Sprung hinge for closing compartment elements and the like

• US 20040177476A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arrigo Zetti
• Original Assignee: Arrigo Zetti
• Inventors: Zetti, Arrigo
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/287
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/163 Horizontal pivot-axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/16 with seven parallel pins and four arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1253 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1269 with a traction spring

Abstract

A sprung hinge for elements for closing compartments and the like, comprising a first articulated quadrilateral and a second articulated quadrilateral that are respectively associable with an element for closing a compartment or the like and with a structure that is suitable to form the compartment and have a first lever and a second lever in common, and at least one elastic traction element.

Claims

1. A sprung hinge for a closing compartment element, the compartment being formed by a structure, the hinge comprising:

a first articulated quadrilateral and a second articulated quadrilateral that are respectively connectable to the closing compartment element and to the structure of the compartment, said first and second quadrilaterals having a first lever and a second lever thereof in common; and

at least one elastic traction means.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said elastic traction means is associated with said second articulated quadrilateral.

3. The hinge of claim 1, comprising a first rod, said first articulated quadrilateral being constituted by a fixing plate, which is connectable to said closing element and is articulately associated with said first rod and with said second lever, and by said first lever, which is articulately associated with said first rod and with said second lever.

4. The hinge of claim 3, further comprising a second rod, said second articulated quadrilateral being constituted by a coupling plate, which is associable with the compartment structure and is articulately associated with said second rod and with said first lever, and by said second lever, which is articulately associated with said second rod and said first lever.

5. The hinge of claim 4, wherein said elastic means is arranged interposed between said first lever and said coupling plate.

6. The hinge of claim 5, wherein said elastic means comprises a cylindrical helical traction means having a first end associated with said first lever and a second end associated with said coupling plate.

7. The hinge of claim 6, further comprising a supporting roller on which said helical traction means is partially wound.

8. The hinge of claim 7, wherein said roller is made of a substantially plastic material.

9. The hinge of claim 7, wherein said roller is provided with a circumferential groove in which said traction means is partially accommodatable.

10. The hinge of claim 7, wherein said roller is connected with said coupling plate.

11. The hinge of claim 10, wherein said roller is connected with said coupling plate so as to rotate freely with respect to said coupling plate.

12. The hinge of claim 11, wherein said coupling plate comprises two bases that are associated with respective sides thereof joined by a connecting bridge, said sides being provided, at the connecting bridge, with two pairs of holes for articulated connection to said second rod and to said first lever and, on an opposite side with respect to the connecting bridge, with respective tabs for supporting said roller and with anchoring means for anchoring the second end of said spring.

13. The hinge of claim 12, wherein said first lever comprises a protruding portion that lies between said sides and is provided with engagement means for engaging the first end of said traction spring.

14. The hinge of claim 13, wherein said first lever comprises two lateral wings that are connected to said protruding portion, and are each provided with a first hole proximate to a centerline of said first lever for articulated connection to said second lever and with a second hole proximate to a corresponding free end of said lateral wings of the first lever for articulated connection to said second lever.

15. The hinge of claim 7, comprising a shell for protecting said traction means that is associated with said coupling plate.

16. The hinge of claim 7, further comprising at least one auxiliary elastic compression means.

17. The hinge of claim 16, wherein said auxiliary elastic means comprises a cylindrical helical compression spring that is interposed between said second lever and the articulation point of said first lever and of said first rod.