EP0013999B1 - Hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A hinge, in particular for molded shell suitcases, the shell edge of which is located in the separating plane and is disposed within the outer bulge contour, comprising two hinge plates (2, 3 ; 33, 34 ; 37, 38) adapted to be applied each to a pivotable part (12, 13) and each comprising two parallel hinge axes (A, B) offset with respect to each other and hingedly interconnected by at least two bridge members (4, 5, 6 ; 31, 32 ; 35, 36) which are disposed beside each other in axial direction, characterized in that, with the hinge in stretched condition, the hinge plates (2, 3 ; 33, 34 ; 37, 38) and the bridge members (4, 5, 6 ; 31, 32 ; 35, 36) lie in a common hinge plane and the hinge axes 5A, B) of the bridge members lie in a plane parallel to said common hinge plane.

Description

The invention relates to a hinge, in particular for shell cases, the shell edge of which lies in the parting plane within the outer bead contour, with two hinge plates which can each be placed on a part to be pivoted and which each have two parallel joint axes which are offset with respect to one another and which have at least two bridge members lying next to one another in the axial direction are articulated together.

If both cases are to lie flat on the base of such cases in the open state, as is desirable per se, difficulties arise when using conventional hinges due to the fact that the axis of rotation of the hinge lies very far outside the fastening area of the hinge on the shells got to. If the case is parked standing up in the closed state, the conventional hinge lies on the floor, which leads to a deterioration in the stability of the case, especially on uneven floors. In addition, the hinge can be easily damaged. In addition, such a protruding hinge when transporting z. B. on conveyor belts damaged and can easily scratch other luggage.

In a known hinge of the type mentioned at the outset (FR-A-1 293 576, FIG. 9a), the hinge axes are offset with respect to one another both in the plane of the extended hinge and perpendicularly thereto. Although this leads to a desired forced guidance of the hinge when swiveling, it requires, in all swiveling states of the hinge, a cross arrangement of the bridge members, which allows the hinge to protrude far from the hinge plates.

A hinge with only one bridge member is already known which, when the hinge is stretched, lies in a common hinge plane with the hinge plates (GB-A-616 814). Forced management, i. H. an approximately angular position of the bridge member to the hinge plates when pivoting is achieved here by means of a separate spring, which is an additional component, can tire during operation and is also exposed to damage, since it protrudes from the hinge plate above the hinge eyelets.

The invention has for its object to provide a hinge of the type mentioned, in which the Nacne parts of the known hinges are avoided. in particular, the invention provides a hinge of simple construction and low weight and low manufacturing costs, which is particularly suitable for use in a shell case.

This is achieved according to the invention in a hinge of the type mentioned at the outset that in the stretched state of the hinge, the hinge plates and the bridge members lie in a common hinge plane and the hinge axes of the bridge members lie in a plane parallel thereto.

The hinge according to the invention has the property of protruding very little of the hinge plate, so that it comes to lie within the outer bead contour of a shell case, that is to say it is protected from standing up on the floor or from damage. At the same time, due to the stressed arrangement of the bridge members or the joint axes, the hinge is forced to open when opened. While the parts connected by the hinge, e.g. B. shells of a shell case. in the closed state, d. H. When the hinge is stretched, practically abutting one another, they are at a distance from one another as desired when opened.

Since each hinge axis can be formed by a hinge joint known per se, the manufacturing costs are only slightly higher than a simple, conventional hinge.

The distance of the articulated parts in the open state can be determined by the length of the bridge links. Since these bridge members are designed in the simplest case as a flat sheet metal strip, dsa inven tion hinge according to the invention can thus be effortlessly adapted to the respective purpose by changing the individual length of the bridge members, z. B. the size of the bulge of the circumferential outer bead opposite the edge of the shell in the parting plane. In the case of shell suitcases, a level support of the bottoms of both shells is achieved in the open state, so that both case shells lie securely on a support surface and can be packed comfortably.

