GB2313404A - Hinge assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

In a hinge assembly arranged to hinge together first and second members 11, 12 movable between a first hinged position in which substantial portions of the first and second members are generally co-planar or parallel and a second hinged position, the first member hinges about a first hinge axis and the second member hinges about a second hinge axis spaced from and parallel to the first hinge axis. The second hinge axis is preferably hinged about the first hinge axis to permit the second member to rotate 180{ with respect to the first member. The assembly may comprise first and second intermediate members which cooperate with arcuate hinge formations on the members 11, 12. The intermediate members may be separate (Figs 1, 2) or may be connected by means 20 which also bias the hinge to the first hinged position.

Description

Title: Hinge Assembly Description of Invention The invention relates to a hinge assembly, and in particular, although not exclusively, to a hinge assembly suitable for hingeably attaching a lid of a box to the base of a box.

For many applications where a lid is attached to the base of a box by means of a hinge assembly, it is desirable that, when the box is closed, no parts of the hinge assembly protrude from the plane of the side of the base and side of the lid of the box. That is, that the hinge assembly is flush with the exterior of the box. At the same time, it is preferable if the hinge is capable of opening to 1800 from the closed position. For many applications, such as cash boxes, this is required to provide stability when the box is open.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge assembly adapted to hinge together first and second members, the first and second members being movable from a first position in which substantial portions of the first and second members are generally co-planar or parallel and a second hinged position, the hinge assembly characterised in that the first member hinges about a first hinge axis and the second member hinges about a second hinge axis, the first and second hinge axes being spaced apart and parallel.

Preferably the second hinge axis is hinged about the first hinge axis.

Preferably, when the first and second members are in the first hinged position, the first and second axes lie in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane or planes of the first and second members.

Preferably, when the first and second members are in the second hinged position, the first and second members are in generally parallel planes, the second member having rotated substantially 1800 with respect to the first member from the first hinged position and the first and second hinge axes lie in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the planes of the first and second members.

The hinge assembly may comprise arcuate hinge formations provided on the first and second members and first intermediate member providing spaced apart first and second axis hinge formations adapted to co-operate with the arcuate hinge formations and through which the first and second hinge axes are located.

The arcuate hinge formations may each be of substantially C-shaped cross section and the axis hinge formations are each of substantially circular cross section, the intermediate member also providing a rigid interconnecting portion.

The hinge assembly may further comprise a second intermediate member adapted to co-operate with the arcuate hinge formations.

Preferably the hinge assembly further comprises means for fixing the first and second intermediate members together to retain the hinge assembly together. The means for fixing the intermediate members together may load the hinge biasing it to the first hinged position.

The arcuate hinge formations may each provide (a) first and second arcuate bearing surfaces comprising in cross-section arcs of circles, the first bearing surface being of smaller radius than the second bearing surface, (b) first stop surfaces between the front and second bearing surfaces, and (c) second stop surfaces adjacent the other end of the first bearing surfaces.

The first intermediate member may provide (a) bearing surfaces on the front and second axis hinge formations, and (b) first and second stop surfaces on opposite sides of the rigid interconnecting portion.

The hinge assembly may be constructed such that the first arcuate bearing surfaces bear on the bearing surfaces on the axis hinge formations, and when the assembly is in the first hinged position the first stop surfcaces of the arcuate hinge formations are in contact with the first stop surfaces of the intermediate member and when the assembly is in the second hinged position the second stop surfaces of the arcuate hinge formations are in contact with the second stop surfaces of the first intermediate member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vessel comprising a face and a lid and hinged together by means of a hinge assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a simplified cross section through a hinge assembly according to the invention in a first position; FIGURE 2 is a simplified cross section through the hinge assembly of Figure 1 in a second position, and, FIGURE 3 is a simplified cross section through an alternative embodiment of a hinge assembly according to the invention in a first position.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a hinge assembly 10 is adapted to hinge together a first member 11 and a second member 12. The hinge assembly 10 comprises arcuate hinge formations 13,14, integral with, or attached to, the first and second members 11,12, respectively. Each arcuate formation 13,14, provides an outer bearing surface 13 ,14 , around the inside, an inner bearing surface 13E,14b. around the outside, and an end stop surface 13g,14c between the inner and outer bearing surfaces. Each of the bearing surfaces, 13 ,13b.14,14E, comprises a partial arc of a circle.

