NZ583656A - A hinge arrangement for a cigarette display cabinet which allows a cabinet door to automatically swing shut - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge arrangement mountable to a cabinet door of a cigarette display cabinet is disclosed. The hinge arrangement includes; a door mounting plate (16), a cabinet mounting plate (14), and a support rod (19). The mounting plates have areas enclosing ends of the support rod (15) (17) to allow support and pivoting. The edges of the plates are inclined (18) (19) (23) (25). The door plate rotates to an upwards position when the door is opened. When the open door is released, gravity allows the upward plate (16) to rotate downwards and the door to swing shut.

Description

Form 5 Patents Act 1953 583656 Page t of 3 Appiy ons^ne www.lpon2.govt.r1z/onfine-services Where priority as provided by subsection (2) or subsection (3) of section 11 of the Patents Act 1953 is wanted in respect of one or more provisional specifications, please quote the number(s) below Patent Number(s) AU2009900892 Date(s) 2 March 2009 Title of invention: A HINGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIGARETTEDISPLAY CABINET ! (or We) (State full name, address, and nationality of applicant(s) as in application form) TRIO HINGING AUSTRALIA PTYLTD 494 Churchill Road, Kilburn, South Australia 5084 Australia (Nationality - Australian) hereby declare the invention, for which I (or we) pray that a patent may be granted to me (or us), and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the foflowing statement (On the next page begin full description of invention. The continuation of the specification should be upon paper of the same size as this form, on one side only, with the lines well spaced and with a margin of 2.5 cm on the left hand part of the paper. The completion of the description should be followed by the claim or claims numbered consecutively. (See note below.) The specification must be signed at the end) NOTE.--The claims must relate to a single invention, must be clear and succinct, and must be fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification. They should form in brief a clear statement of that which constitutes the invention. Applicants should be careful that their claims include neither more nor less than they desire to protect by their patent. Any unnecessary multiplicity of claims or prolixity of language should be avoided. Claims should not be made for the efficiency or advantages of the invention.

For assistance completing this form please call 0508 4 IPONZ (0508 447 669) 583656 A HINGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A CIGARETTE DISPLAY CABINET This invention relates to a hinge arrangement mountable to the cabinet doors of a cigarette display cabinet. More particularly this invention relates to very unique cabinet hinges adapted to be conveniently mounted against the cabinet 5 side wall and the external surface of the cabinet door without the need to cut depressions and the like therein said cabinetry so that a low profile of the hinge arrangement can be maintained at the side of the cabinet to allow close fitting of slide rails or shelves located inside the cabinet.

Most conventional cigarette display cabinets are designed to hold drawers and 10 shelves mounted on slides or runners attached to the inside of the cabinet.

More recently there has developed a need to introduce cabinet doors to overlay the front of the cigarette display cabinet whereby keeping the stored cigarettes contained inside the cabinet away from general public viewing.

Regrettably the use of conventional hinges, handles and latch mechanisms 15 cannot be so conveniently used to attach cabinet doors to the traditional kind of cigarette display cabinet if one is to maintain a self closing hinge mechanism of which the mechanism itself to be useful must allow the drawer or shelves to be pulled out on its slides without bumping into the hinge mechanism.

Previously no such hinge arrangements have been available that provide for 20 such desirable traits of being able to conveniently cover the cigarette display cabinet with cabinet doors that will be self closing through a hinge mechanism of which the hinge mechanism will not interfere with the functionality of the drawers and shelves within and also not be too bulky in design and configuration so as to affect the aesthetics of such a cabinet which for the most 25 part will be on display to members of the purchasing public.

As a person skilled in the art will appreciate in the past if one was to place cabinet doors across a cigarette display cabinet a tradesperson would have to 1 583656 cut deep holes or depressions in either the cabinet side wall or the cabinet door or both in which to mount the hinge mechanism to keep it out of interference with the drawers or shelves that is to be pulled from the cabinet after the door is opened.

As is to be expected this kind of workmanship to be carried out on the cabinet requires substantial skills and know-how on behalf of the tradesperson. As we all know the use of skilled tradespeople is to be avoided, as it is particularly expensive and one must wait for such prolonged time for work to be carried out. Hence the hinge arrangement must be adapted to be easily mountable to the 1 o cabinet with the requirement of too much skill or the like, if it is going to be effective.

