WO2012045880A1

WO2012045880A1 - Hinge for hinging a closing element flush with a support structure

Info

Publication number: WO2012045880A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/067602
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guido Spinazze'
Original assignee: Otlav Spa
Priority date: 2010-10-08
Filing date: 2011-10-07
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Also published as: AR083362A1; ITUD20100182A1; IT1402254B1

Abstract

A hinge (10, 110) for hinging a closing element (11) flush with respect to a support structure (12) comprises at least two hinging elements (13, 16; 113, 116, 117), which are able to be disposed coaxially one above the other in order to determine the hinging along a first central pivoting axis (X), wherein each of said hinging elements (13, 16; 113, 116, 117) is provided with a threaded stem (19, 20; 119, 120, 130). At least one of said threaded stems (19, 20; 119, 120, 130) comprises a first segment (19a, 20a; 119a, 120a, 130a) lying on a second axis (Y1, Y2, Y3) substantially perpendicular to said first central pivoting axis (X) and a second segment (19b, 20b; 119b, 120b, 130b) lying on a third axis (Z1, Z2, Z3) diverging by a determinate angle (α1, α2, α3) with respect to said second axis (Y1, Y2, Y3).

Description

"HINGE FOR HINGING A CLOSING ELEMENT FLUSH WITH A SUPPORT STRUCTURE"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a hinge for hinging a closing element, such as a door, a panel or suchlike, flush, that is, with its external surface coplanar with the corresponding external surface of a support structure to which the element is hinged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of door and window frames and furniture, to allow a door or panel to be opened and closed, the door or panel being disposed flush with the support structure as defined above, substantially two kinds of hinges are known: those provided with platelets and those provided with threaded stems. Each of these two types of hinge has in common two hinging elements, a male one provided with a pin, and a female one provided with a corresponding hole, which are able to be disposed coaxially one above the other so as to achieve the hinging along a central hinging axis, as described for example in document EP-A-0.059.885. Hinges are also known, formed by three or four elements.

The first type of hinge also comprises two platelets, each solid with one of the two hinging elements, by means of which each hinging element is attached to the corresponding part to be hinged.

However, this hinge has the disadvantage that it is very costly, both in its production and its installation, since it requires that appropriate recesses or seatings are prepared in the two parts to be hinged, in order to accommodate the two platelets, and also that attachment screws are used to properly attach the platelets to the parts to be hinged. Consequently, the step of assembling the hinge also requires using specialized manpower, and is also relatively long and complex.

Each hinging element of the second type of hinge comprises, instead, a threaded stem solid with the central pivoting rod and disposed perpendicular with respect thereto. The threaded stem is completely rectilinear and is able to be inserted in a corresponding hole made in the part to be hinged.

This hinge has the disadvantage that, once assembled on the parts to be hinged, the threaded stems remain partly visible, and therefore worsen the aesthetic effect of the piece of furniture or frame on which the hinge is assembled.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a flush hinge for closing elements, of the type with threaded stems, which does not leave any threaded part of the latter visible from the outside once the hinge is assembled.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a flush hinge for closing elements which is simple to assemble, without using particular tools.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to obtain a flush hinge for closing elements which is simple and which comprises working steps that can also be performed in an automated manner.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a hinge according to the present invention, for hinging a closing element flush with respect to at least a support structure, comprises at least two hinging elements, which are able to be disposed coaxially one on the other to obtain the hinging along a first central pivoting axis, wherein said hinging elements are each provided with a relative threaded stem.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, at least one of the threaded stems comprises a first segment lying on a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first central pivoting axis, and a second segment lying on a third axis, diverging by a determinate angle with respect to the second axis.

Advantageously, only the second segment of each stem is actually threaded, while the first segment has no threading and is less thick, so as to have a transverse size less than the external diameter of the second segment.

Moreover, the two second segments of the two threaded stems diverge from each other on opposite sides, therefore, when the hinge is in the closed position, their axes are angularly offset with respect to each other by an angle having an overall amplitude equal to the sum of the offset angles with respect to the second axis.

