AU2017204667B2 - A retainer - Google Patents

Abstract

A retainer (10) for retaining a substantially planar object (300) including a body including a slot having two opposing sides, the slot configured to allow placement therein of the substantially planar object, at least one of the opposing sides having a non-planar surface including a pivot point such that the substantially planar object can move angularly with respect to the at least one surface; and, a positioner means, wherein the positioner means is operable to allow angular movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the body to a selected position with respect to the body, and wherein the retainer operates to restrain the substantially planar object from movement with respect to the body other than the angular movement. FIG. 1 1/3 20 6oo X 7-0 C Soo 700 Figure 1

Description

1/3

20

6oo X 7-0 C

Soo

700

Figure 1

A RETAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a retainer. The invention may be useful for a retainer

used to retain planar or substantially planar objects, such as doors and windows. The invention may

also be useful in a retainer for retaining hinged planar or substantially planar objects, for example,

hinged doors, hinged windows or other devices including a hinged planar or substantially planar

object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Presently, clamps or other types of retainer may be used to secure a sheet of glass, or

some other planar or substantially planar object, where the sheet of glass forms, for example, a door for a shower cubicle or shower screen. The clamp or retainer may also form part of a hinge

assembly for the door.

[0003] Such clamps or retainers sometimes comprise a body with a slot formed therein, and the

glass sheet or other planar object is placed into the slot and secured therein. The glass sheet or

other planar object is restricted to being in a fixed plane determined by the position of the

longitudinal axis of the slot and the positioning of the clamp or retainer in, for example, a hinge

assembly.

[0004] Often when using such clamps or other types of retainer, for example, in a hinge assembly

for a shower screen door, the glass sheet or other planar object may misalign with the frame of the

shower screen so that, in a notionally closed position, the door does not meet or align with the door

frame. This may be particularly the case at a side of the door away from the hinge assembly where a

small angular error in the position of the glass or other planar object in the clamp or retainer slot, or

a small error in the positioning of the hinge assembly in the frame can result in a pronounced misalignment of the door.

[0005] It will be appreciated that some hinge assemblies, for example, as used in shower cubicle

doors, have a position which is intended to correspond with the door being in a closed position, and

that the hinge assembly includes a biasing means which operates to bias the door to the closed (or

notionally closed) position. Sometimes the biasing means operate when the door is near to being in

the closed (or notionally closed) position, so as to cause the door to automatically move to the

closed (or notionally closed) position. In such doors, hinge assemblies which are misaligned can cause the door to be in an open position when the hinge assembly is in its notionally closed position.

This circumstance can be particularly frustrating for a user, as the door will move to the open

position (due to the hinge assembly moving to its notionally closed position) even if the user moves

the door to its actually closed position.

[0006] Sometimes a door may not be aligned with its frame, for example, a shower cubicle sheet

glass door may not align with the aluminium frame of the shower cubicle due to the frame not being

square. The frame may not be square due to, for example, bowing caused during installation of the

frame caused by incorrect measurements, or misaligned receivers.

[0007] Such misalignment of, for example, a shower screen door can be unsightly and may lead to

the shower screen or shower cubicle not closing properly. In turn, an improperly closed shower

screen or cubicle may lead to water spilling out of the door if the misalignment causes the door to

remain partly open outwardly of the shower area.

[0008] The problem can be compounded due to there being typically two hinge assemblies for a

door, one at or towards the top of the door and the other at or towards the bottom of the door. If

both hinge assemblies are misaligned, the door may have a greater bias to an incorrect notionally

closed position, or may have a number of incorrect notionally closed positions.

[0009] Unfortunately, once installed, it can be difficult to correct a misaligned shower screen or

shower cubicle door. Often, the problem can be corrected only by re-installing the door and hinge

assemblies. This can be time-consuming, expensive and annoying. It will be understood that the

same problems and resulting inconvenience may occur with other sorts of doors, with windows, and

with other planar objects or substantially planar objects operable to be in open and closed positions,

and which can be subject to misalignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In one aspect, the present invention provides a retainer for retaining a substantially planar

object including a body including a slot having two opposing sides, the slot configured to allow

placement therein of the substantially planar object, at least one of the opposing sides having a non

planar surface including a pivot point such that the substantially planar object can move angularly

with respect to the at least one surface; and, a positioner means, wherein the positioner means is

operable to allow angular movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the body to a

selected position with respect to the body, and wherein the retainer operates to restrain the

substantially planar object from movement with respect to the body other than the angular movement.

