GB2604580A

GB2604580A - Adjustable hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2604580A
Application number: GB2101795.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henman Alastair
Original assignee: Zaun Ltd
Current assignee: Zaun Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-10
Filing date: 2021-02-10
Publication date: 2022-09-14
Also published as: GB202101795D0

Abstract

A hinge 8 for coupling a closure such as gate 4 to a support 6 and allowing rotation about an axis 16. A hinge pin 40 projects from a first hinge piece about which a second hinge piece rotates; a bush 32 locates between the two hinges pieces. The bush 32 is rotatable eccentrically around the hinge pin 40 between different rotary positions in which the bush 32 is selectively fixable. Rotating the bush (32) to a different fixed position adjust pivot axis 16 relative to the second hinge piece. Preferably bush has cylindrical outer surface with an offset cylindrical hole 46. The bush may include a plurality of castellations/teeth 70 providing slots 60 through which a transverse pin may pass extending through transverse hole in end of hinge pin 40, the split pin also preventing hinge leaf 18 being lifted off hinge pin 40. One or more hinge leafs may comprise threaded eye-bolt with nuts to adjust position of hinge on gate/support.

Description

ADJUSTABLE HINGE

BACKGROUND

Hinges to allow for adjustment in the mounting of a door or gate relative to a support, such as a wall or post, are known.

One example of a hinge which allows for adjustment is used to mount a gate to a post, and includes an eye bolt consisting of an eye at one end of a threaded shaft. The bolt eye typically locates over a hinge pin mounted on the post and the threaded portion typically passes through an eye mounted on a gate leaf. Locking nuts on the threaded portion of the bolt, one positioned either side of the eye, allow the position of the leaf relative to the post to be adjusted by moving the eye along the threaded portion of the eyebolt. This arrangement could be reversed with the pin being on the leaf and the threaded portion could screw into a threaded hole rather than have the eye and locking nuts. The reception of the hinge pin in the eye of the eye bolt ensures the arm and cantilevered eye bolt remain coupled together while allowing for rotation of the eye relative to the hinge pin.

A gate with a hinge as described above can have its position adjusted relative to the post. For example, a gate with two such hinges, one located at the top of the gate and the other at the bottom of the gate, can be move away from the post or towards the post by the same distance at the top of the gate as at the bottom of the gate, or by different distances. The eye bolts of the hinges lie in the same plane, and so the movement of the gate is confined to this plane. The movement is typically used to adjust the position of the gate to set the correct gap between the post and gate and/or adjust the gap between the two leaves of a double gate when in the closed position. This adjustment could also be used to make minor adjustments if the post itself was not mounted in a vertical position or has moved from the vertical position. The gate position, in the closed position, can then be aligned to the vertical despite the post not being vertical.

However, these prior art hinges allow for movement of the gate in one plane only, typically the plane in which the gate is wholly located when in the closed position. So, if a post leans from the vertical position under the weight of a gate when in the closed position for a prolonged period, perhaps prior to foundation concrete fully hardening, then a corrective adjustment can be made However, no further or alternative adjustment to the position of the gate can be made in another perpendicular plane.

Such further or alternative adjustment might be desirable to ensure the gate is positioned vertically in all planes. For example, with the aforementioned gate, the post may have leant from the vertical position under the weight of the gate when the gate has been located in the open position for a prolonged period, or perhaps was installed slightly out of vertical in this plane. The gate may not then align correctly when in a closed position.

This type of misalignment can be particularly problematic for large gates, and where pairs of gates are hung from two posts to meet one another when in the closed position. For such gates small misalignments of the posts from the vertical will result in misalignments of the two gates where they meet. This can be very noticeable, particularly if there is a slam/anti-cut plate mounted to one of the gates to cover the gap between the two gates when closed.

