GB2187228A - Hinge for a housing - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge for a housing (10, 13) e.g. for electrical gear such as fuse boards or switches having a base (10) and a lid (13), comprises a first part (20) which is adapted to be secured in an opening (14) in the base, and a second part (31) which is adapted to be secured in an opening (14) in the lid (13), the first and second parts being (20,31) connectable together e.g. by snap-fitting lugs 35 in recesses 27. The hinges utilises opening (14) otherwise provided for fastenings. The past (20) may comprise an expandable spigot formed with slots (22). The hinge parts may be of moulded plastics. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hingefora housing This invention relates to a hinge and more particularlyfora hinge for a housing, hereinafter referred to as a housing of the kind specified, having a base comprising a hollow open-ended body, and a lid, the lid being adapted to close the open end ofthe body.

Such housings are used for mounting electrical gear such as fuse boards, switches etc. Recently such housings have been made in plastics material and conventionally, lidsforsuch housings have been attained to their bases by fasteners which pass through an opening in the lid into a correspondingly positioned opening in the base. Where the housing is a box-like structure having four side walls arranged rectangularly, the fasteners are ususally provided one at each corner.

According to a first aspect ofthe invention we provide a hinge for a housing of the kind specified to enable the lid to be hinged relative to the baseto give access to the internal hollow ofthe housing, the hinge comprising a first part which is adapted to be secured in an opening in the base, and a second partwhich is adapted to be secured in an opening in the lid, the first and second parts being connectable together to permit relative hinging between the first and second parts and hence of the lid relative to the base.

Conveniently the first and second hinge parts are secured in openings in the base and lid respectively which may otherwise be used forfasteners,where a hinge connection is not required.

The opening in the base may extend awayfrom the open end ofthe body, for example in a direction generally perpendicularto the open end, and the corresponding opening in the lid may extend in an opposite direction from a periphery which in use engages with the corresponding periphery of the open end ofthe base, whereby the openings in the base and the lid are aligned when the lid closes the open end of the base.

Thefirsthingepartmaycompriseaspigotwhich extends into the opening in the base from the open end ofthe housing. Means may be provided to enable the spigotto be expanded when received in the opening to secure the hinge partin the opening. For example the spigot may have slits which extend longitudinallyoverpartofthelength ofthe spigot, and the spigot may have an internal bore in which a fastener such as self tapping screw may be received so that as the fastener is tightened, the spigot can be expanded by virtue of the slits.

The second hinge part may be secured to the lid by a fastener which passes through the opening in the lid into engagement with the second hinge part.

The first and second hinge parts may have snap inter-engageable formations which permit ofthe hinging movement between the first and second hinge parts.

For example, one of the hinge parts may have a pair of parallel elements each with a recess in their facing surfaces, and the other hinge part may have a member which is receivable between the parallel elements, the member having outwardly extending pivot lugs which are snap interengageablewithin the recesses ofthe parallel elements.

Preferably, the first and second hinge parts are moulded in plastics material.

Where the housing is rectangularorsquare having four side walls arranged so that adjacent side walls are generally perpendicular to one another, an opening may be provided in each corner, which opening may ordinarily receive a fastener, but a pair of hinges in accordance with the invention may be provided at each corner of a common side, and the openings ofthe remaining two corners may receive fasteners to enable the lid to be secured to the base thereby preventing the hinging movement permitted by the hinges until the fasteners are released.

Preferably the housing is moulded in a plastics material and the openings ofthe base and/or the lid are provided in formations which are exteriortothe internal hollowofthe box so that, for example, moisture cannot enter the hollow ofthe box from the openings. A seal may be arranged between the lid and the base which seal may comprise a continuous ring which extends around the entire open end ofthe box.

Preferably the sealing ring separates each formation in each corner of the box from the interior hollow of the box.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view partly exploded of a housing having a pair of hinges in accordance with the invention, one of the hinges being shown in an assembled condition, and one ofthe hinges being shown in an exploded condition.

