A built-in cushion hinge

Abstract

The utility model discloses a built-in buffer hinge which comprises a hinge base and a hinge arm, the hinge base and the hinge arm are hinged through a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, a mounting seat is mounted in the hinge base, a sliding channel is arranged between the mounting seat and the inner bottom surface of the hinge base, a transmission member is slidingly mounted in the sliding channel, the upper end of the transmission member is provided with a driving plate which extends upwards and is arranged to extend through the mounting seat to the cup opening direction of the hinge base, a driving groove is formed in the first connecting rod, when the hinge is closed to a set angle, the driving plate extends into the driving groove and is pressed against the edge of the driving groove, thereby pushing the driving plate to slide in the sliding channel, a damper is further arranged between the transmission member and the hinge base, the damper slows down the movement speed of the transmission member and generates a buffer force when the hinge is closed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hardware hinge technology, specifically a built-in buffer hinge. Background Technology

[0002] Hinges, as a crucial connecting hardware component, are widely used in furniture or building components such as cabinets, wardrobes, doors, and windows to connect and open / close cabinet doors and panels to the cabinet body and frame. Traditional hinges only fulfill basic opening and closing functions, but during use, the door panel can easily generate significant impact force and noise due to inertia when closing, which not only affects the user experience but may also damage the furniture itself in the long run.

[0003] As people's demands for quality of life continue to rise, hinges with buffering or damping functions have emerged. These buffer hinges can provide a certain amount of resistance in the final stage of the door's closing stroke, allowing the door to close slowly and smoothly. This effectively avoids violent collisions between the door and the cabinet, significantly reduces noise, extends the lifespan of the furniture, and enhances the comfort and sophistication of the user experience.

[0004] Currently, the implementation of the buffer mechanism in commonly available soft-close hinges varies widely. One common design integrates or installs the buffer damping mechanism, such as a hydraulic damping cylinder, friction damper, or pneumatic damper, directly inside the hinge arm. The hinge arm, as a key component connecting the hinge seat and fitting into the cabinet side panel, has its internal space used to house the buffer mechanism components.

[0005] However, existing designs that place the buffer mechanism within the hinge arm have some inherent drawbacks: 1. To accommodate the buffer mechanism and its necessary transmission components, the overall dimensions of the hinge arm, especially its thickness and width, must be increased accordingly. This makes the hinge arm appear rather bulky and cumbersome.

[0006] 2. Bulky hinges, once installed on furniture, appear prominent and out of place, especially when the door is open or viewed from certain angles, disrupting the overall simplicity and aesthetics of the furniture design. For furniture that pursues a minimalist, modern, or slim design, these large hinges are particularly undesirable, failing to meet the demands of high-end users for a refined appearance.

[0007] 3. In some cases, an overly large hinge arm may encroach on the effective space inside the cabinet, or require a larger door gap during installation, thus limiting the overall structural design of the furniture.

[0008] 4. Integrating a buffer mechanism within the limited space of the hinge arm can sometimes lead to a more complex structural design and higher precision requirements for component manufacturing, which may increase production costs and assembly difficulty. Therefore, further improvements are necessary. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a built-in buffer hinge that is simple in structure, aesthetically pleasing, and has excellent buffering effect.

[0010] The purpose of this utility model is achieved through the following means: a built-in buffer hinge, which includes a hinge seat and a hinge arm. The hinge seat and the hinge arm are hinged together by a first link and a second link. The first link and the second link rotate relative to the hinge seat and the hinge arm to realize the opening and closing of the hinge. A mounting seat is installed in the hinge seat. A slide is provided between the mounting seat and the inner bottom surface of the hinge seat. The transmission component is slidably installed in the slide.

[0011] The transmission component has a drive plate extending upward from its upper end surface, and the drive plate extends through the mounting base toward the cup opening of the hinge seat.

[0012] The first connecting rod is provided with a drive groove. When the hinge is closed to a set angle, the drive plate extends into the drive groove and presses against the edge of the drive groove, pushing the drive plate to slide in the slide.

