GB2508966B

GB2508966B - Selectively lockable hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2508966B
Application number: GB1318406.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Bignall John
Original assignee: BIGNALL LUBRITEC Ltd
Current assignee: BIGNALL LUBRITEC Ltd
Priority date: 2012-12-12
Filing date: 2013-10-17
Publication date: 2019-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-17
Also published as: GB2508966A; GB201222384D0; GB201318406D0

Description

SELECTIVELY LOCKABLE HINGE

This invention relates to a hinge for a door, in particular a hinge for use on an overlap door as typically found on a cubicle. In the United Kingdom, the doors of cubicles open inwardly, this is because it minimises the space requirements when washroom facilities are incorporated into a building, thus making the cost of the build cheaper, as less overall space is required for the build. Recently introduced building regulations (Building Regulations 2010- Part M, section 5) mean that it now has to be possible to easily open the door from the outside, for example if the occupant of the cubicle is in distress and is unable to open the door themselves. If the occupant of the cubicle has fallen against the door, this may make it very difficult to open the door in the conventional manner, namely by simply pushing the cubicle door inwards. Furthermore, in view of the building regulations discussed above, conventional two leaf hinges, are typically configured on the door frame so that the door will only open in one direction, in this case, into the toilet cubicle. GB 2450676A describes a possible solution to this problem. The hinge in this application is mainly described for use on the doors of prison cells or other types of “in-line” doors, and is a hinge with three leaves. The intermediate leaf can be locked and unlocked as necessary to allow the door to be opened even if there is an obstacle behind the door preventing the door from opening in the usual manner. However, the drawback with this system is that once the locking mechanism is released it still does not easily allow the door to move freely past the door frame. Furthermore, this type of hinge cannot be easily adapted for use with overlap type doors, which are becoming much more common in everyday use. GB 1209250 describes an alternative solution to this problem. The hinge in this application is for use on “in-line doors”, and is a three leaf hinge. However, the drawback with this system is that thea large amount of force has to be used to operate the hinge in the opposite matter to usual operation. This will result in damage to the hinge, or in some cases may result in the doorframe being damaged, or possibly even part of the door frame being removed from the frame completely

An aim of this invention is to provide a hinge which overcomes or alleviates the problems described above.

According to the invention there is provided a hinge for use on a door for an enclosure, having a first leaf for connection to a door, a second leaf for connection to a door frame, and an intermediate leaf, pivotally connected at either end to the first and to the second leaf, said hinge includes releasable locking means for locking said intermediate leaf in position with respect to said first leaf, wherein said locking means is adapted to engage with internally threaded receiving means either within said first leaf or within said door, and wherein in use, the door frame defines an aperture such that said locking means is accessible from outside said enclosure, when said door is closed; wherein said locking means passes through an internally threaded section within said intermediate leaf, and said locking means is a locking pin having a threaded end to engage with said receiving means and having a threaded shaft to engage with the internally threaded section; and wherein said internally threaded section within said intermediate leaf is provided on a separate pin means, held within said intermediate leaf between said pivotally connected ends, and said separate pin means can freely rotate within said intermediate leaf.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said locking means is operable to lock said intermediate leaf substantially parallel to said first leaf.

Further preferably said intermediate leaf is provided with a front face, to be positioned next to the interior of the door frame, and said front face is provided with an aperture through which the locking means can pass to lock said intermediate leaf to said first leaf. In a preferred embodiment, said aperture is sized to be the same size or greater than the circumference of the locking means.

According to the invention there is also provided a closure including a door, a door frame and a hinge as hereinbefore described. Preferably, said closure is that of a toilet cubicle.

Description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the hinge installed on a door with the door closed;

Figure 2 is a face on view of the hinge from the inside of the door with the door closed;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of all of the components of the hinge.

Figure 4 is a top view of the hinge installed on the door with the door partially open;

Figure 5 is a face-on view of the hinge from behind the door corresponding to figure 4, with the door partially open;

Figure 5a is a front view of the door and door frame showing the access to the securing pin;

Figure 6 is as top view showing the hinge being released to allow the door to open outwardly;

Figure 7 is a side view corresponding to figure 6, showing the hinge being released;

Figure 8 is a top view showing the hinge in fully released position;

Figure 9a is a top view along the entire length of the door and frame with the door in a closed position;

Figure 9b is a top view along the entire length of the door and frame as the hinge starts to be released;

Figure 9c is a top view along the entire length of the door and frame with the door opening outwardly;

Figure 9d is a top view along the entire length of the door and frame with the door fully open in the outward direction.

