EP1999329B1

EP1999329B1 - Balanced hinge device

Info

Publication number: EP1999329B1
Application number: EP07734023.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eros Gherardi; Ermes Degli Esposti; Teresa Ghedini
Original assignee: CMI Cerniere Meccaniche Industriali SRL
Current assignee: CMI Cerniere Meccaniche Industriali SRL
Priority date: 2006-03-20
Filing date: 2007-03-19
Publication date: 2017-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-19
Also published as: WO2007107848A3; ITBO20060198A1; WO2007107848A2; ES2634525T3; RU2435920C2; EP1999329A2; RU2008141375A; PL1999329T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to technical field of hinges, and refers to a balanced hinge device with horizontal rotation axis, particularly for household-electric appliances such as oven or similar.

BACKGROUND ART

Hinges are known for door rotation around a corresponding horizontal axis from a closed condition, in which such door is vertical, into an opened condition in which the door is descended into an almost horizontal position.
Some of said known hinges have the disadvantage to allow the door rotation for gravity towards the opening condition at excessive speed with user's risks and of household damages.
Some of such known hinges have elastic means fit to reduce the whole force acting on the door, but said hinges can have excessive dimensions and bulk.
Documents EP 0919776 , WO 02/064925 and DE 4108816 disclose a hinge having connecting members, fit to be fixed respectively to a structure and a door. Said device comprises elastic means, fixed stop means and rod means having, at its end, a mobile stop means and, to the other end, fixing means. The fixed stop means are connected to the first connecting member and the fixing means of the rod means is connected to the second connecting member. The elastic means are interposed between the stop means fixed and mobile so that such elastic means supply to the rod means a force counteracting the door weight at least in the intermediate and end opening conditions.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a balanced hinge device, fit for avoiding that the force weight load on the door and fit for reducing the opening door speed
Further purpose is to propose a device of small dimensions but also designed for large and heavy doors.
Other object is to propose a device providing a solid stop of the door, even if much heavy, in the end opening condition.
Further object is to propose a simple device, extremely reliable, without regulations with an easy and fast assembly to the household electric appliance and its door.
The objects above indicated are obtained according to the content of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the present invention are evidenced in the following with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic lateral view of the balanced hinge device, object of the present invention, associated to a structure and to a door of an household-electric appliance, illustrated in dotted line, in an operating closing condition and in which some parts have been removed for better evidencing some others;
figure 2 shows a portion of the device observed by a 90° view with respect to that of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in partial opening condition;
figure 4 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in end opening condition.

With reference to the figures from 1 to 4, with 1 is indicated the balanced hinge device provided with connecting members first 51 and second 52 mutually connected through a rotation pin 60 whose rotation axis is almost horizontal and inferior to the closed door C.
The first connecting member 51 is fit to be fixed to a respective structure 54, as the chassis or the body of a household-electric appliances, such as a dishwasher or an oven. The second connecting member 52 is fit to be fixed to the corresponding door 53 of the household-electric appliance for the its rotation between the end closing C and opening A conditions.
In an operating condition of the structure 54, the door at the closing condition C and the opening condition A is respectively almost vertical and approximately horizontal.
The device 1 comprises elastic means 59, fixed stop means 55 and rod means 56.
Such rod means 56 has, at an external end, a mobile stop means 57 and, to the other end, it has fixing means 58 consisting in a shaped slot 61 fit to engage a groove of an hooking pin 62 rigidly fixed to the second connecting member 52. In the closing condition C, the hooking pin 62 is positioned upwardly to the rotation pin 60.
The fixed stop means 55 is connected to the first connecting member 51 and, preferably, is made by bending a portion of the shaped metallic sheet of such first connecting member 51.
The elastic means 59 are interposed and compressed between fixed stop means 55 and mobile means 57 so that such elastic means 59 supply a contrast force to the door weight at least in the opening, intermediate and opening conditions.
A median portion of the rod means 56, for example of flat shaped and obtained by cutting a sheet, is freely slidingly housed into an opening 63 of the fixed stop means 55 which also allow a small oscillation motion to the same rod means. In the operating condition, the fixing means 58 of the rod means 56 and the fixed stop means 55 define one straight line tilted with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal and spaced by the rotation pin 60, more precisely, in the operating condition, the longitudinal axis of the rod means 56 is tilted with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal and spaced from the rotation pin 60.
The rod means 56 in the passage by the closing condition C to the openings condition A and vice versa, being centrally forced to slide into the opening 63 of the fixed stop means 55 and having the end supporting the bound fixing means 58 fit to describe circumference arches centred in the rotation pin 60, oscillate around a medium position defining a straight line that forms an angle with the vertical comprised between 20° and 50°, preferably approximately 35°. Such preferential angle minimize the oscillations and contributes to the reduction of the bulk of the device 1.
The fixed stop means 55 is plate shaped and is approximately perpendicular to said straight line defined by the medium position of the rod means 56.
The elastic means 59 comprise two compressed coil springs 64, 65 wrapped around corresponding guide means 66 67 constituted by lengthen elements and mutually parallels to the rod means 56.
Such solution contributes also in reducing the bulk of the device.
The mobile stop means 57 comprises a cap means 68, 69 for the end of each guide means 66, 67 and is blocked thereto by joint means 70 engaged in corresponding holes of the mobile stop means 57 and in grooves made in the end of each guide means 66,67.
For a sure stop in the end opening A, the connecting members first 51 and second 52 are equipped with corresponding stop means 71, 72 fit for mutually matching at said end opening condition A.
The operation of the device comprises that, starting from the closing, the rod means 56 compresses the springs and transmits the elastic force to the second connecting member 52 through the hooking pin 62. In such a way the second connecting member and the door are subjected to a counteracting force of the opening force produced by the door weight.
The intensity of the counteracting force depends on the force produced by the springs and the rotating arm whose length almost corresponds to the distance between the rotation pin 60 and the straight line almost parallel to the spring guides and passing through the hooking pin 62. Therefore the length of the action arm and the intensity of the counteracting force vary in function of the opening angle and the position of the hooking pin of 62 can be chosen in order to optimize of the action.
An advantage of the present invention is to supply a balanced hinge device, fit for avoiding that the force weight load on the door and fit for reducing the opening door speed.
A further advantage is to supply a device of small dimensions but also suitable for large and heavy doors.
Other advantage is to supply a device designed to assure a solid stop of the door, also much heavy, in the end opening condition.
Further advantage is to supply a simple device, extremely reliable, without regulations and of easy and fast assemblage to the household-electric appliance and its door.

