FURNITURE HINGE
20170292307 · 2017-10-12
Inventors
- Artur Hirtsiefer (Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, DE)
- Bernd RÖDDER (Ruppichteroth, DE)
- Nurettin GÜZELTEPE (Büyükçekmece/Istanbul, TR)
Cpc classification
E05F1/12
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
E05F1/12
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
The invention relates to a furniture hinge with a fastening portion and a hinge part connected thereto via a multi-axis articulated connection, wherein a spring preloads the hinge part directly or indirectly, at least in a subregion of the adjustment path of the hinge part, with respect to the fastening portion, and wherein the spring is mounted or can be mounted under tension between two spring bearings. In order, in such a furniture hinge, to achieve improved movement control and to make the required manual force for hinge opening or closing more even, provision is made according to the invention for the spring (76) to be adjusted in the region of its two spring bearings (74, 84.4) during the adjustment of the hinge part (20) from the opening into the closing position and/or during the adjustment from the closing into the opening position.
Claims
1. A furniture hinge having a fastening portion (30) and a hinge part (20) that is connected to the latter by way of a multiple-axle articulation connection, wherein a spring (76) indirectly or directly biases the hinge part (20) in relation to the fastening portion (30) at least in a part-region of the readjustment path of the hinge part (20), wherein the spring (76) is tensioned or tensionable between two spring bearings (74, 84.4), characterized in that the spring (76) during the readjustment of the hinge part (20) from the opening to the closing position, and/or during the readjustment from the closing to the opening position is readjusted in the region of the two spring bearings (74, 84.4) thereof.
2. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the spring bearings (74, 84.4) is readjustable in a linear manner by means of a linear guide (34), or is pivotable about an axle, or is re-adjustable on an arcuate path by means of a guide.
3. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spring (76) by means of the two spring bearings (74, 84.4) is in each case coupled to one lever (connection lever (72); spring tensioner (80)), wherein the levers are mutually pivotable.
4. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the two levers are interconnected by way of an articulation, while forming a common articulation axle (71).
5. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the articulation connection (40) is indirectly or directly coupled to both spring bearings (74, 84.4) by means of a setting unit (movable lever (61)), and in that the spring bearings (74, 84.4) are readjusted by means of the set-ting unit.
6. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the setting unit acts on that connection region of the two levers to which the spring bearings (74, 84.4) are coupled.
7. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the setting unit is configured as a movable lever (61) which by way of an articulation that forms a first rotation axle (44) is indirectly or directly coupled to the articulation connection (40).
8. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one spring bearing (84.4) is connected to a spring tensioner (80) by means of which the spacing between the spring bearings (74, 84.4) is adjustable, and/or by means of which the torque that is introduced into the articulation connection (40) by the spring (76) is variable.
9. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the opening motion of the hinge part (20) and/or the closing motion of the hinge part (20) is dampable at least in regions by means of a damper element (60).
10. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the damper element (60) is configured as a linear damper, preferably as linear fluid-type damper.
11. The furniture hinge as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the damping element (60) is effective in the functional region between the articulation connection (40) and the spring (76).
12. An item of furniture having a furniture base unit and a flap or a door that is articulated thereon by means of a furniture hinge (10) according to claim 1, wherein the manual force required during the opening and/or closing motion remains almost constant, preferably remains constant at a deviation of +/−30%.
Description
[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by means of an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings:
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024] The hinge housing 31 forms a fastening portion 30 of the furniture hinge 10, having three fastening receptacles 32.1, 32.2, 32.3. The hinge housing 31 in the illustration is closed off by a housing lid 33. A linear guide 34 and an adjustment opening 35 are provided as passage openings in the housing lid 33. Fastening points of a first articulation 41.1, of a second articulation 41.2, and of a rotary joint 81 are sunk into the housing lid 33.
[0025] The hinge arm 20 is pivotably connected to the fastening portion 30 by way of a multiple-axle articulation connection 40. A first and a second set screw 22.1, 22.2 are disposed along a rear web 24 of the hinge part 20. Lateral legs 23 adjoin the rear web 24 on either side. The hinge part 20 has a connection element 21 which has connection hooks 21.1, 21.2. Toward the articulation, the lateral legs 23 transition to an articulation guide 26 by way of an expansion region 25 that is reinforced by an embossing 25.1. A sixth articulation 41.6 and a seventh articulation 41.7 of the multiple-axle articulation connection 40 (presently a seven-articulation chain) are disposed on the articulation guide 26.