The hinge assembly 10 further comprises an outer intermediate member 15 itself comprising a first hinge formation 16 adapted to co-operate with the first arcuate formation 13, and a second hinge formation 17 adapted to cooperate with the second arcuate formation 14. The first and second hinge formations 16,17, are of substantially circular cross section and through the centres of which are located first and second hinge axes A,B. The hinge fonnations 16,17, are rigidly connected together by means of an interconnecting portion 18. The first hinge formation 16 provides a bearing surface 1i and likewise the second hinge formation 17 provides a bearing surface 17L the interconnecting portion 18 provides first and second stop surfaces 18 18b.

The hinge assembly 10 further comprises an inner intermediate member 19 which provides a bearing surface 19a which co-operates with the inner bearing surfaces 13=14k of the arcuate formations 13,14.

It should be noted that the hinge assembly 10 comprises additional elements which hold the members previously described in their relative positions.

However, the form of such elements is not germane to the present invention, and therefore for the sake of simplicity, they have been omitted from the figures and description.

Referring now in particular to figure 1, the hinge assembly 10 is shown with the first and second members 11,12, in a first position. In this first position substantial portions of the first and second members 11,12, are substantially coplanar and the first and second hinge axes A,B, also lie in that same plane, as does the interconnecting portion 18 of the outer intermediate member 15.

Further, the first stop surfaces 13ç,14c of the first and second arcuate formations 13,14, are in contact with the first stop surface 18a of the outer intermediate member 15.

Referring now in particular to figure 2, the hinge assembly 10 is shown in a second position. In this second position, the first and second members 11,12, lie in substantially parallel spaced apart planes, and the first hinge axis A lies in the plane of the first member 11 and the second hinge axis B lies in the plane of the second member 12. The outer intermediate member 15 is located such that the plane in which both the first and second hinge axes A,B, lie, is substantially perpendicular to the planes of the first and second members 11,12. The second stop surfaces 13d 14d of the first and second C-shaped formations 13,14, are in contact with the second stop surface 18b of the interconnecting portion 18 of the outer intermediate member 15.

When the second member 12 is hinged relative to the first member 11, from the first position of figure 1 to the second position of figure 2, movement occurs as follows. The outer intermediate member 15 and inner intermediate member 19 rotate through 90 about the first hinge axis A. In doing so, the outer bearing surface 13a of the first arcuate member 13, and the bearing surface 16a of the first hinge formation 16 bear on each other, whilst the inner bearing surface 13b of the first arcuate formation 13 and the bearing surface l9a of the inner intermediate member 19 bear on each other. In addition, the second member 12 rotates through 900 about the second hinge axis B. In doing so, the outer bearing surface 14a of the second arcuate formation 14 and the bearing surface 17a of the second hinge formation 17 bear on each other, whilst the inner bearing surface 14b of the second arcuate formation 14 and the bearing surface 19a of the inner intermediate member 19, bear on each other. The two separate rotations described above may occur simultaneously or sequentially, depending on the resistance to rotation about each of the hinge axes A,B.

The motion described results in the rotation of the second member 12 through 180 with respect to the first member 11. The second hinge axis B rotates through 900 with respect to the first hinge axis A, hence providing the first 90" of rotation of the second member 12 with respect to the first member 11, and the second member 12 rotates 900 about the second hinge axis B.

Referring now to figure 3, an alternative embodiment of a hinge assembly 10 according to the invention is illustrated, with like parts being like referenced. The hinge assembly 10 of figure 3 operates as a "stiff hinge" and incorporates a residual load element 20. The residual load element 20 may provide the means by which the inner and outer intermediate members 19,15, are secured together to retain the hinge assembly 10 together, in addition to performing its loading function. The residual load element 20 is inserted through a hole 21 in the inner intermediate member 19 and is secured to the outer intermediate member 15, the residual load element 20 comprises a spring portion 22, and a sleeve portion 23, the sleeve portion 23 provides first stop surfaces 23a in place of the first stop surfaces 18a of the first embodiment. The sleeve 23 also provides angled bearing surfaces 24 adjacent to the edges of the hole 21. The residual load is applied by means of the spring portion 22 and angled bearing surfaces 24 which act between them to urge the inner and outer intermediate members 19,15, together, hence forcing the various bearing surfaces into close contact and stiffening the hinge. In all other respects, the second embodiment illustrated in figure 3 operates as described with respect to figures 1 and 2.

