GB2422635A

GB2422635A - Adjustable mounting of hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2422635A
Application number: GB0501633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Roger Bennett
Original assignee: NV Tools Ltd
Current assignee: NV Tools Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-28
Filing date: 2005-01-28
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Also published as: GB0501633D0

Abstract

A hinge has first and second leaves (1 and 2) pivotally linked together, each leaf having at least two mounting holes (5) for receiving fixing screws, wherein the mounting holes (5) are elongated whereby the position of the hinge may be adjusted after insertion of the fixing screws, in use. The method of hingedly mounting a door using the hinge of the invention comprises attaching the hinge to the door and to the door frame by means of screws (10) passing through the mounting holes in such a manner that the hinge is slidable relative to the door and/or the door frame, adjusting the door to the desired vertical position relative to the door frame, and tightening the screws to lock the position of the door.

Description

HINGE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hinge and to a method of hingedly mounting a door using the hinge.

Background to the Invention

In mounting some types of door hinges in the edge of a door and in a door frame, it is known to cut a recess in the door and frame, for example using a router, to receive the hinge leaf, which is then secured by means of wood screws. This is particularly important when using concealed hinges, for example of the type disclosed in US-A-2 608 713 and US-A-3 001 224, where the body of the hinge is received in a recess in the door and in the frame and connecting levers link the two parts of the hinge in such a manner that the hinge is almost invisible when the door is closed.

The formation of the recess is an operation which requires some precision if the door is to be hung accurately with respect to the frame, and if any adjustment of the 1 5 vertical position of the hinge relative to the door or the frame is required, this can only be achieved by elongating the recess. However, the mounting of the door is still difficult, because the screws need to be driven accurately into the door and the door frame while the door is held in precisely the correct position relative to the frame. In practice, therefore, necessary precision has to be achieved during the cutting of the recesses, something which can be difficult to achieve in situ.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a hinge having first and second leaves pivotally linked together, each leaf having at least two mounting holes for receiving fixing screws, wherein the mounting holes are elongated whereby the position of the hinge may be adjusted after insertion of the fixing screws, in use.

The invention is particularly applicable to the type of hinge wherein the leaves are linked together by a lever mechanism and each leaf comprises a body portion in which a part of the mechanism is received when the hinge is in the closed position thereof and from which the mechanism extends when the hinge is in the open position thereof.

The invention further provides a method of hingedly mounting a door using the hinge of the invention, the method comprising attaching the hinge to the door and to the

Specification NVTOOLP1 267 GBA 2005-O1-25 doc

door frame by means of screws passing through the mounting holes in such a manner that the hinge is slidable relative to the door and/or the door frame, adjusting the door to the desired vertical position relative to the door frame, and tightening the screws to lock the position of the door.

Preferably the method comprises first cutting a recess into the door and/or the door frame into which the respective hinge leaf is received, the recess having a length greater than the leaf whereby the leaf may slide within the recess until locked by the tightening of the screws.

The method may further comprise cutting in the door and/or door frame a socket corresponding to each of the mounting holes in the respective hinge leaf, screwing into each socket an externally screw-threaded plug having an internal threaded bore therethrough, and securing the hinge leaf in position by means of a set screw passing through each mounting hole and engaged with the internal thread in the respective plug.

The plug is preferably provided with an internal formation engageable by a tool to permit the plug to be screwed into the socket. The formation is more preferably constituted by a hexagonal upper portion of the bore, so that the plug may be driven into position using an Allen key or the like.

The plug preferably has a head portion of greater diameter than the body thereof so that the head rests on the surface of the wood into which the socket is cut, whereby, in use, the leaf body is clamped against the head, facilitating adjustment and ensuring that a firm fix can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a view of the open hinge connecting a door and door frame; Figure 2 is a plan view of a recess cut in the door to receive the hinge leaf, and with mounting plugs in place; and Figure 3 is an enlarged partially sectioned partial view of the hinge leaf installed in the recess shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

The hinge illustrated in Figure 1 is generally of the concealed type disclosed in US- A-2 608 71 3, having two body portions or leaves 1 and 2 linked together by a pivoting

Specification NVTOOLP1 267 GBA 2005-O1 -25.doc

multiple lever mechanism 3 arranged to retract into the body portions as the hinge is closed, so that the hinge is substantially invisible in this position. The upper part of the Figure shows the conventional configuration using mounting holes sized to receive wood screws 4 to enable the hinge to be secured in position in the recess which is accurately machined for it, for example using a router. The heads of the screws 4 lie flush to the surface of the body portion 1. This arrangement allows for no adjustment of position, and it is therefore vital that the machining of the recess is carried out accurately.

