Folding door hinge and functional entity comprising a folding door
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing folding door hinges require complex structures, occupy significant space, and are difficult to assemble, especially when using high spring constants, leading to issues with design flexibility, noise, and assembly challenges.
A folding door hinge design featuring two hinge levers connected by a drive spring with helical spring packets, allowing easy assembly and integration into door systems without increasing space, while applying a large force over a wide rotational range, and minimizing friction and noise.
The hinge provides a powerful, silent operation with minimal space requirements, easy assembly, and maintains design flexibility, ensuring smooth folding and closing of folding doors without the need for additional structural parts.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a folding door hinge and a functional entity, in particular a piece of furniture or a room segment, comprising a folding door hinge and a folding door, in particular a folding sliding door, provided with at least one folding door hinge.
Background Art
[0002] To close a functional entity such as an opening of a room segment or a piece of furniture, a folding door, and in some cases a folding sliding door, is often used, which is preferably moved into a door compartment or a parking space so as not to be in the way after the opening is released.
[0003] A functional entity comprising a folding sliding door is known, for example, from US Patent No. 8336972.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 9,284,761 discloses a furniture piece with a moving device, by which an attachment profile connected to a folding sliding door is movable within a door compartment. The folding sliding door includes two door elements, wherein the first door element is connected to the attachment profile by an attachment hinge at the rear side and to the rear side of the second door element by a folding door hinge at the front side, the second door element is connected to a guide carriage at the front side, the guide carriage is movable along a guide rail, the guide rail includes two rail sections aligned perpendicular to each other and connected to each other by a curved section, wherein the first rail section extends into the door compartment and the second rail section extends along the front side of the furniture piece. The attachment profile is vertically aligned and held by a support device, and guide carriages are provided at the upper and lower sides, and the guide carriages are movably supported on the guide rail.
[0005] To close the furniture piece, the folding door is pulled out of the door compartment and unfolded. In the closed position, the door elements are flat-aligned with respect to each other. To open the furniture piece, the folding door is folded again, whereby the door elements are driven into the door compartment in an open position, preferably aligned parallel to each other.
[0006] In the closed position, the folding door must be held in a flat orientation so that the folding process is not automatically initiated. After the folding door is opened from the closed position, it is desirable that the folding process be automatically performed.
[0007] German Utility Model No. 202018100262 discloses a pressure-actuated holding device that assists both in holding a folding door in a closed position and in folding the folding door after it has been released from the closed position. The device includes a first fitting member connected to a first door element of the folding door and a second fitting member connected to a second door element of the folding door. An ejector element is provided between the first fitting member and a coupling device arranged on the second fitting member, and this ejector element is movably connected to the first fitting member and the coupling device. The adjustment of the first fitting member relative to the coupling device is effected via a force accumulator that is manually loaded by the user and acts on the ejector element. The release device is connected to the second door leaf via a connecting cable. The release of the locking device is affected by applying pressure to the door elements aligned flat, and this pressure further presses the door elements from the flat alignment in the closing direction.
[0008] This device has a complex structure and requires many device parts, of which a first group is connected to the first door element and a second group is connected to the second door element. Furthermore, device parts are provided for connecting the two fitting members, and thus the two door elements, to each other, of which a first device part is mechanically guided and a second device part is held loosely by a corresponding effort, which is usually undesirable. Furthermore, the door elements of the folding door are held in the closed position only by the holding device. Therefore, means are required to counteract accidental unlocking. The use of two fitting parts also has to ensure that they are connected to the first and second door elements at the correct distance from each other and with the correct mutual alignment and height. It should be noted that this device takes up a lot of space, which is disadvantageous considering the limited space within a piece of furniture, especially within a door compartment.
[0009] U.S. Patent No. 3,846,868 discloses a spring-biased folding door hinge that rotates door elements connected by a hinge to either an open or a closed position after passing through a central position. The folding door hinge is complex in design and requires that the fitting elements be attached to the upper edge of the door element.
[0010] German Patent Application Publication No. 3,104,275 discloses a folding door hinge provided with a drive spring, by which door elements hinged to each other can be automatically rotated relative to each other. A folding door hinge with a hinge lever is disclosed, and the hinge levers are connected to each other by a spiral spring or a leaf spring, for which a correspondingly large space is required. When the folding door hinge is opened and / or closed, the spiral spring is stretched, and thus, a favorable force curve cannot be realized. In particular, a hinge equipped only with such a drive spring generates a desired rotational force over a very small range of rotation.
[0011] When a spiral spring applies a large force, a correspondingly high spring constant is required. A coil spring with a high spring constant usually requires more space, which is the reason for a folding door hinge having larger dimensions.
[0012] In addition, a spiral spring with a high spring constant is more difficult to assemble. If a spiral spring with a high spring constant is pre-assembled, the folding door hinge can be attached to the two door elements of the folding door only with great difficulty. On the other hand, the subsequent assembly of a spring with a high spring constant at the installation site is almost impossible or possible only with appropriate tools.
[0013] Korean Patent No. 102137007 discloses a folding door hinge having two driving springs, each driving spring being held in a cup and penetrated by a hinge shaft having a reduced diameter in the spring region. This folding door hinge requires more labor to manufacture. The effect of the two springs, each containing only a few coils, is limited.
[0014] US721A is a folding door hinge comprising first and second plate-like hinge levers and a driving spring, the driving spring including two spring packets which are connected to each other by a spring center piece and each include a spring end piece on opposite sides of each other. The spring end piece abuts against the first hinge lever and the spring center piece abuts against the second hinge lever. After assembling this hinge, the hinge is already ready for use, which is why its assembly to the door element of a folding door is difficult. The installation of the folding door hinge is particularly difficult when a particularly strong driving spring is used.
[0015] US721A discloses a folding door hinge comprising first and second plate-like hinge levers and a driving spring, the driving spring including two spring assemblies which are connected to each other by a spring center piece and each include a spring end piece on opposite sides of each other. The spring end piece abuts against the first hinge lever and the spring center piece abuts against the second hinge lever. After assembling the folding door hinge, the folding door hinge is ready for use. As described above, the assembly of the folding door hinge, which is ready for use, to the door element of a folding door is difficult. When a particularly strong driving spring is used, it is particularly difficult to assemble the folding door hinge.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0016]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Patent Document 3
Patent Document 4
Patent Document 5
Patent Document 6
Summary of the Invention
Means for Solving the Problems
[0017] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the object of providing an improved folding door hinge equipped with a driving spring. Furthermore, a functional entity is provided that comprises a folding door equipped with at least one such folding door hinge, in particular a piece of furniture.
[0018] The folding door hinge according to the present invention can be easily attached to the door element of a folding door.
