Hinge for flap doors

Abstract

Hinge (1) for flap doors to be mounted between a base or top (2) and a door (3) of a furniture item, comprising a first containing element (21) which can be pre-mounted in said base or top (2) and a second containing element (31) which can be pre-mounted in said door (3), or vice versa, said first and second containing elements being intended to accommodate, respectively, a first part, or fixed part, (20) and a second part, or movable part, (30) of the hinge, wherein said fixed (20) and movable (30) parts can be pre-assembled to form a hinge assembly that can be fixed in said first and second containing elements (21).

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR FLAP DOORS

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a hinge for flap doors of furniture, in particular of the wall-hung type or also resting on the floor or on a support base.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] A hinge for flap doors is mounted between a door and the lower (base) or upper (top) wall of an item of furniture and is associated with mechanisms that allow movement of the door in opening and closing, and the support of the same.

[0006] Such hinges, which are normally used in pairs, must ensure that the edge of the door is flush with the edge of the corresponding wall of the furniture item in the condition of opening, such as to determine a substantially flat surface on which such hinges are clearly visible.

[0007] Therefore, the tendency is to make hinges that are aesthetically pleasing visually, or that have minimal visual impact.

[0008] Neither of these conditions are satisfactorily achieved by current hinges, which have a fixed part and a moving part that are aesthetically and dimensionally very similar, if not identical one to the other.

[0009] In particular, whatever attempts are made to reduce the dimensions, as far as possible, such hinges always have clearly visible parts on both the door and the corresponding wall of the furniture item. This is partly due to the provision of a connecting rod that joins the two parts of the hinge and, more often than not, requires a varyingly wide opening on the moving part mounted on the door.

[0010] Furthermore, as mentioned, these hinges only have a function of articulation between the connected parts, while the support and closing of the door are assigned to the associated means of movement, often consisting of gas pistons, which do not always guarantee optimal closing, above all in the case of downward flap doors. In fact, the gas pistons in the first degrees of opening work in “neutral” - i.e. they are free - so that sometimes a slight touch of the door is sufficient to cause the involuntary opening thereof, which is obviously undesirable, as well as risky.

[0011] GB1411307A, EP3274533B1, WO202220727A1 and DE202020100939U1 describe hinges for hinged doors, having one part recessed in an upright or side wall of a furniture item and one part recessed in the edge of the door, connected one to the other by a system of articulated levers.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of hinges for flap doors of the prior art.

[0014] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for flap doors that is largely concealed and therefore has minimal visual impact.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a hinge that ensures that the door is kept closed, preventing unintentional openings.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a hinge that is simple and inexpensive to make and, at the same time, highly reliable.

[0017] These and other objects are achieved by the hinge for flap doors according to the invention, which has the features listed in the appended independent claim 1.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.

[0019] Substantially, the hinge for flap doors according to the invention, to be mounted between a base or top and a door of a furniture item, comprises a first pre-assembled containing element in said base or top and a second pre-assembled containing element in said door, or vice versa, intended to receive, respectively, a first part, or fixed part, and a second part, or movable part, of the hinge, said fixed and movable parts being pre-assembled to form a hinge assembly fixable in said first and second containing elements, wherein said fixed and movable hinge parts are articulated one to the other by means of a movable hinge pin, and in one of said hinge parts a spring exerting a continuous traction on said hinge pin is arranged, maintaining a continuous contact between adjacent surfaces of said fixed and movable parts, which allows the rotation of the door in opening and closing around said movable hinge pin.

