Apparatus for assembling hinges on folding doors and the like

Nov. 3, 1970 j. w. matyas 3,537,166

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING HINGES ON FOLDING DOORS AND THE LIKE

Filed Aug. 30, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Nov. 3,, 1970 j. w. matyas 3,537,166

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING HINGES ON FOLDING DOORS AND THE LIKE

Filed Aug. 30, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3537166A_D0002.tif" />

3,537,166

Patented Nov. 3, 1970

United States Patent Office

3,537,166 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING HINGES ON FOLDING DOORS AND THE LIKE

John W. Matyas, 11300 Schaefer, Detroit, Mich. 48227 Filed Aug. 30,1968, Ser. No. 756,678

Int. Cl. B23p 19/00

U.S. CI. 29—200 27 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An apparatus for assembling hinges on folding doors comprising a plurality of hinge supporting assemblies mounted adjustably on a longitudinally extending member. Each hinge assembly includes magnet means for supporting the hinge and means for locating the hinge on the assembly. In addition, each hinge assembly includes means for gripping screws and holding them in alignment with the openings in the hinge until they are screwed into the openings and into the doors.

This invention relates to assembling hinges on folding doors and the like.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus for accurately locating hinges with respect to the door and with respect to one another; which includes assemblies for holding each hinge and for holding the screws in alignment with the openings of the hinge until they are screwed into the door.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the apparatus in position for mounting hinges on a door.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4—4 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the lines 5—5 and 6—6 showing the parts in different operative positions.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7—7 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 8—8 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the assembly operation and represents the view of the fixture looking upwardly after the door panels 10, 11 have been laid upon a work table or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus embodying the invention is utilized for applying hinges to the panels 10, 11 of a folding door which is supported on a table and located thereon by blocks 12. The apparatus includes a longitudinally extending member or bar 13 on which hinge supporting assemblies 14 are adjustably mounted longitudinally at the desired locations where the hinge is to be placed on the door. The end of the bar 13 is adapted to contact a block 15 to locate the bar and, in turn, the hinge supporting assemblies 14 with respect to the bottom edges of the panels 10,11.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each hinge supporting assembly 14 comprises a body 16 including a clamp 17 fixed thereto by screws 18. The clamp 17 has an opening thereon so that it can be telescoped over the bar 13 and a screw 19 can be tightened to clamp the assembly 14 at any desired point longitudinally on the bar 13.

The body 14 includes laterally spaced plates 20 mounted thereon. Each of the plates includes a beveled edge 21 defining a space 22 for receiving the pivot 23 of the hinge H (FIG. 5). This locates the hinge H laterally on the body 14. A spacer 24 is fixed on the body 14 by screws 25 and extends at right angles thereto. The spacer serves to space the panels 10, 11 of the folding door (FIG. 8), and at the same time, serves as an abutment for locating the hinge H and initially aligning the hinge H longitudinally of the body 14 (FIG. 3).

When the hinge H is located in the manner shown in FIG. 3, the openings O in the hinge are aligned with openings 26 in the plate 20.

The body 14 further includes openings 27 and recesses 28 beneath the plate 20. Each recess 28 is elongated as shown in FIG. 3 and receives a pair of gripping members 29 which are yieldingly urged toward one another by leaf springs 30 against pins 31. The gripping members have oppositely disposed grooves 32 therein that define openings aligned with the openings 26 and 27 for yieldingly gripping a screw S (FIG. 6).

The body further supports magnets M for holding the hinges in position until the screws are threaded into the door panel.

In use, each hinge supporting assembly 14 is adjustably mounted on the work table against the blocks 12 to align their lower edges. The hinges H are then mounted on their respective hinge supporting assemblies 14 and located thereon by the grooves 23 and abutment with the spacers 24. Screws S are inserted through openings 27 between the gripper members 29 and the entire apparatus is laid upon the door panels 10, 11 with the spacers 24 extending between the panels 10, 11. The doors are moved against the spacers 24 to provide the proper distance between the side edges of the panels 10, 11. The screws S are then threaded through the openings in the hinges into the panels to assemble the hinges H on the panel. The apparatus is then lifted off leaving the panels 10, 11 hinged to one another.

It can be appreciated that with hinges of different configurations, the locations of the openings and gripping members in the assembly fixture will be changed.