Patent Application
20230250683
The present invention relates to a furniture hinge.
Furniture hinge types comprising two hinge bodies are known, a first hinge body of which is integral with a shoulder of the piece of furniture, and a second hinge body of which is integral with a door of the piece of furniture. The hinge allows the relative movement, and therefore the opening and closing, of the door with respect to the piece of furniture.
A problem encountered in known hinges, and mainly concerning high end furniture, is to ensure a correct alignment and positioning of the door with respect to the shoulder of the piece of furniture, so as to ensure a precise and stable movement of the door.
Furniture hinges of the adjustable type are known, i.e., adapted to adjust the relative position of the door with respect to the shoulder of the piece of furniture. Such adjustable hinges generally comprise a first hinge body connected to the shoulder of the piece of furniture and a second hinge body connected to the door of the piece of furniture, and the adjustment of the relative positioning between the first and second hinge bodies is performed by a plurality of adjustment screws, as shown by document IT201700035374, for example.
However, solutions of this type have proved to be unsatisfactory for achieving a precise and reliable adjustment of the positioning of the door with respect to the shoulder of the piece of furniture.
The need is thus felt to provide a hinge for connecting a door to a shoulder of a piece of furniture, which allows precisely adjusting the positioning of the door with respect to the piece of furniture.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a furniture hinge such as to obviate at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a furniture hinge which allows more precisely adjusting the relative positioning between the door and the shoulder of the piece of furniture.
These and other objects are achieved by a furniture hinge according to independent claim 1.
The dependent claims relate to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.
In order to better understand the invention and appreciate the advantages thereof, some non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
With reference to the drawings, a hinge is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.
The hinge 1 is for a piece of furniture 2 of the type comprising at least one shoulder 3 and at least one door 4.
The hinge 1 comprises a first hinge body 5 and a second hinge body 6.
The first hinge body 5 is connectable to the at least one shoulder 3 of the piece of furniture 2, whereas the second hinge body 6 is connectable to the at least one door 4 of the piece of furniture 2.
The first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6 are operatively connected to each other and relatively movable by means of adjustment means 7.
According to an aspect of the invention, one of the first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6 comprises a cross element 8.
The other of the first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6 defines a cross guide 9.
The cross element 8 is housed in the cross guide 9.
Moreover, the cross element 8 is slidable in the cross guide 9 by means of the adjustment means 7.
Advantageously, a thus-configured hinge 1 allows precisely and reliably adjusting the positioning of the at least one door 4 with respect to the at least one shoulder 3 of the piece of furniture 2.
In fact, the cross guide 9 guides the sliding of the cross element 8, avoiding misalignments during the adjustment of the positioning of the at least one door 4 with respect to the at least one shoulder 3.
According to an embodiment, the first hinge body 5 defines the cross guide 9, and the second hinge body 6 comprises the cross element 8.
According to a preferred embodiment, the cross element 8 is made in one piece with the second hinge body 6.
Advantageously, the one-piece construction of the cross element 8 with the second hinge body 6 reduces the clearances between the first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6, and further increases the adjustment precision of the positioning of the second hinge body 6 with respect to the first hinge body 5.
According to an embodiment, the first hinge body 5 is substantially symmetrical with respect to a first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, the second hinge body 6 defines a second axis of symmetry 10.
According to an embodiment, when the hinge 1 is in the assembled configuration, the first axis of symmetry 23 is parallel to the second axis of symmetry 10.
The cross element 8 forms two cross arms 11 extending in a transverse direction with respect to the second axis of symmetry 10, and opposite to each other with respect to the second axis of symmetry 10.
Moreover, the cross element 8 forms a cross head 12 extending in the direction of the second axis of symmetry 10 and facing the first hinge body 5.
Moreover, the cross element 8 forms a cross foot 13 extending in the direction of the second axis of symmetry 10 and opposite to the cross head 12.
