TW201542922A - Hinge for furniture with independent damping element - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge (1) for furniture comprises a first portion (2) suitable for being coupled with either the structure of a piece of furniture or with a door or wing movable with respect to such structure, an articulated member or connecting rod (4), connected to said first portion (2) of the hinge and connected to a second portion (3) of the hinge, coupled with the other element of said structure and said door or wing pair, a linear damping element (7) being provided suitable for slowing-down the closing movement of the hinge (1) whereby the door or wing is closed onto the structure of the piece of furniture, such linear damping element (7) being associated with the first portion (2) of the hinge and its axis (W) being arranged orthogonally to a longitudinal axis (K) of said second portion (3) of hinge, means being associated with the first portion (2) of the hinge to control the linear damping element (7), such control means comprising at least one pusher member (38) cooperating with an element (5) constraining said second portion (3) of the hinge to the articulated member or connecting rod (4), such cooperation taking place while closing or opening the door or wing so as to make said damping element (7) operational during this operating phase.

Description

Hinge for furniture with independent damping elements

The object of the present invention is a hinge for furniture according to the preamble of the main subject matter of the patent application.

A hinge for a piece of furniture with a damping element can slow the closure of the door or wing of a piece of furniture to the structure of the piece of furniture, which has long been known. In an embodiment, the hinges comprise a damping element integral with the hinge: for example, the damping element is longitudinally fixed to the second portion of the hinge integral with the piece of furniture and can be closed when the door or wing is closed Cooperating with a first portion of the hinge attached to the piece of furniture. In this way the closing of the door or wing is slowed or suppressed, thus preventing the door from striking the structure described above. In another solution, the damping element is secured to a portion of the hinge that is tethered to the structure of the piece of furniture ("base") and acts directly on the hinge whenever the door or wing is closed. Another embodiment also includes a damping element integral with the base, but the element is controlled by a lever mechanism coupled to the base to connect the base (or the first portion of the hinge) to a hinge integral with the door or window The second part of the hinge cooperates.

The latter type of hinge for furniture comprises EP 2060719 (which can be read in the preamble of the main subject matter of the patent application), which describes a hinge having a damping element consisting of a cylinder whose longitudinal direction The shafting is perpendicular to an axis of the base to which the elements are coupled. The element cooperates with a lever mechanism that couples the base and is hinged by a hinge that connects the base to the second portion of the hinge.

A similar solution is described in GB 2469846 and WO 2007/038815.

However, for example, because known solutions are implemented from the production stage with damping elements that connect the hinges, such solutions have so far been difficult to implement and expensive. Also, because the damping element is tied to the second portion of the hinge, the solutions have a size or overall size that cannot be ignored, which also has a negative effect on the appearance of the piece of furniture.

Moreover, in such solutions the damping element is controlled by a lever mechanism that cooperates with the connecting rod, the solution requiring the lever mechanism and the component parts that connect the connecting rod to the first and second portions of the hinge to be mechanically strengthen.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge having a damping, i.e., a hinge having a damping element that overcomes the shortcomings of the solutions known to date.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge of the type described above which is easy to implement and assemble and which can have a damping element if desired and necessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge of the type described above that can be transformed into a hinge without a damping element at any time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge of the type described above that has reasonable cost and includes an assembly that can be applied to hinges that do not have damping to make the hinges undamped.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will be accomplished by a hinge in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the invention. The following drawings are attached, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

