FR2781516A1 - Hinge for furniture parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The hinge (10) for two superposed furniture parts (11,12) able to pivot relative to each other about a common vertical axis (X) includes an internal angular indexing tube (20). The indexer comprises a sprung (23) ball (21) carried by a hinge part (14) and engaging in an axial groove in the other part of the hinge (19).

Description

The present invention relates to a hinge for

  articulated elements, in particular articulated elements of furniture.

  More specifically, the subject of the invention is a hinge of the type comprising two superimposed parts able to pivot one relative to the other about a substantially vertical common axis, each hinge part being mounted fixed on the edge of an associated articulated element. In the particular case of articulated elements of furniture, one of the elements is generally a fixed upright and the other is a movable panel pivoting between a

  closed position and different open positions.

  Conventional hinges comprise an assembly of the two superimposed parts which is such that the pivoting is free over the entire angular range provided, with sometimes an additional return means, for example a

  torsion spring or the like, to a particular position

  of one of the articulated elements. In the case of

  articulated pieces of furniture, this particular position

  will generally be the closed position of the movable panel.

  The disadvantage of such return systems is that these systems are external to the hinge and therefore affect the aesthetics of the latter. Also, this reminder is only active

that towards a single position.

  There is therefore a need in the field of hinges for articulated elements to have a hinge arranged to present at least one marked position between the articulated elements, with a reminder in the vicinity of this or these marked positions, and this without

detract from aesthetics.

  The object of the invention is precisely to solve this problem, by designing a hinge capable of determining at least one marked stable position, without presenting the

  aforementioned drawbacks of external recall systems.

  This object is achieved in accordance with the invention thanks to a hinge for articulated elements, in particular articulated elements of furniture, of the type comprising two superimposed parts able to pivot relative to each other about a substantially vertical common axis. , each hinge part being fixedly mounted on the edge of an associated articulated element, characterized in that it includes an internal angular indexing mechanism, invisible5 from the outside, arranged to define at least one stable indexing position of an element articulated in relation to the other. The internal angular indexing mechanism thus makes it possible to have at least one marked stable position for the

  articulated elements which are associated by said hinge.

  Preferably, the angular indexing mechanism comprises a floating member, which is stressed in perma-

  nence by at least one spring carried by a hinge part, said member being received in part in an axial groove of the other hinge part in the or

each indexing position.

  The choice of the number and the strength of the spring or springs which permanently urge the floating member makes it possible to obtain without difficulty sufficient return torque for good stabilization in the indexing position. This is particularly interesting when the hinge is

  associated with a door of significant weight.

  A hinge part with a received end cap is frequently provided in the hinges.

  in a housing opening out from the other hinge part.

  The invention applies in particular to the case of such hinges, and it is then advantageous to provide that the end fitting carries the spring or springs urging the floating member, and that the axial groove or grooves intervening in position d indexing are arranged in the

wall of the housing opening.

  Provision could be made for the floating member to be in the form of one or more spring-loaded balls, as is conventionally used in

  different angular indexing systems for mechanical parts

  ques, outside the domain of hinges. However, it is advantageous for the force exerted to be sufficient to provide that the floating member is an elongated needle arranged parallel to the common axis, said needle being stressed by at least two helical springs,

  the axis is orthogonal to the common axis.

  Such an elongated needle is in fact particu-

  smoothly adapted to exert a uniform force over a significant length, and thereafter obtain a sufficient return torque when the relative position of the elements

  articulated is close to an indexing position.

  According to a particular embodiment, the helical springs are housed in blind holes in the end piece, said holes opening into a common axial groove also provided on said end piece. We thus arrive at a very compact embodiment, entirely compatible with the usual geometry of the hinges, in particular for the articulated elements of furniture. It is also advantageous to provide that

  each axial groove has a square or rectangular section

  re, and has sharp end edges. The sharp end edges provide a passage notch from which the restoring torque is exerted under the

  thrust of the springs towards the stable indexing position.

  Provision may also be made for the axial groove receiving the floating member in the indexing position to have a width corresponding to an angular displacement of approximately 10 relative to the median plane of the other groove.

axial.

  In accordance with a particular embodiment, when the hinge is associated with a fixed amount and a

  movable panel, there is provided at least one position

  dexing corresponding to the closed position of the movable panel, and the axial groove receiving the floating member in this indexing position is offset by a few degrees relative to the median plane of the other axial groove so that said member then exerts a return torque to the closed position. There is thus obtained, in the direct vicinity of the indexing position, a permanent return spring effect produced by the indexing mechanism itself. It is also possible to provide at least one other indexing position corresponding to one or more positions of the movable panel, with one or more additional axial grooves wedged angularly on the one or more

  desired positions. In accordance with another particular embodiment

  link, the hinge is associated with a movable panel designed to pivot on either side from a middle position of

  closing, as is the case for doors called va-

  back and forth, and at least one position is then provided

  indexing corresponding to this middle position.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will appear more clearly in light of the

  description which follows, relating to an embodiment

  particular tion, with reference to the figures of the appended drawing o: - Figure 1 is an elevational view of a hinge according to the invention, with a cutaway to distinguish the internal angular indexing mechanism fitted to the hinge;