Referring to the drawing, a housing of the type which is used to mount electrical components comprises a base 10 which is provided by four upstanding side walls 11 (only three of which can be seen) and a bottom 12 all integrally moulded in plastics material, the side walls 11 and bottom 12togetherdefining a hollow open-ended body.

The housing further comprises a lid 13 also moulded in plastics material which is adapted to close the open end ofthe base 10 as shown bythe part ofthe lid 13 at the right-hand side in the Figure.

In each corner ofthe lid and base, a formation 14 is provided, two of the formations 14 being adapted to receive hinge parts to enable the lid 13 to be hinged relative to the base 10.

It will be appreciated that in the two corners ofthe box which cannot be seen, formations similar to formations 14 are provided, and in use, these other formations may receive fasteners to enable the lid 13 to be locked relative to the base 10 against hinging movement permitted bythe hinges hereinafterdescribed.

Extending around the open end of the base 10 is a periphery 16 comprising a tongue which is adapted to be received in a groove 17 provided around the periphery ofthe lid 13. Within the groove 17 a resilient O-ring seal 18 is provided which when the lid 13 closes the open end ofthe base 10, becomes deformed to provide a moisture resistant seal between the lid 13 and the base 10.

It can be seen thatthetongue 16 extends around the formations 14so thattheformations 14 are exterior to the internal hollowofthe box. Thus moisture cannot pass from anyofthe formations 14 into the hollow and thusdamagethe electrical components mounted within the hollow.

The hinges each comprise a first hinge part 20 which is adapted to be secured in a formation 14 ofthe base 10. The hinge part 20 comprises a spigot 21 which has a number of longitudinal slits 22, in the present examplefourslits,although more or less could be provided. When the spigot 21 is received within the formation 14, a fastener 24 may be screwed into a bore within the spigot21 to expand the spigot 21 by virtue of the slits 22. Thus withdrawal ofthe spigot 21 is prevented duetothefrictional engagement between the spigot 21 andthe internal wall of the formation 14.

It can be seen that at the lower end thereof, the spigot 21 has an outwardly extending flange 25.

Ordinarilywithin the formation 14 of the base, a thread would be provided to enable a fastenerwhich would pass through the corresponding formation 14 of the lid, to be screwed to the base 10 to securethe lid 13 in position. The outwardly extending flange 25 engages the threads in a ratchet-like manner as the spigot 21 is inserted.

The first hinge part 20 further provides a pair of parallel members 26 which each have a recess 27 comprising a through opening at least in their facing surfaces 28.

The members 26 are provided bythe bifurcated end of an outwardly extending element 30 moulded integrally with the remainder of the hinge part 20.

A second hinge part31 is adapted to be secured in theformation 14 in the lid 13 by means of a further fastener 32 which passes upwardlythrough the formation 14.

Awasher33 is providedwhich is received between the head ofthefastener32 (notshown) andashoulder provided internaily of the formation 14inthe lid 13.

The second hinge part 31 has a bore to receive fastener 32.

The second hinge part 31 fits overformation 14 in the manner of a cap as can be seen again in the right-hand side of the Figure. The hinge part 31 further has a member34with a pair of outwardly extending pivot lugs 35 which are adapted to be snap interengaged within the recesses 27 ofthe members 26own the first hinge part20,to provide a hinge connection between thefirst hinge part 20 andthesecond hinge part31.

Conveniently, both of the hinge parts 20 and 31 are moulded in plastics material and many other con figurations ofhingeare no doubt possible by changingthe moulding configuration.

Ordinarilyrinahousing ofthekind showninthe Figure, the lid 13 is secured to the base 10 solely by means offasteners which engage the formations 14 in each corner ofthe housing.

By providing a pair of hinges as shown in the drawing, a hinge connection between the lid 13 and base 10 can be achieved.

As shown in the drawing, where it is desired to adapt housing 10 for use with the hinges, a portion of the periphery 18 ofthe lid may need to be cut out as shown at 40 to accommodate the bifurcated element 30 of th e fi rst h in g e pa rt 20.

