US3745608A - Counter balance support - Google Patents

Counter balance support Download PDF

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Publication number
US3745608A
US3745608A US00199583A US3745608DA US3745608A US 3745608 A US3745608 A US 3745608A US 00199583 A US00199583 A US 00199583A US 3745608D A US3745608D A US 3745608DA US 3745608 A US3745608 A US 3745608A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
lid
hinge
hinge part
spring
relative
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00199583A
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English (en)
Inventor
C Little
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Weber Knapp Co
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Weber Knapp Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Weber Knapp Co filed Critical Weber Knapp Co
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Publication of US3745608A publication Critical patent/US3745608A/en
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F1/00—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
    • E05F1/08—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings
    • E05F1/10—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings for swinging wings, e.g. counterbalance
    • E05F1/12—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs
    • E05F1/1246—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
    • E05F1/1253—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis with a compression spring
    • E05F1/1261—Mechanisms in the shape of hinges or pivots, operated by springs with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis with a compression spring for counterbalancing
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
    • E05Y2800/26—Form or shape
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/20—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for furniture, e.g. cabinets
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2999/00—Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed towards an improved mechanism for counter balancing the weight of vertically swinging cabinet lids of the type wherein the lid hinge is separate and spaced from the mechanism. More specifically, the present invention features the provision of a tiltable glide for interconnecting the counter balance mechanism with the lid, such that substantially all counter balance spring forces act perpendicular to the lid when in closed position, thereby essentially no spring force acts through the lid hinge pin or applies shear forces on the fasteners connecting the lid to the mechanism.
  • FIG. l is a side elevational view of the counter balance mechanism of the present invention showing it in association with a cabinet lid; y
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lid in open position
  • FIG. S is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.
  • the counter balance mechanism of the present invention is generally designated as l0.
  • Mechanism is employed to counter balance the weight of a lid 12, which is supported ⁇ on a cabinet l4 for vertically swinging movement upwardly from an essentially horizontal, cabinet opening closed position shown in FIGS. l and 3 by an independent lid hinge mechanism including a horizontally disposed hinge pin 16, shown only in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • Mechanism l0 generally includes a stationary hinge part 18, which is suitably fixed to cabinet 14; a movable hinge part 20, which is supported for vertical swinging movement relative to hinge part 18 and thus cabinet 14 by a hinge pin 22 arranged essentially parallel to lid hinge pin 16; a counter balance spring mechanism 24, which is carried adjacent its opposite ends on hinge parts 18 and 20; and a guide device 26 for connecting lid l2 to hinge part 20 for conjunctive vertical swinging movement.
  • Guide device 26 is fixedly mounted on lid l2 and movably mounted on or coupled to hinge part 20 in the manner to be described.
  • hinge part 18 is of plural part construction including a generally L-shaped mounting flange 30 and a generally U-shaped hinge flange 32 for mounting opposite ends of hinge pin 22.
  • Flange 30 is shown as having vertically and horizontally disposed flange portions 36 and 38; flange portion 36 being fonned with apertures 40 to receive cabinet mounting fasteners, not shown, and flange portion 38 being weld or otherwise fixed to hinge flange 32.
  • Movable hinge part 20 is shown in the drawings as being of elongated, generally U-shaped construction including a pair of parallel leg portions 42 and 44, which are formed adjacent one end thereof with aligned apertures to receive hinge pin 22 and adjacent an opposite end thereof with outtumed, aligned guide rails 42a and 44a; and a connecting portion 46, which is formed with an upstanding mounting flange portion 48 having a through opening 50.
  • a retaining pin 52 which is carried adjacent its opposite ends by leg portions 42 and 44 is arranged to engage flange portion 48 in order to prevent deformation thereof, as a result of the spring force present in spring mechanism 24.
