EP0571936A1 - Hinge, in particular for furniture doors - Google Patents

Abstract

Hinge, in particular for furniture doors (11), in which two fastening elements (13 and 14) are connected to form a four-bar mechanism via an inner and an outer link element (15, 16), of which the outer link element has a cam surface (48) and a vertex (50), on which the elongate effective spring leg (46) of a leg spring (31) slides along and retains the hinge in its closed position and in its open position when it presses onto the vertex (50), but exerts no effect when it bears against the cam surface (48). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a hinge, in particular for furniture doors, with a first and a second fastening element, which are connected to one another by an inner and an outer link element, each of which has one end on the first fastening element and the other end on the second fastening element is articulated and wherein the outer link element, which performs a pivoting movement in two opposite directions with each complete opening or closing movement of the hinge, has a spaced from its fixed pivot axis, concentric to this, partially cylindrical curved surface, at one end of which a vertex is arranged is and on which acts a spring element which remains ineffective when it rests on the curved surface and which urges the hinge into its closed position when it leaves the curved surface.

In the known hinges of this type, the first fastening element is fastened to the furniture body and the second fastening element is fastened to a furniture door, and both fastening elements are connected to the link elements to form a four-bar linkage in such a way that the door not only pivots about a vertical axis when opening, but also simultaneously the front of the piece of furniture steps forward and moves laterally opposite the side edge. As a result, a door arranged on the front surface of a piece of furniture does not take up any space to the side of the body when it is opened and can be attached to immediately adjacent doors or drawers Do not bump open.

A hinge of the type described in more detail at the outset is known (DE-C2-25 39 197) in which the curved surface is arranged on two projections projecting approximately at right angles into the first fastening element in the region of the fixed articulation axis, on which rollers roll, which are mounted on the ends of a spring which is located in the first fastening element and holds the hinge in its closed position when the rollers arranged at the end of the spring roll over the apex and press laterally against the projections. With this known hinge, the door can only be held by the hinge in its closed position. As soon as the spring rollers have overcome the vertex on the protrusions of the outer link element, the door leaf can pivot freely up and into its largest open position. This has the disadvantage that even fully opened doors of pieces of furniture that are not exactly in the vertical direction can automatically close again.

The known hinge also requires a large amount of space, since the projections projecting into the first fastening element and the spring acting thereon are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the fastening element. In addition, the spring, which only serves to hold the hinge in its closed position, is expensive to manufacture and difficult to assemble. The rollers on the free ends of the spring also require a free-floating axle and lateral guidance if they are not to slide off the curved surfaces. If the spring is designed as a helical torsion spring, it also requires an additional bearing journal in the first fastening element of the hinge.

A hinge is already known (US-A-4 114 237), in which the free, effective leg of a leg spring slides along the back of the inner link element, which has a partially cylindrical curved surface and an abutment surface arranged approximately perpendicular to it. In the closed position of the hinge, the spring leg presses against the stop surface and generates a torque which urges the inner link element and thus also the second fastening element fastened to the door into its closed position and in this way holds the door in its closed position. When the door is opened, the spring leg overcomes the apex between the stop surface and the curve surface. He then gets onto the curved surface and acts radially to the fixed hinge axis of the inner link element, whereby he cannot exert any torque on it. The movable, second fastening element and the furniture door fastened thereon can then be pivoted into their open or closed position without the use of force. In order to give the door a certain hold even in its open position, a detent depression is provided on the partially cylindrical cam surface concentric with the fixed hinge axis, into which the free spring leg can slide.

In this known hinge there is a risk that the free spring leg passes through the locking recess when the door is opened and the hinge pin of the hinge together with the link elements mounted on them must absorb the inertia forces of the possibly considerable torque of the opening door and can easily be damaged in the process. The known hinge is only functional if the free spring leg of the leg spring is equipped with a roller which rolls on the back of the inner handlebar lever when the movable, second fastening element is pivoted. Since the leg spring requires a high preload in order to fulfill its holding function when the hinge is closed and the hinge also has a relatively complicated structure, the mounting and guidance of the Follow-up difficulties. Without such a follow-up roller, the free spring leg of the leg spring, like the curved surface and the stop surface, is subject to a very high degree of wear, since the spring leg travels a relatively long way on the stop surface and the curved surface when the door is opened and closed and the contact surfaces are only small , so that a high specific contact pressure is transmitted from the leg spring to the cam surface and stop surface. This wear is so great that the hinge without a follow-up roller becomes unusable after a short period of use.

