GB2449112A - Hinge Fitting with pivotally mounted abutment member - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge fitting comprising a base (12) for attachment to a support member for supporting a closure (82) during use and a pivoting member (18) hingedly attached to the base (12) and attachable to the closure (82) about a first axis. The pivoting member comprises an abutment member (40) depending therefrom for location against an edge of the closure (82) in use, said abutment member (40) being pivotably mounted relative to said pivoting member (18) about a second axis. The abutment member may be moveable relative to the pivoting member to allow close abutment with a variety of closure edge profiles. The abutment member may be provided on a slider and may (40) have at least one elongate aperture. The pivoting member may have one or more projections. The base portion may comprise a cam allowing height adjustment. The pivoting abutment member may pivot to locate against different closure edge profiles.

Description

Hinge Fitting The present invention relates to a hinge filling and more

specifically to a hinge fitting for attachment of a closure to a support.

There are numerous varieties of hinge fittings for closures such as windows, doors or the like. One specific type of hinge fitting according to the prior art is shown in figure 1, which is intended for attachment of a closure 10 to a support in the form of a closure frame member 12.

The hinge fitting is shown generally at 14 and comprises a base member 16 for attachment to the closure frame 12 and a pivoting member 18 for attachment to the closure. The base protrudes outwardly from the frame and the pivoting member 18 is spaced a short distance from the frame member 12 by the base 16. The closure end is located in this space for attachment to the pivoting member 18 such that the closure can swing on its hinges.

The pivoting member 18 has an abutment or stop member 20 and a protrusion 22 depending therefrom a short distance from the stop 20. The closure end is located against the stop 20 for attachment to the pivoting member 18. The closure has a recess, in which the protrusion 22 is received, such that a bolt or screw (not shown) can pass through the stop member and a portion of the closure body for location with the protrusion 22. In this regard, the protrusion has a bore which aligns with a bore 24 in the closure to ensure that the closure is correctly positioned.

This type of hinge allows the screw ends or other forms of fixing means to be concealed from the outside of a window or door when closed. However a hinge of this type has a disadvantage that ensuring a tight fit between the closure and the hinge requires adherence to tight tolerances. Thus the hinge can only be closely fitted to a closure having bores at precise distances from the peripheral

I

edge of the closure. If the closure end is even slightly misaligned with the hinge, the closure can become loose through repeated use.

In addition, the hinge only caters for a closure having a perpendicular end face. If the abutting edge of the closure is chamfered or bevelled, the screws can become misaligned and the stop 20 or screws can become deformed, weakening the connection with the closure. This is a particular problem for doors since the weight of the door acts substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis, causing a skewing moment about the hinge fixings.

The above alignment problems reduce the security provided by a door or window and may result in the need to replace the closure and/or associated hinge.

One solution is to provide a stop member which is profiled to match a non-perpendicular door edge and ensure a tight fit therewith. However such a hinge arrangement can only be used with a very specific door and would be unsuitable for general use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal hinge fitting which can better account for closures of varying tolerances and edge profiles.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hinge fitting for a closure, the hinge fitting comprising: a base for attachment to a support member for supporting the closure during use; a pivoting member hingedly attached to the base and attachable to the closure, wherein the pivoting member comprises an abutment member depending therefrom for location against an edge of the closure in use, said abutment member being pivotably mounted relative to said pivoting member.

The present invention is particularly advantageous since the pivoting abutment member can pivot to locate securely against varying different closure edge profiles. The angular orientation of the abutment member can be adjusted relative to the pivoting member to accommodate either a perpendicular edge or else a chamfer. Thus the abutment member is range-taking.

Typically the pivoting member is pvotable about a first axis and the abutment member is pivotable about a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel.

Preferably the abutment member has one or more apertures therein for reception of a fastener, such as a bolt or screw. According to one embodiment, the or each aperture is elongate in form. Typically the apertures extend radially outwardly from the second axis The pivoting of the abutment member can thus be accommodated by the use of an elongate slot such that the fastener can be inserted into the closure at a predetermined orientation regardless of the angle of the abutment member.

Preferably the abutment member is movable relative to the pivoting member in a linear fashion. Typically the abutment member is provided on a slider which is received by slots formations in the pivoting member. Thus the abutment member can slide back and forth within the pivoting member to allow correct lateral positioning of a closure relative to a frame or other support member.

