EP1505238B1 - Hinge for the pivotal connection of two elements of a folding door - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge (8) links two leaves (6, 7) together forming a folding door that is supported by an arm (11). The hinge has two arms (20, 21) linking on the one side with the support arm (11) and on the other with a fixture (15) and joined by a pivot (22). The space between the two leaves (6, 7) has a finger guard. The hinge arms form part of a safety device which releases the hinge if an object should become jammed in the gap.

Description

The invention relates to a hinge for articulated connection of a first folding element and a second folding element of a folding or folding door, which is adjustable between a closing a piece of furniture closing position and an open position, wherein the two folding elements are arranged in the closed position in a same plane next to each other and during transfer perform in the open position opposing pivotal movements by pivoting when opening the pivotally connected to the furniture first folding element from the piece of furniture and connected via the hinge with the first folding element second folding element pivots towards the piece of furniture, with a support arm, with its one end portion on the first folding element is fastened and, in the attached state, projects beyond the edge of the first folding element facing the second folding element, with a fastening part to be fastened to the second folding element, with one end at the other end area the support arm and on the other hand articulated on the fastening part hinge arm assembly and with a safety device for increasing the gap between the two folding elements when closing when clamping an object.

A folding flap is used in particular for such cabinet compartments, which are either arranged in the upper region of a tall cabinet or are formed by a height-hanging overhead cabinet. If you swing the folding flap upwards, the relevant compartment will be accessible. The flap is due to its bipartite so foldable that the flap in the open position not only but only with her first, arranged above folding element projects upwards, while the underlying second folding element is folded back to the cabinet body so to speak.

In principle, instead of a fold-up folding flap, it could also be a fold-up folding flap to the side.

When closing, for example, the folding door, it may happen that the user comes with his fingers in the area of the gap between the two folding elements. In order to avoid injury to the user by pinching the fingers, is from the DE 101 61 645 A1 already a hinge of the type mentioned above with a safety device known, is increased by the case of pinching the gap between the folding elements.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to provide a hinge with the features mentioned, which has a simple structure with respect to the safety device with safe operation.

This object is achieved in that the hinge arm assembly is formed by two hinge arms, of which a first hinge arm is articulated via a first hinge axis on the support arm and a second hinge arm via a second hinge axis on the fastening part, wherein the two hinge arms, starting from the first and the second hinge axis are directed towards the first folding element when hinged to the folding elements hinge and hinged at their the first and second hinge axis opposite ends via a third hinge axis, and that the safety device is a locking member on the support arm and a latching element on the second hinge arm has, in such a way that with ineffective safety device, the second hinge arm and the support arm with each other are latched and the latching is automatically released by an occurring when clamping an object release force, so that the second hinge arm is released from the support arm.

If the second hinge arm and the support arm locked together, they and thus also the first hinge arm form a self-contained unit which is connected via the second hinge axis with the fastening part. The mode of action is then the same as with a uniaxial hinge. If, on the other hand, the clamping force is overcome when clamping a finger, the latching between the second hinge arm and the support arm is released, so that the hinge arm arrangement can be opened, so to speak, and the gap between the two fold elements is increased.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Figur 1

ein Oberschrank mit einer Faltklappe im Vertikalschnitt in der Schließstellung, wobei die beiden die Faltklappe bildenden Faltelemente über ein erfindungsgemäßes Scharnier miteinander verbunden sind,

Figur 2

einen das Scharnier enthaltenden Ausschnitt aus Figur 1 in vergrößerter Teildarstellung, wobei die im Schnitt gezeigten Faltelemente der Übersichtlichkeit wegen unschraffiert gezeichnet sind,

Figur 3

die gleiche Anordnung wie in Figur 1, jedoch bei in der Offenstellung befindlicher Faltklappe,

Figur 4

einen das Scharnier enthaltenden Ausschnitt der Figur 3 in vergrößerter Teildarstellung, wobei auch hier die beiden Faltelemente unschraffiert gezeichnet sind,

Figur 5

die Anordnung nach den Figuren 1 und 3 in einer beispielsweise beim Schließen erreichten Zwischenstellung der beiden Faltelemente,

