BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements to hinges. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a hinge capable of being reversible, that is, of being used as either a right-handed or left-handed hinge. This invention also concerns a hinge capable of self-alignment. More particularly, this invention involves a reversible hinge capable of self- alignment.

It is known to provide hinges for heavy duty applications in which a ball supports a concave surface so as to minimise frictional drag when the surface rotates relative to the ball during operation of the hinge. Such heavy duty hinges may not be reversible in which case right or left-handed hinges may be required, depending upon the intended application.

However, heavy duty hinges are known which are adapted for use as either right- or left-hand hinges. This so-called reversibility to some extent overcomes some of the economic disadvantages associated with the restriction of particular hinges to one or other handedness. An example of such a hinge may be found in AU-B-17176/83 (569703) and AU-B-81895/87 (593959), each of which discloses a reversible hinge for a gate. The hinge therein disclosed comprises a cylindrical barrel comprising a pin stop member retainably located within the barrel by a circlip and groove arrangement and a pin means adapted to engage the barrel from either end.

It is also known to provide manual means of adjustment for aligning such heavy duty hinges prior to or subsequent to mounting of an element such as a gate, door or window. An example of such an arrangement may be found j _n AU-A-47369/79 which discloses a hinge capable of alignment by manual adjustment means in addition to being adapted for reversibility.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

However, there exists a need for a novel hinge adapted for self-alignment. There also exists a need for a novel hinge adapted for reversibility. More particularly, there exists a need for a novel self-aligning hinge adapted for reversibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel hinge capable of or at least partially capable of fulfilling the aforementioned needs.

The present invention accordingly provides, in one embodiment, a reversible hinge including a pair of assemblies hingediy connected to one another by a connecting arrangement, the connecting arrangement including a ball component and a socket component wherein the ball component includes a pivot pin having a ball portion and a substantially cylindrical shank portion and wherein the ball component is releasably mounted on a first of said assemblies and the socket component is releasably mounted on a second of said assemblies, and wherein the ball component and the socket component may each be inverted on the respective assemblies whereby to reverse the hinge operation.

The pivot pin is preferably free to rotate about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin, which provides the hinge with a self- aligning capability.

The second assembly is preferably apertured to receive the socket component, and may include a pair of opposed apertures each suitable to receive the socket component.

The socket component is preferably constructed and arranged to be press-fit into the recess(es) in the second assembly to facilitate ease of assembly, disassembly and conversion of the hinge to other handedness.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a hinge according to the present invention may further include a retaining cup mounted adjacent the free end of the pivot pin in one of the opposed apertures and wherein the socket component includes a bearing cap shaped for complementary interengagement with the ball portion , the cap being mounted in the other the opposed apertures of the second assembly.

In one arrangement within the scope of the invention the pivot pin is constrained from rotation about any axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin. The shank portion of the pivot pin may be journalled for rotation in the retaining cup whereby to resist rotation of the pivot pin about any axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin. The retaining cup may include a sleeve for receiving at least part of the shank portion of the pivot pin.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a reversible self- aligning hinge including a pair of assemblies hingedly connected to one another for rotation about a pair of axes normal to one another by a connecting arrangement including a ball component and a socket component wherein the ball {component includes a pivot pin having a ball portion and a substantially cylindrical shank portion wherein the longitudinal axis of the shank portion comprises one of said axes and wherein the ball component is releasably mounted on a first of said assemblies and the socket component is releasably mounted on a second of said assemblies and wherein the mounting of the ball component and the socket component may each be reversed whereby to convert the hinge from left-handed to right- handed operation and vice versa.

The connection arrangement described herein enables ease of positioning of the ball component in and removal of the ball component from the hinge, and hence facilitates assembly and disassembly of the hinge whereby to convert the hinge from a left-handed to a right-handed hinge and vice versa.

A hinge according to the present invention may be adapted to be substantially self-aligning. Because the ball component in a preferred embodiment is allowed a certain range of pivotal movement, the hinge has the capacity for self-alignment. It is envisaged that a misalignment of the hinge of at least 15° and preferably approximately 15 - 25°, as measured from the longitudinal axis of the ball component, will still allow the hinge to substantially self-align.

