GB2052616A - Hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge, e.g. for furniture, has first and second pivotally connected members 10, 11 the first member being resilient and being provided with a projection 17 and the second member having a recess 20 which is engaged by the projection when the members are in a predetermined position to check relative movement therebetween. The members may be of plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinges This invention relates to hinges. The invention has been developed in relation to hinges intended for use in connection with pivotally opening doors of items of furniture. In such an application, there is typically a requirement for a door to be held in its closed position, and hitherto this requirement has usually been met by the employment of a magnetic or mechanical catch in addition to the hinge or hinges. It has also been proposed to incorporate springs in hinges to provide an overcentre action.

According to the present invention, we provide a hinge comprising first and second members pivotally connected together and adapted to be secured to components which are to be hinged to one another, the first member being of a resilient material and formed with an integral projection and the second member being provided with a recess the arrangement being such that said projection lies within said recess when the first and second members are in a predetermined relative position and is contacted and deflected by the edge of the recess in an adjacent relative position, to provide a check against movement of the members from said predetermined position.

Preferably the projection and recess are provided at a relatively great distance from the pivotal axis of the two members, so that an effective check is provided without excessive engagement forces between the projection and edge of the recess.

When the first and second members of the hinge are in said predetermined position, the second member may lie at least partially within the first member so that the interengaging projection and recess are inaccessible. This position may correspond to the members which are to be pivotally connected lying at right angles to one another Preferably both the first member of the hinge is of a plastics material.

The second member of the hinge may be adjustably secured to an attachment member which is itself adapted to be secured to a component to be hinged.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a hinge according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section through the hinge of Figure 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a detail of a modification to the hinge.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the illustrated hinge comprises a first member 10 and a second member 11, pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 12 extending through two spaced limbs of the member 10 and a tongue at the end of member 11. The member 10 is formed, as a moulding, of a plastics material such for example as "nylon 66" possessing a degree of resilience, while the member 11 may be a metal diecasting.

The member 10 is provided with a rearwardly extending spigot 13 around which saw-tooth shape grooves extend. Adjacent the limbs which support the pivot pin 12, the member 10 has a further rearwardly extending portion 14 also provided with saw-tooth grooves. The spigot 13 and part 14 provide for press fitting of the member 10 into, respectively, an appropriately cut aperture and recess in a component 15 to be hinged. The component 1 5 typically would be a door of an item of furniture. Outwardly of the part 14, the member 10 affords a generally U-shaped recess 16, into which a projection 17, integral with the member 10, extends from an end wall.

The member 11 comprises an elongate portion 1 8 of somewhat trough-like form, and a rearwardly extending portion 1 9 from the end of which the tongue, with which pivot pin 12 engages, extends. A recess 20 is provided in the front of portion 18, adjacent the rearwardly extending portion 19.

The member 11 is adapted to be secured to a component 21, e.g. a fixed part of an item of furniture, by an attachment member 22 provided with two spigots 23 formed with saw-tooth grooves as spigot 13 to be push fixed in holes provided in component 21. The attachment member 22 lies almost wholly within the hollow trough section of part 18 of member 11, being secured thereto by a screw 24 engaging with attachment member 22 and extending through a slot in part 18. A tooth 25 within portion 18 and engaging in one of a number of grooves in member 22 provide for a positive relative positioning of the portion 1 8 and attachment member 22 in addition to the friction therebetween produced upon tightening of screw 24.

In use of the hinge, when the components 1 5 and 21 to which the two members of the hinge are attached are at right angles to one another, the part 19 of member 11 lies generally within the front of the U-shaped recess 1 6 in member 10. As this position is approached, the projection 1 7 enters in recess 20 with a snap action having been deflected by the edge of the recess, to provide a check to retain the components 15, 21 in their right angled position. This would correspond to the closed position of a door constituting component 1 5. Some slight force has to be exerted to disengage projection 1 7 from recess 20 to open the door. This action is facilitated by the member 10 of the hinge being of a resilient material.

It will be noted that the projection 1 7 has a relatively thick end portion but is joined to the rest of member 10 by a somewhat thinner portion 26.

This assists flexing of projection 1 7 and its engagement and disengagement from the recess 20.

The projection 1 7 only engages with the member 11 when the hinge is close to the door closed position. Thus there is no impediment to free movement at all other door positions, unlike some over centre spring hinges proposed hitherto.

It will also be noted that the projection is spaced a relatively great distance from the pivotal axis provided by pin 12 thus providing an effective checking action without excessive engagement forces which might be necessary if the projection were closer to the pivot axis.

In the modification to the hinge, illustrated in Figure 3, the member 11 is made from pressed metal sheet and the recess therein with which projection 17 engages has its edge defined by a roller 28 supported on a pin 29 extending across the member 11. This rolls across the projection 1 7 rather than sliding across it, but otherwise the action is the same as that described above in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

Claims (8)

1. A hinge comprising first and second members pivotally connected together and adapted to be secured to components which are to be hinged to one another, the first member being of a resilient material and formed with an integral projection and the second member being provided with a recess the arrangement being such that said projection lies within said recess when the first and second members are in a predetermined relative position and is contacted and deflected by the edge of the recess in an adjacent relative position, to provide a check against movement of the members from said predetermined position.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said projection and recess are provided at a relatively great distance from pivotal axis of the two members.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, when said members are in said predetermined position, the second member lies at least partially within a recess in the first member and the inter-engaging projection and recess formations are then not accessible.

4. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said predetermined relative position is one in which components to be hinged are at right angles to one another.

5. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first member is of a plastics material.

6. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an attachment member to which said second member is adjustably secured.

7. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said projection is joined to the first member by a portion of material of reduced thickness.

8. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.