ES2221111T3 - HINGE DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE DOOR OF APPLIANCES AND SIMILARS, CONTRARRESTING AND SELF-REGULATING MEANS. - Google Patents

Abstract

HINGE DEVICE FOR APPLIANCES DOORS INCLUDING: A COUPLING ELEMENT (2) WITH A FRONT WALL (12) FIXED TO A FRAME (10) FIXABLE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE APPLIANCE; A SUPPORT ELEMENT (3) THAT PIVOTS IN THE COUPLING ELEMENT AND AT WHICH THE DOOR IS FIXED; A FIRST COUNTERWEIGHT SYSTEM (6) DESIGNED TO EXERCISE AN ANTAGONIST FORCE AGAINST THE DOOR WEIGHT FORCE; A MOLDED ELEMENT (9) ABISAGRATED TO THE FIRST COUNTERWEIGHT SYSTEM AND TO THE SUPPORT AND DESIGNED ELEMENT TO SLIDE THROUGH THE FRONT WALL (12) THROUGH THE INTERPOSITION OF A SLIDING SYSTEM (30) CORRESPONDING TO THE STEP OF A CLOSED STATE (C) OF THE DEVICE (1) IN WHICH THE SUPPORT ELEMENT (3) IS ORIENTED TOWARDS THE FRONT WALL TO AN OPEN STATE (A) IN WHICH THE AXLE OF THE SUPPORT ELEMENT IS ALMOST ORTOGONAL TO THE FRONT WALL (12) AND VICEVERSA; SO THAT THE SLIDE ORIGINS AN ANTAGONIST FORCE OF GROWING INTENSITY BETWEEN THE BLOCKWORK (13) AND THE FRONT WALL (12) AND PROPORTIONAL TO THE INCREASE OF THE DOOR OPENING ANGLE AND THE ARM OF THE ANTAGONIST FORCE. THE HINGE DEVICE (1) ALSO CAN INCLUDE A SECOND COUNTERWEIGHT SYSTEM (15) THAT CAN BE SLIDED ON AN EXTERNAL PROFILE (8) OF THE MOLDED ELEMENT (9) IN ORDER TO EXERCISE AN ADDITIONAL ANTAGONIST FORCE IN THE SAME THAT PROVIDES IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CLOSED STATE STEP (C) TO OPEN (A).

Description

Hinge device, in particular for the door of household appliances and similar, with means counter-regulators and self-regulators.

The present invention relates to a device hinge for home appliances and similar.

In particular, the object of the invention is a hinge device of the self-regulating type, suitable for allow articulation between the door and the body of the device corresponding, preferably a dishwasher.

It is known that the doors of appliances such as ovens, dishwasher and similar, are fixed to the structure of the appliance appliance using a pair of hinges that allow the Door rotation between opening and closing positions.

Known hinges, such as self-regulators, are prepared to produce an action of counterweight during the opening and closing phases of the door attached to them. Each hinge is equipped with a mechanism kinematics, which moves in relation to the movement of the hinge, and that includes elastic elements, subjected to stress of traction or compression, so that its elastic reaction varies depending on the position of the door and is prepared to compensate the weight of the door during opening.

These hinges incorporate a series of elements lever, pivoting to each other to form a mechanism that provides the gradual increase in the reaction force of the elastic element during the opening of the door and therefore counteracts the moment produced by the weight of the door, which increases as the separation from the structure increases of the apparatus and therefore increases the lever arm.

The main drawback of the hinges known is that, to vary the counterbalancing force exerted by the spring mounted with the device, it is necessary to replace said spring by another capable of producing a counteracting force convenient.

In order to avoid this inconvenience, the known hinges are provided with suitable means for allow adjustment of the counterbalance force of the elements elastic in relation to the weight of the door. For example, sayings adjustment means are constituted by a small cable which, provided of the suitable tension by means of regulation screws accessible from outside the device, transmits the load to the spring prior necessary to vary your initial elastic reaction.

