the curled body of the at least one knuckle of the second hinge member is circular, ovoid, elliptical, or similarly rounded.

10. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 7 wherein the at least one open knuckle of the second hinge member is only capable of operationally engaging with, or disengaging from, the at least one open knuckle seat of the first hinge member when inserted at a specified angular range of twenty-five to forty-five degrees.

11. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion of the second hinge member is situated about the transition bridge between the second leaf and the at least one knuckle of the second hinge member.

12. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion is a raised bump, nodule, bubble, or polygon that maintains the engagement of the first and second hinge members and prevents accidental or incidental dismounting of second hinge member from the first hinge member.

13. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the leaf-knuckle protrusion is shaped to resemble a round, ovoid, square, diamond, rectangular, triangular, or polygonal form, or some combination thereof having smooth portions and/or edged portions.

14. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the affixed pin is smooth, grooved, milled, flattened, or some combination thereof.

15. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein the first and second leaves are shaped to resemble rectangles, triangles, squares, butterfly, butt, trapezoids, and other polygonal forms possessing sharp, flat, and/or rounded edges.

16. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 wherein each component is composed of metallic, metallic alloy, or polymeric materials that are strong, robust, durable, and corrosion resistant.

17. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 16 wherein each component is composed of steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, iron, copper, zinc, nickel, or similarly characterized polymer materials.

18. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 1 further comprising: A retention member affixed about the at least one open knuckle of the second hinge member.

19. The separable mounting hinge device of claim 16 wherein the retention member is a ring or clip intended to further retain the length of pin of the at least one open knuckle seat within the at least one open knuckle of the second hinge member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

[0019] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one separated embodiment of the separable mounting hinge device.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an aerial view of one embodiment of the attachable second leaf member of the separable mounting hinge device.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the attachable second leaf member of the separable mounting hinge device.

[0022] FIG. 4 is an aerial view of one embodiment of the retention member of the separable mounting hinge device.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one interlocked embodiment of the separable mounting hinge device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, example embodiments of the separable mounting hinge device employing a number of the principles and concepts discussed above, and generally designated by the reference number 10, will be described.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present separable mounting hinge device 10 is illustrated in a separated position. Separable mounting hinge device 10 has two main parts, second leaf (or hinge) member 20 and first leaf (or hinge) member 30. Second leaf member 20, also denoted herein as attachable leaf member, is comprised in this embodiment of second leaf proximal edge 22, second leaf distal edge 24, at least one second leaf aperture 26 (three of which are depicted in this embodiment), at least one open knuckle 28 (two of which are depicted in this embodiment) each having an open knuckle edge 29, and at least one leaf-knuckle protrusion 50 located about the transition bridge of second leaf member 20 and each open knuckle 28 protruding therefrom. First leaf member 30, also denoted herein as affixed leaf member, is comprised in this embodiment of first leaf proximal edge 32, first leaf distal edge 34, at least one first leaf aperture 36 (three of which are depicted in this embodiment), and affixed pin 38 positioned within at least two affixed knuckles 40 (three of which are depicted in this embodiment) wherein at least one open knuckle seat 42 (two of which are depicted in this embodiment) is available along affixed pin 38 between each pair of consecutive affixed knuckles 40.

[0026] Referring next to FIG. 2, an embodiment of second leaf member 20 is depicted having proximal edge 22, distal edge 24, aperture(s) 26, open knuckle(s) 28, and leaf-knuckle protrusion(s) 50 about the transition bridge of the body of second leaf member 20 to each open knuckle(s) 28.