[0019] The folding door hinge, which includes two hinge levers connected to each other by a driving spring, should occupy little space, so that almost no additional space is required compared to conventional hinges. Accordingly, the folding door hinge should be visually imperceptible and should be optimally integrable into the door system.
[0020] Despite the small space requirements, the driving spring can apply a large force to the hinge lever. In particular, a large force is applied over a large rotational range of the hinge lever.
[0021] The folding door hinge provided with a driving spring has a simple design, and its structure preferably differs only slightly from that of a conventional hinge including two hinge levers connected to each other by a hinge shaft. In particular, in order to accommodate the driving spring, no structural parts should be required or only very simple structural parts should be required.
[0022] The folding door hinge preferably operates without friction, thereby generating no noise and showing no signs of wear even after long-term operation. The maintenance requirements are reduced to a minimum.
[0023] The use of the driving spring does not interfere with the design freedom of other parts of the hinge, whereby the folding door hinge provided with the driving spring can furthermore be designed as desired and is hardly restricted by structural features that may interfere with embodiments of other hinge parts.
[0024] The driving spring should be easy to attach and connect to the hinge lever. In particular, a driving spring having a very high spring constant can be easily attached. The driving spring can be attached without using tools. In particular, the driving spring can be attached preferably automatically with a minimum of manual labor.
[0025] A folding door held in a closed position by, for example, a holding device and released from the closed position by hand movement by means of a folding door hinge according to the present invention or by several folding door hinges according to the present invention should preferably be able to be folded automatically and completely.
[0026] The door gap between the door elements of the folding door connected to each other by the folding door hinge can preferably be covered by a bezel, which is correctly aligned after folding of the door elements, prevents hands from intervening between the door elements, and also realizes a privacy screen providing an aesthetically advantageous appearance for the partially or fully folded folding door.
[0027] This problem is solved by a folding door hinge according to claim 1 and a functional entity comprising a folding door according to claim 12, provided with at least one such folding door hinge, optionally by a piece of furniture or a room segment. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in further claims.
[0028] The folding door hinge comprises - a first hinge lever comprising a first lever end piece with at least one bearing opening and a second lever end piece connected or connectable to a first mounting part, - a second hinge lever comprising a first lever end piece with at least one bearing opening and a second lever end piece connected or connectable to a second mounting part, - a hinge shaft held in the bearing openings of the hinge levers and pivotally connecting the two hinge levers to each other, - a drive spring which abuts on the first hinge lever on the one hand and on the second hinge lever on the other hand.
[0029] The first lever end piece of the first hinge lever comprises two spaced-apart first and second inner bearing arms with associated bearing openings in which the first end piece of a second bearing arm is held between them.
[0030] The first lever end piece of the first hinge lever further comprises two first and second outer bearing arms spaced apart from the inner bearing arms.
[0031] The drive spring comprises two spring packets which surround the hinge axis and are interconnected by a spring center piece which abuts on the second hinge lever.
[0032] The first spring packet disposed between the first inner bearing arm and the first outer bearing arm includes a first spring end piece that abuts against the first outer bearing arm at the end farther from the spring center piece.
[0033] The second spring packet disposed between the second inner bearing arm and the second outer bearing arm includes a second spring end piece that abuts against the second outer bearing arm at the end farther from the spring center piece.
[0034] According to the present invention, - the first hinge lever includes a retaining element for each of the spring end pieces, with which the associated spring end piece is engaged or can be engaged, or - the second hinge lever includes a retaining member with which the spring center piece is engaged or can be engaged, or - the first hinge lever includes a retaining element for each of the spring end pieces, with which the associated spring end piece is engaged or can be engaged, and the second hinge lever includes a retaining member with which the spring center piece is engaged or can be engaged.
[0035] Thus, the folding door hinge according to the present invention provided with a driving spring can be easily attached to a door element of a folding door or a folding sliding door.
[0036] Preferably, the driving spring is actuated only after the folding door hinge is attached to a door element of a folding door or a folding sliding door, and is engaged with the spring end piece in the retaining element and / or the spring center piece in the retaining member.
[0037] Preferably, - the retaining element is designed as a latching element with which the spring end piece can be engaged, or - The retaining member is designed as a latching element into which the spring center piece can engage, or - The retaining element is designed as a latching element into which the spring end piece can engage, and the retaining member is designed as a latching element into which the spring center piece can engage, is provided.
[0038] By designing the retaining element and / or the retaining member as a latching element, the spring end piece can advantageously be connected to the retaining element and / or the spring center piece can advantageously be connected to the retaining member. The following explains that in a preferred embodiment, the actuation of the drive spring can also advantageously occur by actuating a folding door.
[0039] Thus, according to the present invention, a powerful drive spring with two spring packages can advantageously be integrated into a folding door hinge without difficulty during assembly. Since the two spring packages can apply a large force to the hinge lever, the folding door automatically folds up after being released from the closed position.
[0040] The spring packages of the drive spring preferably include helical or threaded windings that are in contact with each other or at least partially spaced from each other in a winding-by-winding manner, whereby the spring packages can be axially compressed.
[0041] According to the helical embodiment of the drive spring, the drive spring can apply a large spring force to the hinge lever within a large rotation range of about 180°. If desired, pretension can also be provided to the drive spring.
[0042] The helical embodiment of the drive spring allows for a substantially coaxial alignment of the spring packet with respect to the hinge shaft and thus the axis of rotation of the folding door hinge. Therefore, only a small space needs to be occupied. Even if the coils of the spring packet provide a large diameter, the result is still a very slim structure of the folding door hinge.
[0043] The compressibility of the spring packet facilitates their attachment to the first hinge lever. By compressing the spring packet, the spring end piece can be axially displaced and guided more easily over the retaining elements provided on the first and second outer bearing arms when operating the folding door hinge with a tool. Therefore, blockages can be avoided.
[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the folding door hinge, the drive spring coupled to the second hinge lever can be easily coupled to the first hinge lever by rotating the second hinge lever relative to the first hinge lever. Therefore, no tool is required to couple the drive spring to the hinge lever.
[0045] Preferably, the first and second outer bearing arms each include a retaining element preferably including a ramp or inclined side facing the second hinge lever, and via the ramp or inclined side, the associated first or second spring end piece can be inserted into a retaining channel disposed behind the retaining element, and after the folding door hinge is actuated, the retaining channel holds the associated first or second spring end piece.
[0046] Thus, by rotating a second hinge lever having a drive spring relative to the first hinge lever, the drive spring can be easily coupled to the first hinge lever. The spring end piece at the height of the retaining element is guided along the retaining element on the retaining element until it hits the ramp of the retaining element and can fall into the retaining channel behind the retaining element. This process can be easily performed by attaching the hinge to the door element and then folding the door element until the spring end piece is guided over the retaining element and engages the corresponding retaining channel.
