DK2703590T3

DK2703590T3 - Hinge for a device

Info

Publication number: DK2703590T3
Application number: DK13003549.6T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Gerold Meurer; Wilfried Gronbach
Original assignee: Laag S R L
Priority date: 2012-03-21
Filing date: 2013-07-15
Publication date: 2018-11-26
Also published as: DE102012016939B4; ES2700380T3; DE102012016939A1; DE102012016938A1; DE202012012706U1

Description

The invention relates to a hinge for a furniture item, or an apparatus, in particular for a household appliance, in particular for a stove or for a freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer. The furniture item or apparatus comprises a body and a cover, a flap or another pivotable part.

The invention further relates to a furniture item, or an apparatus, having one or more hinges according to the invention, in particular to a household appliance, in particular a stove or a freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer.

The invention is particularly suitable for furniture items or apparatuses, in particular freezer cabinets and/or chest freezers that have a cover.

The hinge includes a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm. The first hinge arm has a base surface. With its base surface, it can be fastened to the body or to the pivotable part of the furniture item, or apparatus, preferably to the body. The first hinge arm further comprises a side surface which extends at an angle relative to the base surface. Preferably, the side surface extends at a right angle relative to the base surface. It is further advantageous if the first hinge arm is of U-shaped design. It includes a base surface and two side surfaces, which preferably extend parallel and spaced apart from one another, preferably at a right angle relative to the base surface.

The second hinge arm can likewise be fastened to the furniture item, or to the apparatus, preferably to the pivotable part of the furniture item, or of the apparatus, in particular to the cover thereof.

The hinge may comprise a spring element. By means of the spring element, in particular the weight of a cover, or of a flap, or of another pivotable part, can be compensated. The spring element can be configured as a tension spring, or as a pressure spring.

Nowadays, freezer cabinets and/or chest freezers are often optimized in terms of energy efficiency class and costs. In order to achieve an as good as possible insulation, special seals and/or insulating labyrinths are implemented between the body of the freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer and the cover. Here, the cover is usually formed as a hinged cover and fastened to the rear wall of the freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer via hinges with or without spring support. In particular with heavy covers, it is necessary or desirable to compensate the weight of the cover by means of a spring element. In this case, however, attention must be payed to the fact that the torque generated by the spring force, the frictional force of a decelerator formed in the hinge, and the lever arm does not impede a secure closing of the cover or of another pivotable part and a complete, circumferential abutment of the seal on the edge of the body of the freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer.

For this reason, known hinges are formed in such a way that the cover or the other pivotable part falls into the horizontal final position due to its own weight from a certain closing angle onwards. This generates a more or less intense closing noise. Furthermore, this poses the risk that body parts, in particular the hands of children gripping the edge of the body of the freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer, are trapped by the slamming cover. A hinge of the type mentioned above with a damper is known from DE 10 2005 045 365 A1. Here, the damper is fastened to the flap and coupled with the spring element. The arrangement according to DE 10 2005 045 365 A1, however, requires the use of a damper of complex construction, in order to be able to dampen the pivoting movements of the hinge arms in the area of the two final positions. DE 10 2011 008 252 A1 describes a hinge of the type mentioned-above with a damper, where the damper is movably guided on the hinge and dampens the pivoting movement of the hinge arms in the area of the two final positions by the contact of its two damping parts with stop regions of the hinge.

If an existing furniture item or apparatus, in particular a freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer with hinges, that do not comprise a damper, is to be further developed and is to be equipped with one or multiple hinges comprising a damper, the problem occurs that a hinge with a damper requires more space, so that it can not be fastened to the furniture item, or apparatus, in the same way anymore. In particular, the hole pattern in the base surface of the first hinge arm changes, i.e. the arrangement of the holes serving for the fastening of the base surface of the first hinge arm on the furniture item or apparatus, in particular on the body thereof. The same problem occurs if a furniture item or an apparatus, in particular a freezer cabinet and/or chest freezer, is to be produced and offered in one version with hinges without damping, as well as in a version comprising one or multiple hinges having a damping, or if a furniture item or apparatus comprises a hinge without damping and a hinge with damping. In this case, it is likewise desirable for both, the hinge without damping, and the hinge with damping, to be fastenable to the furniture item, or apparatus, in the same way, in particular with the same hole pattern in the base surface of the first hinge arm. A hinge according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 202 00 762 U1.