Claims

Balanced hinge device (1) having connecting members, first (51) and second (52), mutually connected and fit to be fixed respectively to a corresponding structure (54) and a corresponding door (53) for the rotation of this latter between the end closing (C) and opening (A) condition in which said door (53), in an operating condition of the structure (54), is respectively almost vertical and approximately horizontal; said device (1) comprises elastic means (59), fixed stop means (55) and rod means (56) having, at its end, at least a mobile stop means (57) and, to the other end, fixing means (58), the fixed stop means (55) being connected to the first connecting member (51) and fixing means (58) of the rod means (56), being connected to the second connecting member (52) or vice versa; the elastic means (59) are interposed between the stop means fixed (55) and mobile (57) so that such elastic means (59) at least supply to the rod means (56) a force counteracting the door weight at least in the intermediate and end opening conditions; the rod means (56) slide into an opening (63) of the fixed stop means (55); the connecting members first (51) and second (52) have corresponding stop means (71, 72) fit for mutually matching the end opening condition (A); said device (1) being characterized in that the elastic means (59) comprises at least two helicoidal compressed springs (64, 65) wrapped around the corresponding guide means (66 , 67) of the rod means(56), said guide means (66, 67) are made by mutually parallel lengthen elements.
Device according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the connecting members, first (51) and second (52), are mutually connected through a rotation pin (60) whose rotation axis is almost horizontal and lower to the door in closure condition(C).
Device according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the rod means (56) is freely slidingly into the opening (63).
Device according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the fixing means (58) of the rod means (56) comprises a slot (61) engaged in an hooking pin (62) fixed to the second connecting member (52) or vice versa.
Device according to claim 2 characterized by the fact that, in the operating condition, the longitudinal axis of the rod means (56) is tilted with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal and spaced from the rotation pin (60).
Device according to claims 4 and 5 characterized by the fact that in closing condition (C), the coupling pin(62) is placed up to the rotation pin (60).
Device according to claim 1 or claim 5 characterized by the fact that the rod means (56) is lengthened shaped and, passing from the closing condition (C) to the openings condition (A) and vice versa, oscillates around a medium position defining a straight line forming an angle with the vertical line comprised between 20° and 50°, preferably of approximately 35°.
Device according to claim 7 characterized by the fact that the fixed stop means (55) is plate shaped and nearly perpendicular to the straight line defined by the medium position of the rod means (56).
Device according to claim 1 or claim 8 characterized by the fact that the fixed stop means (55) is carried out by bending a portion of the first connecting member (51).
Device according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the mobile stop means (57) comprises a cap means (68, 69) for the ends of each guide means (66, 67) and is blocked thereto by joint means (70) engaged in corresponding holes of the mobile stop means (57) and in grooves carried out in the ends of each guide means (66, 67).