Hinge for the rotary movement of a glass closing element such as a door, a leaf or the like

Abstract

A mechanical hinge for the rotatable coupling of a closing element (A) made of glass, such as a door, a leaf or the like, and a stationary support structure such as a frame, a wall of the like, which comprises an anchoring element (10) which can be coupled with the stationary support structure and a substantially C-shaped anchoring element (20) which can be coupled with the closing element (A). The anchoring elements (10, 20) are rotatably coupled to each other to rotate around a rotation axis (X) and the anchoring element (20) comprises a first and second plate (31, 41) designed to remain mutually facing and spaced apart with respect to each other so as to remain on opposite sides with respect to the closing element (A). The hinge further comprises a pivot (50) defining the axis (X) and a slider (60) slidable along an axis (Y). The pivot (50) comprises cam means (59) and the slider (60) comprises cam follower means (69) which are mutually configured so that to the rotation of the pivot (50) there corresponds the sliding of the slider (60) and vice versa. The hinge further comprises elastic counteracting means (70) for promoting or counteracting the sliding of the slider (60).

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR THE ROTARY MOVEMENT OF A GLASS CLOSING ELEMENT SUCH AS A DOOR, A LEAF OR THE LIKE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of hinges, and it particularly relates to a mechanical hinge for the rotary movement of a closing element made of glass, such as a door, a leaf or the like.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] Mechanical hinges for the rotary movement of a closing element, such as a door or door leaf, in particular made of glass, with respect to a support structure, for example a frame or a wall, are known.

[0007] Such hinges typically comprise a fixed element anchored to the supporting structure and a movable element anchored to the door, susceptible to mutually rotate with respect to each other.

[0008] However, for some particular applications of doors made of glass such as shower cabins, shop windows or luxury furnishing, there is required a vertical hinge having a minimum overall dimension and a high aesthetic appeal at the same time.

[0009] In such applications, there is also known the need for controlling the movement of the hinge to keep the door open and / or closed. Further need typical of such applications is to ensure the proper closure of the door and simultaneously facilitate the opening thereof by the user.

[0010] Hinges that allow such controls of the movement are known. However, they reveal large overall dimensions, poor aesthetic appeal, high manufacturing costs and long assembly times.

[0011] Summary of the invention

[0012] An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks outlined above, by providing a hinge for the rotary movement of a closing element that is highly functional and cost-effective.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that has a high aesthetic appeal.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that has long durability. Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is quick to fit.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that allow the adjustment of the closing position.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that has particularly small overall dimensions.

[0017] These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a hinge according to what is described and / or claimed and / or illustrated herein.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined according to the dependent claims.

[0019] Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a hinge 1 in a closed position;

[0022] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the hinge 1 in an open position;

[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hinge 1;

[0024] FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are cross-sectional views of the hinge 1 along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis in different operating steps, with in particular in FIG. 4 the hinge in closed position and in FIG. 7 the hinge in an open position;

[0025] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are a cross-sectional view of the hinge 1 along parallel cross- sectional planes, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views of the hinge 1 in a different configuration along the cross-sectional planes of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along a plane passing through the rotation axis, with in FIG. 13 an enlargement of some details of FIG. 12;

[0027] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are an axonometric view of a different embodiment of the hinge 1 respectively in closed and open position;

[0028] FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the hinge of FIG. 14.

[0029] Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

[0030] With reference to the figures mentioned above, herein described is a hinge 1 for the rotary movement of a closing element, such as a door leaf, a door, or the like, with respect to a stationary support structure, such as a wall, a floor, a frame or the like. Preferably, the closing element may comprise or consist of at least one glass sheet. Preferably, such closing element may be without a frame.

[0031] Preferably, the hinge 1 may be installed vertically, that is its rotation axis X may be substantially vertical.

[0032] Given that the stationary support structure is per se known, it was not shown in the attached figures. As a matter of fact, such element is not part of the invention claimed in the attached claims.

[0033] For example, the closing element may be a door leaf of a shower cabin, while the support structure may be the masonry wall or another glass sheet substantially adjacent to the door leaf.

[0034] For the sake of simplicity, hereinafter, reference will be made to a door leaf which may rotate between at least one closing position and at least one opening position around a rotation axis X.

[0035] Essentially, the hinge 1 may comprise a first element 10 and a second element 20. The element 10 may be anchored to the fixed frame while the element 20 may be anchored to the door leaf, preferably to the glass sheet of the door leaf.

[0036] In greater detail, the element 10 may be configured to be anchored to a vertical wall substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door leaf, for example as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0037] In this case, the element 10 may comprise a planar area 10' designed to abut against the vertical wall. Possibly, such area 10' may be fixed to the vertical wall, for example the wall, by means of screws in a per se known manner.

