Technical Field

The present invention relates to hinge mechanisms, more particularly to a door hinge with a damping member for damping pivoting movement of a door panel relative to a door frame.

Prior Art

Hinges are the essential mechanisms that allow pivoting movement of a door panel relative the door frame. They are used on virtually all doors from main entry door to cabinet doors. Conventional door hinges comprise a first bracket, also called as a hinge cup, which is secured to a door panel; a second bracket, also called as a hinge holder/housing, which is secured to a door frame or the furniture surface; linkage member(s) and a torsion spring. While the door panel is pivoting relative to the door frame from the closed position toward the opened position, the torsion spring accumulates a restoring force for restoring the door panel to the closed position. However, since the door panel is urged by the torsion spring, when closed , the door may collide with the frame which may cause a disturbing noise. In particular, when children carelessly close the door, not only a disturbing noise caused, but also an accident may occur or the furniture may be damaged.

In order to solve above problems, a damper can be mounted on a hinge assembly to damp an impact when the door is closed. Conventionally, the dampers comprise a cylindrical body, a piston rod extending movably into said cylindrical body, a first connection hole located on the piston rod for connecting the piston rod to a relating part for performing the damping function and a second connection hole located on the cylindrical body for providing the connection of the damper to the hinge housing. However said second connection hole increases the dimensions of the damper, and relatively increases the dimensions of the hinge mechanism.

Brief Description of Invention

The door hinge according to the present invention, is suitable to be used for connecting a door panel to a surface, with respect to which the door panel will make a pivoting movement between an opened position and a closed position.

The door hinge comprises; a hinge cup adapted to be secured to the door panel; a hinge housing adapted to be secured to the surface by means of a base plate; a first linkage member, one end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge housing by means of a first pin and the other end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge cup by means of one arm of a u-shaped connector; a second linkage member, one end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge housing by means of a second pin and the other end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge cup by means of the other arm of the u-shaped connector; a torsion spring which is fitted over the second pin for urging the door panel to move from an opened position toward a closed position relative to the door frame wherein one end of the torsion spring is fixed to the hinge housing by means of a fourth pin and the other end of the torsion spring abuts against the second linkage member; a damper including a cylinder body, a piston rod and a second hole formed on said piston rod wherein said piston rod is connected to said first linkage member and said hinge housing from said hole, by means of a third pin, so as to damp pivoting movement of the door panel relative to the door frame; a connection member having a recess, for covering and holding the cylinder body with at least a first opening on one side for allowing the piston rod to movably extend out of the recess and at least a second opening on the opposite side of said first opening, for inserting the damper in to the recess, at least one first hole by which, with the help of a fifth pin, the connection member is secured to the hinge housing.

The door hinge according to the present invention enables a simple assembling and occupies relatively less space when compared to the prior art.

Objective of Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a door hinge with a damping member for damping pivoting movement of a door panel relative to a door frame.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a door hinge which provides simple assembling and occupies relatively less space.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a door hinge, which can be quickly mounted, can be applied to any kind of doors, and is inexpensive and reliable.

Description of Figures

Illustrative embodiments of the subject door hinge are illustrated in annexed figures briefly described hereunder.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a side view of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the door hinge without the base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connection bracket and the damper of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is another perspective view of the connection bracket and the damper of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is another perspective view of the connection bracket and the damper of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the connection bracket and the damper of the door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the door hinge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is an exploded view of a part of the door hinge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view of the door hinge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The parts in said figures are individually enumerated as following ;

Door hinge (H)

Hinge cup (I ) Second linkage member (2)

U-shaped connector (3)

Torsion spring (4)

Hinge housing (5)

First linkage member (6)

Third pin (7)

Connection member (8)

Recess (8a)

First hole (8b)

Protrusion (8c)

Damper (9)

Cylinder body (9a)

Piston rod (9b)

Second hole (9c)

Second pin (10)

Fourth pin (1 1 )

First pin (12)

Fifth pin (13)

First screw (14)

Second screw (15)

Base plate (16)

Connection hole (17)

Pin hole (18)

First screw hole (19)

Second screw hole (20)

Third screw hole (21 )

Fourth screw hole (22)

Inner body (23)

Latch (24)

Fifth screw hole (25)

Sixth screw hole (26)

Nail (27)

Nail opening (28) Channel formed opening (29)

