Hinge for furniture items with deactivatable rotary damper

Abstract

Hinge (1) configured to be arranged between a wall and a door of a furniture item, comprising: - an arm (2) having a substantially U-shaped cross section, with an upper wall (20) and a pair of side walls (21), configured to be fixed to one between said side wall and said door of the furniture item; - a box (3) configured to be fixed to the other between said door and said wall of the furniture item; - a jointed system that connects said arm (2) and said box (3) of the hinge, comprising a pair of connecting rods (4) and (5) and respective jointing axes (6, 7) and (8, 9); - elastic means (12) acting between said arm (2) and said box (3) in the direction of closure or opening of the hinge; - a rotary damper (30), comprising a cylindrical body (33) and an inner rotor, said damper being designed to slow down at least the final section of the closing and / or opening travel of the hinge; - wherein on said rotor or on said cylindrical body at least one gear (32) is provided, designed to be constantly engaged with at least one corresponding toothed sector (41), - wherein is provided an element (35) for disabling of the damper that can be moved axially on said cylindrical body (33) or on said rotor from a position in which it allows free rotation thereof to a position in which it prevents rotation thereof.

Description

[0001] HINGE FOR FURNITURE ITEMS WITH DEACTIVATABEE ROTARY DAMPER

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a hinge for furniture items, such as kitchen furniture items and the like, provided with a rotary damper that can be disabled.

[0004] Background to the invention

[0005] As is known, traditional hinges for furniture units, in particular those with doors with vertical rotation axis, with opening also known as swing opening, comprise a fixed part, normally in the form of a plate, to be fixed to a shoulder of the furniture item, and a movable part, in the form of a bowl or box, to be fixed to the door, connected one to the other by a system of jointed levers.

[0006] These hinges are normally provided with elastic means to force the door to close. However, the presence of these elastic means, while on the one hand it ensures that the door closes, on the other hand it also tends to cause it to slam against the body of the furniture item, producing irritating noises.

[0007] To prevent this from happening, damping devices have been proposed which intervene in the final phase of closure of the door, slowing down the travel thereof and thus preventing it from slamming with force against the body of the furniture item.

[0008] These damping devices are mainly made up of linear dampers, comprising a movable piston in a hydraulic cylinder mounted in the fixed or movable part of the hinge, or fixed longitudinally to one of the jointed levers of the hinge.

[0009] The linear dampers have a certain extension in length which, on the basis of their position in the hinge, impacts the dimensions and / or aesthetics of the same.

[0010] To make the hinge more compact, rotary dampers have been proposed, usually arranged in the fixed part of the hinge and interacting with a jointed lever to determine the damping effect.

[0011] Substantially, at the end of a jointed lever a toothed sector is provided that co-operates with a gear provided on the rotor or on the body of the rotary damper during the movement of the door.

[0012] Examples of hinges with rotary dampers, whereto the present invention relates, are described in documents AT4486U1, WO2010 / 082028, US 8935829B2 and JP6170025B2.

[0013] Since at least two hinges are always used for the moving of a door, on the basis of the dimensions and weight of the door, the damping action may at times be too restraining, with the risk of preventing the door from closing completely or making it too slow.

[0014] In most cases, this problem is currently solved by supplying one hinge with a damper and one without a damper, leaving the installer to choose which hinges to use, based on specific requirements. However, this means that two different items must be kept in stock, complicating management thereof and with consequent higher investment costs.

[0015] To overcome this disadvantage, patent EP 3597845 Bl, in the name of the same Applicant, proposes a system of disabling of the damper that consists of mounting the damper on a sort of slide that can be moved linearly, towards and away from the aforementioned toothed sector, so as to engage or disengage the teeth of the damper with the toothed sector.

[0016] This solution, although valid, requires an additional element (the slide) and the relative mounting means to move the damper, which impacts the overall dimensions and costs of the hinge. Furthermore, if the damper is actuated several times during the life of the hinge, incorrect engagement between the teeth may occur.

