GB2276198A - A method and arrangement for effecting relative Pivotal movement between two components - Google Patents

Abstract

The method comprises plotting a preferred pivotal movement path, selecting two spaced positions for a pair of pivot pins (15, 16) so that each pin of the pair projects from one component (1) towards the other component (2), tracing the path each pin of the pair takes during relative pivotal movement along the movement path plotted, and positioning a guide track (17, 18) corresponding to the traced path for each pin on the other component, the mutual interrelationship and interaction between the tracks producing the required movement. The arrangement provides at least one pivot assembly (14) including a pair of spaced pins (15, 16), each pin of the pair projecting from one component (1) and being positioned to cooperate with a guide track (17, 18) in the other component. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO COMPONENTS This invention relates to a method and arrangement for effecting relative pivotal movement between two components and has particular application where one component is pivotally mounted between opposed faces of the other component.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of connecting two components for relative pivotal movement, one component being pivotally mounted on the other component, comprises plotting a preferred movement path for said relative pivotal movement, selecting two spaced positions for a pair of pivot pins so that each pin of each pair projects from one component towards the other component, tracing the path each pin of each pair moves along during said relative pivotal movement along the movement path plotted, and positioning a guide track corresponding to the traced path for each pin on the other component, whereby the mutual interrelationship between the guide tracks and their interaction with their respective pins effects relative pivotal movement between said components along said movement path.

Preferably, one component is pivotally mounted between spaced opposed faces of the other component, in which case two spaced pin positions and corresponding guide tracks are selected for each said opposed face, and said positions for one face are axially aligned with respective positions for the other face.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pivotal arrangement for relative pivotal movement between two components, in which one component is pivotally mounted on the other component, comprises a pivot assembly including a pair of spaced pins, each pin of each pair projecting from one of the components and being positioned to cooperate with a guide track provided in or on the other component, said guide tracks being mutually interrelated whereby their respective pins can be guided in unison along and interact with their respective tracks to effect a relative pivotal movement between the two components along a preferred movement path.

Preferably, the pair of spaced pivot pins are provided on one component and the cooperating pair of guide tracks are provided on the other component.

In the case where one component is pivotally mounted between spaced opposed faces of the other component, preferably, a pair of pivot assemblies are provided, each assembly being adapted to be mounted in axial alignment with the other assembly between said one component and each said opposed face of said other component, said pivot assemblies being substantially identical.

In a preferred application, said one component is a closure having deep side walls which is adapted to seat into an outer frame also having a deep side wall with the inner face of said closure in contact with a seat defined within the outer frame. It will be appreciated that, in such an application, hinges attached along a common edge between the front faces of the closure and frame would not be appropriate, since hinging movement about the hinge axis would result in the inner face of the closure binding against the seat of the frame. Furthermore, the hinges would project outwardly from adjacent faces of the closure and frame.

In an alternative arrangement, if simple pivot pins and their seats were disposed between the opposed faces of said frame and adjacent side walls of the closure and aligned along a single pivot axis spaced from said outer faces of the closure and frame towards the seat of the frame, the adjacent outer edge of the closure would bind against the side wall of the frame during pivotal movement.

In accordance with the present invention, by careful choice for the spacing of the two pivot pins and the mutual interrelationship of their respective guide tracks for the pivot assemblies, the closure can be made to follow a predetermined movement path such that the closure is initially moved longitudinally and outwardly with respect to the frame to prevent binding.

In a preferred interrelationship for each pivot assembly, one guide track is curved and the other guide track is substantially straight, it being appreciated that the tracks must be so interrelated that the spaced pins can move freely along their respective tracks without binding, i.e. the interrelationship provides a constant span between instantaneous pin engagement points along the two tracks which is equal to the spacing between the pins.

Preferably, the curved track is arcuate and symetrically arranged with the centre of its arc close to one end of the straight track, which in turn extends radially outwardly with respect to the arc. In this case, the spacing and positioning of the two pins of each pivotal assembly is chosen such that the two guide tracks open into each other to provide a configuration of substantially " A " shape.

