Field of the I nvention

[1] This invention relates general ly to hinge assem blies and, more particularly, to dampened and torsion closure hinge assem blies .

Background of the Invention

[2] Known various types of hinges incorporate a braking mechanism to dam p the closing of a gate or door. These hinges general ly have a cyl indrical body and one or two chambers of oil which is com pressed to dam p the closing of a door.

[3] For exam ple, EP 0251972 B1 (B EBEK VU KSIC) 27 November 1991 [hereinafter referred to as Dl] discloses a variant com prising a spring hinge with a dam per, the bra king effect of which is provided by the axial movement of a piston acting on a cham ber of an oleohydra ul ic fl uid, the capacity of which may be regulated to vary the closing speed of the door.

[4] Further for exam ple, CN 2358178 Y ( DI NG M I NGZFI E) 12 January 2000 [hereinafter referred to as D2] discloses a hinge having a upper sleeve barrel, a lower sleeve barrel form ing a closed oil cham ber, a sheathed barrel, wherein, the m iddle part of which is provided with the fla nge, roll ing bal ls, a buffer shaft, wherein, the middle segm ent of which is provided with a screw thread groove, a spring, a buffer oil, and a one -way throttl ing piston. The one-way throttl ing piston is provided with a valve surface and the upper part of the valve surface is provided with axial one-way valve holes of throttling holes a nd steel balls; the spring and the buffer oil are arranged in the oil chamber; the one -way throttling piston is instal led at the lower end of the buffer shaft in the sheathed barrel; the steel bal ls arranged in through holes on the periphery wal l of the sheathed barrel are positioned in the screw thread groove of the buffer shaft.

[5] Flowever, these types of hinges have serious inconvenience of com plex structure, which makes difficult their manufacture and repa ir. These types of hinges typically loose oily fluid resulting in a deterioration of the normal operation of the hinge and cannot be repaired on site given their com plex structure. As such the hinge in its entirely must be removed either for replacement or for sending off to specialise d repair, both of which are undesirous.

[6] As such, a need exists for a dam pened hinge which is less complex in design and which can be serviced in-situ without removal. [7] Furthermore, it would be desirous to be a ble to have a single type of hinge which can be reconfigured, including in-situ, to control the dam ping effects thereof. It would be further preferable to have a single type of hinge which can be configu red to optionally control both closure and backcheck damping and, optional ly, different types of clos ure damping.

[8] For exam ple, for particularly heavy doors, such as glass pool doors in excess of 70 kg, backcheck dam ping may be desirous. Furthermore, it may be desirous to control the type of soft closu re da mping incl uding the range of soft closure.

[9] Configuring the dam ping of D1 requires regulating the capacity of the oleohydraulic fluid which is difficult and not easy or impossible to perform on-site. Furthermore, the capacity of the oleohydraul ic fl uid may vary over time from fl uid loss or chemical degradation and it is difficult or impossible to replace the fl uid and reca librate the capacity of the fl uid using the arrangement of Dl, especial ly without removing the hinge.

[10] Similar problems a bound for the configuration of D2. Furthermore, D2 is for rapid opening, and gentle closing and therefore ca nnot provide backcheck action, let alone reconfigu ration thereof.

[11] The present invention seeks to provide a hinge assembly, which wil l overcome or substantial ly a meliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[12] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an adm ission that the information forms part of the com mon general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[13] There is provided herein a hinge assembly which is of sim pler construction as com pared to the com plex integral ly formed oleohydraul ic fl uid cham ber arrangements of Dl a nd D2.

[14] Furthermore, the present hinge assem bly ca n be d isassembled via end closures allowing for the reconfiguration and/or repair without removing the hinge from the gate and frame.

[15] Furthermore, the configuration of the present hin ge assem bly al lows for the on -site reconfigu ration of soft closure and backcheck dam ping, including different types of soft closure damping across different ranges. As such, a single type of hinge may be easily reconfigu red according to the particular type of door/gate insta lled, incl uding without removal of the hinge.

[16] Specifically, the present hinge assem bly com prises a male leaf and a female leaf. The female leaf com prises a spaced apart first and second end barrels coaxial ly rotating with respect to a central cylindrical barrel of the male leaf therebetween.

