EP1835101B1

EP1835101B1 - Hinge for a frame

Info

Publication number: EP1835101B1
Application number: EP07103982A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lorenzo Piccolo
Original assignee: Otlav SpA
Current assignee: Otlav SpA
Priority date: 2006-03-14
Filing date: 2007-03-13
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-13
Also published as: EP1835101A2; PL1835101T3; EP1835101A3; ATE449896T1; ITUD20060059A1; DE602007003394D1

Abstract

Hinge (10) for articulating a closing element (12) with respect to a fixed Structure (14), comprising: two terminal hinging elements (16, 18) able to be fixed to the fixed structure (14); an intermediate hinging element (20) mounted between the two terminal elements (16, 18) and able to be fixed to the closing element (12); and two pins (50, 52) able to pivot axially with respect to each other the three elements (16, 18, 20) along the same pivoting axis (I). The intermediate element (20) comprises a central cavity (32) with a development substantially orthogonal with respect to the pivoting axis (I), and able to house a regulation element (34), which in turn is disposed in cooperation with the closing element (12), and can be driven so as to modify the distance between the closing element (12) and the pivoting axis (I). The intermediate element (20) also comprises two seatings (40, 42), which are disposed on opposite sides with respect to the central cavity (32), have a development substantially parallel to the pivoting axis (I), and into each of which a pin (50, 52) is inserted, in order to allow the articulation of the closing element (12) with respect to the fixed structure (14).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a hinge for a frame, such as for example a main door, a window, a door of a building or of a furnishing element, or other, provided with a closing element and a fixed structure. The hinge according to the present invention is of the type with three elements, of which one, intermediate, fixed to the closing element, and two, terminal, or lateral, disposed respectively one above and one under the intermediate one, and fixed to the fixed structure, or vice versa. The terminal elements are pivoted to the intermediate element along the same pivoting axis so as to allow the articulation of the closing element with respect to the fixed structure (see e.g. EP-A-0796969 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hinges are known, used to articulate a closing element of a frame with respect to a fixed structure and comprising two terminal bushings, or elements, and one intermediate bushing, or element, interposed between the two terminal bushings, which is normally fixed to the closing element through screwing.
The three bushings are pivoted to each other by means of a single central pin, along the same pivoting axis.
Normally it is necessary to regulate the distance between the intermediate bushing and the closing element, for example in order to align the pivoting axes of the hinges of the same frame with each other.
However, in order to perform such operation, known hinges require dismantling the central pin, moving the closing element away from the fixed structure, and screwing/unscrewing the intermediate bushing so as to move it closer to/away from the closing element.
As the intermediate bushing must be disposed coaxial to the two terminal bushings, so as to allow the insertion of the pin, the above regulation does not allow a continuous variation of the distance, but only certain increases or decreases, with a consequent imprecise regulation.
One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a hinge of the type with three elements, which allows to vary the distance between the intermediate element and the structural element, for example the closing element or the fixed structure, of a frame, in a continuous and rapid manner, without needing to dismantle the frame or the hinge.
Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a hinge, which also allows to regulate, substantially along the pivoting axis, the position of the intermediate element with respect to the two terminal elements, in a continuous and rapid manner, without needing to dismantle the frame or the hinge.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a hinge according to the present invention can be used in order to articulate a mobile structural element, such as the closing element of a frame, with respect to a fixed structural element, for example a fixed structure.
The hinge according to the present invention comprises:

two terminal hinging elements, or terminal bushings, able to be fixed to one of the two structural elements;
an intermediate hinging element, or intermediate bushing, mounted between the two terminal elements and able to be fixed to the other of the two structural elements; and
pivoting means able to axially pivot the intermediate element and the two terminal elements to each other along the same pivoting axis.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, the intermediate element comprises a central cavity which has a substantially orthogonal development with respect to the pivoting axis, and able to house a regulation element.
The regulation element is for example a screw, or suchlike, and is housed inside the central cavity, free to rotate with respect to the intermediate element.
The regulation element is also able to be disposed in cooperation with the structural element with which the intermediate element cooperates, and can be driven in order to modify the distance between the structural element and the pivoting axis.
The intermediate element also comprises two seatings, disposed on opposite sides with respect to the central cavity and developing substantially parallel to the pivoting axis.
The pivoting means comprises two pins each of which is associated with a corresponding terminal element and is able to cooperate with a respective seating, so as to allow the articulation of the mobile structural element with respect to the fixed structural element.
The hinge according to the present invention therefore allows to vary the distance between the intermediate element and the structural element with which the intermediate element cooperates, in a continuous and rapid manner, without needing to dismantle the frame or the hinge.
According to an advantageous solution of the invention, each pin comprises a respective end able to be disposed in cooperation with a sliding element, for example a ball, disposed in the corresponding seating.
According to another advantageous solution of the invention, each pin is joined to the corresponding terminal element by screwing, so as to maintain the respective end in contact with the respective sliding element.
Furthermore, the pins are able to be screwed/unscrewed with respect to the corresponding terminal element independently from each other, allowing to regulate the position of the intermediate element with respect to the two terminal elements in a continuous manner and without needing to dismantle the hinge.
It comes within the field of protection of the present invention to provide an intermediate hinging element of the type described heretofore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a lateral view, partially sectioned, of a hinge according to the present invention mounted on a frame;
fig. 2 is another lateral view of the hinge in fig. 1;
fig. 3 is a plane view of the hinge in fig. 1;
fig. 4 is a lateral view of a variant of the hinge in fig. 1;
fig. 5 is a plane view of the variant in fig. 4;
fig. 6 is a lateral view of another variant of the hinge in fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, a hinge 10 according to the present invention can be used in order to articulate a closing element 12 of a frame with respect to a fixed structure 14.
The hinge 10 comprises two terminal bushings, respectively first 16 and second 18, and an intermediate bushing 20 mounted between the two terminal bushings 16, 18 and pivoted thereto along a pivoting axis I.
The two terminal bushings 16, 18 (figs. 1, 2 and 3) each comprise a corresponding attachment shank 22, 24, able to be fixed to the fixed structure 14, and the intermediate bushing 20 comprises, in this specific case, two guiding shanks 26 able to be coupled to the closing element 12.
The intermediate bushing 20 also comprises a central cavity 32 (fig. 1), developing substantially orthogonal with respect to the pivoting axis I, and able to house a regulation element, which, in the case shown here, is a screw 34 which can be screwed to the closing element 12.
The screw 34 has a circular seating 36 able to cooperate with a mating retaining element, of the known type and not shown in the drawings, such as a Seger ring, or one or more balls locked into the central cavity 32.
The screw 34 is therefore constrained transversely to the intermediate bushing 20, but can rotate with respect to a rotation axis R substantially orthogonal to the pivoting axis I, so that it can be screwed/unscrewed with respect to the closing element 12 in order to modify the distance between the intermediate bushing 20 and the closing element 12.
The intermediate bushing 20 also comprises two seatings, respectively first 40 and second 42, disposed on opposite sides with respect to the central cavity 32 and with a development substantially longitudinal and parallel to the pivoting axis I.
Optionally, each seating 40 and 42 is lined internally with a lining 44 made of anti-wear material, preferably plastic material, such as polyamide.
Each seating 49 and 42, in the part facing towards the central cavity 32, comprises a hollow 46, able to contain a respective ball 48, for example made of hardened steel, or of a material with similar mechanical characteristics.
The hinge 10 also comprises two pins, respectively first 50 and second 52, each of which is provided with a threaded portion 54, cylindrical in shape and, on the opposite end, a ferrule 56.
Each pin 50, 52 also has a head, opposite with respect to the ferrule 56, in which a screwing seating 57 is made, for example hexagonal in shape, in order to insert a tool, such as a socket head wrench.
Each of the two terminal bushings 16, 18 comprises a threaded cylindrical seating 58, made internally.
Each pin 50, 52 is able to be connected to a respective terminal bushing 16, 18 by screwing the threaded portion 54 to the cylindrical threaded seating 58 of the corresponding terminal bushing 16, 18 and is able to be inserted into a respective seating 40, 42, disposing the ferrule 56 in contact with the corresponding ball 48.
By screwing the first pin 50 into the corresponding threaded portion 54 of the first bushing 16 and the second pin 52 into the corresponding threaded portion 54 of the second bushing 18, the intermediate bushing 20 is constrained between the two pins 50, 52, without the possibility of axial movement.
By screwing the first pin 50 into the corresponding threaded portion 54 and unscrewing the second pin 52 from the corresponding threaded portion 54, the intermediate bushing 20 moves away from the first bushing 16 and towards the second bushing 18.
By unscrewing the first pin 50 from the corresponding threaded portion 54 and screwing the second pin 52 into the corresponding threaded portion 54, the intermediate bushing 20 moves towards the first bushing 16 and away from the second bushing 18.
In this way, the relative position of the intermediate bushing 20 with respect to the two terminal bushings 16, 18 can be regulated in height by screwing/unscrewing the pins 50, 52 with respect to the corresponding threaded portions 54.
Thanks to the coupling between the ferrule 56 of each pin 50, 52 and the corresponding ball 48, and to the coupling between the lateral surface of each pin 50, 52 and the lining 44, the intermediate bushing 20 is free to rotate with respect to the two terminal bushings 16, 18, so as to allow the articulation of the closing element 12 with respect to the fixed structure 14.
According to the variant shown in figs. 4 and 5, the two terminal bushings 16, 18 are connected to each other by means of a platelet 60 made, for example, of metal.
The platelet 60 can be optionally provided with one or more lateral pins 62, in this specific case two, able to be inserted into corresponding guide holes made in the fixed structure 14.
The two lateral pins 62 are obtained, for example, by cutting to measure the surface of the platelet 60 so as to achieve two tongues that are then bent towards the outside until they are disposed substantially orthogonal to said surface.
According to the variant in fig. 6, the two terminal bushings 16, 18 are connected to each other by means of a retaining element 64, which is in turn fixed to the fixed structure 14 through screwing, or other method.
The hinge 10 also comprises two washers, or ring nuts, respectively first 66 and second 68, which can be screwed into the respective threaded portion 54 so as to function as lock nut for the relative pin 50, 52.
Each ring nut 66, 68 has a through screwing hole 70, for example hexagonal in shape, in order to facilitate the screwing/unscrewing of the ring nut 66, 68, for example by means of a socket head wrench.
Advantageously, the longitudinal axis of the through screwing hole 70 of each ring nut 66, 68 is misaligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the screwing seating 57 of the relative pin 50, 52, so that, during the assembly phases, the socket head wrench does not contact the underlying screwing seating also screwing/unscrewing the pin 50, 52.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hinge 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of hinge for frames, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Hinge for articulating a mobile structural element (12), such as a closing element of a frame or suchlike, with respect to a fixed structural element (14) such as a fixed structure or suchlike, comprising:
- two terminal hinging elements (16, 18) able to be fixed to one of said structural elements (12, 14);

