GB2315093A

GB2315093A - Hinges

Info

Publication number: GB2315093A
Application number: GB9714226A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard John Fielding
Original assignee: N T WORCESTER PARSONS Ltd
Current assignee: N T WORCESTER PARSONS Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-05
Filing date: 1997-07-07
Publication date: 1998-01-21
Also published as: GB9714226D0

Abstract

A pivot unit for a hinge comprises first and second pivot members 2, 16 each adapted for releasable attachment to a respective hinge leaf. The first and second pivot members 2, 16 are connected, for instance by snap fitting, such that they are relatively rotatable about a common axis. The pivot unit may further include tensioning means such as a spring 30 attached directly or indirectly to the pivot members 2, 16 for rotationally urging the hinge leaves towards a predetermined position. The hinge leaves may be formed with bores to receive the pivot members 2, 16 such that each respective bore and pivot member has a cross-section for location together either in a single orientation or in a number of orientations. In the latter case the tension of the tensioning means may be adjusted by adjusting the relative orientation of a respective pivot member and bore.

Description

HINGES This invention relates to hinges and more particularly, but not exclusively, to hinges with tensioning means, such as sprung hinges.

Many types of hinges are available for attachment to a range of parts, for example doors or windows. However, in order to accommodate left-hand, right-hand, inward and outward opening and closing it is often necessary to modify a basic hinge design to suit each individual situation.

A hinge which is capable of use in a variety of situations is obviously desirable.

Such a capability has particular advantage, for installation in sports centres and public conveniences. In such places it is also often preferable to have doors which swing back to a preferred location after movement, e.g. swing back to a closed position or swing to an open position. Door closers may be used but are quite costly. An alternative has been to use butt hinges but these can lack the range of versatility required. The doors can also be readily removed by lifting to separate the parts of the hinges which may not be desirable in some installations.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge unit comprising first and second hinge members each adapted for releasable attachment to a respective hinge leaf, wherein the first and second hinge members are connected together such that'thejr are relatively rotatable about a common axis and form a pivotal joint where p, y hinge leaves attached to the hinge members can be used for a plurality hinging operations.

The hinging operations may comprise any of left-hand, right-hand, inward and/or outward operations.

The connected hinge members may be elongate in the direction of their common axis.

The first and second hinge members may be substantially hollow.

The first and second hinge members may be connected together by any suitable means which allows them to rotate relative to one another, for example they may snap fit rotatably together. Preferably, the hinge members are connected together such that a reasonable force is required to disconnect them.

The hinge unit may further comprise tensioning means.

When the first and second hinge members are substantially hollow, the tensioning means, if provided, may be located within one hinge member or both hinge members.

The tensioning means may comprise a spring, which may be a helical spring attached to the hinge members. The spring may be so attached at its ends to the hinge members by spring carriers, which may be separate components attached to the hinge members or may be integrally moulded as parts of the members.

Each hinge member may be adapted for attachment to a hinge leaf in one aspect only. Alternatively, each hinge member may be adapted for attachment to a hinge leaf in a number of different aspects.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a hinge is provided which comprises a hinge unit in accordance with the first aspect of the invention herein set forth and a pair of hinge leaves each attached to a respective hinge member.

Preferably the engagement of the hinge unit with the hinge leaves prevents, or at least enhances resistance to, separation of the hinge members.

Each hinge member may fit substantially within its respective hinge leaf. Each leaf may have a bore formed therein, and each hinge member may be located within the bore of the respective leaf. Each respective bore and hinge member may be asymmetrical in cross-section for location together in one orientation only. Alternatively, each respective bore and hinge member may be symmetrical in cross-section, for location together in a number of orientations.

In a preferred embodiment the respective bores and mating hinge members have co-operating octagonal cross-sections, and may be interengaged in eight different orientations. Hexagonal or other noncircular cross-sections could be used instead. When tensioning means is attached to the hinge members to tension the hinge unit, the tension of the tensioning means can easily be adjusted by choosing different orientations of each hinge member within the respective hinge leaf. The preferred octagonal co-operating sections provide a substantial range for adjustment of the tension.

Each hinge member may be retained to the respective hinge leaf by suitable fastening means e.g. a screw. The hinge members may not then be easily removed from their respective hinge leaf, and the hinge as a whole together with the parts connected thereto may not be easily separated. A cap may be provided at each hinge member to conceal the fastening means for neatness and security.