Description of Invention

Conventional door hinges comprise a hinge cup, which is secured to a door panel; a hinge housing, which is secured to a door frame; linkage member(s) and a torsion spring. While the door panel is pivoting relative to the door frame from the closed position toward the opened position, the torsion spring accumulates a restoring force for restoring the door panel to the closed position. However, since the door panel is urged by the torsion spring, when closed, the door may collide with the frame which may cause a disturbing noise. In order to solve above problems, a damper can be mounted on a hinge assembly to damp an impact when the door is closed. Conventionally dampers are mounted to the hinge mechanisms from a hole located on the cylindrical body of the damper. But this structure results complicated montage steps and also increases the dimensions of the hinge mechanism since the dimensions of the damper will be increased in order to have said second connection hole. Consequently, the present invention provides a door hinge with a damping member which enables simple assembling and occupies relatively less space.

The door hinge (H) according to the present invention, illustrative embodiments of which are shown in figures 1 -1 1 , is suitable to be used for connecting a door panel (not shown in figures) to a surface (not shown in figures), which can be a surface of a door frame or a furniture body etc. with respect to which the door panel will make a pivoting movement between an opened position and a closed position. The door hinge (H) comprises; a hinge cup (1 ) adapted to be secured to the door panel; a hinge housing (5) adapted to be secured to the surface by means of a base plate (16); a first linkage member (6), one end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge housing (5) by means of a first pin (12) and the other end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge cup (1 ) by means of one arm of a u-shaped connector (3); a second linkage member (2) one end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge housing (5) by means of a second pin (10) and the other end of which is rotationally connected to the hinge cup (1 ) by means of the other arm of the u-shaped connector (3); a torsion spring (4) which is fitted over the second pin (10) for urging the door panel to move from an opened position toward a closed position relative to the door frame wherein one end of the torsion spring (4) is fixed to the hinge housing (5) by means of a fourth pin (1 1 ) and the other end of the torsion spring (4) abuts against the second linkage member (2); a damper (9) including a cylinder body (9a), a piston rod (9b) and a second hole (9c) formed on said piston rod (9b) wherein said piston rod (9b) is connected to said first linkage member (6) and said hinge housing (5) from said hole (9c), by means of a third pin (7), so as to damp pivoting movement of the door panel relative to the door frame ; a connection member (8), preferably made up of a plastic material, having a recess (8a), preferably cylindrically shaped, for covering and holding the cylinder body (9a) with at least a first opening on one side for allowing the piston rod (9c) to movably extend out of the recess (8a) and at least a second opening on the opposite side of said first opening, for inserting the damper in to the recess (8a), at least one first hole (8b) (preferably in the form of a cylindrical channel) by which, with the help of a fifth pin (13), the connection member (8) is secured to the hinge housing (5).

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hinge cup (1 ) and hinge housing (5) are connected to each other by means of said spaced apart first linkage member (6) and said second linkage member (2) in a way that; when the hinge cup (1 ) is secured to the door panel and the hinge housing (5) is secured to the surface; said first linkage member (6) and second linkage member (2) permit the pivoting movement of the door panel relative to the surface.

In said embodiment, hinge cup (1 ) is secured to the door panel by using at least one attachment unit such as a screw, with the help of at least one connection hole (17) on the hinge cup (1 ). The hinge housing (5) is secured to the surface with the help of said base plate (16) such that, said base plate preferably comprises at least one connection hole (17) on it and can be secured to the surface by using at least one attachment unit such as a screw; then the hinge housing (5) is attached to said base plate (16).

The hinge cup (1 ) comprises at least two pin holes (18) on its body spaced apart from each other such that said u-shaped connector (3) can rotationally connect one end of said first linkage member (6) and one end of said second linkage member (2) to the hinge cup (1 ). The other end of the first linkage member (6) is rotationally connected to the hinge housing (5) by means of said first pin (12) and to the piston rod (9b) and the hinge housing (5) by means of said third pin (7). In order to provide this connection, the first linkage member (6) comprises at least one pin hole (18) at one end for being pivotally connected to the hinge cup (1 ) and at least two pin holes (18) at the opposite end for being pivotally connected to the hinge housing (5) and the piston rod (9b). The other end of the second linkage member (2) is connected to the hinge housing (5) by means of said second pin (10). In order to provide this connection, the second linkage member (2) comprises at least one pin hole (18) at one end for being pivotally connected to the hinge cup (1 ) and at least one pin hole (18) at the opposite end for being pivotally connected to the hinge housing (5). When pivotally connected to said hinge cup (1 ) and said hinge housing (5), the first linkage member (6) and the second linkage member (2) will be spaced apart such that the second linkage member (2) will be facing the outside of the door hinge (H), and the first linkage (6) member will be inner. The torsion spring (4) is fitted over the second pin (10), one end of the torsion spring (4) is fixed to the hinge housing (5) by means of the fourth pin (1 1 ) and the other end of the torsion spring (4) abuts against the second linkage member (2).

