EP3056644A1

EP3056644A1 - Adjustable and compact hinge device

Info

Publication number: EP3056644A1
Application number: EP16153607.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eros Gherardi
Original assignee: CMI Cerniere Meccaniche Industriali SRL
Current assignee: CMI Cerniere Meccaniche Industriali SRL
Priority date: 2015-02-13
Filing date: 2016-02-01
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-01
Also published as: ITUB20150164A1; PL3056644T3; TR201802300T4; EP3056644B1; ES2662245T3

Abstract

An adjustable and compact hinge device comprises a first connection means (3) assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame and connected by at least one hinge pin (4) to a second connection means (5) assigned to be fixed to a door or a shutter for rotating it with respect to the first connection means (3) between open and closed extreme conditions.

Said device (1) comprises a sliding friction means (7) that translates with sliding friction along a rectilinear respective seat (9) fixed to a or carried out onto a first face of the first connection means (3). Such friction means (7) is fixed to a mobile means (11) placed in correspondence of a second face, opposite to the first, of the first connection means (3).

The device (1) further comprises a connecting rod means (13) whose ends are rotatably connected, by corresponding pins, respectively to the mobile means (11) and to the second connection means (5) mutually connecting them.

The friction means (7) is oval or rectangular shaped with two parallel longitudinal sides and the respective seat (9) has an elongated and concave shape with parallel longitudinal sides and with complementary cross section to that of the friction means (7).

The bottom of the seat (9) for the friction means (7) has a pass through slot (15) parallel to the longitudinal sides and assigned to the free sliding of a stem of a screw (19) for the connection between the friction means (7) and the mobile means (11) for the pressure adjusting of the friction means (7) against the seat (9) and then for the adjustment of the sliding friction.

One between the friction means (7) and the mobile means (11) bears a female screw (20) for the stem of the screw (19) and the other (11, 7) has a hole for the free passage of the screw stem and bears a compressible elastic member for the elastic separation of the latter means (11, 7) from the screw (19) head.

Description

The present invention relates to the field concerning the hinges and refers to an adjustable and compact hinge device especially suitable for doors or shutters with horizontal and lower rotation axis for furniture, furnishings and household appliances, craft made and industrial equipment, such as ovens and dishseals.
There are known hinges for doors or shutters with horizontal and lower rotation axis, provided with elastic elements and with friction elements assigned to respectively balance the weight of the door and to allow the slowing and/or stopping and the stabilization in one or more positions.
One drawback of some of these known hinges consists in that the braking action exerted by the friction elements can be insufficient and it is not adjustable.
Another drawback of some known hinges consists in that they are very complex and bulky.
Further drawback of some of these known hinges consists in that the forces which are transmitted among their various elements and organs are very high and exert very intense stresses requiring the use of oversized materials, very robust and machined with high accuracy causing high costs, weights and excessive dimensions, significant wears and excessive sensitivity to the accidental presence of liquids, detergents or oils due to the consequent excessive reduction of the friction that causes these materials.
Other drawback consists in that these known hinges generally do not provide a closing force sufficient to determine the optimal contact of the door with the perimetric seal of the mouth of the ovens or determine the lock of the closing of the door by the respective closing.
Document EP 1183988 (CMI SRL) discloses a hinge device according to the preamble of claim 1.
One object of the present invention is to propose a balanced hinge device provided with a brake able of exerting a controlled braking action.
Further object is to propose a device able to modulate the braking action in one or more sectors of the hinge rotation arc, for example to reduce the braking action in the end portion of the closing stroke of the door.
Further object is to propose a device able, with a single balancing spring of elastic means, to balance and reversibly stop doors and shutters of different weights and dimensions in all closing and opening, intermediate and extreme positions.
Other object is to propose a compact, reliable and long-lasting device.
Further object is to propose a device able to realize a reversible intermediate stop position, to allow to stop the door in one or more positions between the opening and the closing, for example in a condition near to the closure, to implement the functionality "grill" of an oven.
Other object is to propose a device allowing the door with a closing free end stroke with a force sufficient to cause the closing of a door lock or the optimal abutment with a seal.
The characteristics of the invention are highlighted in the following with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of the adjustable and compact hinge device, object of the present invention, in a closing condition of a door or of a shutter, not shown, in which some parts have been cut away to better illustrate others sectioned;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of a sectional detail of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in a complete opening condition;
Figure 4 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in a condition of reversible stop in a partial opening position and, in which some parts have been cut away to better illustrate other sectioned parts;
Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged view of a sectional detail of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows the device in the same condition of Figure 1 seen from the opposite side of such figure 1 and in which some parts have been removed to better illustrate other sectioned parts;
Figure 7 shows a view of the device of figure 6 in a condition of complete opening;
Figure 8 shows a view of the device of figure 6 in a condition of reversible stop in a partial opening position and, in which some parts have been removed to better illustrate other sectioned parts;
Figure 9 shows an axonometric and exploded view of the device object of the present invention.