The need to regulate strength counterbalance is especially evident when the appliances are an integral part of modular furniture, as per example a series of aligned modules that, for aesthetic reasons, they include the assembly of panels that cover the doors of the device. Therefore, each panel weights the corresponding door with a load that depends on the material thereof, which represents a random variable for device manufacturers, and in Special hinges.

Another drawback, due to the adjustment of the adjustment means, inside the hinge, during the assembly of the panel on the door of the device, is that this manual operation does not It is usually done with care and it happens, for example, that it is not symmetrical adjustment of the counter-action on each hinge. The consequence is that the elastic means of one of the two hinges are loaded more than the other's and therefore are subject to higher stresses, which may cause breakage or may cause the opening or closing of the door are not symmetrical, with the consequent damage to the functionality of the apparatus.

In addition, the regulation systems of the hinge device does not always support a wide range of adjustment of the counteracting action, and therefore the same hinge cannot be used many times on different devices that have doors of different weights or are equipped with panels of different weights

Therefore, it is usually necessary to manufacture the same hinge model with different types of spring in the corresponding counter-counting means, which will be used depending on of the type of device. This creates a serious inconvenience for the management of each individual type of hinge on the realization of hinges with different springs, adjustment during installation of furniture and storage of the same type of hinge with different springs.

The document US-A-4 269 165, which describes all the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1, reveals a hinge device, also suitable for the door household appliances and the like, of the type that includes a coupling element that has a front wall and is fixed to the frame of said hinge device, attachable to the structure of an appliance The device also includes a support element, articulated by a pivot in said coupling element, and to which the door is fixed; and ones first counteracting means, mounted to exert a force antagonist who opposes the strength of the door weight.

Said device includes a profiled element. constituted by a superior part, in which said first counter-counting means are articulated, by a central part and by a lower part in which said support element is articulate. The profiled element has an outer contour and a interior contour turned towards said support element.

The device has sliding media interposed between the profiled element and the front wall of the coupling element and designed to allow sliding of the element profiled by the front wall so as to produce the progressive increase of the antagonistic force as a result of step from a closing condition, in which said element of support is facing the front wall, until a condition of maximum opening, in which the axis of said support element is almost orthogonal to the front wall.

The main object of the present invention is propose a hinge device, suitable to allow articulation between the door and the body of the device corresponding, that has a compensation system self-balancing and self-regulating, without adjustment means, appropriate to automatically balance doors of variable weight within a reasonable interval.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a device of simple manufacture, of easy installation and of safe and accurate use.

These objects are registered in accordance with the content of the claims.

The attached figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 show a hinge device that has a combination of features known.

The characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the invention are underlined in the accompanying drawings 3, 4, 7 and 8.

- Figure 1 represents a side view of a hinge device in the closed condition.

- Figure 2 shows a side view of the device of figure 1 corresponding to the condition of maximum opening

- Figure 3 reflects a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention in the closing condition.

- Figure 4 shows a side view of the device of figure 3 in the condition of maximum opening.

- Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the device of figure 1 in the condition of closing.

- Figure 6 shows a side view of the device of figure 5 in the condition of maximum opening.

- Figure 7 represents a side view of a variant of the embodiment of the device of figure 3 in the closing condition

- Figure 8 shows a side view of the device of figure 7 in the condition of maximum opening.

With reference to figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, the number 1 refers to a hinge device, in particular for the door of household appliances and the like, which includes a coupling element 2, a support element 3, first counteracting means 6 and a profiled element 9.

The coupling element 2 is fixed to the frame 10 of the hinge device 1 fixed to the structure, known and not shown, of each household appliance.

The support element 3 is articulated in the coupling element 2 by a pivot 5 that allows the rotation. A splice plate 4 is fixed near one end of the support element 3 to which the door is fixed, known and not represented. In addition, there is a stirrup 20 that corresponds to the other end of the support element 3.

The coupling element 2 has a wall front 12 interposed between the support element 3 and the element profiling 9.

The first counteracting means 6 are constituted by a spring 22 interposed between the head of a bar 23 and a seat 24 from which the free end of the bar 23.

