Multi-balancing and commutable hinge device

Abstract

Multi-balancing and commutable hinge device, comprising a first connection element (3) assigned to be fixed to a body or frame of an appliance or other furniture and pivoted by means of a hinge pin (5) to a second connection element (7) assigned to be fixed to a door or leaf for closing and opening the appliance and connected to the first connection element (3) at least by means of a transmission element (9). Said device (1) further comprises a slider element (11) connected to the transmission element (9) and slidable along the second connection element (7), and an adjusting member (13) fixed to the second connection element (7), where the slider element (11) is provided with a connecting element (23) which connects said slider element (11) with the adjusting member (13) and the transmission element (9) to transmit to the latter at least a force which opposes to the opening rotation of the second connection element (7). The adjusting member (13) comprises at least a first resilient element (15) and comprises a hollow container (17) which houses within itself at least the first resilient element (15) having a fixed end blocked by a lock means (19) of the hollow container (17) and having the opposite and mobile end abutting with the connecting element (23) which connects it to the slider element (11). Said slider element (11) slides along a face of the second connection element (7), the hollow container (17) of the adjusting member (13) is fixed to the opposite face of the second connection element (7), and the connecting element (23) passes through a first slot (25) of the second connection element (7).

Description

[0001] MULTI-BALANCING AND COMMUTABLE HINGE DEVICE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention falls within the sector concerning hinges for household appliances or furniture and refers to a multi-balancing and commutable hinge device particularly suitable for appliances with a horizontal axis door and covering panel.

[0005] PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION

[0006] There are known hinge devices provided with springs and / or brakes assigned to facilitate the opening and closing of doors intended to support decorative panels. These devices have the disadvantage of being suitable only for decorative panels having a weight comprised within an excessively narrow range, resulting in that the application of light panels causes too fast closures and / or difficulties in opening and stabilizing the door in the open position, and the application of too heavy panels causes excessive opening speeds or difficulties in closing the door.

[0007] There are also known hinge devices provided with mechanisms for lifting the decorative panel when opening in order to avoid the panel colliding with finishing plinths or other inconveniences. These known devices also have the disadvantage of operating correctly only in a limited range of panel characteristics.

[0008] Document WO2019139262A1 discloses an oven door hinge configured such that, when the door is completely opened, it is positioned lower than the bottom surface of the inner space of the oven.

[0009] Document US2020131826A1 discloses a counterbalance dampener disposed between a printer chassis and the automatic duplexer unit includes a pair of support links pivotably connected at distal ends to the chassis and the automatic duplexer unit. Document ITB 020130202 Al discloses a hinged device with lifting of a panel covering the door of minimum transverse dimensions.

[0010] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is to propose a multi -balancing and commutable hinge device provided with means that allow, when installing the household appliance or appliance, to prepare it for two different weight ranges of the decorative panel.

[0012] Another object is to propose a hinge device capable of operating with very heavy decorative panels, even heavier than those currently in use.

[0013] A further object is to propose a hinge device capable of lifting the panel when opening the door.

[0014] Another object is to propose a simple, reliable and relatively economical device.

[0015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The characteristics of the invention are highlighted below with particular reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 illustrates an axonometric view of the partially open multi-balancing and commutable hinge device object of the present invention; figure 2 illustrates an axonometric and partially exploded view from a different point of view of the device of figure 1; figures 3 and 4 illustrate views in orthogonal projection with respect to an attachment of a slider, of the device of figure 1 in respective opening conditions; figure 5 illustrates a side view of the device of figure 1 in an extreme opening condition; figure 6 illustrates a sectional view according to plane VI - VI of figure 5; figure 7 illustrates a side view of the device of figure 1 in a closed condition; figure 8 illustrates a sectional view according to plane VIII - VIII of figure 7; figure 9 illustrates an axonometric and exploded view of the device of figure 1. BEST MODE TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference to figures 1-9, numeral 1 indicates the multi -balancing and commutable hinge device object of the present invention, comprising a first connection element 3 assigned to be fixed to a body or frame of an appliance, household appliance or other furniture and hinged via a hinge pin 5 to a second connection element 7 assigned to be fixed to a door or leaf for closing and opening the appliance.

[0018] The first 3 and second 7 connection elements are mutually connected via a mobile transmission element 9 preferably having a distal end connected to at least one among a second resilient element 51 and a drag element 53 and constrained to slide on the first connection element 3 parallel to two side walls which slidably contact with two friction means pivoted to a rocker body of the drag element 53 centrally pivoted to said end of the transmission element 9, guiding and braking it during the opening and closing rotations. Therefore, the drag element 53 generates at least a dynamic friction slowing down the rotation of the second connection element 7.