The first hinge body 5 defines a cross guide 9 shaped so as to provide a geometric coupling with the cross element 8 and for accommodating the adjustment stroke of the cross element 8, in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
In particular, the cross guide 9 defines a head guide 19 shaped to house the cross head 12 and accommodate the stroke of the cross head 12 in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
Moreover, the cross guide 9 defines two arm guides 20 shaped to house the respective cross arms 11 and accommodate the stroke of the cross arms 11 in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
Moreover, the cross guide 9 defines a foot guide 21 shaped to house the cross foot 13 and accommodate the stroke of the cross foot 14 in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, each cross arm 11 forms two foils 14 divided from each other by a slit 15 extending from an end of the cross arm 11 in the direction of the second axis of symmetry 10.
The adjustment means 7 comprise a calibration member 16 positioned at each slit 15 and configured to adjust the spacing between the two foils 14 of each cross arm 11.
Advantageously, the adjustment of the distance between the two foils 14 allows further reducing the clearances between the cross element 8 and the cross guide 9 during the adjustment of the mutual relative position thereof.
According to an embodiment, the calibration member 16 comprises a conical dowel 17 being screwable in a dowel seat 18 defined at each slit 15.
The conical dowel 17 is configured so that, when screwed into the dowel seat 18, it counters the two foils 14 so as to diverge the foils 14 in a direction parallel to the second axis of symmetry 10.
According to an embodiment, when assembling the hinge 1, the conical dowels 17 are screwed into the respective dowel seats 18 according to a predefined screwing torque.
Advantageously, the predefined screwing torque ensures an optimal clearance reduction between the cross arms 11 and the arm guides 20, while ensuring a fluid and easy movement of the cross arms 11 within the arm guides 20.
According to an embodiment, the first hinge body 5 defines two dowel slots 22 facing a respective dowel seat 18.
The dowel slots 22 are configured so as to be crossed by the conical dowels 17 when the conical dowels 17 are screwed into the respective dowel seats 18.
The dowel slots 22 extend in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23, so as to accommodate a movement of the conical dowels 17 connected to the second hinge body 6 when the second hinge body 6 is moved in a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, the adjustment means 7 comprise a movement member 24, configured to cause a movement of the second hinge body 6 with respect to the first hinge body 5, along a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, the movement member 24 comprises an eccentric screw 25.
The eccentric screw 25 is screwable into a threaded seat 26 defined on the first hinge body 5, and is accommodated in a contrast slot 27 defined in the second hinge body 6 and facing the threaded seat 26.
The contrast slot 27 is defined by two opposite slot walls 28 interposed between two slot arcs 29.
The eccentric screw 25 is configured so that, when screwed into the threaded seat 26, it selectively counters one or the other of the two opposite slot walls 28, so as to move the second hinge body 6 selectively with respect to the first hinge body 5, along a direction transverse to the first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, the threaded seat 26 is defined on the head guide 19, and the contrast slot 27 is defined on the cross head 12.
According to an embodiment, the adjustment means 7 comprise inclination means 30 configured to adjust the inclination of the second hinge body 6 relative to the first hinge body 5.
In particular, the inclination means 30 determine the angle defined by the intersection between a plane interpolating the second hinge body 6 and containing the second axis of symmetry 10, and a plane interpolating the first hinge body 5 and containing the first axis of symmetry 23.
According to an embodiment, the inclination means 30 comprise a maneuvering screw 31 rotatably connected to the first hinge body 5.
Thereby, the maneuvering screw 31 is axially constrained to the first hinge body 5, but freely rotatable with respect to the first hinge body 5.
According to a preferred embodiment, the maneuvering screw 31 is rotatably connected to the first hinge body 5 by means of a geometrical connection provided between a coupling groove 32 defined by the maneuvering screw 31 and a keyhole 33, also known as “Euro profile”, defined in the first hinge body 5 at the maneuvering screw 31.
Advantageously, the keyhole 33 and the sizing of the cross element 8 and the cross guide 9 prevent accidental disconnection between the second cross body 6 and the maneuvering screw 31 inserted through the keyhole 33.
The inclination means 30 further comprise a maneuvering nut 34 defined in the second hinge body 6.
The maneuvering nut 34 is configured to mesh with the maneuvering screw 31.
Moreover, the inclination means 30 comprise a hinging pin 32.
The hinging pin 32 extends to pass through the first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6, in a direction transverse to both the first axis of symmetry 23 and the second axis of symmetry 10, and in a direction transverse to the maneuvering screw 31.
