Adjustable base for mounting a hinge having a double articulated

Abstract

An adjustable base (1) for mounting a hinge for a piece of furniture, the base comprising: a fixing element (2) associable with a part of the piece of furniture; a support element (3) associable with at least one component of the hinge (100); guide means for guiding the support element (3) in a slidable movement relative to the fixing element (2) in the longitudinal direction (L); and an actuating device (5) for actuating the support element (3) to slidably move along the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the fixed element (2); the fixing element (2) comprises a pair of side walls (6) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane (P), and wherein the support element (3) comprises a pair of wings (7) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane (P) and arranged between the side walls (6), each wing (7) is slidably associated with a respective side wall (6) to define a guide device (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an adjustable mount for mounting a doublearticulated quadrilateral hinge for a furniture door leaf. Background Art

[0002] With particular but not exclusive reference to the furniture sector, hinges with a double-articulated quadrilateral structure are known which are essentially constituted by a system of articulated rods with associated springs, which allow a door leaf that swings relative to a fixed structure of the furniture to be moved between a closed configuration and an open configuration. Such hinges generally have a coupling element with a hole in order to be able to be mounted inside the door leaf and the furniture structure using screw elements or the like.

[0003] Holes are provided in the door leaf and the furniture structure and their distribution mirrors the distribution of the holes of the coupling element of the hinge to be mounted, so that the screw fastening elements can be inserted.

[0004] Typically, these hinges are used to move horizontally extending door leaves and are interposed between the upper wall of the furniture structure and the upper part of the inner face of the door leaf.

[0005] During the assembly of furniture, it is necessary to correctly position the door leaves relative to the furniture structure, in particular, to center the door leaves horizontally. This requirement is even more evident in the case where two or more wall cabinets are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and the door leaves of these wall cabinets cannot interfere with each other. Furthermore, in the case of at least three wall cabinets suspended side by side, it is necessary to position the corresponding door leaves in pairs so that they are evenly spaced.

[0006] In order to center the door leaf horizontally relative to the compartment of the furniture, it is currently necessary to remove the hinge by unscrewing the corresponding threaded element and then reinstall the hinge and, if necessary, to produce new holes in the furniture structure and / or the door leaf.

[0007] This operating mode is not without its disadvantages. The disadvantage of this operating mode is that it significantly prolongs the working time and thus increases the labor costs for centering the door leaf relative to the furniture, because the worker has to make constant attempts until the best position of the hinge is determined, each time loosening and retightening the threaded element, which leads to a significant increase in working time.

[0008] Furthermore, the speed and accuracy with which these interventions are performed are heavily influenced by the workers’ experience and practical circumstances. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the background art by providing an adjustable base for mounting hinges with a double-hinged quadrilateral structure for furniture door leaves, which base makes it possible to adjust the position of the door leaf relative to the furniture structure in the horizontal direction without the need to disassemble, reposition and reattach parts, thereby reducing labor time and labor costs.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to enable easy and reliable adjustment regardless of the worker's level of experience.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide such a structure which is simple and compact so as not to significantly modify the overall volume and profile of the hinge integrated with the structure and also not to complicate its installation.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is that it can be adapted to different types of hinges having a double-articulated quadrilateral structure.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a simple structure which is easy and practical to realize, safe to use, efficient in operation and of low cost.

[0014] This aim and these objects are achieved by an adjustable base for mounting a hinge for a piece of furniture according to the appended claim 1 and optionally having one or more of the features recited in the subsequent dependent claims.

[0015] This object and these aims are likewise achieved by a hinge for a piece of furniture integrated with a base according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an adjustable base for mounting a hinge of furniture, which embodiment is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustable base for mounting a hinge for furniture according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 and Figure 3 are three-dimensional views of the base according to the present invention observed from opposite viewing angles;

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a base according to the present invention when applied to a hinge installed between a door leaf and a furniture structure;

[0020] Figure 5 and Figure 6 yes Figure 4A side view of the hinge in the base according to the present invention in two opposite operating configurations;

[0021] Figure 7 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

[0022] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 yes Figure 5 and Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional side view of a portion of a hinge in which a base according to the present invention is included;

[0023] Fig.10 and Fig.11 Observed from below Figure 5 and Figure 6 A view of a portion of a hinge including a base according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] With reference to the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates an adjustable base for mounting a hinge for furniture.

[0025] The base 1 comprises: a fixing element 2 which can be associated with a component of the furniture; a supporting element 3 which can be associated with at least one component of the hinge; a guiding device 4 for guiding the supporting element 3 to slide relative to the fixing element 2 along a longitudinal direction L; and an actuating device 5 for actuating the supporting element 3 to slide relative to the fixing element 2 along a longitudinal direction L.