[0026] The multiple-axle articulation connection 40 is connected to the fastening portion 30 by way of the first and the second articulation 41.1, 41.2, and is connected to the hinge part 20 by way of the sixth and seventh articulation 41.6, 41.7.
[0027] A lever which is presently configured as a spring tensioner 80 is attached to the fastening portion 30 by way of the rotary joint 81, so as to be opposite the articulation connection 40. The spring tensioner 80 is assigned a tensioning element 84 that is composed of a knurled screw 84.1 having a knurled head 84.2 and a slide 84.3 having a spring bearing 84.4 attached thereto. The slide 84.3 is mounted so as to be displaceable on a slider bar 83. The slider bar 83 and the knurled screw 84.1 at the end side are fixed to a common base 82 which establishes the connection to the fastening portion 30 of the furniture hinge 10.
[0028] A spring 76 is hooked to the spring bearing 84.4, the former by way of the opposite end thereof being fastened to a spring bearing 74. The spring bearing 74, by way of a pin 74, at the end side is connected to a first lever which presently is configured as a connection lever 72. The connection lever 72 by way of a guide pin 73 is guided in the linear guide 34 that is attached to the housing 33.
[0029] In the fitted state, the hinge part 20 is assigned to a cupboard door or to a flap, and the fastening portion 30 is assigned to the base unit of an item of furniture (not illustrated). Herein, the connection element 21 by way of the connection hooks 21.1, 21.2 engages in a connection piece (not illustrated) which is fastened to the cupboard door or to the flap. The cupboard door or the flap may be aligned in relation to the base unit by way of the set screws 22.1, 22.2. The fastening portion 30 by means of fastening means (not illustrated) which are routed through the fastening receptacles 32.1, 32.2, 32.3, is fastened to the base unit.
[0030] The hinge part 20, during opening of the cupboard door or of the flap, is pivoted from the closed first terminal position shown to an opened second terminal position shown in
[0031]
[0032] The hinge housing 31 at the rear side is closed off by way of a rear housing wall 36 which has the same passages, articulation receptacles, and fastening receptacles 32.1, 32.2, 32.3 as the housing lid 33 that is shown in
[0033] A first articulation lever 42.1 of the multiple-axle articulation connection 40 is disposed between the seventh articulation 41.7 on the articulation guide 26 of the hinge part 20, and a fifth articulation 41.5 that is displaceable in the position thereof. A second articulation lever 42.2 that is shown in
[0034] An approximately triangular articulation element 43 at one corner is rotatably connected to the hinge housing 31 by way of the first articulation 41.1. The articulation element 43 at an opposite corner is rotatably connected to the second articulation lever 42.2 by way of the third articulation 41.3. A first rotation axle 44 in the form of a further articulation axle is disposed on a third corner of the articulation element 43 that faces away from the multiple-axle articulation connection 40. The articulation element 43 herein is rotatably connected to one end of a bent movable lever 70.
[0035] The articulation element 43 has two mutually opposite articulation plates 43.1, 43.2 that are disposed so as to be spaced apart, wherein the forward first articulation plate 43.1 can be seen in the illustration chosen in
[0036] A damper element 60, damping in a linear manner, by way of a guide element 45 is mounted so as to be rotatable and displaceable in the elongate holes of the guide 46. The damper element 60, at the opposite end thereof, by way of a counter bearing 61 is rotatably fastened to the movable lever 70.
[0037] The movable lever 70, the base 82 of the spring tensioner 80, and the connection lever 72 each are interconnected at the end side by way of an articulation axle 71.
[0038] The multiple-axle articulation connection 40, by way of the seven articulations 41.1, 41.2, 41.3, 41.4, 41.5, 41.6, 41.7 thereof, configures a known seven-way articulation connection between the hinge part 40 and the fastening portion 30. During outward folding of the hinge part 20 to an opened second terminal position that is shown in
[0039] The damper element 60 used acts in a damping manner only in one readjustment direction, during collapsing of the damper element 60. No damping of the movement of the articulation element 43 and of the hinge part 20 is thus performed in the motion sequence described, until the maximum deflection of the damper element 60 is achieved. After the maximum deflection, the damper element 60 by contrast acts in a damping manner on the movement of the articulation element 43 and thus, transmitted by the multiple-axle articulation connection 40, on the movement of the hinge part 20. Since the readjustment direction of the damper element 60 is reversed both during inward folding as well as during outward folding of the hinge part 20, damping of the latter is in each case performed prior to achieving one of the terminal positions of the hinge part 20. On account thereof, both damped opening as well as damped closing of a cupboard door or flap that is fastened to the hinge part 20 is achieved by way of only one damper element that damps in a linear manner in one direction.
