GB2356222A - Adjustable hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge 10 comprises first and second leaves 12, 14, a hinge pin 16 pivotally interconnecting said leaves, and adjustment means 40 for adjusting the position of the fist leaf 12 relative to the hinge pin 16 in a direction transverse to the axis of the hinge pin. The adjustment means comprises an element 40 carried by the first leaf which bears against the hinge pin such that adjustment of the element 40 causes a displacement of the first leaf relative to the second leaf in a direction transverse to the hinge pin axis. The adjustment element may have a groove, with an arcuate cross section, in which the hinge pin is seated.

Description

1 2356222 ADJUSTABLE HINGE This invention relates to adjustable hinges.

Doors are usually fitted to doorframes by the use of at least two sets of hinges. The alignment of a door within a frame utilising conventional nonadjustable hinges is a repetitious and time consuming process often involving the removal, adjustment and replacing of the door within the frame a number of times.

Hinges that have the positions of a pair of leaves adjustable relative to one another are well known, see for example UK Patent GB 2276199.

Adjustable hinges are used in the building industry to improve the fit between, for example, a door and a doorframe. However, adjustable hinges currently in use cause a displacement both perpendicular to the plane of the door and also in the plane of the door. Movement in the plane of the door is not desirable as it alters the track of the door and can result in difficulties in closing the door, for example, as the leading edge of the door catches the stile of the frame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable hinge, which mitigates the above problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a hinge including first and second leaves, a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said leaves, and adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first leaf relative to the hinge pin transverse to the axis of the hinge pin, said adjustment means comprising an element carried by said first leaf and adjustable in position relative thereto in a direction transverse to said axis and bearing against said hinge pin whereby such movement of the element relative to the first leaf displaces the first leaf relative to the second leaf transverse to the hinge pin axis.

Preferably the adjustment element has a groove thereabout in which, in use, the hinge pin is seated. More preferably the groove is arcuate in cross section. Even more preferably the adjustment element is circular in cross-section, and desirably the element is in screw-threaded engagement with the first leaf. Most preferably the groove extends circumferential ly about the adjustment element.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable hinge according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is sectional view of part of the hinge of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of an adjustment screw of the hinge of Figurel.

An adjustable hinge 10 includes first and second extruded or die-cast leaves 12,14 and an elongate, solid cylindrical, steel hinge pin 16.

The first leaf 12 comprises an elongate fixing plate 18 formed with fixing apertures 18a and having a longitudinally extending knuckle 20 3protruding laterally from one surface thereof. The knuckle 20 has a longitudinally extending through bore 22 of circular cross-section.

The second leaf 14 comprises a mounting plate 24 formed with fixing apertures 24a and having a pair of spaced, integral knuckles 26,28 protruding laterally from the ends thereof, respectively. The opposite surface of the mounting plate 24 to that from which the knuckles 26,28 project defines a mounting face 29. The knuckles 26,28 have concentric, longitudinally extending passages 30,32 therethrough which are elongate in cross-section, the axis of elongation being parallel to the mounting face 29. The knuckles 26,28 have respective recesses 33,34 which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of, and intersect the passages 30, 32. The recesses 33,34 extend parallel to the axis of elongation of their respective passages 30,32 and are spaced therefrom such that the longitudinal axes of the passages 30,32 and the longitudinal axes of the respective recesses 33,34 do not intersect.

The recesses 33,34 each have a threaded portion 36 which opens through a wall 35 of the leaf 14 and a narrower smooth, cylindrical chamber 38 which terminates internally of the respective knuckles 26,28. Each recess receives an adjustment screw 40 having a screw threaded head portion 42, a plain cylindrical tail portion 46 and an intermediate circumferential ly grooved portion 44. The groove of the portion 44 is of part-circular cross-section.

In use, the knuckles 26,28 receive the knuckle 20 therebetween such that the bore 22 is coextensive with the passages 30,32.

Adjustment screws 40 are engaged in the each of the recesses 33,34 such that each tail portion 46 is seated in the respective chamber 38 and each head portion 42 engages the threaded portion 36. The hinge pin 16 extends through the bore 22 with its ends received. in the passages 30,32 respectively. Within each passage 30,32 the hinge pin 16 is located by engagement of the circumferential groove portion 44 of the respective screw 40.

Clockwise rotation of the adjustment screws 40 drives the screws 40 further into their respective recesses 33,34, carrying the pin 16 with them and thus displacing the first leaf 12 relative to the second leaf 14.

Conversely the counter clockwise rotation of the screws 40 causes a displacement of screws 40 out of their respective recesses.

In use, the second leaf 14 is fixed to a stile of a frame (not shown), for example a doorframe or a window frame, by screws which pass through the fixing apertures 24a into the stile. The first leaf 12 is similarly fixed to a wing (not shown), for example a door or a window, by screws which pass through the fixing apertures 18a into the wing.

The displacement of the pin 16 within the passages, effected by the rotation of the screws 40 as mentioned above, causes the displacement of the wing in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the recesses 33,34 without a corresponding displacement in a direction perpendicular to said axes.

5- Such a unidirectional displacement of the wing allows, for example, a door to be seated firmly against a seal in its closed position, as in the case of a UPVC double glazed door, without affecting the track of the door as it is subsequently opened and closed and also allows the adjustment of the position of the door within the frame without the need to remove and rehang the door.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:-

1. A hinge including first and second leaves, a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said leaves, and adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first leaf relative to the hinge pin transverse to the axis of the hinge pin, said adjustment means comprising an element carried by said first leaf and adjustable in position relative thereto in a direction transverse to said axis and bearing against said hinge pin whereby such movement of the element relative to the first leaf displaces the first leaf relative to the second leaf transverse to the hinge pin axis.

2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustment element has a groove. in which the hinge pin is seated.

3. A hinge as claimed in claim 2 wherein the groove is arcuate in cross section.

4. A hinge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the adjustment element is circular in cross-section and said groove is circumferential.

5. A hinge as claimed in claim 4 wherein said element is in screwthreaded engagement with the first leaf.

6. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.