[0017] IT 102012902092324 Al describes a hinge with a rotary damper, in which a gear arranged on the rotor is actuated by a toothed profile portion provided at one end of a rocking lever, at the other end of which there is a transversely extending pin portion which, during the closing of the hinge, goes to engage a cam profile provided in the movable bowl-shaped part, to produce the damping effect.

[0018] There is also an adjustment member for modifying the angle of start of damping, comprising a stop portion designed to engage abutment teeth formed on the casing of the rotor.Summary of the invention

[0019] From what is disclosed above, the disadvantages of the known hinges of the above type are clear.

[0020] It is therefore the object of the present invention to eliminate these disadvantages. In particular, an object of the invention is to provide a hinge of the type mentioned at the beginning, provided with a damper that can be disabled, which is of smaller dimensions with respect to those of known hinges and therefore more compact. Another object of the invention is to provide such a hinge that is simple and economical in design with regard to the means of disabling the damping effect. A further object of the invention is to provide such a hinge that is highly reliable in disabling and actuating the damper, while keeping the aforementioned teeth reciprocally engaged.

[0021] These and other objects are achieved by the hinge according to the invention, which has the features of the appended independent claim 1.

[0022] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. Substantially, the hinge according to the invention, configured to be arranged between a wall and a door of a furniture item, comprises:

[0023] an arm having a substantially U-shaped cross section, with an upper wall and a pair of side walls, configured to be fixed to one between said side wall and said door of the furniture item;

[0024] a box configured to be fixed to the other between said door and said wall of the furniture item;

[0025] a jointed system that connects said arm and said box of the hinge, comprising a pair of connecting rods and respective jointing axes;

[0026] elastic means acting between said arm and said box in the direction of closure or opening of the hinge;

[0027] a rotary damper, comprising a cylindrical body and an inner rotor, said damper being designed to slow down at least the final section of the closing and / or opening travel of the hinge;wherein on said rotor or on said cylindrical body at least one gear is provided, designed to be constantly engaged with at least one corresponding toothed sector, wherein is provided an element for disabling of the damper that can be moved axially on said cylindrical body or on said rotor from a position in which it allows free rotation thereof to a position in which it prevents rotation thereof, wherein said toothed sector is associated with one of said pair of connecting rods and

[0028] wherein said element for disabling of the damper consists of a ring having inner teeth that can be brought in engagement with corresponding teeth provided on said cylindrical body or on said rotor.

[0029] Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referring to an embodiment thereof purely by way of non-limiting example, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 is an axonometric blown-up view from above of a hinge incorporating a damper with means that allow the disabling thereof according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b are axonometric views from below of the partially assembled hinge of Figure 1, shown in the open condition, in which the damper disabling element is, respectively, in the active position, disabling the damping effect, and in the inactive position, enabling the damping effect;

[0032] Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the hinge of Figure 1 assembled, in the open condition, in which the base plate for fixing to the furniture item is not shown, and with the damper disabling element in the position of disabling the damping effect; Figure 4 is a plan view from below of the hinge of Figure 3;

[0033] Figure 5 is a median longitudinal section view taken along line A-A of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-section view taken along line B-B of Figure 5;

[0034] Figure 7 is a plan view from above similar to that of Figure 3, with the damper disabling element in the position of enabling of the damping effect;Figure 8 is a plan view from below of the hinge of Figure 7;

[0035] Figure 9 is a cross-section view, similar to that of Figure 6, taken along line C-C of Figure 7;

[0036] Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views similar to Figure 5, showing the hinge in a partially open and completely closed position, respectively; in these figures, the dotted arrow indicates the direction of rotation in which the braking action of the damper is exerted;

[0037] Figure 12 is a blown-up view similar to Figure 1, without the support base, showing a slightly different embodiment of the damper and of the relative actuation means; Figures 13a and 13b are axonometric views from below of the assembled hinge of Figure 12, shown in the open condition, in which the damper disabling element is, respectively, in the active position, disabling the damping effect, and in the inactive position, enabling the damping effect.

