Abstract:
A hanger hinge is used to suspend panels of a folding door or window from an overhead track. The hanger hinge has a hanger bolt with an externally threaded lower end on which a nut is threaded by a tool. The nut is located within a sleeve which engages the bolt to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve and the bolt. At least one hinge leaf is pivotally mounted on the hanger bolt and supported on the sleeve. Each hinge leaf is adapted to be fixed to a respective panel, and the position of the panel(s) is dependent on the extent to which the nut is threaded onto the hanger bolt. A key clip is used to lock the nut rotationally relative to the sleeve, so that the nut cannot rotate relative to the hanger bolt. The key clip is automatically disengaged when the tool is inserted in the nut, to permit the nut to turn relative to the bolt.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to an adjustable hanger hinge for a folding door, window or similar closure. In particular, the invention is directed to an adjustable hanger hinge having a lockable height-adjusting nut.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A hanger hinge is used to suspend a hinged panel, or a pair of hinged panels, from an overhead horizontal track while permitting the panels to pivot about a vertical hinge axis. Typically, the panels are panels of a folding door, window or similar closure. If the hanger hinge is used to suspend the end panel of a series of panels, it normally has one hinge leaf fixed to that panel. If the hanger hinge is an intermediate hanger used to suspend a pair of adjacent panels, it has a pair of hinge leaves, each fixed to a respective one of the pair of adjacent panels.  
         [0003]     Throughout this specification, where the context permits, the term “panel” is intended to refer to a generally planar closure component of a folding door, window, shutter, screen or like closure. The invention will be described with particular reference to its application to panels of a folding door, but the scope of the invention is not limited thereto.  
         [0004]     Typically, each hanger hinge (except the hanger hinge nearest the jamb) depends from a respective wheeled carriage which rides along the track. The combination of each hanger hinge and its carriage forms a carrier hinge assembly. An example of a known carrier hinge assembly is illustrated in our Australian Patent No. 726943.  
         [0005]     A hanger hinge typically comprises an upright hanger bolt which serves as a hinge pin for the hinge leaf or leaves pivotally mounted thereon. The bottom end of the bolt is threaded to receive a nut thereon. The hinge leaves, which are axially slideable along the hanger bolt, rest upon the nut and are supported thereon. The position of the nut on the hanger bolt therefore determines the position of the hinge leaves relative to both the hanger bolt and the track from which the hanger bolt is suspended. Since the hinge leaves are fixed to the panels in use, the height of the panels can be adjusted by rotating the nut to vary its position along the threaded end of the hanger bolt.  
         [0006]     Height adjustment of the panels is usually required from time to time to correct out-of-square movements of the panels and to prevent the door panels from sticking, or otherwise to facilitate smooth movement of the door panels. It is important to ensure that once the hanger hinge has been properly adjusted, it does not lose its adjustment, i.e. that there is no undue rotation of the height-adjusting nut.  
         [0007]     It has been found that with conventional hanger hinges, repeated opening and closing of the panels can result in rotation of the nut, and hence loss of adjustment.  
         [0008]     Hitherto, a second (locking) nut has been used on the hanger bolt to lock the height-adjusting nut in position. However, such locking nut arrangements are not always effective. Two spanners are usually required to adjust the height of the panels, and due to the positioning of the nuts in close proximity to the panels, damage may be caused to the panels through spanner slippage. Moreover, the nuts are not aesthetically pleasing.  
         [0009]     Our U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,900 discloses a lockable carrier hinge assembly in which height adjustment is achieved by threading the hanger bolt into the carriage. The hanger bolt has a fixed nut or head at its bottom end. Once adjusted, the hanger bolt is locked to a hinge leaf, to prevent relative rotation therebetween.  
         [0010]     Although the lockable carrier hinge assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,900 has been found to be satisfactory for most commercial and residential applications, it may not be the optimum design for suspending large and heavy door panels.  
         [0011]     It is an aim of this invention to provide an adjustable hanger hinge which overcomes or ameliorates one or more disadvantages of the prior art, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In one broad form, the invention provides a hanger hinge for a folding door, window or similar closure having one or more panels. The hanger hinge comprises a hanger bolt having an externally threaded lower end; a nut member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded end of the hanger bolt; and a sleeve member having a bore dimensioned to receive the nut member at least partially therein, the sleeve member being supported by the nut member in use and operatively engaging the hanger bolt to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve member and the hanger bolt.  