[0019] The second resilient element 51 transmits an elastic closing force to the second connection element 7 and consists of a helical spring compressed between an enlarged head of a spring guide and a sliding element of the first connection element 3, where the end of the spring guide opposite to the respective enlarged head is connected to said end of the transmission element 9. Alternatively, the distal end, i.e. close to the end of the first connection element opposite to the hinge pin, of the transmission element 9 can be connected to the first connection element 3 via a simple rotation pin or other interconnection means.

[0020] The device 1 further comprises a slider element 11 connected to the transmission element 9 and sliding along the second connection element 7.

[0021] The invention provides that, preferably, the slider element 11 is operated directly or indirectly by the transmission element 9 to travel a straight trajectory with an alternating motion controlled by the opening and closing of the hinge device 1.

[0022] Said connection between the slider element 11 and the transmission element 9 can be of various types, for example the transmission element 9, suitably pivoted, and the slider element can create a sort of glyph or elements can be interposed between them, known in themselves, capable of transforming the motion of the transmission element 9 into a rectilinear alternating motion of the slider element 11; for example the ends of the transmission element can be pivoted to the first connection element and to the slider element.

[0023] Preferably and as illustrated, a first terminal portion of the transmission element 9 opposite to the distal end is pivoted to the second connection element 7 and carries a sector of a toothed annulus shaped like a pinion 55 centered on the respective pin and meshed with the teeth of a rack 57 constrained to slide along the second connection element 7. The slider element 11 can be constituted by the rack itself or, as preferable and illustrated, it can be constituted by a connection or possibly by an attachment, for example "L" shaped with fixing plate, for the possible lifting when opening, or vice versa, of a possible decorative panel slidably associated with the door fixed to the device.

[0024] Therefore the rack element 57 can be connected, directly or via the attachment of the slider element 11, to the decorative panel which thus slides during opening and closing, or it can be separated from the panel which is therefore fixed; this highlights that the device of the invention, equipped with an adjusting member 13 described below, can act as a multi-balancing hinge with the sole function of opening and closing the door, without translation of the possible decorative panel, or as a multi-balancing hinge with translation of the decorative panel slidingly associated to the door.

[0025] The device 1 further comprises an adjusting member 13 fixed to the second connection element 7 and connectable to the slider element 11 to transmit to the latter at least a force that opposes the closing rotation of the second connection element 7. The adjusting member 13 comprises at least one among a first resilient element 15 and a friction or hydraulic damper assigned to transmit to the slider element I l a force which is respectively elastic and directed towards the closure or frictional opposing to the motion of the second connection element 7. Preferably and as illustrated, the adjusting member 13 is equipped only with the first resilient element 15.

[0026] The adjusting member 13 is equipped with a hollow container 17 which houses within itself at least the first resilient element 15 having a fixed end blocked by a lock means 19 of the hollow container 17 and having the opposite and mobile end which can be equipped with a mobile matching means 21 and abuts with a connecting element 23 which connects this first resilient element 15 to the slider element 11.

[0027] The possible mobile matching means 21 can be fixed or locked to said mobile end of the first resilient element 15 and slide totally or partially inside the hollow container 17 to transmit the force of the first resilient element 15 to the mobile matching means 21.

[0028] Alternatively, the mobile matching means 21 can be omitted and the connecting element 23 can abut directly with the corresponding mobile end of the resilient element 15.

[0029] The connecting element 23 can consist of a pin or a screw fixed to the slider element 11 or it can consist of an arm, pin or similar, made in a single body with the slider element 11 thus creating a direct connection between such slider element 11 and the mobile matching means 21 or the resilient element 15.

[0030] A further alternative provides that the connection element 23 is fixed to, or formed in a single body with, the mobile matching means 21.

[0031] The possibility is also provided that the connecting element 23 is omitted or removed, in which case the hinge device operates without the contribution of the regulating member and is therefore suitable for light panels. In the hinge provided with the connecting element 23 the first resilient element 15 provides an elastic force directed towards the closure of the device and so the adjusting member 13 allows to adjust the closing force to balance heavy decorative panels.

[0032] The first resilient element 15 of the adjusting member 13 is of the helical type and operates in compression.

[0033] As preferable and as illustrated, the slider elementl 1 is connected to the transmission element 9 via the pinion 55 annulus and the rack 57, to which it is connected or fixed via a connecting element 23 which, furthermore, abuts directly or indirectly with the first resilient element 15 of the adjusting member 13 activating the function thereof.

