Universal Hinge

Abstract

A gate hinge assembly includes a pair of hinge members of opposite hand. Each hinge member includes an L-shaped bracket having at least one outwardly extending bosses in each leg with a hole through each boss, and a hinge plate extending outwardly from one of the legs of the bracket. The gate has a cylindrical upwardly extending projection and a cylindrical downwardly extending projection at one end. Each bracket receives and is fastened to the gate post by means of a bolt passing around the post and through the hole in each leg. Preferably two holes are provided in each leg to permit assembly on posts of different sizes and/or shapes. The cylindrical projections of the gate are received in aligned holes in the top and bottom hinge plates. Two holes may be provided in each hinge plate to permit different types of swinging movement of the gate.

Description

This invention relates to a universal hinge and more particularly to such a hinge for a fence gate. There are various types and sizes of fence terminal posts. Those in common use include posts of the type shown in Ashworth et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,836 dated Feb. 27, 1968, which has a single standard size, and tubular pipe posts of various diameters. The hinges of which I have knowledge require a different size and/or type for each type and size of fence post. Those hinges also are so constructed that the gate can be readily removed from the hinge thus permitting vandals to get into and out of the area being protected by the fence.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a hinge for a fence gate which can be used on more than one type and size of terminal post.

Another object is to provide such a hinge which is so constructed that it is difficult to remove the gate, and impossible to remove the gate without a cutting tool.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bottom hinge of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a top hinge assembled on one type of gate post;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line IV--IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the gate in a different support position;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a top hinge assembled on a small round gate post; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a top hinge assembled on a large round gate post.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a bottom hinge of my invention. The hinge 2 includes an L-shaped post attachment bracket 4 having two legs 6 and 8 arranged at right angles to one another. The leg 6 includes outwardly extending bosses 10 and 12 having holes 14 and 16 therethrough. The leg 8 includes outwardly extending bosses 18 and 20 having holes 22 and 24 therethrough. The axes of all the holes are preferably parallel to one another. Attached to the leg 8 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto is a hinge plate 26 having two holes 28 and 30 therethrough with the holes having downwardly extending flanges 32 and 34 to provide a longer bearing surface. Top hinge 2T is the same as bottom hinge 2 except that it is opposite hand and the same reference numerals are used to indicate the parts thereof. If it were not desired to have the gate close to the ground identical hinges could be used.

Gate 36, used with my hinge, includes the usual frame 38 and in addition has a cylindrical upwardly extending projection 40 and a cylindrical downwardly extending projection 42 on the hinge bar 43 of the frame 38 adjacent terminal post 44.

To assemble the gate 36 on a post 44 of the type shown in the above mentioned patent, a first hinge 2 is assembled on the post 44 adjacent its bottom (FIGS. 3 to 5). A bolt 46, preferably shaped as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, has its ends extending into the holes 16 and 24. Threaded on the bolt 46 are break-away nuts 48, which may be of the general type shown in Cochran U.S. Pat. No. 1,696,523 dated Dec. 25, 1928, each having a smooth frusto-conical portion 50 and a wrench receiving portion 52. When tightened, the wrench receiving portion 52 breaks off, leaving only the portion 50 which cannot be removed by a conventional tool. Of course, an ordinary nut could be used in place of the break-away nut if it is not desired to prevent ready removal of the hinge. The bottom extension 42 of the hinge bar 43 is then placed in hole 28 or 30 as desired, depending upon the swing of the gate. A second hinge 2T is then placed on top of the post 44 with the top projection 40 of the hinge bar 43 being received in the opening 28 or 30 corresponding to that receiving the hinge bar in the lower hinge. The hinge 2T is then fastened to the post by means of a bolt 46 and nuts 48 in the same manner as the lower hinge 2. When the hinge bar is received in openings 30 as shown in FIG. 3 the gate 36 may be swung 90.degree. in either direction and when received in openings 28 as shown in FIG. 5 the gate may be swung 0.degree. in one direction and 180.degree. in the other direction.

It will be understood that the same hinge can be used with a square post by merely changing the shape of the fastening bolt.

FIG. 6 shows a top hinge 2T secured to a 3 inch O.D. round post 54. Either top or bottom hinge may be attached to this post by using a U-bolt 56 passing around the post with its ends being received in holes 14 and 22. The assembly operation is otherwise the same as described above for the post 44.

FIG. 7 shows how a bottom hinge 2 is used on a 4 inch O.D. pipe post 58. Either top or bottom hinges may be fastened to the post by using a U-bolt 60 having a circular portion 62 connected to straight diverging portions 64 each connected to a parallel threaded end portion 66. These end portions 66 are received in holes 16 and 24. The assembly operation is then the same as in the other embodiments.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A gate hinge assembly for attachment to a post comprising a gate having at one end thereof a cylindrical upwardly extending projection and a cylindrical downwardly extending projection, a pair of hinge members each including an L-shaped post attachment bracket, each leg of each of said brackets having an outwardly extending boss with a hole therethrough arranged at an angle to its associated leg, a hinge plate attached to and extending outwardly from one of said legs substantially normal thereto, each of said hinge plates having a hole therethrough, one of said hinge members receiving said upwardly extending projection in its hinge plate hole and the other receiving said downwardly extending projection in its hinge plate hole, the inner surface of the legs of each L-shaped bracket bearing against said post, a bolt for each bracket passing around said post through the holes in said bosses, and a nut threaded on each end of said bolt.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 in which each nut includes a smooth frusto-conical portion in contact with said bracket and a wrench receiving break-away portion connected to said frusto-conical portion.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 in which said top and bottom hinge members are of opposite hand, the hinge plate of said top member being located at the top of its bracket and the hinge plate of said bottom member being located at the bottom of its bracket.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 in which the hinge plate of each hinge member extends from the outer end of the leg to which it is attached to a position a substantial distance beyond the other leg of its bracket, the hinge plate having its first hole in the portion adjacent the leg to which it is attached and a second hole therethrough in the portion extending beyond the other leg of its bracket.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which each nut includes a smooth frusto-conical portion in contact with said bracket and a wrench receiving break-away portion connected to said frusto-conical portion.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 in which each leg includes a second outwardly extending boss having a hole therethrough arranged at an angle to its associated leg and spaced a different distance from the connection between the legs than the first boss.