EP3212871A1

EP3212871A1 - Hinge assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3212871A1
Application number: EP15855279.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günter J KANDOLF
Original assignee: K2014270037 Pty Ltd T/a Crystalux
Current assignee: K2014270037 Pty Ltd T/a Crystalux
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2017-09-06
Also published as: WO2016067255A1

Abstract

A hinge assembly is provided comprising two hinge components with a first hinge component having at least one pivot receiving cylinder (3) and a pivot leaf (2) adapted for attachment to a closure (5) or closure support. A second hinge component has a bracket leaf (11) and a slider leaf (12) one of which has an aligned pivot receiving cylinder (13) that receives a hinge pivot (14) connecting it to the pivot receiving cylinder (3) of the first hinge component. The other of the bracket leaf (11) and slider leaf (12) is adapted for attachment to the other of a closure support or closure. The bracket leaf (11) and slider leaf (12) have co-operationg formations (10) that provide for transverse adjustment of their relative positions in a direction transverse to the axis of the hinge pivot. A locking arrangement (16) locks the bracket leaf (11) relative to the slider leaf (12) in a desired adjusted relative position thereof.

Description

HINGE ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from South African complete patent application number 2014/07945 filed on 31 October 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hinge assembly or hinge arrangement.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable hinge assembly that is suitable for use with closures including doors and windows and especially, although not exclusively, shower doors.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Hinges are used, amongst many other uses, to mount doors in frames for closing an aperture or doorway. It is often found during installation that a specific door is not quite correctly sized for the aperture it is intended to close. Thus the door needs to be enlarged or reduced accordingly to properly fit within the aperture. Although this can be relatively easily done with wooden or metal doors, it is not easily accomplished with glass doors, with the latter normally requiring a replacement door to be made. This may lead to material wastage and a resultant increase in costs as well as delays in the completion of installation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hinge assembly, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

Although the invention is described herein with reference to a door, it is envisaged that the same hinge arrangement can be used in conjunction with any other closure for closing an aperture in a building, such as showers, windows or shutters, or for an equivalent use in household furniture.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising two hinge components wherein a first hinge component has at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal and an attachment or pivot leaf adapted for attachment to a closure or closure support and wherein a second hinge component has a bracket leaf and a slider leaf one of which has at least one aligned pivot receiving cylinder or journal that receives a hinge pivot having a pivot axis wherein the hinge pivot connects the pivot receiving cylinders or journals of the first and second hinge components and wherein the other of the bracket leaf and a slider leaf is adapted for attachment to the other of a closure support or closure, and wherein the bracket leaf and slider leaf have co-operating formations that provide for transverse adjustment of the relative positions of the bracket leaf and slider leaf such that the bracket leaf and slider leaf are adjustable in a direction transverse to the axis of the hinge pivot and a locking arrangement to lock the bracket leaf relative to the slider leaf in a desired adjusted relative position thereof.

Further features of the invention provide for each of the two hinge components to have a clamp or cover plate adapted to be located on an opposite side of the closure or closure support relative to the hinge component itself with interconnecting fasteners passing through the closure or closure support; for the pivot leaf, bracket leaf and slider leaf to be of generally plate-like construction; for the formations to be one or more squat inwardly lipped channels carried by one of the bracket leaf and slider leaf and receiving co-operating edges of the other of the slider leaf and bracket leaf such that the two leaves are restricted to reciprocating movement relative to each other to adjust their relative positions; and for one of the first and second hinge components to have two axially spaced pivot receiving cylinders or journals with the pivot receiving cylinder or journal of the other of the first and second hinge components forming a central pivot receiving cylinder or journal located between the two spaced pivot receiving cylinders or journals.

Still further features of the invention provide for the locking arrangement to be either separate from fasteners passing through a closure or closure support or, alternatively, for the locking arrangement to be embodied in the fasteners passing through a closure or closure support, or further alternatively for the locking arrangement to be constituted by the fasteners themselves passing through the closure or closure support and cooperating with one or more slider leaves of the second hinge component; and for projections that may be fixed relative to a leaf or may be removable such as set screws to be provided for holding the two leaves captive relative to each other.

