EP3591156A1

EP3591156A1 - Hinge with dampening element for pieces of furniture

Info

Publication number: EP3591156A1
Application number: EP19183374.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Corbetta
Original assignee: Danco SpA
Current assignee: Danco SpA
Priority date: 2018-07-02
Filing date: 2019-06-28
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-28
Also published as: EP3591156B1; IT201800006848A1; ES2875573T3

Abstract

A hinge (1) for pieces of furniture comprises a first end portion (2) suitable for being coupled with either a structure of the piece of furniture, such as a side or an upright, and a door movable with respect to such structure, a link member (3) subject to a spring (7) and connected to such first hinge portion (2) and suitable for being connected to a second hinge portion (4) coupled with the other of said structure, such as a side or an upright, and said door, said link member (3) comprising first and second interconnected elements (5, 6) connected to the first and second hinge portions (2, 4) respectively, a dampening element (8), equipped with a piston (64) and a cylinder (77), being provided, suitable for braking at least the closing movement of the hinge (1) whereby the door moves towards the structure of the piece of furniture, such dampening element (8) being associated with the second element (6) of the link member (3) of the hinge, a first and a second gear elements (51, 55) being provided, permanently engaged to each other and integrally with said first and second interconnected elements (5, 6) respectively, the second gear element being connected in a selectively separatable manner to said dampening element and activating the latter along with the movement of the hinge only when they are connected to each other.

Description

The scope of the present invention is a hinge for pieces of furniture according to the preamble of the main claim.
Hinges for pieces of furniture provided with a dampening element suitable for braking the movement of a door of a piece of furniture on the structure of the latter, for instance upon closing it, are known for a long time. Such hinges are implemented in a variety of ways different from each other. For example, they comprise such dampening element that is an integral part of the hinge: for example, such dampening element is longitudinally secured to an articulated or link member of a hinge and is suitable for co-operating with a first part of the hinge connected to the door, while the latter is moving (in general, is being closed). In this way, the closing movement is braked or dampened, thus preventing such door from violently slapping in the above-mentioned structure. In another solution, the dampening element is secured to a part of the hinge constrained to the structure of a piece of furniture and directly acts onto the link member whenever the door is being closed.
In a further known solution the dampening element is longitudinally inserted within a first element of the link member of the hinge and co-operates with driving means interposed between said first element of said hinge member and a second element of such hinge member.
However, the known solutions are often difficult and expensive to implement because, for example, they are implemented during the manufacturing step together with the dampening element associated therewith. Also, some known hinges feature non-negligible dimensions or space occupation, for example because of the dampening element being positioned outside the link member; this also affects the appearance of the piece of furniture.
Other known solutions have a unique application in that the dampening hinges "are born" the dampening element being secured to the link member or to another part of the hinge. Therefore, it is not possible to separate the component parts (dampening element and link member or another part of the hinge, for example the body that secures the latter to the door) from each other. Consequently, a furniture manufacturer shall stock both dampening hinges and non-dampening hinges even though the hinge, taken as a whole (link member and body), is basically the same. This results in a greater investment in terms of component parts and in a need for having space available for storing such component parts.
An object of the present invention is to offer a dampening hinge, i.e. a hinge provided with a dampening element, that overcomes the drawbacks of the known solutions.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to offer a hinge of the mentioned type that is easy to implement and assemble and such that, even though equipped with a dampening element, the latter can be used only when so desired and necessary.
These objects and others which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by a hinge according to the attached claims.
In order to make the present invention better understandable, the following drawings are attached hereto for merely explanatory, non-limitative purposes, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a dampening hinge that does not fall within the scope of protection of the present invention;
figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a cross sectional view according to line 3-3 in figure 1;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of a hinge according to the invention;
figure 5 shows an exploded perspective of the hinge of figure 4;
figure 6 shows a cross sectional view according to line 6-6 in figure 4, the hinge being set to a first operating position;
figure 7 shows a cross sectional view according to line 7-7 in figure 4; and
figures 8 and 9 show cross sectional views similar to those of figures 6 and 7, the hinge of figure 4 being set to a second working position.

