The invention concerns a cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device, especially for cabinet door, according to the characterizing clause of the independent claim.
In the current state of technology, numerous hinges of this type are well known and are used especially for cabinet doors, which close a cabinet, where the hinge is located between the door and the cabinet.
The cabinet door contains a space for a hinge cup, which is connected with a hinge to a hinge arm.
The connecting hinge between the hinge cup and the hinge arm contains an inside and an outside joint lever, each being pivotally fastened with a joint pin to the hinge cup, as well as to the hinge arm. Due to this, a kind of parallelogram-joint is formed between the hinge cup and the hinge arm, which allows the cabinet door to be moved away from the cabinet, as well as back to the cabinet, in a reliable manner.
In addition, the current state of technology also knows of a cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device (for example, DE 101 52 699 A1), which has a pressure opening in the closed position. The cabinet hinge shown there has at least one elastic moveable spring element, which is fastened to the hinge arm, and impacts directly or indirectly at least one joint pin of the outer and/or inner joint lever and, therefore, affects a torque to open the cabinet door from the closed position by a defined opening angle area. Preferably, a specially formed leg or compound spring is designed inside the hinge between the base plate and the hinge arm, which braces itself on the hinge arm and impacts a lever arm on the joint pin of the outer joint lever. A fastening feature of the spring element to the hinge cup is visible as well, but is not described in detail.
The disadvantage of the cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device shown in DE 101 52 699 A1, is that there is very little room for a suitable spring in the area of the hinge cup, hinge arm and hinge, which prevents the use of a robust spring. Another problem is to obtain the correct dimensions in the spring.
The purpose of this application is to design and develop a hinge, especially a cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device of the kind described above, in a way that sufficiently high opening strength is placed from the closed position onto the cabinet door through a defined opening-angle area. Furthermore, most building components of conventional cabinet hinges should be utilized. Another objective is to keep open the possibility of outfitting the hinge with either an automatic opening device or a dampening element.
The task is solved with a cabinet hinge with an automatic opening device that has the characteristics of the independent claims.
The essential characteristic is that the spring element that provides the opening strength is fastened to the hinge cup and impacts through at least one moveable wedge at least one joint pin of the outer or inner joint lever directly or indirectly, and results in a torque for opening the cabinet door from the closed position by a defined opening-angle area.
The advantage is that the invention-related hinge causes opening pressure on the door from the closed position, so that, especially, when no door knobs or pulls are present (for visual reasons) and the generally known Touch-Latch or Push-Lock catch systems are used, a simple automatic opening within a large angle is made possible by disengaging the door, even though the door may be heavy.
In a preferred type of the embodiment, the spring element is totally or at least partially located on the inside of the hinge cup. However, in another type, the spring element may be outside of the hinge cup interior and be directly or indirectly connected to the same. The layout of the spring element in the interior of the hinge cup has the advantage of saving room, while at the same time protecting the spring element from damage and the user from injury. A large hinge cup in the form of the spring element is especially preferred.
In a preferred design, the spring element in the closed position is pre-stressed to the door and delivers its energy at least to the door, after the door is disengaged from the cabinet. In another type, the pre-stressing of the spring element can only be achieved through movement (e.g. pressure) of the door by the user. It is important that an opening torque activates by a predefined opening angle area of the cabinet door from the closed position of the cabinet door. Through this, the torque can be raised considerably, in order to produce sufficient opening pressure from the closed position. Prior to opening the door, however, the locking mechanism (Touch-Latch or Push-Lock) must be unlocked, so that the torque moment produced by the spring element can work freely and open the door to a predefined angle. The unlocking of the lock mechanism should preferably happen by applying pressure to the door in the direction of the cabinet, but can happen in other ways too, as for example, by easy touch, IR-remote control, timer, etc.
The predefined angle area for the opening of the door is determined so that after the door opens, one or more fingers can fit at least partially behind the door in the gap between the cabinet and door, and therefore, the door can be opened totally by hand. This has the advantage that a visually annoying knob on the door is not needed.