  - Figures 2a and 2b are sections along II-

  II of Figure 1, showing the previous hinge in

  two different relative positions of the articulated elements

  strips, corresponding respectively to a closed position and a partial open position; - Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the two main components of the aforementioned hinge, which are more particularly concerned with the internal angular indexing mechanism; - Figure 4 is a cross section of the hinge at the indexing mechanism, without the floating member and the associated springs, to better appreciate the angular movement around the indexing position; - Figure 5 is another cross section illustrating an advantageous variant in which the two axial grooves concerned represent a slight angular offset for the position corresponding to a closure of the movable panel; - Figures 6a and 6b have sections illustrating other variants of the hinge according to the invention providing two stable indexing positions; - Figure 7 is a section illustrating yet another variant, associated with a door of the reciprocating type, on which the indexing position corresponds to a

middle closed position.

  We distinguish in Figure 1 two articulated elements 1,2 connected by a hinge 10, these elements

  can for example be articulated elements of mobi-

  bind. In this case, element 1 is a fixed upright, and element 2 is a movable panel articulated on the fixed upright

by hinge 10.

  Conventionally, the hinge 10 is of the type comprising two superimposed parts 11, 12 able to pivot one relative to the other about a common axis denoted X substantially vertical, each hinge part 11, 12 being mounted fixed. on the song of an articulated element

associated respectively 1, 2.

  In this case, the lower hinge part 11 comprises a hollow tube 13 into which the tail 15 of a main element fits. In FIG. 1, only the upper part of the hollow tube 13 is distinguished, it being understood that the other end not shown here of said tube will be equipped to receive in the same way a lower main element. The main element 14 has a means of fixing to the fixed upright 1, which is here represented in the form of a threaded rod 30. It will of course be possible to use any type of equivalent fixing means such as wood screws and / or equivalent . The upper part 12 of the hinge 10 is in turn constituted by a terminal decoration element denoted 18, and a lower part made in the form of a sleeve 19. The sleeve 19 is threaded onto an end piece 17 of the main element 14, and its free edge bears on an associated shoulder of the main element 14, so as to allow relative pivoting about the common axis X. The socket 19 also carries a means of attachment to the movable panel 2 , which means is not visible in Figure 1 but in the other figures. It will, for example, be a threaded rod 31 similar to the threaded rod 30, it being understood that any other type suitable for fixing on edge can be used. According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the hinge 10 includes an internal angular indexing mechanism noted 20, invisible from the outside, arranged to define at least one stable indexing position

  of an element articulated in relation to the other.

  The angular indexing mechanism 20 comprises a floating member, which is here produced in the form of an elongated needle 21 arranged parallel to the common axis X. The floating member 21 is permanently stressed by at least one spring 23 ( two springs) carried by the hinge part 14, and more precisely here by the end piece 17 thereof. The floating member 21 can thus be received in part in an axial groove 24 of the other hinge part 19 in the or each indexing position. The end piece 17 has an axial groove denoted 22 in which the elongated needle 21 is completely housed when the

  articulated elements are not in a relative position corresponding to an angular indexing.

  In FIG. 2a, which corresponds for example to a position for closing the movable panel 2 relative to the fixed upright 1, a position which is identified by the perpendicularity between the threaded rods 30 and 31, it can be seen that the needle elongated 21 urged by the springs 23 is pushed into the groove 24 of the sleeve 19. The elongated needle 10 is thus placed in the two grooves 22, 24, and performs angular indexing in this closed position. When the movable panel 2 is moved out of its closed position, the relevant end edge of the groove 24 pushes the elongated needle 2115 inside its groove 22. FIG. 2b thus illustrates such a position d partial opening of the movable panel 2. Thus, the end piece 17 carries the spring or springs 23 (here two in number) urging the floating member 21, and the axial groove or grooves 24 intervening in the indexing position are arranged in the wall of the housing opening out from the socket 19, said housing being

  referenced 26 in the perspective view of FIG. 3.

  As is better visible in Figure 3, the end piece 17 carries two helical springs 23 whose axis 40 is orthogonal to the common axis X. There are provided for this purpose two housings made in the form of two blind holes 25 making it possible to receive each helical spring 23, these blind holes 25 with an axis 40 opening into the common axial groove 22 also provided on the end piece 17. The elongated needle 21 can be received in the groove 22 to 1 against the force exerted by

coil springs 23.

