ADJUSTABLE HINGE DEVICE FOR A HINGED DOOR

Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge device for a hinged door, which allows the adjustment of the position and the inclination of a hinge axis of the door relative to a predetermined direction, even after installation. In particular the present invention relates to an adjustment device of a hinge for a hinged door in a removable wall installation.

State of the art

[0002] In the installation of hinged doors the need to have the hinge axis of the door in the vertical direction so that the door is in equilibrium in any angular position thereof is well known. In fact, if the hinge axis is not vertical, the door tends to rotate spontaneously about the hinge axis until it reaches its sole angular position of equilibrium in the direction of inclination of the hinge axis to the vertical. The voluntary angular displacement of the door from this sole position of equilibrium involves the application of a force by the user, which is inconvenient and an indication of unacceptably poor quality. [0003] According to the prior art, the operation of positioning the door so that its hinge axis is in the vertical position is very laborious and must be performed by an experienced person. In fact this operation often requires the dismantling and reassembly of the hinges in a slightly modified position.

[0004] This disadvantage is magnified in the case in which the door is fitted in a removable and temporary wall structure. In such case, the support surface or floor which the wall is temporarily fitted on may be irregular, making it necessary to adjust the position of the hinge axis .

[0005] In the case of a removable wall, but also in the case of installation of the door in a fixed wall, for example in brickwork, the settling of said wall may also occur even a long time after completing the installation of the door. This entails a further need to adjust the position of the hinge axis.

[0006] The known technique thus has the disadvantage of not allowing easy adjustment of the position and inclination of the hinge axis of the door either in the initial installation phase, or in adjustment phases subsequent to installation .

Summary of the invention

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to devise and make available an adjustable hinge device which makes it possible to satisfy the above needs and at least partially overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

[0008] In particular, one task of the present invention is to make available an adjustable hinge device capable of permitting and facilitating the adjustment of the position and orientation in space of the hinge axis of a door .

[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to make available an adjustable hinge device permitting the adjustment of the position and orientation in space of the hinge axis even after fitting the door, without having to dismantle the door already fitted.

[0010] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a hinge device that does not need to be dismantled or moved to adjust the position and orientation of the hinge axis, even when the door is already fitted.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device which can be fitted and integrated in a removable modular wall structure.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a universal adjustable hinge device, permitting its installation in a wall structure both below and above a hinged door having the hinge axis on the right side of the door, and above and below a hinged door having the hinge axis on the left side of the door.

[0013] These and further purposes and advantages are achieved by means of a hinge device according to claim 1.

[0014] In a general form of embodiment the present invention relates to a hinge device for a door comprising a first leverage rotatably constrained to a support body around a first leverage axis, - a constraint device to rotatably connect the first leverage to the support body, a rotatable engaging device to rotatably constrain the door to the first leverage about a hinge axis, wherein the hinge axis is distinct from said first leverage axis and arranged at an eccentricity distance from said first leverage axis measured on a plane orthogonal to the first leverage axis so that a rotation of the first leverage about the first leverage axis results in a rotation of the hinge axis about the first leverage axis.

[0015] Advantageously, these provisions make it possible to adjust the position and the orientation in space of the hinge axis of the door so as to position such axis in the vertical direction, to prevent the door from having only one angular position of equilibrium.

[0016] Both in the case of using a single hinge device according to the invention, at one end of the hinge axis of the door or using two at both ends of the hinge axis of the door, such device or devices make it possible to move the hinge axis according to one or two conical surfaces, permitting the positioning of the hinge axis in the correct position and orientation.

[0017] Advantageously, the provision of further leverages in addition to the first leverage makes it possible to position a seat for the key at a distance from the hinge axis such as to allow access to such seat outside the overall dimensions of the door.

[0018] Advantageously, the provision according to which the support body is delimited by two opposite flat and parallel surfaces makes the hinge device suitable for universal use, it being possible to use it indifferently for doors with opening on the right and doors with opening on the left, both at the lower of the hinge axis and at the upper end of the hinge axis.

Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will, in any case, be evident from the description given below of its preferred embodiments, made by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0020] - figure 1 shows a perspective view of a removable wall assembly and of a hinged door in the closed position, in which the hinged door is rotatably supported by one or two adjustable hinge devices according to the invention;

[0021] - figures 2A and 2B illustrate, in partial cross- section through a horizontal cross-section plane, two portions of the assembly in figure 1;

[0022] - figure 3 shows a partial view of the cross-section view in figure 2, comprising a portion of the assembly in figure 1 at the hinge device according to the invention;

[0023] - figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of a hinged door at a hinge device according to the invention, wherein the upright of the wall structure has been removed for simplicity of exposition;

[0024] - figure 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of a removable wall comprising a hinge device according to the invention, in which the door is dismantled;

