Door hinge and fixing screw

Abstract

Door hinge (1) with a first hinge part (2), a second hinge part (3) and a hinge arrangement (4) pivotally connecting the first hinge part (2) to the second hinge part (3), with a cover (5) arranged on the first hinge part (2) and having a through-opening (6), and with a fastening screw (7) formed about a longitudinal axis (L), which extends through the through-opening (6) and engages with an external thread (7a) in an associated internal thread (2e) of the first hinge part (2), characterized in that the external thread (7a) is formed from a, in particular elastic, plastic material and has dimensions which enable insertion into the internal thread (2e).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door hinge comprising a first hinge part, a second hinge part, and a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first hinge part to the second hinge part. The door hinge further comprises a cover arranged on the first hinge part and having a through-opening. Furthermore, the door hinge has a fastening screw formed around a longitudinal axis, which extends through the through-opening and engages with an external thread into an associated internal thread of the first hinge part. The invention further relates to a fastening screw provided for this purpose.

[0002] Door hinges are used to pivotally attach a door leaf to a door opening. For this purpose, one of the hinge parts is attached to the door leaf, while the other hinge part is secured to the edge surrounding the door opening. The pivoting function of the hinge arrangement allows the door leaf to be pivoted between a closed position, which at least partially closes the door opening, and an open position, which exposes the door opening. The present invention is not limited to a specific design of the hinge arrangement. In particular, it is suitable for multiple joint arrangements, e.g., with five or seven pivot axes. These are used particularly for concealed door hinges. In principle, however, the invention can also be used for simple door hinges, e.g., so-called roller hinges.

[0003] Particularly in the premium segment, the demands placed on door hinges have steadily increased in recent years. To meet these demands, they are often equipped with additional devices that complement and / or enhance the simple pivoting function. Modern door hinges, for example, often have an adjustment function. The adjustment devices used for this purpose enable, in particular, the adjustment of the relative position of the door leaf at the door opening in the vertical direction, lateral direction, and / or pressure direction. Tilting a pivot axis in one or more spatial directions is also possible. Due to the increasing electrification and automation in interiors, door hinges are regularly also equipped with cables and / or sensors. These can also constitute additional devices on a door hinge.

[0004] However, all additional devices have one thing in common: they generally only need to be freely accessible for initial setup during assembly and, if necessary, for maintenance work at a later date. During daily operation, however, they are best protected and concealed by a cover.

[0005] The invention is based in particular on a door hinge with at least one additional device, in particular an adjusting device formed on the first hinge part and / or a line running on the first hinge part, which is at least partially covered by the cover in the assembled state.

[0006] As the number of additional devices increases, so do the covers required to protect them. The effort required to install the covers also increases significantly, which is particularly impractical when, depending on the design of the door hinge, multiple covers are required—especially multiple covers per hinge section. Installing and securing these individually represents a considerable amount of work, which is further increased by the fact that two or more door hinges are generally required to secure a door leaf to a door opening.

[0007] Against this background, the invention is based on the object of simplifying the installation of the cover on a door hinge. The subject matter of the invention and the solution to this object are a door hinge according to claim 1 and a fastening screw according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent subclaims.

[0008] Based on the generic door hinge, the invention provides that the external thread is formed from a, in particular elastic, plastic material and has dimensions that enable (in particular rotationally non-rotatable) insertion into the internal thread. Insertion is provided in particular along the longitudinal axis of the fastening screw. The design according to the invention makes it possible for the fastening screw to not have to be laboriously screwed into the internal thread, but rather to be inserted into the internal thread under the action of force in an insertion direction - parallel to the longitudinal axis. This significantly shortens the assembly time - especially when a large number of fastening screws are involved - which simplifies the assembly process overall.At the same time, the formation of an external thread engaging with the internal thread allows the fastening screw to be tightened more firmly by a rotating movement around the longitudinal axis or to be dismantled at a later time, for example for maintenance purposes.

[0009] The shape of the external thread, the elasticity of the external thread and the entire fastening screw on the one hand, and the design of the internal thread on the other hand, are coordinated in such a way that a deformation of the external thread can be achieved with minimal force, in particular no more than 100 N, preferably no more than 70 N, so that insertion is possible. In this process, the thread flanks of the external thread deform so that they can be guided past the thread flanks of the internal thread.

