GB2276201A

GB2276201A - Hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2276201A
Application number: GB9404966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Longmire
Original assignee: ALUDEX Ltd
Current assignee: ALUDEX Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-18
Filing date: 1994-03-15
Publication date: 1994-09-21
Also published as: GB9404966D0; GB9305596D0

Abstract

A hinge assembly comprises first and second members (10, 12) and an intermediate member (14) connected to each member. The intermediate member includes a first portion (28) with a T-cross-section protrusion (26) engaging in a corresponding channel (18) in one member and a second portion (30) which is rotatable relative to the first portion about the longitudinal axis thereof and has a similar protrusion engaging in a corresponding channel in the second member. The first and second members being deformed (36) in the region of their channels to fix the protrusion therein. The deformation (36) may be produced by fitting a screw or bolt into a passage drilled into the respective member. Alternatively the deformation (36) may be formed by means of a press. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO HINGES The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to hinges, especially but not exclusively hinges for pivotally connecting one component having a framework formed from extruded members to another component having a similar framework.

Extruded aluminium alloy members are often used to form the framework of building panels, for example the panels of shower enclosures, or windows or doors.

Panels of this nature can be hinged to each other or to a surrounding framework by standard hinges but such an arrangement exhibits a number of disadvantages not the least of which are the time involved in fitting the hinges, the fact that the hinges are not of a particularly neat appearance in the finished assembly and the fact that without the provision of additional seals a relatively water-tight coupling between the components along their hinged edges is not easy to obtain.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate these and other disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising first and second members to be hinged together and an intermediate member for hingedly interconnecting said first and second members, the said intermediate member comprising at least two sections which are mutually rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate member, each section being provided with a connector whereby one section can be connected alongside one member, the other alongside the other member and means for fixing said connectors against movement relative to the section of the intermediate member to which it is connected.

Preferably said first, second and intermediate members are elongated members formed by extrusion. The intermediate member of circular cross-section having a substantially T-shaped protrusion projecting radially therefrom to form said connector. The cross bar of the T-shaped member is arcuate.

Preferably the interconnecting member comprises two first and one second section, the said first sections being arranged at either end of the second section and being rotatably mounted relative thereto about the longitudinal axis of the member by an intermediate bearing member.

Preferably the first and second members have a substantially rectangular external cross-section with a part-circular rebate formed along one edge to accommodate a part of said intermediate member.

Preferably a channel, the top of which is partially closed such that it has a T-shaped cross-section corresponding to the protrusion from the interconnecting member is formed in the first and second members, said channel opening into said part-circular rebate.

Preferably the means for fixing the sections of the intermediate member relative to the first and second members comprises deformations of that part of the first and second members defining the partially closed channel. Preferably the deformations are formed after the connector of the intermediate member has been located and accurately positioned within said channel.

Each deformation may be formed by fitting a screw or bolt into a passage drilled into the respective first and second member at an appropriate location, the screw being tightened down to be deform part of the member surrounding the hole to cause said deformation.

Alternatively the deformations are provided by a press arrangement permanently deforming portions of the first and second members adjacent said partially closed channel such that these portions project into the channel to trap a connector of the intermediate member therein.

In an alternative arrangement the intermediate member is extruded from a suitable plastics material, for example nylon.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising first and second members to be hinged together and an intermediate member for hingedly interconnecting said first and second members, the said intermediate member comprising at least two sections which are mutually rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate member, each section being provided with a connector whereby one section can be connected alongside one member, the other alongside the other member, each member having a channel with a partially closed top along one edge, the channel receiving said connector therein and having deformations adjacent said partially closed top projecting into the channel to trap a connector therein.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through first, second and intermediate members of a hinge assembly; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through an intermediate on a part of a first member of a hinge assembly; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of a hinge assembly in an open position, viewed from above; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of part of a hinge assembly in the closed position viewed from below.

The hinge assembly to be described in the following embodiment is intended for use in mounting the glazed door of a shower cabinet or enclosure to the adjacent fixed panel. The door and fixed panel are each formed from glass sheets surrounded by a framework made up of extruded aluminium elongate members connected at their corners. Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a hinge assembly comprising a first elongate member 10 of the door frame, a second similar elongate member 12 of the fixed panel and an intermediate member 14. Each elongate member 10,12 is of substantially rectangular cross-section and has a part circular rebate 16 formed in one edge thereof.

A channel 18 opens into the rebate, the top of the channel being partially closed by inwardly directed lips 20 which form said rebate 16. The channel 18 is of substantially T-shaped cross-section, the cross bar 22 of the T being arcuate.

