(19)
(11) EP 0 735 222 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
23.05.2001 Bulletin 2001/21

(21) Application number: 96302163.9

(22) Date of filing: 28.03.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7E05D 5/02, E05D 7/00, E05D 7/04, E05D 7/10

(54)

Hinge

Scharnier

Charnière


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE IE NL

(30) Priority: 30.03.1995 GB 9506540

(43) Date of publication of application:
02.10.1996 Bulletin 1996/40

(73) Proprietor: MILA HARDWARE LIMITED
Daventry, Northants. NN11 5RB (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Wallis, Glen, c/o Brunel Comp. Ltd.
    Daventry, Northants NN11 5RD (GB)

(74) Representative: Neill, Alastair William et al
Appleyard Lees & Co. 15 Clare Road
Halifax West Yorkshire HX1 2HY
Halifax West Yorkshire HX1 2HY (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 569 818
DE-A- 3 705 131
DE-U- 9 218 045
DE-A- 2 515 335
DE-U- 9 203 856
GB-A- 2 253 242
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to hinges for doors, windows, gates or the like.

    [0002] For conciseness and clarity, the term "door" used herein is intended to embrace any hinged member, including windows, gates, hatches, doors, etc.

    [0003] Traditionally there have always been difficulties associated with the hanging of doors, gates etc. on their hinges such that they sit correctly in their frame. This often involved mounting the door and hinge and then removing it to make adjustments to position of the fasteners and so on.

    [0004] It is therefore desired to provide a hinge which allows the installer to hang the door and carry out positional adjustments while the door is in place. This allows the installer to make adjustments and to immediately see the effect without having to repeatedly hang and remove the door from the hinge. Two such adjustable hinges are described in DE-A-370531 and DE-U-92 03 856.

    [0005] According to the present invention there is provided a hinge comprising:

    a fixing portion for attachment to a door frame;

    a spindle supporting portion slidably attached to the fixing portion;

    a door attachment means for attachment to a door;

    a spindle engaged with said spindle support means, said spindle including an axially eccentric central portion on which the door attachment means is rotatably mounted; and means for selectively preventing rotation of said spindle relative to said frame attachment means,

    the spindle supporting portion being restrained from moving downwards relative to the fixing portion by a retaining means which may be adjusted, whilst the hinge is supporting a door, to slidably vary the relative position of the spindle supporting portion on the fixing portion.



    [0006] The adjustable retaining means allows the user to slidably adjust the relative position of the spindle support portion relative to the fixing portion. This allows fine adjustment of the mounting height of the door.

    [0007] The adjusting means may be provided by screwing a bolt into the fixing portion through a hole in the spindle supporting portion, with the spindle supporting portion resting on the head of the bolt such that as the bolt is screwed into the fixing portion, the head of the bolt moves towards the fixing portion carrying the spindle supporting portion with it.

    [0008] The hinge may include a second spindle supporting means which is slidably attached to the fixing portion and which engages the top of the spindle.

    [0009] The means for preventing the rotation of the spindle may comprise providing splines on the end of the spindle which engages with one of the spindle supporting means to prevent rotation of the spindle. The splined portion is preferably provided on the upper end of the spindle and in the second spindle supporting portion. This means that, with the second spindle supporting portion removed, the spindle can rotate in the first spindle supporting portion whilst supporting the weight of the door. When the spindle is in the desired position, the second spindle support portion can be moved into position to lock the spindle in position.

    [0010] The fixing portion is preferably rectangular in shape having angled edges to form a "dove-tail" shape. The shape of the spindle supporting portions can be matched by providing them with a corresponding shape, i.e. by having two arms with protruding portions on the end which hook around the edge of the fixing portion at the angled edges thereon. The fixing portion may, however have a variety of shapes. For example, by providing one or more ribs or grooves along the sides.

    [0011] A further adjustment may be provided on the door attachment means to allow adjustment of the length between the door connection part and the spindle connection part, to provide further positional adjustment of the door.

    [0012] An embodiment of a hinge according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts:

    Figure 1 shows a disassembled view of the hinge according an embodiment of the present invention.

    Figure 2 shows a top view of the spindle supporting portion.



    [0013] Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the spindle supporting portion.

    [0014] Figure 4 shows a view of the hinge with the spindle and second spindle supporting portion removed, looking from the door side of the hinge.

    [0015] Figure 5 shows a side view of the hinge with the spindle and second spindle supporting portion removed.

    [0016] Figure 6 shows the door attachment portion.