Also, irrespective of whether or not the supporting posts are vertical, gates can be warped or not entirely planar, particularly where the gates are large and have been galvanised. Both visually and from a security perspective, it is important when a pair of gate leaves are closed that the vertical ends of the two gate leaves are true with one another. If they are not true, then a long slam/anti tamper plate welded to one leaf may not cover the gap between the leaves and abut with the other leaf along its full height, from top to bottom, in the way that it should. It can often be the case that a slam-plate will abut the other leaf along just at the top or bottom section of gate, while a gap is present at the other end, possibly increasing in size to a gap of several centimetres.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a gate mounted to a post with a hinge in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hinge shown in Figure 1 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 3A is a top view of the gate and post of Figure 1 wherein a hinge is adjusted to mount the gate in a first position relative to the post in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 3B is a top view of the gate and post of Figure 1 wherein a hinge is adjusted to mount the gate in a second position relative to the post in

accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 3C is a top view of the gate and post of Figure 1 wherein a hinge is adjusted to mount the gate in a third position relative to the post in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 3D is a top view of the gate and post of Figure 1 wherein a hinge is adjusted to mount the gate in a fourth position relative to the post in accordance

with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a top view of an eye bolt of a hinge of Figure 1 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 5A is a side view of a bush of a hinge of Figure 1 in accordance with

aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 5B is a perspective view of a bush of a hinge of Figure 1 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 5C is a plan view of a bush of a hinge of Figure 1 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of a hinge adjusted in a second position as shown in Figure 3B in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and Figure 7 is an enlarged top view of a hinge adjusted in a first position as shown in Figure 3A in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An arrangement 2 of a closure 4 and a support 6 for the closure 4 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. In the present arrangement 2, the closure 4 is a gate and the support 6 is a post set into the ground (the ground and post foundations are not shown in the drawings). In other examples (not shown), the closure 4 is a door and the support is a wall.

The gate 4 is coupled to the post 6 by means of two identical hinges 8,10. A first hinge 8 is coupled to an upper portion of the gate 4 and the post 6, and a second hinge 10 is coupled to a lower portion of the gate 4 and the post 6.

The gate 4 is provided with an anti-cut plate 12 located along the length of the vertical edge of the gate 4 adjacent the hinges 8,10. The post 6 is also provided with an anti-cut plate 14 located along the vertical length of the post 6 adjacent the hinges 8,10. The widths of the two anti-cut plates 12,14 is such that the two plates 12,14 overlap along their length. This arrangement of plates 12,14 conceals the hinges 8,10 from one side (outside) of the gate 4 and restricts access to the hinges 8,10, thereby reducing the risk of the hinges 8,10 being tampered with. The security of the gate 4 is thereby enhanced. The position of the overlap between the two anti-cut plates 12,14 is such that the two plates 12,14 do not interfere with one another and thereby hinder operation of the gate 4 when the gate is opened.

Each hinge 8,10 is provided for coupling the gate 4 to the post 6, and for allowing rotation of the gate 4 about an axis 16 relative to the post 6. The first hinge Swill now be described. It should be understood that the second hinge 10 is identical to the first hinge 8.

The first hinge 8 has first and second hinge pieces 18,20. The first hinge piece 18 is coupled to the gate 4 and the second hinge piece 20 is coupled to the post 6.

In the present example, the second hinge piece 20 is coupled to the post 6 by means of a weld, whereas the first hinge piece 18 is coupled to the gate 4 by means of a screw thread 22 on the first hinge piece 18 passing through an unthreaded hole 24 (see Figure 1) in the gate 4. A nut 26,28 either side of a frame of the gate fixes the position. The position of the first hinge piece 18 relative to the gate is adjustable by sliding the first hinge piece 18 axially within the hole 24 to a desired position. The first hinge piece 18 is thereby moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis towards the gate 4 or away from the gate 4 depending upon the position of the two fixing nuts 26,28. As will be explained below, the position of the first hinge piece 18 relative to the gate 4 can be adjusted in dependence on how the hinge 8 is adjusted in other respects to ensure the gate is oriented in or towards a vertical position.