[17] An axial shaft is fixed to the second end barrel of the female leaf at a proximal end of the axial shaft. The axia l shaft has a distal helicoidal ly threaded spindle.

[18] The hinge assem bly further comprises a compression gear having a helicoidal ly threaded bore matching the hel icoidal thread of the spindle. The compression gear has external longitudinal threading match ing interior longitudinal threading of the centra l barrel .

[19] The hel icoidal threading causes the compression gear to displace towards the first end barrel when the leaves move into al ignment (i.e. during closure) and towards the second end barrel when the leaves move out of align ment (i.e., du ring opening).

[20] The second end barrel engages a removable end closure having an axial bore such that the removable end closure can be removed in use for the installation of an optional elongate end-of-ra nge soft closu re com pression strut within the bore for acting between a central distal bearing face of the com pression gear and the removable end closure to across an end-of-range soft closure relative rotation offset range between the leaves.

[21] Furthermore, the com pression gear defines a periphera l distal bearing face and the removable end closure defines an op positely facing peripheral bearing face such that the removable end closure ca n also be removed in use for the installation of an optional soft closure hel icoidal compression spring coaxially with respect to the axia l bore to act between the peripheral distal bearing face and the oppositely facing periphera l bearing face across a soft closure relative rotation offset range between the leaves, the soft closure offset range being greater than the end-of-range soft closure offset range.

[22] As such, the present hi nge can be reconfigured in situ to provide al l, none, or a subset of soft closure and end-of-range soft closure dam ping. The configuration of the present arrangement allows for the simultaneous coaxial installation of both the com pression strut and a hel icoidal compression spring to provide both soft closure and end-of-ra nge soft closure action simu ltaneously if desirous.

[23] Furthermore, the present hinge ca n be serviced in situ to replace worn compression struts and hel icoida l com pression springs if needs be. [24] The second end barrel may further engage a second removable end closure which can be removed in use for the instal lation of an optional backcheck helicoidal com pression spring coaxially with respect to the shaft and acting between a proximal peripheral be a ring face of the com pression gear and a n oppositely facing bearing face of the second end closure.

[25] As such, the present hinge assem bly may be reconfigured in situ to provide optional backcheck action and serviced in situ to replace worn backcheck helicoidal compression springs.

[26] Furthermore, the present male and female leaf may be reconfigured for use as a torsion hinge by the reconfiguration of the internal com ponentry as is ill ustrated in Figure 7. As such, the same type of male and female leaves may be used to provide both dam pened and torsion enclosure hinges.

[27] None of the prior a rt, including D1 or D2 above disclose or obviously suggest the present configuration which is devoid of integral oleohydraul ic fl uid com pression cham bers.

[28] Furthermore, none of the prior art or obviously suggest the present configuration which al lows for the in-situ reconfiguration of soft closure, end -of-ra nge soft closure and/or backcheck action.

[29] According to one aspect, there is provided a dampened hinge assembly com prising a male leaf and a female leaf, the female leaf comprising spaced apart first and second end barrels coaxially rotating with respect to a central barrel of the male leaf therebetween, an axial shaft fixed to the second end barrel of the female leaf at a proximal end of the axial shaft, the axial shaft having a distal helicoidal ly threaded spindle, a com pression gear having a hel icoida lly threaded bore matching the helicoidal thread of the spindle, the compressi on gear having external longitudina l threading matching interior longitudinal threading of the central barrel wherein the helicoidal threading between the leaves causes the com pression gear to displace towards the first end barrel when the leaves move into al ignment and towards the second end barrel when the leaves move out of align ment and wherein the first end barrel engages a removable end closure having an axial bore such that: the removable end closure can be removed in use for the instal lation of an o ptional elongate end-of-range soft closure com pression strut within the bore in use for bearing against a central distal bea ring face of the compression gear to act between the removable end closure and the com pression gear across an end -of-range soft closure relative rotation offset ra nge between the leaves; and wherein the com pression gear defines a peripheral distal bearing face and the removable end closure defines an oppositely facing peripheral bearing face such that the removable end closure can be removed in use for the installation of an optional soft closure hel icoidal compression spring coaxially with respect to the axia l bore to act between the peripheral distal bearing face and the oppositely facing periphera l bea ring face across a soft closure relative rotation offset range between the leaves, the soft closure offset range between the leaves being greater than the end -of-range soft closure offset range between the leaves.

