WO2008050988A1 - Hinge device capable for controlling height - Google Patents

Hinge device capable for controlling height Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008050988A1
WO2008050988A1 PCT/KR2007/005198 KR2007005198W WO2008050988A1 WO 2008050988 A1 WO2008050988 A1 WO 2008050988A1 KR 2007005198 W KR2007005198 W KR 2007005198W WO 2008050988 A1 WO2008050988 A1 WO 2008050988A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
door
hinge device
shaft
guide
screw
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2007/005198
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Chan Ho Hong
Original Assignee
I-One Innotech Co., Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR1020070065697A external-priority patent/KR100896753B1/en
Application filed by I-One Innotech Co., Ltd. filed Critical I-One Innotech Co., Ltd.
Publication of WO2008050988A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008050988A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/028—Details
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
    • E05D7/08—Hinges or pivots of special construction for use in suspensions comprising two spigots placed at opposite edges of the wing, especially at the top and the bottom, e.g. trunnions
    • E05D7/081—Hinges or pivots of special construction for use in suspensions comprising two spigots placed at opposite edges of the wing, especially at the top and the bottom, e.g. trunnions the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
    • E05D7/0009—Adjustable hinges
    • E05D7/0018—Adjustable hinges at the hinge axis
    • E05D7/0027—Adjustable hinges at the hinge axis in an axial direction
    • 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
    • E05F3/00—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices
    • E05F3/20—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices in hinges
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/30—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances
    • E05Y2900/31—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances for refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2323/02—Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered
    • F25D2323/024—Door hinges

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hinge device capable of controlling height, and more particularly to a height controllable hinge device having a height control function in a hinge axis of a door so that the door can be easily accurately installed in a door frame even in the case that the size of the door mismatches the door frame.
  • a hinge device makes two members spaced from each other around an axis or folded one member over another around the axis, according to necessity.
  • a representative example of the hinge device is a left/right rotational hinge device including a horizontal actuator which is used for a door or window frame, or an up/down rotational hinge device including a vertical actuator which is used for a refrigerator, a mobile phone, or a notebook computer.
  • a conventional hinge device having an automatic return function is disclosed in Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001 -0027832.
  • Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0271646 discloses a conventional hinge type door opening and closing apparatus in which a hydraulic type door closer and a spring type door closer are separately configured and the former and the latter are combined with each other. Further, Korean Patent No.
  • 586262 which was proposed by the same inventor as that of the present invention discloses a conventional hinge device employing a double camshaft which includes a lower camshaft and an upper camshaft in which the upper camshaft is installed in order to compensate for reduction in a closing force and includes a pair of spiral elevating holes like the lower camshaft.
  • Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713 which was proposed by the same applicant as that of the present invention discloses an automatic return hinge device for a large size or small size door which includes a torsion spring associated with a clutch in the upper part of the hinge device and a return spring associated with an oil-hydraulic circuit in the lower part thereof, to thus maximize a door closing force of a door and minimize a door opening force of the door at a predetermined angle or more, while simultaneously minimizing diameter of the hinge device.
  • a refrigerator door In general, a refrigerator door is designed to be automatically closed when the door is opened by an angle of 45 ° if the door is horizontally fitted.
  • the floor of a place that a refrigerator is placed is not horizontally fitted for the most part.
  • the refrigerator is horizontally fitted by adjusting a height control screw which is installed at the front-lower end of the refrigerator at the time of placing the refrigerator, but it is frequent that the refrigerator is horizontally fitted by supporting corners or corner of both sides or one side of the rear end of the refrigerator.
  • a space that a refrigerator is placed in an apartment house, etc. is a restricted space which was established beforehand at the time of constructing the apartment house, etc., it is not so easy to level the refrigerator.
  • most of refrigerators are used at a state where they are properly horizontally fitted.
  • hinge devices having an automatic return function for refrigerators are being proposed.
  • An existing hinge device having an automatic return function for use in a refrigerator is installed in the form of a burial type, in a refrigerator door, in which a rotating axis of the door is used in an equal form as that of the hinge device.
  • a large size refrigerator employs a left/right open/closing type two-door or three-door refrigerator structure, in order to efficiently control cool air.
  • Two doors are arranged at the left/right sides of a two-door refrigerator.
  • heights of the two doors should be accurately set.
  • the heights of the lower sides of the two doors may be differently installed from each other.
  • the same problems as the above may happen.
  • a hinge device which is installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a housing which is buried in a first groove formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a groove formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge shaft which comprises a linear combiner, a screw connector, and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a number of guide protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves of the housing are protrudingly formed in the linear combiner at every predetermined angle along the lengthy direction of the linear combiner, and a first screw thread is formed around the outer circumference of the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; a fixing bracket which comprises a throughhole through
  • the cylindrical protrusion of the hinge shaft is inserted into a throughhole of a support bracket, and the hinge device further comprises a thrust bearing which is inserted between a step portion between the screw combiner and the protrusion, and the support bracket, to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
  • the hinge device further comprises a fixing unit to hinder the housing from rotating in the first groove.
  • a hinge device which is installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a first cylindrical groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a fixing bracket which is installed in the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, in which a number of guide protrusions which are protruded inwards to play a role of a linear guide to partially block the entrance of the first groove are radially arranged at every predetermined angle; a hinge shaft which comprises a screw connector and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the screw connector and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are radially formed in the screw connector along the lengthy direction of the screw connector, and the cylindrical protrusion is formed in the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; and
  • a hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a cylindrical inner circumference formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge device module which is buried in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protru
  • a step portion is formed in the outer circumference of the fixing nut of the hinge device module, and the step portion is supported by the support bracket.
  • the fixing nut and the shaft are inserted into the throughhole of the support bracket, and the hinge device further comprises a thrust bearing which is inserted between the lower cap and the fixing nut to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
  • a hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a hinge device module which is fixed in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protruded from the hinge device module is rotatably supported, the outer circumference of the upper portion of which is inserted into and fixed to the inner portion of a body of the hinge device module
  • a guide bolt whose inner circumference is combined with the outer circumference of the fixing nut, and on the outer circumference of which a first screw thread is formed and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are formed, and the number of guide protrusions are slidably combined with the number of guide grooves; and a control nut a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which is screw-connected with the first screw thread of the guide bolt, whereby height between the door and the fixing bracket is set by the control nut.
  • the hinge device further comprises a step portion which is formed in the outer portion of the upper end of the guide bolt, to thereby restrict the door and the hinge device module from ascending in excess of an extent allowing that a rotational suppression coupling is performed between the shaft and the fixing nut.
  • the fixing bracket is installed in a door frame for a door which is respectively employed in home appliances or buildings, in which one of the home appliances is, for example, a refrigerator.
  • first and second screw threads are made of multiple lines of screws.
  • a height control nut is combined with a hinge shaft, a lower cap or a guide bolt of a door. Then, if the height controllable hinge device is buried on the same axis as the rotational axis of the door, the door can be easily accurately installed in a door frame even in the case that the size of the door mismatches the door frame.
  • the height controllable hinge device according to the present invention can be applied to a passively-operating hinge device, or an automatic return hinge device having an automatic return function.
  • height of a door is controlled according to rotation of a control nut at a state where the hinge device module is fixed.
  • heights of a door and a hinge device module are controlled according to rotation of a control nut.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door;
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the height controllable hinge device shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the height controllable hinge device illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively;
  • FIGS. 4A to 4C are an exploded perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a plan view of a height controllable hinge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, respectively;
  • FIG. 4D is a perspective view showing a hinge shaft applied in the height controllable hinge device according to the second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door, respectively.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the height controllable hinge device shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the height controllable hinge device illustrated in FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • a height controllable hinge device 10 is a passively-operating hinge device, that is, a hinge device having an automatic return function, which is buried in the same position as the rotational axis of a door 1 of a one-door, two-door or three-door refrigerator.
  • the hinge device according to the present invention can be buried in various kinds of doors for buildings in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper and lower portions of a door frame or any kinds of doors in which a hinge shaft is installed in the same manner as the above-described manner.
  • the hinge device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with respect to a case that the hinge device 10 is installed in a refrigerator door 1 as an example.
  • a protrusion 14f of a hinge shaft 14 is rotatably inserted into an insertion hole 24a of a support bracket which is fixedly installed in the lower side of a main body of a refrigerator, or a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 24 which is installed in the main body of the refrigerator.
  • a cylindrical housing 12 having a coupling hole 12e in the inner side thereof is buried into a groove 3 formed in the lower end of a door 1.
  • a fixing screw 20 is screw-combined with a coupling hole 12e which is formed on the outer circumference of the housing 12, in the vertical direction with respect to the tangential surface from the side surface of the door 1.
  • the lower side of the housing 12 is fixed by a fixing bracket 18 at the center of which a throughhole
  • the hinge shaft 14 is combined with the housing 12.
  • the hinge shaft 14 includes a linear combiner 14g, a screw connector 14e, and a cylindrical protrusion 14f which are all integrally formed in turn.
  • four rectangular protrusions 14a- 14d are protruded radially at an angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the linear combiner 14g, on the outer circumference of the linear combiner 14g, so as to correspond to the four trench style grooves 12a- 12d.
  • the screw connector 14e is connected with the linear combiner 14g, and on the outer circumference of which a male screw thread is formed.
  • the cylindrical protrusion 14f is connected with the screw connector 14e, and is rotatably inserted into the insertion hole 24a of the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 24.
  • a step portion is formed between the linear combiner 14g and the screw connector 14e, and between the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f, respectively, in which the diameters of the linear combiner 14g, the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f are gradually reduced.
