SALICE, Luciano (Via Ronco 30, Carimate, I-22060, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. A hinge particularly for a piece of furniture, of the type comprising a first and a second rocker arm (2, 3) which operatively connect a box-shaped body (4) able to be fastened to a wing (100) of the piece of furniture, and a hinge arm (5) able to be fastened to a fixed part (101) of the piece of furniture, the first rocker arm (2) having its fulcrum with a first pin (7) to the box- shaped body (4) and with a second pin (8) to the arm (5), the second rocker arm (3) having its fulcrum with a third pin (9) to the box-shaped body (4) and with a fourth pin (10) to the arm (5) , the second rocker arm (3) being interposed between the bottom of the box- shaped body (4) and the first rocker arm (2) at the closed configuration of the hinge wherein the wing (100) rests on the abutment plane (102) against the fixed part (101), characterised in that in the closed configuration of the hinge, the angle between the abutment plane and the plane connecting the first and the fourth pin (7, 10) is comprised between - 2° and + 2°, the angle between the abutment plane and the plane connecting the third and the fourth pin (9, 10) is comprised between 5° and 10°, the angle between the plane connecting the first and the third pin (7, 9) and the third and fourth pin (9, 10) is comprised between 140° and 150°, and the distance between the axes of the first and fourth pin (7, 10) is comprised between 23 and 27 mm. The hinge according to claim 1, characterised in that on the outer side of the bottom of the box-shaped body (4) a deceleration device is applied. The hinge according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said deceleration device (1) comprises a container (14) housing at least a rotary friction element (16), a slider (18) which can be actuated in translation during the oscillating movement of the hinge by means of the second rocker arm (3) through a window (41) of the bottom (15) of the box- shaped body (4), and cinematic means for converting the translation of the slider (18) into a rotation of at least one friction element (16), said cinematic means comprising a drive element (20) integral with said slider (18) and permanently confined inside the profile of a radial cam (21) provided on said friction element (16), said drive element (20) being selectively engageable with a first length (22) of the profile of said cam (21) for pivotally actuating said friction element (16) during the oscillation when opening the hinge or with a second length (23) of the profile of said cam (21) for pivotally actuating said friction element (16) during the final stage of the oscillation when closing the hinge. 4. The hinge according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the configuration of the articulated quadrilateral formed by the first, second, third and fourth pin (7, 8, 9, 10) is itself able to configure the second rocker arm (3) and the cam profile (21) , in order to anticipate the opening angle of the hinge at which the drive element (20) , by interacting with the cam profile (21) , determines the beginning of the rotation of the friction element (16) during the closing movement of the hinge. 5. The hinge according to or more claims 3 and 4, characterised in that said friction element (16) is a. circular plate-shaped disc having, on its side facing the bottom of said housing (14), a first plurality of concentric prints (28) which engage on a second plurality of concentric prints (29) of a conjugate shape, provided at the bottom of said housing (14) . 6. The hinge according to one or more claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the first length (22) of the cam profile (21) is convex and is engageable with a contact extending on a surface with a concave side of the drive element (20) , and the second length of the cam profile (21) is concave and is engageable with a contact extending on a surface with a convex side of the drive element (20) . 7. The hinge according to one or more claims 3 to 6, characterised in that said housing (14) is filled with a viscous means in order to reach said deceleration with a combined effect of a mechanical and viscous kind. 8. The hinge according to one or more claims 3 to 7, characterised in that it comprises rapid attachment means of said deceleration device (1) to said box-shaped body (4) . |
DESCRIPTION
The present invention refers to a hinge in particular for pieces of furniture.
On the market hinges for pieces of furniture have long been present, comprising an arm able to be fastened to a fixed element of the piece of furniture and a box-shaped body able to be fastened to a wing of the piece of furniture, a first and a second rocker arm which operatively connect the box-shaped body and the arm and which define with them an articulated quadrilateral.
Such hinges have normally springs of various kind in order to create a return force when closing and/or opening the wings on which they are applied. In such hinges it is possible to predict the presence of deceleration devices of the movement of the wings caused by the elastic reaction of such springs. Such deceleration devices have the task mainly to avoid the noises due to heavy shocks against the body of the piece of furniture during the closing of the wings.
One of the main drawbacks of the traditional hinges of the above described kind, with or without a deceleration device, consists in the excessive height of the box-shaped body, to which the height of the deceleration device is added, if provided, with respect to the thickness of the wing in which such box-shaped body has to be inserted .
The height of the box-shaped body depends mainly on the configuration of the articulated quadrilateral in the closed configuration of the hinge, at which the wing rests on the abutment plane against the fixed portion of the piece of furniture .
Hinges of the above described kind are present on the market, which are adapted to be inserted in suitable blind holes of wings having a thickness not less than 18/19 mm, when the hinges are provided with the deceleration device, which generally provides an additional overall height.
