GB2177155A - Improvements in or relating to rocker hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

A rocker hinge assembly, comprising a support member 13, adapted to be secured to a gate post or door post and having a first 10 and a second 11 pivot pin projecting therefrom; and a ride member 14 having first and second substantially cylindrical holes 16, 17 positioned to co-operate, respectively, with said first and second pivot pins, and an arcuate slot 21, 22 extending from each said hole towards an edge of the ride member spaced furthest from the gate, the arrangement being such that when the ride member is pivoted about the first pivot pin 10 the slot 22 extending from the second hole permits the member to pass the second pivot pin and vice versa, and such that undesired horizontal movement of the gate is resisted by co-operation of the pivot pins with the slots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to rocker hinges This invention relates to rocker hinges.

Rocker hinges, i.e. hinges that allow a door or gate to be opened either forwardly or rearwardly of the plane of the closed door or gate, about two spaced respective pivot axes, are well known. In particular, heavy gates used on farms, gated enclosures and gates along country paths are typically hung using a lowermost rocker hinge and an uppermost single pivot hinge.

One known rocker hinge arrangement comprises a support member for attachment to a gate post,that has two upstanding pivot means projecting from a substantially horizontal surface thereof, and a ride member, for attachment to the gate, that defines a pair of indentations each positioned to co-operate with a respective one of the pivot pins. In the closed position of the gate each indentation lies snugly against its respective pivot pin.

Upon opening of the gate in one direction a gate pivots about an axis defined by the upper pivot point and one of the pivot pin/indentation pair, this movement causing the second indentation to move away from the second pivot pin. Opening of the gate in the opposite direction allows the gate to pivot similarly about an axis defined by the uppermost pivot point and the second pivot pin.

However, such known rocker hinge arrangements suffer from several significant dis-advantages. Importantly, as the weight of the gate alone is used to retain the ride member in its desired position upon the pivot pins of the support member, the gate is prone to becoming dislodged from the hinge and thus rendered substantially inoperative. This problem becomes increasingly significant as the indentations of the ride member become worn, as is inevitable after repeated use of the gate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rocker hinge that at least mitigates the problems associated with known rocker hinge arrangements.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a rocker hinge assembly, comprising a support member, adapted to be secured to a gate post or door post and having a first and a second pivot pin projecting therefrom; and a ride member having first and second substantially cylindrical holes positioned to cooperate, respectively, with said first and second pivot pins and an arcuate slot extending from each said hole towards an edge of the ride member spaced furthest from the gate, the arrangement being such that when the ride member is pivoted about the first pivot pin the slot extending from the second hole permits the member to pass the second pivot pin and vice versa, and such that undesired horizontal movement of the gate is resisted by co-operation of the pivot pins with the slots.

Preferably the pivot pins are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the gate with which the hinge assembly is to be used. Desirably, each pivot pin is substantially semi-cylindrical.

Conveniently the length of each slot is such that when the ride member has been pivoted about one pin by an amount sufficient for the other pin to be cleared from the slot corresponding therewith, the orientation of the one pivot pin within the substantially circular hole associated therewith is such that movement of that pin into the slot corresponding with that pin is prevented.

In a preferred assembly the pivot pins project upwardly relative to a horizontal plate of the support member and the ride member is adapted to over-lie said horizontal plate.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a hinge arrangement for use with a door or gate, comprising at least two hinge assemblies secured one above the other, an uppermost assembly comprising a support member defining a single upstanding pivot pin and a ride member having an annular portion adapted to co-operate with said pivot pin; and a lower rocker hinge assembly constructed in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The invention also extends to a door, gate or the like comprising each a hinge assembly arrangement.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further fea- tures thereof may be appreciated, a hinge arrangement of the hinge invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded schematic view of a rocker hinge assembly of the invention in position on a gate; Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the rocker hinge assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the rocker hinge assembly of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the rocker hinge assembly of Fig. 3; and Figure 5 is plan view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating movement of the hinge assembly towards an open position of the gate.

Referring to Fig. 1, a hinge arrangement for use with a gate comprises an upper support member 1 fixed to a gate post 2 that cooperates with an upper ride member 3 fixed to an upper region of the style of the gate 4.

A rocker hinge assembly embodying the invention is generally indicated at 5 and comprises a support member 6, fixed to the gate post 2 at a position spaced beneath the support member 1, and a ride member 7 fixed to the style of gate 4 at a position beneath the ride member 3.

