Abstract:
A hinge structure which is invisible from the front of the panel to be opened, the hinge structure comprising a first member which has first and second pins extending upwardly and a second member which has first and second slots to receive the first and second pins respectively, the first slot having an arcuate configuration to permit the first pin to move therein and the second slot having an elongated S-shaped configuration. The use of the two pins enables the door to fully open through greater than 90 degrees.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hinge structure and more particularly, relates to a hinge structure to permit a door or like member to open, and wherein the hinge structure is out of view when the door is in the closed position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many different types of hinges known in the art and such structures have been employed for a number of years in various applications such as in cabinets and the like. When a door is mounted with a hinge such that the pivot point is behind the face of the door/frame assembly in the closed position, the door will not open properly unless there are provided means for displacing the door outwardly. Otherwise, the door will contact the frame structure upon which it is mounted. 
     There have been many proposals in the art to increase the distance of the door from the frame structure and many different types of hinges have been proposed to accomplish the above. However, most of the proposed hinges employ a number of members and have a relatively complicated structure. The hinges also tend to be relatively large, expensive and can pose some hazard to the ends of the fingers between the various members when opening and closing the door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and inexpensive hinge structure which permits the opening of a door which is mounted flush to the frame. 
     Initially, it will be understood that as used herein, the term “door” is used for convenience and it will be understood the hinge structure will be utilized with any swingable panel. Similar hinge structure may be employed. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge structure comprising a first member having first and second pins extending upwardly therefrom, a second member, the second member having first and second slots designed to receive the first and second pins respectively, the first slot having an arcuate configuration to permit the first pin to move therein, the second slot having an elongated S-shaped configuration having a first arcuate portion thereof extending in a first direction and a second arcuate portion thereof extending in a second arcuate direction. 
     As set forth above, the hinge structure includes first and second members. It will be understood that reference herein will be made to each of the members being formed independently and subsequently attached to either the frame structure or the panel which is hingedly attached thereto. However, it will be understood that one may also incorporate the features of the invention into the hingeable panel and the surrounding frame structure—i.e. the pins could be formed in the frame and grooves provided within the panel to replace the slots. In such an arrangement, one set of the pins could be mounted on springs and then released to permit placement of the door. Such an arrangement is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     There are several different ways of attaching the members to the panel and/or surrounding frame. Thus, the members can either be recessed within the panel and/or frame or alternatively, may be secured thereto in a conventional manner by mechanical fasteners such as screws and the like or alternatively, by adhesive means. Still further, various different shapes may be employed for attaching the member in a desired fashion. 
     The members, when formed of separate components, may be manufactured of any suitable material such as a plastics material, a metallic material, etc. It suffices to say that normally the material will be chosen for aesthetic purposes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hinge structure according to the present invention mounted on a door; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view thereof, partially in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when the door is in a closed position; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the opening of the door and the functioning of the hinge; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a further embodiment of a hinge structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view, partially in section, illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 5 when the door is in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1 and 5 of a third embodiment of a hinge structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a modified arrangement of the embodiment of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view, partially in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 7 when the door is in a closed position; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1,  5  and  7  of a fourth embodiment of a hinge structure according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a top view, partially in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 9 when the door is a closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a portion of a door D which is mounted in a frame structure including a side frame member  10  and a bottom frame member  12 . 
     The hinge assembly according to the present invention has a first hinge member  14  which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a flat plate secured to bottom frame member  12  by means of screws  16 . Extending upwardly from first hinge member  14  is a first pin  18  and a second pin  20 . In this respect, it will be noted that first pin member  18  is situated closer to side frame member  10  than is second pin  20 . However, second pin  20  is situated closer to the opening defined by side frame member  10  and bottom frame member  12 . 
     The hinge assembly also includes a second hinge member generally designated by reference numeral  24  and which is comprised of a vertical portion  26  and a horizontal portion  30 . As may be seen in FIG. 1, vertical portion  26  is secured to the inner surface of door D by screws  28  while horizontal portion  30  may be recessed within the bottom wall of door D. 
     Horizontal portion  30  of second hinge member  24  includes a first slot or channel  32  which has a C-shaped configuration and which is designed to receive first pin  18  of first hinge member  14  and a second slot or channel generally designated by reference numeral  34  and which is designed to receive second pin  20  of first hinge member  14 . 
     As may be best seen in FIG. 2, second slot or channel  34  has a somewhat elongated S-shaped configuration with a first arcuate portion  36  and a second arcuate portion  38 . It will be noted that first arcuate portion  36  extends in a first direction while second arcuate portion  38  extends in an opposite direction. 
     In the illustrated embodiments, there is provided a flexible spring member  40  which is mounted on horizontal portion  30  of second hinge member  24  near a distal end of first arcuate portion  36  for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. It will, of course, be understood that the flexible spring member is optional and that the hinge structure functions without use of the flexible spring member  40 . 
     In use, first hinge member  14  and second hinge member  24  are mounted such that first pin  18  is slidably mounted within first slot  32  while second pin  20  is slidably mounted within second slot  34 . 
     When the door is a closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, first pin  18  is situated within first slot  32  at a first end thereof. Similarly, second pin  20  is situated at a distal end of first arcuate portion  36  where it is retained by means of spring member  40 . Thus, spring member  40  acts to retain door D in a closed position. 
     Upon an opening force being exerted on door D sufficient to overcome the force of spring member  40 , and as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the opening force is exerted on door D, the slots  32  and  34  start to move on pins  18  and  20  respectively. In this respect, first pin  18  acts as a pivot for the hinge while second pin  20  acts as a guide. 
     By opening the door D, the sliding action of guide  34  shifts the relationship of first slot  32  and first pin  18  to the position shown in FIG.  3 . This movement enables the door to clear the surrounding side frame member  10 . 
     Once second pin  20  is positioned between first arcuate portion  36  and second arcuate portion  38 , first pin  18  reaches the opposite end of first slot  32 . At this point, second arcuate portion  38  is simply an arc to permit door D to open wider once it is clear the surrounding structure. When second pin  20  is positioned at the distal end of second arcuate portion  38 , the door is fully open and has rotated greater than 90 degrees—approximately 110 degrees. 
     The design thus offers a first pivoting point for the door combined with a shifting motion to enable the door to clear the surrounding structure. The action or force to open the door uses the arrangement as a moving fulcrum which provides a smooth motion for the opening and moving the doorway from the surrounding frame structure. 
     In the arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6, a slight modification of the hinge structure is shown. Similar reference numerals in the  100 s are employed for similar components. 
     In this embodiment, first hinge member  114  has the bottom body portion similar to that of first hinge member  14 . However, it also has an upwardly extending flange  150  which is secured to side frame member  110  by means of screws  116 . 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, reference numerals in the  200 s are used to describe similar components. In this embodiment, second hinge member  224  has a vertical portion  226  which is secured to the inner end wall of door D instead of the side wall. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 7A, there will be seen that the hinge member can be mounted at a point other than at the top and bottom of the panel. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, similar reference numerals in the  300 s are employed. In this embodiment, second hinge member  324  is recessed within the bottom of door D while first hinge member  314  is secured to both side frame member  310  and bottom frame member  312  by means of screws  316 . 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.