[0025] - figure 6 shows an exploded view illustrating the fitting of a hinge device according to the invention, with a hinge pin attachable to the door and a portion of hinged door;

[0026] - figure 7 shows an exploded view illustrating the fitting of a hinge device according to the invention, to the upright or jamb of a removable wall structure;

[0027] - figure 8 shows a top view of a hinge device according to the invention, in which a closure cover is dismantled to show an internal compartment of the hinge device ;

[0028] - figure 9 shows the top view of figure 8, in which the closure cover is fitted in its operative position;

[0029] -figure 10 shows a bottom view of the hinge device in figure 8;

[0030] -figure 11 shows a perspective bottom view of the hinge device in figure 8;

[0031] - figure 12 shows a top view of the hinge device according to the invention, in which the rotating element of the device is shown with the dashed line in a plurality of possible positions according to the angular position of the control element;

[0032] -figure 13 shows in a perspective view an exploded drawing of the hinge device according to the invention;

[0033] - figure 14 shows a lateral orthogonal view of the exploded drawing in figure 13.

Description of some preferred embodiments

[0034] With reference to the drawings, an adjustable hinge device according to the invention is globally denoted by reference numeral 1.

[0035] The adjustable hinge device 1 comprises a support body 10 and a first rotating leverage 20 rotatably constrained to the support body 10 about a first leverage axis 21. [0036] Said hinge device comprises a constraint device for rotatably connecting the first leverage 20 to the support body 10, and a rotatable engaging device 30 to rotatably constrain the door 2 to the first leverage 20 around a hinge axis 31.

[0037] The hinge axis 31 is distinct from said first leverage axis 21 and is arranged at an eccentricity distance D from said first leverage axis 21 measured on a plane orthogonal to the first leverage axis 21 so that a rotation of the first leverage 20 about the first leverage axis 21 results in a rotation of the hinge axis 31 about the first leverage axis 21.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the constraint device of the first leverage 20 comprises at least one outer rotation surface 23, 24 defining at least one end portion 25, 26 of the first leverage 20, and at least one complementary inner rotation surface 53, 54 defining at least one hole 55, 56 in the support body 10. The hole 55, 56 is configured to rotatably accommodate the end portion 25, 26.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the at least one outer rotation surface 23, 24 and the at least one inner rotation surface 53, 54 are substantially cylindrical.

[0040] The at least one outer rotation surface 23, 24 and the at least one inner rotation surface 53, 54 have substantially the same length measured in a direction parallel to the first leverage axis 21.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the at least one outer rotation surface 23, 24 extends in use as far as an outer surface 11, 12 of the support body 10, and such first leverage 20 ends flush with said outer surface 11, 12.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the at least one hole 55, 56 is a through hole. In other words, the at least one end portion 25, 26 can extend as far as an outer surface 11 or 12 of said support body 10, ending flush with said outer surface 11 or 12.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the first leverage

20 comprises two opposite end portions 25, 26, cylindrical and coaxial with each other, each delimited by one of said at least one outer rotation surfaces 23, 24.

[0044] In particular, each of said two end portions

25, 26 can extend in a respective said hole 55, 56 in said support body 10 to be flush with an outer surface 11, 12 of said support body 10.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the constraint device of the first leverage 20 comprises at least one outer abutment surface 27, 28 contiguous and substantially orthogonal to a respective said at least one outer rotation surface 23, 24, said at least one outer abutment surface delimiting a central portion 29 of said first leverage 20, and at least one inner abutment surface 57, 58 orthogonal to said at least an inner rotation surface 23, 24, said inner abutment surface 57, 58 being made in the support body 10.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the first leverage

20 is housed in an inner compartment 13 made in the support body 10, said compartment 13 externally embracing said first leverage 20, so that said first leverage 20 can rotate around the first leverage axis 21.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the first leverage

20 is a wheel having, as its rotation axis, the axis 21 of the first leverage, in particular a toothed wheel.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the teeth 29' of said toothed wheel 20 extend radially at the central portion 29. In particular, the first leverage 20 is a wheel with straight teeth. For example, the toothed wheel 20 has 18 teeth.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the rotatable engaging device to rotatably constrain the door 2 to the first leverage 20 is dimensioned to allow the hinge axis 31 to tilt at an angle to an axis parallel to the first leverage axis 21. This provision permits a slight misalignment between the hole axis and the hinge axis, making it possible to adjust the inclination of the hinge axis so as to orient said hinge axis according to the vertical .

[0050] According to one embodiment, the rotatable engaging device 30 to rotatably constrain the door 2 to the first leverage 20 around said hinge axis comprises a seat 32 made in said first leverage 20.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the seat 32 is dimensioned to receive a pin 60 associated or associable with said door 2, said pin 60 having a pin axis positioned along said hinge axis 31.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the seat 32 is sized to receive said pin 6 with clearance.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the seat 32 is a cylindrical hole and the pin 60 is a cylindrical pin.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the diameter of the hole 32 is greater than the diameter of the pin 60 to allow an oscillation of the pin 60 inside the hole 32 so as to allow an oscillation of the hinge axis 31 with respect to said hole 32.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the hole 32 is a through hole.