If desired, the portion of the periphery 18 ofthe lid 13 may be especially weakened at this pointtofacilitate removal of the portion of the periphery when a hinge connection is required.

Various modifications maybe madewithoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

A hinge connection such as that described may be used with many different types of housing. For example the housing need not comprise a rectangular construction having four side walls 11, but could be applied to a housing of generally circular configuration, in which case only one hinge would be required, not two.

Base 10 and/or lid 13 of the housing 10 described need not be moulded in plastics material. Although the invention has been devised for particular applica tiontoa moulded plastic housing.

Although the hinge parts 20 and 31 are conveniently moulded in plastics material, they could befabricated in any other manner and in any other material as required. Where a hinge connection is intended to be provided for a housing of different configuration, the first hinge part 20 need not comprise a spigot 21, but could be of another configuration to be secured to the base 10. Further, the second hinge part need not engage the corresponding formation of the lid in the manner of a cap, and could be otherwise mounted on and secu red to the lid 13.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, orthe accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed results, or the class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (17)

1. A hingefora housing ofthe kind specified to enable the lid to be hinged relative to the base to give access to the internal hollow ofthe housing, the hinge comprising a first partwhich is adapted to be secured in an opening in the base, and a second partwhich is adapted to be secured in an opening in the lid, the first and second parts being connectabletogetherto permit relative hinging between thefirstand second parts and hence ofthe lid relative to the base.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1 wherein the first and second hinge parts are secured in openings in the base and lid respectively which may otherwise be used for fasteners, where a hinge connection is not required.

3. A hinge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the opening in the base extendsawayfromtheopen end of the body in a direction generally perpendicular to the open end, and the corresponding opening in the lid extends in an opposite direction from a periphery which in use engages with the corresponding periphery ofThe open end ofthe base, wherebythe openings in the base and the lid are aliged when the lid closes the open end of the base.

4. A hinge according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the first hinge part comprises a spigot which extends into the opening in the base from the open end ofthe housing.

5. A hinge according to claim 4wherein means are provided to enable the spigot to be expanded when received inthe opening to secure the hinge part in the opening.

6. A hinge according to Claim 5 wherein the spigot has slits which extend longitudinally over part of the length ofthe spigot, and an internal bore in which a fastener is receivable so that as the fastener is tightened, the spigot is expanded by virtue ofthe slits.

7 A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second hinge part is secured to the lid by a fastener which passes through the opening in the lid into engagement with the second hinge part.

8. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second hinge parts have snap inter-engageable formations to enable the first and second hinge parts to be connected together and to permitofthe hinging movement between the first and second hinge parts.

9. A hinge according to Claim 8 wherein one ofthe hinge parts has a pair of parallel elements each with a recess in their facing surfaces, and the other hinge part has a member which is receivable between the parallel elements, the member having outwardly extending pivot lugs which are snap interengageable within the recesses ofthe parallel elements.

10. A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second hinge parts are moulded in plastics material.

11. A hinge substantially as hereinbeforedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A housing ofthe kind specified which is a rectangularorsquareand hasfourside walls arranged so that adjacent side walls are generally perpendicular 1 to one another, an opening being provided in each corner, a hinge in accordance with any one of the preceding claims being provided at each corner of a common side, the openings of the remaining two corners receiving fasteners to enable the lid to be secured to the base thereby preventing the hinging movement permitted bythe hinges until the fasteners are released.

13. A housing according to Claim 12 wherein the housing is moulded in a plastics material and the openings ofthe base and/orthe lid are provided in formations which are exterior to the internal hollow of the box.

14. A housing according to Claims 12 or Claim 13 wherein a seal is arranged between the lid and the base which seal comprises a continuous ring which extends around the entire open end ofthe box.

15. A housing according to Claim 14wherein the sealing ring separates each formation in each corner ofthe box from the interior hollow of the box.

16. A housing substantially as herein before de- scribed with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.