  Each axial groove 22 or 24 preferably has a square or rectangular section, and also has sharp end edges. This conformation of the end edges is more important for the groove 24 than for the groove 22, insofar as they make it possible to define an angular range corresponding to a movement 5 around a median plane of the axial groove 22. This will be better understood with reference to the section of FIG. 4, showing that the axial groove 24 intended to receive the floating member in the indexing position has a width corresponding to a predetermined-10 mined angular movement, for example for an angle a d '' about 10, per

  relation to the median plane denoted P of the other axial groove 22.

  Thus, as soon as the relative angular position of the articulated elements is less than 10 relative to an indexing position, the action of the springs 23 intervenes by generating a significant return torque which urges the element

  movable from the hinge to the stable indexing position.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the axial groove 24 receiving the floating member in the chosen indexing position, which corresponds for example to the closed position of the movable panel 2, can be offset by a few degrees relative to the plane median P of the other axial groove 22, so that said floating member then exerts a restoring torque towards the closed position. This small offset is illustrated by an angle

  b which will be for example of the order of 2 to 3 degrees.

  Alternatively, at least one other indexing position corresponding to one or more positions of the movable panel 2 can be provided, in this case with several additional axial grooves 24 formed on the surface.

  internal of the sleeve 19, this or these additional grooves

  shutters being wedged angularly on the desired position or positions. Figures 6a and 6b thus illustrate such a hinge, the internal angular indexing mechanism 20 has two stable indexing positions, the first (Figure 6a) corresponding to the closing of the movable panel, and the second (Figure 6b) corresponding to the opening of

  of said movable panel.

  The inventive hinge

  integrated angular dexing is also adaptable to the case of a movable panel of the back-and-forth type, that is to say which is intended to pivot on either side of a central closed position. In this case, as illustrated in the section in FIG. 7, at least one indexing position corresponding to this central position is provided. It is of course possible to provide other indexing positions for a partial opening of the panel, in one or other of the directions relative to the central closed position (as shown schematically by the arrows) .15 This is particularly interesting for reciprocating doors which are used in duplicate in the form of two

  shutters that are pushed to open the door.

  We have thus achieved a hinge fitted with an integrated indexing mechanism, and this completely invisible from the outside, therefore in no way detrimental to the aesthetics of said hinge, and which is capable of achieving the desired indexing, with a return torque around the indexing area, even for mobile elements of significant weight. In addition, the structure of the mechanism with an elongated needle not only allows effective action, but also limits wear over the entire length of this needle (thanks to the pivoting thereof around

  of its axis), even in the case of very strong thrust springs.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiment

  tion which has just been described, but on the contrary includes any variant taking up, with equivalent means, the

  essential characteristics stated above.

Claims (10)

  1. Hinge for articulated elements (1, 2), in particular articulated elements of furniture, of the type comprising two superimposed parts (11, 12) capable of pivoting one relative to the other about a common axis (X ) substantially vertical, each hinge part (11, 12) being mounted fixed on the edge of an associated articulated element (1, 2), characterized in that it includes an internal angular indexing mechanism (20), invisible from the outside, arranged to define at least one stable position for indexing an articulated element relative to   the other. 2. Hinge according to claim 1, character-   sée in that the angular indexing mechanism (20) comprises a floating member (21), which is permanently biased by at least one spring (23) carried by a hinge part (14), said member being housed in part in an axial groove (24) of the other hinge part (19) in the or each indexing position. 3. Hinge according to claim 2, wherein a hinge part (14) has an end piece (17) received in a through housing (26) of the other hinge part (19), characterized in that l end piece (17) carries the spring or springs (23) urging the floating member (21), and the axial groove or grooves (24) acting in the indexing position are   arranged in the wall of the opening housing (26).   4. Hinge according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the floating member (21) is an elongated needle arranged parallel to the common axis (X), said needle being urged by at least two helical springs (23 ) whose axis (40) is orthogonal to the common axis (X).   5. Hinge according to claims 3 and 4,   characterized in that the coil springs (23) are   housed in blind holes (25) in the end cap   moth (17), said holes opening into a common axial groove (22) also provided on said end piece. 6. Hinge according to claim 2 or claim 5, characterized in that each axial groove (22, 24) has a square or rectangular section, and has sharp end edges. 7. Hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that the axial groove (24) receiving the floating member (21) in the indexing position has a width corresponding to an angular movement of approximately 10 relative to the median plane (P) of the other axial groove (22). 8. Hinge according to claim 6 or claim 7, associated with a fixed upright (1) and a movable panel (2), characterized in that there is provided at least one indexing position corresponding to the closed position of the movable panel (2), and the axial groove (24) receiving the floating member (21) in this indexing position is offset by a few degrees relative to the median plane (P) of the other axial groove (22) of so that said member then exerts a restoring torque towards the closed position.   9. Hinge according to claim 8, character-   sée in that there is provided at least one other indexing position corresponding to one or more positions of the movable panel (2), with one or more additional axial grooves (24) wedged angularly on the or the desired positions.   10. Hinge according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the movable panel (2) is provided to pivot on either side of a central closing position, characterized in that there is provided at least one position indexing corresponding to this middle position ..