GB2247278A

GB2247278A - Hinge assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2247278A
Application number: GB9118165A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Victor Hammerton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-23
Filing date: 1991-08-22
Publication date: 1992-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-22
Also published as: GB2247278B; GB9018538D0; GB9118165D0

Abstract

A self-closing pivot hinge assembly for a door comprises a first member 1 for mounting in a fixed position adjacent a door frame, and a second member 7, pivotably mounted on the first member 1, for mounting on the door. The members 1, 7 include cooperating inclined cam surfaces 5, 9 one of which has chamfered portion 5a extending towards the periphery. A bearing assembly 6 is disposed between the cam surfaces 5, 9 and rocks over the surfaces with a see-saw effect, enhancing the operation of the hinge. <IMAGE>

Description

HINGE ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to pivot hinge assemblies for hingedly mounting a door or the like so that it will tend to return to a closed or other predetermined position.

The invention provides a self-closing or selfaligning hinge assembly particularly for doors comprising a first member including a first cam surface for mounting in a fixed position such as on a floor or a door frame and a second member rotatably mounted on the first member and including a cooperating second cam surface for mounting on a door such that rotation of said second cam surface relative to said first cam surface tends to restore the door from an open to a closed position or a predetermined aligned position, wherein one of said members is of generally cylindrical form and has an inclined surface forming the first cam surface which is provided with two oppositely disposed chamfered or rounded portions extending outwardly towards its periphery and a bearing assembly positioned between said two cooperating cam surfaces which rocks over the inclined cam surfaces with relative rotation of said cam surfaces. The bearing assembly may comprise a thrust bearing disposed between two washer-like members.

As applied to the hinged mounting of a door or the like the pivot hinge assembly is located at one end of the door or the like whose other end is supported by means of a simple pivot pin arrangement.

It has been found that such an arrangement provides an effective self-closing hinge whose operation is enhanced by virtue of the see-saw effect of the bearing assembly as it rocks over the inclined and chamfered cam surface when the door or the like is moving between an open and a closed position.

In a preferred embodiment the first member comprises a support plate, a pivot spindle extending from the support plate, and a bush surrounding the pivot spindle adjacent the support plate and being secure against rotation relative to the spindle, the first cam surface being an inclined surface of said bush and in which the second member is mounted on the spindle and extends transversely thereof, said second member including a cooperating inclined surface, a tubular housing extending from said second member to surround the part of said spindle extending through said second member and including a bearing aperture for receiving the end of said pivot spindle remote from said support plate, and a biasing spring surrounding the spindle and located within the tubular housing to urge said second cam surface towards said first cam surface.

Means may be provided for adjusting the force exerted by the biasing spring.

Such an arrangement in which the end of the spindle is positively supported in a bearing of the housing remote from the support plate helps to maintain the hinge assembly rigid and avoid any canting of the door relative to the hinge assembly.

Preferably, the hinge assembly includes locating means to define at least one predetermined stable position in which the hinge assembly can come to rest. The locating means may comprise a collar-like member disposed around the first member and defining at least one said predetermined stable position for the door, and cooperating means disposed on the second member to engage with the collar-like member and locate in any one of said predetermined stable positions. Conveniently, the cooperating means is a follower member which is resiliently biased towards the collar-like member, and the one or more predetermined positions are defined by edges on said collar-like member. For example, the follower member may be a roller which is spring urged towards the collar-like member.

Advantageously, the collar-like member defines a closed position of the door and two open positions, one on either side of said closed position.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of pivot hinge assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a pivot pin assembly for use with the hinge assembly of the invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of pivot hinge assembly according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3.

The pivot hinge assembly of Figure 1 comprises a lower circular support plate 1 formed with an array of screw apertures 2 for screw mounting to a floor surface.

An upright spindle 3 is secured to the plate 1 and extends upwardly centrally therefrom. A cylindrical support bush 4 extends upwardly from the plate 1 about the spindle 3 and is formed with an upper cam surface 5 inclined to the spindle longitudinal axis. This cam surface is provided with two oppositely disposed chamfered or rounded portions 5a extending outwardly and downwardly toward its periphery.

