EP2581533A1

EP2581533A1 - Retractable hinge for windows, doors or articles of furniture

Info

Publication number: EP2581533A1
Application number: EP12188173.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francesco Pucillo; Gaetano Cascini; Giancarlo Soldera
Original assignee: Politecnico di Milano; Otlav SpA
Current assignee: Otlav SpA
Priority date: 2011-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-11
Also published as: ITUD20110160A1; EP2581533B1

Abstract

Retractable hinge for doors, windows or articles of furniture, having a mobile structure (12) articulated with respect to a fixed structure (13), comprising a first containing body (15), a second containing body (16), both hollow inside and suitable to be associated, one with said fixed structure (13) and the other with said mobile structure (12) or vice versa. Said hinge also comprises a first hinging unit (21) and a second hinging unit (22) both disposed inside the two containing bodies (15, 16), in an articulated manner with respect thereto, and an articulation member (26) able to articulate them with respect to each other. The first hinging unit (21) comprises a first end (31) pivoted in the second containing body (16) and a second end (41) connected to a first element (48) mounted oscillating inside the first containing body (15). The second hinging unit (22) comprises a first end (32) pivoted in the first containing body (15) and a second end (42) connected to a second element (53) mounted sliding inside a groove (55) of the second containing body (16).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a hinge of the so-called retractable type, that is, not visible from the outside when it is mounted in windows, doors or articles of furniture, and these are in a closed position. The hinge comprises two hinging units, articulated with respect to each other by means of a central articulation pin and pivoted on two corresponding containing bodies which can be inserted one in a seating of a fixed structure, such as for example the frame of the window, door or article of furniture, and the other in a seating of a corresponding mobile structure, for example a door, a window, a shutter or a panel of a door, window or article of furniture. The hinge allows the mobile structure to open by 180° with respect to the fixed structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of windows, doors and articles of furniture, retractable hinges are known, that is, the type in which, in a closed position, all the elements of which they consist are completely inserted inside the door, window or article of furniture, on which they are mounted, so that they are not visible.
In particular, from the European patent application EP-A-2390446 a retractable hinge is known which comprises two distinct hinging units able to be associated one to the mobile structure and the other to the fixed structure of a door, window, or article of furniture, or vice versa, and an articulation member, able to articulate the two hinging units together in order to allow their reciprocal rotation, for example by 180°, around a central axis (Z). This known hinge is also provided with four distinct adjustment units to adjust both the reciprocal axial position, parallel to the central axis (Z), of the two hinging units, and also the longitudinal position of at least one of the two hinging units with respect to the articulation member, along a longitudinal axis (X) perpendicular to the central axis (Z), and also the transverse position of the articulation member with respect to one of the hinging units, along a transverse axis (Y) perpendicular both to the central axis (Z) and to the longitudinal axis (X), and the transverse position of the articulation member with respect to another hinging unit, along said transverse axis (Y).
The known hinge, although it completely resolves the technical problems relating to the different independent adjustments of the two hinging units and of the articulation member, is rather complex and costly.
From the American patent US-A-3,470,579 a hinge for doors of articles of furniture is known, which allows the door to complete a 180° rotation between the closed position and the open one. This known hinge comprises a pair of levers hinged to each other at their central point. A first lever has one end pivoted on the article of furniture and the other end sliding in a slot of the door. A second lever has one end pivoted on the door and the other end connected to a third lever pivoted on the article of furniture. In this known hinge, the third lever performs an ample and uniform rotary movement, of about 120°, in a determinate direction of rotation, when the door passes from the closed position to the open position, so that this known hinge has the disadvantage that it is not usable as a built-in hinge.
The German patent DE-A-173585 describes a built-in hinge which comprises two containing bodies inside which a first pair of levers, hinged to each other at their central point, is disposed, and another two single levers. The latter each have one end hinged on one of the two levers of the pair of levers and the other end sliding in a corresponding slot made in a containing body. This known hinge has the disadvantage of being rather bulky.
The German patent DE-A-810966 describes a built-in hinge which comprises two containing bodies inside which a pair of levers is disposed, hinged to each other at their central point. Each of the two levers has one end pivoted on a corresponding containing body and the other end sliding in a slot made in the other containing body. This known hinge too has the disadvantage of being rather bulky.