The damper (9) is placed in said connection member (8) such that it is placed inside of said recess (8a) from the second opening as the piston rod (9b) movably extends out from said first opening. The cylindrically shaped recess (8a) covers and holds the cylinder body (9a). Said connection member (8) is pivotally connected to the hinge housing (5) from first hole (8b) with the help of the fifth pin (13). Accordingly, said hinge housing (5) comprises at least one pin hole (18) for each of said first pin (12), second pin (10), third pin (7) and fifth pin (13). Since one end of the torsion spring (4) is fixed to the hinge housing (5) and the other end abuts against and co-movable with the second linkage member (2); upon pivoting movement of the door panel to the opened position relative to the surface, said one end of the torsion spring (4) will move together with said second linkage member (2) away from said other end of the torsion spring (4). The torsion spring (4) will then be urging the door panel to move from said opened position toward closed position. During the pivoting movement of the door panel to the closed position relative to the surface, the damper (9) will be damping the closing force since the piston rod (9b) is connected to the first linkage member (6).

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the hinge housing (5) comprises at least one first screw hole (19), and the base plate (16) comprises at least a second screw hole (20) wherein said hinge housing (5) is secured to said base plate (16) through said first screw hole (19) and second screw hole (20) with the help of a second screw (15). Preferably one of said first screw hole (19) and said second screw hole (20), more preferably said first screw hole (19), is in a channel form (or in u-form, open end of which is facing to one end of said hinge housing (5)/base plate (16)) such that, the second screw (15) can be secured to said channel formed screw hole at any point through said channel. Said second screw (15) is preferably an adjustment screw and in that embodiment, the position of the hinge housing (5) can be adjusted by loosening the second screw (15) and positioning the hinge housing (5) with respect to said base plate (16) and then tightening the second screw (15). Preferably, the surfaces around said first screw hole (19) and said second screw hole (20) have a serrated structure, in order to provide a better screwing.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention the hinge housing (5) comprises at least one third screw hole (21 ), and the base plate (16) comprises at least a fourth screw hole (22) wherein after the door hinge (H) is secured to the door panel and the surface, with the help of a first screw (14), the vertical position (depth adjustment) of the door hinge (H) can be adjusted. Preferably, one of said third screw hole (21 ) and fourth screw hole (22), more preferably said fourth screw hole (22), is in a channel form (or in u- form, open end of which is facing to one end of said hinge housing (5)/base plate (16)) such that, the first screw (14) can be secured to said channel formed screw hole at any point through said channel.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the connection member comprises a protrusion (8c) on its body which enhances the damping effect of the damper (9) such that, said protrusion (8c) is made up of plastic material (as the connection member (8) itself) and when said connection member (8) is connected to the hinge housing (5), said protrusion (8c) will abut against an inner wall of said hinge housing (5), and in that way will be absorbing the force subjected to said damper (9).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the door hinge (H) also comprises an inner body (23) having a fifth screw hole (25), a sixth screw hole (26), a latch (24) and at least a nail (27) and the base plate (16) also comprises a channel formed opening (29) and at least a nail opening (28). In this embodiment, the inner body (23) can be secured to the hinge housing (5) from said first screw hole (19) with the help of said second screw (15) and after secured to the hinge housing (5); with the help of the first screw (14), which is passing through said third screw hole (21 ) and sixth screw hole (26), the vertical position of the door hinge (H) can be adjusted. Then, the hinge housing (5) with said mounted inner body (23) can be locked to the base plate (16) such that, the nail (27) passes through said nail opening (28) and latch (24) locks the door hinge (H) to the base plate (16) by passing through and getting locked to said channel formed opening (29), such that when the user pushes the latch (24), the hinge housing (5) gets unlatched and can be disconnected from said base plate (16). The door hinge (H) according to the present invention enables a simple assembling and occupies relatively less space when compared to the prior art.