EP4299867A1 - Folding door hinge and functional unit with a folding door - Google Patents

Abstract

The folding door hinge (3) comprises a first hinge lever (31), which has a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140) and a second lever end piece (312), which is connected to a first mounting part (39). or is connectable; a second hinge lever (32) having a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (3210) and a second lever end piece (312) which is connected or connectable to a second mounting part (39); a hinge axle (33), which is held in the bearing openings (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140; 3210) of the hinge levers (31, 32) and connects the two hinge levers (31, 32) to one another in an articulated manner; and a drive spring (34), which rests on the first hinge lever (31) on the one hand and on the second hinge lever (32) on the other hand. According to the invention, the first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) has two spaced-apart first and second inner bearing arms (3112, 3113) with associated bearing openings (31120, 31130), between which the first end piece (321) of the second bearing arm (32) is held, and has two first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) spaced from the inner bearing arms (3112, 3113), and that the drive spring (34) has two spring assemblies (341, 342) penetrated by the hinge axis (33). ), which are connected to each other at the mutually facing ends by a spring center piece (343), which rests on the second hinge lever (32), and of which the first spring package (341), which is between the first inner bearing arm (3112) and the first outer bearing arm (3111) is arranged, at an end facing away from the spring center piece (343) has a first spring end piece (3411), which rests on the first outer bearing arm (3111), and of which the second spring package (342), which is between the second inner bearing arm (3113) and the second outer bearing arm (3114), at an end facing away from the spring center piece (343) has a second spring end piece (3421), which rests on the second outer bearing arm (3114).

Description

The invention relates to a folding door hinge and a functional unit, in particular a piece of furniture, with a folding door, in particular a folding sliding door, which is provided with at least one folding door hinge.

To close functional units, such as openings of rooms or pieces of furniture, folding doors or folding doors, possibly sliding folding doors or folding sliding doors, are often used, which, after the opening has been released, are preferably moved into a door compartment or into a parking space in order not to disturb to appear.

The US9284761B2 discloses a piece of furniture with a displacement device, by means of which a mounting profile connected to a folding sliding door can be displaced within a door compartment. The folding sliding door comprises two door elements, of which the first door element is connected at the back by stop hinges to a mounting profile and at the front by folding door hinges to the back of a second door element, which is connected at the front to a drive which is displaceable along a running rail, the two aligned perpendicular to each other and has rail sections connected to one another by a curve section, of which a first rail section runs into the door compartment and a second rail section runs along the front of the piece of furniture. The mounting profile is held in a vertical orientation by a support device and is provided with guide tracks on the top and bottom, which are guided by guide rails.

To close the piece of furniture, the folding door is extended from the door compartment and unfolded. In the closed position, the door elements are aligned planar to one another. To open the piece of furniture, the folding door is folded again, with the door elements being inserted into the door compartment in an open position, preferably aligned parallel to one another.

In the closed position, the folding door must be kept in a planar orientation so that a folding process is not triggered automatically. After opening the folding door from the closed position, it would be desirable if the folding process were carried out automatically.

The DE202018100262U1 discloses a holding device that can be actuated by pressure and which supports both the holding of the folding door in the closed position and the folding process after the folding door is out of the closed position has been released. This device comprises a first fitting part which is connected to the first door element of the folding door and a second fitting part which is connected to the second door element of the folding door. Between the first fitting part and a coupling device arranged on the second fitting part there is an ejection element which is movably connected to the first fitting part and the coupling device. The first fitting part is adjusted relative to the coupling device via an energy storage device which is to be loaded manually by the user and which acts against the ejection element. A triggering device is connected to the second door leaf via a connecting cable. The locking device is unlocked by applying pressure to the planar-aligned door elements, whereby they are further pushed out of the planar alignment in the closing direction.

This device has a complex structure and requires numerous device parts, of which a first group has to be connected to the first door element and a second group has to be connected to the second door element. Furthermore, device parts are provided which connect the two fitting parts and thus the two door elements with one another and of which first device parts are mechanically guided with appropriate effort and second device parts are held loosely, which is generally not desirable. The door elements of the folding door are also held in the closed position solely by the holding device, which is why measures are required to counteract accidental unlocking. Due to the use of two fitting parts, care must also be taken to ensure that they are connected to the first and second door elements at the correct distance from one another and in the correct mutual orientation and height. It should also be noted that this device takes up a lot of space, which is disadvantageous when there is usually limited space within the piece of furniture and in particular within a door compartment.

From the US3846868A A folding door hinge provided with a spring is also known, by means of which door elements which are articulated to one another are rotated either into the open position or into the closed position after a central position has been exceeded. The folding door hinge has a complex design and requires fitting elements that must be mounted on the upper edges of the door elements.

The DE3104275A1 discloses further folding door hinges provided with a drive spring, by means of which door elements are articulated to one another can be rotated against each other automatically. Shown are folding door hinges with hinge levers that are connected to each other by spiral springs or leaf springs, which require a corresponding amount of space. When opening and/or closing the folding door hinge, the spiral spring is stretched, with no advantageous force progression being possible. In particular, hinges equipped with a drive spring in this way only develop a desired rotational force over a very small rotation range.

If the spiral spring is to exert high forces, a correspondingly high spring constant is required. Coil springs with high spring constants usually require more space, which results in folding door hinges with larger dimensions.

In addition, coil springs with high spring constants are more difficult to install. If the spiral spring with a high spring constant is pre-assembled, it is very difficult to assemble the folding door hinge on two door elements of the foldable door. However, subsequent installation of the spring with a high spring constant at the installation site is hardly possible or only possible with the appropriate tools.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating an improved folding door hinge which is equipped with a drive spring. Furthermore, a functional unit, in particular a piece of furniture, is to be created with a folding door which is equipped with at least one such folding door hinge.

The folding door hinge, which has two hinge levers connected to each other by a drive spring, should only take up a small amount of space, meaning that there is hardly any additional space required compared to conventional hinges. The folding door hinge should therefore have little visual impact and should be able to be optimally integrated into a door system.

Despite the small space requirement, the drive spring within the hinge should be able to transmit high forces to the hinge levers. In particular, high forces should be able to be transmitted over a high rotation range of the hinge levers.

The folding door hinge equipped with the drive spring should be as simple as possible and its construction should preferably only differ insignificantly from conventional hinges, which have two hinge levers connected to one another by a hinge axis.

In particular, no or only very simple structural device parts should be required to accommodate the drive spring.

The folding door hinge should preferably work without friction, so that no noise is caused and no signs of wear occur even after long periods of use. The maintenance effort should be reduced to a minimum.

The use of the drive spring should, if possible, not impair the freedom of design of the other parts of the hinge, so that the folding door hinge equipped with the drive spring can continue to be designed in any way and is hardly limited to structural features that could affect the design of the other hinge parts.

The drive spring should be easy to assemble and connect to the hinge levers. In particular, a drive spring with a very high spring constant should also be able to be mounted in a simple manner. The drive spring should be able to be assembled without the use of tools. In particular, the drive spring should be able to be mounted with minimal manual effort, preferably almost automatically.

By means of a hinge according to the invention or by means of several hinges according to the invention, a foldable door, which is held in a closed position by means of a holding device and released from the closed position by manual action, should preferably be able to be folded completely.

Folding door hinges according to the invention should be easily connectable to the folding door of a functional unit and activated in a simple manner.