[0034] The slider element 11 slides along a face of the second connection element 7 and the hollow container 17 of the adjusting member 13 is fixed to the opposite face of the second connection element 7. If the first resilient element 15, or the mobile matching means 21, protrudes sufficiently from the hollow container 17, the connection element 23 passes through a first slot 25 of the second connection element 7, protruding from which it meets with the first resilient element or with the mobile matching means. If the first resilient element 15 and the mobile matching means 21 slide inside the hollow container 17 and do not, or almost do not, protrude from it, this hollow container 17 is equipped with a second slot 27 for the translation or sliding of the connection element 23 which, through said first 25 and second 27 slots, abuts with the first resilient element 15 or with the mobile matching means 21. Alternatively, it is provided that the connection element 23 is shaped, for example as a "J" or "U", so that a distal end thereof can meet with the mobile end of the first resilient element 15 or with the mobile matching means 21 without the need for slots, for example through the opening opposite to the lock means 19 of the hollow container 17.

[0035] The rack 57 and its sliding motion are parallel to the first 25 and second 27 slots and to the hollow container 17.

[0036] The first connection element 3, the second connection element 7 and the transmission element 9 are made of metal and the hollow container 17 of the adjusting member 13 and the rack 57 are made of metallic, synthetic or composite material.

[0037] When installing the appliance or household appliance, if the panel is light the installing operator can possibly remove the connection element 23 fixed to the slider element (if it provided to be removable), if, on the other hand, the panel is heavy the operator does not operate on the hinge.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Multi-balancing and commutable hinge device, comprising a first connection element (3) assigned to be fixed to a body or frame of an appliance or other furniture and pivoted by means of a hinge pin (5) to a second connection element (7) assigned to be fixed to a door or leaf for closing and opening the appliance and connected to the first connection element (3) at least by means of a transmission element (9); said device (1) further comprises a slider element (11) connected to the transmission element (9) and slidable along the second connection element (7); said device (1) comprises an adjusting member (13) fixed to the second connection element (7) and the slider element (11) is provided with a connecting element (23) which connects said slider element (11) with the adjusting member (13) and the transmission element (9) to transmit to the latter at least a force which opposes to the opening rotation of the second connection element (7); said device (1) being characterized in that the adjusting member (13) comprises at least a first resilient element (15) and comprises a hollow container (17) which houses within itself at least the first resilient element (15) having a fixed end blocked by a lock means (19) of the hollow container (17) and having the opposite and mobile end abutting with the connecting element (23) which connects it to the slider element (11); said slider element (11) slides along a face of the second connection element (7), the hollow container (17) of the adjusting member (13) is fixed to the opposite face of the second connection element (7), and the connecting element (23) passes through a first slot (25) of the second connection element (7).2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the connecting element (23) abuts with the mobile end of the first resilient element (15) via a mobile matching means (21) fixed or blocked to said mobile end of the first resilient element (15) and slidable completely or partially inside the hollow container (17).3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the hollow container (17) has a second slot (27) for the sliding of the connection element (23).4) Device according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the hollow container (17) slidably houses also a friction or hydraulic damper operating between the lock means (19) of the hollow container (17) and the mobile matching means (21).5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that a first terminal portion of the transmission element (9) is pivoted to the second connection element (7) and the opposite end is connected to at least one among a second resilient element (51) and a drag element (53) and is constrained to slide on the first connection element (3), said first terminal portion of the transmission element (9) carries a sector of a toothed annulus shaped like a pinion (55) meshed with the teeth of a rack (57) constrained to slide along the second connection element (7).6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the slider element (11) is connected to the transmission element (9) via the pinion (55) annulus and the rack (57); the slider element (11) is connected to the rack (57) by means of the connecting element (23) which abuts with the first resilient element (15) of the adjusting member (13).7) Device according to claims 3 and 5 characterized in that the rack (57) and its sliding motion are parallel to the first (25) and second (27) slots and to the hollow container (17), and in that the slider element (11) has a connection for lifting when opening, and vice versa, of a decorative panel slidably associated with the door fixed to the device.8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first resilient element (15) of the adjusting member (13) is of the helical type operating in compression.9) Device according to claim 5 or according to claim 5 and any one of claims 6-8 characterized in that the drag element (53) produces at least a dynamic friction to slow down the rotation of the second connection element (7) and the second resilient element (51) transmits to the second connection element (7) an elastic closing force and consists of a helical spring compressed between an enlarged headof a spring guide and a sliding element of the first connection element (3), where the end of the spring guide opposite the respective enlarged head is connected to the transmission element (9). 10) Device according to the preceding claims characterized in that the first connection element (3), the second connection element (7) and the transmission element (9) are made of metal and the hollow container (17) of the adjusting member (13) and the rack (57) are made of metallic, synthetic or composite material.

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