TITLE

DISASSEMBLABLE HINGE AND CABINET USING IT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a disassemblable hinge according to the preamble of 5 claim 1 and to a cabinet using it according to the preamble of claim 21.

Many apparatuses comprise doors provided with hinges and handles for accessing internal compartments.

Depending on the installation of such apparatuses, it may be preferable that a door opens in one specific direction. Therefore, when designing these apparatuses it is also

10 necessary to take this requirement into account.

A first ordinary and commonplace way to solve this problem consists in mounting the hinges (and the handles) to the doors when installing the apparatus: the hinges will be applied to the door side so as to obtain the desired opening direction. This solution is very demanding for the installation personnel in terms of care and time.

15 Moreover, the opening direction of the door cannot be changed easily after the installation (e.g. because of new user's requirements or preferences); in general, it is necessary to have this work carried out by qualified personnel. A second ordinary and commonplace method for solving this problem consists in producing different apparatuses according to the opening direction of the doors.

,0 This solution is disadvantageous due to higher production and/or storage costs.

At present there exist solutions which allow to open a door in both directions, but they are neither widespread, because they are complex, delicate, bulky and costly, nor flexible, because they are dedicated to specific applications. The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge which overcomes the

15 drawbacks of the prior art.

Said object is achieved through the hinge incorporating the features set out in the annexed claims 1 to 22, which are to be considered as an integral part of the present invention.

In general, the hinge according to the present invention consists of a fixed assembly i0 adapted to be associated with a frame and a movable assembly adapted to be associated with a door, said movable assembly being rotatably mounted to said fixed assembly according to an axis of rotation of the hinge, said fixed assembly comprising a pin defining said axis of rotation of the hinge, said movable assembly comprising two

elements rotatably mounted together according to an axis of rotation of the movable assembly being parallel to said axis of rotation of the hinge, in each of said elements a seat being obtained for said pin, said elements comprising reciprocal mounting means, two operating conditions being possible for said movable assembly, in a first operating

5 condition said elements being reciprocally rotated in such a way as to trap said pin, in a second operating condition said elements being reciprocally rotated in such a way as to free said pin, a first of said elements being adapted to be associated with said door, a second of said elements being adapted to allow said door to be handled. Some of the features set out in the annexed claims have already been described and

.0 illustrated in the still unpublished Italian patent application No. MI2005A001200, the priority of which is claimed herein.

Some other features set out in the annexed claims are new with respect to the contents of said Italian patent application. In particular, the new features comprise at least a first idea according to which the

5 distance between the axis of rotation of the movable assembly and the axis of rotation of the hinge depends on the reciprocal angular position of the elements making up the movable assembly, a second idea according to which the mounting means of one of the elements of the movable assembly trap the mounting means of the other element of the movable assembly, and a third idea according to which the fixed assembly comprises

:0 means adapted to adjust the position of the pin.

Said first idea allows, in particular, to compress any gaskets located along the perimeter of the door (when the door is closed) for tightness and/or soundproofing purposes. Said second idea allows, in particular, to provide a firm connection between the elements of the movable assembly, thereby facilitating the handling of the door.

5 Said third idea allows, in particular, to obtain a more precise installation of the door, thus also improving the tightness of any gaskets.

According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to a cabinet with hinged door having the features set out in the annexed claims 23 to 27, which are to be considered as an integral part of the present invention.

0 Besides being opened in both directions without difficulty, a cabinet door using hinges according to the present invention can also be removed; this makes it easier to access the inside of the cabinet when the latter is installed in very narrow spaces, and also

facilitates the extraction of internal components when carrying out extraordinary maintenance.

The present invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the annexed drawings, wherein: 5 Fig.l is a tridimensional view of a first embodiment example of a hinge according to the present invention, shown completely disassembled; Fig.2 is a tridimensional view of the hinge of Fig.l, shown partially disassembled, wherein its movable assembly is assembled and in the open operating condition; 0 Fig.3 is a tridimensional view of the hinge of Fig.l, shown partially disassembled, wherein its movable assembly is assembled and in the closed operating condition;

Fig.4 is a transversal view of the hinge of Fig.l in the open operating condition; Fig.5 is a transversal view of the hinge of Fig.l in a first intermediate condition 5 between the closed and open conditions;

Fig.6 is a transversal view of the hinge of Fig.l in a second intermediate condition between the closed and open conditions;

