GB2227521A - Adjustable hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

A flanged tubular bushing (9) is received in a bore (10) in a knuckle (5) of a hinge and has an eccentric bore (8) to receive a hinge pin (6'). The bushing can be turned relative to the knuckle (5) to adjust the hinge but is normally held against such turning by the engagement of a projection (15) on the bushing with one of a series of angularly spaced recesses (15') on the knuckle (5). The sizes of the projection and recesses are such that in normal use the bushing does not turn but by use of a suitable tool engaging cut-outs (12') the bushing can be turned to bring the projection into co- operation with a different one of the recesses. In another construction the projection is provided on the underside of the flange of the bushing for co-operation with recesses on an end face of said knuckle. <IMAGE>

Description

ADJUSTABLE HINGES This invention relates to adjustable hinges, particularly but not exclusively for hanging doors and windows, and in particular to hinges incorporating an eccentric bushing for adjusting the position of the pivotal axis relative to one of the relatively pivoted hinge members.

Various constructions of such hinges have been proposed. In one construction a plastics flanged bushing in which the hinge pin is journalled is provided on its radially outer surface with a longitudinally extending rib which can be selectively located in one of a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal recesses provided in the bore wall of said one hinge member, the bore in the bushing being eccentric to the outer surface of the bushing, whereby the bushing can be assembled to said one hinge member in different angular positions to provide adjustment of the pivotal axis relative to said one hinge member.In order to make an adjustment it is necessary to disassemble the hinge, by removing the hinge pin and separating the hinge members, and then extract the bushing from the knuckle of said hinge member, reinsert the bushing in the hinge member after turning it to a new position in which the rib is received in a different recess, and reassemble the hinge. A disadvantage of this arrangement is the need to disassemble the hinge to make an adjustment, particularly so when the hinge is mounting a heavy door.

That construction of hinge was a development of the hinge described in Patent Specification GB 1 330 499.

It has also been proposed in an all-metal hinge to provide a metal bushing having a plain external surface and which is releasably secured against rotation relative to said hinge member by a set screw extending transversely through said one hinge member. Whilst this arrangement does enable the bushing to be rotated relative to said one hinge member without disassembly of the hinge for adjustment purposes, the set screw and the drilling for it mars the appearance of the hinge.

According to one aspect of the present invention an adjustable hinge comprises first and second relatively pivoted hinge members, a plastics bushing comprising a tubular portion and an integral flange portion, the bushing being formed with a longitudinally extending bushing bore through which a hinge pin extends, the bushing bore being arranged eccentrically of the external surface of the bushing tubular portion, the tubular portion being accommodated within a bore in a knuckle of the first hinge member, the flange portion being sandwiched between said knuckle and a knuckle of the second hinge member, the bushing or said knuckle of the first hinge member being provided with at least one projection, and said knuckle of the first hinge or said bushing respectively being provided with a plurality of angularly spaced recesses for selectively receiving the projection, the dimensions of the projection and recesses being chosen such that when a turning force, which is substantially greater than the friction force exerted in use by a swinging hung member on the bushing, is applied by a suitable tool to the bushing, the force of engagement between the rib and the recess can be overcome, and the bushing turned to bring the projection into engagement with a different one of the recesses.

Thus, the bushing can be turned by a suitable tool to bring the bushing to a new adjusted position in which a projection on the bushing, or knuckle, of the first hinge member is brought into co-operation with a different recess, the turning force required to deform resiliently the plastics bushing being arranged to be substantially greater than that exerted on the bushing by the friction forces during swinging of the hinged member. This is arranged by suitable choice of the dimensions of the projection and recesses.

In one embodiment of the invention the projection is a rib formed on the tubular portion of the bushing, and the bushing bore wall is provided with a longitudinal recess in substantial angular registry with the rib to provide additional 'give' in the bushing tubular portion in the vicinity of the rib.

In a second embodiment the bushing flange portion, is formed with a projection, or with a series of angularly spaced recesses, for co-operation with a corresponding series of angularly spaced recesses or a projection respectively on the abutting end face of that knuckle which receives the bushing tubular portion.

The tubular portion is preferably made longer than the knuckle in which it fits, such that the free end of the tubular portion projects from the knuckle bore, and that projecting free end carries a washer which is arranged between said knuckle and an adjacent knuckle, the projecting free end having a non-round section for co-operation with a complementary non-round aperture in the washer, whereby the washer is held against rotation relative to the bushing.

Two hinges, primarily, but not exclusively, for use on the doors or windows of buildings, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first hinge in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second hinge in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bushing of the hinge of Figure 2 looking generally in the direction of the arrow X in that Figure.

In Figure 1 two hinge members 1,2 have been cut and machined from lengths of extruded aluminium alloy, or similar suitable material. The hinge member 1 is formed with two knuckles 3,4, whereas the hinge member 2 is formed with a single knuckle 5 which is received in the assembled hinge between knuckles 3,4.

A headed hinge pin 6' extends in use through bores 6,7 in knuckles 3,4 and through the bore 8 in a plastics flanged bushing 9 which is fitted to knuckle 5, the knuckle 5 being provided with a bore 10 to receive the tubular portion 11 of bushing 9.

