HINGE CONNECTION FOR PANEL AND PANEL COMBINATION
United States Patent 3695330
This specification discloses a hinge for connecting a panel or the like to a support or for connecting two panels together. In the example, the hinge is shown connecting two panels. A bracket is attached to the edge of each panel adjacent the other. These brackets extend from the top of each panel to the bottom. Flexible hinge strips are supported between the panel edges. Each hinge strip has one of its edges clamped under one edge of one of the brackets and its opposite edge clamped under the opposite edge of the bracket on the other panel. Each alternate strip has its opposite edge clamped under the opposite edge of the bracket. Thus, each strip in a sense crosses the strip above it, and the strip below it, so that the panels may swing either direction relative to each other.
US Patent References:
/1196244.html
Kinoshita - August 1916 - 1196244
Screen structure
Miller - February 1928 - 1661003
Multi-facet portable acoustic panel structure
Jaffe - February 1966 - 3232370
Folding door
Ahleen - October 1968 - 3403720
CONTINUOUS HINGE
Shepherd - May 1969 - 3441975
/1196244.html
Kinoshita - August 1916 - 1196244
Screen structure
Miller - February 1928 - 1661003
Multi-facet portable acoustic panel structure
Jaffe - February 1966 - 3232370
Folding door
Ahleen - October 1968 - 3403720
CONTINUOUS HINGE
Shepherd - May 1969 - 3441975
Application Number:
05/033215
Publication Date:
10/03/1972
Filing Date:
04/30/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
The Singer Company (Elizabeth, NJ)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
160/351, 136/241, 16/225, 136/240, 160/231.200, 136/238
International Classes:
E05D1/00; E06B3/48; E06B3/32; E06B3/48
Field of Search:
160/229,231,135,351 49/147,399,501 52/615 16/150,170
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Williamowsky, David J.
Assistant Examiner:
Kannan, Philip C.
Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows
1. In combination, a first panel and a second panel and a hinge connecting a side edge of said first panel to a side edge of said second panel,
2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said strips have edge portions connected to said strips by living hinges.
3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein
4. The panels of claim 1 wherein said panels are each made up of a core made of a sheet of foil material,
5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a foot member is supported on said first and said second panel,
1. In combination, a first panel and a second panel and a hinge connecting a side edge of said first panel to a side edge of said second panel,
2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said strips have edge portions connected to said strips by living hinges.
3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein
4. The panels of claim 1 wherein said panels are each made up of a core made of a sheet of foil material,
5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a foot member is supported on said first and said second panel,
Description:
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
This invention relates to hinges and, more particularly, to hinges in combination with panels for office partitions, room separators, and the like.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved hinge connection.
Another object is to provide an improved hinge connection in combination with a panel assembly.
Another object is to provide a hinge connection which will allow a panel to swing in either direction.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly.
Another object is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly having panels which will swing 180° upon themselves for shipping panels stacked flat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a panel and hinge connection according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the bracket used as a part of the hinge;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the bracket;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the hinge structure; and
FIG. 7 is a top view of the hinge structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings generally show panels 10 and 11 swingably connected together by hinges 12. The hinges 12 are made up of the brackets 13 and 14 which are fixed to the edges of the panels and the hinge strips 15 and 16, each of which has an edge clamped under the opposite edges of the brackets 13 or 14 in intersecting relation with each other. Four hinge strips are shown in FIG. 1, one above the other. Plates 17 and 18 are inserted in the brackets and the brackets are fixed to the panels by screws 19. The feet 20 are attached to the lower ends of the panels to support them in position.
The panels 10 and 11 each have a core 21 which may be made from a sheet of laminated aluminum foil. The filler material 22 may be of fiberglass batting. A layer approximately one-fourth inch thick of polyurethane foam 23 may be fixed on the outside of each of the battings, and a fabric covering 25 is placed on each side.
A filler block 26 is fixed in place between the urethane layers and these filler blocks 26 receive the screws 19 which fix the brackets 13 and 14 to the panels 10 and 11.
Each bracket 13 and 14 extends the entire length from top to bottom of the panels 11 and 12. The sides of brackets 13 and 14 bend outward and the central parts of the brackets 13 and 14 are in the form of a channel. The ends 27 are turned outward and have slots 28 to receive the edges of the strips 14. The ends 27 overlie and are spaced from the blocks 26 and a bead 29 and bead 30 are formed on the ends 27 of the brackets. The brackets may be made of extruded aluminum or other suitable relatively rigid material.
