Hinge for connecting a movable furniture part in a movable manner to a basic furniture structure

Abstract

A hinge having a hinge cup, an articulation mechanism and a hinge arm, wherein the hinge cup is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via the articulation mechanism. The articulation mechanism includes first and second articulated levers attached to the hinge cup and to the hinge arm. The first articulated lever has a first end connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a first bearing element and has a second end connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via a second bearing element. The second articulated lever has a first end connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a fourth bearing element and has a second element connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via a third bearing element.

Claims

1. A hinge for connecting a movable furniture part of a piece of furniture in a movable manner to a basic furniture structure of the piece of furniture, the hinge comprising: a hinge cup; an articulation mechanism; and a hinge arm, wherein the hinge cup is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via the articulation mechanism, wherein the articulation mechanism comprises a first and a second articulated lever, wherein the articulated levers are attached to the hinge cup and to the hinge arm such that the hinge is a four-link hinge, wherein the first articulated lever has a first end that is connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a first bearing element, and a second end that is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via a second bearing element, wherein the second articulated lever has a first end that is connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a fourth bearing element, and a second end that is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via a third bearing element, wherein, in a closed position of the hinge, the first articulated lever is present between a floor of the hinge cup and the second articulated lever, wherein a spring element is arranged on the second bearing element, wherein a first leg of the spring element is arranged between the first articulated lever and the second articulated lever, wherein, during a closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the first leg of the spring element is supported on the first articulated lever, and wherein a second leg of the spring element is supported on the hinge arm, and wherein the spring element is configured so as to provide a pulling-closed force of the hinge during the closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extent of the second leg of the spring element is shorter than a longitudinal extent of the first leg of the spring element.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge arm comprises a housing, the housing has two side parts and an upper side such that the housing is U-shaped, wherein the upper side has six surfaces, wherein two surfaces of the upper side are main sides, which extend along the width and length, wherein two surfaces of the upper sides are secondary sides, which extend along the height and length, wherein two surfaces of the upper side are end sides, which extend along the width and height, and wherein the second leg of the spring element is supported on an end-side of the upper side of the housing.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the upper side of the housing has a notch, and wherein the second leg of the spring element butts against the notch.

5. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the second leg of the spring element is present in such a manner that a longitudinal extent of the second leg extends along an end side of the upper side of the housing.

6. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein an end surface of the second leg is supported on the upper side of the housing, and wherein the end surface of the second leg is present in a direction transverse to a longitudinal extent of the second leg of the spring element.

7. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the hinge further comprises a damper arrangement, wherein the damper arrangement is arranged on the hinge arm, wherein the damper arrangement comprises at least two damper parts, wherein a first damper part can be moved relative to a second damper part, and wherein all the parts of the damping arrangement can be moved relative to the hinge arm.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein the second articulated lever comprises a hook, wherein the second damper part has a carry-along portion, which is compatible with the hook, and wherein, during movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the hook engages in the hook-compatible carry-along portion on the second damper part.

9. The hinge according to claim 8, wherein, during movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the hook can be moved along the side parts of the housing in the direction of the upper side of the housing, and wherein the hook engages laterally behind the hook-compatible carry-along portion on the second damper part.

10. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the spring element has been relieved of stressing, the first and second legs of the spring element extending directly from the coil enclose an angle between 90 and 180°.

11. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein, during a movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the spring element can be subjected to stressing, such that a difference in an angle which is enclosed by the first and second legs changes over a range from 10° to 60° from a stress-relieved state to a stressed state.

12. A piece of furniture having a basic furniture structure on which a movable furniture part is present, wherein the movable furniture part is accommodated on the basic furniture structure via the hinge according to claim 1.

13. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge arm comprises a housing, an adjustment element and a connecting element, wherein the adjustment element is present between the housing and the connecting element, and wherein the connecting element can be connected to the piece of furniture.