  • a control nut 16 is rotatably combined with the throughhole 18a of the fixing bracket 18, in which an annular groove 16b is formed in the outer circumference of the control nut 16, and a female screw thread 16a is formed in the inner circumference of the control nut 16.
  • the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 is screw-combined with the inner circumference of the control nut 16.
  • the control nut 16 is possibly combined with the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 with no groove 16b.
  • the control nut 16 is possibly modified into a polygonal shape such as a rectangular or hexagonal shape, so as to be smoothly rotated using a circular or generalized tool.
  • the fixing bracket 18 is fixed to the door 1 using fixing screws via throughholes 18a- 18d formed on each corner of the fixing bracket 18.
  • hinge shaft 14 When the hinge shaft 14 is placed in a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 24, it is preferable to insert a thrust bearing 22 at a step portion between the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f, so as to decrease a frictional resistance due to rotation of the door 1.
  • the hinge shaft 14 which is screw-combined with the control nut 16 ascends or descends since the control nut 16 is rotatably supported by the fixing bracket 18.
  • the trench style guide grooves 12a- 12d of the housing 12 play a role of making the rectangular guide protrusions 14a-14d of the hinge shaft 14 slidably combined with the guide grooves 12a ⁇ 12d.
  • the number of the trench style guide grooves 12a- 12d of the housing 12, and the number of the rectangular guide protrusions 14a ⁇ 14d of the hinge shaft 14 may be two or more.
  • the shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
  • the female screw thread 16a of the control nut 16 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively.
  • the screw coupling structure is embodied into size of 1/2 to embody a predetermined sliding distance.
  • the hinge shaft 14 is made to ascend (be inserted into the housing 12) at maximum and then the hinge shaft 14 of the door 1 is inserted into the hinge bearing 24 of the door frame. Then, the control nut 16 is controlled according to an upper/lower side gap of the door with respect to the door frame, in order to make the hinge shaft 14 properly descend (protruded). Accordingly, the door 1 can be installed very easily and quickly. As a result, an installation level of two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be adjusted very easily.
  • a hinge device 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described with respect to a case that the hinge device 60 is installed in a refrigerator door 1, for convenience of explanation.
  • the hinge device according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be buried in various kinds of doors for buildings in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper and lower portions of a door frame or any kinds of doors in which a hinge shaft is installed in the same manner as the above-described manner.
  • a protrusion 64f of a hinge shaft 64 is rotatably inserted into an insertion hole of a support bracket which is fixedly installed in the lower side of a main body of a refrigerator, or a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 72 which is installed in the main body of the refrigerator.
  • a rectangular groove 62 having a circular groove 62a in the center thereof is formed in the lower end of a door 1.
  • the hinge shaft 64 corresponding to the fixing bracket 68 includes a screw connector 64e and a cylindrical protrusion 64f which are all integrally formed in turn.
  • four linear trench style grooves 64a ⁇ 64d are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the screw connector 64e so as to correspond to the four guide protrusions 68a-68d, and a male screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the screw connector 64e.
  • the protrusion 64f is connected with the screw connector 64e and is rotatably inserted into the insertion hole of the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72.
  • a step portion is formed between the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f, in which the diameters of the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f are gradually reduced.
  • control nut 66 on the inner circumference of which a female screw thread is formed is combined with the screw connector 64e of the hinge shaft 64.
  • the control nut 66 is possibly modified into a polygonal shape such as a rectangular or hexagonal shape, or a circular shape, so as to be smoothly rotated using a generalized tool.
  • a thrust bearing 70 into a step portion between the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f, so as to decrease a frictional resistance due to rotation of the door 1.
  • the hinge device 10 having the above-described structure according to the present invention will follow.
  • the hinge shaft 64 moves only linearly in the up/down direction along the guide protrusions 68a-68d of the fixing bracket 68.
  • the control nut 66 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 16 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut
  • the number of the rectangular protrusions 68a ⁇ 68d of the fixing bracket 68, and the number of the trench style guide grooves 64a ⁇ 64d of the hinge shaft 64 may be two or more.
  • the shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
  • the female screw thread 66a of the control nut 66 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 64e of the hinge shaft 64 have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively.
  • the hinge shaft 64 is made to ascend (be inserted into the rectangular groove 62) at maximum and then the hinge shaft 64 of the door 1 is inserted into the hinge bearing 24 (or the support bracket) 72. Then, the control nut 66 is controlled according to an upper/lower side gap of the door with respect to the door hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72, in order to make the hinge shaft 64 properly descend (protruded). Accordingly, the door 1 can be installed very easily and quickly.
  • an installation level of two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be adjusted very easily. That is, two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be horizontally fitted very easily.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door.
  • the hinge device 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 40 having an automatic return function.
  • the automatic return hinge device module 40 may be applied to for example, any cases that a shaft of a hinge device may be buried in a door and be protruded to the outside, including hinge devices disclosed in Korean Patent Nos.
  • an upper cap and a lower cap 44 are fixedly combined with the upper and lower sides of a cylindrical body 42 in order to close the inside of the hinge device module 40, respectively.
  • a shaft 46 which transfers a return force to a door 1 is protruded downwards while passing through a lower cap 44.
  • a fixing nut 48 is combined with the protruded portion of the shaft 46.
  • a stop ring 50 is engaged with the lower end of the shaft
  • a thrust bearing 52 formed of a pair of washers whose inner circumferences are combined with the outer circumference of the shaft 46 is inserted between the lower side surface of the lower cap 44 and the upper side surface of the fixing nut 48. That is, it is preferable to insert the thrust bearing 52 between the lower side surface of the lower cap 44 and the upper side surface of the fixing nut 48, so that a frictional resistance between the lower cap 44 and the fixing nut 48 can be reduced at the time of rotation of the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48, that is, at the time of rotation of the door. Meanwhile, a step portion is formed in a groove 3 of the door 1.
  • a guide housing 38 is fixed to a groove 3a at the entrance part, using a foam or an adhesive.
  • the guide housing 38 includes for example, four trench style grooves 38a which are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction.
  • the upper portion of the lower cap 44 in the hinge device module 40 is fixedly inserted into the inner portion of the body 42.
  • Four rectangular protrusions 44a are protruded radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, so that the intermediate portion of the lower cap 44 corresponds to the four trench style grooves 38a which are formed at the outer circumference of the lower cap 44, similarly to the hinge shaft 14 of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • a male thread portion is formed in the outer circumference of the lower end of the lower cap 44.
  • the hinge device module 40 when the hinge device module 40 is inserted into the groove 3 or 3a of the door 1 to thereby perform a height control, the rectangular protrusion 44a of the intermediate portion of the lower cap 44 is made to contact the step portion between the cylindrical groove 3 and the trench style groove 38a, to accordingly establish an upper limit level to which the door 1 can rise up.
  • the number of the t r ench style grooves 38a of the guide housing 38 and the number of the rectangular protrusions 44a of the lower cap 44 are two or more, may be applied in the above-described embodiment.
  • the shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
  • a fixing bracket 32 is fixed to the groove 3a of the door 1 so as to flush with the lower end surface of the door, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated).
  • a control nut 34 on the inner circumference of which a female thread portion is formed is screw-combined with the lower end of the lower cap 44 which is withdrawn downwards through the throughhole of the fixing bracket 32 and is protruded to the outside.
  • a step portion is formed in the outer circumference of the fixing nut 48 of the hinge device module 40.
  • the step portion is combined with an insertion hole so as to be fixedly inserted into a bracket that is installed in a bearing (or a support bracket) 36 of a refrigerator or a door frame, or a bracket which is installed in a door frame, similarly to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the leading end of the externally projected shaft 46 of the hinge device module 40 is cut equally so that both opposite surfaces run parallel to have rectilinear opposite surfaces, and the other portions thereof are formed of a structure having opposite curved surfaces.
  • a throughhole of the shape corresponding to the leading end portion of the shaft 46 is also formed in the fixing nut 48 combined with the shaft 46.
  • the fixing nut 48 is combined with the shaft 46 with a limited rotation.
  • the shaft 46 contacts and is fixed to a bearing (or a support bracket) 36 of a refrigerator, together with the fixing nut 48 having a large diameter.
  • a contact area increases to thereby accomplish a stable fixture.
  • the automatic return hinge device module 40 includes: a cylindrical body in the upper end of which an upper cap is combined and whose lower end is blocked by a lower cap which is sealed and combined; a shaft whose upper end is exposed through the upper cap and is extended to the lower side of the body; a piston whose outer circumferential surface is slidably installed along the inner circumferential surface of the body and which partitions the inner portion of the body into upper/lower chambers; a rotational/rectilinear motion conversion unit which converts a rotational motion of the shaft into an axial rectilinear motion of the piston when a rotational force of the door is applied to the shaft according to opening and closing of the refrigerator door; a damping unit that is installed in the piston and controls a descent and ascent speed of the piston according to the
  • the return unit preferably includes: a torsion spring whose one end is fixed to the upper cap and incorporated in the upper portion of the body, and which provides a restoring force for the shaft to make the shaft rotate in the direction of closing the door! and a clutch unit which is associated with the torsion spring, to thus interrupt an increase in an elastic force of the torsion spring in the case that a current opening angle exceeds a predetermined opening angle at the time of opening and closing the door and restore the elastic force of the torsion spring in the case that a current opening angle does not exceed the predetermined opening angle at the time of opening and closing the door.
  • a current opening angle exceeds the predetermined opening angle, it is possible to maintain the door at an angle set by a user in a temporary stop state.
  • the torsion spring is twisted and deformed in association with the rotation of the shaft 46. Thereafter, a predetermined clutching opening angle of the clutch unit reaches for example 45 degrees, the clutch unit is activated and the twist deformation of the torsion spring stops. Accordingly, only the shaft 46 is rotated and opening of door is easily achieved.
