Hinge

• US 7,395,580 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Dubach, Fredi, Brüstle, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US11/248,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 16/50, 16/51, 16/54, 163/54, 163/35, 163/44, 16286-288, 16D/IG.21, 188293-296, 188/300
• US Class Current: 16/50
• 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 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A hinge with a hinge cup can be inserted into a boring in a furniture part. A damper housing is fixed onto the hinge cup, and the damper housing can be fastened onto or removably secured to the hinge cup. The damper housing is disposed at least partially outside the boring when the hinge cup is inserted into the boring in the furniture part.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising:

a hinge part to be connected to a first furniture part;

a hinge cup to be inserted into a bore in a second furniture part, said hinge cup being pivotally connected to said hinge part; and

a damper including a damper housing and an elastic connection means for detachably snapping said damper housing to onto said hinge cup so as to establish a rigid connection between said damper housing and said hinge cup for absorbing forces exerted on said damper during operation of said hinge, said connection means being shaped and arranged to attach said damper housing to said hinge cup by hand without tools and to detach said damper housing from said hinge cup by hand without tools, said damper housing and said hinge cup being shaped and arranged such that said damper housing is located at least partially out of the bore of the second furniture part when said hinge cup is inserted into the bore and said damper housing is attached to said hinge cup.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said damper housing and said hinge cup are shaped and arranged such that said damper housing is located entirely out of the bore when said hinge cup is inserted into the bore and said damper housing is attached to said hinge cup.

3. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises elastic hooks for detachably snapping said damper housing to onto said hinge cup.

4. The hinge of claim 3, wherein said damper housing having said hooks is made of injected plastic such that said damper housing and said hooks are integrated to have a one-piece construction.

5. The hinge of claim 3, wherein said hooks are located on opposite outer sides of said damper housing so as to be accessible from outside of said damper housing.

6. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said hinge cup has a flange for abutting the second furniture part, said connection means being shaped and arranged to detachably snap said damper housing onto said flange of said hinge cup.

7. The hinge of claim 6, wherein said flange has an edge with recesses for engaging elastic fastening hooks of said connection means.

8. The hinge of claim 6, wherein said hinge part comprises a hinge arm linked in an articulated manner to said hinge cup, said hinge arm including an attachment having a control surface for contacting an actuation element of said damper.

9. The hinge of claim 8, wherein said attachment includes at least one lug for fixing said attachment to said hinge arm.

10. The hinge of claim 8, wherein said control surface is curved.

11. The hinge of claim 8, wherein said attachment is located at an end of said hinge arm to which said hinge cup is linked.

12. The hinge of claim 1, wherein said hinge part comprises a hinge arm linked in an articulated manner to said hinge cup, said hinge arm including an attachment having a control surface for contacting an actuation element of said damper.

13. A hinge comprising:

a hinge part to be connected to a first furniture part,

a hinge cup to be inserted into a bore in a second furniture part, said hinge cup being pivotally connected to said hinge part; and

a damper including a damper housing and a connection means for detachably attaching said damper housing to said hinge cup so as to establish a rigid connection between said damper housing and said hinge cup for absorbing forces exerted on said damper during operation of said hinge, said connection means being shaped and arranged to attach said damper housing to said hinge cup by hand without tools and to detach said damper housing from said hinge cup by hand without tools, said damper housing and said hinge cup being shaped and arranged such that said damper housing is located at least partially out of the bore of the second furniture part when said hinge cup is inserted into the bore and said damper housing is attached to said hinge cup;

wherein said damper further includes a rotary piston having at least one wing operable to be moved through said damper housing, wherein a gap between a tip of said wing and a wall of said damper housing defines a passage for flow of a damping fluid.

14. The hinge of claim 13, wherein said damper housing has a chamber in which said rotary piston is accommodated, said chamber having side walls delimiting a movement of said at least one wing, one of said side walls of said chamber comprising said wall of said damper housing defining said passage.

15. The hinge of claim 13, wherein said damper housing comprises a first housing part accommodating said rotary piston and a second housing part accommodating an actuation element of said damper.

16. The hinge of claim 15, wherein said actuation element comprises a slider linked to said rotary piston.

17. The hinge of claim 16, wherein said rotary piston is connected to an axle such that said rotary piston rotates about said axle, said axle being connected to a pinion engaging a toothed rack of said slider so as to link said rotary piston to said slider.

18. The hinge of claim 13, wherein said wing of said rotary piston has a flap.

19. The hinge of claim 18, wherein said flap comprises a leaf spring.