An alternative means of producing an embodiment of a "stiff hinge" according to the invention could be to screw the inner and outer intermediate members together utilising spring washers to produce the loading.

The hinge assembly 10 described above is particularly suitable for use to hinge the base of a box and the lid of a box together. In such use, the first member 11 corresponds to a portion of the side of the base of the box, whilst the second member 12 corresponds to a portion of the side of the lid of the box. The outer intermediate member 15 is on the outside of the box, whilst the inner intermediate member 19 is on the inside of the box. In such use, the first position as illustrated in figure 1, corresponds to the box being closed, whilst the second position illustrated in figure 2 corresponds to the box being opened.

The hinge assembly 10 may be formed from injection moulded plastic components. Alternatively, it may be formed of metal components or any other appropriate material or combination of materials.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description the following claims or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A hinge assembly adapted to hinge together first and second members, the first and second members being movable from a first hinged position in which substantial portions of the first and second members are generally co-planar or parallel and a second hinged position, the hinge assembly characterised in that the first member hinges about a first hinge axis and the second member hinges about a second hinge axis, the first and second hinge axes being spaced apart and parallel.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1 wherein the second hinge axis is hinged about the first hinge axis.

3. A hinge assembly according to claim 2 wherein when the first and second members are in the first hinged position, the first and second hinge axes lie in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane or planes of the first and second members.

4. A hinge assembly according to claim 2 or 3 wherein when the first and second members are in the second hinged position, the first and second members are in generally parallel planes, the second member having rotated substantially 1800 with respect to the first member from the first hinged position and the first and second hinge axes lie in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the planes of the first and second members.

5. A hinge assembly according to any preceding claim wherein it comprises arcuate hinge formations provided on the first and second members and a first intermediate member providing spaced apart first and second axis hinge formations adapted to co-operate with the arcuate hinge formations and through which the first and second hinge axes respectively are located.

6. A hinge assembly according to claim 5 wherein the arcuate hinge formations are each of substantially C-shaped cross section and the axis hinge formations are each of substantially circular cross section, the intermediate member also providing a rigid interconnecting portion.

7. A hinge assembly according to claim 5 or 6 wherein it further comprises a second intermediate member adapted to co-operate with the arcuate hinge formations.

8. A hinge assembly according to claim 7 wherein it further comprises means for fixing the first and second intermediate members together to retain the hinge assembly together.

9. A hinge assembly according to claim 8 wherein the means for fixing the intermediate members together loads the hinge biasing it to the first hinged position.

10. A hinge assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the arcuate hinge formations each provide (a) first and second arcuate bearing surfaces comprising in cross-section arcs of circles, the first bearing surface being of smaller radius than the second bearing surface, (b) first stop surfaces between the front and second bearing surfaces, and (c) second stop surfaces adjacent the other end of the first bearing surfaces.

11. A hinge assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the first intermediate member provides (a) bearing surfaces on the front and second axis hinge formations, and (b) first and second stop surfaces on opposite sides of the rigid interconnecting portion.

12. A hinge assembly according to claims 10 and 11 wherein the first arcuate bearing surfaces bear on the bearing surfaces on the axis hinge formations, and when the assembly is in the first hinged position the first stop surfaces of the arcuate hinge formations are in contact with the first stop surfaces of the intermediate member and when the assembly is in the second hinged position the second stop surfaces of the arcuate hinge formations are in contact with the second stop surfaces of the first intermediate member.

12. A vessel comprising a face and a lid and hinged together by means of a hinge assembly according to any preceding claim.

13. A hinge assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein defined and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.