[0038] According to a different embodiment, the element 10 may be configured to be anchored to a vertical wall that is substantially parallel and adjacent to the plane of the door leaf, for example as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.

[0039] For example, the door leaf may for example be glass door leaf of the shower cabin and the fixed frame may be a glass wall substantially aligned with the door leaf.

[0040] In this case, the element 10 may comprise an area 10" designed to interact with the planar vertical wall. Possibly, such area 10" may have a pair of cheeks designed to interact with glass sheet fixed on opposite sides.

[0041] In this manner, advantageously, by changing the configuration of the element 10, the hinge 1 may be fixed on different fixed elements such as vertical masonry walls, glass walls, support frames or the like.

[0042] Suitably, the element 20 may comprise two parts 30, 40 designed to remain mutually facing each other on opposite sides with respect to the door leaf A. In greater detail, each of the parts 30, 40 may comprise a respective plate 31, 41 to close the glass of the door leaf A.

[0043] Preferably, the door leaf A may have a so-called pocket in a per se known manner. The hinge 1 may therefore be positioned at such pocket.

[0044] Suitably, for example as shown in FIG. 3, there may be provided for shaped sealing elements 32, 42 designed to remain interposed between the respective plate 31, 41 and the glass door leaf.

[0045] Advantageously, the shaped elements 32, 42 may have a different thickness depending on the size of the glass sheet of the door leaf A.

[0046] In any case, the anchoring elements 20 and 30 may be mutually coupled so as to rotate with respect to the rotation axis X.

[0047] Suitably, there may be provided for a pivot 50 which may define the axis X. In particular, the pivot 50 may be rotatably constrained with the anchoring element 20 to rotate therewith around the axis X.

[0048] On the other hand, the element 10 may comprise a hinge body 11 with a seat 12 designed to at least partially house the pivot 50. The longitudinal seat 12 may be defined by a hole that passes through the hinge body 11.

[0049] The pivot 50 may have a length greater than the length of the seat 12. In this manner, the pivot 50 may comprise a pair of ends 51, 52 protruding from the seat 12.

[0050] Suitably, the element 20 may comprise at least one seat 21 for the pivot 50. More particularly, the element 20 may comprise at least one seat 21 for the end 51 of the pin 50. Preferably, there may be provided for a pair of seats 21 each separated for housing the end 51 and 52 respectively.

[0051] The anchoring element 20 may have an opening 22 so as to be generally C-shaped. In greater detail, the anchoring element 20 may have a pair of portions 23 and 24 that are facing each other and parallel, and an orthogonal longitudinal portion 25 so as to define the C-shape.

[0052] The opening 22 may therefore be delimited by the portions 23, 24 and 25.

[0053] Suitably, the parts 30 and 40 may have such C-shape. Preferably, the plates 31 and 41 and, if present, the gaskets 32 and / or 42 may have such C-shape.

[0054] Advantageously, a seat 21 may be one at the portion 23 and the other seat 21 at the portion 24.

[0055] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the pivot 50 may be rotatably constrained with the element 20 in a removable manner.

[0056] Thanks to this characteristic, advantageously, the so-called "zero" of the door leaf A, that is for example the door closed position and / or the snap position.

[0057] Suitably, fixing means 5 of the removable type may therefore be provided for. In particular, the means 5 may be movable between a closed configuration in which they prevent the mutual rotation of the pin 50 and of the element 20 to mutual constrain the latter, and an open configuration in which they allow the mutual rotation of the pin 50 and of the element 20 to change the zero.

[0058] Advantageously, the means 5 in open configuration may allow to keep the pivot 50 and the element 20 constrained, but the latter may be free to mutually rotate around the axis thereof. In other words, in such configuration the hinge may be a vacant hinge. Such aspect is particularly advantageous given that it allows to adjust the zero of the hinge subsequently to the fitting thereof.

[0059] The means 5 may be of the clamp 6 type. The means 5 may comprise or consist of a pair of clamps 6.

[0060] In particular, each clamp 6 may comprise a seat 21 which may therefore have a variable width between a larger width corresponding to the open configuration of the clamp 6 and a smaller width corresponding to the closed configuration of the clamp 6. In the open configuration of the means 5 both clamps 6 are open, while in the closed configuration of the means 5, at least one of the clamps 6 is closed.

[0061] The clamp 6 may comprise a pair of portions 44 and 45 arranged facing each other.

[0062] In greater detail, for example as shown in FIG. 3A, the portions 44, 45 may have a respective vacant end 441, 451 and a respective shared opposite end 442, 452. In this manner, the approaching / moving away of the vacant ends 441, 451 may promote the approaching / moving away of the portions 44, 45.

[0063] Preferably, the portion 44 may be integrally joined with the plate 41, while the portion 45 may be slightly flexible so that the vacant end 451 thereof bends slightly with respect to the shared ends 442, 452.

