Technical field

The present invention relates to a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements.

Background art

Damping devices are known which are adapted to damp the closure of mutually hinged elements, such as for example swing-doors of pieces of furniture, so as to prevent the final step of the closure of the door from occurring violently, causing the door to collide against the frame of the piece of furniture.

Specifically, the sprung hinges normally used for opening and closing doors tend to keep the door in the stable open or closed equilibrium position thanks to the presence of elastic means which are arranged appropriately on the hinges.

In the final steps of the opening and closing of the doors, the elastic means tend to push the door toward the stable equilibrium position and, especially during closure, the elastic means rapidly contract the sprung hinges to the closure position, suddenly pulling back the door, which, if it is not restrained with one's hand, collides violently with the frame.

In order to be able to obviate this drawback, damping devices have been introduced which comprise a small damping piston of the hydraulic type, which is composed of a first free end, designed to make contact with the door during the final step of closure, and a second fixed end, which is accommodated on the frame of the piece of furniture by means of a dedicated fixing bracket. In the final step of closure, the door, by rotating about the hinge axis, moves toward the frame, touching the free end of the piston. In this position, the elastic means of the sprung hinges tend to close the door rapidly, but the piston, by being compressed, contrasts the force of the elastic means, making the door close slowly against the frame. In particular, the piston is composed substantially of two coaxial cylindrical stems ^' , which are slidingly associated one inside the other and accommodate internally, in respective hermetic chambers connected by means of an orifice, a high-viscosity working fluid. The compression of the piston, which occurs by moving the free end toward the fixed end, allows the slow passage of the working fluid by means of the orifice that connects the two chambers, and the passage of the fluid offers a specific resistance to the compression of the piston, allowing a gradual, continuous and controlled closure of the door.

These devices of the known type are not free from drawbacks, including the fact that they partially obstruct access to the containment compartment of the piece of furniture closed by the door, since the presence of the piston installed on the frame of the compartment is a fixed hindrance to the insertion of various objects in the compartment.

Another drawback of devices of the known type resides in that they require an additional programming of a work step for the installation of the fixing bracket, compared to the automatic work that is programmed for automatic installation of hinges on doors, thus increasing the production cost. Due to the large industrial production of doors, the assembly of the hinges on the doors and on the respective frame is in fact entrusted to automatic numeric-control machines with work that is programmed according to the geometry of the hinges. Mounting the installation brackets of the damping devices with a different geometry with respect to the hinge installation brackets requires a reprogramming of the automatic assembling machine.

These drawbacks are partly obviated by damping devices integrated in sprung hinges, where the two ends of the piston are connected rotatably to the two hinge installation brackets, which are connected respectively to the door and to the frame of the piece of furniture.

During the closure of the door against the frame, the distance between the two points on the installation brackets on which the piston is pivoted decreases, compressing the piston, which, as disclosed above, offers a contrasting force that is adapted to prevent its compression, allowing gentle closure of the door.

Since these devices are integrated in the hinges themselves, they do not limit access to the containment compartment and do not require an additional programming step for their installation.

However, devices of the known type, like the mentioned preceding ones, are not free from drawbacks, including the fact that they do not allow the variation of the closing speed of the door, because the contrasting action of the damping element against the elastic means of the hinges is not adjustable, since it is defined by the constructive geometry of the damping element. This drawback prevents the possibility to increase or reduce the closing speed of a given door by using the same damping device.

Another drawback of the devices of the known type resides in that they have a closing speed that is variable as a function of the geometric characteristics of the door, since the contrasting action of the damping element, besides being a function of the elastic means of the hinges, is a function of the weight force of the door itself. This drawback is worsened if two nearby doors with different weights are closed simultaneously: by proceeding with the simultaneous closure of the two doors, the heavier door closes faster, since the weight force of the door contrasts more the contrasting force of the damping devices than the lighter door, thus preventing simultaneous closure of the two doors.

A further drawback of the devices of the known type resides in that they cannot be installed in addition to sprung hinges of the traditional type, requiring the replacement of sprung hinges of the traditional type with damped sprung hinges.

Another drawback of these known types of devices resides in that they have an excessively high cost compared to sprung hinges of the traditional type.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, that obviates the drawbacks and overcomes the limitations of the background art, making it possible to damp effectively the closing movement of a door.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that can adapt easily to different doors, giving substantially a uniform closing speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be installed in addition to sprung hinges of the traditional type without requiring their replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be installed easily by automatic numeric-control machines without requiring programmings of dedicated mounting steps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that does not limit access to the compartment of the piece of furniture against which the door closes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is easy to provide and economically competitive if compared to the background art.

