EP0542034B1 - Furniture hinge with closing or holding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a furniture hinge with a closing and holding-shut mechanism, with a part for fastening on the door and the piece of furniture, and with at least one spring element (5) which acts on at least one articulation lever (2, 3), connecting the hinge parts to each other in an articulated manner, or on a catch-locking member, accommodated in one of the hinge parts, and which, at least shortly before reaching the closed position of the hinge, generates or increases a force component acting in the closing direction of the hinge, adjusting means which act on the spring element and permit a modification of the force component acting in the closing direction being present. The object of the invention is to provide an adjusting member which acts on the spring element of a furniture hinge of this type, is easy and quick to actuate, allows the extent of the spring prestress to be discerned at any time and, requiring little space, can be used for differently designed spring elements or spring systems and/or hinge types. This is achieved in that the adjusting means is a threadless, axially non-displaceable, rotatably mounted shaped body (10) which, during rotation, acts directly or indirectly on the spring element (5) and changes the position of the entire spring element or the position at least of a part (22) of the spring element (5).

Description

The invention relates to furniture hinges with a locking or locking device, consisting of a spring element which acts on at least one articulated lever which connects the hinge parts to one another in an articulated manner or on a latching element (latching nose, latching lever) accommodated in one of the hinge parts and at least shortly before reaching the When the hinge is in the closed position, a force component acting in the closing direction of the hinge is generated, with adjustment means acting on the spring element being present in order to be able to change the strength of the spring force.

Such hinges with variable closing or locking force are known. The changeable closing or locking force is intended to enable the closing behavior to be adapted to special customer requirements or different door weights and / or door sizes.

In the known hinges with variable closing or locking force, this change is made by screws which engage the spring element and increase or decrease the pretension of the spring element by screwing in / unscrewing.

The disadvantage here is that it is difficult or impossible to identify the degree of spring preload from the screw position alone.

Solutions have also become known in which the spring element is a leaf spring, one end of which lies in a tooth space of a notch-like toothed strip.

To the bias, i.e. To change the curvature of the leaf spring, the end of the leaf spring must be brought into an adjacent gap in the rack, either to increase or decrease the curvature of the spring.

With this solution, the degree of the respective spring preload can be read, but it is difficult to change the spring preload because large finger forces are required for this, because the spring force must be absorbed by the fingers in the phase of disengagement and re-engagement, which is the case with the considerable spring forces and the actuator, which is kept small for optical reasons, is not easy.

The invention has for its object to provide an acting on the spring element of a furniture hinge with a locking or locking device, which is easy and quick to operate, the degree of spring preload can be recognized at any time and with little space required for different trained spring elements or spring systems and / or hinge types can be used.

The object is achieved in that the adjusting means is a threadless, axially immovable, rotatably mounted molded body, which acts directly or indirectly on the spring element during rotation and changes the position of the entire spring element or the position of at least one leg of the spring element.

Advantageously, the molded body is mounted in the hinge arm on the furniture side and has at least one eccentric projection which, with its end face or circumferential surface, interacts directly or indirectly with the spring element - or a part thereof.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the shaped body is mounted in the yoke of the U-shaped hinge arm and has an actuating part which is accessible from the outside and an eccentric projection which projects into the interior of the hinge arm and which engages in an elongated hole of a flat sliding piece which bears against the yoke of the hinge arm, which is located at one end under one leg of the spring element.

Further advantageous developments are described in the subclaims.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, in particular, that a defined setting of the forces of the closing or locking device that can be checked or changed at any time is possible.

The setting can be carried out quickly and easily - even by the end user - and the entire facility requires little space and can be used for differently shaped spring elements (leaf springs, leg springs, coil springs) and different locking and locking systems, for example, even if the locking or guard locking device is housed in the door-side hinge part (hinge cup) or in the furniture-side hinge part (hinge arm).

