GB2101202A - Hinges, and panel assemblies incorporating such hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge assembly (Fig. 7) for connecting, for example, two panels 71 comprises hinge bodies 20 and 21 having spigots 60, 61 and 62, 63 for engaging into the ends of respective frame members 73, 74 of the panels 71. The bodies 20, 21 present facing ends to one another, which ends provide parallel corresponding edges 22, 24 and 23, 25. Edges 22 and 25 are connected by integral web 26, and edges 24 and 23 are connected by integral web 27. This arrangement enables the two panels 71 to be pivoted, relative to one another, about pivot axes corresponding to the edges 22, 24 or 23, 25, from the one panel in a position lying against one side of the other panel to a position lying against the other side of the other panel. For convenience of moulding each body 20, 21 is in two sections 40, 42 and 41, 43 with the sections 40 and 41 connected by the web 26 and the sections 42, 43 connected by the web 27. In a modification, as shown in Fig. 12, webs 126 and 127 are formed separately from their hinge blocks 120, 121 and have beads 201 at their ends for locating into respective openings 202 in the hinge bodies 120, 121. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinges, and panel assemblies incorporating such hinges This invention concerns hinges, and panel assemblies incorporating such hinges.

In the construction of panel assemblies, e.g. in the form of free-standing display panel structures or of screens or the like, it is often desirable to be able to connect together two or more adjacent panels in such a way that these may stand not only in a common upright plane, but so that they may also be arranged in upright planes at an angle to one another, so that the relative dispositions of the panels will ensure that the entire structure is stable, is of a desired configuration (e.g. to occupy a desired location), and/or presents a desired appearance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction of hinge which, when providing a connection between an adjacent pair of panels as aforesaid, will permit one of the panels to swing to either side of the plane of the other in a simple, convenient, and economic manner.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a hinge structure comprising first and second hinge bodies adapted for securement thereto of respective members desired to be hingedly connected to one another, said bodies presenting, to each other, confronting faces having parallel first and second hinge edges with corresponding said edges aligned with one another, connecting means hingedly connecting the first hinge edge of the first hinge body to the second hinge edge of the second hinge body, and the second hinge edge of the first hinge body to the first hinge edge of the second body, whereby the bodies may be pivoted relative to one another as desired about the one or the other of two alternative pivot axes corresponding approximately to the first and second hinge edges.

The connecting means in the hinge structure of the invention preferably comprises first and second webs or straps extending between the respective edges of the bodies. Then, the hinge structure may be moulded of a suitable plastics material, such as polypropylene.

The first and second webs or straps preferably each correspond in extent to about one half of the confronting faces of the hinge bodies. Then, when the hinge bodies are aligned with one another, the two webs or straps, disposed between the two bodies fit snugly therebetween.

Advantageously, each hinge body is in the form of a substantially rectangular block adapted to form a corner piece of a rectangular frame. For this purpose each said block may have projecting therefrom, substantially at right angles, a pair of spigots engageable into the ends of respective tubular frame members.

In a first practical embodiment of the invention, each hinge body comprises a pair of body sections each of which is shaped to provide a respective one of the hinge edges, the first web connecting together one section each of the two hinge bodies, and the other web connecting together the other sections of the two hinge bodies. With such a structure, the production of the assembly can be achieved by moulding two separate components or units each comprising two hinge body sections connected by a respective web, and then assembling these together in a very simple assembly operation.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge structure is characterised in that the connecting means comprises a pair of flexible webs each having, on each of its ends, respective anchorages whereby it is anchored by one end to the first hinge body and bythe other end to the second hinge body.

Each such anchorage conveniently comprises a bead-like or rod-like enlargement disposed with its axis extending transversely of the web, these enlargements being accommodated in respective bores in the respective body, with the adjacent web portions accommodated in respective slots in the body.

Masking plates may be provided for masking the bores aforesaid so that they are not visible in the assembled hinge structure.

The invention further provides, as a development made possible by the hinge assemblies as above discussed, a panel assembly comprising two or more rectangular frames, the or each adjacent pair of rectangular frames being hingedly connected together in side-by-side disposition so as to be swingable relative to one another about a pivot axis corresponding approximately to adjacent side edges of the frames, the hinged connection being provided by respective hinge structures, as aforesaid, provided one at each end of said pivot axis and providing respective corner pieces for each of said frames.

The frames may conveniently each be composed of tubular frame members, spigots on the respective hinge bodies engaging into the ends of the respective said members to connect them together, and each said frame may be enclosed by a respective fabric envelope, e.g. of a loop pile fabric.