This aim and these objects, as well as others that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, comprising a body that can be installed by means of a supporting base on at least one between a door and a frame, said body comprising at least one damping element adapted to make contact, by means of one of its ends which is movable, respectively with one between said frame and said door, said door and said frame being able to rotate with respect to each other about a hinge axis for transition from an open position, in which said damping element is extended, to a ^' closed position, in which said damping element is compressed, and vice versa, characterized in that it comprises at least two cavities in said body, which are adapted to accommodate at least one of said damping element adapted to damp the final step of the rotation of said door with respect to said frame about said hinge axis for transition from said open position to said closed position.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 , which accommodates internally a damping element;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 2, installed between two sprung hinges;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal transverse plane, of the device shown in Figure 2, installed on a door and a frame in the open configuration;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal transverse plane, of the device shown in Figure 4, in the closed configuration;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal transverse plane, of a variation of the device installed on a door and a frame in the open configuration, according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal transverse plane, of the device shown in Figure 6 in the closed configuration. Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, a damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a body 2 that can be installed by means of a supporting base 3 on at least one between a door 100 and a frame 110, which are hinged about a hinge axis for their mutual approach during closure.

In addition to this, the body 2 comprises at least one damping element 120, which is designed for contact, by means of an end thereof 121 that is movable, respectively with the frame 110 or the door 100, i.e., against the element where the supporting base 3 is not installed.

Specifically, the damping element 120 changes its state during the rotation of the door 100 with respect to the frame 1 10; the door 100 and the frame 110, during their rotation about the hinge axis, pass from an open position, in which the damping element 120 is extended, to a closed position, in which the damping element 120 is compressed, and vice versa.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises at least two cavities 4 in the body 2, which are adapted to accommodate at least one single damping element 120 in order to damp the final step of the rotation of the door 100.

Furthermore, the two cavities 4 are arranged at different distances with respect to the supporting base 3.

Conveniently, the cavities 4 that are present on the body 2 can be more than two in number, i.e., a plurality of cavities 4, all arranged at different distances from the supporting base 3; in particular, their arrangement is defined along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement 130 where the supporting base 3 is installed.

During the closure of the door 100 against the frame 1 10, the movable end 121 does not make contact directly with the frame 1 10 but makes contact with a contact element 5 installed on the frame 1 10 along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement 130 of the supporting base 3 in the closed position.

In particular, the body 2 is substantially cylindrical, with a rectangular base that lies along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the supporting base 3, and has a first lateral surface 12, which is parallel and arranged proximately to the contact element 5 in the closed position, where the plurality of cavities 4 is provided. Each one of the plurality of cavities 4 comprises a dead hole 6.

The damping element 120 is accommodated in at least one dead hole 6, causing the movable end 121, adapted to make contact with the contact element 5, to exit from the body 2.

The contact element 5 is mainly composed of a substantially planar plate 8 and can have a rib 9 on a first face 10. The rib 9 is extended along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first face 10, in order to be able to accommodate firmly the contact element 5 on the edge of the frame 1 10.

Advantageously, the supporting base 3 that can be installed on the plane of arrangement 130 comprises an installation bracket 13 with a geometry that is identical to the installation brackets of the ordinary sprung hinges 140 installed between the two elements 100 and 1 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the body 2 is shaped like a parallelepiped with a rectangular base that adheres to the supporting base 3. The body 2, being extended along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the supporting base 3, has three dead holes 6 which are aligned along the direction of extension of the body 2.

The dead holes 6 extend from a first lateral surface 12 of the body 2 to its interior, along respective directions of extension 7 which are parallel to each other and parallel to the plane of arrangement 130 of the supporting base 3.

The supporting base 3 comprises an installation bracket 13 which is normally used for the installation of sprung hinges 140, of a known type, which are present between the door 100 and the frame 1 10.

In particular, the installation bracket 13 has a flat portion 14 on which slots 15 are provided laterally for the .passage of threaded elements in order to firmly fix the supporting base 3 to the door 100, and a central opening 16 whose width is adequate to accommodate the body 2 inside it. Advantageously, two shoulders 17 for fixing the body 2 to the supporting base 3 extend laterally to the body 2 from the sides of the central opening 16.

In addition to this, the device 1 comprises the contact element 5, which is composed of a substantially flat plate 8 with adapted accommodation holes for the passage of threaded elements, as shown in Figure 3.

In a variation of the contact element 5 shown in Figures 6 and 7, the plate 8 has, on the first face 10, a rib 9 that is extended along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first face 10, so as to define substantially a guide for the installation of the contact element 5 on an edge.

Operation of the damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, is described hereinafter.