[0013] A damper is also provided between the transmission component and the hinge seat. The damper slows down the movement speed of the transmission component and generates a buffer force when the hinge closes.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom of the mounting base extends downward with several connecting posts, which are supported on the inner bottom of the hinge base, and the connecting posts create a slide between the mounting base and the inner bottom of the hinge base.

[0015] Furthermore: a positioning post extends downward from the bottom of the connecting post, and a positioning hole is provided on the hinge seat, with the positioning post inserted into the positioning hole.

[0016] Furthermore: the side wall of the mounting base is provided with several buckles, and the side wall of the hinge base is provided with several buckle holes. The mounting base is fixed in the buckles by being snapped into the buckle holes.

[0017] Furthermore, a connecting plate extends outward from one side of the transmission component, and the connecting plate is connected to the damper.

[0018] Furthermore, the damper is a self-resetting hydraulic damping cylinder.

[0019] Furthermore, the side of the drive plate is also provided with an extrusion slope, which contacts and extrudes the edge of the drive groove.

[0020] Furthermore, the drive plate is formed by pressing the transmission component body material upwards to create a folded edge.

[0021] Furthermore, the surface of the drive plate is covered with a wear-resistant sleeve.

[0022] Furthermore, the opening of the drive groove is covered with a silencing sleeve, which contacts the drive plate and drives the transmission component to move.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: 1. Simple structure, low production cost, and improved market competitiveness.

[0024] 2. This utility model integrates the main buffer components, including the mounting base, slide rail, transmission component, drive plate, and damper, into the hinge base. This design completely changes the problem of traditional buffer hinges, which suffer from bulky and cumbersome hinge arms due to the buffer mechanism being placed inside the hinge arm. With this utility model, the hinge arm can be designed to be thinner and more compact, resulting in a simpler and more refined overall appearance. When installed on furniture, it will not appear obtrusive, greatly enhancing the overall aesthetic effect and sense of quality of the furniture, and meeting the modern home's pursuit of simple and beautiful design.

[0025] 3. Because the buffer mechanism is built into the hinge base, a component that typically has a certain amount of space, the entire hinge structure becomes more compact. This design optimizes the spatial layout of the hinge components, avoids additional encroachment on the interior space of the cabinet, and may also reduce special requirements for door gaps, thus improving the flexibility of furniture design and space utilization.

[0026] 4. Through the precise linkage between the drive groove on the first connecting rod and the drive plate on the transmission component when the hinge is closed to a specific angle, the sliding of the transmission component can be reliably triggered. The movement of the transmission component then drives the damper to work, effectively slowing down the closing speed of the door panel, producing a smooth and gentle buffering effect, avoiding collision impact and noise between the door panel and the cabinet, and improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge in the open state in this utility model.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge in the closed state in this utility model.

[0029] Figure 3 , 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of this utility model with the hinge in the open state.

[0030] Figure 5 , 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of this utility model with the hinge in the closed state.

[0031] Figure 7 , 8 This is an exploded view of the structure of this utility model.

[0032] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge seat structure in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A built-in buffer hinge includes a hinge base 1 and a hinge arm 2. The hinge base 1 and the hinge arm 2 are hinged together by a first connecting rod 3 and a second connecting rod 4. The first connecting rod 3 and the second connecting rod 4 rotate relative to the hinge base 1 and the hinge arm 2 to realize the opening and closing of the hinge. A mounting base 5 is installed in the hinge base 1. A slide rail 6 is provided between the mounting base 5 and the inner bottom surface of the hinge base 1. A transmission component 7 is slidably installed in the slide rail 6. A drive plate 71 is provided with an upwardly extending upper end surface of the transmission component 7. The drive plate 71 extends through the mounting base 5 towards the cup-shaped opening of the hinge base 1. A drive groove 31 is provided on the first connecting rod 3. When the hinge is closed to a set angle, the drive plate 71 extends into the drive groove 31 and presses against the edge of the drive groove 31, pushing the drive plate 71 to slide in the slide rail 6. A damper 8 is also provided between the transmission component 7 and the hinge base 1. The damper 8 slows down the movement speed of the transmission component 7 and generates a buffering force when the hinge is closed.