[0020] Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring, purely by way of non-limiting example, to an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a blown-up axonometric view of a hinge according to the invention, shown between a portion of door and a base portion of a furniture item;

[0023] Fig. 1A is a view of the assembled hinge of Fig. 1, mounted between the door and the base of the furniture item;

[0024] Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views in longitudinal section, showing successive steps of fitting the hinge between the furniture item elements to be connected;

[0025] Figs. 4A and 5A are enlargements of the detail denoted by A in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively;

[0026] Figs. 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E are section views taken, respectively, along planes B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E of Fig. 5;

[0027] Figs. 6 and 7 are section views like Fig. 5, showing the door in the condition of partial closure and complete closure;

[0028] Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are axonometric views showing successive phases of assembly of a pre-assembled hinge portion on the base of the furniture item;

[0029] Figs. 8 A, 9A and 10A are enlargements of the detail denoted by A in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, respectively;

[0030] Fig. 8B shows a part of Fig. 8 rotated through 180°;

[0031] Figs. 9B and 10B are plan views from the rear of Figs. 9 and 10, respectively;

[0032] Fig. 11 is an axonometric view like that of Fig. 1 A, showing the mode of release of the hinge from the door;

[0033] Fig. 11 A is a longitudinal median section of Fig. 11;

[0034] Fig. 1 IB is an enlargement of the detail denoted by B in Fig. 11 A;

[0035] Figs. 12 and 12A are similar views to Figs. 1 and 1 A, respectively, showing a different way of attaching a hinge element to the door.

[0036] Detailed description of the invention

[0037] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a description will now be given in greater detail of the hinge for flap doors according to the invention, denoted overall by reference numeral 1, which is mounted between two furniture item parts to be connected, in particular a base or top 2 and a door 3, which are only schematically illustrated in the drawings.

[0038] The accompanying drawings show a downward-opening flap door 3, therefore hinged to the base 2 of the furniture item. However, the hinge that is the object of the invention can equally be attached to upward-opening flap doors, wherein the door 3 is hinged to the top 2 of the furniture item.

[0039] In the description that follows, if used, the terms vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, right, left, front, rear, etc., refer to the graphic representations of the drawings and / or the conditions of mounting of the hinge.

[0040] Referring to the blown-up view of Fig. 1, the hinge 1 substantially comprises a first part, or fixed part, 20 which is fixed to the base 2 of the furniture item, and a second part, or movable part, 30 which is fixed to the door 3, the fixed part 20 and the movable part 30 being articulated one to the other so as to be able to rotate around a pin 4 (Figs. 2-7), which constitutes a movable rotation axis of the hinge, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0041] Naturally, the position of the fixed and movable parts of the hinge can be inverted, in the sense that the fixed part 20 is mounted on door 3, becoming the movable part, and the movable part 30 is mounted in the base 2, becoming the fixed part, while maintaining the functionality of the hinge unaltered.

[0042] Remaining within the scope of the embodiment shown in the drawings, the fixed part 20, intended to be housed in a containing element 21, constituted by a sleeve which is inserted and fixed in a hole 5 provided in the thickness of the base 2 of the furniture item, comprises a pin 22, which is housed in the sleeve 21, and accommodates in its interior a spring 23 and a spring guide rod 24.

[0043] The movable part 30 intended to be housed in a containing element 31, constituted by a rectangular baseplate, which is inserted and fixed in a seat 6 formed in the door 3, comprises a coupling body 32, which can be fixed in the baseplate 31 by means of an elastic element for quick coupling 33, and a contrast element 34, which allows the rotation of the hinge. The fixed parts 20 and movable parts 30, once assembled, as will be described here below, are articulated one to the other by means of said hinge pin 4, inserted in corresponding aligned holes 25, 35 provided in the guide rod 24 and in the contrast element 34, respectively.

[0044] Figs. 2 to 5 show how the hinge is first assembled and then mounted between base 2 and door 3.

[0045] In particular, the hinge is assembled, as regards the components of the fixed part 20, by inserting the guide rod 24 in the coupling pin 22 and mounting the spring 23 thereon, locking it with a pin 26, inserted in a hole 27 provided at the rear end of the rod 24. The spring 23 then abuts with its rear end against the pin 26 and with its front end against a solid part 40 of the pin 22 provided in its front part, provided with a longitudinal passage slot, in which the rod 24 can slide with little play, as a result of the compression and expansion of the spring.

