GB2463116A

GB2463116A - Hinge with hinge pin retaining means

Info

Publication number: GB2463116A
Application number: GB0816384A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Wilfred Pearce; Tracy Fletcher
Original assignee: WINLOCK SECURITY Ltd
Current assignee: WINLOCK SECURITY Ltd
Priority date: 2008-09-08
Filing date: 2008-09-08
Publication date: 2010-03-10
Also published as: GB0816384D0

Abstract

A hinge comprising a body 10 for connection to the first element, a connection member 28 for connection to the second element, a hinge pin 24 carried by the body and having a portion with which the connection member can be pivotally engaged, and a restraining means 30 adapted for connection with said portion of the hinge pin to restrain the hinge pin laterally. The hinge pin retaining means 30 may be snap fitted to the hinge body by means of a spring biased catch 32; the catch may be released by use of a tool through an aperture in the body for disengagement. The hinge may have threaded height adjustment means 20. The hinge pin may have an eccentric portion for positional adjustment and the connection member may be adjustable in a further horizontal axis by means of threaded adjustment member 46 displacing carriage 36.

Description

Title: Hinge

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a hinge. More specifically, the invention relates to an improvement in the structure of a lift off" type of hinge.

There are currently two commonly used types of adjustable door hinge on the market, namely the "lift off' hinge and the "double knuckle" hinge. The double knuckle hinge is a traditional design of hinge, comprising two leaves which are pivotably connected by a central hinge pin. A drawback of using conventional ***.

double knuckle hinges is that they are difficult to adjust. A lift off hinge : comprises a body (for attachment to a door frame) and a connection member * (for attachment to a door), the connection member having a cylindrical hollow portion which engages with an upright hinge pin on the body to allow pivotal movement between the two.

I..... * 20

It is well-known for doors and door-frames to be manufactured from extruded unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC). In manufacturing, extruded elements of uPVC are often reinforced by the introduction of metal reinforcements into cavities of the extrusion. However, it is difficult, in manufacture, to control the dimensions of such doors with high accuracy, since uPVC is a relatively non-rigid material compared with more traditional materials used in door manufacture. It is therefore important that the position of the door be easily adjustable relative to the frame, in order accurately to align the locks on the door with the respective parts on the frame.

The lift off hinge provides greater flexibility when adjusting the position of a door relative to its frame. It is known to provide three modes of adjustment between a door frame and door: the vertical position of the hinge pin may be altered relative to the body, the position at which the connection member is attached to the door can be adjusted radially relative to the axis of the hinge pin, and the position of the axis of the hinge pin can be adjusted relative to the connection member (e.g. by use of an eccentric bush, having a tubular hollow portion which is off-centre).

However, a traditional lift off hinge suffers the weakness of having only one point of shear stress, this being at the base of the part of the hinge pin engaged by the connection member. This can lead to deterioration and damage to the hinge due to the forces exerted on the shear point during use.

* ** Double knuckle hinges, on the other hand, distribute the shear stress between two shear points, thereby reducing the damage occurring at each point. S...

The aim of the present invention is to reduce or overcome one or more of the *. 15 above problems. S...

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a hinge, for pivotably connecting a first element and a second element to one another, comprising: a body for connection to the first element, a connection member for connection to the second element, a hinge pin carried by the body and having a portion with which the connection member can be pivotably engaged, and a restraining means adapted for connection with said portion of the hinge pin to restrain the hinge pin laterally.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the restraining means is releasably engageable with the body and with a free end portion of the hinge pin, and adapted to be held in engagement therewith by a retaining means. The retaining means may comprise a catch formation which is engageable with the body, and the catch formation may be spring-biased into engagement with a complementary formation of the body. The catch formation may be accessible through an aperture in the body for disengagement.

The hinge pin may engage the body by way of a pin-holding formation. The vertical position of the pin-holding formation may be altered relative to the body by way of a height-adjusting means, and the height-adjusting means may comprlseascrewwhlchisengageablewlthanaperturelnthebaseofthe body so as to abut the base of the pin-holding formation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the hinge is adapted for connection to the frame of a door, and the connection member is adapted for connection to a door. * **

AccordIng to a further aspect of the Invention, we provide a door and door frame, wherein the door is plvotably connected to the door frame by way of :::: one or more hinges substantially as described herein.

S S..

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The present Invention alms to overcome the problem of lift off hinges having a S...

sole shear poInt, by adding a second point of shear stress to the hinge, *:m: thereby dIstributIng the force exerted between the two points.

These and other features of the Invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 Is an exploded perspective view of a hInge according to the Invention, Figure 2 Is a frontal view of a hinge according to the Invention, Figure 315 a perspective view of a hInge according to the Invention, Figure 41s a cross-sectional view of the hinge shown In Figure 2, taken on the line A-A, Figure 51s a cross-sectional view of the hinge shown In Figure 2, taken on the line B-B.

