EP1831492B1 - Hinge device and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household installation device having a hinge device with at least a first and a second hinge element and a hinge about which the two hinge elements are rotatably mounted relative to each other. Moreover, the invention relates to three alternative methods for operating this hinge device.

Such hinge devices are basically known in the prior art and are mainly used in cabinets or household built-in appliances. They are typically used there for hinging a door to the body of the cabinet or the built-in device. In order to realize special desired opening and closing movements of the door, these hinge devices can also be designed as multi-joint hinges. In particular, when the hinge devices have a closing-supporting spring system, they hold during assembly and repair work, but also in the everyday use of cabinets or built-in appliances, a significant risk potential regarding possible clamping, cutting or crushing injuries; this is especially true for fingers when they (inadvertently) engage during an uncontrolled snapping of the hinge device between their hinge elements. The hazard described above is associated with a risk for not inconsiderable claims for damages of injured persons to the manufacturers of cabinets or built-in appliances with these hinge devices, in particular in the USA. For these reasons, the manufacturers are therefore anxious to minimize the risk of injury described.

From document US 853 507 A discloses a hinge with a locking possibility in an open position. document US 2003/051314 A1 describes a hinge that can be locked in either a closed position or in an open position.

The prior art discloses various possibilities for reducing the described risk of injury. A first possibility for reducing the risk of injury is to design the hinge devices with an opening angle limitation, such as, for example, one available on the market Multi-joint hinge is realized. Another way to minimize the risk of injury is to provide a suitable elastic cover of the hinge, as for example in the German patent application DE 44 18 238 A1 is described. The cover described therein prevents unintentional engagement of, for example, fingers between the hinge elements of the hinge device during pivoting a hinged by the hinge device door in each door opening position.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide for a known hinge device with at least two hinge elements and methods of operation alternative training forms, which is a risk of injury and crushing in an (unintentional) intervention of, for example, fingers between the hinge elements, while in motion, reduce or completely prevent.

This object is solved by the subject matter of patent claim 1. This is characterized in that the first hinge element has a first bore and the second hinge element has a second bore, that the two holes at a predetermined angle of rotation of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element aligned with each other and that a pin member is provided for releasable insertion into the first and / or the second bore.

Depending on the position in which the hinge device whose user inserts the pin element in the first and / or second bore, he can optionally realize an opening angle limitation, a closing angle limitation or a locking of the hinge in a predetermined open position; Due to the claimed design for the hinge device advantageously all three limiting possibilities can be set optionally in one and the same hinge device. Depending on the situation in which the cabinet or the built-in appliance is operated with the hinge, for example, for assembly or repair purposes, one of the described limitation options may be appropriate in each case. Unlike the opening angle limit, the closing angle limit and the possibility of locking the hinge device provide a safeguard against unintentional closing of the hinge device, for example due to a spring effect. Due to the claimed structural design of the hinge device and thus achieved described restriction of the freedom of movement of the hinge elements of the hinge device Advantageously, the risk of injury to users of the hinge device is significantly reduced at a set opening or closing angle limit and even completely prevented in the realized locking of the hinge elements. Above all, by limiting the opening angle is ensured that the hinge-side gap between a z. B. on a refrigerator door mounted furniture front panel and a kitchen front adjacent thereto can not reduce so that in an accidental intervention of a child's hand in the gap crushing injuries to the child's hand can occur. In hinges, in particular multi-joint hinges, in which the movable part relative to the stationary part z. B. is forced by a spring in its open or closed position, it is also advantageous in addition to the limitation of the opening angle and inadvertent closing a hinged door by the hinge, in particular a refrigerator door, caused by the spring (Zuschnappeffekt) to prevent thereby avoiding crushing injuries due to unintentional engagement of a child's hand in the shearing hinge members.

For locking the pin element in at least one of the bores, it is advantageous if the bore and the pin element have complementary threads, so that the pin element can be screwed into the bore.

Similarly, it is advantageous if the holes in the two hinge elements and the pin element have the same cross-section, in principle, any cross-section comes into question. Both the provision of the thread as well as the appropriately sized same cross sections prevent play between or a detachment of the pin member from the hinge elements and contribute in this way to the safety of the hinge device and thus to reduce their injury potential significantly.

