GB2247497A - Hinge assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-closing or self-aligning hinge assembly for a door comprises a first member 1 including an inclined cam surface 5 and a second member 7 rotatably mounted on a pivot spindle 3 extending from the cam surface 5. A cam follower 9 is carried by and movable with respect to the second member 7 in the axial direction of the spindle 3 and is biased towards the cam surface 5 by a spring 17. In use of the hinge assembly with one of said members mounted in a fixed position adjacent a door frame and the other mounted on the door the cam follower 9 moves generally axially of the spindle 3 and there is no vertical movement of the door as it swings between open and closed positions. <IMAGE>

Description

HINGE ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to pivot hinge assemblies for hingedly mounting a door or the like so that it will tend to return to a closed or other predetermined position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pivot hinge assembly which operates without causing the door to rise as it is swung between its closed and open position. In other words there is no vertical movement of the door as it is swung between its open and closed positions. With such a construction it is not necessary to leave such a large gap between the door and the door frame, as is required with self-closing or self-aligning hinge assemblies of the rising butt type, for example, where the door rises vertically as it is opened.

Thus, the invention provides a self-closing or self-aligning hinge assembly particularly for doors, comprising a first member including a cam surface for mounting in a fixed position, such as on a floor or a door frame, said cam surface at least partly surrounding a pivot spindle extending from said first member, a pivotal support member rotatably mounted on the spindle and extending transversely thereof for attachment to an end surface of a door, a cam follower for engagement with said cam surface and movable in the generally axial direction of said spindle and relative to said pivotal support member and spring means for urging said cam follower towards said cam surface.

As applied to the hinged mounting of a door or the like the pivot hinge assembly is located at one end of the door or the like whose other end is supported by means of a simple pivot pin arrangement.

According to one form of the invention the cam follower is carried by a support axially slidable on the spindle and guide means are associated with the cam follower support to cooperate with guide means on the pivotal support plate. Preferably the cam follower is a roller or wheel, and the closed position for the door is defined by an indent in the cam surface into which the cam follower is received when the closed position is reached.

An adjustable brake pad may be provided to engage with the first member so as to control the rate of return of the door to its closed or a predetermined position in accordance with the amount of friction generated by the brake pad.

The spring means may comprise a helical spring disposed around the pivot spindle or alternatively the spring means may comprise a leaf spring. The leaf spring may be of generally U-form and have both of its limbs pivotally disposed about the spindle. With such an arrangement one limb may form the pivotal support member and the other limb may carry the cam follower.

The cam surface and the cam follower may be disposed below the leaf spring or, alternatively, they may be disposed between the limbs of the leaf spring. Means may be provided for adjusting the tension in the leaf spring.

The hinge assembly may include locating means to define at least one predetermined stable position in which the hinge assembly can come to rest. The locating means preferably comprises a generally cylindrical detent member mounted on the first member and being shaped to define said at least one predetermined stable position for the door, and cooperating means disposed on the pivotal support member to engage with the cylindrical member and locate in any one of said positions.

For example, the cylindrical member may be eccentrically mounted on the pivot spindle, having a recess to define each said position, and the cooperating means may be mounted in a fixed position relative to the pivotal support member.

Conveniently, the locating means define two open positions of the door, one on either side of a closed position of the door.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cam surface is an inclined surface of a bush surrounding the pivot spindle adjacent the support plate and being secure against rotation relative to the spindle, and a tubular housing extends from said pivotal support member to surround the part of said spindle extending through said pivotal support member and includes a bearing aperture for receiving the end of said pivot spindle remote from said support plate, and a biasing spring surrounding the spindle and located within the tubular housing to urge said follower towards said cam surface.

Such an arrangement in which the end of the spindle is positively supported in a bearing of the housing remote from the support plate helps to maintain the hinge assembly rigid and avoid any canting of the door relative to the hinge assembly.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of pivot hinge assembly according to the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of a pivot pin assembly for use with the hinge assembly of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of pivot hinge assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the pivot hinge assembly shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of pivot hinge assembly; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the pivot hinge assemblies shown in Figure 5.

The pivot hinge assembly of Figure comprises a lower circular support plate 1 formed with an array of screw apertures 2 for screw mounting to a floor surface.

An upright spindle 3 is secured to the plate 1 and extends upwardly centrally therefrom. A cylindrical bush 4 extends upwardly from the plate 1 about the spindle 3 and is formed with an upper cam surface 5 inclined to the spindle longitudinal axis. This cam surface is provided with an indent 5a defining the closed position, or another predetermined position, for a door supported by the hinge assembly.