According to an embodiment, the hinging pin 35 is configured so as to hinge the cross head 12 of the second hinge body 6 at the head guide 19 of the first hinge body 5.
Advantageously, by means of the thus-configured inclination means 30, a screwing or unscrewing of the maneuvering screw 31 with the maneuvering nut 34 results in a rotation of the second hinge body 6 with respect to the first hinge body 5, about the hinging pin 35.
Advantageously, the thus-configured inclination means 30 allow achieving the angular adjustment of the first hinge body 5 with respect to the second hinge body 6, and thus of the door 4 with respect to the shoulder 3.
According to an embodiment, the second hinge body 6 comprises a connection pin 36.
The second hinge body 6 can be hinged to the door 4 of the piece of furniture 2 by means of the connection pin 36.
Moreover, the second hinge body 6 defines a cylindrical seat 37 configured to house the connection pin 36.
The cylindrical seat 37 is defined at an end of the second hinge body 6 opposite to the first hinge body 5 and extends transversely to the second hinge body 6 between two cylindrical seat ends 38.
According to an embodiment, two bushings 39 are housed in the cylindrical seat 37 at a respective cylindrical seat end 38.
The bushings 39 are interposed between the cylindrical seat 37 and the connection pin 36.
Advantageously, the bushings 29 considerably reduce the noise being generable by the rotation of the connection pin 36 inside the cylindrical seat 37.
According to an embodiment, the first hinge body 5 comprises snap connection means 40 for the connection of the first hinge body 5 to the shoulder 3 of the piece of furniture 2.
The snap connection means 40 are provided at an end of the first hinge body 5 opposite to the second hinge body 6.
According to an embodiment, the snap connection means 40 comprise a button 41.
The button 41 is housed in a button seat 42 defined in the first hinge body 5.
The button 41 is elastically biased to exit from the button seat 42 by means of an elastic element 43.
The button 41 is thus retractable into the button seat 42 by acting against the action of the elastic element 43.
According to an embodiment, an upper wall of the button 41 opposite to the button seat 42 forms an inclined plane 44.
The inclined plane 44 is configured so that a movement of the first hinge body 5 inside the shoulder 3 of the piece of furniture 2 moves the button 41 towards the interior of the button seat 42.
According to an embodiment, the first hinge body 5 and the second hinge body 6 are made of steel or brass.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a piece of furniture 2 comprises at least one shoulder 3 and one door 4.
The at least one door 4 is connected to the at least one shoulder 3 by means of at least one hinge 1 as previously described. The door 4 is movable with respect to the shoulder 3 from an opening position to a closing position, and vice versa.
According to an embodiment, the at least one shoulder 3 defines a pocket 45 configured to house the first hinge body 5 of the hinge 1 in a concealed manner.
According to an embodiment, the shoulder 3 defines an opening hole 46 opening into the pocket 45.
The opening hole 46 is configured to provide a geometric coupling with the button 41 of hinge 1 elastically biased to exit from the hinge 1.
Therefore, the hinge 1 can be coupled to the shoulder 3 of the piece of furniture 2 by inserting the first hinge body 5 into the pocket 45. The insertion of the first hinge body 5 into the pocket 45 biases the button 41 against the elastic element 43, thus retracting the button 41 inside the button seat 42.
The first hinge body 5 is advanceable into the pocket 45 so that the button 41 is positioned opposite to the opening hole 46, so that the button 41, biased by the elastic element 43, is inserted into the opening hole 46, thus providing the geometric coupling between the hinge 1 and the shoulder 3.
According to an embodiment, the at least one door 4 is hinged to the hinge 1 by means of the connection pin 36.
According to an embodiment, the piece of furniture 2 comprises at least a first magnet 46 positioned at the shoulder 3 and at least a second magnet 46 positioned at the door 4.
The first and second magnets 47 are positioned so as to face each other when the door 4 is in a closing position.
The first and second magnets 47 are configured so as to ensure a correct closing of the door 4 when the door 4 is close to the closing position thereof.
In particular, the first and second magnets 47 are configured so as to apply a force of attraction which biases the door 4 to the closing position.
Those skilled in the art will naturally be able to make changes or adaptations to the present invention, without however departing from the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102022000002237 | Feb 2022 | IT | national |