A hinge is also already known (US Pat. No. 4,065,829), in which the door equipped therewith is held by spring pressure both in its closed position and in its open position. The spring pressure is generated by a C-shaped leaf spring or spiral spring, which can be supported on the fixed hinge axis of the inner link element and exerts a constantly effective pressure on a projection of the outer link element. As a result, the known hinge is constantly pushed either into the fully closed position or into the fully open position. A door equipped with this known hinge therefore does not have an indifferent position, but instead constantly opens or closes, which is generally undesirable.

The object of the invention is to produce a hinge of the type described in more detail from the smallest possible number of individual parts which can be easily manufactured and assembled and are designed such that the hinge has a compact design and both in its closed position and in its Open position can be held by spring action, but that automatic opening and slamming of the door is prevented.

This object is achieved with the invention in that the spring element has at least one effective, elongated spring leg that slides along the curved surface and presses on the apex at one end of the curved surface both at the end of the closing movement and at the end of the opening movement.

With this invention, the reciprocating movement of the outer link element that occurs both when the hinge is opened and when it is closed is used to exert a closing pressure with a single spring both in the fully closed position and in the fully open position, although the outer link element does not reach the same position in the open position as in the closed position, since the difference is compensated for by a sliding movement of the spring leg. Since no pressure roller is used, the spring leg finds a secure system at every point of the vertex, so that a furniture door equipped with the hinge according to the invention is held securely by the spring element both in its closed position and in its open position while it is being held has an indifferent position in all intermediate positions and can be easily moved and stopped.

It is expedient if the outer link element has two identical projections, on each of which a curved surface and a vertex are arranged and on which the spring element designed as a leg spring rests with two effective spring legs. The point of application of the leg spring is then distributed over two points of contact on the outer link element.

The spring element for the hinge according to the invention is expediently a helical spring which is subjected to bending stress and which is mounted with its screw turns on the fixed pivot axis of the inner link element. The outer edge legs of this helical torsion spring are then the effective spring legs, which are supported on the same-directed projections of the outer link element. To maintain the pretension, the spring is expediently supported directly or indirectly on the first, fixed fastening element with a central leg. Here, two simple leg springs can be arranged side by side on the fixed pivot axis.

The inner link element is expediently mounted between screw turns of the spring on its fixed pivot axis and the middle leg of the spring can form a loop, the arms of which are arranged on both sides of the inner link element and support it laterally. The inner link element of the hinge can then be a flat plate or a rod. This results in a very compact and simple design.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the curved surface and the apex of the outer link element are located in a region laterally between the joint axes of the outer link element and the distance of the curved surface from the fixed pivot axis is smaller than the distance between the fixed pivot axes of the outer link element and the inner one Handlebar element. As a result, the radius of the curved surface is smaller and the glide path is shorter, which the spring leg or the spring legs of the spring element must cover on the curved surface up to the apex when the outer link element swings back and forth during the opening and closing movement. This reduces friction and spring wear.

Since the curved surface and the vertex are moved in the vicinity of the fixed pivot axis of the outer link element, space is created for the spring between the fixed joint axes of the outer and inner link element, which can thereby be directly supported on the fixed joint axis of the inner link element with its screw turns . As a result, the first fastening element fastened to the furniture body can in turn be shorter.

It is particularly expedient if the radial plane passing through the apex and the fixed pivot axis of the outer link element forms an acute angle with the plane passing through the joint axes of the outer link element. This has the advantage that the vertex arranged at the inner end of the curved surface is in the fully open position of the hinge at a smaller distance from the fixed pivot axis of the outer link element and thereby the holding torque exerted by the spring over the vertex is lower in the fully open position than in the fully closed position. The hinge must therefore absorb a smaller torque when fully opening a door equipped with the hinge and absorb lower mass forces than they occur when the hinge is fully closed, where the entire furniture body can easily absorb the mass forces of the closing door.

The rectified projections on which the effective spring arms of the spring element act can be arranged on the flanges of an outer link element with a U-shaped cross section. They then consist of the flanges of the outer link element in one piece, which can be manufactured as a simple stamped part.