Fig. 1

in einer Teildarstellung ein Möbelscharnier mit zwei Gelenkhebeln, mit im Scharnierarm untergebrachter Schließ- bzw. Zuhalteeinrichtung und dem Verstellglied,

Fig. 2

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung das Schiebestück,

Fig. 3

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine mögliche Ausbildung des Verstellgliedes,

Fig. 4,5

in perspektivischen, vergrößerten Darstellungen mögliche Ausbildungen des auf das Federelement einwirkenden Verstellteiles des Verstellgliedes,

Fig. 6

in einer Teildarstellung im Schnitt das Verstellglied mit daran befestigter Blattfeder eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispieles.

A preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings, in addition to some alternative solutions. Show it

Fig. 1

a partial representation of a furniture hinge with two articulated levers, with a closing or locking device accommodated in the hinge arm and the adjusting element,

Fig. 2

the sliding piece in a perspective view,

Fig. 3

a possible representation of the adjusting member in a perspective view,

Fig. 4.5

in perspective, enlarged representations possible configurations of the adjusting part of the adjusting element acting on the spring element,

Fig. 6

in a partial representation in section the adjusting member with a leaf spring attached to it of another embodiment.

The hinge shown in the partial representation corresponding to FIG. 1 is a known furniture hinge, consisting of a hinge part to be fastened on the furniture side, the hinge arm 1 and the hinge part, not shown, to be fastened on the door side, the hinge cup. Hinge arm 1 and hinge cup are articulated to one another in a known, unspecified manner by two articulated levers 2, 3. On the hinge pin 4, with which the hinge arm 2 is fastened to the hinge arm 1, a leg spring 5 is supported. The hinge lever 3 fastened to the hinge arm 1 with the hinge pin 6 has a cam-like elevation 8 on its back 7. In the yoke 9 of U-shaped design Hinge arm 1 is an adjusting member 10 with a cylindrical projection 11 rotatably mounted in a recess 12 of the hinge arm 1.

The adjusting member 10 has an outer actuating part 13 with a screwdriver slot 14 or the like and an eccentric pin 16 which projects into the interior 15 of the hinge arm 1 and penetrates an elongated hole 17 of a sliding piece 18. A washer 35 riveted to the eccentric pin 16 holds the described arrangement together.

The sliding piece 18 has approximately the width of the hinge arm interior 15 and is guided laterally through the side flanks 19 of the hinge arm 1.

At the end 20 facing the leg spring 5, the sliding piece 18 carries an inclined surface 21.

The first leg 22 of the leg spring 5 lies on this inclined surface 21. In order to describe the interaction between the sliding piece, which will be described in more detail below 18 and leg 22 to improve the leg spring 5, the end 23 of the leg 22 can be angled.

The second leg 24 of the leg spring 5 is supported on the cam-like elevation 8 of the articulated lever 3.

The hinge shown in Fig. 1 is in the closed position. The leg spring 5 acting with the leg 24 on the cam 8 of the articulated lever 3 generates a force component in a known, not to be described manner, which presses the hinge on the last part of the closing movement into the closed position and holds it there.

If for any reason the strength of the force component acting in the closing direction is to be changed, the adjusting member 10 is rotated, for example, with a screwdriver or the like which extends into the screwdriver slot 14. Here, depending on the direction of rotation, the eccentric pin 16 engaging in the elongated hole 17 of the sliding piece 18 moves the sliding piece 18 towards or away from the leg spring 5. If the sliding piece 18 moves towards the leg spring 5, the inclined surface 21 presses the first leg 22 - in the sense of increasing the spring preload - towards the second leg 24. An increase in the spring preload leads to an increase in the force component acting in the closing direction of the hinge.

If the sliding piece 18 - due to the direction of rotation of the adjusting member 10 - moves away from the leg spring 5, the first leg 22 moves away from the second leg 24 in the sense of relaxation of the leg spring 5. Relaxation of the leg spring 5 leads to a reduction in the closing direction force component of the hinge.

In order to obtain a once-selected position of the adjusting member 10, noses, grooves or grooves 25 producing a positive connection can be provided on the sliding piece 18 and on the yoke 9 of the hinge arm 1. These grooves 25 can, however, also be arranged on the inclined surface 21. In In this case, it may make sense to design the kink 26 of the angled end 23 of the leg spring 5 so that it has a sharp nose that produces a locking effect.

