Hinge

Abstract

A hinge (1) for furniture (100) comprises a stationary lateral part (2), which can be secured in a pocket of a lateral wall (101), a hinge part (3), which can be secured to a door (102) and is held on the lateral part (2) so as to be rotatable about a joint axis, an energy accumulator (10), by means of which the hinge part (3) is pre-tensioned towards a closed position in a traction region, and a damping element (9), by means of which the hinge part (3) can be braked before reaching the closed position. A drive lever (13) is hingedly connected to the hinge part (3) at a distance to the joint axis, said drive lever being connected to a movable drive element (6) for actuating the damping element (9), and the drive element (6) is releasably coupled to a driver (8), which can be moved along a guide path (76) and which is connected to the energy accumulator (10) and to the damping element (9). As a result, the movement of the hinge part over the closing path can be optimized.

Description

[0001] hinge

[0002] The present invention relates to a hinge for furniture comprising a stationary side part that can be fixed in a pocket of a side wall and a hinge part that can be fixed to a door and is rotatably held on the side part about a pivot axis, a force storage device by means of which the hinge part is biased to a closed position in a pulling area, a damping element by means of which the hinge part can be braked before reaching the closed position, wherein a drive lever is articulated to the hinge part at a distance from the pivot axis and is connected to a movable drive element for actuating the damping element.

[0003] EP 4 010 553 A1 discloses a hinge in which a side part of the hinge can be inserted into a pocket in the side panel of a piece of furniture. A hinge part is rotatably mounted on a section projecting from the side panel about a pivot axis. During a pivoting movement, this hinge part can displace a drive element that acts on two dampers, thus decelerating the closing movement. A curved leaf spring is also mounted on the hinge part, which biases the hinge part into a closed position. The leaf spring allows only small forces to be generated in the closing direction, which are also effective over a large pivoting range. The spring and damper must be coordinated for optimized handling. A spring action is only advantageous when the door pivots if the dampers provide deceleration, so that the force of the spring results in a decelerated closing movement.If the dampers engage too early, the door may remain in an open position. If the spring force engages before the dampers, the door may not be able to swing freely within a certain range.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a hinge for a piece of furniture in which the handling when opening and closing a door is improved.

[0005] This problem is solved with a hinge having the features of claim 1. The hinge according to the invention for furniture comprises a stationary side part that can be fixed in a pocket of a side panel and a hinge part that can be fixed to a door and is rotatably held on the side part about a pivot axis, a force storage device by means of which the hinge part is pre-tensioned in a closing position in a pulling area, a damping element by means of which the hinge part can be decelerated before reaching the closing position, wherein a drive lever is articulated to the hinge part at a distance from the pivot axis, which is connected to a movable drive element for actuating the damping element, wherein the drive element is detachably coupled to a driver that can be moved along a guide track and is connected to the force storage device and the damping element.This allows the hinge component to be coupled or decoupled simultaneously with the energy storage device and the damping element via the drive mechanism. The coupling can be indirect, via additional components, or direct, directly between the drive mechanism and the drive element. For example, an additional slide or lever can be provided, to which a damper and / or a spring are attached. Optionally, the damper can also be self-extending and actuated directly by the drive element, the drive mechanism, or another component.

[0006] The solution according to the invention avoids any force acting on the door and the hinge component when the damping element is not activated, so that the hinge component with the door can be positioned outside the closing range without exerting any force. Furthermore, it ensures that when the damping element is activated, the energy storage device always acts simultaneously on the hinge component to move the hinge component, with a door attached to it, into the closing position at a reduced speed within the closing range. This improves handling when opening and closing the door.

[0007] The hinge is designed as a single-joint hinge, in which the hinge part rotates only about a single pivot axis on the side panel, but does not perform any superimposed translational movement. In the installed position, the pivot axis is preferably oriented vertically, but can also be inclined or horizontally oriented.

[0008] Preferably, the pivot axis between the side panel and the hinge component is aligned essentially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the end face of the side panel. Preferably, the follower is pivotable at an angled end section of the guide track, and the pivoting movement engages or disengages the follower from the drive element. This reliable mechanism can operate reliably even at high door opening and closing speeds and features a compact design. When engaging the drive, the follower is preferably moved out of its pivoted position at the angled end section, allowing it to then travel along a linear section of the guide track. Conversely, when opening, the follower is parked at the angled end section with the energy storage device engaged and decoupled from the drive element, allowing the door to pivot freely in the opening direction.

[0009] Preferably, the follower is coupled to the drive element over a first pivot range of the hinge part from the closed position up to an opening angle between 20° and 50°. From this opening angle up to a maximum opening position of the hinge part, the follower is preferably decoupled from the drive element.

