DE20112682U1 - hinge - Google Patents

Description

Gesthuysen, by Rohr & Eggert

01.0410.4.tr Essen, 6 August 2001

Utility model application

Schulte shower cubicle construction GmbH & Co. KG Bogenstrasse 6

59846 Sundern

with the label

hinge

hinge

The present invention relates to a hinge for a pivoting door, in particular a shower partition, according to the preamble of one of the independent claims.

From DE 296 23 000 Ul, which forms the starting point of the present invention, a hinge for a pivoting door of a shower partition is known. The hinge has a first bearing part for fastening to the pivoting door and a second bearing part for fastening to a wall or to a partition. The two bearing parts are connected to one another in an articulated manner. The hinge also has an intermediate piece with sliding bearing surfaces inclined to the hinge axis, so that an axial movement can be superimposed on the pivoting movement.

In the known hinge, a hinge pin is screwed into a bearing part and passes through a guide bush in the other bearing part. The guide bush is inserted into a corresponding hollow section of the other bearing part. The intermediate piece is designed separately from the guide bush and is arranged in the area of the overlapping end faces of the two bearing parts. The disadvantage here is that a large number of parts are required, which requires a corresponding amount of manufacturing and assembly work. Another disadvantage is that the lifting-lowering mechanism, i.e. the intermediate piece with the sliding bearing surface, is more or less open to generate the desired axial movement outwards, depending on the pivot position, and is therefore exposed to splash water.

In the known hinge, the bearing parts are usually supported by flat, elastic intermediate support elements on their respective panes. These seal-like intermediate support elements can slip relatively easily during assembly, so that the attachment of the bearing parts to the respective panes of glass can be relatively difficult, especially for an end customer with little experience. Furthermore, the difficulty lies in attaching the hinge correctly to the respective panes, particularly given the usual, symmetrical external appearance of the bearing parts for the end customer, i.e. the bearing part intended for the swing door does not align with the

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other bearing part and/or swap a right and a left hinge.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a hinge for a pivoting door, in particular a shower partition or the like, which enables a simple construction with few parts while maintaining good functionality and a long service life and/or simple assembly.

The above object is achieved by a hinge according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

A fundamental idea of the present invention is to use the intermediate piece for the axial movement at the same time as the articulated connection or pivot bearing of the bearing parts of the hinge. For this purpose, the intermediate piece has a corresponding bearing section. This enables a simple construction of the hinge from just a few parts.

Preferably, the intermediate piece is made of plastic as a single piece with the bearing section. The other bearing part or its section relevant to the radial pivot bearing is preferably made of metal. If the material is selected appropriately, the result is a lubricant-free and therefore maintenance-free plastic/metal pivot bearing or plain bearing, which enables a long service life with a simple structure.

Another idea of the present invention, which can also be implemented independently, is to arrange the lifting and lowering mechanism of the hinge - i.e. the intermediate piece with the sliding bearing surface for generating the axial movement when the hinge is pivoted - in the hinge in such a way that it is as splash-proof as possible, i.e. not open to the outside. For this purpose, one bearing part has an axially projecting, in particular hollow-cylindrical collar and the other bearing part has a wall section, in particular also hollow-cylindrical, which radially overlap each other in every axial position of the hinge. This enables effective protection, in particular against splash water, with a simple structure. This is beneficial to a long service life of the hinge.

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A further idea of the present invention, which can also be implemented independently, is to provide the preferably flat, elastic or soft intermediate support element for supporting a bearing part on the associated disk with an opening and the bearing part with an associated marking, so that during assembly it is visible through the disk whether the correct bearing part is attached to the disk.

Alternatively or additionally, the intermediate support element can be inserted into a recess in the bearing part in a way that prevents it from shifting, and glued into it if necessary. This makes installation very easy, especially for end customers with no experience.