The upper hinge assembly is of conventional design, the upper support member 1 defining an upstanding pivot pin 8 and the ride member 3 having a substantially annular eye portion 9 that is received over the pivot pin 8.

The eye portion 9 is free to pivot about the pin 8 in either direction with a certain amount of play to enable the eye to twist slightly relative to the pin. Whilst a simple eye/pivot arrangement has been illustrated, the upper hinge assembly may comprise a pivot and trunnion arrangement, such as that described in GB-A-2117040.

Referring to Fig. 2, a rocker hinge assembly 5 of the invention will be described in more detail. The support member 6 comprises a substantially horizontal plate 12 from which project first and second upstanding pivot pins 10, 11. Each of the pivot pins 10, 11 is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape, i.e. has a semi-circular cross-section, the diametrical faces of the pivot pins being parallel, and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face of the gate post 2 to which the support member 6 is attached. The diametrical faces of each pin are arranged to face one another.

The support member 6 is conveniently formed as a right angled plate, the pins 10, 11, projecting upwardly from the substantially horizontal plate 12 and mounting means being provided to secure the other, substantially vertical, face 13 to the gate post 2.

The ride member 7 comprises a mounting portion 14, for securing the ride member 7 to the style of the gate 4 and a horizontal ride plate 15, projecting outwardly from the mounting portion 14 towards the gate post 2.

The ride member 7 is positioned on the gate 4 so that the lower surface of the horizontal ride plate 15 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the horizontal plate 12 of the support member 6. Two substantially circular holes 16, 17 are provided in the ride plate 15 each to co-operate with a respective pivot pin 10, 11 as will be described further below. An arcuate slot 18 having an outer edge 20 and an inner edge 21, extends from the hole 16 to an edge 19 of the ride plate 15 furthest from the gate 4. Likewise an arcuate slot 22, having an outer edge 23 and an inner edge 24 extends from the edge 19 of the ride plate 15 to intersect the circular hole 17.The arcuate slot 18 is formed to lie on an arc of a circle, having its centre at the same point as the centre of the circular hole 17 and the arcuate slot 22 is formed to lie in an arc of a circle having its centre at the same point as the centre of the circular hole 16. The outer edges 20, 23 of the slots 18, 22, extend tantengially to the outer edges of the holes on one side and the inner edges 21, 24 terminate at the edges of the holes, but if extended would pass through the centre of the holes. Thus each slot has a width substantially equal to one half of the diameter of the hole 16, 17 and can receive, with minimum clearance, a half cylindrical pin 10 or 11 if the pin and slot are appropriately aligned.

In assembling the hinge arrangement, the pins 10, 11 are located within the holes 16, 17 respectively by lowering the ride member 7 onto the pins. It will be appreciated that, once located the plate cannot be drawn off of the pins by horizontal movement due to the converging nature of the arcuate slots.

Referring now to Fig. 5 the operation of the hinge arrangement 5 will be described. When the gate 4 is opened in the direction of the arrow A the gate pivots about an axis defined by the pivot pin 8 and the semi-cylindrical pivot pin 10. The arcuate face of the pivot pin 10 co-operates with the circumference of the circular hole 16 in order to provide smooth movement of the gate relative to the gate post. As the pin 10 is retained within the hole 16, with the arcuate face against the edge of the hole 16 the arcuate slot 22 is able to pass the semi-cylindrical pin 11 without interference.The length of the arcuate slot 22 is selected so that once the ride plate 7 has rotated by an amount sufficient to take the slot 22 clear of the pivot pin 11 (position shown in Fig. 5) the orientation of the pin 10 within the hole 16 will prevent the pin from being able to pass through the slot 18 and thus prevents dislodgement of the gate from the hinge by horizontal movement. During rotation of the gate the weight of the gate acts to urge the ride plate 7 towards the respective pivot pins at 10, 11.

In a like manner, the gate can be opened in the opposite direction, the hole 17 co-operating with the pivot pin 11 to allow pivoting about the semi-cylindrical pin 11 whilst the slot 18 is permitted to move past the semicylindrical pivot pin 10.

It will be appreciated that the axis about which the gate rotates upon opening (in either direction) is offset at an angle to the vertical.