The body portion or leaf 2 in the lower part of the Figure is adapted to permit adjustment of the position of the hinge during the fixing process, and comprises elongated fixing holes 5, set into elongated slots 6 to receive pan-headed screws in such a manner that, before the screws are tightened, sliding adjustment of the hinge is possible.

The screw heads lie entirely within the slots 6 so as not to protrude above the surface of the body portion, in use. It will be seen that the recess 7 in the door 8 (this could, of course, equally be the door frame) is of greater length than the leaf 2 to permit the 1 5 adjustment.

Figure 2 shows the recess 7 before the hinge is installed. The recess is conveniently formed by means of a plunge router and, as may be seen in enlarged form in Figure 3, has a main part 7a to receive the body of the hinge leaf 2 accommodating the mechanism, and a shallower part 7b on each side to receive the mounting flanges 2a of the leaf. Although it would be possible to fix the hinge in position using wood screws set direct in the shallower parts 7b, repeated screwing and unscrewing of these to permit adjustment or detachment of the door may tend to decrease the strength of the grip of the screws in the wood, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated internally and externally-threaded metal plugs 9 are used to receive set screws 1 0.

As may be seen from Figure 3, the plugs 9 have a head flange 11 which, in use, rests on the surface of the wood in the shallower part 7b of the recess, forming a bearing surface for adjusting and clamping the hinge. The body of the plug has an external wood- cutting thread 1 2 by which it is driven into and secured in a socket drilled or otherwise machined into the wood through the shallower portion 7b of the recess 7. An internal bore passes through the plug. The bore is divided into two parts: a lower screw- threaded part 1 3 for engaging and co-operating with the set screw 10; and an upper Specificauon NVTOOLP1 267 GBA2OO5-O1-25 doc hexagonal socket part 14 which can receive a hexagonal tool such as an Allen key to permit the plug to be screwed into position. The frictional engagement of the threaded plug 9 in the wood, and with the underside of the hinge, is such that the plug stays in position even when the set screw is being unscrewed from the threaded part 13.

In use, the set screw is screwed down to hold the hinge in position against the plugs 9, while still permitting the hinge to slide against them. When the desired vertical position of the door has been achieved, the screws 10 are then fully tightened to lock the hinge in position.

Specification NVTOOLP1 267 GBA2OO5-O1-25.doc

Claims

1. A hinge having first and second leaves pivotally linked together, each leaf having at least two mounting holes for receiving fixing screws, wherein the mounting holes are elongated whereby the position of the hinge may be adjusted after insertion of the fixing screws, in use.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1, wherein the leaves are linked together by a lever mechanism and each leaf comprises a body portion in which a part of the mechanism is received when the hinge is in the closed position thereof and from which the mechanism extends when the hinge is in the open position thereof.

3. A hinge, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

4. A method of hingedly mounting a door using a hinge according to any preceding claim, comprising attaching the hinge to the door and to the door frame by means of screws passing through the mounting holes in such a manner that the hinge is 1 5 slidable relative to the door and/or the door frame, adjusting the door to the desired vertical position relative to the door frame, and tightening the screws to lock the position of the door.

5. A method according to Claim 4, comprising first cutting a recess into the door and/or the door frame into which the respective hinge leaf is received, the recess having a length greater than the leaf whereby the leaf may slide within the recess until locked by the tightening of the screws.

6. A method according to Claim 4 or 5, comprising cutting in the door and/or door frame a socket corresponding to each of the mounting holes in the respective hinge leaf, screwing into each socket an externally screwthreaded plug having an internal threaded bore therethrough, and securing the hinge leaf in position by means of a set screw passing through each mounting hole and engaged with the internal thread in the respective plug.

7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein the plug is provided with an internal formation engageable by a tool to permit the plug to be screwed into the socket.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the formation is constituted by a hexagonal upper portion of the bore.

Specification NVTOOLP1 267.GBA 2005-O1-25 doc

9. A method according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the plug has a head portion of greater diameter than the body thereof so that the head rests on the surface of the wood into which the socket is cut, in use.

10. A method of hingedly mounting a door, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

Specification N\/TOOLP1 267.GBA 2005-O1 -25.doc