[30] The second end barrel may engage a secon d removable closure such that the second removable enclosure can be removed in use for the insta llation of an optional backcheck helical com pression spring around the shaft to act between a peripheral proximal bearing face of the com pression gear and the second removable closure across a backcheck relative rotation offset ra nge between the leaves.

[31] The end of range soft closure relative rotation offset range between the leaves may be less than 30° between the leaves.

[32] The soft closure compression strut may not contact the central distal bearing face of the compression gea r when the leaves are outside the end-of-range soft closure relative rotation offset ra nge.

[33] The removal end closure may com prise a removable end cap a nd a col lar, the collar defining the axial bore.

[34] The second remova ble enclosure may com prise a shaft stay comprising longitudina l threading sl idably retained within matching interior longitudinal th reading of the second end barrel.

[35] The shaft stay may com prise a bore com prising longitudinal th reading within which a proximal end of the shaft, com prising matching longitudinal threading, may b e retained .

[36] The dam pened hinge may further com prise the compression strut.

[37] The dampened hinge may further com prise the soft closure helicoidal compression spring.

[38] The dam pened hinge may further comprise both the compression strut and the soft closure hel icoidal com pression spring, the hel icoidal com pression spring coaxially retained with respect to the com pression strut.

[39] The dam pened hinge may further comprise the backcheck helicoidal compression spring.

[40] The backcheck hel icoidal compression spring may be co axially retained about the shaft. [41] The da mpened hinge may further comprise al l of the compression strut, the soft closure hel icoidal com pression spring a nd the backcheck helicoidal compression spring.

[42] According to another aspect, a method of reconfiguring closure damping of the hinge may com prise removing the removable end closure from the first end barrel and inserting at least one of the soft closure compression strut and the soft closure hel icoidal com pression spring via the first end barrel, and replacin g the removable end closu re.

[43] The method may com prise removing the second removable end closure from the second end barrel and inserting the backcheck helicoidal compression spring via the second end barrel, and replacing the second removable end closure.

[44] The method may comprise removing the removable end closure from the first end barrel and replacing at least one of the soft closure com pression strut and the soft closure helicoidal compression spring via the first end barrel, and replacing the removable en d closure.

[45] Other aspects of the invention are a lso disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[46] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fal l within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure wil l now be described, by way of exam ple only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

[47] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an im proved hinge assembly in accordance with an em bodiment;

[48] Figure 2 ill ustrates backcheck, soft closure and end -of-range soft closure ranges;

[49] Figure 3 shows a disassem bled view of the hinge in accordance with an embodimen t;

[50] Figure 4 shows an assembled view of the hinge in accordance with a n embodiment;

[51] Figure 5 ill ustrates the hinge configured for end -of-range soft closure action only;

[52] Figure 6 ill ustrates the hinge configured for soft closure action only; and

[53] Figure 7 ill ustrates a torsion hinge in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Em bodiments

[54] A dam pened hinge assem bly 100 comprises a male leaf 106 and a female leaf 107. The female leaf 107 comprises a spaced apart first end barrel 108 and a second end barrel 109. The first and second end barrels 108, 109 of the female leaf 107 coaxial ly rotate with respect to a central barrel 110 of the male leaf 106.

[55] The hinge assem bly 100 is typically used in conjunction with the torsion hinge 136 shown in Figure 7 which may em ploy the same types of leaves 106, 107. The torsion hinge 136 provides closure torsion whereas the da mpened hinge assem bly 100 provides optiona l soft closure, end-of-range soft closure and or backcheck damping.

[56] The torsion hinge 136 comprises a torsion barrel 137 which comprises a pl urality of radial ports 139 through which a pin interlocks through an external a perture 140 to fix the torsion barrel 136 once wound. A torsion spring 109 acts on the torsion barrel 137 for torsion closure.

[57] With respect to the dampened hinge 100, a n axia l shaft 119 is fixed to the second end barrel 109 of the female leaf 107 at a proximal end of the axial shaft 119.