Of course, it is also conceivable to arrange the lugs, grooves or grooves 25 which produce the latching position on the surface of the hinge arm yoke 9 in the region of the actuating part 13 and the counter grooves on the underside 27 of the flange of the actuating part 13 which is on the yoke 9 of the hinge arm 1 is present.

A spring washer (not shown) accommodated between the parts can provide the necessary contact pressure or positive locking between the grooves, grooves 25.

The degree of the change in position or the adjustment of the leg 22 can, if appropriate, be influenced by changing the angle of the inclined surface 21 in the sense of an enlargement or reduction.

So that the degree of the selected setting of the closing or locking force can be recognized by the user at any time, a marking can be made on the actuating part 13 and a scale can be placed on the top of the hinge arm 1 in the area of the actuating part 13 (for example with numbers 1 to 10). or another orientation aid with corresponding symbols, markings or the like.

Advantageously, the start and end positions can be defined by stops, i.e. the max. The adjustment path is then less than 360 °.

The spring element need not be exclusively a wire leg spring 5; A leaf spring or helical spring can also be used with the described adjustment principle, provided that the spatial conditions or special design allow it.

The adjustment principle described can also be applied to so-called single-joint hinges, i.e. for hinges that do not have two articulated levers or for so-called wide-angle hinges with several articulated levers that allow an opening angle of approx. 180 °.

3 shows a further very simple, possible embodiment of an adjusting member 10a with a cylindrical basic shape and on the end faces 28 eccentrically attached bearing journals 29 with screwdriver slots 14a for screwdrivers or the like. On the circumference 30, the adjusting member 10a is also provided with lugs, grooves, Grooves 25a are provided in order to produce a locking effect in cooperation with the first leg 22 and the kink 26. The adjusting member 10a is mounted with its eccentrically attached bearing pin 29 in the side flanks 19 of the hinge arm 1 in correspondingly provided recesses, not shown. The correspondingly long leg 22 of the leg spring 5 lies on the peripheral surface 30. When the adjusting member 10a is rotated, the leg 22 - analogous to the example described in FIG. 1 - moves towards the leg 24 and increases the spring preload. Corresponding markings / scales can be attached to the outside of the side flanks 19 of the hinge arm 1 or to the bearing pin 29 in this embodiment.

4 and 5 show further possible configurations of the adjustment parts 31, 33 of the adjustment element 10 which project into the hinge interior 15 and which act on the spring element.

In Fig. 4, the sleeve-shaped body 31 carries rising / falling faces / curves 32 on the end face, which can be provided with grooves, grooves 25b in order to produce a locking effect in cooperation with the correspondingly long leg 22. Alternatively, the surfaces / curves 32 could have different courses or different inclinations / slopes in order to be able to cover different applications.

Fig. 5 also shows a sleeve-shaped adjustment part 33 of the adjustment member 10, but the circumferentially rising / falling slots 34 shows, which can also alternatively have different inclinations / slopes, if different spring travel or force components are desired. The correspondingly long leg 22 engages in one of the selected slots 34 and is - depending on the direction of rotation - moved towards the second leg 24 or by this removed. The slots 34 can also be provided with grooves or grooves to produce a locking effect.

The embodiment according to Fig. 6 shows that it is also conceivable to move the entire spring element 5a with the adjusting member 10. Here, for example - based on the point of application A - the length of the effective spring leg changes and when the spring 5a is shifted to the Hinge pin 4,5 towards a shortening of the effective spring leg and thus to a strengthening of the force component and a displacement of the spring 5a in the sense of an extension of the effective spring leg 5a to a weakening of the force component.

The examples show that, based on any structural requirements and the space available for the respective hinge type and with regard to specific customer requirements, numerous variations and / or combinations of the described exemplary embodiments are possible.

List of reference numbers.

