GB2285410A - Improved apparatus and method for door hanging - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a template for forming corresponding hinge recesses in a door and a door frame, comprising an elongate body having an axially facing abutment surface at one end, alignment means spaced from the abutment surface in the axial direction by a clearance dimension, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and opposed faces, and at least one opening penetrating the template at right angles to the opposed faces, the edges of the opening corresponding to the position and size of the hinge recesses, the template further comprising coplanar guide surfaces extending longitudinally of the template and perpendicularly from the opposed faces, the plane of the guide surfaces passing through the opening. A method for forming hinge recesses using such a template is also described. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOOR HANGING The present invention relates to joinery, and is particularly concerned to provide a portable template for positioning and cutting out recesses for butt hinges, using a router. The invention finds utility when hanging doors in on-site conditions.

The conventional method of forming recesses for butt hinges involves measuring and marking out the positions of hinges on the edge of a door, and then reproducing those dimensions by measuring on the door frame with allowance for door joint clearances. Then by marking around a hinge, or with a gauge or the like, the recesses are cut out to size and depth by hand chiselling. The conventional method is not only time consuming, but requires a high degree of skill on the part of the tradesman if accurate measurement is to be achieved.

The present invention provides a template and a method for positioning and forming the recesses for the hinges with the use of a router guided by the template. The same template is used both for the door edge and for the door frame. When the template is applied to the door edge the router is entered through a first side of the device to form the recesses for the hinges of the door, and when the template is applied to the frame the router is entered from the other side to form the recesses for the hinges in the frame.

The present method achieves perfection in alignment of the hinges without repeated measurements, and saves time compared to conventional methods.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a template for forming corresponding hinge recesses in a door and a door frame, comprising an elongate body having an axially facing abutment surface at one end, alignment means spaced from the abutment surface in the axial direction by a clearance dimension, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and opposed faces, and at least one opening penetrating the template at right angles to the opposed faces, the edges of the opening corresponding to the position and size of the hinge recesses, the template further comprising coplanar guide surfaces extending longitudinally of the template and perpendicularly from the opposed faces, the plane of the guide surfaces passing through the opening.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the abutment surface and the alignment means are constituted by opposed faces of a generally planar element situated at the end of the template, the face of the planar element facing away from the template constituting the abutment surface, and the alignment means being constituted by that face of the planar element facing towards the template.

Preferably, two or more openings are formed in the template, and the guide surfaces are defined by projections adjustably fixed to the opposed faces.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming hinge recesses using such a template, comprising first positioning the template with a first of its opposed faces in contact with the hinge edge of a door, its guide surface engaging a face of the door, and its alignment means aligned with the top edge of the door, and introducing a tool through the opening or openings in the template in a first sense to form the hinge recesses, then positioning the template with the other of its opposed faces in contact with the hinge reveal of a door frame, with its abutment surface engaging the upper horizontal part of the frame and its guide surface engaging a face of the frame, and introducing a tool through the opening or openings in the template in a second sense, opposite to the first, to form the hinge recesses.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective a door hinge template according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is seen a template in the form of an elongated element 1 of rectangular section. Penetrating openings 2 are formed at points along the length of the template 1 to extend between opposing first 1A and second 1B faces of the template 1. The openings 2 are substantially identical in shape to the recesses required in the door frame and door edge, and are spaced so as to correspond with the required locations for hinges. The faces of the template 1 are also provided with locating guide surfaces or fences 3 each having a locating edge 3a spaced by a distance D from a leading edge 4 of the template. The purpose of the fences 3 will be explained below.

At the upper end of the template is a combined spacer and stop element 5 which is rotatable about a central pivot 6. In the position shown, the element 5 is aligned so as to extend above the lateral faces 1A and 1B of the template. In its alternative position, the element 5 rests at 900 to the illustrated position, generally overlying the end face 7 of the template 1.

At spaced locations along the length of the template, penetrating openings 8 are formed. The purpose of these openings 8 will be described below.

In order to use the template to form the hinge recesses in an edge face of a door, the template I is offered up to the door with the spacer and stop element 5 in the position shown in the drawing.