In a first variation of the invention the at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal is carried by the slider leaf that is restricted to reciprocating movement in an inwardly lipped squat channel shaped formation formed by flanges extending along opposite edges of the bracket leaf which is adapted to be operatively secured to one of the closure or closure support. In this first variation of the invention the locking arrangement may be at least one separate set screw associated with the bracket leaf so that it can be engaged with the slider leaf to arrest its movement within the inwardly lipped squat channel shaped formation. As an alternative, a set screw could be located coaxially within a selected fastener securing a clamp or cover plate to the bracket leaf so that the bracket leaf can be secured in position, the slider leaf can be adjusted in position, and the set screw when tightened to lock the slider leaf relative to the bracket leaf.

In a second variation of the invention the at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal is carried by the bracket leaf and the slider leaf is restricted to reciprocating movement in an inwardly lipped squat channel shaped formation formed by flanges extending along opposite edges of the bracket leaf with the slider leaf being adapted to be operatively secured to one of the closure or closure support. In this instance, fasteners passing through the clamp or cover plate for securing the clamp or cover plate in position opposite the slider leaf can urge to the slider leaf into firm engagement with the inside of the inwardly lipped channel so as to effectively lock the bracket leaf relative to the slider leaf by way of the inwardly directed lips of the channels.

In a third variation of the invention there are provided two slider leaves spaced apart in the direction of the axis of the pivot with each slider leaf being accommodated in its own inwardly lipped channel formation in the bracket leaf.

The closure will typically be a door and most typically a glass door for a shower or the like. The closure support may be a relatively stationary panel, typically a fixed glass panel, or a surrounding frame for the closure, most typically a door. In each instance the bracket leaf, slider leaf or pivot leaf is preferably suitable for attachment to its co-operating closure or closure support at a position near to or aligned with an edge of the closure or closure support.

The invention extends to a door such as a shower door provided with a hinge arrangement as described herein.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment of each of the three variations outlined above will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of one embodiment of the first variation of hinge assembly according to the invention in which the hinge assembly is shown fitted between a fixed glass panel and a glass door panel;

Figure 2 is an edge-on elevation of the hinge assembly taken on a line at right angles to the hinge axis;

Figure 3 is an exploded version of Figure 2 with the fixed panel removed;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the hinge assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 taken in the direction of arrow "A" in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of an embodiment of the second variation of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to that of Figure 4 but of the embodiment of the second variation of the invention illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of an embodiment of the third variation of the invention;

Figure 8 is a plan view of an alternative form of bracket leaf, slider leaf or pivot illustrating one alternative construction thereof; and,

Figure 9 is an edge-on elevation of the construction shown in Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the first variation of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. In this embodiment of the invention a hinge assembly includes a first hinge component comprising a pivot leaf (2) that is in the form of a plate having formed at one edge thereof a pair of axially spaced integral pivot receiving cylinders or journals (3). A clamp or cover plate (4) is adapted to be located on an opposite side of a closure, in this instance a fixed glass panel (5), relative to the hinge component itself with interconnecting fasteners in the form of screws (6) passing through the glass panel with suitably protective sleeves (7) for protecting holes through the glass panel. For installation purposes the pivot leaf is installed near the edge (8) of the fixed glass panel with the axially spaced integral pivot receiving cylinders or journals (3) projecting beyond the edge of the glass panel.

With regard to the protective sleeves that also act as spacers, these may either be formed integral with one of the plates, typically the clamp or cover plate (4) as illustrated on the right- hand side of Figures 2 and 3 or may be separate elements, as illustrated on the left-hand side of Figures 2 and 3. In the instance in which they are integral with the associated clamp or cover plate, for example, the screws can be substantially shorter than in the case in which they are separate and the relevant screws are required to go right through the assembly.

Also, as regards location of the heads of screws, is preferably directed at way from the most aesthetically desirable side of the hinge assembly.

