EP4321715A1

EP4321715A1 - Adjustable door or window hinge with enhanced lateral adjustment

Info

Publication number: EP4321715A1
Application number: EP23190150.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Cusin; Mario STEFFAN; Mauro Giust; Edoardo Celant
Original assignee: SFS Group International AG
Current assignee: SFS Group International AG
Priority date: 2022-08-09
Filing date: 2023-08-07
Publication date: 2024-02-14

Abstract

A hinge for mounting a door-panel or window sash to a frame. For improved adjustability function and a smaller space envelope, the hinge has a first hinge part for connection to the door or window sash and a second hinge part for connection to the frame. In the first hinge part, a dual threaded grub screw having first and second, oppositely directed thread sections is screwed into a threaded bore of a retaining piece and a threaded opening of an intermediate piece. A clamping device holds a plate-shaped portion provided with the hinge barrel and the intermediate piece together. The intermediate piece and the plate-shaped portion are adjustable relative to each other by an eccentric. The dual threaded grub screw has an engagement portion that is accessible via an adjustment opening in the plate-shaped portion allowing a lateral adjustment of the first hinge part relative to the second hinge part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a door or window hinge, and more particularly to a hinge used for a door or window of largely plastic construction, such as those formed from PVC, and which allows for adjustments in 3 directions.

BACKGROUND

Window sashes or doors made of plastic normally have a frame surrounding the sash or door panel and a jamb in which the frame fits. The frames of the window sashes and doors, as well as the frames that surround them are generally made of hollow plastic profiles, such as PVC, which may be reinforced with an internal metal hollow profile.
In most instances, it is desirable to form the parts that connect the hinge to be fastened to the door panel or window sash so that they are visible only as little as possible at the hinge knuckle where the hinge parts pivot relative to one another. This is typically accomplished with a recessed assembly of the hinge parts except for the hinge knuckle into the door panel or window sash as well as the surrounding frame. The hinge must allow for adjustment in all 3 directions in a simple and convenient manner such that a precise side-to-side and up-and-down alignment of the door panel or sash parallel to the corresponding frame can be achieved for proper positioning as well as an in-and-out adjustment for proper sealing.
DE 10 2007 028 218 B3 discloses a hinge that offers a plurality of adjustment options in different directions. To allow an adjustment of the hinge perpendicular to the plate-like portion and perpendicular to the hinge axis, an adjusting screw is provided, the screw head of which is arranged between the plate-like portion and an intermediate piece, which in turn is connected to a retaining piece. In order to hold the plate-like portion and the intermediate piece together, screws are provided which pass through holes in the plate-like portion and are screwed into threads of the intermediate piece or into threaded sleeves formed on the intermediate piece.
US 8,413,299 discloses one known arrangement for a hinge for doors and windows that is particularly adapted for plastic doors and windows. However, there are certain drawbacks to this known hinge related to the safety features to prevent unauthorized disassembly of the hinge.
US 10,246,928 , which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth, discloses an adjustable hinge by the Applicant. Here, a retaining piece that is insertable into a groove of a door or a window, is part of a first hinge part that has a plate-like portion, an intermediate piece, and a retaining part and a plurality of mounting and adjusting elements therebetween. The plate-like portion and the intermediate piece are held together by a clamping bolt, onto which a sleeve is mounted. The clamping bolt and the sleeve together form a clamping device. The intermediate piece and the plate-like portion are designed to hold a head of an adjustment screw that is screwed into the retaining part, and this head is received between the intermediate piece and the plate-like portion with as little play as possible, or with no play at all. The plate-like portion has longitudinal hole-like adjustment holes, through which the head of the adjustment screw is accessible using a tool, and turning the adjustment screw results in a corresponding lateral adjustment of the hinge corresponding to the thread pitch of the adjustment screw and the number of turns. While this has proved useful in many applications, it has proved more difficult for limited space constructions where the depth of the retaining piece and the amount the adjustment screw can extend into or through the base of the retaining part and into the groove is limited.
It would be desirable to provide hinge of the above-noted type that provides enhanced stability and adjustment features in a reduced space envelope.

