Hinge pin

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is an improved hinge pin and bushing assembly which reduces the number of assembly operations and eliminates material.
A molded pin and bushing assembly is provided formed from nylon or similar plastic material having self-lubricating properties.
One end of the device includes a bushing portion having a shoulder and a tubular bushing element.
Concentric with the bushing and extending therefrom is a pin assembly which is attached to the central portion of the bushing by a plurality of thin webs.
The opposite end of the pin includes a solid plug portion having the same outside profile as the bushing including a flange portion.
The hinge pin and bushing assembly is, as noted above, molded such that the pin is held to the bushing by pin webs of the nylon material prior to assembly.
A pair of these devices is provided for each hinge assembly.
Assuming for purposes of illustration that the device is to be installed, the hinge leaf has the bushing portion inserted in one end of the barrel and the opposite end of the device is pushed so as to force the pin into the bushing by breaking the thin webs.
A slightly enlarged end of the pin portion may be provided which will project slightly from the bushing when fully inserted.
The faces of the bushing and the pin shoulders come together and will represent the bearing surfaces.
A second hinge pin and bushing assembly is inserted in the other end of the hinge leaf which is then ready to be installed into the jamb hinge leaves.
As will be understood, the plugs fit into the barrel portions of such jamb hinge leaves.
For manual installation, several steps have been eliminated; however, the invention is particularly well suited for insertion by a machine with only two operations required, and only two bushing-pin elements need to be stocked and fed to the machine per hinge.
Although plastic is a preferred material due to its low cost and self-lubricating characteristics, the hinge pin and bushing assembly can be formed from aluminum or other materials known in the art