Hinge device with programmable behavior

Abstract

The invention discloses a hinge device (1) comprising a first member (3) and a second member (5) hingedly connected by a hinge pivot pin (7), one of the members (3, 5) being fixable to a structure or frame of an appliance and the other to a door or shutter. The first member (3) comprises a body (9) whose opposite ends respectively carry seats for the hinge pivot pin (7) and a connecting member or matching member (11) for connecting an elastic element (13) to a distal end (14) of a transmission member (15), the transmission member (15) being at least partially contained in the body (9) and movable relative to the body (9) for transmitting the elastic force of the elastic element (13) acting in a corresponding operating direction (A) and in a direction opposite to the hinge pivot pin (7) to such transmission member (15). A portion (8) of the second member (5) located at a predetermined distance from the hinge pivot pin (7) is connected to one end of the transmission member (15). The box-shaped body (9) is provided with at least one elongated guide (17) parallel to the operating direction (A), and at least one restraint (19) fixed to the distal end (14) of the transmission member (15) slides along the operating direction (A). One between the transmission member (15) and the body (9) is provided with a first elongated slot (23), and the other of (9, 15) is provided with a first moving element (25) slidingly engaged in the first elongated slot (23); one between the portion (8) and the proximal end (16) of the transmission member (15) carries a second slot (31), and the other of (16, 8) carries a second moving element (33) slidingly engaged in the second slot (31).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of hinges for appliances and furniture for domestic, commercial and industrial use and to a hinge device with programmable behavior, particularly but not exclusively suitable for shutters or doors with a horizontal axis of rotation. Background Art

[0002] Known hinges are able to provide variable static behavior depending on the opening angle of the hinge itself, such as increasing the closing force to compress a gasket or providing an intermediate metastable position between closed and fully open.

[0003] There are also known hinges that are able to provide variable dynamic behavior depending on the opening angle of the hinge itself, such as slowing down any excessive rotation speed or providing a "soft" closing rotation.

[0004] A disadvantage of these known hinges is that they are often complex and / or bulky and expensive.

[0005] Another disadvantage of the known hinges is that they can be distributed and manufactured to provide different behaviours with narrow limitations.

[0006] Another disadvantage of these known hinges is that their operation is usually based on dynamic sliding friction and is therefore subject to change over time, usage and environmental conditions.

[0007] Another disadvantage of known hinges is the fact that they can be noisy and unpleasant and / or have a less than smooth operation or be subject to interference. Summary of the Invention

[0008] One object of the present invention is to propose a hinge device having a relatively simple programmable behavior and sufficiently reduced dimensions to allow assembly even in confined spaces, such as those of domestic oven doors.

[0009] Another aim is to propose a device whose behavior can be programmed differently by simple modifications of a few components.

[0010] Another object is to propose a hinge whose operation is mainly based on the mechanical transmission of forces and possibly also on the phenomenon of viscous friction, without having components allocated for sliding mechanical friction.

[0011] Another object is to propose a device with silent and smooth operation.

[0012] Patent application DE 10 2011 081917 A1 discloses a hinge arrangement according to part of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Features of the present invention are highlighted hereinafter with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] - Figure 1 and Figure 2 an axonometric view showing a first embodiment of a hinge device with programmable behavior, object of the present invention, shown in a partially opened state, seen from various and opposite angles;

[0015] - Figure 3 and Figure 4 Shown respectively Figure 1 Side and front views of the device;

[0016] - Figure 5 Shown Figure 1 A front view of the device with some parts removed to better highlight others;

[0017] - Figure 6 and Figure 7 Shown along Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of planes VI-VI and VII-VII, wherein Figure 6 It is also magnified;

[0018] - Figure 8-13 Shown Figure 7 The segmented hinge is in a progressive state from extreme open to closed, where Figure 11 and Figure 12 In the ,components have been partially removed;

[0019] - Figure 14 、 14a and 14b show Figure 1 An exploded view of the device and an enlarged view of a single element thereof and of a part thereof in relation to another element;

[0020] - Figure 15 and Figure 16 Shown Figure 1 Axonometric drawings of variations of the device, seen from various and opposite angles;

[0021] - Figure 17 Shown Figure 15 A side view of the device;

[0022] - Figure 18 Shown from Figure 17 A sectional view taken along a longitudinal mid-plane of the device;

[0023] - Figure 19-21 Shown according to Figure 18 The XIX-XIX plane and according to Figure 17 The cross-sectional view of the XX-XX and XXI-XXI planes, wherein Figure 20 and Figure 21It is also magnified;