A second hinge component has a bracket leaf (1 1 ) and a slider leaf (12) whereof the slider leaf has permanently secured to it, a central aligned pivot receiving cylinder or journal (13) that fits neatly between the two spaced pivot receiving cylinders or journals (3) on the pivot leaf with all three pivot receiving cylinders or journals (3, 13) receiving a hinge pivot (14) having a pivot axis (15). The hinge pivot thus connects the pivot receiving cylinders or journals of the first and second hinge components.

The bracket leaf has formations in the form of short parallel flanges (16) extending along two opposite edges thereof with inwardly directed lips (17) forming a single squat inwardly lipped channel on one surface of the bracket leaf. Opposite edges (18) of the slider leaf are received in the squat inwardly lipped channel so that the slider leaf is able to move reciprocally in a direction at right angles relative to the pivot axis so that the relative positions of the bracket leaf and slider leaf can be adjusted in a direction transverse to the axis of the hinge pivot.

A clamp or cover plate (21 ) is adapted to be located on an opposite side of a glass door (22) from the bracket leaf in the installed position with interconnecting fasteners in the form of screws (23) passing through the glass door and suitable protective sleeves (24) for protecting the holes through the glass door.

A locking arrangement (see Figure 2) is provided to arrest movement of the slider leaf relative to the bracket leaf to lock the bracket leaf relative to the slider leaf in a desired adjusted relative position thereof. In this variation of the invention the locking arrangement includes a blind set screw (grub screw) (25) entering through at least one of the short flanges (16). The set screw may have its inner end arranged to engage an edge of the slider leaf to lock it in position relative to the bracket leaf in a desired adjusted relative position of the two leaves.

When the set screw is released, the slider leaf is restricted to reciprocating movement relative to the bracket leaf in a direction at right angles to the pivot axis to adjust the relative positions of the two leaves and when the screw is tightened the two leaves are locked together.

It is, of course possible to use numerous other different locking arrangements such as forming a screw threaded hole coaxially in one or more selected fasteners themselves and installing a blind set screw in the hole so that it engages an adjacent face of the slider leaf to lock the two leaves together.

Turning now to the embodiment of the second variation of the invention that is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, in this instance the pivot leaf (31 ) is substantially the same as is described above and is attached to the glass door in the same way utilising a clamp or cover plate (32) and fasteners passing through the door. However, in this instance, the pivot receiving cylinder or journal (33) is secured to the bracket leaf (34) and the slider leaf (35) that is received within a squat inwardly lipped channel formed by the bracket leaf and is secured to the glass door (36) by fasteners (37) passing through a clamp or cover plate (38) and through the glass door.

In this instance, however, the slider leaf is dimensioned such that when the screw threaded fasteners are tightened to pull the slider leaf towards the glass door, the edges of the slider leaf that are located between the inwardly directed lips (39) and the body of the bracket leaf are urged into engagement with the lips, the outer surfaces of which are therefore urged into tight engagement with the bracket leaf so that the slider leaf becomes locked to the bracket leaf by way of the lips. The fasteners themselves, together with the dimensioning of the slider leaf, therefore provide the locking arrangement indicated above. As may be required, and as illustrated in Figure 5, the edges of the slider leaf may be rebated as shown.

Turning now to the embodiment of the third variation of the invention that is illustrated in Figure 7, the arrangement is substantially the same as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 except for the fact that there are two slider leaves (41 ) of smaller dimensions each located in its own squat inwardly lipped channel in the bracket leaf (42). The inwardly directed lips (43) are engaged by the slider leaves (41 ) by way of a screw (44) passing through a clamp or cover plate (45) on the outside of the glass door (46) opposite the bracket leaf (42). Releasing the screws enables the relative positions of the slider leaf and bracket leaf to be adjusted in a manner that will be quite apparent from what is described above.