Of course, the hinge according to the invention can also be used with the same advantage in conventional suitcases that z. B. are provided with so-called floor gliders. With such cases it is no longer necessary, as previously, to arrange the bottom gliders of the two shell halves offset from one another in order to enable the case to be opened completely without hindrance.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that three (or more) bridge members are arranged axially next to one another. While at least two bridge members arranged next to one another are required for realizing the basic form of the invention, it can be useful for certain purposes, in particular when particularly good guidance is desired or proportionally high loads of the skirmishers are to be expected, prove to be expedient to assign at least three such bridge members next to each other, although it is also conceivable. to line up a large number of such bridge links in the manner of a piano band. Just like a piano hinge, the hinge according to the invention could then also, for. B. find use as furniture fitting, for example, when cabinet doors are provided with stud-like decorations and it seems desirable to bring the doors into an opening position parallel to the closed position. The hinge according to the invention also has the described advantages for vehicle doors of the most varied arrangement.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that all bridge members have the same length. This configuration will be used if the inner edges of the hinge plates are to have the same height when the hinge plates are parallel in the open state, ie. H. So especially when used on a shell case, if both shell halves have the same depth.

Be: Another embodiment of the hinge according to the invention is provided. that the staggered pontics are of different lengths. In the fall. that several bridge links are arranged axially next to each other, the bridge links on each side of the hinge must of course be of equal length. This configuration leads to the fact that in the open state the inner edges of the hinge plates are at different heights, which means that when z. B. the one hinge plate is attached to a lower case shell than the other, but in the open state both shell bottoms lie flat on the base.

It is particularly advantageously provided that clamp elements are arranged on the hinge plates at an angle of approximately 90 ° with respect to these. These clamp elements are used to attach the hinge. For this purpose you will be connected by the articulated Telie, so z. B. the case shells, pushed and parallel again on the inside! bent to the hinge plate level. In this way, a simple and durable attachment of the hinge is achieved. Of course, a hinge according to the invention can also be glued, riveted and the like. Like. Be attached.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Schalenkoffers, für den das erfindungsgemäße Scharnier Verwendung finden kann
• Fig. einen Schnitt längs der Line II-II is Fig. ':
• Fig 3 einen Querschnitt durch das Scharnier und den Befestigungsbereich der Kofferschalen im geöffneten Zusrand
• Fig. 4 eine Fig. entsprechende perspektivische Ansicht im halbgeöffneten Zustand;
• Fig. 5 einen Querschnitt durch eine wenere Ausführungsform des ertindungsgemäßer: Scharniers im geöffneten Zurtand und
• Fig. 6 eine Aufsicht auf eine dritte Ausführungsform des Scharniers im geschlossenen Zustand.

The invention beis ^p ielswei- se reference to some preferred embodiments shown in drawings will be described. It shows

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shell case for which the hinge according to the invention can be used
• Fig. A section along the line II-II is Fig ':
• 3 shows a cross section through the hinge and the fastening area of the case shells in the open state
• 4 shows a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 in the half-opened state;
• Fig. 5 shows a cross section through a less embodiment of the invention: hinge in the open Zurtand and
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the hinge in the closed state.

The first embodiment of the hinge 1 according to the invention shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises, as essential components, two hinge plates 2, 3, three bridge members 4, 5, 6 and six hinge joints 7. The hinge plates 2, 3 are opposite one another when the case 8 is closed on the edge 10, 11 of the shells 12, 13 lying in the parting plane 9, one in FIGS. 2 shown shell case 8 attached. This case 8 has a circumferential bead 14 at each point 12, 13, so that the shell edge 10, 11, viewed in cross-section or in plan view, lies within the outer bead contour 15. In general, two hinges 1 according to the invention are used for such a case 8. ,

A hinge plate 3 has a U-shaped basic shape, each with rectangular corners. The width b of the U-leg 16 and the enclosed by these legs 16 Ausnenmung 17 corresponds approximately to that of the Brük kenglieder 4, 5, 6. The soichen U-shaped hinge plate 3 opposite hinge plate 2 of each hinge 1 has a U-shape corresponding negative form, d. H. A rectangular projection 20 corresponding to the depth and width of the U-recess 17 is formed on the outer edge 18 of a rectangular base part 19, with the base part! 19 edges corresponding to the width of the U-legs 16 remain, so that this hinge plate 2 has an approximately T-shape.

