GB1563651A - Hinges - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HINGES (71) We, F.C. BROWN (STEEL EQUIPMENT) LIMITED, a British Company, of Queens Road, Bisley, Surrey.

GU24 9BJ, do hereby declare the invention.

for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to improvements in or relating to hinges and in particular to panel assemblies using such hinges. The hinges and panels are particularly useful for building articles of furniture such as cabinets which may be supplied to the user as a kit of parts ready for assembly. Such self-assembly furniture is often cheaper than conventional furniture because the labour costs in manufacture are reduced, and in addition it is more easily delivered to the user because it can be packed into a smaller space than fully assembled furniture. Besides being useful for self-assembly furniture. the hinge arrangement may be used for interconnecting other members.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hinge assembly comprising first and second hingedlv interconnectable members, one of which has a rigid tab having an edge formed with a recess. and the other of which has a slot for receiving the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two members. the recess in the tab being arranged to receive an end edge of the slot when the tab is moved within the slot towards said end edge for inhibiting direct withdrawl of the tab from the slot.

The tab is preferably a separate component secured to said first member. In such a case, the first member may be flanged and the tab may be part of a metal plate which is bent to fit over the flange and thus following the contour of the first member.

The amount of pivotal movement of the interconnected members may be limited by co-operable abutment surfaces. One of the abutment surfaces may comprise a face of the tab which in use co-operates with an adjacent abutment surface on the second member. Alternatively, or additionally, the abutment surfaces may be provided by flanged edge portions of the members.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cabinet or like article of furniture having sides formed from hingedly interconnected panels, each hinge comprising a rigid tab on one panel and a slot in an adjacent panel for receivine the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two panels. an edge of the tab being formed with a recess which received an end edge of the slot to inhibit direct withdrawal of the tab from the slot.

Preferablv. the amount of pivotal movement of the panels is limited by co-operable abutment surfaces so that the panels can be hinged apart by no more than 90" to form a box-like structure.

The invention will now be described by way of exaple wth reference to the accompanting drawings in which: FiSlac 1 is a perspective view showing parts of two hingedly interconnectable cabinet panels.

Figitre 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 shown partly broken away and showing the two panels connected together. and Figloes 3 and 4 are end view of the panel assembly shown in Figure 2 showing the panels in collapsed and erected positions.

Two metal panels 1. 2 form a back and a side respectively of a cabinet which is to be delivered to the user in a collapsed form.

The panel 1 is formed with an upright flange 3 which. when assembled with panel 2, abuts a face 4 of a U-shaped folded edge 5 of the panel 2. The panel l is spot welded to two or more rigid connectors 6 each of which has a tab 7 which projects beyond the flange 3 towards the panel 2. The tab 7 is recessed at 8 for reasons that will hereinafter be described. The folded edge 5 of the panel 2 forms a corner 9 formed with slots 10 which align with the tabs 7. The vertical side edges of the slots 10 lie one each side of the corner 9.

To assemble the two panels, the tabs 7 are pushed directly into the slots 10 and the upper end edges of the slots 10 are located in the recesses 8 as shown in Figure 2. The vertical positioning of the slots 10 is such that the panels will be correctly orientated vertically when the upper ends of the slots 10 locate in the recesses 8.

The spacing of the vertical edges of the slots 10 each side of the fold-line 9 allows the panels 1, 2 to be hinged relatively to each other. Figure 3 shows how the panel 1 can be folded into a position where it lies parallel with the panel 2 and, in this manner, the cabinet can be supplied in collapsed form with the side and back panels already secured together to facilitate easy erection.

As shown in figure 4, pivotal movement of the panel 1 relatively to the panel 2 from the position shown in Figure 3 is limited to 90" both by the engagement of the tab 7 with the inside of the U-shaped fold 5 and bv the abutment of the face 4 and flange 3. If desired, pivotal movement can be limited by only one set of abutment surfaces.

Although the tab 7 is shown as part of the connector 6 which follows the edge contour of the panel 1. the tab could be formed integrally with the flange 3.

If desired. the side of the panel 2 could simply be formed with a flange similar to the flange 3 and be provided with extended lugs defining suitable slots for receiving the tabs 7.

If the four sides of a rectangular cabinet are assembled from panels or other member incorporating cooperating tabs and slots as described above. in which pivoting through an angle of greater than 90" is prevented.

the four sides of the cabinet once assembled will form a rigid and stable structure.