With reference to figures 1-3, a dampening hinge is generally identified by the reference numeral 1 and is suitable for connecting a door of a piece of furniture to a structure, be it a side or an upright of the latter (neither of them shown), so as to allow for its movement. Such hinge comprises a first portion (or body) 2 suitable for being associated with a door of a piece of furniture, a link member 3 connected to such first portion and a second portion 4 which the link member 3 is connected to and is suitable for being connected to the structure, be it a side or an upright, of such piece of furniture. Obviously, the first portion 2 can be associated with the structure and the second portion 4 with said door of a piece of furniture.
The link member 3 comprises a first element 5 connected to the first hinge portion 2 and a second element 6 connected to the second hinge portions 4. A basically helical-shaped spring 7 with end arms 7A and 7B and a protruding intermediate portion 7C is interposed therebetween. The second hinge element 6 receives a dampening element 8.
The first and second elements of the link member 3 will be hereafter referred to as first and second interconnected element 5, 6 respectively. They form together an articulated quadrilateral link, subject to the action exerted by the spring 7, which allows the movement of the hinge 1.
More specifically, the first interconnected element 5 comprises two component parts 10 and 11. The first component part 10 comprises pairs of end wings 14 and 15 with through holes 14A and 15A respectively, and the second component part comprises a folded portion 18 delimiting a hole 19 at one first end 17 and wings 21 with through holes 22 at a second end 20. The portion 7C of the spring 7 runs on said second end.
A U-shaped pin 23 comprises arms 24 and 25 suitable for penetrating a pair of holes 26 and 27 respectively, facing the first hinge portion or body 2. The first arm 24 also co-operates with the holes 14A of the first component part 10 of the interconnected element 5 and constrains it to such body. The hole 19 of the second component part 11 of such element 5 receives the arm 25 of the pin 23 which thus constrains it to the body 2.
A pin 31 penetrates the turns of the spring 7 and constrains it to the wings 15 (by going through the holes 15A) of the first component part 10 of the first interconnected element, said pin 31 also penetrating coaxial holes 33 of a first component part of the second interconnected element 6, thus constraining the latter to the first component part 10 of the first interconnected element 5. Such holes 33 are provided in wings 35 of such component part 34. The latter comprises a portion 37 interposed between said wings 35 on which the arms 7A and 7B of the spring 7 rest.
The first component part 34 of the second interconnected element 6 features parallel side walls 38 projecting from the edges of a flat portion 40 including a hole 41 and a slot (or elliptical hole) 42. The walls 38 include corresponding coaxial holes 43, 44, and 45 respectively.
The holes 43 are suitable for receiving a pin 48 which also co-operates with the through holes 22 of the wings 21 of the second component part 11 of the first interconnected element 5. In addition, such pin 48 also penetrates a hole 50 of a first gear element 51 having protruding wings 52 with a free edge 53 shaped like a toothed sector. Such first gear element 51 is secured to the two interconnected elements, i.e. it is fixedly inserted between the above-mentioned wings 21. This is also achieved thanks to the first gear element 51 exerting a pressure onto the intermediate portion 7C of the spring 7.
A second gear element 55, including a toothed or partially toothed (as shown in the figures) portion 56 is suitable for directly co-operating with the partially toothed wings 52. Such second element 55 includes a through hole 60 receiving a pin 61 which also connects the coaxial holes 44 of the first component part 34 of the second interconnected element 6. The second gear element 55 is placed in and can rotate between the side walls 38 of such first component part 34 and is eccentrically connected to a piston 64 of the dampening element 8 via a pin 63. In particular, the pin 63 penetrates coaxial, eccentric holes 65 of parallel wings 62 of the second gear element 55 and a hole 66 within the stem 67 of the piston 64. Such stem is located between the wings 62.
The dampening element 8 is contained within a second component part 70 of the second interconnected element 6 inserted between the side walls 38 of the first component part 34 of such second interconnected element 6. Such second component part 70 is slidingly integral (in the longitudinal direction) with the first component part 34 thanks to a screw 71 having a mushroom end 72, whose narrow portion is received within a slot 73 (open at one end 74) of such second component part.
The piston 64 is movable in a hydraulic oil cylinder 77 secured to the holes 45 of the walls 38 of the first component part 34 of the second interconnected element 6 by way of a pin 78 passing through a hole 79 of its own. The pin 78 goes within slots 80 correspondingly provided in opposed walls 82 of the second component part 70; such walls delimit an inner cavity 70A of the component part 70. A usual rocker arm 84 movable on the second portion 4 of the hinge 1 under the control of a contrast spring 85 is associated with such walls 82, via a pin 83 (inserted in holes 87).
