The present invention relates to a guard assembly for mounting across a cavity formed between a door frame and an end of a door hingably mounted to the door frame. The present application also relates to a shield assembly, a hinge assembly and a guard.

Doors are typically hung in a door frame and are pivotable about one end provided in door frames and can be swung between an opened and a closed position. In an opened position the door provides access through the door frame, and in a closed position, the door prevents access through the door frame.

A door is usually attached to the door frame via a hinge such as a barrel hinge. This enables the door to pivot about an axis of the hinge between an open and a closed position. When a door is opened, a cavity forms between a side of the door frame and an end of the door adjacent to the hinge and objects, such as fingers, are easily inserted into the cavity and are crushed when the door is closed.

It is known to provide a guard which extends between the door and the door frame and comprises an arcuate guard mounted to the door frame which is received in a recess formed in the end of the door. Such a guard is known from FR2458665. However, such a guard is not usable with a door that has a range of movement of greater than 90 degrees without the free end of the guard sliding from the recess and therefore negating its protective attributes. It is necessary for a number of doors to have a range of movement of greater than 90 degrees to comply with building regulations. Furthermore, a gap is known to form between the face of the guard and the edge of the recess into which an object may be inserted as the door rotates relative to the door frame. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to a guard assembly and/or a hinge assembly which substantially alleviates or overcomes the problems mentioned above. According to the present invention, there is provided a guard assembly for mounting between a door frame and an end of a door hingably mounted to the door frame, comprising a guard mount mountable to a door frame or a door and a guard pivotably mounted to the guard mount which is configured to be received in a recess on the other of a door or a door frame so that the guard extends between the guard mount and the recess to prevent insertion of an object into a cavity formed between a door frame and an end of a door when a door is opened.

The above arrangement allows a guard to be used that extends between the guard mount and the recess and does not slide from the recess throughout a range of movement of the door relative to the door frame of over 90 degrees.

The guard assembly may further comprise a locating element configured to locate a face of the guard against an edge of the recess so that, when the door is opened, the face of the guard slides along the edge of the recess and extends across the cavity formed between the door and the door frame.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the guard is prevented from being urged away from the edge of the recess by the guard abutting against the locating element. Therefore, it is not possible to insert an object between the guard and the edge of the recess.

Conveniently, the locating element is configured to be spaced a predetermined distance from the edge of the recess to prevent the guard from being urged away from the edge of the recess.

Therefore, the locating element and the edge of the recess locate and guide the guard along a path when the door is rotated relative to the door frame. The guard assembly may further comprise a guide portion mountable at one end of the recess, wherein the locating element extends from the guide portion into the recess when the guide portion is mounted at one end of the recess so that the locating element is fixedly mountable relative to the edge of the recess. Therefore, the locating element is easily positioned relative to the edge of the recess. Conveniently, the locating element comprises an adjustment means configured to determine the distance between the locating element and the edge of the recess prior to use of the door.

With this arrangement, the gap between the locating element and the edge of the recess is adjustable into an optimal position so that the guard is supported and guided when the door is opened or closed.

In one embodiment, the locating element is a resilient element on the guard mount which is configured to act on the guard and urge it towards the edge of the recess when the guard is received in the recess.

In one embodiment, a tab is formed at the free end of the guard which is configured to locate against a lip formed at the edge of the recess to limit the rotation of the door relative to the door frame when the door is opened.

In this arrangement the tab locates against a lip at the edge of the recess and limits the range of motion of the door relative to the door frame. Furthermore, the free end of the guard is prevented from sliding from the recess and so it is not possible to insert an object between the guard and the edge of the recess and into the cavity. Therefore, the guard maintains its ability to prevent the insertion of an object into the cavity between the door and door frame throughout the doors complete range of movement.

The guard assembly may further comprise a housing, wherein the recess is formed in the housing.

Therefore, the recess is simply formed and the edge of the recess may be uniformly formed by the housing. A lip may be formed along the housing to form the edge of the recess. Conveniently, the housing is received in the door or the door frame.

Advantageously, the guard further comprises a shaft member and the face of the guard extends from the shaft member.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the guard is easy manufactured and may be cut to any suitable length.

In one embodiment, the face of the guard is formed by a guard portion extending from the shaft member. The face of the guard may comprise an arcuate section.

Conveniently, the face of the guard comprises a convex arcuate section and a concave arcuate section extending between the convex arcuate section and the shaft member.