[0024] - Figure 22-26 Shown Figure 18 The segmented hinge is in a progressive state from closed to extreme open;

[0025] - Figure 27-31 Shown is a front view with parts of the components removed to highlight the Figure 22-26 The lower part of the hinge;

[0026] - Figure 32 Shown Figure 15 Exploded view of the device;

[0027] - Figure 33 shows the closing torque as the gray line with the empty points Figure 1 Device and the black line represented by the solid dots Figure 15 Cartesian curve of the opening angle variation of the device;

[0028] - Figure 34 The physical meaning of the parameter d (the distance is shown in Figure 10 、 22 and 23) along with the gray line represented by the empty points Figure 1 Device and the black line represented by the solid dots Figure 15 Cartesian representation of the change in the opening angle of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] refer to Figure 1-14 , reference numeral 1 denotes a hinge device with programmable behavior, which comprises a first member 3 and a second member 5 rotatably connected to each other via a hinge pivot pin 7 .

[0030] It should be noted that in the following the terms "proximal end" and "distal end" in connection with the names of two elements will be used with reference to their position relative to the hinge pivot pin 7, for example, the end of the slender element closest to the hinge pivot pin will be referred to as the proximal end of the slender element, while the opposite and more distal end will be referred to as the distal end of the slender element.

[0031] One of these first 3 and second 5 members is destined to be fixed to the structure or frame of the appliance, while the other is fixed to the door or shutter so as to rotate the other between the closed and fully open conditions of the appliance.

[0032] For example, for a door of a household oven, the first member may be fixed in the oven door, while the second member may be detachably fixed to the oven body.

[0033] The first member 3 comprises an elongated, approximately prismatic, box-shaped body 9 having three longitudinal sides and a distal wall, for example made of a cut, stamped and folded metal sheet. Two longitudinal walls of the body are parallel and facing each other and are connected by a third longitudinal wall, forming an element with an open "C"-shaped cross-section corresponding to the longitudinal and proximal sides.

[0034] The opposite proximal and distal ends 4, 6 of the body 9 carry respectively a seat for the hinge pivot pin 7 and a connecting or mating member 11 for the elastic element 13 housed in said distal face.

[0035] This elastic element 13 is connected to a distal end 14 of a transmission member 15 at least partially contained in the body 9 and movable relative to the body 9. This connection between the elastic element 13 and the transmission member 15 is designed to transmit the elastic force of the elastic element 13 to the transmission member 15, wherein this force acts in the corresponding operating direction A and in a direction opposite to the hinge pivot pin 7, or in the distal direction. The region or portion 8 of the second member 5, which is located at a predetermined distance from the hinge pivot pin 7, is connected to a proximal end 16 of the transmission member 15 opposite the elastic element 13.

[0036] In this way, the elastic force of the elastic element 13 is transmitted from the transmission member 15 to the second member 5 in the eccentric area, so that the second member 5 is subjected to the closing elastic torque, that is, the first and second members of the hinge are intended to form a minimum insertion angle.

[0037] At least one elongated guide 17 is provided on the main body 9 , the geometric axis of which is parallel to the operating direction A. At least one restraining element 19 slides along the operating direction A to be fixed to the distal end 14 of the transmission member 15 .

[0038] The elongated guide 17 can be constituted, for example, by a plastic element having one or two slide rails and inserted into the body 9, or the body 9 can be provided with two elongated guides of the slot type, which are housed on parallel and opposite faces of the body 9 itself; in a preferred alternative and as Figure 6 As can be clearly seen in the drawing, the body comprises two elongated guides, each consisting of a profile with a "C"-shaped section obtained by bending the respective side wall of the body 9; another alternative provides that each elongated guide is formed by two folded and parallel flaps obtained from two respective slots in said side walls parallel to the body.

[0039] Preferably, the restraining element 19 includes an axis or shaft engaged in its seat, which is arranged in the proximal end 36 of the pull rod element 37 of the elastic element 13 (described below) and the distal end 14 of the transmission member 15 so that they can be rotatably connected to each other, and such restraining element 19 also includes two rolling elements fixed to the respective ends of the axis or shaft, each of these rolling elements being designated to roll along a respective slender guide 17, which is accommodated in a respective side portion of the main body 9, which side portion is of a narrow slot type or preferably of a "C" shaped cross-sectional profile type, as shown in the figure.

[0040] One between the transmission member 15 and the main body 9 is provided with a first elongated slot 23 , and the other one of 9 and 15 is provided with a first moving element 25 slidably engaged with the first elongated slot 23 .

