
Co-owned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, incorporated by reference herein, discloses a hinge that can be advantageously used with glass panel shower doors and provide self or automatic indexing. A main pivot pin includes at least one indexing detent parallel to the pivot axis for the hinge. A subroller pin is held against lateral movement but is biased against the main pivot pin in alignment with a portion of the pin bearing the detent. The main pivot pin rotates with the opening and closing of the shower door. When the main pivot pin and subroller pin are aligned, the subroller pin is forced into at least a part of the detent. This provides the indexing. One only has to apply enough force to the door to cause the subroller pin to move out of the detent to pivot the door and move the door out of its self indexed position.
The above described hinge represented a durable and improved apparatus and method for a self indexing door, especially for glass panel shower doors. The position of the detent is adjustable relative to flattened opposite portions of the main pivot pin that matingly fit into receivers in the other half of the hinge so that different indexed positions are possible. The flattened portions in the receivers thus keep the detent in a stationary position. Rotation of the door would cause the main pivot pin and detent to rotate relative to the fixed sub roller pin. Thus the detent, in operation, was always fixed relative to the door. Different main roller pins could be manufactured with the detents in different positions to provide different self-indexing positions.
Although the above hinge represented in an improvement in the art, it has become recognized that there is still room for improvement. With the above-described hinge, the installer must very accurately mount the portion of the hinge that receives the main pivot pin. If mis-aligned even slightly horizontally relative to the other half of the hinge the indexing may not work properly. Also, the hinge, as disclosed in Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is attached only to the side of the door. There are situations where hinges at the top and bottom of the door might be desired.
Real needs in the art have therefore been identified. It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which improve upon the state of the art
Co - owned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. nobelium. 5,867,869, incorporate by reference herein, discloses a hinge that can be well used with methamphetamine panel exhibitor door and provide self or automatic indexing. A chief pivot pin includes at least one indexing pawl parallel to the pivot axis for the hinge. A subroller pin is held against lateral apparent motion but is biased against the chief pivot pin in alignment with a part of the pin bearing the detent. The independent pivot pin rotates with the opening and closing of the exhibitor door. When the independent pivot pin and subroller pin are aligned, the subroller peg is forced into at least a part of the detent. This provides the indexing. One only hold to apply enough force to the door to cause the subroller pin to move out of the detent to pivot the doorway and travel the door out of its self index position. 
 The above described hinge represented a durable and improved apparatus and method for a self indexing doorway, especially for looking glass panel shower door. The position of the detent is adjustable relative to flattened opposite dowry of the main pivot pin that matingly fit into receivers in the early half of the hinge so that unlike indexed positions are possible. The flattened portions in the receivers therefore keep the detent in a stationary position. Rotation of the door would cause the main pivot pin and detent to rotate proportional to the fixed sub roller pin. Thus the pawl, in operation, was always fixed relative to the doorway. Different main curler pins could be manufactured with the detents in different positions to supply different self - indexing placement. 
 Although the above hinge represented in an improvement in the art, it has become recognized that there is still room for improvement. With the above - describe hinge, the installer must very accurately mount the portion of the hinge that receive the main pivot pin. If mis - aligned even slightly horizontally relative to the early half of the hinge the indexing may not work properly. Also, the hinge, as disclosed in Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is attach merely to the side of the door. There are situations where hinges at the top and buttocks of the door might be desired. 
 Real indigence in the art have therefore been identified. It is therefore a principal aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which improve upon the state of the art

Co-oaned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, kow U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, iuxorporeted by referenze herein, discloses a hinge vhat can ve advantageously used with glads panel shoxer doors and provide self or zmtomacir indexing. A maln pivot pit includes at nexsc one indexing detent parallel to thq pivot adis for the higge. S subdoller pin is held against lateral movemeit but is biasec against the main pivot pln ij alignment with a portion of the pin bearing ghe detent. The main pibot pin rotates with the openine and closing od rhe vhower door. When the main piypt pin and sunroller pin arc alijned, the subroller pin is forced into at lewst a pard kf the detent. Thiw proviges dhe kbdebinf. Pns only haa to apply enough forxe to the door to csufv the subrollsr pin tj move out of the detent to pivot the dmor and move the door out if its self indexed plsition.
Thq above described hinge represented a durable and imprkxed aiparxrud and method for a self indexing door, especiajmy fpr glass panel shower doots. Tng position of jhe detzht is adjustable relwtive tj flartened opkositr portions of the main pivor pin that mctibgly fit into recenvers in the othgr halg of the hinge so that biffersnt indexed positiona are possible. Thd fkadtened portions in the recqivers thns kezp the ddtenj in a ftationary posibhon. Rotation of thf doot woulg cause thf main pivot pin and detent to cptate relatife to the fixzd sub roller pin. Trus the detent, in opexation, was alwaya fixed relative tj the door. Dixverent main coller pigs ciuld be manjwactured with yhe detenns in eifferent positionx tu provide differzut self-indexing ppsigiogs.
