The present invention relates to a hinge connector for a foldable door and, more particularly, to a hinge connector structure adapted to be mounted between two door panels of the foldable door, allowing the door panels of the foldable door to be folded relative to each other.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a hinge connector for a foldable door for improving the problems of easy disengagement and producing noise in conventional foldable doors. Thereby, the effectiveness of the hinge connector can be enhanced and the foldable door will look more aesthetically appealing.
To achieve this and other objectives, a hinge connector of the present invention is adapted for connecting two adjacent door panels of a foldable door to allow the door panels to be folded or unfolded. Each door panel includes a longitudinal groove with an opening formed in each of two lateral sides thereof. The hinge connector includes a board body, a protruding column, and two flexible pivotal strips. The board body includes two spaced side ends and an inner surface. The protruding column is protruded outwardly from the inner surface of the board body and includes two inwardly inclined side faces and an inner end face connecting the two side faces. The side faces of the protruding column are respectively spaced from the side ends of the board body, and the inner surface of the board body includes two pressing portions defined on two sides of the protruding column. Each pivotal strip is extended outwardly from one of the side faces of the protruding column and includes an enlarged connecting head formed on a terminal thereof. Each of the pivotal strips of the hinge connector is adapted to be engaged in the opening of an associated groove of a corresponding door panel, with the connecting head of each pivotal strip engaged in the associated groove of the corresponding door panel. Outer surfaces of the door panels are pressed against the pressing portions of the hinge connector respectively when the door panels of the foldable door are unfolded, while inner ends of the two door panels are pressed against the inner end face of the protruding column respectively when the door panels of the foldable door are folded.
In a preferred form, each pivotal strip is at an inclined angle of 30 to 60 degrees relative to the inner surface of the board body.
Preferably, each pivotal strip is at an inclined angle of 45 degrees relative to the inner surface of the board body.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
A hinge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The hinge connector 40 includes a board body 41, a protruding column 42, and two flexible pivotal strips 44. The board body 41 includes two spaced side ends 412 and an inner surface 411 connected between the side ends 412. The protruding column 42 is protruded outwardly from a central portion of the inner surface 411 of the board body 41 and has rough trapezoidal cross sections. The protruding column 42 has two inwardly inclined side faces 421 and an inner end face 422 connecting the two side faces 421. A longitudinal channel 423 is formed in the protruding column 42 for weight reducing purposes. The side faces 421 of the protruding column 42 are respectively spaced from the side ends 412 of the board body 41 in a way that the inner surface 411 of the board body 41 includes two pressing portions 43 defined on two sides of the protruding column 42. Each of the pivotal strips 44 is extended outwardly from a central portion of one of the side faces 421 of the protruding column 42. In this embodiment, each of the pivotal strips 44 is inclined approximately 45 degrees relative to the inner surface 411 of the board body 41. Furthermore, each of the pivotal strips 44 includes an enlarged connecting head 45 formed on a terminal thereof. In this embodiment, the hinge connector 40 is of a one-piece construction, and each connecting head 45 has rough rectangular cross sections.
In assembling, each pivotal strip 44 of the hinge connector 40 is inserted into the opening 31 of an associated groove 32 of a corresponding door panel 30 via the upper or lower end of the door panel 30, with the connecting head 45 of each pivotal strip 44 engaged in the associated groove 32 of the corresponding door panel 30, so that the door panels 30 can utilize the flexible pivotal strips 44 as the pivotal shafts, allowing the door panels 30 can be freely folded relative to each other.
The hinge connector 40 of the present invention has the following effects:
(1) When the door panels 30 of the foldable door are unfolded, the outer surfaces 33 of the door panels 30 are pressed and positioned against the pressing portions 43 of the hinge connectors 40 respectively, so that the door panels 30 can be presented as flat surfaces without unevenness. Furthermore, the flat surfaces of the door panels 30 matched with exquisite wood grain (or other grains or patterns) sprayed on the door panels 30 can further enhance the overall quality and delicacy of the foldable door.
(2) When the door panels 30 are folded, the inner ends 34 of the door panels 30 are pressed and positioned against the inner end faces 422 of the protruding columns 42 respectively, so that the door panels 30 can be neatly and closely folded together to avoid people from knocking against the foldable door when passing through. Furthermore, when the door panels 30 of the foldable door are folded, the board bodies 41 of the hinge connectors 40 are adjacently arranged (see
(3) When each door panel 30 is folded, the flexible pivotal strips 44 are used as the pivotal shafts, and therefore it is quiet without noise during the folding of the door panels 30.
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.