With reference to figures 1 - 9, numeral 1 indicates the adjustable and compact hinge device object of the present invention assigned to be applied, preferably in couple of examples, to the sides of the base of an opening of an apparatus, such as an oven or a washing machine, for a respective closing door.
The device 1 comprises a first connection means 3 assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame of the device, and a second connection means 5 assigned to be fixed to the door or shutter to rotate this door with respect to the first connection means 3 and to the frame of the apparatus, between the opened and the closed extreme conditions.
For this purpose, the first 3 and second 5 connection means, are mutually connected by a hinge pin 4 perpendicular to them.
The second connection means 5 assigned to be attached to the door, is thin and elongated in shape and bears the seat for the hinge pin 4 at one end thereof. In a closed operative condition C in which the second connection means 5 is almost vertical, such end of the second connection means 5 bearing the hinge pin 4 is the lower end.
The device 1 comprises a sliding friction means 7 moving, with sliding friction, along a respective rectilinear seat 9 fixed to or formed in a first face of the first connection means 3.
Said friction means 7 is fixed to a mobile means 11, for example consisting of a shaped arm with rectilinear and lengthened longitudinal extension made of metal sheet, placed in correspondence of the second face, opposite the first, of the first connection means 3, or sliding in abutment with the second face.
The device is also provided with a connecting rod means 13, of straight, flat and elongated shape, and made of metal sheet, whose ends are rotatably connected, by means of corresponding pins, respectively at one end of the mobile means 11 and to the second connection means 5 connecting them each other.
In the closed operating condition, the seat formed in the second connection means 5 for the connection pin of such second connection means 5 to the connecting rod means 13 is made slightly above the seat for the hinge pin 4.
The friction means 7 has a rectangular or preferably oval shape with two parallel longitudinal and beveled sides; the respective seat 9 has an elongated and concave shape with parallel longitudinal sides and with transversal cross-section complementary to that of the longitudinal sides of the friction means 7.
In particular, the friction means 7 and the respective seat 9 have transversal cross sections in the shape of an isosceles trapezium.
The friction means 7 is made of plastic, of resin or of copper alloy or of aluminum and the seat 9 and the mobile means 11 are made of metal sheet and slide in mutual contact or via the interposition of a pillow, pad or plastic washer for example made of nylon® or of Teflon®.
Alternatively and to increase friction, it is provided that the seat can be flat and/or two flat friction means are provided, one in abutment with a face of the seat and the other in abutment with the other face of the seat and interposed between that face and the mobile means 11; in such a case it is not provided the pad or the plastic washer.
The bottom of the seat 9 for the friction means 7 has a pass through slot 15 parallel to the longitudinal sides and assigned to the free sliding of the stem of a screw 19 for connecting the friction means 7 to the mobile means 11 for the regulation of the pressure of the friction means 7 against the seat 9 and thus for adjusting the intensity of the sliding friction.
The friction means 7 carries a female screw 20, for example formed in a metal insert embedded in the thickness of the friction means 7, for the threaded stem of the screw 19 and the mobile means 11 has a hole for the free passage of the stem of the screw and optionally carries a compressible elastic member for the elastic separation of the latter mobile means 11 from the screw head. Alternatively, the nut, or female screw, can be formed in the mobile means 11 and the hole for the stem may be made into the friction means 7.
The end of the mobile means 11 opposite to the connecting rod means 13 is connected to a body means 22 sliding along the longitudinal development of the second face of the first connection means 3 and/or in a direction almost perpendicular to the second connection means 5 in the closed extreme condition and/or in a direction parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis of the seat 9 for the friction means 7.
The connection between the body means 22 and the mobile means 11 can be realized by means of a pivot pin, as illustrated in the figures or, if the translational motion of the body means 22 is parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis of the seat 9, such body means 22 and the mobile means 11 possibly may be in a single body.
