[0001] This invention relates to a hinge assembly and more particularly but not solely to
a hinge for a closure of a vacuum cleaner or other device.
[0002] Vacuum cleaners generally comprise an external housing, which is often provided with
one or more closures that can be opened to reveal dust separation devices, such as
dust bags, filters or cyclone units. The closure must be easy and convenient to open
and close, in order to facilitate replacement or emptying of the dust separation device.
The closure must also be capable of wide opening, so that a voluminous full dust bag
can be easily removed from the cleaner.
[0003] It is also known to provide vacuum cleaners having closures, which can be opened
to reveal storage compartments for cleaning tools and the like. It is desirable, for
aesthetic reasons, for any such closures to be mounted flush with the housing of the
cleaner, with their side edges being located in close proximity to the side edges
of the surrounding portion of the housing.
[0004] The need for the closure to conform to the shape of the cleaner housing and to open
widely has led to adoption of complex double-axis hinges, whereby the closure is pivotally
mounted to a pair of hinge arms, the hinge arms themselves being a pivotally mounted
to the body of the cleaner. A hinge arrangement of this type is disclosed in
European Patent EP 0116870. It will be appreciated that the need to accommodate the hinge arms within the cleaner
body makes demands on space within the body and can impose restrictions on the form
and location of the bag chamber closure.
[0005] German Patent DE 4419064 discloses an alternative to double-pivot hinges, which comprises a pair of arcuate
arms, rigidly attached to the bag chamber closure. The arms are a sliding fit within
a pair of arcuate cavities formed in the body of the cleaner. It will be appreciated
that such an arrangement imposes restrictions similar to those associated with the
double-pivot arms disclosed in
European Patent EP 0116870.
[0006] We have now devised a hinge assembly which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising
a first hinge portion pivotally interconnected to a displaceable second hinge portion
for rotation about a rotational axis, an axially projecting cam on said first portion
having a cam surface disposed radially outwardly of said rotational axis, and a fixed
abutment surface disposed remote from said hinge portions, wherein the cam surface
is biased against said abutment surface, the assembly being arranged such that rotation
of the first hinge portion about said rotational axis causes said cam to ride over
said abutment surface under the applied bias allowing translatory movement of the
rotational axis.
[0008] In a vacuum cleaner, the first and second hinge portions are respectively connected
to the closure and chassis thereof. As one side of the closure is opened outwardly,
the axis of rotation moves away from the body of the cleaner in a controlled manner
by the action of the cam, thereby allowing space for the opposite side of the closure
to move inwardly without fouling the body of the cleaner.
[0009] The hinge assembly is simple in construction and only makes small demands on space
within the vacuum cleaner body. The assembly provides the functional attributes of
the prior art whilst enabling the rotational axis to be located close to the extremity
of the cleaner body, for example at the extreme front of a canister cleaner, without
the hinge mechanism encroaching on the internal space of the cleaner.
[0010] Preferably a rotational bias is applied between said first and second hinge portions,
means being provided for holding the hinge portions against said rotational bias is
applied, such that when the holding means is released the rotational bias causes rotation
of the first hinge portion about said rotational axis and causes said cam to ride
over said abutment surface under the aforementioned applied bias allowing said translatory
movement of the rotational axis.
[0011] Preferably the cam surface is biased against said abutment surface by bias means
acting on said displaceable second hinge portion.
[0012] Preferably the cam is disposed at a radial distance of 5 to 15 mm away from the axis
of rotation.
[0013] Preferably the cam is able to move away from the abutment surface against the spring
bias in order to help avoid jamming of the assembly, for example when the closure
is closed.
[0014] Preferably, at least a portion of the abutment surface is inclined relative to a
plane which extends normal to the direction of the applied bias, so as to control,
amplify or otherwise vary the ratio of translatory movement of the rotational axis
to the angle of rotation.
[0015] Preferably, the cam comprises a projection which extends outwardly from said first
hinge portion, preferably in a direction which extends axially of the axis of rotation.
[0016] Preferably, a detent is provided on the cam to retain the hinge in a particular angular
configuration. The detent may comprise a planar region formed in an arcuate camming
surface of the cam.
