WO2019234302A1

WO2019234302A1 - Hinge arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2019234302A1
Application number: PCT/FI2019/050435
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pekka Toivola; Ville-Veikko Puolimatka; Miika HÄLLFORS
Original assignee: Framery Oy
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2019-06-06
Publication date: 2019-12-12
Also published as: FI20185520A1; FI129039B

Abstract

A hinge arrangement (100), comprising a profile (10) extending the length of a door leaf (50) and configured to receive and hold the door leaf (50); a lower and upper attachment element (40a,40b); a lower and upper hinge pin (20a,20b) arranged inside the lower and upper end of the profile (10) and inside the lower and upper attachment element (40a,40b), respectively; characterized by further comprising a spring element (30) extending through the profile (10) as well as the lower hinge pin (20a) and the lower attachment element (40a) and/or the upper hinge pin (20b) and the upper attachment element (40b) and configured to provide sturdiness, wherein the spring element is attached at one end with the lower or upper attachment element (40a,40b) and at the other end with the profile (10) or with the lower or upper hinge pin (20a,20b) and configured cause tension pulling the hinge arrangement to a closed position. Also a door comprising the hinge arrangement, a soundproof space comprising the door and a method of operating a hinge arrangement.

Description

HINGE ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application generally relates to a hinge arrangement. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to a hinge arrangement for a glass door.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein being representative of the state of the art.

[0003] Arranging hinges for doors with a heavy door leaf, for example glass doors, can be problematic, in particular if the door leaf is frameless. For example glass door leafs tend to twist and pull on the hinges, so that the closing and sealing of the door becomes difficult, especially as glass door leaves rarely are completely straight to begin with. This problematic is emphasized in situations in which the sealing of the door is important, for example for soundproofing.

[0004] Furthermore, as the above problems require sturdy hinges, their appearance is not always visually pleasing, or they have a complicated structure raising manufacturing costs and requiring laborious assembly. Moreover, previous self-closing hinge arrangements are typically small spring loaded flap hinges many of which would be required for sturdiness of the door leaf.

[0005] Examples of sealing arrangement in which a profile spanning the length of the door is provided have been previously disclosed, for example in publications DE20201 1 103476U1 , EP1831491 B1 and KR200403180Y1 . These examples do not provide for a simple arrangement or sturdiness required for heavy door leaves, nor do they enable a self-closing door.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a hinge arrangement that overcomes or at least mitigates the above-mentioned challenges.

SUMMARY [0007] Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

[0008] According to a first example aspect of the present invention, there is provided hinge arrangement, comprising

a profile extending the length of a door leaf and configured to receive and hold the door leaf;

a lower and upper attachment element;

a lower and upper hinge pin arranged inside the lower and upper end of the profile and inside the lower and upper attachment element, respectively; further comprising

a spring element extending through the profile as well as the lower hinge pin and the lower attachment element and/or the upper hinge pin and the upper attachment element and configured to provide sturdiness, wherein

the spring element is attached at one end with the lower or upper attachment element and at the other end with the profile or with the lower or upper hinge pin and configured cause tension pulling the hinge arrangement to a closed position.

[0009] The spring element may comprise a steel rod.

[0010] The spring element may be bent at one end and the bent portion is configured to be attached to the lower or upper attachment element by nesting within a recess.

[0011] The lower and/or upper hinge pin may be rotatably arranged inside the profile and the arrangement may further comprise a bearing between the edge of the profile and a thicker portion of lower and/or upper hinge pin.

[0012] The profile may comprise a recess for receiving and holding a door leaf.

[0013] The profile may comprise aluminium or steel.

[0014] The profile may comprise a sealing protrusion configured to abut against a doorframe in a closed position of the hinge arrangement.

[0015] The sealing protrusion may comprise a seal element .

[0016] According to a second example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door, comprising the hinge arrangement according to the first example aspect of the present invention and a door leaf.

[0017] The door leaf may comprise glass.

