초록 ▼

A hinge with first and second leaves. Bearing sleeves are attached along an edge of the first leaf and a bearing sleeve is attached along an edge of the second leaf. A hinge pintle is sized to extend into each of the apertures for mating engagement with the bearing sleeves and connect the hinge leav

A hinge with first and second leaves. Bearing sleeves are attached along an edge of the first leaf and a bearing sleeve is attached along an edge of the second leaf. A hinge pintle is sized to extend into each of the apertures for mating engagement with the bearing sleeves and connect the hinge leaves for rotation. With an elastomeric member fastened between the first hinge leaf and a cover plate, and between the second hinge leaf and another cover plate, as one leaf is rotated, the member stretches and provides a force to urge the leaf to rotate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hinge for supporting a gate or door along a fence or wall, comprising: first and second hinge leaves, one of the leaves having fastening apertures for attachment along a surface of a gate or door, and the other of the leaves having fastening apertures for attachment along a fence, post or wall

1. A hinge for supporting a gate or door along a fence or wall, comprising: first and second hinge leaves, one of the leaves having fastening apertures for attachment along a surface of a gate or door, and the other of the leaves having fastening apertures for attachment along a fence, post or wall surface;first and second bearing sleeves attached along an edge of the first leaf in spaced-apart relation to one another;a third bearing sleeve, having a pintle aperture, attached along an edge of the second leaf so that, when the edge of the second leaf is positioned along the edge of the first leaf, the third bearing sleeve can be positioned between the first and second bearing sleeves, the first and second bearing sleeves each including a pintle aperture that can be aligned with the aperture of the third bearing sleeve when the third bearing sleeve is positioned between the first and second bearing sleeves;a hinge pintle sized to extend into each of the pintle apertures for mating engagement with the first, second and third bearing sleeves and thereby connect the first and second hinge leaves to one another for rotation of one of the leaves about the hinge pintle and to support a hinge load;first and second cover plates, the first of the cover plates having fastening apertures for attachment to the first leaf and the second of the cover plates having fastening apertures for attachment to the second leaf; andan elastomeric member having a first end portion fastened between the first hinge leaf and the first of the cover plates, and having a second end portion fastened between the second hinge leaf and the second of the cover plates wherein:as one leaf is rotated in a first direction of rotation about the hinge pintle, from a first angle to a larger angle, the member is stretched beyond a first length to develop a force urging the member to resume the first length, which force urges said one leaf to rotate in a direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation. 2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric member is an elongate body having a relatively large length to width ratio with a length extending between first and second end portions and from the first hinge leaf to the second hinge leaf so that when one of the hinge leaves is rotated with respect to the other hinge leaf to increase tension in the elastomeric member, the length of the elastomeric member increases. 3. A method of forming the hinge of claim 1 comprising the step of forming a channel along at least one hinge leaf and one cover plate into which the elastomeric member fits, the channel allowing for movement of the elastomeric member when sandwiched between the at least one hinge leaf and one cover plate. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the channel adjoins at least one of the bearing sleeves, and the channel is formed of sufficient size that portions of the channel adjoining said one of the bearing sleeves are of sufficient size to allow for movement of the elastomeric member as tension diminishes without binding of the elastomeric member. 5. A method for stretching an elastomeric member having first and second opposing end portions to adjust of an opening or closing force in a hinge comprising first and second hinge plates, a bar mounted along a slot for sliding engagement along the second hinge plate, the slot having a length which limits the extent to which the bar moves along the second hinge plate, the method comprising: affixing the first of the end portions of the elastomeric member to the first hinge plate and connecting the second of the end portions of the elastomeric member for movement with the bar so that, when one of the hinge plates is rotated with respect to the other hinge plate, tension in the elastomeric member changes; andsliding the bar along the slot to cause sliding movement of the bar along the second hinge plate, the slot limiting the extent of sliding movement by the bar, sliding movement of the bar causing movement of the second of the end portions of the elastomeric member relative to the hinge plate to modify tension present in the elastomeric member when said one of the hinge plates is rotated with respect to the other hinge plate. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of displacing the bar includes turning of a threaded rod within a threaded aperture to displace the bar along the second hinge plate. 7. A module for adjusting tension in an elastomeric member used to provide a force in a hinge comprising a pair of hinge plates, comprising: a bar, having a slot formed therein, coupled to a component on a first one of the hinge plates to permit selective movement of the slot along the component to permit movement of the bar, with respect to the first of the hinge plates, along a path constrained by the bar slot; andan elastomeric member for providing a force when the hinge plates are rotated, the elastomeric member having first and second opposing end portions, the first of the end portions connected to the bar for displacement therewith so that when the second of the end portions is attached to a second one of the hinge plates, tension of the elastomeric member varies as the bar is moved with respect to the first of the hinge plates. 8. The module of claim 7 wherein the bar includes an attachment component to secure the first of the elastomeric member end portions connected to the bar, the module further including a threaded member rotationally coupled to apply a force to displace the bar relative to said one of the hinge plates and thereby create or remove tension in the elastomeric member. 