GB2360548A

GB2360548A - Adjustable hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2360548A
Application number: GB0106238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Current assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-14
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2001-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-14
Also published as: GB0006011D0; GB0106238D0; GB2360548B

Abstract

An adjustable hinge 1 comprises a base 11 adapted for fixing to a door frame 3, a pivot block 12 hingedly mounted on the base 11, and a mounting member 13 slidably disposed on the pivot block 12 and adapted for attachment to an edge of a door 2 to be hung. The mounting member 13 includes a plate 23 which is slidingly received within a channel in the pivot block 12 for adjusting the toe and heel of the door 2. Elongated holes 37 in the mounting member 13 enable vertical adjustment of the door. An eccentric hinge pin 19 enables positional adjustment of the hinge axis relative to the base, for adjusting the compression of a door seal 4. A security pin 60 is attached to the mounting member 13, which engages an aperture 64 in the door frame 3 when the door 2 is in a closed position. An apertured eschutcheon plate 62 is mounted to the door frame to reinforce the aperture therein.

Description

2360548 WIND1390.UK Title - HinU This invention relates to a hinge, and in

particular to an adjustable hinge suitable for the adjustable hanging of a door in a door frame.

When hanging a door, because the frame into which the door is fitted is seldom perfectly -5 square in form, it is generally necessary to adjust the alignment of the door within the frame to obtain the optimum door position. Such adjustment is commonly referred to as "toe and IneeF' adjustment.

Adjustability of the alignment of a door in this way is particularly important in the case of modem doors made of materials such as plastics or other composites since it is generally not 10 possible for the edges of such doors to be planed to adjust the dimensions of the door as is commonly done for conventional timber doors.

There has now been devised an improved adjustable hinge which is particularly suitable for the hanging of doors which need to be adjusted in orientation within the door frame.

According to the mivention, an adjustable hinge comprises a base adapted for fixing to a door is frame, a pivot block hingedly mounted on the base and a mounting member slidably disposed on the pivot block and adapted for attachment to an edge of a door to be hung, and there further being provided means for adjusting the position of the mounting member relative to the pivot block and for retaining the mounting member in a desired position relative to the pivot block.

The hinge according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it permits rapid and easy adjustment of the alignment of a door within a door frame, greatly facilitating the process of hanging the door. The hinge is particularly applicable to the hanging of doors on which the edge to which the hinge is attached is flat. Such doors include timber doors and so-called composite doors or other doors of synthetic materials such as uPVC.

WIND1390.UK 2 The base most preferably has the form of a yoke with a pair of upstands between which the pivot block is hingedly mounted.

The mounting member most preferably comprises a plate adapted to be fixed, eg using screws, to a side edge of a door which is to be hung. Preferably, elongate holes are provided in the plate, enabling vertical adjustment of the plate relative to the door, for adjusting the vertical position of the door in the door frame. The plate preferably projects substantially perpendicularly to the pivot block, and in a preferred embodiment the mounting member comprises a further plate which is slidingly received within a channel in the pivot body. Such a further plate may conveniently be disposed perpendicularly to the main part of the 10 plate, ie parallel to the adjustment direction of the mounting member.

The means for adjusting the position of the mounting member relative to the pivot block, and for retaining the mounting member in a desired position, most preferably comprises a threaded bolt the position of which is fixed relative to the pivot block and which engages the mounting member. Rotation of such a bolt draws the mounting member along the shank of is the bolt, thereby altering the position of the mounting member relative to the rest of the hinge, for adjusting the toe and heel of the door. In order to enable the bolt to be rotated, the head of the bolt is preferably accessible to a suitable drive tool. Most preferably, an opening in the body of the pivot block is provided adjacent the head of the bolt so that such a tool can be inserted through that opening.

Preferably, the pivot block is hingedly mounted to the base about an eccentric hinge pin, rotation of which enables positional adjustment of the hinge axis relative to the base, for adjusting the compression of a door seal.

A pin is most preferably attached to the plate of the mounting member, which engages an aperture in the door frame when the door is in a closed position. An apertured eschutcheon 25 plate may be mounted to the door frame to reinforce the aperture therein.

WIND1390.UK 3 The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail view, partially in section, of a hinge according to the invention fitted to a door in a closed condition; 5 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the door in an open condition; Figure 3 is a view of the hinge, along the arrow HI in Figure 2, with a hinge pin shown in dotted outline; Figure 4 is a view on the arrow IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view on the arrow V in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view of the mounting member of the hinge shown in Figures 1 to 5; Figure 7 is a view of the mounting member on the arrow VI in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view of the mounting member on the arrow VII in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a view of the pivot block of the hinge shown in Figures 1 to 5; and Figure 10 is a detail view, partially in section, of a further preferred embodiment of the hinge according to the invention fitted to a door in a closed condition and including a security pin.