[0018] According to a third example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soundproof space, comprising the door according to the second example aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a hinge arrangement according to the first example aspect of the present invention, comprising

causing a tension by a spring element configured to twist at least in an open position of the hinge arrangement and extending through a profile as well as a lower hinge pin and a lower attachment element and/or an upper hinge pin and an upper attachment element;

pulling the hinge arrangement to a closed position by the tension caused; and abutting a sealing protrusion of the profile towards a frame to which the lower and upper attachment element are attached.

[0020] Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and the door with which it is used;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a part of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and the door with which it is used;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a soundproof space in which a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention is used; and Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a method of operating a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention and its potential advantages are understood by referring to Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawings. In this document, like reference signs denote like parts or steps.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and the door with which it is used. Fig. 1 shows a hinge arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The hinge arrangement 100 comprises a profile 10 on the side of the door. The length, i.e. height, of the profile 10 corresponds to the length of the side of the door, i.e. the profile is in an embodiment slightly shorter than the side of the door to allow space for further elements of the hinge arrangement 100 as will be explained hereinafter. In an embodiment, the profile 10 comprises an aluminium profile or a steel profile. In a further embodiment, should the weight of the door allow it, the profile 10 comprises a further material such as carbon fiber and/or fiberglass, plastic material or a combination thereof.

[0024] The profile 10 is configured to receive and hold the door leaf 50. In an embodiment, the profile 10 comprises a recess configured to receive the door leaf 50 and hold it. In an embodiment, the door leaf is attached to the profile in a conventional manner such as gluing, welding, screws or friction fitting.

[0025] The hinge arrangement 100 further comprises an upper (not shown in Fig. 1 ) and a lower 20a hinge pin. Flereto it is noted that the terms upper and lower are used hereinbefore and hereinafter for intelligibility and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, i.e. the hinge arrangement is applicable as well for example in a horizontal position in which case the upper and lower, i.e. first and second, hinge pin 20a, 20b are positioned at the same level. In an embodiment, the hinge pins 20a, 20b are in part rotatably arranged inside the profile 10 as hereinafter explained. In a further embodiment, the hinge pins 20a, 20b are fixedly arranged inside the profile 10. In an embodiment, in a rotatable arrangement, the hinge arrangement comprises a bearing element between the upper or lower end of the profile 10 and the corresponding portion of the hinge pin 20a, 20b.

[0026] The hinge arrangement 100 further comprises an upper 40b and a lower (not shown in Fig. 1 ) attachment element. In an embodiment, the attachment elements 40a, 40b comprise a length of profile having the same properties as the profile 10. In an embodiment, the attachment profiles 40a, 40b are attached to the structure, e.g. to the doorframe to which the door is to be attached to. In a further embodiment, the attachment elements 40a.40b are attached in a different orientation to that of the profile 10, for example perpendicular thereto to the upper and lower part of the doorframe in which case the profile 10 extends the whole height of the door and the hinge pins 20a, 20b extend through the attachment elements 40a, 40b in the same orientation as the profile 10.

[0027] The hinge arrangement 100 further comprises a spring element 30. The spring element 30 comprises a rod extending through the profile 10 as well as the lower hinge pin 20a and the lower attachment element 40a and/or the upper hinge pin 20b and the upper attachment element 40b. In an embodiment, the spring element 30 is nested in the upper attachment element 40b and therethrough connected to the door frame and attached to the lower end of the profile 10 or to the lower hinge pin 20a, if the hinge pin 20b is fixedly attached and therethrough connected to the door leaf 50. In an embodiment, an end of the spring element 30 is bent, for example in a right angle, and the bent portion thereof is nested in a recess of an attachment element 40a, 40b. In a still further embodiment, the hinge pins 20a, 20b are formed integrally with the the spring element 30, i.e. the first and second end of the spring element is configured to function as the hinge pins 20a, 20b.

