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EP-3999703-B1 - A HINGE JOINT

EP3999703B1EP 3999703 B1EP3999703 B1EP 3999703B1EP-3999703-B1

Inventors

  • SUTTON, Neale

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200630

Claims (12)

  1. A hinge joint (10) including: a first hinge component (12); a second hinge component (14); and a flexible member (16) linking the first and second hinge components to support relative movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component between an abutting relationship and a non-abutting relationship wherein the flexible member includes a strip (34) including spaced apart and longitudinally extending first and second protuberant edges (36, 38), and wherein the first hinge component includes a first channel for receiving the first protuberant edge and the second hinge component includes a second channel for receiving the second protuberant edge, and wherein each of the first and second channels are shaped to receive and retain a respective protuberant edge of the flexible member so as to support the flexible member to link the first hinge component and the second hinge component, wherein the flexible member is slidably removable from the first and second hinge components lengthwise for replacement, and wherein the first and second channel have an inner diametric region for receiving a respective protuberant edge and a mouth (48) which widens outwardly as it extends in the direction of the opposing channel and the inner diametric region has a diameter which exceeds that of the protuberant edges to provide a clearance (46) thereabouts.
  2. A hinge joint according to claim 1 wherein the flexible member is formed of an impermeable material.
  3. A hinge joint according to claim 1 or 2 wherein in the abutting relationship, the first hinge component and the second hinge component intermesh to form a desired alignment therebetween and wherein, when in the abutting relationship, the first hinge component and the second hinge component intermesh to resist independent deflection of the first hinge component or the second hinge component.
  4. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein: the first hinge component includes a first region (18) having a first profile (20); and the second hinge component includes a second region (22) having a second profile (24); and wherein during movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component to form the abutting relationship, the first profile and the second profile progressively intermesh with each another.
  5. A hinge joint according to claim 4 wherein one of the first or second profiles includes at least one projecting portion (26) and the other of the first or second profiles includes at least one correspondingly shaped recess (31) for receiving the at least one projecting portion to form the abutting relationship.
  6. A hinge joint according to claim 4 or 5, further including a sealing member (52) located to form a seal between the first region and the second region for inhibiting ingress of weather elements through the hinge joint when the first hinge component and the second hinge component are in the abutting relationship.
  7. A hinge joint according to claim 6, wherein when the first hinge component and the second hinge component are in the abutting relationship, the first hinge component and the second hinge component interoperate to substantially simultaneously compress the sealing member and the flexible member.
  8. A hinge joint according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the flexible member forms a first barrier for inhibiting ingress of weather elements through the hinge joint and the sealing member forms a second barrier for inhibiting ingress of weather elements through the hinged joint.
  9. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the first region and the second region are shaped to progressively align the first hinge component and the second hinge component during movement to form the abutting relationship so as to form the desired alignment therebetween.
  10. A hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the first hinge component and the second hinge component are: arranged to form a side wall of a foldable structure (800); or secured to a side wall of a foldable structure.
  11. A foldable structure including at least one pair of wall members which are joined using a hinge joint according to any one of claims 1 to 10 so that each wall member can be folded or unfolded to collapse or erect the foldable structure.
  12. A hinge joint according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible member is slidably removable when the first hinge component and the second hinge component are in the abutting relationship.

Description

This International Patent Application claims priority from Australian Patent Application No. 2019206038 entitled "A Hinge Joint" filed on 17 July 2019. FIELD The present disclosure broadly relates to a hinge joint. In a typical application, a hinge joint according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be used with a foldable structure, such as a foldable shelter for emergency accommodation. BACKGROUND Hinge joints are often used to join two or more members in a way which permits one member to move relative to the other member in a particular manner. As a result, hinge joints can be found in many everyday uses such as in building structures, containers, vehicles, and other systems. One type of hinge joint is a "piano" type hinge joint including a first hinge component (such as a first leaf) fixedly attached to a first member, such as a door, and a second hinge component (such as a second leaf) fixedly attached to a second member, such as a door frame. In such a hinge, the first hinge component and the second hinge component often include one or more knuckles which are intermeshed to provide a channel for receiving a hinge pin therein about which the first hinge component and the second hinge component may rotate when in a connected arrangement. Unfortunately, such pin based hinge joints may be susceptible to failure, such as by fracturing under certain circumstances. For example, if a deflecting force applied to one of the hinged members results in that member moving or deflecting relative to the other hinged member, a force or stress may be communicated or transferred to the hinge joint. Accordingly, as a result of the rigidity and construction of a pin based hinge joint it is possible that a deflecting force applied to the one of the hinged members may result in hinge joint fracturing. In the event of failure, and because of their complexity, pin based hinge joints may be difficult to replace and/or repair in the event of failure of one or more of the hinge components. In addition, the configuration and limitations of pin based hinge joints means that they are not well suited to applications which require the hinge joint to provide a sealing effect between the movable members connected by the hinge joint as may be required in installations where the ingress of weather elements through the hinge joint is to be inhibited or reduced. One approach for providing a hinge joint which allows for a connection between hinged members which allows one hinged member to move relative to the other hinged member in a particular manner, whilst also providing a sealing effect, involves locating and securing a one-piece continuous PVC extrusion between, for example, a door edge and a door frame to provide a sealing effect. One example of such a hinge is the "Centaflex" PVC hinge. In use, the PVC extrusion is screwed or otherwise affixed to the components to be joined as to form the joint therebetween thus making repair and or replacement difficult. Furthermore, such hinges do not address the problem caused by a deflecting force. US 5 129 441 A discloses a flexible hinge for connecting abutting panel sections of upward acting or sectional doors. The flexible hinge disclosed in US 5 129 441 A is inserted into V-shaped elongate slots in upper and lower panel sections of an upward acting or sectional door and "locked in place" by longitudinal retainer slats. It would be desirable to provide an improved hinge joint which addresses at least some of the above deficiencies of current hinge joint arrangements. SUMMARY The invention provides a hinge joint including: a first hinge component;a second hinge component; and a flexible member linking the first and second hinge components to support relative movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component between an abutting relationship and a non-abutting relationship wherein the flexible member includes a strip including spaced apart and longitudinally extending first and second protuberant edges, and wherein the first hinge component includes a first channel for receiving the first protuberant edge and the second hinge component includes a second channel for receiving the second protuberant edge, and wherein each of the first and second channels are shaped to receive and retain a respective protuberant edge of the flexible member so as to support the flexible member to link the first hinge component and the second hinge component,wherein the flexible member is slidably removable from the first and second hinge components lengthwise for replacement, andwherein the first and second channel have an inner diametric region for receiving a respective protuberant edge and a mouth which widens outwardly as it extends in the direction of the opposing channel and the inner diametric region has a diameter which exceeds that of the protuberant edges to provide a clearance thereabouts. In an embodiment, the flexible member is formed of an impermeable material. In some embodiments