Hinge assembly for a folding closure

A hinge assembly having a hinge member and two adjacent panels. The hinge member is elongated with an inner surface that is slightly dished. There is an entry slot in the center of the inner surface extending inwardly into the member, the entry slot diverging into two curved branch slots extending in opposite directions. Each panel has a curved hinge element at each side of the panel with one hinge element curved in one direction and the other hinge element curved in the other direction, both hinge elements also curved toward each other. The hinge elements of the adjacent panels are mounted in the hinge member, the hinge elements passing together into the central slot and then diverging from each other into the branch slots. The panels can be moved in the slots between a folded position where they are almost parallel and an unfolded position where they are against the inner surface, almost aligned, and extending away from each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed toward a hinge assembly for a folding closure. The closure is of the type having vertical closure panels, the closure folding in a horizontal direction. The hinge assembly is of the type employing a hinge member to pivotably connect the adjacent ends of adjacent panels. The invention is also directed toward a folding closure using the hinge assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hinge assemblies employing a hinge member to pivotably connect adjacent ends of adjacent closure panels are known. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,570,579 and 4,953,261. These known assemblies however can be complicated in construction, can be relatively large, and are not always suited for connecting vertical panels. Folding closures made from the known hinge assemblies can be somewhat unsightly in appearance since the hinge assemblies do not always provide a neat and compact construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a hinge assembly which is simple in construction, compact, easy to assembly and to operate, and which is well suited for connecting vertical panels. It is also the purpose of the present invention to provide a folding closure which is simple in construction, neat in appearance, compact, easy to assembly and operate, and suited for use with vertical closure panels.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an elongated hinge assembly having a separate hinge member with slot means opening into the member from one side of the member. The slot means receive hinge elements on the adjacent sides of adjacent panels, to movably connect the panels to the hinge member. The panels in the slot means in the hinge member are movable between a folded position, where the panels are near each other, and an unfolded position where the panels extend away from each other and are nearly aligned. The panels are limited by the hinge member to unfolding to an included angle between the panels that is slightly less than 180°. The arrangement permits the assembly to be easily folded from the unfolded position. The assembly includes means for retaining the panels in position on the hinge member when the panels are vertical. The panels, including the hinge elements, are preferably made from a sheet of uniform thickness simplifying construction.

A folding closure employing a plurality of the hinge assemblies has the hinge assemblies alternating on opposite sides of the closure. Except for the end panels in the closure, each panel is connected by the hinge elements on its two sides to two different hinge members, thus forming part of two adjacent hinge assemblies, the two hinge assemblies on opposite sides of the closure. Each panel has a first hinge element at one side curving back toward one surface of the panel and a second hinge element at the other side curving back toward the other surface of the panel. This structure allows the hinge assemblies to alternate on opposite sides of the closure.

The closure is suspended by trolley means from a top rail, there normally being a trolley means mounted on the top of every second panel. Retaining means are provided on the top and bottom of each hinge member to retain the panels of each hinge assembly connected to the hinge member when the closure is suspended.

The invention is particularly directed toward a hinge assembly having a hinge member and two adjacent panels. The hinge member is elongated with an inner surface and an outer surface extending outwardly from one side of the inner surface to the other side. The hinge member has an entry slot in the center of inner surface extending inwardly, the entry slot diverging into two branch slots curving away from each other toward the sides of the inner surface. The inner surface is slightly dished outwardly toward the outer surface between its two sides. Each panel has a curved hinge element at each side of the panel with one hinge element curved in one direction and the other hinge element curved in the other direction, both hinge elements also curved toward each other. The hinge elements of the adjacent panels are mounted in the hinge member, the hinge elements passing together into the central slot and then diverging from each other into the branch slots. The panels can be slid relative to the hinge member to have the panels nearly adjacent in a folded position or to have the panels adjacent the inner surface, nearly aligned, in an unfolded position extending away from each other. The slightly dished inner surface of the hinge member prevents the panels from aligning in the unfolded position.

The invention is also particularly directed toward a folding closure having a plurality of elongate panels, each panel having parallel sides with a first hinge element on one side curving away from one surface of the panel and back toward the other side and a second hinge element on the other side curving away from the other surface of the panel and back toward the one side. The panels are joined by hinge members, each hinge member joining the adjacent sides of two adjacent panels, every second hinge member being on the opposite side of the closure. The hinge member is elongated with an inner surface and an outer surface extending outwardly from one side of the inner surface to the other side. The hinge member has an entry slot in the center of inner surface extending inwardly, the entry slot diverging into two branch slots curving away from each other toward the sides of the inner surface. The inner surface is slightly dished outwardly toward the outer surface between its two sides. The hinge elements of the adjacent panels are mounted in the hinge member, the hinge elements passing together into the central slot and then diverging from each other into the branch slots. The panels can be moved relative to the hinge member to have the panels nearly adjacent in a folded position or to have the panels adjacent the inner surface, nearly aligned, in an unfolded position extending away from each other. The slightly dished inner surface of the hinge member prevents the panels from aligning in the unfolded position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The hinge assembly1of the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, has a hinge member3joining the adjacent sides of two adjacent panels5A,5B.

