Door hinge
A method and apparatus for providing a replacement door to a UTV/ATV to replace a mesh door with a panel door employs a hinge member that is mounted to the UTV/ATV after removal of the mesh door. The mesh door and other components are removed from the UTV/ATV. The hinge member includes a first and second angled flanges adapted to mount to the frame of the UTV/ATV after removal of the mesh door. Striker components are mounted to the frame to engage the door latches. The replacement panel door mounts to the hinge member and provides panel doors to the UTV/ATV.
1 . A hinge system for mounting a door to a frame of a UTV or an ATV, comprising:
a frame mounting plate formed as a planar body with a single bend, the single bend defining an upper portion on a first side of the single bend and a lower portion on a second side of the single bend, wherein the angle of the single bend is chosen to conform said upper portion to substantially fit a first surface of the frame of the UTV or ATV, while said lower portion conforms to fit a second surface of the frame of the UTV or ATV;
a door mounting plate, hingedly engaged with the frame mounting plate for attaching said door to said UTV or ATV;
an upper frame flange attached to said frame mounting plate and a lower frame flange attached to said frame mounting plate, the upper frame flange and the lower frame flange spaced a first distance from one another along an extent of the frame mounting plate;
and in which said door mounting plate comprises:
an upper door flange of said door mounting plate, and
a lower door flange of said door mounting plate,
said upper door flange and said lower door flange spaced a second distance apart from one another along an extent of said door mounting plate,
such that a first hinge pin goes through the opening in the upper frame flange and the upper door flange and a second hinge pin goes through openings in the lower frame flange and the lower door flange.
2 . The hinge system according to claim 1 , further comprising clips for securing each of said first and second hinge pins in position in said openings.
3 . The hinge system according to claim 1 , further comprising a bushing positioned inside said openings in said upper door flange and said upper frame mounting flange and in said openings of lower door flange and said lower frame mounting flange, the hinge pins extending through the bushings.
4 . The hinge system according to claim 1 , further comprising a striker bracket adapted to mount to the frame of the UTV or ATV, said bracket having a striker member for engagement with the door when the door is closed.
5 . The hinge system according to claim 1 , wherein said door comprises a full panel door.
6 . The hinge system according to claim 1 , wherein said door comprises a partial panel door.
7 . A method for replacing a mesh door of an UTV or ATV with a panel door, comprising the steps of:
removing the mesh door;
mounting a door mounting plate onto the panel door;
attaching a frame mounting plate to a frame of the UTV or ATV, said frame mounting plate formed as a planar body with a single bend, the single bend defining on a first side of the single bend an upper portion and the single bend defining on a second side of the single bend a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being at an angle to one another defined by the single bend, said angle chosen to conform said upper portion to substantially fit a first surface of a frame of the UTV or ATV, while said lower portion conforms to fit a second surface of the frame of the UTV or ATV;
wherein a first hinge pin extends through aligned holes in the door mounting plate and the frame mounting plate to hingedly attach said panel door to the UTV or ATV;
the frame mounting plate comprises an upper frame flange and a lower frame flange are attached to the frame mounting plate, the upper frame mounting flange and the lower frame mounting flange being spaced a first distance from one another along an extent of the frame mounting plate;
said door mounting plate comprises:
an upper door flange, and
a lower door flange,
said upper and lower door flanges being spaced a second distance apart from one another along an extent of said door mounting plate, wherein
the through aligned holes in the door mounting plate and the frame mounting plate are in the upper frame flange and upper door flange, respectively.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
attaching a striker bracket to the frame of the UTV or ATV, said striker bracket having a striker pin for engagement with the door when the door is closed.
9 . The method according to claim 7 in which:
said upper door flange, said lower door flange, said upper frame flange and said lower frame flange all have hinge openings defined therein, wherein a first hinge pin is received in the openings in said upper door mounting flange and said upper frame mounting flange, and a second hinge pin is received in openings in said lower door flange and said lower frame flange, whereby a hinge mechanism is formed.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising providing a clip member for securing one of said first and second hinge pins in position when received in said openings.
11 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising positioning a bushing inside at least one of said openings in said upper door flange, said upper frame flange lower door flange and said lower frame flange.
12 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said panel door comprises a full panel door.
13 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said panel door comprises a partial panel door.
14 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the method is performed for two doors of the UTV or ATV.
15 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the method is performed for four doors of the UTV or ATV.
16 . The hinge system of claim 1 in which the door mounting plate, the upper door flange and the lower door flange are formed from a single piece of metal.
17 . The hinge system of claim 1 in which said door mounting plate comprises a planar body with a first bend toward a first end and a second bend toward a second end, the portion between the first bend and the second bend comprising a flat surface that includes apertures for attaching the door mounting plate to the door and the portion extending beyond the first bend defining the upper door flange, the portion extending beyond the second bend defining the lower door flange, the upper flange portion and the lower flange portion each including hinge openings.
18 . A hinge system for mounting a door to a frame of a UTV or an ATV, comprising:
a frame mounting plate formed as a planar body with a single bend, the single bend defining an upper portion on a first side of the single bend and a lower portion on a second side of the single bend, wherein the angle of the single bend is chosen to conform said upper portion to substantially fit a first surface of the frame of the UTV or ATV, while said lower portion conforms to fit a second surface of the frame of the UTV or ATV and having an upper frame flange and a lower frame flange extending from the planar body, the upper frame flange and the lower frame flange each having an opening to accommodate a hinge pin;
a door mounting plate, including a center portion and an upper door flange and a lower door flange, the upper door flange and a lower door flange each having an opening to accommodate a hinge pin;
at least one hinge pin extending through the upper frame flange and the upper door flange and through the lower frame flange and the lower door flange,
in which the hinge is formed by the holes in the frame mounting plate and the door mounting plate.