[0011] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for adjusting the position of a substantially planar object in a retainer, the retainer including a body including a slot having two opposing sides, the slot configured to allow placement therein of the substantially planar object, at least one of the opposing sides having a non-planar surface including a pivot point such that the substantially planar object can move angularly with respect to the at least one surface; and, a positioner means, wherein the positioner means is operable to allow angular movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the body to a selected position with respect to the body, and wherein the retainer operates to restrain the substantially planar object from movement with respect to the body other than the angular movement, the method including operating the positioner means to allow angular movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body.

SUMMARY OF SOME OPTIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In embodiments, one side of the slot has a planar surface.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the non-planar surface has a curvature. In one or more other embodiments, the curvature is curved only with respect to a notional longitudinal axis of the body. In such embodiments, the pivot point may be a pivot line positioned at a most protruding point of the curvature.

[0014] In one or more yet other embodiments, the curvature is symmetrical about a notional central point of the surface with respect to the notional longitudinal axis of the body. In such embodiments, the pivot point (or pivot line) is co-located with the central point.

[0015] In one or more further embodiments, the positioner means includes threaded means operable to allow angular movement of (or operable to cause angular movement of) the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body. In one or more embodiments, the threaded means includes any one or more of screws, grub screws and bolts. In other embodiments, the positioner means could be a suitable clamp or clamp mechanism adapted to allow angular movement of (or operable to cause angular movement of) the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body.

[0016] In one or more other embodiments, the positioner means includes at least two threaded

means located either side of the notional central point, being co-located with the pivot point (or

line). In one or more yet other embodiments, the two threaded means are located symmetrically

about the notional central point (pivot point/pivot line).

[0017] It will be understood, for example, that in the embodiment of the surface being curved and

of the positioner means being a threaded means, such as two grub screws, these are operable to be

selectively tightened or loosened (screwed in or screwed out) so as to selectively change (or allow

change of) the angular position of the substantially planar object with respect to the body. In this

example, the angular positioning of the planar object is caused by the positioner means (at least one

of the grub screws) bearing against one side of the substantially planar object with the other side of

the substantially planar object bearing against the non-planar (curved) surface, so that selective

tightening and loosening of the grub screws causes the substantially planar object to see-saw or

pivot against the non-planar surface at the pivot point or pivot line. The see-sawing or pivoting of

the substantially planar object allows for the angular position of the object to be adjusted with

respect to the retainer.

[0018] It will be understood that, in some embodiments or in example operations of those

embodiments, the positioner means is operable to allow angular movement of the substantially

planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body. In such

embodiments or operations, for example, where the retainer includes two grub screws and a slot, an

operator may loosen the two grub screws to allow the substantially planar object to move angularly

within the slot, and when the operator is satisfied that the substantially planar object is in a desired

position, the operator can tighten the grub screws to fix the substantially planar object in that

desired angular position with respect to the body of the retainer. In other embodiments or in example operations of those embodiments, the positioner means is operable to cause angular

movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position

with respect to the body. In such embodiments or operations, the grub screws bear against the

substantially planar object, such that tightening one and loosening the other causes the object to

move in the slot to a desired position.

[0019] In one or more other embodiments, the retainer further includes a fastener component to

restrain the substantially planar object from movement with respect to the body other than the

angular movement. In such embodiments, the fastener component is not operable to cause angular

movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position

with respect to the body, but operates to prevent the planar or substantially planar object from lateral and/or up and down movement with respect to the slot, while allowing the positioner means to be operable to allow (or to cause) the substantially planar object to be selectively angularly positioned with respect to the retainer. It will be understood that, in such embodiments, the positioner means allows (or causes) pivoting or see-sawing movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the retainer or with respect to the slot of the retainer, which is not prevented by securing the substantially planar object from moving laterally and/or upwardly or downwardly with respect to the retainer or with respect to the slot of the retainer by means of the fastener component.

[0020] In some embodiments, the fastener component includes a threaded means. In

embodiments, the threaded means includes a bolt with a corresponding nut. In further

embodiments, the fastener component is a nut and bolt arrangement, wherein, in use, the bolt is

through both sides of the slot and through a hole in the substantially planar object. In some other

embodiments, the fastener component is located centrally of the grub screws of the positioner

means with a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the grub screws.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the retainer comprises a component in a hinge assembly. In

one or more other embodiments, the hinge assembly is adapted for use with a frame. In some

embodiments, the substantially planar object is any one of a door or a window. In yet other

embodiments, the door is a sheet of glass forming a door or screen of a shower cubicle.

