AU2018101798A4 - A Hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge (10) comprising: a housing (11); a pivot axis (20); a coupling (12) for connecting an element (30,40) to the hinge (10) and including a rotation mechanism (13) allowing the element (30,40) to be rotated about the pivot axis (20); and wherein said housing (11) surrounds at least said rotation mechanism (13), and desirably said coupling (12). The element may be selected from a wide range of items, in one example being a ladder (30). i5 ------------------------------------------- ------ -i ------

Description

A HINGE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hinge.

Background to the Invention

Hinges are a simple and inexpensive form of pivot joint allowing components to be moved between two or more positions. A common example is a door or a window though, in an industrial context, many more applications exist. Ladders may be mounted on hinges to be moved between a stowed and operative position.

While hinges are simple, inexpensive and easy to use, they also pose a risk of injury. This risk is presented by the nature of a hinge which, in the door example, has two planar elements - one being connected to the door and the other to the door post or jamb. As the door is moved between an open and closed position, the planar elements move towards each other. Injury is possible through trapping of fingers between these two elements. The same is true in an industrial context. Where a ladder or other mechanism is moved from one position to another, moving parts of the hinge connection may cause a crush or pinching injury. For more complex hinges, there is also the risk of injury due to trapping or pinching of a hand or finger in pinch points formed by the moving parts of the hinge, not only the elements connecting the equipment to the hinge or other neighbouring parts but also to the rotating axle or spindle of the hinge.

Summaryofthe Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge and hinge assembly that avoids, to substantial extent, pinching or crush injuries as described above.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a hinge comprising:

a housing;

a pivot axis;

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 a coupling for connecting an element to the hinge and including a rotation mechanism allowing the element to be rotated about the pivot axis; and wherein said housing surrounds at least said rotation mechanism, and desirably said coupling.

The enclosure or housing separates the rotation mechanism - the moving part(s) of the hinge - from an operator of the hinge. The operator of the hinge does so to rotate the element between two or more positions. The element may be selected from a very wide range of possible equipment items, building components and construction accessories. Examples only would include ladders, gates, doors, windows and so on. Such items are typically connected to the hinge through structural members and there may be other neighbouring parts. The rotatable element should be disposed relative to neighbouring parts, for example by an offset or safe distance, to avoid pinch points between the rotatable element and such neighbouring parts.

The coupling is advantageously configured to guide or control at least one of the following: effort of rotation and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element about the pivot axis as well as limiting the travel of the rotatable element to a preselected angle of rotation. To this end, the coupling conveniently includes mechanical stops to limit such travel, these mechanical stops being confined within the housing and not located externally to the hinge which may also pose injury risk.

In one embodiment, the rotation mechanism includes a rotatable body, conveniently in the form of a plate, connected to the rotatable element. The rotatable body is conveniently engaged with a static or fixed body with the static body, also conveniently in the form of a plate, including guides configured to control the effort and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element about the pivot axis. Conveniently, the static body may include a channel, preferably concentric with the pivot axis and having an annular geometry, for co-operating with one or more pins or lugs forming part of the rotatable body. These pins or lugs are desirably dimensioned to closely fit the channel, providing a desired degree of friction to control the effort and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable body. Materials for the fixed and rotating bodies may also be selected to control the degree of friction. For example, the fixed body may be made of a polymeric material and the rotatable body may be formed of a metal or a metal alloy. The degree of movement is not precisely fixed and may be customised to operator preference for

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 effort of rotation and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element. This effort and speed should be at a safe level which minimises the risk of injury due to the momentum of the rotating element.

The channel may include sections with increased dimension relative to the remainder of the channel to allow easier movement and comfort of operation where required, for example through a desired angle of rotation. Desirably, the rotatable element may hold any selected position until an operator once again moves it. Stored potential energy is converted to friction within the coupling, the friction causing the rotatable element to hold a position, without the risk of uncontrolled rotation which may cause injury.