Each said fabric envelope may be of a fabric which is of thermoplastics material or is thermoplastics backed, being stretched over the frame and retained in position by edge welding on three sides of the frame.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the hinge assembly of the invention with its hinge bodies aligned in a common plane; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one of the components of the hinge assembly of Fig. 1, this being shown with its hinge body sections slightly separated to enable its web to be seen; Fig. 3 is a view comparable with Fig. 2 but showing the other of the components of the hinge assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1;; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view, with parts cut away, illustrating a panel embodying two of the hinge assemblies of Figs. 1 to 4, these being disposed at respective adjacent corners to enable the panel to be connected by said assemblies to an adjacent panel; Fig. 6 is a view comparable with Fig. 5, illustrating the panel of Fig. 5 as part of a free standing panel assembly; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the part circled at VII in Fig. 5, illustrating how one of the hinge bodies can be swung to a position at right angles to the other in one direction, as a phase in the hinging action thereof; Fig. 8 is a view comparable with Fig. 7, but showing the said one of the hinge bodies swung through 1800 in the said one direction;; Fig. 9 is a view comparable with Figs. 7 and 8 but showing the said one of the hinge bodies swung through a right angle relative to the other, in the opposite direction; Fig. 10 is a view comparable with Fig. 3 but showing a hinge component of a second embodiment of the hinge assembly of the invention; Fig. 1 1 is a view comparable with Fig. 4 but illustrating the complete hinge assembly of the said second embodiment; Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the hinge assembly of the invention; Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating the hinge assembly of Fig. 12 in its assembled condition, and indicating how it connects two panels together; Fig. 1 4 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 1 3 but also showing how the connecting means thereof may be masked;; Fig. 1 5 is a plan view comparable with Fig. 13, but showing how the two panels can be pivoted about either of two alternative pivot axes relative to one another; Fig. 16 is a view comparable with Fig. 15, but showing the panels fully pivoted to lie against one another; and Fig. 1 7 is an exploded view illustrating the connecting webs, one of the bodies, and one of the masking plates of a fourth embodiment of the invention, which is a modification of that illustrated in Figs. 12 to 1 6.

Throughout the figures 1 to 11 of the drawings, similar reference numerals have been allocated to similar parts. The same applies to Figs. 12 to 1 7.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 9, a first preferred embodiment of the hinge structure of the invention comprises a first hinge body indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and a second hinge body indicated generally by the reference numeral 21. The first hinge body 20 has parallel first and second hinge edges 22, 23 and the second hinge body 21 has corresponding first snd second hinge edges 24, 25. Each such hinge Dody 20, 21 is basically in the form of a rectagular flock, with its hinge edges along adjacent edges along opposite major faces of the block, and in the full open disposition shown in Figs. 1 and 4 where the two said bodies 20 and 21 lie substantially in alignment, the corresponding sides of the bodies face one another, with the first hinge edges 22 and 24 aligned, and the second hinge edges 23 and 25 aligned.

Connecting means are provided to connect the two bodies 20, 21 in such a way as to enable them to swing or hinge relative to one another from the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 4. These connecting means comprise first and second webs or straps 26, 27 each of which corresponds to approximately one half of the extent of the hinge body faces which confront in the full open condition of the hinge and which together form an intermediate spacer between the bodies 20, 21.

These webs or straps 26, 27 are formed integrally with the bodies, being of a suitable flexible plastics material such as polypropylene, and as can be seen the web or strap 26 provides a connection between the first hinge edge 22 of the first hinge body 20 and the second hinge edge 25 of the second hinge body 21. Conversely, the second web or straps 27 provides a connection between the second hinge edge 23 of the first hinge body 20 and the first hinge edge 24 of the second hinge body 21.

This arrangement of the webs or straps 26, 27 enables to hinge bodies, 20, 21 to be swung, as desired, relative to one another, to one side of the other towards either of its closed-together conditions (of which one only is illustrated, see Fig. 8). In swinging to the one side, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the hinge bodies 20, 21 pivot relative to one another about a pivot axis corresponding approximately to the registering hinge edges 23 and 25. During this swinging movement, the web 26 lies against the body 20 and the web 27 lies agains th body 21.As can be seen from Fig. 9 (which corresponds to Fig. 7 but shows the bodies having been swung to the opposite side) during the swinging movement in the opposite direction, the web 26 lies against the body 21 and the web 27 lies against the body 20.

