Hinge

• US 6,591,454 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Brustle, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US09/964,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 163/74, 163/75, 163/76, 16/49, 16/54, 16/58, 16D/IG.9, 16D/IG.21, 16/50
• US Class Current: 16/374
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/006 for hinges having a cup-shaped fixing part, e.g. for attachment to cabinets or furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/412 for the final closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/452 in or on the floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A hinge for pieces of furniture comprising a hinge arm (2) and a hinge casing (1) which are connected to each other by means of at least one hinge axle. The hinge arm (2) is provided with a fluid damper (20). The fluid damper is mounted on the side of the hinge arm without the use of a tool.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a hinge casing;

an oblong hinge arm pivotally connected to said hinge casing so that said hinge casing is operable to pivot with respect to said hinge arm between an open position and a closed position; and

a fluid damper including a housing and an actuating member arranged in said housing so as to be operable to move relative to said housing, said housing being mounted on said hinge arm such that said actuating member is aligned along a longitudinal axis of said hinge arm and such that an end of said actuating member abuts said hinge casing when said hinge casing is in the closed position.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said hinge arm has a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration including a middle web portion and two side web portions, said housing of said fluid damper being mounted on said middle web portion.

3. The hinge of claim 2, wherein said middle web portion of said hinge arm has a hole, said housing of said fluid damper having a protrusion extending into said hole.

4. The hinge of claim 3, wherein said protrusion comprises a hook.

5. The hinge of claim 3, wherein said protrusion comprises an elastically-deformable peg squeezed into said hole in said middle web portion.

6. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said actuating member comprises a slide operable to slide linearly relative to said housing along the longitudinal axis of said hinge arm.

7. The hinge of claim 6, wherein said hinge casing has a flange portion, an end of said slide being operable to abut said flange when said hinge casing is in the closed position.

8. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said housing of said fluid damper is operable to be fastened to said hinge arm without a tool.

9. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said fluid damper comprises a linear damper.

10. The hinge of claim 9, wherein said linear damper comprises a pneumatic damper.

11. The hinge of claim 9, wherein said linear damper comprises a hydraulic damper.

12. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said fluid damper comprises a rotary damper.

13. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said housing of said fluid damper has a hook-shaped protrusion extending into a hole in said hinge arm so as to attach said housing to said hinge arm.

14. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said housing of said fluid damper has an elastically-deformable peg extending into a hole in said hinge arm so as to attach said housing to said hinge arm.

15. A furniture component comprising:

a side wall;

a door; and

a hinge for pivotally connecting said door to said side wall, said hinge including;

a hinge casing mounted on said door;

an oblong hinge arm fastened to said side wall and pivotally connected to said hinge casing so that said door is operable to pivot with respect to said side wall between an open position and a closed position; and

a fluid damper including a housing and an actuating member arranged in said housing so as to be operable to move relative to said housing, said housing being mounted on said hinge arm such that said actuating member is aligned along a longitudinal axis of said hinge arm and such that an end of said actuating member abuts said door when said door is in the closed position.