Adjustable Hinge and Method Adjustment

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of hinges and carriage mechanisms, such as a hinge and carriage mechanism adapted to hang a door, gate, panel, window or the like. The present invention is suitable for use with a means of providing height adjustment for a door and can reduce undesirable tampering and improve the security of the hinges and door assemblies by controlling the orientation of specific part of a hinge to limit access to the fastener.

Claims

1. A hinge adapted for use in conjunction with a trolley adapted to travel along a track, the hinge comprising: (a) at least one hinge leaf adapted to engage a proximate structure and rotate about a hinge pin, (b) the hinge pin having a first end depending from the trolley and a second end having an adjustment member for displacement of the at least one hinge leaf relative to the trolley, (c) a fastener for releasably fastening the adjustment member, and (d) a locking mechanism adjacent the second end of the hinge pin, wherein the locking mechanism is releasably fixable to limit access to the fastener.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is releasably fixable in a desired orientation to limit access to the fastener.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is removably attached to the second end of the hinge pin by a keyway and correspondingly shaped key.

4. A method of adjusting the hinge of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: (i) releasing the fastener from the adjustment member, (ii) operating the adjustment member to move the hinge pin vertically to a desired position, and (iii) applying the fastener to the secure the adjustment member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the parts of the device of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a side view of the assembled device of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a section through A-A′ of FIG. 2;

[0048] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sectioned device of FIG. 3; and

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates the assembled device of FIG. 1 attached to the upper edges of two panels of a folding door.

LIST OF PARTS

[0050] The following is a list of the parts referred to in the figures:

TABLE-US-00001  1 Hinge pin 13 Adjustment member  2 Head of hinge pin 14 Threaded recess in hinge pin  5 Hinge pin keyway 15a-b Washers  7 Trolley 21 Fastener  8 Recess in trolley body 25 Locking mechanism 10 Hinge set 27 Key 10a-c Hinge leaves 30 Recess in locking mechanism 12 Retaining clip 33 Trolley wheel 18 Locking collar clip 35a-b Door panels

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The present invention relates to an adjustable pivot mount for a panel, typically a panel of a door, folding door and/or window or similar closure. The hinge of the present invention is typically used as the top or bottom mount for a panel that moves along a track. It is also important to note that the present invention maybe used for adjustment of the height of a panel, and/or adjustment of the lateral position of a panel. Embodiments described below relate primarily to height adjustment, but the present invention should not be construed as being so limited.

[0052] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention. The hinge comprises a trolley (7) adapted to travel along a track. Typically the track is attached to the top or bottom of a door frame, or to the floor or other horizontal structure of a building. A hinge pin (1) having a first end that terminates in an integral, expanded head (2), is received through a recess (8) the body of the trolley (7). The hinge pin (1) is press fit into the recess (8) and a retaining clip (12) is applied after the press fitting. The expanded head (2) of the hinge pin (1) stops the trolley (7) being pulled off the end of the hinge pin and can support significant panel weights.

[0053] The hinge pin (1) passes through a hinge set (10), in this embodiment comprising three hinge leaves (10a, 10b, 10c) that can rotate freely about the hinge pin (1). In use, the hinge leaves (10a, 10b, 10c) would be directly or indirectly attached to a proximate structure such as a door frame, door jamb, or door panels.

[0054] At the second end of the hinge pin (1) there is located an adjustment member (13) in the form of a socket head cap screw. The adjustment member (13) is rotatably received within a threaded recess (14) in the second end of the hinge pin (1) for vertical displacement of the hinge pin (1) relative to the hinge leaves (10a, 10b, 10c). Spacers such as stainless steel or nylon washers (15a, 15b) can be located intermediate the rotatable hinge leaves (10a, 10b, 10c) and the locking mechanism (25).

[0055] In this embodiment the locking mechanism (25) comprises a locking collar that includes a threaded recess (30) for receiving the fastener (21). In this embodiment the fastener comprises a grub screw which can be rotated into and out of the threaded recess (30) bringing it into and out of contact with the adjustment member (13).

[0056] The locking mechanism (25) in this embodiment is a locking collar, having an inside surface that comprises a key (27) that projects inwards. The key is shaped to be received in a keyway (5) in the form of a slot second end of the hinge pin (1). Thus, the orientation of the fastener (21) is dictated by the key being received in the keyway. Furthermore the locking mechanism cannot be rotated to change the orientation of the fastener (21) and thus the direction from which the fastener (21) can be accessed and unscrewed.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 when fully assembled. In this view it can be seen that the longitudinal access of the fastener (21) is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the trolley (7). Thus the fastener (21) can only be accessed from one side of the door panels when aligned edge to edge. By virtue of the key/keyway interaction the locking mechanism (25) cannot be rotated to allow the fastener (21) to be accessed from the other side of the door panels.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a section along the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin, that is, through A-A′ of FIG. 2. In this view the threaded recess (14) in the hinge pin (1) can be clearly seen. The external thread of the adjustment member (13) engages the thread of the recess (14) to allow vertical adjustment of the hinge pin (1).

[0059] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sectioned device of FIG. 3.

[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates the assembled device of FIG. 1 attached to the upper edges of two panels (35a, 35b) of a folding door. Two hinge leaves (10a, 10c) are attached to the edge of a first panel (35a) and one hinge leaf (10b) is attached to the edge of a second panel (35b). The orientation of the fastener (21) is such that it cannot be accessed when the folding door is closed and the edges of the panels (35a, 35b) abut. The fastener (21) can only be accessed when the door is open and the panels (35a, 35b) are no longer abutting, or a preferably stacked to one side of a door frame.

[0061] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0062] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0063] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

[0064] It should be noted that where the terms “server”, “secure server” or similar terms are used herein, a communication device is described that may be used in a communication system, unless the context otherwise requires, and should not be construed to limit the present invention to any particular communication device type. Thus, a communication device may include, without limitation, a bridge, router, bridge-router (router), switch, node, or other communication device, which may or may not be secure.

[0065] “Comprises/comprising” and “includes/including” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, ‘including’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.