The foregoing describes the basic form of the preferred embodiment of the hinge of the invention, and it will be appreciated that the two hinge bodies 20,21 can be adapted in any convenient manner to enable components to be fixed thereto which are required to pivot relative to one another, such as a door or window and its frame, a container and its lid, and so on.

To achieve the described construction in a particularly simple manner which enables it to be produced and assembled conveniently and economically, it is formed from two components, as will be evident from consideration particularly of Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The hinge body 20 comprises two body sections 40, 42 and the hinge body 21 correspondingly comprises two body sectons 41, 43. Each such section provides a respective one of the hinge edges 22, 23, 24 and 25 so that each section 40, 42 of the body 20 is connected to the complementary section 41,43 of the other body 21 by the respective web 26, 27 to form a respective mouldable unit.As previously mentioned, these units (which are illustrated separately in Figs. 2 and 3) are preferably of polypropylene which provides good bending properties at the junctions between the webs and the body sections. In Figs. 2 and 3, the body sections of each unit have been illustrated somewhat separated from one another. In this condition they may be assembled together easily to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In the illustrated form of the hinge, each body 20, 21 is adapted for a respective component to be fixed thereto by including integrally-moulded spigots indicated generally by the reference numerals 60, 61,62 and 63, the respective hinge body sections each comprising respective sections of these spigots. In the case of the body 20, the two spigots 60, 61 are at right angles to one another, as also are the spigots 62, 63 of the body 21. This arrangement enables each hinge body to serve, in addition to being a hinge component, as a respective corner piece of a frame (indicated generally by the numeral 70 in Fig. 5) of a respective rectangular panel 71 desired to be hingedly connected to an adjacent similar panel 72 (Fig. 6).

The frame 70 comprises square section tubular frame members 73, 74 and these are joined at the ends of the side of the panel 71 desired to be connected to the panel 72 by respective ones of the spigots being driven therein so as to be a tight friction or interference fit. Thus, in Figs. 5 and 6, the bodies 20 of two of the hinge structures serve as corner pieces of the frame 70 of the panel 71 and the associated bodies 21 serve as the corner pieces of the frame of the next adjacent panel 72.

As can be seen from Figs. 5 and 7, in each panel, the frame 70 is covered with an appropriate looppile or hook-pile fabric layer 80 which is drawn over the frame under tension and is welded along three edges as at 81 to form a taut envelope over the frame. To enable this welding to be effected the fabric is preferably a vinyl or vinyl-backed fabric. If desired, as shown in Fig. 7, this envelope .may be gapped in register with the hinge bodies 20, 21 if desired.

In the case of the panel 71, only two of the frame corners are provided by the hinge bodies of respective hinge assemblies, and the other corners of the frame 70 are formed by respective simple block-like bodies 75 which fit by respective spigots (not visible) similar to the spigots 60, 61 into the respective ends of their respective frame members to form these members into the frame.

The panel 72 could be the same in form as the panel 71, in which case the resultant assembly would be a two-panel assembly of which the panels can be arranged at an angle to one another as shown in Fig. 1 so as to be free standing or can be folded against one another, e.g. for storage.

The panel assembly can be used for display, exhibition or like purposes, or may simply be used as a screen in the same manner as prior known free-standing foldable screens. In the illustrated case, however, the panel 72 has hinge assemblies in accordance with the invention at all of its four corners, to enable it to be hingedly connected to a further panel 76 whose construction is subtantially equal to that of the panel 71 and therefore needs no further description.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, each of the hinge bodies 20, 21 (as well as the block-like corner bodies 75, which may also comprise sections assembled together) may be formed with a respective opening 90 (Fig. 11), defined by appropriate recesses 91 in the registering body sections. These openings, in use, serve each to receive a tight-fitting peg (not shown) onto which can be engaged the respective hinge assemblies of a substantially identical screen. This arrangement, therefore, enables height variation of the screen assembly constructed using the hinges, simply by adding an upper row of panels along the upper edges of a lower row of panels.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 16, a third embodiment of the hinge structure of the present invention comprises a first hinge body indicated generally by the reference numeral 120 and a second hinge body indicated generally by the reference numeral 121. The first hinge body 120 has parallel first and second hinge edges 122 and 123, and the second hinge body 121 has corresponding first and second hinge edges 124 and 125. Each such hinge body 120, 121 is basically in the form of an approximately cubic block with its hinge edges along adjacent edges of the block and in the full open disposition shown in Figs. 13 and 14 where the two said bodies 120 and 121 lie substantially in alignment, the corresponding sides of the bodies face one another, with the hinge edges 122 and 1 24 aligned, and the hinge edges 123 and 125 aligned.