A simple variant whose understanding does not require specific figures, provides that the longitudinal edges of the seat 9 can have sections spaced further apart or divergent, for example the distance between the portions of the edges of the seat 9 opposite to the second connection means 5 can be increased to reduce the friction during the terminal phase of the closing stroke of the door.
The device 1 comprises a first elastic means 24 acting in compression between a first fixing 23 fixed to or formed in the first connection means 3 and a second fixing 25 fixed to or formed in a side edge of the body means 22 to impart the second connection means 5 a closing elastic force.
The device 1 can also comprise an optional sliding block means 26, rotatably connected by a respective pivot pin 27 to the transverse edge of the body means 22 opposite, with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis of the seat 9, to the one bearing the second fixing, in which such sliding block means 26 slides with sliding friction along a first lip or fin or shaped edge 28 of the first connection means 3.
Optionally the invention provides that the body means 22 is provided with a further friction pad, not shown, equal and opposite to the first sliding block means 26.
The first elastic means 24 is almost completely included inside the profile of the first connection means 3 and it is of the type comprising a helical spring and a spring guide; the latter and the first lip, fin or shaped edge 28 are preferably parallel to the seat 9. It must be observed that such provision of the device makes it extremely more compact with respect to the known where the spring and spring guide protrude completely outward the connection means. This compactness allows to fix the first connection means 3 to the frame or to the structure of an oven laterally with respect to the mouth.
The device 1 is also provided with a rolling means 30, for example consisting of a roller or a metal roller having a pivot pin 29 fixed to a respective carriage 31 that is fixed to a transverse edge of the body means 22 by means of translation means or preferably, and as shown, by means of an oscillation pin 32; a second spring means 34 acting in compression between a respective first matching means 35 fixed to or formed in the body means 22 and a second matching means 37 attached to or formed in the carriage 31 to transmit to the rolling means 30 an elastic force thrusting the latter 30 against a second lip, fin or shaped edge 36 of the first connection means 3.
The lips, fins or edges 28, 36 are preferably mutually parallel and orthogonal to the main geometric plane of the first connecting means 3.
The second lip, fin or shaped edge 36 of the first connection means 3 comprises at least one among protrusion, recess, step, inclined plane and rib 38 assigned to abut the rolling means 30 to provide the second connection means 5 one or more intermediate positions of arrest elastically removable and/or a pushing force towards the closing in the end portion of the closing rotation of said second connection means 5. As illustrated in Figure 2, the second lip 36 of the first connection means 3 of the device comprises a rib 38 which by acting on the rolling means 30, as in the closed condition C of such figure, provides a certain stability to the closed condition and an abutment force of the door against the seal of the mouth. When the rolling means bears the opposite side of the rib 38, as in Figure 5, the protrusion provides a position of slight opening, called "grill" opening which is stable up to the application of a suitable opening or closing force.
The operation of the device 1 provides that, starting from the open condition A, the application to the door of a closing force, assisted by the elastic force of the spring and partially counteracted by the friction of the friction means 7 and of the sliding block means 26 allows to rotate the door up to the "grill" position to overcome which it will be needed a moderate increase of the closing force; just past the "grill" position, the second elastic means 34 in cooperation with the rib 38 provides an additional force directed towards the closure making stable the closed condition until the application of an overcoming opening force.
The friction means 7 and the sliding block means 26 guarantee the stability of all the intermediate positions between the open and the "grill" condition.
The screw 19 is used to adjust the braking action of the friction means 7 allowing adapt the device to doors with different sizes and weights.