[0010] In the context of the present invention, deformable or elastically deformed means that - e.g., the threaded section or the entire fastening screw - can be significantly deformed by a small manual force of, in particular, no more than 100 N, in particular no more than 70 N. Significant means, in particular, that the degree of deformation differs depending on the engagement or non-engagement of two objects, e.g., between the internal thread and the external thread. While, for example, the undeformed internal thread is in positive engagement with the external thread, this engagement is not present with a significantly deformed internal thread.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the internal thread is introduced directly into the (preferably metallic) solid material of the first hinge part—in particular, cast or cut into it. Thus, the first hinge part is unchanged from a conventional door hinge with a metallic and non-deformable fastening screw. The invention can therefore be used particularly easily during ongoing operation without incurring additional investment costs for the door hinge manufacturer. Particularly preferably, the internal thread is designed as a metric ISO thread. The nominal diameter of the internal thread expediently corresponds to the nominal diameter of the external thread.

[0012] Preferably, the external thread has a pitch that differs from the pitch of the internal thread. As a result, not all thread flanks of the internal thread engage the flanks of the external thread simultaneously during insertion. Particularly preferably, the pitch of the external thread is larger, in particular 5% to 10% larger, than the pitch of the internal thread.

[0013] The fastening screw advantageously has a screw head at one end. This is equipped with a tool holder and serves to transmit force—particularly for a rotary movement around the longitudinal axis. The tool holder can be designed, in particular, as a slotted, Phillips, hexagon socket, or hexalobular socket. To secure the cover, the screw head is oversized relative to the through hole. This ensures that it is supported positively on the cover when installed.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the screw head is designed as a countersunk head, which engages positively into the countersunk through hole and sits flush with the surface of the cover. This allows the fastening screw to be integrated into the door hinge particularly discreetly and without any obstructive protrusions.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, a particularly elastically deformable anti-loss device is formed between the screw head and the end of the fastening screw opposite the longitudinal axis. The anti-loss device also has an oversize relative to the through-hole, so that once positioned in the through-hole, the fastening screw cannot be separated from the cover without further deformation of the anti-loss device.

[0016] In addition to preventing the fastening screw from becoming lost, this has the additional advantage that the cover also lifts off when the fastening screw is removed from the internal thread, which in turn simplifies its removal. For practical purposes, the anti-loss device (at least in conjunction with the entire fastening screw) is oversized relative to the through hole.

[0017] Preferably, a thread-free, particularly cylindrical, shaft section is arranged between the screw head and the external thread. The anti-loss device is particularly preferably arranged in this thread-free shaft section of the fastening screw. This prevents unwanted interaction between the external thread and the anti-loss device.

[0018] Most preferably, the anti-loss device has at least one wing protruding radially from the longitudinal axis. Radial means that this wing—at least in the force-free, relaxed state—encloses an angle of more than 45°, preferably more than 75°, in particular approximately 90°, with the longitudinal axis.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the wing has a width that is no greater than the core diameter of the external thread. This is in particular smaller than the inner diameter of the through-hole, so that the thread core can be conveniently guided through the through-hole without deformation. By limiting the width of the wing to this value, the wing does not have to be deformed in the transverse direction (in which the width is measured) when guided through. The wing preferably has a width of 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0020] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the captive device comprises a plurality of, in particular similar, wings, which are particularly preferably arranged equidistantly around the circumference of the fastening screw. This allows the captive device to provide uniform support around the entire circumference. The division into several wings, which are independently connected to the fastening screw, simultaneously ensures the preferred deformability.

[0021] The plurality of vanes is most preferably arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the fastening screw. In particular, all vanes are arranged in a single rotationally symmetrical surface around the longitudinal axis—e.g., in a sectional plane perpendicular thereto.

[0022] Most preferably, the anti-loss device has a thickness of no more than 0.5 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, measured in the longitudinal direction. Appropriate dimensioning can ensure sufficient elasticity for conventional plastic materials.

[0023] The captive device advantageously has a straight or circular-arc-shaped edge at the end opposite the longitudinal axis. The circular arc shape is preferably formed concentrically around the longitudinal axis.

[0024] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the captive element and the external thread are made of a single material. The material can be, in particular, a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, in particular nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. According to a very particularly preferred embodiment, the entire fastening screw is made of a single material.

[0025] The plastic material of the external thread preferably has a modulus of elasticity of no more than 5 GPa. The modulus of elasticity is particularly preferably no more than 1 GPa. Within this range, sufficient deformability of the thread and, if applicable, the anti-loss device can be achieved. To ensure a secure hold, the modulus of elasticity has a value of at least 30 MPa, preferably at least 50 MPa.