Fig.7 is a transversal view of the hinge of Fig. l in the closed condition; Fig.8 is a partial transversal view of the hinge of Fig.l in the same condition as ;0 shown in Fig.6, wherein the transversal force F acting on the hinge pin is highlighted; Fig.9 is a graph of the trend of the component Fy of the transversal force F according to the reciprocal rotation angle of the elements of the movable assembly; '.5 Fig.10 is a tridimensional front view of a second embodiment example of a hinge according to the present invention, which is similar to that shown in Fig.l ; Fig.11 is a tridimensional rear view of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.12 is a front view of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.13 is a side view of the hinge of Fig.10; 0 Fig.14 is a tridimensional view of the pin of the hinge of Fig.10;

Fig.15 is a tridimensional view of the support of the pin of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.16 is a first tridimensional view of a first element of the movable assembly of the hinge of Fig.10;

Fig.17 is a second tridimensional view of a first element of the movable assembly of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.18 is a first tridimensional view of a second element of the movable assembly of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.19 is a second tridimensional view of a second element of the movable assembly of the hinge of Fig.10; Fig.20 is a tridimensional front view of a third embodiment example of a hinge according to the present invention; and Fig.21 is a tridimensional front view of a fourth embodiment example of a hinge according to the present invention.

This description and these drawings are supplied by way of example and therefore not by way of limitation, although they illustrate some preferred embodiment examples. Fig. l, Fig.2 and Fig.3 show a hinge according to the present invention, which consists of a fixed assembly A and a movable assembly comprising a first element B and a second element C.

The fixed assembly A is adapted to be associated with a frame, and the movable assembly B+C is adapted to be associated with a door; in particular, the first element B is adapted to be associated directly with the door, whereas the second element C is adapted to allow the door to be handled (opening, closing and removal). The movable assembly B+C is rotatably mounted to the fixed assembly A according to an axis of rotation X of the hinge; to this end, the fixed assembly comprises three pins, integrated into a single-piece component, which define said axis of rotation X of the hinge; in the illustrated example there is an intermediate pin A2 and two side pins A3. Said pins are supported by two arms Al of the assembly A, which are joined to a fastening plate of the assembly A; the side pins A3 protrude from the arms Al . The assembly A is secured to the frame, in particular to an upright thereof, by means of two screws inserted in two elongated through holes A4 obtained in the fastening plate of the assembly A.

The elements B and C of the movable assembly are rotatably connected together according to an axis of rotation Y of the movable assembly being parallel to the axis of rotation X of the hinge. Seats are obtained in the elements B and C in positions B2 (i.e. B2I and B2L) and C2 for the pins A2 and A3; in particular, the element C comprises an arm, and the seat C2 is obtained on the end of said arm for the intermediate pin A2; the

element B comprises two intermediate arms and two side arms; on the end of the intermediate arms two intermediate seats B2I are obtained for the intermediate pin A2, while on the end of the side arms two side seats B2L are obtained for the two side pins A3, respectively; the four arms of the assembly B are joined to a fastening plate of the assembly B. The assembly B is fastened to the door by means of three screws inserted in three elongated through holes B4 obtained in the fastening plate of the assembly B. The elements B and C comprise reciprocal mounting means; in particular, the arm of the element C has two protrusions Cl (on top and bottom) and the two intermediate arms of the element B have two corresponding recesses or cavities B3 for the two protrusions Cl ; as shown in the drawings, the mounting means, i.e. protrusions and recesses, are located in the areas of the seats; the protrusions Cl are inserted in the recesses B3 and remain trapped therein, at the same time allowing for reciprocal rotation of the elements B and C; actually, when the hinge is mounted to the door, the element C rotates relative to the element B, which remains stationary. The movable assembly of Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig.3 can be in two operating conditions. In both operating conditions, the elements B and C of the movable assembly are firmly hinged to each other; in particular, the arm carrying the protrusions Cl of the element C is inserted between the intermediate arms carrying the recesses B3 of the element B, so that the protrusions Cl are trapped in the recesses B3. In a first operating condition (Fig.3), the elements B and C of the movable assembly are reciprocally rotated so as to trap the pin A2 of the assembly A; thus, the movable assembly and the associated door can rotate about the axis X of the hinge; it should be noted that Fig.3 is an exploded view, and therefore the pin of the fixed assembly is shown out of the movable assembly. In a second operating condition (Fig.2), the elements B and C of the movable

5 assembly are reciprocally rotated so as to free the pin A2 of the assembly A; thus, the movable assembly and the associated door can be separated from the fixed assembly and the door can be either rotated through another hinge or removed. Actually, there are also other intermediate rotation conditions of said movable assembly between the two described above, but they cannot be considered as real "operating conditions".