An assembly of a thrust bearing 6 located between two washers 6a is disposed about the spindle 3 above the cam surface 5 and these components have central apertures of a diameter larger than that of the spindle so that they may rest at an inclination to the spindle 3 supported by the cam surface 5.

A pivotal support member in the form of a plate 7 is pivotally mounted on the spindle 3 through a bearing assembly 7a and extends generally in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivot 3. A bush 8 attached to the lower surface of the plate 7 is formed with a lower cam surface 9 inclined to the longitudinal axis of the pivot spindle 3 at the same angle as the cam surface 5 of the support bush 4. The support plate 7 is rectangular in plan view and extends on opposite sides of the spindle 3, with a median line parallel to longer sides of the rectangular plate lying in an upright plane passing through uppermost and lowermost points of the lower inclined surface 9 of the bush 8.On the side of the lowermost point of the inclined surface 9 the plate 7 extends further from the spindle 3 than on the opposite side, and is provided with an array of screw holes 10 for screw securement to the underside of a door or the like.

A cylindrical housing 11 extends from the upper surfaced of the plate 7 normal to that surface and surrounds the spindle 3. A bushing 12 at the free end of the housing 11 is provided with a roller bearing 13 for supporting the end of the spindle 3. The bushing 12 is secured in position by lock screws 12a.

A helical biasing spring 14 is disposed about the spindle 3 within the housing 11 and rests at its lower end on the bearing assembly 7a. Above the spring 14, the spindle 3 is surrounded by a thrust bearing 16 located between two washers 15, a nut 17 engaging threads on the spindle 3 for adjusting the compression of the spring 14 and a lock nut 18 for securing the nut 17.

As is shown, a cylindrical guard 19 is provided around the bush 4 in order to contain any leakage of lubricant.

In use, the hinge assembly of Figure 1 is suitably mounted at a lower edge of a door adjacent a rear stile of the door, as shown, for example in Figure 2 of my UK Patent No. 2 209 794B. To this end, an upright bore of height greater than the housing 11 extending above plate 7 is formed in the lower edge of the door inwardly spaced from the rear edge of the door stile, and the lower edge of the door is suitably recessed to accommodate the plate 7 with the longer side extending away from the rear edge. A transverse bore is suitably formed from the rear edge to communicate with the upright bore at an upper portion thereof. The upper portion of the hinge assembly comprising the housing is located in the upright bore with the plate 7 registered with the recess in the door lower edge and secured by screws.

The door is suitably pivotally supported at its upper edge with an upper pivot assembly as shown in Figure 2. This upper pivot assembly comprises an upper plate 30 for screw mounting to the upper door frame and having an upright downwardly extending pivot spindle 31. A door plate 32 having a downwardly extending spindle socket sleeve 33 provided with needle bearings 34 is mounted in the upper edge of the door with the sleeve axially aligned with the spindle 3 of the lower hinge assembly. The pivot spindle 31 is slidably received in the sleeve 33 to allow for up and down movement of the sleeve relative to the spindle and space is provided between the upper door frame and the upper edge of the door, with the door in a closed position, to accommodate lift of the door on opening due to the action of the lower hinge assembly to be described.

After mounting the upper pivot assembly and lower hinge assembly to the door, the door is positioned within its frame and the lower plate 1 and upper plate 30 secured to the floor and upper door frame respectively.

The transverse bore in the door rear edge aligns with an aperture (not shown) in the housing 11 so as to register with the adjustable biasing nut 17 and lock nut 18, thereby affording access for a screwdriver or the like to engage peripheral slots on the nuts for turning the nut 17 to adjust the biasing of the spring, and the nut 18 to lock nut 17 in position.

In use, on moving the door about the hinge assembly and upper pivot, the bush 8 rotates about the spindle 3 relative the bush 4 and the cam surface 9 of the upper bush 8 moves relative to the cam surface 5 slightly to elevate the door according to the angle of inclination of the cam surfaces. In doing so the thrust bearing assembly 6, 6a rocks or see-saws over the inclined and chamfered cam surface 5, 5a. At the same time the spring 14 is further compressed to increase the biasing force progressively as the door is moved about the pivot spindles 3 and 31. On release of the door, the biasing force of the spring 14 acts to urge the door about the pivot spindles 3, 27 to return it to its closed or predetermined position.

