GB2424924A

GB2424924A - Hinge including pin with eccentric portion to allow compression adjustment

Info

Publication number: GB2424924A
Application number: GB0506910A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Haigh; David Leonard Johnson
Original assignee: Laird Security Hardware Ltd
Current assignee: Era Security Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-05
Filing date: 2005-04-05
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-05
Also published as: IE20060252A1; GB2424924B; GB0506910D0

Abstract

The hinge comprises a first leaf (10), a pivot pin (12) held by the first leaf (10) and a second leaf (11) pivotable on the pivot pin (12). The pivot pin has an eccentric portion (33) about which the second leaf pivots (11) and the angular position of the pivot pin (12) is adjustable relative to the first leaf (10) to allow compression adjustment. The pivot pin may be adjustable step-wise using a tool fitting in a key recess (37) on a first portion of the pin (12). A tube (27) may be formed on the first leaf 10. A nut-shaped portion (38) of the pivot pin may be received in a shaped recess (28) of the tube. To adjust the compression of a panel attached to the first leaf the panel is lifted to disengage the nut (38) from the shaped recess (28). The pin can then be rotated to adjust the eccentricity of the second pin portion 33 relative to the first pin pivot portion 32.

Description

HINGES

The invention relates to hinges.

One form of hinge comprises a first leaf, a pivot pin held by the first leaf and a second leaf pivotable on the pivot pin. A hinge of this type is designed to be used to connect a pane! such as a door to a frame to mount the panel for swinging movement into and out of the frame. One hinge leaf is attached to the frame and the other hinge leaf is attached to the pane!. It is difficult, when fixing the hinge to the panel and the frame, to position the hinge leaves such that the panel closes accurately into the frame. For this reason, it is desirable that the relative positions of the hinge leaves are adjustable in order to allow for adjustment of the panel relative to the frame.

One desirable adjustment is an adjustment that allows the plane of the panel to be moved towards and away from the plane of the frame when the panel is closed into the frame. This adjustment is referred to as compression adjustment. It can be important for example, when there is a seal acting between the frame and the panel and it is required to obtain the right compression of the seal when the panel is closed into the frame.

According to the invention, there is provided a hinge comprising a first leaf, a pivot pin held by the first leaf and a second leaf pivotable on the pivot pin, the pivot pin including an eccentric portion about which the second leaf pivots, the angular position of the pivot pin being adjustable relative to the first leaf to allow compression adjustment of the second leaf.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an exploded view of a hinge showing a first leaf, second leaf, a pivot pin, an adjustment screw and a packer, Figure 2 is an elevation of the assembled hinge of Figure 1 showing a cross- section through the pivot pin and, Figure 3 is a section on the line 111- 111 of Figure 2.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the hinge comprises a first leaf 10, a second leaf 11, a pivot pin 12, an adjustment screw 13 and first and second end caps 14, 15.

The first leaf 10 includes a generally rectangular mounting portion 25 including two fixing holes 26a and two fixing slots 26b. The first leaf 10 may be made of metal or any other suitable material. A tube 27, formed continuously with the mounting portion 25, extends partially along one of the longer sides of the mounting portion 25.

The axis of the tube is parallel to the plane of the mounting portion 25.

As seen particularly in Figure 3, the end of the tube 27 towards the centre of the mounting portion 25 is formed with a shaped recess 28. The shaped recess 28 has seven sides 29, interconnected by respective apices 30. The function of the shaped recess 28 will be described below.

The opposite end of the tube 27 on the first leaf 10 is closed by the first end cap 14 which may be of a plastics material. The first end cap 14 includes a central projection 42 whose function will be described below.

The second leaf 11, which may be made of any suitable material such as steel, includes a generally rectangular mounting portion formed with three pairs of fixing holes 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b and two mounting holes 20. The function of the mounting holes 20 will be described below. A tube 21 extends along part of one longer side of the mounting portion 16. The tube 21 has an axis extending parallel to the plane of the mounting portion 16. The tube is lined with a sleeve 22. The upper end of the sleeve 22 is provided with a flange 44 that covers the associated end of the tube 21. The lower end of the sleeve is threaded and receives the adjustment screw 13. This end of the tube 21 is normally closed by the second cap 15 which may be made of a plastics material.

The pivot pin 12 includes a first portion 32 and a second portion 33 separated by a radially outwardly extending annular wall 34. The first portion 32 of the pivot pin 12 is formed, adjacent the wall 34, with a cross-section in the shape of a nut 38 having apices 35 interconnected by flats 36, as seen in Figure 3. In addition, the end of this first portion 32 is formed with a Allen key recess 37.

The second portion 33 of the pivot pin 12 is eccentric relative to the first portion 32.

The hinge is assembled as follows.

The first portion 32 of the pivot pin 12 is inserted in the tube 27 on the first leaf 10.

When fully inserted, the nut-shaped portion 38 is received in, and is a close fit in, the shaped recess 28 (see Figure 3) so preventing relative rotation between the pivot pin 12 and the first leaf 10. The first end cap 14 closes the end of the tube 27 on the first leaf 10 with the projection 42 on the first end cap 14 engaging in the Allen key recess 37 on the pivot pin 12 to hold the pivot pin 12 in position in the first leaf 10. The second portion 33 of the pivot pin 12 is then inserted into the tube 21 on the second leaf 11. The second portion 33 is thus received in the sleeve 22 to allow relative pivoting movement of the second leaf 11 about the pivot pin 12 and thus relative to the first leaf 10. The tube 21 is closed by the second cap 15.