) The assembly C comprises an integrated "half-moon" shaped handle; a housing C3 is obtained in the handle for a latch C4 adapted to lock the elements B and C together when the movable assembly is in the operating condition corresponding to Fig.3, i.e. when the handle of the element C is adjacent to the fastening plate of the assembly B;

the latch C4 can be turned by using an Allen wrench (not shown in the drawings). As an alternative to the latch, one may for example integrate a keylock into the handle. In the example of Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig.3, the shape and section of the seat C2 and of the protrusions Cl of the element C are very important. The outer section of the protrusions Cl is substantially circular; the section of the seat C2 is substantially U-shaped (with rounded edges); the axis of the protrusions Cl corresponds to the axis of the movable assembly, i.e. to the reciprocal axis of rotation between the elements B and C of the movable assembly; the axis of symmetry of the seat C2 is parallel and offset (at a certain fixed distance) relative to the axis of the protrusions Cl ; as clearly shown in Fig.4, Fig.5, Fig.6 and Fig.7, the section of the seat C2 is much larger than the section of the pin, and its side surface acts on the side surface of the pin with variable contact. It follows that the distance between the axis of rotation Y of the movable assembly and the axis of rotation X of the hinge depends on the reciprocal angular position of the elements of the movable assembly; the surface of the seat acts on the pin in such a way that the rotation of the element C relative to the element B causes a displacement of the axis of rotation Y of the movable assembly.

Fig.4, Fig.5, Fig.6 and Fig.7 show a closing sequence of the hinge of Fig.l, Fig.2 and Fig.3; said figures also schematically show a frame, a door and a gasket (having a circular section) located between door and frame. Fig.4 corresponds to the open operating condition of the hinge, wherein the pin is inserted in the seats of the movable assembly but is free (the element C substantially forms a 90° angle with the element B); the surface of the seat contacts the pin on the left; the gasket is not compressed; the door is against the frame, but not closed. Fig.5 corresponds to an intermediate condition after the element C has been rotated of about 30° relative to the condition of Fig.4; the pin is not totally trapped yet; the surface of the seat contacts the pin on the right; the gasket is essentially not compressed.

Fig.6 corresponds to an intermediate condition after the element C has been rotated of about 15° more relative to the condition of Fig.5; the pin is not totally trapped yet; the surface of the seat contacts the pin on the right; the gasket is partially compressed; the door is closed and the gasket provides tightness.

Fig.6 corresponds to the closed operating condition of the hinge (the element C is rotated of about 90° relative to the condition of Fig.4) and the pin is trapped; the

surface of the seat contacts the pin at the bottom and on the right; the gasket is almost totally compressed.

The compression of the gasket corresponds to a displacement of the axis Y of the movable assembly of the hinge toward the axis X of the fixed assembly of the hinge, and therefore of the door toward the frame.

Fig.8 is a partial transversal view of a detail of the hinge of Fig.1 in the same condition as in Fig.6. This drawing highlights the force F (disassembled into its two components Fx and Fy) which is transmitted to the pin by the movable assembly as the hinge is being closed and which exerts a compression force on the gasket which is equal to the component Fy as to magnitude and direction, but with opposite sense. Fig.9 is a graph of the trend of the component Fy of the force F according to the rotation angle of the element C relative to the element B: clearly, when the hinge is open (0°) the force is zero, whereas when the hinge is closed (90°) the force is greatest; this very advantageous trend is due to both the circular section of the pin and the "U" section of the surface of the seat C2.

The hinge of Fig.10 to Fig.19 is similar to the hinge of Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig.3. The main difference concerns the shape of the fixed assembly. In fact, in this case the fixed assembly comprises means adapted to provide adjustment of the position of the pin; this feature can be well understood by looking at Fig.14 and Fig.15; from all other viewpoints, the shape of the fixed assembly of these two hinges is identical

(intermediate pin and two protruding side pins, all of which supported by two arms joined to a fastening plate).

