GB2078851A - Hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

Hinge for the flap or the cover of a filing box having a first portion comprising a slot (21); a second portion serving as attachment member (11) comprising a hinge pin (12) as well as a member (13, 14) substantially transverse to the hinge pin and fixedly connected therewith, which member fits clampingly in the slot (21), and a third portion (2) adapted to rotatably receive the hinge pin (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinge The invention relates to a hinge for the flap or the cover of a filing box. The hinge according to the invention is suitable particularly for attachment of the flap of a filing box to the filing box.

Such a filing box comprises a cabinet or a receptacle wherein is present a slidable drawer and wherein the open side via which the drawer can be pushed in and pulled out is provided with a flap hinged along the upper edge. The hinge disposed between the receptacle and the flap comprises according to the prior art a plurality of projections interspaced along the edge of the receptacle, wherebetween similar projections of the flap engage. The projections are provided with aligned bores wherein a long hinge pin can be inserted in the manner of a normal door hinge. Since filing boxes of the above described type are mostly made of synehtic material.

It often occurs that the edge of the receptacle to which the flap is to be hinged is slightly twisted at the moment when the hinge pin is applied, so that the bores in the projections are no longer aligned and the hinge pin can be applied difficultly.

Furthermore the hinge pin itself is also relatively long and thin, so that this too can be easily twisted. A hinge pin that is twisted before its application can be difficultly applied, while a hinge pin that is twisted in operation, can be difficultly removed.

The latter is of importance, since in particular with filing boxes mostly the colour of the flap is indicative of the nature of the contents of the box. Such flaps therefore should be replaceable by flaps of a different colour. Also in case that a flap has been damaged during its use, it is necessary that the damaged flap is replaced.

Another drawback of the prior art hinges is that the hinge pin has to be drawn to one side from the bores, to which effect a large free space is required beside the filing box. This space is mostly not present, since filing boxes are destined for being positioned onto and beside each other, where mostly the boses are provided with engaging portions. For replacing a flap of one of the boxes, which forms part of an assembly of a plurality of boxes coupled together, it is then necessary to demount said assembly partly or entirely.

The above drawbacks apply to a greater or lesser extent also to similar hinge constructions with other types of filing boxes, which may also be made of a material other than plastic.

It is the object of the invention to eliminate the above drawbacks. To this effect according to the invention a hinge for a flap or cover of a filing box is characterised by a first portion comprising a slot; a second portion serving as attachment member consisting of a hinge pin, as well as a member substantially transverse to the hinge pin and fixedly connected therewith, which clampingly fits in the slop, and a third portion adapted to rotatably receive the hinge pin.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 shows a filing box in which the hinge according to the invention can be applied; Figure 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a hinge according to the invention with exploded portions; Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2 in cross section on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a variant of a part of Figure 2 and Figure 5 shows a different variant.

The filing box shown in Figure 1 comprises a cabinet or receptacle 1, the front side of which is open and is provided with a closure flap 2, which is shown partly in open position and which is hinged along the upper edge 3 to the corresponding edge of the cabinet or receptacle.

In the cabinet or receptacle there is provided an extensible drawer 4 which may be fitted with sidewalls (not shown) or with a loose-leaf binding system (not shown) for filing documents.

The cabinet is provided at the upright sidewalls with means 5,6 for coupling together a plurality of such cabinets, while the upper and lower face accomodate profilings that fit in the profilings on the lower respectively upper face of similar cabinets in order to obtain a proper and stable stackability.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a hinge according to the invention, which may be applied instead of the hinge shown in Figure 1. The hinge shown comprises three parts. The first part, depicted in the middle of Figure 2, serves as connection member between the other two parts, which are attached respectively to the flap and the cabinet, and which preferably are integral therewith, which especially upon use of plastic material can be realised relatively simply. The manner in which the connection member may be coupled to the other parts is indicated by arrows 9, 10.

