HINGE, IN PARTICULAR FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS

Abstract

A hinge having a fastening element attachable to a body and connected via pivot arms to a pivotable mounting element. The mounting element can be attached to a movable furniture part. The hinge has a damper which damps a closing movement of the furniture part. The damper has at one end a hook element and an immovable holding element arranged on the fastening element. The holding element has a cut-out. During closing movement of the hinge, the hook element on the damper comes into engagement with the cut-out on the holding element, whereby damping takes place. During the opening movement of the hinge and starting from the closed state of the hinge, the hook element is in engagement with the cut-out on the holding element, whereby the damper can be transferred into a use state for a damped closing movement.

Claims

1. A hinge having a fastening element which can be attached to a body and which is connected via a plurality of pivot arms to a pivotable mounting element, wherein the mounting element can be attached to a movable furniture part, wherein the hinge has a damper which damps a closing movement of the movable furniture part, wherein the damper has a hook element at one end, wherein an immovable holding element is arranged on the fastening element, wherein the holding element has a cut-out, wherein during the closing movement of the hinge the hook element on the damper comes into engagement with the cut-out on the holding element, whereby the damping action takes place, wherein the hinge is designed such that, during the opening movement of the hinge and starting from the closed state of the hinge, the hook element is in engagement with the cut-out on the holding element, whereby the damper can be transferred into a use state for a damped closing movement.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damper is guided in a linear manner in a first pivot arm.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damper is pivotably guided in the first pivot arm.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damper has a guide element which is guided in a guide track on the first pivot arm.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut-out on the holding element is adapted to the hook element.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook element is freely movable until it is latched in the cut-out on the holding element.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damper deploys its action from a closing range of 60.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, further comprising three pivot pins arranged on the first pivot arm, wherein a first pivot pin is arranged on the fastening element.

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first pivot arm is connected to one end of a force unit by means of a second pivot pin.

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first pivot arm is connected by means of a third pivot pin to a second pivot arm, wherein an end of the damper opposing the hook element is arranged on the second pivot arm.

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third pivot arm is connected to the mounting element by means of a pivot pin, wherein a curved element with an indentation is attached to the pivot pin.

12. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a pivot plate arranged on the third pivot arm, wherein a counter element is attached to the pivot plate, wherein the counter element is of circular design.

13. The hinge as claimed in claim 12, wherein in the closed position of the hinge the counter element is latched in the indentation on the curved element.

14. The hinge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the curved element has a convex region, wherein during the closing movement of the hinge the counter element bears against the convex region of the curved element.

15. An item of furniture or household appliance, having a body and a movable furniture part which is received so as to be movable on the body, wherein a hinge as claimed in claim 1 is provided for moving the movable furniture part.

16. A refrigerator having a door with a hinge as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Further features and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the figures.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematically represented household appliance in a perspective view from the front with a movable furniture part which is received thereon so as to be movable via a hinge in the open position relative to a body of the household appliance;

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the front of a hinge according to the present invention according to FIG. 1, wherein a fastening element and a pivot arm are represented in a transparent manner;

[0069] FIG. 3 shows the hinge from the front according to FIG. 2 in the completely open state, wherein the pivot arms are represented in a transparent manner;

[0070] FIG. 4 shows the hinge according to FIG. 3, wherein a pivot arm is not represented in a transparent manner;

[0071] FIGS. 5-8 show the hinge from the front according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in different pivoted states; and

[0072] FIGS. 9-10 show the hinge from the front according to FIGS. 3 to 8 in the completely closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] FIG. 1 shows schematically a household appliance 1, by way of example a refrigerator, having a body 2 and a movable furniture part 3 which is received on the body 2 and which in the exemplary embodiment forms a refrigerator door of the refrigerator. A hinge 4 is provided on the household appliance 1 for moving the movable furniture part 3 relative to the body 2 in an opening direction P1 and in a closing direction P2. The movable furniture part 3 is attached by way of example to the household appliance 1 on the right. A hinge 5 corresponding to the hinge 4 acts at the bottom on the right-hand side on the household appliance 1 between the body 2 and the movable furniture part 3.