[0046] To the rear of the solid part 40, the pin 22 has a cavity 41 (shown in greater detail in Figures 6 and 7) for the housing of the spring 23, which is closed at the rear by a wall 45, externally to which are provided a pair of substantially triangular opposed protrusions 43 having a curved base and inwardly oriented vertices. In the area of attachment of the curved base of the triangular protrusions to the wall 45 there is provided a respective groove 46 (see in particular Fig. 8A) serving to lock the pin 22 in the sleeve 21, as will be described here below.

[0047] For the insertion of the spring 23 in the cavity 41, a large window 47, which can be seen in Fig. 8B, is provided on the wall of the pin 22. In opposition to the window 47, a slot 48 is provided, the sole purpose of which is to prevent possible rubbing of the pin 26 for fixing the spring 23 against the inner wall of the pin 22.

[0048] Frontally, pin 22 has an outer perimeter flange 44, which is designed to abut against the front edge of sleeve 21.

[0049] Moving on to the components of the moving part, the contrast element 34 and the elastic element for quick coupling 33 are mounted in the coupling body 32. The coupling body 32 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, having two lateral portions 50, in which are provided respective cavities 52 open below, and a raised central part 51, which does not extend for the entire length of the portions 50, in which a cavity 53 closed below is provided (see in particular the section of Fig. 5D).

[0050] The contrast element 34 comprises a substantially horizontal plate, having a flat central part 54, a slight rise 55 at the end turned towards the coupling body 32 and, at the opposite end, an upwardly projecting nose 56, with an inclination of about 45°, below which is provided said hole 35 for the hinge pin 4.

[0051] The plate 57 of the contrast element 34 is inserted in the central cavity 53 of the coupling body 32, where it is locked with fixing and adjustment dowels 58, which are screwed in threaded holes 59 and abut with the flat central part 54 and the raised end 55 of the plate 57, respectively.

[0052] The nose 56 of the contrast element 34 is housed in an entry slot 60 of the raised central part 51 of the coupling body 32, arranging substantially flush with, or protruding only slightly above, the same.

[0053] The elastic element 33 consists of a U-shaped sheet, comprising two longitudinal arms 61, which are inserted in the cavities 52 of the lateral portions 50 of the coupling body 32, joined by a transversal base 62, which is arranged beyond said raised central part 51, leaving a space 63 with the latter, serving for the coupling of the coupling body 32 in the containing baseplate 31, as will be described here below.

[0054] The arms 61 each have a pair of holes 64 in which respective riveted parts 65 formed internally to the upper walls of the portions 50 are arranged, locking the elastic element 33 in position (see Fig. 5D).

[0055] According to the assembly sequence shown in the drawings, the group of components of the movable part thus constituted is connected to the corresponding group of components of the fixed part by means of the hinge pin 4, thus obtaining the actual hinge, shown in Fig. 2, to be inserted in the corresponding containing elements 21, 31 to be fixed in the movable parts to be connected. In particular, the sleeve 21, which has the shape of a hollow cylinder, is inserted in the hole 5 provided in the thickness of the base 2 of the furniture item and fixed by screwing one of its external threads 70 in the surface of the hole 5. Naturally, the sleeve 21 could be fixed in other ways in hole 5.

[0056] Internally to the sleeve 21, in proximity of its rear end which is arranged on the bottom of the hole 5, two opposed ribs 71 are provided, extending over an arc of circumference, with which the opposed triangular protrusions 43 provided internally to the coupling pin 22 can engage.

[0057] In particular, the pin 22 with the hinge components assembled thereon, as illustrated previously, is inserted in the sleeve 21 fixed in the hole 5, with the triangular protrusions 43 staggered with respect to the arched ribs 71 (Fig. 8), so that, when fully inserted, with the perimeter flange 44 abutting against the front edge of the sleeve, the triangular protrusions 43 pass beyond the arched ribs 71, as shown in Figs. 9, 9A, 9B.