The hinge members, hinge leaves and tensioning means are preferably manufactured from non-corrosive materials, for example nylon for the hinge members, anodised aluminium for the hinge leaves and stainless steel for the tensioning means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views respectively through a first hinge member and a second hinge member of a hinge unit according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of a spring carrier of the hinge unit; Figure 4 is an end view of a spring of the hinge unit used with the spring carrier; Figure 5 is an end view of a hinge leaf to which the hinge unit connects; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled hinge unit according to a first aspect of the invention; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled hinge according to a second aspect of the invention.

The first hinge member 1 (Figure 1) of the hinge unit comprises an elongate housing 2 of substantially octagonal outer cross-section having a bore 3 with a narrower outer end 7. Towards its opposite end the housing 2 has a circular external annular flange 4 co-axially from which a tubular cylindrical locating portion 5 extends which has an outer diameter smaller than the transverse dimensions of the octagonal cross-section of the remainder of the housing. An annular external ridge 8 is provided on the locating portion 5 at an intermediate part of its length. A threaded socket 6 is fixed in the housing at the outer end 7 of its bore.

The second hinge member 15 (Figure 2) of the hinge unit comprises an elongate housing 16 of substantially octagonal outer cross-section having a bore 17 with a narrower outer end 18 similar to that of the first hinge member 1. The housing also has a notionally circular external annular flange 19 at the extremity of a receiving portion 20 at an inner part of the housing 16. The receiving portion 20 has a larger diameter than the remainder of the housing 16. The flange 19 and the receiving portion 20 are divided into four equal segments 21 by four equally angularly spaced slots 21' extending longitudinally of the housing.

A circumferential recess 22 is defined in the inside surfaces of the segments 21. A threaded socket 23 is fixed in the housing 16 at the outer end of the bore 17.

Each of the hinge members 1, 15 has located in it a spring carrier 25 of the form shown in Figure 3. The spring carrier 25 comprises an elongate positioning portion 26 which is square in cross-section and locates the spring carrier in the hinge member in a complementary square section part of the narrower outer end of the bore of the member, and a co-axial elongate carrying portion 27 which is circular in cross section and is bifurated to form a recess 28 extending along the length of the carrying portion.

A helically wound spring 30 (Figure 4) which also forms part of the hinge unit is of standard left-hand or right-hand twist, as required. At each end the spring 30 is bent to form a bar 31 which lies substantially along a diameter of the spring's cross-section, as shown.

The hinge unit can be used in conjunction with two hinge leaves 35 each of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6 . Each leaf 35 comprises a tubular portion 36 connected to an L-shaped member 37. The tubular portion 36 has a bore 38 therethrough which is octagonal in cross-section for a substantial part of its length and is complementary to the octagonal outer cross-section of the two hinge members 1, 15. Enlarged co-axial cylindrical recesses 39 are provided at either end of the bore 38. The Lshaped member 37 comprises a plate 40 extending tangentially of the tubular portion with three fixing holes 41 therein.

An assembled hinge unit is shown in Figure 7. It is assembled in the manner now to be described. A respective one of the spring carriers 25 is inserted into each hinge member, the positioning portion 26 of the one carrier being received by the narrower end 7 of the bore 3 of the first hinge member, and the positioning portion of the other carrier being received by the narrower end 18 of the bore 17 of the second hinge member. Since the narrower ends 7 and 18 of the bores and the positioning portions are of complementary square cross-sections, the spring carriers are retained by the hinge members such that they cannot rotate. The carrying portions 27 extend co-axially along the bores 3, 17 away from the narrower ends 7, 18.

The spring 30 is partially placed within the first hinge member, such that the bar 31 at one end of the spring engages and slots inside the recess 28 in the carrying portion 27 of the carrier in the first hinge member.

The second hinge member is then engaged with the first hinge member by sliding the receiving portion 20 of the second hinge member over the portion of the spring protruding from the first hinge member and then over the locating portion 5 of the first hinge member until the end of the second hinge member abuts the ridge 8 of the first hinge. Next the second hinge member is rotated until the recess 28 of the carrier in the second hinge member is in a position to receive the bar 31 of the protruding end of the spring. The receiving portion 20 of the second hinge member is then forced past the ridge 8. This causes the segments 21 of the receiving portion 20 to flex outwards until the ridge 8 locates with a snap action in the recess 22 in the inner surfaces of the segments 21, when the segments 21 resume their normal positions and the flange 4 of the first hinge member abuts the flange 19 of the second hinge member.

