Hinge

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge for a swinging door, the hinge has at least one hinge axis element, a first hinge part and a second hinge part which are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner via the at least one hinge axis element, at least one latching arrangement, which comprises at least one latching means arranged at the second hinge part and comprising a latching body, and at least one latching recess arranged at the hinge axis element, wherein the latching means is configured such that the latching body engages in the latching recess in a latching position, and a clamping means for releasably fixing the hinge axis element to the first hinge part, wherein an angular position of the hinge axis element and the latching recess with respect to the first hinge part can be adjusted. The clamping means comprises at least one pair of clamping jaws for clamping the hinge axis element between these clamping jaws, wherein each of the clamping jaws comprises a clamping surface adapted to the contour of the hinge axis element.

Claims

1. A hinge (10) for a swinging door, the hinge (10) comprising: a hinge axis element (20) comprising a circumference and a latching recess (56); a first hinge part (12) and a second hinge part (16); the first hinge part (12) comprising a first clamping part (30) having a base (36) with a first arm (38) and a second arm (40) where the first arm (38) has a clamping jaw and the second arm (40) has a clamping jaw; a bearing unit (18) attached to the second hinge part (16) and pivotally attached to the hinge axis element (20); a latching body (52) within the bearing unit (18) wherein the latching body (52) is held against the hinge axis element (20) by a force application device (54) such that as the hinge axis element (20) rotates in the bearing unit (18) the latching body (52) will encounter the latching recess (56) of the hinge axis element and engage with the latching recess (56) in a latching position; a second clamping part (32) having a base (36) with a first arm (38) and a second arm (40); wherein the first arm (38) of the second clamping part (32) has a clamping jaw configured to circumferentially retain an upper end portion of the hinge axis element (20) through engagement with the clamping jaw of the first arm of the first hinge part (12); and wherein the second arm (40) of the second clamping part (32) has a clamping jaw configured to circumferentially retain a lower end portion of the hinge axis element through engagement with the clamping jaw of the second arm of the first hinge part; the latching position of the hinge being related to the position of the latching recess (56) with respect to the latching body (52) as determined by the circumferential placement of the clamping jaws about the hinge axis element (20); wherein the first clamping part (30) adjustably engages with the second clamping part (32) along a common axis of rotation (64) parallel to the hinge axis element (20); wherein the first clamping part (30) and the second clamping part (32) are adjustably fastened by a single screw connection (34) such that adjustment of the latching position of the hinge is accomplished by loosening the single screw connection (34), rotating the first clamping part (30) and the second clamping part (32) about the hinge axis element (20) until a desired latching position is achieved, and then tightening the single screw connection (34).

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (30) and the second clamping part (32) are separable from each other.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (30) and the second clamping part (32) are aligned with a male to female alignment structure.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, further comprising: a screw connection (34) between the first damping part (30) and the second clamping part (32).

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the screw connection (34) serves to adjust the angular position of the first clamping part (30) and the second clamping part (32) in relation to the binge axis element (20).

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein at each of the clamping parts the base (36) and the first arm (38) and the second arm (40) are arranged in a U-shape.

7. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge axis element (20) is cylindrical.

8. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the latching body (52) is spherical.

9. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the force application device (54) is a spring.

10. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a clamping surface of the clamping jaw of the first arm (38) of the first hinge part (12) spans 33%-50% of the circumference of the hinge axis element (20).

11. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a clamping surface of the clamping jaw of the second arm (40) of the first hinge part (12) spans 33%-50% of the circumference f the hinge axis element (20).

12. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a clamping surface of the clamping jaw of the first arm (38) of the second clamping part (32) spans 33%-50% of the circumference of the hinge axis element (20).

13. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a clamping surface of the clamping jaw of the second arm (40) of the second clamping part (32) spans 33%-50% of the circumference of the hinge axis element (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained by way of example with reference to the attached drawings based on preferred exemplary embodiments, wherein the features shown below both individually and in combination may represent an aspect of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows assemblies of a hinge for a swinging door according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a section through the assembly of the hinge in which a hinge axis element is mounted;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a 3D view of the hinge with the clamping means released;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a 3D view of the hinge with the hinge axis element fixed per clamping means; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a comparison of the states of the hinge shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a top view.

(7) The present invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification and the attached drawings and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. The present invention will be described by way of example, and not limitation. Modifications, improvements and additions to the invention described herein may be determined after reading this specification and viewing the accompanying drawings; such modifications, improvements, and additions being considered included in the spirit and broad scope of the present invention and its various embodiments described or envisioned herein.

(9) FIG. 1 shows the assemblies of a hinge 10, more precisely a hinge for a swinging door (not shown), in particular a glass swinging door. The first assembly comprises a first hinge part 12 and a clamping means 14. The second assembly comprises a second hinge part 16 and a bearing unit 18 fastened to the second hinge part 16, in which a pin-like hinge axis element 20 is rotatably mounted via a bearing bush 22. Here the end portions 24, 26 of the hinge axis element 20 protrude from the bearing unit 18 on opposite sides. Within the bearing unit 18 a latching arrangement 28 shown in FIG. 2 is provided, by means of which a zero point of the swinging movement of the swinging door is defined. The clamping means 14 comprises two clamping means parts 30, 32 that can be separated from one another, wherein the first clamping means part 30 is fastened to the first hinge part 12, while the second clamping means part 32 can be detachably fastened to the first clamping means part 30 via a screw connection 34. The screw connection 34 forms together with projection-recess arrangements a means for setting a relative position of the clamping means parts relative to one another.

