Removable damping mechanism and cabinet hinge assembly including same

Abstract

A damping mechanism is provided, including a damper housing, a damping assembly provided within the damper housing, and a damper cover assembly fitted to at least a portion of the damper housing. The damper cover assembly includes a damper cover and at least one connection member attached thereto. A recess is provided on a rearward side of the damper cover, and at least one receptacle is provided, defining an opening on a bottom surface of the damper cover and being adapted to receive and retain therein at least a portion of the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly. The recess of the damper cover and the connection member of the damper cover assembly are cooperatively adapted to provide a mechanical connection between the damping mechanism and a hinge cup of a hinge assembly in a removable manner.

Claims

1. A damping mechanism, comprising: a damper housing; a damping assembly provided within the damper housing; and a damper cover assembly fitted to at least a portion of the damper housing; wherein the damper cover assembly comprises a damper cover and at least one connection member attached thereto, wherein the damper cover has a recess provided on a rearward side thereof, and at least one receptacle defining an opening on a bottom surface of the damper cover, and wherein the at least one receptacle is adapted to receive and retain therein at least a portion of the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly, and wherein the recess of the damper cover and the connection member of the damper cover assembly are cooperatively adapted to provide a mechanical connection between the damping mechanism and a hinge cup of a hinge assembly in a removable manner.

2. The damping mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a magnet.

3. The damping mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a flex-tab.

4. A damping mechanism, comprising: a damper housing; a damping assembly provided within the damper housing; and a damper cover assembly fitted to at least a portion of the damper housing, the damper cover assembly comprising a damper cover and at least one connection member attached thereto, wherein the damper cover has an arcuate rearward side connecting two laterally opposed ends of a linear frontward side, an upper surface defining a plane extending in a first direction and an opposed lower surface extending in the first direction that is spaced apart from the first surface in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first direction; wherein the upper surface of the damper cover includes a recess that is situated in a substantially central portion of the arcuate rearward side and which defines a step portion between the plane of the upper surface and a plane of a rearward surface the damper cover, wherein the damper cover includes at least one receptacle, extending in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first direction, from an opening formed in the bottom surface toward a terminal end situated in an interior portion of the damper cover, the at least one receptacle of the damper cover assembly being situated proximate at least one of the laterally opposed ends of the frontward side of the damper cover, wherein the at least one receptacle of the damper cover assembly is adapted to receive and retain at least a portion of the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly, and wherein the recess of the damper cover and the connection member of the damper cover assembly cooperatively define an engagement mechanism of the damper mechanism, whereby the damper mechanism is adapted to be connected to a hinge cup of a hinge assembly via the engagement mechanism in a removable manner.

5. The damping mechanism of claim 4, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a magnet.

6. The damping mechanism of claim 4, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a flex-tab.

7. The damping mechanism of claim 6, wherein the flex-tab of the damper cover assembly comprises a first portion adapted to be received and retained in the receptacle, a second portion, spaced apart from the first portion, that abuts a front surface of the damper cover, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions in a direction that is parallel with respect to the first direction.

8. The damping mechanism of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the flex-tab of the damper cover assembly comprises a protrusion extending a distance away from the front surface of the damper cover in the first direction.

9. The damping mechanism of claim 4, wherein the at least one receptacle of the damper cover assembly comprises two receptacles.

10. The damping mechanism of claim 9, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises two connection members.

11. The damping mechanism of claim 10, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises two magnets.

12. The damping mechanism of claim 10, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises two flex-tabs.

13. A hinge assembly for mounting a furniture door to a furniture housing, the hinge assembly comprising: a fixation section installed on the furniture housing; a hinge cup affixed to the furniture door and pivotally connected to the fixation section; and a damping mechanism, including a damper cover assembly, provided in the hinge cup and adapted to contact the fixation section to dampen the relative movement between the fixation section and the hinge cup as the furniture door closes on the furniture housing, wherein the damper cover assembly comprises an engagement mechanism adapted to mechanically couple the damping mechanism to the hinge cup in a removable manner, and wherein the damping mechanism comprises a damper housing, a damping assembly provided within the damper housing, and the damper cover assembly, fitted to at least a portion of the damper housing, wherein the damper cover has an arcuate rearward side connecting two laterally opposed ends of a linear frontward side, an upper surface defining a plane extending in a first direction and an opposed lower surface extending in the first direction that is spaced apart from the first surface in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first direction, wherein the upper surface of the damper cover includes a recess that is situated in a substantially central portion of the arcuate rearward side and which defines a step portion between the plane of the upper surface and a plane of a rearward surface the damper cover, wherein the damper cover includes at least one receptacle, extending in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first direction, from an opening formed in the bottom surface of the damper cover toward a terminal end situated in an interior portion of the damper cover, the at least one receptacle of the damper cover being situated proximate at least one of the laterally opposed ends of the frontward side of the damper cover, wherein the at least one receptacle is adapted to receive and retain therein at least a portion of the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly, and wherein the recess of the damper cover assembly engages a corresponding protrusion provided on an inner surface of the hinge cup and the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly engages at least another portion of the hinge cup to cooperatively couple the damping mechanism to the hinge cup of the hinge assembly in a removable manner.

