Door hinge

• US 7,243,396 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Original Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Inventors: Vanini, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah; Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/151,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 162/86, 16289-292, 162/97, 162/87, 163/89, 162/33, 162/81, 162/56, 163/22, 163/55, 126/194, 126/191, 493/86, 493/87, 493/89, 493/98, 494/02
• US Class Current: 16/286
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/123 with compression springs
• 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 2900/304 for dishwashers

Abstract

A door hinge includes a first element, a second element and a lever connecting the first and second elements to each other. The lever is pivoted on the second element and has a first portion attached to the first element to make the first and the second element reciprocally mobile about a horizontal axis. The second element includes a box-shaped body housing elastic means acting in conjunction with a second portion of the lever to control the reciprocal motion of the first and the second element. The first element and the lever constitute a rocker lever pivoted on the second element and in which a first arm of the first element rotates in a plane outside the box-shaped body and parallel to the plane in which the second arm of the rocker lever lies.

Claims

1. A door hinge comprising a first element, a second element and a lever connecting the first and second elements to each other;

the lever being pivoted on the second element and having a first portion attached to the first element to make the first and the second element reciprocally mobile about a horizontal axis;

the second element consisting of a box-shaped body housing an elastic means for acting in conjunction with a second portion of the lever to control the reciprocal motion of the first and the second element;

wherein the first element and the lever of the hinge constitute a rocker lever pivoted on the second element and in which the first element comprises a first arm which is rotatable with respect to the second element in a first plane outside the box-shaped body and parallel to a second plane in which a second arm of the rocker lever lies and about which the rocker rotates, said second arm being defined by the second portion of the lever.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first element comprises a first wing fixable to the first portion of the lever and extending at a right angle from said first arm.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the lever comprises a rotation pin by which the lever is pivoted on the second element.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the first wing is fixable to the pin as an axial extension of the pin.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, wherein the box-shaped body comprises at least two opposite side walls, and wherein one longitudinal end of the pin constitutes a fitting for the rapid connection of the first wing to the lever;

the fitting being accessible from the outside of the box-shaped body at one of the two opposite side walls of the box-shaped body itself.

6. The hinge according to claim 5, wherein said longitudinal end of the pin protrudes from the side wall of the box-shaped body and is fitted with a watertight collar seal.

7. The hinge according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal ends of the pin constitute two fittings, one at each end, for the rapid connection of the first wing to the lever;

the fittings being accessible from the outside of the box-shaped body at the respective opposite side walls of the box-shaped body itself.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein said longitudinal ends of the pin protrude from the respective side walls of the box-shaped body and is fitted with watertight collar seals.

9. A hinge comprising a first element, a second element and a lever connecting the first and second elements to each other;

the lever being pivoted on the second element and having a first portion attached to the first element to make the first and the second element reciprocally mobile about a horizontal axis;

the second element housing an elastic means for acting in conjunction with a second portion of the lever to control the reciprocal motion of the first and the second element;

wherein a first arm, defined by the first element, is rotatable, during the reciprocal motion of the first and the second element, in a plane outside the second element;

the first portion of the lever defining a rotation pin by which the lever is pivoted on the second element;

a longitudinal end of the pin protruding from a side wall of the second element and being fitted with a watertight collar seal.