flap

Abstract

The flap (1) comprises a structure (2) and a door (3) attached to the structure (2) by a hinge (4), the hinge (4) defining a hinge axis (5), the door (3) being rotatably movable about the hinge axis (5) relative to the structure (2), the door (3) being movable under the action of gravity from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position, the flap (1) further comprising damping means (6) configured to damp the rotational movement of the door (3) relative to the structure (2), the hinge (4) defining a closed or partially closed storage compartment (7) therein transverse to the hinge axis (5), the damping means (6) being housed within the storage compartment (7).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] [Field of the Invention]

[0002] The present invention relates to a flap. [Background technology]

[0003] [Background technology]

[0004] Flaps are known that are formed by a structure that defines an interior compartment and an opening, and a folding door attached to the structure by a hinge to open and close the opening defined by the structure.

[0005] The door is thus rotatably movable relative to the structure under the action of gravity from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position.

[0006] In order to make the door opening operation safer and to avoid sudden opening, impacts and damage to the flap, it is known to provide the flap with damping means arranged to resist the free opening of the door under the action of gravity.

[0007] However, since the damping means is visible and non-continuous with the flap design, the presence of such damping means significantly affects the aesthetic appearance of the flap. Summary of the Invention

[0008] [Solution]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is an object of the present invention to provide a flap that obviates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0010] A particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved flap which combines the opposing needs of ensuring a controlled and safe opening action of the door while at the same time not compromising the aesthetic appearance of the flap.

[0011] These and other objects are achieved by a flap according to independent claim 1.

[0012] The dependent claims relate to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] In order to better understand the invention and to realize its advantages, some non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] [Diagram 3] 13A-13C are perspective views of further components of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] [Figure 4] 13A-13C are perspective views of further components of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the components illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0019] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] [Figure 7] 13A-13C are perspective views of further components of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a component of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a top view of the detail shown in FIG. 8.

[0023] [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a component of a flap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a more detailed perspective view of the components illustrated in FIG. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to the drawings, the flap is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 .

[0026] The flap 1 comprises a structure 2 and a door 3 .

[0027] The door 3 is attached to the structure 2 by a hinge 4 .

[0028] The hinge 4 defines a hinge axis 5 about which the door 3 is rotatable relative to the structure 2 .

[0029] The door 3 is movable under the action of gravity from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position.

[0030] The flap 1 further comprises damping means 6 .

[0031] The damping means 6 is configured to damp the pivoting movement of the door 3 relative to the structure 2 .

[0032] According to an aspect of the invention, the hinge 4 defines a storage compartment 7 therein, which is closed or partially closed in a direction transverse to the hinge axis 5 .

[0033] Furthermore, the damping means 6 is accommodated inside a receiving compartment 7 .

[0034] Advantageously, the damping means 6 are arranged in a receiving compartment 7 inside the hinge 4 and are therefore hidden.

[0035] This makes it possible, on the one hand, to obtain a reliable, safe and controlled flap movement of the door 3 and, on the other hand, to have the appearance of the flap 1 unaffected.

[0036] Specifically, the structure 2 has a lid, a bottom wall opposing the lid, two opposing side walls, and a rear wall, and defines an opening opposite the rear wall that can be closed by a door 3.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the hinge 4 defines a number of storage compartments 7 .

[0038] A plurality of storage compartments 7 are defined at positions substantially coaxial with the hinge axis 5 .

[0039] According to an embodiment, the hinge 4 comprises at least a first hinge body 8 and at least a second hinge body 9 hinged to one another.

[0040] The accommodation compartment 7 is defined by at least a first hinge body 8 and at least a second hinge body 9 such that the damping means 6 is partially accommodated within at least the first hinge body 8 and partially accommodated within at least the second hinge body 9.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the damping means 6 comprise at least one rotary damper.

[0042] Alternatively, the damping means comprises an axial damper.

[0043] In particular, the damping means 6 comprise an axial rotary damper, also called an axial barrel damper.

[0044] According to the embodiment, the receiving compartment 7 is represented coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0045] According to an embodiment, the damping means 6 are arranged such that the hinge axis 5 passes through the damping means 6 .

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the damping means 6 are arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0047] According to an embodiment, the damping means 6 has 2 to 6 dampers.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the damping means 6 comprises four dampers.

