EP1859117B1 - Hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge, preferably a furniture hinge, comprising a hinge arm which is pivotably supported on a joint axle which is non-displaceably held in a cup-shaped hinge part and which is provided with a tongue projecting beyond the joint axle or with a cam eccentric with respect to the joint axle or with a control edge which slide on a leaf spring whose one end region is held at the pivotable hinge part and which generates a closing torque in the closing region. In accordance with the invention, the leaf spring has at least two portions of different widths, with the at least one narrower portion of the leaf spring passing through a center recess of the hinge arm, with a tongue being cut from the lower edge of said recess. The at least one wider portion of the leaf spring is pressed against the base of the hinge cup by a transversely extending pin and thus fixedly held by a transversely extending pin.

Description

The invention relates to a hinge, preferably furniture hinge, consisting of a hinge arm which is pivotally mounted on a hinged in a cup-shaped hinge part Erten held hinge axis and provided with a hinge axis projecting tongue, which supported on one with an end portion on the hinged hinge part and in the closing area Sliding moment generating leaf spring slide.

One from the DE 36 01 682 A1 Known hinge of the type mentioned above has a leaf spring whose bent end held in a slot in the bottom of the cup-shaped hinge part and whose central part is supported against a laterally projecting into the hinge pot such that the resilient end of the leaf spring on a control edge of the hinge arm acts. The lateral arrangement of the leaf spring reduces the width of the hinge arm and therefore also the strength of the entire hinge. Also, the lateral arrangement of the leaf spring requires that it can be made only narrow. It follows that no great closing moment can be generated.

From the US 5,546,633 A an embodiment of the above-explained hinge is known in which the leaf springs have two-sided tongues, which are also made narrow and in which the leaf spring itself is held only by a rivet on the bottom hinge cup. This also requires that the leaf spring disclosed there can not exert a large closing moment. In addition, the leaf-spring-producing leaf spring in the hinge cup requires a lot of space, so that such a hinge is not suitable for squat embodiments, which are desirable in thin doors, for example.

From the US 5,604,956 A is provided as the closing moment generating spring element, a wire spring which is fastened in a complex manner under the bottom hinge cup. The free ends of the wire spring protrude from lateral recesses in the interior of the hinge cup in and are based on lateral cams of the hinge arm from. This design is quite complex and expensive and corresponds in its effect to a hinge according to the European patent EP 0 987 394 B1 , which is the same assignee as the present invention.

In US 4,716,622 For example, a leaf spring having a narrow and a wide area is known, one end of the narrow area acting on the lower edge of the hinge arm wound around the hinge axis, thus functioning as a control edge. As a result, the spring acts only in a small range of motion on the control edge, which also has only the thickness of the hinge arm. In addition, the leaf spring is held by a bent tab and two lateral, perpendicular bolts, where it is mounted below the bottom of the hinge cup and therefore must pass through a required recess.

Object of the present invention is to develop a generic hinge with easy-to-produce components, such as hinge arm and hinge cup, such that in the cup-shaped hinge part a closing moment generating leaf spring can save space in a simple and thus economical manner, at the same time the Spring characteristics of the sheet be used to achieve a better function of the hinge in the best possible way.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Accordingly, there is a hinge of a hinge arm which is pivotally mounted on a non-displaceably held in a cup-shaped hinge part hinge axis and is provided with a hinge axis projecting tongue, which supported on one with an end portion on the hinged hinge part and in the closing area Closing moment generating leaf spring slides. According to the invention, the leaf spring has at least two sections of different width, wherein the at least one narrower section of the leaf spring passes through a central recess of the hinge arm, from the lower edge of a tongue is cut out, and that the at least a wider portion of the leaf spring by a transverse pin against the bottom of the hinge cup is pressed and held so.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the subsequent claims to the main claim.

Accordingly, the at least one narrower section of the leaf spring can have an elongated rib up to the transition region of the at least one broader section of the leaf spring. This means that the rib extends along the leaf spring. Because of this longitudinally extending rib, the bending of the leaf spring does not occur in its narrower section, but in the wider section, which is held at the bottom of the hinge cup. In this wider portion and the transition region leading to it, the leaf spring exerts a greater force with less bending and its life is in no way affected by possible micro-fractions originating from the manufacturing process. In addition, notches or cutouts may also be present which give the spring the desired shape and which, however, can only slightly reduce the spring force due to the rib.

Advantageously, the bottom of the hinge cup has a recess in the region in which the at least one broader section of the leaf spring is arranged. The distance between the transverse pin and the bottom may be smaller than the thickness of the leaf spring. The leaf spring can be at her under the Transverse pin area have a transverse recess, which optionally dips into the recess of the hinge cup and thus holds the leaf spring in its correct and centered position.