Specific Description

Figure 1 is a top view of a hinge 10 connected to a door 1 and to a door frame 2, to allow the door to be moved in direction of arrow 100 with respect to the door frame. Figure 2 is a face on view from behind inner face 1 a of the door 1 to show how the hinge is connected to the door 1 and doorframe 2. Figure 3 shows an exploded view of all the various components of the hinge before they are fixed to the door and door frame. Typically operation of the hinge, in normal circumstances, will now be described, with reference to these three figures.

In a preferred embodiment, the door 1 will be a door to a toilet cubicle, but it may be a door for another enclosure such as a changing room cubicle, a shower cubicle, a tanning booth or a hospital examination room for example. The door may be for use in a residential or business setting. Door 1 has an inner face 1a, facing into the enclosure and outer face 1 b. Figure 2 is a face on view of the hinge 10, looking from behind the inner face 1a of the door 1, at the hinge 10, door 1 and door frame 2. First leaf 20 of hinge 10 is fixed on the outer face 1 b of door 1 adjacent to the inner side 1 c of door 1. Leaf 20 is fixed to the door 1 using fixing means (not shown, but typically screws or nails) passing through receiving holes 26 provided in leaf 20. In this embodiment, the leaf 20 is secured by fixing means on the inner face 1a of the door 1, but the leaf 20 may alternatively be fixed to the outer surface 1b of the door 1. Preferably, the first leaf 20 is substantially U-shaped, and the door 2 is received in the channel 25 of first leaf 20. A protrusion 27 is provided on the first leaf, this is provided with a central bore 28, for engagement with the intermediate leaf 30. Typically, the bore 28 will be a smooth bore.

The second leaf 40 of hinge 10 is connected to the doorframe 2 via fixing means 48, which pass through holes 42 in second leaf 40, to fix the second leaf to the inner face 2a of door frame 2. The intermediate leaf 30 is connected at either end to the first and second leaves 20 and 40. As illustrated, intermediate leaf 30 is connected to first leaf 20 using a pin 52 which passes through a first hole 33a in intermediate leaf 30, then through hole 28 in protrusion 27 provided in first leaf 20, and then through hole 33b in the intermediate leaf 30, positioned to be below hole 33a. In this way, the first leaf 20 and intermediate leaf 30, are pivotally connected through pin 52. Typically, the hinge will also be provided with a washer 62, which will sit on the top of hole 33a to prevent the fixing pin being forced directly into contact with the top of the intermediate leaf 30. Alternatively, each of the fixing pins may be provided with a c-clip. There are several different ways in which the pivot pins are secured within the leaves of the hinge to hold the leaves together, and the above description is merely illustrative.

The intermediate leaf 30 is also connected to the second leaf 40 by means of a pivotal connection. In this case, pivot pin 50 passes through hole 31a in intermediate leaf 30, then through hole 43 in protrusion 41 of second leaf 40, then through hole 31b in the intermediate leaf located below hole 31a. Again, this connection means the two leaves can be easily rotated with respect to each other.

The three leaves 20, 30 and 40 can be fixed together in this way, and at this stage both the first and second leaves 20, 40 are freely pivotable with respect to the third leaf 30. In normal operation, once the hinge 10 is fixed to the door 1, pivotal movement of the first leaf 20 with respect to the intermediate leaf 30 needs to be prevented, so that when it is required to open the door 1, the hinge 10 will pivot about pin 50 and the intermediate leaf 30 and the first leaf 20, will move as a single unit and allow the door 1 to open. In this embodiment, the holes 31b, 32b and 33b provided at the bottom of the intermediate leaf, allow the pins to pass all the way through the length of the intermediate leaf. However, the base of the hinge 30 may be provided with a continuous surface so that pivot pins 50, 51 and 52 rest on the surface and do not pass through the bottom of intermediate leaf 30

This restriction of movement of the intermediate leaf 30 and first leaf 20 is achieved through the using of a locking mechanism. In this case, the intermediate leaf 30, is provided with a third pin 51, this passes through hole 32a (positioned between holes 31a and 33a), then through hole 32b, at the bottom of the intermediate leaf 30, between holes 31b and 33b. Pivot pin 51 is also provided with a threaded section 53, passing substantially through the centre of the pin 51, to allow the securing pin 70 to pass through the centre of pin 51 prior to being received in receiving section 24. When the pin 51 is inserted through holes 32a, 32b in intermediate leaf 30 the threaded section 53 of pin 51 is positioned to line up with aperture 34 provided on the face of intermediate leaf 30. A securing pin 70 is provided to pass through aperture 34, then through threaded section 53 of pin 51, and then to secure the intermediate leaf 30 to the door 1. In the embodiment as illustrated, the locking pin 70 passes through aperture 34, through threaded section 53 of the pin 51 and then is received and held in threaded section 24 of first leaf 20. The threaded section 24, and threaded end of pin 70 cooperate to ensure that the pin is securely held in threaded section 24 and cannot simply be pulled out. Of course, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the threaded end of pin 70 may pass through aperture 34, through threaded section 53 and then be received in a threaded hole recessed in the inner face 1b of door 1, rather than having to engage with the first leaf 20 of the hinge 10.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hinge 10 may be provided with a fourth leaf 15. This will be inserted between the intermediate leaf 30 and the first leaf 20. Operation of the fourth leaf 15 will be described in more detail later in this specification.