[0010] The guide track is preferably formed on a guide housing, with the guide track being formed by slots, grooves, or webs. The guide housing can be fixed to the side panel, for which corresponding profiles for a positive-locking connection can be provided on the guide housing and the side panel. The flat guide housing allows the pivot direction of the driver to be rotated by 90°, thus enabling a low-profile design for guiding the driver. A pivot axis of the driver along the guide track can run parallel to the pivot axis of the hinge, perpendicular to it, or inclined at an angle. Preferably, the driver has guide pins on opposite sides, each of which engages in a guide track on the guide housing. This provides particularly reliable guidance of the driver on opposite sides, thereby reducing lateral forces on the driver.

[0011] The guide housing preferably has a first receptacle for the energy storage device and a second receptacle for a damping element. Optionally, the guide housing can also accommodate multiple energy storage devices or multiple damping elements if high forces are to be transmitted. In a further embodiment, the spring and / or the damping element is held or attached to the side panel. If at least the spring is attached to the side panel, a relatively long spring with an optimized spring characteristic can be used. The damping element is preferably designed as a linear damper, in particular as a fluid damper, comprising a damper housing and a piston rod with a piston that is movable relative to the damper housing.

[0012] The drive element preferably has a hook that can engage a pin of the driver. This allows a stable connection between the drive element and the driver in the engaged position. To unlock the driver from a parked position with the energy storage device engaged, the hook can have a stop that engages a contact surface on the driver to unlock it and then pivot it along the guide track.

[0013] For reliable guidance of the drive element, it can be slidably guided in a groove of the side panel. This allows for relative movement of the drive element to the side panel along a linear guide.

[0014] The side panel is preferably adjustable within a box-shaped housing. This housing can, for example, have two housing halves that, in the installed position, share a vertical dividing plane. The housing can be inserted into a pocket in the side wall, preferably featuring protruding mounting tabs that can be secured to the side wall with fasteners. In the installed position, the mounting tabs are preferably located on an end face of the plate-shaped side wall, which is made, for example, of a wood-based material and can have a thickness between 12 mm and 24 mm, particularly 14 mm and 20 mm. This eliminates the need for additional space within the furniture when installing the side panel.It is advantageous that the adjustment elements can be accessed completely from one direction, from one end face of the side wall, when the hinge is in an open position.

[0015] In another embodiment, the energy storage device is designed as a compression spring, leg spring, torsion spring or tension spring, which is held at one end on the guide housing and at the opposite end on the driver.

[0016] The hinge part is preferably adjustable within a hinge cup, allowing its position relative to the hinge cup to be adjusted for aligning the door with the furniture. The hinge cup also preferably engages in a recess or receptacle in the door. The hinge cup can be essentially flush with the surface of the door.

[0017] The hinge according to the invention is preferably used in furniture. A side panel of the furniture can have a pocket open towards one end of the side panel, in which a hinge according to the invention is arranged. The ratio of the pocket's depth to its height can be between 1:2 and 2:1. The pocket can be closed on five sides and open only towards one end of the side panel. Several hinges can be mounted one above the other on a side panel of a furniture body to pivot a door onto the furniture body.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0019] Figure 1 shows a perspective partial view of a piece of furniture with a hinge according to the invention;

[0020] Figures 2A and 2B show two views of the piece of furniture with the hinge of Figure 1 in different positions;

[0021] Figures 3A and 3B show two views of the hinge in different positions without furniture;

[0022] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the invention.

[0023] hinge;

[0024] Figure 5 shows a view of the hinge without the housing shell in an open position;

[0025] Figure 6 shows a view of the hinge of Figure 5 when the driver is engaged at the beginning of the tightening area; Figure 7 shows a view of the hinge of Figure 5 in a closed position;

[0026] Figures 8 and 9 show two views of the guide housing with damping element and energy storage device in different positions, and

[0027] Figure 10 shows an exploded view of the drive element with the guide housing of the hinge.

[0028] A piece of furniture 100 comprises a furniture body with a side wall 101 to which at least one hinge 1 according to the invention is fixed and to which a door 102 is pivotably held. In Figure 2A, the door 102 is arranged in a closed position on the side wall 101. The hinge 1 is arranged essentially flush with an end face of a frame or a panel-shaped door.