The capability of the hinge to self-align stems from the feature that the pivot pin may be free to rotate about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the pin and hence rotate relative to the second assembly. For a non-self-aligning hinge, the pivot pin may be constrained from such rotation by holding the pivot pin in a desired position or orientation.

The ball component may be mounted on a butt assembly. The butt assembly may be adapted for mounting on a post or other support such as by bolts or other screw fasteners, welding or other means. The socket component may be mounted on a strap assembly. Although it is convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to that preferred arrangement, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is also envisaged within the scope of the invention that the ball component may be mounted on a strap assembly and that the socket component may be mounted on a butt assembly.

It is further envisaged within the scope of the present invention that a hinge may include a pair of butt assemblies or a pair of strap assemblies in which cases the ball component may be mounted on one of the pair of assemblies and the socket component on the other of the pair.

Other variations in the mounting arrangements may also be envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

The ball component may be mounted on the first of the assemblies by passing the shank portion of the pivot pin into a receiving aperture of the first assembly.

The ball portion of the pivot pin may be located at one end of the pivot pin, and is shaped for complementary interengagement with the socket component. In a preferred embodiment, at least part of the surface of the ball portion engaging the socket component is substantially spherical. Preferably the surface of the ball portion engaging the socket component is substantially spherical. A hemispherical, ball-shaped, dome-shaped, including substantially truncated dome-shaped, ball portion may be used in a self aligning hinge according to the present invention. In a non-self aligning hinge according to the present invention ball portions of other shapes including frusto conical ball portions are also envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

The lower end of the pivot pin may include a base portion. In a preferred embodiment the base portion may be substantially convex in shape. The base portion may include a recess or aperture to receive a holding pin. The recess or aperture is preferably formed centrally in the base portion of the pivot pin .

Radial movement of the base portion of the pivot pin may be constrained by a retaining cup. The retaining cup is preferably mounted adjacent the free end of the pivot pin. The retaining cup may perform one or a number of functions. In one function it may act as a bearing surface for the free end of the pivot pin. In another function it may act as a means of constraining rotation of the pivot pin about any axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the pin. In this form, the retaining cup may include retaining means such as a sleeve for receiving at least part of the shank portion of the pivot pin. In another function, the retaining cup may act to resist unintentional removal of the ball portion from the pivot pin longitudinally of the shank portion.

In one embodiment according to the present invention the retaining cup includes a disc-shaped portion. Alternatively it may be concave in shape. In a preferred embodiment the retaining cup may take the form of a substantially flat disc. The retaining cup may be flanged to facilitate seating by press-fit into an appropriate recess or aperture of the second assembly. The retaining cup may also include a recess or aperture to receive a holding pin. The retaining cup may optionally be held in its mounted position relative to the strap assembly by a circlip or other retaining means.

The second of the assemblies may be recessed or apertured to receive the socket component. In one preferred arrangement, the second assembly may include at least one recess or aperture to receive the socket component. In a preferred embodiment, the second assembly may include a pair of opposed recesses to receive the socket component.

In a preferred embodiment, the second assembly may include at least one outwardly projecting lug, and preferably a pair of opposed outwardly projecting lugs. The lug or lugs may include an aperture or apertures for receiving the socket component.

Most preferably the second assembly includes a pair of spaced apertured lugs. The apertures may be adapted to interchangeably receive a socket component in the form of a bearing cap and retaining cup according to the present invention.

The socket component may be any means which permits rotational engagement, and preferably frictional rotational engagement between the ball component and the socket component. In a preferred embodiment, the socket component includes a bearing cap shaped for complementary engagement with a complementary shaped ball portion of the ball component. The socket component may be of concave configuration. The socket component may include a flange to in use abut a surface surrounding a recess or aperture of the second assembly. The cap may project above the

recess or aperture on or in which it is received, it may be substantially flush with the recess or aperture, or it may be below the recess or aperture.

In a preferred arrangement, the socket component may be interchangeable between opposed recesses of the second assembly. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the socket component in the form of a spherical bearing cap is interchangeable between the respective opposed recesses of the second assembly.

The socket component may optionally be free to rotate relative to the second assembly. Most preferably, the socket component forms a press-fit in recess or aperture (es) formed in or on the second assembly. In this manner, the bearing cap and retaining cup may be interchanged between their respective recesses by thumb or finger pressure to push them out of their respective recesses and relocate them by press-fitting them into the opposed recess.