With the above cross-sectional profile of the guard face it is possible to provide an arcuate guard that remains in contact with an edge of the recess throughout it range of movement. Furthermore, it is possible to form a guard which allows a range of movement of the door of greater than 90 degrees relative to the door frame without sliding from the corresponding recess, but is able to be received in the recess when the door is in its closed position.

Advantageously, the face of the guard is a front face and the guard further comprises a rear face which has the same profile as the front face.

The guard mount may comprise a first mounting element configured to be mounted to a top end of the door frame or door and a second mounting element configured to be mounted to a bottom end of the door frame or door, wherein the guard extends between and is pivotably mounted to the first and second mounting elements.

Therefore, it is straightforward to assemble the guard assembly so that the guard is pivotably mounted relative to the door frame or door to which the guard mount is mounted.

Conveniently, each of the mounting elements has a spindle extending therefrom which is receivable in the guard about which the guard pivots, wherein one of the rods is resiliently movable so that, when the mounting elements are mounted to the door frame or door, the guard having a length corresponding to the distance between the mounting elements is pivotably mountable on the opposing rods between the mounting elements. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising a hinge and a guard assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a shield assembly for mounting across a cavity formed between a door frame and an end of a door pivotably mounted to the door frame, comprising a shield element having an arcuate surface configured to be mounted across the cavity between the door and the door frame to extend co-axially along the pivotable axis of the door.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the insertion of an object into the cavity between the door frame and the end of the door through a gap formed along the pivotable axis of the door.

The shield element may be a tubular member. An advantage of this arrangement is that the shield element is easy manufactured and may be cut to any suitable length. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising a hinge, an end mounting lug configured to be mounted to a door frame or an end of a door and a shield element, wherein the shield element extends co- axially along the pivotable axis of the door between the end mounting lug and the hinge.

Advantageously, the hinge is a first hinge and the shield element is a first shield element, the hinge assembly further comprising a second hinge spaced from the hinge and a second shield element, wherein the second shield element extends co- axially along the pivotable axis of the door between the first and second hinges.

The or each hinge may have a lug extending therefrom and each lug is receivable is an aperture formed in an end of the or each shield element. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising a shield assembly and a guard assembly.

Therefore, access to the cavity formed between the door frame and the end of the door is prevented on both sides of the door.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a guard for a guard assembly for mounting across a cavity between a door frame and an end of a door pivotably mounted to the door frame comprising a shaft member and a guard face extending from the shaft member wherein the guard face comprises a convex arcuate section and a concave arcuate section extending between the convex arcuate section and the shaft member.

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

Figure 1 shows a partial perspective view of a hinge assembly mounting a door to a door frame; Figure 2 shows a plan view from above of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 mounting a door to a door frame with upper and lower door plates removed;

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure i ;

Figure 4 shows a plan view from above of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in a closed position with upper and lower door plates removed;

Figure 5 shows a plan view from above of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in an open position with upper and lower door plates removed;

Figure 6 shows a partial perspective view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in a closed position;

Figure 7 shows a partial perspective view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 8 shows a partial perspective view from behind of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in a closed position;

Figure 9 shows a partial perspective view from behind of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1 in a partially open position; and

Figure 10 shows a plan view of a guard of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 to 3 a part of a door 1 and a part of a door frame 2 to which the door is hingedly mounted. An end 3 of the door 1 is mounted to a face 4 of the door frame 2 by a hinge assembly 5. The hinge assembly 5 has a hinge 6 (refer to Figure 3), a front guard assembly 7 and a rear shield assembly 8. As will become apparent from the description below, the front guard and rear shield assemblies 7, 8 prevent an object, such as a person's finger, from being inserted into the cavity formed between the door 1 and the door frame 2 when the door is in an open position, and so prevents the object being crushed between the door 1 and the door frame 2 when the door is moved from its open position into its closed position. It will be appreciated that the Figures show the upper and lower ends of the door, part of the door frame, front guard assembly 7 and rear shield assembly 8 with a central portion omitted for ease of reference.

The hinge 6 in the present embodiment is a barrel hinge which pivotably mounts the door 1 to the door frame 2. The hinge 6 has a first leaf, acting as a door leaf 9, which is fixedly attached to the door 1 by known means, for example screws (not shown) received through screw holes in the door leaf 9 and threadingly engaged in the door 1. Similarly, the hinge 6 has a second leaf, acting as a frame leaf 10, which is fixedly attached to the door frame 2 by known means, for example screws (not shown) received through screw holes in the frame leaf 10 and threadingly engaged in the door frame 2.