[0047] When the second hinge lever is rotated away from the first hinge lever and the drive spring is tensioned, the spring center piece is preferably held by the retaining element to the second hinge lever. For example, the retaining element is hook-shaped or nose-shaped so that the spring center piece is securely held.
[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the spring center piece is held to the second hinge lever between the retaining element and the catch, and the catch holds the spring center piece when the second hinge lever is rotated relative to the first hinge lever and the spring end piece is coupled to the retaining element. Thereby, a rest sink is formed between the retaining element and the catch, and the spring center piece is always securely held in the rest sink regardless of the rotational direction of the second hinge lever.
[0049] The hinge shaft is preferably held without friction in the bearing opening of the hinge lever by a bearing element formed from a slidable thermoplastic, such as POM or the like. By avoiding contact between the metal hinge shaft and the metal hinge lever, undesirable friction, wear, breakage, and noise are avoided. The bearing element preferably performs a further function. To fix the hinge shaft against axial movement, the hinge shaft is preferably held pressed against one of the hinge arms. However, axial movement of the hinge shaft can also be prevented by at least one retaining ring.
[0050] Preferably, each of the bearing rollers is held by the hinge shaft within the spring packet of the drive spring, and its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the spring packet. The bearing roller preferably includes an axial bore, the inner diameter of which substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the hinge shaft. Thus, the bearing rollers are rotatably held by the hinge shaft with little play and can be held in an axially aligned state following the movement of the spring packet. When the bearing rollers are firmly held, the bearing rollers still hold the spring packet in the correct aligned state by their sliding ability. Thus, the spring pad is always optimally aligned and cannot be deformed or jammed. The movement of the spring packet is without friction or with very little friction without causing noise and / or wear.
[0051] The bearing openings of the first and second outer bearing arms preferably include an inner diameter that allows one bearing roller each to be pushed through the corresponding spring package and into the corresponding spring package. Thereby, the folding door hinge can be easily assembled.
[0052] Preferably, the bearing openings of the first and second outer bearing arms include an inner diameter that allows one of the bearing rollers to be pushed through the associated spring package and into the associated spring package and further into the bearing opening portion of the adjacent first or second inner bearing arm. In this embodiment, the bearing rollers are held on both sides and form a bearing element for the hinge shaft. Thus, the hinge shaft can hold the bearing rollers, or the bearing rollers can optimally hold the hinge shaft and the spring packet.
[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the hinge shaft extends beyond the first hinge lever on one or both sides, whereby one end piece of the hinge shaft or both end pieces of the hinge shaft can be easily connected to the bezel device. If no bezel device is provided, the extension of the hinge shaft beyond the hinge lever is preferably omitted.
[0054] The bezel device preferably includes a bezel profile having two profile side pieces connected to each other by a profile center piece. At least one holding module is held in a fitting, slidable, and lockable manner within the bezel profile, and at least one holding module includes a connection element that is fixedly or releasably connected to the hinge shaft. The connection element is preferably a retaining clip that can be placed on the corresponding end piece of the hinge shaft and snap-engages in a predetermined position. Thus, after assembling the folding door, the bezel profile can be easily attached by connecting the holding module to the folding door hinge.
[0055] The hinge arm of the folding door hinge is preferably designed such that the bezel device is held behind the folding door in the closed position of the door element and in front of the door elements after folding the door element. The door elements can be guided relative to each other on the front side without leaving an obstructive door gap. After opening the folding door, on the other hand, it is ensured that the door gap is covered by the bezel profile, thereby achieving aesthetically advantageous visual protection and preventing manual access to the door gap.
[0056] Preferably, at least one first stop element is provided on the first lever end piece of the first hinge lever, and at least one second stop element is provided on the first lever end piece of the second hinge lever. The first and second stop elements are arranged on the first and second hinge levers such that they are aligned in opposite directions after rotation of the two hinge levers and form a stop surface for the bezel profile. After opening the folding door by the folding door hinge or the stop element, the bezel profile is thereby always held in the desired orientation in which the door gap is correctly covered.
[0057] The functional entity according to the invention, for example, a piece of furniture such as a wardrobe or a room segment, is provided with at least one folding door comprising two door elements connected to each other by one or several folding door hinges according to the invention.
[0058] The folding door hinge preferably holds a bezel device with a bezel profile, by which the door gap between the door elements is closed when the door elements are folded relative to each other.
[0059] Preferably, the folding door can be locked in the closed position by a retaining device and released from the closed position. After release, the folding door can be automatically shifted into the folded state by one folding door hinge or a plurality of folding door hinges.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the functional entity, the first door element is connected, at the edge remote from the folding door hinge, by a mounting hinge to a mounting profile movable within the door compartment of the functional entity.
[0061] More preferably, the second door element is connected, at the edge remote from the folding door hinge, to a guide carriage guided in a guide rail extending along the front side of the functional entity.
[0062] The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0063]
Figure 1
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Figure 5b
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Figure 6b
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Figure 7c
Figure 8a
Figure 8b
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Figure 12
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0064] Figure 1 shows a functional entity 1 according to the present invention in an embodiment of a piece 1 of furniture comprising a folding door 11 that can be inserted into a first door compartment 10 and a one-piece door 11' that can be inserted into a second door compartment 10. The folding door 11 and the one-piece door 11' are preferably each provided with a retaining device 2 by which they can be held in the closed position. Any retaining device 2 can be used. The use of the retaining device 2 as described below is particularly advantageous.
[0065] The piece 1 of furniture preferably includes a side wall 1A, an upper plate 1B, a lower plate 1C, an intermediate wall 1E, and partition walls 1D on both sides, and these partition walls 1D delimit the door compartment 10 together with the side wall 1A.
[0066] The folding door 11 includes a first door element 111 which is connected on one side by a mounting hinge 13 to a mounting profile 12 and on the other side by a folding door hinge 3 according to the invention to a second door element 112, the dimensions of the second door element 112 preferably corresponding to those of the first door element 111. The folding door 11 can be stored in the door compartment 10 in a slightly open, fully folded state with the door elements 111, 112 aligned parallel to each other, or can be fully opened and moved to a closed position in which the two door elements 111, 112 are aligned in at least approximately one plane. In order to hold the folding door 11 in the closed position and to be able to release the folding door 11 from the closed position in a simple manner, one of the two door elements 111, 112, preferably the first door element 111, is provided with a holding device 2 which faces a locking element 20 in the closed position. It is represented by an arrow that the holding device 2 of the folding door 11 provided with a magnetic element is guided with respect to the locking element 20 during rotation of the first door element 111 and is magnetically held in the closed position by the locking element 20.
