GB2238345A - Hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge joint for school or hospital furniture has two mutually-pivoted hinge parts (2, 3) which can be secured for example to a cabinet and a door, one of the hinge parts (3) having a transversely extending securing tab (17) which can also be secured to the cabinet to increase the strength of the hinge joint. One or, as shown, both hinge members may be cranked and the tab (17) may be provided at one end of a further section (14) of the member (3). <IMAGE>

Description

HINGE JOINT This invention relates to a hinge joint.

In educational establishments, hospitals or similar institutions it may be necessary to provide furniture which is both robust and attractive. The problem arises that when constructing such furniture it has been found that conventional hinge joints are not secure or strong enough in so far as they tend to break away from the furniture if undue force is applied thereto. Thus in the abovementioned establishments the lifetime of such furniture may be shortened by an unacceptable degree.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge joint which is simple and convenient to mount and which is both strong and secure.

According to the present invention therefore there is provided a hinge joint comprising two mutually engageable hinge parts, each said hinge part being adapted to be secured to a respective structure, said hinge parts being pivotable relative to each other about adjacent edges thereof whereby relative movement of said structure is facilitated wherein at least one of said parts has a further transversely extending securing structure provided thereon.

With this arrangement it is possible to provide a robust hinge joint which is simple and convenient to mount in so far as the joint is secured against movement in two planes.

Preferably one or both of said hinge parts are cranked to permit attachment around corners. Said securing structure may extend substantially along a longitudinal edge of said hinge part and may extend over a major portion of the length thereof. Said structure may further comprise a bent-back tab section adapted for attachment to a surface. Said tab section may comprise a minor part of the length of said securing section. Said securing section may be formed integrally with said hinge part or may be attached as a separate part thereto.

Said hinge parts may be adapted for surface or flush mounting on said structure.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with refeence to the accompanying figures of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of one form of hinge joint according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the hinge of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the hinge joint of Figures 1 and 2 in use attached to a cabinet door; and Figure 4 shows an alternative form of hinge joints according to the invention.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown in Figure 1 a hinge joint 1 which is suitable for use in educational furniture.

The hinge joint 1 comprises two linked L-shaped sections 2, 3 each having a longitudinal part 4, 5 and transverse part 6, 7 thereto. Adjacent edges 8, 9 of the longitudinal part 4, 5 of each section 2, 3 are adapted such that the two sections 2, 3 can be linked in such a manner that each section 2, 3 can pivot about the joint relative to the other section. The adaptation in the embodiment shown comprises spaced tubular elements 11 having through bores 12 thereto mounted at each adjacent edge 8, 9 of the respective setions 2, 3, the elements 11 at the edge 8 of one section 2 being spaced in such a manner that they will interleave with the elements 11 at an edge 9 of another section 3 such that a continuous hollow tubular structure is defined extending parallel to and lying between the adjacent edges 8, 9.A pin (not shown) or the like can then be inserted through the aligned bores in the elements 11 thereby to pivotally link the two sections 2, 3.

Attachment holes (not shown) are provided at spaced intervals along the transverse parts 6, 7 of each section 2, 3 and also along the longitudinal part 4 of one of the sections 2. The holes 13 are adapted to receive a screw, nail, pin or the like whereby the hinge joint can be secured to the desired structure for example a cabinet wall and door.

A planar securing section 14 extends along substantially the whole of the edge 16 of the transverse part 6 remote from the longitudinal part 5 on one section 3. The securing section 14 extends generally parallel to but spaced from the longitudinal part 5. At one end of the securing section 14 there is a bent-back securing tab 17 which extends generally perpendicular to the securing section 14. The tab 17 has a hole 18 provided therein whereby a screw, nail, pin or the like can be inserted therethrough to secure the hinge joint to a part of the structure.

In use the transverse part 6 of one of the sections 3 is positioned on an upright panel 19 of a cabinet or desk or other structure, as shown in Figure 3, in such a manner that the securing tab 17 is in contact with an underside surface 21 of a top panel 22 extending perpendicularly to the upright panel 19.

The hinge 1 is then secured in position by fixing screws or nails or the like into the panel 19 through the attachment holes 13, 18 provided in the securing tab 17 and transverse part 6. A door panel 23 or other pivoting structure is secured to the other section 2 of the hinge by positioning the panel 23 with its end abuting the longitudinal part 4 thereof and its surface contacting the transverse part 7. Fixing screws are then inserted into the panel 23 through the attachment holes 13 in the section 2 to secure the door in position.

Thus attached in this manner, the door 23 will now pivot about the longitudinal axis 24 of the hinge.

It will be appreciated that the provision of the securing tab 17 enables the strength of the hinge to be increased. Thus the securing tab 17 provides increased strength to the hinge in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 thereof and furthermore also adds to the strength of the cabinet joint.

Whilst only a single hinge 1 is described to attach the door panel 23 to the upright panel 19 above, it is to be appreciated that two such hinges 1 can be used at top and bottom edges of the panel 23 respectively.

Alternatively a single hinge 1 can be provided which extends the full length of the adjacent edges of the panel 23 and upright panel 19. In this case the transverse parts 6, 7 provide a convenient means for locating the hinge 1 and furthermore add to the stability and security of the structure.

In Figure 4 a further embodiment of hinge is shown.

This hinge 26 is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the section 27 having the securing tab 28 provided thereon is not cranked, but is instead of a planar construction.

With the arrangements described above it is possible to provide a hinge joint which provides a convenient and secure attachment.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims (11)

1. A hinge joint comprising two mutually engageable hinge parts1 each said hinge part being adapted to be secured to a respective structure, said hinge parts being pivotable relative to each other about adjacent edges thereof whereby relative movement of said structure is facilitated wherein at least one of said parts has a further transversely extending securing structure provided thereon.

2. A hinge joint according to claim 1 wherein one or both of said hinge parts are cranked to permit attachment around corners.

3. A hinge joint according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said securing structure extends substantially along a longitudinal edge of said hinge part.

4. A hinge joint according to claim 3 wherein said securing structure extends along a major part of the length of said longitudinal edge.

5. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said structure further comprises a bent-back tab section adapted for attachment to a surface.

6. A hinge joint according to claim 5 wherein said tab section comprises a minor part of the length of said securing section.

7. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said securing section is formed integrally with said hinge part

8. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said securing section is attached to said hinge part as a separate part thereto.

9. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said hinge parts are adapted for surface or flush mounting on said structure.

10. A hinge joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 or 4.

11. Furniture including a hinge joint according to any preceding claim.