[0022] In one or more optional embodiments, the hinge assembly has a bias means to bias the

hinge assembly to a position, wherein the door, window or other planar or substantially planar

object is in a notionally closed position. In some embodiments, the bias means operates to bias the

planar or substantially planar object to a notionally closed position only when the planar or

substantially planar object is near to the notionally closed position.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the planar or substantially planar object is located within a

frame, and in the closed position the object aligns with the frame.

[0024] It will be appreciated that doors, windows and other such substantially planar objects may

have open and closed positions with respect to, for example, a door frame, a window frame or other

frame. Moreover, a hinge assembly used with the respective object may have corresponding

positions wherein the object is notionally open and notionally closed with respect to a

corresponding frame. Unfortunately, as previously discussed, the notionally closed position of the

hinge assembly may not conform with the actual closed position of the respective substantially

planar object, wherein the object will remain in an open position when the hinge assembly is in its nationally closed position. It will also be appreciated that the positioner means is operable to angularly move (or allow angular movement of) the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body, and, where the retainer comprises a component of a hinge assembly, the positioner means allows for (or causes) the selective angular positioning of the object with respect to the notionally closed position of the hinge assembly. It will be further appreciated that selective angular positioning of the substantially non-planar object with respect to the notionally closed position of the hinge assembly allows for adjustment of the position of the object so as to cause the object to be in the actual closed position when the hinge assembly is in its notionally closed position.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the retainer comprises a clamp or clamp means. In other

embodiments, the clamp or clamp means forms part of a hinge assembly. In yet other

embodiments, the hinge assembly including the clamp means is used for hinging a planar or

substantially planar object, such as a door or screen. In some example embodiments, the retainer,

clamp or clamp means, the hinge assembly, the door or screen form components in a shower

cubicle, and the door or screen is located in a frame.

[0026] In one or more other embodiments, the positioner means is operable to allow angular

movement of (or to angularly move) the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point to

a selected position with respect to the body during installation of the substantially planar object, and

allows for angular adjustment of the position of the substantially planar object with respect to the

retainer after installation. It will be appreciated that the substantially planar object may become

misaligned, for example, a door in a shower cubicle frame, years after installation of same, so that

angular adjustment after installation is desirable.

[0027] In one or more yet other embodiments, the slot may be configured with one wide end and one narrow end so as to form a substantially V-shape slot. In such an embodiment, the body of the

retainer includes two surfaces with pivot points (or pivot lines), which are configured to cooperate

with a suitable positioner means to allow (or to cause) angular movement of the substantially planar

object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body. In such

embodiments, the pivot points are located at or towards the narrow end of the V-shape slot, and the

substantially planar object can sweep between the ends of the sides at the wide end of the slot to a

selected position with respect to the body, whereupon the positioner means can be operated to fix

the object in that position. Further, in such embodiments, the positioner means may include

threaded means, such as grub screws, which are positioned on both sides of the slot and adjustable as needed to angularly move or allow angular movement of the substantially planar object in the slot.

[0028] It will be understood that many other slot shapes are possible, and have been

contemplated as embodiments, each being configured so that the positioner means is operable to

allow (or cause) angular movement of the substantially planar object with respect to the pivot point

to a selected position with respect to the body.

[0029] In one or more alternative embodiments, the slot has a regular cross-sectional shape, and

the slot is wide relative to the thickness of the substantially planar object, such that the object is

able to move angularly within the slot. This may consist of a see-saw-like movement in the slot. In

such embodiments, the positioner means is operable to move the object or to allow movement of

the object to a selected position, and, when in the selected position, the positioner means is

operable to secure the object in that position. In some such embodiments, the positioner means

includes four (4) grub screws, with two (2) grub screws located on both sides of the slot. In other

such embodiments, the positioner means includes three (3) grub screws, with two (2) grub screws

located on both one side of the slot and one (1) grub screw located on the other side of the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] At least one embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the

following, non-limiting illustrations representing the at least one embodiment of the present

invention, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower cubicle door and door frame, including hinge

assemblies, the hinge assemblies each including a retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the

present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 is a perspective view of section A from Figure 1, showing detail of a retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the

present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 is a top plan view of a retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present

invention;

[0035] Figure 5 is a top plan view of a retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present

invention, with a substantially planar object in the slot thereof;