Another hinge according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 10 2009 022737 A1. US 5 437 079 A, WO 2004/083580 A1 and US 3 183 550 A show similar hinges.

The object of the invention is to propose a hinge according to the type mentioned-above, which is fastenable to a furniture item, or apparatus, in an easy manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of the features of claim 1. In the hinge, a damper is fastened or fastenable to the side surface of the first hinge arm. In this way, it is possible to provide a damper to a hinge without impairing the fastening option of the hinge to the furniture item, or apparatus. In particular, the hole pattern in the base surface of the first hinge arm can also be maintained if the damper is fastened to the first hinge arm. The damper can be single-acting damper, or a double-acting damper.

The damper is or can be attached in a damper mount, which is or can be fastened to the side surface of the first hinge arm.

The damper mount has an actuating part for the damper longitudinally-displacably guided therein. The hinge further includes a transmission part for transmitting the movement of the second hinge arm to the actuating part, wherein the transmission part is rotatably-mounted in the second hinge arm. Preferably, the transmission part is rotatably-mounted in a cut-out on the second hinge arm. It can be threaded-in, or clipped-in, there.

According to the invention, the actuating part is formed as an elongated sheet comprising a cutout in which the damper is arranged in an overhung manner.

Advantageous further developments are described in the sub-claims.

It is advantageous if the second hinge arm comprises a holding part which protrudes beyond the side surface of the first hinge arm. The damper can directly, or indirectly, be actuated by means of the holding part.

The damper mount can be or is releasably attached to the side surface of the first hinge arm. It is preferably latchable or latched.

The damper mount can comprise a divided housing. It is advantageous if the damper mount comprises two housing halves. The housing halves can be releasably-connectable. They can be of identical design.

The damper can be arranged on the outer side of the side surface of the first hinge arm.

However, it is also possible that the damper is arranged on the inner side of the side surface of the first hinge arm. In this case, it is advantageous if the transmission part is arranged on a bolt of the second hinge arm. Preferably, the transmission part is arranged on a bolt of the second hinge arm, on which a spring element is supported. The spring element is preferably formed as a pressure spring.

In a furniture item or apparatus, in particular in a household appliance, in particular a stove or a freezer cabinet or a chest freezer, the object of the invention is achieved in that the furniture item or the apparatus comprises one or more hinges according to the invention. It is advantageous if merely a single hinge according to the invention and one or multiple further hinges are present. This allows saving costs. A freezer cabinet and/or a chest freezer, or a stove, requires two or more hinges, for example. Depending on the size of the cover or the flap, it may be sufficient to not configure all hinges as hinges according to the invention, in order to obtain a good final position damping of the cover or the flap. It can be sufficient if only one of the hinges is formed according to the invention, or if not all of the hinges are formed according to the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below in greater detail by means of the attached drawings. The drawings show in:

Figure 1 a freezer cabinet in a perspective view with one embodiment of a hinge;

Figure 2 the hinge according to Figure 2 in a side view;

Figure 3 the hinge according to Figures 1 and 2 in a view from the rear,

Figure 4 the first hinge arm and the second hinge arm of the hinge according to

Figures 1 to 3 in an enlarged perspective view;

Figure 5 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 4 prior to assembly of the damper mount;

Figure 6 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 5 after assembly of the damper mount and prior to fastening of the damper mount to the first hinge arm;

Figure 7 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 6 after fastening of the damper mount to the first hinge arm;

Figure 8 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 7 in another perspective view;

Figure 9 the damper mount of the hinge according to Figures 1 to 8 prior to the assembly in another perspective view;

Figure 10 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 9 in a sectional view through a transmission part for transmitting the movement of the second hinge arm on to the actuating part;

Figure 11 the transmission part in an enlarged perspective view;

Figure 12 the hinge according to Figures 1 to 11 in a lateral sectional view;

Figure 13 a second embodiment of the hinge, which is not part of the invention, with a gear ring and a gear rack in a perspective view;

Figure 14 the hinge according to Figure 13 in another perspective view;

