EP2362050A2 - Hinge device, domestic appliance with a door and method for retrofitting a damper - Google Patents

Abstract

The hinge device has a hinge housing, a rotatably supported blade (6) and a hinge bearing, in which the hinge housing is arranged. A damper for damping a closing movement of the door (2) is fastened in a tool-free manner at the hinge housing or the hinge bearing. The hinge housing is arranged in a tool-free assembling and disassembling manner in the hinge bearing. The damper is fastened outward at the hinge housing or at the hinge bearing. The damper has a spring-fastened snap-in element. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a household appliance with a holding unit; and (2) a method for retrofitting a damper for an operational hinge device of a door of a household appliance.

Description

The present invention relates to a hinge device according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a domestic appliance according to the preamble of patent claim 9, and a method for retrofitting a damper according to the preamble of patent claim 11.

From the publication EP 1 847 670 A2 is a generic hinge for doors of household electrical appliances known. The hinge has a first element, a second element and a rocker arm which connects the first element to the second element. The second element consists essentially of a box-shaped housing which contains, inter alia, two elastic elements and a damper. The damper dampens the rocker arm during reciprocal movement of the first and second members.

The invention has for its object to provide a comparison with the prior art improved hinge device for a household appliance.

This object is achieved by a hinge device having the features of patent claim 1, a domestic appliance having the features of patent claim 9 and by a method having the features of patent claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims individually or in combination.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, a damper for damping a closing movement of the door can be fastened to the hinge housing or the hinge bearing without tools. As a result, the hinge device can also be retrofitted without great effort with a damping. Even with an assembly line, in which the hinge device is manufactured, or weiterverbaut, for example, by simply plugging the damper in a short time a hinge device can be generated with damping.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge housing in the hinge bearing can be disassembled and / or assembled without tools. A household appliance equipped with such a hinge device, e.g. an oven is thus easily retrofitted with an attachable to the hinge housing damping. Due to the ability to disassemble the hinge housing without tools from the hinge bearing, the retrofitting of a door damping can be done by a user of the household appliance.

To simplify the assembly process, it is proposed that the damper be fastened on the outside to the hinge housing or to the hinge bearing. As a result, the overall length of the hinge housing is reduced to a necessary minimum. Due to the reduced use of materials, the hinge housing can be produced more cheaply. In addition, the pack volume is reduced, resulting in savings in mass production.

Preferably, the damper on at least one resiliently connected locking element, which cooperates with corresponding, rigidly formed contours on the hinge bearing or on the hinge housing. Hinge or hinge housing are usually formed as rigid as possible to absorb the forces acting through the door weight forces. By introducing, for example, rectangular notches in the hinge bearing or the hinge housing, in which engage the damper resiliently formed locking elements, a cost-attachment option is created. There are no additional, resilient parts needed on the hinge bearing or on the hinge housing.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a push element for transmitting a closing force of the door to the damper can be mounted without tools in the hinge housing. The push element is not required in a hinge device without damping. By a tool-free retrofittability of the thrust element, the hinge device without damping is inexpensive to manufacture and can still be retrofitted with a damping in conjunction with the tool-free mountability of damper and thrust element.

By at least one opening in the form of a keyhole on the hinge housing or the thrust element is arranged, there is a simple retrofitting of the thrust element. The hinge housing has, for example, on its upper side two keyhole-shaped openings and the thrust element corresponding thereto holding elements. In this case, the holding elements, for example, mushroom or screw head shaped, or in the form of a flared sheet metal tab, which widened plate-shaped in the upper end, may be formed. During assembly, the thrust element is inserted into the hinge housing until it overlaps the retaining elements with the respective wider subregion of the keyhole-shaped opening. Thereafter, the pusher member is pushed up until the holding members dive through the opening. By further insertion of the thrust element this is guided in the openings.

It is preferred if the pusher is held captive by this damper in this case. This eliminates additional security elements, which are attached for example to the hinge housing after installation of the thrust element.

By damping the door when closing at the earliest from a remaining opening angle of 40 °, a comfortable handling of the door is ensured.

An inventive household appliance has a hinge device as described above. The hinge device and the household appliance have corresponding holding means, which are arranged such that the hinge bearing and / or the hinge housing are freely accessible from a body of the household appliance or from the door and disassembled and / or mountable. This allows a user of the household appliance retrofitting the hinge device with a damper. Here are the term body the household appliance limiting wall parts without the door to understand. In particular, the body may in particular have two side walls, a rear wall, a bottom, a cover part, as well as a flange accessible with the door open. The term "freely accessible" understood that for disassembly or assembly of the hinge bearing and / or the hinge housing except the opening of the door no elements or Assemblies, such as a side wall of the household appliance, cover plates, or the like dismantled or must be mounted.