However, the projections can also be angled edge parts of a plate-shaped, outer link element, which are formed by incisions running in the longitudinal direction thereof and leave a middle part between them, which is shaped into a joint eye enclosing the fixed pivot axis. The manufacture of such a plate-shaped, outer link element is particularly simple and can be carried out at low cost.

The spring element is expediently made from a spring wire with a round cross section. In this case, at least the effective spring leg or legs is flattened after the screw turns have been formed by pressing. As a result of this deformation, the free, effective spring legs are hardened and are thereby particularly wear-resistant without the spring windings losing their elasticity. At the same time, it is achieved that the effective spring legs have a flattening along their free end sliding on the curved surface or the vertex, which also prevents the spring leg from sliding off a narrow curved surface and the subsequent vertex.

Fig. 1

ein an einer Möbeltür und an einer Innenwand eines Möbelkorpus befestigtes Scharnier nach der Erfindung in einer ersten Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht, wobei die Möbeltür in ihrer vollständigen Offenstellung in ausgezogenen Linien und in ihrer Schließstellung und in mehreren Zwischenstellungen in strichpunktierten Linien dargestellt ist,

Fig. 2

den Gegenstand der Fig. 1 bei vollständig geöffneter Tür mit dem Scharnier in Offenstellung in einem horizontalen Längsschnitt,

Fig. 3

eine Einzelheit der Fig. 2 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 4

das an der Möbeltür befestigte Scharnier der ersten Ausführungsform im Horizontal schnitt in vergrößertem Maßstab, wobei das innere Lenkerelement fortgelassen ist und das äußere Lenkerelement in ausgezogenen Linien und in strichpunktierten Linien in Zwischenstellungen dargestellt ist, die beim Öffnen oder Schließen der Tür auftreten und in denen auf das Scharnier kein Drehmoment ausgeübt wird,

Fig. 5

eine Einzelheit der Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung bei vollständig geschlossener Tür,

Fig. 7

einen Ausschnitt der Fig. 6 in vergrößertem Maßstab, der die Verhältnisse in der Schließstellung des Scharnieres zeigt,

Fig. 8

die mit einem an der Wand des Möbelkorpus zu befestigenden ersten Befestigungselement zusammengefügten Lenker- und Federelemente in einer Stirnansicht und teilweise im Querschnitt,

Fig. 9

die erste Ausführungsform des Scharnieres nach der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen, auseinandergezogenen Darstellung der Einzelteile,

Fig. 10

das äußere Lenkerelement einer anderen Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 11

den Gegenstand der Fig. 10 in einem Teillängsschnitt nach Linie 11-11 der Fig. 10 in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 12

eine der Fig. 8 entsprechende Darstellung der Lenker- und Federelemente der zweiten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 13

eine der Fig. 5 entsprechende Darstellung von Teilen des Scharniers nach der zweiten Ausführungsform in einer Zwischenstellung des Scharniers und

Fig. 14

eine der Fig. 7 entsprechende Darstellung von Scharnierteilen der zweiten Ausführungsform in der vollständig geschlossenen Stellung des Scharnieres.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail using examples. It shows:

Fig. 1

A hinge according to the invention fastened to a furniture door and to an inner wall of a furniture body in a first embodiment in a plan view, the furniture door being shown in its fully open position in solid lines and in its closed position and in several intermediate positions in dash-dotted lines,

Fig. 2

1 with the door fully open with the hinge in the open position in a horizontal longitudinal section,

Fig. 3

3 shows a detail of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4

the hinge fastened to the furniture door of the first embodiment in horizontal section on an enlarged scale, the inner link element being omitted and the outer link element being shown in solid lines and in dash-dotted lines in intermediate positions which occur when the door is opened or closed and in which the hinge has no torque,

Fig. 5

a detail of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

2 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 with the door completely closed,

Fig. 7

6 shows a detail of FIG. 6 on an enlarged scale, which shows the conditions in the closed position of the hinge,

Fig. 8

the handlebar and spring elements joined together with a first fastening element to be fastened to the wall of the furniture body in a front view and partly in cross section,

Fig. 9

the first embodiment of the hinge according to the invention in a perspective, exploded view of the individual parts,

Fig. 10

the outer link element of another embodiment of the invention in a perspective view,

Fig. 11

10 in a partial longitudinal section along line 11-11 of FIG. 10 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 12

8 shows a representation of the link and spring elements of the second embodiment corresponding to FIG. 8,

Fig. 13

5 corresponding representation of parts of the hinge according to the second embodiment in an intermediate position of the hinge and

Fig. 14

7 corresponding representation of hinge parts of the second embodiment in the fully closed position of the hinge.