[0058] At this point, a 90° rotation of pin 22 is sufficient to bring the ribs 71 to engage with the grooves 46 provided at the base of the protrusions 43, preventing axial displacements of pin 22, which therefore remains locked in position, as shown in Figures 10, 10 A, 10B.

[0059] Any disassembly takes place by rotating pin 22 in the opposite direction to disengage protrusions 43 from ribs 71 and removing it from sleeve 21.

[0060] The containing baseplate 31 has a shape that complements that of the coupling body 32, reproducing its contour so that the coupling body can be perfectly housed into the containing baseplate.

[0061] In particular, the internally hollow baseplate 31 has, in cross section, an elliptical shape with horizontal extension, and an upper opening, determining a longitudinal slot 80, bordered by a pair of opposed vertical walls 81, so as to accommodate the raised central part 51 of the coupling body, as can be seen more clearly in Fig. 5D.

[0062] At the bottom of the slot 80, a transversal wall 82 is provided, which joins the two vertical walls 81, from which a tooth 83 protrudes below into the internal cavity, on the back of which tooth an opening 84 is provided, serving the purposes to be described here below.

[0063] Seat 6 formed in door 3 has the same elliptical shape of the baseplate 31, with an upper longitudinal slot 90 to accommodate slidingly the opposed vertical walls 81 of the baseplate.

[0064] In the embodiment of Figures 1-11, the baseplate 31 has a fin 85 projecting to the rear, in which a hole 86 is provided for fixing in the seat 6 by means of a screw 87.

[0065] The embodiment according to Figures 12, 12A differs from the previous one only due to the fact that the fixing of the baseplate 31 in the seat 6 takes place frontally, providing in this case a pair of fins with vertical extension, again denoted by reference numeral 85, projecting laterally from the baseplate, provided with holes 86 for fixing by means of screws 87.

[0066] This second embodiment reduces the length of the upper slot 90.

[0067] Returning to Fig. 3, once the baseplate 31 has been fixed in the seat 6 of the door 3, it is sufficient to bring the door 3 close to the base 2 of the furniture item with the hinge pre-mounted, so that the coupling body 32 is inserted axially in the baseplate 31. During this movement of insertion, the tooth 83 of the baseplate causes the bending of the transversal base 62 of the elastic element 33 (Figures 4, 4A).

[0068] Continuing the insertion, the tooth 83 goes beyond the transversal base 62 of the elastic element 33, arranging itself in the abovementioned space 63 on the back of the raised central part 51 of the coupling body 32. The elastic return of the transversal base 62 determines a rapid coupling between these components.

[0069] The possible release takes place by inserting an awl 93 in the opening 84 so as to bend the elastic element 33 until the tooth 83 is disengaged, allowing the withdrawal of the coupling body 32 from the containing baseplate 31, as shown in Figures 11, 11 A, 1 IB. Once mounting has taken place, slot 90 of seat 6 is closed with a cover 7 to reduce to a minimum the visual impact when the door is open. Naturally, the mounting of the hinge can take place with a different sequence of operations from the one illustrated.

[0070] Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the hinge, respectively, with the door fully open, which is arranged in line with the base of the furniture item, with the door partially closed and with the door fully closed, arranged at 90° with respect to the base of the furniture item. In the position of open door of Fig. 5, the spring 23, which exerts a continuous traction force on the movable hinge part, is in the condition of maximum extension, and maintains the nose 56 of the contrast element 34 in contact with the perimeter flange 44 of the coupling pin 22, or in any case with the front edge of the pin 22 or of the base 2 of the furniture item.

[0071] Rotating the door in closure around the hinge pin 4, the continuous contact of the nose 56 with the front edge of the coupling pin 22 determines exiting of the guide rod 24 with consequent compression of the spring 23, which exerts a greater traction force which, starting from a certain angle, tends to exert a closing force on the door, preventing unintentional opening thereof, when closure has taken place, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0072] From what has been disclosed, the advantages are clear of the hinge for flap doors according to the invention, which has minimal visual impact with the door open, due to the complete absence of visible elements on one of the furniture item parts connected, and due to the visibility of a small portion of the nose 56 of the contrast element 34 on the other.

