GB2451276A

GB2451276A - Continuous double door hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2451276A
Application number: GB0714549A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phil Barsby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-26
Filing date: 2007-07-26
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-26
Also published as: GB2451276B; GB0714549D0

Abstract

A continuous door hinge comprises two leaves 1 that are each pivotable about a separate axis such that the leaves may form an angle of 180 degrees relative to each other when fully opened. Each leaf 1 may comprise a gear mechanism 2, each gear mechanism 2 intermeshing with the gear mechanism 2 on the other leaf 1. The double swing hinge is continuous running for the length of the door/frame. Each leaf may ride on bearings 2. The geared leaves and bearings may be enclosed by a full length channel cap 3 and may include specially formulated intumescent strips 4 that protect the entire length of the hinge when used on fire resisting doorsets. This hinge may be fixed by screws 5, or alternatively bolted, nailed, taped, glued, keyed or clamped. Part of the leaves may be arched and tapered.

Description

Double Swing (1800) Continuous Hinge Conventionally doors which are required to open 90 degrees in two directions from the closed position (180 degree opening), swing on pivots which are recessed into the top and bottom edge of the door to allow the door to freely swing or pivot on them.

Market research has proven that there are a number of problems with pivots including length of installation time and doors splitting on high impact (especially repeated sever impacts). As a result of these Findings lntastop Ltd designed the Double Swing Continuous Hinge The Double Swing Continuous Hinge is continuous and runs for the length of the door/frame which is usually 2060mm but can be greater (or lesser) lengths. There are two standard widths fbr the hinge. 44mm (fbr 44mm FD3O doors) and 54mm (for 54mm FD6O doors), but other hinges in the range (or adaptors) can accommodate doors of any thicknesses / widths The hinge is produced primarily in aluminium alloy but may also he produced from alternative metals (eg stainless steel), plastic, ceramic or composite material(s).

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of the hinge Figure 2 show a 3D elevation view of the hinge The hinge consists of two full height paired and geared leaves 1 Each leaf rotates evenly from top to bottom, riding on multiple bearings 2 (e.g Delrin, polymeric, composite, ceramic or metallic) which provide an extremely low co-efficient of friction. Part of the leaves are arched and tapered to absorb larger amounts of stress and impact but could also be straight, parallel or triangular shaped The geared leaves and bearings are enclosed by a full length channel cap 3 and include specially formulated intumescent strips 4 that protect the entire length of the hinge when used on fire resisting doorsets. For non-Fire doors, this intiimescent can be omitted. The intumcsccnt material as per the fire test evidence is graphite based, but other intumescent types for example Palusol could be used.

Additional inturnescent strips may optionally be incorporated on the faces (front and rear, visible and concealed) or internally within the hinge sections.

A key advantage of the Double Swing Continuous Hinge is that there is no complex installation required, and the hinge is simply screwed 5 to the door and frame with no modifications to the floor required to fit. Although in the preferred embodiment the Hinge is screw fixed, the hinge could alternatively be bolted, nailed, taped, glued, mechanically keyed or clamped.

In the preferred embodiment the hinge is typically not recessed into the door core, (though it may be), it does not weaken the structural integrity of the door.

Upon high and / or repeated impact the door is very unlikely to split and repetitive doorset maintenance is unlikely. Equally, the hinge may be recessed into the door or the frame or both for a variety of reasons including (but not limited too) reducing the fire gap, increasing the moving area of the aperture widening the aperture or strengthening the door or frame. Similarly the hinge may be recessed to allow the removal of material from the door and / or frame (for example, but not limited to, remedial applications where damaged or worn material is removed or concealed).

Conversely, the hinge may be embodied in an extended form that encapsulates extended areas of the door and / or frame (for example to conceal marks from previous Fixings, redistribute mechanical loads, provide enhanced resistance to mechanical damage or for aesthetic or visual reasons).

Unlike conventional continuous hinges, the Double Swing Continuous Hinge is a pin-less assembly, hence there are no pins to wear out. This hinge is unique as it is the only fire-rated continuous hinge that can open I 80 degrees.

There are no springs or mechanical parts required to allow the product to work and, due to the bearings inserted at regular intervals along the hinge, weight and stress is dissipated down the entire hinge and evenly absorbed throughout the whole door length. This greatly reduces maintenance problems due to impact, door weight or excessive cyclical movement.

The continuous sections used in the hinge and the continuous meshing of the gear forms provides a continuous, opaque barrier along the edge of the door even as it opens allowing greater control of privacy (no peering through the jamb), draughts, etc. Similarly it prevents the insertion of objects (including but not limited to lingers) in the jamb where they can be crushed and obstruct the operation of the door.

The continuous arrangement of hinge and bearing sections provides resilience through redundancy: the door wi!! continue to operate even if the hinge is locally damaged. Further, the meshing of the gear tooth forms allows the hinge to repair itself to some degree by reforming the teeth following a modest impact or abrasion. 1'hus the door may continue to operate after an incident. This is especially significant in arduous environments, such as the fire doors in a hospital corridor.

Claims

Claims I A double swing continuous hinge which can be used on both fire and non-fire rated doors and will allow a door to open 1 80 degrees (90 degrees either side of the closed position).
2. A double swing continuous hinge according to claim I which is continuous and runs for the length of the door/frame which is usually 2060mm but can be other lengths.
3. A double swing continuous hinge according to claim I whose width is substantially the same as the width of the door onto which it is mounted
4. A double swing continuous hinge according tolaim I wherin the main body is produced in aluminium alloy but may also be produced from alternative metals (eg stainless steel), plastic, ceramic or composite material.
5. A double swing continuous hinge according to any preceding claim consisting of two full height paired and geared leaves which rotate evenly from top to bottom, riding on multiple bearings.
6. A double swing continuous hinge according to claim 5 of which part of the leaves are arched and tapered to absorb larger amounts of stress and impact but could also be straight, parallel or triangular shaped
7. A double swing continuous hinge according to any preceding claim where the geared leaves and bearings are enclosed by a full length channel cap
8. A double swing continuous hinge according to any preceding claim which includes various intumescent strips (4) to protect the entire length of the hinge when used on fire resisting doorsets.
9. A double swing continuous hinge according to any preceding claim which is screw fixed (5) to door and frame but could alternatively be bolted, nailed, taped, glued, mechanically keyed or clamped
10. A hinge assembly covering the full length of the door to provide 180° of movement but containing discontinuous elements (e.g. areas incorporating bearings and areas incorporating none).