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A hinge is a type of bearing
Bearing (mechanical)

A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can handle....
 that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation
Rotation

A rotation is a movement of an object in a circular motion. A two-dimensional object rotates around a center of rotation. A Three-dimensional space object rotates around a line called an axis....
 between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation (the geometrical axis of the hinge).Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components. In biology
Biology

Biology is a branch of the natural sciences concerned with the study of living organisms and their interaction with each other and their environment ....
, many joint
Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally....
s function as hinges. They are also known as shangles in old tudorian English (the large hinges on door
Door

A door is a moveable barrier used to cover an opening. Doors are used widely and are found in walls or partitions of a building or space, furniture such as cupboards, cage s, vehicles, and containers....
s).






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A hinge is a type of bearing
Bearing (mechanical)

A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can handle....
 that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation
Rotation

A rotation is a movement of an object in a circular motion. A two-dimensional object rotates around a center of rotation. A Three-dimensional space object rotates around a line called an axis....
 between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation (the geometrical axis of the hinge).Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components. In biology
Biology

Biology is a branch of the natural sciences concerned with the study of living organisms and their interaction with each other and their environment ....
, many joint
Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally....
s function as hinges. They are also known as shangles in old tudorian English (the large hinges on door
Door

A door is a moveable barrier used to cover an opening. Doors are used widely and are found in walls or partitions of a building or space, furniture such as cupboards, cage s, vehicles, and containers....
s). Hinge-like structures are employed in many types of movable bridges.

Door hinges




Hingesolda
Hingesoldb
Ancient pivot hinges, found in the dry stone buildings.
Hinge2p2
Hinge2p3
Hinge3p
There are many types of door hinges. The main types include:
  • Pivot Hinges, which pivot in openings in the floor and the top of the door frame. Also referred to as a double-acting floor hinge. This type is found already in ancient dry stone buildings.
  • Butt/Mortise Hinges, usually in threes or fours, which are inset (mortised) into the door and frame. Most residential hinges found in the U.S. are made of steel, although mortise hinges for exterior doors are often made of brass or stainless steel to prevent corrosion.
  • Continuous Hinges, which run the entire length of the door (also known as "Piano Hinges")
  • Concealed Hinges used for furniture doors (with or without self-closing feature, and with or without dampening systems). They are made of 2 parts: One part is the hinge cup and the arm; the other part is the mounting plate. Also Euro/cup hinge.
  • Butterfly or Parliament (UK) Hinges. These were known as Dovetail hinges from the 17th century onwards and can be found on old desks and cabinets from about 1670 until the 18th century. The form of these hinges varied slightly between manufacturers, and their size ranged from the very large for heavy doors to the tiniest decorative hinge for use on jewelery boxes. Many hinges of this type were exported to America to support the home trade's limited supply. They are still found to be both fairly cheap and decorative, especially on small items.
  • Strap hinge - Strap hinges are an early hinge and used on many kinds of interior and exterior doors and cabinets.
  • H Hinges - Shaped like an H and used on flush mounted doors. Small H hinges (3" to 4") tend to be used for cabinets hinges, while larger hinges (6" to 7") are for passage doors or closet doors.
  • HL Hinges - Large HL hinges were common for passage doors, room doors and closet doors in the 17th, 18th and even 19th centuries. On taller doors H hinges were occasionally used in the middle along with the HL hinges.


Other types include:

  • Counterflap Hinge
  • Flush Hinge
  • Coach Hinge
  • Rising Butt Hinge
  • Double action spring hinge
  • Tee Hinge
  • Friction Hinge
  • Security Hinge
  • Cranked or 'Stormproof' Hinge
  • Lift-off Hinges
  • Self closing Hinges
  • Butt Hinge


Building access hinges


Since at least medieval times there have been hinges to draw bridges for defensive purposes for fortified buildings. Hinges are used in contemporary architecture
Architecture

The term architecture can refer to a process, a profession or documentation.As a process, architecture is the activity of designing and construction buildings and other physical structures by a person or a computer, primarily to provide shelter....
 where building settlement can be expected over the life of the building. For example, the Dakin Building
Dakin Building

The Dakin Building is an architectural award winning class A office space on the San Francisco Bay in Brisbane, California. Serving as a corporate headquarters building for several companies of national prominence, it was built from the profits of the Garfield character whose licensed products of the R....
, California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
 was designed with its entrance ramp on a large hinge to allow settlement of the building built on piles over bay mud
Bay mud

Bay mud consists of thick deposits of soft, unconsolidated silty clay, which is saturated with water; these soil layers are situated at the bottom of certain estuary, which are normally in temperate regions that have experienced cyclical glacial cycles....
. This device has been effective.

Other Hinges


  • Butler Tray Hinge - Fold to 90 degrees and also snap flat. They are for tables that have a tray top for serving.
  • Card Table Hinge - Mortised into edge of antique or reproduction card tables and allow the top to fold onto itself.
  • Drop Leaf Table Hinge - Mounted under the surface of a table with leaves that drop down. They are most commonly used with rule joints.


See also

  • Carpenter joint
  • Door safety
    Door safety

    Door safety relates to prevention of door-related accidents. Such accidents take place in various forms, and in a number of locations; ranging from car doors to garage doors....
  • Floating hinge
    Floating hinge

    A floating hinge is a hinge that, while able to behave as a normal hinge, enables one of the objects to move away from the other - hence float. In effect the hinge allows for two parallel axes of rotation, one for each object joined by the hinge, and each axis can be moved relative to the position of the other....
  • Living hinge
    Living hinge

    A living hinge is a thin flexible hinge made from plastic that joins two rigid plastic parts together, allowing them to bend along the line of the hinge....


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