An inventive method for retrofitting a damper for an operational hinge device of a door of a household appliance suggests that the damper is attached to the hinge bearing or to the hinge housing without tools. By such, tool-free attachment of a damper process steps and thus time can be saved.

It may be advantageous if, before attaching the damper, a push element is mounted without tools, whereby a pivot lever of the hinge device is coupled to the damper. The tool-free installation of the pusher saves assembly time and also allows a user of the household appliance to carry out the retrofitting process itself. The initially undamped, but operational hinge device has characterized compared to the damped version only an additional element in the form of the pivot lever, whose function is needed only when retrofitting with a damper.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pivot lever is rotatably mounted on a clamping lever, wherein a tension compensating spring is tensioned by the tensioning lever. The tensioning lever is coupled to the door in such a way that it moves during a pivoting movement of the door and the weight compensating spring coupled to the tensioning lever is thus tensioned or relieved depending on the pivoting direction. The swivel lever mounted on the clamping lever follows the movement of the clamping lever. The tensioning lever is guided in the hinge housing and moves when opening or closing the door substantially along a longitudinal extent of the hinge housing, which results from the weight compensation spring integrated therein.

Preferably, the pivot lever is offset from a fixed opening angle of the door by a arranged in the hinge housing locking lug in a rotation which acts on the damper via the push rod. Such a rotation of the pivot lever, a greater deflection of the damper against a direct connection of the clamping lever is achieved on the thrust element. By a distance from a hinge axis connection of one end of the clamping lever on the sword As the door pivots, this rotation results in a rotation about the hinge axis. Due to this rotational movement on a circular path, the component of motion steadily decreases in the direction of the weight compensating spring toward the closed position of the door. About the leverage ratios of the pivot lever, the movement component is translated in the direction of the weight compensation spring so that there is a greater deflection of the damper.

Fig. 1

ein Haushaltsgerät in einer räumlichen Darstellung;

Fig. 2

eine Scharniervorrichtung des Haushaltsgerätes mit einem in einem Scharnierlager montierten Scharniergehäuse;

Fig. 3

eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Linie III - III durch die in Fig. 2 gezeigte Scharniervorrichtung in einer Einbaulage im Haushaltsgerät;

Fig. 4

eine Detaildarstellung aus Fig. 3;

FIG. 5

eine Detaildarstellung eines Schubelementes der Scharniervorrichtung und der an das Schubelement angreifenden Elemente in einer Schnittdarstellung und

Fig. 6

eine räumliche Darstellung des Scharniergehäuses.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a household appliance in a spatial representation;

Fig. 2

a hinge device of the household appliance with a hinged housing mounted in a hinge bearing;

Fig. 3

a sectional view taken along the line III - III through the in Fig. 2 shown hinge device in a mounting position in the household appliance;

Fig. 4

a detailed view Fig. 3 ;

FIG. 5

a detailed view of a thrust element of the hinge device and acting on the thrust element elements in a sectional view and

Fig. 6

a spatial representation of the hinge housing.

In Fig. 1 is a domestic appliance with a pivotally mounted on a hinge device door 2 shown in the both sides each have a sword 6 of the hinge device is mounted. The household appliance is limited to the outside by a body 8 having two side walls, a bottom, a ceiling, a rear wall and a flange 10. The swords 6 respectively penetrate through a receiving opening 4 in the flange 10 and are releasably held in the door 2.