[0029] In Figure 2B, the door 102 is pivoted into an open position by the hinge 1. The hinge part 3 is held in a hinge cup 5. On an inner side of the door 102, the hinge cup 5 is arranged essentially flush with the surface of the door 102. A side part 2 of the hinge 1 is fixed in the side wall 101, projecting from an end face of the side wall 101 with two arms 20. A pivot axis for the rotatable mounting of the hinge part 3 is formed on the arms 20. A drive lever 13 is also pivotally mounted on the hinge part 3, which is pivotally connected to a drive element 6 on the side part 2 and by means of which a closing movement of the door 102 can be at least partially controlled.

[0030] Figure 3A shows the hinge 1 in a closed position. The side panel 2 comprises a housing 4 with two housing shells. The housing is essentially box-shaped. A mounting tab 43 with an opening into which fasteners can be inserted projects from both the top and bottom of the housing 4. The housing 4 can be fixed to the side panel 2 on an end face of the side wall 101 by means of these fasteners, with the housing 4 being arranged in a pocket within the side wall 101. The hinge part 3 is adjustably held in a hinge cup 5, so that the position of the hinge part 3 relative to the hinge cup 5 can be adjusted to align the door with the furniture. The hinge cup 5 has a mounting tab 51 with an opening on each of its opposite sides, so that the hinge cup 5 can also be essentially fixed to a receptacle or pocket on the door 102.In the closed position, a substantially flat side of the hinge cup 5, in which the hinge part 3 is arranged, and a flat side of the housing 4, on which the mounting tabs 43 are formed, are opposite each other. The hinge cup 5 has a greater width than the housing 4.

[0031] In the open position shown in Figure 3B, the hinge part 3 was pivoted relative to the side part 2 in the housing 4, causing the drive lever 13 to move the drive element 6 relative to the housing 4.

[0032] Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the hinge 1 according to the invention. The housing 4 comprises a first housing shell 40 and a second housing shell 41, which, in the assembled position, have a substantially vertical dividing plane. Several guide pins 42 are formed on the housing shell 40, which engage in elongated holes 23 on the side part 2. The elongated holes 23 are aligned parallel to a pivot axis of the hinge 1 and allow height adjustment of the side part 2 relative to the housing 4. A worm gear 16 is provided for height adjustment. The worm gear 16 is rotatably mounted on the side part 2 via an axis that engages in an opening 29. The worm gear 16 is driven by a rotating part 15, which engages in a profile on the circumference of the worm gear 16, for example, with teeth, so that rotating the rotating part 15 rotates the worm gear 16. The rotating part 15 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 28 of the side part 2.The worm 16 rests with a rib on a guide contour on the housing shell 41, so that by rotating the worm 16 the side part 2 can be moved relative to the housing 4 along the elongated holes 23.

[0033] The drive lever 13 is pivotally connected to the hinge part 3 and has a bearing opening 17 for this purpose. On the opposite side, a bearing opening 14 is provided into which an axle can be inserted. This axle extends a bearing element 63 on the drive element 6 to pivotally mount the drive lever 13 to the drive element 6. The drive element 6 is slidably guided on the side part 2, for which a groove 26 is provided in the side part 2 in which the drive element 6 is inserted. An adjusting element 62 is mounted on the drive element 6 in a receptacle 61. In this case, the adjusting element 62 is an eccentric. The adjusting element 62 engages in a first opening 65 on an intermediate plate 64. A second opening 66 of the intermediate plate 64 is connected by a rivet to a slot 27 in a groove bottom of the groove 26. The adjusting element 62 can adjust the maximum opening position.

[0034] The drive element 6 further comprises a hook 60 which can be coupled to a pin 81 of a driver 8. The driver 8 has guide pins 80 on opposite sides and is guided on a guide housing 7.

[0035] The guide housing 7 is fixed to the side part 2 by means of several webs 74 formed on the guide housing 7, each of which has cuboid projections 75. The cuboid projections 75 engage in recesses 24 and slots 25 on the side part 2. The side part 2 has two spaced-apart webs 22 that extend longitudinally in the direction of movement of the drive element 6, and the guide housing 7 is arranged between the webs 22. Other fastening mechanisms, e.g., clips, can also be provided to fix the guide housing 7 to the side part 2.

[0036] The guide housing 7 comprises a first receptacle 71 into which a power storage device 10 is inserted. Furthermore, a second receptacle 70 is formed on the guide housing 7 into which a damping element 9, in particular a linear damper, is inserted. A holder 72 is provided on the first receptacle 71, to which one end 11 of the power storage device 10 can be fixed. An end 12 of the power storage device 10 opposite end 11 is fixed to the driver 8. The damping element 9 consists of a housing and a piston rod movable therein. The damping element 9 rests with a base of the housing against a wall of the receptacle 70 and is connected to the driver 8 via a connecting element 91 on the piston rod. Here, the connecting element 91 is designed as a ball head, which can be attached to a connecting element 82 on the driver. Instead of the ball head, a self-extending damper with an integrated return spring can also be used.The driver 8 has two guide pins 80 on opposite sides, each of which engages in a guide track 76 on the guide housing 7. The guide track 76 is designed as a slot or groove and comprises a linear section and an angled end section 77. A rib 78 is provided between the two guide tracks 76, which also serves to guide the driver 8.