The hinge members are thus firmly attached together providing an elongate hinge unit capable of use in a variety of situations. The hinge unit cannot inadvertently be pulled apart, a reasonable force is necessary to release the hinge members at the ridge 8 and recess 22. The hinge members may each rotate in either direction about a common axis, tensioning or releasing tension in the spring.

The assembled hinge unit can be used in conjunction with hinge leaves 35 of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6. The hinge leaves are fitted onto the respective hinge members, as shown in Figure 8, so that their tubular portions 36 receive the housings of the hinge members. As the housing of each hinge member and the bore of each tubular portion is octagonal in shape, there are eight different possible orientations of each hinge member within its respective hinge leaf. It will be appreciated that depending on the orientation of each hinge member, the tension in the spring may be set at a number of levels, and adjusted easily without the need for any special tools.

The hinge members cannot be separated from one another whilst their housings are engaged in the bores of the tubular portions of the hinge leaves.

The hinge leaves may be retained to the hinge members by placing a washer 45 in the outer one of the recesses 39 of each hinge leaf, and fixing a screw 46 in the threaded sockets 6, 23 of the hinge members such that it abuts the washer and retains each hinge leaf to its respective hinge member. An end cap 47 is snapped into each recess over the screw to conceal the screw.

The L-shaped member 37 of each hinge leaf is then appropriately fixed by screws, using the holes 41, to the parts to be hinged e.g. a door and a frame.

It will be appreciated that a number of different hinge leaves can be used with this hinge unit, allowing a variety of hinging operations.

Whilst in the foregoing description the hinge unit includes a spring providing a tensioned hinge unit, it will be appreciated that the spring could be replaced by a hinge pin or omitted entirely.

Claims

1. A hinge unit comprising first and second hinge members each adapted for releasable attachment to a respective hinge leaf, wherein the first and second hinge members are connected together such that they are relatively rotatable about a common axis and form a pivotal joint whereby hinge leaves attached to the hinge members can be used for a plurality of hinging operations.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinging operations comprise any of left-hand, right-hand, inward and/or outward operations.

3. A hinge unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connected hinge members are elongate in the direction of their common axis.

4. A hinge unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second hinge members snap fit rotatably together.

5. A hinge unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second hinge members are substantially hollow.

6. A hinge unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the hinge unit further comprises tensioning means.

7. A hinge unit according to claim 6 as dependent from claim 5, wherein the tensioning means is located within one of the first and second hinge members.

8. A hinge unit according to claim 6 as dependent from 5, wherein the tensioning means is located within both first and second hinge members.

9. A hinge unit according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the tensioning means comprises a spring.

10. A hinge unit according to claim 9, wherein the spring is a helical spring and is attached to the hinge members.

11. A hinge unit according to claim 9, wherein the spring is a helical spring and is attached to the hinge members by spring carriers.

12. A hinge unit according to any preceding claim, wherein each hinge member is adapted for attachment to a hinge leaf in one aspect only.

13. A hinge unit according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein each hinge member is adapted for attachment to a hinge leaf in a number of different aspects.

14. A hinge comprising a hinge unit in accordance with any of claims 1 to 13, and a pair of hinge leaves each attached to a respective hinge member.

15. A hinge according to claim 14, wherein each hinge member is located substantially within its respective hinge leaf.

16. A hinge according to claim 15, wherein each hinge leaf has a bore formed therein, and each hinge member is located within the bore of its respective hinge leaf.

17. A hinge according to claim 16, wherein each respective bore and hinge member is asymmetrical in cross-section for location together in one orientation only.

18. A hinge according to claim 16, wherein each respective bore and hinge member is symmetrical in cross-section for location together in a number of orientations.

19. A hinge according to claim 18, wherein each respective bore and hinge member have co-operating octagonal cross-sections, and are interengageable in eight different orientations.

20. A hinge according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the hinge unit is in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 11 and the tension of the tensioning means is adjusted by choosing different orientations of each hinge member within its respective hinge leaf.

21. A hinge according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein each hinge member is retained to its respective hinge leaf by fastening means

22. A hinge according to claim 21, wherein a cap is provided at each hinge member to conceal the fastening means.

23. A hinge according to any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the hinge members, hinge leaves and, when provided, the tensioning means are made from non-corrosive materials.

24. A hinge unit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A hinge substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.