The socket component may optionally be held in its mounted position by a circlip or other retaining means.

in one preferred embodiment, the first assembly may include at least one recess or aperture to rotatably engage the ball component. Preferably, the first assembly includes a pair of opposed recesses or apertures to facilitate rotatable engagement with the ball component. Most preferably, the first assembly may include a pair of spaced recessed or apertured lugs to rotatably engage the shank portion of the ball component. In this embodiment, the ball component may include a skirt depending from the ball portion, the skirt being preferably integral with the shank portion. The skirt may be of a diameter slightly larger than the recess or aperture so as to abut a surface of the lug surrounding the aperture.

One of the pair of assemblies may be secured to a support such as a post, wall or jamb and the other of the pair of assemblies may be secured to a door, gate, panel or other hinged member whereby to allow the hinged

opening and closing of the hinged member. Each of the pair of assemblies may be secured to the respective support or hinged member in any suitable manner such as by one or more screws, bolts or other fastening means. In an alternative arrangement, one or both assemblies may be welded or otherwise permanently affixed directly to the support or hinged member.

A hinge according to the present invention is preferably substantially self- lubricating. Accordingly, the socket component and preferably other bearing surfaces including, for example, the retaining cup may preferably be of a material selected so as to provide a self-lubricating action. One such suitable material is a nylon or nylon-based material such as GRILON (trade mark).

A hinge according to one embodiment of the present invention may also include biasing means to bias one or both of the pair of assemblies toward a first closed position. The biasing means may be mounted on and surround the pivot pin. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing means may be mounted intermediate the ends of the pivot pin, that is to say, on the shank portion of the pin. The biasing means may include one or more biasing arms to translate the biasing action of the biasing means to one or both of the pair of assemblies. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing means may be a coil or compression spring. In a preferred embodiment, the shank portion may include a bearing surface, such as a bushing to permit ease of rotation of the ball component with respect to the biasing means, and to protect the ball component from surface-to-surface contact with the biasing means. The bushing may be substantially self-lubricating as described hereinabove.

A hinge according to the present invention may include stop means. In a preferred embodiment, the stop means may include at least one restriction plate. The restriction plate or plates may restrict the travel of the pair of assemblies to prevent a gate, door or the like from opening beyond a desired point. The restriction plate or plates may also serve to protect the biasing

means from possible damage and to prevent overstretching of the biasing means.

A hinge according to the present invention may also include a holding pin. The holding pin is preferably adapted to engage a complementary recess or aperture in the pivot pin. The holding pin may resist rotation of the pivot pin about any axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin.

A hinge according to the present invention may also be adapted for use as a rising hinge.

It is also envisaged within the scope of the present invention that the hinge may capable of opening the pair of assemblies to an angle of approximately ^'

100° and preferably an angle in the range 110° to 115° with respect to each other.

The present invention also includes within its scope a door, gate or panel hingedly mounted on a support with at least one hinge as described herein wherein one of the assemblies is affixed to the door, gate or panel and the other of the assemblies is affixed to the support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To further assist in the understanding of the present invention, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which like features are indicated by common numerals,

Figure 1 is a partly cut away side view of a hinge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hinge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hinge in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective partial view of the hinge of figure 1 ,

Figure 5 is a partly cut away side view of a misaligned hinge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 6 is a partly cut away side view of a reversible non-self-aligning hinge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Turning to the drawings, Figure 1 shows generally a hinge 10 including a pair of assemblies 11 and 16 connected to one another by a connecting arrangement. The connection arrangement includes a ball component 12 releasably mounted on a first assembly 16, and a socket component 13 releasably mounted on a second assembly 11. The socket component 13 is rotatably engageable with the ball component 12.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 , the connection arrangement for hinge 10 hingedly connects the second assembly 11 , which is part of a strap assembly 15 with the first assembly 16 in the form of a butt assembly. It will be appreciated that the hinge 10 may in an alternative embodiment and in a similar manner be adapted to hingedly connect a pair of butt assemblies, or alternatively a pair of strap assemblies.