[0017] Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a device comprising a closure
having a first hinge portion and a body having a second hinge portion displaceably
mounted thereon, the first portion being pivotally connected to the second portion
for rotation of the closure about a rotational axis relative to the body, the device
further comprising an axially projecting cam on said first portion having a cam surface
disposed radially outwardly of said rotational axis, and a fixed abutment surface
disposed remote from said hinge portions, wherein the cam surface is biased against
said abutment surface, the device being arranged such that rotation of the first hinge
portion about said rotational axis causes said cam to ride over said abutment surface
under the applied bias allowing translatory movement of the rotational axis of the
closure.
[0018] Preferably a rotational bias is applied between said first and second hinge portions,
means being provided for holding the hinge portions in a relative position in which
said rotational bias is applied, such that when the holding means is released the
rotational bias causes rotation of the first hinge portion about said rotational axis
and causes said cam to ride over said abutment surface under the aforementioned applied
bias allowing said translatory movement of the rotational axis.
[0019] Preferably the holding means comprises a catch which retains the closure in a closed
on the body, the rotational bias preferably being applied to the closure in an opening
direction such that the translatory movement occurs as the closure opens under the
applied rotational bias.
[0020] Preferably the second portion is slidably mounted to the body of the cleaner.
[0021] Preferably the cam surface is biased against said abutment surface by bias means
acting on said displaceable second hinge portion.
[0022] Preferably the cam surface is biased against said abutment surface in a direction
which extends substantially normal to the plane of the closure when the latter is
in its closed position.
[0023] Preferably the cam surface is biased against said abutment surface in a direction
which extends outwardly of the body of the device.
[0024] Preferably the cam is arranged to rotate away from said closure when the closure
is opened.
[0025] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example
only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view through a canister vacuum cleaner incorporating a hinge
in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the hinge in accordance with the present invention
of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1; and
Figures 3A - 3C are schematic views illustrating the principle of operation of the
hinge of Figure 2.
[0026] Referring to the drawings, there is shown the body portion 10 of a vacuum cleaner
comprising an external housing of plastics material. A compartment 11 is formed inside
the body 10 for receiving a dust bag (not shown) or other dust collection device,
such as a porous dust box or cyclone unit. A closure 12 is provided in the upper surface
of the body 10 and can be opened to allow the user to access the compartment 11, for
example when changing or emptying the dust bag or other dust separation device. In
order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the cleaner, the closure 12 is a flush
fit with the housing of the body and the side edges thereof conform to the shape of
the surrounding portions of the housing. The closure 12 is hinged to the body 10 of
the cleaner, adjacent the front edge thereof, for rotation about a horizontal axis
P. A spring (not shown) biases the closure 12 about the axis P into its open position.
A catch(not shown) is provided for retaining the closure 12 in its closed position
against the rotational bias.
[0027] Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, the closure 12 is hinged to the body 10 of
the cleaner by way of two depending arms e.g. 13, which extend from respective opposite
ends of the lower front edge of the closure 12. The lower end of each arm 13 is turned
forwardly through 90° and carries an axle 14, which projects outwardly from one side
of the arm 13 in a direction which extends transversely of the cleaner and parallel
to the plane of the closure 12. The axles 14 of the two arms 13 lie on a common axis
A-A and are directed in respective opposite directions, transversely of the body 10
of the cleaner.
[0028] The axles 14 engage into apertures formed in respective upstanding posts 15. The
lower ends of the posts 15 are captively mounted in sockets 19 formed in a chassis
of the cleaner, for movement in a direction D, which extends longitudinally of the
posts 15. The posts 15 are biased upwardly by respective compression springs 16.
[0029] Each arm 13 of the hinge comprises a projecting cam 17, which extends outwardly therefrom
in the opposite direction to the axle 14. The cams 17 extend along an axis B-B, which
extends parallel to the axis A-A of the axles 14, in a position which is offset therefrom
by a distance X of between 5 and 15mm. The cams 17 are disposed on the forward side
of the rotational axis A-A, whereas the closure 12 is disposed substantially on the
rearward side of the rotational axis. The cams 17 are also positioned at a point which
is arranged such that when the closure 12 is closed, their position with respect to
the rotational axis A-A is disposed in a direction which extends substantially normal
to the direction of movement of the posts 15. The axially extending sides of the cams
17 comprise arcuate camming surfaces, which face upwardly and rearwardly of the cleaner.
An upwardly facing portion of the camming surfaces are generally planar.
[0030] The cams 17 each extend under an inclined abutment surface 18 formed along the underside
of respective side members of the chassis of the vacuum cleaner. The abutment surfaces
18 are upwardly inclined from the front to the rear of the cleaner. The camming surfaces
of the cam 17 are biased upwardly against the abutment surfaces 18 by the action of
the springs 16 on the posts 15.
