GB2183722A

GB2183722A - A hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2183722A
Application number: GB08629520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erich Rock; Klaus Brustle; Helmut Rupprechter
Original assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Current assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
Priority date: 1985-12-10
Filing date: 1986-12-10
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: KR870006298A; GB8629520D0; ES2022107B3; DE8632598U1; GB2183722B; HK47291A; KR930011638B1

Abstract

A hinge comprises a hinge arm (1) which is snapable onto a mounting plate (2) by means of an intermediate member (3). The intermediate member (3) is at the front engageable in the mounting plate (2) and at the rear provided with a pivot lever (4) on which a hook member (15) is formed by means of which the pivot (ever (4) is lockable with the mounting plate (2). Centering means are provided which are formed for example by a locking bolt (18) extending into a notch (32) of the mounting plate (2) or by noses which abut on the base member (20) of the mounting plate (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ahinge The invention relates to a hinge with adjusting means, in which a hinge arm is by means of at least one intermediate memberfastenableto a mounting plate and by means of hinge links of the like connected with a second hinge part, for example a hinge casing, the intermediate member being at one end engageable in the mounting plate and pivotable thereon by means of a pivot bearing, and at the other end lockable by means of a pivot lever which is pivotally mounted at the intermediate member and comprises a hook member engaging at a projection of the mounting plate.

In conventional hinges the hinge arm is fastened to the mounting plate by means of a clamping screw, said clamping screw generally extending through an elongated holeto allow an adjustmentofthe hinge arm in the depth of the piece offurniture.

Lately snap-in connectionsforfastening the hinge arm to the mounting plate have become known. DE A-30 26796 and 30 39 328, for example, show hinges with a hinge arm and a fastening plate in which the two parts to be locked snap into each other by inserting the hinge arm in a guiding ofthefastening plate and by displacing the same in longitudinal direction.

A similarway of locking a hinge arm to a mounting plate is described in DE-A-24 60 127. DE-A-32 41 284 shows a hinge in which the hinge arm is insertable into lateral guidings of a mounting plate and clampable to the mounting plate by means of an eccentric.

The above-described ways of locking the hinge arm have the advantage that the hinge arm can be very quickly fixed to the mounting plate when the piece offurniture is being assembled, and that no tool is required for the mounting operation.This advantage is not unimportant because the door must be held,whilethe hinge arms are mounted. When, for example, the door is held with one hand and the hinge arm which is being mounted with the other hand, a second person is frequently required who fastens the clamping screw with a screwdriver, when the hinge arm is to be locked by means of a clamping screw.

It is a disadvantage of hinges in which the hinge arm or the intermediate member must be inserted into the mounting platefromthefrontisthattilting frequently occurs. This is particularly the case with high doors which carry many hinges.

AT-PS 360 856 describes a hinge whose intermediate member is engageable at one end in the mounting plate and at the other end provided with a pivot lever by means of which the intermediate member is lockable to the mounting plate. The scope ofthe invention is to improve such a hinge.

The invention is based on the problem to hold the mounted hinge arm on the mounting platewithout clearance asfaras possible.

EP-A3-0 043 903 describes a hinge comprising a hinge arm which is adapted to be pushed onto a mounting plate and held buy a catching lever acted upon by a spring. The spring and the catching lever pressthe hinge arm permanently against a stop of the mounting plate. It is a disadvantage ofthis arrangementthat secure supporting of the hinge arm is dependent on the force of the spring and that the spring must continuously hold the hinge arm, i.e. over a period of many years.

It is the object ofthe invention to improve a hinge of the above-described kind. The clearance between the intermediate member and the mounting plate should be reduced to the greatest possible extent withoutproducing a continuous stress on the actual locking means.

According to the invention this is achieved bypro- viding a positioning surface at the intermediate member which is staggered with respect to the pivot bearing in the depth ofthe piece of furniture, said positioning surface abutting on a countersurface of the mounting plate, when the intermediate member has been mounted on the mounting plate, and positioning the intermediate member together with the pivot bearing preferably without clearance in the depth of the piece offurniture.

Since the hinge arm is positioned without clear ance by m ea ns of rigid parts ofthe intermediate member and the mounting plate, the hinge arm is absolutely securely held over long periods of time.

The spring which acts upon the pivot lever serves only to press the latter-mentioned behind the projec tionofthemounting plate in the mounting operation. The intermediate member is held on the mounting plate by positive locking.

An embodiment of the invention provedes that a nose is provided at the intermediate memberwhich lies behind the countersurface ofthe mounting plate, when the intermediate member has been mounted on the mounting plate.

It may be provided that the intermediate member has a U-shaped cross section and that a nose is formed at each lateral flange, and thatthe mounting plate comprises a base member at each side. The countersurfaces, each, are provided at the base members.