The provision of a too bulky box-shaped body height, with respect to the thickness of the wing in which it is inserted, can imply serious structural and aesthetic problems, due to the reduced thickness of the material remaining. between the bottom of the hole which houses the box-shaped body and the outer surface of the wing.
In this context it is impossible or extremely inadvisable to apply a hinge of the aforementioned kind, with an associated deceleration device, to a wing having a thickness of 14/15 mm, without impairing in use the structural integrity of the wing itself.
The technical task of the present invention is therefore to realize a hinge particularly for pieces of furniture, which permits to eliminate the technical drawbacks lamented in the known art.
Within this technical task an aim of the invention is to realize a hinge particularly for pieces of furniture, of the aforementioned kind with a box- shaped body which is so compact in height to be applicable without inconveniences to a wing having the thickness as small as possible.
Another aim of the invention is to provide a hinge particularly for pieces of furniture of the aforementioned kind, with an associated deceleration device, in which the resulting assembly is so compact in height, that it can be applicable without inconveniences to a wing of reduced thickness, in particular of 14/15 mm.
The technical task, and also these and other aims according to the present invention are reached by realizing a hinge, particularly for pieces of furniture, of the kind comprising a first and a second rocker arm operatively connecting a box- shaped body able to be fastened to a wing of the piece of furniture and a hinge arm able to be fastened to the fixed portion of the piece of furniture, the first rocker arm having its fulcrum with a first pin around the box-shaped body and with a second pin around the arm, the second rocker arm having its fulcrum with a third pin around the box-shaped body and with a fourth pin around the arm, the second rocker arm being interposed between the bottom of the box-shaped body and the first rocker arm at the closed configuration of the hinge in which the wing rests on the abutment plane of the fixed portion, characterized in that in the closed configuration of the hinge the angle between the abutment plane and the plane joining the first and the fourth pin is comprised between -2° and 2°, the angle between the abutment plane and the plane joining the third and the fourth pin is comprised between 5° and 10° , the angle comprised between the plane joining the first and the third pin and the third and fourth pin is comprised between 140° and 150°, and the axial distance between the first and the fourth pin is comprised between 23 and 27 mm.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, on the outer side of the bottom of the box-shaped body a deceleration device is applied.
Preferably the deceleration device comprises a container housing at least a rotary friction element, a slider which can be actuated in translation during the oscillating movement of the hinge by means of the second rocker arm through a window of the bottom of the box-shaped body, and cinematic means for transforming the translation of the slider into a rotation of said at least one friction element, said cinematic means comprising a drive element integral with said slider and permanently confined inside the profile of a radial cam provided on said fiction element, said drive element being selectively engaeable with a first length of the profile of said cam for the pivoting actuation of said friction element during the oscillation in the opening direction of the hinge or with a second length of the profile of said cam for the pivoting actuation of said friction element during the final oscillating phase in the closing direction of the hinge.
According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the configuration of the articulated quadrilateral formed by the first, second, third and fourth pin permits to suitably configure the second rocker arm and the cam profile, in order to anticipate the oscillation angle of the hinge, at which the drive element integral with the slider, by interacting with the cam profile, determines the beginning of the rotation of the friction element during the closing movement of the hinge.
In this way the deceleration device can distribute the dissipation action of the kinetic energy of the wing when closing during a greater angular displacement of the wing itself. This determines a reduction of the maximum solicitation to which the components of the deceleration device can be subjected, which therefore can be constructed less bulky without the risk of undesired ruptures. Preferably the friction element is a circular plate-shaped disc having, on its side facing the bottom of said container, a first plurality of concentric prints engaging on a second plurality of concentric prints of a conjugate shape provided on the bottom of said container.
Preferably the first length of the cam profile is convex and is engageable with a contact extended on a surface with a concave side of the drive element, and the second length of the cam profile is concave and is engageable with a contact extended on a surface with a convex side of the drive element.
Preferably the container is filled with a viscous means to obtain said deceleration with a combined effect of a mechanical and viscous kind.
The provision of a not contact point but of an extended contact on the surface between the drive element and the cam immersed in a viscous means permits a more uniform distribution of the mechanical efforts with a corresponding reduction of the specific pressure on the parts of the deceleration device, which reduces its wear and once again contributes in a significant way to broaden the construction choices for the reduction of the encumbrance of the deceleration device.