The hinge 10 shown in the drawings is primarily intended for furniture doors 11 which are to be pivotally attached in front of a furniture body 12, that is to say they rest against the front surface of the furniture body and do not engage in the interior of the furniture body. However, the hinge can also be used for other purposes, for example for fastening a lid to a box, for a garden gate or other movable, pivotable flaps.

As can be seen from the drawings, in particular from FIG. 9, the hinge 10 consists of a first, fixed fastening element 13 and a second, movable fastening element 14, which are articulated to one another by an inner link element 15 and an outer link element 16 and form a four-bar linkage. The first fastening element 13 is fastened to an inner wall 18 of the furniture body 12 with a fastening plate 17, the first fastening element 13 being screwed to the fastening plate 17 with a fastening screw 19 and its distance from the fastening plate 17 being adjustable with an adjusting screw 20.

The second, movable fastening element 14 has a pot-like, cylindrical part, which is also called "drum" 21, on the free, upper edge of which fastening lugs 22 are arranged. The drum 21 is inserted into a cylindrical recess 23 provided for this purpose in the furniture door 11, while the fastening tabs 22 are screwed onto the inside 24 of the furniture door 11.

It can be seen from FIG. 9 that the first, fixed fastening element 13 has a U-shaped cross section and that the lateral flanges 25 of the first fastening element 13 protrude at their front, outer end over the web part 26 of the first fastening element 13. In these projecting flange parts 25a, bores 27 and 28 are aligned in pairs. A first, fixed joint axis 29 for the outer link element 16 is inserted through the bores 27, while a second, fixed joint axis 30 for the inner link element 15 and a spring element 31 are arranged in the bores 28. With the movable fastening element 14, the inner link element 15 are connected by a movable hinge axis 32 and the outer link element 16 by a movable hinge axis 33, which are arranged in aligned holes 34 and 35, which penetrate the walls 36 of the drum 21. With "movable joint axes" those joint axes 32 and 33 meant by which the inner link element 15 and the outer link element 16 are connected to the second, movable fastening element and on which these link elements can pivot. The hinge axes 32 and 33 themselves are not movable, but are seated firmly in the pot-shaped drum 21.

The outer link element 16 is formed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 of a U-shaped plate in cross section, the side flanges 37 have at one inner end 37a bearing holes 38 for their fixed hinge axis 29 and there one each Have projection 39, both of which are rectified and of the same design and whose shape and purpose will be explained below.

At their other, outer end 37b, the side flanges 37 have further bearing bores 40 with which they are mounted on the movable hinge axis 33 inside the drum 21.

The above-mentioned spring element 31 is a torsion spring or torsion spring which is subjected to bending stress and is mounted with two lateral screw threads 41 on the second, fixed joint axis 30, with which the inner link element 15 is also articulated on the first, fixed fastening element 13. The two lateral screw threads 41 of the spring element 31 are connected in the middle by a middle leg 42, which forms a loop, the arms 43 of which are arranged on both sides of the inner link element 15 and the connection point 44 in a rectangular opening 45 in the web part 26 of the first, fixed fastener 13 engages.

The straight outer peripheral legs 46 emerging from the lateral screw threads 41 are the effective elongated ones Spring legs of the leg spring, which have a considerable length and bear against the end faces of the projections 39 of the outer link element 16. The spring element 31 is made of a spring wire which is round in cross section and its elongated, effective spring legs 46 are deformed after the screw windings have been formed by pressing transversely to the longitudinal direction into wire arms which are rectangular in cross section and lie on the end face of the associated projection 39 with a flattened portion 47. As a result of the subsequent compression deformation, the effective, elongated spring legs 46 are hardened and made wear-resistant in the area of their flattening 47, without the elasticity of the spring being influenced (FIG. 8).

The end edges of the projections 39 are designed in a special way: they consist of a partially cylindrical cam surface 48 which is concentric with the fixed articulation axis 29 and which bends inwards at its end facing the movable articulation axis 33 and there forms a convex apex 50 which is slightly rounded .