[0036] Figure 6 is a top plan view of a retainer in accordance with an alternative embodiment of

the present invention, having a wide slot and four (4) grub screws;

[0037] Figure 7 is a top plan view of the retainer shown in Figure 6, with the grub screws operated

to angle the substantially planar object with respect to the body of the retainer;

[0038] Figure 8 is a top plan view of a retainer in accordance with another alternative

embodiment of the present invention, having a wide slot and three (3) grub screws; and,

[0039] Figure 9 is a top plan view of the retainer shown in Figure 8, with the grub screws operated

to angle the substantially planar object with respect to the body of the retainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME OPTIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Figure 1 shows an example application of retainers 10, 20 in accordance with

embodiments of the invention, wherein the retainers are used for retaining a glass door 300 (sheet

glass), being an example substantially planar object, in a frame 200, which forms a screen 100 for a

shower cubicle. There is shown one retainer 20 towards a top right side of the door 300, and

another retainer 10 towards a bottom right side of the door 300. Each retainer is in a respective

hinge assembly, the top retainer 20 in hinge assembly 400, the bottom retainer 10 in hinge assembly

500.

[0041] The hinge assemblies 400, 500 include respective top 600 and bottom 700 hinge mounts

which are located in respective channels in the top (not shown) and bottom 800 of the frame 200.

Each retainer is operable to rotate with respect to its corresponding hinge mount, so that the door

300 is able to swing between open and closed positions. In the closed position the door 300 should

align with fixed glass panel 900, so that the shower screen 100 and the shower cubicle is substantially sealed to prevent of ameliorate egress of water from the shower.

[0042] Figure 2 is section A from Figure 1 showing the bottom hinge assembly 500 and respective

retainer 10 in greater detail. Hinge mount 700 includes a ridge 702 and the retainer 10 includes a

corresponding channel 44, such that the channel rests upon and aligns with the ridge when the

hinge assembly 500 is in its notionally closed position.

[0043] In embodiments, the hinge assemblies 400, 500 also include a rotational means between

the hinge mounts 600, 700 and the respective retainers 20, 10. The rotational means is not shown in

the figures. In one or more embodiments, the rotational means may include a substantially

cylindrical post protruding upwardly from the hinge mount 700 (downwardly from hinge mount

600), the post protruding into a corresponding hole or bore at the bottom retainer 10 (and a

corresponding hole or bore at the top of retainer 20), the hole or bore being located centrally of the

corresponding channels in the retainers 10, 20.

[0044] Also shown in Figure 2 is an embodiment of the retainer 10, which includes a body 18 and

a slot 12 therein. The slot has two sides 14 (towards the rear of Figure 2 on the far side of the glass

of the door 300) and 16 (towards the front of Figure 2 on the near side of the glass of the door 300).

The glass door is placed into the slot 12, for example, during installation. The retainer also includes a

fastener component 27, which operates to substantially prevent the glass door from moving laterally

(side-to-side) and to substantially prevent the glass door from moving upwardly and downwardly

with respect to the retainer 10, but the fastener component allows for the angular movement of the

glass door with respect to the retainer body.

[0045] In embodiments, hinge assemblies may also include bias means to move a planar or

substantially planar object to a closed position (or a notionally closed position). As exemplified in

hinge assembly 500, the bias is provided by the ridge 702 and channel 44 arrangement between the

hinge mount 700 and the retainer 10. When the door 300 is sufficiently towards a closed (or

notionally closed) position, the shapes of the channel 44 and ridge 702 are configured so as to cause

the hinge assembly 500 and door 300 to rotate around the axis of the rotational means (wherein the

retainer 10 rotates with respect to the hinge mount 700 in the hinge assembly 500), and move

towards the closed (or notionally closed) position, wherein the channel 44 is resting along and aligned with the ridge 702. It will be understood that, in use, the respective shapes of the channel

and ridge cause the hinge assembly to rotate to a preferred position where the channel and ridge

are aligned. The preference for the aligned position may be greater when the bias means is under

force from a massive object, such as a glass panel forming a shower screen door. As previously

discussed, if the hinge assemblies and door are configured in such a way (for example, due to faulty

installation or bending in the frame 200) so that the door 300 does not meet or align with the fixed

glass panel 900 when the hinge assemblies are in a notionally closed position (with the respective

ridges resting along and aligned with the channels via the bias means), then the door will not

actually be closed, and will remain partially open due to the hinge assembly bias means being in its

notionally closed position.