- an intermediate hinging element mounted between said two terminal elements (16, 18) and able to be fixed to the other of said structural elements (14, 12); and

- pivoting means able to pivot axially with respect to each other said intermediate element and said two terminal elements (16, 18) along the same pivoting axis (I); said intermediate element (20) comprising:

- a single central cavity (32) with a substantially orthogonal development with respect to said pivoting axis (I), and able to house a regulation element (34), which in turn is able to be disposed in cooperation with the structural element (14, 12), with which said intermediate element (20) cooperates, and can be driven in order to modify the distance between said structural element (14, 12) and said pivoting axis (I); and

- two seatings (40, 42), disposed on opposite sides with respect to said central cavity (32) and with a development substantially parallel to said pivoting axis (I), wherein said pivoting means comprises two pins (50, 52), each of which is associated with a corresponding terminal element (16, 18) and is able to cooperate with a respective one of said seatings (40, 42), in order to allow the articulation of said mobile structural element (12) with respect to said fixed structural element (14),
wherein said pins (50, 52) comprise an inner end facing towards the intermediate element (20) and an outer end opposite to the inner end,
characterized in that
said pins (50, 52) comprise:
- at their inner end a ferrule (56) for contacting a respective ball (48) housed in a respective of said seating (40, 42), so as to allow a free rotation between said intermediate element (20) and said terminal elements (16, 18), and

- at their outer ends a head, in which a screwing seating (57) for a tool is made, so as to allow the independent screwing/unscrewing of each pin (50, 52) for regulating the position of the intermediate element (20) with respect to the two terminal elements (16, 18).
Hinge as in claim 1, characterized in that each of said seatings (40, 42) is internally lined with a lining (44) made of anti-wear material and able to contact the lateral surface of the corresponding pin (50, 52).
Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said pins (50, 52) comprises a threaded portion (54) able to be screwed onto a mating cylindrical threaded seating (58) made inside the corresponding terminal element (16, 18).
Hinge as in claim 3, characterized in that it also comprises ring nuts (66, 68), or washers, able to be screwed into said cylindrical threaded seatings (58), and in that each of said pins (50, 52) comprises, in an opposite end to said first end (56), a screwing seating (57), and each of said ring nuts (66, 68) comprises a through screwing hole (70) with a longitudinal axis misaligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of said screwing seating (57).