The present invention relates to door hinge arrangements.

The present invention provides a door hinge arrangement comprising:- a frame member for attachment to a door frame; a door member for attachment to a door to be mounted for opening and closing in the frame; first and second intermediate members pivotally connected to the frame member and to the door member; the second intermediate member being pivotally connected to the first intermediate member at a position between the pivotal connections of the first intermediate member to the frame member and the door member; the door member being pivotally connected to the second member at a position between the pivotal connections of the second intermediate member to the frame member and the first intermediate member; the position of the pivotal connection between the frame member and the first intermediate member being movable relative to the frame member; and the position of the pivotal connection between the door member and the second intermediate member being movable relative to the second intermediate member, as the door member moves relative to the frame member.

Preferably the pivotal connection between the door member and the second intermediate member is constrained to move along a curved path relative to the second intermediate member. The curved path is preferably chosen to cause the door to remain clear of the frame as the door opens and closes. When the door is fully closed, the pivotal connection between the door member and the second intermediate member is preferably positioned inwardly of the pivotal connection between the second intermediate member and the frame member, the pivotal connections defining a line which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figs. 1A ₁ 1B and 1C illustrate a closed, intermediate and fully open condition of a door hinge arrangement according to the present invention, during operation;

Fig. 2 is a section through the arrangement of Fig. 1 B, along the line 2-2; and

Figs. 3A to 3F are schematic diagrams showing the movement of a door within a frame, interconnected by means of the hinge arrangement of the preceding figures.

Principal Components and Connections

Reference to Fig. 1, and particularly Fig. 1B, allows the principal components of the illustrated hinge arrangement, and the connections between them, to be described.

The hinge arrangement 10 includes a door arm 12 which is fixed, upon installation, to a door indicated at 14. The door 14 is to be mounted for opening and closing in a frame indicated at 16, by means of the hinge arrangement 10. A track 18 is mounted, in use, to the frame 16.

The track 18 is connected to the door arm 12 by a pivot linkage formed by a first intermediate arm 24, and a second intermediate arm 26.

The first intermediate arm 24 is pivotally connected at 28 to the track 18, to the door arm 12 at 30 and to the second intermediate member 26 at 32. It is to be noted that the pivot 32 is positioned between the pivots 28 and 30. The second intermediate arm 26 is pivotally connected at a fixed pivot 34 to the track 18, at 36 to the door arm 12 and, as has been described, at 32 to the first

intermediate arm 24. It is to be noted that the pivot 36 is located between the pivots 32, 34.

The pivot 28 can slide along the track 18, as the door 14 moves relative to the frame 16. The pivot 28 is formed by a pivot pin 20 carried by the arm 24 and which slides along a slot 21 in the track 18, having an enlarged head 22 travelling in a widened slot portion 23, to retain the pivot pin 20 captive in the track 18.

Further details of the manner in which the linkages move will be described below. At this stage, it is sufficient to note that in operation, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the pivot 34 remains fixed relative to the track 18, while the pivot 28 moves along the track 18 as the door arm 12 moves between the fully closed position (Fig. 1A) and the fully open position (Fig. 1C), through the intermediate position (Fig. 1B).

Operation

When the door is in the closed position (Fig. 1A), and is to be opened, the hinge arrangement 10 begins to move from the closed position (Fig. 1A). As it does so, the pivot pin 21 is pulled along the slot 21.

Eventually, the intermediate position (Fig. 1B) is reached. The pivot pin 21 has moved someway along the slot 21 in the track 18.

The door can be opened further, to the fully open position of Fig. 1C, in which the door has swept through 90°. It can be seen that because the pivot 34 is fixed at the end of the track 18, the door 14 is positioned at the end of the track 18 when in the position of Fig. 1C, so that the area of the frame 16 available for egress is maximised.

If the door is closed once again, the pivot 28 is pushed back along the track 18, until the closed position (Fig. 1A) is reached.

Door Motion

The motion of the hinge arrangement can now be described in more detail, with particular reference to Figs. 1B, 1C and Fig. 3.

Turning first to Figs. 1B and 1C, it can be seen that the pivots 28, 30, 32 and 34 are simple pivot connections, but that the pivot arrangement 36 incorporates a curved slot 62 so that, in addition to the second intermediate arm 26 pivoting relative to the door arm 12, at the pivot 36, the position of the pivot 36 moves relative to the second intermediate arm 26, along the curve defined by the slot 62. At any position within the range of possible movement, the position of the pivot 36 along the slot 62, and thus the shape of the slot 62, determines the angle of the door arm 12 about the pivot 30 and thus, determines the angle of the door 14 relative to the frame 16.

Modification of the slot shape thus allows the motion of the door 14, relative to the frame 16, to be modified, for example to ensure that seals are not trapped, or to accommodate different door or frame profiles without fouling each other as they move.

This can best be seen from Figs. 3A to 3F. In these schematic diagrams, the second intermediate arm 26 is illustrated without the slot 62. Instead, the drawings maintain the correct relative positions of the various components as determined by the pivots 28, 30, 32 and 34 while also allowing a minimum clearance 64 to be maintained between the door 14 and the frame 16. Maintaining this minimum clearance 64 determines, at each position, the position 65 occupied by the pivot 36, relative to the second intermediate arm 26. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 as a cross drawn on the arm 26.

Consequently, by tracking the door 14 as it opens from the position of Fig.

3A to the position of Fig. 3F, through a series of positions which maintain the minimum clearance 64, a series of positions 65 for the pivot 36 can be plotted, finally being joined (Fig. 3F) to define the shape of the slot 62.

Security

It can be seen from Fig. 1A, for example, that when the sash 14 is fully closed, the pivot 36 lies directly behind the pivot 34. That is, the pivots 34, 36 define a line generally perpendicular to the plane of the frame 16. This provides security by resisting attempts to prise the door 14 away from the frame 16.

Moreover, the end of the door arm 12 can be provided with a security projection

(not shown) which engages in a recess in the frame 16 to provide a deadbolt action, further resisting prising of the door 14, and bearing prising forces in place of the pivots.

Variations and Modifications

It is envisaged that many variations and modifications can be made to the arrangements described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, many different shapes, sizes and relative shapes and sizes of the various components could be chosen.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.