It can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 4 that the cam surface 48 and the apex 50 of the outer link element 16 are essentially in a region to the side next to and between the hinge axes 29 and 33 of the outer link element 16 and that the radial distance a Curve surface 48 of the fixed hinge axis 29 is smaller than the distance b between the fixed hinge axis 29 of the outer link element 16 and the fixed hinge axis 30 of the inner link element 15. In addition, it can be seen that through the apex 50 and the fixed hinge axis 29 of the outer link element 16 going radial plane 49 with the connecting plane 51 passing through the joint axes 29 and 33 of the outer link element 16 encloses an acute angle β.

It can also be seen that the projections 39, which are designed like the blade of a hatchet, on the side flanges 37 of the outer link element 16 are inclined toward the movable articulated axis 33 of the outer link element 16, so that these projections 39 and the curved surfaces 48 arranged on them are more in line with one another Located near the connection level 51. This leaves enough space between the projections 39 and the fixed hinge axis 30 of the inner link element 15 for the screw threads 41 of the spring element 31, the spring arms 46 of which can rest against the curved surfaces 48 and the apexes 50.

When the door 11 is closed, the effective spring legs 46 of the spring element 31 bear against the apices 50 of the projections 39 under pretension (FIGS. 6 and 7). The spring force F exerted by the spring legs 46 at the point of contact P 1 on the projections 39 of the outer link element 16 then acts with a large eccentricity e 1 with respect to the first, fixed joint axis 29 and generates a torque F · e 1, which the end link element tends to produce 16 in Figs. 6 and 7 to pivot counterclockwise. As a result, a force directed against the furniture body 12 is exerted on the movable fastening element 14 and thereby also on the furniture door 11 via the movable hinge axis 33, and the door 11 is thereby held in its closed position.

If the door 11 is to be opened and for this purpose a tensile force is exerted on the door 11 in the direction of the arrow 52, the door leaf in FIG. 6 pivots counterclockwise. At the same time, however, the rear edge 53 of the door 11 also moves away from the furniture body 12, the inner link element 15 and initially also the outer link element 16 pivoting clockwise and the apex 50 at the end of the curved surface 48 on a circular path around the first fixed one Joint axis 29 moved in the direction of arrow A (Fig. 7). The spring legs 46 overcome the apex 50 and now lie against the curved surfaces 48 on the projections 39 (FIGS. 4 and 5). In this intermediate position, in which the door is only partially open, the spring force F transmitted in the contact point P₂ to the cam surface 48 is introduced radially directly into the first, fixed hinge axis 29 and cannot generate any torque with respect to this axis. It therefore does not influence or hinder the pivoting movement of the outer link element 16, so that the door can be opened and stopped further without hindrance and is not forced into its closed position or its open position.

In the course of the further opening movement of the door, the inner link element 15 continues to pivot clockwise; however, the pivoting direction of the outer link element 16 is reversed as soon as the door 11 has reached a middle pivoting position. Until then, the point of contact P between an outer spring leg 46 and the projection 39 resting against it covers only a small distance on the curved surface 48 in the direction B.

When opened further, the outer link element 16 pivots again counterclockwise, the elongated, effective spring legs 46 of the spring element 31 on the curved surfaces 48 returning to the apexes 50 at the end of the curved surfaces 48.

In the fully open position (FIGS. 2 and 3), however, the outer link element 16 does not completely return to the starting position which it had assumed in the fully closed position (FIGS. 6 and 7). The eccentricity e₂, with which the spring force F acts on the projections 39, is therefore smaller, so that the torque F · e₂ is smaller, which acts on the hinge in the open position of the door and strives to keep the door in its open position.

10 to 14, a second embodiment of the hinge according to the invention is shown, which differs from the previous embodiment only in another embodiment of the outer link element, which is designated 16 'in this second embodiment.

As can be seen from FIGS. 10 to 14, the outer link element 16 'is plate-shaped, the outer end 37b of this link element 16' being rolled into an articulated eye 54 which encloses the movable articulated axis 33 of the outer link element 16 '. At its inner end 37a, the outer link element 16 'has longitudinal cuts 55 in the longitudinal direction thereof, which leave a middle part 56 between them, which, like the outer end 37b, is bent to form an articulated eye 57 which defines the fixed articulated axis 29 of the outer link element 16 'encloses.