Connecting means are provided to connect such bodies in such a way as to enable the two bodies 120 and 121 to swing or hinge relative to one another from the aligned condition shown in Figs. 13 and 14. These connecting means comprise first and second webs or straps 126 and 127 each of which corresponds in width to approximately one half of the height of the respective hinge body faces (of which one only is visible at 200 in Fig. 12) which confront one another in the full open condition of the hinge shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and which together form a thin intermediate spacer between the two bodies 120 and 121.

The web or straps 126 and 127 are connected with the bodies 120 and 121 by each said web being formed, on each of its ends, with a respective enlargement in the form of an integral transverse rod or bead 201 which fits into a respective bore 202 provided in the respective bodies 1 20, 121 with the adjacent sections of the webs or straps 126, 127 accommodated in and extending through respective slots 203 provided in the block between the bores 202 and the corresponding hinge edges 122, 123, 124 and 125 of the bodies. The webs or straps 126 and 127 are formed of a suitable flexible plastics material such as polypropylene and, as can be seen, the web 126 provides a connection between the first hinge edge 122 of the first hinge body 120 and the second hinge edge 125 of the second hinge body 121.Conversely, the second web 127 provides a connection between the second hinge edge 123 of the first hinge body 120 and the first hinge edge 124 of the second hinge body 121.

As shown in Figs. 1 5 and 16, this arrangement of the webs 126 and 127 enables the hinge bodies 120, 121 to be swung, as desired, relative to one another, to one side or the other towards either of its closed-together condition (of which one is illustrated in full lines and the other is shown in chain-dotted lines in Fig. 1 6). In swinging to the one side, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 5 and 16, the hinge bodies 120 and 121 pivot relative to one another about a pivot axis corresponding approximately to the registering hinge edges 122 and 124. During this swinging movement, the web 127 lies against the body 120 and the web 126 lies against the body 121.Upon swinging movement in the opposite direction to the dotted line positions in Figs. 1 5 and 16, the web 127 lies against the body 121 and the web 126 lies against the body 120.

It will be appreciated that, as with the preceding embodiments, the two hinge bodies 120 and 121 can be adapted in any convenient manner to enable components to be fixed thereto which are required to pivot relative to one another, such as a door or window and its frame, a container and its lid, and so on.

In this illustrated form of the hinge, each body 120 and 121 is adapted for a respective component to be fixed thereto by the body being formed with integrally-moulded spigots indicated generally by the reference numerals 160, 161, 162 and 163, the spigots 161 and 163 being separated from their respective bodies 120 and 1 21 by respective integrally formed collars or stops 205. In the case of the body 120, the two spigots 160 and 161 are at right angles to one another, as also are the spigots 1 62 and 163 of the body 121.This arrangement enables each hinge body to serve, in addition to being a hinge component, as a respective corner piece connecting together adjacent members 1 72 and 1 74 of a respective frame (see particularly Fig. 14) of a respective rectangular panel 1 71 desired to be hingedly connected to one another (Figs. 13, 14, and 16).

Each frame comprises square sectioned tubular frame members 173, 1 74 and these are joined at the ends of the respective side of the panel 1 71 desired to be connected to the next adjacent panel 1 71 by respective ones of the spigots being driven therein so as to be a tight friction or interference fit. Thus, in Figs. 13 to 1 6, the bodies 120 of two of the hinge structures serve as corner pieces of the frame of one panel and the associated bodies 121 serve as the complementary corner pieces of the frame of the next adjacent panel. As described in relation to the preceding embodiments, in each panel, the frame is covered with an appropriate loop-pile or hook-pile fabric layer, e.g. of vinyl or vinyl backed fabric, which is drawn over the frame under tension and is welded along three edges to form a taut envelope over the frame.This envelope may be gapped in register with the hinge bodies if desired.

In the case where there are two panels 171, only two of the frame corners are provided by the hinge bodies of respective hinge assemblies, and the other corners of the frame will be formed by respective simple block-like bodies whch fit by respective spigots similar to the spigots 160, 161 into the respective ends of their respective frame members to form these members into the frame.

The two-panel assembly of course, can have its panels arranged at an angle to one another so as to be free standing or can be folded against one another, e.g. for storage.

