Abstract:
A hinge assembly ( 4 ) for the connection of two panels ( 10, 12 ) at their adjacent edge regions ( 8   d ) to allow said panels to rotate up to 360 degrees relative to one another, the hinge assembly comprising an elongate member ( 20 ) providing two opposing curved surfaces adjacent the edge of each panel, said member co-operating with at least one pair of intermeshed gears ( 24 ), the assembly including connector means ( 34 ) for attaching each panel to said member and a bubble seal ( 22 ) disposed between the edge of each panel and each curved surface of the member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hinge assembly for use between two panels, joining edge portions of respective panels to allow movement of the panels with respect to one another. 
     The invention is particularly though not exclusively useful for panels in shower installations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current art such as that of Willams C. WO 03/106453 uses a pair of meshing gears retained between upper and lower plates with a floating cover to cover the gears. However, the construction makes the provision of a water seal between the static and moving parts very difficult. Bushdyhan M. E. WO 2006/032832 uses exposed geared mechanisms formed as part of the side rails of the shower screen. The gear elements are co-extruded elastomers with deformable teeth intended to create a water seal. However, the two extrusions tend to deform and force themselves apart at the centre of the panel resulting in water leakage. 
     This type of construction also creates a trap hazard for clothing or body parts such as fingers which may occur if a person using such a shower screen slips or falls against the screen. As the panels fold and the hinge moves in the direction of the fall, clothing or fingers may be entrapped in the exposed meshing gear profiles. 
     It is desirable to provide a hinge assembly between two panels that allows simultaneous movement of each panel up to 360 degrees with respect to each other whilst providing a full or near full height sealing of the moving door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to overcome or at least alleviate the aforementioned problems associated with prior art hinge assemblies, particularly in relation to folding shower screens. 
     Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a hinge assembly for the connection of two panels at their adjacent edge regions to allow said panels to move relative to one another, said hinge assembly comprising a member having two opposing curved surfaces, each curved surface being located adjacent the edge of each panel, at least one pair of toothed co-operating elements for co-operation with said member, connector means for attachment of each panel to said member and a circular seal contacting the edge of each panel and its adjacent curved surface. 
     Preferably, the member is obround in cross-section, more preferably being an extruded obround. It is preferable for the member to extend along substantially the entire length of the edge of each panel. 
     The toothed co-operating elements are preferably gears. The member is preferably rotatable with respect to the toothed co-operating elements, for example by the provision of a spigot protruding from each element that is received within a recess or hole provided in the member. Preferably, said recess or hole is provided in a cap that is received in the top of the member. A further cover may be provided to encase each toothed element. 
     Each connector may be fixedly secured to its respective panel by suitable fixing means and engages with a toothed element, such as a gear, in a non-pivotal manner. Preferably, each connector includes a protuberance for mating with a complimentary recess provided in the toothed element, for example the protuberance and the recess being in the general shape of a cruciform. 
     The circular seal is preferably in the form of a bubble or wiper seal comprising a rigid T-shaped section for co-operating with a channel provided in the edge of the panel and a flexible O-ring for co-operating with the curved surface of the member. Preferably, the bubble seal extends the entire length of the obround extrusion and panels to form a complete full height seal. 
     Preferably, the edge of the panel is in the form of an extruded aluminium rail. 
     The bottom and/or top of the member are preferably provided with covers to completely surround the toothed elements. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides a shower screen assembly comprising at least two adjacent panels connected by a hinge assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention to enable the panels to rotate up to substantially 360 degrees with respect to each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shower screen provided with a hinge assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded diagram of the hinge assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top end of the shower screen and hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , without the gears, cover and end caps of the assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of  FIG. 3 , shown with the gears but without the cover and end caps of the assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 3 , shown with the gears and cover but without the end caps of the assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 3 , shown with the gears, cover and end caps of the assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the shower screen with hinge assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of an end of a shower screen provided with a hinge assembly according to the present invention, shown with the panels of the screen parallel to one another; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of a hinge assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a hinge assembly according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A hinge assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 8  of the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated examples, the hinge assembly  4  is provided between first and second panels  10 ,  12  of a shower screen to provide panels that are rotatable to almost 360 degrees, being simultaneously moveable across the same angle in the form of a bifolding screen. The panels are generally formed from four extruded aluminium sections  8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c ,  8   d  which form a framework joined by corner elements  9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d  which may be preferably formed from injection moulded plastics material and fixedly retained by restraining means  46  for receiving a sheet of toughened glass or plastic material to provide the shower screen (see  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). 
