GB1585128A - Adjustable hinges - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ADJUSTABLE HINGES (71) I, GEORGE WINZAR HORNE, a British subject, of 360 Charminster Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9RX, (formerly of 15 Norrie Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland 3, New Zealand, and of Holywell House, Holywell-cum-Needingworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire), do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to adjustable hinges.

In particular it is concerned with hinges in which provision is made for the adjustment of the axis about which a hinge operates with respect to at least one of two -plates by which it is attached to appropriate walls, panels, doors, lids or the like.

In a conventional hinge, there are provided two plates, one securable by screws or any other suitable means to a first part and the second similarly securable to a second part which is required to be moved relatitve to the first part about an axis.

Each of the two plates has at least one lug projecting from one side provided with a longitudinal bore through which passes a hinge pin which unites the plates. Under certain conditions it is a matter of considerable skill to position the plates on the parts with sufficient accuracy to ensure that, for example, a door or other closure lies flush with the surrounding surface when in the closed position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hinge which may be adjusted after attachment to achieve improved location of a hinged part in relation to the surrounding surface.

The invention therefore provides a hinge comprising two attachment means each adapted to be secured to one of two parts to be hinged together for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, a first attachment means being provided with at least one lug having a longitudinally ex tending bore, the second attachment means being provided with at least one lug, the or each lug having two longitudinally extending bores, the bores in the lug or lugs of said second attachment means being parallel to and in lengthwise communication with each other, the or each lug of the second attachment means being provided with a rotatable insert member in a first of its two bores, each longitudinal axis passing through the insert eccentrically of the longitudinal centre line of the insert, and adjustment means comprising a splined member received in the second of the two bores of the lug or lugs of the second attachment means and engagable with the appropriate insert member so that rotation of the splined member causes rotation of the insert, or of the inserts in unison.

Advantageously, the adjustment means may further include a screw set through a longitudinal spine member linking the plurality of lugs on the second atachment means, the screw being positioned so that its thread engages the splines of the splined member so as to rotate it when the screw is turned.

In an example of the invention, the insert comprises a generally cylindrical member having an eccentric longitudinal bore formed therein, the arrangement being that the hinge pin is received in the eccentric bore in the insert, which is itself rotatably received in the lug bore of the hinge plate.

Conveniently, the external cylindrical surface of the insert is provided with a grooved, toothed, splined or other ridged surfaces mechanically engageable with an adjustment means by which the insert is rotated. Where the hinge plate has, for example, a single lug, this adjustment may be in the form of a screw set transversely through the lug so that its threaded portion enages the splines of the insert through an aperture in the lug bore.

However where, as in the majority of cases, each hinge plate has a plurality of lugs, each lug will include a splined insert and the adjustment means will include a further splined members received in a second bore formed parallel to and in lengthwise communication with the first lug bore, so that splines of the further member engage grooves, teeth or splines of all the inserts so as to rotate the latter inserts in unison. A transverse screw may be provided to engage the splines of the further member and, in turning, will rotate the member, or the further member may be rotated and locked in position by means external of the hinge.

The lugs of both hinge plates may be provided with rotatable inserts to provide two-fold adjustment.

Hinges according to this invention will find use in a wide field of applications, wherever a first part or component requires to be hinged mounted on a second part or component with a high degree of accuracy. They will therefore be suitable for use in the building and construction industries, furnishing, vehicles for transport of all kinds, space technology including extra-terrestrial vehicles, and many others. A particularly useful application is in the production of all vehicles in which a door must lie accurately in its frame, flush with the surrounding bodywork to produce tight latching, sealing and/or an uninterrupted aerodynamic surface.

There will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional application an example of a hinge according to the present invention.

It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the assembled hinge taken on the line II-II of Figure 1.

The Figures show a hinge comprising two hinge plates 3, 4. The hinge plate 4 is provided with two lugs 14 having longitudinally formed bores 15 to receive a hinge pin 1. The lugs 14 are arranged to interleave with three lugs 13 of the hinge plate 3. The plate 3 is also provided with an integrally formed spine member 23 linking the three lugs 13.

Each of the lugs 13 is provided with a bore 22 which, when the hinge is assembled is in communication with the bores 15 in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

Also formed in each of the lugs 13 adjacent to the spine member 23, is a second bore 20, parallel to and in lengthwise communication with the first bore 22.

An adjustment spindle 6 passes through each of the bores 20. This spindle is formed in five integrally formed portions, three splined portions 16 spaced apart by two narrow diameter plane portions 26. The splined portions 16 are received within the bores 20 and the plain portions 26 span the spaces between the lugs 13, into which are received the lugs 14.

Received in each of the bores 22 is one of three cylindrical splined inserts 2, the communication between the bores 20 and 22 being such that the splines of the splined portions 16 engage with the splines on the splined inserts 2. Each insert 2 is provided with an accentric bore 12, the hinge pin 1 passing through these bores 12.

An adjustment screw 8 is received in a blind bore 18 in the spin member 23, the bore 18 having a groove for a spring ring 9 and being in communication with one of the bores 20 in such a manner that the thread of the screw 8 engages with the splines of one portion 16 of the adjustment spindle 6. It will therefore be seen that turning the screw 8 in the bore 18 causes the spindle 6 to rotate in the bores 20, which in turn causes all the splined inserts 2 to rotate in unison. Because the hinge pin 1 is received in the eccentric bores 12, the pin 1, which carries the lugs 14 of the hinge plate 4, is thus moved relatively to the hinge plate 3, allowing fine adjustment of the axis of rotation of the two plates and therefore of the parts or components to which the plates are secured.

