Double Leaf Adhesive Hinge

Assembly (33) comprising:

• a pair of elements (21) for fixtures, shutters, hatches or similar, said elements being panels or tubulars,
• at least one double leaf adhesive hinge (1) comprising at least one shaped body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) the body being a single body (2) or comprising a plurality of bodies (2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) configured to be arranged in order to form a shape, said at least one body defining a plurality of alternated or alternateable folds (A, B), wherein the hinge (1) is configured to operate a rotational join between two elements (21) to be relatively rotated, such as panels, by using said alternated or alternateable folds (A, B) along a development direction (K) of the hinge (1), optionally alternated or alternateable along a main development longitudinal direction (K) of the hinge (1), said folds being configured to enable a relative rotation between said elements (21) even up to 360°
• wherein:
• the hinge (1) is configured to be applied to rectilinear and/or curvilinear edge portions of the elements (21) to be hinged and is configured to follow the rectilinear and/or curvilinear outline of said portions of the elements (21),
• each fold (A, B) is in the shape of a “Z” having a first portion (A0, B0), a second portion (A1, B1) and an intermediate portion (A2, B2) joining the first portion (A0, B0) and the second portion (A1, B1), the second portion (A1, B1) being a guide portion rotatively guiding the element (21) which is engaged with when the corresponding fold is in an operative configuration, the intermediate portion (A2, B2) having opposite ends that are respectively engaged with the first portion (A0, B0) and second portion (A1, B1), the opposite ends acting as rotation pivots,
• each “Z” fold exhibits two rotation pivots,
• said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) exhibits one or more hinge units, the hinge units being defined by said folds (A, B), said folds (A, B) being positioned one opposite to the other with respect to a central portion (F) of said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) and forming a “double Z” system,
• the folds (A, B) are of at least two types and the alternation is defined between folds of said at least two different types,
• the hinge (1) comprises a lower surface, that is substantially smooth and/or substantially flat, configured to be adhesively engaged with one or more of said elements (21) to be relatively rotated and one or more upper surface portions configured to be adhesively engaged with the other of said elements (21) to be relatively rotated, the one or more upper surface portions being defined at said “Z” folds (A, B), the hinge being configured to join said elements (21) and to make them relatively rotate even up to 360°,
• preferably wherein the hinge (1) is configured to be adhesively engaged with each of said elements (21).

Method of manufacturing a hinge (1) comprising at least one shaped body (2;

• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV), the body being a single body (2) or comprising a plurality of bodies (2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) configured to be arranged in order to form a shape, said at least one body defining a plurality of alternated or alternateable folds (A, B), wherein the hinge (1) is configured to operate a rotational join between two elements (21) to be relatively rotated, such as panels, by using said alternated or alternateable folds (A, B) along a development direction (K) of the hinge (1), optionally alternated or alternateable along a main development longitudinal direction (K) of the hinge (1), said folds being configured to enable a relative rotation between said elements (21) even up to 360°
• wherein:
• the hinge (1) is configured to be applied to rectilinear and/or curvilinear edge portions of the elements (21) to be hinged and is configured to follow the rectilinear and/or curvilinear outline of said portions of the elements (21),
• each fold (A, B) is in the shape of a “Z” having a first portion (A0, B0), a second portion (A1, B1) and an intermediate portion (A2, B2) joining the first portion (A0, B0) and the second portion (A1, B1), the second portion (A1, B1) being a guide portion rotatively guiding the element (21) which is engaged with when the corresponding fold is in an operative configuration, the intermediate portion (A2, B2) having opposite ends that are respectively engaged with the first portion (A0, B0) and second portion (A1, B1), the opposite ends acting as rotation pivots,
• each “Z” fold exhibits two rotation pivots,
• said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) exhibits one or more hinge units, the hinge units being defined by said folds (A, B), said folds (A, B) being positioned one opposite to the other with respect to a central portion (F) of said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) and forming a “double Z” system,
• the folds (A, B) are of at least two types and the alternation is defined between folds of said at least two different types,
• the hinge (1) comprises a lower surface, that is substantially smooth and/or substantially flat, configured to be adhesively engaged with one or more of said elements (21) to be relatively rotated and one or more upper surface portions configured to be adhesively engaged with the other of said elements (21) to be relatively rotated, the one or more upper surface portions being defined at said “Z” folds (A, B),
• the method comprising the steps of:
• predisposing a ribbon of a determined length and width, the ribbon being made of sheet or reel materials,
• making said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV), preferably by shaping the ribbon or a length of ribbon,
• folding portions (A Zed, B Zed) of said at least one body (2;
• 2I, 2II, 2III, 2IV) in order to obtain the folds (A, B) of the hinge (1), the hinge (1) comprising a pair of folding lines (p1, p2, p3, p4) for each fold that has been made, each pair of folding lines (p1, p2, p3, p4) cooperating to define a respective “Z” fold.