GB2507326A

GB2507326A - Adjustable hinge with floating plate movable in two axes relative to a fixing plate

Info

Publication number: GB2507326A
Application number: GB1219309.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Amanda Mao
Original assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Current assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-26
Filing date: 2012-10-26
Publication date: 2014-04-30
Also published as: EP2725175B1; EP2725175A3; EP2725175A2; GB201219309D0

Abstract

The hinge comprises a fixed plate 8, an adjustable plate 10 and a pivot member 12. The adjustable plate comprises a fixing plate 14, a floating plate 16 movable relative to the fixing plate in two axes and a first adjustment means comprising a first eccentric cam 34 rotatable in a first slot 30 to position the floating plate in a first axis. A second adjustment means positions the floating plate in a second axis and may comprise a cam 36. The eccentric cams may apply a force to move the floating plate transversely or longitudinally relative to the fixing plate. Each of the slots may include two bearing and saddle surfaces, the latter comprising guide surfaces. The bearing surfaces may include undercuts to locate the cam in first or second positions. The eccentric cams may comprise a regular polygon location surface and may be resiliently biased to the second position.

Description

Adjustable Hing.e

This invention relates to hinges for windows, doors or the like, fri particular this invention r&ates to adjustable hinges. 5.

When hanging a door or window in a frame, it is often a difficult and highly skilied job to ensure that the door or window is aligned properly in the frame as alignment is needed at least two, and often three axis. Linear alignment is needed to align the or window in the frame in the vertical axis and, in one of two perpendicular horizontal axis'. This' multiple alignment can make hanging a labour intensive and highly skilled job which is commonly done in one of two ways either by attaching the hinges and then removing material from the edges of the door or window such that it fits correctly in the frame, or by moving the hinges up or down. and/or placing shims behind the hinges to pack.them out. Types of hinges on which doors or window are currently hung are well known n the art and typicafly comprise two hinge plates pivotally attached to one another.

Adjustable hinges have been known for use in cabinetry some time, and can be used when mourning doors or windows. Usualty adjustment is made by turning a screw which alters the separation of two hinge parts by driving them apart, which in turn alters the position of one of the hinge plates (by which the hinge is attached to the door or frame etc) relative to the hinge pivot Ore, type of adjustable butt type hinge is described in GB patent applic'aUon (382464950.

it is the purpose of the current invention to provide a simple to use adjustable hinge.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable hinge for mounfing an openable member to a frame, the hinge comprising: a fixed plate, an adjustable plate and a pivot member pivotally connecting the' fixed plate and the adjustable plate.

The adjustable plate comprises: a fixing plate for fixed attachment to one of the openable member and the frame; a floating plate movable relative to the fixing plate in a first a<is and in a second axis and configured for pivotal connection to the fixed plate, said floatuig plate having a first slot a first adjustment means cornpriing a hiM eccentric cam rotatable in said first slot to adjust' the position of the floating plate relative to the fixing plate. in a first axs: and a second adjustment means to adjust the position of the floating pkite relative to the fixing plate in a second axis The floating, plate may have a second slot therein, and the second.adjustmnt means rny comprise a.secon.d eccentric cam rotatable in. said second slot 1o adjust the position of the floating plate relative to the fixing plate in a second axis said first and second slots haing perpendicular to one another. In this way the same type. of mechanism can be used for the adjustment in both the first and the second axis.

The first slot may extend longitudinally along the floating plate and rotation of the first eccentric cam can apply a force to a side of the first slot so as to move said floating plate in a direction traverse to said first slot The second slot may extend traverse the ioating plate and rotation of the second eccentric cam can apply a force to a side of the second slot so as to move said floating plate longitudinally along the fixing plate iS Rotation of each cam can thereFore move the floating piate in one direction so that independent adjustment along two axis is achieved..

In one arrangement the adjustable hinge comprises tw.o bearing surfaces, substantially parallel to the sides of the first slot, and the separation of the two bearing surfaces substantially corresponds to the external dimension.of a cam surface of the first eccentric cam. The first eccentric cam is thereby maintained in contact with the. sides of the first slat so as to reduce backlash in the first adjustment means.

A first saddle may be located in and extend through the first slot and the first saddle can comprise two guide surfaces parallel to, and in slIding contact with, the sides of the first slot: The bearing surfaces may be. provided on the first saddle.

The adjustable hinge may comprise two bearing surfaces substantially parallel to the sides of the secona slot and the separation of the two bearing surfaces substantially corresponds to the external dimension of a cam surface of the second eccentric, cam..

A second saddle may be located in and extend through the second slot and the second saddle can comprise two guide surfaces parallel to, and in sliding contact with, the sides of the second slot. The bearing surfaces substantially parallel to the sides of the second slot can be provided on the second saddle. The second eccentric cam is thereby maintained in contact with the sides of the second slot so as:to reduce bapklash in: the secoPd adjustment means.