One practical application of the invention is for an access cover and surrounding frame for floor or wall mounting e.g. such as described in my UK Patent Specification Nos. GB2145138 and GB2216159. In these specifications the access cover and frame are generally of rectangular form and made from profiled sections rigidly mitred together at their corners; the access cover is separate from its frame and is designed to be manually fitted into and removed from the frame. Because of the depth of the profiled sections, the sealing contact between the inner face of the cover and frame seat, and the sealing required between the adjacent side walls of the cover and frame, it has not been possible to adapt known pivotal arrangements to enable the cover to be hinged to the frame; an object of the present invention is to overcome this problem.

An access cover and frame incorporating a pivotal arrangement in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of parts of the removable cover and frame of the access cover and showing a series of pivot positions through which the cover must pass to effect a pivotal opening movement, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the parts of said cover and frame in their closed position with the relative positioning of part of a pivotal arrangement in accordance with the invention superimposed thereon, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pivotal arrangement.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the access cover comprises a removable cover 1 and frame 2, each of which is constructed from profiled sections 3 and 4, said sections being mitred together at their corners. The removable cover 1 provides a recess defined by an upstanding permetric edge 6 for a filling material 5 e.g. concrete. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2, a suitable filling material Sc can stop short of the surface and be overlaid with a floor covering 5a, the perimeter of which is fixed via edging strips 5b as described in my GB Patent Specification No. 2250192 particularly with reference to Figure 8. A more detailed description of the basic construction of the access cover is contained in my Patent Specification No.

2145138. The cover 1 also provides a perimetric recess in which a seal 7 for preventing ingress of dirt is located for sealing, when fitted, around the adjacent wall 8 of the frame 2 (see Figure 2). The bottom of the cover member is provided with at least one, in this embodiment two, recesses for sealing strips 9 which seal on to an inwardly directed seating flange 10 forming part of the frame 2; this flange has a stepped inner flange 11 for use with an arrangement for locking down the cover 1 if required.

It will be appreciated that, due to the depth of the cover 1 and frame 2, the close fit required by the perimetric seal 7 and the sealing contact between the strips 9 on the frame seat 10, it is not a simple matter to hinge the two components together, because any pivotal movement between them must be such as to provide an initial clearance for the two seals to avoid binding.

A simple hinge arrangement between the upper (outer) co-operating edges 6, 6a of the cover 1 and frame 2 would not work because the sealing strips 9 of the cover would bind against the flange seat 10. Similarly, a simple pivot between the side walls of the cover and frame along an axis parallel with and close to the wall 8 of the frame but spaced below the upper co-operating edges 6, 6a would also not work because said co-operating edges would bind against each other. In accordance with the invention, a preferred movement path for relative pivotal movement, which allows the clearance required, is plotted, as shown in Figure 1. To achieve this movement path, two identical pivotal assemblies 14 are provided between each side wall of the cover 1 and the co-operating opposed wall face of the frame 2.Each said pivotal assembly comprises a pair of spaced pins 15, 16 on one component, in this embodiment on opposed side walls of the cover 1 (see also Figure 3), and a guide track 17, 18 respectively for each pin, said pins being aligned with each other as shown chain-dotted in Figure 3 and their respective guide tracks also being aligned as shown; in this embodiment the respective guide tracks are in the form of grooves in which the pins locate. The configuration and mutual interrelationship of the two guide grooves of each pivotal assembly is such that the two pins are caused to move in unison along their respective tracks and be controlled by each other to effect a relative pivotal movement between the cover and frame in the preferred movement path. It will be appreciated that the location of the pins and respective grooves can be reversed, i.e.

the pins provided in the opposed faces of the frame and the grooves in the adjacent side walls of the cover.

Also, these parts could be provided directly on the frame and cover, or could be provided separately, e.g.

in a pair of mating plates, for mounting in the required co-operating positions on the cover and frame.