The profiled element 9 has an upper part 9a articulated at the free end of the bar 23 and a part bottom 9c articulated in the support element 3 by a pivot 26. Said profiled element 9 has a central part 9b which defines an inner contour 7 and an outer contour 8, opposite to the front wall 12.

The upper part 9a of the profiled element 9, opposite to the one articulated in the first media countertops 6, is also articulated in the sliding means 30, consisting of a sliding block 13 prepared for move with sliding friction along the part of front wall 12 facing the profiled element 9 during the door opening / closing.

The operation of the known hinge device 1 illustrated in figures 1 and 2 is very simple, because the opening of the appliance door coupled to the support element 3 causes the latter to pass from a closing condition C, in that the support element 3 faces the front wall 12 of the coupling element 2, and therefore the door is turned towards the body of the apparatus in such a way that it closes the front opening thereof, up to a maximum opening condition A, in which the longitudinal axis of the support element 3 is approximately orthogonal to the front wall 12, and therefore the door is almost orthogonal to the front opening of the apparatus.

The opening condition A is limited on all by the stirrup 20 of the support element 3 which, to as a result of its rotation, it comes into contact with the front wall 12 of the coupling element 2

During the passage from the closing condition C to the opening condition A, the support element 3 rotates on the pivot 5 and causes the displacement of the profiled element 9. In this transition, the sliding block 13 is forced to slide with friction on the front wall 12, which exerts on it a friction resistant force whose intensity increases proportionally in relation to the degree of opening of the door and therefore in relation to the passage from the closing condition C to the opening condition A.

The bar 23 moves down and causes the consequential progressive compression of spring 22, which exerts an antagonistic force that increases proportionally with the opening the door and is able to counteract the strength of the weight.

It should be stressed that the presence of the block sliding 13 implies a driven movement of the element profiling 9 and in such a way that causes the progressive increase of arm of the antagonistic force exerted by the media counters 6 as a result of the passage from the condition of closure C to the opening condition A. In particular, there is a almost rectilinear movement in the vertical of the media 6 or better counters of the bar 23 rotation point with the profiled element 9.

In this way, the combined action of the force antagonist of the first counteracting means 6 and of the friction sliding of the sliding block 13 along the front wall 12 allows a continuous balance of the door and of a possible cover panel coupled to it, and therefore the same door is in balance in the corresponding position at any intermediate opening angle reached by the door.

In particular, it is necessary to underline that the force main counterbalance is due to the friction action of the sliding block 13 exerted on the front wall 12, since the sliding between the contact surfaces of the block sliding 13 with the front wall 12 causes friction slider

An advantage is that the contact surface of the sliding block 13 with the front wall 12 is formed by nylon enriched with a percentage of graphite that is between 5% and 20%, and preferably 12%, so that the sliding friction between surfaces.

In particular, the self-regulating effect is reaches completely when the total weight of the door and / or panel It varies from 6 to 10 kilograms.

The preferred embodiment of the device hinge 1, object of the present invention, is illustrated in the Figures 3, 4 and includes the use of second means counter-counters 15.

These second counteracting means 15 are fixed to the coupling element 2, next to its opposite end to the front wall 12, and work with the outer contour 8 of the profiled element 9. Among these means a lever 17 is included whose flat oscillation is parallel to the plane of displacement of the profiled element 9.

One end of the lever 17 is articulated, by a pivot 18, in the coupling element 2 and the other end swings at the end of elastic means 19, while the central part supports a sliding element 14, which is in direct contact with the outer contour 8, by example consisting of a free roller 14a.

In particular, the elastic means 19 comprise a guide bar 19b, of a coil spring 19 subjected to compression, whose free end is supported, in sliding joint, by a support 16 fixed to the frame 10.

The operation of hinge device 1, shown in figures 3 and 4, is identical to the operation of the known hinge device of figures 1 and 2, with the only difference that the second counteracting means 15 allow exert an additional antagonistic force on the profiled element 9 which increases proportionally in correspondence with the passage of the closing condition C to the opening condition A of the door.

