ECCENTRIC HINGE

The present invention relates generally to the field of hinges. More specifically, the present invention is related to an eccen ^¬ tric multilink hinge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hinges, especially eccentric hinches are well known in prior art. Eccentric hinches are especially used for attaching doors of refrigerators or freezers.

WO 2006/082175 A2 discloses a multilink hinge for refrigerator doors. The hinge comprises two mounting parts, one of which is attached to the body of the refrigerator and the other one is attached to the door of the refrigerator. The mounting parts are mechanically connected to one another via levers and a hinge arm.

When the front of the refrigerator door is placed flush ways kitchen cabinet doors, the refrigerator door may not open to a desirable rate. In other words, when opening the refrigerator door, the door collides with the surrounding kitchen cabinets. Further drawback of the known multilink hinge is the technical complexity, i.e. the hinge has complex structure with a plurali ^¬ ty of components which are connected with a plurality of hinge points. Therefore, the known hinge is complex to produce. Ac ^¬ cordingly, there is a need for improvements regarding the func- tionality and complexity of hinges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of embodiments of the invention to provide for an improved hinge, especially for refrigerators and/or freezers in order to avoid collisions with the surrounding kitchen cabinets. The objective is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are given in the de ^¬ pendent claims. If not explicitly indicated otherwise, embodi ^¬ ments of the invention can be freely combined with each other.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a hinge for articulating a door at a pivot side at a body comprising:

- a first hinge element to be arranged at the body, the first hinge element comprising a mounting portion and a hinge portion;

- a second hinge element to be arranged at the door, the second hinge element comprising a mounting portion and a hinge portion;

- a first hinge arm having a first and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected with the hinge por ^¬ tion of the first hinge element at a first hinge point and the second end being pivotally connected with the hinge portion of the second hinge element at a second hinge point;

- a second hinge arm having a first and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected with the hinge por ^¬ tion of the first hinge element at a third hinge point and the second end being pivotally connected with the hinge portion of the second hinge element at a fourth hinge point;

wherein the mounting portion of the first hinge element comprises a first free end to be located in proximity to the pivot side of the door and the hinge portion comprising the first and third hinge points is disposed at the oppo ^¬ site side of the first hinge element at a distance to the first free end.

According to the context of the current invention, the pivot side is the side of the door which is articulated at the respec ^¬ tive body by means of the hinge. Furthermore, a body may be, but not limiting, the cabinet of a refrigerator, a freezer or another electric domestic appliance.

Due to the distance between the first free end located in prox- imity to the pivot side and the first and third hinge points, the second hinge element is adapted to pivot reverse eccentri ^¬ cally with respect to the first hinge element. While pivoting, the pivot side of the door is kept at a distance to the sur ^¬ rounding kitchen cabinet thereby avoiding a collision between the pivoting door and said kitchen cabinet. Preferably, the hinge comprises only two hinge arms for obtaining said eccentric pivoting .

According to preferred embodiments, the first hinge element has a bracket-like shape, wherein the mounting portion forms a first bracket leg and the hinge portion forms a second bracket leg.

Said bracket-like shape is advantageous because due to the bracket-like shape, the hinge portion protrudes laterally from the mounting portion. Thereby, it is possible to arrange the first and third hinge points at different distances to the mounting portion thereby achieving the eccentric pivoting of the hinge .

According to preferred embodiments, the first hinge point is disposed at a free end of the hinge portion of the first hinge element opposite to the mounting portion of said first hinge element. Said first hinge point therefore constitutes an outer hinge point at the first hinge element. According to preferred embodiments, the third hinge point is disposed in a corner portion of the first hinge element.

Thereby, the third hinge point constitutes an inner hinge point at the first hinge element. Preferably, the first and third hinge points are arranged at a straight line perpendicular to the longitudinal side of the first hinge element. According to preferred embodiments, in a closed state of the hinge, the fourth hinge point is disposed at a free end of the hinge portion of the second hinge element opposite to the first free end of the mounting portion of the first hinge element. In other words, in the closed state of the hinge, the fourth hinge point is located in proximity to the pivot side of the door. Thereby the first and second hinge elements are arranged re ^¬ versely to each other, i.e. the first free end of the first hinge element and the second free end of the second hinge ele- ment are arranged at least essentially at the same height with respect to the pivot side. Similarly, the first free end of the second hinge element and the second free end of the first hinge element are also arranged at the same height with respect to the pivot side.

According to preferred embodiments, in a closed state of the hinge, the mounting portions of the first and second hinge ele ^¬ ments are arranged in parallel. Thereby a space-saving arrange ^¬ ment of the hinge in the closed position may be achieved.

