Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Door Hing, A Seemingly Trivial Yet Important Invention

The Door Hing, A Seemingly Trivial Yet Important Invention

By Daisy Lin Lam


Doors are such an integral part of the everyday existence that you cannot imagine starting a day without dealing with doors. Let's say an estimated five doors are opened and shut in order for you get ready and set out for work. The first stop is probably the bathroom door where you take a shower. You must also open the cabinet that contains your toothpaste and toothbrush. You reach for your cereal to grab a quick bite to eat and the front door swings shut behind you before you leave. All of these doors and more would not work without a door hinge or two. And how would it feel like without these important door parts? Well picture going into and out of your house through a hole in the roof because you are no strong enough to move a large rock or slab of wood everyday in front of the entrance.

Door hinges are very sturdy and strong. Surprisingly, door hinges can work up to eight to ten times more than the assigned work. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to claim that these door hinges lend the power of a god to a common man's hands. And the best way to see the biggest variety of door hinges is to shop online. You don't need to walk from one end of the city to the other searching for a good hinge for your kitchen door for example. You can just surf through the door hinge collections available at different online stores from the comfort of your home, compare the features and prices, and place order for the one that's the most suitable.

There are several types of door hinge available. The butt hinge is one of the most common types. A butt hinge, comprises two flaps that are held together by a rod or a pin. To take the door down all you would have to do is remove the pins. You can choose to add finials or balls to the pins for a decorative touch.

Garage doors are usually attached with T-hinges. It has a letter T shape and the door frame is usually attached to the horizontal part while the vertical part is connected to the door. Even with the T-hinge, you have the option of choosing between plain and ornamental designs. If your door is a folding door, then a Soss hinge is the hinge to use. Named after its inventor, a Soss hinge is sandwiched between the edges of a folding door and remains fully hidden when door is folded. It must be installed exactly or it will not work.

For smaller doors in the house, cabinet doors for instance, there are different door hinges designed for different types of doors. The three most popular door types for cabinets include overlay doors, flush doors and lipped doors. A lipped door has a lip cut around it and works well with most hinges.

A flush door rests within the frame and works well with butterfly hinges. This door hinge type bears a striking resemblance to a butt hinge, with the exception that it is installed on the outside and is more ornamental in its design.

Overlay doors are installed with pivot hinges. One portion of the hinge is placed on top, while the other on the bottom portion, which leads to the hinge being hidden. Perhaps the most popular hinge is the spring mounted hinge. Fitted with a small spring inside this door hinge allows the door to close on its own, automatically.

So the next time you open or close a door stop for a moment to ponder the power and utility of the humble door hinge; it deserves it.




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