In one embodiment, the pivoting member comprises one or more projections depending therefrom and spaced laterally from the second axis. The projections typically have an aperture therein for reception of the fastener. Preferably the projection is movable relative to the second axis. Typically the projection is mounted in an elongate slot such that the projection is selectively positionable in the slot at a required distance from the abutment member.

Thus the projections as well as the abutment member are movable for correct fitment with the closure. This provides the hinge fitting with multiple degrees of freedom for mounting a closure in order to ensure that varying designs of closure can be securely fitted.

In one embodiment, the projections are releasably locatable within slots in the slider. The slider may comprise a planar member having a hinge formation at one end thereof for attachment of the abutment member. The lateral edges of the slider may be engageable with slots in one or more side walls of the pivoting member. Typically the pivoting member has a recess having opposing side walls and an end wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pivoting member has locating means for releasbly fixing the position of the slider relative to the first axis. Typically the locating means comprises a screw having a threaded shank which is engageable with a threaded aperture in the slider. Preferably the pivotable member has a recess in which the head of the screw is located so as to prevent translation of the screw relative to the pivoting member.

The screw head can thus be turned to either push or pull the slider along the slots in the pivoting member in order to achieve the desired fit with* the closure.

Locating means of this type also prevents the slider being removed from the pivoting member once the closure is fitted.

The base portion may comprise height adjustment means to vary the distance to which the base protrudes from the support member. The base may be attachable to the support member via a base plate. The base may be locatable on the base plate and the height adjustment means may comprise cam member within the base which locates against the base plate. Thus turning the cam raises or lowers the base relative to the base plate in order to allow a close fit to be achieved for closures of varying thickness.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an insert member for a hinge fitting, the insert member comprising an insert portion for attachment to a pivoting member of the hinge fitting and abutment member depending from the insert portion, the abutment member being pivotably mounted relative to said insert portion for location against an edge of the closure in use.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a hinge fitting according to the prior art; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the base and pivoting portion of a hinge fitting according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a plan view of an abutment member according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows an end view of an abutment member according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a rear view of the hinge fitting of figure 5 in the fully open condition; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the underside of an assembled hinge fitting according to the present invention in a partially open condition; Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the hinge fitting base components; and, Figure 8 shows an end view of the hinge fitting of figure 5 when in use.

Turning to figure 2, there is shown a hinge fitting 10 according to the present invention with the abutment member removed. The hinge fitting generally comprises a base 12 having a pair of spaced hinge formations in the form of S bosses 14 and 16 extending from a side thereof. A hinge member 18 is attached to the base via an opposing hinge formation 20 which is located between the hinge formations 14 and 16.

Each of the hinge formations have a cylindrical bore running therethrough such that the bores of the hinge formations are substantially coaxial when arranged as shown in figure 2. A rod or pin (not shown) extends along the length of the coaxial bores such that the hinge member 18 can pivot relative to the base 12 during use.

The hinge member 18 has a substantially planar body 20. Opposing side walls 22 and 24 and end wall 26 protrude upwardly from the body 20 and define a shallow recess or depression 28, which is partially enclosed. When located for use, the recess 28 is on the underside of the hinge member 18 facing the closure to which the hinge member is to be attached.

The end wall 26 is provided with a locating formation 30 shaped to receive the head of a fastening means such as a screw or bolt (not shown). The end wall 26 has an aperture 32 therein adjacent the locating formation 30. The locating formation has a neck portion 34 of reduced width such that a screw can be held in place relative to the end wall 26 whilst allowing rotation thereof.

Turning now to figures 3 and 4, there is shown a plan view of an insert module 36 which is arranged to be fitted in recess 28. The insert module 36 comprises a slider member 38 attached to abutment member 40. The abutment member 40 has a pair of opposing hinge formations 42 and 44 and the slider 38 has an opposing hinge formation 46 located between the formations 42 and 44. The hinge formations 42, 44 and 46 have coaxial internal bores through which a pin or rod 47 is inserted so as to allow relative rotation between the slider 38 and abutment member 40.

The slider member 38 is of greater width than the abutment member and has protruding edges 48 and 50 which can be received in side walls 22 and 24 of the hinge member 18 as will be described in relation to figure 5 below.

Elongate slots 52 and 54 are formed in the slider 38 and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation between the slider 38 and abutment member 40. The slots 52 and 54 extend part way along the slider parallel to the protruding edges 48 and 50.