According to preferred embodiments, in a closed state of the hinge, the first hinge arm is arranged in parallel to the mount ^¬ ing portions of the first and second hinge elements. Preferably, the hinge portion of the second hinge element is formed by an upper and lower hinge portion area constituting a recess between each other. Within said recess, in the closed state of the hinge, the first hinge arm is at least partially positioned. Thereby a space-saving arrangement of the hinge in the closed position may be achieved.

According to preferred embodiments, the second hinge arm com ^¬ prises a greater length than the first hinge arm. Due to said length difference and the previously described positioning of the hinge points, a reverse eccentric pivoting of the second hinge element with respect to the first hinge element mounted at the body is obtained. Preferably, in a closed state of the hinge, the second hinge arm is inclined with respect to the first hinge arm.

According to preferred embodiments, the distance between the second and the fourth hinge point is smaller than the distance between the first and the third hinge point. While opening the hinge, the second and fourth hinge points are moved towards the straight line at which the first and third hinge points are po ^¬ sitioned. Due to the greater distance between the first and third hinge point with respect to the distance between the sec ^¬ ond and fourth hinge point, the second hinge element is forced to rotate thereby achieving the eccentric pivoting of the second hinge element. According to preferred embodiments, the hinge portions of the first and/or second hinge element protrude laterally beyond the respective mounting portions. Thereby a spatial separation of the hinge portions, respectively, the hinge points, especially the first and fourth hinge points from the respective mounting portions can be obtained.

According to preferred embodiments, the first hinge element has a first free end disposed at a distance of the hinge portion of said first hinge element, wherein in a closed state of the hinge, the first free end of the first hinge element is disposed in proximity to the hinge portion of the second hinge element. Similarly, the second hinge element has a first free end dis ^¬ posed at a distance of the hinge portion of said second hinge element, wherein in a closed state of the hinge, the first free end of the second hinge element is disposed in proximity to the hinge portion of the first hinge element. Thereby, the first and second hinge element is disposed in an interlocked arrangement, wherein the first free end of the first hinge element and the first free end of the second hinge element are arranged diago- nally to each other. Thereby a reverse eccentric hinge with re ^¬ duced space requirements is achieved. According to preferred embodiments, the first hinge element com ^¬ prises a recess and in closed state, the hinge portion of the second hinge element is disposed within said recess. Preferably said recess is constituted between the bracket legs of the bracket-shaped first hinge element. Thereby also a space-saving arrangement of the hinge in the closed position may be achieved.

According to preferred embodiments, the hinge portion of the first and/or second hinge element is formed integrally with the respective mounting portions. Preferably, the first and/or sec ^¬ ond hinge element is manufactured of a one-piece metal sheet by punching and bending. In addition, also the first and second hinge arms may be made of a one-piece metal sheet by punching and bending. Thereby a cost-effective production of the hinge may be obtained.

According to preferred embodiments, the hinge comprises a spring adapted to maintain the closed state of the hinge. Said embodi ^¬ ment is especially advantageous for using the hinge at freezer and refrigerator doors, because the closed position of the door is maintained by means of the spring thereby avoiding an unin ^¬ tentional opened position of the door.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" as used in the inven ^¬ tion means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, prefera ^¬ bly by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which :

Fig. 1 shows a hinge according to the invention in a closed po ^¬ sition from a top view;

Fig. 2 shows the hinge according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view;

Fig. 3 shows a hinge according to the invention in a semi-opened position from a top view;

Fig. 4 shows a hinge according to the invention in a further

semi-opened position from a top view;

Fig. 5 shows a hinge according to the invention in an opened po ^¬ sition from a top view; and

Fig. 6 shows a hinge according to the invention in an exploded perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with ref ^¬ erence to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodi ^¬ ments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when ap ^¬ plicable .

Fig. 1 and 2 shows hinges 1 according to the invention based on a Cartesian coordinate system with a x-axis, a y-axis and a z- axis perpendicular to each other. The hinge 1 is configured to articulate a door 30 at a pivot side 31 at a body 40. In the following specification, the x-y-plane is a plane parallel to the plane of the closed door 30 and the z-direction is perpen ^¬ dicular to said x-y plane pointing away from the body 40. Preferably, the door 30 is a refrigerator door and that body 40 is the base refrigerator casing.

The hinge 1 comprises a first hinge element 2 adapted to be at- tached to the body 40 and a second hinge element 3 adapted to be attached to the door 30. The second hinge element 3 is articu ^¬ lated at the first hinge element 2 by means of the set of hinge arms 4, 5. Preferably, the set of hinge arms comprises a first and a second hinge arm 4, 5, each hinge arm 4, 5 pivotally con- nected with the first and second hinge elements 2, 3.