[0074] The two hinges 4, 5 form a bearing for the movement or pivoting of the movable furniture part 3 on the body 2. The two hinges 4, 5 are preferably present in each case between the body 2 and the movable furniture part 3 such that in the installed state of the household appliance 1, a common perpendicular or vertical pivot axis S, about which the movable furniture part 3 can be pivoted to and fro relative to the body 2 in the directions P1 and P2, is formed by both hinges 4, 5. The movable furniture part 3 can be pivoted or opened from a closed position on the body 2, with a pivoting angle between a front vertical flat side of the body 2 and a vertical internal or external flat side of the movable furniture part 3 from 0 angular degrees to approximately 115 angular degrees, in the direction P1 relative to the body 2. FIGS. 3 to 10 show the hinge 4 or 5 successively opening further into its various folded-open positions without the body 2 and without the movable furniture part 3.

[0075] In FIG. 2 the hinge 4 or 5, which is designed as a multijoint hinge, is shown in more detail, wherein parts of a fastening element 6 and a pivot arm 8 are shown in a transparent manner in order to obtain a view of other parts of the hinge 4, 5.

[0076] The hinge 4, 5, for example, can be releasably attached by means of a mounting element 7 to the movable furniture part 3 and by means of the fastening element 6 to the body 2, by a fastening mechanism, not shown, such as, for example, a screwing mechanism. The mounting element 7 is preferably connected via a plurality of pivot arms 8, 11, 13, 19, 22 to the fastening element 6. The fastening element 6 is preferably L-shaped and has, for example, a long limb 35 and a short limb 36. For example, a lateral cover 37 is present between the long 35 and short 36 limbs of the fastening element 6.

[0077] A first pivot arm 8, for example, is designed to be U-shaped, wherein the pivot arm preferably has a connecting part and two side parts. The connecting part connects, for example, the two side parts together. The first pivot arm 8 preferably has three pivot pins 9, 10, 12. The first pivot arm 8 is connected, for example, by means of a first pivot pin 9 to the fastening element 6, by means of a third pivot pin 10 to a second pivot arm 11 and by means of a second pivot pin 12 to a third pivot arm 13. The first pivot arm 8 is connected, for example, by means of a third bearing element 40 to the second pivot arm 11. Preferably, the longitudinal extent of the third bearing element 40 runs along the third pivot pin 10.

[0078] For example, the first pivot arm 8 is connected by means of a first bearing element 38 to the fastening element 6. Preferably, the longitudinal extent of the first bearing element 38 runs along the first pivot pin 9. For example, the first bearing element 38 extends between the side parts of the first pivot arm 8.

[0079] One end of a force unit 14 is arranged on the second pivot pin 12 of the first pivot arm 8, wherein the force unit 14 is preferably configured as a compression spring. For example, the end of the force unit 14 is connected to a second bearing element 39, wherein the second bearing element 39 is arranged, for example, between the side parts of the first pivot arm 8.

[0080] The second pivot arm 11 has, for example, four pivot pins 10, 15, 18, 21, wherein an end of a damper 16, for example, a free end of a piston rod 17 of the damper 16, is attached to a fifth pivot pin 15 of the second pivot arm 11. A fourth pivot arm 19 is preferably attached to the second pivot arm 11 on a sixth pivot pin 18, wherein the fourth pivot arm 19 is connected, for example, via a seventh pivot pin 20 to the fastening element 6. The second pivot arm 11 is connected, for example, by means of an eighth pivot pin 21 to a fifth pivot arm 22, wherein the fifth pivot arm 22 is preferably directly attached to the mounting element 7. It is also conceivable that the fifth pivot arm 22 and the mounting element 7 are configured as one component. The fifth pivot arm 22, for example, is of U-shaped configuration, wherein the fifth pivot arm 22 preferably has a central part and two side parts. Preferably, the central part connects the two side parts together. For example, a fourth bearing element 41 extends between the side parts of the fifth pivot arm 22.