[0038] Detailed description of the invention

[0039] With reference to these drawings, the hinge according to the invention, denoted overall by reference numeral 1, comprises a fixed plate-shaped part 2, hereinafter referred to as the arm, which can be fixed to a side wall or shoulder of the furniture item, and a movable part or box 3 which can be fixed to a door of the furniture item.

[0040] Alternatively, the arm 2 can be fixed to the door, and the box 3 to the side wall of the furniture item.

[0041] The arm 2 has a substantially U-shaped section, with an upper wall 20 and a pair of side walls 21 and is mounted in an adjustable manner on a support block 50, in turn mounted on a support base 60 fixed to the wall of the furniture item, in a manner that is substantially in itself known, but which will in any case be described in brief here below.

[0042] The arm 2 and the box 3 are connected one to the other by means of a jointed system, comprising a pair of levers or connecting rods 4, 5 and respective pairs of jointing pins 6, 7 and 8, 9 (see also Figure 5).Connecting rod 4, to be referred to as inner connecting rod, is jointed to hinge pin 6 fixed in a pair of holes 6' in box 3 and to pin 7 fixed in a pair of holes 7' in the side walls 21 of arm 2.

[0043] Connecting rod 5, to be referred to as outer connecting rod, is jointed to hinge pin 8 fixed in a pair of holes 8' in box 3 and to pin 9 fixed in a pair of holes 9' formed in lugs 10 protruding forwards from the side walls 21 of arm 2.

[0044] The jointing pins 6, 8 fixed to box 3 are in actual fact the arms of a U-shaped element 11 that is inserted into holes 6', 8', as can be seen in Figure 1.

[0045] The connecting rod 5 is referred to as outer because, with the hinge mounted and open, it remains visible and overlaps the inner connecting rod 4, covering it.

[0046] In the present description, the terms upper, lower, front, rear and the like relate to the views shown in the drawings.

[0047] Thus, for example, referring to arm 2, its upper wall 20 is the one opposed to the part that comes into contact with the shoulder of the furniture item, while the front part of arm 2 is the one turned towards box 3, therefore towards the exterior of the furniture item.

[0048] Elastic means are also interposed between arm 2 and box 3, consisting in particular of a torsion or double torsion spring 12 arranged on said jointing pin 9, which works in the direction of closure of the hinge, acting with a pair of lateral ends 13 against arm 2, in particular against the inner surface of the upper wall 20 of arm 2, and with its intermediate part 14 against the end of the inner connecting rod 4 opposite to that with which the connecting rod 4 is jointed to box 3.

[0049] Spring 12 constantly exerts pressure on the connecting rod 4 which, in the final arc of closure of the door, after passing a dead centre during rotation, is transformed into a thrust that tends to accelerate closure, as can be seen in the sequence of Figures 5, 10, 11.

[0050] To cushion the effect of the elastic means 12 during the phase of closure of the door, the hinge comprises a damper device 30 designed to slow it down at least in the final part of its closure travel.

[0051] In this case, the damping device 30, also referred to as damper, is a rotary dampercomprising, in a manner in itself known, an external cylindrical body and an internal rotor, mounted so as to be able to rotate around or together with an axis made up of the pin 31 in the drawings.

[0052] A viscous fluid or a spring is arranged between the main body of the damper and the rotor, creating resistance to the movement of the rotor and slowing down its speed. Naturally, for a rotary damper to exert its braking effect, there must be relative movement between main body and rotor, i.e. one of these elements, normally the main body, must remain stationary during rotation.

[0053] If there is no rotational constraint on the rotor or on the main body, a torque exerted on one of these elements causes rotation of the assembly due to the aforementioned resistance to relative movement determined by the viscous fluid or by the spring, which does not generate any braking effect.

[0054] The rotary damper 30, according to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, is of the unidirectional type and exerts the braking action during the phase of closure of the hinge, to cushion the action of the elastic means 12 that exert a thrust during closure. However, on the basis of the required functioning of the hinge, the damper can be mounted so as to exert the braking action during the phase of opening, or it can be of the bidirectional type, in which case it exerts the braking action both during closing and during opening.