  • the clutching operation of the clutch unit is released from the opening angle of 45 degrees or less, and thus the shaft 46 is made to rotate clockwise by the restoring force from the torsion spring which has been at the reversely twisted state.
  • the door is made to perfectly return to the initial position, that is, to be locked.
  • the clutching opening angle of the clutch unit at a desired angle, for example, at an angle of 30 degrees.
  • the shaft 46 is fixed by the stop nut 48 and the stop ring 50 which are installed in the support bracket 36. As a result, the lower cap 44 cannot also ascend and descend.
  • the control nut 34 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 34 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut 34 is made to rotate counterclockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to descend down to a desired height.
  • a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the support bracket 36 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then simply makes the control nut 34 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. As a result, it is possible to control an installation height of the door 1 from the support bracket 36 or the door frame.
  • the hinge device 30 has an automatic return function as in the third embodiment of the present invention, if a current door opening angle reaches a door opening angle allowing a predeterminately set automatic return function after the door opening time, a built-in automatic return hinge device module 40 operates and thus provides the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48 with a restoring force so that the door 1 returns automatically to the initial position.
  • the compression spring or the torsion spring reaches a door opening angle allowing a restoring force when the door 1 rotates clockwise at the door closing time, the elastic restoring force is applied to the shaft 46 to thus enable the shaft 46 rotate clockwise, and the fixing nut 48 combined with the shaft 46 rotate clockwise together.
  • the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48 are fixed to the support bracket 36, the door 3 can rotate.
  • hinge device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to the case that it is applied to the automatic return hinge device for providing the refrigerator door with the automatic return function.
  • hinge device according to the third embodiment of the present invention may be applied to various kinds of home appliances or building doors which require an automatic return function, respectively.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door, respectively.
  • the height controllable hinge device 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 40 having an automatic return function, in which the hinge device module 40 is fixed to the support bracket 36, and the door 1 has an elevating mechanism, to thereby control an installation height of the door 1.
  • the height controllable hinge device 80 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 90 having an automatic return function, in which both the hinge device module 90 and the door 1 have an elevating mechanism, respectively, to thereby control an installation height of the door 1.
  • the automatic return hinge device module 90 having an automatic return function which is applied in the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the substantially same as the automatic return hinge device module 40 which is applied in the third embodiment of the present invention, considering that both the third and fourth embodiments employ the automatic return function.
  • the automatic return hinge device module 90 may be applied to for example, any cases that a shaft of a hinge device may be buried in a door and be protruded to the outside, including hinge devices disclosed in Korean Patent Nos. 538195 and 586262, and Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713 all of which were proposed by the same applicant as that of the present invention.
  • an upper cap and a lower cap 92 are fixedly combined with the upper and lower sides of a cylindrical body 91 in order to close the inside of the hinge device module 90, respectively.
  • a shaft 93 which transfers a return force to a door 1 is protruded downwards while passing through the lower cap 92.
  • a fixing nut 86 is combined with the protruded portion of the shaft 93, with a structure of suppressing rotation of the shaft 93. That is, in order to accomplish a rotational suppression coupling of the shaft 93, the lower portion of the shaft 93 is configured to have the same structure as that of the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • the leading end of the shaft 93 of the hinge device module 90 is cut equally so that both opposite surfaces run parallel to have a pair of rectilinear opposite surfaces 93a, and the other portions thereof are formed of a structure having opposite curved surfaces.
  • a throughhole 86a of the shape corresponding to the leading end portion of the shaft 93 is also formed in the fixing nut 86 combined with the shaft 93. Therefore, the fixing nut 86 is combined with the shaft 46 with a limited rotation.
  • the shaft 93 is extended in a circular rod shape at the lower side of the pair of rectilinear opposite surfaces 93a.
  • the throughhole 86a is extensively formed in the inner circumference of the fixing nut 86 so as to correspond to the extended portion of the circular rod shape of the shaft 93, and the lower end portion 86b of the outer circumference of the fixing nut 86 is inserted into an insertion hole of a bracket that is installed in a bearing (or a support bracket) 81 of a refrigerator or a door frame, or a bracket which is installed in a door frame, similarly to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is fixed, for example, using a welding process.
  • the throughhole formed on the inner circumference of the fixing nut is extended between the lower cap 92 and the shaft 93, so as to form a space through which the leading end of the fixing nut 86 can be inserted.
  • the shaft 93 does not rotate by a first rotational suppression coupling which is formed between the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86, but can move only in the up and down direction.
  • a guide bolt 83 on the outer circumference of which a male screw thread is formed is fixedly combined with the outer circumference of the fixing nut 86 between the lower cap 92 and the bearing (or the support bracket) 81.
  • a spacer 82 formed of a washer is arranged between the guide bolt 83 and the bearing (or the support bracket) 81.
  • a guide housing 87 is fixed to a groove 3a at the entrance part, using a foam or an adhesive.
  • the guide housing 87 includes for example, four trench style guide grooves 87a which are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, as illustrated in the third embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 3B.
  • the upper portion of the lower cap 92 in the hinge device module 90 is fixedly inserted into the inner portion of the body 91.
  • Four rectangular guide protrusions 92a are protruded radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, so that the lower end portion of the lower cap 92 corresponds to the four trench style guide grooves 87a which are formed at the outer circumference of the lower cap 92, similarly to the hinge shaft 14 of the first and third embodiments of the present invention.
  • the four trench style guide grooves 87a and the four rectangular guide protrusions 92a form a structure of suppressing rotation of the hinge device module 90.
  • both side surfaces of the cylindrical lower cap 92 of the hinge device module 90 are cut in opposition to each other, and the inner circumference of the guide housing 87 is possibly formed to have a groove the shape corresponding to that of the cylindrical lower cap 92.
  • the lower end portion of the guide housing 87 is extended over the fixing bracket 85 which is installed at the entrance of the groove 3a of the door 1, and is preferably fixed to the door 1 together with the fixing bracket 85, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated).
  • the trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention employ the structure of the third embodiment of the present invention without modifying the structure of the third embodiment of the present invention, in order to minimize a design change in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the structures of the trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention do not play a significant role of the rotational suppression coupling.
  • a second rotational suppression coupling structure formed of the structures of the trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention have a mechanism of making the hinge device module 90 and the door 1 ascend and descend simultaneously, to thus control an installation height of the door 1.
  • a fixing bracket 85 is fixed to the groove 3a of the door 1 so as to flush with the lower end surface of the door, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated).
  • a third rotational suppression coupling structure is formed between the fixing bracket 85 and the guide bolt 83 combined in the inner circumference of the fixing bracket 85, in the same structure as that of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • a male screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83, and simultaneously at least a pair or more, preferably, four trench style guide grooves are arranged at every angle of 90 degrees on the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83.
  • Four guide protrusions corresponding to the four trench style guide grooves are formed in a protruding structure in the fixing bracket 85 corresponding to the guide bolt 83, to thereby accomplish the third rotational suppression coupling structure.
  • a control nut 84 on the inner circumference of which a female screw thread is formed is screw-combined with the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83.
  • a step portion 83a is formed on the outer circumference of the upper end of the guide bolt 83.
  • the step portion 83a plays a role of limiting an ascending limit when the door 1 and the hinge device module 40 ascend according to rotation of the control nut 84. If a user makes the door 1 ascend excessively in the case that there is no ascending limit of the step portion 83a, the first rotational suppression coupling structure between the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 is released, and thus the hinge device module 90 does not perform the automatic return function.
  • the automatic return hinge device module 90 is same as that of the automatic return hinge device 40 of the third embodiment of the present invention, for example, has the same structure and perform the same automatic return operation as those of the case of the automatic return hinge device disclosed in Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the operation of the hinge device 80 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention which is buried in the lower end of the door 1 and provides an automatic return function for the door will be described in detail.
  • the hinge device module 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is combined in the grooves 3 and 3a of the door 1 in a structure of limiting an up and down movement.
  • the lower end portion of the shaft 93 is placed at a state where there is no limitation such as a stop ring for suppressing the bearing (or the support bracket) 81 from ascending.
  • the hinge device module 90 can move in the up/down rectilinear direction, but relatively rotationally suppressed. That is, the relative rotation of the hinge device module 90 is suppressed.
  • the user simply makes the control nut 84 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 84 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut 84 is made to rotate counterclockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to descend down to a desired height.
  • the hinge device 80 has an automatic return function as in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, if a current door opening angle reaches a door opening angle allowing a predeterminately set automatic return function after the door opening time, a built-in automatic return hinge device module 90 operates and thus provides the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 with a restoring force so that the door 1 returns automatically to the initial position.
  • the compression spring or the torsion spring reaches a door opening angle allowing a restoring force when the door 1 rotates clockwise at the door closing time, the elastic restoring force is applied to the shaft 93 to thus enable the shaft 93 rotate clockwise, and the fixing nut 86 combined with the shaft 93 rotate clockwise together.
  • the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 are fixed to the support bracket 81, the door 1 and the hinge device module 90 can rotate.
  • hinge device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to the case that it is applied to the automatic return hinge device for use in the refrigerator door with the automatic return function.
  • hinge device according to the present invention may be applied to various kinds of home appliances or building doors which require an automatic return function, respectively.
  • the female screw thread of the control nut and the male screw thread formed on the lower cap or the guide bolt have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively.
  • it is possible to further miniaturize a screw coupling structure by employing multiple lines of screws in the female screw thread of the control nut and the male screw thread formed on the lower cap or the guide bolt as described in the first embodiment.