[58] The axial shaft 119 has a distal ly hel icoidally threaded spindle 120.

[59] A shaft stay 116 may interface the second end barrel 109 a nd the shaft 119. The shaft stay 116 may com prise exterior longitudinal threading which is slidably and non -rotatably engaged by matching longitudinal threading of an interior of the second end barrel 109.

[60] The shaft stay 116 may comprise an interior bore comprising longitudinal th reading with in which a proxima l end of the shaft 119, comprising matching longitudinal threading , is inserted.

[61] The assem bly 100 further comprises a com pression gear 121 sl idably retained within the central barrel 110 of the male leaf 106.

[62] The com pression gear 121 com prises external longitudinal threading matching interior longitudinal threading 122 of the central barrel 110.

[63] The compression gear 121 further comprises a helicoidal ly th readed bore matching the helicoidal thread of the spindle 120.

[64] The helicoidal thread ing of the spindle 120 and the central bore of the com pression gear 121 is arranged such that when the leaves 106, 107 move into al ignment, the com pression gear 121 moves within the central barrel 110 towa rds the first end barrel 108 and, when the leaves 106, 107 move out of al ignment, the compression gea r 121 moves towards the second end barrel 109.

[65] The first end barrel 108 engages a removable end closure 127. I n embodiments, the removable end closure 127 may comprise a removable end cap 114 and collar 113. The removable end cap 114 may com prise threading so as to be able to be unscrewed from the first end barrel 108.

[66] The removal end 127 has an axial bore 129. As such, in use, the removable end closure 127 can be removed for the i nstal lation of an optional elongate com pression strut

112. [67] The elongate com pression strut 112 may com prise a body and a pl unger 130. The elongate com pression strut 112 may be a gas or l iqu id com pressed com pression strut 112.

[68] The com pression strut 112 acts as a shock absorber between a central distal bearing face 131 of the com pression gear 122 and the removable enclosure 127 across a n end-of- range soft closure relative rotational offset range 105 between the leaves 106, 107, typically with in the last 30° of closure. When outside th is range, the com pression strut 112 does not contact the central distal bearing face 131 of the com pression gear 122.

[69] The compression gear 122 defines a peripheral distal bearing face 125 and the removable enclosure defines an oppositely facing peripheral bearing face 126.

[70] As such, the removable enclosure 127 can be removed in use for the installation of an optional hel icoidal com pression spring 111 coaxial ly with respect to the axial bore 129. The hel icoidal com pression spring 111 acts between the peripheral distal bearing face 125 of the compression gear 121 and the oppositely facing peripheral bearing face 126 of the removable enclosure 127 across a soft closure relative offset range 104 between the leaves 106, 107.

[71] Figure 5 il lustrates the installation of the com pression strut 112 to only provide only the end-of-range soft closure action 105. Figure 6 il lustrates the installation of the helicoidal com pression spring 111 only to provide only the soft closure action 104.

[72] Figure 4 il lustrates the coaxia l installation of both of the compression strut 112 and the helicoidal idle com pression spring 112 to provide both soft closure 104 and end-of-range soft closure 105.

[73] The assembly 100 may further com prise a second remova ble closure 128 engaged by the second end barrel 109. The second remova ble closu re 128 may com prise an enclosure cap 115 which can be removed to slide out the shaft stay 116. I n em bod iments, the second removable enclosure 128 may further com prise a female shaft stay 133 and Teflon™ bushing 132.

[74] As such, the second removable enclosure 128 can be removed in use for the installation of an optiona l backcheck helicoidal compression spring 134 to provide backcheck action 103.

[75] The com pression gear 121 may define a proximal peripheral bearing face 124 an d the second end closure 128 may com prise an oppositely facing peripheral bearing face 123 (which may be defined by a formation in the shaft 119, by a washer 135 or the like) which cooperate to com press the backcheck hel icoida l compression spring 134 therebetween. [76] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention . However, it wil l be apparent to one skil led in the art that specific details are not req uired in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific em bodiments of the invention a re presented for purposes of il lustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to lim it the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications a nd variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical appl ications, thereby ena bling others skil led in the art to best util ize the invention and various em bodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contem plated. It is intended that the following claims and their eq uivalents define the scope of the invention.