14. The damping mechanism of claim 13, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a magnet.

15. The damping mechanism of claim 13, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises a flex-tab.

16. The damping mechanism of claim 15, wherein the flex-tab of the damper cover assembly comprises a first portion adapted to be received and retained in the receptacle, a second portion, spaced apart from the first portion, that abuts a front surface of the damper cover, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions in a direction that is parallel with respect to the first direction.

17. The damping mechanism of claim 16, wherein the second portion of the flex-tab of the damper cover assembly comprises a protrusion extending a distance away from the front surface of the damper cover in the first direction.

18. The damping mechanism of claim 13, wherein the at least one receptacle of the damper cover assembly comprises two receptacles.

19. The damping mechanism of claim 18, wherein the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly comprises two connection members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art damping mechanism 700, which is not functionally removable once inserted into a hinge cup of a hinge assembly;

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a removable damping mechanism 100A according to one aspect of the present invention, including two magnetic connection members 10 of the damper cover assembly 1A;

(3) FIGS. 3(a)-3(g) are various views of the removable damping mechanism 100A shown in FIG. 2, removably coupled with a hinge cup 4 to comprise an assembly 500A (a hinge cup assembly), wherein

(4) FIG. 3(a) is a perspective pre-assembly view,

(5) FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of the assembly 500A,

(6) FIG. 3(c) is an enlarged view of the receptacle 105 of the damper cover assembly 1A and the magnet 10 situated therein,

(7) FIG. 3(d) is a bottom view of the damper mechanism 100A,

(8) FIG. 3(e) is a top view of the assembly 500A,

(9) FIG. 3(f) is a front view of the assembly 500A, and

(10) FIG. 3(g) is a cross-sectional view of the assembly 500A taken through line A-A in FIG. 3(f);

(11) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a removable damping mechanism 100B according to another aspect of the present invention, including two flex-tab (clip) connection members 11 of the damper cover assembly 1B;

(12) FIGS. 5(a)-5(g) are various views of the removable damping mechanism 100B shown in FIG. 4, removably coupled with a hinge cup 4 to comprise an assembly 500B (a hinge cup assembly), wherein

(13) FIG. 5(a) is a perspective pre-assembly view,

(14) FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view of the assembly 500B,

(15) FIG. 5(c) is an enlarged view of the receptacle 105 of the damper cover assembly 1B and the flex-tab 11 situated therein,

(16) FIG. 5(d) is a bottom view of the damper mechanism 100B,

(17) FIG. 5(e) is a top view of the assembly 500B,

(18) FIG. 5(f) is a front view of the assembly 500B, and

(19) FIG. 5(g) is a cross-sectional view of the assembly 500B taken through line B-B in FIG. 5(f); and

(20) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cabinet hinge assembly 600 including a damping mechanism 100A or 100B according to either FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 inserted in and removably coupled to the hinge cup 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(21) Like reference numbers have been used to designate like parts among the various drawings. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the damping mechanisms 100A, 100B each include a damper housing 3, a damping assembly 2 provided within the damper housing 3, and a damper cover assembly 1A, 1B, including a damper cover 1 and a connection members 10 or 11, fitted to at least a portion of the damper housing 3.

(22) The damper cover 1 has an arcuate rearward side 102 connecting two laterally opposed ends 101c, 101b of a linear frontward side 101a, an upper surface 103 defining a surface plane extending in a first direction (i.e., horizontal). The damper cover 1 also has an opposed lower surface 104 defining a surface plane extending in the first direction, and which is spaced a distance apart from the upper surface 103 in a second direction (thickness/vertical direction) that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the first direction.

(23) The upper surface 103 of the damper cover 1 includes a recess 103a, which is situated in a substantially central portion of the arcuate rearward side 102, and which defines a step portion 102b between the plane of the upper surface 103 and a plane of a rearward side surface 102a of the damper cover 1 (which extends in the second/thickness direction). When the damping mechanism 110A, 100B is press-fit into the hinge cup 4, the recess 103a/step 102b receives a corresponding protrusion 41a from the inner surface 41 of the hinge cup 40 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 5). This forms part of the connection between the damping mechanism 100A, 100B and the hinge cup 4.

(24) The damper cover 1 includes least one receptacle 105 that extends in the second direction from an opening 105a formed in the bottom surface 104 toward a terminal end 105b situated in an interior portion of the damper cover assembly 1. Preferably, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, the at least one receptacle 105 of the damper cover 1 comprises two receptacles 105, each positioned proximate a respective one of the laterally opposed ends 101c, 101b of the frontward side 101 of the damper cover 1. The at least one receptacle 105 is adapted to receive and retain (press-fit) at least a portion of the connection member 10 or 11 of the damper cover assembly 1A, 1B to help secure the removable connection between the damping mechanism 100A, 100B and the hinge cup 4.

