GB2221950A

GB2221950A - Hinges

Info

Publication number: GB2221950A
Application number: GB8819839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stig Petersson
Original assignee: PATENT AND PRODUCT PROMOTION
Current assignee: PATENT AND PRODUCT PROMOTION
Priority date: 1988-08-20
Filing date: 1988-08-20
Publication date: 1990-02-21
Also published as: GB8819839D0

Abstract

A hinge assembly (10) for connecting two components (12, 14), has a fixed part (16) for attachment to a first one (14) of the components, an elongate pivot carrying member (20) movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis and provided with a pivot (24) at one of its ends for mounting the other component and biasing means (S) for biasing the pivot carrying member in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis. The assembly also has an elongate engagement member (40) adapted to engage with a portion (46) of the second of the components (12) and being movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the pivot carrying member, and coupling means (32, 34) mechanically linking the pivot carrying member (20) and the elongate engagement member (40). The coupling means is adapted to produce a larger displacement of the elongate engagement member (40) for a given displacement of the pivot carrying member (20) whereby on closure of member (12) (ie from the Fig. 4 position to the Fig. 1 position) member (40) is displaced by portion (46) and thus drives first carrying member (20) to its retracted position. The hinge is particularly intended for use on cupboards. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO HINGES.

The present invention relates to hinges.

In particular the present invention relates to hinges comprising a fixed part so arranged as to be attached to a door frame or similar, and a movable part so arranged as to support a door or similar so that it is free to swing, said hinge being designed to be fitted inside the door so as to be concealed by the door in its closed position, said hinge incorporating a mechanism which, as the door or similar swings, will cause the pivot shaft of the door or similar, supported on the fixed part of the hinge, to move away from the door frame or similar, thereby providing clearance for the door to swing. So-called concealed hinges are encountered in cupboards in particular.

The present invention relates to hinges of that type.

A hinge of the above mentioned type is usually situated on the inside of a door when the door, in its closed position, bears against the door frame. This means that, in the closed door position, the pivot of the hinge is located inside the door frame. If the pivot were to be rigidly attached to the door frame, it would mean that-the door could not be opened, since the door edges would move inwardly as the door swings open, and then would therefore catch on the door frame. (A door could possibly be designed with, for instance, cylindrical edges, which would not catch on the door frame, although this is not envisaged here, but rather, doors with square edges).The pivot for such concealed hinges is thus capable of moving, so that, regardless of the point to which the door is swung out, the pivot point will move outwards with respect to the door frame, and will permit the edges of the door to swing past the door frame.

In the case of concealed hinges currently in use, this outward movement of the pivot is achieved in one arrangement by means of a system of levers in which a link is caused to fold by guide elements as the door swings.

Such systems of levers suffer from the disadvantage that the said link occupies a relatively large space in the course of swinging, which encroaches upon the space inside the cupboard. The situation has been known to arise in which objects placed next to the lever link, which is straight when the door is in its open position, have subsequently been damaged by the movement of the link as the door is closed.

In another arrangement the pivot is carried by a slide and is caused to slide outwardly and inwardly when the door swings. However, a complicated mechanism connects the slide and the swinging part of the hinge.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a hinge capable of concealed mounting on the inside of the door, which includes a slide mechanism which is very simple and reliable compared to such previously known mechanisms.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly for connecting two components, comprising a fixed part for attachment to a first one of the components, an elongate pivot-carrying member movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis and provided with a pivot at one of its ends for mounting a second one of the components, biasing means for biasing the pivot carrying member in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis, an elongate engagement member adapted to engage with a portion of the second of the components and being movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the pivot carrying member, and coupling means mechanically linking the pivot carrying member and the elongate engagement member and which is adapted to produce a larger displacement of the elongate engagement member for a given displacement of the pivot carrying member.

Preferably, the coupling means comprises a first rack fixed with respect to the fixed part, a first gear rotatably mounted on the pivot-engaging member and engageable with said first rack, a second, smaller gear rotatable with the first gear and engageable with a rack portion provided on the elongate engagement member.

The pivot-carrying member and the elongate engagement member may be slidably mounted with respect to the fixed part.