Further advantages, features, properties and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic, partial representation of a shower cubicle

separation with a swing door and a suggested hinge;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the proposed

Hinge with separate bearing parts;

Fig. 3 a rear view of the proposed hinge without counter bearing

ger elements; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic, partial view of the bearing parts of the

impact-compliant hinge with associated intermediate elements.

In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for identical or similar parts, whereby corresponding or comparable advantages are achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplification.

»ft ft ft ft · ft ft ft ft · *·

Fig. 1 shows a proposed hinge 1 which pivotally holds a pivoting door 2 of a shower partition 3, only partially shown. In particular, the pivoting door 2 is held by two such hinges 1, for example in an upper and a lower area. The use of the hinge 1 is not limited to shower partitions or the like, however.

Fig. 1 shows the hinge 1 for a right-hand pivoting door 2 of the shower partition 3, seen from the outside - from behind in the illustration according to Fig. 1.

&iacgr;&ogr; Fig. 2 shows in the schematic, partial sectional view the corresponding hinge 1 of the left pivot door 2 of the shower partition 3.

The hinge 1 has a first, wall-side bearing part 4 for fastening the hinge 1 and a second, corresponding bearing part 5 for connecting to the pivot door 2.

Fig. 2 shows that the hinge 1 further comprises an intermediate piece 6 with a sliding bearing surface 8 inclined to the pivot axis 7 of the hinge 1. The inclined sliding bearing surface 8 serves here to superimpose an axial movement on the pivoting movement of the hinge 1, in particular to cause the pivoting door 2 to be raised when it is opened.

The intermediate piece 6 is preferably made of plastic. However, other materials can also be used.

In the illustrated embodiment of the proposed hinge 1, the intermediate piece 6 is primarily assigned to the first bearing part 4, i.e. it can be fixed in a rotationally fixed or rotationally secure manner relative to the first bearing part 4. The following description always assumes this assignment. However, an assignment to the second bearing part 5 is also possible in principle, in which case the other elements and components of the hinge 1 must be assigned to the other bearing part 4 or 5 accordingly.

The intermediate piece 6 here has a sleeve-shaped, integrally formed bearing section 9, which is reinforced by a bolt-shaped, metallic holding element 10. In the example shown, the holding element 10 penetrates the

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Intermediate piece 6 and the bearing section 9 axially, i.e. in the direction of the hinge axis 7 and projects in the illustration according to Fig. 2 to the other bearing part 5, here the second bearing part 5.

The bearing section 9 of the intermediate piece 6 serves here for a pivot bearing of the other bearing part 5, namely the second bearing part 5, more precisely the radial bearing, wherein the two bearing parts 4, 5 are axially displaceable against each other in order to enable the desired axial movement (in particular when opening the pivoting door 2).

Alternatively, it is also possible for the bearing section 9 to be designed as a separate or independent element from the intermediate piece 6, but preferably also made of plastic, in particular in order to form a lubricant-free and thus maintenance-free pivot bearing with the other or second bearing part 5.

The holding element 10 is in turn connected to the associated first bearing part 4 at least in such a way that the holding element 10 is secured against axially falling out or slipping out. In particular, the holding element 10 is inserted, preferably pressed, into a suitable recess or bore (not shown) in the first bearing part 4. In order to ensure a sufficient press fit of the holding element 10 in or on the first bearing part 4, a suitable combination of materials is advisable. The first bearing part 4 (like the second bearing part 5) is preferably made of die-cast aluminum or the like and the holding element 10 is made of brass or a suitable brass alloy.

The hinge 1 has an axial stop 11 which prevents an unintentional axial separation of the hinge 1 or the bearing parts 4, 5. In the example shown, the axial stop 11 is formed by the section of the holding element 10 which projects upwards in the illustration according to Fig. 2 and which has a radial recess 12 with an annular shoulder 13 formed at the free end.

To limit the axial mobility, a locking element 14, for example a screw, in particular a grub screw, can engage axially in the recess 12 and limit the maximum possible axial movement apart of the bearing parts 4 and 5 by striking the annular shoulder 13.