[0067] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the doors 11, 11' are each connected to the mounting profile 12 by means of mounting hinges 13, and this mounting profile 12 is held in a vertically aligned state by the moving device 9 and is movable within the associated door compartment 10. The door 11 is aligned parallel to the side wall 1A in front of the associated door compartment 10 and can then be moved into the door compartment 10. For movement within the door compartment 10, the mounting profile 12 can also be provided with a drive device. Preferably, the mounting profile 12 is connected at the upper side to a support carriage 5A, and this support carriage 5A is movable into the door compartment 10 along the associated support rail 15A. At the lower side, the mounting profile 12 can also be connected to a carriage guided on a support rail.
[0068] In this preferred embodiment, the front edge of the second door element 112 of the folding door 11 is connected to a guide carriage 5B, and this guide carriage 5B is guided in a guide rail 15B that extends along the front side of the piece of furniture 1 and curves into the door compartment 10. Thus, the folding door 11 is held at the front side by the guide carriage 5B, and the guide carriage 5B is movable along the front side of the piece of furniture 1 in the non-folded state of the folding door 11 and is movable into the door compartment 10 in the folded state of the folding door 11. The guide carriage 5B always runs ahead of the tip of the second door element 112 in the direction of movement. By using the guide carriage 5B, the folding door 11 can be opened and folded almost effortlessly.
[0069] Figure 2 shows the rear side of the folding door 11 of the furniture piece 1 with the first door element 111. The first door element 111 is connected at the trailing edge to the mounting profile 12 by the mounting hinge 13 and at the leading edge to the second door element 112 by the folding door hinge 3 according to the invention. A guide carriage 5B is attached to the front side of the second door element 112. The guide carriage 5B includes a support roller 51 that can roll on the support element 151 of the guide rail 15B and a guide roller that is guided in the guide channel 152 of the guide rail 15B. The guide rail 15B is shown to extend along the front side of the furniture piece 1 and curvilinearly into the door compartment 10 of the furniture piece 1. In order for the guide carriage 5B to follow this curve, the guide carriage 5B is connected to the second door element 112 by parts 53, 54 of a drive body that are pivotally connected to each other.
[0070] The mounting profile 12 is connected at the upper end to a support carriage 5A, and the support carriage 5A can be moved into the door compartment 10 along the support rail 15A. In Figure 2, the support carriage 5A is guided to a stop device 7 at the front side of the door compartment 10. In this position, also shown in Figure 1, the folding door 11 is fully pulled out of the door compartment 10 and can be spread out to close the furniture opening 100 (see Figure 1). In Figure 2, the folding door 11 has reached approximately the closed position and can preferably be brought to the closed position by manually pushing the folding door 11 at the leading edge 111. In this closed position, a holding device 2 attached to the rear side of the separating element 111 can interact magnetically with a locking element 20 connected to the front side of the guide rail 15B.
[0071] The retaining device 2 includes an attachment part 21 which is preferably connected to the first door element 111 by means of a screw and to the retaining lever 22 by means of a lever shaft 23. In the front-end piece or the retaining lever 22, a retaining magnet 28 or preferably one or more spacer rollers 29 are provided.
[0072] The spacer roller 29 can roll on the locking element 20 and / or the guide rail 15B during the closing process without the retaining lever 22 coming into contact with the locking element 20 or the guide rail 15B. The retaining lever 22 is rotated and the retaining magnet 28 is aligned approximately forwards with respect to the locking element 20, whereby the retaining magnet 28 can magnetically couple to the magnetic or ferromagnetic locking element 20 in the closed position of the folding door 11.
[0073] After being released from the closed position, the two door elements 111, 112 are preferably automatically folded up. This folding process is carried out automatically or is assisted by the folding door hinge 3 according to the invention which connects the two door elements 111, 112 to one another.
[0074] The folding door hinge 3 includes two hinge levers 31, 32 which are each connected to the associated door element 111, 112 by means of an attachment part, preferably a hinge cup 39, at the ends facing away from one another, and are connected to one another by means of a hinge shaft 33 at the lever end pieces facing one another. Furthermore, a drive spring 34 is provided which, as will be described later, acts on the spring end piece in the first hinge lever 31 and the spring center piece in the second hinge lever 32. Thereby, the drive spring 34 acts on the two hinge levers 31, 32 and rotates them relative to one another, attempting to fold the door elements 111, 112.
[0075] FIG. 2 also shows a spacer plate 200 that has no function in the closed position of the folding door 11. However, in the folded position of the folding door 11 where the door elements 111, 112 are aligned in parallel, the front piece of the holding lever 22 with the spacer roller 29 abuts against the spacer plate 200 and is pressed against the mounting part 21, and is preferably aligned parallel to the mounting part 21, so that it occupies as small a space as possible when pushed into the door compartment 10 (see FIG. 4).
[0076] FIG. 3 shows a part of the folding door 11 of FIG. 2 immediately before reaching the closed position or immediately after being released from the closed position. The door elements 111, 112 of the folding door 11 are not yet aligned in a plane, and the holding magnet 28 has not yet contacted the locking element 20. The holding lever 22 is inclined with respect to the mounting part 21 and faces the locking element 20, and first contacts the locking element 20 by the spacer roller 29. The spacer roller 29, preferably formed from plastic, makes little noise.
[0077] The holding magnet 28 is embedded in a magnetic chamber and is thus partially surrounded by a magnetic cup protruding, for example, 0.2 mm to 2 mm from the front side, so that the holding magnet 28 cannot collide with the locking element 20.
[0078] The hand indicates that the holding device 2 can be locked in the closed position of the folding door 11 by the pressure of the first hand and can be released again by the pressure of the second hand.
[0079] To lock the holding device 2, the holding device 2 includes a locking unit 24 with a force transmission device 241, and the force transmission device 241 is periodically movable in the locking unit 24 by the action of pressure between the locking position where the holding device 2 reaches the holding position and the release position where the holding device 2 reaches the release position.
[0080] The locking unit 24 comprising the force transmission device 241 is schematically shown. The force transmission device 241 supported by the positioning spring 243 can be axially moved to operate the switching mechanism 242, in which the latching element is periodically moved between the latching position and the release position.
[0081] The folding door hinge 3 includes a drive spring 34 which is tensioned at this position of the folding door 11 and tends to fold the door elements 111, 112 against each other against the user's force. Thus, the holding device 2 must be magnetically coupled to the locking element 20 in the closed position and must be locked by the locking unit 24 so that the folding door 11 is held in the closed position. Thus, the drive spring 34 is loaded by hand force and then acts to automatically fold the folding door 11 as soon as it is released in the closed position.
[0082] FIG. 4 shows the folding door 11 of FIG. 3 comprising a first door element 111 in cross-section and a second door element 112 aligned parallel to the first door element 111, where the folding door 11 can be inserted into the associated door compartment 10. The front portion of the holding lever 22 is located against the spacer plate 200 at the spacer roller 229 and holds the holding lever 22 at least approximately parallel to the mounting portion 21.