9. A hinge and adjustment module combination for supporting a gate or door and for adjusting tension that provides a force to urge movement in the hinge, comprising: first and second hinge plates;first and second bearing sleeves attached along an edge of the first plate in spaced-apart relation to one another;a third bearing sleeve attached along an edge of the second plate so that the third bearing sleeve can be positioned between the first and second bearing sleeves, the first, second and third bearing sleeves each including an aperture that can be co-aligned with the other apertures when the third bearing sleeve is positioned between the first and second bearing sleeves;a hinge pintle sized to extend into each of the apertures to connect the first and second hinge plates to one another for rotation of one of the plates about the hinge pintle;an elastomeric member, having first and second opposing end portions, which member, when stretched beyond a first length, develops a force urging the member to resume the first length, the first end portion attached for movement with motion of the first hinge plate; anda bar having at least one slot formed therein and coupled to a component on the second hinge plates to permit movement of the bar with respect to the second hinge plate, the bar including a second component configured to secure the second end portion of the elastomeric member to the bar, wherein:as one plate is rotated in a first direction of rotation about the hinge pintle, from a first angle to a larger angle, the elastomeric member is stretched beyond the first length to develop a force urging the member to resume the first length, which force urges said one plate to rotate in a direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation. 10. A mechanism for adjusting the force applied by an elastomeric member to a movable hinge section, comprising: an adjustment element including a first surface along which a first threaded pattern is formed;a tension adjustment body having a second surface along which a second threaded pattern is formed, the first and second surfaces being complementary so that one fits within the other, and the first and second threaded patterns being complementary to each matingly engage the other so that the adjustment element is displaced along a first direction as the first surface and the first threaded pattern are rotated with respect to the second surface and the second threaded pattern;an elastomeric member having first and second opposing end portions;a hinge comprising first and second hinge sections connectable to one another for rotation about an axis, (i) the first hinge section including a first component to restrict movement of the first end portion with respect to the first hinge section when the elastomeric member is tensioned, and (ii) the second hinge section including one or more features by which the tension adjustment body is coupled to the hinge and coupled to restrict movement of the tension adjustment body along the first direction relative to one of the hinge sections, the hinge section including a stop surface positioned to receive a force by a rotation of the adjustment element which displaces the first surface with respect to the second surface, wherein the tension adjustment body includes a third component to secure the second end portion of the elastomeric member and restrict movement of the second end portion relative to the tension adjustment body so that, with the hinge sections connected to one another and the elastomeric member tensioned:(i) when one of the hinge sections is rotated with respect to the other hinge section, tension of the elastomeric member changes, and(ii) when movement of the first end portion and the second end portion of the elastomeric member is restricted, tension in the elastomeric member is adjusted by a rotation of the adjustment element with respect to the aperture. 11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the second surface defines an opening into which the first surface fits. 12. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein one of the first and second surfaces defines a threaded aperture into which the other surface fits. 13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the tension adjustment body comprises a nut and the second surface defines a threaded aperture of the nut. 14. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the adjustment element is an adjustment rod, the first surface of the adjustment element is an exterior portion of the rod with the threaded pattern formed along the exterior portion, and the second surface of the tension adjustment body is a surface formed as a slot along which an aperture is positioned, into which aperture the exterior portion of the rod fits, with the second threaded pattern extending along the aperture to matingly engage the first threaded pattern as the rod exterior portion is rotated and inserted within the aperture. 15. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the tension adjustment body comprises a nut positioned in the slot through which the aperture extends and into which the exterior portion of the rod fits, with the second threaded pattern formed along the aperture to engage the first threaded pattern. 16. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the elastomeric member is an elongate body having a relatively large length to width ratio with the length extending between the first and second end portions and from the first hinge section to the second hinge section so that when one of the hinge sections is rotated with respect to the other hinge section to increase tension in the elastomeric member, the length of the elastomeric member increases. 17. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the stop surface is positioned on the second hinge section. 18. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the first hinge section both secures the first end portion of the elastomeric member to the first hinge section and restricts movement of the first end portion with respect to the first hinge section when the elastomeric member is tensioned. 19. The mechanism of claim 10 comprising a second elastomeric member also having first and second opposing end portions wherein (i) the first hinge section secures the first end portion of the second elastomeric member to the first hinge section and restricts movement of the first end portion with respect to the first hinge section when the second elastomeric member is tensioned; and (ii) the tension adjustment body secures the second end portion of the second elastomeric member and restricts movement of the second end portion of the second elastomeric member relative to the tension adjustment body. 20. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein restricted movement of the tension adjustment body is effected with a slot formed in the tension adjustment body which permits movement of the tension adjustment body along the first direction relative to the second hinge section.