Accordingly, one of the hinge pieces 18 has a screw thread for adjustable coupling to the gate 4, the position of said hinge piece 18 thereby being moveable relative to the gate to which said hinge piece 18 is coupled in use. In an alternative example (not shown), the second hinge piece is coupled to the post by means of a screw thread rather than a weld. In a further alternative example (not shown), the second hinge piece is coupled to the post by means of a screw thread and the first hinge piece is coupled to the gate by means of a weld.

As shown in Figure 4, the first hinge piece 18 is an eye bolt having an eye 30 (a circular hole located in a head 31 of the eye bolt at one end thereof) which, in the assembled hinge 8,10 locates around a bush 30 (not shown in Figure 4) and is rotatable about the bush 32. The diameter 34 of the eye 30 and the external diameter 36 of the bush 32 are approximately the same such that the eye 30 locates about the bush 32 and is able to rotate thereabout without significant lateral movement between the eye bolt (first hinge piece 18) and the bush 32.

The second hinge piece 20 has an arm 38 from which a hinge pin 40 projects. The arm 38 is welded at one end thereof to the post 6 and the hinge pin 40 projects from an opposite end of the arm 38. The hinge pin 40 has a circular cross-section and projects upwardly from and perpendicularly to the arm 38. In an end portion of the hinge pin 40 opposite to the arm 38, a hole 42 extends diametrically through the hinge pin 40 from one side thereof to the other. As mentioned below, in use the hole 42 receives a pin 44 which engages with the bush 32 and retains the bush 32 in a fixed rotary position relative to the hinge pin 40. The pin 44 also, in use, prevents the first hinge piece 18 from being lifted from its engagement with the second hinge piece 20, wherein the first and second hinge pieces 18,20 have a rotatable connection allowing said pieces to be connected to one another and rotated relative to one another.

The bush 32 is located between the two hinge pieces 18,20 and rotatable eccentrically around the hinge pin 40 between different rotary positions in which the bush 32 is selectively fixable. The bush 32 has a cylindrical external surface having the external diameter 36. In other words, the bush 32 has a circular shape in cross-section. The bush 32 further has a hole to receive the hinge pin 40. In the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the hole 46 is circular in cross-section and extends through the full length of the bush 32 from a first end 48 thereof to a second end 50 thereof. In an alternative example, the bush 32 has a circular recess which extends partway through the length of the bush 32 but terminates short of extending through the entire length. The diameter 52 of the hole 46 (see Figure 5A) and the external diameter of the hinge pin 40 are approximately the same such that the bush 32 locates about the hinge pin 40 and is able to rotate thereabout without significant lateral movement between the bush 32 and the hinge pin 40. The bush 32 may be thereby conveniently rotated about the hinge pin 40 (when the pin 44 is absent) from one fixed rotary position to another.

The circular hole 46 of the bush 32 and the circular/cylindrical external surface of the bush 32 are arranged eccentrically relative to one another. In other words, the centres of the circular hole 46 and the circular/cylindrical external surface of the bush 32 are not coincident with one another. The centre 54 of the circular hole 46 is offset by a lateral distance 56 from the centre 58 of the circular/cylindrical external surface of the bush 32 (see Figure 5C).

In use of the hinge 8, the centre 58 of the circular/cylindrical external surface of the bush 32 is coincident with the aforementioned axis 16, about which the gate 4 rotates relative to the post 6. Furthermore, the centre 54 of the circular hole 46 of the bush 32 is coincident with the centre of rotation of the bush 32 about the hinge pin 40.

Given that the centre 58 of the circular/cylindrical external surface of the bush 32 is coincident with the axis (of gate rotation) 16, and given that the bush 32 is rotatable about the centre 54 of the circular hole 46 of the bush 32 (when located over/on the hinge pin 40), it will be understood that the location of axis of gate rotation 16 is dependent upon the angular/rotary position of the bush 32 relative to the hinge pin 40. For example, by rotating the bush 32 (about centre 54) from a first fixed position relative to the hinge pin, through 180 degrees, to a second fixed position, the axis 16 (of gate rotation, which is coincident with centre 58) is moved by a distance twice that of lateral distance 56. With reference to Figure 5C, it will be understood that a rotation of 180 degrees would move the centre 58 to the diametrically opposite side of the centre 54 (hence a movement of twice the lateral distance 56). So, rotating the bush 32 to a different fixed position moves the axis 16 relative to the second hinge piece 20.