Further advantageous embodiments of the hinge device are the subject of the dependent claims.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Scharniervorrichtung in einer ersten Drehwinkelposition;

Figur 2

eine Querschnittsansicht der Scharniervorrichtung in der ersten Drehwinkelposition gemäß Figur 1 mit einer ersten Alternative zur Einführung des Stiftelementes;

Figur 3

eine Querschnittsansicht des Scharnierelementes in der ersten Drehwinkelposition gemäß Figur 1 mit einer zweiten Alternative zur Einführung des Stiftelementes;

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Scharniervorrichtung in einer zweiten Drehwinkelposition, einer Arretierungsposition;

Figur 5

eine Querschnittsansicht der Scharniervorrichtung in der Arretierungsposition gemäß Figur 4;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Scharniervorrichtung in einer dritten Drehwinkelposition;

Figur 7

eine Querschnittsansicht der Scharniervorrichtung in der dritten Drehwinkelposition gemäß Figur 6 mit einer ersten Alternative zur Einführung des Stiftelementes;

Figur 8

eine Querschnittsansicht der Scharniervorrichtung gemäß Figur 6 mit einer zweiten Alternative zur Einführung des Stiftelementes

Figur 9

eine Draufsicht auf eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Scharniervorrichtung ausgebildet als Mehrgelenkscharnier in der ersten Drehwinkelposition; und

Figur 10

eine Draufsicht auf eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Scharniervorrichtung als Mehrgelenkscharnier in der zweiten Drehwinkelposition veranschaulicht.

The description is a total of 10 figures attached, wherein

FIG. 1

a plan view of the hinge device according to the invention in a first rotational angular position;

FIG. 2

a cross-sectional view of the hinge device in the first rotational angular position according to FIG. 1 with a first alternative to the insertion of the pin element;

FIG. 3

a cross-sectional view of the hinge element in the first rotational angular position according to FIG. 1 with a second alternative for insertion of the pin element;

FIG. 4

a plan view of the hinge device according to the invention in a second rotational angular position, a locking position;

FIG. 5

a cross-sectional view of the hinge device in the locking position according to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6

a plan view of the hinge device according to the invention in a third rotational angular position;

FIG. 7

a cross-sectional view of the hinge device in the third rotational angular position according to FIG. 6 with a first alternative to the insertion of the pin element;

FIG. 8

a cross-sectional view of the hinge device according to FIG. 6 With a second alternative to the introduction of the pin element

FIG. 9

a plan view of a non-inventive hinge device formed as a multi-joint hinge in the first rotational angular position; and

FIG. 10

a plan view of a non-inventive hinge device as a multi-joint hinge in the second rotational angular position illustrated.

The invention will now be described in detail in the form of embodiments with reference to said figures. Identical elements are designated in all figures with the same reference numerals.

All relationships (smaller, larger) between angles given in the description and the claims relate to the coordination system shown in the figures. In other coordination systems, the relationships are to be interpreted differently. A rotation angle or opening angle is generally designated by φ.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the hinge device 100 according to the invention. This includes a first hinge member 110 which is fixedly secured to the housing of a cabinet or a household built-in appliance. Furthermore, the hinge device 100 comprises a second hinge element 120, which is rotatably mounted via a hinge 130 relative to the first hinge element 110. To the second hinge member 120 may directly or indirectly, that is possibly about more hinge elements, for example, a door (in FIG. 1 not shown) to cover an opening of the cabinet or the built-in device.

According to the invention, the first hinge element 110 has a first bore 112 and the second hinge element 120 has a second bore 122. These two holes are each equally spaced from the pivot point defined by the pivot 130 about which the two hinge elements 110, 120 can rotate relative to each other. That is, when the second hinge member 120 is rotated by a predetermined rotational angle φ _v relative to the first hinge member, and the two hinge members overlap, the two holes 112, 122 are aligned. The two bores 112, 122 preferably have the same cross section, in the case of a circular design the same diameter, which is preferably dimensioned so that it can receive a pin element 140 with the same cross section without play. The pin member 140 may be selectively inserted into either the first and / or second bores; this will be described in detail below with reference to the following figures.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the hinge device 100 according to the invention, in which the second hinge member 120 is rotated in a rotational angular position within a first rotation angle sector, which is bounded on the one hand by a minimum closing angle φ _s and on the other hand to larger opening angles by an opening angle which is smaller than the predetermined Rotation angle φ _v is. The minimum closing angle φ _s is typically achieved when the hinge device is installed in a cabinet or built-in appliance and a door of the cabinet or built-in appliance connected to the second hinge element 120 is closed.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge device 100 according to FIG. 1 It can be seen that the two hinge elements 110, 120 move in their own rotation planes R _I and R _II relative to each other. Concretely, here a movement of the second hinge element 120 is illustrated in the first rotation angle sector, which is why the second hinge element 120 always moves to the left of the first hinge element 110 here. The possible movement of the two hinge elements relative to each other is indicated by the double arrow. In FIG. 2 a first alternative for handling the pin element 140 is shown. Specifically, this first alternative is that the pin member 140 is inserted into the first bore 112 of the first hinge member 110 so as to project into the plane of rotation R _{II of} the second hinge member 120; The pin element 140 must therefore be designed to be correspondingly long. In the second bore 122 of the second hinge element 120, a pin element is dispensable. If the second hinge element, as in FIG. 2 shown before inserting the Hinge element 140 in a rotational angular position within the first rotational angle sector according to FIG. 1 has been brought, acting in the rotation plane R _II pin member 140 acts as a stop and limits the freedom of movement of the second hinge member 120 to the first rotation angle sector. In other words, in this constellation, the pin member 140 effects an opening angle limit because further opening of the hinge assembly 100, that is, rotation of the second hinge member 120 past the pin member 140 to the right side of the pin member, is prevented by the pin member. Due to the real dimensions of both the pin element 140 and the second hinge element 120, the first rotation angle sector is not limited by the angle φ _V , but, as mentioned above, by a slightly smaller angle of rotation.