Preferably a rapid attachment system is provided between said deceleration device and said box- shaped body.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred but non exclusive embodiment of the hinges for pieces of furniture according with the invention, illustrated in an indicative and non limitative way in the annexed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a plan view of the portion of a piece of furniture carrying the hinge in the closing position with the deceleration device diametrically sectioned;
figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the deceleration device and of the box- shaped body of the hinge, with the slider shown for ease of convenience from both its sides ;
figure 3 is a plan view of the contents of the container of the deceleration device, in the closing position of the hinge;
figure 4 shows an elevation side view of the deceleration device diametrically sectioned in the closing position of the hinge;
figure 5 is a plan view of the contents of the container of the deceleration device, in the beginning position of the decelerating action during the closing of the hinge;
figure 6 shows an elevation side view of the deceleration device diametrically sectioned in the beginning position of the decelerating action during the closing of the hinge;
figure 7 shows a plan view of the assembly formed by the friction element and the drive element in the closing position of the hinge; and
figure 8 shows a plan view of the assembly formed by the friction element and the drive element in the beginning position of the decelerating action during the closing of the hinge .
With reference to the cited figures, a hinge for pieces of furniture is shown, comprising a first rocker arm 2 and a second rocker arm 3 which operatively connect a box-shaped body 4 able to be fastened to a wing 100 of the piece of furniture and a hinge arm 5 able to be fastened to a fixed part 101, for example a shoulder of the piece of furniture .
The first rocker arm 2 pivots with a first pin 7 around the box-shaped body 4 and with a second pin 8 around the arm 5.
The second rocker arm 3 pivots with a third pin 9 around the box-shaped body 4 and with a fourth pin 10 around the arm 5, and is interposed between the bottom 15 of the box-shaped body 4 and the first rocker arm 2 at the closed configuration of the hinge in which the wing 100 rests on the abutment plane 102 against the fixed part 101.
The first, second, third and fourth pin 7, 8, 9, 10 of the hinge have obviously parallel axes.
The structure made by the box-shaped body 4 and the arm 5 operatively connected by the rocker arms 2 and 3 through the pins 7, 8, 9 e 10 forms an articulated quadrilateral which assumes a special configuration suitable to minimize the height of the box-shaped body 4 necessary for the containment of the rocker arms 2 and 3 when the hinge assumes a closed configuration. In the closed configuration of the hinge the angle a between the abutment plane 102 and the plane joining the first pin 7 and the fourth pin 10 is comprised between -2°and 2°, the angle β between the abutment plane 102 and the plane joining the third pin 9 and the fourth pin 10 is comprised between 5° and 10°, the angle γ comprised between the plane joining the first pin 7 and the third pin 9 from one side and the third pin 9 and the fourth pin 10 from the other side is comprised between 140° and 150°, whereas the axial distance H between the first pin 7 and the fourth pin 10 is finally comprised between 23 and 27 mm.
In the case illustrated by way of an example, the angle a is 1,56°, the angle β is 7, 94°, the angle γ is 144°, whereas the axial distance H is 24,9 mm.
Around a fourth pin 10 of the hinge a spring 11 is present having a first spring arm 12 associated with the arm 5 and a second spring arm 13 associated with the rocker arm 2. The spring 11 in the terminal closing phase of the wing 100 permits to create a return force on the wing 100 for its spontaneous and precise closing.
Preferably on the outer side of the bottom 15 of the box-shaped body 4 a deceleration device 1 is applied.
The deceleration device 1 comprises a cylindrical container 14 to be fastened on the outer side of the bottom 15 of the box-shaped body 4.
The internal parts of the container 14 are immersed in a viscous means in order to reach the deceleration by a combined effect of mechanical and viscous kind.
The container 14 houses a friction element 16 pivotable on a sliding surface 17, a plate-shaped slider 18 of the piece of furniture along a translation direction 19 during the oscillation of the hinge, and kinematic means for transforming the translation of the slider 18 in a rotation of the friction element 16.
The kinematic means comprise a drive element 20 integral with the slider 18 and permanently confined inside the profile of a cam 21 provided on the friction element 16.
The cam 21 has a curvilinear extension radially on the friction element 16, and is in particular made of a shaped recess of the surface of the friction element 16 on which the slider 18 slides.
The drive element 20 is selectively engageable with a first length 22 of the profile of the cam 21 for the actuation in rotation of the friction element 16 during the opening of the hinge or with a second length 23 of the profile of the cam 21 for the actuation in rotation of the friction element 16 during the initial phase of the closing of the hinge.
The first length 22 of the profile of the cam 21 is convex and is engageable with an extended contact on a surface with a concave side of the drive element 20, whereas the second length 23 of the profile of the cam 21 is concave and engageable with a contact extended on a surface with a convex side of the drive element 20.
This geometry in the engagement between the drive element 20 and the cam 21 determines extended contact surfaces which permit to obtain lower specific pressures and so to reduce its wear.
The provision of extended contact surfaces limits the maximum value of the mechanical stresses to which the deceleration device 1 is subjected, permitting its further compaction. The slider 18 has first means for taking its movement during the opening of the hinge, which are distinct and separated by second means for . taking its movement during the closing of the hinge .