         [0013]     At least one hinge leaf is pivotally mounted on the hanger bolt, which serves as a hinge pin. In use, the hinge leaf is fixed to a respective panel. The operative position of the hinge leaf is dependent on the extent to which the nut member is threaded onto the hanger bolt. Typically, the hinge leaf is supported by the sleeve member, which in turn, rests on the nut member threaded on the bolt. As the nut is threaded up and down the bolt, the position of the hinge leaf, and hence the height of the panel to which the leaf is fixed, varies up and down. Thus the height of the panel can be adjusted by rotating the nut member.  
         [0014]     The hanger hinge also includes a mechanism for releasably locking the nut member rotationally relative to the sleeve member. Since the sleeve member is itself locked rotationally relative to the hanger bolt, the nut member is thereby locked rotationally relative to the hanger bolt. The mechanism can be disengaged to free the nut member to be rotated relative to the hanger bolt and thereby adjust the position or height of the panel(s). Once the position or height is adjusted, the locking mechanism is re-engaged to prevent undue loss of adjustment.  
         [0015]     The nut member is typically a tubular nut having a socket on its underside for receiving an adjusting tool, such as an Allen key or screwdriver.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the locking mechanism is a mechanical key, such as a spring clip, which is automatically disengaged when the adjusting tool is inserted into the nut. That is, when the adjusting tool is inserted into the nut, the spring clip no longer keys the nut to the sleeve member.  
         [0017]     When the adjusting tool is removed, the spring clip again keys the nut to the sleeve member, or at least limits relative rotation between them, and as the sleeve member is rotationally locked to the bolt, the nut is therefore prevented from losing adjustment.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, the nut member has at least one axial rebate in its lower end and an annular groove on its exterior intermediate its ends. The sleeve member has an axial keyway in its inner wall at its lower end and an annular groove in its inner wall intermediate its ends, the annular grooves being radially opposed in use. The spring clip is operatively located in a composite space formed by the opposed annular grooves, and has an arm located in the axial keyway and resiliently engaging the axial rebate on the nut member. The arm is deflected out of engagement with the axial rebate when a tool is inserted in the nut member, to thereby permit the nut member to rotate relative to the sleeve member.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the hanger hinge includes a second key member for keying the hanger bolt to the hinge leaf, to thereby prevent relative rotation between the bolt and the hinge leaf. In this manner, since the sleeve member is rotationally locked to the bolt, the sleeve member is also fixed rotationally relative to the panel. When the nut member is freed, it can be rotated in a single-handed operation as it is not necessary to hold the sleeve (and hanger bolt) against rotation.  
         [0020]     The hanger bolt suitably has a rebate portion thereon. The second key member is operatively located between the rebate portion of the hanger bolt and the hinge leaf, and engages the hinge leaf to thereby mechanically lock the hinge leaf against rotation relative to the hanger bolt.  
         [0021]     Advantageously, the second key member is fixed to the sleeve member.  
         [0022]     In another form, the invention provides a nut assembly for use on a hanger hinge having a depending member with a threaded lower end, the nut assembly comprising a nut member adapted to be threaded onto the lower end of the depending member; a sleeve member having a bore dimensioned to receive the nut member therein, the sleeve member being engageable with the depending member in a rotationally locking relationship; and a locking device for releasably locking the nut member rotationally relative to the sleeve member.  
         [0023]     In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation of a hanger hinge according to one embodiment of the invention, in use.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the components of the hanger hinge of  FIG. 1  when disassembled.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a part sectional side elevation of the bottom portion of the hanger bolt of the hanger hinge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the nut and sleeve assembly of the hanger hinge of  FIG. 1 , with adjustment tool.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is an underside view of the adjusting nut of the hanger hinge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the adjusting nut of  FIG. 5  along A-A.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is an underside view of the sleeve of the hanger of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the sleeve of  FIG. 7  along E-E.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a sectional elevation of the nut and sleeve assembly of the hanger hinge of  FIG. 1  with locking key.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the locking key of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bolt locking member suitable for use with the hanger bolt of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the bolt locking member fixed to the sleeve. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a hanger hinge  10  is suspended from a carriage  11  to form an intermediate carrier for a folding door, window or similar closure. The hanger hinge  10  comprises a hanger bolt  12  having its upper end fixed or otherwise connected to the carriage  11  and depending therefrom. The hanger bolt  12  serves as a hinge pin for a pair of hinge leaves  13 ,  14 . The hinge leaves  13 ,  14  have interleaved knuckle portions  15  each having a bore  16  dimensioned to receive the hanger bolt  12  in a close sliding fit.  