[0083] The hinge levers 31, 32 of the folding door hinge 3 connected by the hinge shaft 33 are rotated relative to each other. Thus, the hinge spring 34 is fully or partially relaxed.
[0084] FIG. 5a shows the folding door hinge 3 of FIG. 2, including a first hinge lever 31 and a second hinge lever 32 connected by a hinge shaft 33. Further, the folding door hinge 3 includes a driving spring 34 having two spring packs 341, 342, the two spring packs 341, 342 are connected to each other by a spring center piece 343, and spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are provided. The driving spring 34 is tensioned at this position of the folding door hinge 3 and surrounds the hinge shaft 33 by the spring packs 341, 342. Further, the driving spring 34 is supported on the first hinge lever 31 at the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 and on the second hinge lever 32 at the spring center piece 343.
[0085] The first hinge lever 31 includes a first lever end piece 311 including four bearing arms 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114 (see FIG. 5b) through which the hinge shaft 33 passes, that is, two outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 and two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113, and a second lever end piece 312 connected to a related mounting element or hinge cup 39.
[0086] The second hinge lever 32 includes a first lever end piece 321 held between the two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 of the first hinge lever 31 and penetrated by the bearing shaft 33, and a second lever end piece 322 connected to a related mounting element or hinge cup 39.
[0087] The outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 are provided with holding elements 314, and spring end pieces 3144, 4321 of spring packets 341, 342 are engaged with and held by this holding element 314. The second bearing arm 32 includes a holding member 324, and a spring center piece 343 is hooked and held by this holding member 324. The spring packets 341, 342 tend to rotate the first hinge lever 31 held by the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 clockwise and the second hinge lever 32 engaged with the spring center piece 343 counterclockwise about the hinge axis defining the rotational axis x.
[0088] Preferably sleeve-shaped bearing rollers 35 each having an axial bore 350 are held within the respective spring packets 341, 342, and these bearing rollers 35 are penetrated by a hinge shaft 33. Thus, the movement of the spring packets 341, 342 is absorbed by the bearing rollers 54, which is why the spring packets 341, 342 are always held axially aligned, avoiding unwanted deformation of the spring packets 341, 342 and friction of the spring packets 341, 342, for example, at the hinge shaft 33.
[0089] The diameter of the bearing rollers 35 is preferably selected such that there is always a gap between the bearing rollers 35 and the spring assemblies 341, 342 even if their inner diameters change during the operation of the folding door hinge 3.
[0090] Mounting elements, for example, hinge cups 39, can be connected to the associated lever end pieces 312, 322 in a press-fit and / or snap-fit manner. As shown, the mounting element 39 is preferably movable or adjustable relative to the lever end pieces 312, 322 and can be fixed in place.
[0091] Figure 5b shows an exploded view of the folding door hinge 3 in a preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, it is shown that the inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 include smaller openings 31120, 31130 that can only receive the hinge shaft 33 but not the bearing rollers 35. Each of the bearing rollers 35 includes an axial bore 350, in which the hinge shaft 33 is preferably rotatably held with little play. On the other hand, the outer bearing arms 3111 and 3114 include larger bearing openings 31110, 31140 into which the bearing rollers 35 can be inserted. A bearing opening 3210 is also provided in the first end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32, and the hinge shaft 33 has already been inserted into this bearing opening 3210.
[0092] Therefore, the folding door hinge 3 can be easily assembled by inserting the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32 between the two inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 of the first hinge lever 31, and inserting the spring packets 341, 342 of the drive spring 34 between the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 and the inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 respectively. Then, the bearing rollers 35 are inserted through the bearing holes 31110, 31140 of the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 into the corresponding spring packets 341 or 342. Finally, the hinge shaft 33 is passed through the lever end pieces 311, 321, the bearing rollers 35, and the spring packets 341, 342. Preferably, in one of these steps, the spring center piece 343 is engaged with the retaining element 324 of the second hinge lever 32. In addition, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are engaged with the retaining elements 314 on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114. Optionally, the mounting element 39 is connected to the hinge levers 31, 32.
[0093] As a result, the folding door hinge 3 has the configuration shown in Fig. 5a, where the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are engaged with the retaining element 314 on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114. In Fig. 5a, the retaining element 314 is cube-shaped, which is why the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 have to be lifted onto the retaining element 314 using tools. In a preferred embodiment of the folding door hinge 3 described below, this step is substantially simplified by a preferred embodiment of the retaining element 314, whereby the coupling step can be carried out almost automatically.
[0094] In all embodiments of the folding door hinge 3, the drive spring 34 occupies hardly any space and generates a very high spring force, so that the door elements 111, 112 can be forced to rotate from their closed position aligned in one plane, preferably to their folded position aligned parallel to each other. In the folded position, the force applied by the drive spring 34 is minimized. In addition, the movement of the door elements 111, 112 in this area is preferably damped by a damping element or a damping device, so that no impact noise is generated.
[0095] The spring packets 341, 342 supported by the bearing rollers 35 remain coaxial with the hinge shaft 33 during this rotation process and can operate without friction. It is particularly advantageous that the spring packets 341, 342 do not need to be arranged and held within the hinge housing and can be arranged exposed, resulting in a simple structure with minimal space requirements. Thus, the drive spring 34 is almost completely integrated into the folding door hinge 3, resulting in an optically and functionally optimal solution.
[0096] The drive spring 34 can follow the movement of the hinge arms 31, 32 without friction with two spring packets 341, 342 that apply a high force to the hinge arms 31, 32. It is particularly advantageous that a powerful drive spring 34 can be integrated into the folding door hinge 3 without occupying significantly more space.
[0097] FIG. 6a shows the folding door hinge 3 of FIG. 2 in a preferred embodiment with the drive spring 34 of FIG. 5b, where the spring center piece 343 of the drive spring 34 is engaged with the holding member 324 of the second hinge lever 32, but its spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are not yet coupled to the first hinge lever 31. In this configuration of the folding door hinge 3 where the drive spring 34 is not yet coupled to the first hinge lever 31, the folding door hinge 3 has only a hinge function and no drive function. Thus, in this state, the folding door hinge 3 can be easily attached to the door elements 111, 112.