A second screw 90 co-operating with a hole 91 in a wall 92 of the second component part 70 (from the edges of which the walls 82 depart) and with the slot 42 allows a transversal (orthogonal to its own longitudinal axis K) adjustment of the hinge 1.
In use, closing a door with respect to the frame of piece of a furniture leads to a relative rotation between the elements 5 and 6 of the link member 3 of the hinge. This rotation takes place about the pins 31 and 48.
It follows that the second gear element 55 moves on the first gear element 51, which is fixed: as a matter of fact, the partially toothed portion 56 moves on the partially toothed wings 52. This results in such element 55 rotating about the pin 61 and in the wings 62 of such element 55 acting onto the piston 64 of the dampening element 8 which they are integral with via the pin 63.
The pin 61 moves longitudinally (along the axis K) in the cylinder 77 thus dampening the closing movement of the door.
It is possible indeed to use the same elements as described above to have not only a door closing movement, but also a door opening movement dampened, provided a dual effect dampener is selected.
Thanks to the co-operation of gear (or partially toothed) elements, the movement of a hinge can take place accurately and at a constant speed, which can be properly selected by selecting the number of the toothed parts that are in contact.
The above-described solution relates to a hinge 1 that is permanently dampened and is not part of the present invention. Conversely, the solution illustrated in figures 4 thru 9 relates to a hinge 1 that is selectively dampened, i.e. a hinge wherein the function performed by the dampening element 8 can be activated and deactivated.
In figures 4 thru 9, those parts which correspond to those of the already described figures are identified by the same reference numerals.
The main difference between the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 thru 3 and that illustrated in figures 4 thru 9 consists in that the cylinder 77 of the dampening element 8 is not integral with the first component part 34 of the second interconnected element 6, but is rather inserted within the inner cavity 70A of the second component part 70 and is integral with a body 100 featuring a structure closed on several sides; such body 100 features an overturned U-shaped cross section and includes an inner cavity 101 wherein the end portion 102 of the cylinder 77 (opposed to that from which the piston 64 comes out), including a hole 79, is located. Parallel side walls 103 are present beside such cavity 101 and include axially elongate holes 106 (i.e. holes parallel to the axis K of the hinge) containing the opposed ends 78K and 78W of the pin 78 and ending each in a side recess 108 of their own (i.e. with an axis laying in a plane orthogonal to such axis K), close to an end wall 107 which closes the cavity 101.
The cross section of the body 10 is shaped like a reversed C; a threaded hole 111 present in a wall 110, from the edges of which the walls 103 and 107 depart, is suitable for co-operating with a screw 112 placed outside the element 6. Such screw 112 reaches said hole 111 via a hole 115 (wherein the screw 112 is axially secured) cut in the flat portion 40 of the first component part 34 and through an opening 117 provided in the wall 92 of the second component part 70 of the second interconnected element 6.
Such screw 112 can screw in or out of such hole 111 and consequently draw the body 100 towards said wall 92 (upon screwing in) or move it away from the wall (upon screwing out). This results in the following consequences: thanks to the screw 112 screwing in the hole 111, the pin 78 positions inside the side recess 108 of every hole 106. In this way, the cylinder 77 is locked in the body 10 and consequently in the element 6 of the link member; in this case, the hinge 1 operates as a dampening hinge.
Conversely, if the screw 111 is screwed out of the hole 112, the body 100 moves away (with its wall 110) from the wall 92 of the second component part 70 of the second interconnected element 6 and the pin 78 positions within every hole 106 in a position external to its corresponding recess.
In this way, whenever the hinge closes (or opens, if the cylinder is a dual-effect one), the action exerted by the second gear element 55 onto the piston 64 of the dampening element 8 also leads to a movement of the cylinder 77 along the axis K of the hinge, because such cylinder is not held by anything within the second component part 70 of the second interconnected element 6 (the pin 78 can freely run in the holes 106).
Therefore, the hinge is not dampened.
The hinges implemented according to the invention permanently provide an optimum dampening action, which can be finely adjusted by properly selecting the number of teeth of the wings 52 of the first gear element 51 and the partially toothed portion 56 of the second gear element 55.
In addition, in a variant of the invention, one and the same hinge can be implemented in such a way as to make it a dampening hinge or not, at user's discretion.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described. However, other embodiments are possible in the light of the previous description, all of which are to be considered as falling within the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