Referring first to figure 1, there is shown an exploded view of a hinge assembly, the main parts including a body 10, a connection member 28, a hinge pin 24 and restraining means 30. The hinge pin 24 has a lower portion supported by the body 10, and an upper portion to which the connection member 28 is releasably connected for pivotable engagement with the pin and supporting body, with an upper portion of the hinge pin protruding above the connection member. The restraining means is adapted for connection with the free end of the upper portion of the hinge pin, so as to restrain it laterally relative to the body.

* ** The hinge is shown in the orientation it will occupy during normal use, and references to "upper", "lower", and analogous expressions, refer to this **.

orientation. I... * S S S. S

*:. 15 The body 10 of the hinge comprises a projecting lower part 11 having a rounded cross-section, with a support socket 44 in its hollow interior, having *::::: openings to the upper and lower surfaces, and a broadly flat elongate back *S.S.. . * * wall 13 extending upward from the lower part. The projecting lower part 11 houses a support bush 22, and the support socket 44 comprises an upper portion, and a lower portion of lesser diameter, having an aperture for receiving adjusting screw 20. On the back wall of the body there are two recesses 19 for receiving support pins 18, and two apertures 46 through which screws can be inserted for connecting the body to a door frame member to lie against the surface thereof. An aperture 86 is located on one side surface of the back wall, through which a pin can be inserted in order to release a restraint means 32, which is described hereafter.

Bush 22 has a cylindrical internal bore, which receives the lower portion of hinge pin 24. The bush 22 has a closed bottom end which is abutted by adjusting screw 20, so that the vertical position of the bush relative to the body may be altered by turning the screw. The bush engages with support socket 44 of the body, so that the entire length of the bush is supported by the body. The hinge pin 24 is an elongate cylinder with a flange 72 around its perimeter, such that the flange is received in a portion at the top of the bush 22 having larger internal diameter.

Connection member 28 includes a leaf portion 78, which can be secured to a door element by use of a connection plate 36. The connection plate 36 lies between the leaf portion 78 and a cover 38, and the connection member pivotably connects with the hinge pin 24 by way of a barrel-shaped portion 76 at one end of the leaf portion. * **

The leaf portion comprises two horizontal slots 60, one above the other, and an elongate outwardly-raised portion having an arcuate cross-section located *: between the two slots. A curved recess 80 is located centrally in the end wall *. 15 positioned furthest from the barrel-shaped portion 76. Adjacent curved recess is formation 82 for receiving the head of an adjustment screw 40,

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comprising a chamber having side walls, and lips either side of a similar * * curved recess.

Leaf portion 78 lies between connection plate 36 and the surface of a door member to which the connection member is to be attached. The connection plate is a flat, substantially C'-shaped part, having an upper and a lower arm projecting parallel to one another and perpendicularly from a base portion 74, with an aperture for a support pin 50 followed by two apertures for screws 52 provided along each of the arms (from the base portion to the tips). Four screws are inserted through apertures 52 in the connection plate, and two support pins 19 are inserted through apertures 50 of the connection plate, each passing through the respective horizontal slot 60 in the leaf portion of the connection member, before engaging with a door element, for securement of the device to the door element. Formations 53 are secured to the furthest point on either side of each arm, between which a cylindrical chamber 54 is held, having a screw-threaded internal bore for engagement with the adjustment screw 40.

The head of slide adjustment screw 40 is held by screw-holding formation 82, such that access to the screw head is possible through recess 80. The screw engages the internal bore of chamber 54 of the connection plate, so that the block is held relative to the connection member. The chamber fits into the curved recess in the wall of the connection member leaf. As the screw is turned, the connection plate moves lengthwise relative to the connection member, as the head of the screw abuts the lips of the screw-holding * ** formation. The surface of the leaf portion of the connection member is provided with markings 84 comprising a number of parallel lines at e.g. 1mm spacing, for alignment with an edge of the base portion 74 of the connection plate 36, to indicate the position of the leaf portion relative to the connection *. 15 plate. ****

Cover member 38 has a profile to match that of the leaf 78 of connection S..... . . * . member 28, and comprises a flat back portion, with raised walls along the upper and lower edges, a wall with central aperture 56, which aligns with recess 80 of the connection member, and a recessed portion at the opposing end, which portion has a profile to fit against the wall of the barrel-shaped portion 76 of the connection member.

Cover member 38 is attached to connection member 28, with the connection plate 36 and screw 40 enclosed. When required, screw 40 may be accessed through aperture 56 of the cover member, and the recess 80 of the connection member. When an adjustment has been made, screw cover 42 is placed over aperture 56.

A screw is inserted through aperture 58 of the connection member and engages with the cover member to secure the two parts relative to one another.