The door leaf 9 and frame leaf 10 are pivotably mounted to each other by a pin (not shown) extending through the corresponding knuckles of the door leaf 9 and frame leaf 10. In the present embodiment, the door leaf 9 has a door knuckle 12 which is disposed between upper and lower knuckles 13, 14 of the frame leaf 10. However, it will be appreciated that the number of leaves is not limited thereto, and that in an alternative embodiment a door leaf knuckle may form one of the upper and lower knuckles 13, 14. Upper and lower lugs 15, 16 extend from the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower knuckles 13, 14 respectively.

The door leaf 9 has a first leaf panel 9a extending from the door knuckle 12 and a second leaf panel 9b extending from a distal edge of the first leaf panel 9a to the door knuckle 12 and extending perpendicular to the first leaf panel 9a. The screw holes for mounting the door leaf 9 to the door 1 are formed in the second leaf panel 9b so that the door leaf 9 is mountable in an elongate recess 17 formed in the end 3 of the door 1 and extending longitudinally therealong, as will become apparent hereinafter. When the hinge 6 is mounted between the door 1 and the door frame 2, the door is pivotably mounted to the door frame 2. The door 1 is hingably movable between a closed position (as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 8), in which the end 3 of the door 1 lies generally parallel to, and opposes, the face 4 of the door frame 2, through a partially open position (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9) in which the end 3 of the door 1 is rotated away from the face 4 of the door frame 2 at an acute angle and into a fully open position (as shown in Figures 5 and 7) in which the end 3 of the door 1 is rotated away from the face 4 of the door frame 2 by an angle of over 90 degrees. The front guard assembly 5 has a guard 20, a first mounting element 21 and a second mounting element 22. The first mounting element 21 is fixedly mountable to an upper end of the door frame 2, and the second mounting element 22 is fixedly mountable to a lower end of the door frame 2. The door frame 2 includes the upright jambs, the head jamb extending between the upper ends of the upright jambs and the threshold extending between the lower ends of the upright jambs. The first and second mounting elements 21, 22 together form a guard mount to mount the guard 20 to the door frame. The first mounting element 21 has a panel 23 with a mounting hole 24 formed through it to mount the first mounting element to the door frame 2, a first spindle 25 downwardly extending from the panel 23 to mount the guard 20 and an end mounting lug 26 also downwardly extending from the panel 23. The first mounting element 21 has a chamber 27 on one side of the panel 23 into which the first spindle 25 is retractable. The first spindle 25 is slidable relative to the panel 23 into the chamber 27 and a spring member (not shown), acting as a resilient member acts on the spindle 25 to urge it to extend from the panel 23. Therefore, the first spindle 25 is retractable when an urging force is applied to it. This configuration enables the guard 20 to be fitted when the first mounting element 21 and a second mounting element 22 are mounted to the door frame 2, as will become apparent from the description below.

The second mounting element 22 has a panel 28 with a mounting hole 29 formed through it to mount the second mounting element 22 to the door frame 2, a second spindle 30 upwardly extending from the panel 28 to mount the guard 20 and an end mounting lug 32 also upwardly extending from the panel 2.

Referring in particular to Figure 10, the guard 20 comprises a shaft member 33 and a guard portion 34 extending from the shaft member 33. The shaft member 33 is an elongate tubular member with a bore 33a extending therethrough to define apertures at each end and has an arcuate outer surface 35. The guard portion 34 extends along the length of the shaft member 33 and is integrally formed therewith. In the present embodiment, the guard 20 is formed from a rigid material, for example, extruded aluminium, although it will be appreciated that alternative materials may be used, for example a rigid plastic. The guard portion 34 has a guard face 36 and a rear face 37. The guard face 36 is the side of the guard 20 which is exposed during operation of the door, as will become apparent hereinafter. The guard face 36 has a convex arcuate section 38 and a concave arcuate section 39 extending between the convex arcuate section 38 and the outer surface 35 of the shaft member 33. Therefore, the guard face 36 has an 'S- shaped' cross-sectional profile, and forms an ogee-curve profile.