[0055] Referring to the drawings, the rotary damper 30 is mounted inside the arm 2 with U section, between its two side walls 21, in which respective holes 22 are formed for the passage of the support pin 31.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9, at the two sides of the damper 30 respective gears 32 are provided, made integral with the rotor, whose teeth engage with the teeth of respective toothed sectors 41 of a gear element 40, which is connected integrally to the inner connecting rod 4.

[0057] In particular, the toothed sectors 41 protrude from a solid body 43, in which respective holes 42 are provided, which are arranged in alignment with corresponding holes 16 provided in a pair of opposing lugs 15 protruding from the inner connecting rod 4 for the passage of said jointing pin 7, the opposing lugs 15 being arranged internally and in contact with the respective side walls 21 of the arm2.

[0058] Naturally, the toothed sectors 41 could be formed directly on the connecting rod 4. In any case, the action of the elastic means 12 on the connecting rod 4 is transferred to the toothed sectors 41, which rotate counterclockwise during the closing of the hinge, starting from a certain angle, making the gears 32 rotate clockwise on the rotor of the damper 30.

[0059] As mentioned above, if the damper were to rotate freely around the pin 31, there would be no braking effect.

[0060] According to the invention, on the cylindrical body of the damper 30, denoted by reference numeral 33, in proximity of one of the gears 32, teeth 34 are arranged, with which the internal teeth 36 of a ring 35 can be brought to engage, sliding axially on the body 33 and on which a pawl 37 is provided, protruding radially outwards. The pawl 37 is inserted in a transverse slot 24 provided in the upper wall 20 of the arm 2, so that it can be moved from one end to the other of the slot to bring the internal teeth 36 of the ring 35 to engage or disengage with the teeth 34 of the body 33 of the damper, respectively to actuate or disable the braking effect of the damper. In Figures 2a, 3-6, the ring 35 is in an offset position with respect to the teeth 34. In this case, since the toothed sectors 41 of the gear element 40 are constantly engaged with the gears 32 of the rotor and there is no constraint against the rotation of the main body 33, the resistance to relative rotation between rotor and main body determined by the viscous fluid present in the body 33 causes these elements of the damper 30 to rotate together without generating any braking effect.

[0061] Moving pawl 37 to the other end of slot 24 causes axial translation of ring 35 on the main body 33 of damper 30, bringing its internal teeth 36 into engagement with the teeth 34 provided on body 33, as shown in Figures 7-9.

[0062] In this condition, the engagement between the aforementioned teeth keeps blocked against rotation the body 33 of the damper, due to the impossibility of the pawl 37 to move longitudinally in the slot 24 and prevents the ring 35 from rotating.

[0063] Therefore, during the closing (or opening) of the hinge, starting from a predetermined angle determined by the conformation of the hinge jointing system,the rotation of the toothed sectors 41 engaged with the gears 32 of the rotor causes the rotor to rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the body 33 of the damper, producing a braking action on the movement of the hinge.

[0064] In the embodiment just now described, the gears 32 constantly engaged with the teeth of the toothed sectors 41 are provided on the rotor of the damper, and the teeth 34 engageable by the internal teeth of the ring 35 on the body 33 of the damper. It is clear, however, that the gears 32 can be provided on the body 33 of the damper and the teeth 34 on an extension of the rotor, achieving the same result.

[0065] The embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13 differs from the previous one only in that it provides for a single gear 32 on the damper 30 and, consequently, a single toothed sector 41 integral with the connecting rod 4.

[0066] The braking action of the damper is enabled and disabled in exactly the same way as described for the embodiment with double gear, so that the description is not repeated.

[0067] The adjustable mounting of arm 2 of the hinge to the support block 50 and to the support base 60 mentioned at the beginning is now described in brief.

[0068] The support base 60, which is normally made in two overlapping parts, is fixed to one side of the furniture item by means of screws (not shown) inserted in a pair of holes 61 provided therein.