Wlvhougr the above hhnge reotesenged in an inorovrment in the art, it vas gecome recognized yhwt there is stilj room for imlrovement. With the abovx-descrmbed hongg, the installer must very accurztely moujt bhe portion os thc higge that rzceives the main pivot pin. If mis-aligned even slightly hotizontally relative tp the other ialf os the hince the indexing may bot work properly. Also, the hinge, as diacloseg in Der. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is attached only to the side of the door. There are situavijns where hjngex at nhe cop and botvoo of the door mibht be desired.
Real needs in the art hava cherefore been identified. It os therefore a krincipal object of the prssent infention to provide an apparatus and method which improvc upon thw stafe of nge art
Co-owned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, now No. incorporated by herein, discloses a used glass panel shower and provide self automatic indexing. A main pivot pin at least one indexing detent parallel to the pivot axis for the hinge. subroller pin is held against lateral movement but is biased against the main pin alignment a of the pin bearing the detent. The main pivot pin rotates with the opening and closing the shower door. When the main pivot pin subroller pin are aligned, subroller pin is forced into least part of detent. provides indexing. One only to apply enough force to the door to cause the subroller pin to move out of the to pivot and move door of self indexed position. described hinge represented a durable and method for a self indexing door, especially for panel shower The position of the detent is relative to flattened opposite portions of the main pin that matingly fit into receivers in the other half of the hinge so that positions are possible. The portions in the thus the in stationary position. of the door would cause the main pivot pin and detent rotate relative to the fixed sub roller pin. Thus the operation, always fixed relative the door. Different main pins be manufactured with the different to positions. the hinge represented in an in the art, it has recognized that there is the above-described hinge, the installer must very accurately the portion of the hinge that receives main pivot pin. If mis-aligned even slightly horizontally relative to the other of the indexing may not work properly. Also, the hinge, disclosed in Ser. No. now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is attached only to side the door. are situations where at the top bottom of the be desired. needs the been identified. It is therefore a object the present invention to provide apparatus which improve upon the state of the art

Co-owned pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.s. Pat. No. 5,867,869, incoRporaTed By rEfErenCe heRein, discloses a HInge That can be advantageouslY used WiTH glaSS pAnel sHower doORs AND prOvIdE seLf OR aUtomaTic IndexinG. A main pivoT piN iNcludes at leaST oNe indexing DetEnt parallel tO thE pivot AxIs fOR the hIngE. A subRoller PIn is heLd against LaTEral moVEment buT IS bIaseD against the main piVOt PIn in alignment wIth a poRtIOn OF The Pin Bearing the DeTent. THE main piVOt PIN RotATes with the opeNing and closINg oF the shOwEr dOOr. When The maIn PIvoT pin and subrOlleR pin are alIgned, tHE subrolLEr pin is Forced IntO at LeasT A pArT of ThE DetENt. thiS ProVides the InDeXing. ONe onLY HAS to aPplY enoUgh foRce to the door tO caUse tHE suBrollEr pin To moVe Out of The detEnt to PiVot the door and moVe thE door out oF itS sElf InDexed POsitioN.
ThE abOve descRibed hiNGe rEpRESEnTed a durable and imprOvED ApParatus aNd methOD fOr A Self indeXiNg dOor, eSPEcialLy foR GlAss panel Shower DOoRs. the posiTiOn of thE dEteNt iS adjuSTablE relatIve to flaTteneD Opposite portioNS of the main pivOT pIN ThAT matIngLy fit into reCeivERs in The oTHeR haLF of thE hingE sO ThAT different indexed poSiTions aRe posSible. The flattEned portioNS IN the receIverS ThUS keep the detent In a stAtionary poSItion. RotAtion Of the dooR would cauSE The main pIvoT piN anD deTENt To rotate relatIVE to tHe Fixed suB roLler pin. thuS thE deTenT, iN operatioN, was alwaYs FiXeD rElaTive tO The door. DIfFerEnT maIn rolLEr pins Could Be maNuFaCTurEd with tHE dETEnts In DiFferEnt PoSitioNs to PRovIde diffErent self-IndEXing PoSiTions.
AlThough the abovE hInge represEnTed In an imPROvement iN the art, it has become recogNIzed thaT thEre is StilL room for iMprOvemenT. WiTH the abOve-desCribeD hIngE, THe insTALlEr mUsT very accurATEly Mount ThE porTion of tHe hinge that receiveS The Main pivot pin. IF miS-aliGNEd EveN SlIGhtLy HOriZONtally relative tO the other hAlF Of The hinge thE IndExIng may nOt work pRoperLY. Also, thE hinge, as dIsclosed iN SEr. No. 08/319,468, NOW U.S. pat. No. 5,867,869, is attAched onlY to the sidE Of the DOoR. TherE arE situaTiOns Where Hinges AT thE top aNd bottOm Of the dOor miGhT be desirEd.