The guard face 36 has a constant cross-sectional profile along its length. The cross- sectional profile may also be described as following a fourth order Bezier curve comprising two separate radii. The cross-sectional profile of the guard face 36 enables the guard face 36 of the guard 20 to remain in contact with an edge 40 of the recess 17 throughout the motion of the door 1 relative to the door frame 2 from a closed position to a fully open position, whilst allowing the door to have a range of motion of greater than 90 degrees. First and second elongate tabs 42, 43 extend from the guard face 36 of the guard portion 34 at a free end 44 of the guard portion 34. The elongate tabs 42, 43 are arranged to engage with a corresponding lip 45 formed along the edge 40 of the recess 17. The cross-sectional profile of the rear face 37 of the guard portion 34 corresponds to and follows the cross-sectional profile of the guard face 36, and so has a concave arcuate section 46 and a convex arcuate section 47 extending between the concave arcuate section 46 and the outer surface 35 of the shaft member 33. Therefore, the guard portion 34 has a constant thickness therealong from the shaft member 33 to its free end 44.

The guard assembly 7 also has a housing 48 to form the recess 17 and receive the guard portion 34 of the guard 20. The housing 48 is formed from a folded metal sheet and has a U-shaped cross-section comprising two front and rear opposing side walls 49, 50 and a base wall 51. Although the housing 48 is formed from a folded metal sheet, it will be appreciated that alternative materials may be used. The housing 48 is fitted into a cut-out formed in the end 3 of the door 2 having a corresponding u-shaped space, and is fixedly mounted therein by known means.

The longitudinally extending free end of the front side wall 49 forms the edge 40 of the recess 17 and the lip 45 extending along the edge of the recess 17 is formed by the end of the side wall 49 being folded back on itself. Therefore, the elongate tabs 42, 43 catch on the lip 45 when the door 1 is moved into its opened position. This configuration prevents the free end 44 of the guard 20 from being completely withdrawn from the recess 17, thus a cavity 52 formed between the end 3 of the door 1 and the side 4 door frame 2 is always shielded. A section 54 of the base wall 51 and the rear side wall 50 is removed so that the door leaf 9 of the hinge 6 can be received and attached to the door 1 in the cut-out formed in the end 3 of the door 2. Upper and lower recesses 55, 56 are formed in the base wall 51 for receiving an arm 57 of an upper and a lower guide portion 58, 59 respectively.

A door frame panel 60 is fixedly mounted to one of the upright jambs of the door frame 2 and is formed from a sheet of material. A section 62 is cut out so that the frame leaf 10 of the hinge 6 is attachable to the door frame 2. A longitudinal edge 63 of the door frame panel 60 is formed with an upstanding frame lip 64 formed therealong. The upstanding frame lip 64 provides shielding of a gap formed between the face 4 of the door frame and the outer surface 35 of the shaft member 33.

The guard assembly 7 further comprises the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59. The upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 are mountable to the upper and lower ends of the door 2 respectively. The upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 have a main plate 65 with the arm 57 extending therefrom and a rod, acting as a locating element 66, downwardly extending from a face of the main plate 65. When the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 are mounted to the door 1, the main panel 65 of each of the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 is received in the upper and lower ends of the cut-out respectively and locate against the side and base walls 49, 50, 51 of the housing 48. The arm 57 of each of the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 extends through the respective recess 55, 56 in the base wall 51 of the housing and is disposed in a corresponding hollow 67 formed in the upper and lower faces of the door. The arm 57 of each of the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 is fixedly mounted in the hollow 67 of the door 1 by screws, and shoulders

68 formed by the main plate 65 fixedly mount the housing 48 in the cut-out formed in the door 1.

The locating element 66 of each of the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 is movably attached to the main panel 65 of each of the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59. Each locating element 66 is threadingly engaged with a threaded bar

69 which is rotatably mounted in a slot 70 formed in each main plate 65. A tool engaging slot 72 is formed in the end of the threaded bar 69 to allow the threaded bar 69 to be rotated to move the locating element 66 along the slot 70, and so adjust its position on the respective upper and lower guide portion 58, 59.

When the upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 are mounted to the door 1 the locating elements 66 oppose and are spaced from the edge 40 of the recess 17. The gap between each locating element 66 and the edge 40 of the recess 17 is adjustable by rotating the threaded bar 69 and so adjusting the position of the locating element 66 on the respective upper and lower guide portion 58, 59. The locating elements 66 act to prevent the guard face 36 of the guard 20 from being urged away from the longitudinal edge 40 of the recess 17.