The strips 15 may be made of plastic or any suitable relatively flexible material. The brackets 13 will have spaced holes which will receive the screws 19.
The strips 15 have a length approximately one-fourth the height of the panels so that in the example shown, four strips 15 are used to connect the panels 10 and 11. Each strip 15 is attached to the opposite edge of bracket 13 or 14 from the strip adjacent it. Each strip 15 has an intermediate part 32 and two ends 34 connected by thin parts 33 which may be in the form of living hinges familiar to those skilled in the art. The ends 34 are molded at an incline of approximately 60° to the intermediate part 32 and beads 35 are formed integrally with the ends 34. These beads 35 are received in the space between the ends 27 and the beads 29 when the hinge is assembled in the position shown in FIG. 3.
The feet 20 are made up of two platelike adjusting brackets 40 and 41 which are attached to the bottom of the panels, and a laterally extending channel 42 is pivoted to the pivot point of the brackets 40 and 41. The channels have floor glides 45 to stabilize the assembly.
The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as in commensurate with the appended claims.
This invention relates to hinges and, more particularly, to hinges in combination with panels for office partitions, room separators, and the like.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved hinge connection.
Another object is to provide an improved hinge connection in combination with a panel assembly.
Another object is to provide a hinge connection which will allow a panel to swing in either direction.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly.
Another object is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly having panels which will swing 180° upon themselves for shipping panels stacked flat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a panel and hinge connection according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the bracket used as a part of the hinge;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the bracket;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the hinge structure; and
FIG. 7 is a top view of the hinge structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings generally show panels 10 and 11 swingably connected together by hinges 12. The hinges 12 are made up of the brackets 13 and 14 which are fixed to the edges of the panels and the hinge strips 15 and 16, each of which has an edge clamped under the opposite edges of the brackets 13 or 14 in intersecting relation with each other. Four hinge strips are shown in FIG. 1, one above the other. Plates 17 and 18 are inserted in the brackets and the brackets are fixed to the panels by screws 19. The feet 20 are attached to the lower ends of the panels to support them in position.
The panels 10 and 11 each have a core 21 which may be made from a sheet of laminated aluminum foil. The filler material 22 may be of fiberglass batting. A layer approximately one-fourth inch thick of polyurethane foam 23 may be fixed on the outside of each of the battings, and a fabric covering 25 is placed on each side.
A filler block 26 is fixed in place between the urethane layers and these filler blocks 26 receive the screws 19 which fix the brackets 13 and 14 to the panels 10 and 11.
Each bracket 13 and 14 extends the entire length from top to bottom of the panels 11 and 12. The sides of brackets 13 and 14 bend outward and the central parts of the brackets 13 and 14 are in the form of a channel. The ends 27 are turned outward and have slots 28 to receive the edges of the strips 14. The ends 27 overlie and are spaced from the blocks 26 and a bead 29 and bead 30 are formed on the ends 27 of the brackets. The brackets may be made of extruded aluminum or other suitable relatively rigid material.
The strips 15 may be made of plastic or any suitable relatively flexible material. The brackets 13 will have spaced holes which will receive the screws 19.
The strips 15 have a length approximately one-fourth the height of the panels so that in the example shown, four strips 15 are used to connect the panels 10 and 11. Each strip 15 is attached to the opposite edge of bracket 13 or 14 from the strip adjacent it. Each strip 15 has an intermediate part 32 and two ends 34 connected by thin parts 33 which may be in the form of living hinges familiar to those skilled in the art. The ends 34 are molded at an incline of approximately 60° to the intermediate part 32 and beads 35 are formed integrally with the ends 34. These beads 35 are received in the space between the ends 27 and the beads 29 when the hinge is assembled in the position shown in FIG. 3.
The feet 20 are made up of two platelike adjusting brackets 40 and 41 which are attached to the bottom of the panels, and a laterally extending channel 42 is pivoted to the pivot point of the brackets 40 and 41. The channels have floor glides 45 to stabilize the assembly.
The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as in commensurate with the appended claims.