The barrel-shaped portion 76 of the connection member accommodates a pivot bush 26 having an internal bore which is cylindrical and lies eccentrically relative to the external surface of the bush. The bore of the bush 26 engages the upper portion of the hinge pin 24 and the base of the bush 26 meets the upper surface of the bush 22. The bush 26 comprises an upper part, a middle part and a lower part, of successively increasing external diameter, the upper * *, part having the smallest external diameter, and the lower part having the :::::: greatest diameter.

The barrel-shaped portion 76 of the connection member receives all but the lowest part of the bush 26, which has at least one hexagonal socket 70 located in its wati. A key may be fitted into this socket to move the bush 26 angularly *** "I. within the portion 76, thereby moving the pivoting axis of the connection member relative to the connection member.

Once the bush 26 has been set in the required position, a locking bush 34 is inserted into the top of the eccentric bush, so that its upper rim abuts the upper surface of the barrel portion 76 of the connection member. On its lower side, the locking bush 34 has a number of protuberances, which engage with elongate vertical recesses 68 around the upper perimeter of the eccentric bush, thereby locking the eccentric bush in position. The locking bush has a cylindrical hollow interior, aligned with that of the eccentric bush, so that when the locking bush is fitted in place, the upper end of hinge pin 24 passes through the locking bush.

Restraining means in the form of a security cap 30 comprises a rounded hollow front portion 62 with a flat back, the back connecting to the upper end of the back wall of body 10 by way of two downwardly extending connector plugs 64. Connector plugs 64 are elongate formations of rectangular cross-section, having relieved portions at their tips, which engage with corresponding sockets on the upper surface of the back wall of the body, thereby securing the security cap relative to the body.

Rounded front portion 62 of the security cap has a hollow cylindrical recess extending upwardly from its lower surface, and a flat recess inset from its back wall. The hollow recess in the front portion engages with the upper end of hinge pin 24 so as to provide lateral restraint, having sufficient depth to allow * ** vertical adjustment of the hinge pin relative to the body. For holding the :::::: security cap in engagement with the body and hinge pin, a retaining means 32 is provided, comprising a strip formed from a resilient material, having a flat upper portion, and a broadly upright back portion, having lower portion offset 15 forwardly of an upper portion thereof. A catch formation is provided at the bottom of the back portion, comprising a forwardly and upwardly inclined wall. S.

The flat upper portion engages with the flat recess of the security cap, and as * the security cap is attached to the body, the catch formation engages a notch in the back wall of the body, to hold the restraining means 30 to the body 10.

To disengage the retaining means 32, a small elongate implement such as the blade of a screwdriver may be inserted through aperture 86 in the side wall of the body. The relieved portions at the tips of the connector plugs 64 allow for the catch formation to be disengaged from the notch in the back wall of the body, allowing the security cap 30 to be removed from the top of the hinge.

The body 10 can be attached to a first surface by screws, which are inserted through apertures 46 in the body, and through packers 14, 12 and 16 before engaging with the surface. The packers are elongate rectangular strips, preferably formed of a plastics material, having apertures 48 and 46 through which the support pegs and screws, respectively, can be inserted. The packer 14 in contact with body 10 may be of 2mm thickness, and the packers 12 of 1mm in thickness. The flanged packer 16, which is in contact with the surface, has a flange around its lower, left and right sides, which is raised in the direction away from the surface, into which the other packers fit and are supported by the lower flange.

In order to add strength to this formation, support pins 18 are inserted into recesses in the back of the body. These pins pass through apertures 48 in the packers, and engage with apertures in the element to which the body is being attached. * **

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the *. 15 presence of other features, steps or components. ****

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hinge, for pivotably connecting a first element and a second element to one another, the hinge comprising: a body for connection to the first element; a connection member for connection to the second element; a hinge pin carried by the body and having a portion with which the connection member can be pivotably engaged, and a restraining means adapted for connection with said portion of the hinge pin to restrain the hinge pin laterally. * .*
2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the restraining means is releasably engageable with the body and with a free end portion of the hinge pin, and adapted to be held in engagement therewith by a retaining means.
3. A hinge according to claim 2 wherein the retaining means comprises a **.catch formation engageable with the body. * *
4. A hinge according to claim 3 wherein the catch formation is spring-biased into engagement with a complementary formation of the body.
5. A hinge according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the catch formation is accessible through an aperture in the body for disengagement.
6. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hinge pin engages the body by way of a pin-holding formation.
7. A hinge according to claim 6 wherein the vertical position of the pin- holding formation may be altered relative to the body by way of a height-adjusting means.
8. A hinge according to claim 7 wherein the height-adjusting means comprises a screw which is engageable with an aperture in the base of the body so as to abut the base of the pin-holding formation.
9. A hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the hinge is adapted for connection to the frame of a door, arid the connection member is adapted for connection to a door.
10. A hinge substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings. * .*
11. A door and door frame, wherein the door is pivotably connected to the door frame by way of one or more hinges according to any of the preceding claims.
12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features substantially as ***.described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings. ***** S *