Removable compact hinge and method of use

Abstract

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 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;   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.   
     
     
         2 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the set of links pivotally connected to the lever at a third pivot point. 
 
     
     
         3 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a hinge cup configured to be affixed to a singing door of a cabinet carcass. 
 
     
     
         4 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a hinge arm pivotally connected to the hinge cup and adjustably connected to a base. 
 
     
     
         5 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         6 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         7 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         8 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         9 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         10 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         11 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         12 . The removable compact hinge apparatus of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of a removable attachment apparatus for mounting a hinge body to a furniture piece, the method comprising:
 pivotally connecting a base to a lever at a first pivot point;   slidingly engaging a dog to the base;   pivotally connecting the dog to a set of links at a second pivot point;   adjustably connecting a pressure plate to the dog; and,   sliding the dog along the base upon rotation of the lever about the first pivot point.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 pivotally connecting the set of links to the lever at a third pivot point. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 affixing a hinge cup to a swinging door of a cabinet carcass. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 pivotally connecting a hinge arm to the hinge cup; and, 
 adjustably connecting the hinge arm to a base. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 providing a flat body; 
 extending a set of flanges from the flat body; and, 
 pivotally connecting a set of extensions to the lever. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 slidably engaging a set of rails of the base with the dog; 
 forming a set of slots in the set of rails; 
 releasably engaging the set of slots with the dog; 
 extending a set of tabs from the set of rails; and, 
 releasably engaging the set of tabs with the dog. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 extending a jaw portion of the dog from a transverse portion; 
 slidably engaging a set of guide holes through the jaw portion with the pressure plate; and, 
 engaging a threaded hole through the jaw portion with a thumbscrew. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 slidably engaging a set of arms of the dog with the base; 
 forming a set of slots in the set of arms; 
 releasably engaging the set of slots with the base; 
 forming a set of tabs in the set of arms; and, 
 releasably engaging the set of tabs with the base. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 threadably engaging a thumbscrew with the dog; 
 rotatably connecting the thumbscrew to the pressure plate; 
 forming a shoulder in the thumbscrew that abuts the pressure plate; and, 
 urging the pressure plate with the shoulder upon rotating the thumbscrew. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a vertical adjustment cam that includes an offset cam extension that extends from a cam shoulder; 
 slidingly engaging an adjustment plate with the base; 
 providing a follower hole in the adjustment plate; 
 engaging the follower hole with the cam shoulder; 
 providing a pivot hole in the base; 
 engaging the pivot hole with the offset cam extension; and, 
 urging the adjustment plate and the hinge arm with the cam shoulder to move in a vertical direction relative to the base upon rotation of the vertical adjustment cam. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a lateral adjustment screw that includes a head extending from a threaded section; 
 connecting an adjustment plate to the base; 
 engaging a slot in the adjustment plate with the head; 
 engaging the threaded section with a threaded hole in the hinge arm; and, 
 urging the hinge arm with the head to move in a lateral direction relative to the adjustment plate upon rotation of the lateral adjustment screw. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a horizontal adjustment cam that includes an offset cam extension extending from a cam shoulder; 
 slidingly engaging an adjustment plate with the hinge arm; 
 providing a follower hole in the hinge arm; 
 engaging the follower hole with the cam shoulder; 
 providing a pivot hole in the adjustment plate; 
 engaging the pivot hole with the offset cam extension; and, 
 urging the hinge arm with the cam shoulder to move in a horizontal direction relative to the adjustment plate upon rotation of the horizontal adjustment cam.