14. A hinge for connecting a movable furniture part of a piece of furniture in a movable manner to a basic furniture structure of the piece of furniture, the hinge comprising: a hinge cup; an articulation mechanism; and a hinge arm, wherein the hinge cup is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via the articulation mechanism, wherein the articulation mechanism comprises a first and a second articulated lever, wherein the articulated levers are attached to the hinge cup and to the hinge arm such that the hinge is a four-link hinge, wherein the first articulated lever has a first end that is connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a first bearing element, and a second end that is connected to the hinge arm in a pivotable manner via a second bearing element, wherein the second articulated lever has a first end that is connected to the hinge cup in a pivotable manner via a fourth bearing element and a second end that is connected to the hinge ail in a pivotable manner via a third bearing element, wherein a spring element is arranged on the second bearing element, wherein a first leg of the spring element is arranged between the first articulated lever and the second articulated lever, wherein, during a closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the first leg of the spring element is supported on the first articulated lever, wherein the hinge arm comprises a housing, an adjustment element, and a connecting element, wherein the adjustment element is present between the housing and the connecting element, wherein the connecting element can be connected to the piece of furniture, wherein a second leg of the spring element is supported on the hinge arm, wherein the spring element is configured so as to provide a pulling-closed force of the hinge during the closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, wherein in a closed position of the hinge, the first articulated lever is present between a floor of the hinge cup and the second articulated lever, wherein a second spring element is arranged on the second bearing element, wherein a first leg of the second spring element is arranged between the first articulated lever and the second articulated lever, wherein, during a closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm, the first leg of the second spring element is supported on the first articulated lever, wherein a second leg of the second spring element is supported on the hinge arm, wherein the spring element is configured to provide a pulling-closed force of the hinge during the closing movement of the hinge cup relative to the hinge arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture having two hinges, with a movable furniture part in an open position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the hinge according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an assembled hinge according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a hinge according to FIGS. 2 and 3 with the hinge in a closed position;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view of the detail A according to FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a spring element in the closed position of the hinge according to FIGS. 4 and 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of a hinge with the hinge in an open position;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a view of the detail B according to FIG. 7; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a spring element in the open position of the hinge according to FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) A hinge 1 according to the present invention comprises a hinge cup 2, a hinge arm 3 and an articulation mechanism 4. In the mounted state, the hinge cup 2 and hinge arm 3 are each fitted, for example, on the piece of furniture 5, preferably the hinge cup 2 is fitted on the movable furniture part 6 and the hinge arm 3 is fitted on the basic furniture structure 7 (see FIG. 1). FIG. 1 here illustrates an open position of the piece of furniture 5 and of the hinge 1, along with two hinges 1 according to the present invention.

(12) The hinge cup 2 has arranged on it mounting flanges 8, which each have an aperture 9, e.g. in the form of a through-hole, for mounting means, e.g. screws (see FIG. 3), for connecting the hinge cup 2 in a releasable manner to the movable furniture part 6. The hinge cup 2 is preferably designed such that the hinge cup 2 can be introduced into a cutout in the piece of furniture 5, wherein a floor 10 of the hinge cup 2 can rest on a floor of the cutout in the piece of furniture 5 (see FIG. 1). In the mounted state, the mounting flanges 8 butt against an outer surface of the piece of furniture 5, preferably of the movable furniture part 6. In a closed position of the piece of furniture 5, the outer surface of the piece of furniture 5 is preferably directed toward an inner volume of the basic furniture structure 7.

(13) The hinge arm 3 comprises a housing 11, an adjustment element 12 and a connecting element 21. The housing 11 has two side parts 13 and an upper side 14, wherein the sides 13, 14 of the housing 11 are arranged so as to form a U shape (see FIG. 2). The sides 13, 14 of the housing 11 comprise in each case 6 surfaces, wherein preferably two sides of the housing 11 are main sides 15, which extend along the length and width, wherein preferably two sides of the housing 11 are secondary sides 16 (see FIG. 3), which extend along the length and height, and wherein preferably two sides of the housing 11 are end sides 17 (see FIG. 4), which extend along the width and height. The housing 11 can be a component in one or more parts and is preferably formed from plates, e.g. metal plates.

(14) The sides 13, 14 of the housing 11 form an inner volume 18 (see FIG. 3), in that the adjustment element 12 can be accommodated. The adjustment element 12 here is arranged between the housing 11 and connecting element 21. Adjustment mechanisms 19, e.g. screws, can be used to adjust the height and the left-right position of the movable furniture part 6 relative to the basic furniture structure 5. The adjustment mechanisms 19 engage, for example, through holes 20 in the housing 11 and connect the housing 11 to the adjustment element 12 (see FIG. 2).

(15) The connecting element 21 can be connected to the piece of furniture 5 in a releasable manner to the piece of furniture 5 preferably by way of mounting means, e.g. screws (see FIG. 1).

