WO2015086470A1

WO2015086470A1 - Hinge for kitchen oven doors

Info

Publication number: WO2015086470A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/076777
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Santello
Original assignee: Zanovello Srl
Priority date: 2013-12-13
Filing date: 2014-12-05
Publication date: 2015-06-18
Also published as: EP3080373A1; SI3080373T1; EP3080373B1; ITPD20130340A1

Abstract

A hinge (10) for kitchen oven doors, of the type comprising a first arm (11), to be associated with a closure door of a chamber of an oven, and a second arm (12), which is articulated to the first arm (11), to be associated with the structure of the oven, a kinematic system (13) being interposed between the first arm (11) and the second arm (12) and being adapted to actuate elastic means (14) for the facilitated closure of the door, means (15) for slowing the closing movement of the door being also interposed between the first arm (11) and the second arm (12); the means (15) for slowing the closing motion of the door comprise a fluid-operated damper (16) that is fixed to a containment body (17) that is part of the first arm (11); the stem (18) of the fluid-operated damper (16) is actuated by a first contoured end (19) of a guiding element (20), which can translate with respect to the containment body (17); the second contoured end (21) of the guiding element (20) is intended to slide in contact with a pusher portion (22) that is associated with the second arm (12) with a predefined and fixed inclination angle (23).

Description

HINGE FOR KITCHEN OVEN DOORS

The present invention relates to a hinge for kitchen oven doors.

Hinges for doors of ovens or other similar apparatuses are constituted usually by a first arm, which is to be associated with the structure of the oven, and by a second arm, which is to be associated with the closing door of the oven chamber and is articulated to the first arm.

A kinematic system is interposed between the first arm and the second arm and is preset to interact with elastic means for the facilitated closing and opening of the door, ensuring at the same time the rotation of the second arm with respect to the first arm with a controlled movement, ensuring stable equilibrium positions for said door both in the configuration for closing onto the oven chamber and when in the open configuration, as well as on any intermediate positions.

Hinges for kitchen ovens are also known and are increasingly widespread which have systems for slowing the closing stroke of the door, which are preset to prevent the sudden impact of the door against the body of the oven produced by the action of the elastic means for facilitated closure of said door against said oven body.

In the field of the production of hinges for ovens, one of the main problems is linked to the structural complexity of said hinges for slowing the stroke of the door, said complexity inevitably affecting production costs both in terms of components and in terms of assembly times.

Another drawback of systems for slowing the closing stroke of kitchen oven doors resides in that said systems are inserted in the structure of the oven body and are often influenced thereat by the temperatures that are generated inside the oven during use.

This assembly position, further, is very awkward if repair intervention is required, since especially for built-in kitchen ovens disassembling these systems, which are generally located between the muffle and the external jacket of the oven, can be an awkward and relatively demanding operation even for a qualified operator.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a hinge for kitchen oven doors that is capable of obviating the cited limitations of hinges for kitchen ovens of the known type.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is structurally simple and easy and economic to assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is less subject to the high temperatures that are generated in the oven to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is simpler to disassemble if needed with respect to hinges of the known type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that can be installed easily also on ovens of an already existing type.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a hinge for kitchen oven doors, of the type comprising a first arm, to be associated with a closure door of a chamber of an oven, and a second arm, which is articulated to the first arm, to be associated with the structure of the oven, a kinematic system being interposed between the first arm and the second arm and being adapted to actuate elastic means for the facilitated closure of the door, means for slowing the closing movement of said door being also interposed between said first arm and said second arm, said hinge being characterized in that said means for slowing the closing motion of the door comprise a fluid- operated damper that is fixed to a containment body that is part of said first arm, the stem of said fluid-operated damper being actuated by a first contoured end of a guiding element, which can translate with respect to said containment body, the second contoured end of said guiding element being intended to slide in contact with a pusher portion that is associated with said second arm with a predefined and fixed inclination angle, said guiding element and said pusher portion being arranged on the respective first arm and second arm, so that said second contoured end of said guiding element and said pusher portion meet for a preset slowing angle between the door and the chamber of the oven.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the hinge according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hinge according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hinge according to the invention without the containment body of said first arm;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the hinge according to the invention; Figures 4 and 5 each show a step of use of the hinge according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a constructive variation of the invention.

With reference to the figures, a hinge for kitchen oven doors according to the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The hinge 10 is of the type that comprises a first arm 11 to be associated with a door for closing a chamber of an oven, and a second arm 12, which is articulated to the first arm 1 1, to be associated with the oven structure.

A kinematic system 13 is interposed between the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 and is adapted to actuate elastic means 14 for the facilitated closure of the door; means 15 for slowing the door closing motion are also interposed between the first arm 11 and the second arm 12.