[0034] In this embodiment, when the hinge moves from the open state to the closed state, the hinge arm 2 rotates relative to the hinge seat 1, driving the first link 3 and the second link 4 to move. When the hinge closes to a preset specific angle, for example, close to a certain angle before fully closing, the drive groove 31 on the first link 3 will contact the drive plate 71. As the hinge continues to close, the edge of the drive groove 31 will press against the drive plate 71. Since the drive plate 71 is part of the transmission component 7, and the transmission component 7 can slide in the slide rail 6 inside the hinge seat 1, the pressing force will push the drive plate 71 and the transmission component 7 connected to it to slide towards the side of the hinge seat 1 in the slide rail 6. At the same time, the damper 8 provided between the transmission component 7 and the hinge seat 1 starts to work, generating resistance to the sliding of the transmission component 7, thereby slowing down the movement speed of the transmission component 7. Since the closing action of the hinge is transmitted through the first link 3 and ultimately acts on the door panel, the slowing down of the movement speed of the transmission component 7 is converted into a buffer for the closing action of the hinge, so that the door panel can close slowly and smoothly.

[0035] Compared to traditional technologies, this design cleverly integrates the entire buffer mechanism, including the transmission components, drive plate, and damper, into the hinge base 1, rather than within the traditional hinge arm. This allows the hinge arm 2 to be designed to be thinner and more compact, greatly enhancing the aesthetics of the hinge and even the entire furniture, and solving the problem of existing technologies where the hinge arm appears bulky and affects aesthetics due to the built-in buffer mechanism.

[0036] Meanwhile, through the cooperation between the drive groove 31 on the first link 3 and the drive plate 71, the buffer mechanism is activated only when the hinge is closed to a specific angle, ensuring that the buffering effect occurs at the most needed end of the stroke. This fully utilizes the internal space of the hinge seat 1, making the entire hinge structure more compact.

[0037] In one embodiment, the bottom of the mounting base 5 extends downward with a plurality of connecting posts 51, which are supported on the inner bottom of the hinge base 1, and the connecting posts 51 separate a slide 6 between the mounting base 5 and the inner bottom of the hinge base 1.

[0038] The mounting base 5 serves as a crucial foundation for the buffer mechanism within the hinge seat 1. Several connecting posts 51 at its base extend downwards, directly supporting the inner bottom surface of the hinge seat 1. The height of these connecting posts 51 determines the distance between the main body of the mounting base 5 and the inner bottom surface of the hinge seat 1. This gap, separated by the connecting posts 51 and located below the mounting base 5 and above the inner bottom surface of the hinge seat 1, constitutes the slide rail 6 for the sliding of the transmission component 7.

[0039] The connecting column 51 directly defines the slide 6 between the inner bottom surfaces of the mounting base 5 and the hinge base 1. The structure is simple, and the height of the slide is easy to achieve and control, ensuring the sliding space of the transmission component 7. The connecting column 51 provides stable support for the mounting base 5, ensuring that the position of the mounting base 5 within the hinge base 1 is relatively fixed, which is beneficial to the stable operation of the buffer mechanism.

[0040] In one embodiment, a positioning post 52 extends downward from the bottom of the connecting post 51, and a positioning hole 11 is provided on the hinge seat 1, with the positioning post 52 inserted into the positioning hole 11.

[0041] To further precisely fix the position of the mounting base 5 within the hinge seat 1 and prevent unnecessary displacement or rotation during use, a positioning post 52 with a smaller diameter or cross-section extends downward from the bottom of the connecting post 51. Correspondingly, a positioning hole 11 with a matching shape and size is pre-set in the inner bottom of the hinge seat 1. During assembly, the positioning post 52 is inserted into the positioning hole 11. Through this insertion fit, precise positioning and stable installation of the mounting base 5 within the hinge seat 1 are achieved.