The panel assembly can be used for diplay, exhibition or like purposes, or may simply be used as a screen in the same manner as prior known free standing foldable screens. If desired each panel may have hinge assemblies in accordance with the invention at all of its four corners. to enable it to be hingedly connected at each side to further panels whose construction is substantially equal to that of the panel 1 71 and therefore need not further description.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. For instance, as shown each of the hinge bodies 120 and 121 (as well as the block-like corner bodies where provided) may be formed with a respective opening 190 which in use serves to receive a tight-fitting peg (not shown) onto which can be engaged the respective hinge assemblies of a substantially identical screen. This arrangement, therefore, enables height variation of the screen assembly constructed using the hinges, simply by adding an upper row of panels along the upper edges of a lower row of panels.Where such pegs are not provided, a respective masking plate 300 (Fig. 14), having a deformable protrusion 301 for fitting tightly (e.g. as a snap fit) into the respective opening 190, may be provided for blanking off the ends of the hinge bodies and for ensuring that the rods or beads 201 are retained in the respective bores 202.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 1 7 the rods or beads 201 provided on the ends of the webs 126 and 127 are each of length substantially equal to the combined widths of the webs, with the bores 202 being of corresponding axial depth so that the possibility of movement of the rods or beads 201 in the bores 202 is minimised compared with the Figs. 12 to 16 embodiment. In this embodiment, also, the shape of the bodies (of which the body 121 is representative) is somewhat different from that of Figs. 12 to 16, and shoulders 401, 402 are provided for abutment thereagainst of the respective frame members (not shown). Moreover, the opening 1 90 extends both through the body 121 and its spigot 1 63 to permit use of coupling pegs of substantial axial length.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. A hinge structure comprising first and second hinge bodies adapted for securement thereto of respective members desired to be hingedly connected to one another, said bodies presenting, to each other, confronting faces having parallel first and second hinge edges with corresponding said edges aligned with one another, connecting means hingedly connecting the first hinge edge of the first hinge body to the second hinge edge of the second hinge body, and the second hinge edge of the first hinge body to the first hinge edge of the second body, whereby the bodies may be pivoted relative to one another as desired about the one or the other of two alternative pivot axes corresponding approximately to the first and second hinge edges.

2. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises first and second webs or straps extending between the respective edges of the bodies.

3. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which is moulded of a plastics material.

4. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.

5. A hinge structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second webs or straps each correspond in extent to about one half of the confronting faces of the hinge bodies.

6. A hinge structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each hinge body is in the form of a substantially rectangular block adapted to form a corner piece of a rectangular frame.

7. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said block has projecting therefrom, substantially at right angles, a pair of spigots engageable into the ends of respective tubular frame members.

8. A hinge structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each hinge body comprises a pair of body sections each of which is shaped to provide a respective one of the hinge edges, the first web or strap connecting together one section each of the two hinge bodies, and the other web or strap connecting together the other sections of the two hinge bodies.

9. A hinge structure as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 in which the said webs or straps are flexible webs each having, on each of its ends, respective anchorages whereby it is anchored by one end to the first hinge body and the other end to the second hinge body.

10. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein each such anchorage comprises a bead like or rod-like enlargement disposed with its axis extending transversely of the web or strap, these enlargements being accommodated in respective bores in the respective body, with the adjacent web or strap portions accommodated in respective slots in the body.

11. A hinge structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein masking plates are provided for masking the bores so that they are not visible in the assembles hinge structure.

1 2. A panel assembly comprising two or more rectangular frames, the or each adjacent pair of rectangular frames being hingedly connected together in side-by-side disposition so as to be swingable relative to one another about a pivot axis corresponding approximately to adjacent side edges of the frames, the hinged connection being provided by respective hinge structures, as defined in any of the preceding claims, provided one at each end of said pivot axis and providing respective corner pieces for each of said frames.

13. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the frames are each composed of tubular frame members, spigots on the respective hinge bodies engaging into the ends of the respective said members to connect them together.

14. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein each said frame is enclosed by a respective fabric envelope, e.g. of a loop pile fabric.

15. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein each said fabric envelope is of a fabric which is of thermoplastics material or is thermoplastics backed, being stretched over the frame and retained in position by edge welding on three sides of the frame.

1 6. A hinge structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, in Figs. 10 and 11, in Figs. 12 to 16 or in Fig. 17 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A panel assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, Figs. 10 and 11 Figs. 13 to 1 6 or Fig. 1 7 of the accompanying drawings.