A hinge (1) for pieces of furniture comprising a first end portion (2) suitable for being coupled with either a structure of the piece of furniture, such as a side or an upright, or a door movable with respect to such structure, a link member (3) subject to a spring (7) and connected to such first hinge portion (2) and suitable for being connected to a second hinge portion (4) coupled with the other of said structure and said door, said link member (3) comprising first and second interconnected elements (5, 6) connected to the first and second hinge portions (2, 4) respectively, a dampening element (8), equipped with a piston (64) and a cylinder (77), being provided, suitable for braking at least the closing movement of the hinge (1) whereby the door moves towards the structure of the piece of furniture, such dampening element (8) being associated with the second element (6) of the link member (3), said hinge comprising a first and a second gear element (51, 55) permanently engaged to each other and integral with said first and second interconnected elements (5, 6) respectively, the second gear element (55) being connected to said dampening element (8) and the latter being activated whenever said door moves with respect to the structure of the piece of furniture, characterized in that the second interconnected element (6) comprises a first component part (34) hinged (at 31) on the first interconnected element (5), and a second component part (70) adjustably inserted inside said first component part (34), said second component part (70) containing the dampening element (8), said dampening element being alternatively stably locked in said second interconnected element (6) or being selectively unlockable and movable in the latter so as to allow to activate or deactivate a dampening function of said dampening element (8) on the hinge.
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder (77) of said dampening element (8) is integral with the first component part (34) of the second interconnected element (6).
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder (77) of said dampening element (8), contained in said second component part (70) of the second interconnected element (6), includes an end portion (102) inserted within an inner cavity (101) of a body (100) placed within said second component part (70), the cross section of said body (100) having the shape of an overturned U delimiting said inner cavity (101), axially elongate holes (106) being provided in parallel side walls (103) of said body, wherein ends (78K, 78W) of a transversal pin (78) integral with the cylinder (77) of said dampening element (8) are positioned, every hole having a side recess (108) whose axis is orthogonal to that of its respective hole (106) suitable for lockably receiving said opposed ends (78K, 78W) of said pin (78) in such operating position of the hinge (1) wherein the dampening element (8) controls its movement, in a second operating position the ends (78K, 78W) of said pin being inside said axially elongate holes (106) so as to allow a free movement of the cylinder within the second component part (70) of the second interconnected element (6) and a movement of the hinge without dampening, said body (100) being subject to the action exerted by a screw (112) drivable outside said second interconnected element (6) and suitable for defining the use of the hinge alternatively as a dampening or non-dampening hinge.
The hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that said screw (112) co-operates with a hole (111) provided in a wall (110) of said body (100) carrying the parallel side walls (103), said screw (112) reaching said hole (111) through a hole (115) in the first component part (34) of said second interconnected element (6) and an opening (117) in a wall (92) of the second component part (70) of said second element (6).
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the first gear element (51) is fixed and the second gear element (55) is movable on the first gear element (51) .
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the second gear element (55) is eccentrically hinged (at 65) with respect to the dampening element (8).
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said first interconnected element (5) comprises two component parts (10, 11), the second component part (11) carrying the first gear element (51), the spring (7) being hinged (at 31) on the first component part (10) and featuring a portion (7C) thereof suitable for exerting a pressure on said first gear element (51), a pin (31) defining the hinge about which the spring (6) is located thus also hinge-constraining said first interconnected element (5) to the second interconnected element (6).
The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said first gear element (51) includes at least one portion (52) having a free edge (53) shaped like a toothed sector, a toothed portion (56) of the second gear element engaging said free edge (53).
The hinge according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the second gear member (55) is eccentrically hinged on the piston (64) of the dampening element (8).