The intermediate member 14 which effectively forms the hinge pin is cylindrical and has a passage 24 therethrough. It has a T-shaped protrusion 26 extending radially therefrom, the cross bar 28 of the T being arcuate. The dimensions of the protrusion 26 are such that it can be accommodated within the channel 18. It will be appreciated that the intermediate member is fitted into the first or second member from one end thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 show that the intermediate member comprises a number of mutually rotatable sections, each alternate section being connected to the first and second members respectively. Usually there are three sections, two of which are shown in the drawing. The first section 28 is connected to the first member 10 and the second section 30 is connected to the second member 12. The sections are connected together for relative rotational movement by a nylon bearing 32 the external diameter of which such that it can be a push-fit within the central cylindrical passage 24 through the intermediate member, the nylon member being provided with a central flange 34 to space apart sections 28 and 30. It will be realised therefore that the first sections 28 can rotate about the nylon bearing 32 relative to the second section 30.

It will also be realised that the protrusion 26 from the first section 28 is located within the channel 18 of the first member 10 and the protrusion 26 from the second section 30 is located within the channel 18 of the second member 12. Thus the first member 10 can pivot relative to the second member 12 so that a hinge assembly is provided.

Bearing in mind that the intermediate member 14 is fitted to the first and second members (10,12) by relative longitudinal displacement thereof, it will be appreciated that restraint means must be provided once the intermediate member 14 is correctly located in the first and second members 10,12, to prevent continued longitudinal displacement therebetween. One proposal to prevent such movement has been to form a counter-sunk hole into the shorter face F of the first and second members adjacent the part circular edge rebate 16. A self tapping screw fitted into the counter-sunk hole, on tightening to a sufficient extent, will cause deformation of the rebate 16 such that the protrusion 26 from the intermediate member is nipped within the channel against relative longitudinal movement thereto.This proposal, while being efficient in operation is difficult and time consuming to achieve as it requires the accurate drilling of holes, the positioning and screwing down of self tapping screws and, after the screws have been positioned, the capping of the screws with a grommet such that the screw heads are protected against corrosion, if appropriate, and, hidden from view.

The present invention provides a neater, a less expension solution to the problem without increasing expense. When the intermediate member 10 has been positioned between the first and second members 10,12 and correctly located the assembly is presented to a press which deforms, by a crimping operation a small area 36 of the shorter face F of the first and second members 10,12 at the rebate 16. The deformation is in the inwards direction so that the lip 20 defining the partially closed top of the channel 18 at that point collapses into the channel to nip the intermediate member 14 therein and fix it relative to the first or second member 10,12 as appropriate. Thus fixing is achieved in a single operation in such a way that no additional components are required and the minimum of visual disruption to the appearance of the extrusion is achieved.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the intermediate member could be extruded from a plastics material, for example nylon.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising first and second members to be hinged together and an intermediate member for hingedly interconnecting said first and second members, the said intermediate member comprising at least two sections which are mutually rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate member, each section being provided with a connector whereby one section can be connected alongside one member, the other alongside the other member and means for fixing said connectors against movement relative to the section of the intermediate member to which it is connected.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which said first, second and intermediate members are elongated members formed by extrusion.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the intermediate member is of circular cross-section having a substantially T-shaped protrusion projecting radially therefrom to form said connector.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, in which the cross bar of the T-shaped member is arcuate.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claims, in which the interconnecting member comprises two first and one second section, the said first sections being arranged at either end of the second section and being rotatably mounted relative thereto about the longitudinal axis of the member by an intermediate bearing member.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claims in which the first and second members have a substantially rectangular external cross-section with a part-circular rebate formed along one edge to accommodate a part of said intermediate member.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 when dependant upon Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which a channel, the top of which is partially closed such that it has a T-shaped cross-section corresponding to the protrusion from the interconnecting member is formed in the first and second members, said channel opening into said part-circular rebate.

8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7, in which the means for fixing the sections of the intermediate member relative to the first and second members comprises deformations of that part of the first and second members defining the partially closed channel.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, in which the deformations are formed after the connector of the intermediate member has been located and accurately positioned within said channel.

10. An assembly as claimed in Claim 9, in which each deformation is formed by fitting a screw or bolt into a passage drilled into the respective first and second member at an appropriate location, the screw being tightened down to be deform part of the member surrounding the hole to cause said deformation.

11. An assembly as claimed in Claim 9, in which the deformations are provided by a press arrangement permanently deforming portions of the first and second members adjacent said partially closed channel such that these portions project into the channel to trap a connector of the intermediate member therein.

12. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the intermediate member is extruded from a suitable plastics material, for example nylon.

13. A hinge assembly comprising first and second members to be hinged together and an intermediate member for hingedly interconnecting said first and second members, the said intermediate member comprising at least two sections which are mutually rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate member, each section being provided with a connector whereby one section can be connected alongside one member, the other alongside the other member, each member having a channel with a partially closed top along one edge, the channel receiving said connector therein and having deformations adjacent said partially closed top projecting into the channel to trap a connector therein.

14. A hinge assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.