First of all, the device 1 must be installed proximately to the hinge axis of the door 100 and of the frame 1 10; in particular, the installation bracket 13 must be mounted on the frame 100 with the lateral surface 12 directed toward the frame 1 10 so as to be able to touch, during closure, the contact element 5 of the free end 14 of the damping element.

Conveniently, the plate 8 is chosen according to the geometry of the door 100 and of the frame 100 in the closed configuration.

In particular, in the closed configuration in which the door 100 and the frame 1 10 are substantially mutually perpendicular, as shown in Figure 5, the plate 8 is rested on the frame 1 10, adhering to the surface of the frame 1 10 so as to prevent, during repeated closure steps, the movable end 121 of the damping element from spoiling the surface of the frame 1 10 by creating small dents.

As an alternative, if the door 100 and the frame 1 10 are substantially mutually coplanar in the closed configuration, as shown in Figure 7, the plate 8 is arranged between the two elements 100 and 110 along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to them also thanks to the presence of the rib 9, which allows adhesion thereof on two contiguous sides of the frame 1 10. Such alternative, in which the plate 8 is arranged between the two elements 100 and 110 along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to them also thanks to the presence of the rib 9, can also be applied if the door 100 and the frame 1 10 are arranged on planes which are substantially mutually parallel in the closed configuration.

After installation of the device 1, the insertion of the damping element 120 within the central dead hole 6 is performed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the damping element 120 is composed of a tubular body 123 in which the fixed end 122 can be accommodated on the bottom of the dead hole 6 and the movable end 121, which is opposite to the fixed end 122, protrudes from the body 2 for contact of the plate 8 during the final step of the closure of the door 100 against the frame 1 10.

Once the damping element 120 has been inserted in the central dead hole 6 of the device 1 , one proceeds to close the door 100, making it rotate about the hinge axis. During the final closing step, the damping element 120 is subjected to compression due to the continuous approach of the movable end 121 in contact with the door 100 with respect to the fixed end 122 accommodated on the fixed frame 1 10. Such compression is contrasted by the damping means within the damping element 120, which are known to the person skilled in the art, in order to avoid violent collisions of the door 100 against the frame 1 10.

If the closing speed is too high or too low, one merely moves into the nearby holes the damping element 120 in order to vary the contrasting force of the elastic means of the hinges and consequently achieve the desired effect.

By varying the position of the damping element 120 and thus its distance from the plane of arrangement 130, the contrast force of the device 1 is indeed varied with respect to the elastic means of the sprung hinges 140 that tend to close the door 100 against the frame 1 10.

Basically, the contrasting force is defined by the torque that derives from the constant force of the damping element 120 by its distance from the hinge axis; the greater the distance of the damping element 120 from the hinge axis, the higher the contrasting torque, and vice versa.

In practice it has been found that the damping device with variable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, according to the present invention, achieves the intended aim and objects, since it makes it possible to vary easily the closing speed of a door.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention consists in that it can adapt to different doors, giving them a uniform closure speed. In fact, given the possibility to vary the damping force, the device enables to calibrate the damping force against the closing force of the elastic means of the hinges, which is fixed, and the component of the weight force of the doors, which is variable according to the different doors.

A further advantage of the device according to the invention consists in that it can allow installation in addition to sprung hinges that are already present on doors and frames of pieces of furniture without requiring their replacement.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention consists in that it can be installed easily by automatic numeric-control machines without requiring programmings of dedicated mounting steps, since the device is mounted on the door by means of an installation bracket of a normal sprung hinge, so that the mounting step is already programmed in the automatic machine, thus reusing the same programming for the drilling step to accommodate the threaded elements and then the same step of screwing the threaded elements.

Furthermore, the use of a bracket for installing a sprung hinge is particularly advantageous during the installation of the device on hollow sandwich doors. In particular fields of application, where an extremely low weight of the door is required, such as for example in the automotive field, the doors are composed of a central honeycomb panel and of a perimetric frame made of wood or other similar material, which is adapted to accommodate the threaded elements for fixing; the fixing brackets of the sprung hinges are sized adequately so that they can be fixed exclusively on the frame and not on the central panel of the door.

A further advantage of the device according to the invention consists in that it does not limit access to the compartment of the piece of furniture, since its optimum installation is on the door, an element that is moved away from the frame of the piece of furniture in order to allow access to the compartment.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention consists in that it is economically competitive and easy to provide.

The damping device with adjustable action, particularly for mutually hinged elements, thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

The device can furthermore accommodate simultaneously inside the cavities provided in its body more than one damping element, in order to increase the damping force.

The device illustrated in applications related to the closure of doors against respective frames of a piece of furniture can be used to damp the final step of approach of two generic elements.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.