US3608130A - Hinge device - Google Patents

Abstract

A HINGE INCLUDES A PAIR OF HINGE PLATES HAVING PIN COUPLED INTERDIGITATED KNUCKLES FORMED ON REARWARDLY DIRECTED PANELS LOCATED ALONG THE HINGE PLATE INNER EDGES. A CAM MEMBER INCLUDES A FIRST LEG PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM THE INNER EDGE OF ONE HINGE PLATE AND TERMINATING IN A TRANSVERSELY PROJECTING SECOND LEG HAVING AN END FACE LOCATED A DISTANCE FROM THE HINGE PIN GREATER THAN THE RADIAL DISTANCE THEREFROM OF THE SECOND LEG. A LEAF SPRING MEMBER IS MOUNTED ON THE SECOND HINGE PLATE AND TER-

MINATES IN A LEG EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLE TO THE MAIN SECTION OF THE LEAF SPRING AND BEARING ON THE CAM END FACE WHEN THE HINGE PLATES ARE COPLANAR. STOP ELEMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO LIMIT THE CLOSING OF THE HINGE PLATES TO A COPLANAR POSITION AND STAGGERED APERTURED COUPLING TABS PROJECT FOWARDLY FROM THE HINGE PLATE INNER EDGES.

Description

, P 1971 J. RUDNICK I 3,608,130

HINGE DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1965 INVENTOR 49 flick El/ON/CK AT ORNEY United States Patent 3,608,130 HINGE DEVICE Jack Rudnick, Bronx, N.Y., assignor to Paniflex Corporation, Bronx, N.Y. Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,212 Int. Cl. E05d 11/08 US. Cl. 16-142 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hinge includes a pair of hinge plates having pin coupled interdigitated knuckles formed on rearwardly directed panels located along the hinge plate inner edges. A cam member includes a first leg projecting rearwardly from the inner edge of one hinge plate and terminating in a transversely projecting second leg having an end face located a distance from the hinge pin greater than the radial distance therefrom of the second leg. A leaf spring member is mounted on the second hinge plate and terminates in a leg extending outwardly at an angle to the main section of the leaf spring and bearing on the cam end face when the hinge plates are coplanar. Stop elements are provided to limit the closing of the hinge plates to a coplanar position and staggered apertured coupling tabs project forwardly from the hinge plate inner edges.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in hinge devices and it relates more particularly to improvements in folding door hinge structures and mechanisms.

Folding or accordian type doors are highly preferred over conventional doors under many conditions. Thus Where the opening is relatively wide or where the access space is relatively small as is frequently the case with the access openings to closets, the use of the hinged single panel door is accompanied by many drawbacks which are overcome by the use of a folding type door. The folding door is typified by one or more pairs of side by side rectangular panels which are hinged to each other along their adjacent or inner edges and the outer corners thereof pivotly engage an overhead track registering with the door opening, at least one of the corners being slidable along the track thereby permitting the closing and the folding or opening of the door. Much of the hardware heretofore proposed and available for use with folding door structures leave much to be desired in many of their features. It is generally desirable in the operation of the folding doors that when they approach their closed position, they be spring urged and be normally releasably retained in such closed position and that they be releasably retained in any desired open position, Another operational feature which is desirable in folding door structures is that the hinged joint connecting the folding door panels be positively prevented from moving inwardly of the plane of the closed door panels since this would lead to damage of the folding door structure.