As will be described below, movement to a different fixed rotary position by a rotation of less than 180 degrees is also possible, and this will result in a movement of the axis 16 by a distance less than twice the lateral distance 56. This provides an ability to adjust the hinge 8. As will be mentioned further below, since movement of the bush 32 moves the axis (of gate rotation) 16 along an arcuate path, it may be that the position of the eye bolt 18 also needs to be adjusted with the nuts 26,28 on the screw thread 22 so that a desired adjustment in both x and y Cartesian coordinates of axis 16 is achieved.

The bush 32 is selectively fixable in a rotary position around the hinge pin 40 by a discrete element abutting the bush 32 and the hinge pin 40, and extending between the bush 32 and the hinge pin 40. In the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the discrete element is the pin 44. Also, in the example shown, the bush 32 is provided with a plurality of channels in which the discrete element locates. The plurality of channels correspond to different rotary positions in which the bush 32 can be selectively fixed relative to the hinge pin 40.

As shown in at least Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, the bush 32 has four straight channels 60,62,64,66 extending diametrically through the centre 54 of the hole 46. Each channel 60,62,64,66 is provided as a pair of slots in the first end 48 of the bush 30. The two slots 60A,60B of a pair 60 are located on diametrically opposite sides of the centre 54 (see Figure 5C). Neighbouring channels are oriented with an angle 68 of degrees between them (see Figure 5C wherein the angle 68 between second and third channels 62,64 is shown by way of example).

The four straight channels 60,62,64,66 provide eight upright elements 70 (or castellations) projecting at the first end 48 of the bush 32. In use of the hinge 8, the pin 44 is located in a selected one of the channels 60,62,64,66 and, accordingly, between an adjacent pair of castellations. The bush 32 is prevented from rotating relative to the hinge pin 40 (in which the pin 44 is also located) by the pin 44 abutting against a side of a castellation.

In a different example, a different number of straight channels is used to provide additional fixed rotary positions for the bush 32. In a different example, each of the plurality of channels is a hole extending through the bush 32.

In use of the arrangement 2 shown in the accompanying drawings, the gate 4 is hung on the post 6 using the two hinges 8,10. The weight of the gate 4 is transferred downwardly from the first hinge piece 18 onto the second hinge piece 20, and in turn on to the post 6. Once the gate 4 is hung, the hinges 8,10 are then adjusted so that a vertical end 72 (see Figure 1) of the gate is located as vertically true as possible, for example, with either another gate with which it is paired, or with another post against which it closes. In this way, the gap between the vertical end of the gate and the surface against which it aligns when in the closed position (e.g. another gate or post) is minimised. As a result, any slam-plate associated with the vertical end 72 (not shown in the accompanying drawings) can be positioned to abut or nearly abut (with only a relatively small gap) with the other gate or post along its full height, from top to bottom, despite the gate being warped and/or the post on which it is mounted not being perfectly vertical.

The adjustment in the hinges 8,10 is made by locating the bush 32 between the two hinge pieces 18,20 of each hinge 8.10 and rotating the bush 32 eccentrically around the hinge pin 40 between different rotary positions until the gate 4 is moved to the desired position. It may be necessary to also adjust the position of the first hinge piece 18 relative to the post 6 in order to achieve a position/orientation of the axis 16 which minimises the gap at the vertical end 72 when the gate is closed.

Once the position of the first hinge piece 18 is finalised, the nuts 26,28 are tightened against the gate 4 to secure the first hinge piece 18. The rotary position of each bush 32 is fixed by inserting the pin 44 through the hole 42 in the hinge pin 40 and the one of the four channels 60,62,64,66 aligned with the hole 42 in the hinge pin 40. It can be necessary on occasions to rotate the bush 32 slightly from its ideal position in order for the hole 42 to align with a channel, but nevertheless, the resulting adjustment will improve the positioning of the gate 4.