Claims

Adjustable and compact hinge device comprising a first connection means (3) assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame and connected by at least one hinge pin (4) to a second connection means (5) assigned to be fixed to a door or a shutter for rotating it with respect to the first connection means (3) between open and closed extreme conditions; said device (1) comprises a sliding friction means (7) that translates with sliding friction along a rectilinear respective seat (9) fixed to a or carried out onto a first face of the first connection means (3), such friction means (7) is fixed to a mobile means (11) placed in correspondence of a second face, opposite to the first, of the first connection means (3); the device (1) comprises a connecting rod means (13) whose ends are rotatably connected, by corresponding pins, respectively to the mobile means (11) and to the second connection means (5) mutually connecting them; said device (1) is characterized in that the friction means (7) is oval or rectangular shaped with two parallel longitudinal sides and the respective seat (9) has an elongated and concave shape with parallel longitudinal sides and with complementary cross section to that of the friction means (7); the bottom of the seat (9) for the friction means (7) has a pass through slot (15) parallel to the longitudinal sides and assigned to the free sliding of a stem of a screw (19) for the connection between the friction means (7) and the mobile means (11) for the pressure adjusting of the friction means (7) against the seat (9) and then for the adjustment of the sliding friction; where one between the friction means (7) and the mobile means (11) bears a female screw (20) for the stem of the screw (19) and the other (11, 7) has a hole for the free passage of the screw stem and bears a compressible elastic member for the elastic separation of the latter means (11, 7) from the screw (19) head.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the parallel and longitudinal sides of the friction means (7) and of the respective seat (9) are beveled.
Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the end of the mobile means (11) opposite to the connecting rod means (13) is connected to a body means (22) sliding along the first connection means (3) in a direction at least approximately perpendicular to the elongated shaped second connection means (5) in the extreme closed condition and/or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seat (9) for the friction means (7).
Device according to claim 3 characterized in that it comprises a first elastic means (24) acting in compression between a first connection fixed to or carried out in the first connection means (3) and an second connection for said elastic means fixed to or carried out in a side edge of the body means (22) to transmit to the second connection means (5) a closing elastic force.
Device according to claim 4 characterized in that it comprises a sliding block means (26) rotatably connected by a respective rotation pin to the edge of the body means (22) opposed to the edge of the body means (22) bearing the second connection, where such a sliding block means (26) slides with friction along a first lip, a fin or a shaped edge (28) of the first connection means (3).
Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the first elastic means (24) is almost completely inside the profile of the first connection means (3) and it comprises a helical spring and a spring guide; the latter and the first lip, fin or shaped edge (28) are preferably parallel to the seat (9).
Device according to any of claims 3-6 characterized in that it comprises a rolling means (30) pivoted to a respective carriage (31) connected to an edge of the body means (22) by translation means or an oscillation pin (32).
Device according to claim 7 characterized in that it comprises a second elastic means (34) acting in compression between his first matching means (35) fixed to or carried out in the body means (22) and its second matching means (37) fixed to or carried out in the carriage (31) for transmitting to the rolling means (30) an abutment elastic force pushing the latter against a second lip, fin or shaped edge (36) of the first connection means (3).
Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the second lip, fin or shaped edge (36) of the first connection means (3) comprises at least one among protrusion, recess, step, inclined plane and rib (38) assigned to abut the rolling means (30) for providing to the second connection means (5) one or more intermediate positions of elastically removable arrest and/or a thrusting force acting towards the closing during the end portion of the closing rotation of the second connection means (5).
Device according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the friction means (7) and the respective seat (9) have cross sections of an isosceles trapezium shape; the friction means (7) is made of plastic, resin or copper alloy or aluminum and the seat (9) and the mobile means (11) are made of metal sheet and slide in mutual contact or through the interposition of a plastic pillow.