In addition, another important characteristic of the cabinet doors upon such cigarette display cabinets is that once the door is open, the hinge mechanism requires functionality of applying a positive cabinet door closing pressure 15 against the cabinet to prevent the situation of allowing the door to remain open. It is important that the display cabinet remains closed in order to prevent accidental dislodging of product within from falling out of the cabinet but also is the requirement under pending legal legislation that the display of cigarettes within the cabinet should be not viewable from members of the purchasing 20 public, hence the cabinet doors need to be shut.

It is well recognised in the trade that one of the best ways of applying a positive cabinet door closing pressure against the cabinet to return the door to a shut position upon the display cabinet is to include as part of the hinge mechanism some kind of spring mechanism inside the hinge which has biased interaction 25 so as to releasably return a cabinet door to the closed position when it is swung to an open position.

Nonetheless the use of a spring biased mechanism inside the hinge arrangement for the opening and closing of the cabinet doors of a typical cigarette display cabinet would not be available. 2 583656 As introduced above if the hinge mechanism is to include a spring mechanism the hinges would no longer be able to be conveniently be flat mounted against the interior of the cabinet and the exterior of the cabinet door to produce an adequate profile which would be narrow enough in design to still allow the 5 opening and closing of the doors and/or shelves inside the cabinet.

Still further the use of a spring mechanism brings extra costs and design to a hinge arrangement, hence is to be avoided where possible.

Therefore there remains a need in the supply of a hinge arrangement to be used with the cabinet doors responsible for closing or keeping from view the 10 contents of a cigarette display cabinet wherein the hinge mechanism does not interrupt or effect any of the packaging, storage and usability of the products and drawers or shelves contained inside the cabinet and wherein the hinge arrangement also has within it an ability of having a positive cabinet door closing pressure against the cabinet to return the door to the closed position 15 and to have such a positive cabinet door closing pressure without the use of a spring or the like.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide such a hinge arrangement for such cigarette display cabinets.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the 20 complete reading of this specification.

In one form of the invention there is provided a hinge arrangement mountable to the cabinet doors of a cigarette display cabinet wherein said display cabinet is designed to hold drawers and shelves mounted on slides or runners attached to the inside of the cabinets, said hinge arrangement including: a cabinet door mounting plate for attaching against an external surface of the cabinet door; 3 583656 said cabinet door mounting plate including a longitudinal support rod of which said support rod has an exposed length as well as an enclosed length to which a section of the cabinet door mounting plate is enclosed there about to be rotatably supported thereon; a cabinet mounting plate for attachment against the inside side wall of the cigarette display cabinet, said cabinet mounting plate including a longitudinal enclosed recess; said longitudinal recess of the cabinet mounting place arranged to be pivotably supported and to contain therein the exposed length of the said support rod; such that when the cabinet door mounting plate and cabinet mounting plate are brought together to allow a hinged swinging arrangement between the cabinet and cabinet door, the respective circumferal edges along both the cabinet door mounting plate enclosed portion about the support rod and the longitudinal recess come together symmetrically such that when these circumferal ends or edges are in contiguous alignments, the alignment is such that it is greater than 45 degrees to the horizontal, so that when the door is swung open to a 90 degrees position, swinging between a closed to an open position, the respective plates rotate away from the other upwardly and downwardly against the opposing incline edges to which they contact along the contiguous alignment, such that upon release there is a positive cabinet door closing pressure to return the cabinet door to a closed position across the cigarette display cabinet.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that by enclosing the support rod partly within the cabinet door mounting plate and upon the exposed remaining 583656 length of the support rod providing a means in which the two plates or at least the arms of the hinges can be brought together along an angled alignment or abutment so that as one plate rotates away from the other it can't help but work its way up the angled alignment, almost like being slid up a hill such that upon 5 release of the cabinet door, the cabinet door mounting plate is then able to literally slide down again the incline so that the cabinet door can be returned to the closed position against the cigarette display cabinet.

Advantageously there is no use of any spring arrangement so the hinge mechanism can remain in very flat profile.

As the pivotal support rod linking the two plates that are hinged together is in fact contained within the cabinet door mounting plate means that there is no depressions, cut outs or drilling required to create a spacing for this support rod.

Advantageously the only fastening required to the display cabinet will be simply the attachment of one arm or leaf of the hinge onto the exterior surface of the 15 cabinet door, with the other arm of the hinge to be fastened against the inside side wall of the display cabinet.

Advantageously by having the two plates of the hinge coming together so as an angle of 45 degrees or above is provided for means that there will be a steep enough decline provided for which will see the cabinet door returned to the 20 closing position once opened upon its own positive cabinet door closing pressure.

