GB2128242A

GB2128242A - Hinge devices

Info

Publication number: GB2128242A
Application number: GB08305127A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takaharu Watabe
Original assignee: Santo Industries Co Ltd
Current assignee: Santo Industries Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-27
Filing date: 1983-02-24
Publication date: 1984-04-26
Also published as: GB8305127D0; GB2128242B; DE8307407U1; AU1425383A; IT8320168A0; JPS5933973U; AU562247B2; IT1218343B; GB8302962D0; AU549441B3

Abstract

A hinge device (2) comprises a body (3) in the form of a channel member having a web (4) and side walls (5, 6), a mounting pin (7) projecting outwardly from the web (4), and a pressing plate (8) pivoted (9) at one end thereof to the inner side of one sidewall (5) of the body (3) and retractable into the channel of the body, the pressing plate (8) being provided with a wedge formation on one side surface thereof opposed to the one side wall (5) of the body so as gradually to approach the other side wall (6) as the pressing plate (8) is retracted into the channel of the body. A plate (P), such as a closure plate of a cabinet, can be loosely fitted into the channel of the body (3) with the pressing plate (8) withdrawn therefrom and can be tightly held in the channel by the wedging effect produced when the pressing plate is retracted. The hinge device can be installed in place easily and yet holds the plate reliably. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinge devices This invention relates to hinge devices.

Conventional hinge devices are attached to closure plates by screws and are therefore cumbersome to install. Further, with hinge devices comprising a channel member and designed to be fastened to a closure plate with screws with the closure plate fitted in the channel of the member, the hinge device is liable to backlash unless the width of the channel accurately conforms to the thickness of the closure plate. Thus, hinge devices of this type have the drawback that they cannot be used for closure plates other than those having a specified thickness.

According to the present invention there is provided a hinge device comprising a body in the form of a channel member having a web and side walls, a mounting pin projecting outwardly from the web of the body, and a pressing plate pivoted at one end thereof to the inner side of one side wall of the body and retractable into the channel of the body, the pressing plate being provided with a wedge formation one one side surface thereof opposed to said one side wall of the body so as gradually to approach the other side wall of the body as the pressing plate is retracted into the channel of the body.

To attach a hinge device of the above construction to a plate, for instance a closure plate, the plate is first loosely fitted into the channel of the body, with the pressing plate pulled out, and the pressing plate is then retracted into the channel. Consequently, the plate can be tightly held between the pressing plate and the other side wall of the body by the resulting wedge effect. The hinge device is usable also for plates of different thicknesses when the amount of retraction of the pressing plate is adjusted.

Preferred forms of hinge device embodying the invention and described hereinbelow are, as well as being usable with closure plates somewhat varying in thickness, very easy to install and capable of retaining the closure plate reliably.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-iimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated throughout by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a cabinet provided with two hinge devices in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of two hinge devices according to a first embodiment of the invention and arranged vertically; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing only the lower hinge device of the devices of Figure 2 as attached to a closure plate; Figure 4 is a view in section taken along the line IV--IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing two hinge devices according to a second embodiment of the invention;; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing only the lower hinge device of the devices of Figure 5 as attached to a closure plate; Figure 7 is a view in section taken along the line VIl-VIl in Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a bottom view of a pressing plate included in the hinge device of Figure 5.

Preferred hinge devices embodying the invention are described hereinbelow. Usually, two of the hinge devices are used, for example with a cabinet comprising a case C and a closure plate P for openably closing the opening of the case C, as shown in Figure 1.

Figures 2 to 4 show a first embodiment of the invention. To mount the rectangular closure plate P shown in Figure 1 on the case C, use is made of an upper hinge device 1 to be attached to an upper corner P, of the closure plate P and a lower hinge device 2 to be attached to a lower corner P2 of the plate P symmetrically with the upper hinge device 1 with respect to a plane. Each hinge device 1 or 2, for example the lower hinge device 2, comprises a main body 3 in the form of a channel member composed of a web 4 and side plates 5, 6, a mounting pin 7 projecting outwardly from the web 4 of the main body and positioned close to one end thereof, and an approximately rectangular pressing plate 8 pivoted at one end thereof to the inner side of the side wall 5 of the main body 3 and retractable into the channel of the main body 3.

More specifically, the pressing plate 8 is formed in the vicinity of its one end with a pivot 9 projecting from one side surface thereof opposed to the side wall 5. The pivot 9 is fitted in a hole 10 formed in the side wall 5 in the vicinity of one end thereof and is slightly movable axially thereof. An end portion 11 of the above-mentioned side surface of the pressing plate 8, in which the projection 9 is provided, is planar and parallel to the side wall 5. The remaining portion 12 of the side surface is in the form of a planar surface which projects beyond the planar end portion 11 and is so inclined as to approach the end portion 11 as it extends downwardly, thus providing a wedge formation. The other side surface of the pressing plate 8 is planar and parallel to the surface 11 and to the side wall 6.Accordingly, the inclined surface 12 approaches the other side surface of the pressing plate 8 as it extends downwardly. A slanting surface 13 is formed between and continuous with the surfaces 11 and 12. When the pressing plate 8 is withdrawn from the main body 3 to a position at right angles therewith, the surface 11 projects partly beyond the upper edge of the side wall 5. A knob projection 14 is formed at the upper corner of the other end of the pressing plate 8. The knob projection 1 4 is received in one of a pair of cutouts 1 5 formed at the upper opposite corners of the side wall 5.