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To form the pivot bearing, in the example shown, the second bearing part 5 has a hollow section 15 into which the bearing section 9 can be inserted or pushed in such a way that it can rotate. The hollow section 15 thus surrounds the bearing section 9 radially. The hollow section 15 is preferably made of metal, the bearing section 9 is preferably made of plastic. This creates a lubricant-free and therefore maintenance-free plastic/metal plain bearing or pivot bearing.

&iacgr;&ogr; However, it is also possible that the bearing section 9 radially surrounds the hollow section 15 or another element or another section of the second bearing part 5.

In the example shown, the second bearing part 5 has an axially projecting, here hollow-cylindrical collar 16. The second bearing part 5, here the collar 16, has a counter bearing surface 17 acting in the axial direction, which is designed in particular to be complementary to the sliding bearing surface 8 and interacts with the sliding bearing surface 8 in such a way that the desired axial movement is superimposed on the pivoting movement of the hinge 1.

In the embodiment shown, the counter bearing surface 17 is formed on one end face and directly on the second bearing part 5 or its collar 16. The second bearing part 5, like the first bearing part 4, is preferably made of metal (in particular, it is a cast part), so that the metallic counter bearing surface 17 interacts with the plastic sliding bearing surface 8 of the intermediate piece 6 in such a way that during the pivoting movement (when opening and closing the pivoting door 2), the two surfaces 8, 17 slide on each other and, due to correspondingly inclined sections, superimpose the desired axial movement of the pivoting movement.

In order to prevent an unwanted rotation of the intermediate piece 6, which in the example shown is inserted into an axial recess of the first bearing part 4, relative to the first bearing part 4, the intermediate piece 4 has an axial projection or stop 18 or the like on its end face facing away from the sliding bearing surface 8, which can be connected to complementary projections (not shown).

Recesses &ogr;. etc. of the first bearing part 4 can be brought into engagement or abutment to prevent rotation.

Additionally or alternatively, the intermediate piece 6 and/or its bearing section 9 can also be connected to the holding element 10 in a rotationally fixed manner (frictionally or positively).

The first bearing part 4 has a hollow cylindrical wall section 19 in the example shown, which radially overlaps the collar 16 in every axial position in the assembled hinge 1. In the embodiment shown, the wall section 19 surrounds the recess for receiving the intermediate piece 6 in the first bearing part 4.

The radial overlap provides protection for the lifting and lowering mechanism of the hinge 1, which is formed by the surfaces 8 and 17 sliding against one another, in particular against splash water. The lifting and lowering mechanism is therefore not exposed, as is otherwise usual in the state of the art.

In order to prevent shower water or splash water from running into the interior of the hinge 1 or the pivot bearing, the radially inner element is preferably overlapped by the radially outer element from above with the pivot axis 7 of the hinge 1 at least essentially vertical. In the example shown, the wall section 19 surrounds the collar 16, so the collar 16 can be inserted into the first bearing part 4. Accordingly, the first bearing part 4 then overlaps the collar 16 with its wall section 19, preferably from above.

However, it is also possible to "turn" the hinge 1 over, i.e. to insert the collar 16 from above into the wall section 19 or the bearing part 4. In this case, a drain opening (not shown) can be provided in the lower bearing part 4 in order to prevent splash water or shower water from accumulating in the lower bearing part 4 or the pivot bearing.

The proposed hinge 1 is intended in particular for a so-called all-glass shower partition 3 or a frameless glass swing door 2. The swing door 2 is therefore preferably made of a frameless glass pane 20

formed, to which the second bearing part 5 is or will be connected. The first bearing part 4 can be fastened, for example, to a bathroom wall (not shown) or the like. Preferably, however, the first bearing part 4 is or will be connected to a fixed partition 21, which preferably also consists of glass, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The bearing parts 4, 5 are connected to the associated disk 20 or 21 in that a counter bearing element 22 arranged on the other side of the disk is connected to the associated bearing part 4 or 5 by means of a connecting element, in particular a screw 23, penetrating the disk 20 or 21, wherein the disk 20 or 21 is clamped between the bearing part 4 or 5 and the associated counter bearing element 22.