[0081] The third pivot arm 13 has, for example, three pivot pins 12, 23, 25, wherein a pivot plate 24, which is configured to be triangular, for example, is arranged on a ninth pivot pin 23. A fourth pivot pin 25 connects, for example, the third pivot arm 13 to the fifth pivot arm 22 or the mounting element 7. On the pivot plate 24, for example, the other end of the force unit 14 is arranged on one corner, a counter element 26 is arranged on a second corner and the ninth pivot pin 23 is arranged on the third corner (see FIG. 4). The counter element 26 is preferably designed to be circular in cross section and can be configured, for example, as a ball or cylinder. The counter element 26, for example, continuously bears against a curved element 27 which is arranged, for example, on the fourth pivot pin 25 or the fourth bearing element 41. During the opening and closing movement of the hinge 4, 5, the curved element 27 is pivoted, for example, together with the mounting element 7 or the movable furniture part 3. The curved element 27 has, for example, a curved guide 42 which preferably corresponds to the outer contour of the curved element 27 against which the counter element 26 bears. The counter element 26 preferably continuously bears against the curved guide 42 of the counter element 26.

[0082] For example, a holding element 28 is attached to the fastening element 6, wherein the holding element 28 is fixedly connected to the fastening element 6. It is also conceivable that the holding element 28 is configured in one piece with the fastening element 6. The holding element 28 has, for example, a cut-out 29. The cut-out 29 is preferably configured to be recessed in the holding element 28. Preferably, a hook element 30 engages temporarily in the cut-out 29 of the holding element 28, in particular, in a closing range of 0-60. The cut-out 29 on the holding element 28 is adapted, for example, to the outer contour of the hook element 30. The hook element 30 is preferably arranged on a second end of the damper 16, in particular, on a cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16. Furthermore, the damper 16, in particular, the hook element 30 on the damper 16, preferably has a guide element 32 which is held guided in a guide track 33 on the first pivot arm 8. The guide element 32 is preferably designed as a pin and the guide track 33 as a slotted guide.

[0083] If the hinge 4, 5 is moved from the closed position (see FIGS. 9 and 10) in the opening direction P1, for example, the piston rod 17 is initially pulled out of the cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). This is possible since the hook element 30 engages in the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28, for example. During a further pivoting of the hinge 4, 5 in the opening direction P1, the hook element 30 is moved, for example, out of the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28, whereby the hook element 30 or the damper 16 can be freely moved (see FIGS. 3 to 6). The damper 16 is fully tensioned or the piston rod 17 is completely pulled out of the cylinder housing 31, so that the damper 16 would be immediately usable again at any time during a closing movement of the hinge 4, 5.

[0084] Moreover, the guide element 32 is moved, for example, from a first end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 10) to the opposing end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 8). This is because, due to the engagement of the hook element 30 in the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28, the cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16 is secured, for example, but the first pivot arm 8 or the guide track 33 is pivoted during the opening movement. During a further movement in the opening direction P1, both the guide element 32 and the guide track 33 are pivoted, wherein the guide element 32 is moved relative to the guide track 33 and as a result the guide element 32 passes back into the first end region of the guide track 33 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0085] During the opening movement of the hinge 4, 5, the counter element 26 is moved, for example, from the indentation 43 on the curved element 27 (see FIG. 9) along the convex region 34 of the curved element 27 (see FIGS. 5-8) until the counter element 26 reaches the convex region 34 of the curved element 27 adjacent to the mounting element 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0086] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinge 4, 5 is shown in the completely open position with an opening angle of 115. In the completely open position, the counter element 26 bears, for example, against a convex region 34 of the curved element 27 and against the mounting element 7. The force unit 14 is preferably tensioned and pushes the counter element 26 against the curved element 27 or the curved guide 42 of the curved element 27. The guide element 32 on the hook element 30 bears, for example, against an end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 4). The piston rod 17 on the damper 16 is completely pulled out of the cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16, for example.