[0028] In an embodiment, the spring element comprises a steel rod. In a further embodiment, the spring element comprises a rod of further material such as metal, carbon fiber and/or fiberglass, plastics or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the spring element has a rectangular cross-section, i.e. the spring element comprises a rod with a rectangular cross-section. In a further embodiment, the spring element has a round cross-section, i.e. the spring element comprises a rod with a round cross-section. The spring element 30 is configured to stiffen the hinge arrangement and therethrough to minimize bending or twisting of the door. The spring element 30 is further configured to provide a force pulling the hinge arrangement to a closed position thus enabling a self-closing door. Furthermore, the force provided by the spring element 30 is configured to improve the sealing of the door. In an embodiment the length of the spring element 30 and/or the pretension thereof is configured to adjust the force pulling the hinge arrangement, and therethrough the door leaf, to a closed position [0029] Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a part of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the lower end of the hinge arrangement 100. It is to be noted that in an embodiment, the upper end of the hinge arrangement 100 has a similar structure, i.e. Fig. 2 shows one end of the hinge arrangement 100. Fig. 2 shows the lower end of the profile 10 and the lower hinge pin 20a rotatably arranged therein. The hinge pin as shown in Fig.2 comprises a protrusion in the middle portion thereof, i.e. a thicker portion, so that the lower edge of the profile 10 abuts thereon. In an embodiment, a bearing (not shown) is arranged between the edge of the profile 10 and the thicker portion of the hinge pin 20a.

[0030] Fig. 2 further shows the attachment element 40a in which the other end of the hinge pin 20a is arranged so that the edge of the attachment element 40a abuts on the thicker portion of the hinge pin 40a opposite to the edge of the profile 10. In an embodiment, the hinge pin 40a is rotatably arranged inside the attachment element 40a. In an embodiment, in a rotatable arrangement, the hinge arrangement comprises a bearing element between the upper end of the attachment element and the corresponding portion of the hinge pin 20a.

[0031] Fig. 2 further shows the spring element 30 extending within the profile 10, the hinge pin 20a and the attachment element 40a. In an embodiment, the spring element 30 is fixedly attached to the attachment element 40a and therethrough to the doorframe. In a still further embodiment, the spring element 30 is fixedly attached directly to the structure, i.e. doorframe, for example below the attachment element 40a.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and the door with which it is used. Fig. 3 shows the upper end of the hinge arrangement 100, the door leaf 50 and a side of the doorframe 70, or the portion of the wall, e.g. a glass wall, to which the door is attached to with the hinge arrangement 100. The door leaf 50 is received throughout it height and held in a recess 12 formed in the profile 10, only parts of which are visible in Fig. 3 below the attachment element 40b.

[0033] The profile 10 further comprises a gasket protrusion 14, configured to abut against the doorframe 70 in a closed position of the door. The gasket protrusion extends the whole length of the profile 10. In an embodiment, the gasket protrusion 14 and/or the frame 70 comprises a seal element 60 configured to improve sealing between the gasket protrusion 14 and the doorframe 70. In an embodiment, the seal element 60 comprises a conventional seal element, such as sealing tape.

[0034] Fig. 3 further shows the spring element 30, the upper part of which has been bent and is nested in a recess formed in the attachment element 40b. The spring element 30 extends inside the profile 10, the hinge pin 20b and the attachment element 40b. The attachment element 40b further shows a protrusion 42 for covering the recess 12 and the attachment to the door leaf 50. In an embodiment, the attachment element 40b is attached to the surrounding structure, i.e. the door frame via the protrusion 42, for example by screws.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a soundproof space in which a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention is used. Fig. 4 shows a soundproof space 200, such as a phone booth or a conference space that is configured to be positioned for example in an office. Fig. 4 further shows the door leaf 50, depicted as a glass door, and the hinge arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted that although Fig. 4 shows the hinge arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the invention being applied in soundproof space, the hinge arrangement is equally well applicable to any door.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of method of operating a hinge arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. The door closing sealing is based on the tension provided by the spring element 30. As the door is opened, the spring element is twisted around the longitudinal, i.e. vertical axis thereof due to one end being attached to the door leaf via the profile 10 or a hinge pin 20a, 20b fixedly attached to the profile 10 and the other end of the spring element 30 being attached to an attachment element 40a, 40b for example by nesting the bent end thereof in a recess of the attachment element.

