Abstract:
A hinge comprises two elements, respectively attachable to first and second structures, and hingedly rotatable about an axis relative to each other. One said element comprises a first elongate member extending along the direction of the said axis and having a keyway slot that extends part way along the said member from one end thereof, and also comprises a second member adapted for attachment to one of the said structures and integrally formed with a key member receivable in the slot. The keyway slot and the key member are formed with profiles that enable the key member to be received in the slot to a selected one of a plurality of depths, thereby enabling adjustment in the spacing of the said one structure radially of the said axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates to hinges.  
           [0002]    The conventional practice for hanging internal doors in a building is to form a rebate in the door frame and in a corresponding side edge of the door for respective hinge plates rotatable relative to each other about an axis defined for the hinge. When correctly positioned, the closed door abuts against respective stop panels fixed to the side jambs of the door frame and to the lintel of the door frame. To do this properly requires a skilled carpenter. Should any adjustment in the positioning of the door in its frame prove necessary, either an additional rebate must be formed or packing inserted. Time is of the essence in modern housebuilding practice. As a result, movement frequently arises as a consequence of the building drying out over a period time and often after initial occupation has taken place. As a consequence, the internal doors of the house may often require adjustment. The nature of the adjustment necessary is not one that would be easy for a householder to carry out himself.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    As explained in more detail below, the present invention provides a new form of hinge that includes a provision for adjustment.  
           [0004]    In general, in one aspect, the invention provides a hinge comprising two elements, respectively attachable to first and second structures, and hingedly rotatable about an axis relative to each other; one said element comprising a first elongate member extending along the direction of the said axis and having a keyway slot that extends part way along the said member from one end thereof, and a second member adapted for attachment to one of the said structures and integrally formed with a key member receivable in the slot, the keyway slot and the key member being formed with profiles that enable the key member to be received in the slot to a selected one of a plurality of depths, thereby enabling adjustment in the spacing of the said one structure radially of the said axis.  
           [0005]    The key member and the first elongate member may be provided with means serving as stops to define greatest and least permitted limits of depth for the key member to be received within the keyway slot.  
           [0006]    The second element may comprise a second elongate member extending along the direction of the axis and having an opening extending at least part way along the second elongate member from one end thereof The first elongate member is suitably formed of two sections, one of greater cross-section than the other, the smaller section being inserted into and rotatable about the said axis within the opening in the second elongate member, and the section of larger cross-section having the keyway slot formed therein. Preferably, though not necessarily, the two sections are cylindrical. The land formed where the larger and smaller sections join confronts the one end of the second member, optionally with an intervening washer and/or a spacer enabling adjustment in the position of the one structure relative to the other along the direction of the axis.  
           [0007]    The confronting surfaces of the land and of the one end of the second member or of a spacer therebetween may be shaped so that the hinge acts as a rising butt.  
           [0008]    The second element may additionally comprise a threaded member extending radially of the axis and adapted for threaded attachment to the other of the two structures. The threaded member is preferably externally threaded, and the selected depth to which the threaded member is inserted into the other structure enables adjustment of the position of the other structure radially of the said axis. Alternatively, the threaded member may be internally threaded, and the other structure provided with a co-operating externally threaded member, the selected depth to which that externally threaded member is inserted into the internally threaded member providing a similar adjustment.  
           [0009]    When applied to an internal door fitting within a door frame, the three different adjustments referred to above may respectively provide for horizontal adjustment of the door across the door opening, vertical adjustment of the door within the frame, and horizontal adjustment of the door as a whole into or out of the door frame.  
           [0010]    In general, in another aspect, the invention provides a door hung in a doorway by at least one hinge, the hinge comprising first and second elements, respectively attached to the door and to the doorway, the first and second elements being coupled together so as to be hingedly rotatable about a generally vertical hinge axis relative to each other; the first said element comprising a first elongate member extending along the direction of the hinge axis and defining a keyway slot therein that extends part way along the said member from one end thereof, and a second member attached to the door and integrally formed with a key member receivable in the slot, the keyway slot and the key member being formed with profiles that enable the key member to be received in the slot to a selected one of a plurality of depths, thereby enabling adjustment in the spacing of the door radially of the said axis, whereby the position of the door is adjustable across the doorway by selecting said depth.  
           [0011]    In preferred embodiments, the second element of the hinge comprises a second elongate member extending along the direction of the hinge axis, and having a first end and a second end, the second elongate member defining an opening extending at least part way along the said second elongate member from said first end; the first elongate member is formed with a first generally cylindrical section and with a second section, the said first section being inserted into the opening in the second member to couple the first member and the second member together to form the hinge, and being rotatable about the hinge axis within the said opening, and the second section of the first elongate member being larger in cross-section than the diameter of the first said section to define a land between the first and second sections, the second section having the keyway slot formed therein; and a number, selected from zero, one and a plurality, of spacing elements selected from spacers and washers is inserted between the said land and the confronting first end of the second elongate member to adjust the height of the door within the doorway along the hinge axis.  