[0026] In relation to the material surrounding the internal thread (the first band part), the elastic modulus of the plastic material is preferably at least a factor of 10 to 20 smaller.

[0027] The invention also relates to a fastening screw, in particular for a door hinge as described above. According to the invention, this fastening screw has an elastically deformable external thread. The elastic external thread allows the fastening screw to be inserted into an associated internal thread for particularly easy installation of a cover on a door hinge.

[0028] Particularly preferably, the thread has a preferred insertion direction. For this purpose, the external thread is preferably inclined counter to the insertion direction.

[0029] A front flank of the external thread oriented in the insertion direction forms a larger first angle with the insertion direction than the second angle formed by a rear flank of the external thread oriented opposite to the insertion direction. This type of thread, also known as a buttress thread, further facilitates insertion into an internal thread. However, a withdrawal movement is inhibited, similar to a barb.

[0030] The first angle is preferably greater than 100°, in particular between 100° and 120°, and most preferably approximately 110°. This significantly simplifies insertion while simultaneously ensuring the stability of the thread.

[0031] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the second angle is no more than 90°. Particularly preferably, the thread has an overhang with a second angle of less than 90°. This can enhance the effect of the barb.

[0032] Particularly preferably, the core diameter of the external thread to the nominal diameter is in a ratio of at most 2:3, preferably between 1:3 and 2:3, in particular approximately 1:2. The relative size of the thread flanks in relation to the core enables particularly good deformation of the flanks.

[0033] The invention is explained below with reference to figures illustrating only one exemplary embodiment. They show schematically: Fig. 1 a perspective exploded view of a door hinge according to the invention, Fig. 2A a longitudinal section through a fastening screw according to the invention and Fig. 2B a Fig. 2A corresponding frontal view.

[0034] The Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a door hinge 1 according to the invention with a first hinge part 2, a second hinge part 3 and a hinge arrangement 4 pivotally connecting the first hinge part 2 to the second hinge part 3.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the door hinge 1 is designed for a concealed arrangement, with the hinge assembly forming a so-called five-axis system. For this purpose, the hinge assembly 4 comprises two hinge brackets 4a, 4b pivotally connected to one another about a vertical pivot axis A, the opposite ends of which are mounted on the hinge parts 2, 3. The hinge brackets 4a, 4b are each mounted on associated receiving bodies 2a, 2b of the first hinge part 2 and 3a, 3b of the second hinge part 3.

[0036] To adjust the door hinge 1, the support bodies 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b on the hinge parts 2, 3 can be adjusted. Fig. 1 shows that the upper receiving body 2a on the first hinge part 2 is designed to be movable for lateral adjustment by a threaded spindle 2c. Rotation of the threaded spindle adjusts the upper receiving body 2a in the lateral direction. This adjustment movement is also transmitted to the second hinge part 3 via the hinge assembly 4.

[0037] Furthermore, fastening holes 2d are formed on the first hinge part 2, through which screws can pass for securing the first hinge part 2 to a door leaf or a door frame. In the assembled state, the fastening holes 2d and the screws arranged therein, as well as the spindle drive 2c, are concealed by a cover 5, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a sheet-metal cover plate. Both the first hinge part 2 and the second hinge part 3 each have a cover 5 in the upper and lower regions, each of which is formed with a through-opening 6.

[0038] In the assembled state, the through-hole 6 is penetrated by a fastening screw 7 formed around a longitudinal axis L, which engages with an external thread 7a into an associated internal thread 2e of the first band part 2. The internal thread 2e is formed in a threaded bore of the first band part 2 as a metric ISO thread (M).

[0039] According to the invention, the external thread 7a is formed from a particularly elastically deformable plastic material and has dimensions which enable insertion into the internal thread 2e in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0040] The structure of the fastening screw 7 according to the invention is shown in the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B in more detail: At one end of the fastening screw 7, a screw head 7b is arranged with a tool holder 7c formed therein in the form of a slot. The screw head 7b has an oversize compared to the through-opening 6, so that the cover 5, in the assembled state, is held in a form-fitting manner by the screw head 7b on the hinge part 2, 3. The screw head 7 is designed as a countersunk head, which in the assembled state - in Fig. 1 on the second band part 3 and on the first band part 2 shown below - flush with a front side of the cover 5.

[0041] A loss prevention device 8 is arranged between the screw head 7b and an end of the fastening screw 7 opposite in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. In the illustrated embodiment, the loss prevention device 8 is formed by wings 7d constructed of the same material as the fastening screw 7, which are attached to a threadless shaft section 7e directly adjacent to the screw head 7b.