Figure 15 a third embodiment of the hinge, which is not part of the invention, with a first damper pivotably mounted on the first hinge arm and the second hinge arm, in a perspective view;

Figure 16 the hinge according to Figure 15 in another perspective view;

Figure 17 a fourth embodiment of the hinge, which is not part of the invention, with a damper pivotably mounted on the first hinge arm and on a deflection lever, in a perspective view;

Figure 18 the hinge according to Figure 17 in another perspective view;

Figure 19 a fifth embodiment of the invention, in which the damper is arranged on the inner side of the outer surface of the first hinge arm;

Figure 20 the hinge according to Figure 19 in a lateral sectional view; and

Figure 21 the hinge according to Figures 19 and 20 in a view from the rear.

Figure 1 illustrates a freezer cabinet 101 comprising a body 102 and a cover 103. The cover 103 is pivotably mounted on the body 102 by means of already-known hinges.

The first embodiment of the hinge according to the invention, which is shown in Figures 2 to 12, includes a first hinge arm 1 and a second hinge arm 2, mounted on the first hinge arm 1 in a manner to be pivotable about an axis formed by a pivot bolt 3. The first hinge arm 1 includes a housing 4 of U-shaped cross-section. The housing 4 of the first hinge arm 1 includes a base surface 5, a left side surface 6 and a right side surface 7. The second hinge arm 2 also includes a housing 8 with a base surface 9, a left side surface 10 and a right side surface 11. A guide bolt 12 is arranged in the housing 8 of the second hinge arm 2, which bolt is fastened to the side surfaces 10, 11 and on which engages a spring element, which is configured as a pressure spring 51. The pressure spring 51 is supported on protrusions 52 protruding towards the inside from side surfaces 6, 7, and on a spring guide 53 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 4 and which is supported on the guide bolt 12. The second hinge arm 2 is pre-loaded in the direction of the open position of the hinge by means of the pressure spring 51. The force of the pressure spring 51 counteracts the closing force caused by the weight of the cover 103 having the second hinge arm 2 fastened to it. The guide bolt is guided in curves 54 provided in the side surfaces 6, 7.

The hinge further includes a damper 13 fastened to the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. The damper 13 is attached in a damper mount 16, which is releasably fastened, i.e. latched, to the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. The damper mount 16 has an actuating part 17 for the damper 13 guided therein in a longitudinally-displaceable manner, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the first hinge arm 1.

The damper 13 includes a damper bolt 14 and a damper housing 15. It is configured as a damper having only one damping direction. The damper bolt 14 can be pushed into the damper housing 15 against a damping force. When the damper 13 has been pushed-in and is free of force, the damper bolt 14 moves out of the damper housing 15 by the force of a pressure spring 54. The pressure spring 54 is supported on the damper housing 15 and the damper bolt 14. The damper 13 is formed as a standard damping cartridge.

If the hinge is in its open position, the damper housing 15, with its lower end surface, rests on a lower stop surface 26 of the damper mount 16. The lower stop surface 26 is located inside the damper mount 16.

If the hinge is being closed, the actuating part 17 moves downwards. When a certain closure angle has been reached, e.g. an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees, an upper stop edge 19 of the actuating part 17 comes into abutment with the upper end surface of the damper bolt 14, as shown in Figure 12. By another closing movement, the actuation part 17 is moved further downwards, whereby the damper bolt 14 moves further downwards, against the force of the pressure spring 54 and against the damping effect in the damper 13. In this way, the further closing movement of the hinge is dampened.

If the hinge is subsequently re-opened again, the upper stop edge 19 of the actuation part 17 lifts-off from the upper end face of the damper bolt 14 and is, due to the force of the pressure spring, again brought into its initial position protruding out of the damper housing 15.

The damper mount 16 is made of plastic material. It includes a divided housing with a rear half 24 and a front half 25. The halves 24, 25 are formed identically. The halves 24, 25 have lower stop surfaces 26 for the damper 13 provided therein. Furthermore, longitudinal guides 55 for the actuation part 17 are provided in the surfaces, facing one another, of the halves 24, 25.

The actuation part 17 is formed as an elongated sheet. It comprises a cutout 18, inside of which the damper 13 is arranged. The damper 13 is arranged inside the cutout 18 in an overhung manner. In other words, even with the damper bolt 14 completely extended, the length of the damper 13 is shorter or, at most, the same as the length of the cutout 18.

