GB2475083A

GB2475083A - Hinge with releasable locking means and adjustable limiting means

Info

Publication number: GB2475083A
Application number: GB0919415A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kobby King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-05
Filing date: 2009-11-05
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Also published as: WO2011055106A3; WO2011055106A2; GB0919415D0

Abstract

A hinge comprising a releasable locking means and/or adjustable limiting means. The releasable locking means may comprise a spindle having splines 9A for selective engagement with an axially movable collar 10 having internal splines mounted for axial movement within a sleeve (7A, fig.3B) connected to one hinge leaf. The locking collar 10 may be moved into and out of engagement with the splined shaft by a spring biased push button 12 ratchet system to lock and unlock the hinge. The locking collar 10 may have at least one split line whereby excess pressure allows the collar to open up and disengage the spindle. The adjustable limiting means may comprise a collar 15 which slides axially as the hinge is opened due to spiral grooves on the spindle 6B or sleeve and abuts a variable stop 17 to vary the maximum opening of the hinge. A further adjustable limiting device may comprise a projection 19 threadingly mounted to a hinge leaf to abut the opposite hinge plate and prevent the hinge from closing completely to prevent fingers being pinched in the hinge; a sliding cover (21, fig.2) may reveal an aperture in the opposite hinge plate into which the limiting projection is received when complete closing is desired.

Description

Title: Door Hinge The present mvention relates to a door hinge.

It is known to provide wedges or stops on a floor to limit the amount a door can be opened or to restrain movement of a door in an open position, but these can trip people up. It is also known to provide locks for doors for security. It is also known to provide mechanism to prevent fingers being caught between a door and door frame.

The invention seeks to provide a door hinge which performs at least some of these known tasks.

According to the present invention there is provided a door hinge comprising: a) a frame plate for connection to a door frame, b) a door plate for connection to a door, c) a spindle forming a rotational axis connected to the door plate or the frame plate, d) a sleeve to embrace the spindle connected to the frame plate or door plate, e) releasable locking means and/or adjustable limiter means in the sleeve to prevent or limit rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, in use, the locking means or limiter means preventing or limiting movement of the door.

Preferably the spindle includes an array of external splines, and the sleeve include a first collar with cooperating internal splines, said first collar being supported to slide axially in said sleeve on or off the spindle but not rotate relative to the sleeve, said first collar moving from a first position where the first collar splines engage the spindle splines preventing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve, and said first collar moving to a second position where the first collar splines disengage from the spindle splines allowing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve.

Preferably the first collar has one or more split lines whereby when excess pressure is applied to the first collar when in the first position, the first collar will open up and allow the splines on the first collar to ride over the splines on the spindle.

Preferably the first collar is moved from the first position to the second position and vice versa by a push button ratchet system. The ratchet system may be similar to that in a ball point pen.

Preferably the limiter means may include a second collar between the spindle and the sleeve, said collar following a spiral groove on the spindle or sleeve so it is displaced axially but not rotated as the spindle rotates relative to the sleeve, and a variable position stop is provided to adjust the axial displacement of the second collar thereby limiting the amount the spindle can rotate relative to the sleeve.

Preferably a variable length projection is provided on the door or frame plate to prevent the door plate rotating to a position adjacent the frame plate so as to limit the amount a door can close. Preferably the frame or door plate has a movable cover plate which, when removed, allows the projection on one plate to pass through an aperture on the other plate, whereby to allow the door plate to rotate to a position adjacent the frame plate.

Preferably the spindle extends either side of a centre tube on one plate to form an upper and lower spindle, and the sleeve has an upper and lower half connected to the other plate to engage the upper and lower spindle either side of the centre tube.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a hinge mounted on a door and door frame with the door closed, Figure 2 shows a hinge mounted on a door and door frame with the door open, Figures 3A to 3C show part assembled and part section views of the hinge.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a door hinge I for hinging a door "X" to a door frame Hinge I has a frame plate 2 for connection to door frame "Y" by any suitable means such as screws 3. A door plate 4 is provided for connection to door "X" by any suitable means such as screws 3.

Connected to door plate 4 is a centre tube 5 having an upper and lower spindle 6A,6B extending either side of centre tub 5. Connected to frame plate 2 is the upper and lower sleeve 7A,7B which embrace upper and lower spindles 6A,6B either side of centre tube 5. Centre tube 5, upper and lower spindle 6A,6B, and upper and lower sleeve 7A,7B are axially aligned.

Frame plate 2 is thus hinged to door plate 4 with the upper and lower spindle 6A,6B forming the rotational axis. Nylon washes 8A,8B form bearing surfaces between tube S and upper and lower sleeves 7A,7B.

Releasable locking means is provided in the sleeve to prevent rotation of the spindle in the sleeve. The locking means includes an array of external splines 9A on the upper spindle 6A, and the upper sleeve 7A includes a first collar 10 with cooperating internal splines bA. First collar 9 is supported to slide axially in sleeve 7A on or off the upper spindle 6A but not rotate relative to the sleeve as collar 10 has projections lOB which engage in axial slots 11 in the inner wall of upper sleeve 7A. First collar 10 can thus move from a first position where the first collar splines bOA engage the spindle splines 9A preventing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve, and the first collar moving to a second position where the first collar splines bOA disengage from the spindle splines 9A allowing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve.