One purpose of the present invention is to make a retractable hinge, to articulate a mobile structure with respect to a fixed structure which, as well as being highly reliable, is more simple, less bulky and therefore less costly than the known ones.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make a retractable hinge which is provided with a kinematic mechanism able to be possibly coupled with generic return means which can enable or facilitate the door, window or article of furniture in which the hinge is mounted, to reach and/or remain in their maximum closed and open positions.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make a retractable hinge which, in the closed position, is advantageously wholly and completely inside the corresponding seatings made in the fixed and mobile structures to be articulated with respect to each other, so that one side of the mobile structure is in contact with a corresponding side of the fixed structure without there being any gap between the two structures, or that the size of such gap can be determined, in the design stage, for example of some millimeters.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a retractable hinge according to the present invention, for doors, windows or articles of furniture, with a mobile structure articulated with respect to a fixed structure, comprises two containing bodies, internally hollow and suitable to be associated one to the fixed structure and the other to the mobile structure, or vice versa. Two hinging units are disposed inside the two containing bodies, in an articulated manner with respect to them, and an articulation member is suitable to articulate the two hinging units with respect to each other. A first of the two hinging units comprises a first end pivoted in one of the two containing bodies and a second end connected to a first element mounted oscillating inside the other of the two containing bodies. The other of the two hinging units in its turn comprises a first end pivoted in the containing body on which said first element is mounted and a second end connected to a second element, mounted sliding inside at least a groove of the containing body, on which said first hinging unit is mounted. The articulation member comprises a central pin, unconstrained from said containing bodies and disposed in an intermediate zone between said first and second ends of the two hinging units. The longitudinal axis of the central pin defines the hinging axis of the hinge.
According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the first element comprises at least a crank lever, with a first end connected to the second end of the first hinging unit and a second end pivoted on a fixed pin of the corresponding containing body. Moreover, the position of the crank lever is such that its motion, during the opening of the mobile structure with respect to the fixed structure, is of the rotary oscillating type. In particular, in order to pass from an initial position, in which the second containing body is substantially closed against the first containing body, to a final position, in which the second containing body is displaced, substantially parallel and rotated by 180° with respect to the first containing body, the crank lever is suitable to carry out a first oscillation with respect to its pin by a first angle in a first direction, and then a second oscillation with respect to its pin by a second angle, in the opposite direction.
According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the groove is arched and the second element comprises a pin mounted sliding and with precision inside the arched groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a schematized plan view of a retractable hinge according to the present invention, in a closed position,
fig. 2 is a schematized plan view, on a reduced scale, of the hinge in fig. 1, in a partly open position, that is, rotated by 90° with respect to the closed position;
fig. 3 is a schematized plan view, on a reduced scale, of the hinge in fig. 1, in its position of maximum opening, that is, rotated by 180° with respect to the closed position;
fig. 4 is a schematized view from IV to IV of fig. 1;
fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the hinge in fig. 1, in a position of maximum opening, in accordance with a first form of embodiment;
fig. 6 is a three-dimensional view of the hinge in fig. 1, in a position of maximum opening, in accordance with a second form of embodiment;
fig. 7 is a schematized and enlarged representation of a detail of the hinge in fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF TWO PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, a hinge 10 of the retractable type according to the present invention is suitable to be used to articulate a generic mobile structure 12, such as for example the panel of a door or window, or of an article of furniture, with respect to a fixed structure 13, consisting for example of the frame of the window, door or article of furniture, between a first position (fig. 1), or closed position, in which the mobile structure 12 is closed with respect to the fixed structure 13, and a second position (fig. 3), or position of maximum opening, in which the mobile structure 12 is rotated by 180° with respect to the fixed structure 13 and vice versa, passing through an intermediate position (fig. 2), in which the mobile structure 12 is rotated by 90° with respect to the fixed structure 13.
The hinge 10 comprises a first containing body 15 (figs. 1 and 4) and a second containing body 16, both substantially parallelepiped in shape and each provided with an internal cavity 18, 19 respectively, in which a first hinging unit 21 and a second hinging unit 22 are disposed. Indicatively and not restrictedly, the width of each containing body 15 and 16 is about 30 mm.
Seen in plan (figs. 1, 2 and 3) the two hinging units 21 and 22, in this case, have the same linear development, as will be described in detail hereafter, while seen frontally (figs. 4, 5 and 6), they are conformed so as to have one or more arms 23, 24 respectively, staggered with respect to each other, so that each arm 23 or 24 of one hinging unit 21 or 22 can be inserted, without interference, between the arms 24 or 23 of the other hinging unit 22 or 21. In particular, in the form of embodiment shown in figs. 1 to 5, the first hinging unit 21 has three arms 23 and the second hinging unit 22 has two arms 24 disposed at intervals between the two arms 23. In the form of embodiment shown in fig. 6, on the other hand, the first hinging unit 21 has only two arms 23, while the second hinging unit 22 has only one arm 24 disposed in a central position between the two arms 23. It is clear that a person of skill in the art will be able to choose the number of arms 23 and 24 and appropriately size them depending on the material used and the load to which the hinge 10 has to be subjected, during use.
The two hinging units 21 and 22 are articulated with respect to each other on a single central pin 26 (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), unconstrained from the containing bodies 15 and 16, and therefore freely mobile with respect to them. The longitudinal axis X (fig. 4) of the central pin 26 defines the hinging axis of the hinge 10.