[0056] According to an embodiment, the through hole 32 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first leverage axis 21. [0057] According to one embodiment, the pin 60 is suitable to be fixed to the door 2, or is in one piece with the door 2

[0058] According to one embodiment, the hole 32 extends substantially parallel to said first leverage axis 21. In particular, said hole 32 may pass through the leverage axis 21.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the rotatable engaging device 30 of the first leverage 20 may comprise a bushing 33, in particular an elastic bush, interposed radially between the hole 32 and the pin 60 to allow an oscillation or tilting of the pin 60 inside the hole 32.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the hinge device 1 comprises a second leverage 40 rotatably coupled to the support body 10, about a second leverage axis 41 and positioned to rotate the first leverage 20.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 is outside the overall dimensions of the door 2 in at least one position of the door 2. This way, the hinge device permits the adjustment of the orientation in space of the hinge axis of the door even after the door has been fitted, without dismantling said door. This also permits the adjustment of the orientation of the hinge axis after a settling of the floor or the wall itself, even long after the initial installation. [0062] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 comprises a second constraint device comprising at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44 which delimits an end portion 45, 46 of said second leverage 40, and at least one complementary inner rotation surface 63, 64 which delimits a hole 65, 66 in said support body 10, said hole 55, 56 rotatably housing said end portion 45, 46.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44 and one inner rotation surface 63, 64 of said second constraint device are substantially cylindrical.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44 and the at least one inner rotation surface 63, 64 have substantially the same length measured in a direction parallel to the second leverage axis 31.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44 extends in use as far as an outer surface 11, 12 of the support body 10, said second leverage 40 ending flush with said outer surface 11, 12.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the second constraint device comprises at least one outer abutment surface 47, 48 contiguous and substantially orthogonal to a respective said at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44, said at least one outer abutment surface delimiting a central portion 49 of said second leverage 40, and at least one inner abutment surface 67, 68 orthogonal to said at least an inner rotation surface 63, 44, said inner abutment surface 67, 68 being made in said support body 10.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the at least one hole 65, 66 is a through hole.

[0068] This way the at least one end portion 45, 46 extends as far as an outer surface 11, 12 of said support body 10, ending flush with said outer surface 11, 12.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 comprises two opposite end portions 45, 46, cylindrical and coaxial with each other, each delimited by one of said at least one outer rotation surface 43, 44.

[0070] According to one embodiment, each of said two end portions 45, 46 extends in a respective said hole 65, 66 in said support body 10 to be flush with an outer surface 11, 12 of said support body 10.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 is a wheel having, as its rotation axis, the second leverage axis 41 in particular the second leverage 40 is a toothed wheel. In particular, the second leverage 40 is a wheel with straight teeth. For example, the toothed wheel 40 has 11 teeth.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 comprises a seat for the key 42 for the insertion of a key to actuate in rotation the second leverage 40 from the outside of said support body 10, in particular a seat for an Allen wrench.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 comprises two opposite key seats 42 accessible from opposite directions with respect to said second leverage 40.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the key seat is a through cavity which extends along the second leverage axis 41, for example having a cross-section for the Allen wrench .

[0075] According to one embodiment, the second leverage 40 is received in said inner compartment 13 made in the support body 10, said compartment 13 externally embracing said second leverage 40, so that said second leverage 40 can rotate around the second leverage axis 41.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the second leverage axis 41 is substantially parallel to the first leverage axis 21.

[0077] According to one embodiment the hinge device 1 comprises a third leverage 70 rotatably engaged to the support body 10 about a third leverage axis 71, said third leverage 70 being interposed between said first leverage 20 and said second leverage 40 to transmit a rotation motion from the second leverage 40 to the first leverage 20.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the third leverage

70 is received in said inner compartment 13 made in the support body 10, said compartment 13 externally embracing said third leverage 70, so that said third leverage 70 can rotate around the third leverage axis 71.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the third leverage

70 is a wheel having, as its rotation axis, the third leverage axis 71.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the third leverage is a wheel, in particular a toothed wheel. In particular, the third leverage 70 is a wheel with straight teeth. For example, the third leverage is a toothed wheel with 11 teeth .

