Column and hinge assemblies therefor

A column comprising a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including an upper portion pivotally attached to a lower portion for movement about a first pivot axis, the upper portion of the hinge assembly being associated with an upper part of the column and the lower portion of the hinge assembly being associated with a lower part of the column, wherein in use, movement of the upper and lower hinge assembly portions about the first pivot axis from a normal position, in which the upper part of the column is relatively upright, causes the upper part of the column to rotate towards the lower part of the column, thereby allowing the upper part of the column to be moved to a maintenance position,

• wherein connecting means links, via second and third pivot axes, the upper and lower portions of the hinge assembly, the connecting means is in the form of a substantially rigid single elongate linking arm and is associated with a compression spring that exerts a force via the connecting means, which urges the upper and lower hinge assembly portions towards the normal position the hinge assembly includes a sleeve that is rotatable between a first position in which the sleeve inhibits relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and a second position in which the sleeve permits a relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge portion relative to the lower hinge portion, the relative pivotal motion permitted solely by the rotation of the sleeve and a locking mechanism permitting the sleeve to rotate while preventing the relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and subsequently permitting the relative pivotal motion, and
• wherein the upper portion of the hinge assembly and the lower portion of the hinge assembly when in the maintenance position are in approximate 90 degree relationship.

A hinge assembly suitable for use in a column, the hinge assembly comprising an upper portion pivotally attached to a lower portion for movement about a first pivot axis, the upper portion of the hinge assembly being, in use, associated with an upper part of the column and the lower portion of the hinge assembly being, in use, associated with a lower part of the column, wherein the upper and lower hinge assembly portions are movable about the first pivot axis between an unbroken position and a broken position,

• wherein connecting means links, via second and third pivot axes, the upper and lower portions of the hinge assembly, the connecting means being a single elongate rigid linking arm associated with a compression spring that exerts a force via the connecting means, which urges the upper and lower hinge assembly portions towards the unbroken position, the hinge assembly includes a sleeve that is rotatable between a first position in which the sleeve inhibits relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and a second position in which the sleeve permits a relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge portion relative to the lower hinge portion, the relative pivotal motion permitted solely by the rotation of the sleeve and a locking mechanism permitting the sleeve to rotate while preventing the relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and subsequently permitting the relative pivotal motion, and
• wherein the upper portion of the hinge assembly and the lower portion of the hinge assembly when in the maintenance position are in approximate 90 degree relationship.

A hinge assembly suitable for use in a column, the hinge assembly comprising an upper portion pivotally attached to a lower portion for movement about a first pivot axis, the upper portion of the hinge assembly, in use, being associated with an upper part of the column and the lower portion of the hinge assembly, in use, being associated with a lower part of the column, wherein the upper and lower hinge assembly portions are movable about the first pivot axis between an unbroken position and a broken position,

• wherein connecting means links, via second and third pivot axes, the upper and lower portions of the hinge assembly, and the connecting means is associated with bias means that exerts a force via the connecting means, which urges the upper and lower hinge assembly portions towards the unbroken position,
• the connecting means comprising a substantially rigid link, the substantially rigid link being pivotally attached, via a first pivotal attachment for pivoting movement about the second pivot axis, to one of the upper hinge assembly portion and the lower hinge assembly portion, and being pivotally attached, via a second pivotal attachment for pivoting movement about the third pivot axis, to an engagement member associated with the other of the upper hinge assembly portion and the lower hinge assembly portion, the engagement member engaging with the bias means such that the bias means exerts a force via the engagement member and the connecting means, which urges the upper and lower hinge assembly portions towards the unbroken position, the hinge assembly includes a sleeve that is rotatable between a first position in which the sleeve inhibits relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and a second position in which the sleeve permits a relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge portion relative to the lower hinge portion, the relative pivotal motion permitted solely by the rotation of the sleeve and a locking mechanism permitting the sleeve to rotate while preventing the relative pivotal motion of the upper hinge assembly portion relative to the lower hinge assembly portion and subsequently permitting the relative pivotal motion, and
• wherein the upper portion of the hinge assembly and the lower portion of the hinge assembly when in the maintenance position are in approximate 90 degree relationship.