In Fig. 1, the screws 23 of the left counter bearing element 22 are omitted for reasons of illustration.

In Fig. 2, the first bearing part 4 is shown without an associated counter-bearing element 22.

Fig. 3 shows the proposed hinge 1 without the associated disks 20, 21 and without associated counter-bearing elements 22 from the rear side, i.e. on the side facing the disks 20, 21.

Fig. 3 illustrates that the bearing parts 4, 5 are not placed directly on the associated panes 20, 21, but rather a flat, elastic or soft intermediate support element 24 is arranged between them, which supports the associated bearing part 4 or 5. The intermediate support element 24 thus leads to a uniform fit and prevents the glass from being overloaded at certain points, so that the glass is prevented from breaking accidentally.

The intermediate layer element 24 is made of a suitable material, for example a seal-like material, in particular plastic or the like.

In particular, each bearing part 4, 5 and each counter bearing element 22 is assigned a separate intermediate bearing element 24.

In the following, only the design and arrangement of the intermediate bearing elements 24 on the bearing parts 4, 5 will be discussed in more detail. However, the same also applies to the counter bearing elements 22 if required.

The intermediate bearing elements 24 are inserted or partially embedded in recesses 25 of the preferably plate-shaped bearing parts 4, 5, as indicated in the perspective partial view according to Fig. 4.

The edge 26 which at least partially or sectionally delimits the recesses 25 holds the intermediate support elements 24 in the recesses 25 in a manner that is virtually secure against displacement or at least prevents the intermediate support elements 24 from (unintentionally) slipping or protruding laterally beyond the edge of the preferably plate-shaped bearing parts 4, 5, in particular during assembly, as indicated in Fig. 3.

In the example shown, the edge 26 is not designed to be circumferential, but rather delimits the recess 25 and thus the associated intermediate element 24 on three sides, whereby the recesses 25 are each laterally open towards the pivot axis 7 or the pivot bearing of the hinge 1. If necessary, the edge 26 can also surround the recesses 25 on all sides, at least in sections.

The intermediate support elements 24 each have a recess, for example on the edge or, as here, an opening 27, which corresponds to a marking 28 on the bearing parts 4, 5 in such a way that the respective marking 28 is visible from the side facing the disks 20, 21 even when the intermediate support element 24 is placed on top, before the counter support elements 22 are attached. If necessary, the markings 28 can also be arranged in an area of the bearing parts 4, 5 that is not covered by the intermediate support elements 24 anyway, so that the openings 27 or the like can then be omitted.

The markings 28 serve to facilitate the correct arrangement of the hinges 1 or the bearing parts 4, 5 during assembly and to avoid incorrect assembly. This makes assembly easier, especially for end customers without experience.

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The intermediate bearing elements 24 inserted into the recesses 25 protrude beyond the edges 26 towards the associated disks 20, 21 even in the assembled (compressed) state in order to prevent the edges 26 or other (metallic) sections of the bearing parts 4, 5 from resting on the disks 20, 21.

If required, the intermediate support elements 24 can also be glued into the recesses 25 or glued onto the bearing parts 4, 5 during pre-assembly.

Alternatively or additionally, the intermediate layer elements 24 can also be self-adhesive for bonding to the bearing parts 4, 5.

In the case of bonding to the bearing parts 4, 5, the recesses 25 for the intermediate support elements 24 can also be omitted if required.