           [0012]    In preferred embodiments, the second element comprises a threaded member extending radially of the axis, the hinge being attached to the doorway by said threaded member, whereby the position of the door as a whole relative to the doorway may be adjusted horizontally into and out of the doorway by adjusting the depth of threaded attachment between the threaded member and the doorway. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of an embodiment of hinge constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an underneath plan view of the hinge of FIGS. 1 and 2 as seen in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively side and end elevational views of a first elongate member showing a keyway slot therein.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively side and end elevational views of a hinge plate member adapted to inter-fit with the elongate member of FIGS. 4 and 5 to make a first element of the hinge.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively side and end elevational views of a second element of the hinge.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a generally schematic sectional view through a door mounted by a hinge as shown in FIGS.  1  to  9  in a doorway.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views on an enlarged scale corresponding to the view of FIG. 2 for an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    The embodiment of hinge  1  illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  9  of the present drawings comprises, as do all hinges, two elements which are respectively attachable to first and second structures and hingedly rotatable about an axis relative to each other.  
         [0022]    In the present embodiment, a first of these elements comprises an elongate member  2 , best shown in FIG. 4, which in this case comprises two generally cylindrical sections  3  and  4  with a land  5  where the two sections join. It will be appreciated that these sections need not be cylindrical, provided that one is of larger cross-section than the other, whereby a land is defined at the join between the two sections. The section  3  with the larger cross-section is formed with an elongate keyway slot  6 , best shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5. Hinge plate  7 , shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, inter-fits with the elongate member of FIGS. 4 and 5 to form the first element of the hinge.  
         [0023]    Hinge plate  7  comprises a plate proper  8  formed with bevelled edges  9  and having counter-sunk through openings  10  for receiving counter-sunk screws to attach plate  8 , for example, to a door, as explained in more detail below. Hinge plate  7  is integrally formed with a key member  11 , the profile of which corresponds to the profile of keyway slot  6  so that it may be received therein from open end  12  of slot  6 .  
         [0024]    Keyway slot  6  and key member  11  are formed with profiles that enable the key member  11  to be received in the slot  6  to a selected one of a plurality of depths, as best shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2. This can readily be achieved by providing both the keyway slot and the key member with a repeating profile. By selecting which of the repeats on the key member keys with which of the repeats in the slot will then adjust the depth of the key member in the keyway slot.  
         [0025]    Smaller diameter section  4  of elongate member  2  serves as a hinge pin and is received within opening  13  of an elongate member  14 , conveniently cylindrical in form, as here, though not necessarily so, and which forms the second element of the hinge.  
         [0026]    To enable element  14  to be attached, for example, to a door frame, it is provided with a threaded member  15 , which may be a bolt or a wood screw simply attached to the cylindrical member  14 , and extending radially from the axis defined by the opening  13 .  
         [0027]    Land  5  confronts end face  16  of cylindrical member  14  when the two elements of the hinge are assembled. In this embodiment both land  5  and surface  16  are shown flat. However, they could be profiled so that the hinge will act as a rising butt. For ease of illustration, the two surfaces  5  and  16  are shown slightly separated in FIG. 1. Because the individual elements of the hinge, including the two members which together form the first element of the hinge, lend themselves to being formed as simple die-cast mouldings and so do not have machined surfaces, in practice a thin silicone or nylon washer (not illustrated) is suitably inter-fitted between the surfaces  5  and  16 . Alternatively, or additionally, spacers inserted between the surfaces  5  and  16  will have the effect of translating the first element of the hinge along the axis of the hinge relative to the second element. Thus, when the hinge is used to hang a door in a doorway, the introduction of spacers will raise the door vertically on its hinge relative to the door frame as explained further with reference to FIG. 10 below.  
         [0028]    Although the utility for hinges constructed in accordance with the present invention is not restricted to the hanging of internal doors within a building, this is the scenario in which the invention was developed. It should be understood, however, that in referring herein to first and second structures to be hingedly related to each other by use of the hinge, these structures could be virtually anything. Examples would include a vehicle and an opening therein such as a vehicle door, a vehicle window, a hatchback, a vehicle boot, a vehicle trunk, a vehicle hatch, a vehicle bonnet or a vehicle roof opening. Further examples include a generally box-shaped member such as a box, a cabinet, including a wardrobe or a kitchen cabinet, a refrigerator and a case, including an attache case, in each case coupled with an associated lid or door.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 10, which shows generally schematically how an embodiment of hinge as described in detail above may be used to hang a door and, in particular, explains the various adjustments inherent in the construction of the hinge:  
         [0030]    An opening  17  in a wall  18  is lined by a door frame  19  including generally vertical jambs  20  with a lintel (not shown) over the top. The position of the door is marked by generally vertically mounted door stops  21  against which the door  22  closes. The door is hingedly mounted to one of the jambs, in this case that at the right of the drawing and vertically mounted mouldings  23  cover the join between the door jamb  19  and the wall  18 . As shown in this view, a hinge  1  as described more particularly hereinabove is shown mounting the door to the door frame. It will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of hinges (preferably two) mounting the door to the doorway.  