[0064] It is clear that alternatively to the ends 442, 452, whether shared made of a single piece, the portions 44, 45 may for example have the opposite ends 442, 452 integrally coupled to each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0065] Suitably, the portions 44 and 45 may comprise a respective curved operative surface 46 and 47 designed to remain mutually facing each other to define the seat 21.

[0066] Preferably, the surfaces 46 and 47 may be smooth.

[0067] For example as shown in FIG. 3A, the surfaces 46 and 47 may be adjacent. Suitably, the surfaces 46 and 47 may comprise a respective vacant edge 46' and 47' arranged facing each other. The approaching / moving away of the portions 44, 45 may correspond to the approaching of the vacant edges 46' and 47 and as a result the change of width (or diameter) of the seat 21.

[0068] Suitably, there may be provided for adjustment means acting on the clamps 6 for opening / closing the latter, that is to change the width of the seat 21. In particular, the adjustment means may act on the portions 44 and 45 to mutually approach / move away the latter. Should the portion 44 be fixed as shown in the attached drawings, the means may approach / move away the portion 45 to / from the portion 44.

[0069] The adjustment means may comprise a screw 7 and a pair of holes 44', 45' for each clamp 6.

[0070] The portion 44 may comprise a threaded hole 44', while the portion 45 may comprise a hole 45' that is possibly threaded or shaped, for example flared. The holes 44' and 45' may be arranged close to each other.

[0071] The holes 44' and 45' may be spaced apart from the surfaces 46 and 47. The holes 44' and 45' may be spaced apart from the edges 46' and 47'. Preferably, the holes 44' and 45' may be close to the respective ends 441 and 451.

[0072] The screw 7 may act with the holes 44' and 45' of a clamp 6 to mutually approach / move away the surface 46 and 47 so as to change the width of the seat 21.

[0073] The adjustment means may therefore comprise or consist of a single screw 7, a single hole 44' and a single hole 45' for each clamp 6.

[0074] When the surfaces 46 and 47 are close, they may come into contact with the pivot 50, preferably with the ends 51 or 52, defining the closed configuration of the clamp 6, while when the surfaces 46 and 47 are far apart, the pivot 50 may rotate around its axis X while remaining in the seat 21 defining the open configuration of the clamp 6.

[0075] Advantageously, the operative surfaces 46 and 47 may have substantially the same radius of curvature as the respective ends 51, 52. Preferably, the operative surfaces 46 and 47, once closed, may form a substantially cylindrical wall. Such substantially cylindrical wall may define the seat 21. The seat 21 may therefore be cylindrical-shaped. Preferably, the wall 21 may have substantially the same radius as the respective ends 51, 52.

[0076] The expression "substantially cylindrical" is used to indicate that the wall 21 may have a small longitudinal interspace at the edges 46' and 47'. In any case, almost the entire outer surface of the pivot 54 at the ends 51, 52 may be in contact with the wall 21, that is with the surface 46, 47.

[0077] As a matter of fact, as better explained hereinafter, the wall 21 may end up in contact with a portion 55', 55" of the lateral surface 54 of the pivot 50. Such portions 55', 55" may be those at the ends 51, 52 of the pivot 50.

[0078] The interspace between the edges 46' and 47' may further allow to ensure that the surfaces 46, 47 be in contact with the portions 55', 55" of the ends 51 and 52 of the pivot 50.

[0079] Should the seat 21 be substantially cylindrical-shaped, the change in width of the seat 21 may correspond to the change of the size of the inner diameter thereof.

[0080] Preferably, but not exclusively, each surface 46 and 47 may define about half of the cylindrical wall 21.

[0081] The portions 55', 55" of the surface 54 of the pin 50 may be smooth.

[0082] Due to the configuration of the operative surfaces 46 and 47 described above, the latter may be substantially entirely in contact with the portions 55', 55" of the respective ends 51, 52 once closed. This may allow to obtain a high sealing.

[0083] Suitably, due to the smooth surfaces 46, 47 and 55', 55" the so-called "zero" of the hinge may be adjusted precisely.

[0084] Furthermore, advantageously, the geometry of the surfaces 46 and 47 and the smooth surfaces 55', 55" may allow to have a small change in width of the seat 21 between the open and closed configuration of the clamps 6.

[0085] Suitably, the element 20 may comprise a shaped area 43 which comprises the portions 44 and 45 described above. Preferably, such shaped area 43 may be integrated with the plate 41. In other words, the shaped area 43 may be made of a single piece with the plate 41.

[0086] Suitably, there may be provided for a clamp 6 described above for removably fixing the pivot 50 at the end 51 and a clamp 6 for removably fixing the pivot 50 at the end 52, that is on opposite sides with respect to the opening 22.

