Hinge assembly capable of damping door movement

• US 6,684,453 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FU Luong Hi-Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: FU Luong Hi-Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Wang, Yu-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/172,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 16/54, 16/50, 16/56, 16/58, 16/57, 162/86, 162/87, 162/88, 162/94, 16/49, 16/68, 16/82, 16/84, 16D/IG.21
• US Class Current: 16/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/142 with at least one of the hinge parts having a cup-shaped fixing part, e.g. for attachment to cabinets or furniture E05D11/1021 takes precedence
• 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 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/412 for the final closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/626 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A hinge assembly includes a damping unit mounted on a securing seat that is connected to a door frame, a housing embedded in a door panel, and a hinge member and a positioning member interconnecting the securing seat and the housing. The damping unit includes a fluid cylinder and a piston rod having an actuating end pivoted to the positioning member. Due to the presence of the damping unit, movement of the door panel relative to the door frame can be damped.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly adapted to interconnect a door frame and a door panel, the door panel having a proximate end disposed proximate to the door frame and a recess formed in the proximate end, said hinge assembly comprising:

a securing seat including a hollow seat body, said seat body including vertically spaced-apart upper and lower side walls adapted to be connected to the door frame, an outer side wall interconnecting the upper and lower side walls and opposite to the door frame, and a rear side wall connected to said upper and lower side walls and said outer side wall, thereby confining a receiving space with an open front end and a closed rear end opposite to said open front end;

a housing adapted to be disposed in the recess and having proximate and distal ends walls opposite to each other, and an open outer end and a closed inner end opposite to each other;

a hinge member having a first pivot end connected pivotally to said seat body at a first pivot point, and a second pivot end connected pivotally to said housing at a second pivot point;

a positioning member disposed between said seat body and said housing, said positioning member having a first pivot end portion pivoted to said seat body at a third pivot point, and a second pivot end portion pivoted to said housing at a fourth pivot point;

said first pivot point being disposed outwardly of said receiving space and proximate to said outer side wall of said seat body, said third pivot point being disposed in said receiving space and distal from said outer side wall of said seat body;

said second pivot end of said hinge member and said second pivot end portion of said positioning member extending into said housing, said second pivot point being disposed closer to said inner end of said housing than said fourth pivot point, said fourth pivot point being disposed closer to said proximate end wall of said housing than said second pivot point; and

a damping unit including a fluid cylinder disposed in said receiving space and having one end connected to said seat body, and a piston rod extending through the other end of said fluid cylinder, said piston rod having an actuating end mounted on said first pivot end portion of said positioning member at a fifth pivot point offset from said third pivot point such that, when the door panel is rotated relative to the door frame from a closed position to an open position, said piston rod is retracted into said fluid cylinder to damp opening movement of the door panel, and such that, when the door panel is rotated from the open position to the closed position, said piston rod is extended from said fluid cylinder to damp closing movement of the door panel.

2. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat body has a threaded support mounted threadedly and adjustably on said rear side wall for connecting with said one end of said fluid cylinder.

3. A hinge assembly comprising:

a securing seat including an elongate hollow seat body that extends in a longitudinal direction, said seat body including vertically spaced-apart upper and lower side walls, an outer side wall interconnecting said upper and lower side walls, and a rear side wall connected to said outer side wall, thereby configuring said seat body with a receiving space that has an open front end and a closed rear end opposite to said open front end in the longitudinal direction, said rear side wall having a threaded support that is mounted threadedly and adjustably thereon and that extends in the longitudinal direction, said threaded support having an end portion extending into said receiving space and formed with a blind insert hole;

a housing;

a hinge member having a first pivot end connected pivotally to said seat body outwardly of said open front end, and a second pivot end connected pivotally to said housing;

a positioning member disposed between said seat body and said housing, said positioning member having a first pivot end portion connected pivotally to said seat body at said open front end, and a second pivot end portion connected pivotally to said housing; and

a damping unit extending in the longitudinal direction and including a fluid cylinder disposed in said receiving space and having one end that extends into said insert hole in said threaded support, and a piston rod extending through the other end of said fluid cylinder, said piston rod having an actuating end mounted on said first pivot end portion of said positioning member.