         [0039]     Each hinge leaf  13 ,  14  is fixed by screws to an edge face of a respective panel  17 ,  18  of the folding door, window or similar closure. Alternatively, the hinge leaves may form a strap hinge which is face fixed to the panels. If the hanger hinge is used on an end panel, it normally has only one hinge leaf fixed to that end panel.  
         [0040]     As can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hanger bolt  12  has a threaded lower end  19  having a short threaded bore  20  therein. The bottom portion of the hanger bolt  12  also has a chord portion removed to form a flat surface  21 .  
         [0041]     A nut member in the form of a tubular nut  22  (shown in more detail in FIGS.  4  to  6 ) is adapted to be threaded onto the hanger bolt  12 . The upper end  23  of the tubular nut  22  is internally threaded, for threading onto the end  19  of the hanger bolt. The opposite end of the nut  22  has angular or chord-like rebates  24  machined or otherwise formed in its internal surface, to form a socket having a hexagonal outline. The socket is adapted to receive an adjustment tool, such as an Allen key  27  shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0042]     The socket end of the tubular nut  22  has a pair of diametrically opposed, axial rebate portions  25 . Intermediate its ends, the tubular nut  22  also has a radially rebated annular portion on its exterior, which forms a neck  26  of reduced diameter.  
         [0043]     The adjustable hanger hinge  10  also includes a sleeve member in the form of a generally tubular sleeve  28 , shown in more detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The sleeve  28  has a bore  29  dimensioned to receive the tubular nut  22  therein in a close sliding fit. The bottom end of the sleeve  28  is open, but its upper end is partially closed by a top end wall  30  having an aperture  31 . The aperture  31  is generally D-shaped with a flat side  32 , and is dimensioned to receive therein the bottom portion of the hanger bolt  12  having the flat surface  21 .  
         [0044]     The sleeve  28  also has an annular groove  33  formed on its inner surface, intermediate its ends. An axial keyway  34  is formed in the inner wall of the sleeve  28 , and extends from the open end of the sleeve to the angular groove  33 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0045]     The hanger hinge includes a key  36  for insertion between the nut  22  and the sleeve  28 . The key  36  is illustrated in  FIG. 10  and is made from a durable resilient material, such as spring steel. In the preferred embodiment, the key  36  is in the form of a spring clip having a pair of arms  37  defining a generally semicircular shape, and a third arm  38  extending orthogonally to the arms  37 . The third arm  38  has a rounded nose  39  at its free end.  
         [0046]     In use, the nut  22 , sleeve  28  and key  36  are assembled as shown in  FIG. 9  before threading onto the hanger bolt  12 . The key  36  is first applied onto the neck portion  26  of the tubular nut  22 , so that its arms  37  grasp the neck portion and locate within the outer diameter of the tubular nut  22 . The key  36  is angularly orientated so that its third arm  38  locates in an axial rebate  25 , with its nose portion  39  extending into the bore of the tubular nut  22 . The nut  22  and key  36  are then orientated so that the arm  38  is aligned with the keyway  34  in the sleeve  28 , and the nut  22  is pushed into the bore  29  of the sleeve  28  until the upper end of the nut  22  abuts the end wall  30  of the sleeve  28 .  
         [0047]     In this position, the neck portion  26  of the nut  22  is radially aligned with the annular groove  33  in the sleeve  28 , to form a composite angular cavity in which the arms  37  of the key  36  are captively held. It is to be noted that the third arm  38  of the key  36  locates in both the keyway  34  in sleeve  28  and the rebate  25  in nut  22 , thereby locking the nut  22  rotationally to the sleeve  28 . That is, when the key  36  is in the position shown in  FIG. 9 , it prevents relative rotation between the nut  22  and sleeve  28 .  
         [0048]     The nut and sleeve assembly is then inserted onto the lower end of the hanger bolt  12 . To do so, the sleeve must be orientated so that the flat portion  32  of the aperture  31  registers with the flat surface  21  of the hanger bolt  12 . It will be apparent that when the sleeve  28  is inserted onto the bottom end of the hanger bolt  12 , it will be locked rotationally relative to the hanger bolt due to the engagement of the flat portion  21  with the flat surface  32  of the irregular aperture  31 . Since the nut  22  is also locked rotationally relative to the sleeve  28  by the key  36 , the nut  22  must be unlocked from the sleeve to enable it to be threaded onto the threaded end  19  of the hanger bolt. This is achieved automatically, due to the shape of the key  36 .  
