AU2007291480B2

AU2007291480B2 - Furniture hinge

Info

Publication number: AU2007291480B2
Application number: AU2007291480A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wolfgang Beckmann; Jorn Kleffmann; Ralf Muterthies; Oliver Schael; Michael Schubert; Kai-Michael Stuke
Original assignee: Hettich ONI GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hettich ONI GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-08-31
Filing date: 2007-07-06
Publication date: 2013-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-06
Also published as: CN101512089A; AU2007291480A1; KR101438059B1; TWI402410B; WO2008025596A1; DE202006013361U1; AU2007291480A2; EP2057334B1; TW200821448A; JP2010501759A; JP5055591B2; RU2009111052A; KR20090063230A; EP2057334A1; CN101512089B; RU2468171C2

Abstract

A furniture hinge (1) comprises an installation plate (2) on which a side part (3) is arranged, and a hinge part (4) mounted pivotably on the side part (3) via a supporting lever (5) and a guide lever (6), wherein at least one damping element (11, 12, 14) which is movable by the supporting lever (5) is provided to damp a closing movement of the hinge part (4). In this case, the at least one damping element (11, 12, 14) is arranged adjacent to the supporting lever (5), in the region in which the axis of rotation (8) of the supporting lever (5) extends on the side part (3), thus resulting in a compact construction, since the hinge part (4) is not extended on the side lying opposite the side part (3) by the addition of a damping element.

Description

-1A A furniture hinge An apparatus for damping pivoting movements is disclosed in EP 1 359 275, in which a mounting arm is fixed to a furniture carcass, and a hinge part is pivotably held on the 5 same. The hinge part comprises a damping element on the side averted from the mounting arm, which damping element is received by a recess in a movable furniture part. The disadvantageous aspect in this furniture hinge is that the overall size is comparatively large and the mounting of the damping element is complex and requires much space. 0 In an aspect there is provided a furniture hinge, comprising a mounting plate on which a side part is arranged, and a hinge part mounted pivotably on the side part via a support lever and a guide lever, with at least one damping element which is movable by a support lever being provided to dampen a closing movement of the hinge part, whereby the at 5 least one damping element is arranged on the side part adjacent to the support lever in the area of the extension of the rotational axis of the support lever, the at least one damping element provided with a sliding body which can be moved by the movement of the support lever in the direction of the rotational axis of the support lever. o Some embodiments of the furniture hinge may be easy to mount and may have a compact configuration. Thus, the hinge part is not extended to the side opposite of the side part by the addition of the damping element. The damping element is arranged in the area laterally adjacent to 5 the support lever, so that a compact configuration is achieved. The damping element can be integrated in the hinge part, so that the furniture hinge remains easy to mount. Further the support lever can thus move the sliding body shortly before the closed position in order to thus dampen a 4020772_1 (GHMatters) P80111.AU 4/03/13 closing movement. The damping effect is achieved only shortly before a closing state, so that a movement of the hinge part can occur in an unobstructed manner over a large part of the opening range. Damping is only performed shortly before the closed position in order to avoid slamming of a furniture door for example. The sliding body can preferably rest on a contact surface of the tappet of the damping element. The tappet can be pre tensioned by a spring against the sliding body, so that during an opening of the hinge part the sliding body will be moved again to the extended position by the spring. Preferably, the contact surface is arranged in an oblique way to the direction of the rotational axes of the support lever. In this case, the tappet can be moved substantially perpendicular to the sliding body for example, so that an especially compact arrangement is achieved, since the sliding body will then be moved in a direction of the rotational axes, while the tappet is moved perpendicular thereto for damping the movement. For an especially compact arrangement with favorable damping properties of the furniture hinge, damping elements are preferably provided on opposite sides of the support lever, so that a symmetric introduction of forces by the support lever will occur. This prevents transverse loads which might stress the rotational axes. The damping element can comprise a linear damper, preferably a fluid damper, in order to provide sufficient damping effect. In order to produce a damping element with only a few components, the movable tappet can comprise a duct for allowing the passage of air. The tappet can be inserted into a receptacle arranged on the hinge part, so that the tappet forms a fluid damper together with the receptacle. To ensure that only very low frictional losses and noises are caused during the closing of the hinge part, the sliding body is preferably arranged as a ball, e.g. a ball with a smooth surface made of metal or plastic which is guided over guide means. The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to an embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a furniture hinge in accordance with the invention in the closed position; Fig. 2 shows a sectional side view of the furniture hinge of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows a top view of the furniture hinge of Fig. 1. A furniture hinge 1 made of metal and/or plastic comprises a mounting plate 2 which can be fixed to a furniture carcass and on which a side part 3 is adjustably held. An adjusting screw 20 is provided on the side part 3 and the mounting plate 2 for height adjustment. A pot-like hinge part 4 is pivotably held on the side part 3 via a support lever 5 and a guide lever 6, which hinge part can be inserted into a recess in a furniture door. The support lever 5 is connected with the hinge part 4 via an axis 7 and with the side part 3 via an axis 8, and the guide lever 6 is connected with the hinge part 4 via an axis 9 and with the side part 3 via an axis 10. A damping element is provided for damping a closing movement of the hinge part 4, which damping element comprises a sliding body 11 in the form of a ball. A damping element is each provided adjacent to the support lever 5 on opposite sides, which damping element is arranged on the side part in a region in extension to the rotational axis of the support lever: Each damping element comprises a tappet 12 in addition to the sliding body 11 which rests on the sliding body 11 and is pre-tensioned against the same by a spring 1. The tappet 12 forms an oblique contact surface 13 which is arranged approximately at an angle of 45* to the rotational axis of the support lever 5. For a compact arrangement of the furniture hinge 1 it is obviously not necessary that a component of the damping element is positioned precisely in extension of the rotational axis 8 of the support lever 5. Instead it is sufficient when the damping element is provided in the close position of hinge part 4 adjacent to the support lever 5 close to the rotational axis 8.