A pivotal member in the form of a support plate 7 is freely mounted on a cylindrical bush 6 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the spindle 3 which extends axially through the bush 6 with the support plate 7 extending generally in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivot 3. The bush 6 is attached to a support block 8 which is free to slide vertically between two spaced guide flanges 7a depending from the support plate 7. A cam follower in the form of a wheel 9 is rotatably mounted in the support block 8 so that it can travel over the cam surface 5. A guide wheel 8a is also mounted on the end of the support block 8 between and in engagement with the guide flanges 7a. A depending arm 7b of the support plate 7 carries a brake pad 10 having an adjustment screw lOa and which can engage the side wall of the bush 4. This provides an adjustable degree of friction to the operation of the door closing mechanism and hence controls the rate of closing.

The support plate 7 is rectangular in plan view and extends mainly to one side of the spindle on which side it is provided with an array of screw holes 11 for screw securement to the underside of a door or the like.

A cylindrical housing 12 extends from the upper surface of the plate 7 normal to that surface and surrounds the spindle 3. A bushing 13 at the free end of the housing 12 is provided with a roller bearing 14 for supporting the end of the spindle 3. The bushing 13 is secured in position by locking screws 13a.

A helical biasing spring 17 is disposed about the spindle 3 within the housing 12 and rests at its lower end on the washers 15 and a roller bearing 16 engaging the bush 6. Above the spring 17, the spindle is surrounded by a thrust bearing 18 located between two washers 19, a nut 20 engaging threads on the spindle 3 for adjusting the compression of the spring 17 and a lock nut 21 for securing the nut 20. A further thrust bearing 22 located between washers 23 rests on a shoulder on the spindle 3 and is surrounded by a support nut 24.

In use, the hinge assembly of Figure 1 is suitably mounted at a lower edge of a door adjacent a rear stile of the door, as shown for example in Figure 2 of my UK Patent No. 2 209 794B. To this end an upright bore of height greater than the housing 12 extending above the pivot plate 7 is formed in the lower edge of the door inwardly spaced from the rear edge of the door stile, and the lower edge of the door is suitable recessed to accommodate the plate 7 with the longer side extending away from the rear edge. A transverse bore is suitably formed from the rear edge to communicate with the upright bore at an upper portion. The upper portion of the hinge assembly comprising the housing 12 is located in the upright bore with the plate 7 registering with the recess in the door lower edge and secured by screws.

The door is suitably pivotally supported at its upper edge with an upper pivot assembly as shown in Figure 2. This upper pivot assembly comprises an upper plate 30 for screw mounting to the upper door frame and having an upright downwardly extending pivot spindle 31. A door plate 32 having a downwardly extending spindle socket sleeve 33 provided with needle bearings 34 is mounted in the upper edge of the door with the sleeve axially aligned with the spindle 3 of the lower hinge assembly. The pivot spindle 31 is slidably received in the sleeve 33. After mounting the upper pivot assembly and lower hinge assembly to the door, the door is positioned within its frame and the lower plate 1 and upper plate 30 secured to the floor and upper door frame respectively.

The transverse bore in the door rear edge aligns with an aperture (not shown) in the housing 12 so as to register with the adjustable biasing nut 20 and lock nut 21, thereby affording access for a screwdriver or the like to engage peripheral slots on the nuts for turning the nut 20 to adjust the biasing of the spring.

In use, on moving the door about the hinge assembly and upper pivot, the cam follower wheel 9, which is normally located in the indent 5a, rotates about the spindle 3 relative to the bush 4 and moves up the inclined cam surface 5 to compress the spring 14 further to increase the biasing force progressively as the door is moved about the pivot spindles 3, 27 away from the normal rest condition. On release of the door the biasing force of the spring 14 acts to urge the cam follower wheel 9 downwardly along the inclined cam surface 5 until it is located once against the indent 5a and hence the door pivots about spindles 3, 27 to return to the closed position.

It will be seen that since the rising and falling movement of the cam follower wheel 9 is independent of the support plate 7, the door does not undergo any vertical displacement as it moves between its open and closed positions.

It will be appreciated that the restoring force for returning the door to a closed or rest position will be a function of the spring biasing force and the inclination of the cam surface 5.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the pivot hinge assembly in which parts corresponding to the previous embodiment bear the same references. In the embodiment of Figure 3 the support plate 7 forms part of the upper limb 41 of a generally U-shaped leaf spring 40 whose lower limb 42 is apertured at 43 to receive the cam follower wheel 9 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle 3 secured to the underside of limb 42 of the spring. The spindle 3 extends through both limbs of the spring 40 and the upper limb 41 of the spring is supported by a bearing 45 for rotation about the spindle 3. A stop member 46 is secured to the free end of the spindle 3 above the bearing 45 and limb 41 so that the arms of the leaf spring are tensioned between the cam surface 5, through the follower wheel 9, and the stop member 46.