Although the hingedlv interconnectable members have been described with particular reference to panels for cabinets. the members could be other than panels.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A hinge assembly comprising first and second hinged interconnectable members. one of which has a rigid tab having an edge formed with a recess. and the other of which has a slot for receiving the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two members, the recess in the tab being arranged to receive an end edge of the slot when the tab is moved within the slot towards said end edge for inhibiting direct withdrawal of the tab from the slot.

2. A hinge assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the tab is secured to the first member.

3. A hinge assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the first member is flanged and the tab is a part of a metal plate which is bent to fit over the flange.

4. A hinge assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein the members have abutment surfaces which limit the amount of pivotal movement when the members are interconnected.

5. A hinge assembly according to Claim 4, wherein one abutment surface comprises a face of the tab which in use cooperates with an adjacent abutment surface in the second member.

6. A hinge assembly according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein abutment surfaces are provided by flanged edge portions of the members.

7. A cabinet or like article furniture having sides formed from hingedly interconnected panels. each hinge comprising a rigid tab on one panel and a slot in an adjacent panel for receiving the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two panels, an edge of the tab being formed with a recess which receives an end edge of the slot to inhibit direct withdrawl of the tab from the slot.

8. A cabinet or like article of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein the amount of pivotal movement of the panels is limited by co-operable abutment surfaces so that the panels can be hinged apart by no more than 9() .

9. A hinge assembly substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A cabinet substantially as herein described. with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. recessed at 8 for reasons that will hereinafter be described. The folded edge 5 of the panel 2 forms a corner 9 formed with slots 10 which align with the tabs 7. The vertical side edges of the slots 10 lie one each side of the corner 9. To assemble the two panels, the tabs 7 are pushed directly into the slots 10 and the upper end edges of the slots 10 are located in the recesses 8 as shown in Figure 2. The vertical positioning of the slots 10 is such that the panels will be correctly orientated vertically when the upper ends of the slots 10 locate in the recesses 8. The spacing of the vertical edges of the slots 10 each side of the fold-line 9 allows the panels 1, 2 to be hinged relatively to each other. Figure 3 shows how the panel 1 can be folded into a position where it lies parallel with the panel 2 and, in this manner, the cabinet can be supplied in collapsed form with the side and back panels already secured together to facilitate easy erection. As shown in figure 4, pivotal movement of the panel 1 relatively to the panel 2 from the position shown in Figure 3 is limited to 90" both by the engagement of the tab 7 with the inside of the U-shaped fold 5 and bv the abutment of the face 4 and flange 3. If desired, pivotal movement can be limited by only one set of abutment surfaces. Although the tab 7 is shown as part of the connector 6 which follows the edge contour of the panel 1. the tab could be formed integrally with the flange 3. If desired. the side of the panel 2 could simply be formed with a flange similar to the flange 3 and be provided with extended lugs defining suitable slots for receiving the tabs 7. If the four sides of a rectangular cabinet are assembled from panels or other member incorporating cooperating tabs and slots as described above. in which pivoting through an angle of greater than 90" is prevented. the four sides of the cabinet once assembled will form a rigid and stable structure. Although the hingedlv interconnectable members have been described with particular reference to panels for cabinets. the members could be other than panels. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A hinge assembly comprising first and second hinged interconnectable members. one of which has a rigid tab having an edge formed with a recess. and the other of which has a slot for receiving the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two members, the recess in the tab being arranged to receive an end edge of the slot when the tab is moved within the slot towards said end edge for inhibiting direct withdrawal of the tab from the slot.

2. A hinge assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the tab is secured to the first member.

3. A hinge assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the first member is flanged and the tab is a part of a metal plate which is bent to fit over the flange.

4. A hinge assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein the members have abutment surfaces which limit the amount of pivotal movement when the members are interconnected.

5. A hinge assembly according to Claim 4, wherein one abutment surface comprises a face of the tab which in use cooperates with an adjacent abutment surface in the second member.

6. A hinge assembly according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein abutment surfaces are provided by flanged edge portions of the members.

7. A cabinet or like article furniture having sides formed from hingedly interconnected panels. each hinge comprising a rigid tab on one panel and a slot in an adjacent panel for receiving the tab and for permitting relative pivotal movement of the two panels, an edge of the tab being formed with a recess which receives an end edge of the slot to inhibit direct withdrawl of the tab from the slot.

8. A cabinet or like article of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein the amount of pivotal movement of the panels is limited by co-operable abutment surfaces so that the panels can be hinged apart by no more than 9() .

9. A hinge assembly substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A cabinet substantially as herein described. with reference to the accompanying drawings.