[0042] The diameter of the shaft section 7e corresponds to the core diameter K of the adjoining external thread 7a. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2B, a total of four wings 7d are arranged circumferentially on the outer side of the shaft section 7e. These wings also have an oversize relative to the through-opening 6, so that the cover 5, when assembled, engages in a gap 9 between the screw head 7b and the captive device 8.

[0043] To make the wings 7d as flexible as possible, they have a thickness d—measured along the longitudinal axis L—of no more than 0.5 mm. At the end opposite the shaft section 7e, the wings 7d each terminate in a straight edge 8a. The wings 7d extend perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis L. The width B of the wings 7d is at no point greater than the core diameter K of the external thread 7a.

[0044] In order to simplify the insertion of the fastening screw 7 in an insertion direction E parallel to the longitudinal axis L, the external thread 7a is inclined counter to the insertion direction E. A front flank 10a of the external thread 7a oriented in the insertion direction E encloses a first angle α with the insertion direction E, which is greater than a second angle β, which a rear flank 10b of the external thread 7a oriented counter to the insertion direction E encloses with the opposite direction. The first angle α is approximately 110° in the illustrated embodiment; the rear flank 10b is aligned at a right angle (second angle β) to the longitudinal axis L. The thread pitch S, also shown, is 5% to 10% greater than the gain pitch of the associated internal thread 2c.

[0045] In order to support the elasticity of the external thread 7a, it has a particularly large flank height F. This results from the fact that the core diameter K of the thread 7a is in the ratio of at most 2:3 to the nominal diameter N. To ensure sufficient stability, the core diameter K should not be less than a third of the nominal diameter N. In the example shown, the nominal diameter N and the core diameter K are in a ratio of 2:1. Accordingly, the flank height F corresponds to a quarter of the nominal diameter N or half the core diameter K. For a metric M4 thread, this results in a value F of 1 mm.

Claims

[1] Door hinge (1) comprising a first hinge part (2), a second hinge part (3) and a hinge arrangement (4) pivotally connecting the first hinge part (2) to the second hinge part (3), comprising a cover (5) arranged on the first hinge part (2) and having a through-opening (6), and comprising a fastening screw (7) formed around a longitudinal axis (L), which extends through the through-opening (6) and engages with an external thread (7a) in an associated internal thread (2e) of the first hinge part (2), characterized by , that the external thread (7a) is made of a plastic material, in particular an elastic one, and has dimensions which allow it to be inserted into the internal thread (2e). [2] Door hinge (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the shaping of the external thread (7a), the elasticity of the external thread (7a) and the entire fastening screw (7) on the one hand and the design of the internal thread (2a) on the other hand are coordinated in such a way that a deformation of the external thread can be achieved with a small force of in particular not more than 100 N, preferably not more than 70 N, so that insertion is possible. [3] Door hinge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the fastening screw (7) has a screw head (7b) at one end which has an interference with the through opening (6) and that a locking device (8) is arranged between the screw head (7b) and the end of the fastening screw (7) opposite along the longitudinal axis (L). [4] Door hinge (1) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the captive locking device (8) is arranged in a threadless shaft section (7e) between the screw head (7b) and the external thread (7a). [5] Door hinge (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that the locking device (8) has an excess dimension relative to the through-opening (6). [6] Door hinge (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , that the loss prevention device (8) has at least one wing (7d) projecting radially from the longitudinal axis (L). [7] Door hinge (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the locking device (8) has a plurality of wings (7d) which are arranged in particular equidistantly around the circumference of the fastening screw (7). [8] Door hinge (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by , that the locking device (8) has a thickness (d) of no more than 0.5 mm. [9] Door hinge (1) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized by, that the locking device (8) has at least one straight or arc-shaped edge (8a) opposite the longitudinal axis (L). [10] Door hinge (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized by , that the locking device (8) and the external thread (7a) are made of the same material. [11] Door hinge (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the fastening screw (7) is made of a single material, in particular as an injection-molded part. [12] Fastening screw (7) for a door hinge (1) in particular according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by an elastically deformable external thread (7a) made of a plastic material. [13] Fastening screw (7) according to claim 12, characterized by, the shaping of the external thread (7a), the elasticity of the external thread (7a) and the entire fastening screw (7) is designed such that the fastening screw (7) can be inserted into an internal thread (2e) with a low force of in particular not more than 100 N, preferably not more than 70 N, without deformation of the

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