Within the body 8, substantially behind the flange 10, there are two identically formed hinge housings 12 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) arranged. The hinge housings 12 are arranged substantially horizontally in the body 8 in their longitudinal direction I. The hinge housing 12 has side walls 14 in which a hinge axis 16 is fixed on the door side. The sword 6 is rotatably supported by the hinge axis 16 relative to the hinge housing 12. The hinge housing 12 is within the body 8 in FIG attached to a hinge bearing 18. Towards the door 2, the hinge bearing 18 has an insertion opening 20 for the hinge housing 12. The insertion opening 20 has over the adjacent region of the hinge bearing 18 on a larger width b. The hinge housing 12 is the door side via the insertion opening 20 into the hinge bearing 18 and inserted into an end position with the hinge bearing 18. In one of the insertion opening 20 opposite, the rear portion of the hinge bearing 18 opposite openings 21 formed on the two side surfaces are arranged. These are arranged near a bottom 24 of the hinge bearing 18 and form a receptacle for the bearing axis 22. If the bearing shaft 22 with the openings 21 in engagement, then the hinge housing 12 is pivotally mounted in the hinge bearing 18. A guide member 26 is formed as a, parallel to the hinge axis 16 extending axis, which is slidably mounted in two oppositely disposed slots 28 of the side walls 14 of the hinge housing 12. The guide element 26 protrudes beyond the side walls 14 of the hinge housing 12 and is thereby supported in a slot 30 of the hinge bearing 18. The gate 30 has a middle plateau 32, which forms the largest distance of the link 30 to the bottom 24 of the hinge bearing 18. An elastic element 34, which is arranged above the insertion opening 20 on the hinge bearing 18, acts on the hinge housing 12 and presses this with a force F in the direction of the underside 24. The elastic element 34 is in the form of a double-tongued leaf spring. The hinge housing 12 is held with the door closed 2 on the bearing axis 22 and the elastic member 34 in its final position. The hinge housing 12 can be pulled out of the hinge bearing 18 against the spring force of the elastic element 34 on the door side. In this case, the guide member 26 slides from its end position over the plateau 32 and thereby deforms the elastic member 34. After the plateau 32, the link 30 guides the guide member 26, supported by the elastic member 34, again towards the bottom 24. In this section of the scenery 30, the width b of the hinge bearing is larger, causing the guide member 26 slides out of the link 30, and the hinge housing 12 is thereby removed in the direction of the door 2. On a door 2 opposite end portion of the hinge bearing 18, a damper 72 is attached via a locking element 74. The latching element 74 engages in a recess 78 of the hinge bearing 18 a. Locking element 74 and recess 78 are formed such that the damper 72 is mounted without tools.

In Fig. 3 a receptacle 36 of the door 2 is shown, in which the sword 6 is mounted. A tensioning lever 38 is coupled to the blade 6 via a clamping lever bearing 40 spaced from the hinge axis 16. During a pivoting movement of the door 2, the clamping lever bearing 40 arranged to the right of the hinge axis 16 when the door 2 is closed runs in a circular movement about the hinge axis 16. The tensioning lever 38 is coupled to a weight compensating spring 42. This forms a counterforce to the weight of the door 2, whereby a comfortable opening and closing of the door 2 is ensured. The weight compensation spring 42 is held in an adjusting lever 48 via a spring receptacle 46 designed as a hole. The adjusting lever 48 is rotatably mounted on the clamping lever 38 via an adjusting lever bearing 50. One end of the adjusting lever 48 projects out of the hinge housing 12 upwards and emerges between the two tongues of the elastic element 34. At this end, an adjusting element 52 is mounted via a clamping element 54. The tensioning element 54 is essentially designed as a nut into which a thread (not shown), which is formed on the adjusting element 52, engages. The clamping element 54 is rotatably mounted on the adjusting lever 48 in order to allow a pivoting movement of the adjusting element 52. About a floating bearing 56, the adjusting element 52 is connected with its door-side end to the clamping lever 38 such that the adjusting element 52 is rotatably mounted. When opening the door 2, the clamping lever bearing 40 runs in a circular movement about the hinge axis 16, wherein initially the clamping lever 38 is substantially raised. By raising the tensioning lever 38, the adjustment element 52 designed as a screw is lifted on the door side via the floating bearing 56. The door side arranged screw drive (slot) of the adjusting element 52 is freely accessible by lifting a screwdriver, whereby a spring bias of the counterbalancing spring 42 is adjustable. A latch 58 is movably mounted on the sword 6 and forms a bearing for a movable lever 60. Latch 58 and lever 60 are folded out such that the lever 60 is supported when closing the door 2 on a roller 62 and thereby further closing the door 2 prevented. A pulling force of the counterbalancing spring 42 on the door 2 is thereby intercepted. The door 2 can be removed without tools in this state for cleaning purposes by the swords 6 are pulled out of their receptacles 36. By inserting the swords 6 in the receptacles 36, the door 2 can be mounted again. If the door 2 is opened a little further, the lever 60 and the latch 58 are free and are retractable. The door 2 is now completely closed again. The roller 62 is attached to a bracket 64 which is rotatably mounted on the pivoting lever 66 on the clamping lever 38. The bracket 64 forms a bearing for a compression spring 68, which is held at its opposite end on the clamping lever 38. The sword 6 has near the hinge axis 16 on a contact contour 70, which is designed such that it stops at an opening angle α of about 25 °, the closing movement of the door 2 by resting against the roller 62. To further close the door 2 it is pressed against the spring force of the compression spring 68 further. The contact contour 70 is designed such that close to the closed position of the door 2 via the compression spring 68 an additional force in the direction of the closed position is exerted on the door 2.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the arranged on the hinge bearing 18 damper 72. In the damper 72, a plunger 76 is arranged, which is actuated by an angle 80 of a pusher member 82. The plunger 76 represents a commercially available, in particular from the furniture industry known damping element.