[0098] However, no tool is required to engage the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 with the retaining element 314. Instead, the door elements 111, 112 are movable relative to each other with minimal force, which is represented by the two arrows. When the first door element 111, and thus the second hinge lever 32, is rotated clockwise, the spring center piece 343 is interlocked and the drive spring 34 is rotated clockwise about the hinge shaft 33. The spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are guided relative to the retaining element 314, which is no longer cube-shaped and includes a ramp or inclined side surface 3141 on the side facing the spring end pieces 3411, 3421. In FIG. 6a, the spring end piece 3411 is still in front of the ramp 3141, the ramp 3141 is unstepped, and the spring end piece 3411 can slide over the ramp 3141 during rotation. As the drive spring 34 rotates further, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are guided over the ramp or inclined side surface 3141 until they overcome the retaining element 314 and enter the respective retaining channels 3140, where they can be firmly held.
[0099] Preferably, the coils of the spring packets 341, 342 are spaced so that the spring packets 341, 342 can be compressed during the process of connecting the spring end pieces 3411, 3421, whereby the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 can more easily cross the ramp 3141 of the retaining element 314.
[0100] During clockwise rotation, the second hinge lever 32 can interlock the spring center piece 343. Therefore, the hinge lever 32 is preferably provided with a catch 325 facing the holding member 324. Thus, the spring center piece 343 is held in a rest sink 328 (see FIG. 9) between the holding member 324 and the preferably provided catch 325. During clockwise rotation of the second hinge lever 32 to which the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are coupled to the first hinge lever, the spring center piece 343 contacts the catch 325, and during subsequent counterclockwise rotation of the second hinge lever 32 when the drive spring 34 is tensioned, the spring center piece 343 contacts the holding member 324.
[0101] FIG. 6a further shows a bezel device 4 with a bezel profile 41, in which the holding module 42 is held in a snap - fit manner, but is axially movable and fixable. To fix the holding module 42, the holding module 42 includes a threaded hole 420 into which a threaded bolt can be screwed up to the bezel profile 41 and tightened together with the bezel profile 41. For connection to the folding - type door hinge 3, the holding module 42 preferably includes a connection element in an embodiment of a holding clip 423, and the holding clip 423 can project beyond the first hinge lever 31 on both sides and thereby be coupled to the hinge shaft 33 pulled out from the folding - type door hinge 3 on both sides. Thus, the bezel device 4 can be easily coupled to the folding - type door 11 or the folding - type door hinge 3 to cover or close the opening between the two door elements 111, 112 when folded against each other. On the one hand, this covers the door gap that impairs the aesthetics. On the other hand, this prevents hand intrusion into the door gap and injury when operating the folding - type door 11.
[0102] Figure 6a further shows the selective function of the two hinge levers 31, 32 for holding the bezel device 4 or the bezel profile 41 in the desired orientation within the open door gap between the first and second door elements 111, 112. For this purpose, the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 facing the hinge shaft 33 includes a first stop element 316 in at least one of the outer lever arms 3111, 3114, and the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32 facing the hinge shaft 33 includes a second stop element 326. When the two hinge levers 31, 32 are rotated towards each other, the first stop element 316 of the first hinge lever 31 and the second stop element 326 of the second hinge lever 32 are each guided forward to one side of the bezel profile 41, whereby the bezel profile 41 is automatically aligned parallel to the front side of the functional entity 1. This ensures that the bezel device 4 or the bezel profile 41 can actually perform its intended function and cover the door gap between the folded door elements 111, 112.
[0103] The process of coupling the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 to the first hinge lever 31 is shown in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c as seen from the first spring end piece 3411. The coupling of the second spring end piece 3421 occurs simultaneously in the same form.
[0104] FIG. 6b shows the folding door hinge 3 of FIG. 6a in a preferred embodiment with a driving spring 34, where the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 of the driving spring 34 are coupled to the first hinge lever 31, but the spring center piece 343 is not yet engaged with the holding member 324 of the second hinge lever 32. Thus, in this embodiment, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are preferably already coupled to the holding element 314 of the first hinge lever 31, while the second hinge lever 32 is not yet coupled to the driving spring 34 or the spring center piece 343 before the first operation of the folding door hinge 3. Thus, in this state, the folding door hinge 3 can be easily attached to the door elements 111, 112.
[0105] The holding member 324 is preferably designed as a latching element, whereby the spring center piece 343 can slide on the holding member 324 and engage behind it when the hinge arms 31, 32 are rotated together. For example, the holding buzzer 324 is nose-shaped, hook-shaped, or serrated.
[0106] To couple the driving spring 34 or the spring center piece 343 to the second hinge lever 32, the two hinge levers 31, 32 or the door elements 111, 112 are rotated relative to each other again. During this process, the spring center piece 343 is guided on the holding member 324 and may be slightly bent in some cases until it can engage behind the holding member 324 due to its elasticity.
[0107] Preferably, the embodiments of the folding door hinge 3 of FIGS. 6a and 6b are combined, whereby when the two hinge levers 31, 32 are first rotated towards each other, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 can be automatically coupled to the preferably lamp-shaped holding element 314 and the spring center piece 343 of the driving spring 34 can be automatically coupled to the holding member 324.
[0108] In FIG. 7a, the second hinge lever 32 is rotated slightly clockwise compared to the position in FIG. 6a. In this operation, the catch 325 rotates the spring center piece 343 clockwise, so that the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are guided onto the lamp 3141 of the associated holding element 314 and may be slightly bent and / or lifted by the compression of the spring packet 341.
[0109] In FIG. 7b, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 have overcome the lamp 3141 and are engaged behind the holding element 314.
[0110] In FIG. 7c, the spring end pieces 3411, 3421 are held by the holding element 314, while the second hinge lever 32 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to return. In this process, the spring center piece 343 is driven counterclockwise by the holding member 324 of the second hinge lever 32, and the driving spring 34 is partially tensioned.
[0111] FIG. 8a shows a cross-section along line A--A of the folding door hinge 3 of FIG. 7a with the first spring end piece 3411 of the driving spring 34. The first spring end piece 3411 is guided on the lamp 3141 of the holding element 314 on the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 during the clockwise rotation of the second hinge lever 32 until it engages behind the holding element 314 in the holding channel 3140.
[0112] Figure 8b shows the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31 of FIG. 8a with the retaining element 314, the retaining element 314 including an inclined side surface or ramp 3141 and being adjacent to a retaining channel 3140 which is delimited on one side by the retaining element 314 and on the other side preferably by a retaining cam 315 provided. It is shown that the spring end piece 3411, shown schematically, is firmly held in the retaining channel 3140 between the retaining element 314 and the preferably provided retaining cam 315.
[0113] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the folding door hinge 3 and the bezel device 4 of FIG. 6a. The basic elements of the folding door hinge 3 have already been described with reference to FIG. 5b of FIG. 6a. In FIG. 9, preferably designed retaining elements 314 including ramps are provided on the outer bearing arms 3111, 3114 of the first lever end piece 311 of the first hinge lever 31.