Thus, as the gate is opened the free end of the gate will tend to rise upwardly, thus clearing the bottom of the gate from any obstructions on the ground surface. The increase of potential energy of the gate as a consequence of this rising action upon opening also provides an automatic closing function.

Whilst in the embodiment described above, the pins 10, 11 have been described as projecting upwardly from the plate 6, this arrangement could be inverted so that the ride plate 7 lies beneath the horizontal plane of support member 6. This arrangement provides additional security as the gate cannot be displaced upwardly, due to the co-operation between the ride plate 7 and the support member 6 or downwardly due to co-operation between the eye portion 9 and the horizontal plate of the support member 1. However, this would necessitate disconnecting at least one hinge element from the gate when mounting the gate position and when dismounting the gate.

Ideally, the semi-cylindrical pivot pins 10, 11 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the gate 4. In one preferred arrangement, the pins 10, 11 are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 90mm and have a length, measured from the surface of the support plates from which they project, of approximately 40mm.

During normal use of this hinge arrangement only the region of the pivot pins 10, 11 and the circular holes 16, 17 that co-operate during opening and closing of the gate are subject to wear. Thus the features that act to retain the ride plate 7, at gate 4, on the support member 6 are not subject to extreme wear and thus it is envisaged that a hinge as described will operate successfully throughout a prolonged life.

The hinge may be formed from any suitable material, for example, steel.

The respective support members and ride members may be secured to the gate post and gate in any suitable manner as will be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art.

Although the rocker hinge has been described in use with a gate it will be readily appreciated that such a hinge arrangement could be used on a door or any similar hinged member.

Claims (1)

1. A rocker hinge assembly, comprising a support member, adapted to be secured to a gate post or door post and having a first and a second pivot pin projecting therefrom; and a ride member having first and second substantially cylindrical holes positioned to co-operate, respectively, with said first and second pivot pins and an arcuate slot extending from each said hole towards an edge of the ride member spaced furthest from the gate, the arrangement being such that when the ride member is pivoted about the first pivot pin the slot extending from the second hold permits the member to pass the second pivot pin and vice versa, and such that undesired horizontal movement of the gate is resisted by co-operation of the pivot pins with the slots.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pins are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the gate with which the hinge assembly is to be used.

3. A rocker hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each pivot pin is substantially semi-cylindrical.

4. A hinge assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot pins project upwardly relative to a horizontal plate of the support member and the ride member is adapted to over-lie said horizontal plate.

6. A hinge arrangement for use with a door or gate comprising at least two hinge assemblies secured one above the other, an uppermost assembly comprising a support member defining a single upstanding pivot pin and a ride member having an annular portion adapted to co-operate, with said pivot pin; and a lower hinge assembly constructed in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A gate comprising a hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A gate comprising a hinge arrangement according to claim 6.

9. A rocker hinge assembly substantially herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A hinge arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A gate substantially herein described with refence to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-12 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A rocker hinge assembly, comprising a support member, adapted to be secured to a gate post or door post and having a first and a second pivot pin projecting therefrom; each pin having a part cylindrical cross-section, part of the pin thus having an effective diameter less than the diameter of the cylinder and a ride member having a first and second substantially circular holes positioned to co-operate, respectively, with said first and second pivot pins and an arcuate slot extending from each said hole towards an edge of the ride member spaced furthest from the gate, each circular hole having a diameter greater than the diameter of the cylinder and each slot having a width less than the diameter of the cylinder, but being wide enought to permit passage of a pivot pin therethrough in an appropriate alignment the arrangement being such that when the ride member is pivoted about the first pivot pin the slot extending from the second hole permits the member to pass the second pivot pin and vice versa, and such that undesired horizontal movement of the gate is resisted by the pivot pins being retained in the holes and not passing into the slots.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pins are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the gate with which the hinge assembly is to be used.

3. A rocker hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each pivot pin is substantially semi-cylindrical.

4. A hinge assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot pins project upwardly relative to a horizontal plate of the support member and the ride member is adapted to over-lie said horizontal plate.

5. A hinge arrangement for use with a door or gate comprising at least two hinge assemblies secured on above the other, an uppermost assembly comprising a supoort member defining a single upstanding pivot pin and a ride member having an annular portion adapted to co-operate, with said pivot pin; and a lower hinge assembly constructed in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A gate comprising a hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A gate comprising a hinge arrangement according to claim 5.

8. A rocker hinge assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A hinge arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A gate substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.