IE911049A1 - Hinge arrangement for a bath screen - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge arrangement for a lightweight folding or concertina door or screen, adapted to open and close a door through an angle of about 180° wherein the hinge comprises two leaf member^.%ach comprising an interengaging pintle portion^a^out which the leaves are free to pivot about a common pivot axis, characterized in that there is disposed between a pintle and at least one of the leaf members on non load-bearing surfaces thereof parallel to the pivot axis, a male formation and a complementary female formation which interengage only in a check position of the hinge when the leaf members lie substantially parallel, that is, when the hinge is in a fully closed position, and/or when the leaf members are in line, that is, when the i hinge is in a fully open position, and which male formations are otherwise free to ride across the said non load-bearing surfaces upon opening and closing the hinge on account of a certain degree of looseness or tolerance in the pivotal connection between the interengaging pintle portions.

Description

The present invention relates to a hinge arrangement suitable for a bath screen of the type which is mounted above a bath when a shower unit is in use. However, the hinge arrangement is equally suitable for shower cubicle folding screen doors, or for that matter, any lightweight folding or concertina door or partition.

One of the problems associated with folding bath or shower screen doors currently available is that it is sometimes difficult to hold the door in a fully extended or open position, or in a fully retracted or closed position, i.e. the wings of the door are easily slid from one position to the other by knocking against the door.

The hinge arrangement of the present invention overcomes this problem by clicking into a fully closed or fully open position so that a degree of force is required to urge the wings of the door into either position, producing a greater degree of rigidity of the assembly of parts making up the door in either of these two positions.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hinge arrangement for a lightweight folding or concertina door or screen wherein the hinge comprises two leaf members each comprising a pintle portion about which the leaves are free to pivot, such that there is disposed between a pintle and at least one of the leaf members a male formation and a complementary female formation which interengage only when the leaf members lie substantially parallel, that is, when the hinge is in a fully closed position, and/or when the leaf members are in line, that is, when the hinge is in a fully open position. - 3 Preferably, two separate male and two separate female formations are provided between a pintle portion and one of the leaf members. Most preferably, two male formations, being embodied as small axially-disposed ribs, are provided on the pintle portion of one leaf, and two female formations, being embodied as axially-disposed grooves, are provided in the other leaf member. The two ribs are preferably subtend an angle of about 150°. The two grooves preferably subtend an angle of about 30°.

Most preferably, there is a looseness or small degree of tolerance in the pivotal connection between the pintle portions of the leaf members permitting the ribs to ride across the leaf and click into engagement with the corresponding groove.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a folding bath screen adapted to be fixedly mounted above a bath and to swing outwardly to act as a shower screen, and when extended to remain rigidly extended straight along the outer side of the bath, or to include an inwardly-folding section or sections which may be attached to the inner side of the bath, in both instances forming a rigid shower screen or enclosure above the bath.

A hinge arrangement and bath screen arrangements in accordance with the present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly of two panels (not full size) hinged together, and a wall bracket hinged to one of the panels.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view to a larger scale of a single panel showing the hinge leaf arrangement of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of two interengaging hinge elements, with pin inserted and top cover removed, in an open position. - 4 Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the hinge elements shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view from above of the hinge elements shown in Figure 4 moved to a partly closed position.

Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the hinge elements shown in Figure 4 moved to a fully closed position.

Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are plan views from above of a single part folding bath screen.

Figures 8(a) and 8(b) are plan views from above of a two part folding bath screen.

Figures 9(a) and 9(b) are plan views from above of a three part folding bath screen.

Figures 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views from above of a four part folding bath screen.

Figures 11(a) and 11(b) are plan views from above of a five part folding bath screen.

Figures 12(a) and 12(b) are plan views from above of a seven part folding bath screen, and Figures 13(a) and 13(b) are plan views from above of a two part enclosure bath screen.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hinge arrangement for a bath screen comprises a first leaf member 1, and a second leaf member 2 each formed as mating aluminium extrusions and defining a channel 3, 4 on their respective outer sides to receive a panel 5, 6, for example of glass. Leaf member 2 defines a protruding pintle portion 7 which mates with a rebate 8 defined by leaf member 1. The leaves 1, 2 are held together by elements 9, 10 and pin 15 - 5 which are moulded in plastics. Lugs 11 and screws 12 locate and fix the hinge elements 9, 10 in place over the ends of the leaves 1, 2.

A pintle portion 13 extending from element 10 locates inside the pintle portion 7 of leaf 2. A pintle portion 14 extending from element 9 locates above rebate 8 of leaf 1. The pintle portions of both leaves of the hinge are aligned and pin 15 is inserted to complete the assembly. Top covers 16, 17 are fitted over hinge elements 9, 10.