[0087] Given that the seats 21 of the pair of clamps 6 may interact with only with the with the two ends 51, 52, it will be sufficient that the latter two ends have the outer surface 55', 55" smooth. In this case, in the closed configuration, the seat 21 may be cylindrical-shaped with the same diameter as the ends 51 and 52.

[0088] Preferably, the entire pivot 50 may be cylindrical with constant diameter and they may have the entire outer surface 54 smooth.

[0089] In this manner, advantageously, the hinge 1 may be symmetrical, easy to manufacture and easy to fit.

[0090] Suitably, the area 43 may also be substantially C-shaped so that the area 43 comprises both clamps 6. In particular, the area 43 may comprise a section 43' and a section 43" mutually facing each other and spaced apart and a section 43'" perpendicular to the sections 43' 43". The portions 23, 24 and 25 may therefore respectively comprise the sections 43', 43" and 43'".

[0091] The section 43' may include a clamp 6, and in particular a pair of portions 44 and 45 with the respective operative surfaces 46, 47 designed to come into contact with the outer surface 54 of the end 51 of the pivot 50, that is the portion 55'. On the other hand, the section 43" may include a clamp 6, and in particular a pair of portions 44 and 45 with the respective operative surfaces 46, 47 designed to come into contact with the outer surface 54 of the end 52 of the pivot 50, that is the portion 55".

[0092] The two clamps 6 may therefore be opened / closed by means of a screw 7 for the upper clamp and a screw 7 for the lower clamp.

[0093] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the clamps 6 may be accessible for the user even when the door leaf is fixed to the hinge 1.

[0094] In this manner, advantageously, the fitting operations may be particularly simple.

[0095] In greater detail, the hinge and the door leaf may be fixed maintaining the clamps 6 in the open position and the hinge and the fixed element, for example masonry wall or glass sheet, may be fixed maintaining the clamps 6 open.

[0096] In this manner, the element 20 may be coupled to the element 10 so as to rotate freely with respect to the latter.

[0097] Advantageously, therefore, the element 20 may be fixed to the door leaf. The latter may therefore rotate freely with respect to the fixed part, for example frame, wall or glass sheet, and it may simultaneously be anchored to the latter.

[0098] Therefore, the mounting operations may be simple and the operator may freely move the door.

[0099] Suitably, the pivot 50 may be held stationary in position in the seat 12 due to the action of elastic means 70, better described hereinafter. Preferably, the latter may hold the pivot 50 in the end-of-stroke position at the recess 56.

[0100] Advantageously, the pivot 50 may comprise a mark 53' at one or both base surfaces 53, that is the surfaces perpendicular to the lateral surface 54. Such mark 53' may be a notch, a recess, a protrusion, and it may be circular-shaped or linear-shaped. The mark 53' may have the function of indicating to the operator the position of the recess 56 so as to allow the correct fitting, that is with the recess 56 at the seat 17.

[0101] The mark 53' may be near the lateral surface 54 at the recess 56. In this manner, even once the pivot 50 has been installed into the seat 12, the operator may rotate the pivot 50 on the axis thereof so that the recess 56 is at the slider 60.

[0102] Once the door leaf has been positioned in the end-of-stroke position, for example door closed, one may act on the clamps 6 to close the latter so as to mutually lock the pivot 50 and the element 20.

[0103] Such operation may be carried out even when the hinge has already been fitted so as to adjust the "zero" of the door leaf.

[0104] In greater detail, the operator may act on the screws 7 when the two portions 30 and 40 are coupled. Preferably, when the hinge has already been fitted, that is the elements 10 and 20 are coupled to the respective fixed and movable elements. The operator may therefore act from the external.

[0105] Suitably, the plate 31 may have a pair of through holes 33, 34 designed to remain at the clamps 6. In greater detail, the through holes 33, 34 may be designed to remain at the seats 21 and more preferably at the holes 45' once the portions 30 and 40 have been coupled to each other.

[0106] In this manner, the user may act on the head of the respective screw 7 through the respective hole 33 and 34, for example using an Allen wrench.

[0107] Furthermore, the hole 45' and the head of the screw 7 may be mutually configured so that the head of the screw do not protrude with respect to the portion 45. Possibly, the hole 45' may be conical.

[0108] Preferably, the area 43 may remain internal with respect to the area 48 of the portion 40 designed to remain facing the glass of the door leaf A.

[0109] Advantageously, the plate 31 may act as an abutment for the screw 7 so as to avoid the unscrewing thereof. This will allow to prevent the operator acting on the screw 7 from unscrewing the latter more than necessary.

[0110] Suitably, the holes 33 and 34 may have a diameter that is smaller than the head of the screw 7. As a matter of fact, it is sufficient that the holes allow the Allen wrench to pass through.