     An elongated obround extrusion  20  is provided between each panel  10 ,  12  to form the centre of the hinge assembly according to the present invention. Each circular end of the extrusion  20  abuts part of the circumference of a bubble or wiper seal  22  which is provided with a T-shaped section for engaging with a mutually receptive channel provided in opposing aluminium side sections of the adjacent panels. Each bubble or wiper seal extends the length of the panel and the obround extrusion  20  (see  FIG. 3 ) and beyond the extrusion. The bubble seal comprises the co-extruded rigid PVC T-section together with a flexible PVC ring. 
     A cover plate  26  having two spaced apart holes or recesses is provided at the top of the extrusion  20  and a pair of intermeshed toothed gears  24  are received in the holes by means of spigots  28  that depend from each gear  24  (see, in particular,  FIG. 2 ). The upper surface of each gear is provided with a recess  29  in the form of a cruciform. 
     A gear cover  30  in the form of a moulded plastics cap dimensioned to fit over the end of the obround extrusion is provided over the gears. Thus, the meshing gear elements  24  are completely enclosed. This prevents ingress of water and dirt and prevents fingers becoming trapped. The cover has two apertures  32  that, in the assembled unit, lie over each gear, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Two connectors  34  are then provided between the obround extrusion and each panel of the screen to connect each panel to the obround extrusion. In this respect, one part of each connector is provided with an aperture for the passage of fixing means, such as a screw  36 , which is received by a channel  38  provided in the aluminium extrusion that forms the side of the frame of the screen thereby fixedly securing the connector to its respective panel. The other part of the connector is provided with a protruding spigot  40  in the form of a cruciform that is able to pass through the gear cover and mate with the mutually receptive cruciform recess  29  provided in the top surface of each gear, as illustrated most clearly in  FIG. 2 . The edges of the cruciform are curved so as to provide a bearing engagement with the hole in the gear cover and the mating cruciform shapes are tapered to create a self-centreing bearing and pivot element for the moving parts. 
     In this manner, each panel of the screen or door is pivotally attached to the obround extrustion  20  by means of the meshed gears  24  having spigots  28 . The obround extrusion provides opposing curved faces that each abut the curved face of the adjacent bubble seal  22 . This allows controlled simultaneous rotation of each panel with respect to the other up to an angle of 360 degrees whilst ensuring the central extrusion is symmetrically placed during the entire motion and provides a complete seal along the entire length of the hinge assembly. 
     The bubble seal  22  extends to be level with the top of the cover  30 , enabling the seal to contact this part and the length of the extrusion  20 . 
     The gear part of the assembly may be provided at the bottom and/or top of the door assembly, most preferably, both. The lower end of the door may be a simple pivot arrangement wherein a bottom connector directly engages a bottom cover of the central extrusion. A liquid catch device may be provided at the base of the hinge assembly (not shown) to prevent trapping of body parts and to catch any liquid running down the hinge and direct it into the shower tray side of the enclosure. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  of the accompanying drawings illustrate two further embodiments of the present invention. Identical features to those already described in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 8  are given the same reference numerals and only the differences will be discussed in detail. In  FIG. 9 , the hinge assembly again includes an obround extrusion  20  having a pair of toothed wheels  24   b  in the place of the gears at one or both ends of the extrusion having curved faces for abutting a bubble seal  22  attached to a side extrusion of the panel. Additionally, the toothed wheel_assembly includes a crossed linking toothed belt  50  to enable the same mechanism to be reproduced in a smaller housing. It is to be appreciated that multiple belts may also be used and the toothed wheels may comprise extrusions. 
     In  FIG. 10 , smaller gears  24  with intermediate idlers  64  are provided within the obround extrusion to enable a smaller housing to be used. The idlers are supported on bearings or guide shafts (not shown) located in the connectors and covers. The idlers reverse then restore the direction of the mesh to permit the separation of the gears at the pivots. In the illustrated embodiment, the gears and idlers are of an identical size but this does not have to be the case so long as the two external pivot gears have a matching number of teeth and the two internal idlers have a matching number of teeth. 
     The construction of a shower screen assembly according to the present invention is quick and simple despite providing significant advantages over the prior art arrangements. The panels  10  can be assembled as individual glazed and framed panels  10 ,  12  prior to the joint extrusion  20  and upper and lower cover plates  26  being offered for connection with the hinge assembly  4 , which may be assembled from the floor upwards. The invention separates the direct link of a glazed panel element  34  from a meshing gear  24  which permits the interposition of the cover  30  and cap  26 , allowing the gear to be fully enclosed. This, in conjunction with the separation of the pivot and meshing functions, permits the enclosing means to perform as a sealing face to reduce water spray transmission from one side of the panel assembly to the other. 
     The embodiments described above are given by way of examples only, and other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.