As to be expected the cabinet doors of the cigarette display cabinet will be lightweight and for the most part will move to an open position of probably not more than 90 degrees away from the closed position.

With such lightweight structuring and a very limited swing in the door opening it is by virtue of this unique and greater incline provided for by the angle as the 583656 two plates are brought together that will allow that releasable return through the positive cabinet door closing pressure.

In preference, the mounting plate of the hinge will be cut at one end so that they provide a configuration which could be best defined as an overlap between 5 triangular and rectangular presentation in that the elongated sides of each plate would have one side substantially of lesser length so that at one end of the plate there is a flat edge wherein the other edge it is substantially inclined or diagonal.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that the overall area of the hinge can 10 be reduced.

Again returning to one of the objects of the invention the purpose was to provide a hinging arrangement which would allow the drawers or shelves be pulled out without bumping into the hinge mechanism. By this unique triangular/rectangular formation means that structural integrity is maintained in 15 that there is enough spacing to fix the hinge upon the cabinet door and the inside wall of the cabinet but at the same time reduce spacing so that there is no bumping into the hinge mechanism as the drawers or shelves are slid from the cigarette display cabinet.

In order now to understand the invention in greater detail a preferred 20 embodiment will be presented with the accompanying following illustrations and text.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing in an exploded configuration the cabinet mounting place ready to be slid and enclosed upon the support rod of which said support rod is already enclosed and supported within the cabinet 25 door mounting plate.

Figure 2 shows schematically that once the cabinet door mounting plate and the cabinet mounting plate are brought together in an enclosed position there is 6 583656 provided that angle of inclination between the respective edges of those portions of the plate that surround the support rod, that being a central support pivotal rod.

Figure 3 is a schematic representations of the open position of the cabinet door 5 being swung open from the cigarette display cabinet.

Figures 4A and 4B show various preferred embodiments of how a cigarette display cabinet would look with a variety of different designs of having the cabinet doors hingedly attached.

Figures 5A & 5B show hinging arrangements wherein the cigarette display 10 cabinet is provided longitudinally into two sections and therefore has four cabinet doors across its entire structure.

Figure 6 shows a design of the shape of the mounting plates of the hinge arrangement in one preferred embodiment.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a mounting plate of the hinge in one embodiment 15 of the invention.

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a further hinge arrangement in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a washer used with the hinge arrangement jn one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings now in greater detail where there is provided a hinging arrangement shown generally as 10.

The hinge arrangement includes a cabinet door mounting plate 14 of which a portion thereof 15 provides a cylindrical chamber to which a support rod 20 can be confined therein to allow pivotal support to the cabinet door mounting plate 25 14. 7 583656 As seen an elongated recess 17 of the cabinet mounting plate which attaches against the inside side wall of the cigarette display cabinet, envelopes exposed length 21 of the support rod 20.

As best seen in Figure 1 when the cabinet door mounting place 14 and the 5 cabinet mounting place come together about the support rod 20 the two peripheral edges 18 and 19 present the inclined angle 22 to which when the mounting plates are rotated away from the other each are able to climb upwardly or downwardly respectively there upon such that upon release gravity will allow for a positive cabinet door closing pressure to see the two edges 18 10 and 19 come back into alignment as shown at 22 in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows schematically how the arrangement looks in the open position, where again one can see that edges 25 and 23 in Figure 3 means that as the cabinet door mounting plate and the cabinet mounting plate are swung away respectively from the other they are able to be guided up along edge 23 to 15 simply then slide.back along when the cabinet door needs to be closed against the display cabinet.

Figures 4A and 4B show different arrangements of how the cabinet door would be attached to the display cabinet wherein Figure 4A there is included as part of the cigarette display cabinet a central dividing portion of which runs along its 20 longitudinal length is a "C section" 32 of which will be described in greater detail in relation to Figures 5A and 5B.

The point to be taken from Figure 4A is that the cigarette display cabinet can be divided into two sections wherein there would be hinge arrangements 30 on the upper and lower distal ends and further hinges 32 positioned along the C 25 section running along the length of the central divide of the cigarette display cabinet. 8 583656 Figure 4B simply shows the embodiment where there is just the two cabinet doors hingedly attached to the cigarette display cabinet wherein number 30 represents a hinge connection and 36 is in fact the cabinet door.

Figures 5A and 5B is just an extension on to the description discussed above in 5 relation to the hinge mechanism however in this type of embodiment the display cabinet has a "C section" running along the length of the central divide to which hinges can be positioned thereon to support respective cabinet doors.