  • Spring mechanism 24 is shown as including a coil type compression spring 60, which is arranged concentrically of a bolt 62 and bears adjacent its opposite ends on an adjustment nut 64 and a washer 66. Washer 66 in turn bears on one end of a resiliently deformable, plastic brake shoe or sleeve 68, which is arranged concentrically of and in frictional engagement with bolt 62.
  • the other end of shoe 68 is preferably rounded or conically shaped and arranged in engagement with the converging inner or bearing walls 70 of a through bored, cup shaped member 72, which is in turn movably received within mounting flange portion opening 50 thereby to positionally anchor or constrain one end of spring mechanism 24.
  • a coil type compression spring 60 which is arranged concentrically of a bolt 62 and bears adjacent its opposite ends on an adjustment nut 64 and a washer 66.
  • Washer 66 in turn bears on one end of a resiliently deformable, plastic brake shoe or sleeve 68, which is
  • bolt 62 freely passes through member 72 and opening 50, such that it is freed for reciprocating and- /or rotary adjustment movements relative to movable hinge part 20. Slight vertical pivotal movement of bolt 62 relative to movable hinge part 20, as required to permit movements of the spring mechanism as the lid is moved between closed and open positions illustrated respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4, is permitted by tilting movement of memberl72 within opening 50.
  • spring mechanism 24 is positionally fixed to hinge flange 32 by freely or loosely fitting an end of bolt 62 within a bore opening 80 formed in a connector 82; the latter being pivotally mounted on hinge flange 32 by a pin shaft 84 arranged essentially parallel to hinge pin 22.
  • adjustment nut 64 is threaded onto a relatively short thread portion 86 of bolt 62.
  • adjustment nut 64 when constrained against rotational movement, may be moved lengthwise of threaded portion 86 upon rotation of bolt 62 in order to adjustably vary the extent to which spring 50 is initially compressed.
  • Adjustment nut 64 may be so constrained by a manually manipulated tool, not shown, or by a guide means, also not shown, carried by connector 82 to extend parallel to and slideably engage bolt 62.
  • Glide device 26 is best shown in FIG. 5 as being of inverted U-shaped construction, including a connecting flange portion 90, which is suitably fixed via a mounting plate 92 to the under surface of lid l2; and a pair of leg flange portions 94 and 96, which carry facing U-shaped guide flanges 98 and 100, respectively, adjacent their free or lower ends.
  • guide flanges 98 and 100 serve to carry facing upper and lower convex or arcuate plastic guide blocks 98a, 98b and 100a, 100b, respectively.
  • Guide blocks 98a and 100a are arranged for sliding engagement with the upper surfaces of guide rails 42a and 44a, respectively, and guide blocks 98b and 100b are arranged in close proximity with the lower surfaces of guide rails 42a and 44a, respectively.
  • the spacing between the central or rounded apex portions of guide blocks 98a, 98b and 100a, 100b is such as to permit tilting of guide device 26 relative to guide rails 42a and 44a, as the guide device is moved lengthwise of the guide rails between the lid closed and lid open positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.
  • guide blocks 98a and 100a may be replaced by roller members.
  • the open and closed positions of the lid and mechanism l may be variously defined, depending on installation requirement. However, for purposes of illustration, the closed position of both is shown in FIG. 3 as being defined by engagement of the lid with the cabinet.
  • the open position of mechanism l0 is shown in FIG. 4 as being defined by engagement of leg portion end surfaces 42b and 44b with a stop or rear edge portion 38a.
  • the open position of lid 12 may be defined by forming guide rajls 42a and 44b with tabs 42e and 44e, which are arranged to engage tabs 98' and 100' of guide flanges 98 and 100, at the same time that or immediately after leg portion end surfaces 42b and 44b engage stop portion 38a. Engagement of guide blocks 98b and 100b With the under surfaces of rails 42a and 44a prevent separation of the lid from the mechanism.
  • the force of spring 60 always acts along its longitudinal axis, which essentially corresponds to the longitudinal axis of bolt 62, and that the frictional force caused by the snubbing effects of shoe 68 acts along these axes, but always in opposition to the direction of lid and mechanism movement. Therefore, the frictional force either adds to or substracts from the variable spring force.
  • the sum of the spring and frictional forces act through the moment arm d, to produce initial torque T, when the lid is closed (FIG. 3), and through moment arm dl' to produce a final torque Tl' when the lid is open (FIG. 4).
  • T, and Tl' bound opposite ends of a moment tending to swing hinge part 20 upwardly about hinge pin 22.
  • hinge part 20 moves upwardly produces on glide device 26 a continuous, but variable force bounded by an initial force Fl in FIG. 3 and a final force F1' in FIG. 4, which are always perpendicular to rails 42a and 44a and act through the radius center of guide blocks 98a and 100a.