As referenced above, the coupling also includes mechanical stops. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling includes a further body, conveniently a plate, also connected to the rotatable element and the rotatable body. A washer of selected thickness is conveniently disposed between the further body and the rotatable element to prevent wear and also to provide sealing of the hinge housing to prevent ingress of water or dirt. The connection is conveniently made by a stopping pin or lug, which is conveniently integrated with the rotatable element. The further body or plate may include a slot, conveniently in the shape of an arc or kidney slot in which the stopping pin or lug may move over a predetermined angle of rotation. Respective end walls of the slot provide the mechanical stops for the hinge.

The hinge housing is desirably solid and conveniently cylindrical (with fixed and rotating bodies then having circular section and an outer diameter about the same as the inner diameter of the housing and may include a closure at one end distal from the rotatable element. The closure may be removed to enable maintenance of the hinge but, when closed, should prevent water and dirt entering the mechanism. If desired, the closure includes a sealing element - such as an O-ring - to provide a more efficient seal. The closure is conveniently tamper proof and includes features that indicate tampering. If, for example, the closure is crimped into position, any attempt to remove it from the housing will be evident to an operator and the appropriate corrective action can be taken.

The coupling may take various forms but simplicity of construction and low cost are important objectives. Thus, the coupling is conveniently mechanical though

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 embodiments which are hydraulically or electrically operated are also possible. In such cases, automatic and controlled operation of the hinge may be possible.

The rotatable element may be connected to a number of hinges, the hinges being fixed into position as required on fixtures, plant or equipment. For some elements, comprising individual though interconnected limbs, the above described hinge may be connected to each interconnected limb to form a hingeable assembly. In the case of a ladder, for example, each rail may be connected to a hinge, most conveniently at the top of the ladder.

The hinge as described above keeps its moving components separated from an operator preventing crushing and pinching injuries. At the same time, the effort, speed and angular extent of rotation of an element to which the hinge is connected is guided and controlled to prevent potential energy linked injuries.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the hinge is coupled to a ladder, is provided below. The embodiment is non-limiting and presents only one possible example of the hinge of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an orthogonal view of a ladder in operative position after rotation about a hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an orthogonal view of a ladder in stowed position after rotation about the hinge of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front section view showing the hinge of Figs. 1 and 2 and its connection to the ladder.

Fig. 4 is a side partial section view along section line A-A of Fig. 3 showing the hinge of Figs. 1 and 2 and its connection to the ladder.

Fig. 5 is an orthogonal view of a rotatable body of a rotation mechanism allowing rotation of the hinge shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 6 is a view of one side of the rotatable body of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the rotatable body of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a view of the other side of the rotatable body of Figs. 5 to 7.

2018101798 22 Nov 2018

Fig. 9 is an orthogonal view of a fixed body of the hinge shown in Figs. 1 to 4

Fig. 10 is a side section view of the fixed body of the hinge of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view of one side of the fixed body of Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is an orthogonal view of a further plate of the hinge of Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 13 is view of one side of the further plate of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an orthogonal view of a washer of the hinge of Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 15 is view of one side of the washer of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an orthogonal view of the housing of the hinge shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 17 is a front section view of the housing of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a side section view of the housing of Fig. 17.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a ladder 30 for mounting to plant or equipment (not shown) through members 35 by a pair of hinges 10 which enables the ladder 30 to be rotated between a stowed and operative condition. The stowed position allows the plant or equipment to be moved from one position to another without interference from ladder 30. The operative position allows the ladder 30 to be moved to a position where an operator can use it to access the plant or equipment.

Ladder 30 includes two rails 32 interconnected by rungs 34. A hinge 10 is respectively connected by a bolt 50 to a rotatable plate 40 at one end of each rail 32. Bolt 50 is fixed into position and does not rotate. Rotation mechanism 13 causes rotation of rotatable plate 40 which may also be referred to as a driver and an operator grips and moves one of the plates 40 to rotate the ladder between the stowed and operative positions. Rotatable plate 40 is offset a distance from member 35 to avoid pinching between these members during the operator movement. The operator conveniently rotates the rotatable or driver plate 40 but other movements are possible for the hinge of the present invention provided that such movement is translated into rotation of the ladder 30 about pivot axis 20. In this embodiment, hinge 10 is actuated manually. However, the hinge 10 could potentially be actuated automatically and by a control unit if required.

