Hinges used to hinge doors to a wall or a to a stile are typically two-member hinges that are coupled together and rotate relative to each other. The hinges and may be adjusted to stop their rotation relative to each other when the door opens a predetermined amount relative to the stile. Typically hinges include stops at predetermined intervals of typically 30° to 45°. Because of the range of such intervals, the adjustment of closing may not be fine-tuned and the doors may either open too much or stop opening too early.
An example embodiment hinge includes a first hinge member including a first barrel, and a second hinge member including a first end barrel opposite a second end barrel, where the first barrel is coaxially aligned between the two end barrels, and where the first hinge member can rotate relative to the second hinge member about an axis along the first barrel and first and second end barrels. The example embodiment hinge also includes a spring having a first axially extending end and a second axially extending end opposite the first axially extending end, and a spring tensioner having a first depression for receiving the first axially extending end of the spring. The spring tensioner includes a second depression for receiving a driver. The spring tensioner is axially slideable along the axis. A retainer is coupled to the spring tensioner and includes an opening that is penetrable by the driver when the driver is being received in the second depression. The spring second axially extending end is rotationally retained relative to either one of the first end barrel, the second end barrel, or the first barrel, and the spring urges the spring tensioner against the retainer. When engaged with the spring tensioner, the retainer prevents the spring tensioner for rotating relative to the retainer and relative to other of the first end barrel, the second end barrel, or the first barrel. In one example embodiment, at least a portion of the spring tensioner is within the first barrel, the retainer is axially and rotationally retained relative to the barrel, and the spring second axially extending end is rotationally retained relative to the second end barrel. In another example embodiment, the hinge further includes a second cap mated to the second end barrel and being rotationally and axially retainer relative to the second end barrel. In another example embodiment, the second cap further includes a portion including a depression for receiving the second axially extending end of the spring and for rotationally retaining the second axially extending end relative to the second end barrel. In yet another example embodiment, the hinge also includes a first cap mated the first end barrel and having an opening for being penetrated by the driver when the driver is being received in the second depression. In this example embodiment, the first cap is rotationally and axially retained relative to the first end barrel. In a further example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a plurality of grooves and projections, and the retainer includes a plurality of grooves and projections, such that the projections of the spring tensioner are received in the grooves of the retainer and the projections of the retainer are received in the grooves of the spring tensioner when the retainer engages the spring tensioner for preventing the spring tensioner from rotating relative to the retainer. In yet a further example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a head. With this embodiment the grooves and projections of the spring tensioner are formed on the head, and the retainer includes a depression, and the projections and grooves of the retainer are formed in the depression. In another example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a depression and the grooves and projections of the spring tensioner are formed on the depression, and the retainer includes a head and the projections and grooves of the retainer are formed on the head. In one example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a plurality of grooves and projections, and the retainer includes a plurality of grooves and projections, such that the projections of the spring tensioner are received in the grooves of the retainer and the projections of the retainer are received in the grooves of the spring tensioner when the retainer engages the spring tensioner for preventing the spring tensioner from rotating relative to the retainer. In a further example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a head and the grooves and projections of the spring tensioner are formed on the head, and the retainer includes a depression and the projections and grooves of the retainer are formed in the depression. In yet a further example embodiment, the spring tensioner includes a depression and the grooves and projections of the spring tensioner are formed on the depression, and the retainer includes a head and the projections and grooves of the retainer are formed on the head. In another example embodiment, the hinge also includes a first magnetic surface on the inner hinge member and a second magnetic surface on the outer hinge member. In another example embodiment, the first and second magnetic surfaces have the same polarity for repelling each other when the hinge is in a closed position. In yet another example embodiment, the inner hinge member includes a first plate member and the outer hinge member includes a second plate member. With this embodiment, the first magnetic surface is formed on the first plate member and the second magnetic surface is formed on the second plate member so as to repel each other when the hinge is in the closed position and the first and second plate members are adjacent to and face each other. In a further example embodiment, each magnetic surface is formed by inserting a magnet in the corresponding hinge members or by incorporating a magnetic paint on the corresponding hinge members.
In an example embodiment, a method is provided for adjusting the torsional stop on a hinge including a first hinge member including a first barrel, a second hinge member including a first end barrel opposite a second end barrel, where the first barrel is coaxially aligned between the two end barrels, where the first hinge member can rotate relative to the second hinge member about an axis along the first barrel and the first and second end barrels, and a spring having a first end opposite a second end, where one of the spring ends is rotationally retainer relative to the first barrel and the other spring end is rotational retained relative to either of the first or second end barrel. The method includes axially compressing one of the spring first or second ends, such that after compressing one of the spring first and second ends, the one of the spring first or second ends is not rotationally retained relative to one of the first end barrel, the second end barrel, or the first barrel. The method also includes adjusting the twist on the spring while one of the spring first or second ends is compressed by rotating the one end of the spring first or second ends relative to the other of the spring first or second ends about the axis, and axially decompressing the one of said spring first or second ends, such that after decompressing, the one of the spring first or second ends is rotationally retained relative to the one of the first end barrel, the second end barrel, or the first barrel. In another example embodiment, the first end of the spring is rotationally retained relative to the first barrel and the second end of the spring rotationally retained relative to one of the first or second end barrels, where axially compressing includes axially compressing the first end of the spring, and where adjusting the twist includes rotating the first end of the spring relative to the second end of the spring, and where axially decompressing includes axially decompressing the first end of the spring. In yet another example embodiment, the first end of the spring is rotationally retained relative to one of the first or second end barrels and where the second end of the spring is rotationally retained relative the first barrel, where axially compressing includes axially compressing the first end of the spring, and where adjusting the twist includes rotating the first end of the spring relative to the second end of the spring, and where axially decompressing includes axially decompressing the first end of the spring.