In this way the threaded parts of the two stems can be completely inserted inside corresponding holes made obliquely, one in the support structure and the other in the closing element, so that they are not visible from the outside.

The present invention can be applied to hinges formed by two hinging elements, male and female, and also to hinges formed by three or more components connected to each other by a pin that defines the axis of rotation.

The method to make the hinge according to the present invention is very simple and comprises, for each hinging element, a step of compressing the first segment, to reduce its transverse sizes, and a step of bending the second segment, to incline it by the determinate angle with respect to the first segment.

These two steps could be carried out in sequence or, according to an alternative, simultaneously, with the appropriate tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a hinge according to the present invention assembled flush on a closing element and on a corresponding support structure;

- fig. 2 is a front view of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a plan view of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the hinge in fig. 1 alone;

- fig. 5 is a plan view of the hinge in fig. 4;

- fig. 6 is a plan view of a first hinging element of the hinge in fig. 4;

- fig. 7 is a plan view of a second hinging element of the hinge in fig. 4;

- fig. 8 is a variant of a hinge according to the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, a hinge 10 according to the present invention is able to hinge a closing element 1 1, for example a door, a window or the panel of a frame or piece of furniture, flush with respect to a support structure 12, for example the door or window frame or the frame of the piece of furniture.

The hinge 10 comprises a first hinging element 13, male, having a cylindrical rod on which an axial pin 14 is made (figs. 2 and 6), and a second hinging element 16, female, also having a cylindrical rod provided with a corresponding axial hole 17 (figs. 2 and 7), in which the axial pin 14 is able to be inserted. The two hinging elements 13 and 16 are able to be disposed coaxially one on the other to obtain the hinging along a first central pivoting axis X.

The first hinging element 13 comprises a first threaded stem 19 (figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6), solid with the cylindrical rod that carries the axial pin 14. The second hinging element 16 comprises a second threaded stem 20 (figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7) solid with the cylindrical rod in which the axial hole 17 is made. The two threaded stems 19 and 20 lie on parallel planes and perpendicular to the central pivoting axis X.

Furthermore, according to one characteristic of the present invention, each of the two threaded stems 19 and 20 comprises a first segment 19a, respectively 20a, lying on a second axis Yl, respectively Y2, substantially perpendicular to the central pivoting axis X, and a second segment 19b, respectively 20b, lying on a corresponding third axis Zl, respectively Z2, which diverges by a determinate angle al , a2 in some forms of embodiment with an angular amplitude comprised between about 30° and about 60°. In this case al , a2 are equal and each has an amplitude of about 45° with respect to the second axis Yl, respectively Y2. However, it is not excluded that al, a2 can be different from each other.

Furthermore, the two second segments 19 and 20b diverge from each other so that, when the hinge 10 is in the closed position, their axes Zl and Z2 are angularly offset by an angle which is the sum of the two determinate angles al, a2, for example in this case an overall angle of 90° (fig. 5).

In this closed position, the second axes Yl and Y2 of the two first segments 19a and 20a are parallel to each other and on top of each other.

In particular, the first segment 19a and 20a of each threaded stem 19 and 20, in some forms of embodiment, has no threading and is less thick than the second segment 19b and 20b, while the first segment 19a and 20a is at least partly threaded, in some forms of embodiment completely threaded, to allow screwing.

In fact, the method to make the hinging elements 13 and 16 provides that each threaded stem 19 and 20 is bent with respect to the axis Yl , respectively Y2, precisely in correspondence with its first segment 19a and 20a, after a mechanical operation of compression on the latter, intended to reduce its bulk and the transverse sizes so as to allow it to be assembled in a slit between panel 1 1 and frame 12. Alternatively, the two operations of bending and compression could be carried out simultaneously, using the appropriate equipment.