[0041] Preferably, as shown in the figures, the transmission member 15 is provided with a first elongated slot 23 which passes through and is crossed by the first moving element 25, is movable at least relative to the first elongated slot, and whose opposite ends are rigidly fixed to corresponding parallel and opposite faces of the body.

[0042] One between said portion 8 of the second member 5 and the proximal end 16 of the transmission member 15 carries a second slot 31 , whereas the other of 16 , 8 carries a second movement element 33 movable at least relative to the second slot 31 in which it is slidingly engaged.

[0043] Preferably and as shown, the second slot 31 is received in the portion 8 by the second member 5 and is in sliding engagement with a second movement element 33 rigidly fixed to the proximal end 16 of the transmission member 15 .

[0044] The shape of at least the first elongated slot 23, for example the elongated and deformed "S" shape shown in the figures, determines the inclination of the transmission member 15 relative to the operating direction A and the main body 9, which helps to determine the distance from the hinge pivot pin 7 to the second member 5 at the point of application of the elastic force, that is, the distance between the hinge pivot pin and the contact point of the second slot 31 with the second moving element 33 fixed to the transmission member, and / or helps to determine the direction of the elastic force transmitted to the second member 5 as a function of the angle formed between the first member 3 and the second member 5 during the opening and closing phases of the door or shutter.

[0045] The geometrical center line of the first elongated slot 23, i.e. the curve parallel to and between the longitudinal edges of the first elongated slot, can be almost straight or a curve with a constant curvature or a variable curve with a constant sign of curvature, or preferably, as shown in the figure, the geometrical center line of the first elongated slot 23 has two portions with opposite signs of curvature and separated by a curve, i.e. separated by a point with zero curvature.

[0046] Preferably and as shown, the geometrical midline of the second slot 31 is almost straight and inclined, or it may be straight and radial with respect to the hinge pivot pin 7, or it may be curved.

[0047] Said pull rod element 37 of the elastic element 13 has an elongated shape, one proximal end 36 of which is rotatably connected to said distal end 14 of the transmission member 15 via a restraining element 19, transmitting the elastic force of the elastic element 13 itself to the transmission member 15. The elastic element 13 also includes a spring, for example, axially engaged by a helical longitudinal portion of the transmission member 15, thus serving as a spring guide. Preferably, and as shown in the figures, such a spring, which is external to the body 9, is compressed between the connecting member or matching member 11 of the distal end 6 of the body 9 and a transverse retainer fixed to the distal end of the pull rod element 37, which protrudes from the body 9 parallel to the operating direction A.

[0048] Said connecting member or matching member 11 consists of a distal face of a distal wall of the body 9 , which is perpendicular to the operating direction A and is connected to said side wall.

[0049] Said distal end wall of the connecting or matching member 11 has a slot 12 open on its free side, which is designed for insertion during assembly and for sliding in the operating state of the tie rod element 37. This configuration facilitates assembly of the device and at the same time it allows translation of the tie rod element 37 parallel to itself and to the operating direction A, ensuring quieter operation and contributing to smooth rotation. Such a slot 12, as Figure 14a and 14b As shown, a profiled bushing made of an anti-friction material can be provided to further improve the sliding of the tie rod element 37 or, for specific applications where sliding friction does not represent a disadvantage, such a tie rod element 37 can be braked in a friction material.

[0050] Furthermore, the distal face of the distal wall of the body 9 constituting the connecting or mating member 11 may comprise a ridge or protrusion or cavity designated to engage with the proximal end of the spring to prevent accidental detachment of the spring from the connecting or mating member 11 and the risk of the pull rod element 37 coming out of the open slot 12.

[0051] The transmission member 15 is composed of three at least partially flat shaped elements, each carrying a through hole corresponding to a first elongated slot 23 .

[0052] When the three shaped elements are fixed to each other, for example by pins, rivets, etc., to form the transmission member 15 , the three openings are aligned and arranged side by side to form the first elongated slot 23 .

[0053] The distal ends 14 and proximal ends 16 of two of these forming elements are laterally fixed to the remaining forming element placed in the center of them, projecting relative to the shorter central forming element and carrying holes for the pins of the constraining element 19 and the second moving element 33, the distal and proximal recesses being designated to at least partially accommodate the proximal end 36 of the drawbar element 37 and the portion 8 of the second member 5, respectively.

[0054] Each of the first moving element 25 and the second moving element 33 includes a pin, or Figure 14 As shown, it includes a pin and a corresponding rotatable bushing.