According to Fig. 5 a movement of a pivot lever 84 is transmitted via the pusher 82 to the plunger 76 of the damper 72. By the guide member 26 of the pivot lever 84 is rotatably on the clamping lever 38 ( Fig. 3 ) stored. If the tensioning lever 38 moves in the direction of the damper 72 by closing the door, a blocking nose 88 causes a rotation of the pivoting lever 84, as a result of which the pushrod 76 is moved. By the pivot lever 84, which corresponds at one end to the locking lug 88 and at the other end to the thrust element 82, a relative to the movement of the clamping lever 38 longer thrust movement of the thrust element 82 is achieved via the lever action. This is necessary because the movement component of the clamping lever 38 in the direction of damper 72 at a small opening angle α of the door 2 for a sufficient damping is too low. The locking nose 88 is formed by a issued from the hinge housing 12 sheet metal tabs. The position of the locking lug 88 is selected such that the plunger 76 moves from a door opening angle α of 30 ° and the door 2 is thereby damped.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the hinge housing 12, in which two keyhole-shaped openings 90 are formed, through which the thrust element 82 is mounted without tools with disassembled damper 72. The pusher 82 has two angularly shaped holding elements 91, which correspond to the openings 90. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the thrust element 82 can be inserted via contours arranged on the side walls 14 of the hinge housing 12, corresponding to a drawer slide.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

door

4

receiving opening

6

sword

8th

corpus

10

flange

12

hinge housing

14

Side wall

16

hinge axis

18

hinge bearing

20

insertion opening

21

breakthrough

22

bearing axle

24

bottom

26

guide element

28

slot

30

scenery

32

plateau

34

elastic element

36

admission

38

clamping lever

40

Clamping lever bearing

42

Counterbalance spring

46

spring mount

48

adjusting

50

Verstellhebellager

52

adjusting

54

clamping element

56

movable bearing

58

bars

60

lever

62

role

64

hanger

66

pivot point

68

compression spring

70

contact contour

72

damper

74

locking element

76

tappet

78

recess

80

angle

82

push element

84

pivoting lever

88

locking tab

90

opening

91

retaining element

α

opening angle

b

width

F

force

I

longitudinal direction

Claims (14)

Hinge device for a door (2) of a household appliance, in particular a cooking oven with a hinge housing (12), a pivotally mounted thereto sword (6) and a hinge bearing (18) in which the hinge housing (12) is arranged, characterized in that the hinge housing (12) or the hinge bearing (18) without tools, a damper (72) for damping a closing movement of the door (2) can be fastened. Hinge device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge housing (12) in the hinge bearing (18) is arranged without tools dismantled and / or mounted. Hinge device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the damper (72) on the outside of the hinge housing (12) or to the hinge bearing (18) can be fastened. Hinge device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the damper (72) has at least one resiliently connected locking element (74) which cooperates with corresponding, rigidly formed contours on the hinge bearing (18) or hinge housing (12). Hinge device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the hinge housing (12) without tools a thrust element (82) for transmitting a closing force of the door (2) on the damper (72) can be mounted. Hinge device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one opening (90) in the form of a keyhole on the hinge housing (12) or on the push element (82) is arranged. Hinge device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that when the damper (72) is mounted by this the thrust element (82) is held captive. Hinge device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the door (2) when closing at the earliest from a remaining opening angle (α) of 40 ° is attenuated. Domestic appliance with a door (2) and a hinge device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8. Domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the hinge device and the household appliance have corresponding holding means which are arranged such that the hinge bearing (18) and / or the hinge housing (12) freely accessible from a body of the household appliance or from the door (2 ) are removable and / or mountable. A method for retrofitting a damper (72) for an operational hinge device of a door (2) of a household appliance, in particular a Garofens, with a hinge bearing (18) in which a hinge housing (12) is arranged, characterized in that the hinge bearing (18 ) or to the hinge housing (12) without tools, the damper (72) is attached. A method of retrofitting a damper according to claim 11, characterized in that before mounting the damper (72), a pusher member (82) is mounted without tools, whereby a pivot lever (84) of the hinge device with the damper (72) is coupled. A method of retrofitting a damper according to claim 12, characterized in that the pivot lever (84) is rotatably mounted on a tensioning lever (38) and by the tensioning lever (38) a weight compensating spring (42) is tensioned. A method for retrofitting a damper according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the pivot lever (84) from a fixed opening angle (α) of the door (2) by a in the hinge housing (12) arranged locking nose (88) is rotated, which acts on the damper (72) via the push element (82).

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