WO2003056121A1

WO2003056121A1 - Door hinge device

Info

Publication number: WO2003056121A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/002413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heung-Kee Kim
Original assignee: Innotri, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-12-22
Filing date: 2002-12-21
Publication date: 2003-07-10
Also published as: TW538186B; KR20030053196A; AU2002359023A1; KR100431073B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a door hinge device. The door hinge device comprises an oil accommodating body for accommodating viscous fluid, the oil accommodating body having a shape of a hollow sectorial cylinder which has a central angle of less than 180¡Æ; a hinge shaft disposed in the oil accommodating body and rotatably supported on a center portion of the oil accommodating body, the hinge shaft having integrally formed therewith a blade which is brought into sliding contact with an inner surface of the oil accommodating body and through which an oil passage is defined; and an oil flowing groove defined on the inner surface of the oil accommodating body, with which inner surface the blade of the hinge shaft is brought into sliding contact.

Description

DOOR HINGE DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a door hinge device for smoothing door opening and closing operations using flow resistance of viscous fluid, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a door hinge device which is simply constructed and applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an angle of less than 180° , thereby not causing bothersomeness and inconvenience due to unnecessary rotation of the door through an angle of greater than 180° , and obviates the need for a separate stopper mechanism, thereby decreasing the numbers of component parts and assembling processes, improving assembling efficiency and productivity, and reducing a manufacturing cost.

Description of the Related Art

As is well known in the art, a door is rotatably supported by a door hinge device. ' Considerations, which should be taken into account upon designing a door hinge device, include noise generation and damage of the door and door hinge device upon opening and closing a door.

These days, various door hinge devices for smoothing door opening and closing operations using flow resistance of viscous fluid have been disclosed in the art. However, these door hinge devices suffer from drawbacks in that, since they are constructed to rotate doors through an angle of greater than 180° irrespective of use or product, when it is not necessary to rotate the doors through an angle of greater than 180° , bothersomeness and inconvenience cannot but be caused. Also, because each of the conventional door hinge devices requires a separate stopper mechanism, a construction thereof is made complicated, and thereby, the numbers of component parts and assembling processes are increased, assembling efficiency and productivity are deteriorated, and a manufacturing cost is raised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door hinge device which is simply constructed and applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an angle of less than 180° , thereby not causing bothersomeness and inconvenience due to unnecessary rotation of the door through an angle of greater than 180° , and obviates the need for a separate stopper mechanism, thereby decreasing the numbers of component parts and assembling processes, improving assembling efficiency and productivity, and reducing a manufacturing cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door hinge device which can be manufactured in an easy manner, and can be disassembled to allow maintenance and repair to be easily conducted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door hinge device which can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an acute angle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a door hinge device which can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an obtuse angle. Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a door hinge device which can adjust opening and closing velocities of a door.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door hinge device comprising: an oil accommodating body for accommodating viscous fluid, the oil accommodating body having a shape of a hollow sectorial cylinder which has a central angle of less than 180° ; a hinge shaft disposed in the oil accommodating body and rotatably supported on a center portion of the oil accommodating body, the hinge shaft having integrally formed therewith a blade which is brought into sliding contact with an inner surface of the oil accommodating body and through which an oil passage is defined; and an oil flowing groove defined on the inner surface of the oil accommodating body, with which inner surface the blade of the hinge shaft is brought into sliding contact.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the oil accommodating body is opened at both ends thereof; a pair of cover members are respectively fitted into both opened ends of the oil accommodating body, the pair of cover members being defined with a through-hole through which one end of the hinge shaft passes and an insertion groove into which the other end of the hinge shaft is inserted; and the oil flowing groove is defined on an inner surface of one cover member. According to another aspect of the present invention, the oil accommodating body is formed to have a sector-shaped cross-section.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the oil accommodating body is formed to have a semicircular cross-section.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the hinge shaft includes an oil passage closure member; and the oil passage closure member is joined to a surface of the blade in a manner such that it opens the oil passage in one rotating direction of the blade due to an oil flowing pressure through the oil passage and closes the oil passage in the other rotation direction of the blade due to elastic returning force of the blade upon loss of oil pressure in the oil passage.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the oil flowing groove varies in its width depending upon a rotated position of the blade.

According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, the oil flowing groove varies in its depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an in-use status of a door hinge device; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door hinge device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 3a and 3b illustrate an assembled state of the door hinge device of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3a is a front cross-sectional view and FIG. 3b is a side cross-sectional view; and FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a door hinge device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an in-use status of a door hinge device. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of door hinge devices H are arranged at both side ends of an opening which is defined at an upper end of a product body 100. Both side ends of a door 200 are rotatably supported by hinge shafts, respectively, of the door hinge devices H. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door hinge device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The door hinge device H according to this first embodiment of the present invention includes an oil accommodating body 1. The oil accommodating body 1 is opened at both ends thereof and has a shape of a hollow sectorial cylinder 11, that is, a sector-shaped cross-section. The oil accommodating body 1 is filled with viscous fluid. Both opened ends of the oil accommodating body 1 are respectively closed by a pair of cover members 3 and 4, each of which has a contour corresponding to the sector-shaped cross-section of the oil accommodating body 1. The pair of cover members 3 and 4 are respectively formed, on inner surfaces thereof, with protrusions 31 and 41 which are press-fitted into both opened ends of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. The pair of cover members 3 and 4 are respectively defined with a through-hole 32 and an insertion groove 42.

