HINGE WITH BUILT IN SAFETY SWITCH

Abstract

The invention concerns a hinge of the type consisting of two flap-shaped main components (1, 2), having a mutual-engagement area (3) on a common pivoting axis. The hinge provides that with one of the flaps (1, 2) there is integral a head (4) of the pivoting axis, having a cam-shaped profile, and that with the other flap (1, 2) there is associated a switch body (5) wherefrom a control pin (9) protrudes. An outer end of the control pin (9) engages with said cam-shaped profile, and an end inside the body (5) acts on a button (11) actuating a switch (10) arranged within said body (5).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description, given purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the hinge according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the safety switch with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the hinge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the hinge according to the invention, taken along the section 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of the hinge head according to the invention taken along section 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A hinge of the type consisting of two main flap-shaped components (1, 2), and having a mutual engagement area (3), on a common pivoting axis, wherein with one of said flaps (1) there is integral a head (4) of the pivoting axis, having a cam-shaped profile, and in that with the other flap (2) there is associated a switch body (5), wherefrom a control pin (9) protrudes, whose outer end engages with said cam-shaped profile and whose end inside the body (5) cooperating with a power switch (10) arranged within said body (5).

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch body (5) is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped box having rounded edges, which has on its side wall at least one opening (8) to let said control pin (9) through and which houses said power switch (10) inside.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power switch (10) is a commercially manufactured microswitch having its own push button (11), said pin 9 acting on said button (11).

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body (5) further houses a thin elastic metal lamina (13), whose free end is arranged between said pin (9) and said button (11).

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elastic metal lamina (13) is restrained at its other end to a three-pin (14a, 14b, 14c) support, so that said free end of the metal lamina (13) acts with a preload on the control pin (9) in an opposite direction to the button.

6. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped has on its side wall a further opening to let through a connecting bushing (6) to a supply connector.

7. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch body (5) is anchored to the upper edge of a flap (2), so as to allow the rotation by 180° of one flap (1) with respect to the other (2), up until mutual contact between the two flaps.

8. The hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said switch body (5) is interchangeably mounted on said flap (2).

9. The hinge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said switch body (5) is welded by ultrasound to said flap (2).

10. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch body (5) is formed integrally with said flap (2).

11. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch body (5) is shaped as an open box, which has a cover (15) welded by ultrasound.

12. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge is made of technopolymer.

13. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said power switch (10) is a commercially manufactured microswitch having its own push button (11), said pin 9 acting on said button (11).