Hinge 10, as shown in Fig. 3 and described in further detail referring to Figs. 4 to

18, comprises a cylindrical housing 11; a pivot axis 20; and a coupling 12 for connecting a ladder rail 32 to the hinge 10 and including a rotation mechanism 13 allowing the ladder rail 32 to be rotated about the pivot axis 20. As the drawings show, the housing

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 surrounds the rotation mechanism 13 and indeed the coupling 12. As a result, the housing 10 separates the rotation mechanism 13 - the moving part(s) of the hinge 10 from an operator of the hinge 10. The operator of the ladder 30 does so to rotate the ladder 30 between the stowed and operative positions by the operator. As noted above, and referring to Fig. 4, rotatable plate 40 is offset a distance from member 35 to avoid pinching between these members and injury during the operator movement.

The coupling 12 and rotation mechanism 13 is advantageously configured to guide or control at least one of the following: effort and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable plate 40 and ladder 30 about pivot axis 20 as well as limiting the travel of the rotatable plate 40 and ladder 30 to a preselected angle of rotation. To this end, the coupling 12 conveniently includes mechanical stops to limit such travel, these mechanical stops 18 being confined within the housing 11 and not located externally to the hinge 10 which would pose injury risk.

The rotation mechanism 13 of each hinge 10 includes a rotatable body, in the form of plate 15, connected to the rotatable plate 40. Rotatable plate 15 is engaged with a static or fixed body with the static body, also in the form of a plate 16, including a guide 16a configured to control the effort of rotation and speed of rotation of the rotatable plate 40 about the pivot axis 20 to safe levels which minimise risk of injury to the ladder operator. Plate 16 is bolted to the housing 11 by bolts (not shown) fixed through holes 110 to prevent movement. Plates 15 and 16 have outer diameter neatly fitted to the inner diameter of the housing 11.

The guide 16a of the static plate 16 is a channel, concentric with the pivot axis 20 and having an annular geometry, for co-operating with two diametrically opposed ovoid shaped pins or lugs 15a forming part of the rotatable plate 15. More lugs could be selected but efficient operation of the hinge is possible with two lugs 15a. A single lug 15a would be insufficient to enable comfortable, safe and efficient operation. Pins or lugs 15a have diameter dimensioned to closely fit the guide channel 16a, providing a desired degree of friction to control the effort and speed of angular movement of the lugs 15a (along the path indicated by circle A) through guide channel 16a and so speed of rotation of rotatable plate 15.

Materials for the fixed and rotating bodies may also be selected to control the degree of friction. For example, the fixed body may be made of a polymeric material and

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 the rotatable body may be formed of a metal or a metal alloy, here bronze. The degree of freedom of movement of rotatable plate 15 and so plate 40 is not precisely fixed and may be customised to operator preference for effort of rotation and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element 40. This effort and speed should be a safe effort and speed which minimises the risk of injury due to the momentum of the rotatable element or driver 40.

The guide channel 16a includes a pair of sections 16b scalloped into guide channel 16a with increased dimension relative to the remainder of the guide channel 16a to allow easier movement and comfort of operation where required. Desirably, the rotatable plates 15 and 40 may hold any selected position - with stored energy translated to a frictional grip - until an operator once again moves a driver plate 40, through an angle, say 30°, selected for ease of movement. In this regard, stored potential energy is converted to friction within the coupling, the friction causing the rotatable element to hold a position, without the risk of uncontrolled rotation which may cause injury.

As referenced above, the coupling 12 also includes a pair of mechanical stops 18. As shown, the coupling 12 includes a further plate 19, also respectively connected to rotatable plates 15 and 40. A plastic washer 25, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, of selected thickness is conveniently disposed between the further plate 19 and rotatable plate 40 to prevent wear and also to provide sealing of the housing 11 of the hinge 10 to prevent ingress of water or dirt. The connection is conveniently made by a stopping pin or lug 419, which is conveniently integrated with the rotatable plate 40, and which interference fits into bore 15c of rotatable plate 15. Each of the plates 15 and 40 may be designed to accommodate thrust bearings to improve coupling operation if desired. The further plate 19 includes a slot 19a, in the shape of an arc or kidney, in which the stopping pin or lug 419 may move over a predetermined angle of rotation set by the angular extent of slot 19a. Respective end walls 19b of the slot 19a provide the mechanical stops 19 for the hinge 10.