(16) The articulation mechanism 4 comprises at least one articulated lever, preferably two articulated levers 22, 23, and at least two, preferably four, bearing elements 24, 25, 26, 27 (see FIG. 2). The first articulated lever 23 here has a first end attached to the hinge cup 2 by way of a first bearing element 24 and has a second end attached to the housing 11 of the hinge arm 3 by way of the second bearing element 25. The second articulated lever 22 has a first end attached to the hinge cup 2 by way of the fourth bearing element 27 and has the second end attached to the hinge arm 3 by way of the third bearing element 26. The housing 11 of the hinge arm 3 and the hinge cup 2 each have at least one mount, preferably two mounts 28 for the bearing elements 24, 25, 26, 27, and therefore the bearing elements 24, 25, 26, 27 connects the hinge cup 2 and the hinge arm 3 to the articulated levers 22, 23. The bearing elements 24, 25, 26, 27 are, for example, rivets, bolts, nails and the like. The first bearing element 24 and the fourth bearing element 27 are preferably designed in the form of a single component (see FIG. 2), the two bearing elements 24, 27 being connected to one another via a curved portion.

(17) Furthermore, a hook 29 is, preferably two hooks 29 are, arranged on the outer side 30 of the second end of the second articulated lever 23 (see FIG. 2). The hook or the hooks 29, along with the second articulated lever 23, can be pivoted about the third bearing element 26 on the hinge arm 2 (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

(18) The hinge 1 according to the present invention likewise has a spring element 31, which is arranged on the second bearing element 25 (see FIG. 2). The second bearing element 25 engages through a hole in the coil 32 of the spring element 31 and connects the spring element 31 in a pivotable manner to the housing 11 of the hinge arm 3 (see FIGS. 4-5). The spring element 31 is covered by the first articulated lever 22. The first articulated lever 22 here has a front side 36 (see FIG. 3) and two cover sides 37 (see FIG. 2). The sides 36, 37 of the first articulated lever 22 can advantageously be used to block the view of the spring element 31 (see FIG. 3). This increases the esthetics of the hinge 1.

(19) The spring element 31 is preferably a leg spring and/or a torsion spring, which is coiled, for example, in the counterclockwise direction. The spring element 31 here has legs 33, 34 (see FIG. 2). The legs 33, 34 of the spring element 31 are portions which extend directly from the coil 32 of the spring element 31. The first leg 33 of the spring element 31 is arranged between the first articulated lever 22 and the second articulated lever 23 (see FIG. 4). The first leg 33 of the spring element 31 is preferably permanently in contact with the first articulated lever 22. For example, only a single portion of the first leg 33 of the spring element 31 here is in contact with the first articulated lever 22. The second articulated lever 23 comes into contact with the first leg 33 of the spring element 31 preferably only during an opening movement of the hinge 1 (see FIG. 7). The second leg 34 of the spring element 31 is supported on an end-side surface 17 of the upper side 14 of the housing 11 (see FIG. 3). The upper side 14 of the housing 11 here has a notch 35, in which the second leg 34 of the spring element 31 can be arranged. The longitudinal extent of the second leg 34 of the spring element 31 preferably extends along the end side 17 of the housing 11, and therefore the end surface of the second leg 34 of the spring element 31 is oriented toward the main-side upper side 14 of the housing (see FIG. 3). The legs 33, 34 of the spring element 31 are in the shape, for example, of a cylinder or a prism, wherein the longitudinal extent of the legs 33, 34 corresponds to the height of the cylinder or of the prism. Furthermore, the end surface constitutes a surface area of the cylinder or prism.

(20) It is possible here for the legs 33, 34 of the spring element 31 to be rectilinear or else bent or inflected one or more times along the longitudinal extent.

(21) The hinge 1 has, for example, a damping function during the closing movement of the hinge 1. A damping arrangement 38 is arranged in the housing 11 of the hinge arm 3 (see FIG. 2). The damping arrangement 38 comprises a first damper part 39, a second damper part 40 and a deformation element (see FIGS. 5 and 8). The second damper part 40 has a carry-along portion 41, which is designed such that the hook 29 of the second articulated lever 23 can engage on the carry-along portion 41.

(22) The deformation element is preferably a spring (not illustrated), which is arranged in the casing of the second damper part 40. During movement of the hinge 1, the first damper part 39 is moved relative to the second damper part 40 and the deformation element is subjected to stressing or relieved of stressing.