The hinge member3, as shown inFIG. 3, is an elongate, extruded member having an inner surface7and an outer surface9extending outwardly and from one side11of the inner surface7to the other side13. The inner surface7is dished slightly out toward the outer surface between its sides11,13. Preferably, the inner surface7is formed by two straight inner surface sections15,17, each angled slightly outwardly in extending toward each other from the sides11,13respectively. Alternatively, the inner surface7can be made slightly convex between its sides11,13.

The outer surface9can be formed by angled surface sections comprising two parallel side surface sections19,21extending outwardly from the sides11,13of the inner surface7and two angled surface sections23,25extending outwardly and toward each other from the outer sides27,29of the parallel side surface sections19,21. The angled surface sections23,25connect at a peak31opposite the center of the inner surface7. While the outer surface has been described as being formed by four angled surface sections, it could also be formed by a curved surface replacing the angled surface sections23,25. Alternatively, all four angled surface sections could be replaced by a curved surface which is part circular or part elliptical.

The hinge member3has an entry slot35in the center of the inner surface7extending inwardly toward the peak31. The entry slot35diverges within the hinge member into two branch slots37,39, each branch slot curving away from the other branch slot and toward one side of the inner surface7. The sides of the entry slot35curve smoothly inwardly from the inner surface sections15,17and merge smoothly with the inner convex surface of each curved branch slot37,39to form diverging part-circular arcs41,43.

Each panel5A,5B is identical so only will be described in detail. Panel5A is an elongated member having parallel side edges51A,53A joining side surfaces55A,57A. The section of the panel adjacent side edge51A is curved outwardly of side surface55A and rearwardly to form a first curved hinge element61A. The section of the panel adjacent the other side edge53A is curved outwardly of the other side surface57A and rearwardly to form a second curved hinge element63A. It will be seen that the first and second curved hinge elements61A,63A curve in opposite directions and are on opposite side surfaces of the panel. The hinge elements61A and63A are preferably curved in a part-circular arc extending between about 150° and 170°. The inner concave surface65A,67A of each hinge element61A,63A matches the curvature of the part-circular arcs41,43in the hinge member3. Preferably, the panel5A is made from a sheet of uniform thickness. The panel can be made from suitable metal such as aluminum or a suitable plastic material. The panel can be extruded to its final shape or cut to size and rolled to form the hinge sections.

A through hole65extends through the hinge member3. The through hole65is located opposite the entry slot35and near the peak31. The through hole31intersects the branch slots37,39and opens to the entry slot35. The arrangement allows the hinge member3to be easily extruded.

The hinge assembly1is assembled by placing the hinge element61A of one panel5A in one side of the entry slot35in the hinge member3and in the branch slot37on that side as shown inFIG. 1. The other panel5B is flipped relative to the panel5A. Depending on how the panel5B is flipped, either hinge element61B or63B can connect to the hinge member3. Assuming hinge element63B is used, it is oppositely curved to hinge element61A and is placed in the other side of the entry slot35and in the branch slot39on that side of the entry slot35. The two hinge elements61A,63B of the two panels5A,5B can abut in the entry slot35but flare away from each other into the branch slots37,39respectively. The entry slot35, at its narrowest point, is just slightly wider than the combined width of the two hinge elements61A,63B and each branch slot37,39is just slightly wider than each hinge element.

The part-circular inner concave surface65A of the hinge element61A of the panel5A has the same curvature as the part-circular convex arc41within the entry slot35and branch slot37. The part-circular inner concave surface67B on the hinge element63B of the panel5B similarly has the same curvature as the part-circular convex arc43within the inlet slot35and the branch slot39. The panels5A,5B, in the folded position as seen inFIG. 2, are close to being parallel. In the folded position, the hinge elements61A,63B have moved well into the branch slots.37,39.