Specifically, the first hinge element 2 comprises a mounting portion 2.1 and a hinge portion 2.2, wherein the mounting portion 2.1 is adapted to be attached at the body 40. Preferably, the first hinge element 2 has a bracket-like shape, wherein the mounting portion 2.1 forms a first bracket leg and has a longi ^¬ tudinal direction parallel to the x-direction. The hinge portion 2.2 forms the second bracket leg and the longitudinal direction of the hinge portion 2.2 is parallel to the z-direction. In other words, the longitudinal directions of the mounting portion 2.1 and the hinge portion 2.2 are perpendicular to each other, wherein the hinge portion 2.2 protrudes laterally beyond the mounting portion 2.3. At the hinge portion 2.2, a first and a third hinge point HP1, HP3 are provided for articulating first and second hinge arms 4, 5. The hinge 1 is adapted to be attached to the door 40, respec ^¬ tively, to body 30 such, that a first free end 2a of the first hinge element 2 is located in close proximity to the pivot site 31, at which the door 30 is articulated at the body 40. The first and third hinge points HP1, HP3 are disposed at the oppo ^¬ site side of the first free end 2a of the first hinge element 2 at a distance to the first free end 2a. Specifically, the first and third hinge points HP1, HP3 are disposed at the hinge por- tion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2, wherein the first hinge point HP1 is located at the second free end 2b of the first hinge element 2 opposite to the mounting portion 2.1 and the third hinge point HP3 is arranged in proximity to a corner re ^¬ gion 2.3, in which the mounting portion 2.1 abuts against the hinge portion 2.2. Preferably, the first and third hinge points HP1, HP3 are arranged on a straight line parallel to the z- direction spaced from each other.

Due to the bracket-like shape of the first hinge element 2 with perpendicular first and second bracket legs, the first hinge element 2 comprises a recess 2.4 arranged between said first and second bracket legs. Said the recess 2.4 is adapted to receive the second hinge element 3 at least partially in closed state of the hinge 1. Furthermore, the recess 2.4 is adapted to receive at least partially the first and second hinge arms 4, 5. Similarly to the first hinge element 2, also the second hinge element 3 comprises a mounting portion 3.1 with a first free end 3a and a hinge portion 3.2 with a second free end 3b. The mount ^¬ ing portion 3.1 is adapted to be attached at the door. The hinge portion 3.2 protrudes laterally from the mounting portion 3.1 and is adapted to be articulated with the first and second hinge arms 4, 5. Thereby, the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2 is connected with the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3 by means of the first and second hinge arms 4, 5.

Specifically, the first hinge arm 4 comprises a first and a sec ^¬ ond free end 4a, 4b, wherein the first free end 4a is articu ^¬ lated at the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2 by means of the first hinge point HP1 and the second free end 4b of the first hinge arm 4 is articulated at the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3 by means of the second hinge point HP2. Similarly, the second hinge arm 5 comprises a first and a second free end 5a, 5b, wherein the first free end 5a is articu ^¬ lated at the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2 by means of the third hinge point HP3 and the second free end 5b of the second hinge arm 5 is articulated at the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3 by means of the fourth hinge point HP4.

The second hinge element 3 comprises the first free end 3a which is located at the distance from the hinge portion 3.2. Specifi- cally, the first free end 3a is located opposite to the second and fourth hinge point HP2, HP4.

In the closed position of the hinge 1, the first and second hinge elements 2, 3 are arranged reversely with respect to each other, i.e. the hinge portions 2.2, 3.2 are located at opposite sides of the hinge 1, wherein the longitudinal sides of the mounting portions 2.1, 3.1 are parallel to each other. Due to the reverse arrangement of the first and second hinge elements 2, 3, the first free end 2a of the first hinge element 2 and the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3 are facing each other. Similarly, the first free end 3a of the second hinge ele ^¬ ment 3 and the hinge portion 2.2, specifically the second free end 2b of the first hinge element 2 located at the hinge portion 2.2 are facing each other. Furthermore, the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3 is located within the recess 2.4 of the first hinge element 2.

In addition, in the closed position, the first hinge arm 4 is arranged parallel or essentially parallel with respect to the x- direction, respectively, the mounting portions 2.1, 3.1 of the first and second hinge elements 2, 3. The second hinge arm 5 runs inclined with respect to the mounting portions 2.1, 3.1 of the first and second hinge elements 2, 3, i.e. the mounting por ^¬ tion 2.1, the second hinge arm 5 and the mounting portion 3.1 form a Z-shaped structure. The first and second hinge arms 4, 5 confined an acute angle a, which opens towards the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2.

The hinge 1 forms an eccentric hinge, wherein due to the previ- ously described arrangement of the first and second hinge arms 4, 5 and the distances between the hinge points HP1, HP2, HP3, HP4, during opening, the door 30 is lifted outwardly thereby prohibiting a collision of the door 30 with surrounding kitchen cabinets. Specifically, the first and second hinge points HPl, HP2 are arranged at a distance a and the third and fourth hinge points HP3, HP4 are arranged at a distance b, wherein a < b. The first and third hinge point HPl, HP3 are arranged at the dis ^¬ tance c at the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2 and the second and fourth hinge point HP2, HP4 are arranged at a distance d at the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3, wherein c > d. Furthermore, in the closed state of the hinge 1, the second and fourth hinge points HP2, HP4 are arranged on a straight line slanted with the respect to the z-direction, wherein said straight line and the z-direction confine an acute angle opening towards the mounting portion 2.1 of the first hinge element 2.