  • Force F1 acting through initial moment arm d, and force F1' acting through final moment arm d2' define initial and final torques T, and T1', respectively, which act about lid hinge pin 16 in opposition to the gravity induced lid torque.
  • rails 42a and 44a are parallel to lid l2 in lid closed position in order to permit Fl to normally act perpendicular to the lid, and therefore only produce a torque about the lid hinge axis.
  • Slight divergence of rails 42a and 44a from a parallel relationship with the lid, as required by the cramped spacing illustrated in FIG. 3, will result in there being produced only a small force vector parallel to the lid, which is negligible. While a force vector will be produced parallel to the lid during movements of the lid into open position, as will be apparent from viewing FIG. 4, such force vector will still .be relatively small when compared to the perpendicular force vector of F1 and will not produce undesired binding of hinge pin 16 or produce excessive shear force, tending to weaken vthe connection between lid 12 and mounting plate 92.
  • the lid since for most installations the lid will normally be disposed in its closed position, the period of time during which the lid is subjected to higher than negligible forces will be relatively small, thereby extending the overall operational life of the unit.
  • the above described mechanism may be modified, if desired, by fixedly mounting the guide device on the movable hinge part and mounting guide rails on the underside of the lid.
  • a counter balance mechanism for use in combina ⁇ tion with a lid supported on a cabinet for vertical swinging movement about an essentially horizontally disposed first hinge axis between closed and open positions, said mechanism including:
  • hinge pin means for joining a second of said hinge parts to said first hinge part for vertical swinging movement relative thereto about a second hinge axis disposed in a spaced essentially parallel relationship to said first hinge axis;
  • a guide device for connecting said lid to said second hinge part for conjunctive vertical swinging movement, said guide device being fixedly mounted on one of said second hinge part and said lid and being coupled to the other of said second hinge part and said lid for movement relative thereto incident to said conjunctive movement;
  • said spring means includes a compression spring and friction means for dampening swinging movement of said second hinge part and thereby said lid as a function of spring compression variations of said spring incident to second hinge part positional changes, said friction means opposing said spring during vertical upward movements of Asaid lid and cooperating with said spring during vertical downward movements of said lid to establish said first moment.
  • said spring means includes a compression spring and friction means
  • said coupling means includes a connector having a bore opening, pin means extending essentially transversely of said bore opening for coupling said connector to said first hinge part for pivotal movement about an axis essentially parallel to said first and second hinge axes, an apertured member defining a converging bearing surface, means for positionally mounting said apertured member relative to said second hinge part, a bolt having one end extending freely through said apertured member and having another end rotatably supported within said bore opening, and a plate threadably carried by said bolt adjacent said other end thereof whereby to permit adjustments of said plate lengthwise of said bolt towards and away from said connector; said friction means is resiliently deformable and arranged in frictional engagement with said bolt intermediate said apertured member and said plate; and said compression spring is arranged essentially concentrically of said bolt to bear adjacent opposite ends thereof on said plate and said friction means whereby adjustments of said plate varies compression of said compression spring and whereby said friction means is biased by said compression
  • a mechanism according to claim l wherein said other of said second hinge part and said lid defines rail means and said guide device is movable lengthwise of and tiltable relative to said rail means whereby permitting movements of said lid relative to said second hinge part.
  • said second-hinge part includes a pair of elongated essentially parallel leg portions, said leg portions having aligned openings adjacent first ends thereof for receiving said hinge pin means and defining adjacent second ends thereof a pair of relatively outturned and aligned rails
  • said guide device is of inverted generally U- shaped construction having a connecting portion fixed relative to said lid and a pair of depending legs, said legs being associated one with each of said rails, and each of said legs having a pair of upper and lower guide means arranged to engage relatively upper and lower surfaces of its associated rail.
  • each pair of said guide means has facing convex rail engag- It Ik Ik