[0040] By way of the spring 76 that is tensioned between the spring tensioner 80 and the connection lever 72, the spring tensioner 80 is rotated about the rotary joint 81, and the connection lever 72 is rotated counter thereto about the guide pin 73. On account thereof, a compression force is transmitted by way of the common articulation axle 71 to the movable lever 70, and from the latter on the first rotation axle 44 to the articulation element 43. In this manner, a torque which in the alignment of the articulation element 43 shown in
[0041] The bias of the spring 76, and the torque that is generated by the spring 76, may be adapted by the tensioning element 84 of the spring tensioner 80 in such a manner that a self-acting movement of the hinge part in the case of cupboard doors or flaps of dissimilar weight that are guided by the hinge part 20 is enabled. To this end, the position of the slide 84.3 is displaced along the slider bar 83 with the aid of the knurled screw 84.1.
[0042] By mounting the damper element 60 by way of the counter bearing 61 thereof on the movable lever 70 it is achieved that the spacing between the counter bearing 61 and the first rotation axle 44 remains the same, independently of the position of the articulation element 43 and of the movable lever 70. The readjustment of the damper element 60, and thus the damping stroke thereof, is thus defined by the position at which the guide element 45 is held on the articulation element 43 and is rotated about the first rotation axle 44, and by the rotation angle between the articulation element 43 and the movable lever 70.
[0043] The damping stroke of the damper element during outward and inward folding of the hinge part 20 may be variably embodied by the position of the guide element 45 on the articulation element 43 and by the pivoting range of the guide element 45 about the first rotation axle 44. In this way, it is provided in the exemplary embodiment shown that during outward folding of the hinge part 20, from the first terminal position shown in
[0044] By contrast, it is provided during the introduction of the spring force that the first rotation axle 44 as the coupling-in point for the spring force into the articulation element 43 during outward folding of the hinge part 20 crosses the connection line between the first articulation 41.1 and the articulation axle 71 already after a short rotating motion about the first articulation 41.1. The spring force counteracts the movement of the articulation element 43 and thus of the hinge part 20 only in a first small movement range, so as to subsequently act across a large movement range in the movement direction of the articulation element 43 and thus of the hinge part 20. Here too, the motion sequence is reversed during inward folding of the hinge part 20. Thus, the spring 76 acts across a large movement range of the hinge part 20 in the direction of an opening position of a cupboard door or a flap that is fastened to the hinge part 20, acting toward closing the cupboard door or the flap only in the direct proximity of the closing position.
[0045] By way of this asymmetrical effect of both the damping element 60 as well as of the spring 76 during outward and inward folding of the hinge part 20 it is achieved that opening a cupboard door or a flap, counter to the force of gravity acting thereon, with the support of the spring 76 is performed in a smooth-running manner or, in a last movement portion, in a self-acting manner. The movement herein is dampened just before the end of the opening procedure. By contrast, a significantly longer damping stroke is provided during closing of the cupboard door or of the flap, so as to avoid an impact of the cupboard door or the flap on a cupboard base unit. Herein, the cupboard door or the flap, respectively, in the last movement portion thereof is pulled in the closing position thereof in a self-acting manner.
[0046] The furniture hinge 10 may be adapted to cupboard doors and flaps of dissimilar weight by adjusting the spring bias.
