GB2566154A - Door hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

A concealed door hinge having first and second leaf members for location in and attachment to mortises of an upper and lower edge of a door and frame. Leaf members connected through a plurality, e.g. two link members 20, 22 to open at least 90 degrees. The hinge housing can be mounted in a horizontally extending mortised frame. The links are preferably mounted by four pivot pins and the links may be received in recesses in the hinge leaf housings. A second pivot pin/post, supporting a first link, may protrude from a support of a second hinge leaf and be received within the first hinge leaf housing when closed; likewise a third pivot pin/post may extend from a surface of the first hinge leaf for receipt within a complementary recess in the second hinge leaf. Adjustment of the position of the pivot pin may be provided

Description

DOOR HINGE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to door hinges and more specifically to concealed door hinges for a cupboard or cabinet in which the hinges are located in mortises set in the upper and lower edges of a door and opposed surfaces of a door frame. The invention further relates to a cupboard or cabinet which includes concealed door hinges.

For ease of reference the term cupboard will be used hereinafter to refer to cupboards, cabinets and similar items of furniture.

Background to the invention

Cupboard door hinges commonly include leaf members which support the door hinges and which, in use, are connected to the side edges of a door and the respective door frame. One disadvantage of such hinges is that when the door is closed, the hinges and the side edges of the leaf members are readily apparent from both the front and rear of the door. To many, this is aesthetically unappealing.

This disadvantage is overcome with door hinges in accordance with the invention.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the invention provides a concealed door hinge which comprises first and second leaf members for location in and attachment to respective mortises of an upper and lower edge of a door and opposed surfaces of a frame in which the door is to be located, said leaf members being connected through a plurality of links which co-operate to enable one leaf member to rotate through at least ninety degrees relative to the other whereby, when the door is closed, the hinges are concealed.

At least one leaf member may include a recess within which one link locates when the hinge is in its closed position.

In a preferred arrangement, each leaf member includes a recess, the recesses being shaped and dimensioned to receive the cooperating links when the hinge is in its closed position.

In another aspect, the invention provides a concealed door hinge which comprises first and second leaf members for location in and attachment to respective mortises of an upper and lower edge of a door and opposed surfaces of a frame in which the door is to be located, said leaf members being connected through a pair of spaced pivotal links which co-operate to enable one leaf member to rotate through at least ninety degrees relative to the other about a virtual axis whereby, when the door is closed, the hinges are concealed.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a cupboard including a door frame and a door located in and connected to said door frame by at least two concealed door hinges, each said concealed door hinge comprising a first leaf member located within a mortice set in a vertical surface of the cupboard door and a second leaf member for location within a mortise set in a horizontal surface of the door frame, said first and second leaf members each including first and second links which locate on and extend between pivot posts positioned one within each leaf member, one or each leaf member including a recess into which the links locate when the cupboard door is closed and from which the links protrude when the cupboard door is open.

One pivotal link of the concealed hinge may be supported at one end on a first pivot post located on said first leaf member and at its other end on a second pivot post located on a support surface which protrudes from one side of said second leaf member, said first leaf member including a recess into which said second pivot post and said pivotal link locates when the door is in its closed position.

The support surface is preferably formed with a generally arcuate surface and the recess is formed with a complementary shaped surface to assist location of the support surface within said recess.

A second pivotal link of the concealed hinge may be supported at one end on a third pivot post located on said first leaf member and at its other end on a fourth pivot post located on said second leaf member.

An outer surface of the said third pivot post may project from the surface of the first leaf member and may locate within a complementary shaped recess formed in the second leaf member.

The pivotal link which connects the first and second pivot posts is preferably positioned above the pivotal link which connects of the third and fourth pivot posts.

Means may be provided for adjusting the position of the pivot post

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:Figure 1 is an exploded view of a door hinge in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2A and 2B are respectively isomeric views of a door hinge in accordance with the invention in substantially closed and partly open positions with a cover plate of the hinge in place;

Figures 3A and 3B are respectively plan views of the illustrated door hinge illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B in partially open and fully open positions again with a cover plate of the hinge in place;

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are plan views of the illustrated door hinge in closed, partially open and fully open positions with the cover plate shown in Figures 2 and 3 removed;

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are respectively the three views shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 4C showing features in broken line not apparent from the earlier Figures;

Figures 6A and 6B are plan views of an alternative door hinge in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 7A and 7B are plan views of a further alternative door hinge in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The illustrated door hinge 10 comprises pairs of co-operating leaf members 12, 14 located respectively in mortises formed in a door 16 and door frame 18 of a cupboard. In use, two such hinges are employed, one connecting the foot of the door to the door frame and the other connecting the top of the door to the door frame.

The leaf members 12 reside in mortises recessed into one vertical edge surface of the door 16 alongside the upper and lower horizontal sections of the door frame 18, and the leaf members reside in mortises formed in the upper and lower horizontal sections of the door frame alongside the leaf members 12.

The door hinge is preferably constructed from brass although other materials such as plastics or metallic materials other than brass may be employed.