One embodiment provides that the nose is arranged adjacent to the hook member ofthe pivot lever.

To improve supporting of the intermediate member and to provide centering means, it is provided thatthe lateral flanges ofthe intermediate member have recesses arranged directly in front of the noses onto which the base members ofthe mounting plate extend.

A fu rther em bodiment of the invention is characterized in thatthe stop surface is arranged at a locking boltwhich Iiestransverslytothelongitudinal center axis ofthe mounting plate and ofthe hinge arm, is mounted at the intermediate member and engages in a notch ofthe mounting plate,thewall of said notch forming the countersurface.

It is advantageously provided that said notch is semi-circular and has different radii. The notch is advantageously disposed in the rear half ofthe mounting plate.

The intermediate memberwith the locking bolt can be manufactured with a precision to reduce the clearance of the parts to an optimum extent.

twill be appreciated thatthe arrangement ofthe structural parts could also be reversed. The locking bolt could also be formed at the mounting plate and extend into an opening in the intermediate member.

Accordingtotheinvention it is also possibleto mountthe pivot lever atthe mounting plate to en gagewith its hook memberattheintermediate member.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures of the drawings in which Figure lisa longitudinal sectional view of a hinge arm and a mounting plate in the position when the hinge arm is being engaged.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewofthe hinge arm and the mounting plate, when the hinge arm is in the mounted position.

Figure 3 is a side view ofthe mounting plate and of the intermediate member in the region ofthe stops, Figure4isa longitudinal sectionalviewofahinge arm and a mounting plate in the position when the hinge arm is being engaged in the second embodiment, Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional viewofthe hinge arm andthe mounting plate,when the hinge arm is in the mounted position, Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the intermediate member in the region ofthe locking bolt, Figure 7is a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 6, and Figure8is a sectional view along line B-B of Figure 6.

The hinge parts which are notdirectly related to the invention are not shown in the figures ofthe drawings, such asthe hinge casing and the hinge links, because they are made according to the state ofthe art.

As can be seen from the figures ofthe drawings, the essential parts ofthe hinge are the hinge arm 1, the mounting plate 2 and the intermediate member3 with the pivot lever 4.

The hinge arm 1 isfastenedto the intermediate member 3 by means of a joint adjustment screw 6 which is mounted in a female thread in the hinge arm 1 and by means of a clamping screw 5 which also servesforthe depth adjustment. The clamping screw 5 projects through a slot8 in the hinge arm 1, and the joint adjustment screw 6 is with its head 6' also held in a slot9 in the intermediate member3. By releasing the clamping screw 5, the hinge arm 1 can be displaced over the length of slot8 and thus be adjusted in the depth ofthe piece offurniture. The adjustment in the direction ofthe doorjoint is effected in a conventional mannerbyturningthejointadjusting screw 6.

The intermediate member3 has a U-profile. The mounting plate 2 is inserted between the legs 3' of the intermediate member3.

At its frontthe intermediate member3 is provided with a pin 10 which serves as a holding projection of the intermediate member 3. The mounting plate 2 has a notch at its front into which pin 10 is engageableto be held atthe mounting plate 2.

At its rear end the mounting plate 2 is also provided with a notch 12.

The pivot lever4 is mounted at the rear end ofthe hinge arm 1 by means of a bolt 13. The hook member 15 isformed atthe pivot lever4.

The pivot lever4 is acted upon by a spring so that, when the intermediate member3 is mounted on the mounting plate 2, said pivot lever snaps automatically intro the notch 12.

The illustrated embodiment shows a leg spring 7 which is mounted in a recess 14Ofthepivotlever4 and abuts with one end on the intermediate member 3.

When the hinge arm 1 is with the intermediate member 3 pressed from the position illustrated in Figure 1 into the position illustrated in Figure 2, the hook member 15 engages in the notch 12 and the hinge arm 1 is locked atthe mounting plate 2.

To avoid unintentional displacement ofthe hinge arm 1 in the forward direction, i.e. in the direction of arrowV of Figure 2, the intermediate member3 isat the two lateral flanges 3', each, provided with a nose 19. When the hinge arm is in the mounted position, the noses 19 are positioned directly behind base members 20 of the mounting plate2.Theyadvan- tageously abut with their positioning surfaces 28 directly at the countersurface 21 ofthe base members 20. In this arrangement the pivot lever4 must pre ventonlythatthe hinge arm 1 is liftedfromthe mounting plate 2 in the direction of arrow A. This means that minimal forces only are to be received.

The great forces which act in the direction of arrow V are received between the noses 19 and the base members 20 by positive locking.

To facilitate and improve centering ofthe unit hinge arm 1 and intermediate member 3 on the mounting plate 2, recesses 30 extending into the base members 20 are provided directly in front ofthe noses 19.

The noses 19 and the base members 20 are positioned directly besidethe hook member 15 ofthe pivot lever 4.