When the hinge assembly is in the rest position the cam follower wheel 9 is engaged in an indent 5a. as in the previous embodiment. Upon rotating the spring 40 about the spindle 3, for example by opening a door to which the hinge assembly is attached, the limb 42 of the spring is urged towards the limb 41 as the wheel 9 rides up the inclined cam surface 5 and thereby loads the leaf spring. This resultant force tends to return the cam follower wheel 9 to its rest position in the indent 5a and hence urges the door to its closed position. This embodiment provides a very compact pivot hinge assembly which only requires a relatively small recess in a door to accommodate it. The other end of the door is again pivotally supported by a pivot assembly as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a modified version of the pivot hinge assembly of Figure 3, with like parts bearing like reference numerals. In this embodiment, means for adjusting the tension in the leaf spring 40 is provided by a screw 50 extending through both arms 41,42 of the spring 40 which can be turned to move the arms 41,42 together or apart. Helical spring 52 acts in opposition to the compression of the limbs 41,42 of the leaf spring 40, whilst helical spring 54 maintains the screw 50 in adjusted position.

In Figures 5 and 6, like parts are again indicated by like reference numerals. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the cam surface 5 is formed on the underside of a bush 56 supported adjacent the upper arm 41 of the leaf spring 40.

The lower arm 42 is shaped so as to support the cam follower wheel 9 beneath the cam surface 5, between the arms 41,42 of the spring 40.

The embodiment of Figure 6 includes, additionally, means for locating the hinge assembly in two predetermined open positions of the door, one on either side of the closed position. A cylindrical detent member 60 is mounted on the support plate 1, and has recesses 62,64 in the periphery which define the said open positions of the door.

The detent member 60 is positioned eccentrically with respect to the pivot spindle 3 extending therefrom. A follower wheel 66 is mounted on the lower arm 42 of the leaf spring 40 in fixed relation thereto. Thus, when the door is pushed and the spring 40 rotates on the pivot spindle 3, the wheel 66 engages the surface of the detent member 60, and locates in the recess 62 or 64 to retain the door in an open position.

Although all of the embodiments have been described as attached to the bottom of a door it will be understood that they could equally as well be mounted at the top of a door since they do not produce any vertical movement of the door during their pivotal movement.

Moreover the pivot hinge assemblies are capable of rotation through 3600 or any lesser arc as required and the provision of the indent Sa in the cam surface enables any predetermined rest position for the door to be readily defined.

Claims (17)

1. A self-closing or self-aligning hinge assembly particularly for doors, comprising a first member including a cam surface for mounting in a fixed position, such as on a floor or a door frame, said cam surface at least partly surrounding a pivot spindle extending from said first member, a pivotal support member rotatably mounted on the spindle and extending transversely thereof for attachment to an end surface of a door, a cam follower for engagement with said cam surface and movable in the generally axial direction of said spindle and relative to said pivotal support member and spring means for urging said cam follower towards said cam surface.

2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the cam follower is carried by a support axially slidable on the spindle and guide means are associated with the cam follower support to cooperate with guide means on the pivotal support plate.

3. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the cam follower is a roller or wheel.

4. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closed position for the door is defined by an indent in the cam surface into which the cam follower is received when the closed position is reached.

5. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, including a brake pad for engaging with the first member so as to control the rate of return of the door to its closed or a predetermined position in accordance with the degree of friction generated by the brake pad.

6. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the spring means comprises a helical spring dis posed around the pivot spindle.

7. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, in which the spring means comprises a leaf spring of generally U-form and having both of its limbs pivotally disposed about the spindle.

8. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which one limb forms the pivotal support member and the other limb carries the cam follower.

9. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the cam surface and the cam follower are disposed below the leaf spring.

10. A hinge assembly as claimed in claims 7, 8 or 9, in which the cam surface and the cam follower are disposed between the limbs of the leaf spring.

11. A hinge assembly as claimed in any of claims 7, to 10, including means for adjusting the tension in the leaf spring.

12. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which locating means are provided to define at least one predetermined stable position in which the hinge assembly can come to rest.

13. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the locating means comprises a generally cylindrical detent member mounted on the first member and being shaped to define said at least one predetermined stable position for the door, and cooperating means disposed on the pivotal support member to engage with the cylindrical member and locate in any one of said positions.

14. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 13, in which the detent member is eccentrically mounted with respect to the pivot spindle, and has a recess to define each said position, and the cooperating means is mounted in a fixed position relative to the pivotal support member.

15. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, in which the locating means define two open positions of the door, one on either side of a closed position of the door.

16. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim; in which the cam surface is an inclined surface of a bush surrounding the pivot spindle adjacent the support plate and being secure against rotation relative to the spindle, and a tubular housing extends from said pivotal support member to surround the part of said spindle extending through said pivotal support member and includes a bearing aperture for receiving the end of said pivot spindle remote from said support plate, and a biasing spring surrounding the spindle and located within the tubular housing to urge said follower towards said cam surface.

17. A hinge assembly substantially as described herein, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.