AU2004100362A4 - Continuous Buffer Cabinet Hinge Structure - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Continuous Buffer Cabinet Hinge Structure Applicant: Kuang-Tai Ko The invention is described in the following statement: CONTINUOUS BUFFER CABINET HINGE STRUCTURE The innovation herein provides a continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure, specifically a hinge that provides for movable conjoinment between various types of cabinets and a door panels in which an articulating arm and a mini-hydraulic member are respectively disposed on the two mounting plates of the hinge and, furthermore, the articulating arm and the hydraulic member plunger rod are interlinked, providing for slowed movement when the door panel is opened or closed and thereby eliminating noise produced during contact and protecting the cabinet and the door.panel from impact damage at the areas of contact.

Among the various types of articles storage cabinets now available, a hinge C is installed between the cabinet body A and the door panel B that enables opening for article removal or placement. In currently observed hinges C, a mounting plate C1 and C2 are respectively installed onto the cabinet body A and the door panel B and, furthermore, an articulating arm C3 and a spring C4 are also installed (as shown in FIG. As such, when the door panel B is opened or closed, the linkage of the articulating arm C3 and the spring C4 complete the operation (as shown in FIG. However, users have discovered that resistance generation apparently begins when the articulating arm C3 and the spring C4 operate, which is attributed to the gradual pulling of the articulating arm C3 by the spring C4. Following considerable usage, less manual effort is involved to rapidly reach the opened or closed position because the articulating arm C3 has already drawn the spring C into a stretched state, following which the contraction of the spring C4 has an opposite effect to the extent that the door panel B manifests involuntary operation. A very loud sound is produced upon impact when the door panel B swings back and strikes the cabinet body A, the sound often startling the user and capable of frightening infants and young children in the vicinity. In addition, long-term continued impact results in damage to the door panel B and the cabinet body B at the area of contact.

Most adults think that there is simply nothing to remedy the situation, but serious injury would result if a young child's finger were pinched.

The innovation provides a continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure, specifically a hinge that provides for movable conjoinment between the cabinet body and the door panel in which the two mounting plates of the hinge are utilized to respectively dispose an articulating arm and a minihydraulic member that are interlinked; as such, when the door panel is opened or closed, since the mini-hydraulic member has buffering capability that enables stepless continuous movement, noise produced during contact is eliminated and protection is provided The innovation in one form provides a continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure in which the articulating arm in the cabinet can be lengthened and shortened, enabling a range of different contact positions of the door panel against the cabinet. The innovation in another form provides a continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure in which the mini-hydraulic member has a spring additionally disposed inside for even more energysaving operation and utilization.

In the drawings filed herein: Figure 1-A is an isometric drawing of the prior art structure when opened.

Figure 1-B is an isometric drawing of the prior art structure when closed.

Figure 2 is an isometric drawing of the one form of the innovation herein, the structure installed into position.

Figure 3 is an explode drawing of the example shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4-A is an orthographic drawing of the example when installed.

Figure 4-B is an orthographic drawing of an example, moved for adjustment in the installed position.

Figure 5-A is an orthographic drawing of the example in the fully open state.

Figure 5-B is an orthographic drawing of the example at the beginning of the closed state.

Figure 5-C is an orthographic drawing of the example in the partially closed state.

Figure 5-D is an orthographic drawing of the example following closure.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure of the invention herein is a hinge 1 that provides for movable conjoinment between a cabinet body A and a door panel B, wherein the hinge 1 mounting plates 11 and 12 are respectively juxtapositioned on the cabinet body A and the door panel B, an adjustment slot 121 is formed in the said door panel B mounting plate 12, and after the placement of a minihydraulic member 13, since the plate cover 14 outside the mini-hydraulic member 13 has fastening tabs 141 with holes 142 at its two sides, after two screws 15 are inserted, it is situated in the mounting plate 12 adjustment slot 121 for movable adjustment as required (as shown in FIG. 4-A and FIG. 4the mini-hydraulic member 13 plunger rod 131 and one end of the plate cover 14 are each respectively linked to an articulating arm 16 and 17, and the opposite extremities of the articulating arms 16 and 17 are linked into the cabinet body A mounting plate 11, wherein a torque spring 18 is installed in the articulating arm 17 to aid operation.

As such, when the door panel B is being closed and external force is applied to the door panel B, since the mini-hydraulic member 13 has buffering capability, it steplessly slows the continuous movement towards the cabinet A; the mini-hydraulic member 13 plunger rod 131 at the door panel B does not operate when the door panel is fully open and remains inside the mini-hydraulic member 13 (as shown in FIG. when the door panel B is subjected to manual outward force and opens towards the cabinet A, since the mini-hydraulic member 13 plunger rod 131 is movably disposed, the mini-hydraulic member 13 plunger rod 131 also begins to extend (as shown in FIG. 5-B) and since the mini-hydraulic member 13 has buffering capability, it steplessly slows movement towards the cabinet A (as shown in FIG. 5-C) until contact is silently and lightly made with the cabinet A (as shown in FIG. as such, the said arrangement is a solution for the impact noise produced during the operation of the prior art and, furthermore, since the invention herein protects the cabinet and the door panel B, damage from impact is prevented at the areas of contact.

Additionally, the lengthening and shortening of the articulating arm 17 in the cabinet A enables a range of different contact positions of the door panel B against the cabinet A.

Furthermore, the mini-hydraulic member 13 can be substituted for by a pneumatic approach and has spring additionally disposed inside for even more energy-saving operation and utilization.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the above described arrangement and construction of parts without departing from the ambit of the present innovation.

Claims (4)

1. A continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure is a hinge that provides for the movable conjoinment between a cabinet body and a door panel, wherein the mounting plates of the said hinge are respectively juxtapositioned on the said cabinet body and the said door panel, an adjustment slot is formed in the said door panel mounting plate, and after the placement of a mini-hydraulic member, since the plate cover outside the said mini-hydraulic member has fastening tabs with holes at its two sides, after two screws are inserted, it is situated in the said mounting plate adjustment slot for movable adjustment; and the plunger rod of the said mini-hydraulic member and one end of the plate cover are each respectively linked to an articulating arm, and the opposite extremities of the said articulating arms are linked into the said cabinet body mounting plate, wherein a torque spring is installed in the said articulating arm to aid operation; as such, when the said door panel is opened or closed, since the said mini-hydraulic member has buffering capability that enables stepless continuous movement, noise produced during contact is eliminated and the said cabinet and the said door panel are protected from impact damage at the areas of contact.

2. A hinge as claimed in Claim 1, wherein of the continuous buffer cabinet hinge structure of the invention herein, the said articulating arm in the said cabinet can be lengthened and shortened, enabling a range of different contact positions of the said door panel against the said cabinet.

3. A hinge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the said mini-hydraulic member has a spring additionally disposed inside for even more energy-saving operation and utilization.

4. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to DATED: 17 May 2004 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for:9JA, Kuang-Tai Ko