Electric hinge

• US 4,140,357 A
• Filed: 12/28/1977
• Issued: 02/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Folger Adam Security, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Folger ADAM Company Division of Telkee Incorporated
• Inventors: Butts, Lawrence D., Kambic, Raymond V., Wolz, Francis T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, DeWalden W.
• Application Number:
  US05/865,323
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.7, 200/61.82, 200/61.81, 174/86, 49/167, 339/4
• US Class Current: 439/31
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/162 associated with a hinge of the closing member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members

Abstract

A hinge for use with a swinging door provided with an electric lock or other electrically operated device or component therein in which the hinge is provided with chases and hollow hinge barrels sheathing a tubular collar which also serves as a hinge pin and provides a continuous passageway through the hinge for electrical conductors in order to maintain a continuous circuit or circuits through the hinge regardless of the position of the door. Each hinge leaf includes a barrel integral therewith with the barrel and leaf being a one-piece casting. The barrels completely enclose the tubular collar which forms a hollow hinge pin and protects the electrical conductors from attack in the event the leaves and barrels are pried apart.

Claims

1. A hinge for pivotally connecting a pair of relatively swingable members and enabling passage of continuous electrical conductor means from one member to the other, said hinge comprising a pair of hinge leaves with each leaf including an attaching plate and a hinge barrel along a portion of one edge thereof, each leaf including a chase communicating the interior of the hinge barrel with the face of the plate engaged with the member to which it is attached, and a tubular collar bridging aligned hinge barrels and forming a hinge pin therefor with the ends of the collar terminating inwardly of said chases thereby providing a continuous passageway for the electrical conductor means.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said collar is rigidly affixed to one of said hinge barrels and is of thin-walled hard material to protect the electrical conductor means even if the leaves and barrels are pried apart.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical conductor means includes a plurality of insulated electric wires having high resistance to repetitive twisting, flexing and bending.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said collar has one end portion being press-fitted into the barrel and thereby rigidly affixed thereto.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge barrels have closed outer ends thereby concealing said collar and said electrical conductor means.

6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said members is a door jamb and the other is a door and the electrical conductor means includes a plurality of electric wires to enable operation of an electric door lock, monitoring devices, and the like.

7. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said hinge barrels have closed outer ends thereby concealing said collar and said electrical conductor means and one of said members is a door jamb and the other is a door and the electrical conductor means includes a plurality of electric wires to enable operation of an electric door lock, monitoring devices, and the like.