[0026] In use, the base 1 is integrated into a conventional hinge 100 having a double-hinged quadrilateral structure.

[0027] The hinge 100 is of the following type, comprising: a first articulated quadrilateral structure 101 provided with a first coupling element 102 which can be associated with a first part C1 of a piece of furniture; and a second articulated quadrilateral structure 103 provided with a second coupling element 104 which can be associated with a second part C2 of a piece of furniture, the hinge 100 being adapted to alternately assume an open configuration and a closed configuration in which at least one of the parts C1 and C2 assumes a different position relative to the other. One or both of the coupling elements 102 and / or 104 may comprise a base 1 as described below.

[0028] Each articulated quadrilateral structure 101 or 103 is composed of a plurality of articulated rods, which are conventional and will not be described in detail.

[0029] As an example, in Figures 4 to 11In the figure, a hinge 100 is shown with a first coupling element 102 connected to a first fixed part C1 of a piece of furniture (e.g. a wall of a furniture structure) and a second coupling element 104 connected to a second movable element C2 of the same piece of furniture (e.g. a leaf or a door), and with a base 1 associated with the first coupling element 102, but alternative embodiments are not excluded.

[0030] The hinge 100 is typically provided with elastic means associated with the articulated quadrilateral structures 101 and 103, which cooperate with each other when moving between the open configuration and the closed configuration, and the hinge may include damping means that act when the hinge is closed and / or opened. Since these means are conventional, they are not shown and described in detail.

[0031] According to the invention, the fixing element 2 comprises a pair of side walls 6 which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane P, and the supporting element 3 comprises a pair of wings 7 which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane P and are arranged between the side walls 6, each wing 7 being slidably associated with the corresponding side wall 6 to define the guide device 4.

[0032] In this specification, the term "substantially" means "except for usual machining tolerances and tolerances in assembly of parts".

[0033] Longitudinal center plane P (at Figure 2 The longitudinal center plane P (shown as a dashed line in FIG. 1 ) is an ideal plane substantially perpendicular to the main arrangement plane of the base 1 and containing the longitudinal direction L. When the base 1 is integrated into the hinge 100 , the longitudinal center plane P coincides with the plane of the hinge.

[0034] In more detail, the fixing element 2 comprises a fixing plate 8 from which the side walls 6 extend. A plurality of openings 9 are defined on the periphery of the fixing plate 8 for the insertion of corresponding elements 10, such as screws or the like, for connection to a piece of furniture. In the preferred embodiment shown, the fixing plate 8 has a central opening 11, since the fixing element itself is obtained by folding a blank made of punched sheet metal, and the side walls 6 are obtained by respective flanges precut and folded by 90° relative to the original arrangement of the blank. However, the possibility is not excluded that the fixing element 2 has a continuous fixing plate 8 to which the side walls 6 are welded and / or that different machining techniques can be used to obtain the fixing element.

[0035] Furthermore, the support element 3 comprises two connecting plates 12 between the wings 7. In the preferred embodiment shown, the support element 3 is also obtained by folding a blank of punched metal sheet, but alternative embodiments are not excluded.

[0036] Advantageously, the actuating device 5 is arranged at the longitudinal center plane P. Preferably, the actuating device 5 is arranged at one of the two longitudinal ends of the base 1 along the longitudinal center plane P so as to be easily accessible in use and to facilitate the correct movement of the support element 3 relative to the fixing element 2. In use, this longitudinal end of the base 1 is designed to be accessible from the outside of the hinge 100.

[0037] The actuating device 5 comprises an eccentric pivot 13 which is engaged in a rotatable manner in a seat 14 associated with the fixing element 2 and which is housed so as to be movable in a slot 15 substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction L and associated with the support element 3. The seat 14 is defined on the fixing plate 8 at a longitudinal centre plane P. The transverse slot 15 is defined in one of the connecting plates 12.

[0038] The eccentric pivot 13 comprises a cylindrical stem 13 a engaged in rotation in the seat 14 and a rounded head 13 b offset relative to the stem and movable in a transverse slot 15 .

[0039] Conveniently, the rounded head 13b has a minimal footprint other than the thickness of the connecting element 12 defining the transverse slot 15 so as not to interfere with the components of the hinge 100 in the open and closed configurations in use.

[0040] The longitudinal dimension of the transverse groove 15 is substantially the same as the diameter of the circular head 13b, while the transverse extension dimension of the transverse groove is larger.