It will be appreciated that the restoring force for returning the door to a closed or rest position will be a function of the spring biasing force and the inclination of the cam surfaces. The latter can be so adjusted that the door will only rise about one-sixteenth of an inch when pivoted through 900 and about one eighth inch when pivoted through 1800. Moreover, the hinge assembly can be used with doors for full rotation through 3600. The operation of the mechanism is enhanced by the see-saw effect of the thrust bearing assembly 6,6a as it rocks over the inclined and chamfered cam surface 5,5a.

The present invention thus provides a pivot hinge assembly for a door which makes it easy to pass through and slow to return to a closed position with only a small rise and fall.

Figures 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of pivot hinge assembly which is basically of similar construction to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, but which additionally provides for the door to be maintained in at least one stable position, e.g. a closed position and one or more open positions. To this end, a roller 40 is slidably mounted with respect to a housing 42 which is secured to the underside of the plate 7, and a shaped collar 46 is fixed around the guard 19. The collar is secured around the guard by means of a clamping screw and nut arrangement 44.

The roller 40 is urged towards the collar 46 by means of a spring disposed within the housing 42, the urging force of the spring being adjustable by means of a screw 50 passing through an end wall of the housing.

The collar 46 is shaped to define a closed position of the door by means of an aperture 52 which is disposed centrally between two edges 54,56 provided on the collar.

The edges 54,56 each define an open position of the door, one on either side of the closed position.

When the door is closed, it is maintained stable by the roller 40 seated in the aperture 52 under the urging force of the spring. If the door is pushed in either direction from the closed position, the roller 40 travels over the surface of the collar 46 and snaps over one edge 54 or 56 to define a stable open position. If the door is then released, it will come to rest in an open position with the roller 40 abutting the edge 54,56. An initial force sufficient to dislodge the roller 40 will free the door, allowing it to swing back to the closed position, with the roller 40 travelling back over the surface of the collar, until it seats in the aperture 52.

Claims

1. A self-closing or self-aligning hinge assembly particularly for doors comprising a first member including a first cam surface for mounting in a fixed position such as on a floor or a door frame and a second member rotatably mounted on the first member and including a cooperating second cam surface for mounting on a door such that rotation of said second cam surface relative to said first cam surface tends to restore the door from an open to a closed position or a predetermined aligned position, wherein one of said members is of generally cylindrical form and has an inclined surface forming the first cam surface which is provided with two oppositely disposed chamfered or rounded portions extending outwardly towards its periphery and a bearing assembly positioned between said two cooperating cam surfaces which rocks over the inclined cam surfaces with relative rotation of said cam surfaces.

2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the bearing assembly comprises a thrust bearing disposed between two washer-like members.

3. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the first member comprises a support plate, a pivot spindle extending from the support plate, and a bush surrounding the pivot spindle adjacent the support plate and being secure against rotation relative to the spindle, the first cam surface being an inclined surface of said bush and in which the second member is mounted on the spindle and extends transversely thereof, said second member including a cooperating inclined surface, a tubular housing extending from said second member to surround the part of said spindle extending through said second member and including a bearing aperture for receiving the end of said pivot spindle remote from said support plate, and a biasing spring surrounding the spindle and located within the tubular housing to urge said second cam surface towards said first cam surface.

4. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 3, including means for adjusting the force exerted by the biasing spring.

5. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which locating means are provided to define at least one predetermined stable position in which the hinge assembly can come to rest.

6. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the locating means comprises a collar-like member disposed around the first member and defining at least one said predetermined stable position for the door, and cooperating means disposed on the second member to engage with the collar-like member and locate in any one of said predetermined stable positions.

7. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which the cooperating means is a follower member which is resiliently biased towards the collar-like member and the one or more predetermined positions are defined by edges on said collar-like member.

8. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which the follower member is a roller which is spring urged towards the collar-like member.

9. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, in which the collar-like member defines a closed position of the door and two open positions, one on either side of said closed position.

10. A hinge assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.