[0047]
[0048] The guide element 45 as the support bearing of the damper element 60 is mounted in the guide 46 on the articulation element 43. The guide 46 herein is embodied by elongate holes which are attached so as to be congruent, both in the first articulation plate 43.1 as well as in the second articulation plate 43.2 that is disposed in an obscured manner. The guide 46 thus enables a rotating motion as well as a linear readjustment of the guide element 45 that is mounted in the former. The elongate holes are aligned toward the first articulation 41.1, so as to be spaced apart from the first rotation axle 44. The adjustment element 50 is disposed between the guide 46 and the first articulation 41.1. As is also shown in the context of
[0049] As can be seen from
[0050] When inwardly folding the hinge part 20 to the closed position illustrated, the guide element 45 by the damper element 60, counteracting the movement, is pushed against the variable end 46.1 of the guide. The detent for the guide element 45 may be displaced according to the latching curves 52.3, 52.4 by rotating the adjustment element 50. The position of the guide element 45 in the inwardly folded position of the hinge part 20 shown in the effective direction of the damper element 60 is thus defined by the adjustment element 50. The readjustment path of the damper element 60, and thus the damping stroke, during inward folding of the hinge part 20 may thus be adjusted by the adjustment element 50. Herein, a damping stroke that is adjustable at minimum results in the adjustment of the adjustment element 50 shown in
[0051] In the inwardly folded terminal position of the hinge part 20, shown in
[0052] A piston rod 63, shown in
[0053]
[0054] The piston rod 63 of the damper element 60, the former being partially enveloped by the cover 62, at the end thereof has a guide-element receptacle 64 in which the guide element 45 that is embodied as a transverse pin is held. A setting element 65 in the form of an appendage is configured on the guide-element receptacle 64. The setting element 65, in the position of the hinge part illustrated, is aligned toward the axle 53 of the adjustment element 50 and bears on the latter.
[0055] By way of the setting element 65 the guide element 45 is displaced in relation to the fixed end 46.2 of the guide 46, independently of the adjustment of the adjustment element 50. During outward folding of the hinge part 20, from the closed terminal position thereof to the opened terminal position thereof, the guide element 45 is therefore positively moved from the variable end 46.1 of the guide 46 to the fixed end 46.2 of the latter, and held there. The position of the guide element 45 during opening of the hinge part 20 is fixedly defined on account thereof. The damping stroke of the damper element 60 during outward folding of the hinge part 20 is thus also fixedly defined, while the damping stroke during inward folding of the hinge part 20 may be adjusted by way of the adjustment element 50.
[0056] In the maximum adjustment of the adjustment element 50 illustrated, the guide element 45 is also held by the eccentric 52 on the side of the fixed end 46.2 of the guide 46. A maximum damping stroke is thus adjusted during inward folding of the hinge part 20 and thus during closing of a cupboard door or a flap that is fastened to the hinge part 20.
[0057]
[0058] In order for the intermediate position illustrated to be achieved, the guide 46, by way of the guide element 45, during the outward folding of the hinge part 20, commencing in the closing position shown in
[0059]
[0060] The second articulation plate 43.2 of the articulation element 43 is pivoted about the first articulation 41.1 by outwardly folding the hinge part 20. By way of the movement of the articulation element 43 the first rotation axle 44 in relation to the position of the latter in
[0061] The setting element 65 is routed past the axle 53 of the adjustment element 50, but still bears thereon in such a manner that the guide element 45 is held on the fixed end 46.2 of the guide 45.
[0062] During outward folding of the hinge part 20 the articulation axis 71 as the connection point between the movable lever 70, the connection lever 72, and the base 82 of the spring tensioner 80, pivots about the rotary joint 81 shown in
[0063] The movable lever 70 and the connection lever 72 are disposed and shaped in such a manner that both the former during the movement thereof between the two terminal positions do not cross the positions of the fastening receptacles 52.1, 52.2, 52.3, independently of the adjustment of the spring tensioner 80 or of the adjustment element 50. Fastening elements may thus be routed through the fastening receptacles 52.1, 52.2, 52.3 without blocking the movement of the hinge part 20.
[0064]
[0065] The position of the articulation element 63 in the case of a hinge part 20 that is outwardly pivoted to the second terminal position thereof is shown. In this position, the tool engagement feature 51 of the adjustment element 50 is positioned so as to be opposite the adjustment opening 35 in the housing lid 33, the former thus being accessible from the outside.
[0066] The guide element 45 is held at the fixed end 46.2 of the guide 46, on account of which the deflection of the damper element 60 is established in this position of the articulation element 63 and thus of the hinge part 20.
[0067] As has been explained above, the spring 76 during the opening procedure or during the closing procedure, respectively, is further extended or relaxed. This is caused by mutually pivoting the two levers (spring tensioner 80 and connection lever 72). The two spring bearings 84.4 and 75 are simultaneously repositioned. While the spring bearing 84.4 pivots about the rotary joint 81, the spring bearing 74 is offset in a linear manner by means of the linear guide 34. Offsetting herein is performed in the depth direction of the furniture hinge 10. Herein, controlling the repositioning motion of the spring bearing 74 is controlled such that the latter in the closing positing according to