[0041] The circular head 13b abuts against two diametrically opposite portions of the periphery of the transverse groove 15 at the longitudinal center plane P ( Figure 7 and Figure 8 ), thereby actuating the sliding of the supporting element 3 relative to the fixing element 2.

[0042] The eccentric pivot 13 comprises a manipulation device 16 for actuating the eccentric pivot in rotation relative to the seat 14. The manipulation device 16 may comprise a coupling seat which may be associated with a tool for actuating the eccentric pivot 13 in rotation.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the operating device 16 is composed of a linear recess defined on the circular head 13b of the eccentric pivot 13 for inserting a flat-head screwdriver or the like, but the operating device can have a cross-head recess or a hexagonal socket for connecting with different tools that actuate the pivot in a rotational manner.

[0044] By changing the angular configuration of the eccentric pivot 13, the relative position of the support element 3 with respect to the fixed element 2 can be changed. When the base 1 is integrated in the hinge 100, by such adjustment, the position of the hinge with respect to the fixed element 2 can be changed, thereby changing the position of the furniture parts C1 and C2 between which the hinge is mounted, such as Figure 5 to Figure 6 and Figures 9 and 10 As shown in the figures, which show the hinge 100 in the open configuration, the distance between the parts C1 and C2 can be between a maximum value D and a minimum value D according to the angular configuration of the eccentric pivot 13 (which can vary in the range of 0° to 180°). max With the minimum value D min Changes between.

[0045] The base 1 comprises at least one pair of holes 17', each of which is associated with one wing 7 and which are aligned with each other transversely to the longitudinal direction L for the insertion of at least one corresponding connecting pivot 18' associated with one of the following components of the hinge 100: an articulated rod of one of the articulated quadrilateral structures 101 and 103 of the hinge, a spring of an elastic device or a damping element of a damping device.

[0046] The at least one connecting pivot 18 ′ can be, for example, the pivot of an articulated rod of one of the articulated quadrilaterals 101 and 103 of the hinge 100 , or an adjacent pivot of a spring of an elastic device or a damping element of a damping device.

[0047] The number and distribution of pairs of holes along the wing 7 may vary depending on the type of hinge 100 associated with the base 1 .

[0048] In the embodiment shown, there are three pairs of holes 17 ′, 17 ″ and 17 ′″, into which respective connecting pivots 18 ′, 18 ″ and 18 ′″ are inserted.

[0049] Preferably, the base 1 comprises at least one pair of longitudinal elongated grooves 19', each of which is associated with a corresponding side wall 6 and which are mutually aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction L and arranged at the at least one pair of holes 17'. In this case, at least one connecting pivot 18' is inserted through the side wall 6 at two opposite ends to each other, so as to prevent the support element 3 from being separated from the fixing element 2 after assembly.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, there are three pairs of slots 19 ′, 19 ″ and 19 ′″, each pair of which is located at a corresponding pair of holes 17 ′, 17 ″ and 17 ′″ and into which a corresponding connecting pivot 18 ′, 18 ″ and 18 ′″ is inserted.

[0051] An alternative embodiment is not excluded in which at least one connecting pivot 18 ′ does not project from the wing 7 , so that the side wall 6 does not have the above-mentioned groove.

[0052] Furthermore, the base 1 may comprise an abutment plate 20 for riveting the end of at least one connecting pivot 18', which abutment plate is arranged on the outside of one side wall 6 relative to the longitudinal centre plane P and which abutment plate is provided with at least one opening 24' through which the pivot is inserted.

[0053] Indeed, during assembly, if a connecting pivot with a single formed abutment head is used, it is necessary to carry out a riveting process on the other end, for which a peripheral abutment surface is required to achieve a correct deformation of this end of the pivot.

[0054] In the embodiment shown, the abutment plate 20 is provided with three openings 24 ′, 24 ″, 24 ′″, each of which corresponds to one of the connecting pivots 18 ′, 18 ″, 18 ′″.

[0055] Furthermore, the base 1 may comprise at least one tooth 21 extending from one side wall 6 or one wing 7 and being accommodated to be movable along a corresponding slot 22 substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and associated with the corresponding wing 7 or side wall 6, so as to prevent the fixing element 2 and the supporting element 3 from being separated.

[0056] Preferably, there are two teeth 21 , which are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre plane P and which are slidably engaged in respective slots 22 .

[0057] In the embodiment shown, the teeth 22 project from the side wall 6 towards the longitudinal centre plane P and engage in corresponding slots 22 defined on the wing 7 .

[0058] In particular, the teeth 21 may be obtained by means of flanges cut directly in the side wall 6 and folded inwards after assembly so as to engage in the corresponding slots.