Normal operation of the door 1 is described below, and illustrated with respect to figures 4 and 5. The hinge will be fixed to the door 1 and door frame 2 as described above, and the intermediate leaf 30 will be secured to the first leaf 10 as herein before described. To allow the door 1 to freely open and close in direction of arrow 100, the hinge 1 pivots about pivot pin 50 inserted through intermediate leaf 30 and the door 1 will swing inwardly.

Occasionally, it may be necessary to open the door 1 from the outside. If the person within the enclosure has fallen against the door 1, this will be difficult, as the person will be against the door 1, preventing it from being easily opened. Figure 5a shows a front view of door 1 attached to door frame 2 using hinge 10. Door frame 2 is provided with insertion hole 80. This hole is positioned to line up with securing pin 70 passing through intermediate leaf 30 of hinge 10, so that the head 71 of securing pin 70 is easily accessible from the exterior of the cubicle. In this embodiment of the invention, the hole 80 is simply left clear on the front of the door 1 to allow easy access, but it may alternatively be provided with a cap (not shown) to cover the hole 80 over, and prevent unnecessary access to the securing pin 70.

In a preferred embodiment the following steps are carried out when or if it is necessary to open the door 1 from outside Figure 5a shows a hole 80 which is used when it is desired to release the hinge. Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the hinge 10 in various stages of release, and also show how the door 1 moves with respect to the third leaf 40, and the door frame 2.

Figures 9a-9d show a top view of the door 1 with a four leaf hinge 10, with the hinge 10 in various stages of release, showing how the door 1 moves free of the frame 2 as the hinge is released.

Releasing means, such as a screw driver or Allen key are inserted through the hole 80 to engage with the head 71 of securing pin 70. The releasing means will release pin 70 so that the threaded end of the pin 71 is unthreaded from the receiving section 24 within the first leaf 20. As the pin 70 is released from the threaded receiving section 24 of first leaf 20, the first leaf 20 will start to move relative to the intermediate leaf 30, and will be able to pivot about pivot pin 52. Eventually the locking pin 70 will pass completely out of the threaded section 24 of the first leaf 20, and the door will be able to freely pivot about the pivot pin 52 connecting the first leaf 20 and the intermediate leaf 30. This will allow the door 1 to be opened outwardly and thus allow easy access into the enclosure.

Figure 9a shows the door 1 in the closed position relative to the door frame 2. An enlarged picture of hinge 10 is shown as an inset to this figure; in the inset only part of the door 1 and frame 2 are shown. In this embodiment of the invention, the hinge 10 is shown with four leaves. First, second and intermediate leaves 20, 30 and 40 are as described previously, and there is fourth leaf 15, pivotally connected to said first leaf 20 using pivot pin 16, and connected to the intermediate leaf 30 via pivot pin 52. Ordinarily the fourth leaf 15 will be locked to the first leaf 20, using locking means (not illustrated), the locking means may be a locking pin similar to pin 70, or other forms of locking means. It is clear from this figure that the opening end of door 1 (the end that is not hinged) overlaps with the inner surface 2a of the door frame 2. It is clear that, in order for the door to open outwardly, it need to be provided with clearance relative to the door frame 2 at the unhinged end of the door 1.

The hinge is released (by releasing locking pin 70) as described previously.

Figure 9b shows the door 1 and door frame 2 as the intermediate leaf 30 is unlocked from the first leaf 20. Again, an inset to the figure shows an enlarged view of the hinge 10, with part of door 1 and frame 2. As illustrated, once the intermediate leaf 30 is unlocked from the first leaf 20 (and in this embodiment passes clear of the fourth leaf 15 the entire door moves laterally into the enclosure relative to the door frame 2, and also away from the door frame 2 at the opening end of the door 1. In effect, the door 1 and doorframe 2 no longer overlap, once the hinge has been released.