The three pins, integrated into a single-piece component, are shown in Fig.14; there is an intermediate pin and two side pins, all having a circular section and being coaxial to one another. Between the intermediate pin and each side pin there is a pair of cylindrical collars (coaxial to each other) separated by a groove. The axis of the collar and the axis of the pins are parallel and at a certain distance (e.g. 1 or 2 mm). On the end of each side pin there is a hexagonal-section hole for a pin position adjustment wrench. The component of Fig.14 is adapted to be supported by the support of Fig.15, which has two arms (being substantially box-shaped) joined to a fastening plate. Each arm has a smooth hole in which the component of Fig.14 is inserted, which hole houses a pair of collars of said component. In the area of this (smooth) hole, there is another hole

(which is smaller, threaded and transversal to the former) wherein a screw is tightened, typically in the form of a dowel. When a dowel is completely tightened, it is inserted between two adjacent collars and exerts force on the groove, thereby securing the component with its pins; when the dowels are unscrewed, the component can rotate and,

5 due to the eccentricity of the collars, it is thus possible to adjust the distance between the three pins and the fastening plate (e.g. by 1 or 2 mm) even though the direction of the axis of the pins (and therefore of the axis of rotation of the hinge) remains constant. It is worth mentioning that, just because of the eccentricity of the collars, the position of the pins is changed simultaneously in two directions according to a circular

0 trajectory.

The adjustment of the hinge axis position in a direction perpendicular to the door allows to adjust the compression of any gaskets interposed between door and frame when the door is closed, e.g. in order to ensure the desired soundproofing and/or tightness.

5 In the support of Fig.15 there are also two elongated through holes for two corresponding screws adapted to fasten the fixed assembly. Since these elongated holes are oriented according to the axis of rotation of the hinge, it is possible to adjust the position of the fixed assembly of the hinge in that direction as well. The hinge of Fig.10 to Fig.19 will not be described in detail below, and the reader shall

0 refer to the previous description; only a number of peculiarities will be highlighted in the following.

In Fig.10, it can be noted that, in a position close to the handle on the fastening plate of the movable assembly, there are recesses adapted to make it easier to grip the handle when the hinge is closed.

,5 In Fig.10 and Fig.11 and Fig.13 and Fig.16 and Fig.17, it can be noted that the side arms have holes in the area of the hinge pin; this allows to insert a hinge adjustment wrench even when the hinge is closed.

In Fig.16 and Fig.17, two elastic hooks are visible on the fastening plate of the movable assembly, which are adapted to couple together the two elements of the movable i0 assembly. In Fig.10 and Fig.l 1 and Fig.12 and Fig.18 and Fig.19, on the outer surface of the handle there are two slots matching internal engaging points of the two elastic hooks.

Fig. 16 and Fig.17 clearly show three elongated through holes in the fastening plate of the movable assembly for three corresponding screws adapted to fasten the movable assembly to a door. Since these elongated holes are oriented according to a direction being transversal to the axis of rotation of the hinge, it is possible to adjust the position of the movable assembly of the hinge in that direction as well.

Fig.16 and Fig.17 clearly show the recesses (substantially cylindrical in shape) on the intermediate arms, which are comprised in the reciprocal mounting means of the two elements of the movable assembly.

Fig.18 and Fig.19 clearly show the protrusions (substantially cylindrical in shape) on the arm, which are comprised in the reciprocal mounting means of the two elements of the movable assembly.

A peculiarity of the reciprocal mounting means of the elements of the movable assembly can be noted in Fig.16 and Fig.17 and Fig.18 and Fig.19; in fact, said means are fitted with strikers in order to limit the reciprocal rotation of these elements. A i small tooth is present within each recess and on the surface of each protrusion; the tooth of a recess abuts against the tooth of a protrusion when the rotating element of the movable assembly reaches the open position of the hinge (Fig.2 and Fig.4).

The hinge of Fig.lO to Fig.19 can therefore be extensively adjusted in all directions.

The two above-described hinges are particularly suited to being manufactured from a ) plastic material, because their configuration is such that their components can be made of plastic and nonetheless ensure high rigidity.

A third embodiment example of the hinge according to the present invention is shown in Fig.20.

Basically, said hinge differs from the two previous examples in that the element B of the movable assembly has just two intermediate arms and no side arms, and that there is just one intermediate pin and no side pins.