[0114] The inner bearing arms 3112, 3113 preferably include bearing openings 31120, 31130 with inward first bearing opening portions 31120A, 31130A whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the hinge shaft 33 and outward second bearing opening portions 31120B, 31130B whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the bearing roller 35. Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the bearing roller 35 is optionally rotatably held on both sides by the outer and inner bearing arms 3111, 3112 or 3114, 3113 and is always coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation x. The bearing pin 36 can be held in the first or second bearing opening portions 31120A, 31130A; 31120B, 31130B or in an intermediate transition portion or receiving bore partially guided into the first bearing opening portions 31120A, 31130A.
[0115] The hinge shaft 33 is also provided with bearing pins 36 facing each other, and these bearing pins 36 can engage with the bearing openings 3210 of the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever.
[0116] The bearing rollers 35 and / or the bearing pins 36 are preferably formed from metal, such as high-performance steel, or plastic, especially a durable and slidable plastic, such as a thermoplastic like POM / polyoxymethylene, which ensures optimal bearing of the hinge shaft 33 and / or the spring packets 341, 342 in the long term.
[0117] To prevent the hinge shaft 33 itself from moving axially, the hinge shaft 33 is preferably pressed against and held inside one of the bearing arms 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114 of the first hinge lever 31 or inside the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32. However, other means, such as a retaining ring, especially a snap ring, may be provided to fix the hinge shaft 33. For example, a slot is provided in the first lever end piece 321 of the second hinge lever 32, and a retaining ring 331 is inserted into this slot. The retaining ring 331 can engage with the circumferential groove 330 in the hinge shaft 33 to preferably hold the hinge shaft 33 loosely but axially immobile. In this case, the hinge shaft 33 can be inserted into both hinge levers 31, 32 and fixed by only one retaining ring 331.
[0118] Furthermore, a bezel device 4 with a bezel profile 41 is shown, and the bezel profile 41 includes two profile side pieces 412 connected to each other by a profile center piece 411. The bezel profile 41 includes a substantially C-shaped cross-section and an inner cross-section that at least substantially corresponds to the cross-section of the holding module 42. As shown, the holding module 42 can be inserted into the bezel profile 41, whereby the holding module 42 is held in a fitting manner but axially movably in the bezel profile 41 and can be fixed by a threaded element 424, preferably a threaded bolt, screwed into the threaded hole 420.
[0119] The holding module 42 includes a module body 421 with a threaded hole 420 and anchor elements 422 provided on both sides and extending parallel to each other. The anchor elements 422 can engage with the profile side pieces 412 of the bezel profile 41, which are preferably claw-shaped.
[0120] FIG. 10 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the bezel device 4 of FIGS. 6a or 6b in the closed position of the folding door 11. In this closed position, the door elements 111, 112 are facing each other and closing the door gap therebetween. The bezel device 4 is retracted behind the folding door 11 by the hinge levers 31, 32 and thus is no longer visible. Advantageously, only the folding door 11 with the door elements 111, 112 that are planar and aligned in the closed position is presented to a person viewing the functional entity or the piece of furniture 1. Thus, the functional entity 1 is securely closed and access between the door elements 111, 112 is no longer possible.
[0121] If there is a disturbing door gap remaining, the mounting screws 391 by which the hinge levers 31, 32 are connected to the mounting element 39 can be loosened, and the mounting element 39 can be moved relative to the hinge levers 31, 32 until the door gap reaches the desired dimension. It is shown that the left hinge cup 39 can be engaged with the screw rotation to achieve the desired movement. Thereafter, the mounting screw 391 is tightened again.
[0122] Figure 11 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the bezel device 4 of Figure 10 with door elements 111, 112 folded against each other, and a bezel device 4 for closing the gap is held by the folding door hinge 3 between the door elements 111, 112.
[0123] Figure 12 shows the folding door hinge 3 and the bezel device 4 of Figure 11 as seen from above. It can be seen that the stop elements 316, 326 hold the bezel profile 41 in the desired position. It can also be seen that the inner cross-section of the bezel profile 41 at least approximately corresponds to the cross-section of the inserted holding module 42 connected to the hinge shaft 33 by the holding clip 423. Further, it is shown that the spring center piece 343 of the drive spring 34 is held between the holding member 324 and the catch 325 of the second hinge lever 32.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0124] 1 Functional entity, furniture, for example, a piece of wardrobe 1A Side wall 1B Upper plate 1C Lower plate 1D Partition wall 10 First or second door compartment 10 or parking space 100 Inside of the functional entity 1 11 Folding door 111 First door element 112 Second door element 11’ Integrated Door 12 Mounting Profile 13 Mounting Hinge 15A Support Rail for Support Carriage 5A 15B Guide Rail for Guide Carriage 5B 151 Support Element 152 Guide Channel 2 Holding Device 20 Magnetic or Ferromagnetic Locking Element 200 Spacer Plate 21 Mounting Portion 22 Holding Lever 23 Lever Shaft 24 Locking Unit 241 Force Transmission Device 242 Switching Mechanism 243 Reset Spring 25 Coupling Unit 28 Holding Magnet 29 Spacer Roller 3 Folding Door Hinge 31 First Hinge Lever 311 First Lever End Piece of First Hinge Lever 31 3111 First Bearing Arm 3110 First Bearing Opening 3112 Second Bearing Arm 31120 Second Bearing Opening 31120A, 31120B Second Bearing Opening Portion 3113 Third Bearing Arm 31310 Third Bearing Opening Portion 31310A, 31310B Third Bearing Opening 3114 Fourth Bearing Arm 31140 Fourth Bearing Opening 312 Second Lever End Piece of First Hinge Lever 31 314 Holding Element 3140 Holding Channel 3141 Lamp, Inclined Side 315 Holding cam 316 First stop element, stop lug 32 Second hinge lever 321 First lever end piece of the second hinge lever 32 3210 Bearing opening in the first lever end piece 321 322 Second lever end piece of the second hinge lever 32 324 Holding member 325 Catch 326 Second stop element, stop lug 328 Rest sink 33 Hinge shaft 330 Circumferential groove (optional) in the hinge shaft 331 Retaining ring, e.g., snap ring (optional) 34 Driving spring 341 First spring packet 3411 First spring end piece 342 Second spring packet 3421 Second spring end piece 343 Spring center piece 35 Bearing roller 350 Axial bore 36 Bearing pin 39 Mounting part, hinge cup 4 Bezel device 41 Bezel profile 410 Inner cross-section of the bezel profile 41 411 Profile center piece 412 Profile side piece 42 Holding module 420 Threaded hole 421 Module body 422 Anchor element 423 Connecting element, preferably a retaining clip 424 Threaded element, threaded bolt 5A Support carriage 5B Guide carriage 51 Support roller 52 Guide roller 53 First carriage body part 54 Second carriage body part 9 Moving device x Rotation axis of the folding door hinge
Claims