Halves 24, 25 of the damper mount 16 are releasably-connected to one another. To that end, they comprise latching hooks 56 on their side facing away from the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1, which engage into corresponding latching protrusions 57. Each half 24, 25 comprises a latching hook 56 and a latching protrusion 57, which are respectively spaced from one another.

In addition, both halves 24, 25 comprise T-parts 58 on their sides facing the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. Each T-part includes a connecting region with the respective one of halves 24, 25 connected to it, and a protrusion region 59 adjoining thereto. Corresponding latching cutouts 60 are provided in the left side surface 6. Each latching cutout 60 consists of an upper region having the same size or slightly larger than the protrusion region 59 of the T-part 58, and a lower region, which substantially has the same size or slightly larger than the connecting region of the T-part. In this way, the T-parts 58 can be latched with the lefts side surface 6. With their protrusion regions 59, they are guided through the upper regions of the latching cutout 60 and are then moved downwards, as far as the connecting regions are located in the lower regions of the latching cutouts 60. A reversed process allows detaching the damper housing 15 from the left side surface 6.

The second hinge arm 2 includes a holding part 28 which has an L-shaped cross-section. The roof surface 29 of the holding part 28 extends parallel to the base surface 9 of the housing 8 of the second hinge arm 2. It rests on said base surface. By designing the second hinge 2 arm shorter, it is possible to design the entire length of the second hinge arm 2 including the roof surface 29 in a manner identical to a hinge in which no holding part 28 exists. The left side surface 30 of the holding part 28 extends parallel and at a distance to the left side surface 10 of the second hinge arm 2. Furthermore, it extends parallel and at a distance from the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. The left side surface 30 protrudes beyond the left side surface 6. A cutout 61 is provided in the left side surface 30 of the holding part 28. The cutout 61 adjoins the lower end edge of the side surface 30. It is of circular design and extends over an angular range of more than 180°.

In the cutout 61, a transmission part 62 for transmitting the movement of the second hinge arm 2 on to the actuation part 17 is rotatably mounted. The transmission part 62 has a circular outer circumference spanning over more than 180°, preferably over more than 270°, preferably over more than 330°. The transmission part 62 further comprises a cutout 63, by means of which it can be threaded into the cutout 61 in the left side surface 30. It is possible, however, to configure the arrangement in such a way that the transmission part 62 can be clipped into the cutout 61.

The transmission part 62 further comprises a stop surface 64 which slidingly rests against a corresponding stop surface 65 at the upper end of the actuation part 17. If the second hinge arm 2 is pivoted about the bolt 3 and relative to the first hinge arm 1, the transmission part 62 transmits this movement on to the actuation part 17, wherein the transmission part 62 rotates within the cutout 61 and wherein the stop surface 64 slides on the stop surface 65.

Lateral guiding surfaces 66 are provided on the transmission part 62, which surfaces cause that the transmission part 62 remains reliably guided within the cutout 61 and that the stop surface 64 reliably rests against the stop surface 65 and cannot escape to the side.

The hole pattern in the base surface 6, which serves for fastening of the first hinge arm 1 to the body 102, and the hole pattern in the base surface 9, which serves for fastening the second hinge arm 2 to the cover 103, is the same as in the already-known hinge according to Figure 1.

In the second embodiment, which is not an integral part of the invention and which is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, identical parts are provided with the same reference characters, so that they do not have to be described repeatedly. Here, the damper is configured as a rotational damper 71 located on the outer side of the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 2. The rotational damper 71 comprises a gear ring 72 configured as a toothed gear and extending over the entire circumferential area. The gear ring 72 cooperates with a toothing 73 of a gear rack 74. The upper end of the gear rack 74 is pivotably mounted about an axis 75 on the side surface 30 of the holding part 28. In the area of its lower end, the gear rack 74 is guided by a guide pin 76. The guide pin 76 is attached on the left side surface 6.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a third embodiment, which is not an integral part of the invention and in which identical parts are provided with the same reference characters and are not described repeatedly. Here, the damper 13 is pivotably-mounted about an axis 81 on the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. The other end of the damper 13 is pivotably mounted about an axis 82 on the left side surface 30 of the holding part 28 of the second hinge arm 2.