The outer edge parts 58 formed by the incisions 55 are bent back and provided at their ends with bends 59 which form the projections on which the curved surfaces 48 and the apex 50 are arranged.

It can be seen from FIGS. 10 to 14 that the outer link element 16 with its angled edge parts 58, 59 fulfills the same function as the outer link element 16 in the example described above. When the door is opened, the spring legs 46 of the spring element 31 slide along the curved surface 48 of the angled edge parts 58, 59, the outer link element 16 ′, just like the described outer link element of the previous embodiment, in Swings back and forth towards A and B. Just as in the previously described embodiment, the elongated spring legs 46 of the spring element 31 press on the vertex 50 of the angled edge parts 58 and 59 located on the bend and generate the closing torque F · e₁ or the holding torque F · e₂ when the hinge is in its fully closed position or fully open position.

From Fig. 12 it can also be seen that the spring element 31, as in the previously described embodiment, can be accommodated in the first fastening element 13 and stored there on the fixed articulated axis 30 of the inner link element.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described, but several changes and additions are possible without leaving the scope of the invention. For example, instead of a spring element with two lateral screw turns, two individual leg springs could also be used, which are supported with their middle legs against the fixed fastening element. Furthermore, the helical torsion spring can also be made from a steel wire with a square or rectangular profile and it is also possible to support the central leg of the helical torsion spring at another point. It is essential, however, that at least one effective spring leg of the spring element acts against the outer link element and not against the inner link element.

Claims (11)

Hinge, in particular for furniture doors, with a first and a second fastening element, which are connected to one another by an inner and an outer link element, each of which is articulated at one end to the first fastening element and at the other end to the second fastening element, and wherein the outer link element, which performs a pivoting movement in two opposite directions with each complete opening or closing movement of the hinge, has a spaced from its fixed pivot axis, concentric to this, partially cylindrical curved surface, at one end of which a vertex is arranged and on which acts a spring element which remains ineffective when it rests on the curved surface and which urges the hinge into its closed position when it leaves the curved surface, characterized in that
the spring element (31) has at least one effective, elongated spring leg (46) which slides along the curved surface (48) and both at the end of the closing movement and at the end of the opening movement onto the apex (50) at one end of the curved surface (48 ) presses. Hinge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the outer link element (16) has two projections (39) of the same direction, on each of which a curved surface (48) and an apex (50) are arranged and on which the spring element (31) designed as a leg spring rests with two effective spring legs (46). Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the leg spring (31) is a torsionally stressed helical torsion spring which is mounted with its screw threads (41) on the fixed hinge axis (30) of the inner link element (15) and in that the outer edge legs (46 ) this helical torsion spring are the effective spring legs and that the spring (31) with a middle leg (42) is supported indirectly or directly on the first, fixed fastening element (13). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner link element (15) is mounted on a fixed hinge axis (30) between screw threads (41) of the spring (31). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the middle leg (42) of the spring (31) forms a loop, the arms (43) of which are arranged on both sides of the inner link element (15). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the effective spring leg (46) has a flattened portion (47) along its free end sliding on the curved surface (48) or the apex (50). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the curved surface (48) and the apex (50) of the outer link element (16) are located in a region to the side between its hinge axes (29, 33) and that the distance (a ) of the cam surface (48) from the fixed hinge axis (29) is smaller than the distance (b) between the fixed hinge axes (29 and 30) of the outer link element (16) and the inner link element (15). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the radial plane (49) passing through the apex (50) and the fixed hinge axis (29) of the outer link element (16) with that through the hinge axes (29, 33) of the outer Handlebar element (16) going plane (51) includes an acute angle (β). Hinge according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the projections (39) are arranged on the side flanges (37) of an outer link element (16) which is U-shaped in cross section. Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the projections (39) are angled edge parts (58) of a plate-shaped, outer link element (16 ') which are formed by end cuts (55) running in the longitudinal direction thereof and one Leave the middle part (56) between them, which is formed into a joint eye (57) surrounding the fixed joint axis (29). Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the spring element (31) is made from a spring wire with a round cross-section and that at least the effective spring leg (s) (46) after the screw turns (41) have been formed by pressing with a flattened portion (47) and hardened by this deformation.

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