[0081] According to one embodiment, the hinge device comprises an anti-return stop member 80 suitable to allow the rotation of the first leverage 20 in a predetermined rotation direction, and to prevent the rotation of the first leverage in a rotation direction opposite said predetermined rotation direction, said anti-return stop being secured to said support body 10. [0082] According to one embodiment, the anti-return stop 80 is arranged to act directly on the third leverage 70, so as to affect the first leverage 20 via the third leverage 70.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the anti-return stop 80 comprises a folded tape 81 in elastic material, said tape 81 having a first end 82 fixed to said support body 10, and an opposite second free end 83 arranged to receive from said third leverage 70 a bending force in the tangential direction relative to the third leverage axis 71 when the third leverage 70 rotates around the third leverage axis 71, thereby influencing the rotation of the third leverage 70.

[0084] In the case in which the third leverage 70 is a toothed wheel, the free end 83 of the tape 81 of the anti-return stop 80 is suitable to snap-engage between two successive teeth of the toothed wheel. During the rotation of the toothed wheel of the third leverage 70, the anti-return stop is then actuated in steps, in which each step takes place in the gap of each tooth.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the anti-return stop comprises a fixed abutment portion 84 fixed to the support body 10 in a position facing said tape 81 from a side of said tape 81 such as to oppose the rotation of the third leverage 70 in the direction of rotation opposite the predetermined direction of rotation.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the predetermined direction of rotation is clockwise.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the tape 81 is made of harmonic steel.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the anti-return stop is arranged inside the inner compartment 13.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the inner compartment 13 enters the support body 10 starting from an outer face 11 and has an opening 13' which intersects said outer face 11.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the support body

10 comprises a cover element 90 having a shape such as to close said mouth 13' .

[0091] According to one embodiment, the cover 90 comprises one of said at least one inner rotation surfaces 54 of said constraint device of said first leverage 20.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the cover 90 comprises one of said at least one inner rotation surfaces 64 of said constraint device of said second leverage 40.

[0093] According to one embodiment, said cover 90 is delimited externally by an outer face 91 of the cover, wherein said outer face of the cover is flush with said outer face 11 of said support body 10, when said cover 90 is fitted to said support body 10.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the support body

10 is delimited by a first face 11 and a second face 12 opposite the first face 11.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the second face 12 is substantially parallel to the first face 11. This way, the support body 10 is substantially plate-shaped.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the first face 11 and the second face 12 extend on two respective planes 11 ' and 12 ' .

[0097] According to one embodiment, the first face 11 or the second face 12 are suitable to be secured to a fixed support surface, in particular horizontal, for example to a floor or a ceiling or a horizontal cross member in use.

[0098] The support body 10 is also delimited by a lateral surface 15 which connects the first face 11 and the second face 12.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the lateral surface 15 is substantially orthogonal to the first face

11 and to the second face 12.

[00100] According to one embodiment, the lateral surface 15 comprises a lateral surface portion 15' suitable to be fitted flush with an upright 3, or a vertical jamb, of a wall structure.

[00101] According to one embodiment, the first leverage axis 21 is substantially perpendicular to said second face 12 and / or to said first face 11.

[00102] According to one embodiment, the second leverage axis 41 is substantially orthogonal to said second face 12 and / or to said first face 11.

[00103] According to one embodiment, the third leverage axis 71 is substantially perpendicular to said second face 12 and / or to said first face 11.

[00104] According to one embodiment, the support body

10 comprises :

a first body portion 10' suitable to be mounted interposed between a fixed, particularly substantially horizontal support surface and a substantially vertical upright 3 of a wall structure, and

a second body portion 10'' suitable to remain outside the overall dimensions of said upright 3,

wherein said second body portion contains said first leverage 20 and said second leverage 40.

[00105] According to one embodiment, the support body

10 comprises at least one through hole 100 suitable to be traversed by an attachment element for securing said hinge device 1 to said fixed surface, in particular to a lower or upper cross member of a wall structure, or to a floor or a ceiling, so that said first face 11 or said second face 12 in use is in contact with said fixed surface .

[00106] According to one embodiment, the support body 10 comprises at least a second through hole 110 suitable to be crossed by an attachment element for securing said head hinge device 1 to one end of an upright 3, said device being suitable to remain operatively interposed between said fixed surface and said upright 3 attaching thereby said upright 3 to said fixed surface.

[00107] According to another aspect of the present invention, the above purposes and advantages are achieved by an adjustment method of a hinge 1 for a hinged door 2 comprising the steps of:

- providing a first rotating leverage 20 constrained freely rotating about a first leverage axis 21;

- providing a rotatable engaging device 30 defining a hinge axis 31 separated with respect to said first leverage axis 21 by an eccentricity D; - rotating said first leverage 20 around the first leverage axis 21;

- transmitting the rotation of the first leverage 20 to the rotatable engaging device 30; so that said rotatable engaging device 30 rotates the hinge axis 31 about the first leverage axis 21.

[00108] A person skilled in the art may make modifications and adaptations to the embodiments of the device described above, replacing elements with others functionally equivalent so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the sphere of protection of the following claims. Each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments described.

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