The two containing bodies 15 and 16 are suitable to be inserted, during use, into two corresponding hollow seatings 28 and 29 made one in the fixed structure 13 and the other respectively in the mobile structure 12.
More particularly, each hinging unit 21 and 22 has a substantially C-shaped linear development, seen in plan, and has a first end 31, respectively 32, pivoted in a pin 35, respectively 36, mounted the first on the second containing body 16 and the other on the first containing body 15, both parallel to the axis X (fig. 4). The two pins 35 and 36 are symmetric and equidistant from the longitudinal axis X of the central pin 26.
A second end 41 (figs. 1 and 4) of the first hinging unit 21 is rotatably connected, by means of a peg 45, which is also parallel to the axis X, to two first ends 46 of a pair of crank levers 48, identical and parallel with respect to each other, which in turn are pivoted, in correspondence to their second ends 49, on a single fixed pin 50 of the first containing body 15, which is also parallel to the axis X.
A second end 52 of the second hinging unit 22, on the other hand, is provided with a peg 53, also parallel to the axis X, which has the ends inserted sliding, and with precision, into two corresponding arched grooves 55, identical and parallel with respect to each other, which are made on two opposite walls of the second containing body 16. In the closed position of the hinge 10, the two pegs 45 and 53 are symmetrical and equidistant from the longitudinal axis X of the central pin 26.
The presence of the crank levers 48 in only one of the two containing bodies, in this case the first containing body 15, is advantageous because it is more versatile in the case of asymmetrical applications: the depth of the second containing body 16, in which there is the translation of the peg 53 inside the arched grooves 55, can be more limited than that of the first containing body 15 which houses the crank levers 48. It is therefore possible to calibrate differently the workings of the fixed structure 13 (for example a doorpost) and of the mobile structure 12 (for example a door), in an advantageous manner according to the needs imposed by constraints, by materials, and/or other.
The hinge 10 as described heretofore functions as follows.
In the closed position the hinge 10 (figs. 1 and 4) is advantageously completely inside the hollow seatings 28 and 29 of the two structures 12 and 13, including the central pin 26, and therefore one side of the mobile structure 12 is in contact with a corresponding side of the fixed structure 13, without there being any gap between the two structures 12 and 13.
By making the mobile structure 12 rotate gradually with respect to the fixed structure 13 by 180° (in a clockwise direction in fig. 1) in order to take it from the closed position, in which the second containing body 16 is closed against the first containing body 15, to the position of maximum opening, shown in fig. 3, in which the second containing body 16 is displaced, is substantially parallel and is rotated by 180° with respect to the first containing body 15, passing from the intermediate position, shown in fig. 2, the following occurs in the hinge 10.
Starting from their initial position (shown schematically by P₀ in fig. 7), the crank levers 48 first perform an oscillation in an anti-clockwise direction by a first determinate angle α (position P₁ in fig. 7), 35° for example, which corresponds to an opening of about 130° of the mobile structure 12, to then perform an oscillation in the opposite direction by a second determinate angle β, 10° for example, so as to move into their final position (indicated schematically by P₂ in fig. 7), while the mobile structure 12 completes its rotation from about 130° to 180° moving into the position of maximum opening (fig. 3).
The angle of opening of the mobile structure 12 in correspondence to which the direction of rotation of the crank levers 48 is inverted, and therefore the action passes from a "closing" action to an "opening " action, and vice versa, can be modified by varying the ratio between the sizes of the crank levers 48 and the arms 23 and 34 which make up the hinging units 21 and 22, as well as the position of the fixed pin 50.
The passage of the peg 45 connected to the second end 41 of the first hinging unit 21 from the initial position P₀ (fig. 7) to the final position P₂, passing from the extreme position P₁, of extra travel, allows to obtain a double position of balance (that is, of closing and of maximum opening) and allows to possibly associate, in any manner known to a person of skill in the art, or which will be developed in future, a return element, not shown in the drawings, to one or both of the crank levers 48, in order to promote the movement of the kinematic mechanism of the hinge 10 toward the two balanced positions of closing and maximum opening.
With the hinge 10 in its position of maximum opening (fig. 3), the mobile structure 12 is distanced by about 20 mm from the fixed structure 13.
Moreover, during said rotation by 180° of the mobile structure 12 with respect to the fixed structure 13, the peg 53 slides freely inside the two arched grooves 55. In this way the peg 53, translating in the arched grooves 55, advantageously promotes a gentle braking, during both opening and closing, thanks to the use of friction phenomena against the internal walls of the arched grooves 55.
