BALANCED HINGE DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to technical field of hinges, and refers to a balanced hinge device with horizontal rotation axis, particularly for household-electric appliances such as oven or similar.

BACKGAROUND ART

Hinges are known for door rotation around a corresponding horizontal axis from a closed condition, in which such door is vertical, into an opened condition in which the door is descended into an almost horizontal position.

Some of said known hinges have the disadvantage to allow the door rotation for gravity towards the opening condition at excessive speed with user's risks and of household damages.

Some of such known hinges have elastic means fit to reduce the whole force acting on the door, but said hinges can have excessive dimensions and bulk.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a balanced hinge device, fit for avoiding that the force weight load on the door and fit for reducing the opening door speed.

Further purpose is to propose a device of small dimensions but also designed for large and heavy doors.

Other object is to propose a device providing a solid stop of the door, even if much heavy, in the end opening condition.

Further object is to propose a simple device, extremely reliable, without regulations with

an easy and fast assembly to the household electric appliance and its door.

The objects above indicated are obtained according to the content of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the present invention are evidenced in the following with reference to the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a schematic lateral view of the balanced hinge device, object of the present invention, associated to a structure and to a door of an household-electric appliance, illustrated in dotted line, in an operating closing condition and in which some parts have been removed for better evidencing some others; figure 2 shows a portion of the device observed by a 90° view with respect to that of figure 1; - figure 3 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in partial opening condition; figure 4 shows a view of the device of figure 1 in end opening condition.

With reference to the figures from 1 to 4, with 1 is indicated the balanced hinge device provided with connecting members first 51 and second 52 mutually connected through a rotation pin 60 whose rotation axis is almost horizontal and inferior to the closed door C.

The first connecting member 51 is fit to be fixed to a respective structure 54, as the chassis or the body of a household-electric appliances, such as a dishwasher or an oven. The second connecting member 52 is fit to be fixed to the corresponding door 53 of the household-electric appliance for the its rotation between the end closing C and opening A conditions.

In an operating condition of the structure 54, the door at the closing condition C and the opening condition A is respectively almost vertical and approximately horizontal.

The device 1 comprises elastic means 59, fixed stop means 55 and rod means 56.

Such rod means 56 has, at an external end, a mobile stop means 57 and, to the other end, it

has fixing means 58 consisting in a shaped slot 61 fit to engage a groove of an hooking pin 62 rigidly fixed to the second connecting member 52. In the closing condition C, the hooking pin 62 is positioned upwardly to the rotation pin 60.

The fixed stop means 55 is connected to the first connecting member 51 and, preferably, is made by bending a portion of the shaped metallic sheet of such first connecting member 51.

The elastic means 59 are interposed and compressed between fixed stop means 55 and mobile means 57 so that such elastic means 59 supply a contrast force to the door weight at least in the opening, intermediate and opening conditions.

A median portion of the rod means 56, for example of flat shaped and obtained by cutting a sheet, is freely slidingly housed into an opening 63 of the fixed stop means 55 which also allow a small oscillation motion to the same rod means. In the operating condition, the fixing means 58 of the rod means 56 and the fixed stop means 55 define one straight line tilted with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal and spaced by the rotation pin 60.

The rod means 56 in the passage by the closing condition C to the openings condition A and vice versa, being centrally forced to slide into the opening 63 of the fixed stop means

55 and having the end supporting the bound fixing means 58 fit to describe circumference arches centred in the rotation pin 60, oscillate around a medium position defining a straight line that forms an angle with the vertical comprised between 20° and 50°, preferably approximately 35°. Such preferential angle minimize the oscillations and contributes to the reduction of the bulk of the device 1.

The fixed stop means 55 is plate shaped and is approximately perpendicular to said straight line defined by the medium position of the rod means 56.

The elastic means 59 comprise two compressed coil springs 64, 65 wrapped around corresponding guide means 66 61 constituted by lengthen elements and mutually parallels to the rod means 56.

Such solution contributes also in reducing the bulk of the device.

The mobile stop means 57 comprises a cap means 68, 69 for the end of each guide means 66, 67 and is blocked thereto by joint means 70 engaged in corresponding holes of the mobile stop means 57 and in grooves made in the end of each guide means 66, 67.

For a sure stop in the end opening A ₅ the connecting members first 51 and second 52 are equipped with corresponding stop means 71, 72 fit for mutually matching at said end opening condition A.

The operation of the device comprises that, starting from the closing, the rod means 56 compresses the springs and transmits the elastic force to the second connecting member 52 through the hooking pin 62. In such a way the second connecting member and the door are subjected to a counteracting force of the opening force produced by the door weight.

The intensity of the counteracting force depends on the force produced by the springs and the rotating arm whose length almost corresponds to the distance between the rotation pin 60 and the straight line almost parallel to the spring guides and passing through the hooking pin 62. Therefore the length of the action arm and the intensity of the counteracting force vary in function of the opening angle and the position of the hooking pin of 62 can be chosen in order to optimize of the action.

An advantage of the present invention is to supply a balanced hinge device, fit for avoiding that the force weight load on the door and fit for reducing the opening door speed.

A further advantage is to supply a device of small dimensions but also suitable for large and heavy doors.

Other advantage is to supply a device designed to assure a solid stop of the door, also much heavy, in the end opening condition.

Further advantage is to supply a simple device, extremely reliable, without regulations and of easy and fast assemblage to the household-electric appliance and its door.