Figur 6

eine den Figuren 2 und 4 entsprechende Darstellung der beiden Faltelemente mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Scharnier kurz vor Erreichen der Schließstellung, zusammen mit eingeklemmten, stark schematisch dargestellten Fingern, so dass die Sicherheitseinrichtung wirksam ist,

Figur 7

das erfindungsgemäße Scharnier in Einzeldarstellung in Seitenansicht, wobei der zweite Scharnierarm vom Tragarm entrastet und die Sicherheitseinrichtung somit wirksam ist,

Figur 8

das gleiche Scharnier in der Figur 7 entsprechender Stellung in Schrägansicht,

Figur 9

das gleiche Scharnier bei unwirksamer Sicherheitseinrichtung in mit Bezug auf die Figur 8 entgegengesetzter Schrägansicht,

Figur 10

ein hinsichtlich der Ausbildung des Rastelements und des Rastglieds variiertes Scharnier gemäß vorliegender Erfindung bei wirksamer Sicherheitseinrichtung in etwa der Figur 8 entsprechender Schrägansicht und

Figur 11

das Scharnier nach Figur 10 in explodierter Darstellungsweise.

Hereinafter, two hinges with respect to the safety device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a top cabinet with a folding flap in vertical section in the closed position, wherein the two folding elements forming the folding flap are connected to each other via a hinge according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a section containing the hinge FIG. 1 in an enlarged partial view, wherein the folding elements shown in section are drawn unshaded for the sake of clarity,

FIG. 3

the same arrangement as in FIG. 1 but with folding flap in the open position,

FIG. 4

a section of the hinge containing the FIG. 3 in an enlarged partial view, whereby also here the two folding elements are drawn unshaded,

FIG. 5

the arrangement after the FIGS. 1 and 3 in an intermediate position of the two folding elements achieved, for example, when closing,

FIG. 6

a the Figures 2 and 4 corresponding representation of the two folding elements with the hinge according to the invention shortly before reaching the closed position, together with clamped, highly schematically illustrated fingers, so that the safety device is effective,

FIG. 7

the hinge according to the invention in a single view in side view, wherein the second hinge arm unlocked from the support arm and the safety device is thus effective,

FIG. 8

the same hinge in the FIG. 7 corresponding position in an oblique view,

FIG. 9

the same hinge with ineffective safety device in relation to the FIG. 8 opposite oblique view,

FIG. 10

a varied with respect to the formation of the locking element and the locking member hinge according to the present invention with effective safety device in about the FIG. 8 corresponding oblique view and

FIG. 11

the hinge after FIG. 10 in exploded presentation.

In particular from the FIGS. 1 . 3 and 5 goes out a wall unit 1, which is attached hanging in height on a building wall. The body of the cabinet 1 has two opposite, vertical side walls 2, of which only one is visible in the drawing, a bottom wall 3, a top wall 4 and a rear wall not shown in detail.

The front of the upper cabinet 1 is associated with a folding flap 5, in their off FIG. 1 resulting closed position is vertically aligned and closes the cabinet interior. The folding flap 5 can from this closed position in an access to the cabinet interior gestattende open position ( FIG. 3 ), wherein the opening movement on the in FIG. 5 shown intermediate position takes place. It is understood that when closing the folding flap 5, the reverse processes take place and thus also the intermediate position according to FIG. 5 is going through.

The folding flap 5 is divided into two parts and is formed by a first folding element 6 arranged at the top and a second folding element 7 arranged at the bottom, which are hingedly connected to one another by two hinges 8 each arranged at one of the two lateral end regions of the folding flap 5, of which FIGS Drawing only one is shown.

In the closed position, the two folding elements 6, 7 are arranged side by side in a same plane, ie the second folding element 7 is located in the same vertical plane below the first folding element 6. When transferred to the open position, the two folding elements 6, 7 perform opposite pivoting movements in that the first folding element 6, which with its second folding element 7 opposite edge region is pivotally connected to the top of the cabinet 1 via a hinge fitting 9 of no further interest, pivots away from the cabinet 1, while the second folding element 7 moves out of its first folding element 6 coplanar position to the cabinet 1 pivots out, so that the folding flap 5 folds a little way.