The connection member 11 is preferably bent from metal wire, but also other material is possible and even a different manufacturing method is conceivable. The connection member 11 comprises a hinge pin 12, which passes at one end into a leg 13, standing at right angles to the hinge portion, which leg bends back at some distance from the hinge pin in the direction of the hinge pin. The bent back leg 14 extends slightly obliquely relative to the leg 13 and together therewith forms a kind of nose, which may be pused in the portion 20 attached to the cabinet and provided with a slot 21. The leg 14 is slightly bent towards the leg 13, so that the nose can be clampingly disposed in the slot. Although the resulting detachable clamp fixing will be sufficient for specific applications, it is desirable in other cases to stop the nose.In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 to this effect there is provided in the bent leg 14 of the connection member, slightly spaced from the end of the nose, a shoulder 15 in the direction of the leg 13. Said shoulder is adapted to engage behind the rear edge 22 of the portion 20. The shoulder, in mounted condition ofthe connection member, is positioned slightly inclined relative to the rear edge 22, i.e. the shoulder does not extend at right angles to the side wall of the slot 21, so that the attachment member 11 through exertion of a given force in a direction opposite to the arrow 9 can be pulled from the slot without damage, while the bent back leg 14 springs slightly.in the direction of the leg 13.

Since the shoulder 15 defines the position of the nose in the slot only in one direction, there is formed at the end of the leg 14 a stop 16 facing away from the leg 13, which stop in mounted position of the attachment member abuts against the leading edge 23 of the portion 20.

The stop 16 is preferably also applied in embodiments without shoulder.

Figure 2 furthermore shows a part of the flap 2, which is provided with means for receiving the hinge pin 12. Said means comprise, in the embodiment shown, projections positioned at the inner side of the flap, adjacent the edge along which the flap has to hinge. Said projections are arranged into parallel rows at such an interspace that the hinge pin can be attached clampingly but detachably between the projections. Said rows are indicated in Figure 2 by 25 and 26. If, as is the case with the flap shown in Figure 2, the flap is figured with a thickened edge 27, the projections positioned along said edge may entirely or partly coincide with the thickened edge.

Furthermore there is provided a recess 30 in the thickened edge in order to receive the leg 13 of the attachment member when the flap is brought in the open position.

For elucidating the shape ofthe projections, Figure 3 on an enlarged scale show a cross section on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a part of the flap 2 with a thickened edge 27. The edge 27 is provided at the inner side with a projection 28, which is undercut adjacent the face of the flap 2, in order to form a nesting space for the hinge pin 12. The hinge pin is furthermore confined by a finger-shaped projection 29, lying opposite the projection 28 and which may be undercut likewise adjacent the face of the flap 2.

The projection 28 forms part of the row 26 and the projection 29 is associated with the row 25. Upon application of the hinge pin between the rows of projections, the projections of the row 25 slightly spring outwardly and subsequently back again if the pin has fallen in the undercuts, so that the hinge pin is solidly retained, but is nevertheless detachable.

It is observed that various variants of the shape of the projection and the positioning thereof are possible. For instance, e.g. the projections of only one row may have undercuts and the projections of the two rows may be in off-set relationship relative to each other.

The projections preferably constitute a unit with the flap, which can be simply realised upon application of synthetic material.

Preferably the projections of one of the rows, in Figure 3 the projection 28 of the row 26, are bevelled at the flap-averted ends, as indicated at 33, in order to easily apply the hinge pin. Furthermore, with the same purpose and with the purpose to fix the position of the hinge pin in the closed position of the flap, the slot formed between the rows of projections, is preferably shut off on the one end by a thickened edge 31 of the flap 2 and on the other end by a partition 32.

The hinge pin can also be differently attached to the flap by applying instead of the rows of projections, a plurality of walls bored in aligned relationship or a tubular member which is positioned along the upper edge of the flap, while pushing the pin 12 into the bore. Ture, in that case the hinge pin is not fixed in longitudinal direction, but this need not be inconvenient if at least two hinges are applied the hinge pins of which are directed towards each other.

