Hinge capable of transmitting pressurized air

Claim 2

A hinge comprising first and second leaves having aligned knuckles, a hinge pin sealed in the knuckle of the first leaf and projected therefrom into the knuckle of the second leaf for holding the leaves together while allowing them to pivot relative to each other, the leaves having fluid channels therein which are in communication so that a pressurized fluid can be transmitted from one leaf to the other.

Claim 3

A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the fluid channel of the first leaf extends through the hinge pin.

Claim 4

A hinge according to claim 2 wherein the fluid channel of each hinge leaf extends through the knuckle of that leaf and thence along an end of the leaf.

Claim 5

A hinge according to claim 2 wherein each leaf has a groove opening out of one of its end edges with the groove opening at one of its ends into the knuckle for that leaf, and a closure strip fitted into the groove and occupying only a portion thereof, the unoccupied portion of the groove forming part of the air channel for the leaf.

Claim 6

A hinge according to claim 2 wherein the leaves have front faces which face each other when the hinge is closed and back faces which are on the opposite sides thereof and normally abut a positioning surface when the hinge is mounted, and wherein the air channels open out of the back faces of the hinge.

Claim 7

A hinge according to claim 2 wherein the pin has an outwardly opening groove and an annular sealing element in the groove, the sealing element engaging a sealing surface in the knuckle of the second leaf and the air channel for the first leaf opening out of the hinge pin beyond the sealing element.

Claim 8

A hinge according to claim 6 wherein a bushing is fitted into the knuckle of the second leaf and the sealing surface against which the sealing element bears is in the bushing.

Claim 9

A hinge comprising a first leaf having front and back faces and a knuckle, the first leaf also having a fluid channel which is in part located within the knuckle, a second leaf having front and back faces and a knuckle which aligns with the knuckle of the first leaf, the second leaf having a fluid channel therein which is in part located within the knuckle of the second leaf, the fluid channels of the first and second leaves being in communication at the knuckles so that a pressurized fluid can be transmitted from one leaf to the other, and means joining the leaves to enable one leaf to pivot relative to the other leaf from a closed position wherein the leaves are together with their front faces facing each other to open positions wherein the leaves are spread apart.

Claim 10

A hinge comprising a first leaf having front and back faces and a knuckle, the first leaf also having a fluid channel which is in part located within the knuckle, a second leaf having front and back faces and a knuckle which aligns with the knuckle of the first leaf, the second leaf having a fluid channel therein which is in part located within the knuckle of the second leaf, the fluid channels of the first and second leaves being in communication at the knuckles so that a pressurized fluid can be transmitted from one leaf to the other, and means joining the leaves to enable one leaf to pivot relative to the other leaf from a closed position wherein the leaves are together with their front faces facing each other to open positions wherein the leaves are spread apart.

Claim 11

A hinge according to claim 8 wherein the means for joining the leaves is a hinge pin which extends from the knuckle of the first leaf into the knuckle of the second leaf, and wherein the fluid channel for the first leaf extends through the hinge pin and coMmunicates with the fluid channel for the second leaf at the end of the hinge pin.