[0055] exist Figure 15-32 The variant of the device 1 shown by way of example in FIG. 1 differs from the previous embodiment mainly in the shape of the first elongated slot 23 and in the use of a damper member 39 .

[0056] The damper member 39 is preferably of linear type, with an elastic return spring at its maximum length.

[0057] The interior of the main body 9 of the pull rod element 37 is provided with a window 38, for example, in an approximately rectangular shape as shown in the figure, especially in Figure 32 As shown in FIG, it is almost parallel and equidistant to the two mutually parallel side walls of the main body 9, each side wall having a proximal stop 42 and a distal stop 43, for example, Figure 19-21 Clearly visible.

[0058] These stops may be obtained by machining, for example cutting or punching, and deforming by means of a punch the two side walls of the body 9 in which they are recessed.

[0059] The extension of this window 38 along the operating direction A and the distance between the proximal stop 42 and the distal stop 43 are approximately equal to or slightly greater than the maximum length of the damper member 39, which is accommodated in the main body 9 between the proximal stop 42 and the distal stop 43 and is accommodated in the window 38.

[0060] In particular, the distance between said window extension and the stop may be equal to said maximum length of the damper, or one of them may be the same as said maximum length and the other one may be greater than said maximum length.

[0061] The relative positions and respective dimensions of the spaces between the window 38 and the proximal stop 42 and the distal stop 43 determine the angular sectors of opening and / or closing of the device, wherein the damper member 39 is compressed between one of the lateral sides of the window and one of the stops and suppresses the rotational speed of the device; thus, the damping effect of the rotational speed of the damper member 39 can be programmed to be activated under almost all conditions, in both the terminal opening and closing parts of the device or only in the terminal opening or closing parts.

[0062] It should be noted that the shape of the first elongated slot 23 strongly affects the operating parameters of the device, such as Figure 33 and 34 As shown, it is similar to the first description of the shape of the device as shown Figure 1-14b The different shapes of the corresponding first elongated slots shown in FIG. Figure 15-32 The different shapes of the corresponding first elongated slots of the variations shown in FIG.

[0063] Figure 34 It shows how the different shapes of the first slot determine the first embodiment ( Figure 10 shown)- and variants ( Figure 22 and 23 The different angular trends of the distance d between the hinge pivot pin 7 and the second moving element 33 in FIG. 3 are due to the said differences between the respective first elongated slots.

[0064] Under static or almost static conditions, the elastic torque applied to the second member depends not only on the distance d or the arm, but also on the angle formed by the arm relative to the directrix of the force transmitted by the second moving element 33 to the edge of the second slot 31, and on other factors such as the shortening of the spring.

[0065] Figure 33 A difference in the angular trend of the closing torque in the two shapes of the device is shown, which is also a result of the different respective shapes of the first elongated slot and the other characteristics that are the same for the two shapes of the device.

[0066] Thus, the torque trend may be predetermined or programmed by varying the shape of the first elongated slot and possibly also acting on the shape or inclination of the second slot.

[0067] The shape of the first elongated slot and the shape and / or inclination of the possible second slot are determined, which allows to modulate and / or adjust the influence of the damper member 39 on the dynamic behavior of the second member 5 .