[0049] According to an embodiment, all dampers are arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0050] According to an embodiment, the flap 1 has elastic connection means 10 connecting the door 3 to the structure 2 .

[0051] The resilient connection means 10 is configured to allow the door 3 to be fully opened under the action of gravity and to return the door 3 to a closed position.

[0052] Advantageously, the elastic connecting means 10 reduces the force required to close the door 3 .

[0053] According to an embodiment, the elastic connecting means 10 is accommodated inside the accommodation compartment 7 .

[0054] According to an embodiment, the elastic connecting means 10 comprises a torsion spring.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the elastic connecting means 10 is arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0056] According to an embodiment, the elastic connection means 10 comprises a number of torsion springs.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic connection means 10 comprises two torsion springs, one at each end of the door 3 at the hinge 5 .

[0058] According to an embodiment, the two torsion springs are arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0059] According to an embodiment, the flap 1 has a mechanical stopper 11 .

[0060] The mechanical stopper 11 is configured to determine the stroke end of the opening of the door 3 .

[0061] According to the embodiment, the mechanical stopper 11 comprises a first stopper body 12 connected to a second stopper body 13 .

[0062] The first stopper body 12 is rotatably connected to the second stopper body 13 .

[0063] The first stopper body 12 is connected to the structure 2 , and the second stopper body 13 is connected to the door 3 .

[0064] According to an embodiment, one of the first stopper body 12 and the second stopper body 13 defines a concave track delimited by a stroke end wall that defines the opening stroke of the door 3 .

[0065] The other of the first stopper body 12 and the second stopper body 13 forms sliding teeth configured to create a sliding geometric connection with the recessed track.

[0066] Advantageously, when the door 3 is opened, the sliding tooth slides in the recessed track until it abuts against the stroke end wall so as to prevent further rotation of the door 3 past the stroke end determined by the stroke end wall.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the mechanical stopper 11 is accommodated inside the accommodation compartment 7 .

[0068] According to the embodiment, the mechanical stopper 11 is arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0069] According to an embodiment, both the first stopper body 12 and the second stopper body 13 are arranged coaxially with the hinge axis 5 such that the first stopper body 12 and the second stopper body 13 rotate relative to each other about the hinge axis 5.

[0070] According to an embodiment, the mechanical stopper 11 defines a stroke of the door 3 of approximately 90°.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the flap 1 has a bracket 19 integrated into the door 3 .

[0072] According to an embodiment, the bracket 19 has at least one rotation pin 17 arranged on the hinge 4 .

[0073] The rotation pin 17 extends coaxially with the hinge axis 5 .

[0074] Furthermore, the structure 2 has a ball 18 disposed on the hinge 4 .

[0075] According to this embodiment, the rotation pin 17 is arranged in contact with the ball 18 .

[0076] Advantageously, the ball 18 guides the rotation of the pivot pin 17 and thus the rotation of the door 3 , thereby reducing the friction caused by the rotation of the door 3 relative to the structure 2 .

[0077] According to an embodiment, the flap 1 has an engagement bar 14 configured to connect the door 3 to the structure 2 .

[0078] The engagement bar 14 defines an engagement wall 15 and an opposed fixed wall 16 .

[0079] The engagement wall 15 is engaged with the structure 2 .

[0080] The fixed wall 16 is fixed to the hinge 4 .

[0081] Specifically, the fixed wall 16 is fixed to the first hinge body 8 .

[0082] According to an embodiment, the engagement wall 15 defines a cross-shaped cross section on a plane transverse to the hinge 5 .

[0083] In particular, on a plane transverse to the hinge 5, the engagement wall 15 defines a profile transverse to the door 3 in the closed position, and the fixed wall 16 defines a profile parallel to the door 3 in the closed position.

[0084] Advantageously, the engagement bar 14 configured in this way ensures high strength and reliability of the movement system of the door 3 relative to the structure 2 .

