BRAKED HINGE DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns hinges, and refers to a braked hinge device with an horizontal rotation axle, particularly for an household appliance such as an oven or similar.

BACKGAROUND ART

Hinges are known for the rotation of an horizontal axle door from a closed condition, in which such door is vertical, to an opened condition in which the door is in an horizontal or almost horizontal position. Said known hinges can directly be provided with elastic means and friction roller acting directly onto one of the two members of the hinge for stopping its run.

A disadvantage of such known hinges consists in the fact that they are very complex and difficult to realize and are expensive.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present invention is to propose a braked hinge device simple and reliable.

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

Other purpose is to propose a device fit to assure a solid stop of the door, even if it is very heavy, in the extreme opening condition.

The above mentioned purposes are obtained according to the content of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the present invention are underlined in the following with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a side schematic view of the braked hinge device, object of the present invention, associated with a structure and with a door of an household appliance, shown in dotted line, in a closing operative condition and in which some parts have been removed for better underlining others;

- figure 2 shows a portion of the device observed at 90° 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.

BEST MODE OF CARRING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to figures from 1 to 4, numeral 1 is the braked hinge device provided with connection members, first 51 and second 52, mutually connected by a rotation pivot 60 whose rotation axle is nearly horizontal and lower to the closed door.

The first connection member 51 is fit to be fixed to a respective structure 54, such as the frame or the body of an household appliance, for instance a dishwasher or an oven. The second connection member 52 is fit to be fixed to the corresponding door 53 of the household appliance for the rotation of this latter between the end closing C and opening A conditions.

In an operational condition of the structure 54, the closed door is almost vertical and the opened door is approximately horizontal.

The device 1 includes a sliding mean 56 having an end connected to the connection member 52 and engaged with a brake means 2, with respect to which it can slide with friction, connected to the first connection member 51.

The invention provides in alternative, that the sliding mean 56 and the brake means 2 are respectively connected to the first 51 and to the second 52 connection member.

The brake means 2 is positioned against the superior face of a matching means 55 of the first connection member 51.

The device 1 includes elastic means 59 acting on the brake means 2.

Each brake means 2 includes a jaw member 3 and a push member 4 which pushes the jaw member 3 against the sliding mean 56 because of the elastic force of the elastic means 59. Particularly the elastic means 59 act on the push member 4 and this later on the jaw member 3 that abutting the matching means 55 acts so braking the sliding mean.

The elastic means 59 includes at least two helicoidal springs 64, 65 wrapped around respective guide means 66, 67 constituted by lengthened elements and reciprocally parallel to the sliding mean 56 and compressed between a mobile matching mean 57, fixed to the free end of the sliding mean, and the push member 4 of the brake means 2.

In alternative, the invention provides that the elastic means 59 include a single helicoidal spring 64, 65 wrapped around the sliding mean 56 and compressed between the mobile matching means 57, fixed to the sliding mean end opposite to end connected to the respective connection member 52, 51, and the push member 4 of the brake means 2.

A further alternative provides that a brake means corresponds for each guide means and relating spring.

The push member 4 comprises an hollow 5 with convergent walls, for instance cone- trunk shaped with rectangular bases, and fit to house a portion 6, nearly complementary to such hollow 5, of the jaw member 3.

The jaw member 3, the push member 4 and the matching means 55 are provided with respective passing openings 7, 8, 63, so the sliding mean 56 or guide means 66, 67 pass there through.

The sliding mean 56 and guide means 66, 67 are plate shaped with respective transversal sections rectangular shaped with a predetermined distance between the two greater sides.

The passing openings 7, 8 of the jaw members 3 and push members 4 are shaped similar to that of the section of the guide means or of the sliding mean.

Particularly the distance between the greater sides of the passing opening 7 of the jaw member 3, when this last is not submitted to the push member action, nearly equal or slightly greater to said predetermined distance between the faces of the guide means.

The jaw member 3 is plastic made, for instance of flexible type and resistant to the friction and the push member 4, for instance, is made of ferrous plate or of melt of zamak or other league, metal or synthetic material.

The jaw member 3 is made in unique body and its flexibility allows the inside faces of its passing opening 7 to match with the guide means 66, 61 so braking the sliding mean 56.

In alternative, the invention provides that the jaw member 3 is realized in two completely separate portions or joined by thin junctions allowing the mutual mobility of such portions. Said portions are nearly symmetrical with respect to the plan defined by the sliding mean 56.

The end of the sliding mean 56 opposite to the mobile matching means 57 or the end connected to the second connection member 52, has a connecting mean 58 consisting in a slot 61 shaped for removably engaging a groove of an hooking pivot 62 rigidly fixed to the second connection member 52.

When the door is closed, the hooking pivot 62 is positioned superiorly to the rotation pivot 60.

The fixed matching mean 55 is carried out by folding a portion of the metallic plate shaped of the first connection member 51 with which it forms an single body.

The elastic means 59 other than compressing the brake means 2, being interposed and compressed between the fixed matching means 55 and mobile means 57, provide a contrast force against the door weight at least in the opening, intermediary and end conditions.

The median portion of the sliding mean 56, for instance made by cutting a plate, is housed, freely sliding and with clearance, in the opening 63 of the fixed matching mean 55. Such opening 63 allows oscillation movement to the sliding mean.

In the operational condition, the connecting mean 58 of the sliding mean 56 and the fixed matching mean 55 define a straight line tilted with respect to the vertical and to the horizontal and spaced from the rotation pivot 60.

The sliding mean 56, when the door passes from closing to opening conditions and vice versa, being centrally bound to slide into the opening 63 of the fixed matching mean 55, and having the end having the connecting mean 58 bounded to describe circumference arches centred in the rotation pivot 60, it oscillates around a middle position defining a straight line which forms an angle with the vertical line ranging between 20° and 50°, preferably of about 35°. Such preferential angle minimizes the oscillations and contributes to the bulking reduction of the device 1.

The fixed matching mean 55 is plate shaped and it is approximately perpendicular to said straight line defined by the middle position of the sliding mean 56.

The realization of the elastic means 59 with two helicoidal springs 64, 65 also contributes to the reduction of the device bulking.

The mobile matching means 57 includes a cup mean 68, 69 for the end of each guide means 66, 67 and it is blocked thereto by joint means 70 engaged in respective holes of the mobile matching means 57 and in grooves carried out at the ends of each guide means 66, 61.

To supply a firm stop in correspondence of the end opening A, the connection members first 51 and second 52 have respective stop means 71, 72 fit for the mutual matching in said end opening A.

The operation of the device provides that the elastic force of the springs, thanks to the convergent or wedge shape of the inside and outside walls of the jaw members 3 and push member 4, pushes the jaw member against the side faces of the spring guide means so fractioning the sliding mean in such way that it stops the door at any opening angle and/or by slowing down its run. Besides the elastic spring force balances the door weight.

It is important to observe that the elastic spring force increases with increasing the opening angle so mainly braking the door by increasing the opening force couple derived by the door weight. Insofar the configuration of the sliding mean and of the elastic means advantageously contributes to calibrate the brake depending on the angle of the door opening.

An advantage of the present invention is to supply a braked hinge device simple and reliable, fit for stopping the door in each position.

Further advantage is to supply a device of small dimensions but suitable for large and heavy doors able to increase the brake intensity while increasing the door opening.

Other advantage is to supply a device fit to assure a firm stop of the door, also very heavy, in the end opening condition.