Claims (12)

1. Hinge ( 1 ) for a pivoting door ( 2 ), in particular a shower partition ( 3 ), the hinge ( 1 ) having a first bearing part ( 4 ) for fastening the hinge ( 1 ), a second bearing part ( 5 ) for connection to the pivoting door ( 2 ) and an intermediate piece ( 6 ), in particular made of plastic, in particular the intermediate piece ( 6 ) being provided with a sliding bearing surface ( 8 ) inclined to the pivot axis ( 7 ) of the hinge ( 1 ), so that an axial movement can be superimposed on the pivoting movement, characterized in that the intermediate piece ( 6 ) has a preferably sleeve-shaped or cylindrical bearing section ( 9 ) assigned to a bearing part ( 4 ) for at least radially supporting the other, preferably metallic bearing part (S) or a preferably metallic bolt or eye connected thereto. 2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing section ( 9 ) is hollow and is reinforced internally by a metallic, in particular bolt-shaped, holding element ( 10 ). 3. Hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that the holding element ( 10 ) is connected to the bearing part ( 4 ) associated with the intermediate piece ( 6 ). 4. Hinge according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the holding element ( 10 ) passes through the intermediate piece ( 6 ) with the bearing section ( 9 ), in particular wherein the intermediate piece ( 6 ) is held or mounted in a rotationally secure manner by the associated bearing part ( 4 ). 5. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing parts ( 4 , 5 ) are axially movable relative to one another, preferably limited by an axial stop ( 11 ), in particular wherein the axial stop ( 11 ) is formed by a radial recess ( 12 ) and an adjoining annular shoulder ( 13 ) and a locking element ( 14 ), such as a screw, engages in the recess ( 12 ). 6. Hinge according to one of claims 2 to 4 and according to claim 5, characterized in that the axial stop ( 11 ) is formed on the holding element ( 10 ). 7. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other bearing part ( 5 ) has a hollow section ( 15 ) which surrounds the bearing section ( 9 ) for pivot mounting. 8. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other bearing part ( 5 ), in particular a hollow section ( 15 ) of the other bearing part ( 5 ) surrounding the bearing section ( 9 ), has an axially projecting, in particular hollow-cylindrical collar ( 16 ) which forms an axial counter-bearing surface ( 17 ) for the sliding bearing surface ( 8 ). 9. Hinge ( 1 ) for a pivoting door ( 2 ), in particular a shower partition ( 3 ), the hinge ( 1 ) having a first bearing part ( 4 ) for fastening the hinge ( 1 ), a second bearing part ( 5 ) for connecting to the pivoting door ( 2 ) and an intermediate piece ( 6 ), the intermediate piece ( 6 ) being provided with a sliding bearing surface ( 8 ) inclined to the pivot axis ( 7 ) of the hinge ( 1 ), so that an axial movement can be superimposed on the pivoting movement, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one bearing part ( 4 ) has a, in particular hollow-cylindrical wall section ( 19 ) and the other bearing part ( 5 ) has an axially projecting, in particular hollow-cylindrical collar ( 16 ), the collar ( 16 ) and the wall section ( 19 ) in each axial position of the hinge ( 1 ) ) overlap each other radially. 10. Hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that the collar ( 16 ) forms an axial counter bearing surface ( 17 ) for the sliding bearing surface ( 8 ), in particular within the wall section ( 19 ). 11. Hinge according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the wall section ( 19 ) surrounds the collar ( 16 ), in particular overlaps it from above with an at least substantially vertical pivot axis ( 7 ). 12. Hinge ( 1 ) for a pivoting door ( 2 ), in particular a shower partition ( 3 ), wherein the hinge ( 1 ) has at least one preferably plate-shaped bearing part ( 4 , 5 ) for connection to a plastic or glass pane ( 20 ), in particular the pivoting door ( 2 ), or a fixed partition pane ( 21 ), and a flat, elastic or soft intermediate support element ( 24 ) for supporting the bearing part ( 4 , 5) on the associated pane ( 20 , 21 ), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
that the bearing part ( 4 , 5 ) has a recess ( 25 ) with an at least partially circumferential edge ( 26 ) for receiving the intermediate support element ( 22 ) in a displacement-proof manner and/or
that the intermediate layer element ( 24 ) has an opening ( 27 ) and the bearing part ( 4 , 5 ) has a marking ( 28 ) associated with the opening ( 27 ) on its side facing the associated disc ( 20 , 21 ).