At the second folding element 7, a steering lever 10 is articulated at a distance from the hinge 8, the other end is pivotally connected to the facing side wall 2 and controls the movement of the folding flap 5. However, the arrangement may be different in this regard. This does not interest in the present context further.

The hinge 8 has a support arm 11, which is fastened with its one end region 12, which is formed in the embodiment of a mounting plate on the first folding element 6, expediently by means of fastening screws. The attachment takes place at the inner side 12 of the first folding element 6 facing the inside of the cabinet in the closed position. The supporting arm 11 projects beyond the edge 14 of the first folding element 6 facing the second folding element 7 in the fastened state.

The hinge 8 further includes a fastening part 15 to be fastened to the second folding element 7. The fastening part 15 is expediently fastened to the inside 16 of the second folding element 7. This too can be done with the help of suitable fastening screws. The hinge 8 furthermore has a hinge arm arrangement, which is articulated on the one hand on the fastening end region 12 of the support arm 11 opposite other support arm end portion 17 on a first hinge axis 18 and on the other hand on the fastening part 15 on a second hinge axis 19. This hinge arm assembly is formed by a first hinge arm 20 and a second hinge arm 21. The first hinge arm 20 is articulated via the first hinge axis 18 on the support arm 11 and the second hinge arm 21 via the second hinge axis 19 on the fastening part 15. The first and second hinge axes 18, 19 opposite ends of the two hinge arms 20, 21 are articulated via a third hinge axis 22 connected with each other. Here, the two hinge arms 20, 21, starting from the first and the second hinge axis 18, 19, directed at the folding elements 6, 7 fixed hinge 8 to the first folding element 1 out.

When closing the folding flap 5, the mutually facing edges of the two folding elements 6, 7 approach each other. It may happen that when pressing the folding flap 5, if one presses in the region of the existing between the two folding elements 6, 7 gap against the folding elements, with the fingers 23 in the said gap device (see FIG. 6 ). In order to avoid a painful pinching of the fingers 23, a safety device is provided, so that when clamping an object, such as the finger 23, the gap between the two folding elements 6, 7 increases.

The safety device has a locking member 24; 24a on the support arm 11 and a latching element 25; 25a on the second hinge arm 21, wherein the arrangement is such that when ineffective safety device, ie when nothing is clamped and the hinge assumes its normal position, the second hinge arm 21 and the support arm 11 via the locking member 24; 24a and cooperating with this locking element 25; 25a are locked together ( FIGS. 1 to 5 and 9 ). This lock is automatically released when a release force occurs. When the latching is released, the second hinge arm 21 is released from the support arm 11, so that the hinge arm arrangement formed by the two hinge arms 20, 21 can be opened, so to speak, and the second folding element 7 is sufficiently far away from the first folding element 6 while enlarging the said gap.

The locking member 24; 24a and / or the latching element 25; 25a are expediently elastically yielding or arranged. When folding the hinge arm assembly 20, 21, if you want to convict after a pinching the safety device back to its initial state, meet the locking member 24; 24a and the locking element 25; 25a to each other and lock under elastic Dodge in a row.

The elastically resilient locking member 24; 24a and / or latching element 25; 25a is suitably made of plastic. In the embodiment, only the seated on the support arm 11 locking member 24; 24a made of flexible plastic, while the locking element 25; 25a is formed by a metal part.

In case of FIGS. 1 to 8 has the elastically resilient locking member 24 has a locking edge 26 for latching behind by the locking element 25. In the variant of the Figures 10 and 11 on the other hand, the elastically yielding detent member 24a forms a detent slot 27 with a tapered slot mouth 28, so that the detent element 25a enters the detent slot 27 through the tapered slot mouth 28 and engages behind the slot mouth 28 in a latching manner.

In the event that one forms the elastically yielding arranged on the second hinge arm locking element, the reverse arrangement results.

The locking member 24a of the variant according to the Figures 10 and 11 is designed like a clamp and stands up from the support arm 17. Due to the clamp-like design, two clip legs 29, 30 are formed, which delimit the latching slot 27. In the variant of the FIGS. 1 to 9 However, the locking member 24 on a block-like shape with arranged on its outer side locking edge 26.

