A hinge for the constraining of hatches or doors from a support structure

• US 5,291,634 A
• Filed: 07/30/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Original Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Inventors: Zanetti, Augusto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuda, Carmine
• Application Number:
  US07/923,255
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 16/333, 16/334, 16/344, 16/347, 16/65, 16/80
• US Class Current: 16/333
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/686 Rods, links
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge for the constraining of a hatch or door from a support structure. The hinge is of the type constituted by a first part constrainable from the support structure and by a second part constrainable from the closing door of the support structure itself. The second part is pivoted about respective parallel axes arranged near the lower edge of the door. A lower arm is rigidly and movably connectable to a lower portion of the first part. The lever has an upper edge slidably in contact with an idler wheel supported by an upper portion of the first part. The lever exhibits a first substantially straight tract, a second curved tract with at least one center of curvature arranged above the lever, and a third tract, also curved with at least one center of curvature arranged above the lever and connected to the second tract by an arched projection with at least one center of curvature arranged below the lever.

Claims

1. A hinge useful in constraining a hatch or door from a support structure, comprising a first part constrainable from the support structure, a second part constrainable from the hatch or door, a lower arm and an upper lever each with a respective end pivoted substantially coplanar to said second part about respective parallel axes that are closer to a lower edge of the hatch or door than to an upper edge of the hatch or door, said arm being rigidly and movably connectable to a lower portion of said first part, said upper lever having an upper edge slidably in contact with an idler wheel supported by an upper portion of the said first part;

said arm and said lever being reciprocally movable in response to relative movement of said second part with respect to said first part between a closed and an open hatch or door position, elastic means being interpositioned between said second part and said lever for acting elastically between, said upper edge of said lever having a contour of, starting from at least a point of contact with said idler wheel corresponding to a totally closed position of the door, a first substnatially straight tract, a second curved tract equipped with at least one center of curvature arranged above said lever, and a third tract, also curved and equipped with at least one center of curvature arranged above said lever;

said tracts together defining the upper edge of said lever free of gaps.

2. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein said third tract is connected to the said second tract by an arched projection having at least one center of curvature below said lever.

3. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein said second part includes a movable housing, further comprising a box structure for receiving insertion of the movable housing of said second part, a lower zone of the hatch or door having at least one seat for receiving said box structure therein, and fixing means for fixing the box structure to the hatch or door.

4. A hinge according to claim 3, wherein said lever is equipped, inferiorly and in proximity to a fulcrum of said lever, with an appendix projecting substantially downwards, said box structure having a housing for receiving the appendix itself when said idler wheel is in contact with said third tract, said appendix projecting into said housing for determining a substantial immovability of said second part with respect to the said box structure.

5. A hinge useful in the constraining of a hatch or door from a support structure, comprising:

first and second parts associated respectively with the hatch or door and the support structure;

an arm;

a lever with an upper edge, said upper edge having a contour with three successive tract portions;

means for pivoting the arm and said lever relative to one of said first and second parts and for reciprocally moving said arm and said lever relative the other of said first and second parts;

idler wheel means on said other of said first and second parts for guiding said lever to follow a path in which said idler wheel means contacts along the contour of said upper edge of said lever;

spring means on said one of said first and second parts for gradually and continuously descending the hatch or door during an opening phase in which said idler wheel means is in contact with said first tract portion of said upper edge of said lever and thereby ensuring that a moment exerted by said spring means on the hatch or door is less than that exerted on the hatch or door by a weight of the door with associated parts, and for overpositioning said idler wheel on said second tract portion of said upper edge of said lever which takes place when the hatch or door reaches a maximal desired open position; and

arched projection means at said third tract portion of said upper edge of said lever for stopping the idler wheel means and thereby preventing the hatch or door from opening further beyond the maximal desired open position in response to further manual movement, said arched projection responding to an excessive load bearing upon the hatch or door that is beyond a predetermined maximal weight intended for the hatch or door to stay in the maximal desired open position by overcoming a resistance of said spring means and crossing said idler wheel means so as to consequently allow the hatch or door to open further immediately and eliminate any tilting moment acting on the support structure.