In an assembled state, the locating elements 66 locate against the rear face 37 of the guard 20 such that it continuously engages the edge 40 of the recess 17 when the door is moved between opened and closed positions. By adjusting the position of the locating elements 66, locating elements 66 may be moved into an optimal position wherein they support and guide the guard 20 when the door 1 is opened or closed. Referring to Figures 3 and 8 and 9, the shield assembly 8 comprises one or more shield elements 73. In the Figures two shield elements are shown, however it will be appreciated that the number of shield elements is not limited thereto. Each shield element 73 is a tubular member with a bore 74 extending therethrough to define an aperture at each end. The shield elements 73 are formed from aluminium or a rigid plastic, and may be cut to a desired length, as required. Each shield element 73 is cylindrical with an arcuate outer surface. The diameter of the outer surface corresponds generally to the diameter of the knuckles 12, 13, 14 of the hinge 6. Similarly, the diameter of bore 74 corresponds to the diameter of the upper and lower lugs 15, 16 extending from the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower knuckles 13, 14 of the hinge 6, and the end mounting lugs 26 extending from the first and second mounting elements 21, 22 so that the lugs are slidable therein. The shield elements 73 and the lugs 15, 16, 26 together form the shield assembly 8. When the hinge assembly is assembled, the first and second mounting elements 21, 22 are fixedly mounted to the upper and lower ends of the door frame 2 and the hinge 6 is fixedly mounted to the door frame 2 between the first and second mounting elements 21. The shield elements 73 are mounted on and extend between opposing lugs 15, 16, 26 on the upper and lower knuckles 13, 14 of the hinge 6 and the first and second mounting elements 21, 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the insertion of an object into the cavity between the door frame and the end of the door through a gap formed along the pivotable axis of the door.

It shall be appreciated that more than a single hinge 6 may be used in the hinge assembly. In this case, a plurality of shield elements 73 are used extending between the first mounting element 21 and a hinge 6, between each pair of hinges 6 and between a hinge and the second mounting element 22 so that the shield assembly extends along the whole length of the door. The shield assembly 8 is disposed on the opposite side of the door 1 to the guard assembly 7 and shield the gap formed between the edge of the door 1 and the edge of the frame 2 where the hinge 6 is located as can be appreciated from Figure 8. As the diameter of the shield elements 73 corresponds to the diameter of the knuckles 12, 13, 14 of the hinge 6, a flush overall finish is achieved. Furthermore, the diameter of the shield elements 73 and the knuckles 12, 13, 14 of the hinge 6 is greater than the gap between the door and the door frame on the side of the door on which the knuckles are disposed, and so it is not possible to insert an object into the cavity through the gap.

Installation of the hinge assembly 5 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. It will be understood that the hinge assembly 5 can be retrofitted or installed simultaneously with a door 1. Firstly, a user prepares the door 1 by forming a longitudinal u-shaped cut-out along the end of the door 1 that is to be hinged to the frame 2. Thereafter, the housing 48 is disposed in the cut-out. An upper face of the door 1 is also formed with a hollow 67 into which the arm 57 of the upper guide portion 58 is disposed and mounted. Similarly, the arm 57 of the lower guide portion 59 is disposed and mounted a hollow in a lower face of the door 1. The upper and lower guide portions 58, 59 fixedly mount the housing 48 in the cut-out.

The door frame 2 is fitted with the door frame panel 60. Thereafter, the door leaf 9 of the or each hinge 6 is mounted in the cut-out in the end 3 of the door 1 to fixedly mount the hinge to the door, and the frame leaf 10 of the or each hinge 6 is then fixedly mounted to the face 4 of the door frame 2 to hingedly mount the door to the door frame 2 so that the door 1 is able to swing between opened and closed positions. If there is more than one hinge, the required shield elements 73 are cut to the required length and are fitted between the hinges 6 so that they locate over the corresponding lugs 15, 16. Therefore the shield elements are fixedly mounted between the hinges. The shield elements 73 to be disposed between the or each hinge 6 and the first and second mounting elements 21, 22 are cut to the required length and are disposed between the lugs 15, 16 of the hinge and the end mounting lug 26 of the corresponding first and second mounting elements 21, 22. The first and second mounting elements 21, 22 are also fixedly mounted to the head jamb and threshold (not shown) of the door frame respectively.

The guard 20 is then fitted. The guard 20 is cut to a length corresponding to the distance between the first and second mounting elements 21, 22. The guard 20 is mounted to the spindle 30 of the second mounting element 22 so that the spindle 30 is slidably received in the bore 33a of the shaft member 33. Thereafter, the spindle 25 of the first mounting element 21 is urged into the chamber 27 so that the guard can be aligned below the first mounting element 21 parallel with the rotational axis of the door. As the guard 20 locates in position and the bore 33a of the shaft member 33 aligns with the spindle 25, the spindle 25 springs back into position by the action of the spring member and locates in the bore 33a, so that the shield is rotatable about the spindles 25, 30. The free end 44 of the guard 20 is then inserted into the recess 17 and is disposed between the edge 40 of the recess 17 and the locating elements 66. The position of the locating elements 66 is adjustable to set the desired gap between the locating elements 66 and the edge 40 of the recess.