To attach the lower hinge device 2 to the closure plate P, the lower corner P2 of the closure plate P is first loosely fitted into the space between the side walls 5, 6 of the main body 1 with the pressing plate 8 withdrawn to the position at right angles with the main body 3 and, further, with the surface 11 of the pressing plate 8 in contact with the side wall 5. Subsequently, the pressing plate 8 is progressively pushed into the space between the lower corner P2 of the closure plate P and the side wail 5 by moving the knob projection 14 by hand. This causes the wedge formation 12 to coact with the side wall 5, translating the pressing plate 8 towards the side wall 6 to tightly hold the lower corner P2 of the closure plate P between the pressing plate 8 and the side wall 6.The step between the surface 11 and the wedge formation 12 is smoothed by the slanting surface 13 and therefore will not act against the retraction of the pressing plate into the main body 1. Furthermore, the pivot 9, which is axially movable, will not hinder the translation of the pressing plate 8, become damaged or distort the end portion 11 of the pressing plate 8.

The upper hinge device 1 can be attached similarly to the upper corner P, of the closure plate P.

The closure plate P having the pair of hinge devices 1 and 2 thus attached thereto can be supported rotatably by the case C, when the case C is assembled, by fitting the mounting pins 7 of the devices 1 and 2 into holes h formed in the case C. Alternatively, the hinge devices 1 and 2 may be mounted on the case C after assembly and thereafter caused to support the closure plate P.

The closure plate P is easily removable from the hinge devices 1 and 2 by inserting a screwdriver or the like into the cutout 1 5 beneath the knob projection 14, slightly prying up the pressing plate 8 and thereafter withdrawing the pressing plate 8 fuliy by hand.

Figures 5 to 8 show a pair of hinge devices 1 and 2 according to a second embodiment and also arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane.

The lower hinge device 2 has the same construction as the lower hinge device 2 of the first embodiment except that the former has a wedge formation which is provided by a plurality of ridges. More specifically, the side surface of a pressing plate 8 opposed to one side wall 5 of a main body 3, except for one end portion 11 providing a pivot 9, is formed with a plurality of ridges 1 6 spaced apart and extending traversely of the pressing plate 8. The crests of the ridges 1 6 are so inclined as to approach the other side surface of the pressing plate 8 as they extend downwardly. The crest of the ridge 1 6 in closest proximity to the pivot 9 is made continuous with the surface 11 by a slanting surface 13. The ridges 1 6 need not extend over the entire width of the pressing plate 8.

While the hinge devices 1 and 2 of the second embodiment can be removably attached to a closure plate P in the same manner as those of the first embodiment, the pressing plate 8 of the second embodiment is retractable and withdrawable with reduced friction and therefore with greater ease because the wedge formation is provided by the ridges 1 6.

Claims

1. A hinge device comprising a body in the form of a channel member having a web and side walls, a mounting pin projecting outwardly from the web of the body, and a pressing plate pivoted at one end thereof to the inner side of one side wall of the body and retractable into the channel of the body, the pressing plate being provided with a wedge formation on one side surface thereof opposed to said one side wall of the body so as gradually to approach the other side wall of the body as the pressing plate is retracted into the channel of the body.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot for the pressing plate is slightly movable axially thereof.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the other side surface of the pressing plate is planar and parallel to the other side wall of the body.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said one side surface of the pressing plate has a planar end portion providing the pivot and parallel to said other side surface of the pressing plate, and the remaining portion of said one side surface of the pressing plate provides the wedge formation.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the wedge formation is provided by a planar surface that projects beyond the planar end portion of said one side surface of the pressing plate and is so inclined as to approach said other side surface of the pressing plate as the planar surface extends towards the direction of retraction of the pressing plate.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the planar end portion of said one side surface of the pressing plate is made continuous with the inclined surface by a slanting surface.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the wedge formation is provided by a plurality of spaced-apart ridges that project beyond the planar end portion of said one side surface of the pressing plate and extend traversely of the pressing plate, the ridged having crests so inclined as to approach said other side surface of the pressing plate, the ridges having crests so inclined direction of retraction of the pressing plate.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the planar end portion of said one side surface of the pressing plate is made continuous with the crest of the ridge in the closest proximity to the pivot by a slanting surface.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a knob projection positioned away from the web of the body is formed at an edge portion of the pressing plate.

1 0. A device according to claim 9, wherein a cutout for receiving the knob projection of the pressing plate is formed in an edge portion of said one side wall of the main body at a position away from the web.

11. A hinge device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.