Nonetheless the functionality still remains the same in that the support rods still brings together both the cabinet door mounting plate and in this embodiment 10 the actual C section still about the one central inclined edge 40 so that when the cabinet door mounting plate 38 is moved away from the closed position the same upward movement against the incline 40 will be achieved so that the necessary positive cabinet door closing pressure is maintained to return the cabinet.door to a closed position as required.

Figure 6 shows one preferred embodiment of the invention as to how the mounting plates whether it be the cabinet door mounting plate or the cabinet mounting plate can be cut in order to configure a smaller surface exposed area but at the same time be of dimensions such that the appropriate fastening area is available to both support and maintain the cabinet door to the cigarette 20 display cabinet.

Sides 44, 46, 48 and 50 provide for what may be best described as a combination of a rectangular and triangular combined shape.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a mounting plate 74 of the hinge shown generally as 70 in one embodiment of the invention, with apertures 76 and 78.

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a further hinge arrangement shown generally as 80 in one embodiment of the invention, including apertures 82 and 84. 9 583656 Figure 9 shows a washer shown generally as 86 used with the hinge arrangement in one embodiment of the invention with apertures 88 and 90. 583656

Claims (8)

CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION

1. A hinge arrangement mountable to cabinet doors of a cigarette display cabinet wherein said display cabinet is designed to hold drawers and shelves mounted on slides or runners attached to the inside of the cabinets, said hinge arrangement including: a cabinet door mounting plate for attaching against an external surface of the cabinet door; said cabinet door mounting plate including a longitudinal support rod of which said support rod has an exposed length as well as an enclosed length to which a section of the cabinet door mounting plate is enclosed there about to be rotatably supported thereon; a cabinet mounting plate for attachment against the inside side wall of the cigarette display cabinet, said cabinet mounting plate including a longitudinal enclosed recess; said longitudinal recess of the cabinet mounting place arranged to be pivotably supported and to contain therein the exposed length of the said support rod; such that when the cabinet door mounting plate and cabinet mounting plate are brought together to allow a hinged swinging arrangement between the cabinet and cabinet door, the respective circumferal edges along both the cabinet door mounting plate enclosed portion about the support rod and the longitudinal recess come together symmetrically such that when these circumferal ends or edges are in contiguous alignments, the alignment is such that it is greater than 45 degrees to the horizontal, 11 583656 so that when the door is swung open to a substantial 90 degrees position, swinging between a closed to an open position, the respective plates rotate away from the other upwardly and downwardly against the opposing incline edges to which they contact 5 along the contiguous alignment, such that upon release there is a positive cabinet door closing pressure to return the cabinet door to a closed position across the cigarette display cabinet.

2. The hinge arrangement of claim 1 wherein the mounting plate of the hinge is configured at one end so that said end provides a configuration which 10 could be best defined as an overlap between triangular and rectangular • presentation in that the elongated sides of each plate would have one side substantially of lesser length so that at one end of the plate there is a flat edge wherein the other edge it is substantially inclined or diagonal.

3. The hinge arrangement of claim 2 wherein the cabinet mounting place is 15 adapted to be slid and enclosed upon the support rod of which said support rod is enclosed and supported within the cabinet door mounting plate.

4. The hinge arrangement of claim 3 wherein the cabinet door mounting plate and the cabinet mounting plate are brought together in an enclosed position to provided an angle of inclination between the respective edges of 20 those portions of the plate that surround the support rod, that being the central support pivotal rod.

5. The hinge arrangement of claim 4 wherein the cabinet door mounting plate of which a portion thereof provides a cylindrical chamber to which the support rod is confined therein to allow pivotal support to the cabinet door 25 mounting plate. 12 583656

6. The hinge arrangement of claim 5 wherein the cabinet mounting plate is adapted to be fastened against the inside sidewall of the cigarette display cabinet.

7. The hinge arrangement of claim 6 wherein the cabinet door mounting 5 plate and the cabinet mounting plate come together about the support rod with the two peripheral edges of the respective plates presenting an inclined angle to which when the mounting plates are rotated away from the other each are able to climb upwardly or downwardly respectively there upon such that upon release gravity will allow for a positive cabinet door closing pressure to see the 10 two edges come back into alignment.

8. The hinge arrangement of anyone of the proceeding claims wherein the cigarette display cabinet has a C configurated shape running along the length of a central divide to which hinges can be positioned thereon to support respective cabinet doors. 13