Claims

1. A hinge device (1) comprising a first member (3) and a second member (5) connected to each other in rotation by a hinge pivot pin (7), wherein one of the first member (3) and the second member (5) is designed to be fixed to the structure or frame of the appliance and the other member is fixed to the door or shutter so that the other member rotates between the closed and fully open states of the appliance; the first member (3) comprises a box-shaped body (9), the opposite proximal and distal ends (4, 6) of the body (9) respectively having seats for the hinge pivot pin (7) and a spring element (13) for connecting the spring element (13) to the hinge. a connecting member or matching member (11) to a distal end (14) of a transmission member (15), said transmission member (15) being at least partially contained in said body (9) and being movable relative to said body (9) to transmit the elastic force of said elastic element (13) to said transmission member (15), said elastic force acting in a corresponding operating direction (A) and in a direction opposite to said hinge pivot pin (7), or a portion (8) of said second member (5) being connected to a proximal end (16) of said transmission member (15) opposite to said elastic element (13) at a predetermined distance from said hinge pivot pin (7) The main body (9) is provided with at least one elongated guide (17) whose geometric axis is parallel to the operating direction (A), and at least one constraint element (19) fixed to the distal end (14) of the transmission member (15) slides along the operating direction (A); one of the transmission member (15) and the main body (9) is provided with a first elongated slot (23), and the other of the transmission member (15) and the main body (9) is provided with a first moving element (25) slidably engaged in the first elongated slot (23); the portion (8) of the second member (5) is connected to the one of the proximal ends (16) of the transmission member (15) carries a second slot (31), while the other of the portion (8) and the proximal end (16) carries a second moving element (33) slidingly engaged in the second slot (31), the shape of at least the first elongated slot (23) contributing to determining the distance of the hinge pivot pin (7) from the second member (5) to the point of application of the elastic force, and / or determining the direction of the elastic force transmitted to the second member (5) as a function of the angle formed between the first member (3) and the second member (5) during the opening and closing phases of the door or shutter;The device (1) is characterized in that the elastic element (13) comprises an elongated pull rod element (37) having a proximal end (36) rotatably connected to the distal end (14) of the transmission member (15) to transmit the elastic force of the elastic element (13) to the transmission member (15), the transmission member (15) consisting of three at least partially flat shaped elements, each shaped element having a through hole corresponding to the first elongated slot (23), the distal ends (14) and proximal ends (16) of two of the shaped elements being transversely fixed in a central position between them, respectively having seats for the restraining element (19) and the second moving element (33), the central element being shorter than the side elements, forming a distal seat and a proximal seat for the proximal end (36) of the pull rod element (37) and the portion (8) of the second member (5), respectively; the first moving element (25) and the second moving element (33) each comprising a pin, or comprising a pin and a corresponding rotating bushing.; 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first elongated slot (23) and the first moving element (25) are respectively arranged on the transmission member (15) and fixed to the body (9), and the second slot (31) and the second moving element (33) are respectively arranged in the portion (8) of the second member (5) and fixed to the proximal end (16) of the transmission member (15); wherein the geometric center line of the first elongated slot (23) is one between almost straight or curved, constant or variable curvature with constant sign, or having at least two portions with opposite curvatures separated by curvature, and wherein the geometric center line of the second slot (31) is one between almost straight and inclined or radial or curved.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The proximal end (36) of the elongated pull rod element (37) of the elastic element (13) is rotatably connected to the distal end (14) of the transmission member (15) via the restraining element (19), thereby transmitting the elastic force of the elastic element (13) to the transmission member (15).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The constraining element (19) comprises an axis or shaft engaged in a seat thereof, the seat being formed in the proximal end (36) of the pull rod element (37) and the distal end (14) of the transmission member (15) so that they can be rotatably connected to each other, and this constraining element (19) also comprises two rolling elements fixed to the respective ends of the axis or shaft, each of these rolling elements being designated to roll along a respective elongated guide (17) formed in a respective side of the body (9).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that Each elongated guide (17) consists of a "C" shaped cross-sectional profile obtained by bending the side wall of the body (9), or by two folded and parallel tabs formed by two corresponding slots made in parallel in the wall.

6. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The elastic element (13) comprises a compression spring between a connecting member or matching member (11) at the distal end (6) of the body (9) and a retainer fixed to the distal end of the pull rod element (37), the pull rod element (37) being parallel to the operating direction (A) and protruding from the body (9).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that The connecting member or matching member (11) consists of a distal face of a distal wall of the body (9), the distal face being perpendicular to the operating direction (A) and connected to a side wall and having at least one free side.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The connecting or matching member (11) has an open slot (12) on its free side, which is designed for insertion during assembly and for sliding in the operating state of the tie rod element (37).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that The distal face of the distal wall of the body (9) constituting the connecting or matching member (11) comprises a ridge or protrusion or cavity which is designed to engage with the proximal end of the spring to prevent accidental disengagement of the spring from the connecting or matching member (11) and the risk of the pull rod element (37) coming out of the open slot (12).

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The device comprises a linear damper member (39) having an elastic return spring at its maximum length, and wherein the pull rod element (37) is provided with a window (38) and is almost parallel and equidistant from two transverse and mutually parallel walls of the body (9), each wall having a proximal stop (42) and a distal stop (43), wherein the extension of the window (38) along the operating direction (A) and the distance between these proximal stops (42) and distal stops (43) are equal to or greater than the maximum length of the damper member (39), the damper member (39) being accommodated in the body (9) between the proximal stop (42) and the distal stop (43) and being confined in the window (38).

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that The mutual position and respective dimensions of the window (38) and the spaces between the proximal stop (42) and the distal stop (43) determine the angular sectors of opening and / or closing of the device, wherein the damper member (39) dampens the rotational speed of the device.

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