In the embodiment according to Figures 4to 11, the intermediate member3 has a locking bolt 18 which is positioned in the rear halfwith respect to the length and mounted between the legs 3' of the inter mediatemember3. The outersurfaceof locking bolt 18formsthe positioning surface 28. When the inter- mediate member 3 has been mounted on the mounting plate 2, the locking bolt 18 comes to rest in a semicircular notch 32 ofthe mounting plate 2. Centering ofthe intermediate member3 on the mounting plate 2 is thus obtained and undesired clearance between the two parts is avoided. The front side ofthe notch 19 forms the countersurface 21. The locking bolt 18 corresponds to the noses in respect of its fun- ction.

To facilitate engagement of the locking bolt 18,the notch 32 has, as particularly shown in Figure 5, dif ferentradii.Whenthe intermediate member3 is in the mounted position,the locking bolt 18 rests snugglyatthefrontwall of notch 32.

After mounting ofthe hinge arm 1 at the intermediate member3, the hinge arm 1 is adjusted in the above-described manner.

In both embodiments the centering partwhichcar- ries the positioning surface 28 is a rigid parts the intermediate member 3.

A handle 4' is formed at the pivot lever 4. If the hinge arm 1 isto be released from the mounting plate 2, it is sufficient to lift said handle 4',whereupon the hook member 15 disengages from the notch 12 and the hinge arm 1 can with the intermediate member3 be lifted from the mounting plate 2.

Said releasing operation is facilitated byte nose 31 at the pivot lever 4. Said nose presses onto the mounting plate 2 and acts like a lever. The locking bolt 18 can thus easily be released from the notch 32 even if there exists a certain bracing effect between the locking bolt 18 and the pin 10.

In the embodimentthe hook member 15 ofthe pivot lever 4 is fork-shaped and comprises two prongs 25. The mounting plate 2 is at the projection 22 provided with a centrally arranged cam 23.

When the hinge arm 1 and the intermediate member 3 are being snapped onto the mounting plate 2, the prongs 25 ofthe hook member 15 move at both sides past the cam 23 and engage underneath projection 22. The countersurface 24 of the pivot lever4abuts on the cam 23,which meansthatthe pivot lever 4 snuggly embraces with the prongs 25 of the hook member 15 and with the countersurface 24 the projection 22 and the cam 23. The pivot lever4 and hence also the intermediate member3 and the hinge arm 1 are held at the rear end atthe mounting plate2absolutelywithoutclearance.

The intermediate member3 is hence held at the mounting plate 2 by positive locking not only in the depth ofthe piece of furniture but also in the direction ofthe doorjoint.

To improve lateral supporting of the pivot lever 4 atthe mounting plate 2, the embodiment according to Figure 1 provides lateral cheeks 27 at the pivot lever 4, said cheeks receiving cam 23 between them, when the intermediate member3 is mounted at the mounting plate 2.

The terms upper, lower and lateral used in this specification do not relate to the hinge in the mounted position at the piece offurniture but to the figures ofthe drawings.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising adjusting means,inwhich a hinge arm is by means of at least one intermediate memberfastenableto a mounting plate and by means of hinge links orthe like connected with a second hinge part, for example a hinge casing, the intermediate member being at one end engageable in the mounting plate and pivotablethereon by means of a pivot bearing, and at the other end lockable by means of a pivot lever which is pivotally mounted at the intermediate member and comprises a hook member engaging at a projection ofthe hol- ding plate, wherein a positioning surface staggered with respect to said pivot bearing in the depth of the piece of furniture is provided at said intermediate member, said positioning surface abutting on a countersurface of said mounting plate and positioning said intermediate membertogetherwith said pivot bearing preferably without clearance in the depth ofthe piece offurniture.

2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a nose is provided at said intermediate member and lies be hindsaidcountersurfaceofsaid mounting plate, when said intermediate member has been mounted on said mounting plate.

3. A hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one base member carrying said countersurface is formed at said mounting plate.

4. A hinge as claimed in claim 2,wherein said intermediate member has a U-shaped cross-section and a nose at each lateral flange, and wherein said mounting plate is provided with a base member at each side.

5. A hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein said nose is positioned adjacent to said hook member of said pivot lever.

6. A hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lat eralflangesofsaid intermediate member have recesses directly in front of said noses, said base members of said mounting plate extending into said recesses.

7. A hinge as claimed in claim 1,wherein said positioning surface is arranged art a locking bolt which liestransversly to the longitudinal center axis of said mounting plate of said hinge arm, is mounted at said intermediate member and engages in a notch of said mounting plate, the wall of said mounting plate forming said countersurface.

8. A hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said notch is disposed in the rear half of said mounting plate.

9. A hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said notch issemicircularand has different radii.

10. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore descri- bed with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.