S Tbe firt and second ece.ntric cam may each comprise a circular cam surface, said cam surface. having a diameter substantially equal tb the separation of the corresponding two bearing surfaces. Further4 each eccentric cam may cqrnpdse a location surface comprising a regular pplygon haying an even: number of sids. said sides of the location surface of each eccentric cam aligning with the circular cam surface substantially at their centre and extending beyond the cam surface at either end. The two bearing surfaces parallel to the first and/or second: slot can have ar undercut therein. At leE st one of said first and/or second eccentric, cams may be movable between a first position hi which the cam surface is. located between the bearing surfaces and the location surface extends into the undercut arid a second position in whrch the location surfaces are located between the bear'ng surfaces Said fi.ist and/or second eccentric cam cen be resiliently biased into the sebond position.

This enables tha cam to nive between two positions wherein in the first position the circular cam is located between the bear-ing surfaces, and the location surface is in the undercut and.the cam is therefore free to rotate such that rotation moves the floati:ng plate,. and in the. second position the opposite flat sides of the location surface locate between the bearing surfaces and rotation is thereby prevented, effectively securing the floating plate in that particular position.

The fixhig plate of the hinge may comprise a first fixing plate section and.a second fixing plate section the second fixing plate section being adjustable eiative to the first fixjng plate section in a dftection perpendicular to both the first.slot and the. Second slot, and the floating plate qan be mounted on said second fbcing plate section. In th way adjustment in the third axis is effected.

The adjustatie hinge may further comprise clamping means for clamping said adjustable plate to said fixing plate Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example ony, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a closure ptvotaliy attached to a frame Figure 2 shows a frontview of an adjustable h.ine in accordance with. the invention; Figure 3 ahows a cro section on the line A"'A of Figure 2: Figure 4 shows. a perspective view of the adjustable plate; and Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the hinge.

Referring to Figure 1, a closure member 2 is shown attached to a frame 4 by means of an adjustable hinge 6 The hinge b allows pivotal movement of the closure member 2 wth respect tn the frame 4 The closure member 2 may be a door, n particular it may be a composite doOr Composite doors are tradiiorial looking doors that are made of composite materials for example they could be without limitation, timbei with a CiRP skin a GRP skin with a foam interior, or a metal skin with a foam interior They have the benefit of a traditional look cohibined *ith.10W maintenance. Ona part of the adjustable hinge 6 may be recessed irto the closure member 2 and the pivot of the hinge may extend forwards of the door resembling a traditional butt type. door hinge.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 details of the hing.e 6 are shown. The hinge 6 has two main halves, a fixed plateS, and an.adjustable plate 10. A pivot pin 12 passes through and connects the fixed plate 8 and adjustable plate 10 on one side thereof so that the two plates may pivot relative to one another, in use this enables the door or window to pivot :25 on the frame 4 so that it can open and close.

The fixed plate 8 is. of.standard.constructin and is similar to one half of a standard butt.

hinge that will be known to the person skilled in the art.

The adjustable plate 16 has a new cdn$truction th$t allows for adjustment of the hinge 6 in at least two axis. The adjustable plate 10 comprises a fixing plate 14 which cn be fixed to either the closure member or the frame. which ever the fixed plate 8 is not attached to, and a floating plate 16. The floating plate 18 is movable relative to the fiing plate in.a first axis and in a second axis has a tubular section 28 through which the pivot pin 12 passes thereby pivoally attaching it to the fixed plate 8 The floating pate 16 has a first and a second slot therein. The first slot 30 is a longitudinal slot i e a runs along the length of the floating plate 16 and the second slat 32 runs traverse the.floating plate. The two slots 30; 32 areS *threfQ& at ninety degrees to one another.

A first 34 ard a second 36 eccentric circular cam are provided and are retained ih a manner such that they can rotate relative to the fixing plate 14 The first and second cam pass through the first and second &ot respectively such that rotation of the first cam 34 adjusts the position ot the floating plate 16 relative to the fixing plate 14 in the first axis and rotation of the second cam 36 adjusts the position of the floating plate 16 relative to the fixing plate 14 in the second axis This is achieved by rotation of the cam causing a force on the sides of the slot with which it is associated As the slots 30 32 are at onety aegrees to one another movement causea by one cam acting on the ioes atone slot is not prevented by the cam in the other slot as the perpendicular slot allows for the requfted freedom of movement In the embodiment shown the cams 34, 36 do riot bear directly upon the sides of their associated slot 30, 32.. A first saddle 38 i located in and extends through the first slot 30 a second saddle 40 is located in and extends through the second slot 32. The first 38 saddle. comprises two guide surfaces parallel to, and in sliding contact with, the sides of the first slot 30 and the second saddle 40 comprises two guide surfaces parallel to and ri sliding contact with the sides of the second slot 32. In this manner each saddle is free to slide along the. length of its respective slot, and its rotation is prevented by the guide surfaces, Each saddle 38, 40 has a pair of bearing surfaces 42 44 which are substantially parallel to the sides of their associated sat 30, 2, and the separation of the two bear'ng surfaces 42 44 substantially corresponds to the minimum external dimension of the eccentrib earns 34, 36. In this way rotation of each, of the cams in opposite directions bear ditect!y on the bearing surfaces 42, 22 with little or no backlash.