  • a height controllable hinge device is a passively-operating hinge device, that is, a hinge device having no automatic return function, or a hinge device having an automatic return function, which is buried in the same position as the rotational axis of a door of a one-door, two-door or three-door refrigerator.
  • a hinge device having no automatic return function or a hinge device having an automatic return function, which is buried in the same position as the rotational axis of a door of a one-door, two-door or three-door refrigerator.
  • the hinge device according to the present invention can be buried in various kinds of building doors or any kinds of doors which are installed in the same manner as those of the building doors in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper/lower portion of a door frame.

Abstract

Provided is a height controllable hinge device having a height control function which enables a user to easily accurately install the door in a door frame even though the size of the door mismatches the door frame. The hinge device includes: a first cylindrical groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a fixing bracket in which guide protrusions which play a role of a linear guide are radially arranged at every predetermined angle; a hinge shaft in which a screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of a screw connector and guide grooves corresponding to the guide protrusions are radially formed in the screw connector, and a cylindrical protrusion is formed in the screw connector, and in which the guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the guide grooves; and a control nut which is screw-combined with the screw connector, in which the hinge shaft ascends or descends according to rotation of the control nut.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]
[Invention Title]
HINGE DEVICE CAPABLE FOR CONTROLLING HEIGHT
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a hinge device capable of controlling height, and more particularly to a height controllable hinge device having a height control function in a hinge axis of a door so that the door can be easily accurately installed in a door frame even in the case that the size of the door mismatches the door frame.
[Background Art]
A hinge device makes two members spaced from each other around an axis or folded one member over another around the axis, according to necessity. A representative example of the hinge device is a left/right rotational hinge device including a horizontal actuator which is used for a door or window frame, or an up/down rotational hinge device including a vertical actuator which is used for a refrigerator, a mobile phone, or a notebook computer. A conventional hinge device having an automatic return function is disclosed in Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001 -0027832. Meanwhile, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0271646 discloses a conventional hinge type door opening and closing apparatus in which a hydraulic type door closer and a spring type door closer are separately configured and the former and the latter are combined with each other. Further, Korean Patent No. 586262 which was proposed by the same inventor as that of the present invention discloses a conventional hinge device employing a double camshaft which includes a lower camshaft and an upper camshaft in which the upper camshaft is installed in order to compensate for reduction in a closing force and includes a pair of spiral elevating holes like the lower camshaft.
However, when the above-described conventional automatic return hinge devices are used as a buried type, respectively, it is not convenient since they do not have a function that controls height of the hinge device, respectively.
In addition, Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713 which was proposed by the same applicant as that of the present invention discloses an automatic return hinge device for a large size or small size door which includes a torsion spring associated with a clutch in the upper part of the hinge device and a return spring associated with an oil-hydraulic circuit in the lower part thereof, to thus maximize a door closing force of a door and minimize a door opening force of the door at a predetermined angle or more, while simultaneously minimizing diameter of the hinge device.
In general, a refrigerator door is designed to be automatically closed when the door is opened by an angle of 45° if the door is horizontally fitted. However, the floor of a place that a refrigerator is placed is not horizontally fitted for the most part. Thus, it is usual that the refrigerator is horizontally fitted by adjusting a height control screw which is installed at the front-lower end of the refrigerator at the time of placing the refrigerator, but it is frequent that the refrigerator is horizontally fitted by supporting corners or corner of both sides or one side of the rear end of the refrigerator. By the way, since a space that a refrigerator is placed in an apartment house, etc., is a restricted space which was established beforehand at the time of constructing the apartment house, etc., it is not so easy to level the refrigerator. As a result, most of refrigerators are used at a state where they are properly horizontally fitted.
Therefore, even if the door is opened by an angle of 45° , it may frequently happen that the door is not automatically closed. In particular, in the case that the child or the old uses the refrigerator door carelessly, the refrigerator door may not be completely closed. In this case, loss of cool air occurs to thus increase consumption of electricity. Thus, to solve these problems, hinge devices having an automatic return function for refrigerators are being proposed. An existing hinge device having an automatic return function for use in a refrigerator is installed in the form of a burial type, in a refrigerator door, in which a rotating axis of the door is used in an equal form as that of the hinge device.
In the meantime, a large size refrigerator employs a left/right open/closing type two-door or three-door refrigerator structure, in order to efficiently control cool air.
Two doors are arranged at the left/right sides of a two-door refrigerator. In this case, when the two doors are assembled in the main frame of the refrigerator, heights of the two doors should be accurately set. However, in the case that the two doors are inaccurately set, the heights of the lower sides of the two doors may be differently installed from each other. As being the case, even in the case that lengths of the upper and lower portions of the two doors do not equal minutely due to a manufacturing problem, the same problems as the above may happen.
In this case, in order to make heights of two doors equal, it is necessary to control height of any one door. However, the conventional automatic return hinge devices have no height control function, respectively.
In addition, in the case of a conventional height control mechanism of controlling height of a refrigerator door, since heights of the two doors differ from each other in particular in the case of the two-door refrigerator, the heights of the two doors are controlled using E-rings for example. For this reason, the automatic return hinge device may not smoothly operate.
Moreover, since a bracket is directly combined with a shaft of a conventional automatic return hinge device, through a welding process, it is difficult to modify the conventional automatic return hinge device, once the former has been combined with the latter.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
Therefore, to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a height controllable hinge device having a height control function in a hinge axis of a door so that the door can be easily accurately installed in a door frame even in the case that the size of the door mismatches the door frame.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a height controllable hinge device which can be applied to a passively-operating hinge device, or an automatic return hinge device having an automatic return function.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a height controllable hinge device in which height of a door is controlled according to rotation of a control nut at a state where the hinge device module is fixed. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a height controllable hinge device in which heights of a door and a hinge device module are controlled according to rotation of a control nut.
[Technical Solution] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device which is installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a housing which is buried in a first groove formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a groove formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge shaft which comprises a linear combiner, a screw connector, and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a number of guide protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves of the housing are protrudingly formed in the linear combiner at every predetermined angle along the lengthy direction of the linear combiner, and a first screw thread is formed around the outer circumference of the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; a fixing bracket which comprises a throughhole through which the hinge shaft passes and which is installed to partially block the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, to thus fix the housing to the inner portion of the first groove; and a control nut an annular groove formed in the outer circumference of which is rotatably combined with the throughhole of the fixing bracket, and with a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which the first screw thread is combined, whereby the hinge shaft ascends or descends according to rotation of the control nut.
Preferably but not necessarily, the cylindrical protrusion of the hinge shaft is inserted into a throughhole of a support bracket, and the hinge device further comprises a thrust bearing which is inserted between a step portion between the screw combiner and the protrusion, and the support bracket, to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
Preferably but not necessarily, the hinge device further comprises a fixing unit to hinder the housing from rotating in the first groove.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device which is installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a first cylindrical groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a fixing bracket which is installed in the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, in which a number of guide protrusions which are protruded inwards to play a role of a linear guide to partially block the entrance of the first groove are radially arranged at every predetermined angle; a hinge shaft which comprises a screw connector and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the screw connector and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are radially formed in the screw connector along the lengthy direction of the screw connector, and the cylindrical protrusion is formed in the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; and a control nut which is screw-combined with the screw connector, whereby the hinge shaft ascends or descends according to rotation of the control nut. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a cylindrical inner circumference formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge device module which is buried in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protruded from the hinge device module is rotatably supported, the outer circumference of the upper portion of which is inserted into and fixed to the inner portion of a body of the hinge device module, the intermediate portion of which is combined with the guide grooves in which a number of guide protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves of the housing are radially protrudingly formed in the lower cap at every predetermined angle along the lengthy direction of the lower cap, and on the outer circumference of the lower end of which a first screw thread is formed; a fixing nut which is combined with the externally protruded shaft via the lower cap to suppress a rotational movement of the fixing nut, and is fixed to a support bracket; a fixing bracket which comprises a throughhole through which the lower end of the lower cap passes, and is installed to partially block the entrance of the first groove; and a control nut a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which is screw-connected with the first screw thread of the lower cap protruded via the throughhole of the fixing bracket, whereby height between the door and the support bracket is set by the control nut.
Preferably but not necessarily, a step portion is formed in the outer circumference of the fixing nut of the hinge device module, and the step portion is supported by the support bracket.
Preferably but not necessarily, the fixing nut and the shaft are inserted into the throughhole of the support bracket, and the hinge device further comprises a thrust bearing which is inserted between the lower cap and the fixing nut to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a hinge device module which is fixed in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protruded from the hinge device module is rotatably supported, the outer circumference of the upper portion of which is inserted into and fixed to the inner portion of a body of the hinge device module, and the outer circumference of the lower end of which is slidably combined with the inner circumference of the guide housing, in which a space is formed between the inner circumference of the lower end of the lower cap and the shaft; a fixing nut the upper end of the throughhole of which is combined with the externally protruded shaft via the lower cap to suppress a rotational movement of the fixing nut, and the lower end of which is fixed to a support bracket; a fixing bracket which is installed in the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, in which a number of guide protrusions which are protruded inwards to play a role of a linear guide to partially block the entrance of the first groove are radially arranged at every predetermined angle! a guide bolt whose inner circumference is combined with the outer circumference of the fixing nut, and on the outer circumference of which a first screw thread is formed and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are formed, and the number of guide protrusions are slidably combined with the number of guide grooves; and a control nut a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which is screw-connected with the first screw thread of the guide bolt, whereby height between the door and the fixing bracket is set by the control nut. In this case, it is preferable that a rotational suppression coupling is performed between the outer circumference of the lower cap and the inner circumference of the guide housing, and the lower end of the guide housing is extended to the upper side of the fixing bracket to then be fixed to the door together with the fixing bracket. In addition, the hinge device further comprises a step portion which is formed in the outer portion of the upper end of the guide bolt, to thereby restrict the door and the hinge device module from ascending in excess of an extent allowing that a rotational suppression coupling is performed between the shaft and the fixing nut. Moreover, the fixing bracket is installed in a door frame for a door which is respectively employed in home appliances or buildings, in which one of the home appliances is, for example, a refrigerator.
