Patent Application
20170022743
Field of the Invention
An adjustable tension hinge for a door or gate.
Description of the Prior Art
Self-closing and self-opening gates are in common use, particularly in situations which require increased safety. In deed, it is generally mandatory to provide self-closing gates for swimming pool fences to prevent unsupervised access by small children in the event that other persons have forgotten to close the gate. Similarly, self-closing gates are often employed in households to secure stairways and other potentially hazardous areas.
Gates of this type generally include a helical spring-loaded hinge which produces a torque to bias the hinge towards the closed or open position. A problem which arises in relation to such gates is that they vary in dimension and weight, and so the spring tension in the hinge must be adjusted accordingly in order to have the gate close or open at appropriate speed.
Examples of prior art are described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,549,707 describes a hinge comprising a first hinge member including a body portion having a longitudinal axis about which a second hinge member is rotatable to move the hinge between an open position and a closed position. The body portion houses biasing means having an end fixed relative to the second hinge member engages an adjustment member fixed with respect to the first hinge member. The adjustment member includes a ratchet means to move the adjustment member in a first direction to increase the tension in the biasing means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,100 discloses a hinge comprising a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member comprises a cylindrical housing disposed between flange members formed on the second hinge member. A torsion spring is provided inside the cylindrical housing disposed in a recess at end of the cylindrical housing and the other end fits into a recess in a coupling element located at the other end of the cylindrical housing. The coupling element has a hexagonal engagement surface which engages a matching engagement surface in flange. By depressing the coupling element so that it is no longer in engagement with flange member, the coupling element can be turned so that its hexagonal external surface is in a different orientation with respect to the matching hexagonal surface of the flange when pressure on the coupling element is release.
US 2014/007520 shows a hinge comprising first and second hinges and coupling connecting the first and second hinge parts. The first and second hinges are rotatable relative to each other having a biasing member to impart a biasing force relative rotation of the hinge parts. The coupling comprises a first coupling portion movable to change the biasing force of the biasing member. The hinge further comprises a stop arrangement to limit the adjustment movement to thereby restrict change to the biasing force.
U.S. Pat. No. 244,185 relates to a door-spring of two leaves, a pintle having an elongated vertical recess or groove in its lower end, a ratchet-collar on the pintle and having a lug engaging the recess or groove in the latter. A stationary stop is disposed one of the hinge-leaves. The collar is connected to the coiled spring to rotate with, and slide vertically on, the pintle substantially as and for the purpose described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,536 shows a door closer or hinge including an upper adjustable torsion spring/ratchet combination power to close the door and a lower adjustable rotary damper to control the door closing speed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,038 discloses an adjustable tension spring to close a hinge after being rotated to an open position comprising a pair of notched ratchet-like members.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,683,654 describes an adjustable torque hinge including a torque adjustment member and spring combination. The outer end of the torque adjustment member includes a hexagonal adjustment hole to receive a hex key to adjust the torque force. The torque adjustment member can then release the torque spring to return the adjustable torque hinge to the original tension.
Australian patent 666491 describes a coupling element connected to a spring. The coupling element includes a head portion with a circular top section and a hexagonal intermediate section which engages a matching hexagonal engagement surface in an aperture of the spring housing. To adjust the spring tension, a tool is inserted into the slot and pressure is applied to disengage the coupling element so that it can be turned to a different orientation. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it requires the simultaneous application of a linear force along the spring axis and a rotational force about the spring axis. This is a relatively unnatural movement which can cause inconvenience to the installer.
Additional examples of the prior are found in U.S. Pat. No. 244,185; U.S. Pat. No. 255,938; U.S. Pat. No. 308,337; U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,582; U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,724; U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,242; U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,574 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,160,287.
The present invention relates to a hinge to maintain a gate or door in a normally close position. As discussed hereinafter, the closing force of the hinge is adjustable and may be used on either a left or right hand gate or door.
The hinge comprises a first and second hinge member rotatably coupled by a tension adjustment assembly including a first and second adjustment assembly operatively coupled by an adjustable bias.
Each hinge member comprises a hinge plate having an outer collar including an end cap receiving channel and an inner or interior collar including a hinge pin receiving channel extending or projecting outwardly from the front face or surface thereof.
The outer and inner or interior collars overlap relative to each other to cooperatively form a housing for the first and second adjustment assembly and the adjustable bias when the outer collars and inner or interior collars are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis when the hinge is fully assembled.
The first and second adjustment assembly each comprises an end cap and a hinge pin.
Each end cap comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a first set of ratchet teeth formed on the inner end portion thereof.