Figure 4 and 5 show variants of the attachment member shown in Figure 2. In both cases the attachment member is preferably made of metal wire.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4the leg 14' is substantially parallel to the leg 13, but preferably bent back slightly divergingly. The leg 14' at some distance from the bending place is provided with a small nick 40, which is adapted to coact with a corresponding projection 41 on the walls of the slot 21. This projection is preferably a stationary projection, being integral with the portion 20, but may also comprise a spring-actuated stop ball provided in the wall of the portion 20.

The nick 40 may also be disposed in the leg 13. The same applies to the shoulder 15 of Figure 2.

Furthermore, also both legs may be provided with a shoulder 15 or a nick, which in such case correspond with projections or edges of the portion 20.

Figure 5 shows an attachment member according to the invention, wherein the hinge pin 12 extends to beyond the leg 13, as indicated by 12'. Such an attachment member is suitable for being applied at some distance from the side edge of the flap, e.g. in the center of the flap.

It is observed that various combinations of the above described variants are possible and are obvious to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the hinge pin may consist e.g. of two parts, the one part being connected to the one leg 13 and the other part to the bent back leg 14 of the attachment member slightly extended for this purpose, while the stopping may be effected for instance by one or more nicks of the type as at 40 in Figure 4.

Also, the hinge according to the invention, possibly in weighted form, may be applied in situations other than those described in the above, wherein a flap, cover or door is to be hinged.

Furthermore, the part of the hinge attached in the above described embodiment to the filing box or forming part thereof, may also be attached to the flap or may form part thereof, while the hinge pin in the above described manner, may then be attached to the filing box instead of to the flap.

These and similar combinations are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. Hinge for the flap or the cover of a filing box, characterised by a first portion comprising a slot; a second portion functioning as attachment member, comprising a hinge pin as well as a member substantially transverse to the hinge pin and fixedly connected therewith, which member clampingly fits in the slot, and a third portion adapted to rotatably receive the hinge pin.

2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterised in that the member fixedly connected with the hinge pin comprises a first leg of the same material as the hinge pin and extending substantially transversely to the hinge pin, said leg comprising a second bent back leg placed apart from the hinge pin in the direction of the hinge pin, but slightly converging relative to the first leg, the two legs being adapted for being clampingly pushed in the slot.

3. Hinge according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one of the legs is provided with a shoulder receding in the direction of the other leg, which shoulder is adapted behind the edge of the slot, which is rearward with respect to the pushing-in direction.

4. Hinge according to claim 3, characterised in that the bent back leg is provided at the end facing towards the hinge pin with a stop extending substantially transversely to said leg, which stop in mounted condition abuts against the leading edge of the slot.

5. Hinge according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one of the legs is provided with a nick adapted to coact with a projection extending into the slot in order to stop the attachment member.

6. Hinge according to claim 1, characterised in that the hinge pin comprises two aligned parts and that the member fixedly connected with the hinge pin is substantially U-shaped, while the ends of the legs of the U-shape are connected with the respective parts of the hinge pin.

7. Hinge according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one of the legs of the U-shape is provided with a nick, adapted to coact with a projection extending into the slot for stopping the attachment member.

8. Hinge according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that at least one of the legs of the U-shape has a shoulder adapted to engage behind the rear edge of the slot.

9. Hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third portion comprises two parallel rows of fingers extending from a base, the rows of fingers releasing an intermediate space wherein the hinge pin can be disposed clampingly but rotatably.

10. Hinge according to claim 9, characterised in that at least the fingers of one of the rows are undercut adjacent the base to form a space for receiving the hinge pin for free rotation.

11. Hinge according to anyone of claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the space between the rows of fingers is bounded on at least one end by a partition.

12. Hinge according to anyone of claims 1-9, characterised in that the third portion is provided with a body containing a bore wherein the hinge pin can be inserted.

13. Hinge according to anyone of claims 9-11, characterised in that one of the rows of fingers is recessed partly or entirely in a thickened edge of the third portion.

14. Hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims, with the third portion having a thickened edge, characterised in that the thickened edge is provided with at least one recess for receiving the member extending transversely to the hinge pin and connected therewith.

15. A hinge for the flap or the cover of a filing box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.

16. Filing box provided with at least one hinge according to anyone of the preceding claims.