A hinge shaft 2 is rotatably disposed in the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. The hinge shaft 2 is brought into contact with a center portion of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. Due to the fact that one end of the hinge shaft 2 passes through the thro ugh- hole 32 of the cover member 3 and the other end of the hinge shaft 2 is inserted into the insertion groove 42 of the cover member 4, the hinge shaft 2 is rotatably supported by the pair of cover members 3 and 4. A blade 21 is integrally formed with the hinge shaft 2.

The blade 21 is slidingly rotated in the hollow sectorial cylinder 11 while being brought into contact with an inner surface of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11 and inner surfaces of the protrusions 31 and 41 of the cover members 3 and 4. In this connection, a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the hollow sectorial cylinder 11 has, opposite the center portion, an arc portion 11 A, an inner surface of which is brought into sliding contact with the blade 21 rotating about the hinge shaft 2.

An oil flowing groove 43 is defined on the inner surface of the protrusion 41 of the cover member 4. The oil flowing groove 43 is varied in its width and depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade 21. Therefore, as an amount of oil which flows through the oil flowing groove 43 is continuously changed, resistant force, which is induced in the oil to act against blade rotation, is also continuously changed. As a consequence, due to this continuous change in resistant force of the oil, opening and closing velocities of the door can be adjusted.

In the meanwhile, the blade 21 is defined with an oil passage 22 through which oil can pass. Normally, the oil passage 22 is closed by an oil passage closure member 23 which is joined to the blade 21 by fastening means such as a screw. The oil passage closure member 23 is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity and has a size capable of covering the oil passage 22. The oil passage closure member 23 opens the oil passage 22 in one rotating direction of the blade 21 due to an oil flowing pressure through the oil passage 22 and closes the oil passage 22 in the other rotation direction of the blade 21 due to elastic returning force of the blade 21 upon loss of oil pressure in the oil passage 22.

The unexplained drawing reference numerals 33 and 44 designate packing elements, and 34 an O-ring.

FIGs. 3a and 3b illustrate an assembled state of the door hinge device of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3a is a front cross-sectional view and FIG. 3b is a side cross-sectional view.

As best shown in FIG. 3a, the hinge shaft 2 is disposed in the oil accommodating body 1. As described above, by the fact that the one end of the hinge shaft 2 passes through the through-hole 32 of the cover member 3 and the other end of the hinge shaft 2 is inserted into the insertion groove 42 of the cover member 4, the hinge shaft 2 is rotatably supported by the pair of cover members 3 and 4. The blade 21 of the hinge shaft 2 is slidingly rotated in the oil accommodating body 1 while being brought into contact with the inner surface of the oil accommodating body 1 and the inner surfaces of the protrusions 31 and 41 of the cover members 3 and 4. At this time, since the oil flowing groove 43, which is varied in its width and depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade 21, is defined on the inner surface of the cover member 41, an amount of oil which flows through the oil flowing groove 43 is continuously changed. The oil passage closure member 23, which normally closes the oil passage 22 of the blade 21, opens the oil passage 22 in the one rotating direction of the blade 21 due to the oil flowing pressure through the oil passage 22, and closes the oil passage 22 in the other rotation direction of the blade 21 due to the elastic returning force of the blade 21 upon loss of oil pressure in the oil passage 22 to maintain a closed status of the oil passage 22.

As shown in FIG. 3b, the oil accommodating body 1 is formed to have the shape of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. The hinge shaft 2 is located on the center portion of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. The hollow sectorial cylinder 11 has, opposite the center portion, the arc portion 11 A, the inner surface of which is brought into sliding contact with the blade 21 rotating about the hinge shaft 2. Also, the oil flowing groove 43, which is varied in its width and depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade 21, is defined on the inner surface of the protrusion 41 of the cover member 4 which closes the opened end of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11. Thus, if the blade 21 is rotated in a direction where width and depth are gradually decreased, as an amount of oil flowing through the oil flowing groove 43 is continuously diminished, resistant force induced in the oil to act against blade rotation is enlarged. On the contrary, if the blade 21 is rotated in a direction where width and depth are gradually increased, as an amount of oil flowing through the oil flowing groove 43 is continuously augmented, resistant force induced in the oil to act against blade rotation is reduced. In these ways, opening and closing velocities of the door can be adjusted, and opening and closing operations of the door can be smoothed.

The oil passage closure member 23, which is joined to the surface of the blade 21 of the hinge shaft 2 to normally close the oil passage 22 defined through the blade 21, is held in an oil passage closing position by its own elasticity and the resistant force of oil while the blade 21 is rotated toward a door closing position C. On the contrary, when the blade 21 is rotated toward a door opening position 0, as the resistant force of oil, having a magnitude capable of overcoming the elastic force of the oil passage closure member 23, is applied through the oil passage 22 to the oil passage closure member 23, the oil passage closure member 23 is rendered to open the oil passage 22.

