INVISIBLE HINGE WITH INTERNAL ELECTRICAL WIRING

• US 20120090135A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Industrial Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Industrial Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Soh, Kok Leong
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/250
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1253 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A self-closing invisible hinge for returning a door to its closed position from its opened position including a self-closing structure in which the closing force can be selectively adjusted externally at the hinge and in which the self-closing structure is compact. The self-closing invisible hinge further having an embedded wiring system for providing electrical communication between an area on or in the door and an area adjacent a mounting structure supporting the door, such as a building electrical and/or communication system.

Claims

1. A self-closing invisible hinge for supporting a door to a mounting structure for swinging movement between a closed and an opened position and for urging and returning the door to its closed position from its opened position, said self-closing invisible hinge comprising:

a pair of hinge bodies having a front portion and a rear portion, each of said pair of hinge bodies being connectable to the associated one of the door and the mounting structure with each said front portion facing outwardly from the associated one of the door and mounting structure;

a link device connected to said pair of hinge bodies for permitting swinging movement of said pair of hinge bodies relative to each other between its closed and opened positions, said link device having at least one channel extending through at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one channel extending from a position generally adjacent to the door to a position generally adjacent the mounting structure, said at least one channel being concealed when viewing said front portion of said pair of hinge bodies;

a closing device operatively connected between said link device and one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to the closed position, said closing device having a spring device for providing a spring bias between said link device and said one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to the closed position;

an adjustment device operatively connected with said spring device, said adjustment device selectively varying the magnitude of said spring bias of said spring device, said spring device and said adjustment device extending rearwardly from said rear portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies and adapted to be located and enclosed within an opening in the associated one of the door and mounting structure; and

an electrical wire extending through said at least one channel of said link device and extending to said rear portion of said pair of hinge bodies, said electrical wire providing electrical communication therethrough.

2. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment device comprises an adjustment member having an adjustment portion externally accessible to a user through said front portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies at said link device when said link device is in the opened position whereby the magnitude of said spring bias can be selected by manual manipulation by the user of said adjustment member via said adjustment portion.

3. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 1 wherein said spring device comprises a coil spring, said adjustment member of said adjustment device being an elongated rod extending through said coil spring and terminating at its forward end in a head portion having an engaging surface externally accessible to the user through said front portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies at said link device.

4. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 3 wherein said adjustment device comprises a retaining member engaging the rearward end of said coil spring and having a threaded bore, said adjustment rod having its rearward end threadably engaged with said threaded bore whereby rotational movement of said adjustment rod relative to said retaining member will vary said spring bias.

5. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 4 wherein said adjustment device comprises a connecting member connected to said link device and to said forward end of said adjustment rod.

6. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 5 wherein said link device comprises at least two link members and a pivot device connecting said at least two link members together, each of said pair of hinge bodies having an opening for receiving said at least two link members when in the closed position, further comprising:

a guide device connecting each of said at least two link members to a different one of said pair of hinge bodies whereby said at least two link members are guided to positions in and out of the associated ones of said opening, said guide device including pins connected to said at least two link members, said connecting member including one of said pins.

7. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 6 wherein each of said pair of hinge bodies including an enlarged mounting plate defining said front portion at its forward end and a rearwardly extending extension portion of reduced cross section defining said rear portion at its rearward end, said adjustment device having a cross section when projected against said extension portion being generally within the confines of the projected area of the periphery of said extension portion.

8. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 1 wherein said at least one channel is arcuately shaped.

9. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one wire cover plate disposed adjacent said at least one channel extending through said at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one wire cover plate concealing said electrical wire extending from said at least one channel to the associated one of said position generally adjacent to the door and said position generally adjacent the mounting structure.

10. A self-closing invisible hinge for supporting a door to a mounting structure for swinging movement between a closed and an opened position and for urging and returning the door to its closed position from its opened position, said self-closing invisible hinge comprising:

a pair of hinge bodies having a front portion and a rear portion;

a fastening device connecting each of said pair of hinge bodies to the associated one of the door and the mounting structure with each said front portion facing outwardly from the associated one of the door and mounting structure;

a link device connected to said pair of hinge bodies for permitting swinging movement of said pair of hinge bodies relative to each other and hence swinging movement of the door relative to the mounting structure between its closed and opened positions, said link device having at least one channel extending through at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one channel extending from a position generally adjacent to the door to a position generally adjacent the mounting structure, said at least one channel being concealed when viewing said front portion of said pair of hinge bodies;

a closing device operatively connected between said link device and one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to the closed position, said closing device having a spring device for providing a spring bias between said link device and said one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to the closed position, said closing device further having an adjustment device operatively connected with said spring device and being operable for selectively varying the magnitude of said spring bias, said spring device and said adjustment device extending rearwardly from said rear portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies and adapted to be located and enclosed within an opening in the associated one of the door and mounting structure, said adjustment device including an adjustment member having an adjustment portion externally accessible to a user through said front portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies at said link device when said link device is in the opened position whereby the magnitude of said spring bias can be selected by manual manipulation by the user of said adjustment member via said adjustment portion; and

an electrical wire extending through said at least one channel of said link device and extending to said rear portion of said pair of hinge bodies, said electrical wire providing electrical communication therethrough.

11. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 10 wherein said spring device comprises a coil spring, said adjustment member of said adjustment device being an elongated rod extending through said coil spring and terminating at its forward end in a head portion having an engaging surface externally accessible to the user through said front portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies at said link device.

12. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 11 wherein said adjustment device comprises a retaining member engaging the rearward end of said coil spring and having a threaded bore, said adjustment rod having its rearward end threadably engaged with said threaded bore whereby rotational movement of said adjustment rod relative to said retaining member will vary said spring bias.

13. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 12 wherein said adjustment device comprises a connecting member connected to said link device and to said forward end of said adjustment rod.

14. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 13 wherein said link device comprises at least two link members and a pivot device connecting said at least two link members together, each of said pair of hinge bodies having an opening for receiving said at least two link members when in the closed position, further comprising:

a guide device connecting each of said at least two link members to a different one of said pair of hinge bodies whereby said at least two link members are guided to positions in and out of the associated ones of said opening, said guide device including pins connected to said at least two link members, said connecting member including one of said pins.

15. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 14 wherein each of said pair of hinge bodies including an enlarged mounting plate defining said front portion at its forward end and a rearwardly extending extension portion of reduced cross section defining said rear portion at its rearward end, said adjustment device having a cross section when projected against said extension portion being generally within the confines of the projected area of the periphery of said extension portion.

16. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 10 wherein said at least one channel is arcuately shaped.

17. The self-closing invisible hinge according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one wire cover plate disposed adjacent said at least one channel extending through said at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one wire cover plate concealing said electrical wire extending from said at least one channel to the associated one of said position generally adjacent to the door and said position generally adjacent the mounting structure.

18. A invisible hinge for supporting a door to a mounting structure for swinging movement between a closed and an opened position, said invisible hinge comprising:

a pair of hinge bodies having a front portion and a rear portion, each of said pair of hinge bodies being connectable to the associated one of the door and the mounting structure with each said front portion facing outwardly from the associated one of the door and mounting structure;

a link device connected to said pair of hinge bodies for permitting swinging movement of said pair of hinge bodies relative to each other between its closed and opened positions, said link device having at least one channel extending through at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one channel extending from a position generally adjacent to the door to a position generally adjacent the mounting structure, said at least one channel being concealed when viewing said front portion of said pair of hinge bodies; and

an electrical wire extending through said at least one channel of said link device and extending to said rear portion of said pair of hinge bodies, said electrical wire providing electrical communication therethrough.

19. The invisible hinge according to claim 18, further comprising:

a closing device operatively connected between said link device and one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to a closed position, said closing device providing a bias between said link device and said one of said pair of hinge bodies for urging said link device and said pair of hinge bodies to the closed position.

20. The invisible hinge according to claim 19, further comprising:

an adjustment device operatively connected with said closing device, said adjustment device selectively varying the magnitude of said bias of said closing device, said closing device and said adjustment device extending rearwardly from said rear portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies and adapted to be located and enclosed within an opening in the associated one of the door and mounting structure.

21. The invisible hinge according to claim 20 wherein said adjustment device comprises an adjustment member having an adjustment portion externally accessible to a user through said front portion of said one of said pair of hinge bodies at said link device when said link device is in the opened position whereby the magnitude of said bias can be selected by manual manipulation by the user of said adjustment member via said adjustment portion.

22. The invisible hinge according to claim 18 wherein said link device comprises at least two link members and a pivot device connecting said at least two link members together, each of said pair of hinge bodies having an opening for receiving said at least two link members when in a closed position, further comprising:

a guide device connecting each of said at least two link members to a different one of said pair of hinge bodies whereby said at least two link members are guided to positions in and out of the associated ones of said opening, said guide device including pins connected to said at least two link members, said connecting member including one of said pins.

23. The invisible hinge according to claim 22 wherein each of said pair of hinge bodies including an enlarged mounting plate defining said front portion at its forward end and a rearwardly extending extension portion of reduced cross section defining said rear portion at its rearward end.

24. The invisible hinge according to claim 18 wherein said at least one channel is arcuately shaped.

25. The invisible hinge according to claim 18, further comprising:

at least one wire cover plate disposed adjacent said at least one channel extending through said at least one of said pair of hinge bodies, said at least one wire cover plate concealing said electrical wire extending from said at least one channel to the associated one of said position generally adjacent to the door and said position generally adjacent the mounting structure.