As shown in Figure 2, the guide groove 17 for the pin 15 of each pivotal assembly 11 is generally arcuate in this embodiment, part of an ellipse, whilst the groove 18 for the pin 16 is straight, the two grooves opening symmetrically into each other to provide a composite guide groove of substantially " " shape.

The closed position for the pin 15 is shown by a solid line, whilst its open position is shown dotted.

However, with regard to the pin 16 it will be appreciated that this will carry out a reciprocal movement along its groove 18 during an opening, or closing, movement of the cover, i.e. it will move to its outermost point (shown dotted) during the first half movement of the pin 15 in its groove 17 and will return to its starting position during the second half movement of the pin 15.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the above embodiment within the scope of the following claims. Thus, any appropriate configuration of the guide track can be used, depending upon the positioning and spacing of the pins and the mutual interrelationship required between the tracks to effect pivotal relative movement between their two components in a required arcuate path.

Claims (14)

1. A method of connecting two components for relative pivotal movement, one component being pivotally mounted on the other component, comprising plotting a preferred movement path for said relative pivotal movement, selecting two spaced positions for a pair of pivot pins so that each pin of each pair projects from one component towards the other component, tracing the path each pin of each pair moves along during said relative pivotal movement along the movement path plotted, and positioning a guide track corresponding to the traced path for each pin on the other component, whereby the mutual interrelationship between the guide tracks and their interaction with their respective pins effects relative pivotal movement between said components along said movement path.

2. A method according to Claim 1, and in which one component is pivotally mounted between spaced opposed faces of the other component, wherein two spaced pin positions and corresponding guide tracks are seiected for each said opposed face, and said positions for one face are axially aligned with respective positions for the other face.

3. A pivotal arrangement for relative pivotal movement between two components, in which one component is pivotally mounted on the other component, comprising a pivot assembly including a pair of spaced pins, each pin of the pair projecting from one of the components and being positioned to cooperate with a guide track provided in or on the other component, said guide tracks being mutually interrelated whereby their respective pins can be guided in unison along and interact with their respective tracks to effect a relative pivotal movement between the two components along a preferred movement path.

4. A pivotal arrangement according to Claim 3, wherein the pairs of spaced pivot pins are provided on one component and the cooperating pair of guide tracks are provided on the other component.

5. A pivotal arrangement according to Claim 3 or 4 and in which one component is mounted between spaced opposed faces of the other component, wherein a pair of pivot assemblies are provided, each assembly being adapted to be mounted in axial alignment with the other assembly between said one component and each said opposed face of said other component, said pivot assemblies being substantially identical.

6. A pivotal arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein said one component is a closure having deep side walls which is adapted to seat into an outer frame also having deep side walls with the inner face of said closure in contact with a seat defined within the outer frame.

7. A pivotal arrangement according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the positioning and spacing of the two pins of the, or each, pivotal assembly is chosen such that one guide track is configured to be curved and the other to be substantially straight.

8. A pivotal arrangement according to Claim 7, wherein the curved track is arcuate and symmetrically arranged with the centre of its arc close to one end of the straight track which extends radially outwardly with respect to the arc.

9. A pivotal arrangement according to Claim 8, wherein the positioning and spacing of the two pins is chosen such that the guide tracks open into each other.

10. A pivotal arrangement according to any one of Claims 3 to 9, wherein the pins and guide tracks of the, or each, pivotal assembly are provided directly on the respective components.

11. A pivotal arrangement according to any one of Claims 3 to 9, wherein the pins and guide tracks of the, or each, pivotal assembly are provided separately in mating parts and said parts are mounted in co-operating positions on their respective components.

12. A pivotal arrangement according to any one of Claims 3 to 11, wherein the guide tracks are each in the form of a groove dimensioned to slidably accommodate a respective pin.

13. A method of connecting two components together for relative pivotal movement substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A pivotal arrangement constructed and adapted for use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.