SUMMARY

A hinge for mounting a door-panel or window sash to a frame is provided that addresses the issues noted above. The hinge includes first and second hinge parts which are operatively connected to one another by an adjustment bolt so as to be rotatable about a common hinge axis. The first hinge part has a plate-shaped portion which is configured to interact in a fixedly and releasably connectable manner with a retaining piece configured for connection to the door or window sash or the frame, and in a preferred embodiment to the door or the window sash, and the second hinge part is configured for connection to the other of the door or window sash or the frame, and in a preferred embodiment to the frame. The plate-shaped portion is oriented in a first plane running parallel to the hinge axis and is adjustable in a second plane running at a right angle to the first plane of the plate-shaped portion. A dual threaded grub screw is provided having a first thread section screwed into a threaded bore of the retaining piece and a second thread section, having an opposite thread direction than the first thread section, screwed into a threaded opening of an intermediate piece, with an axis of the dual threaded grub screw extending perpendicular to the plate-shaped portion. A clamping device having a clamping bolt and a sleeve is arranged such that the plate-shaped portion and the intermediate piece are held together from one side with said clamping bolt and from the other side with said sleeve fitted onto the clamping bolt, and the intermediate piece and the plate-shaped portion are displaceable relative to each other by an eccentric on the clamping bolt. The dual threaded grub screw has an inner head engagement portion that is accessible via an adjustment opening in the plate-shaped portion allowing a lateral adjustment of the first hinge part relative to the second hinge part.
With this arrangement there is a positive connection of the retaining piece and the intermediate piece by the dual threaded grub screw engaging in the respective threaded bore and threaded opening. The prior art adjustment screw relied on a "trapped" adjustment screw head, and the adjustment screw was only engaged in the retaining piece. Further, based on the opposite orientation of the first and second thread sections, the amount of adjustment provided per turn of the grub screw is doubled in comparison to the prior art while at the same time using less space.
In one embodiment, the first thread section has a left-hand thread, and the second thread section has a right-hand thread.
In one embodiment, the clamping bolt includes a bolt-shaped shaft which is pressed into the sleeve and is displaceable in an axial direction of the sleeve in a hole in the retaining piece.
In a preferred arrangement, the clamping bolt and the eccentric are integrally formed.
In one embodiment, the second hinge part comprises hinge barrels that receive the adjustment bolt which is aligned and adjustable in a direction of the hinge axis, and is rigidly connected to the plate-shaped portion.
Preferably, the adjustment bolt is held at one axial end of an axially acting screw, and a position of the adjustment bolt is adjustable by turning the axially acting screw. Optionally, an axially acting screw can be screwed into both ends of the second hinge part.
In order to provide a compact arrangement, the dual threaded grub screw preferably extends no more than 8 mm from a back surface of the retaining piece. This allows for installation of the hinge in a door or window sash frame with a potentially shallower recess for the insert part and/or allows for the elimination of further clearance bores in the door or sash part, and in particular eliminates the need to produce access bores that might have to extend into or through steel reinforcements typically inserted into the hollow plastic profiles that form the frame of the window sash or door at the hinge locations.
In one embodiment, a projecting portion extends from a back surface of the retaining piece, and the threaded bore of the retaining piece is formed in the projecting portion.
In a preferred arrangement, there are two of the dual threaded grub screws and the retaining piece has two of the threaded bores, the first thread sections of the two dual threaded grub screws are screwed into respective ones of the threaded bores, and the intermediate piece has two of the threaded openings, and the second thread sections are screwed into respective ones of the two threaded openings of the intermediate piece.
For all of the arrangements contemplated, a same tool engagement recess is preferably located in the head of the adjustment screws and locking screws. This same tool engagement recess can be, for example, a cross-slot, a Phillips^®, hex, TorxO drive, a square drive, or any other suitable tool engagement recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description will be best understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinge in accordance with the disclosure.
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the hinge shown partially exploded, separating the first hinge part and the second hinge part as well as the adjustment bolt.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through a door or window sash and a frame that are joined by the hinge shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged portion of the cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3, as indicated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the first part of the hinge which includes both lateral and in/out adjustment features.
Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the first part of the hinge of Figure 5 with the adjustment elements visible.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the lateral adjustment elements, including the retaining piece, the dual threaded grub screws, and the intermediate piece.