The particularity of the invention resides in that the means 15 for slowing the closing motion of the door comprise a fluid- operated damper 16 that is fixed to a containment body 17 that is part of the first arm 1 1.

The stem 18 of the fluid-operated damper 16 is actuated by a first contoured end 19 of a guiding element 20, which can translate with respect to the containment body 17.

The second contoured end 21 of the guiding element 20 is preset to slide in contact with a pusher portion 22 that is associated with the second arm 12 with a predefined and fixed inclination angle 23.

The pusher portion 22, in the present constructive example, which does not limit the invention, is constituted by a flat element.

It should be understood that the present invention also relates to a constructive variation, not shown for the sake of simplicity, in which the pusher portion 22 is incorporated in the second arm 12, i.e., is in one piece with the second arm 12, or is a part of the second arm 12.

The guiding element 20 and the pusher portion 22 are arranged on the respective first arm 11 and second arm 12 so that the second contoured end 21 of the guiding element 20 and the pusher portion 22 encounter for a preset slowing angle 24 between the door and the chamber of the oven.

In the embodiment described herein of the hinge 10 according to the invention, which is to be understood as a nonlimiting example of the invention, the containment body 17 of the first arm 11 is constituted by a profile having a predominantly longitudinal extension with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, with openings, holes and bends that are preset for the assembly of the kinematic system 13, of the elastic means 14, and of the slowing means 15, which are to be understood as being of a per se known type.

The second arm 12 is constituted by a metal plate that has a first portion 25 for engagement with the body of an oven in which the hinge 10 is installed, and a second portion 26 for pivoting to the first arm 1 1 by means of a tubular pivot 27 and the corresponding first locking rivet, and for the pivoting of a first element 28 of the kinematic system 13 by means of a second rivet 29.

The kinematic system 13 comprises the second portion 26 of the second arm 12, which is pivoted as mentioned to the containment body 17, the first element 28, which is composed of two opposite contoured plates 30 that are joined by a rear connecting bridge 31 and are pivoted to the second portion 26 with the second rivet 29 and to a second element 32 of the kinematic system 13 with a third rivet 33.

The second element 32 also is defined by two opposite contoured plates 34, which are joined by a bridge 35 and a fourth rivet 36 for the engagement of the elastic means 14 is fixed between the contoured plates 34.

The elastic means 14 are constituted for example by a helical traction spring 37, which is interposed between the fourth lower rivet 36 and a fifth upper rivet 38, which is fixed transversely to the side walls 39 and 40 of the containment body 17.

The second element 32 also supports a roller 41 for sliding on a curvilinear cam-shaped edge 42 that is defined on the second part 26 of the second arm 12.

The fluid-operated damper 16 is fixed to the containment body 17 by simple interlocking, being rested with a rear lower portion thereof 43 on two corresponding resting flaps 44 defined on the side walls 39 and 40 of the containment body 17 and is locked in an upward region by an extraction- preventing abutment wing 45 that is provided centrally on the central wall of the containment body 17.

The fluid-operated damper 16 is therefore locked without the aid of rivets or other locking elements but only by means of appropriately contoured portions of the containment body 17.

The guiding element 20 is constituted by a flat bar that is arranged so as to slide between two pairs of symmetrical guiding wings, a first pair of lower wings 47 and a second pair of upper wings 48, both defined on the side walls 39 and 40 of the containment body 17.

The second contoured end 21 of the guiding element 20 is inclined with respect to the arrangement of the flat central part, so as to protrude from the space occupation of the containment body 17, available for contact with the pusher portion 22.

The pusher portion 22, constituted by a flat element, is mounted on the metal plate that defines the second arm 12 with a preferred inclination angle 23, with respect to a vertical in the configuration for use, of 49.5°.

The pusher portion 22 is part of a fork-like body that is fixed by means of a rivet 50 to the second arm 12.

The second contoured end 21 of said guiding element 20 encounters the flat element that defines the pusher portion 22 at a slowing angle 24 between the door and the chamber of the oven that is comprised between 40° and 15° and is preferably 20°.

Contact between the second end 21 and the pusher portion 22 continues until the door abuts against the body of the oven.

This angle allows to cushion in an optimum manner the closing impact of the door of the oven, shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5 and designated therein by the reference number 52, against the body of the oven, a portion of which is shown schematically in the same figures and is designated therein by the reference numeral 53.