Each threaded stem 19 and 20 is able to be inserted in a corresponding hole 21 (fig. 3), respectively 22, made in the support structure 12 and respectively in the closing element 1 1. It is clear that the holes 21 and 22 are also inclined by the same angle al, a2 with respect to the flush surfaces of the closing element 1 1 and the support structure 12.

Each of the hinging elements 13 and 16 of the hinge 10 as described heretofore is assembled simply by screwing the corresponding threaded stem 19 and 20 into the respective holes 21 and 22, until the second segments 19b and 20b are completely inserted inside them.

To facilitate the screwing operation, each threaded stem 19 and 20 can be provided with a notch 24 (fig. 7), respectively 25, with a linear, cross, hexagonal or other shape according to needs, made in correspondence with the beginning of the second segment 19b, 20b, adjacent to the first segment 19a, 20a, so that a normal screwdriver can be used to screw it in, or advantageously alternatively by means of a suitable automatic machine.

When the hinge 10 according to the present invention is assembled on the closing element 1 1 and on the support structure 12, thanks to the fact that the second segments 19b and 20b are completely inserted in the holes 21 and 22, it protrudes externally only for the minimum indispensable part, and no threaded part is visible from the outside, and therefore the aesthetic effect is decidedly improved.

Furthermore, the fact that the first segments 19a and 20a are less thick entails that the space between the closing element 1 1 and the support structure 12 is reduced to a minimum, with the advantage that it is possible to bring the two parts very close together.

Fig. 8 shows a variant embodiment of the hinge according to the present invention, indicated for convenience by the reference number 1 10.

This variant hinge 1 10 is formed in this case by three hinging elements, respectively indicated by the reference numbers 1 13, 116, 1 17, which are made as cylindrical elements, or bushings, having an axial through hole to define a conformation like a hollow cylindrical rod into which, once the three hinging elements 1 13, 1 16, 1 17 are coaxially aligned, a pin 1 18 is inserted which connects them reciprocally and defines the pivoting around the central pivoting axis X around which the hinge 1 10 rotates.

The hinging elements 1 13, 1 16, 1 17 are provided with respective threaded stems 1 19, 120, 130, solid with the hollow cylindrical rod and configured in the same way as in the form of embodiment shown in figs. 1 - 7. The threaded stems 1 19, 120, 130, in particular, have respective first segments 1 19a, 120a, 130a having at least a threaded part, and second segments 119b, 120b, 130b.

The first segments 1 19a, 120a, 130a lie on a relative axis Yl , Y2, Y3 substantially perpendicular to the central pivoting axis X.

The second segments 1 19b, 120b, 130b lie on a relative axis Zl, Z2, Z3 which diverges by a determinate angle al, a2, a3 with respect to the respective axis Yl , Y2, Y3.

Furthermore, the upper and lower second segments 1 19b, 130b diverge with respect to the intermediate second segment 120b so that, when the hinge 1 10 is in the closed position, their axes Zl and Z3 are angularly offset with respect to the axis Z2, by an angle that is the sum of the two determinate angles al, a2 or a2, a3.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hinge 10, 1 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of hinges flush with closing elements, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Hinge for hinging a closing element (1 1) flush with respect to a support structure (12), comprising at least two hinging elements (13, 16; 1 13, 116, 1 17), disposed coaxially one above the other, in order to determine the hinging along a first central pivoting axis (X), wherein each of said hinging elements (13, 16; 1 13, 1 16, 1 17) is provided with a threaded stem (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130), characterized in that at least one of said threaded stems (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) comprises a first segment (19a, 20a; 119a, 120a, 130a) lying on a second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3) substantially perpendicular to said first central pivoting axis (X) and a second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) lying on a third axis (Zl, Z2, Z3) diverging by a determinate angle (al, a2, a3) with respect to said second axis (Yl , Y2, Y3).

2. Hinge as in claim 1, characterized in that said second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) of each of said threaded stems (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) is substantially coplanar to the corresponding first segment (19a, 20a; 119a, 120a, 130a) of the same threaded stem (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130).