It is preferable that the first and second screw threads are made of multiple lines of screws. [Advantageous Effects]
As described above, in the case of a height controllable hinge device having a height control function according to the present invention, a height control nut is combined with a hinge shaft, a lower cap or a guide bolt of a door. Then, if the height controllable hinge device is buried on the same axis as the rotational axis of the door, the door can be easily accurately installed in a door frame even in the case that the size of the door mismatches the door frame.
In addition, the height controllable hinge device according to the present invention can be applied to a passively-operating hinge device, or an automatic return hinge device having an automatic return function.
Further, in the case of the height controllable hinge device, height of a door is controlled according to rotation of a control nut at a state where the hinge device module is fixed.
Still further, in the case of the height controllable hinge device, heights of a door and a hinge device module are controlled according to rotation of a control nut.
[Description of Drawings]
The above and/or other objects and/or advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the height controllable hinge device shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the height controllable hinge device illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively;
FIGS. 4A to 4C are an exploded perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a plan view of a height controllable hinge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, respectively;
FIG. 4D is a perspective view showing a hinge shaft applied in the height controllable hinge device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door; and
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door, respectively.
[Best Mode]
Hereinbelow, a height controllable hinge device according to respective preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals denote like elements through the following embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the height controllable hinge device shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view of the height controllable hinge device illustrated in FIG. 1 , respectively.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3B, a height controllable hinge device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a passively-operating hinge device, that is, a hinge device having an automatic return function, which is buried in the same position as the rotational axis of a door 1 of a one-door, two-door or three-door refrigerator.
In addition, the hinge device according to the present invention can be buried in various kinds of doors for buildings in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper and lower portions of a door frame or any kinds of doors in which a hinge shaft is installed in the same manner as the above-described manner.
First, the hinge device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with respect to a case that the hinge device 10 is installed in a refrigerator door 1 as an example. In the case of the hinge device 10 according to the present invention, a protrusion 14f of a hinge shaft 14 is rotatably inserted into an insertion hole 24a of a support bracket which is fixedly installed in the lower side of a main body of a refrigerator, or a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 24 which is installed in the main body of the refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the case of the hinge device 10 according to the present invention, a cylindrical housing 12 having a coupling hole 12e in the inner side thereof is buried into a groove 3 formed in the lower end of a door 1. Then, a fixing screw 20 is screw-combined with a coupling hole 12e which is formed on the outer circumference of the housing 12, in the vertical direction with respect to the tangential surface from the side surface of the door 1. The lower side of the housing 12 is fixed by a fixing bracket 18 at the center of which a throughhole
18a is formed, so that the housing 12 does not secede from the door 1. Four trench style grooves 12a- 12d are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the housing 12. In this case, it may be possible that the housing 12 is fixed to the groove 3, using an adhesive, instead of using the fixing screw 20.
The hinge shaft 14 is combined with the housing 12. The hinge shaft 14 includes a linear combiner 14g, a screw connector 14e, and a cylindrical protrusion 14f which are all integrally formed in turn. Here, four rectangular protrusions 14a- 14d are protruded radially at an angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the linear combiner 14g, on the outer circumference of the linear combiner 14g, so as to correspond to the four trench style grooves 12a- 12d. The screw connector 14e is connected with the linear combiner 14g, and on the outer circumference of which a male screw thread is formed. The cylindrical protrusion 14f is connected with the screw connector 14e, and is rotatably inserted into the insertion hole 24a of the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 24. A step portion is formed between the linear combiner 14g and the screw connector 14e, and between the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f, respectively, in which the diameters of the linear combiner 14g, the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f are gradually reduced.
Meanwhile, a control nut 16 is rotatably combined with the throughhole 18a of the fixing bracket 18, in which an annular groove 16b is formed in the outer circumference of the control nut 16, and a female screw thread 16a is formed in the inner circumference of the control nut 16. The screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 is screw-combined with the inner circumference of the control nut 16. In this case, the control nut 16 is possibly combined with the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 with no groove 16b. As shown, the control nut 16 is possibly modified into a polygonal shape such as a rectangular or hexagonal shape, so as to be smoothly rotated using a circular or generalized tool. In addition, the fixing bracket 18 is fixed to the door 1 using fixing screws via throughholes 18a- 18d formed on each corner of the fixing bracket 18.
When the hinge shaft 14 is placed in a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 24, it is preferable to insert a thrust bearing 22 at a step portion between the screw connector 14e and the cylindrical protrusion 14f, so as to decrease a frictional resistance due to rotation of the door 1.
If the control nut 16 is made to rotate, in the case of the hinge device 10 having the above-described structure according to the present invention, the hinge shaft 14 which is screw-combined with the control nut 16 ascends or descends since the control nut 16 is rotatably supported by the fixing bracket 18. In this case, the trench style guide grooves 12a- 12d of the housing 12 play a role of making the rectangular guide protrusions 14a-14d of the hinge shaft 14 slidably combined with the guide grooves 12a~12d.
Therefore, if a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 24 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then simply makes the control nut 16 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise, the control nut 16 (resultantly the door 1) ascends or descends along the hinge shaft 14. As a result, it is possible to control an installation height of the door 1 from the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 24 or the door frame.
In the above-described first embodiment, the number of the trench style guide grooves 12a- 12d of the housing 12, and the number of the rectangular guide protrusions 14a~ 14d of the hinge shaft 14 may be two or more. The shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
In the above-described embodiment, the female screw thread 16a of the control nut 16 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14 have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively. However, it is possible to miniaturize a screw coupling structure by employing multiple lines of screws in the female screw thread 16a of the control nut 16 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 14e of the hinge shaft 14. That is, for example, when the screw threads are formed of two lines of screws, a sliding distance corresponds to two times that of the one line of a screw per rotation. As a result, the screw coupling structure is embodied into size of 1/2 to embody a predetermined sliding distance.
In the meantime, in the case of the hinge device 10 having the above-described structure according to the present invention, when the hinge device 10 is installed in a door frame, the hinge shaft 14 is made to ascend (be inserted into the housing 12) at maximum and then the hinge shaft 14 of the door 1 is inserted into the hinge bearing 24 of the door frame. Then, the control nut 16 is controlled according to an upper/lower side gap of the door with respect to the door frame, in order to make the hinge shaft 14 properly descend (protruded). Accordingly, the door 1 can be installed very easily and quickly. As a result, an installation level of two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be adjusted very easily. That is, two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be horizontally fitted very easily. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, a hinge device 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described with respect to a case that the hinge device 60 is installed in a refrigerator door 1, for convenience of explanation. However, the hinge device according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be buried in various kinds of doors for buildings in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper and lower portions of a door frame or any kinds of doors in which a hinge shaft is installed in the same manner as the above-described manner.
In the case of the hinge device 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion 64f of a hinge shaft 64 is rotatably inserted into an insertion hole of a support bracket which is fixedly installed in the lower side of a main body of a refrigerator, or a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 72 which is installed in the main body of the refrigerator.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in the case of the hinge device 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a rectangular groove 62 having a circular groove 62a in the center thereof is formed in the lower end of a door 1.
Then, a fixing bracket 68 from which four linear guide protrusions 68a- 68d (of FIG.
4C) are protrudingly formed is combined with a throughhole 62a which is formed at the center of the rectangular groove 62, using clamping screw via throughholes
68e (of FIG. 4C) formed in each corner of the fixing bracket 68, respectively, to then be fixed to door 1.
As shown in FIG. 4C, four guide protrusions 68a~68d are protruded radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the fixing bracket 68.
As shown in FIG. 4D, the hinge shaft 64 corresponding to the fixing bracket 68 includes a screw connector 64e and a cylindrical protrusion 64f which are all integrally formed in turn. Here, four linear trench style grooves 64a~64d are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction of the screw connector 64e so as to correspond to the four guide protrusions 68a-68d, and a male screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the screw connector 64e. The protrusion 64f is connected with the screw connector 64e and is rotatably inserted into the insertion hole of the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72. A step portion is formed between the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f, in which the diameters of the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f are gradually reduced.
Meanwhile, a control nut 66 on the inner circumference of which a female screw thread is formed is combined with the screw connector 64e of the hinge shaft 64. As shown, the control nut 66 is possibly modified into a polygonal shape such as a rectangular or hexagonal shape, or a circular shape, so as to be smoothly rotated using a generalized tool.
When the hinge shaft 64 is placed in a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 72, it is preferable to insert a thrust bearing 70 into a step portion between the screw connector 64e and the cylindrical protrusion 64f, so as to decrease a frictional resistance due to rotation of the door 1.
The operation of the hinge device 10 having the above-described structure according to the present invention will follow. First, since the guide protrusions 68a-68d of the fixing bracket 68 are combined with the trench style grooves 64a-64d of the hinge shaft 64, the hinge shaft 64 moves only linearly in the up/down direction along the guide protrusions 68a-68d of the fixing bracket 68.
Therefore, if a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then intends to make height of the door 1 ascend, the user simply makes the control nut 66 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 16 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut
16 is made to rotate counterclockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to descend down to a desired height.
As result, if a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then simply makes the control nut 66 rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, it is possible to control an installation height of the door 1 from the hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72 or the door frame.