FIG. 3 shows one compared to FIG. 2 alternative possibility for realizing an opening angle limitation. Also in FIG. 3 It is assumed that the second hinge member 120 is rotated relative to the first hinge member 110 in the first rotation angle sector, as in FIG. 1 is shown before the pin element is inserted. Unlike in FIG. 2 the opening angle limitation according to FIG. 3 However, realized by the pin member 140 is not inserted into the first hinge member 110, but in the second bore 122 of the second hinge member 120. It should be noted, however, that the pin member 140 is formed and inserted into the second hinge member 120 so as to project into the plane of rotation R _{I of} the first hinge member 110. A rotation of the second hinge element 120 toward larger opening angles, that is according to FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow to the right, at the in FIG. 3 limited arrangement characterized in that the pin member 140 abuts the first hinge member 110 at a certain angle of rotation. Again, the first rotation angle sector is not exact, but due to the material widths only approximately limited by the predetermined rotation angle φ _V to large opening angles.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the hinge device 100 according to the invention, wherein the second hinge member 120 in a second, through the predetermined rotational angle φ _V rotational angle position is rotated relative to the first hinge element. This is the rotational position in which the two holes 112 and 122 of the two hinge elements 110, 120 are aligned with each other.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge device 100 in the in FIG. 4 shown second rotational angle position. The inventively covering holes 112, 122 in this rotational angle position allow the insertion of the suitably long trained pin member 140 in the two holes so that both holes are penetrated simultaneously by the pin member 140, as in FIG. 5 is shown. With such an arrangement, the two hinge elements 110 and 120 are firmly locked to each other; that is, a relative movement of the two hinge elements to each other is no longer possible. Such a releasable detent may be desirable and advantageous in certain hinge operating situations, for example, during assembly or repair work on the cabinet or the built-in appliance in which the hinge device is used. Due to the prevented relative movement of the hinge elements to each other any pinching or crushing of fingers in particular by an uncontrolled closing or opening of the hinge is excluded.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the hinge device 100 according to the invention, wherein the second hinge member 120 is in relation to the first hinge member 110 in a second rotation angle sector in a third rotational angular position. The second rotation angle sector is limited to small opening angles through a lower opening angle and to large opening angles through a maximum opening angle φ _M. The lower opening angle is due to the mentioned material expansions of pin member 140 and hinge member slightly larger than the predetermined opening angle φV.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge device 100 in the third rotational angular position according to FIG. 6 , The pin member 140 is according to the in FIG. 7 shown in the first hinge element 110 introduced so that it projects into the plane of rotation R _{II of} the second hinge element. As a result, a rotational movement of the second hinge element 120 is limited to smaller opening angles, that is to say in the closing direction. The limit is reached when the second hinge element 120 in a movement in FIG. 7 strikes the pin element 140 to the left.

FIG. 8 shows a second alternative for realizing a closing angle limit for the hinge device 100 according to FIG. 6 , Unlike the first alternative according to FIG. 7 is the pin member 140 in the in FIG. 8 shown second alternative is not inserted into the bore 112 of the first hinge member 110, but in the bore 122 of the second pin member 120 so that it projects into the plane of rotation R _I. The closing angle limitation is realized in this case by the fact that the pin element 140 in the case of a rotational movement of the second hinge element 120 towards smaller opening angles φ, that is to say in FIG FIG. 8 to the left, to the first hinge member 110 strikes.

FIG. 9 shows the non-inventive hinge device 100 as a multi-joint hinge. The hinge device 100 comprises, in addition to the first and second hinge elements 110, 120, further hinge elements 162, 164, 166 for hinging a door 250 to a carcass of a piece of furniture, for example a cabinet or a fitted kitchen appliance. A wall of the furniture body is in FIG. 9 designated by the reference numeral 200; On this wall, the first hinge member 110 is screwed by way of example. The hinge device 100 is in FIG. 9 shown in the first rotational angle or opening angle position, wherein the second hinge member 120 is pivoted to a position within the first rotation angle sector. To realize an opening angle limitation, it is also recommended here to insert the pin element 140, for example, into the first bore 112 of the first hinge element 110. The multi-articulated construction of the hinge device 100 serves to realize particularly desired opening and closing movements of the door 250 relative to the furniture body 200; these Special movements may be required in certain installation situations of the cabinet or household built-in appliance.