The arrangement heretofore employed for achieving any of these latter features are expensive, complicated and bulky devices which are unreliable, difficult to apply and otherwise leave much to be desired.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved door structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hinge mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hinge arrangement in folding door structures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hinge assembly for folding door structures which maintains the door in any selected position and alternatively releasablylocks the door in its fully open or fully closed position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to pro vide a hinge assembly of the above nature characterized by its low cost, ease of application, ruggedness, and reliability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two unit folding door structure embodying the present invention, one of the folding door units being shown in its fully open position and the other of the folding door units being shown in its fully closed position;

FIG. 2. is a rear perspective view of the improved hinge structure shown in a door closed position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, the hinge being shown in a partially open position.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a hinge comprising a pair of hinge plates, means connecting said hinge plates for swinging about a 1ongitudinal axis, a cam member mounted on one of said hinge plates and swingable therewith and including a raised section, and an elongated spring mounted on said other hinge plate and including a first arm projecting from said other hinge plate toward said cam member and terminating in an angularly related end leg joined thereto by an elbow with a convex face directed toward said cam member, said spring end leg engaging said cam raised section when said hinge plates are in a predetermined relative position. Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of stop members on the hinge plates which are movable therewith and are in abutting engagement with the respective opposite hinge plate when the hinge plates are in a closed coplanar position to prevent the rearward swinging of the hinge plates beyond said closed position.

According to a preferred form of the improved hinge, the hinge plates are provided with rearwardly directed panels along their adjacent edges, the panels terminating in interdigitating aligned hinge knuckles which are engaged by a registering hinge pin whereby the hinge plates are swingable between a closed substantially coplanar position and an open substantially parallel position. The cam member is integrally formed with one of the hinge plates and includes a first section or arm projecting rearwardly from the inner edge of the hinge plate and connected by a curved elbow section to transversely projecting end leg terminating in an end face. A leaf spring has one end thereof anchored to the other hinge plate adjacent to its outer edge and projects rearwardly toward the outer end of the cam member. The leaf spring terminates in an angularly related rearwardly directed leg joined to the remainder of the leaf spring by an elbow section, the spring end leg engaging the cam leg end face when the hinge plates are in the closed position and the spring elbow section engaging the cam outer face when the hinge plates are between their open and closed position. The stop members limiting the closing position of the hinge plates are defined by a tab extending inwardly and rearwardly from one of the hinge plates, and one of the rearwardly directed edge panels which is engaged by the tab when the hinge plates are coplanar.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is shown applied to a two section folding door structure associated with a closet opening, the reference numerals and 11 generally designate inner and outer rectangular door panels of opposite pairs thereof, the adjacent edges of the panels 10 and 11 being hinged to each other by pairs of vertically spaced hinges 12. The outer panels 10 are pivotally engaged at their upper and lower outer corners and the upper inner corners of the inner panels 11 are slidably engaged by an overhead track in the manner well known in the art.

The panels 10 and 11 include rear faces 13 and 14 and adjacent end faces 16 and 17 respectively. When the door panels are in their extended or closed position, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the panel rear faces 13 and 14 are coplanar and the panel end faces 16 and 17 are in confronting parallel relationship. Each of the hinges 12 comprises a pair of complementary first and second hinge members 18 and 19, each preferably formed of a unitary metal stamping of sheet steel or other suitable material. The hinge member 18 includes a substantially flat leaf section of plate 20 provided with apertures 21 to facilitate the securement thereof to a door panel. Integrally formed with the inner edge of the leaf section 20 and projecting forwardly perpendicular to the leaf section 20 is an apertured connecting tab 22 disposed along the upper part of the leaf section 20.

An integrally formed strip 23 extends along the inner edge of the leaf section 20 and projects rearwardly thereof and is recessed to the level of the leaf section 20 in the area of the coupling tab 22. Positioned along the bottom rear edge of the strip 23 is an integrally formed knuckle 24. A pair of longitudinally spaced knuckles 26 in axial alignment with the knuckle 24 is located along the upper rear edge of the strip 23 and is likewise integral with the strip 23.

A cam member 27 is located between the knuckles 26 and includes a front section 28 coplanar with the strip 23 and integral therewith and the leaf section 20. Projecting rearwardly from the cam front section 28 is a rear section 29 substantially coplanar with the front section 28 and joined by a curved or arcuate integral elbow section 36 to a substantially planar cross member 32. The cross member 32 is disposed rearwardly of the knuckles 26 and extends laterally from one side thereof to a point beyond the other side thereof and terminates in a slightly forwardly inclined lip 33. The cam sections 28 and 29, elbow 30, cross member 32 and lip 33 are of the same width throughout and are provided on their outer faces along the side edges thereof with forwardly raised ribs 34. A stop tab 36 projects rearwardly inwardly from the upper inner edge of the leaf section 20 to a point which will be hereinafter set forth, and a small tab 37 coplanar with the tab 22 is directed forwardly from the inner edge of the leaf section 20 directly below the tab 36.