It will be appreciated that the spindle 6 and the two outer splined inserts 2 are retained in their appropriate bores by means of spring rings 7 and 5 respectively, received in grooves 24 in the bores. The middle splined insert 2 is captive between the lugs 14. A spring ring 9 serves to retain the screw 8 within the blind bore 18.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A hinge comprising two attachment means each adapted to be secured to one of two parts to be hinged together for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, a first atachment means being provided with at least one lug, the or each lug having two longitudinally extending bores, the bores in the lug or lugs of said second atachment means being parallel to and in lengthwise communication with each other, the or each lug of the second attachment being provided with a rotatable insert member in a first of its two bores, each longitudinal axis passing through the insert eccentrically of the longitudinal centre line of the insert, and adjustment means comprising a splined member received in the second of the two bores of the lug or lugs of the second attachment means and engagable with the appropriate insert member so that rotation of the splined member causes rotation of the insert, or of the inserts in unison.

2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 where

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. lug bore, so that splines of the further member engage grooves, teeth or splines of all the inserts so as to rotate the latter inserts in unison. A transverse screw may be provided to engage the splines of the further member and, in turning, will rotate the member, or the further member may be rotated and locked in position by means external of the hinge. The lugs of both hinge plates may be provided with rotatable inserts to provide two-fold adjustment. Hinges according to this invention will find use in a wide field of applications, wherever a first part or component requires to be hinged mounted on a second part or component with a high degree of accuracy. They will therefore be suitable for use in the building and construction industries, furnishing, vehicles for transport of all kinds, space technology including extra-terrestrial vehicles, and many others. A particularly useful application is in the production of all vehicles in which a door must lie accurately in its frame, flush with the surrounding bodywork to produce tight latching, sealing and/or an uninterrupted aerodynamic surface. There will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional application an example of a hinge according to the present invention. It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the assembled hinge taken on the line II-II of Figure 1. The Figures show a hinge comprising two hinge plates 3, 4. The hinge plate 4 is provided with two lugs 14 having longitudinally formed bores 15 to receive a hinge pin 1. The lugs 14 are arranged to interleave with three lugs 13 of the hinge plate 3. The plate 3 is also provided with an integrally formed spine member 23 linking the three lugs 13. Each of the lugs 13 is provided with a bore 22 which, when the hinge is assembled is in communication with the bores 15 in a manner to be hereinafter explained. Also formed in each of the lugs 13 adjacent to the spine member 23, is a second bore 20, parallel to and in lengthwise communication with the first bore 22. An adjustment spindle 6 passes through each of the bores 20. This spindle is formed in five integrally formed portions, three splined portions 16 spaced apart by two narrow diameter plane portions 26. The splined portions 16 are received within the bores 20 and the plain portions 26 span the spaces between the lugs 13, into which are received the lugs 14. Received in each of the bores 22 is one of three cylindrical splined inserts 2, the communication between the bores 20 and 22 being such that the splines of the splined portions 16 engage with the splines on the splined inserts 2. Each insert 2 is provided with an accentric bore 12, the hinge pin 1 passing through these bores 12. An adjustment screw 8 is received in a blind bore 18 in the spin member 23, the bore 18 having a groove for a spring ring 9 and being in communication with one of the bores 20 in such a manner that the thread of the screw 8 engages with the splines of one portion 16 of the adjustment spindle 6. It will therefore be seen that turning the screw 8 in the bore 18 causes the spindle 6 to rotate in the bores 20, which in turn causes all the splined inserts 2 to rotate in unison. Because the hinge pin 1 is received in the eccentric bores 12, the pin 1, which carries the lugs 14 of the hinge plate 4, is thus moved relatively to the hinge plate 3, allowing fine adjustment of the axis of rotation of the two plates and therefore of the parts or components to which the plates are secured. It will be appreciated that the spindle 6 and the two outer splined inserts 2 are retained in their appropriate bores by means of spring rings 7 and 5 respectively, received in grooves 24 in the bores. The middle splined insert 2 is captive between the lugs 14. A spring ring 9 serves to retain the screw 8 within the blind bore 18. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A hinge comprising two attachment means each adapted to be secured to one of two parts to be hinged together for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, a first atachment means being provided with at least one lug, the or each lug having two longitudinally extending bores, the bores in the lug or lugs of said second atachment means being parallel to and in lengthwise communication with each other, the or each lug of the second attachment being provided with a rotatable insert member in a first of its two bores, each longitudinal axis passing through the insert eccentrically of the longitudinal centre line of the insert, and adjustment means comprising a splined member received in the second of the two bores of the lug or lugs of the second attachment means and engagable with the appropriate insert member so that rotation of the splined member causes rotation of the insert, or of the inserts in unison.

2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 where

in the adjustment means further includes a screw set through a longitudinal spine member linking the plurality of lugs on the second attachment means, the screw being positioned so that its thread engages the splines of the splined member so as to rotate it when the screw is turned.

3. A hinge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means comprises two hinge plates, the lugs of which are arranged so that a hinge pin passes through the bores thereof.

4. A hinge as claimed in claim 3 wherein the insert comprises a generally cylindrical member having an eccentric longitudinal bore formed therein, the hinge pin passing through the eccentric bore.

5. A hinge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert is provided with a grooved, toothed splined or other ridged surface mechanically engageable with an adjustment means by which said insert is rotated.

6. A hinge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherin two longitudinally extending and lengthwise communicating bores are formed in the lugs of both attachment means the second ones of which receive rotatable inserts, so as to provide two-fold adjustment.

7. A hinge, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.