The container 14 so as the other parts of the deceleration device are preferably made of a plastic of suitable stiffness.
The container 14 has also a cover 24 holding the elements present inside it.
In particular, the cover 24 has a window 25 along which the slider 18 is guided in translation.
The slider 18 has a squared shape and is guided between the opposed rectilinear sides 27 of the window 25.
The friction element 16 is in particular a circular plate-shaped disc disposed coaxial with the container 14 and has, on its side facing the bottom of the container 14, a first plurality of concentric prints 28 engaging on the sliding surface 17, in turn comprising a second plurality of concentric prints 29 having a shape conjugated to the first plurality of concentric prints 28 and directly provided on the internal side of the circular bottom of the container 14.
The first means taking the movement of the slider 18 comprise ramps 35 provided on opposite lateral sides of the slider 18 whereas the second taking means comprise a chamfered edge 37 on one side of a squared aperture 36 of the slider 18.
The side of the aperture 36 having the chamfered edge 37 is proximate and parallel to the front edge 38 of the slider 18. The drive element 20 extends of a certain length from the lower surface of the sector of slider 18 delimited between the side of the aperture 36 having the chamfered edge 37 and the front edge 38 of the slider 18.
The slider 18 is accessible to the rocker arm 3 through a window 41 of the bottom 15 of the box- shaped body 4 superimposed on the window 25 of the cover 24.
At the end of the rocker arm 3 adjacent to the pin 9 a piece is given formed with first lateral cams 42 controlling the first engaging means of the movement of the slider 18, and a second central cam 40 controlling the second engaging means of the movement of the slider 18. The first control cams 42 are able to each interfere with a corresponding lateral shoulder 35 of the slider 18, whereas the control cam 40 is able to interfere with the chamfered edge 37 of the inner central aperture 36 of the slider 18.
The deceleration device 1 has means for a rapid attachment to the box-shaped body 4 of the hinge,, in particular comprising a jumper (not shown) with parallel shafts able to engage in suitable holes 52 and 55 of the box-shaped body 4 and 53, 56 of the cover 24. The parallel shafts of the jumper make hinging pins 7 and 9 of the rocker arms 2 and 3 to the box-shaped body 4. This permits to mount the deceleration device by simply adding a station to the pre-existing assembly line of the hinge so that it is not modified.
Feedback means are provided between the complex formed by the container 14 and its cover 24 on one hand and the box-shaped body 4 of the hinge on the other hand, in order to dispose themselves reciprocally in the correct position for their subsequent blocking through the jumper.
The feedback means comprise at least a peg 54 on the cover 24, which can be inserted in a corresponding small hole 51 on the box-shaped body 4 of the hinge.
The connection of the cover 24 to the container 14 is realized through snap elastic teeth 60 provided on the lateral surface of the one and inserted in slots 61 provided on the lateral surface of the other one.
The special configuration taken by the articulated quadrilateral permits to anticipate the opening position of the hinge, during its closing movement of the wing, at which the decelerating effect begins. It is in particular guaranteed the beginning of the decelerating effect at an opening angle of approx. 35°, in comparison with the approx. 20°, 25° present in traditional hinges of the same kind.
Also thanks to the special configuration taken by the articulated quadrilateral in the closed condition of the hinge, the height of the box- shaped body 4, and also the height of the deceleration device, can be reduced. In the previously shown example the box-shaped body 4 has a height of approx. 7,8 mm whereas the deceleration device under the box-shaped body fills a height of less than 4 mm.
The hinge determines a global height encumbrance of the box-shaped body and of the deceleration device, if provided, which is perfectly compatible for the application to a wing having a thickness lower than 14/15mm.
The function of the deceleration device 1 is shortly the following.
During the oscillation in the closing direction of the hinge, the second control cam 40, by pivoting around the pin 9, interferes and begins to push with its profile 47 against the chamfered edge 37 so causing the translation in one direction of the slider 18. In this translation direction the drive element 20 initially detaches from the length 22 of the profile of the cam 21 and after having contacted the length 23 of the profile 21 it begins pushing it by turning the friction element 16. The sliding friction generated at the contact surfaces between the friction element 16 and the container 14 determines in the final portion of closing of the hinge the desired deceleration.
Conversely, during the oscillation in the opening direction of the hinge, the first control cams 42 by pivoting around the pin 9 push against the lateral shoulders 35 causing its translation in an opposite direction of the slider 18. In this translation direction the drive element 20 deviates from the length 23 of the profile of the cam 21 and after having contacted the length 22 of the profile of the cam 21 begins to push it by turning the friction element 16 in order to take it back in the starting position.
The hinge so conceived is subject to numerous modifications and variations, all within the inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements.
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