Although described herein as being flat surfaces the skilled person will appreciate that the bearing surfaces need not necessarily be parallel to the sides of the slots for the cam to effect movement of the floating plate The heaiing surfaces could be at an anole to the sides of the slot or could be curved, although parallei surfaces are preferred.

As the guide' surfaces of the saddles 38, 40 are praIlet to and in sliding contact with the sides of the slots, rotabon of the cams 34, 36 imparts a rriovtng force on the sides of the slots 30, 32,'vta the saddle 38. 40 Graduations 46. can be provided adjacent the edges of one or both of the sldts 30, 32 at a set interval, for example 0.5mm. The user can therefore accurately set the, hinge usIng the graduflons 46 as visual indicators of the degree to which he is adjusting the hinge.

The cams.34, 26 each have, ih addihon to their circular cam surface, a location surface 48 positioned adjacent the cam surface The locatIon surfaces 48 are in the shape of a regular polygon having an even number of sides The sides of the location surface 46 of each eccentric cam aJin with the circular'cam surface ub.stantially at their centre, and.eflend beyond the cam' surface.at either end. i.e., viewed front the top (Figure 3) the circe formed by the cam surface fits exactly inside the polygon of the location surface 48 In the embodiment shown the location surface ic in the form of a decagon By having an even number of sides, opposite sides of the polygon are always paraflel and as the sides of the location surface align with the circular cam surface substantially at their centre the distance between opposite sides: of the location su ace 48 is equal to the diameter of the circular cam surface. In this manner the eccentric canis 34 36 can be moved along their axis of rotation between a first position i,n whi'ch the cam :25 surface is located between the bearing surfaces 42 and a second position in which the loatLon urfaoes 48 are located between the Dearing surfaces 42 The bearing surfaces 42 parallel to the first 30 and/or second 32 slot have an undercut provided in them so that, in the first position, as the cams 34, 36 re rotated the locatiOn surface 48 can extend into the undercut and rotate therein so as to not inhibit adjustment of the floating plate 16. Once adjuste,d to the desired position opposite.

parallel sides of the location surface can be aligned with the bearing surface 42 and the cam 34, 36 moved to its second position. Preferably the eccentric cams 34, 36 are provided with a spring 50 to resilienfly bias them into the second position. In this manner the user can place a tool, for example an allen key, in a suitably provided recess in the face of the eccentric cam, depress the cam 34, 36 against the spring 50 so as, to move it into its first position, rotate the cam 34, 36 so that the cam surface acts on the beanng surface 42 to adjust the position of the floating plate and then release the cam 34. 3 with opposite sides of the location surface 48 allgned with the bearing urface 42 $p that it toves into its second position, In s second position as parallel surfaces of the location surface 48 are aligne and adjacent the parallel sides of the bearing surface 42 further movement is prevented as in the second position the cam 4, 3 can not rotate. As.will be appreciated the use of the location, surface 48 provides for indexed adjustment by discreet amounts as opposed to continuous adjustment, although the skilled person will apprec late that the location surfaces 48 can be omitted if continuous adjustment is desirable.

En the ernbod]ment shown adju4tment a also provided in a third direction The fixing plate 14 has a first fixing plate section 52 and a second fixing plate section 54 The second fixing plate section 54 is adjustable relative to the first fixing plate section 53 in a direction perpendicular to both the first slot 30 arid the secohd slot 32. As can.be seen the floating plate 16 is mounted on said second fixing plate section 54.

Th& first fixing plate section 52 has each end turned in to form a C shape defining T slot when seen from the side. The second fixing plate section 54 sits in the Tslot and is attached thereto at either end by an adjusting screw 18. The adjusting screw moves the second fixing plate section 54 towards or away from the first fixing.plate section 52, guided on location pins 22 which limit the movement of the second fixing plate section 54 to movement along the length of the location pins 22. An indicator line 26 may be provided on the top of the adjusting screw 18 and graduatFons 24 provided on the first fixing plate section 52 so that aflgnrnent of the indicator line. 26 with the graduations 24 move the second fixing plate section 54 relative to the first fixing plate section 52 by a defined distance For example the distance between the graduations 24 can be such that totation of the adj.ustin screw 18, so that the indicator line 26 moves from one graduation 26 to an adjcent'graduation, moves the second fixing plate section 54 by 0.5mm.