1‧‧‧Hinges

2‧‧‧Part 1 / Base

3‧‧‧Part II

4‧‧‧Hinges/links

5‧‧‧ Rivets

5A‧‧‧ head

6‧‧‧End Department

6A‧‧‧ opposite sides

7‧‧‧damper element/damper

8‧‧‧ line

10‧‧‧damper body

11‧‧‧Partial hollow base

11A, 12A‧‧‧ undercut

12‧‧‧ Cover

15‧‧‧ Hollow

16‧‧‧ channel

20‧‧‧Box

21‧‧‧Base surface

22‧‧‧ peripheral edge

Section 22A‧‧‧

24‧‧‧ Hollow

36‧‧‧Support

38‧‧‧Put

38A‧‧‧Part I

38B‧‧‧Part II

40‧‧‧ Inclined flat surface

43‧‧‧Hollows/dents

44‧‧‧First arm

45‧‧‧ Subject

46‧‧ ‧ sales

50‧‧‧second arm

52‧‧‧ handle

53‧‧‧Cylinder

56‧‧‧Support

60‧‧‧ slider

62‧‧‧Support

62A‧‧‧ rib

63‧‧‧End

65‧‧‧ third arm

66‧‧‧Protruding

68‧‧‧ Groove

100‧‧‧Support

1 is a perspective view of a hinged hinge according to the present invention, some components are omitted for clarity; FIG. 2 is a partial exploded, perspective view of the hinge according to the present invention; A top view of a portion of the hinge of Fig. 1 with a cover omitted, in the first working position of the hinge; Fig. 4 shows a view similar to Fig. 3, the hinge is set to a second work Position; Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 3, the hinge is set to another working position; Figure 6 shows a partial, perspective view of the hinge of Figure 1, which is now in another working position; Figure 7 shows a partial top view of the hinge of Figure 1, which is in another working position; The figure shows a cross-sectional view of line 8-8 in Fig. 1 with the hinge closed; Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a section of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 shows the decomposition of the part of the hinge shown in Fig. 3. Figure.

Referring to the above figures, a hinge with damping is generally designated as the symbol 1 and when it is moved, can connect a door or wing of a piece of furniture to a structure of the piece of furniture (no in the door or wing and furniture) One is marked in the schema). The hinge comprises a first portion (or base) 2 adapted to join the structure of the piece of furniture and a second portion 3 having an elongated shape connected to the first portion via a hinge or connecting rod 4. The second portion 3 is adapted to be attached to the door or wing by using a method known per se.

Undoubtedly, the first portion 2 can join the door or wing and the second portion of the structure that joins the piece of furniture. The hinge or connecting rod 4 comprises one or several lever arms and/or four-point joint joints which are known per se, the details of which are not described here.

The hinge or connecting rod 4 is connected to the second portion 3 via a plurality of constraining elements or rivets. Specifically, the rivet 5 constrains the hinge or connecting rod 4 to a terminal portion 6 of the second portion 3 on its opposite sides 6A.

The hinge 1 comprises a damping element or damper 7, which consists, for example, of a linear oil, gas, spring or air damper (having a substantially cylindrical shape) whose longitudinal axis W is arranged perpendicular to The longitudinal axis K of the second portion 3. Whenever the hinge 1 is closed (or opened), such as whenever the door or wing is closed (or opened) on the structure of the piece of furniture, the damping element does not directly cooperate with the portion 3.

More specifically, the damper element 7 is coupled to a damper body 10 that is adapted to be movably coupled, such as the first portion 2 of the hinge 1 by interference or switching coupling, and/or adapted for use by Overhanging the first portion 2 allows it to cooperate between the damping element 7 and the second portion 3. The damper body 10 includes a portion of the hollow base 11 that is adapted to be enclosed by a cover plate 12. The base 11 is preferably made of a plastic material and the cover is made of metal, the cover being coupled to the portion 11 in any conventional manner (as will be described later, for example, by snapping) Screws, by mechanical deformation or other methods). The base 11 and the cover 12 are placed perpendicular to the axis K of the second portion 3 of the hinge and each includes a side recess (11A and 12A, respectively) that is adapted to define a channel 16 whenever the hinge is closed from one The position opens to an open position in which the connecting rod 4 moves.

In the example illustrated in the drawings, the portion of the hinge 2 is comprised of a box-like body 20 having a base surface 21 from which a peripheral edge 22 of the portion 2 rises from the periphery of the base surface 21. . In a manner known per se, the connecting rod 4 is hinged to a portion 22A of the edge, and the closed hinge is mounted on the base defined by the peripheral edge 22 and the base 21 and open above. Inside a hollow portion 24 of the seat.

The base 11 is primarily coupled to the peripheral edge 22 of the first portion 2 of the hinge 1 by snapping.

In the recess or hollow portion of the body of the damper 10 having a different shape (the hollow portions are collectively designated as the symbol 15 in Fig. 10), the function between the second portion 3 and the damper member 7 is allowed. Coupled interconnect components. It should be noted that "functional coupling" means the indirect coupling between a portion 3 and the damping element 7 obtained via the interconnecting elements. When this is required (as will be described later), the interconnecting elements enable the transfer of the movement of the second portion 3 to the damping element 7, without any direct contact being present between them.