[0111] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the distance d between the body 11 and the portion 30 may be particularly small. Such distance d may be smaller than 1 mm.

[0112] Advantageously, this characteristic may allow to have a visual continuity so as to confer high aesthetic appeal to the hinge 1.

[0113] The body 11 may comprise a pair of opposite surfaces 13 and 14 which may be flat. Preferably, such surfaces 13 and 14 may be arranged facing the portions 23 and 24.

[0114] The distance between the surfaces 13 and the portion 23 may define the distance d. Similarly, the distance between the surface 14 and the portion 24 may define the distance d.

[0115] Suitably, the seat 12 may internally comprise a pair of bushings 15.

[0116] Advantageously, the bushings 15 may be at least partially arranged in the body 11. In this manner, the bushings 15 may protrude from the respective surfaces 13 and 14 for a height smaller than the height of the bushings 15. In particular, the bushings 15 may protrude by the distance d.

[0117] In greater detail, the seat 12 may comprise a step 16 at the opposite ends thereof to at least partially house the bushings 15.

[0118] The portions 23 and 24 may therefore comprise respective surfaces 23' and 24' designed to come into contact with the bushing 15.

[0119] On the other hand, except for such surfaces 23' and 24', the portions 23 and 24 and the surfaces 13 and 14 may be spaced apart by the distance d that is particularly small so as not to hinder the rotation of the hinge and guarantee visual continuity at the same time.

[0120] In greater detail, as shown in FIG. 12 and in FIG. 13, the body 11 may have a height hl. Such height hl may be defined by the distance between the opposite surfaces 13 and 14.

[0121] The opening 22 may have a height h2. For example, such height may be defined by the distance between portions 23 and 24, preferably such height h2 may be defined by the distance between surfaces 23' and 24'.

[0122] The difference between the distance hl and h2 may be smaller than 2 mm. More particularly, the distance between hl and h2 may be twice the distance d, as schematically shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

[0123] Thanks to the presence of the step 16, the bushings 15 may protrude only slightly with respect to the body 11. In this manner, the distance d may be particularly small.

[0124] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the hinge 1 may allow to dampen one of the opening and the closing and / or promote the other of the opening and the closing.

[0125] Preferably, the hinge 1 may allow the so-called final snap, that is to say, the closing snap. Preferably, the hinge 1 can be a closing hinge, that is a hinge that will promote the closing of the door leaf. Suitably, the anchoring element 10 may comprise a slider 60 that is slidable along an axis Y. Preferably, the latter may be substantially perpendicular to the axis X.

[0126] In greater detail, the hinge 1 may comprise cam means 59 and cam follower means 69 which are mutually configured so that the rotation of the former corresponds to the sliding of the latter and vice versa.

[0127] Preferably, the pivot 50 may comprise cam means 59, while the slider 60 may comprise the cam follower means 69.

[0128] In greater detail, the outer surface 54 of the pivot 50 may comprise cam means 59.

[0129] Suitably, the surface 54 may comprise one or more recesses 56 which may define the stop positions. For example, there may be provided for a central recess 56 which may define the door closed position and a pair of recesses angularly spaced by 90° which may define the open position. In this manner, the hinge 1 may be ambidextrous.

[0130] Preferably, the pivot 50 may comprise a portion 55 of the outer surface 54 which may be suitably shaped so as to define one or more stop positions.

[0131] In greater detail, the portion 55 may be the central portion of the surface of the pivot 50 and it may comprise the recesses 56.

[0132] For example, FIG. 4 shows the stop position or at the door closed position and FIG. 7 shows the stop position at the door open position.

[0133] According to a particular aspect of the invention, there may be provided for elastic means 70 acting on the slider 60 to force it against the pivot 50.

[0134] Suitably, the slider 60 may slide between a first and second operative position. For example, the first operative position may correspond to the retracted configuration of the elastic means and the second operative position may correspond to the extended configuration of the elastic means 70. In such case, the elastic means 70 will promote the sliding of the slider 60 from the first to the second operative position.

[0135] For example, the first position of the slider 60 may correspond to the contracted position of the elastic means 70 and to the open position of the door leaf, while the second position of the slider 60 may correspond to the extended position of the elastic means 70 and to the closed position of the door leaf.

[0136] Preferably, the elastic means 70 may be of the mechanical type. Generally, preferably, the hinge 1 may be of the mechanical type.

[0137] Preferably, but not exclusively, the elastic means 70 may comprise or consist of an elastomeric element 71. Preferably, the latter may be in the form of a cylinder. Possibly, the elastic means 70 may comprise or consist of a spring.

[0138] The elastomeric element 71 may be substantially coaxial to the slider 60 so as to be compressed / expanded when the slider 60 slides along the axis Y. Such operation is known in the industry.