In use, the hinge connects a panel such as a door or window to a frame so that the panel is mounted for swinging movement into and out of the frame. As is conventional, when the panel is closed into the frame, there are adjacent panel and frame surfaces lying in respective planes normal to the plane of the panel. The mounting portion 16 of the first leaf 10 is connected to the panel surface by screws inserted initially through the slots 26b but not fully tightened. The mounting portion of the second leaf 11 is then connected to the frame surface by screws extending through the respective fixing holes 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b. The slots 26b allow lateral adjustment of the leaf relative to the frame and when these parts are correctly positioned, screws are inserted through the holes 26a and all screws tightened. The first end cap 14 holds the pivot pin 12 to the first leaf 10 while the hinge is being mounted. Two such hinges may be so connected to mount the panel.

If it is desired to adjust the compression of the panel relative to the frame then the panel is opened out of the frame, and the panel lifted slightly relative to the frame.

The effect of this is to disengage the shaped recess 28 from the nut 38. The pivot pin 12 can then be rotated by inserting an Allen key in the recess 37 and the panel then allowed to drop down again to re-engage the nut 38 with the shaped recess 28. Due to the eccentricity of the second pivot pin portion 33 relative to the first pivot pin portion 32, this will achieve compression adjustment.

The nut 38 and the shaped recess 28 thus provide a plurality of discrete angularly spaced positions in which the pivot pin 12 can be located relative to the leaf. This allows a range of compression adjustment.

If vertical adjustment is required, the second cap 15 can be moved and the screw 13 rotated to bear on the lower end of the pivot pin 12 and raise or lower the pivot pin 12 relative to the second leaf 11. This has the effect of raising or lowering the panel relative to the frame. The presence of the flange 44 ensures that the weight of the panel will not displace the sleeve 22 during this adjustment. Of course, the limit of lowering movement is determined by the wall 34 on the pivot pin 12.

Lateral adjustment of the leaf relative to the frame can be achieved by using the packer 39 shown in Figure 1. With reference to this Figure, the packer 39 is formed by a rectangular member which may, for example, be formed of a plastics material.

The packer 39 is provided with two studs 40 on one face 45. These studs 40 are engageable in the mounting holes 20 on the mounting portion 16 of the second leaf 11 and the packer 39 is also provided with fixing holes 41 in register with the fixing holes 1 7a, 1 8a, I 9a, in the mounting portion 16. In addition, the packer 39 is provided on the other face 46 with a rib 47 extending along one edge of the packer 39. When the packer 39 is mounted on the second leaf 16, the rib 47 extends between the first fixing holes, 1 7b, 1 8b, 1 9b of each pair and the second fixing holes 1 7b, 1 8b, 1 8b of each pair. When the hinge is mounted between a frame and a panel, the rib 47 will bear on the frame surface. By tightening or loosening the screws in the holes 17a, 18a, 19a and by correspondingly loosening/tightening the screws in the holes 1 7b, I 8b, 1 9b, the second leaf 16 can be rocked about the rib 47 to provide lateral adjustment of the panel relative to the frame.

There are a number of variations that may be made to the hinge described above with reference to the drawings. The hinge described above with reference to the drawings provides compression adjustment, lateral adjustment and height adjustment. It is not necessary for all three adjustments to be provided; the hinge could provide simply compression adjustment or compression adjustment in combination with either of the other adjustments.

The range of relative positions of the pivot pin 12 and the first leaf 10 may not be achieved by use of a nut 38 and a shaped recess 28. Such adjustment could, for example, be provided by inter- engaging teeth or any other suitable means.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising a first leaf, a pivot pin held by the first leaf and a second leaf pivotable on the pivot pin, the pivot pin including an eccentric portion about which the second leaf pivots, the angular position of the pivot pin being adjustable relative to the first leaf to allow compression adjustment of the second leaf.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the pivot pin is adjustable angularly step- wise relative to the first leaf.

3. A hinge according to claim 2 wherein the pivot pin has two or more angularly spaced dispositions relative to the first leaf, axial movement of the pin disengaging the pivot pin from a first angular position and allowing angular movement of the pivot pin to a second angular position after which reverse axial movement holds the pivot pin relative to the second leaf in said second angular position.

4. A hinge according to claim 3 wherein the pivot pin includes angularly spaced formations that co-operate with formations on the first leaf when the pivot pin is held by the first leaf, said axial movement disengaging said formations, the formations re- engaging in an alternative disposition after said rotation and said reverse axial movement of the pivot pin.

5. A hinge according to claim 4 wherein the pivot pin has a portion shaped in cross-section as a nut having apices interconnected by flats, the first leaf including a corresponding shaped recess receiving said nut portion to hold the pivot pin against rotation relative to the first leaf, the axial movement disengaging the nut from the recess for rotation and the reverse axial movement re-engaging the nut in the recess.

6. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second leaf includes means for moving the pivot pin axially relative to the second leaf to provide limited axial adjustment of the second leaf relative to the first leaf.

7. A hinge according to claim 6 wherein the moving means comprise an adjustable screw carried by the first leaf and acting on an axial end of the pivot pin.

8. A hinge according to any one of claims I to 7 and including a packing element associated with the second leaf and allowing lateral adjustment of the hinge relative to a panel on which the hinge is mounted.

9. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first leaf includes a tube receiving a first end of the pivot pin and the second leaf includes a tube receiving a second end of the pivot pin.

10. A hinge according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the shaped recess is formed at an end of the tube on the first leaf.

11. A hinge substantially as hercinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.