The shape of the handle is not well defined.

Said hinge is adapted to be preferably made of a metallic material.

A fourth embodiment example of the hinge according to the present invention is shown in Fig.21.

Said hinge of Fig.21 is similar to the hinge of Fig.20, but basically it differs from the latter in that the element C of the movable assembly is so configured as to hide the

fixed assembly A and the motion members, and that the element C has a hole-shaped handle.

Said hinge is adapted to be preferably made of a metallic material.

In general, the disassemblable hinge according to the present invention consists of a fixed assembly adapted to be associated with a frame and a movable assembly adapted to be associated with a door; the movable assembly is rotatably mounted to the fixed assembly according to an axis of rotation of the hinge; the fixed assembly comprises a pin which defines the axis of rotation of the hinge; the movable assembly comprises two elements rotatably mounted together according to an axis of rotation of the movable assembly being parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge; a seat is obtained in each of said elements for the pin; the elements comprise reciprocal mounting means; the movable assembly can be in two operating conditions: in a first operating condition the elements are reciprocally rotated in such a way as to trap the pin; in a second operating condition the elements are reciprocally rotated in such a way as to free the pin; one of the elements is adapted to be associated with the door, whereas the other element is adapted to allow to door to be handled.

The movable assembly may also be made up of a higher number of elements, but it is not necessary to provide a seat for each element of the movable assembly. The hinge may comprise several pins (manufactured in one or more pieces); for example, the hinge of Fig.l,Fig.2,Fig.3 has three pins.

In one element of the movable assembly there may be several seats; for example, in the hinge of Fig.l,Fig.2,Fig.3, the element B comprises four seats. The axis of rotation of the movable assembly may either coincide with the axis of rotation of the hinge (as in the examples of Fig.20 and Fig.21) or be distant from it (as in the examples of Fig.1 to Fig.19).

The hinge according to the present invention may comprise a handle applied to or integrated with an element of the movable assembly. In all of the illustrated examples, the handle is integrated with the element C; for example, in Fig. l it has a "half-moon" shape. As an alternative, one may provide, for instance, a handle to be engaged on the element C. As a further alternative, a handle may be provided through a simple mechanical key to be engaged on the element C.

The presence of a handle is useful in all those cases where the user must be allowed to use the hinge also as a handle.

However, there are also cases wherein just a few people (e.g. maintenance staff) are authorized to open the hinge. In such cases, a first possibility (which is both simple and cheap) consists in not providing a handle, whereas a second possibility (which is more expensive but also more comfortable) consists in providing a latch or a lock, for example, on the handle.

The hinge according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use on doors of air treatment systems, painting systems or machine tools. Such a peculiarity derives from the fact that, thanks to its shape according to some embodiments, it can be used not only as a hinge and as a handle, but also as a means for compressing any gaskets interposed between door and frame; said gaskets may be used for soundproofing and/or tightness purposes. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, said compression can also be adjusted.

As said, the present invention also relates to a cabinet comprising a door which can be opened/ closed and removed for accessing the inside of the cabinet and at least two hinges (according to the present invention) applied to or integrated with said door on two opposite sides, respectively. Typically, there are two or three or four hinges applied (e.g. screwed) to each side of the door.

Said cabinet is therefore fitted with a door which can be opened in both directions without distinction and which can also be removed, e.g. if there is not enough room for rotating it in either direction.

As already mentioned, there are cases wherein the door should be opened or removed by system maintenance staff only; the hinge according to the present invention provides different solutions to this problem (removable handle, latch, lock, ...). Typically, the cabinet according to the present invention comprises gaskets located along the perimeter of the door when the door is closed. The gaskets may be applied either to the door or to the frame, or else to both the door and the frame. As said, gaskets are used in cabinets for soundproofing and/or tightness purposes, and to be fully effective both hinges and gaskets are configured and arranged in such a way that the gaskets are compressed when the door is closed. Advantageously, the cabinet door may be provided with pins which can be adjusted in one or more directions (embodiment example of Fig.10 to Fig.19).

A particularly advantageous direction is the one perpendicular to the door; it is thus possible to adjust the compression of any gaskets interposed between door and frame, e.g. in order to ensure the desired soundproofing and/or tightness. In the embodiment example of Fig.10 to Fig.19, said adjustment can be carried out even when the door is mounted and closed; this is very advantageous.

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