Vertically adjustable hinge
View Patent ↗A vertically adjustable hinge is disclosed. The hinge comprises a housing for attachment to a first structure. The housing has a housing cavity and an opening into the cavity. The cavity has an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion. The hinge further includes a first leaf extending through the cavity opening and into the cavity upper portion, threaded nut rotationally fixed to the first leaf, and an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity. The adjustment mechanism comprises a jack screw extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion. The jack screw has a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut in the upper cavity portion and a geared portion disposed in the cavity lower portion. The hinge further includes a worm gear engaging the jack screw geared portion, wherein rotation of the worm gear rotates the jack screw threaded portion in the nut, thereby moving the first leaf relative to the housing.
1. A vertically adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing for attachment to a first structure, the housing having a housing cavity, the cavity having an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion;
a first leaf extending into the cavity upper portion;
a threaded nut engaging the first leaf to prevent rotation of the threaded nut relative to the first leaf;
an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity, the adjustment mechanism comprising a jack screw extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion, the jack screw having a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut in the upper cavity portion and a geared portion disposed in the cavity lower portion;
a worm gear engaging the jack screw geared portion, wherein rotation of the worm gear rotates the jack screw threaded portion in the nut, thereby moving the first leaf relative to the housing; and
a second leaf pivotably attached to the first leaf.
2. The adjustable hinge of claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion includes a slot for receiving the jack screw.
3. The adjustable hinge of claim 2 , wherein the retaining portion limits axial movement of the jack screw.
4. The adjustable hinge of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a cover plate having an opening exposing the worm gear, to permit access to rotate the worm gear.
5. The adjustable hinge of claim 1 , wherein the jack screw includes a tip portion opposite the threaded portion.
6. The adjustable hinge of claim 5 , including a bearing cup to receive the tip portion.
7. The adjustable hinge of claim 1 , wherein the housing further has a cavity opening, the first leaf extending into the upper cavity portion through the cavity opening, the adjustable hinge further comprising a slotted plate having a slot dimensioned substantially the same as the first leaf to receive the first leaf, disposed over the cavity opening, the slotted plate having a slot aligned with, and dimensioned smaller than, the opening to minimize entrance of contaminants into the cavity.
8. A vertically adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing for attachment to a first structure, the housing having a housing cavity and an opening into the cavity, the cavity having an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion;
a first leaf extending into the cavity upper portion, the first leaf having a generally t-shaped slot having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg;
a threaded nut positioned in the t-shaped slot horizontal leg and engaging the first leaf to prevent rotation of the threaded nut relative to the first leaf;
an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity, the adjustment mechanism comprising a jack screw extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion, the jack screw having a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut in the upper cavity portion and a geared portion disposed in the cavity lower portion;
a worm gear engaging the jack screw geared portion, wherein rotation of the worm gear rotates the jack screw threaded portion in the nut, thereby moving the first leaf relative to the housing; and
a second leaf pivotably attached to the first leaf.
9. The adjustable hinge of claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion includes a slot for receiving the jack screw.
10. The adjustable hinge of claim 9 , wherein the retaining portion limits axial movement of the jack screw.
11. The adjustable hinge of claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a cover plate having an opening exposing the worm gear, to permit access to rotate the worm gear.
12. The adjustable hinge of claim 8 , wherein the jack screw includes a tip portion opposite the threaded portion.
13. The adjustable hinge of claim 12 , including a bearing cup to receive the tip portion.
14. The adjustable hinge of claim 10 , wherein the housing further has a cavity opening, the first leaf extending into the upper cavity portion through the cavity opening, the adjustable hinge further comprising a slotted plate disposed over the cavity opening, the slotted plate having a slot aligned with, and dimensioned smaller than, the opening to minimize entrance of contaminants into the cavity.
15. A vertically adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing for attachment to a first structure, the housing having a housing cavity, the cavity having an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion;
a first leaf extending into the cavity upper portion, the first leaf having a generally t-shaped slot having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg;
a threaded nut positioned in the t-shaped slot horizontal leg and engaging the first leaf to prevent rotation of the threaded nut relative to the first leaf;
an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity, the adjustment mechanism comprising a jack screw receiveably supported by the retaining portion and extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion, the jack screw having a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut in the upper cavity portion and a geared portion disposed in the cavity lower portion;
a worm gear engaging the jack screw geared portion, wherein rotation of the worm gear rotates the jack screw threaded portion in the nut, thereby moving the first leaf relative to the housing; and
a second leaf pivotably attached to the first leaf.
16. The adjustable hinge of claim 15 , wherein the retaining portion limits axial movement of the jack screw.
17. The adjustable hinge of claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a cover plate having an opening exposing the worm gear, to permit access to rotate the worm gear.
18. The adjustable hinge of claim 15 , wherein the jack screw includes a tip portion opposite the threaded portion.
19. The adjustable hinge of claim 18 , including a bearing cup to receive the tip portion.
20. The adjustable hinge of claim 15 , wherein the housing further has a cavity opening, the first leaf extending into the upper cavity portion through the cavity opening, the adjustable hinge further comprising a slotted plate disposed over the cavity opening, the slotted plate having a slot aligned with, and dimensioned smaller than, the opening to minimize entrance of contaminants into the cavity.
21. An adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing for attachment to a first structure, the housing having a housing cavity, a housing face and a cavity opening through the housing face and into the cavity;
a slotted plate adjacent the face, the slotted plate having a slot adjacent the cavity opening, the slotted plate being movable relative to the housing;
a first leaf extending through the slot and the cavity opening and into the cavity; and
a second leaf pivotably attached to the first leaf.
22. The adjustable hinge of claim 21 wherein the slot is dimensioned to snugly receive the leaf.
23. The adjustable hinge of claim 21 , wherein the housing has a cover plate, and the slotted plate is disposed between the housing face and the cover plate.
24. The adjustable hinge of claim 21 , wherein the housing has a recess and the slotted plate is disposed within the recess.
25. An adjustable hinge comprising:
a housing having a housing cavity and a cavity opening therein;
a first leaf extending through the cavity opening and into the cavity;
a threaded nut positioned in the housing cavity, the nut engaging the first leaf to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the first leaf;
an adjustment mechanism disposed in the housing cavity, the adjustment mechanism comprising a screw having a geared portion and a threaded portion threadably engaging the nut, wherein rotation of the screw threaded portion in the nut moves the first leaf relative to the housing;
a worm gear engaging the geared portion of the screw, wherein rotation of the worm gear rotates the screw, thereby moving the first leaf relative to the housing; and
a second leaf pivotably attached to the first leaf.
26. The hinge of claim 25 , wherein the housing cavity has an upper portion, a lower portion and a retaining portion forming a channel defining the upper portion and the lower portion, the first leaf positioned in the upper cavity portion and the screw extending between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion.
27. The hinge of claim 25 , wherein the first leaf has a slot therein, the threaded nut positioned within the slot and engaging the slot to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the first leaf.