The length of the hinge pin 40 is generally the same as that of the bush 32, and this length is greater than the depth of the eye 30 in the first hinge piece, so the hinge pin 40 and bush 32 extend upwardly from the eye 30 when the first hinge piece 18 is positioned connected to the second hinge piece 20. This allows the pin 44 to extend laterally above the head 31 of the first hinge piece 18 (eye bolt). The length of the pin 44 is greater than the diameter 34 of the eye 30, so the pin 44 prevents the first hinge piece 18 from being lifted from the second hinge piece 20. When the first hinge piece 18 is rotated relative to the second hinge piece 20, the pin 44 also prevents the bush 32 from rotating relative to the hinge pin 40, thereby fixing the rotary position of the bush 32.

Four different adjustments of the two hinges 8,10 are shown in Figures 3A,3B,3C,3D. In each of Figures 3A and 3B, the first (upper) hinge 8 is adjusted in the same way as the second (lower) hinge 10.

In Figure 3A, this adjustment locates the gate 6 as close to the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinges. It will be seen that the hole 42 is located perpendicularly to the direction in which the second hinge piece 20 extends from the post 6, and that the pin 44 is selectively positioned in channel 62. In Figure 3B, the adjustment locates the gate 6 as far from the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinges. Here, the pin 44 is again selectively positioned in channel 62, but the bush 32 has been rotated through 180 degrees. As a result, at both the hinges 8,10, the gate 4 has moved laterally by a distance equal to twice the aforementioned lateral distance 56 between the two centres 54,58 of the bush 32.

The distance between the gate 4 and post 6 does not change between the two positions of the bush 32 shown in Figures 3A and 3B, so no adjustment of the first hinge piece 18 using the screw threads 22,14 is necessary. If the bush 32 was rotated to a different fixed position (i.e. the pin 44 is located in a different one of channels to channel 62) then the lateral movement of the gate 4 will be accompanied by a movement towards or away from the post 6. This later movement can be compensated for, if required, by adjustment of the first hinge piece 18 using the screw threads 22,14. The distance of the gate 4 from the post 6 can be thereby maintained constant as the bush 32 is moved to different fixed rotary positions.

In each of Figures 3C and 3D, the hinges 8,10 are oriented with maximum adjustment in opposite senses, with the gate leaning away from the post anti-cut plate 14 in Figure 3C and towards the post anti-cut plate 14 in Figure 3D.

More specifically, in Figure 3C, the second (lower) hinge 10 is adjusted to locate the first hinge piece 18 as close to the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinge. In other words, the second (lower) hinge 10 is adjusted as shown for the two hinges 8,10 in Figure 3A. Also in Figure 3C, the first (upper) hinge 8 is adjusted to locate the first hinge piece 18 as far from the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinge. In other words, the first (upper) hinge 8 is adjusted as shown for the two hinges 8,10 in Figure 3B. As a result, the gate 4 can be seen to lean away from the post anti-cut plate 14 when in the shown closed position (the bottom of the gate 4 being closer to the post anti-cut plate 14 than the top of the gate 4).

In Figure 3D, the second (lower) hinge 10 is adjusted to locate the first hinge piece 18 as far from the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinge. In other words, the second (lower) hinge 10 is adjusted as shown for the two hinges 8,10 in Figure 3B. Also in Figure 3D, the first (upper) hinge 8 is adjusted to locate the first hinge piece 18 as close to the post anti-cut plate 14 as is possible under the adjustment capability of the hinge. In other words, the first (upper) hinge 8 is adjusted as shown for the two hinges 8,10 in Figure 3A. As a result, the gate 4 can be seen to lean towards the post anti-cut plate 14 when in the shown closed position (the bottom of the gate 4 being closer to the post anti-cut plate 14 than the top of the gate 4).