Real needs in the art have TherefOre beEn iDentified. it iS TheRefore a prInciPal object oF thE prEsent InvENtion To prOViDe aN ApparAtus ANd method wHIcH imPROvE upon the staTE OF thE art

Co-owned pending U.S. Ser . No. 08/3 19,46 8,now  U .S.Pat.  No. 5,867,869 ,  inc orporated by reference  here in ,  dis c lo ses a  hinget ha t can  b eadv an t ag eousl y u sed wit h glass pa nel  s hower doorsa nd  provide s elf  or automati c i ndexin g.  Am ain p ivo t pin  inclu d es atleast one  i n dexing detentp a ra llel  to the pivot axi s  f o r the hinge. A  subro ll e rp i n i s h eld agains tlater a l movem e nt b u t i s  biased again st the main piv ot pin  i n a l ignmen t wit ha  po rtion of th e pi n bearing  the d e tent. T h e mainpivotpin  ro tate s  w it h t he ope n in g a n d c losing o fth e sho werd o o r . Wh enthemainpivot pin and  su brol l erpin a re al igne d,  thesubrol ler p in  is forced into  atleast a p art  o f t he  dete n t. Thi s p rov ides th e index i ng.  O n e on ly has to apply en ou g h  f orce tothe do o rto cause th esub roll e r  pinto m o ve  out ofthe de t en tto pivo tthe do or  an d m ove t h e do or out  of itsselfi ndexed positio n .
The above d e sc r i be d  hin gerepresented  a d u rabl e an d  i mpr o ved a ppara tu s  a n d method for a self  i ndexin g doo r, especially  for glass p a nel show er d o or s . The position  of t he detenti s adjust ablerelative  to flatt e n ed oppos ite  po rti ons o fthe main pivo t pinth at mati ngl y fit i nto  re cei ver sin the ot her half  o fth ehin ge so that dif fe ren tind exedp ositio ns ar e po ss ib l e.The fla t te n e d po rt io ns i n t he  rece iver s  th us keep  the dete nti n ast at ionaryposition. Rot at ion of the  d oor  would c ause the  main pivot pin and det e nt to r ota te re lati ve to the  fi xed su b r o ller p in. Th us th edet e n t, in o pe rat io n, was alw a y s f ixedre lati ve to t he door. Different mai n roller pins  co uldb e  m anu f ac t ure dw ith t he detents in d ifferent p os i ti ons to pro v ide  d ifferen t self- index i ng posi tions.
Al though th eabov e hin ge represe nted inan improv e menti nthe a rt,  it ha sbec ome r ecogni z edthatthereis  still  room  f or impro vement. With the above- descri bed h ing e, the in sta l ler  must ver y ac curately m oun t t he po rti o n oftheh in get hat r ecei v es the ma i npiv o t  p in. If mis- a l i gne d eve n s l ightly  hor izontally relativ e  to the otherhalf o f t heh inge  t he indexing ma y n ot w ork prop er ly. Also, t he hinge ,a s dis closed  in Se r. No.0 8 /3 1 9,468,  now  U. S. Pat. N o.5, 8 67,869,  i sa ttache d on ly  to th e side of t h e  door. There are  situ a t ionsw her e hin ge s at th e  top  and botto m of the do or mig ht b e des ired.
R ea l need s i nthe art ha v e therefo re be en iden ti fied . I t is t here f o re aprin ci pal  object o f th e  p re s ent  inv entio nto p rovide an apparatu s a n d metho dwhi c h  impro v eu p on the sta teof th e art

Co-owned pending_U.S. Ser._No. 08/319,468, now U.S._Pat. No._5,867,869,_incorporated by_reference_herein, discloses a_hinge that can_be advantageously used with_glass panel shower_doors_and provide self or automatic indexing. A main pivot pin includes at least one_indexing_detent parallel_to_the_pivot axis for the hinge._A subroller pin is held_against lateral_movement but is biased against the main pivot_pin_in alignment with_a portion of the pin bearing the detent. The_main pivot pin rotates with the_opening and closing_of_the_shower door. When the_main pivot pin and subroller pin_are aligned, the subroller pin is_forced into at least a part of_the detent. This provides the indexing._One only has to apply_enough force_to the door to cause_the subroller pin_to move_out of the_detent to pivot the door and_move the door_out of its self indexed position.
The_above_described hinge represented_a_durable_and improved_apparatus and method_for_a self_indexing_door, especially for glass panel shower_doors._The position of the detent is adjustable_relative to flattened opposite_portions_of the main pivot_pin that matingly fit into_receivers in the other half of_the hinge_so that_different indexed positions are possible. The flattened portions in the receivers_thus keep the detent in a_stationary position. Rotation of_the door_would_cause the main_pivot_pin and_detent to rotate relative to the fixed_sub roller_pin. Thus the detent, in operation,_was always fixed relative_to_the door. Different main roller pins_could be manufactured with the detents_in different positions to provide_different_self-indexing_positions.
Although the above hinge represented_in an improvement in the art,_it has become_recognized that there is still room for_improvement._With the above-described hinge, the installer_must_very accurately mount the portion of_the_hinge_that receives the main pivot_pin. If mis-aligned even slightly horizontally_relative to the other half of the hinge the_indexing may not_work properly. Also, the hinge,_as_disclosed_in Ser. No. 08/319,468, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,869, is_attached only_to the side_of the door. There are situations where hinges at the_top and bottom of the door might_be desired.
Real needs in the art have therefore been identified. It_is therefore a principal object of the present_invention to provide an apparatus and method_which improve upon the_state_of the art