A door gap between the door elements of the foldable door, which are connected to one another by hinges, should preferably be covered with a cover that is correctly aligned after the door elements have been folded and prevents manual intervention between the door elements and also provides a privacy screen, which partially or fully folded folding door gives an aesthetically advantageous design.

This object is achieved with a folding door hinge according to claim 1 and a functional unit, possibly a piece of furniture, with a folding door according to claim 12, which has at least one such folding door hinge is equipped. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

The folding door hinge includes a first hinge lever having a first lever end piece with at least one bearing opening and a second lever end piece connected or connectable to a first mounting part; a second hinge lever having a first lever end with at least one bearing opening and a second lever end connected or connectable to a second mounting part; a hinge axle, which is held in the bearing openings of the hinge levers and connects the two hinge levers to one another in an articulated manner; and a drive spring, which rests on the first hinge lever on the one hand and on the second hinge lever on the other hand.

According to the invention, it is provided that the first lever end piece of the first hinge lever has two spaced-apart first and second inner bearing arms with associated bearing openings, between which the first end piece of the second bearing arm is held, and two first and second outer bearing arms spaced apart from the inner bearing arms, and that the drive spring has two spring assemblies penetrated by the hinge axis and preferably aligned therewith, which are connected to one another at the mutually facing ends by a spring center piece which rests on the second hinge lever, and of which the first spring assembly, which is between the first inner bearing arm and the first outer bearing arm is arranged, has a first spring end piece on an end facing away from the spring center piece, which rests on the first outer bearing arm, and of which the second spring package, which is arranged between the second inner bearing arm and the second outer bearing arm, on an end facing away from the spring center piece End has a second spring end piece which rests on the second outer bearing arm.

According to the invention, it is therefore possible to advantageously integrate two spring assemblies into the folding door hinge without taking up additional space. The two spring assemblies are able to exert high forces on the hinge levers, so that the folding door folds automatically after being released from a closed position.

The spring assemblies of the drive spring preferably have helical or thread-shaped windings which rest against one another or are at least partially spaced from one another from turn to turn, so that the spring assemblies are axially compressible.

Due to the helical design of the drive spring, it can exert a high spring force on the hinge levers within a large rotation range of around 180°. If desired, the drive spring can also be provided with a preload.

The helical design of the drive spring allows a practically coaxial alignment of the spring assemblies with respect to the hinge axis and thus the axis of rotation of the hinge, which is why only little space is required. Even if the coils of the spring packs are provided with a larger diameter, the folding door hinge still has a very slim structure.

The compressibility of the spring assemblies makes it easier to connect them to the first hinge lever. By compressing the spring assemblies, the spring end pieces are displaced axially and can automatically be guided more easily over a holding element provided on the first and second outer bearing arms using a tool or when the folding door hinge is actuated. A blockage can therefore be avoided.

In preferred embodiments of the folding door hinge, the drive spring coupled to the second hinge lever can be easily coupled to the first hinge lever by rotating the second hinge lever relative to the first hinge lever. A tool for coupling the drive spring to the hinge levers can therefore be dispensed with.

Preferably, the first and second outer bearing arms each have a holding element which has a ramp or inclined flank facing the second hinge lever, via which the associated first or second spring end piece can be inserted into a holding channel located behind the holding element, in which the associated first or second spring end piece is held after the folding door hinge has been put into operation.

The drive spring can therefore be coupled to the first hinge lever in a simple manner by rotating the second hinge lever with the drive spring against the first hinge lever. The spring end pieces lying at the height of the holding elements hit the ramp of the holding elements and are guided along this over the holding elements until they can fall into the holding channel behind the holding elements. This process can be easily carried out by mounting the hinges on the door elements and then folding the door elements until they are ready until the spring end pieces are guided over the holding elements and lock into the associated holding channel.

The spring center piece is preferably held on the second hinge lever by a holding element when the second hinge lever is rotated away from the first hinge lever and the drive spring is tensioned. For example, the holding element is hook-shaped or nose-shaped, so that the spring center piece is reliably held.

In a preferred embodiment, the spring center piece is held on the second hinge lever between the holding element and a driver which holds the spring center piece when the second hinge lever is rotated against the first hinge lever and the spring end pieces are coupled to the holding elements. A locking depression is thus formed between the holding element and the driver, in which the spring center piece is always securely held regardless of the direction of rotation of the second hinge lever.

The hinge axis is held friction-free in the bearing openings of the hinge levers, preferably by means of bearing elements made of plastic, for example a slippery thermoplastic such as POM. By avoiding contact between the metal hinge axis and the metal hinge levers, unwanted friction and signs of wear and noise are avoided. The bearing elements preferably fulfill additional functions. To secure the hinge axis against axial displacement, it is preferably held pressed in one of the hinge arms. However, the axial displacement of the hinge axis can also be prevented by means of at least one locking ring.

Preferably, a bearing roller is held within the spring assemblies of the drive spring by the hinge axis, the outside diameter of which at least approximately corresponds to the inside diameter of the spring assemblies. The bearing rollers preferably have an axial bore whose inside diameter corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the hinge axis. The bearing rollers are therefore preferably held rotatably by the hinge axis with little play and are able to follow the movements of the spring assemblies and keep them in axial alignment. However, if the bearing rollers are held firmly, they still keep the spring assemblies in the correct alignment due to their ability to slide. The spring assemblies are therefore always optimally aligned and cannot deform or jam. The movements of the spring packages take place friction-free or largely friction-free without causing noise and/or signs of wear.

The bearing openings of the first and second outer bearing arms preferably have an inner diameter that allows one of the bearing rollers to be pushed through and into the associated spring assembly. In this way, the folding door hinge can be easily assembled.

Preferably, the bearing openings of the first and second outer bearing arms have an inner diameter that allows one of the bearing rollers to be pushed through and into the associated spring package and further into a bearing opening part of the facing first or second inner bearing arm. In this embodiment, the bearing rollers are held on both sides and form bearing elements for the hinge axis. The hinge axis can therefore hold the bearing rollers, or the bearing rollers can keep the hinge axis and the spring assemblies optimally supported.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge axis projects beyond the first hinge lever on one side or on both sides, so that one end piece of the hinge axis or both end pieces of the hinge axis can be easily connected to a cover device. If no cover is provided, the hinge axis is preferably not extended beyond the hinge levers.

The panel device preferably comprises a panel profile which has two profile side pieces connected to one another by a profile center piece, of which at least one holding module is held, which is held in a form-fitting, displaceable and lockable manner within the panel profile and which has a connecting element which is firmly or releasably connected to the hinge axis is. The connecting element is preferably a retaining clip which can be placed on the associated end piece of the hinge axis and which snaps into place. After assembling the folding door, the cover profile can therefore be assembled in a simple manner by connecting the holding modules to the folding door hinges.

The hinge arms of the folding door hinge are preferably designed in such a way that the panel device is held behind the folding door in the closed position of the door elements and on the front side between the door elements after the door elements have been folded. The door elements can be guided against each other at the front without leaving an annoying door gap. After opening the folding door, however, it is ensured that the door gap is covered by the cover profile and thus a aesthetically advantageous privacy protection is implemented and cannot be intervened in the door gap.

It is preferably provided that the first lever end piece of the first hinge lever is provided with at least one first stop part, and that the first lever end piece of the second hinge lever is provided with at least one second stop part. The first and second stop parts are arranged on the first and second hinge levers in such a way that after the two hinge levers have rotated they are aligned with one another in opposite directions and form stop surfaces for the cover profile. After opening the folding door, the panel profile is always held in a desired orientation by means of the folding door hinge or the stop parts, in which the door gap is correctly covered.