[0037] The hinge part 3 has a receptacle 31 for an eccentric 32, a cylindrical channel 33 for a rivet 34, and a receptacle for a screw 35 for depth adjustment. The hinge part 3 is located adjacent to an intermediate plate 37 and can be inserted into a cup insert 53, which can be inserted into the hinge cup 5 via a clip connection. The cup insert 53 surrounds the hinge part 3 in a U-shape and includes a receptacle 54 on one leg, in which a clip holder 55 is rotatably mounted via an axis 56. The clip holder 55 is pre-tensioned by a leaf spring 57 and can be adjusted within the hinge cup 5.

[0038] Bearing receptacles 21 are formed on the two arms 20 of the side part 2, into which a pin can be inserted to form a pivot axis. The pin then extends through the two arms 20, between which a bearing section 30 of the hinge part 3 is arranged. Optionally, only one arm 20 can be provided on the side part 2, which is encompassed by two bearing sections 30 of the hinge part 3.

[0039] In Figure 5, the hinge 1 is in an open position. The drive lever 13 has partially pulled the drive element 6 out of the housing 4, and the hook 60 of the drive element 6 is disengaged from the driver 8. The driver 8 is located with two guide pins 80 on the angled end section 77 of the guide track 76, and the energy storage device 10 is in a tensioned position. If the hinge part 3 is now pivoted from the open position in the closing direction, the drive lever 13 pushes the drive element 6 towards the guide housing 7.

[0040] In Figure 6, the hinge part 3 is in its open position, in which the drive element 6 is coupled to the driver 8. The hook 60 of the drive element 6 presses against a contact surface 84 of the driver 8, causing it to move out of its pivoted position. The two guide pins 80 facing the drive element 6 then move from the angled end section 77 to the linear section of the guide track 76. This unlocks the driver 8 from its locked park position, and the energy storage device 10 can now move the driver 8 along the guide housing 7. The energy storage device 10 is designed as a tension spring and thus pulls the driver 8, and consequently the drive element 6, into the housing 4.

[0041] In Figure 7, the drive element 6 was moved into the closed position by the driver 8 and the energy storage device 10. The hinge part 3 was pivoted into the closed position via the drive element 6 and the drive lever 13, as also shown in Figure 3A. By moving the drive element 6 and the driver 8, the damping element 9 was moved into the compressed position and could thus decelerate the closing movement after coupling with the driver 8. When the hinge part 3 is pivoted in the opening direction, the driver 8 is moved again via the drive element 6 to the angled end section 77 and parked there, so that the drive element 6 is again decoupled from the driver 8.

[0042] Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the guide housing 7. The guide housing 7 comprises four webs 74 with cuboid projections 75 for fixing to the side part 2. A guide track 76 with an angled end section 77 is formed on each of two walls of the guide housing 7, and two guide pins 80 of the driver 8 engage in both guide tracks 76. The driver 8 is connected to both the energy storage device 10 and the damping element 9 by corresponding mechanical connecting elements. The damping element 9 is supported on the guide housing 7, and a damper housing is arranged in the receptacle 70 and secured against displacement. A piston rod protrudes from the damper housing and is connected to the driver 8. The energy storage device 10 is fixed at one end 11 to the holder 72 and connected to the driver 8 on the opposite side.

[0043] In Figure 9, the driver 8 was moved from the closed position to the parked position, with the two front guide pins 80 being fixed to the angled end section 77 of the guide track 76. The angled end section 77 pivoted the driver 8, thus disengaging the engagement between the pin 81 on the driver and the hook 60. Figure 10 shows an exploded view of the guide housing 7 with the driver 8 and the drive element 6. It can be seen that the damping element 9 has a damper housing, and a connecting element 91 is fixed to a piston rod, engaging with a connecting element 82 on the driver 8. This allows the damping element 9, in the form of a linear damper, to be extended and retracted above the driver 8. During retraction, the damping element 9 develops damping forces to decelerate the driver 8 and thus the hinge part 3.Furthermore, a holder 83 for fixing the end 12 of the energy storage device 10 is provided on the driver 8.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, only one damping element 9 is fixed to the guide housing 7. It is of course also possible to fix several damping elements 9 or several energy storage units 10 to the guide housing 7 and the driver 8 in order to increase the damping forces.