[0087] During the closing movement of the hinge 4, 5 or the movable furniture part 3, for example, the pivot arms 8, 11, 13, 19, 22 are pivoted about the pivot pins 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25. At the same time, the counter element 26, for example, is moved along the convex region 34 on the curved element 27 away from the mounting element 7 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). During the movement of the counter element 26 on the curved element 27, for example, the pivot plate 24 is pivoted about the eighth pivot pin 23, wherein the force unit 14 continues to be tensioned. During the pivoting movement of the hinge 4, 5 in the closing direction P2, the damper 16 is pivoted unchanged, for example, wherein the hook element 30 or the damper 16 is freely movable and the piston rod 17 continues to be pulled completely out of the cylinder housing 31. The guide element 32 is moved, for example, from the end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 4) slightly along the guide track 33 (see FIG. 6) as far as the other end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 8).

[0088] During the further closing movement of the hinge 4, 5 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), for example, the counter element 26 is moved further along the convex region 34 of the curved element 27. Preferably, the force unit 14 is slowly relaxed, whereby a torque is produced between the mounting element 7 and the fastening element 6, which assists the closing movement of the mounting element 7 or the movable furniture part 3. For example, due to the pivoting movement of the hinge 4, 5 the hook element 30 passes into the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28, whereby the cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16 is fixedly held. The guide element 32 on the hook element 30 is also fixedly held, for example, by the engagement of the hook element 30 in the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28.

[0089] If the hinge 4, 5 is pivoted further into the closed state (see FIGS. 9, 10), for example, the counter element 26 passes from the convex region 34 of the curved element 27 to the concave region or an indentation 43 on the curved element 27. The force unit 14, for example, is still slightly tensioned, whereby a small torque still acts in the closing direction P2 on the mounting element 7. The hook element 30 continues to engage in the cut-out 29 on the holding element 28, for example, wherein due to the pivoting movement of the hinge 4, 5 or the second pivot arm 11, the piston rod 17 is preferably retracted into the cylinder housing 31 of the damper 16 until the piston rod 17 cannot be pushed further into the cylinder housing 31 (see FIG. 9). This results, for example, in the damping action. This preferably takes place from a closing range of 60 (see FIG. 8). Moreover, the guide track 33 on the first pivot arm 8 is pivoted, for example, during the pivoting movement of the hinge 4, 5 in the closing direction P2, starting from FIG. 8, whereby the guide element 32 is moved along the guide track 33 to an end region of the guide track 33 (see FIG. 10).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0090] 1 Household appliance [0091] 2 Body [0092] 3 Furniture part [0093] 4 Hinge [0094] 5 Hinge [0095] 6 Fastening element [0096] 7 Mounting element [0097] 8 Pivot arm [0098] 9 Pivot pin [0099] 10 Pivot pin [0100] 11 Pivot arm [0101] 12 Pivot pin [0102] 13 Pivot arm [0103] 14 Force unit [0104] 15 Pivot pin [0105] 16 Damper [0106] 17 Piston rod [0107] 18 Pivot pin [0108] 19 Pivot arm [0109] 20 Pivot pin [0110] 21 Pivot pin [0111] 22 Pivot arm [0112] 23 Pivot pin [0113] 24 Pivot plate [0114] 25 Pivot pin [0115] 26 Counter element [0116] 27 Curved element [0117] 28 Holding element [0118] 29 Cut-out [0119] 30 Hook element [0120] 31 Cylinder housing [0121] 32 Guide element [0122] 33 Guide track [0123] 34 Region [0124] 35 Limb [0125] 36 Limb [0126] 37 Cover [0127] 38 Bearing element [0128] 39 Bearing element [0129] 40 Bearing element [0130] 41 Bearing element [0131] 42 Curved guide [0132] 43 Indentation