A functional unit according to the invention, for example a piece of furniture, such as a cupboard, is provided with at least one folding door with two door elements, which are connected to one another with a folding door hinge according to the invention or with several folding door hinges according to the invention.

The folding door hinges preferably hold a panel device with a panel profile, by means of which the door gap between the door elements is closed when they are folded against each other.

Preferably, the folding door can be locked in a closed position by means of a holding device and can be released from the closed position again, after which the folding door can be at least partially converted into the folded state by the folding door hinge or hinges.

In a preferred embodiment of the functional unit, it is provided that the first door element is connected to a mounting profile on an edge remote from the folding door hinges by stop hinges, which is displaceable within a door compartment of the piece of furniture.

More preferably, it is provided that the second door element is connected to a guide drive on an edge remote from the folding door hinges, which is guided in a guide rail which runs along the front of the piece of furniture.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemässe Funktionseinheit 1 in der Ausgestaltung eines Möbelstücks mit einer Falttür 11 mit zwei Türelementen 111, 112, die durch ein erfindungsgemässes Falttürscharnier 3 oder durch mehrere erfindungsgemässe Falttürscharniere 3 miteinander verbunden und parallel zueinander ausgerichtet oder gefaltet in ein erstes Türfach 10 einschiebbar sind, und mit einer Tür 11' mit nur einem Türelement 111, die in ein zweites Türfach 10 einschiebbar ist;

Fig. 2

die Rückseite der Falttür 11 des Möbelstücks 1 von Fig. 1 mit dem ersten Türelement 111, das an der nachlaufenden Kante durch Anschlagscharniere 13 mit einem Montageprofil 12 und an der vorlaufenden Kante durch eines oder mehrere erfindungsgemässe Falttürscharniere 3 mit einem zweiten Türelement 112 verbunden ist, und an dem in dieser vorzugsweisen Ausgestaltung eine Haltevorrichtung 2 montiert ist, die einen Haltemagneten 28 aufweist, der in der Schliessstellung der Falttür 11 mit einem magnetischen oder ferromagnetischen Kontaktelement 20 zusammenwirkt, das von einem Teil des Möbelstücks 1 stationär gehalten ist;

Fig. 3

einen Teil der Falttür 11 von Fig. 2 kurz vor Erreichen der Schliessstellung oder kurz nach dem Lösen aus der Schliessstellung, mit dem Falttürscharnier 3, welches zwei Scharnierhebel 31, 32 aufweist, die durch Montageteile 39 mit dem zugehörigen Türelement 111 oder 112 verbunden sind und deren einander zugewandte Hebelendstücke durch eine Scharnierachse 33 miteinander verbunden sind und mit Teilen einer Antriebsfeder 34 zusammenwirken, von der gegensinnige Drehmomente auf die Scharnierhebel 31, 32 ausgeübt werden;

Fig. 4

die Falttür 11 von Fig. 3 mit dem ersten Türelement 111, das durch einen Schnitt vom Falttürscharnier 3 getrennt ist, und dem zweiten Türelement 112 in paralleler Ausrichtung, in der die Falttür 11 in ein Türfach 10 eingeschoben werden kann und in der die die Scharnierhebel 31, 32 des Falttürscharniers 3 gegeneinander gedreht sind und die Antriebsfeder 34 ganz oder teilweise entladen ist;

Fig. 5a

das mit zwei Montageteilen bzw. Scharniertöpfen 39 verbundene Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 2 mit der Antriebsfeder 34, die zwei schraubenförmige Federpakete 341, 342 aufweist, die die Scharnierachse 33 umschliessen und die mit Federendstücken 3411, 3421 am ersten Scharnierhebel 31 anliegen und die durch ein Federmittelstück 343, das in ein Halteteil 324 des zweiten Scharnierhebels 32 eingehängt ist, miteinander verbunden sind;

Fig. 5b

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 5a ohne die Scharniertöpfe 39 in Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 6a

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 2 in einer vorzugsweisen Ausgestaltung mit der Antriebsfeder 34 von Fig. 5b, deren Federmittelstück 343 in das Halteteil 324 des zweiten Scharnierhebels 32 eingehängt ist, deren Federendstücke 3411, 3421 aber noch nicht mit dem ersten Scharnierhebel 31 gekoppelt sind, und mit einer Blendenvorrichtung 4, die von der Scharnierachse 33 gehalten ist;

Fig. 6b

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 6a in einer vorzugsweisen Ausgestaltung mit der Antriebsfeder 34, deren Federendstücke 3411, 3421 mit dem ersten Scharnierhebel 31 gekoppelt sind, deren Federmittelstück 343 aber noch nicht in das Halteteil 324 des zweiten Scharnierhebels 32 eingehängt ist;

Fig. 7a

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 6a der Antriebsfeder 34 während des Vorgangs der Ankopplung der Federendstücke 3411, 3421 an den ersten Scharnierhebel 31, bei dem der zweite Scharnierhebel 32 gegen den ersten Scharnierhebel 31 gedreht oder der erste und der zweite Scharnierhebel 31, 32 gegeneinander gedreht werden;

Fig. 7b

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 7a nach Abschluss des Vorgangs der Ankopplung der Federendstücke 3411, 3421 an den ersten Scharnierhebel 31;

Fig. 7c

das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 7b mit der Antriebsfeder 34, die an den ersten und den zweiten Scharnierhebel 31, 32 angekoppelt und nach einer Drehung des zweiten Scharnierhebels 32 im Gegenuhrzeigersinn teilweise gespannt ist;

Fig. 8a

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie A--A durch das Falttürscharnier 3 von Fig. 7a mit dem ersten Federendstück 3411 der Antriebsfeder 34, das bei einer Drehung des zweiten Scharnierhebels 32 im Uhrzeigersinn über eine Rampe 3141 eines Halteelements 314 am ersten Hebelendstück 311 des ersten Scharnierhebels 31 geführt wird, bis es hinter dem Halteelement 314 in einem Haltekanal 3140 einrastet;

Fig. 8b

das erste Hebelendstück 311 des ersten Scharnierhebels 31 von Fig. 8a mit dem Halteelement 314, das eine geneigte Flanke oder Rampe 3141 aufweist und das an den Haltekanal 3140 anschliesst, der auf einer Seite durch das Halteelement 314 und auf der anderen Seite durch einen vorzugsweise vorgesehenen Haltenocken 315 begrenzt ist und in dem das Federendstück 3411 gehalten ist;

Fig. 9

das Falttürscharnier 3 und die Blendenvorrichtung 4 von Fig. 6a oder Fig. 6b in Explosionsdarstellung;

Fig. 10

das Falttürscharnier 3 und die Blendenvorrichtung 4 von Fig. 6a oder Fig. 6b in der Schliessstellung der Falttür 11;

Fig. 11

das Falttürscharnier 3 und die Blendenvorrichtung 4 von Fig. 10 mit den gegeneinander gefalteten Türelementen 111, 112, zwischen denen die Blendenvorrichtung 4 vom Falttürscharnier 3 präzise ausgerichtet gehalten ist; und

Fig. 12

das Falttürscharnier 3 und die Blendenvorrichtung 4 von Fig. 11 mit Blick von oben.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. This shows:

Fig. 1

a functional unit 1 according to the invention in the design of a piece of furniture with a folding door 11 with two door elements 111, 112, which are connected to one another by a folding door hinge 3 according to the invention or by several folding door hinges 3 according to the invention and aligned parallel to one another or folded can be inserted into a first door compartment 10, and with a door 11' with only one door element 111, which can be inserted into a second door compartment 10;

Fig. 2

the back of the folding door 11 of the piece of furniture 1 from Fig. 1 with the first door element 111, which is connected to a second door element 112 on the trailing edge by stop hinges 13 with a mounting profile 12 and on the leading edge by one or more folding door hinges 3 according to the invention, and on which a holding device 2 is mounted in this preferred embodiment , which has a holding magnet 28 which, in the closed position of the folding door 11, cooperates with a magnetic or ferromagnetic contact element 20 which is held stationary by a part of the piece of furniture 1;

Fig. 3

part of the folding door 11 from Fig. 2 shortly before reaching the closed position or shortly after being released from the closed position, with the folding door hinge 3, which has two hinge levers 31, 32, which are connected to the associated door element 111 or 112 by mounting parts 39 and their lever end pieces facing one another through a hinge axis 33 are connected and cooperate with parts of a drive spring 34, from which opposing torques are exerted on the hinge levers 31, 32;

Fig. 4

the folding door 11 from Fig. 3 with the first door element 111, which is separated from the folding door hinge 3 by a cut, and the second door element 112 in a parallel orientation, in which the folding door 11 can be inserted into a door compartment 10 and in which the hinge levers 31, 32 of the Folding door hinge 3 are rotated against each other and the drive spring 34 is fully or partially discharged;

Fig. 5a

the folding door hinge 3 connected to two assembly parts or hinge cups 39 Fig. 2 with the drive spring 34, which has two helical spring assemblies 341, 342 which enclose the hinge axis 33 and which rest on the first hinge lever 31 with spring end pieces 3411, 3421 and which are connected by a spring center piece 343 which is suspended in a holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32, are connected to each other;

Fig. 5b

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 5a without the hinge cups 39 in an exploded view;

Fig. 6a

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 2 in a preferred embodiment with the drive spring 34 from Fig. 5b , whose spring center piece 343 is suspended in the holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32, but whose spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are not yet coupled to the first hinge lever 31, and with a cover device 4 which is held by the hinge axis 33;

Fig. 6b

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 6a in a preferred embodiment with the drive spring 34, whose spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are coupled to the first hinge lever 31, but whose spring center piece 343 is not yet suspended in the holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32;

Fig. 7a

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 6a the drive spring 34 during the process of coupling the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 to the first hinge lever 31, in which the second hinge lever 32 is rotated against the first hinge lever 31 or the first and second hinge levers 31, 32 are rotated against each other;

Fig. 7b

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 7a after completion of the process of coupling the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 to the first hinge lever 31;

Fig. 7c

the folding door hinge 3 from Fig. 7b with the drive spring 34 coupled to the first and second hinge levers 31, 32 and partially tensioned upon counterclockwise rotation of the second hinge lever 32;

Fig. 8a

a cut along the line A--A through the folding door hinge 3 of Fig. 7a with the first spring end piece 3411 of the drive spring 34, which, when the second hinge lever 32 rotates clockwise, is guided over a ramp 3141 of a holding element 314 on the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 until it engages behind the holding element 314 in a holding channel 3140;

Fig. 8b

the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 from Fig. 8a with the holding element 314, which has an inclined flank or ramp 3141 and which connects to the holding channel 3140, which is delimited on one side by the holding element 314 and on the other side by a preferably provided holding cam 315 and in which the spring end piece 3411 is held ;

Fig. 9

the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 6a or Fig. 6b in exploded view;

Fig. 10

the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 6a or Fig. 6b in the closed position of the folding door 11;

Fig. 11

the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 10 with the door elements 111, 112 folded against each other, between which the panel device 4 is held precisely aligned by the folding door hinge 3; and

Fig. 12

the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 11 with a view from above.

Fig. 1 shows a functional unit 1 according to the invention in the design of a piece of furniture 1 with a folding door 11, which can be inserted into a first door compartment 10, and with a one-piece door 11 ', which can be inserted into a second door compartment 10. The folding door 11 and the one-piece door 11 'are preferably each provided with a holding device 2 by means of which they can be held in the closed position. Any holding devices 2 can be used. A holding device 2 can be used particularly advantageously, as described and shown below.

The piece of furniture 1 preferably has side walls 1A, a top floor 1B, a bottom floor 1C, an intermediate floor 1E and partition walls 1D on both sides, which delimit the door compartments 10 with the side walls 1A.

The folding door 11 has a first door element 111, which is connected on one side by stop hinges 13 to a mounting profile 12, and on the other side by folding door hinges 3 according to the invention with a second door element 112, the dimensions of which preferably correspond to the dimensions of the first door element 111. The folding door 11 is slightly unfolded and can either be completely folded and retracted into the door compartment 10 with the door elements 111, 112 aligned parallel to one another or completely unfolded and moved into a closed position in which the two door elements 111, 112 are at least approximately aligned in one plane are. So that the folding door 11 remains held in the closed position and can be easily released from the closed position, one of the two door elements 111, 112, preferably the first door element 111, is provided with a holding device 2, which is opposite a contact element 20 in the closed position lies. An arrow symbolizes that the holding device 2 of the folding door 11, which is provided with a magnetic element, is guided against the contact element 20 when the first door element 111 rotates and is held magnetically by the latter in the closed position of the folding door 11.

In the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the doors 11, 11' are each connected by stop hinges 13 to a mounting profile 12, which is held by a displacement device 9 and can be moved within the associated door compartment 10. The doors 11 are aligned parallel to the side wall 1A in front of the associated door compartment 10 and can subsequently be moved into the door compartment 10. For moving within the door compartment 10 The mounting profile 12 can also be provided with drive devices. Preferably, the mounting profile 12 is connected at the top to a support unit 5A, which can be moved into the door compartment 10 along an associated guide rail 15A. The mounting profile 12 can also be connected to a drive on the underside, which is guided in a guide rail.

In this preferred embodiment, the second separating element 112 of the folding door 11, the leading edge of which is connected to a guide drive 5B, is also guided by means of a guide rail 15B, which runs along the front of the piece of furniture 1 and along a curve into the door compartment 10. The folding door 11 is therefore held on the front side by means of the guide drive 5B, which can be moved along the front side of the piece of furniture 1 in the unfolded state of the folding door 11 and into the door compartment 10 in the folded state of the folding door 11. The guide drive 5B always runs ahead of the second separating element 112 in the displacement direction. By using the guide drive 5B, the folding door 11 can be unfolded and closed with little effort.

Fig. 2 shows the back of the folding door 11 of the piece of furniture 1 from Fig. 1 with the first door element 111, which is connected on the trailing edge by the stop hinges 13 to the mounting profile 12 and on the leading edge by folding door hinges 3 according to the invention with the second door element 112, on the front of which the guide drive 5B is mounted. The guide drive 5B includes support rollers 51, which can roll on a running plate 151 of the guide rail 15B, and guide rollers 52, which are guided in a guide channel 152 of the guide rail 15B. It is shown that the guide rail 15B runs along the front of the piece of furniture 1 and around a curve into the door compartment 10 of the piece of furniture 1. So that the guide drive 5B can follow this curve, it is connected to the second door element 112 by parts 53, 54 of a drive body which are hingedly connected to one another.