[0027] Referring next to FIG. 3, an embodiment of second leaf member 20 is depicted having proximal edge 22, distal edge 24, open knuckle 28 having open knuckle edge 29, leaf-knuckle protrusion 50, and retention member 60. Operating in like manner as the other embodiments depicted herein, affixed pin 38 of first leaf member 30 may be engaged within each open knuckle 28 of second leaf member 20, however, in the present depiction the inclusion of operationally coupled retention member 60 within open knuckle 28 further increases the capability of open knuckle 28 to retain affixed pin 38 therein while occupying open knuckle seat 42. Shown as being utilized in conjunction with leaf-knuckle protrusion 50, though capable of use without it, the amount of force required to separate first and second leaf member 30, 20 from one another is increased once affixed pin 38 operationally engages with retention member 60, thereby decreasing the likelihood of incidental or accidental separation.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, an additionally contemplated design of retention member 60 is depicted and contemplated as within the scope of separable mounting hinge device 10. While additional ring or clip retention members 60 are known within the art and are contemplated as capable of inclusion in the present invention, they are not illustrated.

[0029] Referring next to FIG. 5, separable mounting hinge device 10 like the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown, but in an interlocked open position. Interlocking of second leaf member 20 and first leaf member 30 occurs through the positioning of affixed pin 38 along open knuckle seat(s) 42 within open knuckle(s) 28 wherein the portions of separable mounting hinge device 10 must be engaged within the specifically disclosed angular range while an amount of force is required to overcome all leaf-knuckle protrusion(s) 50 present.

[0030] Although leaf-knuckle protrusion 50 is shaped in this, and other, illustrated example embodiments as a circular fully rounded protrusion that resembles a bubble, it is further contemplated herein that this feature may also resemble a raised bump, nodule, or polygon having a round, ovular, square, diamond, or other polygonal form (or some combination thereof) wherein the portion facing open knuckle(s) 28 is smooth while the remaining other sides may be either smooth, hard-edged, or some design therebetween. Likewise, although circular second leaf aperture(s) 26 and first leaf aperture(s) 36 are depicted in this, and previous, figured embodiments it is further contemplated herein that these may be shaped in any polygonal or rounded form. It is additionally contemplated that no apertures need be present within either first or second leaf member 30, 20 such that the members may be glued, cemented, or otherwise permanently affixed to doors, panels, frames, or the like without need of fasteners.

[0031] Furthermore, though second and first leaf members 20, 30 are depicted as rectangular having two rounded corners, it is contemplated that these portions of separable mounting hinge device 10 may be shaped to resemble rectangular, triangular, square, butterfly, butt, trapezoidal, or other polygonal forms possessing angled, flat, and/or rounded edges and corners. Similarly, although each open knuckle 28 depicted in these figures possesses a circularly rounded curled body, it is further contemplated herein that this curled body may be ovoid, elliptical, or similarly rounded so long as affixed pin 38 is capable of housing therein, while each open knuckle edge 29 may possess a squared off, angle cut, or rounded edge. The inclusion of such contemplated open knuckle 28 body shapes and open knuckle edge 29 designs may be, at least in part, reliant on the variety of affixed pin 38 designs contemplated herein, wherein portions thereof (especially those of open knuckle seat 42) may be smooth, grooved, milled, or some combination thereof.

[0032] Thus, separable mounting hinge device 10 further contemplates that where affixed pin 38 may be milled, grooved, flattened, or otherwise made different (than it would typically be in the first embodiment described) along open knuckle seat 42, the shapes/designs of open knuckle 28, protrusion 50, and retention member 60 may all be altered to better complement such a differentiation. In such a contemplated embodiment, such as where narrowing occurs, the curled body of open knuckle 28 may be elongated and/or open knuckle edge 29 may be altered while retention member 60 may be changed to better fit the altered cross-section shape, such as rounded rectangular as opposed to the circular one illustrated within FIGS. 1 and 5.

[0033] Lastly, due to the potential inclusion of separable mounting hinge device 10 within numerous construction projects located both indoor and outdoor, and due to the continuous separation and reengaging use of the present invention, each first and second leaf member 30, 20 thereof may be manufactured from a single sheet of strong, durable, and corrosion resistant material. Additionally, it is further contemplated that each of the corrosion resistance, strength, and durability may be imparted or augmented through supplementary galvanization, vulcanization, or other coating processes. Materials contemplated as preferred for separable mounting hinge device 10 include, but should not be construed as limited to, metals such as aluminum, iron, and nickel, metallic alloys such as steel, brass, and bronze, as well as similarly characterized polymeric materials.