[0037] At step 500 the hinge arrangement 100, and consequently the door, is open and tension is caused by twisting of the spring element 30. In an embodiment, the spring element is arranged in such a way that it is configured to be twisted also in closed position of the hinge arrangement 100, and consequently of the door, so that a tension is present in all positions of the door. At step 510, the tension caused by the spring element causes the door to be pulled closed, i.e. the hinge arrangement is configured to provide as self-closing door. Subsequently, at step 520, the sealing protrusion 14 of the profile 10 abuts against the doorframe and the seal element between the sealing protrusion 14 and the doorframe seals the gap so that for example soundproofing is improved. As hereinbefore noted, in an embodiment, a tension remains in the closed position as well and the sealing is improved and held while the spring element 30 extending through the whole length of the door provides for sturdiness and support to the arrangement. In an embodiment, in addition to the force caused by the spring element 30, a latch and/or a magnetic arrangement is provided for ensuring the closing of the door.

[0038] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a hinge arrangement with a simple structure and assembly. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a self-closing door with improved rigidity. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of improved sealing of the hinge side of the door. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a supporting element providing for sturdiness to counter the weight and bending forces of the door. A still further technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of an inconspicuous hinge arrangement that is visually pleasing without any screw or bolt attachments on the door leaf. A still further technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of improved sealing of the door.

[0039] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0040] It is also noted herein that while the foregoing describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hinge arrangement (100), comprising

a profile (10) extending the length of a door leaf (50) and configured to receive and hold the door leaf (50);

a lower and upper attachment element (40a, 40b);

a lower and upper hinge pin (20a, 20b) arranged inside the lower and upper end of the profile (10) and inside the lower and upper attachment element (40a, 40b), respectively; characterized by further comprising

a spring element (30) extending through the profile (10) as well as the lower hinge pin (20a) and the lower attachment element (40a) and/or the upper hinge pin (20b) and the upper attachment element (40b) and configured to provide sturdiness, wherein

the spring element is attached at one end with the lower or upper attachment element (40a, 40b) and at the other end with the profile (10) or with the lower or upper hinge pin (20a, 20b) and configured cause tension pulling the hinge arrangement to a closed position.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the spring element (30) comprises a steel rod.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring element (30) is bent at one end and the bent portion is configured to be attached to the lower or upper attachment element (40a, 40b) by nesting within a recess.

4. The arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the lower and/or upper hinge pin (20a, 20b) is rotatably arranged inside the profile (10) and the arrangement further comprises a bearing between the edge of the profile (10) and a thicker portion of lower and/or upper hinge pin (20a, 20b).

5. The arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the profile (10) comprises a recess (12) for receiving and holding a door leaf (50).

6. The arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the profile (10) comprises aluminium or steel.

7. The arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the profile (10) comprises a sealing protrusion (14) configured to abut against a doorframe (70) in a closed position of the hinge arrangement (100).

8. The arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing protrusion (14) comprises a seal element (60).

9. A door, comprising the arrangement (100) of any preceding claim and a door leaf (50).

10. The door of claim 9, wherein the door leaf comprises glass.

11. A soundproof space (200) comprising the door of claim 9.

12. A method of operating a hinge arrangement of any of the claims 1 to 8,

comprising

causing a tension by a spring element (30) configured to twist at least in an open position of the hinge arrangement and extending through the profile (10) as well as the lower hinge pin (20a) and the lower attachment element (40a) and/or the upper hinge pin (20b) and the upper attachment element (40b);

pulling the hinge arrangement (100) to a closed position by the tension caused; and

abutting a sealing protrusion (14) of the profile (10) towards a frame to which the lower and upper attachment element (40a, 40b) are attached.