The mounting profile 12 is connected at the upper end to a support unit 5A, which can be moved into the door compartment 10 along a guide rail 15A. In Fig. 2 the support gear 5A is guided up to a stop device 7 on the front of the door compartment 10. In this position, which is also in Fig. 1 is shown, the folding door 11 is fully extended from the door compartment 10 and can be unfolded to the furniture opening 100 (see Fig. 1 ) to complete. In Fig. 2 the folding door 11 has almost reached the closed position and can be opened by manually pressing on the folding door 11. preferably brought into the closed position on the leading edge 111, in which the holding device 2 mounted on the back of the separating element 111 can interact magnetically with the contact element 20, which is connected to the front of the guide rail 15B.

The holding device 2 comprises a mounting part 21, which is preferably connected in an articulated manner to the first door element 111 by means of screws and to a holding lever 22 by means of a lever shaft 23. At the front end piece or the holding lever 22 is provided with a holding magnet 28 and two rollers 29.

The rollers 29 can roll on the contact element 20 and/or the guide rail 15B during the closing process without the holding lever 22 touching the contact element 20 or the running rail 15B. The holding lever 22 is rotated and the holding magnet 28 is aligned almost frontally against the contact element 20, so that it can magnetically couple to the magnetic or ferromagnetic contact element 20 in the closed position of the folding door 11.

After being released from the closed position, the two door elements 111, 112 are folded automatically. This folding process is carried out automatically or at least supported by folding door hinges 3 according to the invention, which connect the two door elements 111, 112 to one another.

The folding door hinge 3 comprises two hinge levers 31, 32, which are each connected to the associated door element 111, 112 at the ends facing away from each other by mounting parts, preferably hinge cups 39, and which are connected to one another at the lever end pieces facing each other by a hinge axis 33. Furthermore, a drive spring 34 is provided, which acts with spring end pieces on the first hinge lever 31 and with a spring center piece on the second hinge lever 32, as described below. The drive spring 34 thus acts on the two hinge levers 31, 32 and tries to rotate them against each other and to fold the door elements 111, 112.

Fig. 2 also shows a spacer plate 200, which does not fulfill any function in the closed position of the folding door 11. In the folded position of the folding door 11 with the door elements 111, 112 aligned parallel, the front piece of the holding lever 22 with the rollers 29 rests against the spacer plate 200 and is pressed against the mounting part 21 and preferably aligned parallel to it, so that it is pushed into the door compartment 10 takes up as little space as possible (see Fig. 4 ).

Fig. 3 shows part of the folding door 11 from Fig. 2 shortly before reaching the closed position or shortly after releasing from the closed position. It can be seen that the door elements 111, 112 of the folding door 11 are not yet aligned in one plane and the holding magnet 28 is not yet in contact with the contact element 20. The holding lever 22 is inclined relative to the mounting part 21 and faces the contact element 20 and will first contact this with the rollers 29. The rollers 29, which are preferably made of plastic, will hardly cause any noise.

The holding magnet 28 is sunk into a magnetic chamber and is partially enclosed by a magnetic cup and projects beyond the front, for example by 0.2 mm - 2 mm, so that the holding magnet 28 cannot strike the contact element 20.

A hand symbolizes that the holding device 2 can be locked in the closed position of the folding door 11 by a first manual pressure and can be released again by a second manual pressure.

To lock the holding device 2, the holding device 2 comprises a locking unit 24 with a force transmitter 241, which in the locking unit 24 is cyclically moved by the action of pressure between a locking position in which the holding device 2 reaches a holding position and a release position in which the holding device 2 reaches a release position reached, can be moved.

The locking unit 24 with the force transmitter 241 is shown schematically. The force transmitter 241, supported by an adjusting spring 243, is axially displaceable and actuates a switching mechanism 242, in which a locking element is cyclically moved between a locking position and a release position.

The folding door hinge 3 includes a drive spring 34, which is tensioned in this position of the folding door 11 and tries to fold the door elements 111, 112 against each other again, against the force of the user. The holding device 2 must therefore be magnetically coupled to the contact element 20 in the closed position and locked by means of the locking unit 24 so that the folding door 11 is held in the closed position. The drive spring 34 is therefore loaded by manual force and subsequently serves to automatically fold the folding door 11 as soon as it is released from the closed position.

Fig. 4 shows the folding door 11 of Fig. 3 with the first door element 111, which is separated from the folding door hinge 3 by a cut, and the second door element 112 in a parallel orientation, in which the folding door 11 can be inserted into the associated door compartment 10. The front piece of the holding lever 22 lies with the rollers 229 on the spacer plate 200 and holds the holding lever 22 at least approximately parallel to the mounting part 21. The holding device 2 therefore only takes up little space within the door compartment 10.

The hinge levers 31, 32 of the folding door hinge 3, which are connected to one another by the hinge axis 33, have been rotated against one another, which is why the hinge spring 34 is relaxed or largely relaxed.

Fig. 5a shows the folding door hinge 3 of Fig. 2 , which includes a first hinge lever 31 and a second hinge lever 32, which are connected to one another by a hinge axis 33. Furthermore, the folding door hinge 3 includes a drive spring 34, which has two spring assemblies 341, 342 connected to one another by a spring center piece 343, on which spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are provided. The drive spring 34 is tensioned in this position of the hinge 3 and encloses the hinge axis 33 with the spring assemblies 341, 342. Furthermore, the drive spring 34 rests with the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 on the first hinge lever 31 and with the spring center piece 343 on the second hinge lever 32.

The first hinge lever 31 includes a first lever end piece 311 with four bearing arms 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114 (see Fig. 5b ), two outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 and two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113, which are pierced by the hinge axis 33, and a second lever end piece 312, which is connected to an associated mounting element or hinge cup 39.

The second hinge lever 32 comprises a first lever end piece 321, which is held between the two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 of the first hinge lever 31 and pierced by the bearing shaft 33, and a second lever end piece 322, which is connected to an associated mounting element or hinge pot 39.

Holding elements 314 are provided on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114, by means of which the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 of the spring assemblies 341, 342 are held. The second bearing arm 32, on the other hand, has a holding part or a holding lug 324, by means of which the spring center piece 343 is held. The spring end pieces 3411, 3421 of the spring assemblies 341, 342 try to move the first hinge lever 31 clockwise about the hinge axis 33, which is a Axis of rotation x defined to rotate and the spring center piece 343 tries to rotate the second hinge lever 32 counterclockwise about the hinge axis 33.

A preferably sleeve-shaped bearing roller 35 with an axial bore 350, which is pierced by the hinge axis 33, is also held within each of the spring assemblies 341, 342. Movements of the spring assemblies 341, 342 are therefore absorbed by the bearing rollers 35, which is why the spring assemblies 341, 342 are always held in axial alignment and undesirable deformations of the spring assemblies 341, 342 and friction of the spring assemblies 341, 342, for example on the hinge axis 33, are avoided.

The diameter of the bearing rollers 35 is preferably selected such that there is always play between the bearing rollers 35 and the spring assemblies 341, 342, even if their inner diameter changes when the folding door hinge 3 is actuated.

Mounting elements, for example hinge cups 39, can be connected in any way in a non-positive and/or positive manner to the facing lever end pieces 312, 322. As shown, the mounting elements 39 are preferably displaceable or adjustable relative to the lever end pieces 312, 322 and can be fixed at a suitable location.