Referring first to Figure 1, a hinge according to the invention is generally designated 1 and is used to mount a door 2 in a door frame 3 formed from extruded uPVC profiles. Of course, two or three such hinges will normally be used, spaced apart on one major edge of the door WIND1390.UK 4 2 and frame 3. The hinge 1 is particularly useful for the hanging of so- called "composite doors" which have substantially flat edges.

The hinge 1 is fixed to the internal side of the frame 3, the door 2 thus opening inwards, though the hinge 1 may equally be applicable to an extemally-opening door 2 in which case it would be fitted to the external side of the frame 3. Where the frame is made up of uPVC profiles as illustrated this may simply mean that the frame profiles are fitted in the reversed orientation, the hinge 1 being fitted to the same face of the profile.

An elastomeric seal 4 is received in a channel in the frame 3 and serves to form a weatherproof seal between the door 2 and frame 3 when the door 2 is closed.

The hinge 1 comprises three major components, a fixed base 11, a pivot block 12 and a mounting member 13. Referring also to Fig 3, the base 11 has the form of a yoke comprising a plate 15, and a pair of upstands 17,18 which project perpendicularly from either end of the plate. Fixing holes 16 are provided in the plate 15, by which the plate 15 can be screwed to the frame 3. A pair of lugs 14 project from the underside of the plate 15 and are received in locating holes formed in the frame 3, when the hinge 1 is fitted to the door 2. Aligned bores 47,48 are provided in the upstands 17,18 respectively, which support a hinge pin 19.

The pivot block 12 is hingedly mounted on the pin 19, which passes through a transverse bore 50 formed in the block 12. A pair of nylon bushes 40 extend into the bore 50 and act as a bearing surface between the pin 19 and the bore. The bushes 40 also serve to space the block 12 between the upstands 17,18.

The pin 19 has a hexagonal head, which locates in a correspondingly shaped recess in the right-hand (as viewed in Figure 3) upstand 18, and a shaft which provides for some adjustment of the alignment of the pivoting block 12 (and hence of the door 2) in a manner which is known 12er se. Specifically, by partial withdrawal of the pin 19 such that the hexagonal head is freed from the recess in the upstand 18 the pin 19 can be rotated. The portion of the shaft of the pin 19 which lies between the upstands 17,18 is eccentric and thus WIND1390.UK 5 rotation of the pin 19 alters the position of the axis of the pin 19 in that region and thereby alters the position of the block 12. Pressing the hexagonal head of the pin 19 back into the recess locks the pin against flirther rotation and hence fixes the position of the block 12. This mode of adjustment alters the position of the door 2 relative to the seals 4 so that the optimum compression of the seal 4 is achieved when the door 2 is closed.

In the case of external mounting of the hinge, suitable means are preferably provided to prevent disassembly of the hinge when the door is closed, eg by removal of the pin 19. Such means may comprise, for instance, a grub screw passing through the base 11 and engaging a portion of the pin 19 which is reduced in diameter between a pair of shoulders, the grub screw being accessible only when the door 2 is open. A threaded hole for receiving such a grub screw is indicated at 52 in Fig 3.

The mounting member 13 is fitted to the pivot block 12 and can be seen as a separate component in Figs 6 to 8. The mounting member 13 comprises a pair of plates 23,53, which are perpendicular to one another and are connected together by a neck portion 2 1. The plate is 23 is of smaller width than the plate 53 and the neck portion 21 is of fluther reduced width.

One or more webs (not shown) may be provided between the plates 23,53 to increase the strength of the mounting member 13 in use.

The pivot block 12, shown in Fig 9, is formed with a channel 22 having an undercut portion 54 (ie it is of inverted T-section). The plate 23 of the mounting member 13 is received in the undercut portion of the channel 22 of the block 12 for sliding movement, as indicated by the double-headed arrow in Figure 3.

The mounting member 13 is held in its position relative to the pivot block 12 by means of a captive threaded bolt 30. The head of the bolt 30 is held in a recessed block 31 and the threaded portion is engaged in a threaded bore 32 in the plate 53 of the mounting member 13.

The head of the bolt 30 has a hexagonal recess (not visible in the drawings) for engagement with an Allen key or the like, and is accessible through an opening 33 in the block 12. Thus, byinsertionofanAllenkeythroughtheopening33intoengagementwiththebolt30,the WIND1390.UK 6 bolt 30 can be rotated and hence the position of the mounting member 13 relative to the pivot block 12 can be altered. The plate 53 can be moved towards or away from the pivot axis of the hinge 1 (defined by the axis of the pin 19 on which the block 12 is mounted), depending on the sense of rotation of the bolt 30.