The bridge members 4, 5, 6 consist of flat metal strips of equal length, at the ends of which tongue projections 21 are arranged, which are bent inwards or outwards to form an approximately cylindrical cavity for receiving the hinge axis. The ends of the U-legs 16 of the hinge plate 3 facing the bridge members 4, 5, 6 and the bottom of the recess 17, like the opposite edges of the other hinge plate 2, each have two tongue extensions 22 on the outside, the mutual distance between them being the width of the tongue extensions 21 on the bridge members 4, 5, 6 corresponds, these tongue extensions 22 also being rolled inwards or outwards in a corresponding manner. In this way, the tongue extensions 21 of the bridge members 4, 5, 6 and the hinge plates 2. 3 interlock, and a common mandrel 23 can be pushed through the cylindrical cavity, the central longitudinal axis of which represents the axis of rotation 24 of the hinge joint 25 thus formed. In the way described So there are three hinge joints at the ends of the U-legs 16 and at the bottom of the U-recess 17 and at the corresponding edges of the T-shaped hinge plate 2, and, since two hinge plates 2, 3 lie opposite one another, six hinge joints 25 per hinge 1 educated. The hinge axes A of the hinge joints 25 of each hinge plate 2, 3 are each offset against the hinge axes B of the adjacent hinge joint 25 and the bridge members 4, 6 thus overlap the intermediate bridge member 5 in the hinge plane.

On each outer edge 26 of each hinge plate 2, 3, two clamp elements 27 are formed, which are guided through them for fastening the respective hinge plate 2 to the case shell 12, 13 and then bent parallel to the plane of the hinge plate 2, 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the triangular clamp elements 27 'are punched out along two triangular sides and bent around the third side from the plane of the hinge plates 37.38.

In the closed state of the case 8, the bridge members 4, 5, 6 lie in the plane of the hinge plates 2, 3 on the outer wall of the case shells. From this level, which due to the flat design of the hinge plates 2, 3 and the bridge members 4, 5, 6 corresponds practically to the level of the fastening area of the case shells 12, 13, only the hinge joints 25 protrude somewhat. Overall, however, there is an extremely flat design. When the case 8 is opened, adjacent bridge members 4, 5 and 5, 6 come to lie crossed against each other, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 3. The bottoms 28, 29 of the two equally deep case shells 12, 13 are then both on level 30.

In another embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 5, the bridge links 32 are longer than the bridge links 31, the shorter 31 and longer bridge links 32, however, each having the same length. A shorter bridge member 31 is followed by a longer one 32 and vice versa. The hinge plates 33, 34 are adapted to the bridge members 31, 32 so that in the closed state, as in the first embodiment, the interlocking bridge members 31, 32 and hinge plates 33, 34 of each hinge 1 form a fully filled rectangle. In the open state, the lower edge 34 'of the hinge plate 34 is higher by a distance c than the lower edge 33' of the hinge plate 33, so that a corresponding difference in the shell depth of the case shells is compensated for.

This rectangular configuration is particularly clear in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, which represents the simplest embodiment of the hinge 1 according to the invention. In this case, two bridges 35, 36 overlapping each other of the same length are provided, which act on two hinge plates 37, 38, which are opposite one another in the plane and are rotated by 180 °, and have an L-shaped basic shape, via hinge joints 25 of the type described above. As in all of the above-described embodiments, the hinge axes A and B of all hinge joints are parallel to one another, but those adjacent bridge members are offset from one another. The last-mentioned embodiment can be imagined from the previously described one shown in FIG. 4, such that in the latter the hinge was cut along the inner edge 39 of an outer bridge member 4, 6. In other words, the embodiment according to FIG. 4 represents an extension of that according to FIG. 6, so that it becomes clear that the hinge according to the invention can be extended as required.

Claims (5)

1. A hinge, in particular for molded shell suitcases, the shell edge of which is located in the separating plane and is disposed within the outer bulge contour, comprising two hinge plates (2, 3; 33, 34; 37, 38) adapted to be applied each to a pivotable part (12, 13) and each comprising two parallel hinge axes (A, B) offset with respect to each other and hingedly interconnected by at least two bridge members (4, 5, 6; 31, 32; 35, 36) which are disposed høside each other in axial direction, characte, und in that, with the hinge in stretched condition, the hinge plates (2, 3; 33, 34; 37, 38) and the bridge members (4, 5, 6; 31, 32; 35, 36) lie in a common hinge plane and the hinge axes (A, B) of the bridge members lie in a plane parallel to said common hinge plane.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that three bridge members (4, 5, 6) are arranged axially beside one another.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that all bridge members (4, 5, 6 and 35, 36, respectively) have the same length.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that hte bridge members (31, 32) which are offset with respect to each other are of different length.

5. The hinge as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that clamping elements (27) bent at an angle of 90° with respect to the hinge plates (2, 3 or 33, 34 or 37, 38, respectively) are arranged at said hinge plates.

Images