The template 1 is located against the edge face of the door, with the locating edges 3a of the fences 3 of the first lateral face 1A in contact with the opening face of the door. The distance D between the locating edges 3a and the edge 4 of the template is preferably adjustable, and is set to correspond substantially to the thickness of the door. The upper edge of the door is urged into contact with the underside of the locating stop element 5, and temporary fasteners such as nails, screws, bradawls, etc are inserted through openings 8 in order to secure the template to the door in this position.

To form the hinge recesses, a router or other similar tool is inserted through each of the openings 2 in turn, and material is removed from the edge of the door to form the hinge recesses. The temporary securings are then released and the template is removed from the door. The corners of the routed recesses can be squared off, if necessary, by hand using a chisel.

To form corresponding recesses in a door frame, the template is attached to the door frame with its second lateral face 1B adjacent the frame, and is located in position by the locating edges 3a of fences 3 so that the opening face of the door will be flush with the front of the door frame when the door is hung. The fences 3 of each lateral face 1A and 13 of the template are set so that the distance D, between the face 3a and the edge 4 of the template, is the same for both. The template is located vertically relative to the frame by urging it upwardly until the spacer 5 contacts the horizontal upper part of the door frame.It should be emphasised that the lateral face 1B of the template which contacts the door frame is the face opposite to the lateral face 1A which was placed in contact with the edge of the door to form the hinge recesses in the door. To set the hinge recesses in the door frame to the correct height, the combined stop and spacer 5 at the upper end of the template is rotated so as to overlie the end edge 7 of the template when it is attached to the frame, the thickness of the spacer 5 being such as to adjust the positions of the openings 2 vertically in relation to the door jamb so as to provide a clearance between the upper edge of the door and the horizontal upper part of the door frame equal to the thickness of the spacer element 5.

When the template is in position, with the spacer element 5 abutting the upper edge of the door opening, the template 1 is temporarily fixed in position by means of fasteners penetrating through the openings 8. A router or other similar tool is then inserted through the openings 2 in the opposite sense to the insertion direction used during formation of the recesses on the door. Once appropriate recesses have been formed in the door frame, the template 1 is removed from the door frame. The door and the door frame can then be brought together, since the positions and spacings of the recesses in the door and the frame will coincide, allowing the door to be hung by fixing hinges in the recesses.

The template length preferably is such as to reach from the top of the door to a distance between the lower hinge aperture and the bottom of the door. The template may alternatively be used in an inverted position with the spacer 5 contacting first the lower edge of the door, and then the threshold or sill of the door frame. This is however not the preferred method.

The template's lateral faces 1A and 1B are wide enough to accommodate the door thickness D plus the fences 3 shown.

The template is required to be of sufficient thickness T as to stand proud of the frame's rebate or stop, to allow the base plate of a router when placed on the template face to pass over the rebate or stop and not be restricted by it.

The template body can be made from a straight rectangular solid or hollow box section of either metal or other rigid material.

Preferably a rectangular box section aluminium extrusion is used, but solid or hollow plastics construction is also possible.

The top door joint spacer 5 is a rectangular plate preferably no larger than the template's cross-section and having a thickness equal to the clearance required above the door. It may be fixed by means of a central screw or the like so as to lie flat on the end of the template, secured sufficiently tightly to allow the spacer to be rotated yet to prevent unwanted rotation.

The joint spacer 5 is aligned with the rectangular section of the template when the template is applied to the frame. The spacer 5 is rotated through 900 and used as a positioning stop on the top of the door when the template is applied to the door edge.

As an alternative to the spacer 5, the template may be provided with one or more marks spaced from its end face 7 and parallel thereto, the marks serving to set the clearance between the door and frame.

In use, the template is first fixed to the door with the upper edge of the door aligned with the selected mark, and the door recesses are cut out. The template is then offered and fixed to the door frame with the end face 7 abutting the upper horizontal frame member, and the frame recesses are cut out. Thus, the door will be spaced from the upper frame member by a distance equal to the distance between the mark and the end face 7 of the template. A plurality of marks may be provided, preferably as a series of parallel lines on both lateral faces 1A and 1B of the template.

The hinge apertures 2 are positioned according to the door height and butt hinge width and length.