The panels5A,5B, in the position shown inFIG. 1, are in the unfolded position. In this position, the panel5A lies flush against the angled section15of the inner surface7between the side11and the entry slot35and the panel5B lies flush against the angled section17of the inner surface7between the side13and the entry slot35. The included angle between the panels ranges between about 150° and 170°. The angled sections15,17prevent the panels5A,5B from becoming aligned when they unfold which could prevent the panels from properly folding when forming part of a folding closure. The hinge elements61A,63B are long enough, when the panels are unfolded, to just remain in the branch slots37,39and thus the panels do not separate from the hinge member3.

The panels5A,5B can be retained in the hinge member3by inserting fasteners67into the through hole65at the top and bottom ends of the hinge member3. The fasteners67are selected to have a head69, shown in dotted lines inFIGS. 3 and 4, large enough to extend over a portion of the branch slots37,39and thus provide a stop for the hinge elements61A,63B to prevent them from leaving the hinge member3when the hinge member is vertical. While a though hole65has been shown in the hinge member3for receiving the fasteners67, the through hole65can be replaced by relatively short blind holes drilled a short way into the hinge member3from both its top and bottom ends.

A plurality of hinge assemblies1form a folding closure81that closes an opening. Except for the end panels (not shown) of the closure, each panel5forms part of two adjacent hinge assemblies1. As shown inFIG. 5, the closure81is suspended from a rail83at the top85of an opening86by roller members87attached to the center of the top89of every second panel5. The rollers (not shown) on the roller members87ride within the rail83. The roller members87are mounted on the panels so the rollers can rotate about a vertical axis relative to the panels5. Every panel5is connected to two hinge members3, one hinge member on one side91of the closure81and the hinge member other on the other side93of the closure as shown inFIG. 6. The hinge members3alternate on the two sides91,93of the closure. Every pair of adjacent panels5, with a connecting hinge member3forms a hinge assembly95.

When the closure1is opened, the panels5each pivot about their two vertical hinge members3to fold up against one another and against one side (not shown) of the opening86, the panels5coming together to be nearly parallel as shown inFIG. 7and the hinge members3abutting on each side of the closure. As the closure folds and the panels5come together, the hinge elements61,63on each panel5move deeper into the branch slots37,39on adjacent hinge members3as shown inFIG. 2. When the closure81is closed, the panels5unfold, pivoting away from each other, the hinge elements61,63moving partly out of the branch slots37,39as shown inFIG. 1. The adjacent panels5associated with each hinge member3contact the angled sides15,17on the inner surface of the hinge member, preventing the panels from becoming aligned which could make it difficult to refold the panels.

In the embodiment just described it will be obvious that the panels5and the hinge members3forming the closure81are as long as needed to close the opening. However, the panels could be made much shorter if desired to give the closure an open look. As shown inFIG. 8the closure101has hinge members103extending over the height of the closure. Panels105,105A,105B, etc. that are relatively short, form a series of horizontal rows of panels107,107A,107B, etc. in the closure when it is open. Spacers109separate the panels in each row from the adjacent rows.

In more detail, the hinge members103are identical to the hinge members3. The panels105are also the same as the panels5but only shorter. Adjacent panels105,105A,105B, etc. in each row107,107A, etc. form, together with the hinge member103they are connected to, hinge assemblies111. The hinge members103alternate on the sides of the closure, as do the hinge assemblies111for each row of panels.

The spacers109each have a cross-sectional shape that allows it to slide within the slots35,37,39and the through opening65in the hinge members3. The spacer109can be an extruded member having a cylindrical portion115, a winged portion117, and a flared portion119as seen in cross-section. The cylindrical portion115is sized to fit in the through hole65in the hinge member; the winged portion117is sized to have the arms121fit partly in the branch slots37,39; and the flared portion119is sized to fit in the entry slot35and close it. The cylindrical and winged portions115,117retain the spacer109within the slots35,37,39and the through opening65in the hinge member3.

The closure101is assembled by starting from the bottom with a first row107of short panels105extending horizontally across a vertical set of hinge members103. A hinge assembly111is formed at each hinge member103by adjacent sides of adjacent panels105connecting to the hinge member103. It will be seen that the hinge members103alternate on opposite sides of the closure101across the width of the closure.

Fasteners121are mounted into the bottom of each hinge member103to retain the panels on the hinge members3. Next, a first set of spacers109A are mounted from the top of the closure, each spacer109A sliding down the hinge member103to abut against the top of the panels105in the first row107. A second row107A of panels105A are then mounted from the top of the closure, the second row of panels105A sliding down the members103onto the first set of spacers109A. The assembly of spacers109and panels105is alternated until the top of the closure is reached. Fasteners (not shown) can be inserted into the tops of the hinge members to retain the panels in place on the hinge members.