GB2263936A - Extruded hinges. - Google Patents

Abstract

The hinge is formed from two elongate extrusions (2, 4), one extrusion (2) defines in cross-section a first radially extending portion (16), a first circumferentially extending portion (12) having an inner circumferential surface (12A) substantially coincident with a notional circle of predetermined radius, and, an abutment portion (16). The other extrusion (4) defines in cross-section a second radially-extending portion pivotally supported on said first extrusion (2), and a second circumferentially portion (32) having an outer circumferential surface (32A) substantially coincident with the said notional circle. The two extrusions (2, 4) engage one another with the first and second circumferential surfaces (12A, 32A) in sliding contact with one another. The angular displacement of the extrusions (2, 4) relative to one another is limited in one sense by the first radial portion (16) and in the other sense by the abutment portion (16). <IMAGE>

Description

EXTRUDED HINGES The present invention relates to extruded hinges.

Frames for enclosures such as sheds, cold frames for example are often made up from lengths of extruded material. It is often a requirement that such frames require one panel to be hingedly connected thereto.

Separate hinges, such as piano hinges, are costly and time consuming to install.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved hinge.

According to the present invention there is provided a hinge comprising first and second elongate extrusions, said first extrusion defining in crosssection a first radially extending portion, a first circumferentially extending portion having an inner circumferential surface substantially coincident with a notional circle of predetermined radius, and, an abutment portion, the second extrusion defining in cross-section a second radially-extending portion pivotally supported on said first extrusion, a second circumferential portion having an outer circumferential surface substantially coincident with the said notional circle, whereby when said first and second extrusions are caused to engage one another with the first and second circumferential surfaces in sliding contact with one another, the angular displacement of the members relative to one another is limited in one sense by the first radial portion and in the other sense by the abutment portion.

Preferably the abutment portion extends radially outwardly from the first radial portion at a location adjacent the centre of said notional circle.

Advantageously, at least one of said extrusions in cross-section is provided with a pair of parallel spaced walls for accommodating a panel of predetermined thickness.

The second radially extending portion is pivotally supported in crook of the junction between the first radially extending portion and the abutment portion.

An extruded hinge embodying the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a first two component extrusion hinge assembly; Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sections respectively of the two components of a second two component hinge assembly; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of the two components of Figures 2 and 3 when assembled illustrating the two extreme positions between which the components can be relatively displaced.

The description of the extrusions which follows will be in terms of their cross-sectional profiles.

As shown in Figure 1 the hinge assembly is formed by two engaged extrusions 2 and 4 for example of aluminium.

The first extrusion 2 has a base member 10.

Extending from one side of the base member 10 are a pair of parallel spaced support walls 6 and 8 which are arranged to accommodate a panel of predetermined thickness. Extending from the other side of the base member 10 are a first circumferentially extending portion 12 having an inner circumferential surface 12a substantially coincident with a notional circle of predetermined radius and a centre 14, and a first radial portion 16 extending from one circumferential extremity of the portion 12 to the centre 14 of the circle. The first radial portion 16 is coplanar with, and forms an extension of, the wall 8. An abutment member 16 extends from the first radial portion 16 adjacent the centre 14 radially towards the other circumferential extremity of the first circumferentially extending portion 12.

The distal end of the abutment member 16 is, however, spaced from the first circumferential portion 12.

The second extrusion 4 has a base member.

Extending from one side of the base member 20 are a pair of parallel spaced support walls 26 and 28 which are arranged to accommodate a panel of predetermined thickness. Extending from the other side of the base member 26, and forming an extention of the wall 26, is a second circumferentially extending portion 32 having an outer circumferential surface 32a substantially coincident with the aforementioned notional circle with centre 14. Extending from the distal end of the second circumferentially extending portion 32 is a second radial portion 36 which extends to the centre 14 and rests in the crook between the abutment member 16 and the first radial portion 16.

The two extrusions 2 and 4 are cause to engage one another by spacing them from one another longitudinally, lining them up so that axis containing the common centre 14 are aligned (as shown in Figure 1) and finally displacing them towards one another along the aligned axis.

It will be appreciated that if the first extrusion 2 is kept stationary the second extrusion 4 can be pivoted between the position shown in Figure 1 in which the second radial portion abuts the abutment member 16 and a position in which the second radially extending portion abuts the first radially portion 16; the first and second circumferential surfaces being in sliding contact with one another during pivoting.

Instead, the second extrusion 4 can be held stationary and the first extrusion pivoted between the same two relative angular limits.

In the second two component hinge assembly shown in Figures 2 to 4, the active part of the hinge are formed by extensions of the base member rather than extensions of the support walls.

As shown, a first extrusion 40 comprises a base member 44. Located on one side.of the base member 10 are a pair of spaced parallel support walls 46 and 48 arranged to support a panel. An extension 50 of the base member 44 beyond the wall 46 supports an arcuate portion 52 having an inner circumferential surface 52a substantially coincident with a notional circle of predetermined radius and having a centre 54. An abutment member 56 projects from the base member 44 on the opposite side thereof to the walls 46 and 48 at the level of the centre 54.

The second extrusion 42 is generally L-shaped.

One leg 60 of the L is arranged to support a panel (not shown) or other structure, while the other leg 62 of the L is arranged to be pivoted into and out of abutment with the base member 44 of the first extrusion. A projection 64 from the leg 62 directed towards the leg 60 is arranged to cooperate with the leg 60 in supporting a panel or other structure. The free end of the leg 62 is profiled to define a second arcuate portion 66 having an outer circumferential surface 66a substantially coincident with the aforementioned notional circle and a second radial portion 68 extending from the extremity of the arcuate portion 66 radially inwardly to the centre 54.

The second extrusion 42 is thus pivotally supported by the second radial portion 68 on the abutment member 56 for angular displacement about the centre 54.

It will be appreciated that the second extrusion 42 can be displaced relative to the first extrusion 40 between a position (shown in solid lines in Figure 4) in which the second radial portion 68 abuts and extends parallel to the adjacent surface of the abutment member 56 and a position (shown in broken lines in Figure 4) in which the second radial portion abuts and extends parallel to the adjacent surface of the first radial portion 50.

Instead of aluminium the extrusion can be of other metals or metal alloys or even of plastics.

The hinged extrusions can be usefully used in any structure using extrusions in which a hinge is required, for example windows in green houses or garden sheds.

Claims (5)

1. A hinge comprising first and second elongate extrusions, said first extrusion defining in crosssection a first radially extending portion, a first circumferentially extending portion having an inner circumferential surface substantially coincident with a notional circle of predetermined radius, and, an abutment portion, the second extrusion defining in cross-section a second radially-extending portion pivotally supported on said first extrusion, a second circumferentially extending portion having an outer circumferential surface substantially coincident with the said notional circle, whereby when said first and second extrusions are caused to engage on another with the first and second circumferential surfaces in sliding contact with one another, the angular displacement of the members relative to one another is limited in one sense by the first radial portion and in the other sense by the abutment portion.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1, wherein the abutment portion extends radially outwardly from the first radial portion at a location adjacent the centre of said notional circle.

3. A hinge according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2, wherein at least one of said extrusions in cross-section is provided with a pair of parallel spaced walls for accommodating a panel of predetermined thickness.

4. A hinge according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the second radially extending portion is pivotally supported in crook of the junction between the first radially extending portion and the abutment portion.

5. An extruded hinge substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.