[0059] The presence of a tooth 21 engaging in the corresponding slot 22 to prevent the fixing element 2 and the supporting element 3 from disengaging is particularly useful in the case where at least one connecting pivot 18' is only between the wings 7, but in any case, for example in the case where at least one connecting pivot 18' is inserted also through the side wall 6 and the adjacent plate 20 (if present), the tooth also performs a safety function.

[0060] The abutment plate 20 may have a recess 23 at the corresponding slot 22 of the side wall 6 to make the corresponding tooth 21 visible and accessible.

[0061] In practice, it has been found that the invention as described achieves the intended aim and objects and in particular attention should be paid to the fact that the base according to the invention has parts that are easy to provide and assemble and that it allows easy and reliable adjustment of the hinge during assembly.

[0062] Furthermore, the base according to the present invention can be easily adapted to many different types of hinges with only minimal structural adjustments.

[0063] Finally, the base according to the invention is compact and does not significantly modify the bulk and profile of the hinge with which it is integrated, thereby not complicating its installation.

[0064] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0065] Moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0066] In practice, the materials used, as well as the possible dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements, without thereby departing from the scope of protection claimed herein.

[0067] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102022000015300 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0068] In case technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals, these are included only to improve the intelligibility of the claims and therefore, these reference numerals have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by these reference numerals by way of example.

Claims

1. An adjustable base (1) for mounting a hinge for furniture, the base comprising: - a fixing element (2) capable of being associated with a piece of furniture, - a supporting element (3) capable of being associated with at least one component of the hinge (100), - a guide device (4) for guiding the support element (3) to be slidably movable relative to the fixing element (2) along the longitudinal direction (L), - an actuating device (5) for actuating the supporting element (3) to be slidably movable relative to the fixing element (2) along the longitudinal direction (L), Characterized in that the fixing element (2) comprises a pair of side walls (6), the pair of side walls being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and being arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal center plane (P), and wherein the supporting element (3) comprises a pair of wings (7), the pair of wings being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and being arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center plane (P) and being arranged between the side walls (6), each of the wings (7) being slidably associated with the corresponding side wall (6) to define the guide device (4).

2. The base (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The actuating device (5) is arranged at the longitudinal center plane (P).

3. The base (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The actuating device (5) is arranged at a longitudinal end of the base.

4. Base (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The actuating device (5) comprises an eccentric pivot (13) which is engaged in a rotational manner in a seat (14) associated with the fixing element (2) and which is accommodated so as to be movable in a slot (15) substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction (L) and associated with the supporting element (3).

5. The base (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The eccentric pivot (13) comprises a manipulation device (16) for actuating the eccentric pivot in a rotational manner relative to the seat (14).

6. The base (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that: The manipulator device (16) comprises a coupling seat which can be associated with a tool for actuating the eccentric pivot (13) in a rotational manner.

7. Base (1) according to at least one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base comprises at least one pair of holes (17', 17'', 17'''), each of the holes being associated with one of the wings (7) and being aligned with each other transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) for insertion of a corresponding at least one connecting pivot (18', 18'', 18''') of at least one component of the hinge (100).

8. The base (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The base comprises at least one pair of longitudinal elongated grooves (19', 19'', 19'''), each of the longitudinal elongated grooves being associated with one of the side walls (6), and the at least one pair of longitudinal elongated grooves being aligned with each other transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) and arranged at the at least one pair of holes (17', 17'', 17'''), and the at least one connecting pivot (18', 18'', 18''') being inserted into the at least one pair of longitudinal elongated grooves and passing through the side wall (6).

9. The base (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The base comprises an abutment plate (20) for riveting the end of the at least one connecting pivot (18', 18", 18'"), the abutment plate being arranged on the outside of one of the side walls (6) relative to the longitudinal center plane (P) and the abutment plate being provided with at least one opening (24', 24", 24'"), the at least one connecting pivot being inserted through the abutment plate.

10. Base (1) according to at least one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base comprises at least one tooth (21), which extends from one of the side walls (6) or one of the wings (7), and the at least one tooth is accommodated to be movable along a corresponding at least one slot (22), which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and is associated with the corresponding wing (7) or the side wall (6) to prevent the fixing element (2) and the supporting element (3) from separating.

11. A hinge (100) for furniture, the hinge comprising: A first articulated quadrilateral structure (101) is provided with a first connecting element (102), which can be associated with a first part (C1) of the furniture; and a second articulated quadrilateral structure (103) is provided with a second connecting element (104), which can be associated with a second part (C2) of the furniture, wherein the hinge (100) is suitable for alternately presenting an open configuration and a closed configuration, and is characterized in that at least one of the connecting elements (102, 104) includes a base (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10.

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