The second hinge member 19 comprises a leaf member or plate 38 having apertures 39 and provided along its inner edge with a rearwardly directed integral strip 40. A recess 41 is formed in the strip 40 on the area of and of greater width than the cam member 27, extending above and below the cam member 27 to permit the free movement thereof relative to the hinge member 19. An apertured connecting tab 42 is directed forwardly from the inner edge of the leaf member 38 in the area of the recess 41 and is perpendicular to the leaf member 38. An inwardly extending rearwardly inclined stop tab 43 and an adjacent forwardly directed tab 44 are formed along the lower inner edge of the leaf member 38 and correspond to the tabs 36 and 37 respectively.

Integrally formed with and located along the rear edge of the strip 40 are longitudinally spaced upper knuckle 46 and lower knuckle 47. The knuckles 24, 26, 46 and 47 are in axial alignment, the knuckle 47 being positioned between the knuckles 24 and 26 and the knuckles 26 being positioned between the knuckles 46 and 47. A hinge pin 48 registers with the knuckles 26, 27, 46 and 47 4 and is provided with enlarged heads 49. It should be noted that the stop tabs 36 and 43 are so positioned and dimensioned that their inner ends abut the opposite strips 40 and 23 when the hinge 12 is in the door closed position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

A rectangular opening 50 is formed in the leaf member 38 and is located between the side edges of the leaf member 38 at the level of the cam member 27. The outer border of the opening 50 to the adjacent side edge of the leaf member 38 is forwardly offset as at 51.

A leaf spring 52, of any suitable material, preferably a spring steel, includes a flat trailing leg 53 underlying the border section 51 and firmly secured thereto by a rivet 54, the head of the rivet 54 underlying the spring leg 53 being at about the level of the inner face of the leaf member 38. Extending from the inner edge of the spring leg 53 is an inwardly rearwardly inclined section or arm 56. The upper end of the arm 56 is joined by an angular or curved elbow section 57 to a front leg 58 angularly related to arm 56 and more rearwardly inclined relative thereto whereby the convex face of the elbow section faces the cam 27.

The leaf spring 52 is supported and sprung so as to always bear upon the cam member 27 and be under stress. The cam member 27 and the leaf spring 52 are so dimensioned and related that when the hinge 12 is in the door closed position the free end face of the cam leg 33 bears on the inner face of the spring leg 58 above the elbow section 57. However, when the hinge is any condition between the door open position and a predetermined amount before the door closed position, as seen in FIG. 6, the outer or convex face of the spring elbow section 57 bears upon the outer face of the cam member 27. Furthermore, in the door closed position of the hinge 12, the elbow S7 is radially closer to the hinge axis as defined by the hinge pin 48 than the end of the cam leg 33. Thus, as the hinge is moved from its door open to its door closed position the end of the cam leg 33 will ride forwardly along the spring arm 56 to further stress the spring 52 and as it passes the elbow 57, the spring leg 57 bears on the end face of the cam leg 33 to urge and snap the hinge to its fully door closed position.