A spring element has to be planned for, which, after using the “Touch-Latch” or “Push-Lock” devices that “unlock” the door at closing, free the locking device through another push, for example, 10° (push pen principle). That means that in contrast to standard hinges, which have an automatic closing device through a built-in spring, this hinge should have opening strength, at least in the first 3° of the opening movement. Preferably, the hinge element has sleeve or case formed unit with a pressure spring, a guide element and a sliding wedge.
It is provided that the sliding wedge and the hinge cup have gliding surfaces facing each other.
The following describes the invention at hand more precisely by embodiments; however, these are only examples and should not be understood in a limiting manner.
Shown:
The cabinet hinge (1) includes a hinge cup (2), which is connected by a hinge (3) with a hinge arm (4), which is connected to a base plate (5), which connects to the cabinet (not shown).
The hinge (3), placed between hinge cup (2) and hinge arm (4), includes a parallelogram joint, consists of an outer joint lever (8) and an inner joint lever (6), which are hinged swiveling with joint pins (9) and (7) on the hinge cup (2), as well as on the hinge arm (4).
Reference mark 10 refers to a vertically running pin, which is provided for other uses, e.g. for an opening spring as in DE 10152699 A1. However, neither this pin nor the spring laying on it, is necessary for the presented invention because the opening strength is provided by spring element (11) on/in the hinge cup (2). The presented invention can, of course, have an additional spring to spring element (11), which lays on pin (10) and which is used either as a support opening spring as is shown in DE 10152699 A1, or as an automatic self-closing, according to the current state of technology. The presented invention should, therefore, also embrace a combination of a spring element (11) inside a hinge cup (2) as an automatic opening device with a spring on pin (10) as a supporting automatic opening or as an automatic self-closing.
The enlargement of
The spring element (11) is basically, therefore, a telescopic movable cylinder-piston unit; whereby, naturally, the kinematic return should be placed under protection as well. The cylinder-piston layout of the piston rod (13), which engages into the inside area (24) of the shaft (17) of the sliding wedge (14), can also be reversed so that a piston rod is placed at the top (18) of the sliding wedge (14), which engages in a guide cylinder fastened to the hinge cup so that the spring (12) works in between the two parts.
If the shaft (17) of the sliding wedge (14) is formed as a piston rod, the guide element (13) is preferably omitted and the spring (12) is optionally located between these parts, the top of the wedge (18) and the cup-like unit (16).
The arrangement of the spring (12) is also optional and can be on the inside area (24) of the shaft (17) of the sliding wedge (14), or in the gap (25) between the inner lining of the cup unit (16) and the outer lining of the shaft (17) of the sliding wedge (14). It is always important in this case, though, that through the spring (12), a relative movement is possible between the sliding wedge (14) and the hinge cup (2).
It is necessary for the piston rod (13) to be hollow, because of the resulting under-pressure and/or over-pressure on the inside area (24) of the sliding wedge (14), since an overflow bore hole (not shown) in the piston rod (13) allows air to escape from the inside area (24) through this overflow bore hole into the atmosphere, or vice versa, air can flow into the inside area (24) through this overflow bore hole.
According to
The spring (12) is located then, according to
The wedge-shaped support surface (19) of the head (18) of the sliding wedge (14) can also rest on the support surface (20) of the inner joint lever (6).
The form of the support surface (19) of the head (18) of the sliding wedge (14) and the support surface (21) of the outer joint lever (8) are, of course, compatible in order to allow a predefined sliding on top of each other during the opening and closing of the cabinet door. In this manner, the strength of the pre-tense spring (12) and its linear movement of the wedge-shaped support surface (19) of the head (18) of the sliding wedge (14), and the support surface (21) of the outer joint lever (8), can be converted into torque of the door.
In
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103 33 925.6 | Jul 2003 | DE | national |