In this specific case, also the translation movement of the peg 53 inside the arched grooves 55 is similar to that of the peg 45, in the sense that the peg 53 also carries out a first translation in one direction, between an initial position (fig. 1) and a position of maximum travel, which corresponds to an opening of about 130° of the mobile structure 12, and then translates in the inverse direction, so as to move into its final position (fig. 3), when the mobile structure 12, completing its rotation from about 130° to 180°, has moved into its position of maximum opening.
Moreover, the kinematic mechanism of the hinge 10 thus has a second element (in this case the peg 53) which carries out a translation movement, which can be possibly used to associate to it another return element, or resistance element, or a damping device, of any known type, or which will be developed in the future.
From the preceding description it is clear that the first hinging unit 21 comprises a first end 31 pivoted in the second containing body 16 and a second end 41 connected to a first element, which in this case consists of the two crank levers 48, mounted oscillating inside the first containing body 15, and that the second hinging unit 22 comprises a first end 32 pivoted in the first containing body 15 and a second end 42 connected to a second element, which in this case consists of the peg 53, mounted sliding inside at least one groove 55 of the second containing body 16.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hinge 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, in a simplified version a single crank lever 48 could be provided and/or a single arched groove 55.
Moreover, for example, the first containing body 15, which houses the crank levers 49, could be disposed in the hollow seating 29 of the mobile structure 12 and the second containing body 16, provided with the arched grooves 55, could be disposed in the hollow seating 28 of the fixed structure 13, thus inverting the kinematic mechanism of the hinge 10.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of retractable hinge for doors, windows or articles of furniture, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Retractable hinge for doors, windows or articles of furniture, having a mobile structure (12) articulated with respect to a fixed structure (13), comprising a first containing body (15), a second containing body (16), both hollow inside and suitable to be associated, one with said fixed structure (13) and the other with said mobile structure (12) or vice versa, a first hinging unit (21) and a second hinging unit (22) both disposed inside said two containing bodies (15, 16), in an articulated manner with respect thereto, and an articulation member (26) able to articulate said two hinging units (21 and 22) with respect to each other, wherein said first hinging unit (21) comprises a first end (31) pivoted in said second containing body (16) and a second end (41) connected to a first element (48) mounted oscillating inside said first containing body (15), and wherein said second hinging unit (22) comprises a first end pivoted in said first containing body (15) and a second end (42) connected to a second element (53) mounted sliding inside at least a groove (55) of said second containing body (16), characterized in that said first element comprises at least a crank lever (48), having a first end (46) connected to said second end (41) of said first hinging unit (21) and a second end (49) pivoted on a fixed pin (50) of said first containing body (15) and in that, in order to pass from an initial position (P₀) in which said second containing body (16) is substantially closed against said first containing body (15), to a final position (P₂) in which said second containing body (16) is displaced, substantially parallel and rotated by 180° with respect to said first containing body (15), said crank lever (48) is suitable to effect a first oscillation with respect to its pin (50) by a first angle (α) in a first direction, and then a second oscillation with respect to its pin (50) by a second angle (β) in the opposite direction.
Retractable hinge as in claim 1, characterized in that said articulation member comprises a pin (26) whose longitudinal axis (X) defines the hinging axis of said hinge (10), said pin being unconstrained from said containing body (15, 16) and disposed in an intermediate zone between said first ends (31, 32) and said second ends (41, 42) of said hinging units (21, 22).
Retractable hinge as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the amplitude of said second angle (β) is different from that of said first angle (α).
Retractable hinge as in claim 3, characterized in that the amplitude of said second angle (β) is less than the amplitude of said first angle (α).
Retractable hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that in order to pass from said initial position (P₀) to said final position (P₁), said crank lever (48) is suitable to reach, oscillating with respect to said fixed pin (50), an extreme position (P₁), beyond said final position (P₂), to then return, oscillating in the opposite direction, toward said final position (P₂), the amplitude of the oscillation of said crank lever (48) between said final position (P₂) and said extreme position (P₁) being equal to that of said second angle (β).
Retractable hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second oscillation of said crank lever (48) is suitable to begin when said second containing body (16) is rotated by about 130° with respect to said first containing body (15) starting from said initial position (P₀).
Retractable hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said groove (55) is arched and in that said second element comprises a peg (53) mounted sliding and with precision inside said arched groove (55).
Retractable hinge as in claim 7, characterized in that said peg (53) is suitable to translate in said groove (55) passing from an initial position in which said second containing body (16) is substantially closed against said first containing body (15), to a final position in which said second containing body (16) is displaced, substantially parallel and rotated by 180° with respect to said first containing body (15), effecting a first translation in a first direction and then a second translation in the opposite direction, with an amplitude less than that of said first direction.
Retractable hinge as in claim 8, characterized in that said second translation of said peg (53) is suitable to begin when said second containing body (16) is rotated by about 130° with respect to said first containing body (15) starting from said initial position.