[0139] For example, in the attached drawings, there is shown a hinge 1 wherein the elastic element 71 is configured to be compressed upon the opening the door, that is switching from the extended configuration of FIG. 4 to the contracted configuration of FIG. 7. Advantageously, the elastic means 70 may allow to carry out the so-called final closing snap, that is switch from the configuration of FIG. 5 to the configuration of FIG. 4 so that the cam follower means 69 are at the recess 56.

[0140] Possibly, the pivot 56 may comprise one or more recesses 56 to define the stops in the door open position.

[0141] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the body 11 may have a longitudinal seat 17 for the slider 60. For example, the seat 17 may be a circular hole.

[0142] Such seat 17 may be configured so as to also house the elastic means 70.

[0143] In other words, the seat 17 may have a length such to internally house the slider 60 and the elastic element 71.

[0144] In this manner, advantageously, the hinge 1 may have particularly small overall dimensions also along the axis Y.

[0145] The length LI of the hinge body 11 may be only slightly smaller than the width L2 of the opening 22, for example as shown in FIG. 12. For example, the difference between the width L2 and LI may be smaller than 2 mm.

[0146] This may allow to provide visual continuity even when the hinge is in the configuration of FIG. 1 and FIG. 14, which may generally be the configuration of the closed door.

[0147] The anchoring element 10 may suitably comprise an abutment element 19 for the elastic means 70. For example, such abutment element 19 may comprise or consist of a plate.

[0148] The first position of the slider 60 may comprise a position proximal to the abutment element 19 while the second position of the slider 60 may correspond to a position distal to the abutment element 19.

[0149] Suitably, the abutment element 19 may be fixed to the hinge body 11. For example, the plate 19 may be fixed with the body 11 by means of fixing screws.

[0150] Preferably, the abutment element 19 may comprise a seat 19' for housing the elastic element 71. For example, the latter may be substantially circular and then seat 19' may also be circular.

[0151] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the slider 60 may comprise a slider

[0152] 61 slidable along the axis Y. The cylinder 61 may have an end 61' designed to interact with the elastic element 71 and an opposite end 61".

[0153] The end 61" may interact with the cam follower elements 69 as better explained hereinafter.

[0154] The slider 60 may comprise a cylinder 62 having in use the axis substantially parallel to the axis X and arranged at the end 61" of the cylinder 61.

[0155] The cylinder 62 may have an outer surface 62' designed to interact with the surface 55 of the cylinder 50.

[0156] To this end, the seat 17 may be placed in communication with the seat 12.

[0157] The slider 60 may further comprise a pin 63 designed to be coupled with the cylinder

[0158] 62 and with the cylinder 61. In particular, the cylinder 62 may comprise a through opening 62" for the pin 63. The latter may have a length greater than the cylinder 62 so that the ends 63' and 63" thereof protrude from the cylinder 62.

[0159] The cylinder 61 may therefore comprise a pair of longitudinal seats 64' and 64" for housing the ends 63' and 63" of the pin 63.

[0160] Suitably, the end 61" may comprise an opening 65 so that the cylinder 62 arranged at such end 61" does not come into contact with the cylinder 61, that is with the cylindrical body 61.

[0161] In greater detail, in a per se known manner the cylinder 61 at the end 61" may comprise a side wall which surrounds the opening 65. The cylinder 62 may therefore not come into contact with such side wall of the cylinder 61.

[0162] In other words, the surface 55 may lie on the surface 62' of the cylinder 62 so that the rotation of the former promotes the rotation of the latter.

[0163] The cam follower means 69 may therefore comprise the cylinder 62.

[0164] The cylinder 62 may lie on the pin 63. For example, the opening 62" may have a diameter substantially equal to that of the pin 63.

[0165] The cam follower means 69 may further comprise the pin 63.

[0166] The pin 63 may lie on the cylinder 61. In greater detail, the ends 63' and 63" may lie on the seats 64' and 64".

[0167] Due to such configuration, the only surfaces subjected to sliding, and therefore to wear, are those interested by the end 63' and 63" in the seats 64' and 64".

[0168] Advantageously, the pin 63 may be made of metal and it may have an outer surface 66 that is particularly smooth so as to have a particularly low friction, limit wear due to sliding and therefore have high durability of the hinge 1.

[0169] Furthermore, thanks to the configuration above, the pin 63 may be made of metal, while the cylinder 61 and the cylinder 62 may be made of polymeric material. Such pieces may therefore be more cost-effective with respect to equivalent pieces made of metal.

[0170] In other words, there may be obtained a hinge 1 with minimal frictions and high durability by using cost-effective parts (cylinder 61 and cylinder 62).