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the adjustment directions provided in connection with the first hinge part.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first hinge part shown in Figure 8 through the central clamping screw.
Figures 10A-10C are a series of cross-sections similar to Figure 9 taken through the dual threaded grub screw showing the lateral adjustment in a full offset in a first direction (Figure 10A), the nominal position (Figure 10B), and a full offset in the opposite direction (Figure 10C), with the clamping screw shown in a loosened position to allow adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. "Axially" refers to a direction along the axis of the hinge pin or adjustment bolt. A reference to a list of items that are cited as "at least one of a, b, or c" (where a, b, and c represent the items being listed) means any single one of the items a, b, or c, or combinations thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
Referring to Figures 1-4, a hinge 10 for mounting a door or window sash 12 to a frame 14 is shown. The door or window sash 12 as well as the frame 14 are shown in Figures 3 and 4 in detail, and the door or window sash 12 is formed as a hollow plastic profile in which a metal reinforcement 13, which can be a hollow metal profile, is inserted at least in an area where the hinge 10 is connected. The frame 14 is similarly formed as a hollow plastic profile and a metal reinforcement 15, which can be a hollow metal profile, is inserted into this hollow profile of the frame 14 at least in an area where the hinge 10 is connected. In order to provide for proper alignment of the door or window sash 12 relative to the frame 14, the hinge 10 must be adjustable laterally, inwardly/outwardly (in order to properly form a seal at the seals 16 shown in Figure 3, as well as up/down. It can be seen in Figure 3 and 4 that the first hinge part 10 is received in a recess 17 of the hollow profile that forms the door or window sash 12. While fasteners (not shown) that are installed through mounting holes 18 in the first hinge part are adapted to extend through the hollow profile and into the metal reinforcement 13, it is undesired to have other components related to the adjustability features for the hinge 10 extend into an area where the metal reinforcement 13 is located.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 5-7, the hinge 10 includes first and second hinge parts 20, 50, which are operatively connected to one another by an adjustment bolt 60 that extends through hinge barrels 52 on the second hinge part 50 located on either side of the hinge barrel 21 of the first hinge part 20 such that the first and second hinge parts 20, 50 are rotatable about a common hinge axis Z. The first hinge part 20 has a plate-shaped portion 22 which is configured to interact in a fixedly and releasably connectable manner with a retaining piece 24 that is configured for connection to the door or window sash 12 or the frame 14. In the preferred embodiment, the retaining piece 24 is configured for connection to the door or window sash 12 and is received in the recess 17. The hinge part 50 is configured for connection to the other of the door or window sash 12 or the frame 14, and in the preferred embodiment, is connected to the frame 14.
The plate-shaped portion 22 is oriented in a first plane (XZ - see Fig. 8) that extends parallel to the hinge axis Z and is adjustable in a second plane (YZ - See Fig. 8) running at a right angle to the first plane of the plate-shape portion 22 via the features described herein on the first hinge part 20.
As shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7, a dual threaded grub screw 30 is provided having a first thread section 30a that is screwed into a threaded bore 25 of the retaining piece 24 and a second thread section 30b, having an opposite thread direction and the first thread section 30a, that is screwed into a threaded opening 33 of an intermediate piece 32. An axis of the dual threaded grub screw 30 extends perpendicular to the plate-shaped portion 22 in the Y direction - see Fig. 8.
The dual threaded grub screw 30 has an inner head engagement portion 30c (indicated in Fig. 6) that is accessible via an adjustment opening 23 in the plate-shaped portion 22, allowing a lateral adjustment of the first hinge part 20 relative to the second hinge part 50.
As shown in detail in Figures 4-6, a clamping device 36 that includes a clamping bolt 38 and a sleeve 40 is arranged through holes 29, 35 in the plate-shaped portion 22 and the intermediate piece 32 such that the plate-shaped portion 22 and the intermediate piece 32 are held together from one side with the clamping bolt 38 and from the other side with the sleeve 40 which is fitted onto the clamping bolt 38. The intermediate piece 32 and the plate-shaped portion 22 are displaceable relative to each other by an eccentric 42 on the clamping bolt 38 that is engaged in the hole 29 in the plate-shaped piece 22. In a preferred arrangement, the clamping bolt 38 and the eccentric 42 are integrally formed as one piece.
In the preferred embodiment, the first thread section 30a has a left-hand thread, and the second thread section 30b has a right-hand thread. Accordingly, referring to Figures 10A-10C, tightening the dual threaded grub screw 30 in the clockwise direction results in movement of the plate-shaped portion 22 from the nominal position shown in Figure 10B to the position shown in Figure 10C, shifting the door or window sash 12 further away from the fixed position of the hinge axis Z with respect to the frame 14. Conversely, turning the dual threaded grub screw 30 in the counter-clockwise direction results in movement of the door or window sash 12 toward the hinge axis Z which is fixed relative to the frame 14 as shown in Figure 10A.