Fig. 5b shows the folding door hinge 3 in an exploded view Fig. 5a in a preferred embodiment. It is shown that in this embodiment the inner bearing arms 3112 and 3113 have smaller bearing openings 31120, 31130, which can only accommodate the hinge axis 33, but not the bearing rollers 35. The bearing rollers 35 each have an axial bore 350, in which the hinge axis 33 is preferably held rotatably but largely free of play. The outer bearing arms 3111 and 3114, however, have larger bearing openings 31110, 31140 into which the bearing rollers 35 can be inserted. The first end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32 is also provided with a bearing opening 3210 into which the hinge axis 33 is already inserted.

The folding door hinge 3 can therefore be easily assembled by inserting the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32 between the two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 of the first hinge lever 31 and the spring assemblies 341, 342 of the drive spring 34 each between an outer and an inner bearing arm 3111 , 3112 or 3114, 3113 can be inserted. The bearing rollers 35 are then pushed through the bearing openings 31110, 31140 of the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 and into the associated spring package 341 or 342 used. Finally, the hinge axis 33 is guided through the lever end pieces 311, 321, the bearing rollers 35 and the spring assemblies 341, 342. Preferably, in one of these steps, the spring center piece 343 is connected to the holding element 324 of the second hinge lever 32. Finally, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 must be hooked into the holding elements 314 on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 and the hinge levers 31, 32 must be connected to the mounting elements 39.

As a result, the folding door hinge 3 is in the configuration of Fig. 5a in which the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are suspended in the holding elements 314 on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114. In Fig. 5a the holding elements 314 are cuboid-shaped, which is why the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 have to be lifted over the holding elements 314 with a tool. In the preferred embodiments of the folding door hinge 3 described below, this process is significantly simplified by a preferred embodiment of the holding elements 314, so that the coupling process can be carried out practically automatically.

In all configurations of the folding door hinge 3, the drive spring 34 takes up hardly any space and still develops a very high spring force, so that the door elements 111, 112 from the closed position in which they are aligned in one plane, preferably to the folded position in which they are aligned parallel to each other and can be rotated powerfully. In the area of the folded position, the force exerted by the drive spring is reduced to a minimum. In addition, the movement of the door elements in this area is preferably dampened by means of a damping element or a damping device so that no impact noises occur.

The spring assemblies 341, 342 supported by the bearing rollers 35 remain aligned coaxially with the hinge axis 33 during this rotation process and can work without friction. It is particularly advantageous that the spring assemblies 341, 342 do not have to be arranged and held within a hinge housing, but can be arranged virtually exposed, which results in a simple structure with minimal space requirements. The drive spring 34 is therefore almost completely integrated into the folding door hinge 3, which results in an optimal solution visually and functionally

The drive spring 34 can follow the movements of the hinge arms 31, 32 without friction with the two spring assemblies 341, 342, which exert high forces on the hinge arms 31, 32. It is particularly advantageous that a strong one Drive spring 34 can be integrated into the folding door hinge 3 without taking up significantly more space.

Fig. 6a shows the folding door hinge 3 of Fig. 2 in a preferred embodiment with the drive spring 34 from Fig. 5b , whose spring center piece 343 is suspended in the holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32, but whose spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are not yet coupled to the first hinge lever 31. In this configuration of the folding door hinge 3, in which the drive spring 34 is not yet coupled to the first hinge lever 31, the folding door hinge 3 only has a hinge function, but not a drive function.

However, no tools are required to hook the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 into the holding elements 314. Instead, the door elements 111, 112 are moved against each other with minimal effort, which is symbolized by two arrows. When the first door element 111 and thus the second hinge lever 32 rotates clockwise, the spring center piece 343 is carried along and the drive spring 34 is rotated clockwise about the hinge axis 33. The spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are guided against the holding elements 314, which are no longer cuboid-shaped, but have a ramp or an inclined flank 3141 on the sides facing the spring end pieces 3411, 3421. The spring end piece 3411 is in Fig. 6a even in front of the ramp 3141, which is continuously designed so that the spring end piece 3411 can slide over it when rotating. With a further rotation of the drive spring 34, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are guided over the ramp or the inclined flank 3141 until they have overcome the holding elements 314 and can each enter a holding channel 3140 in which they are held firmly.

Preferably, the turns of the spring assemblies 341, 342 are spaced apart from one another, so that the spring assemblies 341, 342 can be compressed during the process of coupling the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 and the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 can thereby overcome the ramps 3141 of the holding elements 314 more easily.

So that the second hinge lever 32 can carry the spring center piece 343 during a clockwise rotation, the hinge lever 32 is preferably provided with a driver 325, which is opposite the holding part 324. The spring center piece 343 is therefore in a locking depression 328 (see Fig. 9 ) held between the holding part 324 and the preferably provided driver 325. When the second hinge lever 32 rotates clockwise, in which the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are coupled to the first hinge lever, the spring center piece 343 rests on the driver 325, and during a subsequent counterclockwise rotation of the second hinge lever 32, in which the drive spring 34 is tensioned, the spring center piece 343 rests on the holding part 324 at.

Fig. 6a also shows a diaphragm device 4 with a diaphragm profile 41, in which a holding module 42 is held in a form-fitting but axially displaceable and fixable manner. To fix the holding modules 42, they have a threaded hole 420 into which a threaded bolt can be screwed up to the cover profile 41 and clamped with it. For connection to the folding door hinge 3, the holding modules 42 have a connecting element, preferably in the form of a retaining clip 423, which can be coupled to the hinge axis 33, which projects beyond the first hinge lever 31 on both sides and is therefore led out of the folding door hinge 3 on both sides. The panel device 4 can therefore be coupled in a simple manner to the folding door 11 or to the folding door hinges 3 in order to cover or close the opening between the two door elements 111, 112 when they are folded against each other. On the one hand, this covers the aesthetically disturbing door gap. On the other hand, it prevents anyone from reaching into the door gap and preventing injuries from occurring when operating the folding door.

Fig. 6a further shows an optional function of the two hinge levers 31, 32, which hold the panel device 4 or the panel profile 41 in a desired orientation within the opened door gap between the first and second door elements 111, 112. For this purpose, the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 facing the hinge axis 33 has a first stop part 316 on at least one of the outer lever arms 3111, 3114 and the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32 facing the hinge axis 33 has a second stop part 326. When the two hinge levers 31, 32 rotate against each other, the first stop parts 316 of the first hinge lever 31 and the second stop part 326 of the second hinge lever 32 are guided forward to one side of the cover profile 41, which is thereby automatically aligned parallel to the front of the functional unit 1 . This ensures that the panel device 4 or the panel profile 41 can actually perform the intended function and cover the door gap between the folded door elements 111, 112.

The process of coupling the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 to the first hinge lever 31 is in the Figures 7a, 7b and 7c illustrated with a view of the first spring end piece 3411. The second spring end piece 3421 is coupled simultaneously in the same way.

Fig. 6b shows the folding door hinge 3 of Fig. 6a in a preferred embodiment with the drive spring 34, whose spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are coupled to the first hinge lever 31, but whose spring center piece 343 is not yet suspended in the holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32. In this embodiment, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are preferably already suspended on a holding element 314 of the first hinge lever 31, while the second hinge lever 32 is not yet coupled to the drive spring 34 or to the spring center piece 343 before the folding door hinge 3 is put into operation for the first time.