Figure 9c shows the door 1 opening outwardly once the intermediate leaf has been fully released. The inset to the figure is an enlarged view of the hinge 10. The door 1 opens outwardly to allow access into the cubicle. As shown in this figure, it is not possible to open the door through 90° with respect to the door frame 2. However, in typically operation, the opening of the door that is provided using the standard three leaf hinge 10 as described should be sufficient.

Figure 9d shows a top view of the door with the fourth leaf 15 unlocked to provide a greater clearance of the door from the door frame and thus increase the access into the enclosure. In this embodiment, the fourth leaf 15 is typically locked to the first leaf 20 or to the door 1 by locking means (not illustrated). Once the door 1 is in the position shown in figure 9b or 9c, then it will be possible to release the locking means for the fourth leaf 15. Once the fourth leaf 15 is released, then the fourth leaf 15 can pivot about pin 16, relative to the first leaf 20. In this way the door 20 is moved away from the fourth leaf 15 and the opening into the enclosure becomes even larger.

It is clear from these figures, that as the locking means within the hinge is released, the door initially moves backwards and the opening edge of the door moves away from the door frame. In this way, the door can pass out of the opening to allow access to the rear of the door with no damage to the door, or the door frame or the hinge itself. Indeed, once the obstruction has been removed from behind the door, it is very simple to re-fasten the hinge so that the door is re-hung in its original position. No repairs or replacement of parts to the hinge or door is required

The aperture 34 provided within intermediate leaf 30 also allows for provision of “jacking-like” assistance, to allow the hinge to be easily released by anybody, even when the weight of the person pressing against the inner face 1 a of the door may be much greater than the weight of the person trying to open the door 1 by releasing the securing pin 70 from the receiving section 24 of first leaf 20. In this instance, as the threaded end of securing pin 70 starts to be released from the receiving section 24 of first leaf 20, the central pin 51, is able to rotate slightly, with respect to the position of the intermediate leaf 30. In normal operation the threaded section 53 of central pin 51 is precisely aligned with the threaded section 24 of first leaf 20, and the securing pin 51 is held true within the defined bore. However, as the securing pin 70 is released and withdrawn from the receiving section 24, it is possible to use the releasing means to rotate the central pin 51 slightly, with respect to the intermediate leaf 30, (since aperture 34 is typically greater in diameter that the diameter of the head 71 of securing pin 70) and in this case, as the pin 70 is withdrawn from the intermediate leaf 30, the first leaf 20, is effectively jacked away from the intermediate leaf 30, thus increasing the clearance of the first leaf 20 from the intermediate leaf, and making it much easier to open the door from the outside, rather than the normal inward opening.

Typically, all elements of the hinge are made from a metal such as aluminium, stainless steel or brass, but they may be made of other materials such as suitable plastics for example. Furthermore, the invention has typically been described for use in a toilet cubicle, but as mentioned previously, the hinge may be used on an overlap door in any type of enclosure, such a swimming pool cubicles, tanning booths, examination rooms etc...

Claims

1. A hinge for use on a door for an enclosure, having a first leaf for connection to a door, a second leaf for connection to a door frame, and an intermediate leaf, pivotally connected at either end to the first and to the second leaf, said hinge includes releasable locking means for locking said intermediate leaf in position with respect to said first leaf, wherein said locking means is adapted to engage with internally threaded receiving means either within said first leaf or within said door, and wherein in use, the door frame defines an aperture such that said locking means is accessible from outside said enclosure, when said door is closed; wherein said locking means passes through an internally threaded section within said intermediate leaf, and said locking means is a locking pin having a threaded end to engage with said receiving means and having a threaded shaft to engage with the internally threaded section, and wherein said internally threaded section within said intermediate leaf is provided on a separate pin means, held within said intermediate leaf between said pivotally connected ends, and said separate pin means can freely rotate within said intermediate leaf.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said locking means is operable to lock said intermediate leaf substantially parallel to said first leaf.

3. A hinge according to any preceding claim wherein said intermediate leaf is provided with a front face, to be positioned next to the interior of the door frame, and said front face is provided with an aperture through which the locking means can pass to lock said intermediate leaf to said first leaf, and said aperture is sized to be wider than the width of the locking means.

4. A hinge according to any preceding claim wherein said intermediate leaf is connected to the first leaf by a fourth leaf, the fourth leaf being pivotally connected at one end to the intermediate leaf and at the other end to the fourth leaf, wherein the intermediate leaf and the fourth leaf can be locked to said first leaf independently or together.

5. A closure including a door, a door frame and a hinge according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A closure according to claim 5 wherein said closure is that of a toilet cubicle.