GB2250316A

GB2250316A - Hinge mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB2250316A
Application number: GB9027380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Worlledge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-27
Filing date: 1990-12-18
Publication date: 1992-06-03
Also published as: GB9025736D0; GB9027380D0

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for, for example, a door or gate, comprises a spindle 12 and a bracket 11 having a socket 11a of non-circular cross-section, the spindle 12 including a portion 12a of circular cross-section and a portion 12b of non-circular cross-section and the spindle 12 and bracket 11 being relatively movable axially of the spindle between a position in which relative rotation is permitted and a position in which relative rotation is prevented. The hinge may be embodied as an executive toy. <IMAGE>

Description

HINGE MECHANISMS Field of the Invention This invention relates to hinge mechanisms.

Background to the Invention Many different types of hinge mechanism are at present in use for, for example, gates and doors such as stable doors. In addition, many different types of latches, catches, sliding bolts and the like have been fitted to gates and doors to hold them either in their closed or their open positions.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a hinge mechanism for fitment to, for example, a gate or door which enables or assists holding of the gate or door in either its closed position or its open position.

It is a more general object of the present invention to provide an improved form of hinge mechanism.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge mechanism for providing a hinge connection between a relatively fixed component and a relatively movable component, said hinge mechanism comprising first and second members, one for attachment to each of said components, said first and second members comprising a spindle and a socket, the spindle and socket being relatively displaceable axially of the spindle between a first axial position in which rotation of the socket relative to the spindle about the axis of the spindle is permitted, and a second axial position in which such rotation is prevented.

It is to be appreciated that the spindle and socket can be attached to either the fixed or movable components, for example, as applied to a hinge mechanism for a stable door, the spindle can be attached either to the door or to the door frame.

The relative sizes and shapes of the spindle and socket are preferably such that, when the spindle and socket are in their first relative axial position, relative rotation can be effected between a plurality of angular positions in each of which axial displacement into the second relative axial position is permitted.- Thus, as applied to a hinge mechanism for a stable door, the door may be rotatable through 1800 between a closed position, in which relative axial displacement is permitted, and a fully open position, in which relative axial displacement is also permitted.

The arrangement may be such that the socket includes a bore of non-circular cross-section, while the spindle includes a first stem portion of circular cross-section relative to which the socket is freely rotatable and a second stem portion complementary to said non-circular cross-section bore and relative to which the socket is not rotatable.

The bore in the socket may, for example, be of square cross-section, with the second stem portion of the spindle also of square cross-section. In this way, as applied to a stable door, location of the door can be effected either in the closed position, at 900 from the closed position, or at 1800 from the closed position. If, of course, it is desired to locate the movable component in different angular positions relative to the fixed component, the cross-sections of the bore and second stem portion will be varied as required.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an "executive toy" in the form of a hinge mechanism comprising a spindle and a socket, the spindle and socket being relatively displaceable axially of the spindle between a first axial position in which rotation of the socket relative to the spindle about the axis of the spindle is permitted, and a second axial position in which such rotation is prevented, relative displacement from the first axial position to the second axial position being permitted in more than one angular position of the socket relative to the spindle.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a socket, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a spindle, Figure 3 is a side view of a hinge mechanism comprising the socket of Figure 1 and the spindle of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a plan view of the hinge mechanism, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a gate fitted with a pair of hinge mechanisms, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a socket fitted to a gatepost, and Figures 7 to 9 are detail views showing a number of different applications of the hinge mechanism of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the hinge mechanism includes a bracket 11 comprising a socket portion lia and a mounting portion lib in the form of a flat plate provided with two square holes 14 each of which can receive a round-headed bolt fitted with a square collar so that effective tightening of the bolts can be effected to secure the bracket in the required position.

The other component of the hinge mechanism is the spindle 12 which includes a first stem portion 12a of circular crosssection and a second stem portion 12b of square cross-section.

The socket portion ila of the bracket 11 has a square bore of such size that the stem portion 12b of the spindle 12 is a close sliding fit within the bore of the socket portion lia so that, when the bracket 11 is engaged with the square stem portion 12b, relative rotation between the bracket 11 and the spindle 12 is prevented.

Tee bolts 13 are provided at each end of the spindle 12, the bracket 11 being engaged with the spindle 12 prior to attachment of both Tee bolts 13 to the spindle 12. The length of the spindle 12 and hence the spacing between the Tee bolts 13 will depend on the dimensions of the gate, door or barrier to which the hinge mechanism is to be fitted.

The length of the round stem portion 12a of the spindle 12 is sufficient to permit the bracket 11 to rotate freely relative to the spindle 12 when the bracket 11 is in its first axial position relative to the spindle, i.e. the bracket 11 has been lifted upwardly to its fullest extent into engagement with the uppermost Tee bolt 13. When, however, the bracket 11 is in its second axial position relative to the spindle 12, i.e. it is lowered into engagement with the lowermost Tee bolt 13, rotation of the bracket 11 is prevented.

In the particular construction shown in Figure 3, the length of the square stem portion 12b of the spindle 12 is greater than the axial length of the bracket 11. If desired, however, the axial length of the square stem portion 12b may be substantially less than the axial length of the bracket 11. The distance through which the bracket 11 then has to be lifted to permit it to rotate relative to the spindle 12 will then be correspondingly reduced.

Figure 4 shows the parts of the hinge mechanism in the relative positions which they occupy when the door, gate or other barrier to which the hinge mechanism is fitted is closed.

Movement of the bracket 11 axially relative to the spindle 12 is permitted in this position and at other positions spaced 900, 1800 and 2700 from the illustrated position. When, therefore, the bracket 11 is lifted into its first axial position, as shown in Figure 3, it can then be turned through either 900 or 1800 and then lowered into its second axial position in which, again, rotation of the bracket 11 relative to the spindle 12 is prevented.