In both variants, the second hinge arm 21 includes a recess 31 into which the locking member 24; 24a im with the locking element 25; 25a locked state dips. In this case, the locking element 25 in the variant according to the FIGS. 1 to 9 at the Peripheral edge of the recess 31 arranged, seen in the hinge arm longitudinal section has a wedge-like tapered edge portion which forms the latching element 25. In the variant of the Figures 10 and 11 on the other hand, the latching element 25a is formed by a latching pin 32 passing through the recess 31.

If the second hinge arm 21 is locked to the support arm 11, and the first hinge arm 20 is held, since he is hinged on the one hand on the support arm 11 and on the other hand on the second hinge arm 21. Thus, when locked with the support arm 11 second hinge arm 21, the second hinge axis 19, the hinge joint to which the support arm 11 and the fixing member 15 can pivot relative to each other.

The first hinge arm 20 has two mutually spaced hinge arm legs 33, 34. The second hinge arm 21 is so wide that it fits between the two said hinge arm legs 33, 34. In this way, the two hinge arms 20, 21 occupy a collapsed, substantially parallel to the support arm 11 extending position with the second arm 21 latched to the support arm 11.

The support arm 11 is in its area over which the first hinge arm 20 extends, formed in cross-section U-like, so that the two hinge arms 20, 21, the second hinge arm 21 is locked to the support arm 11, immerse in the support arm 11 can.

The locking member 24; 24a stands upright from the support arm 11 between the hinge arm legs 33, 34 of the first hinge arm 20, when it rests with the latching element 25 arranged on the second hinge arm 21; 25a is locked.

The fastening part 15 has a fastening part 35 to be fastened to the second folding element 7 and a part thereof in the fastened state in the direction of the first folding element 6 facing edge 36 of the second folding element 7 away extending extension section 37 which has arm-like shape and on which the second hinge axis 19 is arranged.

The fastening part 15 further has a recess 38 which is arranged in alignment with the recess 31 of the second hinge arm 21 when the second hinge arm 21 and the support arm 11 are locked together. The locking member 24; 24a can, if it is correspondingly high, dip into the recess 38.

The pivoting movement of the first hinge arm 20 in the direction away from the support arm 11 is limited to a maximum acute angle by an effective between the first hinge arm 20 and the support arm 11 stop means. This maximum angle is in FIG. 6 reached. The stop device can be formed, for example, by the fact that the first hinge arm 20 extends slightly beyond the first hinge axis 18 and forms a stop section 39 there, which strikes the support arm 11 when the maximum acute angle is reached.

By contrast, the maximum pivoting angle between the second hinge arm 21 and the fastening part 15 is expediently an obtuse angle which is assumed in the open position (FIG. FIG. 4 ). This is achieved by a correspondingly arranged on the second hinge arm 21 stop surface 40, which comes to the attachment part 15 to the plant.

As already mentioned, in the variant according to the Figures 10 and 11 the locking member 24a formed like a clip and forms two the locking slot 27 with the slot opening 28 limiting clip legs 29, 30, between which the locking element 25 a locked. In this case, the latching element 25a is formed by a latching pin 32. The locking pin 32 has in the Figures 10 and 11 a circular cylindrical shape. Conveniently, however, the locking pin can also be formed by a square pin. This square pin can have a square cross section. In this case, this square pin is arranged in such a rotational position on the second hinge arm 21, that he passes with one of its edges ahead between the clamping legs 29, 30 during locking.

This square pin is not shown in the drawing. However, it is easy to imagine that one in the Figures 10 and 11 can replace the circular cylindrical locking pin 32 by such a square pin.