1

Hinge arm

2, 3

Articulated lever

4th

Hinge pin -> 2

5

Leg spring

6

Hinge pin -> 3

7

Back from -> 3

8th

cam-like increase of 3 (cams)

9

Yoke of 1

10a, 10

Actuator

11

Cyl. approach

12th

Recess of 1

13

Actuator

14a, 14

Screwdriver slot

15

Interior of 1

16

Eccentric pin

17th

Long hole

18th

Sliding piece

19th

Side edges of 1

20th

Late 18th

21

Bevel of 18

22

first leg of 5

23

angled end of 22

24th

second leg

25a, 25

Noses, grooves, grooves

26

Kink

27

Bottom of 13

28

End faces

29

eccentric attached bearing journals

30th

Circumferential surface

31

sleeve-shaped body -> Fig. 4

32

rising / falling areas / curves

33

sleeve-shaped body -> Fig. 5

34

Slots in 33

35

Washer

Claims (12)

1. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut, comprising fixing members (1; 2, 3) on the door side and on the article of furniture side, and at least one spring element (5, 5a) acting on at least one link lever (3) which pivotably connects the hinge members together or on a retaining member (8), in particular a retaining nose or a retaining lever, which is disposed in one of the hinge members, and producing or increasing a force component which acts in the closing direction of the hinge at least shortly before the closed position of the hinge is reached, wherein there are provided adjusting means (10, 10a, 31, 33) which act on the spring element (5, 5a) and which permit a change in the force component acting in the closing direction, characterised in that the adjusting means is a thread-less, axially immovable, rotatably mounted shaped body (10, 10a, 31, 33) which upon being rotated acts directly or indirectly on the spring element (5, 5a) and changes the position of the entire spring element (5a) or the position of at least a part (22) of the spring element (5).
2. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to claim 1 characterised in that the shaped body (10, 10a) is mounted in the hinge arm (1) on the article of furniture side and has at least one eccentric projection (16, 29) which with its end or peripheral surface co-operates directly or indirectly with the spring element (5, 5a) or a part (22) thereof.
3. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to claim 1 and claim 2 characterised in that the shaped body (10, 10a) is mounted in the yoke (9) of the hinge arm (1) in the form of a U-shaped profile member and has an actuating portion (13) accessible from the exterior and an eccentric projection (16) which projects into the interior (15) of the hinge arm (1) and which engages into a slot (17) in a flat slide portion (18) which bears against the yoke (9) of the hinge arm (1) and lies with one end (20) under a part (22) of the spring element.
4. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to claim 3 characterised in that the slide portion (18) is bevelled at the end (20) which engages under the limb (22) of the spring element (5).
5. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of claims 3 and 4 characterised in that the limb (22) of the spring element (5), that co-operates with the slide portion (18) is bevelled/angled (23).
6. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 5 characterised in that noses, grooves, channels and ribs (25) which positively lockingly co-operate with each other are provided on the hinge, on the shaped body (10, 10a), on the limb (22) of the spring element (5, 5a) and/or on the slide portion (18).
7. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the range of rotary movement of the shaped portion/adjusting member (10, 10a) has a beginning and an end position defined by stops and is less than 360°.
8. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 7 characterised in that in the region of the actuating portion (13, 29) of the adjusting member (10, 10a) the hinge has a scale or symbols and the actuating portion (13, 29) has a marking co-operating with the scale or symbols.
9. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the adjusting member is an approximately cylindrical shaped body (10a) with projections (29) which are arranged eccentrically on its end faces and which are held rotatably in mounting openings in the side flanks (19) of the hinge arm (1).
10. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the adjusting member (10) has a sleeve-shaped body (31) which projects into the interior of the hinge arm (1) and which carries surfaces or curves (32) which rise/fall at its end.
11. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the adjusting member (10) has a sleeve-shaped body (33) which projects into the interior of the hinge arm (1) and which carries rising/falling slots (34) which are arranged in the peripheral surface.
12. A furniture hinge with a device for closing it or holding it shut according to one of preceding claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the adjusting member (10) acts directly on the spring element (5a) and slides/displaces the spring element (5a) as a whole.

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