Actually, during that transition, the roller 14th wheel or slides along the outer contour 8, in particular from the central part 9b to the upper part 9a, whereby rotates lever 17 around pivot 18 and consequently crushes, that is to say compresses, the spring 19a against the support 16, the which transmits an equal force and contrary to that tension towards the profiled element 9 interposition of the roller 14a. In consequently, the profiled element 9 is subjected to a force additional antagonist that opposes its movement during the passage from the closing condition C to the condition of maximum aperture A and therefore increases the force that opposes the force of the weight of the door and / or the cover panel optional applied to it.

In this way, the combined action of the force antagonist of the first counteracting means 6 together with the frictional force caused by block slip sliding 13 along the front wall 12, and force additional antagonist exerted on the profiled element 9 by the  second counteractive means 15, allows the balance continuous door and optional panel attached to it and that it stays in balance in any position of opening.

In particular, the self-regulating effect is get completely for a total weight of the door and / or panel It varies from 6 to 14 kilograms.

It is useful to note that the sliding element 14 it can also be constituted by a sliding block 14a that is slide or move around the outer contour 8.

It is also important to note that with this hinge device 1 a condition is achieved self-balancing door and / or combination weight door panel without using any means for adjusting the antagonistic force of the counteracting means, and therefore you have a fully hinged device self-regulator for a wide range of door and door weights door with cover panel.

To that end, it is important to underline that the force of friction generated between the contact surface of the block sliding 13 with the front wall 12, the antagonistic force of the first counteractive means 6 and the antagonistic force additional second counteracting means 15 vary in the same proportion as the opening angle of the door and by consequently increases in the passage from closing C to the conditions of opening A, and decrease in the opposite transit, but always proportionally with respect to the increase or decrease of the force the weight of the door or door with the panel covering.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the known hinge device 1 described above, in which the inner contour 7 of the profiled element 9 is almost cycloidal and has a stirrup 33 near the end of the part upper 9a, and is also driven in sliding by the means sliders 30 constituted by a free roller 11 supported by the coupling element 2, while the outer contour 8 It is almost rectilinear.

The part of the profiled element 9 included between the central part 9b and the second end 9c has a depression 21.

The operation of the hinge device 1 of this second embodiment is identical to the operation of the first realization, except that the maximum opening condition A not only It is mainly caused by the stirrup 20 of the support element 3 which, as a result of its rotation, comes into contact inside with the front wall 12 of the coupling element 2, but also  because the depression 21 of the profiled element 9 is formed of so that it rests firmly on pivot 5 and stirrup 33 is prepared to come into contact with the external surface of the roller 11.

During the passage from the closing condition C up to the maximum opening condition A, the support element 3 rotates on pivot 5 and causes the movement of the profiled element 9. On this route, the inner contour 7 of the latter is slide along the outer surface of the roller 11, the bar 23 is shifts down and causes consequent progressive compression of spring 22, which exerts an antagonistic force that increases proportionally with the increase in the opening angle of the door and is able to counteract the strength of the weight.

It should be stressed that the presence of the roller 11 and the special conformation of the profiled element 9, or better than its inner contour 7, causes the progressive increase of the arm of the antagonistic force exerted by the counteracting means 6 a consequence of the passage from the closing condition C to the maximum opening condition A. In particular, the interaction between the inner contour 7 and the roller 11 generates the movement longitudinal almost by the vertical line of the means 6 or better counters of the bar 23 rotation point with the profiled element 9.

With reference to figures 7 and 8, a variant of hinge device 1 includes the resource to the seconds counteracting means 15, similar to those of the embodiment preferred except that the lever 17 swings on the pivot 18 of its central zone and one of its ends is attached to the elastic means 19, while the free end rotatably supports the roller free 14a.

In particular, the elastic means 19 are constituted by a spring 19a whose ends are attached to the end of the lever 17 and the hook of a support 16 respectively, of so that the spring 19a works in traction.

It is convenient to note that the elastic means 19 can be fixed to the lever 17 between the pivot 18 and the end free of the latter, which supports the sliding element 14, of so that the spring 19a of the elastic means 19 works in compression instead of traction.