Advantageously, the fixed part can be fixed to a door frame or similar (e.g. a cupboard) and the pivot may be adapted to mount a door thereon.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention, shown in a closed condition; Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of arrows II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hinge assembly of Fig. 1, shown in an open condition; and Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of arrows IV-IV of Fig. 3.

The hinge assembly 10 is used to hingedly attach a door 12 to a cupboard 14. The assembly comprises a base 16 secured to the inner face of the cupboard by means of screws 18. A generally cylindrical, elongate pivot carrier bar 20 is slidably received in an elongate, cylindrical guide channel 22 in the base 16, the guide channel 22 being open into the cupboard, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. One end of the pivot carrier bar 20 carries a pivot 24 which hingedly receives a spigot 26 connected to the door 12. Said end is generally hook-shaped to enable up to about 180v pivoting motion of the door. The spigot 26 forms part of a mounting 28 which is secured in a recess 30 formed in the interior face of the door 12 so as to receive said end of the pivot carrier bar. A torsion spring S bears upon the end of the pivot carrier bar 20 remote from the pivot 24.The spring is housed within the guide channel 22, and is retained by a stop 25.

At a point on the carrier bar 20 approximately one-third of the length of the pivot carrier bar 20 from the end remote from the pivot 24, a short axle 32 is mounted on the bar and extends from the bar through the opening of the guide channel 22 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bar. The axle 32 is provided with two rotatably mounted pinions 34,36 of different size, the smaller pinion 34 being located between the larger pinion 36 and the pivot carrier bar 20. The pinions are fixedly attached to each other so that they can only rotate together.

The larger pinion 36 is provided with, for example, twenty-four teeth around its circumference, and meshes with a first rack portion 38 which is fixed relative to the base 16. The displacement of the pinion 36 along the rack 38 is limited by the stop 25 attached to the base 16. The smaller pinion is provided with, for example, ten teeth around its circumference, and meshes with a second, movable elongate rack portion 40 which is slidably mounted in an elongate recess 42 in the base 16. The end of the movable rack 40 nearest to the door 12 is provided with a V-shaped recess 44 which is adapted to engage with a short metal bar 46 extending across the open recess 30 and being secured to the door by means of two screws 48. When the door is in its closed position, the bar 46 is, in fact, seated in the V-shaped recess 44, since the end of the movable rack 40 is approximately level with the level of the cupboard 14.

When the door is closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the direction of force of the spring S is so close to the pivot 24 that an insufficient turning moment is produced to overcome the internal friction in the pivot 24 and the weight of the door, and hence the door does not pivot.

Also, the force transmitted to the movable rack 40 from the spring S via the pinions 34,36 and the rack 38 acts against the bar 46 connected to the door. For every movement of the pivot carrier bar 20, the movable rack 40 must be moved through a greater distance and must also necessarily pivot the mass of the door 12. Thus, the spring S is unable to move the hinge components since it would be necessary for it to provide sufficient force to displace the door translationally (i.e. by displacing the pivot 24) and rotationally (i.e. by pivoting the door about the pivot 24).

However, when the door is pivoted slightly (usually by a person pulling on a handle situated on the opposite edge of the door from the pivot), the spring S no longer has to provide the force for pivoting the door, and thus the spring is then able to displace the pivot carrier bar 20, and hence the pivot 24, in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the bar 20. Thus, as the door is manually opened, the pivot 24 moves outwardly and prevents the door from fouling on the cupboard 14.

As the carrier bar 20 is pushed out, the larger, outer pinion 36 meshes with the fixed rack 38, thus causing the larger pinion to rotate. Since the larger pinion 36 and the smaller pinion 34 are constrained to rotate together, the smaller pinion also rotates, and the engagement of the smaller pinion 34 with the slidably mounted movable rack 40 causes the rack 40 to move outwardly. Since the smaller pinion 34 has fewer teeth than the larger pinion 36, the displacement of the movable rack 40 is greater than that of the pivot carrier bar 20.