Landscapes

  • Closing And Opening Devices For Wings, And Checks For Wings (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Hinges (AREA)
US00199583A 1971-11-17 1971-11-17 Counter balance support Expired - Lifetime US3745608A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19958371A 1971-11-17 1971-11-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3745608A true US3745608A (en) 1973-07-17

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ID=22738160

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00199583A Expired - Lifetime US3745608A (en) 1971-11-17 1971-11-17 Counter balance support

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3745608A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS5316344B2 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1364759A (enExample)
NL (1) NL7205068A (enExample)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4904150A (en) * 1987-05-29 1990-02-27 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Balancing unit for pivotable mechanical elements, such as doors, robot arms, etc.
US20080238276A1 (en) * 2003-10-10 2008-10-02 Carlo Migli Hinge Assembly for the Articulated Connection of a Vertically Opening Panel to a Furniture Element
US9387811B2 (en) * 2003-10-09 2016-07-12 Thule Sweden Ab Spring-biased strut for dual sided cargo box
EP3135845A4 (en) * 2014-04-25 2018-01-03 Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd. Freezer and hinge for same

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US389450A (en) * 1888-09-11 levi m
US2224444A (en) * 1938-09-26 1940-12-10 Martha W Murrin Hinge
DE1144619B (de) * 1961-01-07 1963-02-28 Steinbach & Vollmann Scharnier mit Feder zum Gewichtsausgleich von Deckeln
US3187374A (en) * 1963-12-17 1965-06-08 Weber Knapp Co Hinge mechanism
CA772845A (en) * 1967-12-05 Gronbach Wilhelm Spring hinge for counterbalancing lids
CA777449A (en) * 1968-02-06 M. Himes John Cabinet hinge
CA784406A (en) * 1968-05-07 W. Turner Oswald Hinge
DE1293647B (de) * 1969-04-24 Paul Oberholz & 3 hne, Schloß- u. Beschlagfabrik GmbH, 5620 Velbert Scharnier mit Feder zum Gewichtsausgleich von Flügeln, z.B. Deckeln, Hauben, Klappen od. dgl
US3452388A (en) * 1968-02-23 1969-07-01 Keystone Consolidated Ind Inc Counterbalancing lid and hinge support

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US389450A (en) * 1888-09-11 levi m
CA772845A (en) * 1967-12-05 Gronbach Wilhelm Spring hinge for counterbalancing lids
CA777449A (en) * 1968-02-06 M. Himes John Cabinet hinge
CA784406A (en) * 1968-05-07 W. Turner Oswald Hinge
DE1293647B (de) * 1969-04-24 Paul Oberholz & 3 hne, Schloß- u. Beschlagfabrik GmbH, 5620 Velbert Scharnier mit Feder zum Gewichtsausgleich von Flügeln, z.B. Deckeln, Hauben, Klappen od. dgl
US2224444A (en) * 1938-09-26 1940-12-10 Martha W Murrin Hinge
DE1144619B (de) * 1961-01-07 1963-02-28 Steinbach & Vollmann Scharnier mit Feder zum Gewichtsausgleich von Deckeln
US3187374A (en) * 1963-12-17 1965-06-08 Weber Knapp Co Hinge mechanism
US3452388A (en) * 1968-02-23 1969-07-01 Keystone Consolidated Ind Inc Counterbalancing lid and hinge support

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4904150A (en) * 1987-05-29 1990-02-27 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Balancing unit for pivotable mechanical elements, such as doors, robot arms, etc.
US9387811B2 (en) * 2003-10-09 2016-07-12 Thule Sweden Ab Spring-biased strut for dual sided cargo box
US9682660B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2017-06-20 Thule Sweden Ab Spring-biased strut for a cargo box
US20080238276A1 (en) * 2003-10-10 2008-10-02 Carlo Migli Hinge Assembly for the Articulated Connection of a Vertically Opening Panel to a Furniture Element
EP3135845A4 (en) * 2014-04-25 2018-01-03 Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd. Freezer and hinge for same
US10203149B2 (en) 2014-04-25 2019-02-12 Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd. Freezer and hinge for same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5316344B2 (enExample) 1978-05-31
JPS4858963A (enExample) 1973-08-18
GB1364759A (en) 1974-08-29
NL7205068A (enExample) 1973-05-21

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