Hinges

A hinge set (and associated methodology and resultant hung doors or windows) where the leaf of each hinge sleeved component is, or is to be, leafwise received in, and is, or to be, screwed into, a different cavity, yet allowing aligned sleeve meshing for pin insertion. Its use allows the leaf to be largely concealed even when the doors or windows are open.

This is a national stage of PCT/NZ08/000264 filed Oct. 9, 2008 and published in English, which has a priority of New Zealand no. 563386 filed Nov. 13, 2007, hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hinges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different forms of hinge are known whereby one or more hinges can be used in order to articulate a member from another, by way of example, to articulate a door from a door jamb, to articulate a window from a window jamb or frame, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to such hinges as well as hinges having other application.

A common type of hinge used for mounting doors or windows are so-called leaf hinges that have two main components each of a leaf and at lest one sleeve to receive the hinge pin, each engageable to the jamb or frame or the door and window by the use of penetrative fixers (such as screws) that pass normally through openings of the leaf. The one or more sleeve of each component is to align with the sleeve axis of a corresponding sleeve or sleeves of the other component, thereby to receive axially of the aligned sleeve axes, a hinge pin that provides the necessary articulation or pivot axis.

The present invention relates to an has an object hinges, members to associate therewith, etc whereby the hinge, when fitted in use, will be at least largely concealed, at least both when the door or window is open and when both the door and window is shut, save for the aligned sleeves and the hinge pin.

It is an object of the present invention to provide components of a hinge, a subassembly or assembly of such components to provide a hinge or sub assembly thereof, a hinge, a hinge kit, a hinged mounting of a member to articulate one relative to another, members to receive such hinge components, etc or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In an aspect the invention is a hinge assembly or a kit therefor comprising or including

a first component being a leaf carrying at least one sleeve,

a second component being a leaf carrying at least one sleeve, the second component being a complement to the first component, and

a hinge pin through the sleeves or fittable through said sleeves when aligned,

wherein at least one leaf is substantially plate-like (skeletal or not) with an actual or notional general plate plane and has at least one passageway therethrough coincident with and/or parallel to said general plate plane (notional or otherwise) for a fixing screw,

and wherein the axis (or axes) of such leaf passageway(s) is (are) offset from, but is (or are) substantially normal to, the or each leafs sleeve axis,

and wherein each general plate plane is at least substantially parallel to its leafs sleeve axis.

Preferably both a first and second component has more than one sleeve. Preferably at least one (and preferably both) components has (have) a leaf carrying two sleeves.

Preferably the offset of each plate plane general axis from its sleeve(s) is substantially the same, but complementary, thereby enabling hinge pin insertion through the sleeves of both components when complementing each other.

In another aspect the invention is a hinge assembly or a kit therefor comprising or including

a first component being a leaf carrying at least one sleeve,

a second component being a leaf carrying at least one sleeve, the second component being a complement to the first component, and

a hinge pin through the sleeves or fittable through said sleeves when aligned;

wherein both components can have its leaf located in a routed cavity of a jamb, frame, door and/or window,

and wherein each leaf is offset from its sleeve axis;

and wherein in use each leaf can extend into a said cavity at about 45° so that, in a closed condition, the two leafs are separated by about 90°.

Preferably both a first and second component has more than one sleeve.

Preferably at least one (and preferably both) components has (have) a leaf carrying two sleeves.

In an aspect the invention consists in a hinged assembly of one member (eg, a door or window) relative to another member (a door jamb, window frame or jamb, etc.) reliant on a hinge assembly of two components and a hinge pin,

wherein each of said members has a routed or other receiving opening or cavity therein carrying a leaf of said component.

Preferably each component has a leaf and a retained in such an opening or cavity by a screw passing through the leaf.

In an aspect the invention is a hung door or window where its hinge, or hinges, has, or each has, a hinge leaf retained at about 45° (eg, plus or minus 10°) to the closed door or window.

The invention also consists in a method of hinging one member to another, said method comprising the steps of(i) fixing a leafed sleeve component of a hinge by its leaf in a cavity of a first member,(ii) fixing a leafed sleeve component of a hinge by its leaf in a cavity of the second member, and(iii) before or after step (ii) aligning the sleeves and inserting a hinge pin.

Preferably at least one of steps (i) and (ii) involves edgewise insertion into a door or window at about 45°.

Preferably both step (i) and (ii), or one of them, involves inserting at least one screw in and through the leaf of the component. In less preferred forms the leaf itself can be self retaining and/or adhered in a said cavity.

Preferably the hinge is a hinge assembly or hinge kit or combination of parts of the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a component or components of a hinge of any of the kinds herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The present invention also consists in a member to support the hinge and/or to support the hinged member which has a leaf receiving cavity substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect, the invention consists in a method of hinging which involves the use of the present invention in a manner substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In still a further aspect, the invention consists in a hinge assembly, irrespective of the number of sleeves on each component, but provided they are compatible, substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hinges of the present invention are preferably made by machining the first and second components from an extruded member. Alternatively, the overall hinge can be moulded or otherwise made. The hinge pin preferably is turned or moulded or press formed.

Suitable materials include metals such as steel, brass, aluminium and the like. For some uses, extruded aluminium members may be machined to provide the first and second component. Likewise the hinge pin although, if desired the hinge pin can be of a dissimilar material. Moreover, if desired, each of the first and second components can be of a different material.

A routed cavity16, preferably at about 45° is shown inFIGS. 13 and 14. It is provided to receive, for a first component1, most of the leaf region thereof. Likewise a 45° or thereabouts cavity in the door2to receive the leaf of the second component3. A shown a hinge pin can hold the aligned and interposing sleeves of components1and3in register to allow pivoting one relative to the other.

Shown inFIG. 13are the screws4of the first component1and the screws5of the second component3.

Preferably the view is not as inFIGS. 9 and 10but rather has one of the leafs rotated by 180° from that condition so that it is essentially only the revealed regions of the hinge pin6and the aligned sleeves that can be seen. SeeFIG. 13in this respect.

Likewise for the component3, there are sleeves11and12, the leaf13and screw receiving passageways14. The head15of the hinge pin6can be seen as if were part of the sleeve sequence.

For heavy applications, or as an alternative method of fixing, it is possible to insert an insert nut in the bottom of the routered cavity for the purpose of using machine screws for fixing.

If desired a hex head screw can be used for fixing, making it easier to engage the head of the screw in the countersunk portion of the leaf, as a standard Phillips or Pozi Drive screw head of the size required would be difficult to get the degree of fixing without wearing or stripping the screw head.

In manufacture from certain materials, there can be the insertion of a nylon or plastic sleeve inside the sleeve for the hinge pin to reduce friction on the hinge pin, and the insertion of a nylon or plastic load bearing material between the sleeve (“knuckles”) to act as a washer. This is desirable in aluminium hinges.

A suitable fitting sequence is to jig machine router appropriate cavities in the jamb joinery and the door and/or window. Thereafter the components1and3can each be fitted and prior to hinge pinning of the components one to the other.