In the above-described first embodiment, the number of the rectangular protrusions 68a~68d of the fixing bracket 68, and the number of the trench style guide grooves 64a~64d of the hinge shaft 64 may be two or more. The shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
In the above-described embodiment, the female screw thread 66a of the control nut 66 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 64e of the hinge shaft 64 have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively. However, it is possible to further miniaturize a screw coupling structure by employing multiple lines of screws in the female screw thread 66a of the control nut 66 and the male screw thread formed on the screw connector 64e of the hinge shaft 64, as described in the first embodiment. In the meantime, in the case of the hinge device 60 having the above-described structure according to the present invention, when the hinge device 60 is installed in a hinge bearing (or a support bracket) 72, the hinge shaft 64 is made to ascend (be inserted into the rectangular groove 62) at maximum and then the hinge shaft 64 of the door 1 is inserted into the hinge bearing 24 (or the support bracket) 72. Then, the control nut 66 is controlled according to an upper/lower side gap of the door with respect to the door hinge bearing (or the support bracket) 72, in order to make the hinge shaft 64 properly descend (protruded). Accordingly, the door 1 can be installed very easily and quickly.
As a result, an installation level of two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be adjusted very easily. That is, two doors in a left/right open/closing door type refrigerator can be horizontally fitted very easily.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door. The hinge device 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 40 having an automatic return function.
The automatic return hinge device module 40 may be applied to for example, any cases that a shaft of a hinge device may be buried in a door and be protruded to the outside, including hinge devices disclosed in Korean Patent Nos.
538195 and 586262, and Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713 all of which were proposed by the same applicant as that of the present invention.
In the case of the automatic return hinge device module 40, an upper cap and a lower cap 44 are fixedly combined with the upper and lower sides of a cylindrical body 42 in order to close the inside of the hinge device module 40, respectively.
In addition, in the case of the automatic return hinge device module 40, a shaft 46 which transfers a return force to a door 1 is protruded downwards while passing through a lower cap 44. A fixing nut 48 is combined with the protruded portion of the shaft 46. A stop ring 50 is engaged with the lower end of the shaft
46 to thereby intercept the fixing nut 48 from being detached from the shaft 46.
In this case, a thrust bearing 52 formed of a pair of washers whose inner circumferences are combined with the outer circumference of the shaft 46 is inserted between the lower side surface of the lower cap 44 and the upper side surface of the fixing nut 48. That is, it is preferable to insert the thrust bearing 52 between the lower side surface of the lower cap 44 and the upper side surface of the fixing nut 48, so that a frictional resistance between the lower cap 44 and the fixing nut 48 can be reduced at the time of rotation of the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48, that is, at the time of rotation of the door. Meanwhile, a step portion is formed in a groove 3 of the door 1. A guide housing 38 is fixed to a groove 3a at the entrance part, using a foam or an adhesive. The guide housing 38 includes for example, four trench style grooves 38a which are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction.
The upper portion of the lower cap 44 in the hinge device module 40 is fixedly inserted into the inner portion of the body 42. Four rectangular protrusions 44a are protruded radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, so that the intermediate portion of the lower cap 44 corresponds to the four trench style grooves 38a which are formed at the outer circumference of the lower cap 44, similarly to the hinge shaft 14 of the first embodiment of the present invention. A male thread portion is formed in the outer circumference of the lower end of the lower cap 44. Therefore, when the hinge device module 40 is inserted into the groove 3 or 3a of the door 1 to thereby perform a height control, the rectangular protrusion 44a of the intermediate portion of the lower cap 44 is made to contact the step portion between the cylindrical groove 3 and the trench style groove 38a, to accordingly establish an upper limit level to which the door 1 can rise up.
All cases that the number of the trench style grooves 38a of the guide housing 38 and the number of the rectangular protrusions 44a of the lower cap 44 are two or more, may be applied in the above-described embodiment. The shapes of the grooves and the protrusions may be also formed of any structures other than a rectangular shape.
A fixing bracket 32 is fixed to the groove 3a of the door 1 so as to flush with the lower end surface of the door, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated). A throughhole having an inner diameter bigger than the outer circumference of the lower end of the lower cap 44, is formed in the fixing bracket
32.
In the hinge device module 40, a control nut 34 on the inner circumference of which a female thread portion is formed is screw-combined with the lower end of the lower cap 44 which is withdrawn downwards through the throughhole of the fixing bracket 32 and is protruded to the outside.
A step portion is formed in the outer circumference of the fixing nut 48 of the hinge device module 40. The step portion is combined with an insertion hole so as to be fixedly inserted into a bracket that is installed in a bearing (or a support bracket) 36 of a refrigerator or a door frame, or a bracket which is installed in a door frame, similarly to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, for example, the leading end of the externally projected shaft 46 of the hinge device module 40 is cut equally so that both opposite surfaces run parallel to have rectilinear opposite surfaces, and the other portions thereof are formed of a structure having opposite curved surfaces. A throughhole of the shape corresponding to the leading end portion of the shaft 46 is also formed in the fixing nut 48 combined with the shaft 46. Therefore, the fixing nut 48 is combined with the shaft 46 with a limited rotation. As a result, the shaft 46 contacts and is fixed to a bearing (or a support bracket) 36 of a refrigerator, together with the fixing nut 48 having a large diameter. Thus, a contact area increases to thereby accomplish a stable fixture.
Meanwhile, in the case that the upper portion and the lower portion are inversed in opposition to the case shown in FIG. 5, for example, in the case of the automatic return hinge device disclosed in Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713, the automatic return hinge device module 40, includes: a cylindrical body in the upper end of which an upper cap is combined and whose lower end is blocked by a lower cap which is sealed and combined; a shaft whose upper end is exposed through the upper cap and is extended to the lower side of the body; a piston whose outer circumferential surface is slidably installed along the inner circumferential surface of the body and which partitions the inner portion of the body into upper/lower chambers; a rotational/rectilinear motion conversion unit which converts a rotational motion of the shaft into an axial rectilinear motion of the piston when a rotational force of the door is applied to the shaft according to opening and closing of the refrigerator door; a damping unit that is installed in the piston and controls a descent and ascent speed of the piston according to the opening and closing of the door, and provides a damping function selectively in the case that the piston rises up; and a return unit that provides a restoring force for the rotational/rectilinear motion conversion unit so that the door is returned to an initial position of the door at the time of closing the door.
In this case, a compression spring is used as the return unit. Otherwise, the return unit preferably includes: a torsion spring whose one end is fixed to the upper cap and incorporated in the upper portion of the body, and which provides a restoring force for the shaft to make the shaft rotate in the direction of closing the door! and a clutch unit which is associated with the torsion spring, to thus interrupt an increase in an elastic force of the torsion spring in the case that a current opening angle exceeds a predetermined opening angle at the time of opening and closing the door and restore the elastic force of the torsion spring in the case that a current opening angle does not exceed the predetermined opening angle at the time of opening and closing the door. Here, in the case that a current opening angle exceeds the predetermined opening angle, it is possible to maintain the door at an angle set by a user in a temporary stop state.
If the shaft 46 rotates at the door opening time in the case that the hinge device includes the clutch unit, the torsion spring is twisted and deformed in association with the rotation of the shaft 46. Thereafter, a predetermined clutching opening angle of the clutch unit reaches for example 45 degrees, the clutch unit is activated and the twist deformation of the torsion spring stops. Accordingly, only the shaft 46 is rotated and opening of door is easily achieved.
At the time of automatically returning the door, the clutching operation of the clutch unit is released from the opening angle of 45 degrees or less, and thus the shaft 46 is made to rotate clockwise by the restoring force from the torsion spring which has been at the reversely twisted state. As a result, the door is made to perfectly return to the initial position, that is, to be locked.
However, for example, in the case of the automatic return hinge device which employs both the return spring and the torsion spring, it is possible to establish the clutching opening angle of the clutch unit at a desired angle, for example, at an angle of 30 degrees.
Hereinbelow, the operation of the hinge device 30 according to the modification which is buried in the lower end of the door 1 and provides an automatic return function for the door will be described in detail.
In the case of the hinge device module 40, the shaft 46 is fixed by the stop nut 48 and the stop ring 50 which are installed in the support bracket 36. As a result, the lower cap 44 cannot also ascend and descend.
If a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the support bracket 36 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then intends to make height of the door 1 ascend, the user simply makes the control nut 34 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 34 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut 34 is made to rotate counterclockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to descend down to a desired height. Therefore, a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the support bracket 36 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then simply makes the control nut 34 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. As a result, it is possible to control an installation height of the door 1 from the support bracket 36 or the door frame.
As a result, it is very easy to set an installation level of two doors in a left/right open/closing door refrigerator. Meanwhile, in the case that the hinge device 30 has an automatic return function as in the third embodiment of the present invention, if a current door opening angle reaches a door opening angle allowing a predeterminately set automatic return function after the door opening time, a built-in automatic return hinge device module 40 operates and thus provides the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48 with a restoring force so that the door 1 returns automatically to the initial position.
That is, if the compression spring or the torsion spring reaches a door opening angle allowing a restoring force when the door 1 rotates clockwise at the door closing time, the elastic restoring force is applied to the shaft 46 to thus enable the shaft 46 rotate clockwise, and the fixing nut 48 combined with the shaft 46 rotate clockwise together. However, in this case, since the shaft 46 and the fixing nut 48 are fixed to the support bracket 36, the door 3 can rotate.
The hinge device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to the case that it is applied to the automatic return hinge device for providing the refrigerator door with the automatic return function. However, hinge device according to the third embodiment of the present invention may be applied to various kinds of home appliances or building doors which require an automatic return function, respectively.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a cross-sectional view showing a state where a height controllable hinge device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is buried in a door, respectively.