Figure 5 shows the hinge 10 according to the invention at the moment when the second contoured end 21 of the guiding element 20 touches the flat element that defines the pusher portion 22, with a slowing angle 24 of approximately 20°, while Figure 5 shows the hinge 10 according to the invention in the closed configuration of the door 52 on the body of the oven 53.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a constructive variation of the hinge according to the invention, generally designated therein by the reference number 1 10; in this variation, the fluid-operated damper 1 16 is fixed to the containment body 1 17 by simple interlocking, being arranged with a rear lower portion 143 thereof on two corresponding resting flaps 144 defined on the side walls 139 of the containment body 117, inserted by a front portion thereof 143a in an opening 160 defined on the central wall of the containment body 117, and is locked in an upward region by an extraction- preventing abutment wing 145 that is provided centrally on such central wall of the containment body 117.

With the insertion of the lower portion 143 a of the damper 116 in the opening 160, greater stability of the damper 116 with respect to the containment body is achieved.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

In particular, the invention provides a hinge which, thanks to the particular means for slowing the closing motion of the door, allows such door to be arranged adjacent to the oven body without any audible noise being emitted, differently from what occurs with hinges of the known type, in which the closing motion ends with a clearly audible impact.

In particular, the invention provides a hinge that is structurally simple and inexpensive and easy to assemble, thanks to the limited number of components and of assembly elements, constituted exclusively by rivets; in particular, the fluid-operated damper is assembled to the containment body of the first arm without resorting to rivets or other fixing elements.

Moreover, the invention provides a hinge that is less subject to the high temperature that are generated in the oven to which it is applied, since the first arm 11 with the fluid-operated damper 16 is adapted to be arranged in the oven door instead of in the oven body, as occurs with hinges of the known type.

Placement in the door makes the hinge according to the invention easier to disassemble if needed with respect to hinges of the known type that are mounted in the oven body.

The hinge according to the invention can be installed easily even on ovens of the already existing type. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the components used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2013A000340 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A hinge (10) for kitchen oven doors, of the type comprising a first arm (11), to be associated with a closure door of a chamber of an oven, and a second arm (12), which is articulated to the first arm (11), to be associated with the structure of the oven, a kinematic system (13) being interposed between the first arm (1 1) and the second arm (12) and being adapted to actuate elastic means (14) for the facilitated closure of the door, means (15) for slowing the closing movement of said door being also interposed between said first arm (11) and said second arm (12), said hinge (10) being characterized in that said means (15) for slowing the closing motion of the door comprise a fluid-operated damper (16) that is fixed to a containment body (17) that is part of said first arm (11), the stem (18) of said fluid- operated damper (16) being actuated by a first contoured end (19) of a guiding element (20), which can translate with respect to said containment body (17), the second contoured end (21) of said guiding element (20) being intended to slide in contact with a pusher portion (22) that is associated with the second arm (12) with a predefined and fixed inclination angle (23), said guiding element (20) and said pusher portion (22) being arranged on the respective first arm (11) and second arm (12), so that said second contoured end (21) of said guiding element (20) and said pusher portion (22) meet for a preset slowing angle (24) between the door and the chamber of the oven.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said containment body (17) of the first arm (11) is constituted by a profile having a predominantly longitudinal extension with a substantially U-shaped cross- section, with openings, holes and folds preset for the assembly of the kinematic system (13), of the elastic means (14) and of the slowing means (15).

3. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic means (14) are constituted by a helical traction spring (37), which is interposed between a lower rivet (36), which is moved by said kinematic system (13), and an upper rivet (38), which is fixed transversely to the side walls (39, 40) of the containment body (17).

4. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fluid- operated damper (16) is fixed to the containment body (17) by simple interlocking, being arranged along a rear lower portion thereof (43) on two corresponding resting flaps (44) defined on the side walls (39, 40) of the containment body (17), and locked in an upward region by an extraction-preventing abutment wing (45) that is provided centrally on the central wall of said containment body (17).

5. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding element (20) is constituted by a flat bar that is arranged so as to slide between two pairs of symmetrical guiding wings, a first lower pair of wings (47) and a second upper pair of wings (48), both defined on the side walls (39, 40) of the containment body (17).

6. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second contoured end (21) of the guiding element (20) is inclined with respect to the arrangement of the flat central portion, so as to protrude from the space occupied by the containment body (17), available for contact with the pusher portion (22).

7. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher portion (22) is constituted by a flat element that is mounted on the metal plate that defines the second arm (12) with a preferred inclination angle (23), with respect to a vertical in the configuration for use, of 49.5°.

8. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flat element that defines said pusher portion (22) is part of a fork-like body that is fixed by means of a rivet (50) to the second arm (12).

9. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second contoured end (21) of said guiding element (20) and said flat pusher element (22) are arranged so that said second contoured end (21) of said guiding element (20) meets the pusher portion (22) at a slowing angle (24) between the door and the chamber of the oven that is comprised between 40° and 15°, preferably 20°.

10. The hinge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher portion (22) is incorporated in the second arm (12), i.e. is in one piece with said second arm (12), or is a part of said second arm (12).