[0042] This pin-hole fit ensures the accuracy of the mounting base 5's planar position within the hinge base 1 and prevents it from rotating, making the slide rail 6 more stable. This facilitates the smooth sliding of the transmission component 7 and the reliable operation of the entire buffer mechanism.

[0043] In one embodiment, the side wall of the mounting base 5 is provided with a plurality of buckles 53, and the side wall of the hinge base 1 is provided with a plurality of buckle holes 12. The mounting base 5 is fixed by being snapped into the buckle holes 12 by the buckles 53.

[0044] The mounting base 5 features a resilient buckle 53 on its side wall, while a corresponding buckle hole 12 is provided on the inner side wall of the hinge base 1. When the mounting base 5 is inserted into the hinge base 1, the buckle 53 temporarily deforms and contracts under pressure. When the mounting base 5 reaches the predetermined position, the buckle 53 returns to its original shape due to its elasticity and snaps into the buckle hole 12, thus firmly fixing the mounting base 5 inside the hinge base 1. This snap-fit ​​connection method is quick and convenient to assemble, requires no additional fasteners, and effectively prevents axial movement and radial loosening of the mounting base 5.

[0045] In one embodiment, a connecting plate 72 extends outward from one side of the transmission member 7, and the connecting plate 72 is connected to the damper 8. To enable the damper 8 to dampen the movement of the transmission member 7, the transmission member 7 needs to be effectively connected to the damper 8 for force transmission. In this embodiment, a connecting plate 72 extends outward from one side of the transmission member 7. This connecting plate 72 serves as a dedicated connection interface for connecting to the piston rod end or cylinder end of the damper 8. When the transmission member 7 slides, the motion is transmitted to the damper 8 through the connecting plate 72, and the damping medium inside the damper 8 generates a reaction force against this motion, thereby achieving buffering.

[0046] In one embodiment, the damper 8 is a self-resetting hydraulic damping cylinder. The hydraulic damping cylinder moves with a piston within a cylinder filled with hydraulic oil. The hydraulic oil generates damping force as it flows through a throttling orifice or gap. When the transmission component 7 pushes the piston of the damper, the damping effect of the hydraulic oil slows down the speed of the transmission component 7, thus achieving buffering. The "self-resetting" function means that when the external force, i.e., the compressive force on the drive plate 71, is released—for example, when the hinge reopens and the drive plate 71 disengages from the drive groove 31—the piston rod or cylinder of the damper can automatically return to its initial position under the action of an internal spring or other reset mechanism, causing the transmission component 7 to also reset, preparing for the next buffering action.

[0047] In one embodiment, the side of the drive plate 71 is also provided with an inclined extrusion surface 73, which contacts and extrudes the edge of the drive groove 31.

[0048] In this embodiment, to optimize the contact and pressing process between the drive plate 71 and the edge of the drive groove 31 on the first connecting rod 3, an inclined pressing slope 73 is specially provided on the side where the drive plate 71 and the edge of the drive groove 31 will make contact. When the hinge closes and the edge of the drive groove 31 approaches the drive plate 71, it first contacts this pressing slope 73. As the hinge continues to close, the edge of the drive groove 31 will gradually apply pressure along this slope, smoothly converting the vertical closing motion component into a horizontal pushing force on the drive plate 71, which can push the transmission member 7 to slide within the slide rail 6.

[0049] The inclined contact can transform instantaneous impact force into a gradual thrust, making the start-up of the drive plate 71 smoother, reducing hard collisions and impacts between components, and helping to reduce noise. At the same time, the gentle contact and force transmission process can reduce wear on the edges of the drive plate 71 and the drive groove 31, extending the service life of these key components.

[0050] In one embodiment, the drive plate 71 is a folded edge formed by stamping the material of the transmission component 7 upwards. The drive plate 71 is not a separate part welded to the transmission component 7, but rather formed directly from the sheet metal of the transmission component 7 itself, by bending a portion of the transmission component 7 upwards through a stamping process. In this way, the drive plate 71 and the transmission component 7 become an integral structure.