More specifically, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment in the drawings, the hollow portion 15 includes a plurality of seats 36 adapted to slidably include a plurality of push rods 38, the push rods 38 being provided with a plurality of push rods 38 adapted to slide relative to each other. The substantially L-shaped configuration thus has two portions 38A and 38B that are angled relative to each other, a first portion 38A projecting from abutment 36 in its respective channel 16 and toward the first portion of the hinge 1 or the base of the cartridge 2 21 is tilted; the second portion 38B is placed in its corresponding abutment 36 and is translationally movable therein.

The first portion 38A has a beveled surface 40 (or supports a rib or projection disposed as such) that is either planar or curved (as shown in the drawings) and is adapted to correspond to one of the second portions 3 of the hinge. The rivets 5 cooperate (or, more preferably, cooperate with the opposite head 5A of the rivet). Whenever the hinge is closed, the rivet 5 acts on the portion 38A of the push rod 38 located in the opposite end (in the opposite side of the second portion 3) 36. This action causes the second portion 38B of its corresponding push rod 38 to slide into each of the seats.

In the second portion 38B, each push rod includes a side hollow or recess 43 that cooperates with a first arm 44 that projects radially from a body 45 that is hinged to a pin 46. The pin 46 is integral with the base portion 11 of the body of the damper 10. The pin 46 has a hollow portion 47 and is adapted to receive a shaft (not shown) integral with the cover plate 12 of the body 10. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the shaft is riveted at its terminal end. In order to fix the cover 12 to the base portion 11.

The body 45 (in its respective holder 100 in the body 10) includes, in addition to the (first) arm 44, a second arm 50 that also projects radially from the body. This second arm can cooperate with the damping element 7 to squeeze it and buffer such closing (and thus also the closing of the cushioning wing) whenever the hinge is closed.

It should be noted that each push rod 38 is associated with a corresponding body 45 (let's call it the actuator body of the damping element 7). A first actuator body acts on a shank 52 of the damper element 7 projecting from a cylinder 53 of the damper element 7, the second actuator body 45 cooperating with the cylinder 53. These collaborations occur via the second arm 50 of the bodies.

The damping element is located in a seat 56 inside the body of the damper 10, as already mentioned, the body of the damper 10 must be placed perpendicularly to the axis K of the second part 3 (so that the axis W of the damping element 7 and The axes K are perpendicular to each other).

Therefore, when the hinge 1 is closed, the head 5A of the rivet 5 of the second portion 3 does not directly act (via the push rod 38 and the actuator body 45) on the damper element 7 of the damper hinge. It should be noted that because the head 5A of the rivet 5 is permanently and in any case contacts the push rod 38, By means of the actuator body 41, the damping element 7 acts on the push rod 38, which in any case is present in the closing and opening phases of the hinge (and therefore also in the closing and opening phases of the wings).

Since the type of hinge 1 is known per se, the body of the damper 10 can be coupled to it to make it a damped hinge or not to be attached to it so as to give the hinge an unconstrained and free (not buffered) operation.

In reducing the cost of furniture manufacturing, in a more flexible use of the doors and wings that are damped to close the furniture, and in reduced inventory and inventory costs, this produces a substantial elasticity (damper) in the use of the invention. The system of 10 is removably constrained and constrained to the hinge 1).

It should be noted that, in accordance with the present invention, the operation of the damping element 7 may be partially or fully disabled when the body 10 is coupled to the hinge 1.

For this purpose, there are sliders 60 (operating to enable those operations) in the body 10 that are adapted to cooperate with a corresponding actuator body 45 to enable or enable It acts on the damping element 7. Each slider slidably couples a seat 62 (in which movement is guided by a rib 62A) and includes an end portion 63 that is adapted to its corresponding actuator body 45. Cooperate to lock its rotation about its corresponding pin 46. Specifically, the slider 60 is moved in its corresponding abutment 62 with its end 63 cooperating with a third arm 65 of the body 45 to prevent this rotation (see Figure 5). The slider is driven to move by actuation of a projection 66 that projects into a recess 68 that is implemented in the cover 12 of the body of the damper 10.

