GB2450320A

GB2450320A - Hinge assembly movement limiting member and coaxial hinge members

Info

Publication number: GB2450320A
Application number: GB0711731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kathryn Leigh Smith; Jeremy John Smith
Original assignee: MBB CONNECTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: MBB CONNECTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-18
Filing date: 2007-06-18
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: GB0711731D0

Abstract

A hinge assembly 2 is provided comprising a first member 4 and a second member 6, the first member 4 rotatable with respect to the second member 6 about an axis of rotation. One of the first or second members has a movement limiting member 10 extending therefrom. The hinge assembly 2 further comprises an elongate pivot member 8 extending from the first member 4 into a cavity 12 in the second member. The pivot has its longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of rotation. The movement limiting member 10 interacts with the other of the first or second member 4, 6 to limit the movement of the first member with respect to the second member. The first and or second member may be circular. The cavity 12 may be a cylindrical bore. The movement limiting member 10 may be rectangular in cross-section and extend from the first member 4.

Description

A HINGE ASSEMBLY

The present invention is directed to a hinge assembly.

Hinge assemblies are used in a great many applications and situations.

One particular situation is the attachment of a lid or door, that is required to pivot between an open and a closed position.

There is a need for an improved hinge assembly, that is robust yet is easy to install and operate.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising a first member and a second member, the first member rotatable with respect to the second member about an axis of rotation, the first hinge assembly further comprising an elongate pivot member extending from the first member into a cavity in the second member, the pivot having its longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of rotation, one of the first or second members having a movement limiting member extending therefrom, the movement limiting member interacting with the other of the first or second member to limit the movement of the first member with respect to the second member.

The first member and second member may have any suitable shape, as required by the particular application or installation in which the hinge assembly is to be installed or used. In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the first and second members has a circular cross-section. One preferred assembly has both the first and second members with a circular cross section.

In other respects, the size, shape and form of the first and second members will be determined by the particular application and use of the assembly.

The pivot member extends from the first member and into a cavity in the second member. Preferably, the pivot member is fixed in relation to the first member, such that it rotates together with the first member. In one preferred arrangement, the pivot member is integral with the first member.

The pivot member extends into a cavity in the second member. If the pivot member is fixed in relation to the first member, it rotates within the cavity in the second member. The pivot member may have any suitable form, If the pivot member is required to rotate with respect to the second member, it is most preferably cylindrical. The cavity in the second member is of a size and shape to accommodate the pivot member, If the pivot member is to rotate within the cavity, the cavity is preferably a cylindrical bore.

The hinge assembly further comprises a movement limiting member.

The movement limiting member extends from one of the first or second members, is fixed in relation to that member, and interacts with the other of the first or second members, so as to limit the extent of rotation of one member relative to the other member. The movement limiting member may be integral with the member from which it extends, The movement limiting member preferably extends adjacent the pivot member. In one embodiment, the movement limiting member extends from the first member.

The movement limiting member may have any suitable shape, with a rectangular cross-section being preferred, although other shapes, such as circular cross-section may also be used.

The interaction between the movement limiting member and the other of the first or second members may be of any suitable form that limits the relative rotation and movement of the two members. In one arrangement, the other member comprises one or more stops against which the movement limiting member abuts, thus restricting the relative movement of the members.

In a preferred embodiment, the other of the first and second member comprises a first stop and a second stop, the movement limiting member interacting with the first stop when moved in a first direction and with the second stop when moved in the direction opposite to the first direction.

The movement limiting member may interact with the other of the first and second members by extending into a cut-out portion of that member. The cut-out portion may be a slot or groove formed in the face of the member.

Alternatively, the cut-out portion may be laterally open.

The movement limiting member and the member with which it interacts may be arranged to restrict the relative rotary movement of the first and second member to any desired angle. In one embodiment, the rotation is limited to 1800 or less.

An embodiment of the hinge assembly of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of first and second members of a hinge assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention in a spaced apart arrangement; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the first member of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the second member of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view of the first and second members of the assembly of Figure 1 in the operating position.

Referring to Figure 1, a hinge assembly, generally indicated as 2, comprises a first cylindrical member 4 and a second cylindrical member 6.

The first member 4, shown in more detail in Figure 2, has a generally cylindrical pivot member 8 extending from an end face, such the pivot member and the first member are coaxially aligned. A movement limiting member in the form of a spigot 10, having a rectangular cross-section, extends from the end face of the first member 4, adjacent the pivot member. As will be seen in Figure 2, the pivot member 8 is longer than the spigot 10.

The second member 6, shown in more detail in Figure 3, has the same generally cylindrical configuration as the first member 4. A coaxial cylindrical bore 12 extends through the second member 6 and is sized to accept the pivot member 8 with minimal clearance. The second member 6 has one end face formed with a cut-out portion 14, to provide two faces 16 and 18 extending either side of the bore 12 and perpendicular to the end face. The two faces 16 and 18 act as stops, as hereinafter described. The size of the cut-out portion may be selected to provide the end faces 16 and 18 in the appropriate positions to provide the desired limitation of relative movement of the first and second members.

Figure 4 shows the first and second members 4, 6 assembled. The pivot member 8 extends into the bore 12 in the second member 6, in which it is free to rotate, thus providing for relative rotational motion between the first and second members, while acting as a support to restrain lateral movement between the two members. The spigot 10 extends into the cut-out portion 14 of the second member 6 and rotates together with the first member 4 relative to the second member 6. The movement of the spigot 10 is limited by the faces 16 and 18, against which the spigot 10 abuts and which act as stops.

This in turn limits the relative rotational movement between the first and second members. In the embodiment shown, the relative movement is limited to an arc of 180 . However, it will appreciate that appropriate positioning of the faces 16 and 18 will allow other ranges of movement to be provided.

The embodiment shown in the figures is formed from wood. Any suitable material may be used to form the components of the assembly, including metal, which may be cast and/or machined, and plastic, which may be moulded and/or machined.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly comprising a first member and a second member, the first member rotatable with respect to the second member about an axis of rotation, the hinge assembly further comprising an elongate pivot member extending from the first member into a cavity in the second member, the pivot having its longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of rotation, one of the first or second members having a movement limiting member extending therefrom, the movement limiting member interacting with the other of the first or second member to limit the movement of the first member with respect to the second member.

2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first member and or the second member is circular in cross-section.

3. The hinge assembly according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein pivot member is fixed in relation to the first member.

4. The hinge assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pivot member is cylindrical.

5. The hinge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the cavity in the second member is a cylindrical bore.

6. The hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the movement limiting member extends from the first member.

7. The hinge assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement limiting member extends adjacent the pivot member.

8. The hinge assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement limiting member is rectangular in cross-section.

9. The hinge assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement limiting member interacts with a stop formed in the other of the first and second members.

10. The hinge assembly according to claim 9, wherein the other of the first and second member comprises a first stop and a second stop, the movement limiting member interacting with the first stop when moved in a first direction and with the second stop when moved in the direction opposite to the first direction.

11. The hinge assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement limiting member extends into a cut-out portion of the other of the first and second member.

12. The hinge assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cut-out portion is open to the radial perimeter of the other of the first and second member.

13. The hinge assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement limiting member interacts with the other of the first and second member whereby relative movement of the first and second members is limited to 180 .

14. A hinge assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, having reference to the accompanying figures.