The height controllable hinge device 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 40 having an automatic return function, in which the hinge device module 40 is fixed to the support bracket 36, and the door 1 has an elevating mechanism, to thereby control an installation height of the door 1. However, the height controllable hinge device 80 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is embodied using a hinge device module 90 having an automatic return function, in which both the hinge device module 90 and the door 1 have an elevating mechanism, respectively, to thereby control an installation height of the door 1.
The automatic return hinge device module 90 having an automatic return function which is applied in the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the substantially same as the automatic return hinge device module 40 which is applied in the third embodiment of the present invention, considering that both the third and fourth embodiments employ the automatic return function. The automatic return hinge device module 90 may be applied to for example, any cases that a shaft of a hinge device may be buried in a door and be protruded to the outside, including hinge devices disclosed in Korean Patent Nos. 538195 and 586262, and Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713 all of which were proposed by the same applicant as that of the present invention.
In the case of the automatic return hinge device module 90, an upper cap and a lower cap 92 are fixedly combined with the upper and lower sides of a cylindrical body 91 in order to close the inside of the hinge device module 90, respectively.
In addition, in the case of the automatic return hinge device module 90, a shaft 93 which transfers a return force to a door 1 is protruded downwards while passing through the lower cap 92. A fixing nut 86 is combined with the protruded portion of the shaft 93, with a structure of suppressing rotation of the shaft 93. That is, in order to accomplish a rotational suppression coupling of the shaft 93, the lower portion of the shaft 93 is configured to have the same structure as that of the third embodiment of the present invention. For example, the leading end of the shaft 93 of the hinge device module 90 is cut equally so that both opposite surfaces run parallel to have a pair of rectilinear opposite surfaces 93a, and the other portions thereof are formed of a structure having opposite curved surfaces. A throughhole 86a of the shape corresponding to the leading end portion of the shaft 93 is also formed in the fixing nut 86 combined with the shaft 93. Therefore, the fixing nut 86 is combined with the shaft 46 with a limited rotation.
In addition, the shaft 93 is extended in a circular rod shape at the lower side of the pair of rectilinear opposite surfaces 93a. The throughhole 86a is extensively formed in the inner circumference of the fixing nut 86 so as to correspond to the extended portion of the circular rod shape of the shaft 93, and the lower end portion 86b of the outer circumference of the fixing nut 86 is inserted into an insertion hole of a bracket that is installed in a bearing (or a support bracket) 81 of a refrigerator or a door frame, or a bracket which is installed in a door frame, similarly to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is fixed, for example, using a welding process. Moreover, the throughhole formed on the inner circumference of the fixing nut is extended between the lower cap 92 and the shaft 93, so as to form a space through which the leading end of the fixing nut 86 can be inserted.
Therefore, the shaft 93 does not rotate by a first rotational suppression coupling which is formed between the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86, but can move only in the up and down direction. Meanwhile, a guide bolt 83 on the outer circumference of which a male screw thread is formed is fixedly combined with the outer circumference of the fixing nut 86 between the lower cap 92 and the bearing (or the support bracket) 81. A spacer 82 formed of a washer is arranged between the guide bolt 83 and the bearing (or the support bracket) 81.
Meanwhile, a step portion is formed in a groove 3 of the door 1. A guide housing 87 is fixed to a groove 3a at the entrance part, using a foam or an adhesive. The guide housing 87 includes for example, four trench style guide grooves 87a which are formed radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, as illustrated in the third embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 3B.
The upper portion of the lower cap 92 in the hinge device module 90 is fixedly inserted into the inner portion of the body 91. Four rectangular guide protrusions 92a are protruded radially at every angle of 90 degrees along the lengthy direction, so that the lower end portion of the lower cap 92 corresponds to the four trench style guide grooves 87a which are formed at the outer circumference of the lower cap 92, similarly to the hinge shaft 14 of the first and third embodiments of the present invention.
The four trench style guide grooves 87a and the four rectangular guide protrusions 92a form a structure of suppressing rotation of the hinge device module 90.
In addition to the above-described rotational suppression structure of the hinge device module 90, both side surfaces of the cylindrical lower cap 92 of the hinge device module 90 are cut in opposition to each other, and the inner circumference of the guide housing 87 is possibly formed to have a groove the shape corresponding to that of the cylindrical lower cap 92.
Moreover, in addition to the case that the guide housing 87 is fixed using a foam or an adhesive in the rotational suppression structure, the lower end portion of the guide housing 87 is extended over the fixing bracket 85 which is installed at the entrance of the groove 3a of the door 1, and is preferably fixed to the door 1 together with the fixing bracket 85, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated).
The trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention employ the structure of the third embodiment of the present invention without modifying the structure of the third embodiment of the present invention, in order to minimize a design change in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The structures of the trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention do not play a significant role of the rotational suppression coupling. Therefore, as will be described later, a second rotational suppression coupling structure formed of the structures of the trench style guide grooves 87a of the guide housing 87 and the rectangular guide protrusions 92a of the lower cap 92 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention have a mechanism of making the hinge device module 90 and the door 1 ascend and descend simultaneously, to thus control an installation height of the door 1. As a result, it is insignificant to employ the second rotational suppression coupling structure in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
A fixing bracket 85 is fixed to the groove 3a of the door 1 so as to flush with the lower end surface of the door, using a clamp screw or a coupling bolt (not illustrated). A third rotational suppression coupling structure is formed between the fixing bracket 85 and the guide bolt 83 combined in the inner circumference of the fixing bracket 85, in the same structure as that of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4D, a male screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83, and simultaneously at least a pair or more, preferably, four trench style guide grooves are arranged at every angle of 90 degrees on the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83. Four guide protrusions corresponding to the four trench style guide grooves are formed in a protruding structure in the fixing bracket 85 corresponding to the guide bolt 83, to thereby accomplish the third rotational suppression coupling structure.
Meanwhile, a control nut 84 on the inner circumference of which a female screw thread is formed is screw-combined with the outer circumference of the guide bolt 83. A step portion 83a is formed on the outer circumference of the upper end of the guide bolt 83. The step portion 83a plays a role of limiting an ascending limit when the door 1 and the hinge device module 40 ascend according to rotation of the control nut 84. If a user makes the door 1 ascend excessively in the case that there is no ascending limit of the step portion 83a, the first rotational suppression coupling structure between the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 is released, and thus the hinge device module 90 does not perform the automatic return function.
Meanwhile, in the case that the upper portion and the lower portion of the automatic return hinge device module 90 are inversed in opposition to the case shown in FIG. 6A, the automatic return hinge device module 90 is same as that of the automatic return hinge device 40 of the third embodiment of the present invention, for example, has the same structure and perform the same automatic return operation as those of the case of the automatic return hinge device disclosed in Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007- 14713. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinbelow, the operation of the hinge device 80 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention which is buried in the lower end of the door 1 and provides an automatic return function for the door will be described in detail.
First, differently from the third embodiment of the present invention, the hinge device module 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is combined in the grooves 3 and 3a of the door 1 in a structure of limiting an up and down movement. The lower end portion of the shaft 93 is placed at a state where there is no limitation such as a stop ring for suppressing the bearing (or the support bracket) 81 from ascending.
In addition, according to the above-described first to third rotational suppression coupling structures, the hinge device module 90 can move in the up/down rectilinear direction, but relatively rotationally suppressed. That is, the relative rotation of the hinge device module 90 is suppressed.
If a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the bearing (or the support bracket) 81 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then intends to make height of the door 1 ascend, in the hinge device 80 according to the present invention having the above-described structure, the user simply makes the control nut 84 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. That is, in order to make the door 1 ascend up to a desired height, the control nut 84 is made to rotate clockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to ascend up to a desired height, and in order to make the door 1 descend down to a desired height, the control nut 84 is made to rotate counterclockwise at the state where the door 1 is made to descend down to a desired height.
Therefore, a user checks the state that the door 1 is installed in the bearing
(or the support bracket) 81 or the door frame of the refrigerator, and then simply makes the control nut 84 rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. As a result, it is possible to control an installation height of the door 1 from the bearing (or the support bracket) 81 or the door frame.
As a result, it is very easy to set an installation level of two doors in a two-door refrigerator. Meanwhile, in the case that the hinge device 80 has an automatic return function as in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, if a current door opening angle reaches a door opening angle allowing a predeterminately set automatic return function after the door opening time, a built-in automatic return hinge device module 90 operates and thus provides the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 with a restoring force so that the door 1 returns automatically to the initial position.
That is, if the compression spring or the torsion spring reaches a door opening angle allowing a restoring force when the door 1 rotates clockwise at the door closing time, the elastic restoring force is applied to the shaft 93 to thus enable the shaft 93 rotate clockwise, and the fixing nut 86 combined with the shaft 93 rotate clockwise together. However, in this case, since the shaft 93 and the fixing nut 86 are fixed to the support bracket 81, the door 1 and the hinge device module 90 can rotate.
The hinge device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to the case that it is applied to the automatic return hinge device for use in the refrigerator door with the automatic return function. However, hinge device according to the present invention may be applied to various kinds of home appliances or building doors which require an automatic return function, respectively. In the above-described third and fourth embodiments, the female screw thread of the control nut and the male screw thread formed on the lower cap or the guide bolt have been described with respect to a case that they are formed of a line of a screw, respectively. However, it is possible to further miniaturize a screw coupling structure by employing multiple lines of screws in the female screw thread of the control nut and the male screw thread formed on the lower cap or the guide bolt as described in the first embodiment.
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention.