[0046] Figure 3 shows the retainer 10 without the glass door 300 (the substantially planar object)

in the slot 12. The retainer body 18 includes two sides 14, 16. Side 16 has a surface 24, and side 14

has an opposing surface 36. In this embodiment, surface 24 comprises the at least one surface of

the retainer 10 with a pivot point. In operation, the glass door 300 bears against the pivot point.

[0047] Further in this embodiment, a positioner means 25 is located in side 14. The positioner

means includes two grub screws 26, 28, which are located in corresponding threaded holes 30, 32,

the holes extending through side 14 to the slot 12. The grub screws include hex-key (Allen key)

receivers, when used, for screwing the grub screws in and out of the respective holes.

[0048] Also shown in Figure 3 is the fastener component 27, which includes a nut 22 and bolt 21

arrangement, the bolt protruding through the side 16, the glass door 300, and the other side 14, the

bolt secured by the nut when tightened, such that the nut is located in a corresponding nut-shaped

(hexagonal cross-sectioned) pit 34.

[0049] Figure 4 is a top plan view of the retainer 10, which more clearly shows the curvature of

surface 24 of side 16. The curvature is with respect to a notional longitudinal axis of the slot 12.

Further, the surface includes pivot point (in this embodiment, a pivot line) 38 co-located with the

central point of the curved surface 24.

[0050] Figure 4 also shows the possible tightening and loosening of the grub screws 26 and 28,

with arrows E and F indicating inward and outward movement of the grub screws with respect to the

slot 12.

[0051] Figure 5 shows the retainer 10 as depicted in Figure 4 with a substantially planar object

(glass door/glass sheet 300) placed in the slot 12. Gaps 40 and 42 between the door 300 and the

surface 24 due to its curvature are also shown. The positioner means 25 (including the grub screws

26, 28) is operable to allow angular movement of the substantially planar object (glass door 300) with respect to the pivot point 38 to a selected position with respect to the body 18. The angular

movement in one direction of the door to a selected position 300' is indicated by arrows Y and Z,

showing the door pivoting to the selected position 300' on pivot point 38. The angular movement in

another direction (opposite of the Y/Z direction) of the door to a selected position 300" is indicated

by arrows W and X, showing the door pivoting to the selected position 300" on pivot point 38.

[0052] To move (or to allow movement) of the door 300 to position 300', grub screw 26 is

loosened (screwed out in direction F). The door can then be moved to position 300' (narrowing gap

42 and widening gap 40), for example by hand, and grub screw 28 can be tightened (screwed in in direction E) to retain the door at the desired position (it may also be necessary or desirable to re tighten grub screw 26 when the door is in the desired position). Alternatively, the door can be moved to position 300' by tightening grub screw 28, which bears against the door and moves it angularly with respect to pivot point 38 to position 300' in the retainer 10.

[0053] Correspondingly, to move (or to allow movement) of the door 300 to position 300", grub

screw 28 is loosened (screwed out in direction ). The door can then be moved to position 300"

(narrowing gap 40 and widening gap 42), for example by hand, and grub screw 26 can be tightened

(screwed in in direction F) to retain the door at the desired position (it may also be necessary or

desirable to re-tighten grub screw 28 when the door is in the desired position). Alternatively, the

door can be moved to position 300" by tightening grub screw 26, which bears against the door and

moves it angularly with respect to pivot point 38 to position 300" in the retainer 10.

[0054] It will be understood that the grub screws can be loosened and tightened as needed such

that an operator can adjust the angular position of the door 300 to a selected position with respect

to the body, so as to align the door 300 with fixed glass panel 900 in the screen 100, and such that

the door is in an actually closed position when the bias means (for example, ridge 702 and channel

44) is in its notionally closed position.

[0055] The retainer 10 operates to restrain the substantially planar object (door 300) from

movement with respect to the body 18 other than the angular movement caused or allowed by the

positioner means 25 by means of the fastener component 27. The fastener component operates to

substantially prevent the glass door from moving laterally (side-to-side) and to substantially prevent

the glass door from moving upwardly and downwardly with respect to the retainer 10, but the

fastener component allows for the angular movement of the glass door with respect to the retainer

body.

[0056] In Figure 5 the door 300 is shown abutting surface 36 on side 14. However, in practice, it

will be understood that, in the depicted embodiment, there should be a gap between door 300 and

surface 36 for the retainer to operate and allow angular movement of the door in the slot 12. In

some embodiments, the surface 36 may also be curved so as to form a corresponding, but opposite

curvature to that ofsurface 24.