The first collar 10 is moved from the first position to the second position and vice versa by a push button ratchet system operated by button 12. The ratchet system may be similar to that in a ball point pen and need not be described herein. In this respect a spring 13 biases the collar into the second position.

In use locking of the upper spindle 6A in the upper sleeve 7A limits movement of the door "X". Thus, if it is desired to lock the door in the closed position (as a security device), the door can be closed against the frame "Y", and the button 12 operated to move the collar into the first position. Similarly if it is desired to lock the door ajar (instead of using a door stop or wedge), the door can be swung to the desired ajar position, and the button 12 pushed down to move the collar into the first position. When the door needs moving to another position, button 12 can be pushed down again to move the collar to the second position so that the door swings freely.

The first collar has one or more splits lines 14 whereby when excess pressure is applied to the first collar when in the first position, the first collar will open up and allow the splines 1OA on the first collar to ride over the splines 9A on the upper spindle 6A. This prevents excessive leverage, e.g. cause by a person running into a locked door, putting a destructive strain on the door plate 4 and frame plate 2 (and their screws 3).

An adjustable limiter means is provided to limit the amount the spindle can rotate relative to the sleeve. The limiter means includes a second collar 15 between the lower spindle 6B and the lower sleeve 7B. Second collar 15 has an internal projection 15A following a spiral groove 16 on the lower spindle 6B, and an external projection 15B which runs in an axial slot on the inner wall of lower sleeve 6B to prevent second collar 15 from rotating. Second collar 15 is thus displaced axially but not rotated as the lower spindle 6A rotates relative to the lower sleeve 7B.

A variable position stop in the form of a threaded stopper 17 is provided to adjust the effective length of groove 16 and hence the axial displacement of the second collar, thereby limiting the amount the spindle can rotate relative to the sleeve. Knob 17 has an external thread I 7A which engages in an internal thread 17B in lower sleeve lB. This may be used to control the amount a door is allows to open, e.g. to prevent furniture being damaged, and thus replaces the conventional "door stop". Resilient "0-rings" 1 5A, I 5B may provided either side of second collar 15 to act as a damper when the collar 15 abuts either the knob 17 or the centre tube 5 limiting the travel of the lower collar 15.

A variable length projection 19 is provided on the door plate 4 (or frame plate 2) to prevent the door plate rotating to a position adjacent the frame plate so as to limit the amount a door can closed, e.g. when it is desired to prevent a persons fingers being jammed in between the door "X" and frame "Y". Projection 19 has an external thread 19A which engages in a corresponding thread 20 in door plate 4 so that the length of the projection can be adjusted to adjust the amount a door can closed.

A movable and sliding cover plate 21 releasably covers an aperture 22 in the frame plate 2 leading to a recess in the frame "Y". When cover plate is removed to expose aperture 22, this allows the projection 19 to pass through aperture 22 whereby to allow the door plate to rotate to a position adjacent the frame plate and thus allow the door to close fully so overriding the function of projection 19.

It is envisaged that the hinge of the invention may be sold as one or a pair of hinges with the other hinge being of a type well known in the art but matching the hinge of the invention in outward appearance.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the frame plate could be fixed on the door and the door plate fixed on the frame. The hinge may include just the releasable locking means or just adjustable limiter means instead of both the releasable locking means and the adjustable limiter means.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A door hinge comprising: a) a frame plate for connection to a door frame, b) a door plate for connection to a door, c) a spindle forming a rotational axis connected to the door plate or the frame plate, d) a sleeve to embrace the spindle connected to the frame plate or door plate, e) releasable locking means and/or adjustable limiter means in the sleeve to prevent or limit rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, in use, the locking means or limiter means preventing or limiting movement of the door.
2. A door hinge according to claim 1, wherein the spindle includes an array of external splines, and the sleeve include a first collar with cooperating internal splines, said first collar being supported to slide axially in said sleeve on or off the spindle but not rotate relative to the sleeve, said first collar moving from a first position where the first collar splines engage the spindle splines preventing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve, and said first collar moving to a second position where the first collar splines disengage from the spindle splines allowing rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve.
3. A door hinge according to claim 2, wherein the first collar has one or more split lines whereby when excess pressure is applied to the first collar when in the first position, the first collar will open up and allow the splines on the first collar to ride over the splines on the spindle.
4. A door hinge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first collar is moved from the first position to the second position and vice versa by a push button ratchet system.
5. A door hinge according to claim 4, wherein the ratchet system may be similar to that in a ball point pen.
6. A door hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the limiter means includes a second collar between the spindle and the sleeve, said collar following a spiral groove on the spindle or sleeve so it is displaced axially but not rotated as the spindle rotates relative to the sleeve, and a variable position stop is provided to adjust the axial displacement of the second collar thereby limiting the amount the spindle can rotate relative to the sleeve.
7. A door hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein a variable length projection is provided on the door or frame plate to prevent the door plate rotating to a position adjacent the frame plate so as to limit the amount a door can close.
8. A door hinge according to claim 7, wherein the frame or door plate has a movable cover plate which, when removed, allows the projection on one plate to pass through an aperture on the other plate, whereby to allow the door plate to rotate to a position adjacent the frame plate.
9. A door hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the spindle extends either side of a centre tube on one plate to form an upper and lower spindle, and the sleeve has an upper and lower half connected to the other plate to engage the upper and lower spindle either side of the centre tube.
10. A door hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.