In a preferred embodiment, the clamping bolt 38 includes a bolt-shaped shaft 38a, shown in Figure 6, and once inserted through the corresponding openings 29, 35 in the plate-shaped portion 22 and the intermediate piece 32, it is pressed into the sleeve 40 and is displaceable in an axial direction with the sleeve 40 in a hole 26 in the retaining piece 24.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the second hinge part 50 includes the hinge barrels 52 that receive the adjustment bolt 60 which is aligned with and adjustable in a direction of the hinge axis Z (see Fig. 8), and is rigidly connected to the plate-shaped portion 22 via a screw 62. The adjustment bolt 60 is held at one axial end by an axially acting screw 64 (shown in Fig. 2), and the adjustment bolt 60 is adjustable by turning the axially acting screw 64 in order to adjust the position of the door or window sash 12 relative to the frame 14 in the Z direction. It is also possible for the axially acting screw 64 to be provided at both ends of the second hinge part, and screwed into the respective hinge barrels 52.
Referring to Figures 4 and 10A, the dual threaded grub screw 30 preferably extends a distance D (indicated in Fig. 4) of no more than 10 mm, and more preferably no more than 8 mm from a back surface 24b of the retaining piece 24. As shown in Figure 4, the door or window sash 12 can include a further opening behind the recess 17 that receives the retaining piece 24 in order to accommodate the dual threaded grub screw 30. By using the dual thread arrangement, this distance that the dual threaded grub screw 30 extends behind the back surface 24b of the retaining piece 24 is shorter than was previously known in the art and allows installation of the hinge 10 without the need for providing clearance openings, for example, in the metal reinforcement 13 that is located in the door or window sash 12 in the area of the hinge 10.
As shown in Figures 7 and 10A-10C, a projecting portion 27 can extend from a back surface 24b of the retaining piece 24, and the threaded bore 25 of the retaining piece 24 is formed in this projecting portion 27. This allows for a longer engagement area of the first thread section 30a (see Fig. 7) with the threaded bore 25. With this arrangement, there is a positive connection of the retaining piece 24 and the intermediate piece 32 by the dual threaded grub screw 30 engaging in the respective threaded bore 25 and threaded opening 33.
While the above description refers to a single dual threaded grub screw 30, those skilled in the art will recognize from the present disclosure that two or more of the dual threaded grub screws 30 may be utilized with the hinge 10, and in the illustrated arrangement, there are two of the dual threaded grub screws 30, and the retaining piece 24 has two of the threaded bores 25, and the first thread sections 30a of the two dual threaded grub screws 30 are screwed into respective ones of the threaded bores 25. Additionally, the intermediate piece 32 has two of the threaded openings 33, and the second thread sections 30b are screwed into respective ones of these two threaded openings 33 of the intermediate piece 32. This provides a more secure arrangement.
In order to adjust the hinge 10, it is first necessary to loosen the central clamping screw 44, shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10A-10C, that passes through openings in the plate-shaped portion 22 and the intermediate piece 32 and engages in a threaded hole 34 in the retaining piece 24 prior to making the lateral or inward/outward adjustment. In order to make a lateral adjustment from the nominal position of the door or window sash 12 relative to the frame 14 in the Y direction, tightening the grub screw(s) 30 in the clockwise direction results in a movement of the door or window sash 12, for example, from the nominal position in Fig. 10B toward or to the position ion Fig. 10A, toward the hinge axis which is fixed relative to the frame 14. Movement of the grub screw(s) 30 in the counter-clockwise direction results in a movement of the door or window sash 12 in the Y direction, for example, from the nominal position shown in Fig. 10B toward or to the position shown in Fig. 10C, where the door or window sash 12 is moved further from the hinge axis which is fixed to the frame 14.
Rotation of the clamping bolt(s) 38 results in an inward/outward movement of the door or window sash 12 relative to the frame in the X direction in order to apply the proper pressure against the door or window sash seals 16. Once the proper positioning is achieved, the clamping screw 44 is tightened. In this arrangement, even if the clamping screw is removed, the plate-shaped portion 22, the retaining piece 24, as well as the intermediate piece 32 are held firmly together via the dual threaded grub screw(s) 30 engagement in the corresponding threaded bore 25 and threaded opening 33.
Referring to Figure 1 and 2, adjustment of the axially acting screw 64 allows for adjustment of the first hinge part 20 relative to the second hinge part 50 in the Z (vertical) direction.
For all of the arrangements, a same tool engagement recess as 30c is preferably located in the head of all of the adjustment screw(s), axially acting screw(s), and clamping screw. This same tool engagement recess can be, for example, a cross-slot, a Phillips^®, hex, Torx^® drive, a square drive, or any other suitable tool engagement recess.
Having thus described various embodiments of the hinge in detail, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description above, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