The gate, door or other barrier to which the hinge mechanism is fitted can thus be held not only in a closed position but also in either a partly open or a fully open position. It will be appreciated that, by appropriating shaping of the parts of the hinge mechanism, the gate, door or other barrier to which the hinge mechanism is fitted may be located at other angular positions. For example, if the bore in the bracket 11 is of hexagonal cross-section and the stem portion 12b of the spindle 12 is of corresponding hexagonal cross.- section, the gate, door or other barrier can be located at positions spaced apart by 600.

Turning next to Figure 5, this shows a gate 10 to which are fitted two hinge mechanisms, each including a bracket 11 attached to the gate 10 and a spindle 12 attached to the gatepost 15 by a pair of Tee bolts 13. When the gate 10 is in its lowermost position, as shown, the gate 10 is held closed.

When, however, the gate 10 is lifted into its uppermost position, it can then be swung open. After the gate 10 has been turned through 900, it can then be lowered and it will then be held open.

For, for example, a stable door, the method of mounting the hinge mechanism will be such as to permit the door to be turned through 1800 from its closed position into its fully open position. To open the door, it will accordingly be lifted, turned through 1800 and then lowered. The door will thus be held in its fully open position without any requirement for an additional latch mechanism.

In Figure 5, the brackets 11 are attached to the gate 10.

It is, of course, equally possible to attach the spindle 12 to the gate and the bracket 11 to the gatepost. Figure 6 thus shows a bracket 11 'leaded' into a granite gatepost.

Although Figure 3 illustrates the use of two Tee bolts 13, one at each end of the spindle 12, it would be possible to have a spindle mounting in which the spindle is supported at one end only. For use with the bracket shown in Figure 6, the spindle would have an upper square cross-section portion and a depending, lower cylindrical portion which was freely rotatable within the socket of bracket 11. The gate would thus normally be held closed but, on lifting the gate, and thus the spindle, the cylindrical portion of the spindle would be brought into register with the bore of the bracket and it would be possible to open the gate.

Figure 7 shows an arrangement in which a bracket 11 is fastened to a gate 16 by bolts 18 and a spindle 12 is attached to a gate post 17 by the Tee bolts 13. The shanks of the Tee bolts pass through bores in the gatepost and are secured in position by means of nuts 19.

Figure 8 shows an arrangement in which the positions of the hinge components are reversed, i.e. the bracket 11 is attached to the gatepost 17 and the spindle 12 is attached to the gate 16.

There may be instances where a freely hinged gate, door or other barrier may need to be secured to prevent it being opened inadvertently in either direction and to provide for locking of the gate, door or other barrier. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 9.

Two projections 22 are provided on a post 23 with the space between the two projections 22 such that the bracket 11 can fit between them. When the bracket 11 is held in said space, it will be in engagement with the lower square portion 12b of the spindle 12 and will be held in this position preventing raising and thus opening of the gate. Holes are formed in the projections 22 and in the bracket 11 to receive the clasp of a padlock to provide this locking facility.

In some instances, for example, as applied to a stable door, the use of the hinge mechanism of the present invention enables one to dispense with a catch or latching mechanism, i.e. no catch is required to hold the stable door open. In other instances, for example, as applied to a child's safety gate, the hinge mechanism of the present invention is intended to provide additional security over and above that afforded by other catches or latches.

The design of the components of the hinge mechanism is such that, as will be appreciated from the comments made above, a range of movements of the components is permitted. For, therefore, an executive under stress, movement of the spindle and bracket relative to one another can have a soothing, stress-relieving effect. The basic design of the hinge mechanism can accordingly be utilised to provide an "executive 11 toy It is also to be appreciated that, although particular reference has been made to the use of the hinge mechanism for gates and stable doors, these are purely examples of the possible uses of the hinge mechanism of the present invention and that many other applications are possible.

Claims

Claims:

1. A hinge mechanism for providing a hinge connection between a relatively fixed component and a relatively movable component, said hinge mechanism comprising first and second members, one for attachment to each of said components, said first and second members comprising a spindle and a socket, the spindle and socket being relatively displaceable axially of the spindle between a first axial position in which rotation of the socket relative to the spindle about the axis of the spindle is permitted, and a second axial position in which such rotation is prevented.

2. A hinge mechanism according to Claim 1, in which the relative sizes and shapes of the spindle and socket are such that, when the spindle and socket are in their first relative axial position, relative rotation can be effected between a plurality of angular positions in each of which axial displacement into the second relative axial position is permitted.

3. A hinge mechanism according to Claim 2 and for a door or gate, said mechanism being such that the door or gate is rotatable through 1800 between a closed position, in which relative axial displacement is permitted, and a fully open position, in which relative axial displacement is also permitted.

4. A hinge mechanism according to Claim 1, in which the socket includes a bore of non-circular cross-section, while the spindle includes a first stem portion of circular cross-section relative to which the socket is freely rotatable and a second stem portion complementary to said non-circular cross-section bore and relative to which the socket is not rotatable.

5. A hinge mechanism according to Claim 4 in which the bore in the socket is of square cross-section, with the second stem portion of the spindle also of square cross-section.

6. A hinge mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. A door or gate fitted with a hinge mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. An "executive toy" in the form of a hinge mechanism comprising a spindle and a socket, the spindle and socket being relatively displaceable axially of the spindle between a first axial position in which rotation of the socket relative to the spindle about the axis of the spindle is permitted, and a second axial position in which such rotation is prevented, relative displacement from the first axial position to the second axial position being permitted in more than one angular position of the socket relative to the spindle.