A protrusion in the form of locating pin 56, 58 is mounted in each of the slots 52 and 54. Each locating pin 56, 58 is upstanding from the slider 38 and is held relative to the respective slot by fastening means 60 in the form of a conventional screw or bolt as can be seen in figure 4. Each pin has a base 59 which is of greater diameter than the remainder of the pin and forms a flange which rests on the slider surface.

The shank of the screw 60 passes through the slot and engages with a threaded bore (not shown) in the base of the pin 56, 58. The slots 52 and 54 are narrower than the screw head and so the pins 56, 58 are held against the slider surface, whilst allowing movement of the pins along the respective slot. Once the pin has been correctly positioned along the slot, the screw 60 can be tightened to lock the pin in place.

Each pin 56, 58 also has a threaded bore 62 extending through the upper portion of the pin.

The abutment member 40 is generally planar in form apart from the cylindrical hinge formations 4 and 44. A pair of elongate slots 64 and 66 are formed in the abutment member 40 and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation between the slider and abutment member. These slots 64 and 66 are aligned with the bores 62 in each of pins 56 and 58 when the insert member is positioned for use.

The slider 38 also has a locating formation 68 protruding from the underside thereof with an aperture 70 therein.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the insert module 36 in which the slider and abutment member are substantially coplanar. Figure 4 shows a side view of the insert module 36 wherein the abutment member 40 is orientated at an angle to the slider 38 in a position ready for use. In this position, a screw or other conventional fixing means can be inserted in the direction of arrow A through each of slots 64 and 66 and into engagement with the bore 62 in the respective pin 56, 58.

Figure 5 shows a rear view of the hinge 10 in its open most condition with the insert member 36 inserted into the recess 28 in the hinge member 18. It can be seen that each side wall 22 and 24 has a respective slot 70, 72 formed therein.

The protruding edges 48 and 50 of slider 38 are received within the slots 70 and 72 such that the slider can slide back and for the relative to the hinge member 18.

With reference to figures 2 and 4, the headed screw which is positioned within locating formation 30 in the hinge member 18 is received within the threaded aperture 70 of locating formation 68 on the slider. The grub screw can thus be turned in order to drive the slider back and forth along slots 70, 72 in order to control the positioning of the slider for use. Aperture 32 in the end wall 26 allows access to the grub screw using a screwdriver.

Turning now to figure 6, the insert member 36 is shown in position within the recess 28 ready for mounting to a closure. The slider is shown in the fully inserted position such that it abuts against end wall 26 of the hinge member 18.

The slider 38 is linearly movable back and forth relative to the hinge member 18 in the direction of arrow B. In figure 7, an exploded view of the base components is shown. An abutment edge 13 of the base 12 is arranged to be mounted adjacent a frame member which supports the weight of the closure during use. The sides of the base are exposed in figure 7 but it will be appreciated that a cover plate would normally be provided to enclose the internal parts of the base during use.

The base has a hexagonal aperture 88 in boss 14 which opens into a bore 90.

The bore 90 is aligned with a bore 92 in boss 16 so as to allow insertion of a rod 94 having a hexagonal head 96 sized to fit snugly in recess 88. The rod also has an eccentric central portion 98 which is received within the hinge formation 20 on the hinge member 18. This central portion is eccentric in shape so as to provide height-adjustment means. Thus, when the rod head 96 is lifted clear of recess 88, the angular orientation of the rod can be altered in order to adjust the location of the axis of rotation of the hinge member 18. When the rod head 96 I relocated in the recess 88, the position of the axis is fixed for normal use of the closure.

The base 12 also has a profiled slot 80 adjacent the lowermost edge 13 which is arranged to receive a correspondingly shaped base plate 100. In this embodiment the slot 80 is in the form of an elongate dovetail slot and the base plate 100 is a dovetail slide member. The base plate 100 has laterally protruding dovetail edges 102. A flat bottomed channel 104 extends along the length of the base plate between dovetail portions 72.

An opposing surface 103 of the base plate 100 is arranged for location against a frame member and is provided with threaded countersunk holes 106 into which screw fixings depending from the frame member can be inserted. The base plate also has a pair of locating pins which protrude into corresponding apertures on the frame member.