         [0049]     When the Allen key  27  is inserted into the socket  24  formed in the lower end of the nut  22 , it deflects the nose portion  39  of the spring arm  38  radially outwardly, thereby displacing the arm  38  out of the rebate  25 . This frees the nut  22  to rotate relative to the sleeve. With the sleeve  28  held against rotation, e.g. by hand or with a pair of pliers, the Allen key  27  is used to rotate the nut  22  and thread it onto the lower end of the hanger bolt  12 . Once the Allen key is removed, the nose portion  39  of the arm  38  will spring back under its own resilience. The nut  22  may be turned so that the nose portion  39  locates in one of the rebates  25 , or if not, any subsequent operational relative rotation between the nut and sleeve of less than 180° (typically equivalent to approximately 1 mm pitch) will cause the nose portion  39  to automatically lock in a rebate  25 , and again lock the nut  22  to the sleeve  28 .  
         [0050]     In use, the hinge leaves  13 ,  14  rest upon the top wall  30  of the sleeve  28  which, in turn, rests on the nut  22  threaded on the hanger bolt. The weight of the panels borne by the sleeve  28  and nut  22  is transferred to the carriage  11  by the hanger bolt  12 . The position of the hinge leaves  13 ,  14  relative to the hanger bolt  12 , and hence the height of the panels  17 ,  18 , is dependant upon the position of the sleeve  28 , and hence the position of the nut  22  on the hanger bolt  12 .  
         [0051]     To adjust the height of the panels  17 ,  18 , the Allen key  27  is inserted into the hexagonal socket  24  in the bottom end of the nut  22 , automatically displacing the nose portion  39  and its arm  38 , and freeing the nut  22  to rotate relative to the sleeve  28 . With the sleeve  28  held against rotation, the nut is rotated in either direction to obtain the desired height adjustment. Upon withdrawal of the Allen key  27 , the arm  38  of the key  36  automatically locks the nut  22  relative to the sleeve  28  (and hence the hanger bolt  12 ), or at least prevents relative rotation between them greater than 180°.  
         [0052]     As a safeguard, a wide headed screw  41  ( FIG. 2 ) may be inserted through the bore of the nut  22  and threaded into the bore  20  in the bottom end of the hanger bolt  12 . The screw  41  will prevent the nut  22  from detaching completely from the hanger bolt and also sets a minimum engaged thread length which is sufficient to carry the weight of the door panels.  
         [0053]     The above described hanger hinge has several advantages, including:  
         [0054]     the nut and sleeve assembly allows easy height adjustment of the panels  17 ,  18 ;  
         [0055]     the nut and sleeve are self-locking to prevent loss of adjustment;  
         [0056]     the sleeve  28  conceals the adjustment mechanism, and provides a clean aesthetically pleasing appearance matching the curvature of the knuckle portions of the hinge leaves;  
         [0057]     the components can be manufactured economically from common materials, such as stainless steel;  
         [0058]     the sleeve and nut arrangement is capable of bearing the load of large heavy door panels.  
         [0059]     As an added advantage, the adjustment of the locking nut  22  can be reduced to a single handed operation by locking the hanger bolt  12  to one of the hinge leaves, and hence to the door panel.  
         [0060]     Such locking is achieved by using a key or locking member  42  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The locking member  42  has a cross-section matching the removed chord portion of the hanger bolt  12  at its lower end. The locking member  42  also has a radial boss  43  which may be formed integrally thereon, or by a stud or grub screw.  
         [0061]     In use, the locking member  42  is inserted in the bore  16  in the knuckle portion  15  of hinge leaf  14 , so that the boss  43  locates in a bore or pin hole  44  provided in the knuckle. The locking member  42  is therefore locked rotationally relative to the hinge leaf  14 . The hinge leaf  14  is then placed onto the hanger bolt  12 , whereupon the locking member  42  locates on the flat surface  21  of the hanger bolt, and serves to lock the hanger bolt  12  rotationally relative to the hinge leaf  14 .  
         [0062]     Since the hinge leaf  14 , and thus the hanger bolt  12  and sleeve  28 , are all locked against rotation relative to the door panel, there is no need to hold the sleeve  28  against rotation when adjusting the nut  22 . The Allen key  27  may simply be inserted into the nut  22 , and rotated to provide the desired adjustment.  
         [0063]     Preferably, the locking member  42  may be fixed to the end of, or formed as part of, the sleeve  28  as shown in  FIG. 12 . This prevents the locking member  42  being lost or inadvertently not inserted.  
         [0064]     The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.  
         [0065]     For example, although two axial rebates  25  are shown, a higher number may be provided. This will limit the amount of relative rotation required between the nut and sleeve before the key  36  automatically locks.  
         [0066]     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.