    [0017] Figure 7 shows a sectional view through the hinge with the door attachment portion in position.

    [0018] Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the second spindle support portion.

    [0019] The hinge 1 includes a frame attachment part 3,4 which comprises a spindle supporting portion 3 and a fixing portion 4, which is substantially rectangular through the sides which face the wall, in use, have angled edges 11 to provide a "dove-tail" shape. The angled edges are provided for engaging correspondingly shaped protrusions 21 on two spindle supporting portions 3,8 which are attached to the top and bottom of the fixing portion. The fixing portion 4 also has two protruding shafts 10 which are inserted into holes provided in the frame which, along with the screws passed through screw holes 40 also provided in the fixing portion, serve to provide load bearing support for the hinge.

    [0020] Once the fixing portion is located on the frame and screwed into position, the lower spindle supporting portion is attached to it. This is achieved by sliding the lower spindle supporting portion 3 onto the bottom of the fixing portion 4, then screwing a retaining bolt 30 into the bottom of the fixing portion through a hole 31 provided in the bottom of the lower spindle portion. Once the retaining bolt has engaged the fixing portion, the head of the bolt will support the lower spindle supporting portion.

    [0021] A door mounting part 61, which is pivotally mounted on a spindle 2, is attached to the door or gate which is to be hung. The spindle comprises two co-axial end sections 6,7 and an eccentric central portion 5 having its axis offset from the two end sections. The upper end of the spindle is provided with a series of splines 9 for engaging corresponding splines 81 provided in the upper spindle supporting portion 8, described below. The door mounting part is attached to the spindle, so that it pivots on the eccentric portion.

    [0022] The door (not shown), with the door mounting part and spindle attached, is lowered into its mounting position so that the lower end of the spindle 7 drops into a recess 20 in the upper surface of the lower spindle supporting portion. The weight of the door is then supported by the spindle which is supported by the lower spindle supporting portion.

    [0023] In this position, with the door supported, the installer can carry out fine tuning of the positioning of the door.

    [0024] Firstly, the retaining bolt 30 located at the bottom of the lower spindle supporting portion can be turned to provide height adjustment. By screwing the retaining bolt further into the fixing portion, the lower spindle supporting portion is raised which in turn raises the spindle and consequently the door. To protect and hide the head of the retaining bolt, a recess 32 is provided on the base of the lower spindle supporting portion in which the head of the retaining bolt 30 is located.

    [0025] In order to provide adjustment of the position of the door in and out of the frame (i.e. to the left and right in figure 5) the spindle is rotated in the receiving hole 20 in the lower spindle supporting portion. As the spindle is rotated, the eccentric central portion 5, to which the door is indirectly attached, rotates causing its axis to move in a circular orbit around the axis of the end portion of the spindle. This allows the door to be moved in and out of the frame.

    [0026] Once the desired position has been obtained the upper spindle supporting portion is slid into place. The upper spindle supporting portion, like the lower spindle supporting portion, have a "dove-tail" engaging portion 82 to allow it to slide down the fixing portion from the top. The upper spindle supporting portion is provided with a splined receiving hole 81 which engages the upper splined section of the spindle. This engagement locks the spindle, preventing any further undesirable rotation of the spindle.

    [0027] A further adjustment may be provided to allow left/right adjustment of position of the door. This is provided by providing a screw adjustment 60 to allow the part of the door attachment part connected to the door to move relative to the part attached to the spindle.

    [0028] Alternatively, instead of the arrangement of splines on the spindle and upper spindle supporting portion, other means may be provided to selectively lock the spindle against rotation in the frame attachment portion. For example a grub screw could be provided in the upper spindle supporting portion which is screwed against the edge of the spindle in a smooth recess which replaces the splined recess 81. This grub screw when screwed into the upper spindle supporting portion would lock the spindle.


    Claims

    1. A hinge (1) comprising:

    a fixing portion (4) for attachment to a door frame;

    a spindle supporting portion (3) slidably attached to the fixing portion (4);

    a door attachment means (61) for attachment to a door;

    a spindle (2) engaged with said spindle support means (3), said spindle (2) including an axially eccentric central portion on which the door attachment (61) means is rotatably mounted; characterised in that

    means for selectively preventing rotation of said spindle relative to said frame attachment means (4) is provided,

    the spindle supporting portion (3) being restrained from moving downwards relative to the fixing portion (4) by a retaining means (30) which may be adjusted, whilst the hinge (1) is supporting a door, to slidably vary the relative position of the spindle supporting portion (3) on the fixing portion (4).