In an example embodiment, a hinge 10 includes an inner hinge member 12 and an outer hinge member 14, as for example shown in
The spring 30 in an example embodiment is a coil spring with the upper axially extending end portion 32 and the lower axially extending end portion 34. The end portions may be the ends of the spring bent to extend along the axis of the spring, as for example shown in
The top cap 36 includes a head 62 and a body 64 extending axially form the head, as for example shown in
A retainer 84 is between the top cap 36 and the spring tensioner 40 (
The second or bottom cap 38 includes a head 110 and a body 112 extending axially form the head (
In an example embodiment, the barrel 18 of the inner hinge member 16 is placed between and aligned with the end barrels 22, 24 of the outer hinge member 20. Optional bearing washers 120, 122 may be aligned and placed between each end 27, 28 of the barrel 18 of the inner hinge member and ends 124, 126 of the end barrels 22, 24, as for example shown in
The bottom cap 38 is then fitted through the lower end barrel 24 such that the annular step 114 abuts the end 132 of the lower end barrel 24 and the spring end portion 34 is received within the slot 118 of the bottom cap. In an example embodiment, the bottom cap includes a transverse bore 134 as for example shown in
The spring tensioner 40 is fitted through the upper end barrel 22 and into the barrel 18 such that the spring end portion 32 is received within the slot 50 of the spring tensioner (
The top cap 36 is then fitted through the upper end 130 of the upper barrel end and is mated with the top body portion 90 of the retainer. In an example embodiment, the top cap bottom end 74, mates with the annular shoulder 102 of the retainer while the head 62 of the top cap mates with the upper end 130 of the top end barrel such that the annular shoulder 68 rests against the top end 130. The top body portion 90 of the retainer is received in the opening second portion 80 of the top cap. In an example embodiment, a detent 150 may be formed at different locations around the upper end barrel proximate the top end of the upper end barrel. An example embodiment, two detents are formed opposite each other. When the top cap is fitted into the upper end barrel and to the retainer, the detents mate with the depression 70 of the top cap to retain the top cap in place relative to the upper barrel. In other example embodiments, a pin or pins may be fitted through openings at the locations of the detents that are received into the depression 70.
To change the rotational torsion of the spring 30, a driver for mating with the axial depression 56 on the spring tensioner is used. In the example embodiment, where the axial depression 56 is hexagonal, a hexagonal driver is used. The hexagonal driver is inserted through the opening 76 of the top cap through the opening 94 of the retainer and into the axial depression 56 of the spring tensioner and pushed to compress the spring tensioner and the spring 30 and to push the head 46 conical surface 52 away from the conical inner surface 104 of the retainer such that the grooves and ribs of the spring tensioner disengage from the corresponding ribs and grooves of the retainer and then the spring tensioner is rotated by rotating the driver to provide the amount of requisite twist and rotational torsion on the spring relative to the bottom cap. The spring with spring tensioner are then allowed to axially decompress upward and the ribs and grooves of the spring tensioner engage with the ribs and grooves of the retainer while retaining the requisite twist and rotational force. In this regard, the twist on the spring may be adjusted incrementally based increments of ribs and grooves in the spring tensioner and the retainer.
In another example embodiment, instead of the inner surface of the bottom portion 92 of the retainer 84 being frustum-conical including ribs and grooves, the surface may be a relatively smooth surface and the head of the spring tensioner 40 may also be frustum-conical may also have a relatively smooth surface but may be such that when it engages the frustum-conical surface of the retainer, the friction between the two surfaces is sufficient for rotationally locking the spring tensioner relative to the retainer based on the axial spring force provided by the spring. Thus, the surfaces may be made of a material that provides sufficient frictional force and/or the surface may have a roughness that provides for sufficient frictional force. In one example embodiment, the two surfaces are inclined to form the frustum-conical shape at different angles. This will allow for an infinite number of torsional incremental adjustments of the spring. The more twist or rotational torsion put on the spring, the less amount the hinge member can rotate relative to each other when opening the door which is mounted on one hinge member.
In other example embodiments, instead of the spring tensioner having a head, the spring tensioner has a depression for receiving a head of the retainer. The head and depression may be formed with complementary grooves and ridges for engaging each other, or their surfaces may be made of a material or have a roughness for providing sufficient friction. In other example embodiment, the engaging surfaces of the spring tensioner and the retainer do not have to be frustum-conical. They may for example be flat or cylindrical or any other shape that allows the two surface to engage and to rotationally retain each other by using projections and depressions or friction.
In other example embodiments, the retainer may be rotationally and axially fixed to one of the end barrels. The spring end not engaged by the spring tensioner may be then rotationally fixed relative to the barrel. In other example embodiments, the retainer may be integrally formed with the barrel or an end barrel.
When a door 140 is mounted to a stile 142 using an example embodiment hinge 10, when the door is closed relative to the style, as for example shown in
It should be noted that the terms upper, lower top, bottom, have been used for illustrative purposes. These terms should not interpreted as to mean the exact position of an object but to denote the relative positions of objects. For example, an upper portion of an object may be higher than a lower portion of an object, as for example when the object is rotated upside down.
While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments and modifications can be devised which do not materially depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. All such embodiments and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/447,358 filed Jan. 17, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180223574 A1 | Aug 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62447358 | Jan 2017 | US |