Also in the embodiment shown, strap assembly 15 and butt assembly 16 are of so-called screw-on construction whereby the respective assemblies may be respectively secured to a support such as a post, wall or jamb and to a gate, door panel or other hinged member in any suitable manner, such as by

means of coach screws 23 engaging recesses 21 in the strap assembly 15 and butt assembly 16 or other fasteners.

In the embodiments shown in figures 1 and 2, hinge 10 is a left-handed hinge. It is to be understood that right-handed hinges are also envisaged within the scope of the present invention. A right-handed hinge is in effect a mirror image of the left-handed hinge shown in figure 1.

Also in the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, second assembly 11 is mounted on or is part of strap assembly 15. As noted above, and as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, and as is shown in for example Figure 3, second assembly 11 may constitute a separate assembly in its own right.

For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, second assembly 11 takes the form of a weld-on butt assembly 20. Gussetts 26 and 27 may be provided to strengthen butt assembly 20. Corresponding gussetts may also be provided to support flange 18.

Second assembly 11 in the form of a weld-on butt assembly may be welded in any suitable manner to a corresponding butt or strap assembly or directly to a hinged member such as a gate, door or panel (not shown in figure 3). In an alternative embodiment, such as that shown in figures 1 and 2, second assembly 11 may be integral with strap assembly 15, that is to say, second assembly 11 and strap assembly 15 may be formed in one piece.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 4, second assembly 11 includes a pair of opposed flanges 17 and 18 which are recessed or apertured at 34 and 35 to receive socket component 13. In this embodiment, socket component 13 is in the form of a bearing cap.

In a preferred arrangement, hinge 10 may include a retaining cup 14. As is shown in the drawings, retaining cup 14 is mounted adjacent the free end of

ball component 12 in one of the apertures 35 of second assembly 11. As is shown in figure 4, retaining cup 14 may include a disc-shaped portion.

Socket component 13 and retaining cup 14 may be adapted to be press-fit into the respective apertures or recesses of lugs 17 and 18 of second assembly 11. To this end, socket component 13 and retaining cup 14 may be suitably flanged so as to abut a portion of lugs 17 and 18 surrounding apertures 34 and 35. For example, socket component 13 may include a flange 37, whilst retaining cup 14 may include a flange 42 to abut the respective surfaces surrounding apertures 34 and 35. Socket component 13 is also preferably constructed and arranged so as to engage the ball portion of ball component 12, such as by frictional rotational interengagement. Retaining cup 14 may be configured to provide a bearing surface for a lower or base portion of ball component 12.

The ball portion of ball component 12 may be of any suitable shape which enables hinging interconnection between the pair of assemblies, and permits ease of rotation of the ball component 12 on engagement with socket component 13.

In the embodiment shown, ball component 12 includes a pivot pin having a substantially cylindrical shank portion 30. Ball component 12 includes a ball portion 31 for complementary interengagement with socket component 13. In the embodiment shown, ball portion 31 includes a substantially truncated dome 32. The surface of ball portion 31 which engages socket component 13 is accordingly part spherical. Socket component 13 is preferably of a complementary configuration to the ball portion 31 of ball component 12. Socket component 13 may in one preferred embodiment be of substantially concave configuration. The arrangement is preferably such that ball component 12 is ¹ able to rotate about its longitudinal axis whilst engaging socket component 13.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1, butt assembly 16 includes a flange member 22 somewhat in the shape of a U turned on its side. Butt assembly 16 may include a pair of spaced lugs 19 and 20 which in the embodiment shown depend from corresponding portions of flange member 22. Spaced lugs 19 and 20 may include recesses in the form of apertures 38 and 39 which rotatably engage ball component 12. Ball component 12 is preferably free to rotate with respect to apertures 38 and 39.

Hinge 10 may also include a holding pin (not shown). The holding pin is preferably adapted to engage a complementary recess or aperture 41 in retaining cup 14 and a complementary recess or aperture (not shown) disposed approximately centrally in the end of base portion 40 of ball component 12.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, hinge 10 may also include biasing means 24 to bias one or both of the pair of assemblies 15 and 16 to a first closed position. In the embodiment shown, biasing means 24 takes the form of a coil or compression spring. The compression spring may include one or more biasing arms 24a to translate the biasing action of the biasing means 24 to one or both of the pair of assemblies 11 and 16.