Tappet 12 can be inserted into a receptacle 15 which is arranged on the hinge part 4. Tappet 12 is pre-tensioned by a spring 1 to the extended position against the sliding body 11. During a closing movement, the support lever 5 presses the sliding bodies 11 which are arranged on opposite sides against the respective contact surface 13 of tappet 12, which is thus pushed into the receptacle 15 in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axes 7, 8 of the support lever 5. During an opening movement, spring 1 presses the tappet 12 and the sliding body 11 back to an extended position, with at least the sliding body 11 being movable up to a stop so that they cannot be lost in a loose manner on the hinge part 4. By arranging two damping elements adjacent to the support lever 5 in the area of the pot-like hinge part 4, damping is achieved shortly before the closed position in combination with a very compact configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the damping element comprises a sliding body 11, the tappet 12 and the spring 1. It is obviously also possible to additionally provide a linear damper, e.g. a fluid damper. Furthermore, the receptacle 15 and the tappet 12 can be arranged as fluid dampers, especially air dampers, with air ducts being arranged between the receptacle 15 and the tappet 12 in order to form a pressure within the receptacle 15 in the case of a jerky motion of the tappet 12 in order to achieve a higher damping effect than if only the spring 1 were present. The sliding body 11 can be guided via guide means (not shown) along a predetermined path of movement. In particular, the path of movement can be limited by stops. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding body 11 meets a damping element each. It is obviously also possible to drive two damping elements effective in opposite directions with the sliding body 11. In this case, an even higher damping effect can be achieved in combination with a very compact configuration.

-4A In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the 5 stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the 10 common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\800O0-80999\P80111.AU\Specis\P80111AU.GHSPECI 1.doc 16/03/09

Claims

1. A furniture hinge, comprising a mounting plate on which a side part is arranged, and a hinge part mounted pivotably on the side part via a support lever and a guide 5 lever, with at least one damping element which is movable by the support lever being provided to dampen a closing movement of the hinge part, whereby the at least one damping element is arranged on the side part adjacent to the support lever in the area of the extension of the rotational axis of the support lever, the at least one damping element provided with a sliding body which can be moved by o the movement of the support lever in the direction of the rotational axis of the support lever .

2. A furniture hinge according to claim 1, wherein the sliding body rests on a contact surface of a tappet of the damping element. 5

3. A furniture hinge according to claim 2, wherein the tappet is pre-tensioned by a spring against the sliding body.

4. A furniture hinge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the contact surface is o arranged in an oblique way to the direction of the rotational axis of the support lever and the tappet can be moved substantially perpendicular to the sliding body.

5. A furniture hinge according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein a damping element each is arranged on opposite sides of the support lever. 5

6. A furniture hinge according to one any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the damping element comprises a linear damper, preferably a fluid damper. 4020772_1 (GHMatters) P80111.AU 4/03/13 - 6

7. A furniture hinge according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, further comprising at least one duct on the tappet for allowing passage of air.

8. A furniture hinge according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the sliding 5 body is arranged as a ball.

9. A furniture hinge according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the tappet can be inserted in a receptacle arranged on the hinge part. 0

10. A furniture hinge substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 4020772_1 (GHMatters) P80111.AU 4/03/13