The dovetail slot 80 does not extend the entire length of the base 12 but terminates in a web 110, against which the base plate 100 abuts. A threaded screw (not shown) may be provided in threaded bore 112 for adjustment of the positioning of the base plate 100 along the slot 80.

A locking member 74 extends at least part way along the length of the base within a channel 114 which is shown with dashed outline. The locking member has a profiled cam portion 116 with a cam surface 78 which is semi-circular in section such that it operates in a manner similar to an eccentric. The cam surface 78 lies adjacent the channel 104 on the base plate 100 when is inserted into the slot 80. The locking member has a head 118, by which the cam portion 116 can be turned so as to tension the base 12 against the base plate 100. This effectively removes any play between the base 12 and base plate 100 so as to lock the base in position against the frame member.

A closure 82 such as a door or window can simply be attached to the hinge fitting described above by locating the closure 82 against the hinge member 28 such that the pins 56 and 58 extend into apertures 84 in the closure body as shown in figure 8. The abutment member 40 is then pivoted against the edge 86 of the closure such that it lies substantially flat against the closure. Thus the abutment member takes the form of a pivoting bracket.

The abutment member 40 pivots about an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge member 18.

Screws are then inserted through the slots 64 and 66 such that they engage with the apertures 62 in pins 56 and 58 in order to hold the closure in place.

If necessary, the slider can be moved to the desired position along the hinge member 18 by turning the grub screw in locating formation 30. The height of the base can also be adjusted to accommodate closures of varying thickness.

Thus it will be appreciated that the hinge filling according to the present invention can account for tolerances in the closure or support frame by allowing the following adjustments to be made: Adjustment of the distance of the pins 56 and 58 from the abutment member 40; Adjustment of the angle of the abutment member 40; Adjustment of the slider 38 along the hinge member 18; and, Adjustment of the height of the base 12 relative to the frame.

Thus the hinge filling embodiment described above by way of example has four degrees of freedom of adjustment.

The hinge member 18 is typically a die-cast metal component and the insert member is typically formed of pressed steel. The pins 56 and 58 may be cast or turned and the bores 62 subsequently drilled. However it will be appreciated that other manufacturing methods and materials may be used dependent on the strength requirements of the hinge. For example the hinge member and insert may be formed of moulded plastic components.

Claims (1)

1. Claims: 1. A hinge fitting for a closure, the hinge fitting comprising:

   a base for attachment to a support member for supporting the closure during use; a pivoting member attachable to the closure and hingedly mounted to the base for rotation about a first axis, wherein the pivoting member comprises an abutment member depending therefrom, said abutment member being pivotably mounted relative to said pivoting member such that the abutment member is rotatable about a second axis so as to allow location of the abutment member against an edge of the closure in use.

   2. A hinge fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel.

   3. A hinge fitting according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the abutment member has at least one elongate aperture therein for reception of a fastener.

   4. A hinge fitting according to claim 3, wherein the aperture extends radially outwardly from the second axis 5: A hinge fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the abutment member is further movable relative to the pivoting member in a linear fashion.

   6. A hinge fitting according to claim 5, wherein the abutment member is provided on a slider which is received within one or more slot formations in the pivoting member.

   7. A hinge fitting according to claim 6, wherein the slot formations are formed in opposing side walls of the pivoting member.

   8. A hinge fitting according to any preceding claim wherein the pivoting member has a recess into which the abutment member is insertable.

   9. A hinge fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the pivoting member comprises one or more projections depending therefrom for location of fastening means therein, said projections being spaced laterally from the second axis.

   10. A hinge fitting according to claim 9, wherein the or each projection is movable relative to the second axis.

   11. A hinge fitting according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the or each projection is movably mounted in an elongate aperture in the slider.

   12. A hinge fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the pivoting member has locating means for releasably fixing the position of the abutment relative to the first axis.

   13. A hinge fitting according to claim 12, wherein the locating means comprises a locating formation for a screw having a threaded shank which is engageable with a corresponding locating formation associated with the abutment member.

   14. A hinge fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the base portion comprises height adjustment means for varying the distance to which the base protrudes from the support member.

   15. A hinge fitting according to claim 14, wherein the height adjustment means comprises a cam member.

   16. A hinge fitting according to claim 15, wherein the base is attachable to the support member via a base plate and the cam is engageable with said base plate.

   17. A hinge fitting as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.