Each hinge pin comprises a cap including a bias receiving recess and a pin receiving channel to receive portions of the adjustable bias described hereinafter and a second set of ratchet teeth formed on the outer end portion thereof to operatively engage the first set of ratchet teeth. A tool receiving projection including a tool receiving channel extends outwardly from each cap to selectively receive a tool to rotate one or the other of the hinge pins to adjust the tension of the adjustable bias.
The adjustable bias comprises a helical or torsion spring disposed within the bias receiving recess formed in each hinge pin having a pin extending outwardly from each end thereof to fit into the corresponding pin receiving channel formed in each hinge pin to secure or lock each helical or torsion spring rotationally relative to the cap of the corresponding hinge pin.
Each tooth of the second set of ratchet teeth of each hinge pin includes a leading face or surface that is inclined or slanged rearwardly or in a first direction; while, each tooth of the first set of ratchet teeth includes a blocking face or surface that may be inclined or slanted in a second direction such that when the upper hinge pin is rotated in a first direction, the teeth of the second set of ratchet teeth engage the teeth of the first set of ratchet teeth depressing the helical or torsion spring and more tightly winding the helical or torsion spring to increase the tension on the helical or torsion spring to increase the closing force of the hinge.
Once the desired tension or torque is reached, the tool is removed from the tool receiving channel. The leading faces or edges of the first set of ratchet teeth engage the trailing faces or edges of the second set of ratchet teeth to lock either upper adjustment assembly in position.
In other words, the teeth of the first set of ratchet teeth and the second set of ratchet teeth act as a ratchet means by allowing rotational movement of the hinge pins in one direction only (in this example, the clockwise direction).
Since the pins of the helical or torsion spring are fixed with respect to the first and second hinge members, rotational movement of the first and second hinge members with respect to each other, for example by opening a gate to which the hinge is attached, will tend to create a torsional restoring force to move or force the hinge back to the original closed position.
The direction of the door or gate closing can be reversed simply by repositioning the first and second hinge members from left to right or right to left.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Typically, a gate or door hinge is configured to swing closed in a single (left to right or right to left) direction. In order to have the gate or door swing or close in the opposite direction a different gate or door hinge is required. Otherwise, the gate or door hinge may be turned upside down. This requires any spring or bias adjustment to be accomplished from the bottom of the gate or door hinge. This is generally awkward and difficult.
As shown in
The hinge 10 comprises a first hinge member generally indicated as 12 and a second hinge member generally indicated as 14 rotatably coupled by a tension adjustment assembly including a first adjustment assembly generally indicated as 16 and a second adjustment assembly generally indicated as 18 disposed at opposite ends thereof and operatively coupled by an adjustable bias generally indicated as 20.
The first hinge member 12 and the second hinge member 14 are similarly constructed. Specifically, each hinge member 12/14 comprises a substantially flat hinge plate 22 having an outer collar 24 including a centrally disposed longitudinal end cap receiving channel 25 and an inner or interior collar 26 including a centrally disposed longitudinal hinge pin receiving channel 27 extending or projecting outwardly from the front face or surface 28 thereof.
The inner or interior collar 26 of the first hinge member 12 is at least partially disposed between the outer collar 24 and inner or interior collar 26 of the second hinge member 14; while, the inner or interior collar 26 of the second hinge member 14 is at least partially disposed between the outer collar 24 and inner or interior collar 26 of the first hinge member 12 to cooperatively form a housing for the first adjustment assembly 16, the second adjustment assembly 18 and the adjustable bias 20 when the outer collars 24 and inner or interior collars 26 are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis 30 when the hinge 10 is fully assembled.
The first adjustment assembly 16 and the second adjustment assembly 18 are also similarly configured. Specifically, each comprises an end cap and a hinge pin generally indicated as 32 and 34 respectively.
Each end cap 32 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 36 having a centrally disposed longitudinal channel 38 formed therethrough. The outer end portion 40 of the substantially cylindrical body 36 has an inclined or slanted surface 42; while a first set of ratchet teeth generally indicated as 44 is formed on the inner end portion 46 of the substantially cylindrical body 36.
Each hinge pin 34 comprises cap 48 including a bias receiving recess 50 and a pin receiving channel 52 to receive portions of the adjustable bias 20 as described hereinafter and a second set of ratchet teeth generally indicated as 54 formed on the outer end portion 56 thereof to operatively engage said first set of ratchet teeth to cooperatively form a ratchet or hinge pin directional control as described hereinafter. A tool receiving projection 58 including a tool receiving channel 60 extends outwardly from the outer end portion 56 of each cap 48 to selectively receive a tool such as an Allen wrench (not shown) therein to rotate one or the other of the hinge pins 34 to adjust the tension of the adjustable bias 20 as discussed hereinafter.