1. Folding door hinge (3), A first hinge lever (31) includes a first lever end piece (311) having at least one bearing opening (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140) and a second lever end piece (312) connected to or connectable to a first mounting portion (39), A second hinge lever (32) includes a first lever end piece (321) having at least one bearing opening (3210) and a second lever end piece (322) connected to or connectable to a second mounting portion (39), A hinge shaft (33) is held in the bearing openings (31110, 31120, 31130, 31140; 3210) of the hinge levers (31, 32) and connects the two hinge levers (31, 32) to each other so as to be rotatable. The device comprises a drive spring (34) that abuts against the first hinge lever (31) on one side and against the second hinge lever (32) on the other side, The first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) includes two spaced first and second inner bearing arms (3112, 3113) having associated bearing openings (31120, 31130) between which the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) is held, and two spaced first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) from the inner bearing arms (3112, 3113), The drive spring (34) includes two spring packets (341, 342), the spring packets surrounding the hinge axis (33) and interconnected by a spring center piece (343) that abuts the second hinge lever (32), and of the spring packets, the first spring packet (341) positioned between the first inner bearing arm (3112) and the first outer bearing arm (3111) has an end furthest from the spring center piece (343) In a folding door hinge, the first spring end piece (3411) abuts against the first outer bearing arm (3111), and the second spring packet (342) of the spring packet, which is positioned between the second inner bearing arm (3113) and the second outer bearing arm (3114), includes a second spring end piece (3421) at the end furthest from the spring center piece (343) abuts against the second outer bearing arm (3114), The first hinge lever (31) includes, for each of the spring end pieces (3411, 3421), a retaining element (314) into which the associated spring end piece (3411, 3421) is engaged or can be engaged, or The second hinge lever (32) includes a retaining member (324) to which the spring center piece (343) is engaged or can be engaged, or A folding door hinge (3), characterized in that the first hinge lever (31) includes a retaining element (314) to which the associated spring end piece (3411, 3421) is engaged or can be engaged for each of the spring end pieces (3411, 3421), and the second hinge lever (32) includes a retaining member (324) to which the spring center piece (343) is engaged or can be engaged.
2. The retaining element (314) is designed as a latching element to which the spring end pieces (3411, 3421) can engage, or The retaining member (324) is formed as a latching element to which the spring center piece (343) can engage, or The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element (314) is designed as a latching element to which the spring end pieces (3411, 3421) can engage, and the retaining member (324) is formed as a latching element to which the spring center piece (343) can engage.
3. The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring center piece (343) is held or can be held by the second hinge lever (32) between the retaining element (324) and the catch (325).
4. The drive spring (34) is coupled to the first hinge lever (31) and can be coupled to the second hinge lever (31) by the rotation of the hinge levers (31, 32) relative to each other, or The drive spring (34) is coupled to the second hinge lever (31) and can be coupled to the first hinge lever (31) by the rotation of the hinge levers (31, 32) relative to each other, or The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive spring (34) can be coupled to the first hinge lever (31) on one side and to the second hinge lever (32) on the other side by the rotation of the hinge levers (31, 32).
5. Each of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) includes one of the retaining elements (314) including a ramp (3141), through which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) can be introduced into a retaining channel (3140) located behind the retaining element (314), and after the folding door hinge (3) is actuated, the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) is held in the retaining channel (3140), or The first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) includes the retaining member (324) in the form of a latching element, which guides the spring center piece (343) on the latching element and can be hooked behind the retaining member (324), or Each of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) includes one of the retaining elements (314) including a ramp (3141), through which the associated first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) can be introduced into a retaining channel (3140) located behind the retaining element (314), after the folding door hinge (3) is actuated, into the retaining channel (3140), the associated The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 4, wherein the first or second spring end piece (3411, 3421) is held, and the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) includes the retaining member (324) in the form of a latching element, which guides the spring center piece (343) on the latching element and can be hooked behind the retaining member (324).
6. A folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a bearing roller (35) is rotatably and substantially free of play held by the hinge shaft (33) within the spring packets (341, 342) of the drive spring (34), and the outer diameter of the bearing roller (35) is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the spring packets (341, 342).
7. The bearing openings (31110, 31140) of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) include an inner diameter that allows one of the bearing rollers (35) to pass through the associated spring packets (341, 342) into the associated spring packets (341, 342), or The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing openings (31110, 31140) of the first and second outer bearing arms (3111, 3114) include an inner diameter that allows one of the bearing rollers (35) to pass through the associated spring packets (341, 342) into the associated spring packets (341, 342) and further into the bearing opening portion (31120B, 31130B) of the adjacent first or second inner bearing arm (3112, 3113).
8. The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring packets (341, 342) of the drive spring (34) include helical or thread-like rotations, and the rotations are supported by each other or at least partially spaced apart from each other with each rotation so that the spring packets (341, 342) can be compressed in the axial direction.
9. The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge shaft (33) protrudes beyond the first hinge lever (31) by an end piece on one or both sides, and the end piece of the hinge shaft (33) is connected to a bezel device (4).
10. The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 9, wherein the bezel device (4) includes a bezel profile (41) having two profile side pieces (412) interconnected by a profile center piece (411), and at least one retaining module (42) is held in the bezel profile (41) in a squeegeeable, movable, and fixable manner, the retaining module (42) includes a connecting element (423) fixedly or detachably connected to the hinge shaft (33).
11. The folding door hinge (3) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first lever end piece (311) of the first hinge lever (31) is provided with at least one first stop element (316), and the first lever end piece (321) of the second hinge lever (32) is provided with at least one second stop element (326), the first and second stop elements (316, 326) are arranged on the first and second hinge levers (31, 32) so as to be aligned in opposite directions after rotation of the two hinge levers (31, 32) and to form contact surfaces for the bezel profile (41).
12. A functional entity (1), piece of furniture, or room segment comprising a folding door (11) having two door elements (111, 112) connected to each other by at least one folding door hinge (3) as described in claim 1.
13. The functional entity (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the bezel device (4) is held by the folding door hinge (3) provided to cover the door gap between the door elements (111, 112).
14. The functional entity (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the folding door (11) can be locked in a closed position by a holding device (2) and released again from the closed position, and the folding door (11) can be at least partially moved to a folded state by the action of force applied by the folding door hinge (3) or a plurality of folding door hinges (3).
15. The functional entity (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first door element (111) is connected at the edge furthest from the plurality of folding door hinges (3) to a movable mounting profile (12) within the door compartment (10) of the functional entity (1) by a mounting hinge (13), and the second door element (112) is connected at the edge furthest from the plurality of folding door hinges (3) to a guide carriage (5B) guided by a guide rail (5B) extending along the front side of the functional entity (1).