The holding part 324 is preferably designed as a latching element, so that the spring center piece 343 can slide over the holding part 324 and lock behind it when the hinge arms 31, 32 are twisted together. For example, the holding part 324 is nose-shaped, hook-shaped or sawtooth-shaped.

To couple the drive spring 34 or spring center piece 343 to the second hinge lever 32, the two hinge levers 31, 32 or the door elements 111, 112 are in turn rotated against each other. During this process, the spring center piece 343 is guided over the holding part 324 and, due to its elasticity, may be slightly bent until it can snap into place behind the holding part 324.

Preferably, the configurations of the folding door hinge 3 are from Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b combined with each other, so that the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 can be automatically coupled to the preferably ramp-shaped holding elements 314 and the spring center piece 343 of the drive spring 34 can be automatically coupled to the holding part 324 when the two hinge levers 31, 32 are rotated against each other for the first time.

In Fig. 7a became the second hinge lever 32 compared to the position of Fig. 6a rotated slightly clockwise. During this process, in which the driver 325 rotates the spring center piece 343 clockwise, the spring end piece 3411 or the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 were guided onto the ramp 3141 of the associated holding element 314 and, if necessary, slightly bent and / or raised by compression of the spring package 341 .

In Fig. 7b the spring end piece 3411 or the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 have overcome the ramp 3141 and are locked behind the holding elements 314.

In Fig. 7c the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are held by the holding elements 314 while the second hinge lever 32 has been turned back counterclockwise. During this process, the spring center piece 343 was carried along by the holding part 324 of the second hinge lever 32 in a counterclockwise direction and the drive spring 34 was partially tensioned.

Fig. 8a shows a section along the line A--A through the folding door hinge 3 of Fig. 7a with the first spring end piece 3411 of the drive spring 34, which is guided over the ramp 3141 of a holding element 314 on the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 when the second hinge lever 32 rotates clockwise until it engages in a holding channel 3140 behind the holding element 314.

Fig. 8b shows the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 of Fig. 8a with the holding element 314, which has an inclined flank or ramp 3141, and which connects to the holding channel 3140, which is delimited on one side by the holding element 314 and on the other side by a preferably provided holding cam 315. It is illustrated that the schematically shown spring end piece 3411 is securely held within the holding channel 3140 between the holding element 314 and the preferably provided holding cam 315.

Fig. 9 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 6a in exploded view. Essential elements of the folding door hinge 3 have already been discussed with reference Fig. 5b from Fig. 6a explained. In Fig. 9 the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 of the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 are provided with the preferably designed holding elements 314, which have a ramp.

The inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 preferably have designed bearing openings 31120, 31130, with an inwardly directed first bearing opening part 31120A, 31130A, whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the hinge axis 33, and an outwardly directed second bearing opening part 31120B, 31130B, whose diameter corresponds to the diameter the bearing rollers 35 corresponds. In this preferred embodiment, the bearing rollers 35 are therefore held rotatably on both sides by an outer and an inner bearing arm 3111, 3112 or 3114, 3113 and are always aligned coaxially to the axis of rotation x. The bearing pins 36 can in the first or second bearing opening part 31120A, 31130A; 31120B, 31130B or in an intermediate transition part or a receiving hole which is partially guided into the first bearing opening part 31120A, 31130A.

Bearing pins 36 directed against each other are also placed on the hinge axis 33 and can engage in the bearing openings 3210 of the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever.

The bearing rollers 35 and/or the bearing pins 36 are preferably made of metal, for example high-quality steel, or of a plastic, in particular a resistant and slippery plastic, for example a thermoplastic such as POM/polyoxymethylene, which ensures the optimal mounting of the hinge axis 33 and/or the spring assemblies 341, 342 are guaranteed in the long term.

So that the hinge axis 33 cannot move axially automatically, it is preferably held pressed within one of the bearing arms 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114 of the first hinge lever 31 or within the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32. However, other means, such as securing rings, in particular snap rings, can also be provided to secure the hinge axis 33. For example, a slot is provided in the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32, into which a locking ring 331 is inserted, which can engage in a circumferential groove 330 in the hinge axis 33 in order to hold the hinge axis 33 preferably loosely but not axially displaceable. In this case, the hinge axis 33 can be inserted into the two hinge levers 31, 32 and secured using just one locking ring.

Furthermore, the aperture device 4 is shown with the aperture profile 41, which comprises two profile side pieces 412 which are connected to one another by a profile center piece 411. The aperture profile 41 has an approximately C-profile-shaped cross section and an inner cross section which at least approximately corresponds to the cross section of the holding modules 42. As this is illustrated, the holding modules 42 can be inserted into the cover profile 41 so that they are held therein in a form-fitting but axially displaceable manner and can be fixed by means of a threaded element 424, possibly a threaded bolt, which is screwed into the threaded bore 420.

The holding module 42 has a module body 421 with the threaded hole 420 and anchor elements provided on both sides and running parallel to one another 422 on. The anchor elements 422 can engage in the profile side pieces 412 of the cover profile 41, which are preferably claw-shaped.

Fig. 10 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 6a or Fig. 6b in the closed position of the folding door 11, in which the door elements 111, 112 lie against one another at the ends and close the door gap in between. The panel device 4 was guided back behind the folding door 11 by the hinge levers 31, 32 and is therefore no longer visible. Advantageously, only the folding door 11 with the planar-aligned door elements 111, 112 in the closed position is presented to the viewer of the functional unit or piece of furniture 1. The functional unit 1 is therefore reliably closed and access between the door elements 111, 112 is no longer possible.

If a disturbing door gap remains, the mounting screws 391, by means of which the hinge levers 31, 32 are connected to the mounting elements 39, can be loosened and the mounting elements 39 can be moved relative to the hinge levers 31, 32 until the door gap has reached the desired dimension. It is illustrated that the left hinge cup 39 can be intervened with a screwdriver to achieve a desired displacement. As a result, the mounting screws 391 are tightened again.

Fig. 11 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 10 with the door elements 111, 112 folded against each other, between which the panel device 4 is held by the folding door hinge 3.

Fig. 12 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the panel device 4 from Fig. 11 with a view from above. It can be seen that the stop parts 316, 326 hold the aperture profile 41 in the desired position. Furthermore, it can be seen that the inner cross section of the cover profile 41 corresponds at least approximately to the cross section of the inserted holding module 42, which is connected to the hinge axis 33 by the holding clip 423. Furthermore, it is shown that the spring center piece 343 of the drive spring 34 is held between the holding part 324 and the driver 325 of the second hinge lever 32.