[0085] Obviously, a person skilled in the art can make modifications or adaptations to the present invention without departing from the scope of the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1: Flap 2: Structure 3: Door 4: Hinge 5: Hinge axis 6: Damping means 7: Containment Area 8: First hinge body 9: Second hinge body 10: Elastic connection means 11: Mechanical stopper 12: First stopper body 13: Second stopper body 14: Engagement bar 15: Engagement wall 16:Fixed wall 17: Rotating pin 18: Ball 19: Bracket

Claims

1. A flap (1) comprising a structure (2) and a door (3) attached to the structure (2) by a hinge (4), wherein the hinge (4) defines a hinge axis (5), and the door (3) is rotatable relative to the structure (2) about the hinge axis (5), The door (3) is movable from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position under the influence of gravity. The flap (1) further comprises damping means (6) configured to dampen the rotational movement of the door (3) relative to the structure (2), The hinge (4) defines within it a housing compartment (7) that is closed or partially closed in a direction transverse to the hinge axis (5). The damping means (6) is housed inside the housing compartment (7), The door (3) is characterized by having a bracket (19) integrated with it, the bracket (19) having at least one rotating pin (17) positioned on the hinge (4), The rotating pin (17) extends coaxially with the hinge shaft (5), The structure (2) has a ball (18) positioned on the hinge (4), The rotating pin (17) is positioned in contact with the ball (18) on the flap (1).

2. The hinge (4) has at least a first hinge body (8) and at least a second hinge body (9) attached to each other by hinges, and the housing compartment (7) is defined by at least the first hinge body (8) and at least the second hinge body (9) such that the damping means (6) is partially housed inside at least the first hinge body (8) and at least the second hinge body (9). The flap (1) according to claim 1.

3. The damping means (6) comprises at least one rotational damper or axial damper, preferably an axial rotation damper. The flap (1) according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned storage compartment (7) is defined coaxially with the hinge axis (5), and / or, the hinge (4) defines a plurality of storage compartments (7), and optionally, the plurality of storage compartments (7) are defined at a position substantially coaxial with the hinge axis (5). The flap (1) according to claim 1.

5. The damping means (6) is arranged such that the hinge shaft (5) passes through the damping means (6), and / or the damping means (6) is arranged coaxially with the hinge shaft (5), and / or the damping means (6) has 2 to 6 dampers. Alternatively, the damping means (6) has four dampers, And / or, all dampers are arranged coaxially with the hinge shaft (5), The flap (1) according to claim 1.

6. The flap (1) is equipped with an elastic connecting means (10) that connects the door (3) to the structure (2), the elastic connecting means (10) is configured to allow the door (3) to be fully opened under the action of gravity and to return the door (3) to the closed position, and / or the elastic connecting means (10) is housed inside the housing compartment (7). and / or the elastic connecting means (10) has a torsion spring, and / or, the elastic connecting means (10) is arranged coaxially with the hinge shaft (5), and / or, the elastic connecting means (10) has a plurality of torsion springs, and / or the elastic connecting means (10) has two torsion springs, each torsion spring positioned at each end of the door (3) in the hinge (5), and / or, the two torsion springs are arranged coaxially with the hinge shaft (5), The flap (1) according to claim 1.

7. The flap (1) is equipped with a mechanical stopper (11) configured to determine the stroke end of the opening of the door (3), and optionally the mechanical stopper 11 has a first stopper body (12) connected to a second stopper body (13). The first stopper body (12) is rotatably connected to the second stopper body (13), the first stopper body (12) is connected to the structure (2), and the second stopper body (13) is connected to the door (3). One of the first stopper body (12) and the second stopper body (13) defines a concave track whose boundary is defined by a stroke end wall that defines the opening stroke of the door (3), the other of the first stopper body (12) and the second stopper body (13) forms sliding teeth configured to cause a geometric connection that slides with the concave track, and / or the mechanical stopper (11) is housed inside the housing compartment (7), and / or the mechanical stopper (11) is arranged coaxially with the hinge axis (5), and / or both the first stopper body (12) and the second stopper body (13) are arranged coaxially with the hinge axis (5) such that the first stopper body (12) and the second stopper body (13) rotate relative to each other around the hinge axis (5), and / or the mechanical stopper (11) defines a stroke of approximately 90° of the door (3), The flap (1) according to claim 1.

8. The flap (1) is equipped with an engagement bar (14) configured to connect the door (3) to the structure (2), The engagement bar (14) defines the engagement wall (15) and the opposite fixing wall (16). The engagement wall (15) is engaged with the structure (2), The fixed wall (16) is optionally fixed to the hinge (4) and to the first hinge body (8) of the hinge (4). The engaging wall (15) defines an intersecting cross-section on a plane that transverses the hinge axis (5). The flap (1) according to claim 1.

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