The flange portion 12 of bushing 9 is sandwiched between upper end face 13 of knuckle 5 and the underface 14 of knuckle 14 to provide a low friction bearing between knuckles 3 and 5.

The tubular portion 11 of bushing 9 is provided with at least one axially extending external rib 15 of substantially half-round shape in transverse cross-section, and the bore wall of bore 10 is formed, preferably during the extrusion process, with four equi-angularly spaced longitudinal recesses 15' of complementary half-round shape in transverse cross-section, to enable the bushing 9 to be selectively located in knuckle 5 in four differentangular positions relative to knuckle 5. Bore 8 is made eccentric to the cylindrical outer surface of bushing tubular portion 11 whereby the angular position of bushing 9 relative to knuckle 5 will affect the position of bore 8, and consequently the position of hinge pin 6' relative to the knuckle 5 can be adjusted in two directions in the plane of face 13.

The flange portion 12 is formed on its underside with four angularly spaced cut-outs 12' to enable a suitable C-shaped tool to be engaged in two of the cut-outs for turning the bushing 9 relative to the knuckle 5. Bushing 9 is provided in the wall of bore 8 with a longitudinal recess 25 in angular registry with rib 15, and extending for the full height of the bushing, to provide some 'give' to the bushing wall in the vicinity of rib 15.

The C-tool can be used to apply a turning force to the bushing of a. sufficient magnitude to disengage rib 15 angularly from the recess 15' to permit the bushing to be turned until the rib 15 engages with the next recess 15'. It will be appreciated that the tubular portion 11 of the bushing is resiliently distorted to permit this disengagement, the recess 25 accommodating the resilient distortion. In use of the hinge the friction forces which tend to turn the bushing 9 relative to knuckle 5 are insufficient to overcome the gripping forces between rib 15 and the co-operating recess 15'.

A plastics bearing washer 16 is sandwiched between knuckles 4 and 5 and is held against rotation relative to the bushing 9 by the engagement between a flat 17 on the free end of tubular portion 11 and a corresponding flat 18 bounding a non-round hole in the washer 16.

It will be appreciated that the hinge pin 6' is made an interference fit in the bores 6,7, but is freely rotatable in bushing bore 15, the flange portion 12 and washer 16 providing bearings between the knuckles.

The hinge of Figure 1 is suitable for hinging a door or window about a vertical axis, but may also be used to hinge a window about a horizontal axis.

In Figures 2 and 3 parts corresponding to those of the hinge of Figure 1 have been given corresponding reference numerals. The hinge of Figures 2 and 3 is intended for hanging a door or window about a vertical axis.

In the hinge of Figures 2 and 3, the longitudinal rib 15 and recesses 15' have been replaced by four equi-angularly spaced radial ribs 20 on the underside (in Figure 2) of the bushing flange portion 12 for co-operation with four radial recesses 21 formed in the co-operating 13 of knuckle 5. The ribs and recesses are substantially half-round in transverse cross-section, and the adjustment of the bushing can be effected with a similar C-tool when the weight of the door or window has been supported but, as with the hinge of Figure 1, the adjustment of bushing 9 can be effected without disassembly of the hinge. The thicknesses of washer 16 and flange portion 12 are made such that the hinge member 1 can be lifted very slightly sufficient to permit turning of the bushing, this turning involving some resilient deformation of the ribs 20.

Claims (8)

1. An adjustable hinge comprising .first and second relatively pivoted hinge members, a plastics bushing comprising a tubular portion and an integral flange portion, the bushing being formed with a longitudinally extending bushing bore through which a hinge pin extends, the bushing bore being arranged eccentrically of the external surface of the bushing tubular portion, the tubular portion being accommodated within a bore in a knuckle of the first hinge member, the flange portion being sandwiched between said knuckle and a knuckle of the second hinge member, the bushing or said knuckle of the first hinge member being provided with at least one projection, and said knuckle of the first hinge or said bushing respectively being provided with a plurality of angularly spaced recesses for selectively receiving the projection, the dimensions of the projection and recesses being chosen such that when a turning force, which is substantially greater than the friction force exerted in use by a swinging hung member on the bushing, is applied by a suitable tool to the bushing, the force of engagement between the rib and the recess can be overcome, and the bushing turned to bring the projection into engagement with a different one of the recesses.

2. A hinge a claimed in claim 1 in which the projection is a rib formed on the tubular portion of the bushing.

3. A hinge as claimed in claim 2 in which the bushing bore wall is provided with a longitudinal recess in substantial angular registry with the rib.

4. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 in which the bushing flange portion is formed with said projection, or with said angularly spaced recesses, for co-operation with a corresponding~series of said angularly spaced recesses or said projection respectively which are provided on the abutting end face of that knuckle which receives the bushing tubular portion.

5. A hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the tubular portion is made longer than the knuckle in which it fits, such that the free end of the tubular portion projects from the knuckle bore, and that projecting free end carries a washer which is arranged between said knuckle and an adjacent knuckle, the projecting free end having a non-round section for co-operation with a complementary non-round aperture in the washer, whereby the washer is held against rotation relative to the bushing.

6. A hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the flange portion of the bushing is provided with angularly spaced cut-outs for engagement by an adjustment tool.

7. A hinge substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A hinge substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.