Figures 8 and 9 simply illustrate that a pivot receiving cylinder or journal (47) may be formed as a separate part and secured to the associated leaf (48) by means of fasteners (49) passing through the leaf and into screw threaded holes in the pivot receiving cylinder or journal. This arrangement could, for example, replace the arrangement such as is illustrated in Figures 3 in which the pivot receiving cylinder or journal is permanently attached to the leaf such as by welding.

The description of the various embodiments above has been directed at the instance in which first hinge component including the pivot leaf is attached to the fixed glass panel and the second hinge component that include bracket leaf and slider leaf is attached to the glass door. Of course this arrangement could be reversed as may be desired.

For, the protective sleeves in all instances may be separate components that may also be permanently attached to an associated trip component such as a clamp or cover plate.

Numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Throughout the specification and claims unless the contents requires otherwise the word 'comprise' or variations such as 'comprises' or 'comprising' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A hinge assembly comprising two hinge components wherein a first hinge component has at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal and an attachment or pivot leaf adapted for attachment to a closure or closure support and wherein a second hinge component has a bracket leaf and a slider leaf one of which has at least one aligned pivot receiving cylinder or journal that receives a hinge pivot having a pivot axis wherein the hinge pivot connects the pivot receiving cylinders or journals of the first and second hinge components and wherein the other of the bracket leaf and a slider leaf is adapted for attachment to the other of a closure support or closure, and wherein the bracket leaf and slider leaf have co-operating formations that provide for transverse adjustment of the relative positions of the bracket leaf and slider leaf such that the bracket leaf and slider leaf are adjustable in a direction transverse to the axis of the hinge pivot and a locking arrangement to lock the bracket leaf relative to the slider leaf in a desired adjusted relative position thereof.

2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the two hinge components has a clamp or cover plate adapted to be located on an opposite side of the closure or closure support relative to the hinge component itself with interconnecting fasteners passing through the closure or closure support.

3. A hinge assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which for the pivot leaf, bracket leaf and slider leaf are of generally plate-like construction.

4. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the formations are one or more squat inwardly lipped channels carried by one of the bracket leaf and slider leaf and receiving co-operating edges of the other of the slider leaf and bracket leaf such that the two leaves are restricted to reciprocating movement relative to each other to adjust their relative positions in a direction transverse to the pivot axis.

5. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one of the first and second hinge components has two axially spaced pivot receiving cylinders or journals with the pivot receiving cylinder or journal of the other of the first and second components forming a central pivot receiving cylinder or journal located between the two spaced pivot receiving cylinders or journals.

6. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking arrangement is separate from fasteners passing through a closure or closure support and is in the form of at least one set screw.

7. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the locking arrangement is embodied in the fasteners passing through a closure or closure support.

8. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the locking arrangement is constituted by fasteners themselves passing through the closure or closure support and cooperating with one or more slider leaves of the second hinge component in a manner causing them to become locked together when the fasteners are tightened.

9. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which projections that are either fixed relative to a leaf or removable are provided for holding the bracket leaf and slider leaf captive relative to each other.

10. A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal is carried by the slider leaf that is restricted to reciprocating movement in an inwardly lipped squat channel shaped formation formed along edges of the bracket leaf which is adapted to be operatively secured to one of the closure or closure support.

1 1 . A hinge assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the at least one pivot receiving cylinder or journal is carried by the bracket leaf and the slider leaf is restricted to reciprocating movement in an inwardly lipped squat channel shaped formation formed along edges of the bracket leaf with the slider leaf being adapted to be operatively secured to one of the closure or closure support.

12. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 1 in which fasteners passing through the clamp or cover plate for securing the clamp or cover plate in position opposite the slider leaf are adapted to urge the slider leaf into firm engagement with the inside of the inwardly lipped channels so as to effectively lock the bracket leaf relative to the slider leaf by way of the inwardly directed lips of the channels.

13. A hinge assembly as claimed in either one of claims 1 1 or 12 in which there are provided two slider leaves spaced apart in the direction of the axis of the pivot with each slider leaf being accommodated in its own squat channel formation in the bracket leaf.