     
    2. A hinge (1) according to claim 1 further comprising a second spindle supporting portion (8) slidably engagable with the fixing portion (4), a first end of the spindle (7) being supported by said spindle supporting means (3) and a second end of the spindle (6) being slidably engagable with the second spindle supporting portion (8).
     
    3. A hinge (1) according to claim 2 wherein the means for selectively preventing rotation of said spindle (2) includes a set of splines (9) on the second end of said spline (6) which slidably engage with the second spindle supporting portion (8) to prevent the spindle (2) rotating.
     
    4. A hinge (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the retaining means (30) comprises an adjustment bolt screwed into the fixing portion (4) through a hole (31) in the spindle supporting portion (3), the head of the bolt supporting the spindle supporting portion (3).
     
    5. A hinge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fixing portion (4) is substantially rectangular in cross-section, having two angled corners which, in use, face the frame.
     
    6. A hinge (1) according to claim 5 wherein the spindle supporting portion is provided with two arms (10), each having protruding portions on each end which define a space corresponding to the shape of the fixing portion (4) and into which the fixing portion is slidable.
     
    7. A hinge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the fixing portion (4) is substantially rectangular in cross-section, having one or more grooves or ribs on each side.
     
    8. A hinge (1) according to claim 7 wherein the spindle supporting portion (3) is provided with two arms, each having protruding or recessed portions to respectively engage said one or more grooves or ribs on said fixing portion.
     
    9. A hinge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the spindle (2) engages a recess on the spindle supporting means (3).
     
    10. A hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the door attachment means (61) includes adjustment means to allow movement of the portion attached to the door relative to the portion rotatably mounted to the spindle (2).
     
    11. A hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said fixing portion (4) includes two protruding shafts (10) to provide load bearing support to said hinge (1).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Scharnier (1) mit einem Befestigungsbereich (4) zum Befestigen an einem Türrahmen, einem Achsabstützbereich (3), welcher verschiebbar an dem Befestigungsbereich (4) befestigt ist, Türbefestigungsmittel (61) zum Befestigen an einer Tür, einer Achse (2), die in die genannten Achsabstützmittel (3) eingreift, wobei die genannte Achse (2) einen axial exzentrischen, mittleren Bereich aufweist, auf welchem die Türbefestigungsmittel (61) schwenkbar befestigt sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Mittel zum selektiven Verhindern des Drehens der genannten Achse relativ zu dem genannten Rahmen-Befestigungsmittel (4) vorgesehen sind, dass der Achsabstützbereich (3) durch ein Haltemittel (30) davon abgehalten wird, sich relativ zu dem Befestigungsbereich (4) abwärts zu bewegen, indem das Haltemittel (30) eingestellt werden kann, während das Scharnier (1) eine Tür abstützt, so dass die relative Lage der Achsabstützmittel (3) auf dem Befestigungsbereich (4) gleitend verändert werden kann.
     
    2. Scharnier (1) nach Anspruch 1, welches des Weiteren einen zweiten Achsabstützbereich (8) aufweist, der verschiebbar mit dem Befestigungsbereich (4) in Eingriff zu bringen ist, wobei ein erstes Ende der Achse (7) von dem genannten Achsabstützmittel (3) abgestützt und ein zweites Ende der Achse (6) verschiebbar mit dem zweiten Achsabstützbereich (8) in Eingriff zu bringen ist.
     
    3. Scharnier (1) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Mittel zum selektiven Verhindern des Drehens der genannten Achse (2) einen Satz Längsnuten (9) auf dem zweiten Ende der genannten Achse (6) aufweisen, welche verschiebbar in den zweiten Achsabstützbereich (8) eingreifen, um die Achse (2) am Drehen zu hindern.
     
    4. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei dem die Haltemittel (30) eine Einstellschraube aufweisen, welche durch eine Bohrung (31) in dem Achsabstützbereich (3) in dem Befestigungsbereich (4) geschraubt ist, wobei der Kopf der Schraube den Achsabstützbereich (3) trägt.
     
    5. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei dem der Befestigungsbereich (4) im Querschnitt im Wesentlichen rechtwinklig ist und zwei abgefaste Ecken hat, die in Gebrauchslage zum Rahmen weisen.
     
    6. Scharnier (1) nach Anspruch 5, bei dem der Achsabstützbereich mit zwei Armen (10) versehen ist, die jeweils an jedem Ende vorspringende Bereiche aufweisen, die einen Raum festlegen, der der Form des Befestigungsbereiches (4) entspricht und in welchen der Befestigungsbereich verschiebbar ist.
     