[0051] The one-piece stamping process avoids the problems of insufficient connection strength or stress concentration at connection points that may exist with welding or riveting, making the connection between the drive plate 71 and the transmission component 7 more robust and the overall structure stronger. At the same time, it reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, simplifies the manufacturing process, and helps to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.

[0052] In one embodiment, the surface of the drive plate 71 is covered with a wear-resistant sleeve 74.

[0053] The drive plate 71, particularly its extrusion slope 73 or the surface in contact with the drive groove 31, experiences friction and extrusion against the edge of the drive groove 31 during repeated opening and closing of the hinge. To improve its wear resistance and extend its service life, a wear-resistant sleeve 74 is applied to the surface or key contact area of ​​the drive plate 71. This wear-resistant sleeve 74 can be made of a material with excellent wear resistance, such as nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, or a surface-hardened metal sheet.

[0054] The wear-resistant sleeve 74 directly bears the friction and compression with the drive groove 31, protecting the material of the drive plate 71 body and significantly improving the wear resistance of the drive plate 71, thereby extending the service life of the entire buffer mechanism and even the hinge.

[0055] Furthermore, the choice of wear-resistant sleeve material can reduce the coefficient of friction between the drive plate 71 and the drive groove 31, resulting in smoother sliding. Additionally, the wear-resistant sleeve is designed as a replaceable part; when it wears out, only the wear-resistant sleeve needs to be replaced, reducing maintenance costs.

[0056] In one embodiment, a silencing sleeve 32 is provided at the opening of the drive groove 31. The silencing sleeve contacts the drive plate 71 and drives the transmission component 7 to move.

[0057] To further reduce noise that may be generated during the hinge's buffered start-up process, a sound-dampening sleeve 32 is applied to the edge of the drive groove 31 of the first link 3, i.e., the part that contacts and presses against the drive plate 71. This sound-dampening sleeve 32 is typically made of a material with a certain degree of elasticity and vibration absorption, such as rubber or soft plastic. When the pressing bevel 73 / wear-resistant sleeve 74 on the drive plate 71 contacts the drive groove 31, it actually contacts and presses against this sound-dampening sleeve 32. The presence of the sound-dampening sleeve 32 can buffer the impact when the two come into contact and absorb vibration, thereby reducing noise generation. The drive plate 71 indirectly presses the edge of the drive groove 31 by pressing against the sound-dampening sleeve 32, thereby driving the transmission component 7 to move.

[0058] The elasticity and vibration absorption properties of the silent sleeve 32 can effectively absorb the impact energy when the drive plate 71 contacts the drive groove 31, reduce the noise generated by hard collisions, and make the hinge opening and closing process quieter.

[0059] The silent sleeve 32 also provides some protection for the edges of the drive groove 31 and the drive plate 71, reducing direct hard friction between them. Quiet operation further enhances the comfort and premium feel of the furniture.

[0060] In summary, the core working principle of the built-in buffer hinge disclosed in this utility model is to integrate a sophisticated buffer mechanism completely inside the hinge seat 1 of the hinge, and to trigger the buffer mechanism by the specific movement of the connecting rod during the opening and closing of the hinge.

[0061] Specifically, when the door panel equipped with this hinge moves from the open state to the closed state:

[0062] Linkage movement and trigger preparation: The hinge arm 2 drives the first link 3 and the second link 4 to rotate relative to the hinge seat 1. The drive groove 31 on the first link 3 also moves accordingly. At the same time, inside the hinge seat 1, the transmission component 7 is in a ready state through the drive plate 71 extending upward therefrom, which passes through the opening of the mounting base 5.

[0063] Buffer start: When the hinge is closed to the preset buffer start angle, the edge of the drive groove 31 on the first link 3 begins to contact and press against the drive plate 71.

[0064] The continuous pressure exerted by the drive groove 31 on the drive plate 71 will push the drive plate 71 and the transmission component 7 fixed thereto to slide in the pre-set slide rail 6 within the hinge seat 1. The transmission component 7 is connected to the damper 8 through a structure such as the connecting plate 72. The sliding of the transmission component 7 will force the damper 8 to work, and the damping force generated by the damper 8 will react on the transmission component 7, significantly slowing down the sliding speed of the transmission component 7.