During the initial opening of the door 12 (approximately the first 70) the bar 46 attached to the door 12 is sealed in the recess 44 in the end of the movable rack 40. Thus, during the initial opening (for example the first 709) the door may be hinged to any desired position and will stay in that position, since once the external pivoting force is removed, the spring is no longer capable of producing the displacement of the hinge 24 and the pivoting of the door 12 by the movable rack 40 about the hinge 24, and, as explained previously, displacement of the hinge cannot occur without displacement of the movable rack 40. Only when the door is manually pivoted, i.e.

when the spring S can use its force solely to displace the pivot carrier bar 20 can the movable rack 40 and the pivot carrier bar 20 move, thereby displacing the pivot 24 outwardly, preventing fouling of the door 12 on the cupboard 14 as the door is opening further.

In some respects, the action of the rack 40 can be likened to that of a brake. The rack 40 and the pivot carrier bar 20 must move together (although at different speeds), but the rack 40 normally bears against the door, thus restricting movement of the rack 40 and the carrier bar 20. On opening the door, the end of the rack 40 no longer has to push against the door and is not restricted from moving, and the spring S can then use its force to push the carrier bar 20 and the pivot 24 outwardly. Since the pinion wheel 34 which engages with the movable rack 40 is smaller than the pinion wheel 36 which engages with the fixed rack 38, a reduced force is applied to the movable rack 40 and thus to the bar 46 on the door, and so the spring S can not pivot the door open by itself.

Once the pivot carrier bar 20 and the movable rack 40 are fully extended, (i.e. when the pinion 36 engages the stop), the door 12 may, of course, be opened further without fouling on the cupboard 14. In the example shown, the door can be pivoted through approximately 1809.

When it is desired to close the door 12, it is pivoted about the pivot 24. As the bar 46 attached to the door engages in the V-shaped recess 44 in the end of the movable rack 40, the movable rack 40 is moved inwardly. The inward movement of the movable rack 40 causes the pinions 34,36 to rotate, and since the larger pinion 36 meshes with the fixed rack 38, the axle 32 and hence the pivot carrier bar 20 are forced inwardly, against the force of the spring S, although at a slower rate than the movable rack 40, due to the difference in size of the two pinions 34,36. Thus, as the door 12 is pivoted shut, the pivot 24 is gradually withdrawn such that fouling of the door 12 on the cupboard 14 does not occur, and so that when the door is finally shut, it lies flush with the cupboard.

As mentioned above, it is principally not necessary to provide the door with means holding or locking the door flush with the cupboard. However, in order to secure that the door does no rebound to a partly open position after a fast closing movement it can be practical to provide the door with, for example, a conventional holder or lock, such as a magnetic or snap holder.

Further, the hinge can be provided with a catch mechanism preventing an open door to pivot unintentionally to a closing position. Such a mechanism can consist of a pawl in the shape of, for example, a projection extending laterally from the second rack portion. This pawl is able to fall into stop member in the guide channel 42 in a chosen position of the rack portion, preferably the end position of the second rack portion, i.e. with the door in approximately 70" open. This catched position will be released by means of a portion of the door.

Said portion can be provided with for example an oblique surface which upon a closing movement of the door removes the rack portion from its catched position by means of a lifting movement.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for connecting two components, comprising a fixed part for attachment to a first one of the components, an elongate pivot-carrying member movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis and provided with a pivot at one of its ends for mounting a second one of the components, biasing means for biasing the pivot carrying member in a direction substantially along its longitudinal axis, an elongate engagement member adapted to engage with a portion of the second of the components and being movable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the pivot carrying member, and coupling means mechanically linking the pivot carrying member and the elongate engagement member and which is adapted to produce a larger displacement of the elongate engagement member for a given displacement of the pivot carrying member.

2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a first rack fixed with respect to the fixed part, a first gear rotatably mounted on the pivot-engaging member and engageable with said first rack, a second, smaller gear rotatable with the first gear and engageable with a rack portion provided on the elongate engagement member.

3. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pivot-carrying member and the elongate engagement member are slidably mounted with respect to the fixed part.

4. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said first and second gears are in the form of pinions.

5. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gears are mounted co-axially.

6. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein an end of the elongate engagement member is shaped to engage with its corresponding portion on the second of the components.

7. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a member is provided on the second of the components for engagement with the elongate engagement member.

8. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

9. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

10. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed part is adapted to be attached to a door frame or like support, and the pivot is adapted to mount a door thereon.