[Industrial Applicability]
As described above, a height controllable hinge device according to the present invention is a passively-operating hinge device, that is, a hinge device having no automatic return function, or a hinge device having an automatic return function, which is buried in the same position as the rotational axis of a door of a one-door, two-door or three-door refrigerator. In the case of poorly sized doors or poorly installed doors, heights of the doors can be easily accurately controlled by rotating a control nut.
Further, the hinge device according to the present invention can be buried in various kinds of building doors or any kinds of doors which are installed in the same manner as those of the building doors in which a hinge bearing is installed in the upper/lower portion of a door frame.

Claims

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1 ]
A hinge device installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a housing which is buried in a first groove formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a groove formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge shaft which comprises a linear combiner, a screw connector, and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a number of guide protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves of the housing are protrudingly formed in the linear combiner at every predetermined angle along the lengthy direction of the linear combiner, and a first screw thread is formed around the outer circumference of the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; a fixing bracket which comprises a throughhole through which the hinge shaft passes and which is installed to partially block the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, to thus fix the housing to the inner portion of the first groove; and a control nut an annular groove formed in the outer circumference of which is rotatably combined with the throughhole of the fixing bracket, and with a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which the first screw thread is combined, whereby the hinge shaft ascends or descends according to rotation of the control nut.
[Claim 2]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical protrusion of the hinge shaft which is inserted into a throughhole of a support bracket, and further comprising a thrust bearing which is inserted between a step portion between the screw combiner and the protrusion, and the support bracket, to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
[Claim 3]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the support bracket is installed in a door frame of a home appliance or a building door.
[Claim 4] The height controllable hinge device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing unit to hinder the housing from rotating in the first groove.
[Claim 5]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second screw threads are formed of multiple lines of screws.
[Claim 6]
A hinge device installed on the same axis as a rotational axis of a door, the hinge device comprising: a first cylindrical groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a fixing bracket which is installed in the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, in which a number of guide protrusions which are protruded inwards to play a role of a linear guide to partially block the entrance of the first groove are radially arranged at every predetermined angle! a hinge shaft which comprises a screw connector and a cylindrical protrusion which are all integrally formed in turn, in which a screw thread is formed on the outer circumference of the screw connector and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are radially formed in the screw connector along the lengthy direction of the screw connector, and the cylindrical protrusion is formed in the screw connector, and in which the number of guide protrusions are slidably coupled with the number of guide grooves; and a control nut which is screw-combined with the screw connector, whereby the hinge shaft ascends or descends according to rotation of the control nut.
[Claim 7]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 6, wherein the cylindrical protrusion of the hinge shaft which is inserted into a throughhole of a support bracket, and further comprising a thrust bearing which is inserted between a step portion between the screw combiner and the protrusion, and the support bracket, to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
[Claim 8] The height controllable hinge device according to claim 7, wherein the support bracket is installed in a door frame of a home appliance or a building door.
[Claim 9] A hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door in which a number of guide grooves are radially formed at every predetermined equal angle along the lengthy direction of the housing from a cylindrical inner circumference formed at the inner side of the housing; a hinge device module which is buried in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protruded from the hinge device module is rotatably supported, the outer circumference of the upper portion of which is inserted into and fixed to the inner portion of a body of the hinge device module, the intermediate portion of which is combined with the guide grooves in which a number of guide protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves of the housing are radially protrudingly formed in the lower cap at every predetermined angle along the lengthy direction of the lower cap, and on the outer circumference of the lower end of which a first screw thread is formed; a fixing nut which is combined with the externally protruded shaft via the lower cap to suppress a rotational movement of the fixing nut, and is fixed to a support bracket; a fixing bracket which comprises a throughhole through which the lower end of the lower cap passes, and is installed to partially block the entrance of the first groove; and a control nut a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which is screw-connected with the first screw thread of the lower cap protruded via the throughhole of the fixing bracket, whereby height between the door and the support bracket is set by the control nut.
[Claim 10]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the fixing nut and the shaft are inserted into a throughhole of the support bracket, and further comprising a thrust bearing which is which is inserted between the lower cap and the fixing nut, to decrease a frictional resistance by rotation of the door.
[Claim 11 ]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 9, wherein a step portion is formed in the outer circumference of the fixing nut of the hinge device module, and the step portion is supported by the support bracket.
[Claim 12]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the support bracket is installed in a door frame of a home appliance or a building door.
[Claim 13]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second screw threads are formed of multiple lines of screws.
[Claim 14]
A hinge device having an automatic return function which provides an automatic return function for a door which is rotatably combined with a main body, the hinge device comprising: a first groove which is extended from the lower end of a door to the upper side of the door, on the same axis as a rotational axis of the door in which a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion communicate with each other via a step portion; a guide housing which is buried in the second diameter portion of the first groove which is formed in the lower end of the door; a hinge device module which is fixed in the first groove in which an automatic return force is applied to a shaft which is protruded downwards in the case that the door is opened within a predetermined opening angle so that the door is automatically returned; a lower cap through a throughhole of which the shaft protruded from the hinge device module is rotatably supported, the outer circumference of the upper portion of which is inserted into and fixed to the inner portion of a body of the hinge device module, and the outer circumference of the lower end of which is slidably combined with the inner circumference of the guide housing, in which a space is formed between the inner circumference of the lower end of the lower cap and the shaft; a fixing nut the upper end of the throughhole of which is combined with the externally protruded shaft via the lower cap to suppress a rotational movement of the fixing nut, and the lower end of which is fixed to a support bracket; a fixing bracket which is installed in the entrance of the first groove formed in the lower end of the door, in which a number of guide protrusions which are protruded inwards to play a role of a linear guide to partially block the entrance of the first groove are radially arranged at every predetermined angle ; a guide bolt whose inner circumference is combined with the outer circumference of the fixing nut, and on the outer circumference of which a first screw thread is formed and simultaneously a number of guide grooves corresponding to the number of guide protrusions are formed, and the number of guide protrusions are slidably combined with the number of guide grooves; and a control nut a second screw thread formed in the inner circumference of which is screw-connected with the first screw thread of the guide bolt, whereby height between the door and the fixing bracket is set by the control nut.
[Claim 15]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 14, wherein a rotational suppression coupling is performed between the outer circumference of the lower cap and the inner circumference of the guide housing, and the lower end of the guide housing is extended to the upper side of the fixing bracket to then be fixed to the door together with the fixing bracket.
[Claim 16]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 14, further comprising a step portion which is formed in the outer portion of the upper end of the guide bolt, to thereby restrict the door and the hinge device module from ascending in excess of an extent allowing that a rotational suppression coupling is performed between the shaft and the fixing nut.
[Claim 17]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 14, wherein the fixing bracket is installed in a door frame for a door which is respectively employed in home appliances or buildings.
[Claim 18]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 17, wherein one of the home appliances is a refrigerator.
[Claim 19]
The height controllable hinge device according to claim 14, wherein the first and second screw threads are made of multiple lines of screws.
PCT/KR2007/005198 2006-10-24 2007-10-23 Hinge device capable for controlling height WO2008050988A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2006-0103648 2006-10-24
KR20060103648 2006-10-24
KR10-2007-0065697 2007-06-29
KR1020070065697A KR100896753B1 (en) 2006-10-24 2007-06-29 Hinge Device Capable for Controlling Height

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008050988A1 true WO2008050988A1 (en) 2008-05-02

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2007/005198 WO2008050988A1 (en) 2006-10-24 2007-10-23 Hinge device capable for controlling height

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WO (1) WO2008050988A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010026247A1 (en) * 2008-09-08 2010-03-11 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A household appliance
WO2015149832A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-08 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Improved hinge assembly for flap door in refrigeration appliance
EP2811247A3 (en) * 2013-06-09 2016-01-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Cooling appliance having door hinge component
DE102015012304A1 (en) * 2015-07-06 2017-01-12 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Fridge and / or freezer
US11435131B2 (en) 2020-02-10 2022-09-06 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Hinge assembly and refrigerator comprising the same
IT202100011666A1 (en) * 2021-05-06 2022-11-06 Colcom Group S R L HINGE FOR THE REVOLVING MOVEMENT OF A DOOR, SASH OR SIMILAR

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3895412A (en) * 1973-04-20 1975-07-22 Lawrence Brothers Pivot assembly
KR20030079509A (en) * 2002-04-04 2003-10-10 주식회사 에스엔드씨테크 Standstill type hinge for auto-closing door
US7111363B2 (en) * 2004-02-26 2006-09-26 Lotte Engineering & Machinery Mfg., Co., Ltd. Door hinge structure for refrigerator

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3895412A (en) * 1973-04-20 1975-07-22 Lawrence Brothers Pivot assembly
KR20030079509A (en) * 2002-04-04 2003-10-10 주식회사 에스엔드씨테크 Standstill type hinge for auto-closing door
US7111363B2 (en) * 2004-02-26 2006-09-26 Lotte Engineering & Machinery Mfg., Co., Ltd. Door hinge structure for refrigerator

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010026247A1 (en) * 2008-09-08 2010-03-11 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A household appliance
EP2811247A3 (en) * 2013-06-09 2016-01-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Cooling appliance having door hinge component
WO2015149832A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2015-10-08 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Improved hinge assembly for flap door in refrigeration appliance
DE102015012304A1 (en) * 2015-07-06 2017-01-12 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Fridge and / or freezer
US11435131B2 (en) 2020-02-10 2022-09-06 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Hinge assembly and refrigerator comprising the same
IT202100011666A1 (en) * 2021-05-06 2022-11-06 Colcom Group S R L HINGE FOR THE REVOLVING MOVEMENT OF A DOOR, SASH OR SIMILAR

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