It will be appreciated that the hinge assembly may be fitted to a door of any height due to the ability to cut the shield elements and the guard to any desired length.

Operation of the hinge assembly 5 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9.

When the door 1 is in a closed position (as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 8), the guard 20 is fully received in the recess 17 formed by the housing 48. The guard 20 is received in the recess 17 due to the guard 20 being pivotable about the door frame and the guard face 36 having an ogee curve in cross-sectional profile. It will be appreciated that in an arrangement in which the guard is fixedly mounted, it would be necessary to either reduce the length of the guard so that the free end of the guard slid from the recess and allow access to the cavity, to severely restrict the range of motion of the door about the door frame, or to allow a gap to form between the guard face and the edge of the recess. In particular, in a door in which a range of movement greater than 90 degrees is required, it would not be possible to use a fixed guard. Furthermore, a further advantage of the ogee shape of the guard face is that even when the guard is pivotable about the door frame, it is possible to pivot the door relative to the door frame by an angle of greater than 90 degrees and to maintain the guard face against the edge of the recess. In the closed position, the lip 45 along the edge 40 of the recess 17 lies adjacent and parallel to the ridge 64 of the door frame panel 60. As the door 1 is rotated about its rotational axis defined by the hinge or hinges 6, it moves into a partially open position (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9). The edge 40 of the recess 17 slides relative to the guard face 36 of the guard 20, and slides along the concave section 39 to the convex section 38. The guard 20 rotates about its longitudinal axis and slides between the edge 40 and the locating elements 66, and the locating elements 66 act on the rear face 37 of the guard 20 to urge the guard 20 against the edge 40 of the recess 17. Therefore, the cavity 52 formed between the door and the door frame is shielded. If a force is exerted on the guard face 36 of the guard 20, the guard is prevented from moving away from the edge of the recess by the locating elements 66. Similarly, on the other side of the door, objects are prevented from being inserted into the cavity 57 formed between the door and the door frame by a back edge 75 of the door sliding along the outer surface of each of the shield elements 73.

The hinge assembly 5 provides shielding of the cavity 57 throughout the whole operating arc of the door such that, when the door 1 is fully opened as illustrated in Figures 5 and 7, the free end 44 of the guard 13 is still received in the recess 17 and is located against the edge 40 of the recess. Furthermore, the hinge assemble 3 provides protection for an operating arc extending beyond 90 degrees. It is envisaged that the hinge assemble provides protection for an operating arc up to 110 degrees. As rotation of the door continues, the lip 45 along the edge 40 of the recess 17 locates against the tabs 42, 43 and prevents the free end 44 of the guard 20 from sliding from the recess 17. Furthermore, the movement of the door relative to the door frame is limited and so the lip 45 and tabs 42, 43 act as an end stop.

Therefore, the hinge assembly 5 provides protection throughout the whole operating arc of a door 1. Owing to the ogee-shape of the guard face 36, the guard 20 is in continuous engagement with the edge of the recess 17 as the door 1 swung between and opened and closed position. With the above cross-sectional profile of the guard face it is possible to provide an arcuate guard that remains in contact with an edge of the recess throughout it range of movement. Furthermore, it is possible to form a guard which allows a range of movement of the door of greater than 90 degrees relative to the door frame without sliding from the corresponding recess, but is able to be received in the recess when the door is in its closed position.

Although in the above arrangement the door leaf and housing are received in the door and the frame leaf and guard mount are mounted to the frame, it will be appreciated that in an alternative arrangement an elongate cut-out may be formed in the door frame. In such an arrangement, the door leaf and housing are received in the frame and the frame leaf and guard mount are mounted to the door.

In an arrangement with a fixed shield, the range of motion that is possible without a gap being formed between the end of the fixed shield and the housing in which the shield is received is less than 90 degrees because the shield cannot have an arc of 90 degrees or more otherwise is would not be received in the housing.

Although the hinge assembly describes two hinges in the present embodiment, it will be appreciated that the hinge assembly may include another number of hinges. It will also be appreciated that the hinge leaves of the hinges may be integrally formed with the guard portions

Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to the above exemplary embodiments that lie within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.