3. Hinge as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said determinate angle (al, a2, a3) is comprised between about 30° and about 60° and said angles (al , a2, a3) can be equal to or different from each other.

4. Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second segments (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) diverge from each other on opposite sides, so that in the closed position their axes (Zl, Z2, Z3) are angularly offset by an angle having a overall amplitude equal to the sum of the respective coordinate angles (al, a2, a3) of offset with respect to said second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3).

5. Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said first segments (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a) is without thread and has a thickness less than the corresponding second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b).

6. Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said threaded stems (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) is provided with a notch (24, 25) made at the beginning of the second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b), adjacent to the first segment (19a, 20a; 119a, 120a, 130a).

7. Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that a first hinging element (13) has a cylindrical rod on which an axial pin (14) is made and a second hinging element (16) has a cylindrical rod provided with a corresponding axial hole (17) in which the axial pin (14) is able to be inserted.

8. Hinge as in claim 7, characterized in that said first hinging element (13) comprises a first threaded stem (19), solid with the cylindrical rod that carries the axial pin (14) and the second hinging element (16) comprises a second threaded stem (20) solid with the cylindrical rod in which the axial hole (17) is made, said first (19) and second (20) threaded stems lying on parallel planes and perpendicular to the first central pivoting axis (X).

9. Hinge as in any claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that said hinging elements (1 13; 1 16, 1 17) are made as cylindrical elements having an axial through hole to define a conformation like a hollow cylindrical rod into which, once the hinging elements (1 13; 1 16, 1 17) are coaxially aligned, a pin (1 18) is inserted which connects them reciprocally and defines the pivoting around the first central pivoting axis (X) around which the hinge rotates.

10. Method for manufacturing a hinge according to any of the claims from 1 to 6 for hinging a closing element (1 1) flush with respect to a support structure (12), comprising a step in which at least two hinging elements (13, 16; 1 13, 1 16, 1 17), which are able to be coaxially disposed one above the other in order to determine the hinging along a first central pivoting axis (X), are each provided with a relative threaded stem (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) each of which lies on a plane perpendicular to said first central pivoting axis (X), characterized in that it comprises a step in which at least one of said threaded stems (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) is bent so as to define a first segment (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a) lying on a second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3) substantially perpendicular to said first central pivoting axis (X) and a second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) lying on a third axis (Zl, Z2, Z3) diverging by a determinate angle (al, a2, a3) with respect to said second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3).

1 1. Method as in claim 10, characterized in that, before said step in which the bend is made, or during said step, said first segment (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a) is subjected to compression in order to reduce its transverse dimensions so as to allow it to be inserted in a slit between panel and frame, facilitating the bending of each of said threaded stems (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130).

12. Hinging element (13, 16; 1 13, 116, 1 17) of a hinge (10, 1 10) for hinging a closing element (1 1) flush with respect to a support structure (12), comprising a rod having a first central pivoting axis (X) and a threaded stem (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130), characterized in that said threaded stem (19, 20; 119, 120, 130) comprises a first segment (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a) lying on a second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3) substantially perpendicular to said first central pivoting axis (X) and a second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) lying on a third axis (Zl , Z2, Z3) diverging by a determinate angle (al, a2, a3) with respect to said second axis (Yl, Y2, Y3).

13. Hinging element as in claim 12, characterized in that said second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b) is substantially coplanar to said first segment (19a,

20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a).

14. Hinging element as in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said determinate angle (al , a2, a3) is comprised between about 30° and about 60° and said angles (al, a2, a3) can be equal to or different from each other.

15. Hinging element as in any claim from 12 to 14, characterized in that said first segment (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a) is without thread and has a thickness less than said second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b).

16. Hinging element as in any claim from 12 to 15, characterized in that said threaded stem (19, 20; 1 19, 120, 130) is provided with a notch (24, 25) made at the beginning of the second segment (19b, 20b; 1 19b, 120b, 130b), adjacent to the first segment (19a, 20a; 1 19a, 120a, 130a).