The longitudinal rib may extend to three-quarters of the length of the transition region between the at least two portions of the leaf spring.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge arm may have the recess, from the lower edge of the tongue is cut out such that the lower edge of the recess next to the cut-out tongue has two sections on which the leaf spring are supported in the fully open position of the hinge can. The distance between the two sections to the hinge axis may be equal to or only slightly greater than the distance of the outer edge of the tongue to the hinge axis. Thus, while the leaf spring is supported on the tongue during the opening or closing of the hinge, it is supported on the additional two sections in the fully open position of the hinge.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the leaf spring may consist of two identical leaf springs of small thickness. In this case, the alternative provided for reinforcement rib can be omitted. Also corresponding indentations or beads need not be provided in this embodiment.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the transverse pin may have a non-circular cross-section. As a result, the transverse pin is reinforced, so that it does not bend as easily as a transverse pin with a circular cross-section.

The hinge arm preferably has, in its curved area, edges that are embossed in such a way that they are offset from the central, recessed part of the hinge arm. These embossed parts are so not in the same plane as the rest of the hinge arm. This embossing significantly improves the strength of the hinge arm.

Figur 1:

einen Längsschnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Scharnier im geschlossenen Zustand.

Figur 2.

das Scharnier nach Figur 1 in einem um ca. 30 ° geöffneten Zustand,

Figur 3:

das Scharnier nach Figur 1 in vollständig geöffnetem Zustand,

Figur 4:

eine Draufsicht auf das topfförmige Scharnierteil,

Figur 5:

eine Draufsicht auf die Blattfeder des Scharniers,

Figur 6:

eine Seitenansicht der Blattfeder gemäß Figur 5,

Figur 7:

eine Draufsicht auf den Scharnierarm,

Figur 8:

eine Schnittansicht des Scharnierarms nach Figur 7,

Figur 9:

eine der Figur 3 entsprechende Ansicht einer alternativen Ausgestaltung der Erfindung,

Figur 10:

ein Detail eines Bauteils des erfindungsgemäßen Scharniers,

Figur 11:

eine der Figur 7 entsprechende Draufsicht auf einen Scharnierarm anderer Bauart und

Figur 12:

eine Schnittansicht des Scharnierarms nach Figur 11.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment explained in more detail in the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1:

a longitudinal section through an inventive hinge in the closed state.

FIG. 2.

the hinge after FIG. 1 in a state opened by about 30 °,

FIG. 3:

the hinge after FIG. 1 in fully open condition,

FIG. 4:

a top view of the cup-shaped hinge part,

FIG. 5:

a top view of the leaf spring of the hinge,

FIG. 6:

a side view of the leaf spring according to FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7:

a top view of the hinge arm,

FIG. 8:

a sectional view of the hinge arm after FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9:

one of the FIG. 3 corresponding view of an alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 10:

a detail of a component of the hinge according to the invention,

FIG. 11:

one of the FIG. 7 corresponding plan view of a hinge arm of another type and

FIG. 12:

a sectional view of the hinge arm after FIG. 11 ,

That from the FIGS. 1 to 3 apparent hinge consists essentially of a provided with an angled hinge arm 12 which engages with its lower rolled end 14 a hinge axis 28. The hinge axis 28 is held immovably in the usual manner in the side walls of the hinge cup 22. This hinge cup 22 is in a conventional manner in a flat blind hole, for example, a door 8, which is pivotally connected via the hinge 10 with a furniture body 6, used and connected thereto by a flange 44, which is part of the hinge cup 22 (see. FIG. 4 ).

The cranked hinge arm 12 is in isolated representation in the FIGS. 7 and 8 shown. This hinge arm 12 has, as already stated, at its lower rolled end 14, which includes the hinge axis 28 in the installed state, a central recess 16, from the lower edge of a tongue 20 is cut out. The width of the tongue 20 is less than the total width of the recess 16, so that on both sides of the cut-out and bent-back tongue 20 short sections 18 are formed in the lower edge region of the recess 16.

How the particular FIG. 8 it can be seen, the tongue 20 is offset from the rolled end 14 of the hinge arm, so that its production is considerably simplified.

Like that FIGS. 1 to 3 can be seen, is attached to the hinge axis 28 opposite the end of the hinge cup 22 in the side walls of a transverse pin 38 and between the transverse pin 38 and the bottom 24 of the hinge cup 22, a leaf spring 30 is supported.

In the embodiment shown here, there is a smaller distance between the transverse pin 38 and the bottom 24 of the hinge cup 22 than that of the thickness of the leaf spring 30. In this area, the bottom 24 of the hinge cup 22 has a recess 26 whose width corresponds to the leaf spring 30. At the under the transverse pin 38 lying part, the leaf spring 30 advantageously has a transverse recess or bead 32, which partially dips into the recess 26 of the bottom 24 of the hinge cup 22 and thus holds the leaf spring in its correct and centered position.

The leaf spring 30 is isolated in the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown. It essentially has two sections 40 and 42. The section 42 is a narrower section, which merges in a transition region in the wider portion 40 of the leaf spring 30. The narrower portion 42 has a curved end portion 36. Along the narrow portion 42, a rib 34 extends as a reinforcing rib. This extends to about three quarters of the length of the transition region between the sections 42 and 40 of the leaf spring 30th

In FIG. 1 the hinge is shown in the closed position, that is, a door 8 closes an opening of the furniture body 6.