[0031] Referring to Figure 3A of the drawings, when the closure 12 is in its closed position,
the cams 17 are biased against the lower front end of their respective abutment surfaces
18. In this position, the generally planar portions of the camming surfaces are in
contact with the respective abutment surfaces 18: these portions act as detents to
help keep the closure closed and to provide some feedback feeling to the user that
the closure is moving into or out of its closed position.
[0032] However, referring to Figures 3B and 3C of the drawings, when catch is released and
the closure 12 moves to its open position under the applied bias, the cams 17 rotate
downwardly and rearwardly in a counter clockwise direction, allowing the arms 13 of
the hinge to rise under the applied spring bias. During opening, the cams 17 move
upwardly along the inclined abutment surfaces 18, thereby increasing the height by
which the arms 13 can rise.
[0033] It will be appreciated that the rotational axis A-A of the hinge thus rises during
opening by a distance L. This height rise allows the closure 12 to open through almost
90°, yet avoids fouling of the lower front edge of the closure 12 with the body 10
of the cleaner. Accordingly, the hinge of the present invention avoids the need for
an unsightly gap to be provided between the closure 12 and the body 10 of the cleaner.
1. A hinge assembly comprising a first hinge portion pivotally interconnected to a displaceable
second hinge portion for rotation about a rotational axis, an axially projecting cam
on said first portion having a cam surface disposed radially outwardly of said rotational
axis, and a fixed abutment surface disposed remote from said hinge portions, wherein
the cam surface is biased against said abutment surface, the assembly being arranged
such that rotation of the first hinge portion about said rotational axis causes said
cam to ride over said abutment surface under the applied bias allowing translatory
movement of the rotational axis.
2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which a rotational bias is applied between
said first and second hinge portions, means being provided for holding the hinge portions
against said rotational bias is applied, such that when the holding means is released
the rotational bias causes rotation of the first hinge portion about said rotational
axis and causes said cam to ride over said abutment surface under the aforementioned
applied bias allowing said translatory movement of the rotational axis.
3. A hinge assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2 , in which the cam surface is biased
against said abutment surface by bias means acting on said displaceable second hinge
portion.
4. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cam is disposed at
a radial distance of 5 to 15 mm away from the axis of rotation.
5. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cam is able to move
away from the abutment surface against the spring.
6. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least a portion of
the abutment surface is inclined relative to a plane which extends normal to the direction
of the applied bias.
7. A hinge assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cam comprises a projection
which extends outwardly from said first hinge portion, preferably in a direction which
extends axially of the axis of rotation.
8. A device comprising a closure having a first hinge portion and a body having a second
hinge portion displaceably mounted thereon, the first portion being pivotally connected
to the second portion for rotation of the closure about a rotational axis relative
to the body, the device further comprising an axially projecting cam on said first
portion having a cam surface disposed radially outwardly of said rotational axis,
and a fixed abutment surface disposed remote from said hinge portions, wherein the
cam surface is biased against said abutment surface, the device being arranged such
that rotation of the first hinge portion about said rotational axis causes said cam
to ride over said abutment surface under the applied bias allowing translatory movement
of the rotational axis of the closure.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which a rotational bias is applied between said
first and second hinge portions, means being provided for holding the hinge portions
against said rotational bias is applied, such that when the holding means is released
the rotational bias causes rotation of the first hinge portion about said rotational
axis and causes said cam to ride over said abutment surface under the aforementioned
applied bias allowing said translatory movement of the rotational axis.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which the holding means comprises a catch which
retains the closure in a closed on the body, the rotational bias preferably being
applied to the closure in an opening direction such that the translatory movement
occurs as the closure opens under the applied rotational bias.
11. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, in which the second portion is slidably
mounted to the body of the device.
12. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, in which in which the cam surface is
biased against said abutment surface by bias means acting on said displaceable second
hinge portion.
13. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, in which the cam surface is biased against
said abutment surface in a direction which extends substantially normal to the plane
of the closure when the latter is in its closed position.
14. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13, in which the cam surface is biased against
said abutment surface in a direction which extends outwardly of the body of the device.
15. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14, in which the cam is arranged to rotate
inwardly of the body of the device when the closure is opened.
16. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 15, comprising dust collection means for
filtering dirt and dust from an airflow and means for creating an airflow through
the dust collection means.