[0073] A further advantage of the hinge for flap doors according to the invention is the absence of articulation connecting rods, normally present in these types of hinges, and the presence of a continuous contact surface between the fixed and movable parts of the hinge, under the action of a return spring, generating a lever point which allows the rotation of the door in opening and closing. In practice, the continuous contact between the fixed part 20 and the movable part 30 of the hinge, determined by the action of the spring 23, allows the mobility of the hinge pin 4, around which the door 3 rotates.

[0074] Another advantage is that the aforementioned return spring exerts a closure force on the door, preventing unintentional opening thereof. Furthermore, the hinge according to the invention can be easily assembled and mounted conveniently in several different ways between the furniture item parts to be connected.

[0075] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment previously described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detailed changes can be made thereto within the reach of the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 10 November 2025 (10.11.2025)Claims

1. Hinge (1) specifically designed for flap doors to be mounted between a base or top (2) and a door (3) of a furniture item, comprising a first containing element (21) which can be premounted in said base or top (2) and a second containing element (31) which can be pre-mounted in said door (3), or vice versa, said first and second containing elements being intended to accommodate, respectively, a first part, or fixed part (20) and a second part, or movable part (30) of the hinge, articulated one to the other by means of a hinge pin (4), wherein said fixed (20) and movable (30) parts can be preassembled to form a hinge assembly that can be fixed in said first and second containing elements (21), (31), and wherein said movable hinge part (30) comprises a contrast element (34), having a nose (56) maintained in continuous contact with said fixed hinge part (20) by a spring (23) which is arranged inside said fixed part (20)so as to exert a pulling action on a guide rod (24) articulated to said contrast element (34) by means of said hinge pin (4), maintaining a continuous contact between adjacent surfaces of said fixed part (20) and movable part (30).

2. Hinge according to claim 1 , characterised in that said contrast element (34) is fixed to a coupling body (32) mounted in a hollow baseplate (31) constituting said second containing element (31), an elastic element (33) being fixed to said coupling body (32) which can be snap engaged, following an elastic bending behind a tooth (83) carried by the baseplate (31).

3. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said spring (23) and said guide rod (24) are housed in a coupling pin (22), at least partially hollow, accommodated in said first containing element (21) constituted by a sleeve (21) in the form of a hollow cylinder, said guide rod (24) being sliding with little play in the coupling pin (22) and protruding therefrom to articulate to said contrast element (34).

4. Hinge according to claim 3, characterised in that said coupling pin (22) has, in its rear part, opposed protrusions which canbe carried from a staggered position to a position of reciprocal engagement with corresponding opposed ribs (71) provided internally to the sleeve (21).

5. Hinge according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said spring (23) is mounted on said guide rod (24) and abuts, on one side, against a pin (26) inserted in a hole (27) provided at the rear end of the guide rod (24) and, on the other side, against a solid inner part (40) of the coupling pin (22).

6. Hinge according to claim 1 and one or more of the following claims, characterised in that said spring (23) exerts a closure force on the door, preventing unintentional opening thereof.

7. Hinge according to claim 3, characterised in that said sleeve(21) is completely inserted and concealed together with the corresponding hinge part in the thickness of the base or top (2) or of the door (3).

8. Hinge according to claim 2, characterised in that, in said containing baseplate (31), on the back of the tooth (83), an opening (84) is provided for the insertion of an awl (93) capable of bending said elastic element (33) until it disengages the tooth (83), enabling the coupling body (32) to be withdrawn from the containing baseplate (31).[0001][0002]Independent claim 1 has been amended by incorporating the content of original claim 2, which has been deleted.[0003]The remaining claims are unchanged, renumbered and adapted as regard their dependence.

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