Hinge facts for kids

An example of a hinge.

A hinge is a special part that connects two objects and lets them turn or swing. You often see hinges on doors, connecting them to the door frame. When you open a door, it swings around the hinges.

Hinges can be super tiny, like those on jewellery boxes or small lids. They can also be huge! Giant hinges have even been used at the bottom of buildings to help them stand strong on soft ground.

Different Types of Hinges

There are many kinds of hinges, each designed for a different job. Here are some common ones:

Hinges for Doors and Furniture

• Spring hinge: This hinge has a spring inside that helps the door close or open on its own. It's like a little helper for your door!
• Barrel hinge: This hinge looks like a small barrel. It has a hollow part where a pin (called a pivot) goes through, allowing it to rotate.
• Pivot hinges: These hinges are hidden in the floor and the top of the door frame. They let the door swing around a central point. You might find them in very old buildings.
• Butt hinges: These are very common hinges, especially on doors in homes. They are usually set into (or "mortised" into) the edge of the door and the door frame so they are flush. Most are made of steel, but outdoor ones might be brass or stainless steel to stop rust.
• Case hinges: Similar to butt hinges, but often more decorative. You'll find these on things like suitcases and briefcases.

A continuous hinge.

• Continuous hinges: Also known as piano hinges, these run the entire length of a door, panel, or box. They are great for giving strong, even support along a long edge.

A concealed hinge.

• Concealed hinges: These hinges are hidden inside furniture doors, like kitchen cabinets. They are made of two parts that fit together and can often be adjusted to make the door hang perfectly. They are sometimes called "cup hinges" or "Euro hinges."
• Butterfly hinges: These hinges look a bit like a butterfly or a dovetail. They were popular a long time ago on old desks and cabinets. They can be small and decorative or larger for heavier doors.
• Flag hinges: A flag hinge has a fixed pin on one side and can swing a full 360 degrees around that pin. They come in specific left-hand or right-hand versions.

A strap hinge.

• Strap hinges: These are older types of hinges often used on gates or heavy doors. They have a long, flat strap that extends across the door.
• H hinges: These hinges are shaped like the letter "H." Small H hinges are often used for cabinet doors, while larger ones are for passage doors.
• HL hinges: Shaped like "HL," these were very common for doors in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Other Hinge Types

• Flush hinge: This hinge is designed to sit flat (or "flush") with the surface when installed.

A flushed door hinge.

• Friction hinge: This hinge creates resistance, so the door or lid stays open at any angle you leave it.
• Lift-off hinge: This hinge lets you easily lift a door or panel off its frame without unscrewing anything.

Images for kids

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  Old construction of hinges in the dry stone wall near Bignasco.

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  Ancient pivot hinges, found in the dry stone buildings.

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  A barrel hinge made of wrought iron.

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  A barrel hinge made of bronze strap.

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  Increasing the number of loops to 3 allows the butt hinge axis to be fixed from both ends.

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  Rusty hinges on a building exterior.

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  This door hinges on the stile and is called a haar-hung door.

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  A living hinge on the lid of a Tic Tac box.

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  Hinged handcuffs

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  Swing Clear Hinge

See also

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