    7. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei dem der Befestigungsbereich (4) im Querschnitt im Wesentlichen rechtwinklig ist und eine Nut oder Rippe oder mehrere davon auf jeder Seite aufweist.
     
    8. Scharnier (1) nach Anspruch 7, bei dem der Achsabstützbereich (3) mit zwei Armen versehen ist, die jeweils vorspringende oder ausgenommene Bereiche aufweisen, um jeweils in die genannte eine Nut oder Rippe oder genannten mehreren Nuten oder Rippen auf dem genannten Befestigungsbereich einzugreifen.
     
    9. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, bei dem die Achse (2) in eine Ausnehmung der Achsabstützmittel (3) eingreift.
     
    10. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Türbefestigungsmittel (61) Einstellmittel aufweisen, die eine Bewegung des an der Tür befestigten Bereichs relativ zu dem Bereich zulassen, der drehbar mit der Achse (2) verbunden ist.
     
    11. Scharnier (1) nach einem beliebigen Anspruch der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der genannte Befestigungsbereich (4) zwei vorspringende Schäfte (10) aufweist, um eine die Last tragende Abstützung für das genannte Scharnier (1) zur Verfügung zu stellen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Charnière (1) comprenant :

    une partie de fixation (4) destinée à être montée sur un châssis de porte ;

    une partie de support de goujon (3) montée de manière coulissante sur la partie de fixation (4) ;

    des moyens de montage de porte (61) destinés à être montés sur une porte ;

    un goujon (2) emboîté dans les moyens de support de goujon (3), ledit goujon (2) comprenant une partie centrale excentrique, axialement, sur laquelle les moyens de montage de porte (61) sont montés en rotation ;

       caractérisée en ce qu'il est prévu des moyens pour empêcher sélectivement la rotation du goujon par rapport aux moyens de montage de porte (4),
       la partie de support de goujon (3) étant limitée dans son mouvement vers le bas par rapport à la partie de fixation (4) par des moyens de retenue (30) qui peuvent être réglés, alors que la charnière (1) supporte une porte, pour modifier de manière coulissante la position relative de la partie de support de goujon (3) sur la partie de fixation (4).
     
    2. Charnière (1) selon la revendication 1, comprenant également une seconde partie de support de goujon (8) apte à être emboîtée de manière coulissante sur la partie de fixation (4), une première extrémité du goujon (7) étant supportée par les moyens de support de goujon (3) tandis que la seconde extrémité du goujon (6) est apte à être emboîtée de manière coulissante dans la seconde partie de support de goujon (8).
     
    3. Charnière (1) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle les moyens pour empêcher sélectivement la rotation du goujon (2) comprennent une série de cannelures (9) sur la seconde extrémité du goujon (6) qui s'emboîte de manière coulissante dans la seconde partie de support de goujon (8), pour empêcher le goujon (2) de tourner.
     
    4. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle les moyens de retenue (30) comprennent un boulon de réglage vissé dans la partie de fixation (4) grâce à un trou (31) ménagé dans la partie de support de goujon (3), la tête du boulon supportant ladite partie de support de goujon (3).
     
    5. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle la partie de fixation (4) est pratiquement rectangulaire en section, avec deux angles biseautés qui, lors de l'utilisation, font face au châssis.
     
    6. Charnière (1) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle la partie de support de goujon est pourvue de deux bras présentant sur chaque extrémité des parties saillantes qui définissent un écartement correspondant à la forme de la partie de fixation (4) et dans lesquelles celle-ci est apte à être glissée.
     
    7. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle la partie de fixation (4) est pratiquement rectangulaire, en section, avec une ou plusieurs rainures ou nervures de chaque côté.
     
    8. Charnière (1) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle la partie de support de goujon (3) est pourvue de deux bras présentant des parties saillantes ou en creux en vue de l'emboîtement avec la ou les rainures ou nervures, respectivement, prévues sur la partie de fixation.
     
    9. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle le goujon (2) s'emboîte dans un creux prévu sur les moyens de support de goujon (3).
     
    10. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les moyens de montage de porte (61) comportent des moyens de réglage pour permettre le mouvement de la partie montée sur la porte, par rapport à la partie montée en rotation sur le goujon (2).
     
    11. Charnière (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la partie de fixation (4) comporte deux tiges saillantes (10) pour supporter la charge de ladite charnière (1).
     




    Drawing