         [0031]    As shown, hinge plate  7  is fixed by means of screws  24  to side edge  25  of the door  22  and its key member is then guided into the keyway slot  6  (not shown in this Figure) of elongate member  2 . The fit between the key member and the keyway slot should suitably be sufficiently tight that after insertion of the key member into the keyway slot, elongate member  2  does not simply fall away from the hinge plate member  7 . Separately, threaded member  15  of cylindrical member  14  is screwed into side edge  26  of door jamb  20 . This operation is then repeated for the second hinge. The door can then simply be mounted in position by lowering the respective pins  4  (not shown in this Figure) into openings  13  (also not shown in this Figure).  
         [0032]    The vertical position of the door can readily be adjusted by inserting or removing spacers between elongate member  2  and cylindrical member  14 . Adjustment in the position of the door width-wise across the doorway opening  17  in the direction of arrows B in FIG. 10 can be readily achieved by selecting the depth to which the key members are inserted into the keyway slots. Similarly, adjustment in the position of the door into or out of the door frame in the direction of arrows C in FIG. 10 is readily achieved by adjusting the extent to which threaded member  15  is inserted into door jamb  20 . Thus, the positioning of the door in all three relevant directions is readily adjustable by means of adjusting the hinge alone. There is no need to make any rebates in mounting the hinge and therefore no need to adjust the positioning of the rebate or its depth in order to adjust the way in which the door is hung in the frame. Accordingly, as shrinkage or drying out occurs following the initial construction of a building or after the initial mounting of the door, the correct positioning of the door for operation within the doorway can readily be adjusted by the householder himself simply by making whichever of the necessary adjustments are required, as described above. No tools are actually needed to carry out the adjustments.  
         [0033]    The individual elements of the hinge lend themselves to simple die-cast moulding manufacturing techniques so that the hinge is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Those parts that are visible in use (the outer surface of the larger diameter portion  3  of elongate member  2 , the outer surface of cylindrical member  14  and the bevel edge side of hinge plate  7 ) may be given a decorative finish, for example a brass finish. Because key member  11  of hinge plate  7  can be fitted into the keyway slot either way up, a single set of parts consisting of the hinge plate  7 , cylindrical member  14  and elongate member  2  can be sold for both left hand and right hand use.  
       OTHER EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 11 and 12 show an alternative embodiment of the first element of the hinge comprising elongate member  102  and hinge plate  107 . In this embodiment, elongate member  102  and hinge plate  107  are provided with respective stops designed to assist an inexperienced householder or “do-it-yourself” enthusiast to correctly locate elongate member  102  and hinge plate  107  relative to each other, and hinge plate  107  relative to a door. The second element of the hinge and parts of the first element not visible in the sectional views of FIGS. 11 and 12 may be the same as for the embodiment described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  9  above.  
         [0035]    As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12, cylindrical section  103  of elongate member  102  has a central axial opening  27  into which keyway slot  106  opens. Key member  111  of hinge plate  107  is provided with an enlarged head  28  at its distal end. Head  28  is arcuately curved on its outer side  29  and on its underside  30  to correspond generally with the curve of internal surface  31  of opening  27 . Thus in one extreme position (FIG. 11) allowed for key member  111  in keyway slot  106 , outer side  29  of head  28  abuts internal surface  31 , while in the other extreme position allowed for key member  111  in keyway slot  106 , as shown in FIG. 12, the underside  30  of head  28  abuts internal surface  31 . Positions beyond the extreme allowed position of FIG. 11 would provide too much strain on the key member with a danger that it might snap or inadvertently come free from the keyway; while positions beyond the extreme allowed position of FIG. 12 are likely to result in interference between a door, a doorway in which it is hung and the hinge. All positions between the two allowed extremes are permitted, giving a useful range of adjustment.  
         [0036]    Hinge plate  107  is provided with a shoulder  32  with a butting surface  33  which will extend vertically when the hinge is used to hang a door. This butting surface serves as a stop to enable correct location of a vertical edge  34  of a door  22 . Edge  34  is simply butted against surface  33  of shoulder  32  as shown in FIG. 12 to correctly locate the hinge plate relative to the door for insertion of screws (not shown) through the hinge plate, as described above.  
         [0037]    Other variations and modifications of the hinges described in detail above will readily occur to persons of ordinary skill in this field in the light of the above description. It is my intention to cover all such modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.