In the FIG. 2 the hinge 10 is visible in its about 30 ° open position. From this position, the tongue 20 slides in the opening direction along the curved end portion 36 of the leaf spring 30, whose radius of curvature corresponds to the distance of the outer edge of the tongue 20 from the hinge axis 28, so that the spring in this pivotal region of the hinge no longer performs bending. However, before the tongue 20 reaches this angular position of 30 °, it is supported against the leaf spring 30, so that the leaf spring generates a closing moment in this closing region. In this case, the rib 34 in the narrower section 42 causes the strength of this region reinforced by the rib to be increased, so that the leaf spring 30 is bent only in the region of the transverse pin 38. In this area, the leaf spring is wider, so that here a comparatively larger force can be generated with less bending.

In the FIG. 3 the hinge is shown in its open position. Since the tongue 20 is made by simply bending out in a simple manner, this is not able to absorb any particularly large supporting forces of the leaf spring 20. In the open position of the hinge 10, therefore, the leaf spring 30 is supported on the side adjacent to the tongue 20 arranged edges 18 of the recess 16 of the hinge arm 12 from. The distance of these edges from the hinge axis 28 substantially corresponds to the distance of the outer edge of the tongue 20 of this hinge axis 28. The support of the spring is thus at the opening pivoting movement of the tongue 20 to the short portions 18 in the region of the recess 16 of the hinge arm 12 in the in FIG. 3 passed shown maximum open position, wherein the leaf spring 30 no further bending stress is impressed.

In the FIG. 9 is one of the FIG. 3 corresponding representation of an alternative embodiment shown. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 3 Here, the leaf spring 50 consists of two identical leaf spring parts 50 'and 50 "comparatively lesser thickness (see. FIG. 10 , in which the parts 50 'and 50 "are shown exploded) FIG. 3 ff. Embodiment provided rib 34 are dispensed with. Also, the corresponding recesses or the bead 32, which has been described in the previous embodiment, are in the embodiment according to the FIGS. 9 to 12 not available anymore.

Again FIG. 9 can be seen further, the transverse pin 58 has a non-circular cross-section, thereby he is reinforced and can not be bent so easily. As can be seen in particular from the FIGS. 11 and 12 results in the hinge arm 52 is embossed in its curved portion such that outwardly offset edges 54 connect to the central part 56, said central part is provided with a recess 16.

Claims (12)

1. A hinge, preferably a furniture hinge, comprising a hinge arm (12), a cup-shaped hinge part (22) and a leaf spring (30), which hinge arm (12) is pivotably supported on an articulated axle (28) held immovably in the cup-shaped hinge part (22) and provided with a tongue (20) projecting beyond the articulated axle and sliding on a leaf spring (30) held at an end region on the pivotable hinge part (22) and generating a closing torque in the closing region, wherein the leaf spring (30) has at least two sections (40, 42) of different width,
   characterized in that
   the at least one narrower section (42) of the leaf spring (30) passes through a middle cut-out (16) of the hinge arm (12), with the tongue (20) being cut out of the lower edge of said cut-out; and in that the at least one wider section (40) of the leaf spring (30) is pressed against the base (24) of the hinge cup (22) by a transversely extending pin (38) and is thus held fast.
2. A hinge in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the at least one narrower section (42) of the leaf spring (30) has a lengthways formed rib (34) up to the transition region of the at least one wider section (40) of the leaf spring (30).
3. A hinge in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the base (24) of the hinge cup (22) has a cut-out (26) in the region in which the at least one wider section (42) of the leaf spring (30) is arranged.
4. A hinge in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the spacing between the transverse pin (38) and the base (24) is smaller than the thickness of the leaf spring (30).
5. A hinge in accordance with one of the claims 3 to 4, characterised in that the leaf spring (30) has a transversely extending indentation (32) at its region disposed beneath the transverse pin (38), said indentation optionally dipping into the cut-out (26) of the hinge cup (22).
6. A hinge in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the longitudinally extending rib (34) extends up to ¾ of the length of the transition region between both sections (40, 42) of the leaf spring (30).
7. A hinge in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the tongue (20) is cut out of the lower edge of the cut-out (16) of the hinge arm (12) such that the lower edge of the cut-out (16) has two sections (18) next to the cut-out tongue (20) on which the leaf spring (30) is supported in the completely open position of the hinge.
8. A hinge in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the spacing of the two sections (18) from the articulated axle (28) is the same or only slightly larger than the spacing of the outer edge of the tongue (20) from the articulated axle (28).
9. A hinge in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (30) has a curved end region (36) in the region of its narrower section (42).
10. A hinge in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (50) comprises two identical leaf springs (50', 50") of small thickness.
11. A hinge in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transverse pin (58) has an out-of-round cross-section.
12. A hinge in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge arm (12) has margins in its curved region which are configured such that they are offset with respect to the middle part of the hinge arm (2) provided with the cut-out (16).

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