When assembled, the end caps 32 are secured within the centerally disposed longitudinal end cap receiving channel 25 of the corresponding outer collar 24 by a corresponding pin 62 press fitted through a hole or channel 64 formed through the side of the corresponding outer collar 24 and seated in a recess or hole 66 formed in the corresponding end cap 32.
The end portion of each outer collar 24 has an inclined or slanted surface 68 adjacent the inclined or slanted surface of the corresponding substantially cylindrical body 36 of the corresponding end cap 32 in substantially the same diagonal plane.
As best shown in
Each tooth of said second set of ratchet teeth of each hinge pin 34 includes a leading face or surface inclined or slanted in a first or rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the hinge pin 34 when increasing tension or torque of the helical or torsion spring 70; while, each tooth of said first set of ratchet teeth of each end cap 32 includes a trailing face or surface that may be inclined or slanted in a second direction such that when the top hinge pin 34 is rotated in the first direction the teeth of said second set of ratchet teeth glide or slip past the teeth of said first set of ratchet teeth twisting the helical or torsion spring 70 increasing the tension on the helical or torsion spring 70 to increase the closing force of the hinge 10.
As previously described, said first set of ratchet teeth and second set of ratchet teeth 54 cooperatively for a ratchet or hinge pin directional control. Specifically, when a hex key or similar tool (not shown) is placed in the tool receiving channel 60 of the tool receiving projection 58 of the corresponding hinge pin 34 and turned clockwise as indicated by the arrow on the inclined or slanted surface 42, the leading edges or faces of said second set of ratchet teeth slip or glide past said first set of ratchet teeth. Once the desired tension or torque is reached, the tool (not shown) is removed from the tool receiving channel 60. The leading faces or edges of said first set of ratchet teeth engage the trailing faces or edges of said second set of ratchet teeth to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the hinge pin 34 to securely lock the hinge pin 34 of the upper adjustment assembly 16/18 in position.
In other words, the first set of ratchet teeth 44 and the second set of ratchet teeth 54 of the adjustment member 40 act together as a ratchet allowing rotational movement of the upper hinge pin 34 of adjustment member 40 in one direction only (in this example, the clockwise direction). To release the spring tension, the hinge pin 34 is depressed disengaging said second set of ratchet teeth from the first set of ratchet teeth 44 allowing the upper hinge pin 34 to rotate counter-clockwise causing the helical or torsion spring 70 to return to the original position.
The teeth of the first set of ratchet teeth 44 and the teeth of the second set of ratchet 54 are sized and configured to permit either hinge pin 34 to be incrementally rotated or ratcheted in the first or clockwise direction to increase the helical or torsion spring tension or incrementally ratcheted in the second or counter-clockwise direction to decrease the helical or torsion spring tension. For example, the teeth of the first set of ratchet teeth 44 and the teeth of said second set of ratchet teeth 54 may comprise substantially equally sized and substantially isosceles or equilateral triangular shapes or configurations.
Since the pins 72 of the helical or torsion spring 70 are fixed with respect to the first hinge pin member 12 and the second hinge member 14, rotational movement of the first hinge member 12 and the second hinge member 14 with respect to each other for example by opening a gate to which the hinge 10 is attached, will tend to create a torsional restoring force to move or return the hinge 10 and door or gate (not shown) to the original closed position.
A floating axial alignment hollow sleeve or spacer 74 having the bias or helical or torsion spring 70 at least partially disposed therein is slidably disposed between the caps 48 of the hinge pins 34 within the housing cooperatively formed by the outer collars 24 and inner or interior collars 26 disposed to selectively engage the adjacent inner ends of the inner or interior collars 26 as well as overlay the joint or seam 76 between the two inner or interior collars 26 regardless of which adjustment assembly 16/18 is on top. The weight of the gate or door (not shown) may create a bending movement between the inner or interior collars 26 causing the inner or interior collars 26 to become axially misaligned relative to each other. Since the floating axial alignment hollow sleeve or spacer 74 is disposed to selectively engage the adjustment inner ends of the inner or interior collars 26, the floating axial alignment hollow sleeve or spacer 74 prevents or limits the bending to maintain the axial alignment between the inner or interior collars 26 and outer collars 24. In addition, the end caps 32, the caps 48, the hinge pins 34 and the floating axial alignment spacer 74 substantially isolate the interior of the housing from the exterior environs protecting the bias or helical or torsion spring 70 from the surrounding elements.
Holes 78 to affix or fasten the hinge 10 to the gate or door (not shown) to the fence post or door jam (not shown) are formed through the substantially flat hinge plates 22 to the first hinge member 12 and the second hinge member 14.
If the hinge 10 is to be used or placed on a door or gate to swing from the opposite side of a fence or door jamb, the hinge 10 is rotated “upside” down and secured in place.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,