(23) FIGS. 4 and 5 show the hinge 1 according to the present invention in the closed position of the hinge 1. The two articulated levers 22, 23 and the spring element 31 here are accommodated in the hinge cup 2. The hook 29 of the second articulated lever 23 is accommodated in the housing 11. The hook 29 of the second articulated lever 23 engages behind the carry-along portion 41 of the second damper part 40, and, therefore, the hook 29 limits the second damper part 40 in terms of movement in the direction counter to the hinge cup 2. Furthermore, the coil 32 of the spring element 31 limits the movement of the first damper part 39 in the direction of the hinge cup 2. In the closed position of the hinge 1, the deformation element has been subjected to stressing, and subjected to the action of force, and the two damper parts 39, 40 have been pushed one inside the other.

(24) In the closed position of the hinge 1, the spring element 31 has its first leg 33 supported on that side of the first articulated lever 22 which is located opposite the front side 36, wherein the front side 36 of the first articulated lever 22 extends along the floor 10 of the hinge cup 2. The second leg 34 of the spring element 31 is supported on the notch 35 of the upper side 14 of the housing 11. The spring element 31 here is in the state in which it has been relieved of stressing, and the angle α enclosed between the longitudinal extent of the two legs 33, 34 is, for example, 90°-180°, preferably 130°-160° (see FIG. 6).

(25) During the opening movement of the hinge 1 or of the piece of furniture 5, the hinge cup 2, which is connected to the movable furniture part 6, can be pivoted about the bearing elements 24, 25, 26, 27. The second articulated lever 23 here approaches the first leg 33 of the spring element 31 until contact is made between the second articulated lever 23 and the first leg 33 of the spring element 31 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The inner side of the second articulated lever 23 here is in contact with a region of the first leg 33 of the spring element 31. The spring element 31 is subjected to stressing.

(26) During the opening movement of the hinge 1, the hook 29 of the second articulated lever 23 can be pivoted about the third bearing element 26, it being possible here for the hook 29 to be pivoted out of the carry-along portion 41 on the second damper part 40. As a result of the hook 29 being pivoted out, the damping arrangement 38 is no longer limited in terms of movement in the direction counter to the hinge cup 2. It is thus possible for the deformation element, which has been subjected to stressing, to be relieved of stressing, and, therefore, the second damper part 40 can be moved within the housing 11 in the direction counter to the hinge cup 2. During movement of the hinge 1, the first damper part 39 is preferably permanently in contact with the coil 32 of the spring element 31. During the closing movement of the hinge 1, the hook 29 of the second articulated lever 23, by pivoting about the third bearing element 26, engages behind the hook-compatible carry-along portion 41 on the second damper part 40, and the second damper part 40 is moved in the direction of the hinge cup 2. It is possible here for the first damper part 39 to be pushed into the second damper part 40, which causes the closing movement of the hinge 1 to be damped.

(27) Both in the open position and in the closed position of the hinge 1, the second damper part 40 can be supported by the adjustment element 12. So that the movement of the second damper part 40 is not obstructed by the adjustment element 12, the adjustment element 12 has an aperture 42 for the second damper part 40.

(28) During the opening movement of the hinge 1, the spring element 31 can be subjected to stressing, and subjected to the action of force. During the opening movement of the hinge 1, the second leg 34 of the spring element 31 butts for support against the housing 11. It is only the first leg 33 of the spring element 31 which is deflected, by the pivoting movement of the articulated levers 22, 23, counter to the coiling direction of the spring element 31, which is coiled to the left. The angle or the angle of rotation β about which the first leg 33 is deflected is between 10° and 60°, and is preferably less than 45°. In FIG. 9, a solid line is used to illustrate the first leg 33 in the open position of the hinge 1 and a dashed line is used to illustrate the first leg in the closed position of the hinge 1.

(29) In the open position of the hinge 1, the spring element 31 has been subjected to the action of force, and gives rise to a pulling-closed force of the hinge 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(30) 1 Hinge 2 Hinge cup 3 Hinge arm 4 Articulation mechanism 5 Piece of furniture 6 Furniture part 7 Basic furniture structure 8 Mounting flange 9 Aperture 10 Floor 11 Housing 12 Adjustment element 13 Side parts 14 Upper side 15 Main side 1 Secondary side 17 End side 18 Inner volume 19 Adjustment mechanism 20 Holes 21 Connecting element 22 Articulated lever 23 Articulated lever 24 Bearing element 25 Bearing element 26 Bearing element 27 Bearing element 28 Mounts 29 Hook 30 Outer side 31 Spring element 32 Coil 33 Leg 34 Leg 35 Notch 36 Front side 37 Cover sides 38 Damping arrangement 39 Damper part 40 Damper part 41 Carry-along portion 42 Aperture