[0069] The two parts of the base 60 can be adjusted by means of a screw 62 accessible through a longitudinal slot 25 provided in the upper wall 20 of the arm 2 of the hinge, and a large central opening 51 provided in the support block 50.

[0070] The block 50 has frontally a pair of hooks 52 intended to engage with the front part of the base 60, and a rear oscillating lever 53 that allows quick attachment to the rear end of the base 60.

[0071] The arm 2 is mounted on the block 50, to which it remains attached by means of a set screw 26, with a shank 27 that inserts into a frontally open slit 54 provided on the upper wall of the block 50, and an end widening 28 arranged below this wall. The set screw 26, which screws into the upper wall 20 of arm 2, allows the inclination of the arm to be adjusted with respect to the support block 50 (see inparticular Figure 5).

[0072] A cam or eccentric 29 allows instead longitudinal or frontal adjustment of the arm 2 of the hinge.

[0073] From what is disclosed above, the advantages are clear of the hinge with rotary damper that can be disabled according to the invention which, rapidly and easily at the time of installation, or when considered appropriate, allows the damping effect to be enabled or disabled, avoiding the need to have to stock different hinges, with and without damper, according to the application.

[0074] It should be noted that the deactivatable damper of the invention has been shown only by way of example inserted in the hinge with the structure illustrated, it being clear that the hinge can be structured differently.

[0075] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments 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 itself, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Hinge ( 1 ) configured to be arranged between a wall and a door of a furniture item, comprising:an arm (2) having a substantially U-shaped cross section, with an upper wall (20) and a pair of side walls (21), configured to be fixed to one between said side wall and said door of the furniture item;a box (3) configured to be fixed to the other between said door and said wall of the furniture item;a jointed system that connects said arm (2) and said box (3) of the hinge, comprising a pair of connecting rods (4) and (5) and respective jointing axes (6, 7) and (8, 9);elastic means (12) acting between said arm (2) and said box (3) in the direction of closure or opening of the hinge;a rotary damper (30), comprising a cylindrical body (33) and an inner rotor, said damper being designed to slow down at least the final section of the closing and / or opening travel of the hinge;- wherein on said rotor or on said cylindrical body at least one gear (32) is provided, designed to be constantly engaged with at least one corresponding toothed sector (41) and- wherein is provided an element (35) for disabling of the damper that can be moved axially on said cylindrical body (33) or on said rotor from a position in which it allows free rotation thereof to a position in which it prevents rotation thereof,characterised in that said toothed sector (41) is associated with one (4) of said pair of connecting rods (4, 5) andin that said element (35) for disabling of the damper consists of a ring (35) having inner teeth (36) that can be brought in engagement with corresponding teeth (34) provided on said cylindrical body (33) or on said rotor.

2. Hinge (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said rotary damper (30) is arranged inside said arm (2) of the hinge and a pawl (37) is provided on said ring (35), protruding radially outwards, inserted in a transverse slot (24) provided in the upper wall3. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rotary damper (30) is of the unidirectional type and, when in the active position, exerts a braking action during the phase of closure or opening of the hinge.

4. Hinge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said rotary damper (30) is of the bidirectional type and, when in the active position, exerts a braking action both during the phase of closure and of opening of the hinge.

5. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said arm (2) is configured to be fixed to a side wall of the furniture item and said box (3) is configured to be fixed to said door.

6. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one gear (32) is provided on the rotor of the damper and said teeth (34) designed to be engaged by the inner teeth (36) of the ring (35) are provided on the cylindrical body (33).

7. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said elastic means (12) comprise a torsion or double torsion spring, at least one part of which acts against said arm (2) and at least one other part of which acts against a connecting rod (4) of said pair of connecting rods, arranged internally with respect to the other connecting rod (5).

8. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two gears (32) are provided at the sides of said damper (30) and the same number of toothed sectors (41) integral with said connecting rod (4).

9. Hinge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one toothed sector (41) is provided on a gear element (40) separate from the connecting rod (4) and made integral therewith.

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