The main advantage of the present invention is, therefore, to supply a hinge device, designed to allow articulation between the door and the body of an apparatus thereof, provided with a compensation system of the self-regulating and self-balancing type, without adjustment means, capable of automatically balancing doors of variable weight inside of a reasonable but wide range.

Another advantage is to provide a device simple implementation and operation, easy installation and safe, precise and reliable use.

Claims (13)

1. Hinge device, especially for the door of household appliances and similar, of the type that includes a coupling element (2) with a front wall (12) and fixed to the frame (10) of said hinge device (1) fixed to the structure of said home appliance; a support element (3), tilting with respect to said element of coupling (2), by means of a pivot (5), and to which said door; first counteracting means (6), suitable for exert an antagonistic force that opposes the force of the weight of said door; the device (1) comprises: - at least one profiled element (9) constituted by a top part (9a), in which said first means counteractors (6) are articulated, by a central part (9b) and by a lower part (9c) in which the support element (3) It is articulated; the profiled element (9) has an outline exterior (8) and an internal contour (7) turned towards said element support (3); - sliding means (30) interposed between said profiled element (9) and the front wall (12) of said coupling element (2) and designed to allow the profiled element (9) to slide through the front wall (12) in a manner which produces the progressive increase of said antagonistic force as a result of the passage from a closing condition (C), in which said support element (3) faces the front wall (12), to a condition of maximum opening (A ), in which the axis of the support element (3) is almost orthogonal to the front wall (12); said device (1) is characterized in that it also includes second counter-restraining means (15) attached to said frame (10) and slidable by the outer contour (8) of the profiled element (9) such that they exert a force on the latter additional antagonist that increases proportionally with the passage from said closing condition (C) to said maximum opening condition (A) and decreasing proportionally during the opposite transition; said second counteracting means (15) comprise a lever (17) articulated in said frame (10) and supporting a sliding element (14) designed to come into contact with said outer contour (8) by virtue of the reaction exerted on it by elastic means (19) that on one side are connected to one end of said lever (17) and on the other side to the frame (10). Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sliding means (30) are constituted by a sliding block (13) articulated at the end of said inner contour (7) and designed to move with sliding friction along said front wall (12). Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sliding means (30) are constituted by a roller (11) rotatably supported by said coupling element (2) by which the inner contour (7) of the profiled element (9) is slide Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum opening condition (A) is delimited by a stirrup (20) of the support element (3) that rests on the front wall (12) of said element of coupling (2). Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the part of said profiled element (9) included between the central part (9b) and the lower part (9c) has a depression (21) designed to rest on said pivot (5), in correspondence with the maximum opening condition (A). Device according to claim 3 characterized in that said first outer contour (8) has a stirrup (33) designed to rest on the external surface of said roller (11), in correspondence with the maximum opening condition (A). Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said elastic means (19) are constituted by a spring (19a) subjected to traction or compression. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sliding element (14) is constituted by a free roller (14a) designed to roll by said outer contour (8). 9. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sliding element (14) is constituted by a sliding block (14a) suitable for sliding with sliding friction by said outer contour (8). Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sliding element (14) slides along said outer contour (8) from the central part (9b) towards the upper part (9a) as it is passed from the closing condition ( C) to the maximum opening condition (A). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the combined action of the opposing force of the first counteracting means (6) and the sliding of the profiled element (9) through the front wall (12) allow a constant balance of said door coupled to said support element (3) and having a variable weight of between 6 and 10 kilograms. 12. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the combined action of the opposing force of the first counteracting means (6) exerted on the profiled element (9) and the sliding of the latter by said front wall (12), and of the Additional antagonistic force exerted on the profiled element (9) of the second counteracting means (15), allows a continuous balance of said door coupled to the support element (3) and having a variable weight of between 6 and 14 kilograms. 13. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that at least the contact surface of the sliding block (13) with the front wall (12) is made of enriched nylon with a percentage of graphite between 5% and 20%, and preferably 12%.