[0045] Reference symbol list

[0046] 1 hinge

[0047] 2 side panel

[0048] 3 hinge part

[0049] 4 cases

[0050] 5 hinge pot

[0051] 6 Drive element

[0052] 7 Guide housings

[0053] 8 drivers

[0054] 9 damping element

[0055] 10 energy storage units

[0056] 11 End

[0057] 12 End

[0058] 13 drive levers

[0059] 14 Warehouse opening

[0060] 15 Turned part

[0061] 16 snail

[0062] 17 Warehouse opening

[0063] 20 outriggers

[0064] 21 Bearing intake

[0065] 22 Bridge

[0066] 23 Slotted Hole

[0067] 24 recesses

[0068] 25 slots

[0069] 26 Nut

[0070] 27 slots

[0071] 28 bracket

[0072] 29 Opening

[0073] 30 storage section

[0074] 31 recording

[0075] 32 eccentrics

[0076] Channel 33

[0077] 34 rivets

[0078] 35 screw

[0079] 37 Intermediate plate

[0080] 40 Housing shell

[0081] 41 Housing shell

[0082] 42 Guide pin 43 Mounting tab

[0083] 51 Mounting tab

[0084] 53 Pot insert

[0085] 54th entry

[0086] 55 clip holder

[0087] 56 axle

[0088] 57 leaf spring

[0089] 60 hooks

[0090] 61 recording

[0091] 62 Adjustment element

[0092] 63 Bearing element

[0093] 64 Intermediate plate

[0094] 65 Opening

[0095] 66 Opening

[0096] 70 recordings

[0097] 71 recording

[0098] 72 holders

[0099] 74 Bridge

[0100] 75 lead

[0101] 76 Guide track

[0102] 77 Final section

[0103] 78 rib

[0104] 80 guide pins

[0105] 81 pen

[0106] 82 Connecting element

[0107] 83 bracket

[0108] 84 contact area

[0109] 91 Connecting element

[0110] 100 pieces of furniture

[0111] 101 Side wall

[0112] 102 Door

Claims

Claims 1. Hinge (1) for furniture (100) comprising a stationary side part (2) that can be fixed in a pocket of a side wall (101) and a hinge part (3) that can be fixed to a door (102) and is rotatably held on the side part (2) about a pivot axis, a force storage device (10) by means of which the hinge part (3) is biased to a closed position in a pulling area, a damping element (9) by means of which the hinge part (3) can be decelerated before reaching the closed position, wherein a drive lever (13) is articulated to the hinge part (3) at a distance from the pivot axis, which is connected to a movable drive element (6) for actuating the damping element (9), characterized in that the drive element (6) is detachably coupled to a driver (8) that is movable along a guide track (76) and is connected to the force storage device (10) and the damping element (9).

2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the driver (8) is pivotable on an angled end section (77) of the guide track (76) and the pivoting movement allows the driver (8) to be coupled or disengaged from the drive element (6).

3. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driver (8) is coupled to the drive element (6) via a first pivot range of the hinge part (3) from the closed position up to an opening angle between 20° and 50°, and from this opening angle up to a maximum opening position of the hinge part (3) the driver (8) is decoupled from the drive element (6).

4. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide track (76) is formed on a guide housing (7) and the guide track (76) is formed by slots, grooves or webs.

5. Hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide housing (7) is fixed to the side part (2).

6. Hinge according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the driver (8) has guide pins (80) on opposite sides, each of which engages in a guide track (76) on the guide housing (7).

7. Hinge according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a first receptacle (71 ) for the energy storage device (10) and a second receptacle (70) for a damping element (9) are formed in the guide housing (7).

8. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive element (6) has a hook (60) which can engage a pin (81) on the driver (8).

9. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side part (2) has a groove (26) in which the drive element (6) is slidably guided.

10. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side part (2) is adjustably held in a box-shaped housing (4).

11. Hinge according to claim 10, characterized in that protruding mounting tabs (43) are formed on the box-shaped housing (4), into which fastening means for fixing the side part (2) in the side wall (101) can be mounted.

12. Hinge according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the energy storage device (10) is designed as a tension spring which is held at one end (11) on the guide housing (7) and at one opposite end (12) on the driver (8).

13. Hinge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge part (3) is adjustably held in a hinge cup (5).

14. Side wall of a piece of furniture with a pocket open towards an end face of the side wall, in which a hinge according to one of the preceding claims is arranged.

15. Furniture with a furniture body with a side wall according to claim 14.

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