The hinge 10 may further include stop means, preferably in the form of at least one restriction plate 25, which in the embodiment shown is attached to strap assembly 15 and extends in a plane transverse to the plane 36 of the strap assembly 15. The restriction plate may restrict the travel of the pair of assemblies 11 and 16 to prevent a gate, door or panel from opening beyond a desired point. The restriction plate may also serve to prevent tensioning or over-stretching of the biasing means beyond a second closed position. The restriction plate 25 may be so constructed and arranged that on pivoting of the strap assembly 15 and butt assembly 16 about hinge 10, restriction plate 25 rotates in a clockwise direction about the longitudinal axis of ball

component 12 when viewed from above and eventually abuts a surface 28 of flange 22 where its path of travel is halted.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, second assembly 11 takes the form of a butt assembly, which may be a weld-on butt assembly. In this form, second assembly 11 may be welded to a strap assembly as is typically shown at Figure 1 as item 15, or it may be welded to a further butt assembly similar to butt assembly 16.

Second assembly 11 in the embodiment shown includes a pair of spaced gussetts 26 and 27 which assist in adding strength to second assembly 11.

As shown in figure 5, the ball component 12, by virtue of the relationship between ball portion 31 and socket component 13, is permitted a certain range of pivotal movement about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of shank portion 30 of the ball portion 31. The hinge thus has the capacity for self-alignment. It is envisaged that a misalignment of the hinge by up to approximately 15 - 20° and preferably up to 25°, as measured from the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 30 of the ball component 12 in the orientation shown in Figure 1 , will allow the hinge to substantially self-align.

In the embodiment shown in figure 6, retaining cup 14 is in the form of a restraining member such as a sleeve so constructed and arranged to restrain radial movement of pivot pin 12 with respect to the pair of assemblies. In other words, retaining cup 14 is adapted to hold the pivot pin 12 in substantially fixed relation with respect to the assemblies. The retaining cup 14 may take any other suitable form provided it fulfils the condition of restraining radial movement of the ball component 12. Examples of such other arrangements include a cup-shaped member to surround the pivot pin 12, interengaging slots and grooves on the retaining cup and ball component 12, a circlip, and so on.

In use, with reference to the preferred embodiment, a second assembly 11 is constructed having a pair of opposed apertures for receiving respectively a socket component 13 and a retaining cup 14. Socket component 13 and retaining cup 14 are constructed and arranged to enable a press fit into their respective apertures. A ball component 12 in the form of a pin having a shaped ball portion is fitted into socket component 13 and its base portion, suitably a convex base portion is seated on retaining cup 14. Second assembly 11 may be integral with either a strap assembly 15 as shown, a butt assembly, or it may take the form of a weld-on butt assembly whereby second assembly 11 is welded to a suitable portion of another assembly, be it a butt or strap assembly.

In the embodiment shown, ball component 12 in the form of a pin is threaded through spaced apertures 19 and 20 of butt assembly 16 prior to its location on second assembly 11 between socket component 13 and retaining cup 14.

On assembly of hinge 10, strap assembly 15 and butt assembly 16 are secured in the case of a right-handed hinge as shown, respectively to a gate, door or the like and to a support such as a post, wall or jamb.

In order to convert the hinge to other handedness, that is to say, in the embodiment shown from left-handedness to right-handedness, pressure is simply applied to ball component 12 to displace it from socket component 13 and retaining cup 14, thereby removing it from second assembly 11. Thumb or finger pressure is exerted on socket component 13 and retaining cup 14 to displace them from their respective apertures, whereby the positions of socket component 13 and retaining cup 14 are reversed by a press fit into the respective opposed recesses.

Ball component 12, after re-engagement with apertures 19 and 20 of butt assembly 16 is re-engaged with corresponding portions of socket component

13 and retaining cup 14. In the manner, the handedness of the hinge is easily reversed.

While it has been convenient to describe the invention herein in relation to particularly preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that other constructions and arrangements are also considered as falling within the scope of the invention. Various modifications, alterations, variations and/or additions to the constructions and arrangements described herein are also considered as falling within the scope and ambit of the present invention.