Claims (16)

1. Hinge for an articulated joint between a first folding element (6) and a second folding element (7) of a folding flap (5) or a folding door which is adjustable between a closed position in which it closes a piece of furniture and an open position, wherein the two folding elements (6, 7) are placed next to each other in the same plane in the closed position and, while being transferred into the open position, perform a swivelling movement in opposite directions in which in the opening process the first folding element (6), which is pivotably joined to the piece of furniture, pivots away from the piece of furniture and the second folding element (7), which is joined to the first folding element (6) by way of the hinge (8), pivots towards the piece of furniture, the hinge comprising a supporting arm (11) which can be secured with one of its end regions to the first folding element (7) and projects in the secured state beyond the edge of the first folding element (6) which faces the second folding element (7), further comprising a hinge arm arrangement pivoted on the other end region of the supporting arm (11) at one end and on the mounting part (15) at the other end, and further comprising a safety device for increasing the gap between the two folding elements (6, 7) in the closing process if an object is caught therein, the safety device comprising a latching member (24; 24a) and a latching element (25; 25a) which can be latched thereto, characterised in that the hinge arm arrangement is represented by two hinge arms (20, 21), of which a first hinge arm (20) is pivoted on the supporting arm (11) by way of a first hinge axis (18) and a second hinge arm (21) is pivoted on the mounting part (15) by way of a second hinge axis (19), wherein the two hinge arms (20, 21), starting from the first and second hinge axes (18, 19), are oriented towards the first folding element (6) if the hinge (8) is secured to the folding elements (6, 7) and are, at the ends opposite the first and second hinge axes (18, 19), pivotably joined together by way of a third hinge axis (22), and in that the latching member (24; 24a) is located on the supporting arm (11) and the latching element (25; 25a) is located on the second hinge arm (21) in such a way that, when the safety device is inoperative, the second hinge arm (21) and the supporting arm (11) are latched together and the latching engagement can be released automatically by a releasing force generated if an object is caught, so that the second hinge arm (21) is released from the supporting arm (11).
2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterised in that the latching member (24; 24a) and/or the latching element (25; 25a) is/are designed or arranged to be elastically yielding.
3. Hinge according to claim 2, characterised in that the elastically yielding latching member (24; 24a) and/or latching element (25; 25a) is/are made of a plastic material.
4. Hinge according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the elastically yielding latching member (34; 34a) or latching element has a latching edge (26) or a latching slot (27) with a tapered slot opening (28) for a latching engagement of the latching element (25; 25a) or the latching member from behind.
5. Hinge according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the latching member (24; 24a) is designed to be elastically yielding and the second hinge arm (21) has a recess (31) in or on which the latching element (25; 25a) is located, the latching member (24; 24a) dipping into the recess (31) if latched to the latching element (25; 25a).
6. Hinge according to claim 5, characterised in that the latching element (25) is located at the circumferential edge of the recess (31).
7. Hinge according to claim 5, characterised in that the latching element (25a) is represented by a latching pin (32) passing through the recess (31) in the transverse direction.
8. Hinge according to claim 7, characterised in that the latching member (24a) is designed in the manner of a clip and forms two clip legs (29, 30), which bound the latching slot (27) and between which the latching element (25a) is latched.
9. Hinge according to claim 8, characterised in that the latching pin is a square pin which is located on the second hinge arm (21) in a rotary position in which it comes between the clamping legs (29, 30) with one of its edges leading in the latching process.
10. Hinge according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the first hinge arm (20) forms two hinge arm legs (33, 34) extending at a distance from each other and the second hinge arm (21) has a width which fits between the two hinge arm legs (33, 34).
11. Hinge according to claim 10, characterised in that the latching member (24; 24a) projects upwards between the two hinge arm legs (33, 34) of the first hinge arm (20).
12. Hinge according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that, if the second hinge arm (21) is latched to the supporting arm (11), the two hinge arms (20, 21) adopt a folded position which is substantially, parallel to the supporting arm (11).
13. Hinge according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the swivelling movement of the first hinge arm (20) away from the supporting arm (11) is limited by a stop device acting between the first hinge arm (20) and the supporting arm (11) to a maximum acute angle.
14. Hinge according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the maximum pivoting angle between the second hinge arm (21) and the mounting part (15) is an obtuse angle.
15. Hinge according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the mounting part (15) comprises a mounting section (35) to be mounted on the second folding element (7) and an arm-like extension section (37) which in the mounted state extends away from the mounting section towards the edge (36) of the second folding element (7) facing the first folding element (6) and on which the second hinge axis (19) is located.
16. Hinge according to any of claims 5 to 15, characterised in that the mounting part (15) has a hole (38) which is aligned to the recess (31) of the second hinge arm (21) if the second hinge arm (21) is latched to the supporting arm (11).

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