Figures 3 and 5 show that the end 63 of one or both of the sliders can be brought to such a position to lock the rotation of the third arm 65 of its corresponding actuator body 45. This action on each slider will be performed to cause the door to be opened, so that its subsequent closing operation operates the damping element 7, however, because of the position of the slider 60 due to the locking movement. The actuator body 45 is no longer rotatable and the damping element 7 then remains squeezed.

Therefore, the door or wing is opened without any resistance being found (and closed without any damping effect).

Thanks to the invention, a hinge with damping is obtained, which is easy to implement (the body 10 is pre-assembled before being coupled to the first portion 2 of the hinge), in which the damping function can be activated, de-energized or partially de-energized . Thus, the hinge according to the present invention provides for substantial flexibility in use and implementation, and the body 10 can be coupled to a first portion of the hinge or can be placed directly on the first portion and secured to the piece of furniture or wing.

The structure of all unmodified hinges: at most, the head 5A of the rivet 5 should have such a thickening that they can cooperate with the push rod 38. Also, since the push rods 38 act on the heads 5A, the stresses generated by the damping member 7 are transferred to the side portions of the second portion 3 of the hinge, and are not transferred. To the connecting rod 4, since this occurs in the known solution of the prior art, the mechanical strength of the connecting rod 4 is indeed lower than the mechanical strength of the portion.

Claims (9)

A hinge (1) for furniture comprising: a first portion (2) adapted to be coupled to a structure of a piece of furniture or to a door or wing movable relative to the structure; a hinge (4) connecting the hinge The first portion (2) is coupled to a second portion (3) of the hinge, the second portion (3) having an elongated shape and coupled to the structure and a pair of other elements of the door or wing, a line a damping element (7) provided to slow the closing movement of the hinge (1) whereby the door or wing is closed to the structure of the piece of furniture, the linear damping element (7) being coupled to the first portion (2) of the hinge and Its longitudinal axis (W) is vertically disposed on a longitudinal axis (K) of the second portion (3) of the hinge; means is to connect the first portion (2) of the hinge to control the linear damping element (7), this control The means comprises at least one pusher member (38) that cooperates with the second portion (3) of a restraining hinge to the element (5) of the hinge or connecting rod (4) when closed or hit This cooperation occurs when opening a door or wing to operate the damping element (7) during this phase of operation, characterized in that the constraint element is riveted (5), of the rivet (5) is connected (4) to a second portion of the hinge member of the hinge (3). A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the rivet (5) has a terminal head (5A) that is directly coupled to a corresponding pusher member (38). A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first portion (2) of the hinge is snap-coupled with a body of the damper (10) containing the damping element (7) so as to be directly constrained to the latter. A hinge according to claim 3, wherein the body of the damper (10) is fixed to the wing or door of the piece of furniture and placed over the first portion (2) of the hinge so as not to be directly coupled to the latter and not directly The hinges (4) cooperate. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the control means is coupled to the body of the damper (10). A hinge according to claim 1 or 3, wherein each pusher member (38) cooperates with a corresponding actuator body (45), the actuator body (45) being adapted to act on the damping member (7), The push rod (38) is coupled to the actuator body (45) to transfer a thrust on the second portion (3) of the hinge to the latter by the restraining element (5) and the push rod Collaboratively generated and each actuating body (45) is housed in its own respective abutment (36, 100) of the damper body (10), the putter comprising: a first portion (38A) located in the branch The outer portion of the seat (36) is adapted to cooperate with the constraining member (5) in the second portion (3) of the hinge; and a second portion (38B) is slidable by the movement of the second portion (3) In the holder, the second portion cooperates with a first arm (44) of the actuator body (45) projecting radially from the actuator body (45), a portion of the actuator body (45) The two arms (50) cooperate with a damping element that is hinged to a pin (46) that is integral with the body of the damper (10) and that surrounds the body of the damper (10) Turn. The hinge of claim 6, wherein the hinge includes a push rod (38) and a corresponding actuator body (45) on each side of the second portion (3) of the hinge. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises means (60) for de-energizing the operation of the damping element (7) in the second portion (3) of the hinge. A hinge according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the deactivating means is comprised of a slider (60) adapted to operate on the actuator body (45) to prevent the actuator body (45) ) rotates around its corresponding pin (46) and This prevents its cooperation with the damping element, which results in preventing the damping element from cooperating with the second part (3) of the hinge.