The plate 53 of the mounting member 13 is provided with two elongated apertures 37, by which the plate 53 can be screwed to the edge of the door 2. The elongated apertures 37 allow for vertical adjustment of the plate 53 relative to the door 2. A number of circular apertures 36 are also provided in the plate 53 for further fixing after adjustment. In use, the base 11 is fixed to the frame 3 in the desired location. In general, two or more 10 hinges are used to mount the door 2 and a corresponding number of bases 11 are therefore fixed to the frame. For each hinge, the pivot block 12 with the mounting plate 13 attached is offered up to the edge of the door 2, at the appropriate locations, and fixed to the door 2 by screws passed initially through the elongated apertures 37 into the door 2. The door 2, with pivot blocks 12 attached, is then offered up to the frame 3 such that the is pivot blocks 12 are received between the upstands 17,18 of each base 11. The slot-like nature of the elongated apertures 37 allows some fine vertical adjustment of the positions of the pivot blocks 12 on the door 2. The pins 19 are then inserted to capture the pivot blocks 12 and secure the door 2.

Adjustment of the door alignment is possible by three means. First, rotation of the pins 19 alters the position of the hinge axis and the compression of the seal 4, as described above. Secondly, fine vertical adjustment of the door position is possible by virtue of the slot-like apertures 37. Once the vertical position of the door 2 has been finalised it can be fixed by screws passed through the circular apertures 36. Finally, substantial "toe and heel" adjustment is possible by rotation of the bolts 30 using an Allen key inserted through the openings 33.

WIND1390.UK 7 Referring finally to Fig 10, a further preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Common reference numerals have been used to designate parts in common with the parts of the previous embodiment. A security pin 60, commonly known as a "dog bolC, is attached to the plate 53 of the mounting member 13, by welding, screws or rivets. The security pin 60 extends perpendicularly from the plate 53, and when the door 2 is closed as shown, into an aperture 64 provided in the profile of the door frame 3. An apertured metal plate 62, commonly termed an escutcheon plate, is mounted on the door frame 3 in line with the aperture 64, in order to reinforce the plastics of the door frame. When the door 2 is closed, if a force is applied to the door 2 in the direction of arrow F, the shear force is transferred to the door frame 3 by the security pin 60 and plate 62, thus protecting the hinge and frame.

The aperture 64 has enough clearance to allow movement of the pin during opening of the door 2.

WIND1390.UK 8

Claims

1. An adjustable hinge comprising a base adapted for fixing to a door frame, a pivot block hingedly mounted on the base and a mounting member slidably disposed on the pivot block and adapted for attachment to an edge of a door to be hung, and there further being provided means for adjusting the position of the mounting member relative to the pivot block and for retaining the mounting member in a desired position relative to the pivot block.

2. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 1 in which the base has the form of a yoke with a pair of upstands between which the pivot block is hingedly mounted.

3. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the mounting member 10 comprises a plate adapted to be fixed to a side edge of a door which is to be hung.

4. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 3 in which the plate is provided with elongate holes for receiving fixing screws, the elongate holes enabling vertical adjustment of the plate relative to the door, for adjusting the vertical position of the door in the door frame.

5. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 3 in which the plate projects perpendicularly, 15 or substantially so, to the pivot block.

6. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 5 in which the mounting member comprises a further plate which is slidingly received within a channel in the pivot block.

7. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 6 in which the further plate is disposed perpendicularly to the plate.

8. An adjustable hinge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the means for adjusting the position of the mounting member relative to the pivot block, and for retaining the mounting member in a desired position comprises a threaded bolt, the position of which is fixed relative to the pivot block and which engages the mounting member.

WIND1390.UK

9 9. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 8 in which rotation of the bolt draws the mounting member along the shank of the bolt, the portion of the mounting member sliding within the channel of the pivot block, thereby altering the position of the mounting member relative to the rest of the hinge, for adjusting the toe and heel of the door.

10. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which an opening is provided in the body of the pivot block adjacent the head of the bolt enabling a drive tool to be inserted through the opening for driving engagement with the bolt.

11. An adjustable hinge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pivot block is hingedly mounted to the base about an eccentric hinge pin, rotation of which enables positional adjustment of the hinge axis relative to the base, for adjusting the compression of a door seal.

12. An adjustable hinge as claimed in any preceding claim in which a pin is attached to the plate of the mounting member, which engages an aperture in the door frame when the door is in a closed position.

13. An adjustable hinge as claimed in claim 12 in which an apertured eschutcheon plate is mounted to the door frame to reinforce the aperture therein.

14. An adjustable hinge substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.