ADJUSTABLE HINGE

Abstract
The invention concerns a hinge of the type including of a pair of members of a hinge (1), each having a pair of screw-anchoring holes (5). The holes are obtained within housing seats (2) prearranged for the introduction of adjusters (3, 9). Each adjuster includes a body (6) and a flange (7). The edge of the flange rests on the surface of each member of the hinge (1) in various mutual positions of the adjuster in its respective seat. According to the invention, said housing seats (2) have a centered-symmetry base layout, and guiding means (6, 11, 11a) are provided for guiding said adjuster body (6) into its respective housing seat (2) so as to allow the free movement of the adjuster (3, 9) in a single direction, among multiple possible directions, depending on the orientation of each adjuster (2) in its respective seat.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description, given purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:



FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a first example embodiment of the hinge according to an aspect of the invention;



FIG. 2 is a partly-exploded view of the hinge of FIG. 1, which highlights the front structure of the flanged adjusters and of the respective housing seats, according to another aspect of the invention;



FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows a rear perspective view which highlights the rear structure of the flanged adjusters;



FIGS. 4A and 4B are two partial-section views of the hinge of FIG. 1, showing an adjuster and a respective anchoring fastener, in two different working positions;



FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views of one of the two members of the hinge of FIG. 1, wherein features of the housing seat of the flanged adjuster are highlighted;



FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, but shows an alternative example embodiment of the hinge according to another aspect of the invention;



FIG. 8 is a partly-exploded view of the alternative example embodiment of FIG. 7, which highlights the front structure of the flanged adjusters; and



FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, but shows a rear perspective view which highlights the rear structure of the flanged adjusters.


Claims
  • 1. A hinge, of the type including a pair of hinge members (1) each crossed by at least one pair of holes (5) for anchoring screws, said holes being obtained within housing seats (2) arranged to allow the adjusted introduction of adjusters (3, 9), each adjuster including a body (6) and a flange (7), the edge of such flange resting on the surface of each hinge member (1) in any mutual position of the adjuster in the respective housing seat, wherein said housing seats (2) have a centered-symmetry base structure, and wherein, with the bottom surfaces of the seat (2) and of the body (6) of the adjuster (3, 9), which are in mutual contact, there are associated guiding means to guide said adjuster body (6) into the respective housing seat (2), so as to allow the free movement of said adjuster (3, 9) in a single direction at choice, among multiple possible directions, depending on the orientation of each adjuster (3, 9) within its respective seat (2).
  • 2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said housing seats (2) has a generally square base and each body (6) of the adjuster (3) has a generally rectangular base, the length of the longer side being substantially the same as that of the side of the generally square seat, said guiding means being accomplished through the engagement of said body (6) with said seat (2).
  • 3. The hinge as claimed in 2, wherein said adjuster (3) is free to move, among the walls limiting said generally square-base housing seat (2), by a length corresponding to the difference between the length of the side of the generally square base and the length of the shorter side of said body (6).
  • 4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said generally square-base seat (2) is oriented with the respective middle axes thereof arranged parallel and perpendicularly, respectively, to the axis of the hinge pin, in order to allow the movement of the adjuster parallel or perpendicularly to said hinge axis, according to the choice of the operator mounting the hinge.
  • 5. The hinge as in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the bottom surface (4) of the housing seat (2) and of the body (6) of the adjustment hinge (3), respectively, are provided with mutually interlocking means, said surfaces being in mutual contact.
  • 6. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for mutual interlocking includes, on the bottom surface (4) of the housing seat (2), a plurality of substantially punctiform protrusions, arranged to form two alignments parallel to the sides of said square base.
  • 7. The hinge as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for mutual interlocking are shaped as small generally square-base cusps, to form a sort of chequered or diamond-shaped pattern.
  • 8. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for mutual interlocking includes, on the body (6) of the adjuster (3), a plurality of grooves parallel to the longer side of the body (6).
  • 9. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mutual interlocking is facilitated by the engagement of said grooves of the surface of the body (6) with one of the two said alignments of the chequered pattern of the bottom (4) of the seat (2).
  • 10. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding means associated with the bottom surfaces of the seat (2) and of the body (6) of the adjuster (9), said surfaces being in mutual contact, includes a diametric rib (10), forming a saddle protruding with respect to one of said base surfaces, and of at least two grooves (11) arranged crosswise, obtained in the other one of said base surfaces, said rib (10) being capable of engaging with either one of said grooves (11), according to the choice of the operator mounting the hinge.
  • 11. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein said adjuster (9) is free to slide exclusively in a single direction, defined by the orientation of the guiding groove (11) with which the respective saddle rib (10) is engaged.
  • 12. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said housing seats (2) and each body (6) of the adjuster (9) has a generally round base and in that said saddle rib (10) projects from the base surface of the body (6) and said guiding grooves (11) are formed in the bottom surface of the housing seat (2), the body (6) having a diameter relatively smaller than that of the seat (2) by a measure corresponding to the desired width of the adjustment movement of the adjuster (3) with respect to the hinge member.
  • 13. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein two of said cross-shaped guiding grooves (11) are provided, one being oriented parallel and the other one perpendicularly to the hinge axis.
  • 14. The hinge as claimed in claim 13, wherein two further cross-shaped guiding grooves (11b) are provided, oriented at 45° to the hinge axis.
  • 15. The hinge as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for mutual interlocking are formed in the bottom surfaces of the guiding grooves (11) and in the top surface of said saddle rib (10).
  • 16. The hinge as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for mutual interlocking includes grooves oriented perpendicularly to the length of the guides and of the saddle.
  • 17. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holes (5) are substantially round, cross-shaped, or shaped as a quadrilobed cross.
  • 18. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 wherein on the outer surface of the flange (7) of each adjuster (3), marks (7a) are arranged indicating the adjustment direction.
  • 19. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the outer surface of the flange (7) of each adjuster (3), marks (7b) are arranged indicating the central position and on the adjacent surface of each hinge member marks (1a, 1b) are arranged indicating the maximum admissible displacement amplitude of the adjuster (3).
  • 20. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for mutual interlocking are formed in the bottom surfaces of the guiding grooves (11) and in the top surface of said saddle rib (10).
  • 21. The hinge as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the marks (7a) is in the shape of an arrow.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
MI2006A000041 Jan 2006 IT national