Due to the bracket-like shape of the first hinge element 2, the arrangement of the first and third hinge points HPl, HP3 oppo ^¬ site and at the distance to the pivot side 31 of the door 30 and the above-mentioned distances between the hinge points HPl, HP2, HP3, HP4, the second hinge element 3, respectively, the door 30 rotates eccentrically around a first hinge element 2 (Fig. 3 - 5) . Thereby, the position of the fourth hinge point HP4 is changed with respect to the position of the third hinge point HP3, namely in such a way, that the fourth hinge point HP4 which is positioned on the right side of the third hinge point HP3 in the closed state, is located on the left side of the third hinge point in the opened position. In other words, the fourth hinge point HP4 rotates around the third hinge point HP3 while opening the hinge 1, wherein in the open position, preferably, the fourth hinge point HP4 is arranged or essentially arranged on a straight line between the first and second hinge points HPl, HP2.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the hinge according to the invention. For articulating the second hinge element 3 at the first hinge element 2 via the first and second hinge arms 4, 5, a set of bolts 7 - 11 are used. A first bolt 7 articulates the first hinge arm 4 at the first hinge point HP1 at the hinge por ^¬ tion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2. At the opposite side, a second bolt 8 is used to articulate the first hinge arm 4 at the second hinge point HP2 at the hinge portion 3.2 of the second hinge element 3. Similarly, a third bolt 9 articulates the sec ^¬ ond hinge arm 5 at the third hinge point HP3 at the hinge por ^¬ tion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2. The bolts 7 - 9 are adapted to penetrate the hinge 1 and thereby establishing upper and lower pivot points.

In contrary thereto, the fourth hinge point HP4 is formed by means of a pair of bolts 10, 11, namely an upper bolt 10 and a lower bolt 11. The upper bolt 10 establishes the upper pivot point and the lower bolt 11 establishes the lower pivot point. Thereby it is possible to pivot the second hinge element 3 such, that the fourth hinge point HP4 respectively the second free end 5b of the second hinge arm 5 is positioned above the first hinge arm 4 without any collision. Fixed by the third bolt 9, a spring 6 is arranged within the hinge 1. Specifically, the spring 6 comprises a pair of first spring ends 6.1 and a second spring end 6.2. The spring 6 is ar ^¬ ranged within the hinge 1 such, that the first spring ends 6.1 rest against the inner portion of the hinge portion 2.2 of the first hinge element 2 and the second spring end 6.2 rests against the second hinge arm 5. The spring 6 is adapted to apply pressure against the first hinge element 2, respectively, against the second hinge arm 5 thereby maintaining the closed position of the hinge 1. Thereby the door 30 is kept in the closed position which is preferably advantageous for refrigera ^¬ tor or freezer doors.

Preferably, the first and second hinge elements 2, 3 and/or the first and second hinge arms 4, 5 are one-piece elements. Spe- cifically, the hinge portions 2.2, 3.2 of the first and second hinge elements 2, 3 are integrally formed with the mounting por ^¬ tions 2.1, 3.1. In addition, the hinge portions 2.2, 3.2 are formed by a pair of sheet material portions protruding laterally from the respective mounting portions 2.1, 3.1 at the top and the bottom.

Specifically, the first and second hinge elements 2, 3 and/or the first and second hinge arms 4, 5 are made of a one-piece metal sheet by punching and bending. Preferably, the first and second hinge arms 4, 5 comprise a middle portion 4.1, 5.1 con ^¬ necting upper and lower arm portions in order to provide stiff hinge arms 4, 5.

List of reference numerals

1 hinge

2 first hinge element 2a first free end

2b second free end

2.1 mounting portion

2.2 hinge portion

2.3 corner region

2.4 recess

3 second hinge element 3a first free end

3b second free end

3.1 mounting portion 3.2 hinge portion

4 first hinge arm

4.1 middle portion

4a first free end

4b second free end

5 second hinge arm

5.1 middle portion

5a first free end

5b second free end

6 spring

6.1 first spring end

6.2 second spring end

7 first bolt

8 second bolt

9 third bolt

10 upper bolt

11 lower bolt

30 door

31 pivot side

40 body a distance HP1 - HP2 b distance HP3 - HP4 c distance HP1 - HP3 d distance HP2 - HP4 a angle

HP1 first hinge point

HP2 second hinge point

HP3 third hinge point

HP4 fourth hinge point