HINGE

• US 20150354261A1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faringosi Hinges S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Faringosi Hinges S.r.l.
• Inventors: DORA, Massimo
• Granted Patent: US 9,926,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4261 Connections of the door to the casing, e.g. door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/616 operated by push-pull mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/18 with counteracting springs double-acting springs E05F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/232 of motors and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/30 for domestic appliances
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

Hinge (1) for a door which covers at least in part a compartment, of the type comprising a fixed support (2) coupled to the compartment frame, and a mobile support (3) coupled to the door, wherein such mobile and fixed supports are at least rotatably constrained one to the other. The hinge also comprises means to impose a predefined law of motion to the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during opening and/or closing of the door and controlled motor means (5) for aiding opening and/or closing of the door applying a push and/or a pull force onto said mobile support with respect to the fixed one.

Claims

1. Hinge for a door which covers at least in part a compartment, of the type comprising a fixed support coupled to the compartment frame, and a mobile support coupled to the door, said mobile and fixed supports being at least rotatably constrained one to the other, as well as means to impose a predefined law of motion to the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during opening and/or closing of said door, comprising controlled motor means for aiding opening and/or closing of the door, said controlled motor means applying a push and/or a pull force onto said mobile support with respect to said fixed support.

2. Hinge according to claim 1, wherein said push and/or pull force applied by said motor means is lower than the force necessary to open and/or close said door.

3. Hinge according to claim 1, wherein said means to impose a predefined law of motion comprise elastic means operatively interposed between said fixed support and said mobile support to counter and/or aid the opening and/or closing of said door.

4. Hinge according claim 1, further comprising at least one motion guide bar articulated, directly or indirectly, to said mobile support and coupled, at least slidingly, to said fixed support, or vice versa, and wherein said motor means apply an axial push and/or pull force onto said motion guide bar.

5. Hinge according to claim 1, wherein said motor means comprise electrically and/or electromagnetically operated actuators.

6. Hinge according to claim 5, wherein said electrically and/or electromagnetically operated actuators comprise an electric motor.

7. Hinge according to claim 1, further comprising at least one manual control operable by a user to operate said motor means.

8. Hinge according to claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors for detecting, directly or indirectly, the position and/or the motion of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support.

9. Hinge according to claim 7, further comprising at least one automatic controller to control said motor means, said manual control and/or said one or more sensors being operatively connected to said automatic controller.

10. Hinge according to claim 1, further comprising means for decoupling said fixed support or said mobile support from said means for aiding.

11. Method for opening and/or closing at least in part a compartment by means of a door through a hinge of the type comprising a fixed support coupled to the compartment frame, and a mobile support coupled to the door, said mobile and fixed supports being at least rotatably constrained one to the other, as well as means to impose a predefined law of motion to the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during opening and/or closing of said door, and controlled motor means for aiding opening and/or closing of the door according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

a. detecting, automatically or by a manual control, at least an initial transient operated by an user of the opening or closing of the door;

b. operating said motor means for aiding opening and/or closing of the door to apply a push and/or a pull force onto said mobile support with respect to said fixed support and aid at least in part the at least partially opening and/or closing of the compartment by means of the door.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein in said step of operating said motor means, the latter apply onto the door a force lower than the force necessary to open and/or close said door.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein said step of detecting at least an initial transient provides the operation of said manual control by means of an user.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein said step of operating said motor means is limited to at least an initial transient and/or a final transient of the opening or closing.

15. Method according to 11, wherein said step of operating said motor means comprises the application of a push force of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during the initial transient and of a pull force of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during the final transient, during the opening of the door and/or the application of a pull force of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during the initial transient and of a pull force of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support during the final transient during the closing of the door, or vice versa.