List of Reference Numbers

10: Hinge
12: Door or window sash
13: Metal reinforcement (sash)
14: Frame
15: Metal reinforcement (frame)
16: Seals
17: Recess
18: Mounting holes
20: First hinge part
21: Hinge barrel
22: Plate-shaped portion
23: Adjustment opening
24: Retaining piece
24b: Back surface of 24
25: Threaded bore
26: Hole in 24
27: Projecting portion
28: Threaded hole in 24
29: Hole in 22
30: Dual threaded grub screw
30a: First thread section
30b: Second thread section
30c: Inner head engagement portion
32: Intermediate piece
33: Threaded opening (of 32)
34: Threaded hole
35: Hole
36: Clamping device
38: Clamping bolt
38a: Bolt-shaped shaft
40: Sleeve
42: Eccentric
44: Central clamping screw
50: Second hinge part
52: Hinge barrels

60: Adjustment bolt
62: Screw
64: Axially acting screw

D: Distance
Z: Hinge axis
XZ: First plane
YZ: Second plane

Claims

A hinge (10) for mounting a door or window sash (12) to a frame (14), the hinge (10) comprising:
first (20) and second hinge parts (50) which are operatively connected to one another by an adjustment bolt (60) so as to be rotatable about a common hinge axis (Z);

the first hinge part (20) has a plate-shaped portion (22) which is configured to interact in a fixedly and releasably connectable manner with a retaining piece (24) configured for connection to the door or window sash (12) or in the frame (14), and the second hinge part (50) is configured for connection to the other of the door or window sash (12) or the frame (14);

the plate-shaped portion (22) is oriented in a first plane (XZ) running parallel to the hinge axis (Z) and is adjustable in a second plane (YZ) running at a right angle to the first plane (XZ) of the plate-shaped portion (22);

a dual threaded grub screw (30) having a first thread section (30a) screwed into a threaded bore (25) of the retaining piece (24) and a second thread section (30b), having an opposite thread direction than the first thread section (30a), screwed into a threaded opening (33) of an intermediate piece (32), an axis of the dual threaded grub screw (30) extending perpendicular to the plate-shaped portion (22);

a clamping device (36) comprising a clamping bolt (38) and a sleeve (40) arranged such that the plate-shaped portion (22) and the intermediate piece (32) are held together from one side with said clamping bolt (38) and from the other side with said sleeve (40) fitted onto the clamping bolt (38), and the intermediate piece (32) and the plate-shaped portion (22) are displaceable relative to each other by an eccentric (42) on the clamping bolt (38); and

the dual threaded grub screw (30) has an inner head engagement portion (30c) that is accessible via an adjustment opening (23) in the plate-shaped portion (22) allowing a lateral adjustment of the first hinge part (20) relative to the second hinge part (50).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1, wherein the first thread section (30a) has a left-hand thread, and the second thread section (30b) has a right-hand thread.
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 2, wherein the clamping bolt (38) includes a bolt-shaped shaft (38a), which is pressed into the sleeve (40) and is displaceable in an axial direction of the sleeve (40) in a hole (26) in the retaining piece (24).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 3, wherein the clamping bolt (38) and the eccentric (42) are integrally formed.
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 4, wherein the second hinge part (50) comprises hinge barrels (52) that receive the adjustment bolt (60) which is aligned and adjustable in a direction of the hinge axis (Z) and is rigidly connected to the plate-shaped portion (22).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 5, wherein the adjustment bolt (60) is held at one axial end of an axially acting screw (64), and the adjustment bolt (60) is adjustable by turning the axially acting screw (64).
The hinge (10) according to claim 6, wherein the axially acting screw (64) is screwed into both ends of the second hinge part (50).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 7, wherein the dual threaded grub screw (30) extends no more than 8 mm from a back surface (24b) of the retaining piece (24).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 8, wherein a projecting portion (27) extends from a back surface (24b) of the retaining piece (24), and the threaded bore (25) of the retaining piece (24) is formed in the projecting portion (27).
The hinge (10) according to Claim 1 - 9, wherein there are two of the dual threaded grub screws (30) and the retaining piece (24) has two of the threaded bores (25), the first thread sections (30a) of the two threaded grub screws are screwed into respective ones of the threaded bores (25), and the intermediate piece (32) has two of the threaded openings (33), and the second thread sections (30b) are screwed into respective ones of the two threaded openings (33) of the intermediate piece (32).