Removable compact hinge and method of use
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a removable compact hinge for pivotal connection between a furniture piece and a door. The apparatus incorporates a clamping attachment mechanism in order to avoid permanent mounting holes and to provide quick installation and adjustable installation location. The apparatus comprises a hinge cup pivotally connected to an attachment mechanism ion with a hinge arm. The attachment mechanism comprises a base slidably engaged with a sliding body, the sliding body including an adjustable pressure plate. A lever works with a set of links to slide the sliding body with respect to the base towards the furniture piece and mechanically and releasably clamp the attachment mechanism to the furniture piece without the use of typical wood screws thereby preserving the integrity of the furniture piece. The apparatus further includes adjustability in the vertical, horizontal, and lateral directions.
1. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force; and,
wherein the base further comprises a generally flat body;
a set of flanges extending from the flat body; and,
a set of extensions pivotally connected to the lever.
2. The removable attachment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the toggle comprises a set of links.
3. The removable attachment apparatus of claim 2 wherein each link of the set of links further comprises:
a stop surface configured to abut the dog upon rotation of the lever in a second direction.
4. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force; and,
wherein the base further comprises a set of rails for slidable engagement with the dog;
a set of slots formed in the set of rails for engagement with the dog; and,
a set of tabs extending from the set of rails for engagement with the dog.
5. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force; and,
wherein the dog further comprises a jaw portion extending from a transverse portion;
a set of guide holes through the jaw portion; and,
a threaded hole through the jaw portion for engagement with a thumbscrew.
6. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force; and,
wherein the dog further comprises a set of arms for slidable engagement with the base;
a set of slots formed in the set of arms for engagement with the base; and,
a set of tabs formed in the set of arms for engagement with the base.
7. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force;
a pressure plate slidingly engaged with the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in the first direction, the pressure plate moves relative to the base creating the compressive force; and,
a thumbscrew adjustably engaged with the dog and connected to the pressure plate.
8. A removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the apparatus comprising:
a base slidably engaged with a dog;
a lever pivotally connected to the base and a toggle;
the toggle further connected to the dog;
wherein upon rotation of the lever in a first direction, the toggle urges the dog to move relative to the base creating a compressive force;
a pressure plate slidingly engaged with the dog;
a thumbscrew threadably engaged with the dog and connected to the pressure plate;
a shoulder, formed in the thumbscrew, configured to abut the pressure plate; and,
wherein rotation of the thumbscrew advances the thumbscrew through the dog and the shoulder urges the pressure plate.
9. A removable compact hinge apparatus for pivotally connecting a swinging door to a cabinet carcass, the apparatus comprising:
a hinge cup configured to be affixed to the door;
a hinge arm pivotally connected to the hinge cup and adjustably connected to a base;
the base pivotally connected to a lever at a first pivot point;
a dog slidingly engaged to the base and pivotally connected to a set of links at a second pivot point;
the set of links pivotally connected to the lever at a third pivot point;
a pressure plate adjustably connected to the dog; and,
wherein the dog is configured to slide along the base upon rotation of the lever about the first pivot point.
10. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base further comprises:
a flat body;
a set of flanges extending from the flat body; and,
a set of extensions pivotally connected to the lever.
11. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base further comprises:
a set of rails for slidable engagement with the dog;
a set of slots formed in the set of rails for releasable engagement with the dog; and,
a set of tabs extending from the set of rails for releasable engagement with the dog.
12. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 wherein the dog further comprises:
a jaw portion extending from a transverse portion;
a set of guide holes through the jaw portion for slidable engagement with the pressure plate; and,
a threaded hole through the jaw portion engaged with a thumbscrew.
13. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 wherein the dog further comprises:
a set of arms for slidable engagement with the base;
a set of slots formed in the set of arms for releasable engagement with the base; and,
a set of tabs formed in the set of arms for releasable engagement with the base.
14. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a thumbscrew threadably engaged with the dog and rotatably connected to the pressure plate;
a shoulder, formed in the thumbscrew, configured to abut the pressure plate; and,
wherein upon rotation of the thumbscrew, the shoulder urges the pressure plate.
15. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a vertical adjustment cam comprising an offset cam extension extending from a cam shoulder;
an adjustment plate slidingly engaged with the base;
a follower hole in the adjustment plate and engaged with the cam shoulder;
a pivot hole in the base and engaged with the offset cam extension; and,
wherein upon rotation of the vertical adjustment cam, the cam shoulder urges the adjustment plate and the hinge arm to move in a vertical direction relative to the base.
16. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a lateral adjustment screw comprising a head extending from a threaded section;
an adjustment plate connected to the base;
a slot in the adjustment plate engaged with the head;
the threaded section engaged with a threaded hole in the hinge arm; and,
wherein upon rotation of the lateral adjustment screw, the head urges the hinge arm to move in a lateral direction relative to the adjustment plate.
17. The removable compact hinge apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a horizontal adjustment cam comprising an offset cam extension extending from a cam shoulder;
an adjustment plate slidingly engaged with the hinge arm;
a follower hole in the hinge arm and engaged with the cam shoulder;
a pivot hole in the adjustment plate and engaged with the offset cam extension; and,
wherein upon rotation of the horizontal adjustment cam, the cam shoulder urges the hinge arm to move in a horizontal direction relative to the adjustment plate.
18. A method for removably attaching a compact hinge to a furniture piece, the method comprising:
providing a base adjustably connected to the compact hinge and slidingly engaged with a dog, a lever pivotally connected to the base and a set of links, the set of links pivotally connected to the dog, and a pressure plate adjustably connected to the dog by a thumbscrew;
pivoting the lever away from the base;
positioning the base adjacent the furniture piece;
rotating the thumbscrew to advance the thumbscrew towards the furniture piece;
abutting the pressure plate against the furniture piece; and,
pivoting the lever towards the base.
19. The method of removably attaching a compact hinge to a furniture piece of claim 18 wherein the step of positioning the base further comprises:
positioning the base adjacent a first face of the furniture piece; and,
positioning a set of flanges extending from the base adjacent a second face of the furniture piece.
20. The method of removably attaching a compact hinge to a furniture piece of claim 18 wherein the step of rotating the thumbscrew further comprises:
urging the pressure plate towards the furniture piece.
21. The method of removably attaching a compact hinge to a furniture piece of claim 18 wherein the step of pivoting the lever towards the base further comprises:
pivoting the set of links;
forcing the dog towards the furniture piece; and,
creating a compressive force between the base and the dog.