In assembling adjacent panels 10 and 11 two or more vertically spaced hinges 12 are employed. The hinge leaf plates 20 and 38 overlie the panel rear faces 14 and 13 respectively adjacent the end faces 17 and 16 and are secured thereto by screws 59. The tabs 22 and 37 abut the panel end face 17, the tab 22 being screwed thereto, and the tabs 42 and 44 abut the panel end face 16, the tab 42 being screwed thereto. When the door panels 10 and 11 are in their closed position, they are releasably resiliently locked therein by reason of the pressure of the spring legs 58 on the respective cam legs 33 and are limited against inward movement at their adjacent vertical edges by the tabs 36 and 43 bearing on the opposite hinge member strips 23 and 40. Upon opening of the door panels 10 and 11 beyond a predetermined point, the leaf spring elbow by bearing on the face of the cam member 27 releasably maintains the panels in the preset position. However, when the panels 10 and 11 are opened beyond the point where the leaf spring elbow 57 bears on the cam elbow 30, the hinges 12 and the panels 10 and 11 are resiliently urged by the leaf springs 52 to their fully open positions.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge comprising a pair of transversely spaced first and second hinge plates provided along adjacent edges thereof with rearwardly directed integrally formed panels terminating in axially longitudinally aligned hinge knuckles, a hinge pin registering with said hinge knuckles whereby said hinge plates are swingable between a closed substantially coplanar position and an open substantially parallel position, a cam member integrally formed with said first hinge plate and including a first section projecting rearwardly from said first hinge plate and connected to a second transversely projecting section spaced rearwardly of and extending across said hinge pin and terminating in an end face spaced from said hinge pin a distance greater than the radial distance between said second section and said hinge pin, and a leaf spring having one end thereof mounted to said second hinge plate and the other end thereof engaging said cam member and bearing on said cam member end face when said hinge plates are in said closed position and on the outer face of said cam member when said hinge plates are between said open and closed positions, said second hinge plate having an opening formed therein, said leaf spring passing through said opening and being secured to the front face of said second hinge plate adjacent to the outer edge thereof and being rearwardly inwardly inclined relative to said second hinge plate and terminating in an angularly rearwardly directed end section with an inner elbow section, said spring end section engaging said cam end face when said hinge is in said closed position and said spring elbow section engaging said cam outer face when said hinge is between said open and closed positions.

2. A hinge comprising a pair of transversely spaced first and second hinge plates provided along adjacent edges thereof with rearwardly directed integrally formed panels terminating in axially longitudinally aligned hinge knuckles, a hinge pin registering with said hinge knuckles whereby said hinge plates are swingable between a closed substantially coplanar position and an open substantially parallel position, a cam member integrally formed with said first hinge plate and including a first section projecting rearwardly from said first hinge plate and connected to a second transversely projecting section spaced rearwardly of and extending across said hinge pin and terminating in an end face spaced from said hinge pin a distance greater than the radial distance between said second section and said hinge pin, a leaf spring having one end thereof mounted to said second hinge plate and the other end thereof engaging said cam member and bearing on said cam member end face when said hinge plates are in said closed position and on the outer face of said cam member when said hinge plates are between said open and closed positions, and a stop member located on one of said hinge plates and engaging the other hinge plate when said hinge is in said closed position to limit the closing movement of said hinge plates to said coplanar position. 3. A hinge comprising a pair of transversely spaced first and second hinge plates provided along adjacent edges thereof with rearwardly directed integrally formed panels terminating in axially longitudinally aligned hinge knuckles, a hinge pin registering with said hinge knuckles whereby said hinge plates are swingable between a closed substantially coplanar position and an open substantially parallel position, a cam member integrally formed with said first hinge plate and including a first section projecting rearwardly from said first hinge plate and connected to a second transversely projecting section spaced rearwardly of and extending across said hinge pin and terminating in an end face spaced from said hinge pin a distance greater than the radial distance between said second section and said hinge pin, a leaf spring having one end thereof mounted to said second hinge plate and the other end thereof engaging said cam member and bearing on said cam member end face when said hinge plates are in closed position and on the outer face of said cam member when said hinge plates are between said open and closed positions, and a forwardly directed coupling tab integrally formed with and located along the inner edge of each of said hinge plates, said tabs and said hinge plates having connector apertures formed therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,154 4/1909 Gen 16142 2,526,209 10/1950 Durup 16142 3,262,149 7/1966 Gorton et al. 16-142 3,362,041 1/ 1968 Fynewever 16-142 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner

Images