List of reference symbols:

1

Functional unit, piece of furniture, especially cabinet

1A

side walls

1B

Topsoil

1C

subfloor

1D

partition wall

10

first or second door compartment 10 or parking space

100

Interior of functional unit 1

11

Folding door

111

first door element

112

second door element

11'

one-piece door

12

Mounting profile

13

Stop hinges

15A

Guide rail for the 5A undercarriage

15B

Guide rail the guide drive 5B

151

running plate

152

Guide channel

2

Holding device

20

magnetic or ferromagnetic contact element

200

Spacer plate

21

Assembly part

22

Holding lever

23

Lever shaft

24

Locking unit

241

force transmitter

242

switching mechanism

243

Recoil spring

25

Coupling unit

28

Holding magnet

29

Castors

3

Folding door hinge

31

first hinge lever

311

first lever end piece of the first hinge lever 31

3111

first bearing arm

3110

first warehouse opening

3112

second bearing arm

31120

second warehouse opening

31120A, 31120B

second bearing opening parts

3113

third bearing arm

31310

third bearing opening parts

31310A, 31310B

third bearing opening 3114 fourth bearing arm

31140

fourth warehouse opening

312

second lever end piece of the first hinge lever 31

314

Holding elements

3140

holding channel

3141

Ramp, inclined flank

315

holding cam

316

first stop parts, stop lugs

32

second hinge lever

321

first lever end piece of the second hinge lever 32

3210

Bearing opening in the first lever end piece 321

322

second lever end piece of the second hinge lever 32

324

holding part

325

taker

326

second stop part, stop lug

328

Rest depression

33

hinge axis

330

circumferential groove in the hinge axis (optional)

331

Circlip, especially snap ring (optional)

34

Drive spring

341

first spring package

3411

first spring end piece

342

second spring package

3421

second spring end piece

343

Spring center piece

35

Bearing rollers

350

Axial bore

36

bearing journal

39

Mounting part, hinge cup

4

Aperture device

41

Aperture profile

410

Internal cross section of the cover profile 41

411

Profile center piece

412

Profile side pieces

42

Holding module

420

Threaded hole

421

Module body

422

Anchor elements

423

Connecting element, preferably retaining clip

424

Threaded element, threaded bolt

5A

carrying gear

5B

Guide drive

51

Support rollers

52

Leadership roles

53

first drive body part

54

second drive body part

9

Displacement device

x

Hinge rotation axis

Claims (14)

1. Folding door hinge (3) with a first hinge lever (31), which comprises a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140) and a second lever end piece (312), which is connected or connectable to a first mounting part (39). ; with a second hinge lever (32), which comprises a first lever end piece (311) with at least one bearing opening (3210) and a second lever end piece (312) which is connected or connectable to a second mounting part (39); with a hinge axis (33), which is held in the bearing openings (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140; 3210) of the hinge levers (31, 32) and connects the two hinge levers (31, 32) to one another in an articulated manner; and with a drive spring (34), which rests on the first hinge lever (31) on the one hand and on the second hinge lever (32) on the other hand, characterized in that that the first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) has two spaced-apart first and second inner bearing arms (3112, 3113) with associated bearing openings (31120, 31130), between which the first end piece (321) of the second bearing arm (32) is held is, and has two first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) spaced from the inner bearing arms (3112, 3113), and that the drive spring (34) has two spring assemblies (341, 342) pierced by the hinge axis (33), which are connected to one another at the mutually facing ends by a spring center piece (343), which rests on the second hinge lever (32), and of which the first spring package (341), which is arranged between the first inner bearing arm (3112) and the first outer bearing arm (3111), has a first spring end piece (3411) at an end facing away from the spring center piece (343), which is on the first outer Bearing arm (3111) rests, and of which the second spring package (342), which is arranged between the second inner bearing arm (3113) and the second outer bearing arm (3114), has a second at an end facing away from the spring center piece (343). Has spring end piece (3421) which rests on the second outer bearing arm (3114). 2. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two spring end pieces (3411, 3421) are or can be held by holding elements (314) of the first hinge lever (31), and that the spring center piece (343) is or can be held by a holding part (324); or that the two spring end pieces (3411, 3421) are or can be held by holding elements (314) of the first hinge lever (31), and that the spring center piece (343) on the second hinge lever (32) between the holding element (324) and a driver ( 325) is held or can be held. 3. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive spring (34) is coupled to the first hinge lever (31) and can be coupled to the second hinge lever (31) by rotating the hinge levers (31, 32) relative to one another; or that the drive spring (34) is coupled to the second hinge lever (32) and can be coupled to the first hinge lever (31) by rotating the hinge levers (31, 32) relative to one another; or that the drive spring (34) can be coupled on the one hand to the first hinge lever (31) and on the other hand to the second hinge lever (32) by rotating the hinge levers (31, 32). 4. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) each have one of the holding elements (314), which has a ramp (3141) facing the second hinge lever (32), via which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) can be inserted into a holding channel (3140) located behind the holding element (314), in which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) is held after the folding door hinge (3) has been put into operation; or that the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) has the holding part (324) designed as a latching element, via which the spring center piece (343) can be guided and is locked behind the holding part (324); or that the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) each have one of the holding elements (314), which has a ramp (3141) facing the second hinge lever (32), via which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) can be inserted into a holding channel (3140) located behind the holding element (314), in which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) is held after the folding door hinge (3) has been put into operation, and that the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) has the holding part (324) designed as a latching element, over which the spring center piece (343) can be guided and locked behind the holding part (324). 5. Folding door hinge (3) according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that within the spring assemblies (341, 342) of the drive spring (34) a bearing roller (35) is held rotatably and largely free of play by the hinge axis (33), the outside diameter of which corresponds at least approximately to the minimum inside diameter of the spring assemblies (341, 342). 6. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that the bearing openings (31110, 31140) of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) have an inner diameter which allows one of the bearing rollers (35) to be pushed through and into the associated spring assembly (341, 342), or that the bearing openings (31110, 31140) of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) have an inner diameter which allows one of the bearing rollers (35) to pass through and into the associated spring package (341, 342) and further into a bearing opening part (31120B, 31130B) of the facing first or second inner bearing arm (3112, 3113). 7. Folding door hinge (3) according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the spring assemblies (341, 342) of the drive spring (34) have helically or thread-shaped turns which rest against one another or are at least partially spaced from one turn to the next , so that the spring assemblies (341, 342) are axially compressible. 9. Folding door hinge (3) according to one of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the hinge axis (33) projects beyond the first hinge lever (31) on one or both sides with an end piece, which end piece of the hinge axis (33) has a cover device (4). connected is. 10. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that the panel device (4) has a panel profile (41) which has two profile side pieces (412) connected to one another by a profile center piece (411), of which at least one holding module (42) is held, which is held in a form-fitting, displaceable and lockable manner within the cover profile (41) and which has a connecting element (423) which is firmly or releasably connected to the hinge axis (33). 11. Folding door hinge (3) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) is provided with at least a first stop part (316), and that the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32 ) is provided with at least one second stop part (326), the first and second stop parts (316, 326) being arranged on the first and second hinge levers (31, 32) in such a way that after the two hinge levers (31, 32) have rotated are aligned with each other in opposite directions and form stop surfaces for the cover profile (41). 12. Functional unit (1), in particular a piece of furniture, with a folding door (11) with two door elements (111, 112), which are connected to one another by at least one folding door hinge (3) according to one of claims 1 - 11. 13. Functional unit (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a cover device (4) is held by the folding door hinge (3), which is provided to cover a door gap between the two door elements (111, 112) aligned parallel to one another 14. Functional unit (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the folding door (11) can be locked in a closed position by means of a holding device (2) and can be released from the closed position again, after which the folding door (11) is secured by the folding door hinge (3 ) or the folding door hinges (3) can be at least partially converted into the folded state. 15. Functional unit (1) according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the first door element (111) is connected to a mounting profile (12) on an edge remote from the folding door hinges (3) by stop hinges (13), which is inside a door compartment (10) of the piece of furniture (1) can be moved and that the second door element (112) is connected to a guide drive (5B) on an edge remote from the folding door hinges (3), which is guided in a guide rail (5B), which runs along the front of the piece of furniture (1).

Images