Finally shows FIG. 10 already out FIG. 9 known multi-articulated hinge device 100, but here in the second angular position. The door 250 is further opened here than in the illustration in FIG. 9 and assumes a position predetermined by the multi-joint configuration relative to the first hinge member 110 and the body wall 200. In the illustrated second rotational angular position, as described above with reference to FIGS FIGS. 4 and 5 described, a locking of the hinge device with all the hinge elements can be achieved in that the pin member 140 is inserted into the bores 112 and 122 so that it penetrates both bores simultaneously.

For all so far with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 10 described embodiments, the following applies:

The cross sections of the holes 112, 122 and the pin member 140 need not be circular in any way; Rather, essentially any cross-sectional shapes come into question. Preferably, however, the size of the holes is uniformly selected so that they can receive the pin member 140 without play.

In order to prevent falling out of the pin member 140 from the bores 112, 122 and to realize a secure locking of the pin member 140 in the holes even under dynamic load of the hinge device, it is advantageous if provided in the holes and on the pin member complementary threads are, so that the pin element can be screwed into the holes.

It was above with reference to the Figures 2 . 3 . 7 and 8 mentions that the first and second rotation angle sectors are each limited by a stop of a hinge element to the pin element 140. Specifically, this means that the two angular sectors are not only in terms of their size and position by the aforementioned material expansions of the hinge elements and the Stiftelementes, but also significantly by the contour K, see FIG. 1 , the hinge elements and the spacing of the bores 112, 122 are defined to the pivot point defined by the pivot 130.

Claims (4)

1. Built-in domestic appliance with a hinge device (100) comprising at least one first hinge element (110) and second hinge element (120) as well as a rotary joint (130), about which the two hinge elements (110, 120) are mounted to be rotatable relative to one another, wherein the first hinge element (110) is fastened in stationary position to a housing of the built-in domestic appliance and second hinge element (120) is fastened to a door of the built-in domestic appliance, wherein the first hinge element (110) has a first bore (112) and the second hinge element (120) has a second bore (122), wherein the two bores (112, 122) are aligned with one another at a predetermined rotational angle (ϕ_V) of the second hinge element (120) relative to the first hinge element (110), and wherein a pin element (140) is provided for detachable introduction selectably into the first bore (112) or the second bore (122) or both bores (112, 122), wherein the two hinge elements (110, 120) in respective individual rotational planes (R_I, R_II) to be rotatable relative to one another and setting of an opening angle limitation, a closing angle limitation or a locking in a predetermined open position can be undertaken at the hinge device (100),
   wherein the opening angle limitation is settable in that the second hinge element (120) is rotated relative to the first hinge element (110) into a rotational angle position within a rotational angle sector which is bounded on the one hand by a minimum closing angle (ϕ_S) and on the other hand by an opening angle which is smaller than the predetermined rotational angle (ϕ_V), and that the pin element (140) is introduced into the first bore (112), but not into the second bore (122), so that the pin element protrudes into the rotational plane (R_II) of the second hinge element (120), or that the pin element (140) is introduced into the second bore (122), but not into the first bore (112), so that the pin element protrudes into the rotational plane (R_I) of the hinge element (110),
   wherein the locking in a predetermined open position is settable in that the second hinge element (120) is rotated relative to the first hinge element (110) through the predetermined rotational angle (ϕ_V), and that the pin element (140) is introduced into the first and second bores (112, 122) so that the pin element simultaneously penetrates both bores (112, 122),
   and wherein the closing angle limitation is settable in that the second hinge element (120) is rotated relative to the first hinge element (110) into a rotational angle position within a rotational angle sector which is bounded on the one hand by an opening angle greater than the predetermined opening angle (ϕ_V) and on the other hand by a maximum opening angle (ϕ_M), and that the pin element (140) is introduced into the first bore, but not into the second bore, so that the pin element protrudes into the rotational plane (R_II) of the second hinge element (120), or that the pin element (140) is introduced into the second bore, but not into the first bore, so that the pin element protrudes into the rotational plane (R_I) of the first hinge element (110).
2. Built-in domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the two bores (112, 122) and the pin element (140) have complementary threads so that the pin element (140) can be screwed into at least one of the bores (112, 122).
3. Built-in domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two bores (112, 122) and the pin element (140) have the same cross-section.
4. Built-in domestic appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge device (100) is constructed as a multi-joint hinge which apart from the first and second hinge elements additionally has at least one further hinge element (162, 164, 166) for indirect connection of the second hinge element (120) with the door (250) and for realisation of a predetermined opening and closing movement of the door relative to the housing.

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