(10) Here in the example shown, the first hinge part 12 is a hinge part for a door leaf of the swinging door and the second hinge part 16 is a hinge part for attachment to a door frame, a wall or another fixed element. As an alternative, it is also possible and, in the case of corresponding configurations, also customary that the second hinge part 16 is the hinge part for the door leaf of the swinging door and the first hinge part 12 is a hinge part for fastening to a corresponding fixed element. The two hinge parts 12, 16 are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner within the assembled hinge 10 via the hinge axis element 20. As stated, via a latching position of the latching arrangement 28 a zero point of the swinging motion of the swinging door is obtained. In order to assign this zero point to an angular position of the swinging door or the first hinge part 12, the hinge axis element 20 can be releasably fixed to the first hinge part 12 via the clamping means 14 such that a desired angular position of the hinge axis element 20 with respect to the first hinge part 12 can be set.

(11) Each of the clamping means parts 30, 32 movable with respect to each other has a U-shaped configuration with a base 36 and two arms 38, 40, wherein the screw connection 34 respectively takes place at the base 36. The clamping means 14 has a total of two pairs of clamping jaws 42, 44, 46, 48, of which one pair (comprising the clamping jaws 42, 44) can encompass the hinge axis element 20 circumferentially at its one end portion 24 and the other pair (comprising the clamping jaws 46, 48) can encompass the hinge axis element 20 circumferentially at its other end portion 26 and thereby clamp it releasably. Each of the clamping means parts 30, 32 comprises in a central portion of its arms 38, 40 respectively one clamping jaw 46, 48 per pair of clamping jaws 42, 44,

(12) FIG. 2 shows a section through the second assembly of the hinge 10, wherein the section is taken through the bearing unit 18 at the level of the hinge axis element 20. In the bearing unit 18 there is disposed—in addition to the hinge axis element 20 and the bearing bush 22 for mounting the hinge axis element 20—also the latching arrangement 28, which comprises a latching means 50 with a latching body 52 and a device 54 for applying a force to the latching body 52 as well as a latching recess 56 formed in the hinge axis element 20. The device 54 for applying a force to the latching body 52 is essentially a compression spring 58 which presses the latching both 52 in the direction of an axis portion of the hinge axis element 20 in which the latching recess 56 is formed. In other words, the latching means 50 is arranged such that the latching body 52 engages in the latching recess 56 in a latching position.

(13) The angular position of the two hinge parts 12, 16 when the latching body 52 is latched into the latching recess 56, that is to say in a latching position, marks a zero point with respect to swinging motion of the hinge parts 12, 16 with respect to one another or a corresponding door or a corresponding window. This zero point of the swinging motion can be shifted by rotating the two hinge parts 12, 16 with respect to one another when the clamping means 14 is released. The rotation generally takes place with the latching body 52 latched into the latching recess 56. In this latching position, the angular position of the hinge axis element 20 with respect to the second hinge part 12 is well-defined. If the zero point is at the desired angular position of the first hinge part 12 relative to the second hinge part 16, the corresponding angular position of the hinge axis element 20 with respect to the first hinge part 12 is fixed via the clamping means 14, whereby the zero point is set. For this purpose, the screw of the screw connection 34 is simply tightened at a corresponding angular position.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a view of the hinge 10 with the clamping means 14 released. In this illustration it can be seen that the free ends of the mutually associated arms 38, 40 of the two clamping means parts 30, 32 form joints 60, 62 with respect to a common axis of rotation 64. The clamping means parts 30, 32 can be pivoted relative to one another with respect to this axis 64. The hinge axis element 20 is not fixed with respect to the first hinge part 12.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a view of the hinge 10 with fixed clumping means 14 and with the hinge axis element 20 fixed per clamping means 14. Here, the joints 60, 62 are disposed on one side of the clamping jaws 42, 44, 46, 48 and the screw connection 34 is disposed on the other side of the clamping jaws 42, 44, 46, 48. This results in a large lever and thus a high clamping force.

(16) Finally, FIG. 5 shows a comparison of the states of the hinge 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a top view. It can be clearly seen that the clamping surfaces of the clamping jaws 40, 42; 46, 48 of each pair overlap the circumference of the hinge axis element 20 in the corresponding axis section 24, 26 together almost completely, that is to say over 90%.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(17) 10 hinge 12 first hinge part 14 clamping means 16 second hinge part 18 bearing unit 20 hinge axis element 22 bearing bush 24, 26 end portion (hinge axis element) 28 latching arrangement 30 first clamping means part 32 second clamping means part 34 screw connection 36 base 38, 40 arm 42, 44 clamping jaw (first pair) 46, 48 clamping jaw (second pair) 50 latching means 52 latching body 54 force application device 56 latching recess 58 compression spring 60, 62 joint 64 axis of rotation

(18) While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification and the attached drawings and claims.