In the fourth embodiment, which does not form an integral part of the invention and which is illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, the damper 13 is also pivotably-mounted about an axis 81 on the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. Here, however, the other end of the damper 13 is pivotably mounted about an axis 81 on a deflection lever 92. The deflection lever, for its part, is pivotably mounted about an axis 93 on the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1. The deflection lever 92 is actuable as from the second hinge arm 2. To that end, it includes an actuation surface 94 for a bolt 95 on the second hinge arm 2. The bolt 95 is formed by an extension of the guide bolt 12.

If the cover 103 of the freezer cabinet 101 is closed, the second hinge arm 2 and thus the guide bolt 12 and the bolt 95 move downward. The bolt 95 presses against an actuation surface 94, whereby the deflection lever 92 is pivoted counter-clockwise about the axis 93 downwards. The damper 13 pivotably mounted on the axes 91,81, is compressed thereby.

In the fifth embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in Figures 19 to 21, the damper is not arranged on the outer side of the left side surface 6 of the first hinge arm 1, as was the case in the above described embodiments, but on the inner side of said surface. In order to create the space required therefor, base surfaces 5, 9 of the hinge arms 1,2 are formed correspondingly wider. Nevertheless, the hole pattern in the base surface 5 which serves for fastening the first hinge arm 1 to the body 102, and the hole pattern in the base surface 9 which serves for fastening the second hinge arm 2 to the cover 103 is the same as with the already-known hinges according to Figure 1 and the hinges according to the invention of Figures 2 to 18. A transmission part 91 is pivotably mounted on the left side surface 10 of the second hinge arm 2. The transmission part 91 is pivotably mounted on the guide bolt 12. On its lower end, it comprises a stop surface 64, which slidably rests against the stop surface 65 on the upper end of the actuation part 17. Furthermore, the transmission part 91 comprises lateral guiding surfaces 92, which protrude beyond the stop surfaces 64, 65, so that is ensured that these stop surfaces 64, 65 always rest one against the other and are unable to laterally slip-off from one another.

The invention creates a hinge which can be provided with a damper, without the need for additional production steps or changes on the production tools. Compared to a hinge without damper, the damper-provided hinge does not require additional mounting effort. Number and type of the mounting points of the hinge on the body of the furniture item or apparatus remain unchanged in comparison to undamped hinges.

The damper can be integrated into an existing hinge in such a way that the damper counteracts the closing forces shortly before reaching the closing position. The damping force can be configured such that is slightly less than the closing forces, so that it slows the closing speed of the cover without hindering the actual abutment of the cover, with seal, on the edge of the body. The invention can be implemented by means of a well-known standard chest hinge comprising the tried-and-tested hole patterns for fastening to the rear side of the body and the cover.

Claims

A hinge for a device, having a first hinge arm (1) having the base surface (5) and a side surface (6), with a second hinge arm (2) pivotally mounted on the first hinge arm (1), and with a damper (13), wherein the damper (13) may be mounted or disposed in a damper bearing (16) of the hinge which may be secured or secured to the side surface (6) of the first hinge arm (1), wherein an actuating member (17) the damper (13) is slidably displaced in the damper bearing (16) and wherein a transfer member (62) which is pivotally mounted in the second hinge arm (2) transmits the movement of the second hinge arm (2) to the actuating member (17), characterized in that the damper bearing (16) comprises a split housing and that the actuating member (17) is formed as an elongated plate having a recess (18) within which the damper (13) is arranged in a hanging manner.

Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hinge arm (2) has a holding part (28) which protrudes beyond the side surface (6) of the first hinge arm (1) ·

Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the damper bearing (16) can be fixed or detachably fixed to the side surface (6) of the first hinge arm (1), preferably can be clicked in or is clicked in.

Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damper (13) is arranged on the outside of the side surface (6) of the first hinge arm (1).

Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the damper (13) is arranged on the inner side of the side surface (6) of the first hinge arm (1) ·

Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer part (62, 91) is arranged on a bolt (12) of the second hinge arm (2).

Device, especially household appliance, especially stove or refrigerator and / or freezer, characterized by one or more hinges according to one of claims 1 to 6.