[0171] Also the fitting of the slider 60 may be particularly simple. As a matter of fact, it will be sufficient to insert the pin 63 into the cylinder 62, to insert the latter into the cylinder 61. Then, such assembly may be inserted into the seat 17 of the body 11 and the elastic element 71 may also be subsequently positioned in such seat 17.

[0172] The cylinder 61 and the seat 17 may substantially have the same diameter. In other words, the cylinder 61 and the seat 17 may be without clearances.

[0173] In this manner, the seat 17 may guide the sliding of the cylinder 61 and therefore of the slider 60.

[0174] Advantageously, the cylinder 61 may comprise a channel or groove 61'" to allow the air to flow through upon the sliding in the seat 17. Preferably, the outer surface of the cylinder 61 may comprise a groove 61'" extending between the opposite ends 61' and 61". Suitably, there may be provided for a notch or a mark arranged at the end 61' so as to allow an operator to orient the cylinder 61 properly. In other words, the cylinder 61 may be inserted into the seat 17 and the cylinder 61 may be rotated around the axis Y until it is in the correct position. Such position is the one shown in the drawings in which the pin 63 is parallel to the axis X.

[0175] According to a particular aspect of the invention, there may be provided for at least one pair of abutment grub screws 80 arranged at the central part 25 of the anchoring element 20.

[0176] In particular, upon the rotation of the element 20, the grub screws 80 may abut against outer lateral surface 18 of the body 11. In this manner, the grub screws 80 may act as an end-of-stroke abutment.

[0177] A pair of grub screws 80 may possibly be provided for on the element 30 and a pair on the element 40 so that the hinge 1 can be rotated in both directions, that is it may be ambidextrous.

[0178] The grub screws 80 may be made of polymeric material, preferably rubber.

[0179] Advantageously, this may allow to avoid ruining the outer surfaces of the body 11 and of the element 20 so that the hinge 1 maintains a high aesthetic appeal over time.

[0180] Furthermore, still advantageously, both when the door is closed and when the door is open, the grub screws 80 are concealed from the view of the user.

[0181] Possibly, the grub screws 80 may have the same colour as the hinge 1.

[0182] Shells of the per se known type designed to be coupled to the plates 31, 41 may be suitably provided for so as to conceal the plates 31, 41 from the view of the user.

[0183] The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0184] Even though the invention has been described with particular reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers utilised in the description and in the claims are meant for improving the intelligibility of the invention and thus do not limit the claimed scope of protection in any manner whatsoever.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hinge for the rotatable coupling of a closing element made of glass, such as a door, a leaf or the like, and a stationary support structure, such as a frame, a wall or the like, the hinge comprising a first anchoring element (10) which can be coupled with the stationary support structure and a second anchoring element (20) which can be coupled with the closing element, wherein said first and second anchoring elements (10, 20) are rotatably coupled to each other to rotate around a first rotation axis (X); wherein said second anchoring element (20) comprises a first and second plate (31, 41) designed to remain mutually facing and spaced apart with respect to each other so as to remain in use on opposite sides with respect to the closing element (A); the hinge further comprises a pivot (50) defining said first axis (X) which can be rotatably constrained with said second anchoring element (20) to rotate therewith around said first axis (X), said first anchoring element (10) comprising a hinge body (11) with a first seat (12) designed to at least partially house said pivot (50); wherein said first anchoring element (10) comprises a slider (60) slidable along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to said first axis (X) between a first and second operative position, said pivot (50) comprising cam means (59) and said slider (60) comprising cam follower means (69) mutually configured so that the rotation of said pivot (50) corresponds to the sliding of said slider (60) between said first and second operative position and vice versa, wherein the hinge further comprises elastic means (70) to promote the sliding of said slider (60) from said first to said second operative position; wherein said second anchoring element (20) has a first part (23), a second part (24) and a third part (25) interposed between said first and second part (23, 24) to internally define a first opening (22).

2. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said hinge body (11) of said first element (10) is designed to remain at said first opening (22), said hinge body (11) having a first height (hl), said first opening (22) of said second element (20) having a second height(h2) the difference between said first and second height (hl, h2) being smaller than 2 mm.

3. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said hinge body (11) has an uppersurface (13) and a lower surface (14), said first seat (12) extending through said hinge body (11) between said upper (13) and lower (14) surface, there further being provided for a pair of bushings (15) arranged in said first seat (12) respectively at said upper (13) and lower (14) surface, said first seat (12) and said bushings (15) being mutually configured so that upon inserting the latter (15) into the former (12), said bushings (15) respectively protrude from said upper (13) and lower (14) surface for a third height (d) smaller than 1 mm.

4. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slider (60) comprises:- a first cylinder (61) substantially coaxial to said second axis (Y) with an end (61"), there being provided for a second opening (65) at said end (61") of said first cylinder (61), said first cylinder (61) comprising a pair of second seats (64', 64") at said end (61"); and- a second cylinder (62) coaxial to a third axis (X') perpendicular to said second axis (Y), said second cylinder (62) having a lateral surface (62') designed to interact with said pivot (50), said second cylinder (62) comprising a third through opening (62");- a pin (63) designed to be inserted through said third opening (62") into said pair of second seats (64', 64") so that said second cylinder (62) remains at least partially inserted into said second opening (65) to remain spaced apart from said first cylinder (61).

5. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said first and second cylinder (61, 62) are made of polymeric material, said pin (63) being made of metal material.

6. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (5) for the removable fixing of said pivot (50) with said second anchoring element (20), said fixing means (5) being movable between a closed and open configuration wherein they respectively prevent and allow the mutual rotation of said pivot (50) and said second anchoring element (20) with respect to said first axis (X).

7. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said fixing means (5) comprising a pair of clamps (6) arranged at said first (23) and second (24) part, each of said clamps (6) including a respective third seat (21) for said pin (50), said clamps (6) being movable between a configuration in which said third seat (21) has a smaller width defining said closed configuration and a configuration in which said third seat (21) has a greater width defining said open configuration.

8. Hinge according to the preceding claim wherein said pivot (50) has a pair of opposite ends (51, 52), said third seat (21) of a clamp of said pair (6) being at an end of said pair (51, 52), said third seat (21) of the other clamp of said pair (6) being at the other end of said pair (51, 52), said first and second end (51 52) having a respective smooth outer surface (55', 55").

9. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein said third seat (21) in closed configuration is cylindrical-shaped with a radius substantially equal to the radius of said first and second end (51 52) of said pin (50).

10. Hinge according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said third seat (21) has a smooth inner surface.

11. Hinge according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein said removable fixing means (5) comprise means for adjusting the width of said third seat (21) between said closed and open configuration, said adjustment means comprising a first single screw (7) designed to interact with one of said pair of clamps (6) to change the width of said third seat (21) between said larger width and smaller width, and a second single screw (7) designed to interact with one of said pair of clamps(6) to change the width of said third seat (21) between said larger width and smaller width.

12. Hinge according to the preceding claim, wherein each of said clamps (6) comprises a first fixed portion (44) with a first operative surface (46) and a second movable portion (45) with a second operative surface (47), said first and second operative surfaces (46, 47) being designed to cooperate to define the seat (21), said adjustment means promoting the approaching / moving away of said first and second operative surfaces (46, 47).

13. Hinge according to the preceding claim wherein said first and second operative surfaces (46, 47) are smooth.

14. Hinge according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said first fixed portion (44) comprises a first hole (44') and said second movable portion (45) comprises a second hole (45'), each of said first and second screws (7) being designed to interact with said first hole (44') and second hole (45') to change the mutual distance between said first and second operative surface (46, 47), said adjustment means comprising said pair of first and second holes (44'15. Hinge according to claim 12 or 13 or 14, wherein said movable portion (45) is flexible, said fixed and movable portion (44, 45) comprising a respective shared first end (452, 442) and a respective vacant second opposite end (451 441), the screwing / the unscrewing of said screw in said first and second holes (44' 45') promoting the approaching / moving away of said second vacant opposite ends (451 441).

16. Hinge according to any one of claims from 11 to the preceding one, wherein said second plate (41) comprises said clamps (6), said first plate (31) comprising a first and second through hole (33, 34) each arranged at a clamp of said pair (6) so that said first and second screw (7) can be actuated from the external by a user respectively through said first and second through hole (33, 34).

17. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge body (10) comprises a second seat (17) defining said second axis (Y), said slider (60) and said elastic means(70) being at least partially inserted into said second seat (17), said slider (60) comprising a first cylinder (61) substantially coaxial to said second axis (Y) with an end (61') designed to interact with said elastic means (70) and an opposite end (61") designed to interact with said cam follower means (69), said first cylinder (61) having a diameter equal to the diameter of said seat (17), said first cylinder (61) comprising a channel (61'") extending between said first and second end (61', 61") to allow the air to flow through upon the sliding of said first cylinder (61) in said seat (17).

18. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge body (10) comprises said first seat (12) and a second seat (17) defining said second axis (Y), said slider (60) and said elastic means (70) being at least partially inserted into said second seat (17), said hinge body (11) having a length (LI), said first opening (22) having a width (L2), the difference between said length (LI) and width (L2) being smaller than 2 mm.

19. Hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second anchoring element (20) comprises a central part (25) substantially parallel to said first axis (X) which comprises a pair of abutment grub screws (80), the latter being designed to abut against said hinge body (11) in one of the open and closed position to define the end-of- stroke.

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