The leaf members 12 are interconnected through links 20, 22 which, as will be seen most clearly from Figures 5A, 5B and 5C pivot about pivot posts 24, 26 and 28, 30 respectively. The pivot posts 24 and 28 protrude upwardly from the base of the leaf member 12 and the pivot posts 26 and 30 protrude upwardly from the base of the leaf member 14.

The pivot post 28 is located on a projecting land 32 which is positioned opposite to a suitably shaped recess 34 formed in the side of the leaf member 12 and into which the projecting land 32 and the pivot post 28 locate when the door is closed. As will be seen from Figures 5A to 5C the recess 34 is formed with a curvilinear surface 36 to assist smooth entry of the projecting land 32 and post 28 into the recess. Thus, when the door is closed, the respective surfaces of the door and the door frame lie flush with the hinge hidden from view.

At its end remote from the pivot post 28 the link 22 is supported for rotation on the pivot post 30 which is upstanding from the base of the leaf member 14.

The pivot post 24 is upstanding from the base of the leaf member 12 and one end of the link 20 is supported for rotation on the post 24. The end of the link 20 remote from the pivot post 24 is located on the pivot post 26 which is upstanding from the base of the leaf member 12. The pivot post 24 is positioned in a recessed section 38 of the leaf member 12, the section 38 including an inclined side wall 40 (see particularly Figure 5B) against which one side of the link 20 abuts when the door is closed. This feature also ensures that when the door is closed, the respective surfaces of the door and door frame lie flush with the hinge hidden from view.

The position of the hinge mechanism can, if necessary, be adjusted through sideways extending adjustment screws 42 (see particularly Figure 4A) thereby enabling minor adjustments to be made to the position of the hinge section 12 within the door frame mortise.

The link 22 is positioned above and to one side of the link 20 to enable link 22 to over-ride link 20 as the door is opened or closed.

A cover plate 44 is located over the leaf member 14 following assembly of the leaf member into the mortise formed in the door frame 18.

In use, as the door 12 is moved relative to the door frame 14, the links 20, 22 pivot about their pivot posts to cause the door to move about virtual axes towards its open or closed position.

When the door is closed, the hinge is concealed from view with the linkages housed entirely within the recessed sections of the leaf members.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B the links 20 and 22 are curvilinear to enable the mechanism to exit from the inner face of the door rather than from the end of the door. Otherwise, the illustrated hinge operates as described previously.

A further alternative embodiment of the described hinge is shown in Figures 7A and 7B. In this embodiment the links 20,22 are replaced with split links 46.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of concealed door hinges in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims .

Claims (11)

1. A concealed door hinge which comprises first and second leaf members for location in and attachment to respective mortises of an upper and lower edge of a door and opposed surfaces of a frame in which the door is to be located, said leaf members being connected through a plurality of links which co-operate to enable one leaf member to rotate through at least ninety degrees relative to the other whereby, when the door is closed, the hinges are concealed.

2. A door hinge as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one leaf member includes a recess within which one link locates when the hinge is in its closed position.

3. A door hinge as claimed in claim 1 wherein each leaf member includes a recess, the recesses being shaped and dimensioned to receive the co-operating links when the hinge is in its closed position.

4. A concealed door hinge which comprises first and second leaf members for location in and attachment to respective mortises of an upper and lower edge of a door and opposed surfaces of a frame in which the door is to be located, said leaf members being connected through a pair of spaced pivotal links which co-operate to enable one leaf member to rotate through at least ninety degrees relative to the other about a virtual axis whereby, when the door is closed, the hinges are concealed.

5. A cupboard including a door frame and a door located in and connected to said door frame by at least two concealed door hinges, each said concealed door hinge comprising a first leaf member located within a mortice set in a vertical surface of the cupboard door and a second leaf member for location within a mortise set in a horizontal surface of the door frame, said first and second leaf members each including first and second links which locate on and extend between pivot posts positioned one within each leaf member, one or each leaf member including a recess into which the links locate when the cupboard door is closed and from which the links protrude when the cupboard door is open.

6. A cupboard as claimed in claim 5 wherein one pivotal link of the concealed hinge is supported at one end on a first pivot post located on said first leaf member and at its other end on a second pivot post located on a support surface which protrudes from one side of said second leaf member, said first leaf member including a recess into which said second pivot post and said pivotal link locates when the door is in its closed position.

7. A cupboard as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the support surface is formed with a generally arcuate surface and the recess formed with a complementary shaped surface to assist location of the support surface within said recess .

8. A cupboard as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein a second pivotal link of the concealed hinge is supported at one end on a third pivot post located on said first leaf member and at its other end on a fourth pivot post located on said second leaf member.

9. A cupboard as claimed in claim 8 wherein an outer surface of the said third pivot post projects from the surface of the first leaf member and may locate within a complementary shaped recess formed in the second leaf member.

10. A cupboard as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the pivotal link which connects the first and second pivot posts is positioned above the pivotal link which connects of the third and fourth pivot posts.

11. A cupboard as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein means is provided for adjusting the position of the pivot post