The apertures may be preset fixed cutouts, or may be adjustable elements to allow freedom in positioning of hinges. The size of the openings 2 may also be made adjustable. For example, each of the openings 2 may be formed by cutting two aligned longitudinally extending slots in the opposed faces IA and 1B of the template, so that the longitudinally extending sides of the openings guide the router to form the hinge recess. The width of the hinge recess is defined by the transverse distance between the faces 3a of the fences 3 and the side of the opening nearest the edge 4 of the template. To define the length of the hinge recess, longitudinally slidable elements may be positioned within the openings so that the spacing between the elements corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the hinge.

The upper and lower fences 3 are preferably pairs of blocks which are set in identical positions on the opposite faces 1A and B of the template to give a distance D equal to or less than the thickness of the door between a locating edge 3a of each fence and an edge 4 of the template.

When the template is applied to the edge of the door, it is positioned by the fences of one lateral face (1A or 1B, respectively) against the opening face of the door. When the template is applied to the frame the fences 3 on the opposite lateral face (1B or 1A) are placed against the edge of the frame.

The fences may be fixed, or may be adjustable to suit different door thicknesses.

The temporary securing points 8 are shown as holes for nailing the template to the work surface, however the temporary securing can take the form of screws, c amps, clips or the like.

when applying the template to the door edge the top joint spacer 5 is placed against the top of the door and the edge 3a of fence 3 against the opening face of the door. The template now in position, is then temporarily secured at point 8, for example by driving nails or preferably a bradawl through each of the holes 8 in the template and into the door edge. On completion of routing the hinge recesses the template is released by removal of the nails using the claw of a hammer or similar implement.

The same process is repeated when securing the template to the frame but with the top joint spacer 5 aligned with the template and placed against the underside of-the frame head and fence against the outer edge of the frame jamb.

It will be appreciated that in the absence of a suitable tool to use with the template, the template may still be used to mark the hinge positions by offering it to the door and to the frame as described above, and marking the outlines for the hinge recesses with a pencil or the like extending through the openings 2 in the same way as the router tool extends therethrough. After removal of the template, the hinge recesses may be cut with a chisel.

Claims (13)

1. A template for forming corresponding hinge recesses in a door and a door frame, comprising an elongate body having an axially facing abutment surface at one end, alignment means spaced from the abutment surface in the axial direction by a clearance dimension, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and opposed faces, and at least one opening penetrating the template at right angles to the opposed faces, the edges of the opening corresponding to the position and size of the hinge recesses, the template further comprising coplanar guide surfaces extending longitudinally of the template and perpendicularly from the opposed faces, the plane of the guide surfaces passing through the opening.

2. A template according to Claim 1, wherein two or more openings are formed in the template.

3. A template according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the guide surfaces are defined by projections adjustably fixed to the opposed faces.

4. A template according to any preceding Claim, wherein the abutment surface and the alignment means are constituted by opposed faces of a generally planar element situated at the end of the template, the face of the planar element facing away from the template constituting the abutment surface, and the alignment means being constituted by that face of the pianar element facing towards the template.

5. A template according to Claim 4, wherein the generally planar element is movable between a first position wherein it projects laterally beyond at least one of the opposed faces of the template, and a second position wherein it lies between the planes of the opposed faces of the template.

6. A template according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the alignment means is constituted by one or more markings on the template spaced from the abutment surface.

7. A template according to any preceding Claim, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the opening or openings is adjustable.

8. A template according to Claim 7, wherein each opening is formed by cutting a longitudinally extending slot penetrating the opposed faces of the template, and longitudinally slidable elements are positioned within the slot so that the spacing between the elements defines the longitudinal dimension of the opening.

9. A method for forming hinge recesses using a template according to any preceding claim, comprising positioning the template with a first of its opposed faces in contact with the hinge edge of a door, its guide surface engaging a face of the door, and its alignment means aligned with the top edge of the door, and introducing a tool through the opening or openings in the template in a first sense to form the hinge recesses, then positioning the template with the other of its opposed faces in contact with the hinge reveal of a door frame, with its abutment surface engaging the upper horizontal part of the frame and its guide surface engaging a face of the frame, and introducing a tool through the opening or openings in the template in a second sense, opposite to the first, to form the hinge recesses.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tool is a router and the recesses are formed with the template acting as a router guide.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tool is a marking tool and the template is removed to allow the recesses to be formed.

12. A template according to any preceding Claim, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

13. A method for forming hinge recesses, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.