Referring further to bolt 50 (an axis of which is the pivot axis 20), this connects rotatable plates 15 and 40 as well as static plate 16 and further plate 19, the bolt 15 extending through apertures 15b, 16c and 19c as well as aperture 25a of plastic washer (which also includes an aperture to accommodate pin or lug 419). Aperture 19c is

2018101798 22 Nov 2018 disposed between the two arms of the kidney slot 19a. However, as noted above, bolt 50 does not rotate. It has a fixed position and the rotation mechanism 13 causes rotation when the driver plate 40 is rotated by the operator.

Referring further to housing 11, the housing 11 is desirably solid and waterproof and dirtproof. Housing 11 includes a closure 11a at one end distal from the rotatable plate 40 and the coupling 12. Bolt 50 is also accommodated within the closure 11. The closure 11 may be removed to enable maintenance of the hinge 10 but, when closed, should prevent water and dirt entering the mechanism. Closure 11a includes a sealing element - such as an O-ring located within channel 11b of the closure - to provide a more efficient seal. The closure 11a is conveniently tamper proof and includes features that indicate tampering. If, for example, the closure is crimped into position, any attempt to remove it from the housing will be evident to an operator and the appropriate corrective action can be taken.

The hinge 10 as described above keeps the coupling 12 and its rotation mechanism separated from an operator preventing crushing and pinching injuries. At the same time, the effort, speed and angular extent of rotation of the ladder 30 to which the hinges 10 is connected is guided and controlled to prevent potential energy linked injuries.

Although the above description is of a ladder, the hinge 10 may be used for a very wide range of possible equipment items, building components and construction accessories. Examples only would include ladders, gates, doors, windows and so on.

Modifications and variations to the hinge of the present invention may be apparent to the skilled reader of this disclosure. Such modifications and variations are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A hinge comprising:

   a housing;

   a pivot axis;

   a coupling for connecting an element to the hinge and including a rotation mechanism allowing the element to be rotated about the pivot axis; and wherein said housing surrounds at least said rotation mechanism, and desirably said coupling.
2. 2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said coupling is configured to guide or control at least one of the following: effort for rotation and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element about the axle; and limiting the travel of the rotatable element to a preselected angle of rotation.
3. 3. The hinge of claim 1 or 2, wherein said rotation mechanism includes a rotatable body, conveniently in the form of a plate, connected to the rotatable element, said rotatable body being engaged with a static or fixed body with the static body, also conveniently in the form of a plate, including guides configured to control the effort to rotate and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable element about the pivot axis.
4. 4. The hinge of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the static body includes a channel, preferably concentric with the pivot axis and having an annular geometry, for co-operating with one or more pins or lugs forming part of the rotatable body, said pins or lugs being dimensioned to closely fit the channel, providing a desired degree of friction to control the effort to rotate and/or speed of rotation of the rotatable body.
5. 5. The hinge of claim 4, wherein the channel includes sections with increased dimension relative to the remainder of the channel.
6. 6. The hinge of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling includes mechanical stops to limit the travel of the rotatable element to a preselected angle of

   2018101798 22 Nov 2018 rotation, the coupling including a further body, conveniently a plate, connected to the rotatable element and the rotatable body, connection being made by a stopping pin or lug integrated with the rotatable element; the further body including a slot, conveniently in the shape of an arc or kidney slot in which the stopping pin or lug may move over a predetermined angle of rotation with respective end walls of the slot providing the mechanical stops for the hinge.
7. 7. The hinge of any one of the preceding claims wherein said rotatable element is disposed relative to neighbouring parts to avoid pinch points.
8. 8. The hinge of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said housing has a closure at one end distal from the rotatable element, the closure being tamper proof and including features that indicate tampering.