The door hinge device according to this first embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an acute angle. It is to be noted that the oil flowing groove 43 can be defined on the inner surface of the arc portion 11A of the hollow sectorial cylinder 11 constituting the oil accommodating body 1.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a door hinge device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The same constitutive components performing the same or similar functions as those of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted herein.

The door hinge device H according to this second embodiment of the present invention includes the oil accommodating body 1. The oil accommodating body 1 has a shape of a hollow semicircular cylinder 12, that is, a semicircular cross-section. As in the first embodiment, the oil accommodating body 1 is filled with viscous fluid. Both opened ends of the oil accommodating body 1 are respectively closed by a pair of cover members (see FIG. 1), each of which has a contour corresponding to the semicircular cross-section of the oil accommodating body 1. The pair of cover members are respectively press-fitted into both opened ends of the hollow semicircular cylinder 12. The pair of cover members are respectively defined with a through-hole and an insertion groove (see FIG. 1). Due to the fact that one end of the hinge shaft 2 passes through the through-hole of one cover member and the other end of the hinge shaft 2 is inserted into the insertion groove of the other cover member 4, the hinge shaft 2 is rotatably supported by the pair of cover members.

The blade 21 integrally formed with the hinge shaft 2 is slidingly rotated in the hollow semicircular cylinder 12 while being brought into contact with an inner surface of the hollow semicircular cylinder 12 and the inner surfaces of the cover members. The oil flowing groove 43, which is varied in its width and depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade 21, is defined on the inner surface of the cover member 4. As aforementioned in the first embodiment, the oil passage 22 which is defined through the blade 21 can be opened and closed through operation of the oil passage closure member 23 which is joined to the surface of the blade 21. The door hinge device according to this second embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an obtuse angle. It is to be noted that the oil flowing groove 43 can be defined on the inner surface of the hollow semicircular cylinder 12 constituting the oil accommodating body 1.

The door hinge device according to the present invention can be manufactured to have a small size, and therefore, can be widely applied to a conventional door employed in an entrance, a door of an automobile, and large-sized and small-sized electric appliances such as a refrigerator, a gas range, a washing machine, a copier, a scanner, and the like.

As apparent from the above description, the door hinge device according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since it is constructed to allow a door to be rotated only through an angle of less than 180° , selected depending upon a use or product, bothersomeness and inconvenience are not caused due to unnecessary rotation of the door through an angle of greater than 180° . Also, since the door hinge device has a simple construction and obviates the need for a separate stopper mechanism, the numbers of component parts and assembling processes are decreased, assembling efficiency and productivity are improved, and a manufacturing cost is reduced.

Further, due to the fact that a pair of cover members are removably fitted into both opened ends of an oil accommodating body, respectively, the door hinge device is disassemblably manufactured, whereby maintenance and repair can be easily conducted. Moreover, by the fact that the oil accommodating body is formed to have a sector-shaped cross-section, the door hinge device according to the present invention can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an acute angle.

Furthermore, by the fact that the oil accommodating body is formed to have a semicircular cross-section, the door hinge device according to the present invention can be applied to a use or product requiring rotation of a door through an obtuse angle.

In addition, in the present invention, because a width and a depth of an oil flowing groove vary depending upon a rotated position of a blade, it is possible to adjust opening and closing velocities of a door.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A door hinge device comprising: an oil accommodating body for accommodating viscous fluid, the oil accommodating body having a shape of a hollow sectorial cylinder which has a central angle of less than 180° ; a hinge shaft disposed in the oil accommodating body and rotatably supported on a center portion of the oil accommodating body, the hinge shaft having integrally formed therewith a blade which is brought into sliding contact with an inner surface of the oil accommodating body and through which an oil passage is defined; and an oil flowing groove defined on the inner surface of the oil accommodating body, with which inner surface the blade of the hinge shaft is brought into sliding contact.

2. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil accommodating body is opened at both ends thereof; a pair of cover members are respectively fitted into both opened ends of the oil accommodating body, the pair of cover members being defined with a through-hole through which one end of the hinge shaft passes and an insertion groove into which the other end of the hinge shaft is inserted; and the oil flowing groove is defined on an inner surface of one cover member.

3. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil accommodating body is formed to have a sector-shaped cross-section.

4. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil accommodating body is formed to have a semicircular cross-section.

5. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hinge shaft includes an oil passage closure member; and the oil passage closure member is joined to a surface of the blade in a manner such that it opens the oil passage in one rotating direction of the blade due to an oil flowing pressure through the oil passage and closes the oil passage in the other rotation direction of the blade due to elastic returning force of the blade upon loss of oil pressure in the oil passage.

6. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil flowing groove varies in its width depending upon a rotated position of the blade.

7. The door hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil flowing groove varies in its depth depending upon a rotated position of the blade.