[0057] Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the retainer 150 in accordance with the

present invention. The retainer includes a regular cross-sectional slot 154 (a rectangular slot), which

is wide relative to the width of the substantially planar object 152. The retainer positioning means

includes four (4) grub screws 156, 158, 160 and 162, with two (2) of the grub screws 156 and 158 located on one side of the slot, and the other two (2) grub screws 160 and 162 located on the opposite side of the slot.

[0058] In the Figures 6 and 7 embodiment, the grub screws are operable to angularly move or to

allow the angular movement of the substantially planar object 152 with respect to the retainer body.

In Figure 7, grub screws 156 and 162 are screwed in further towards the slot 154 when compared

with grub screws 158 and 160. This operation of the grub screws (the positioner means) causes the

object to be angled with respect to the slot, the body and the retainer.

[0059] Figures 8 and 9 show another alternative embodiment of the retainer 250 in accordance

with the present invention. As with the retainer 150 shown in Figures 6 and 7, the retainer in this

alternative embodiment includes a regular cross-sectional slot 254 (a rectangular slot), which is wide

relative to the width of the substantially planar object 252. The retainer positioning means includes

three (3) grub screws 256, 258 and 260, with two (2) of the grub screws 256 and 258 located on one

side of the slot, and the other one (1) grub screw 260 located on the opposite side of the slot.

[0060] In this embodiment, grub screw 260 acts as a pivot point, and thus comprises the at least

one surface. As shown in Figure 9, grub screw 256 is screwed in further towards the slot 254 when

compared with the other grub screw 258, located on the same side of the slot. This causes the

object 252 to be in an angled position with respect to the slot, the body and the retainer 250.

[0061] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires

otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be

understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not

the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0062] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an

acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims (20)

THE CLAIMS:

1. A retainer for retaining a substantially planar object including:

a body including a slot having two opposing sides, the slot configured to allow

placement therein of the substantially planar object, at least one of the opposing sides

having a non-planar surface including a pivot point, wherein, in operation, the

substantially planar object bears against the pivot point, such that the substantially

planar object can move angularly with respect to the at least one surface; and,

a positioner means,

wherein the positioner means is operable to allow angular movement of the substantially

planar object with respect to the body to a selected position with respect to the body, and

wherein the retainer operates to restrain the substantially planar object from movement with

respect to the body other than the angular movement.

2. A retainer according to claim 1, wherein one side of the slot has a planar surface.

3. A retainer according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-planar surface has a

curvature.

4. A retainer according to claim 3, wherein the curvature is curved only with respect to a

notional longitudinal axis of the body.

5. A retainer according to either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the curvature is symmetrical about a

notional central point of the surface with respect to the notional longitudinal axis of the body

6. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the positioner means includes

threaded means operable to cause angular movement of the substantially planar object with

respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body.

7. A retainer according to claim 6, wherein the threaded means includes any one or more of screws, grub screws and bolts.

8. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the positioner means includes at

least two threaded means located either side of the notional central point, being co-located

with the pivot point.

9. A retainer according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the threaded means is operable to

be selectively tightened or loosened to selectively allow change of the angular position of the

substantially planar object with respect to the body.

10. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further including a fastener component to

restrain the substantially planar object from movement with respect to the body other than

the angular movement.

11. A retainer according to claim 10, wherein the fastener component includes a threaded means.

12. A retainer according to claim 11, wherein the threaded means includes a bolt with a

corresponding nut.

13. A retainer according to claim 12, wherein, in use, the bolt is through both sides of the slot and through a hole in the substantially planar object.

14. A retainer according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the fastener component is located

centrally of the positioner means.

15. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the retainer comprises a

component in a hinge assembly.

16. A retainer according to claim 15, wherein the hinge assembly is adapted for use with a frame.

17. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the substantially planar object is

any one of a door or a window.

18. A retainer according to claim 17, wherein the door is a sheet of glass forming a door or screen

of a shower cubicle.

19. A retainer according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the hinge assembly has a bias

means to bias the hinge assembly to a position, wherein the substantially planar object is in a

notionally closed position.

20. A method for adjusting the position of a substantially planar object in a retainer, the retainer in

accordance with any one of claims 1 to 19, the method including:

operating the positioner means to allow angular movement of the substantially planar

object with respect to the pivot point to a selected position with respect to the body.