(25) The at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly 1A comprises a magnet 10, and the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly 1B comprises a flex-tab (clip) 11. Preferably, the at least one connection member of the damper cover assembly 1A, 1B preferably comprises two connection members, such as two magnets 10 or two flex-tabs 11. The recess/step 103a/102b of the damper cover 1 and the respective connection members (10 or 11) of the damper cover assembly 1A, 1B together define an engagement mechanism that is cooperatively adapted to provide a mechanical connection between the respective damping mechanisms 100A, 100B and a hinge cup 4 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) in a removable manner.

(26) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection member 10 of the damper cover assembly 1A of the damping mechanism 100A is a magnet having a substantially cylindrical shape to be accommodated within the receptacle 105 of the damper cover assembly 1 in a press-fit manner. The shape of the magnet 10 is not critical, so long as the outer diameter and cross-sectional shape enable the magnet 10 to be sufficiently received and retained within the respective receptacles 105.

(27) When the damping mechanism 100A is press-fit into the hinge cup 4 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 6), the magnets 10 (proximate the exposed ends thereof) of the damper cover assembly 1A engage the metallic inner surface 41 of the hinge cup 4 to provide a magnetic connection therebetween.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, the connection member 11 of the damper cover assembly 1B of the damping mechanism 100B is a flex-tab having a first portion 11a that is adapted to be received and retained (press-fit) in the receptacle 105 of the damper cover assembly 1, a second portion 11b, spaced apart from the first portion, that abuts the frontward side surface 101a of the damper cover 1, and a third portion 11c connecting the first and second portions 11a, 11b in a direction that is parallel with respect to the first direction. The second portion 11b of the flex-tab 11 comprises a protrusion 12 extending a distance away from the frontward side surface 101 of the damper cover 1 in the first direction. When the damping mechanism 100B is press-fit into the hinge cup 4, the protrusion 12 of the flex tab 11 of the damper cover assembly 1B engages a corresponding recess 41b in the hinge cup 4 (see, e.g. FIG. 5(g)).

(29) The flex-tab 11 of the damper cover assembly 1B is preferably a unitary body made of a plastic material, such as nylon, by an injection molding process. The flex-tab 11 of the damper cover assembly 1B thereby exhibits a spring-like resiliency, which enables the insertion and removal of the damping mechanism 100B from the hinge cup 4.

(30) FIG. 6 shows the hinge assembly 600 for mounting a furniture door 601 to a furniture housing 602. The hinge assembly 600 includes a fixation section 603 installed on the furniture housing, a hinge cup 4 affixed to the furniture door 601 and pivotally connected to the fixation section 603, and a damping mechanism 100A or 100B provided in the hinge cup 4 and adapted to contact the fixation section 603 to dampen the relative movement between the fixation section 603 and the hinge cup 4 as the furniture door 601 closes on the furniture housing 602.

(31) The damping mechanism 100A or 100B of the assembly 600 comprises an engagement mechanism adapted to mechanically couple the damping mechanism 100A or 100B to the hinge cup 4 in a removable manner. The engagement mechanism includes the recess/step 103a/102b of the damper cover 1 that engages the corresponding protrusion 41a provided on an inner surface 41 of the hinge cup 4, and the at least one connection member (10 or 11) of the damper cover assembly 1A, 1B that engages at least another portion (i.e., recesses/openings 41b) of the hinge cup 4 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 5) to cooperatively couple the damping mechanism 100A or 100B to the hinge cup 4 of the hinge assembly 600.

(32) In that manner, the damping mechanism 100A or 100B can be easily snap-fit into place in the hinge cup 4 using only hand-force and a simple tool or in connection with an automated assembly process. The damping mechanism 100A or 100B can also be readily removed from the hinge cup 4 by gently prying the rearward side 102 proximate the step 102b/recess 103a aera with a simple prying tool, using only hand-force and without damaging the damping mechanism 100A, 100B or the hinge cup 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

(33) 700: damping mechanism (prior art) 100A: damping mechanism (1.sup.st aspect) 100B: damping mechanism (2.sup.nd aspect) 1′: prior art damper cover 112: integral/permanent protrusions 1A: damper cover assembly 10: magnetic connection member(s) 1B: damper cover assembly 11: clip-in, flex-tab connection member(s) 11a: 1.sup.st part/portion 11b: 2.sup.nd part/portion 11c: 3.sup.rd part/portion 12: protrusion 1: damper cover (same for both 1A and 1B) 101: frontward side 101a: frontward side surface 101b: frontward lateral side end 101c: frontward lateral side end 102: arcuate rearward side 102a: rearward side surface 102b: step 103: upper/top surface 103a: recess 104: lower/bottom surface 105: receptacle (for 1.sup.st or 2.sup.nd aspects) 105a: receptacle opening 105b: receptacle terminal end 105c: receptacle inner surface 109: damper switch 2: damping assembly 202: piston lid 203: balancing foam 204: washer 206: piston 207: piston notch 208: damper spring(s) 3: damper housing 4: hinge cup 41: hinge cup interior wall 41a: protrusion 41b: recess 500A: hinge cup assembly (1.sup.st aspect) 500B hinge cup assembly (2.sup.nd aspect) 600: hinge assembly 601: furniture door 602: furniture housing 603: fixation section