Top and bottom extrusions 18, 19 are fitted around the panels , 6 and mate with laterally extending lugs 20 on the hinge elements 9, 10, to be fixed in place by screws 21. It will be appreciated that the panels and extrusions are not shown to full size and may be of indefinite width and height dimensions according to the application.

Figure 1 also shows a wall fixing channel member 22 to which a modified hinge leaf extrusion 23 is adapted to be fixed, to mount the hinging screen assembly above a bath, as further described below.

Figures 3 to 6 show how the hinge arrangement may be held temporarily in a fully open position (see Figures 3 and 4) and in a fully closed position (see Figure 6) by means of interengaging male and female formations which are an essential feature of the invention Two axially-disposed ribs 24, 25 are defined by the pintle portion 14 of hinge element 9, subtending an angle of about 150°.

Two axially-disposed complementary grooves 26, 27 are defined on a rebate 29 of hinge element 10 subtending an angle of about 30°. In the fully open position (see Figure 4) rib 25 engages groove 27, whilst in the fully closed position (see Figure 6) rib 24 engages groove 26. There is a sufficient degree of tolerance and looseness between the hinging parts to enable the ribs to ride over the surface of rebate 29 before clicking into place into the grooves. Once a rib and groove have engaged, the panels assume a degree of rigidity and will resist freely swinging open or closed. - 6 Figure 2 shows an alternative arrangement in which only one groove (25) is defined on hinge element 10 and only one rib (24) is defined on hinge element 9. This will only ensure a degree of rigidity in the fully open position, and not in the fully closed position. However, in the closed position of the hinge, a catch may be used if desired to keep the panels or wings of the folding screen in a stowed condition.

Figures 7 to 13 show various arrangements of folding bath screens which employ the hinge arrangement described above. It will be appreciated that these are to be considered as non-limiting examples of the present invention, and that other arrangements including lightweight concertina doors, partitions generally, and also shower cubicle screens in particular, are included within the scope of the invention.

Figure 7(a) shows a simple single part folding bath screen 30 fixed to the wall above the bath to extend over the bath along the outer side adjacent to a wall shower unit. Figure 7(b) shows how the screen panel 30 may be folded out to allow access to the bath.

Figure 8(a) shows a two part folding bath screen comprising wings 31, 32 which fold outwardly as shown in Figure 8(b). A towel bar 33 may be included.

Figure 9(a) shows a three part folding bath screen comprising wings 33, 34, 35. Wing 35 is shorter than the other two to fold inwardly as shown in Figure 9(b). It will be seen from Figure 9 (a) that in this arrangement the shower area may be enclosed, and wing 35 may be latched to the wall above the bath if desired, or alternatively (as shown in dashed outline) the wings may be opened out straight and held rigidly in this position in the manner described above.

Figure 10(a) shows a four part folding bath screen comprising articulated wings 36, each of the same size. These may be folded inwardly, in concertina fashion, to the end wall above the bath, as - 7 shown in Figure 10(b).

Figure 11(a) shows a five part folding bath screen comprising articulated wings 37, each of the same size. Figure 12(a) shows a seven part folding bath screen comprising articulated wings 38, again each of the same size. These fold inwardly in concertina fashion as shown respectively in Figures 11(b) and 12(b). An optional towel bar or handle 39 may be provided.

Figure 13(a) shows another two part folding bath screen, this time mounted on a wall to the side of the bath above the middle of the bath to stow away as shown in Figure 13(b). This arrangement also provides an enclosure for the shower area.

Claims (7)

1. A hinge arrangement for a lightweight folding or concertina 5 door or screen, wherein the hinge comprises two leaf members each comprising a pintle portion about which the leaves are free to pivot, such that there is disposed between a pintle and at least one of the leaf members a male formation and a complementary female formation which interengage only when the leaf members lie substantially 10 parallel, that is, when the hinge is in a fully closed position, and/or when the leaf members are in line, that is, when the hinge is in a fully open position.

2. A hinge as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the male formation is 15 an axially-disposed rib defined by the pintle portion of one leaf, and the female formation is an axially-disposed groove defined by the other leaf member.

3. A hinge as claimed in Claim 2 wherein two separate male and 20 two separate female formations are provided between a pintle portion and one of the leaf members.

4. A hinge as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the two ribs subtend an angle of about 150° and the two grooves subtend an angle of 25 about 30°.

5. A hinge as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 wherein looseness or a small degree of tolerance in the pivotal connection between the pintle portions of the leaf members is provided permitting the ribs 30 to ride across the leaf and click into engagement with the corresponding groove.

6. A bath screen including a hinge arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

7. A hinge arrangement for a bath screen substantially as described herein with references to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.