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited by the claims and the equivalents thereof In an alternative implementation, one of the hinges 8,10 in the arrangement described above is replaced with a conventional prior art hinge, for example such as a prior art hinge with no adjustment capability, or the prior art hinge described in the above introduction wherein the position of the eye bolt is adjustable in one direction only. In a yet further alternative implementation, a third hinge is located between the two identical hinges 8,10. In one such alternative, the third hinge is a conventional prior art hinge. The third hinge is located midway between the first and second hinges. In a still further alternative arrangement, a gate leaf is mount with four or more hinges identical to the first and second hinges 8,10. The hinges are all adjusted so that their axis of rotation is coincident (i.e. aligned and straight).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hinge (8,10) for coupling a closure (4) to a support (6) and allowing rotation of the closure about an axis (16) relative to the support, the hinge comprising: a first hinge piece (18) for coupling to a closure (4); a second hinge piece (20) for coupling to a support (6); and a rotatable connection of the first and second hinge pieces (18,20) allowing said pieces to be connected to one another and rotated relative to one another, the rotatable connection corn prising a hinge pin (40) projecting from one of the first and second hinge pieces (18,20) and about which the other of the hinge pieces (18,20) rotates; a bush (32) located between the two hinge pieces (18,20) and rotatable eccentrically around the hinge pin (40) between different rotary positions in which the bush (32) is selectively fixable, wherein rotating the bush (32) to a different fixed position moves said axis (16) relative to the second hinge piece (20).
2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the hinge pieces comprises a screw thread for adjustable coupling to a closure or support, the position of said hinge piece thereby being moveable relative to a closure or support to which said hinge piece is coupled in use.
3. A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second hinge pieces comprises an eye bolt having an eye which locates around the bush and is rotatable about the bush
4. A hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the hinge pieces is an eye bolt having an eye which locates around the bush and is rotatable about the bush, and said screw thread for adjustable coupling to a closure or support is a screw thread of the eye bolt.
5. A hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bush has a cylindrical outer surface and has a circular recess or hole for receiving the hinge pin, the position of a central axis of the outer surface being offset from the position of a central axis of the circular recess or hole so that the bush is eccentrically rotatable around the hinge pin.
6. A hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bush is selectively fixable in a rotary position around the hinge pin by a discrete element abutting the bush and the hinge pin, and extending between the bush and the hinge pin.
7 A hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the discrete element is a pin.
8. A hinge as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein one of the bush and hinge pin comprises a plurality of castellations between an adjacent pair of which the discrete element is selectively located, and the other of the bush and hinge pin comprises a hole through which the discrete element extends.
9. An arrangement comprising a closure and a support for the closure, wherein the closure is a door or gate coupled to the support with at least one hinge as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, comprising two hinges as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein a first of the two hinges is coupled to an upper portion of the door or gate and a second of the two hinges is coupled to a lower portion of the door or gate.
11. A method of mounting a door or gate to a support using a hinge to allow rotation of the door or gate about an axis relative to the support, the method comprising: coupling a first hinge piece to the door or gate; coupling a second hinge piece to the support; and rotatably connecting the first and second hinge pieces together to allow said pieces to be rotated relative to one another, wherein rotatably connecting the hinge pieces comprises locating a bush between the two hinge pieces; rotating the bush eccentrically around a hinge pin between different rotary positions; selectively fixing the bush in a rotary position relative to the hinge pin, wherein the hinge pin projects from one of the first and second hinge pieces and wherein the other of the hinge pieces rotates about the hinge pin during use of the hinge.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bush is rotated to a different fixed position to move the axis relative to the support and to move the door or gate towards, or to, a vertical position.
13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, comprising using a screw thread to adjust the coupling of a hinge piece to a gate/door or support, and to thereby move said hinge piece relative to a gate/door or support to which said hinge piece is coupled.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the adjustment using the screw thread is made in dependence of the rotary position of the bush relative to the hinge pin so as to maintain a required distance between the gate/door and support.
15. A method as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the bush is selectively fixed in a rotary position relative to the hinge pin by extending a discrete element between the bush and the hinge pin.