Although not shown, the hinge may also be provided with clamping means for clamping the floating plate to the fixing plate so as to secure it in position, once it has been adjusted, and prevent accidental or uninthtionäl movement ri the adjustment mechanisms during use of the door or other ciosute to which it is fixed Fixing holes 5E are provides in the fixed plate 8 and the fixing plate 14 by which they 5. dan be attached to th closure and frame.

Although shown in Figure 1 with the fixed plate 8 attacned to the frame and the fixing plate 14 attached tote closure, it wiU be appreciated that the hinge. may be used in the opposite orientation, Furthern-iore it will be appreciated that the specific embodiment des,crihed herein includes features not essential to the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS; An adjustable hinge for mounting an openable member to a frame, the hinge comprising a fixed plate, an adjustable plate anci a pivot member pivotally connecting the fixed plate and the adjustable plate; wherein the adjustable plate comprises: a fixing plate for fixed attachment to one of the openable member and the frame; a floating plate movable relative to the fixing plate in a first axis and in a second axis and configured for pivotal connection to the fixed plate said floating plate having a first slot therein; a first adjustment means composing a first eccentr.c cam rotatable in said first slot to adjust the position: of the floating plate relative to the fixing plate. in a first axis;: and a second adjustment means to adjust the position of the floating plate relative to the fixing plate in a second axis.

2 An adjustable hinge according to claim 1 wherein: the floaling plate has a second slot; and the second adjustment means comprises a second eccentric cam rotatable in said second slot to adjust the position of the floating plate relative to the fixing plate in a second axis: wherein said first and second slots are perpendicular to one another.

3 An adjustable hinge aocording to claim2 wherein: the second stot extends traverse the floating plate and wherein rotation of the second eccentric cam applies.a force to a side of the second slot so as to move said floating plate longitudinally along the fixing plate.

4 An adjustable hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the first slot extends longitudinally along the floating plate and wherein rotation of the first eccentric cam applies a force to a side of the first slot so as to move said floating plate in a direction traverse to said irst lot.

The adjustabte hinge accoroing to ar'v one of the preceding clams further cornpiising two bearng surfaces substantiaHy parallo to the sides of the first slot and wherein eparMion of the two bearing surfaces substantially corresponds to the external dimension of a cam surface. of the first eccentric cam.

B The adjustable hinge according to claim 5 furfher comprising a first saddle located in nd extending through the first slot and Rherein the first saddle cpmprises two guide surfaces parallel to; änØ in:Shding contabt with, the.sides of the first slot.

7 The adjustabie hinge according to clam 6 wherein said bearing surfaces are provided on the first saddle.

8 The adjustable hinge according to any claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising two bearing surfaces substantially parallel to the sides of the second slot, and wheein the separation of the two bearing surfaces substantiaU corresponas to the external dimebsion of a cam surface of the second eccentric can).

9 The adjustable hinge according b Olaim 8 further comprising a second saddle located in and extending through the second &ot and wherein the second saddle corn prises two guide surfaces parallel to, and in sliding contact wth the sices of the second slot.

The adjustable hinge according to claim 9 wherein said bearing surfaces sUbstantially parallel to the sides of the second slot are provided on the second saddle.

11 The adjustable hinge according to claim 5 or claim 8 wherein saId first and/or second eccentric cam each comprises a circular cam surface, said circular cam surface having a diameter substantahy equal to the separation of its corresponding two nearing Surfaces.

12. The. adju«=table hinge according to claim 11 wherein each eccefltric cam further comprises a location surface comprising a regular polygon having an even number of sides, said sides of the location surface nf each ecsntric cam alining with the circular cam surface substantially at their centre, and extending beyond the cam surface at either end.

13 The adjqtabie hinge accorthng to claim 12 wherein the two bearing surfaces parallel to the first and/or second slot have an undercut therein.

14 The adjustahie hinge according to claim 13 whereni at least one of said first and/br second eccentric cams is rnovble between a first position in which the cam surface is located between the bearihq surfaces and the location surface extends into the undercut, and a second position in which the location urfacSs are located beOen the bearing surfaces.

15 The adjustable hinge according to claim 14 wherein said first and/or second eccentric cam is resfliently biased into the second position 16 The adjustabe hinge according to any precedinq claim wherein the fixing plate comprises a first fixing plate section and a qecona fixing plate section and wherein the second fi*ing plate ecUbn is adjustable relative to the first fixing plate section in a direction perpendicular to both The first slOt and the second slot: arid wheiein said tloating plate is mounted on said second fixing plate section.17 The adjustable hinge according to any preceding laim fcirther comprising clamping means for clamping said adjustab'e plate to said fixing plate 18 The adjustable hinge substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.