[0065] Buffering and slow closing of the door panel: Since the movement of the transmission component 7 is generated by the driving force of the first link 3, the slowdown of the movement speed of the transmission component 7 will eventually be converted into a blockage of the entire hinge closing action, so that the door panel can close slowly and smoothly in the final stage of the closing stroke, avoiding noise and impact caused by direct collision.

[0066] Mechanism reset: When the door panel is opened again, the drive plate 71 separates from the drive groove 31 and is no longer subjected to compressive force. If the damper 8 is self-resetting, it will automatically push the transmission component 7 back to its initial position, preparing for the next buffering action.

[0067] By cleverly arranging the buffer mechanism within the hinge seat 1 and optimizing the design of each component, this utility model not only achieves a reliable buffering function, but also effectively solves the problem of the large size of the hinge arm and its impact on aesthetics caused by placing the buffer mechanism in the hinge arm in the prior art. At the same time, by adopting wear-resistant and noise-reducing measures, the durability and comfort of the hinge are improved, so it can be widely promoted and used.

[0068] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model.

Claims

1. A built-in buffer hinge, comprising a hinge seat (1) and a hinge arm (2), wherein the hinge seat (1) and the hinge arm (2) are hinged together by a first connecting rod (3) and a second connecting rod (4), the first connecting rod (3) and the second connecting rod (4) rotating relative to the hinge seat (1) and the hinge arm (2) to realize the opening and closing of the hinge, characterized in that: The hinge seat (1) is equipped with a mounting seat (5), and a slide rail (6) is provided between the mounting seat (5) and the inner bottom surface of the hinge seat (1). The transmission component (7) is slidably installed in the slide rail (6). The transmission component (7) has a drive plate (71) extending upward from its upper end. The drive plate (71) passes through the mounting base (5) and extends towards the cup opening of the hinge base (1). The first link (3) is provided with a drive groove (31). When the hinge is closed to a set angle, the drive plate (71) extends into the drive groove (31) and presses against the edge of the drive groove (31), pushing the drive plate (71) to slide in the slide (6). A damper (8) is also provided between the transmission component (7) and the hinge seat (1). The damper (8) slows down the movement speed of the transmission component (7) and generates a buffer force when the hinge is closed.

2. The built-in buffer hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the mounting base (5) extends downward with several connecting posts (51), which are supported on the inner bottom of the hinge base (1). The connecting posts (51) create a slide (6) between the mounting base (5) and the inner bottom of the hinge base (1).

3. The built-in buffer hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the connecting post (51) extends downward to form a positioning post (52), and the hinge seat (1) is provided with a positioning hole (11), in which the positioning post (52) is inserted.

4. The built-in buffer hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting base (5) has several buckles (53) on its side wall, and the hinge base (1) has several buckle holes (12) on its side wall. The mounting base (5) is fixed in the buckle holes (12) by the buckles (53).

5. A built-in buffer hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting plate (72) extends outward from one side of the transmission component (7), and the connecting plate (72) is connected to the damper (8).

6. A built-in buffer hinge according to any one of claims 1 or 5, characterized in that: The damper (8) is a self-resetting hydraulic damping cylinder.

7. A built-in buffer hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side of the drive plate (71) is also provided with an extrusion slope (73), which is in contact with the edge of the drive groove (31) and is extruded.

8. A built-in buffer hinge according to any one of claims 1 or 7, characterized in that: The drive plate (71) is formed by pressing the material of the transmission component (7) upwards to form a folded edge.

9. A built-in buffer hinge according to any one of claims 1 or 7, characterized in that: The surface of the drive plate (71) is covered with a wear-resistant sleeve (74).

10. A built-in buffer hinge according to any one of claims 1 or 7, characterized in that: The opening of the drive groove (31) is covered with a silent sleeve (32), which contacts the drive plate (71) and drives the transmission component (7) to move.

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