Hinge for wings or doors

• US 7,610,656 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Original Assignee: Nuova Star SpA
• Inventors: Vanini, Angelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/071,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 162/86, 162/90, 162/97, 493/86, 493/87, 126/194
• US Class Current: 16/286
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

A hinge for wings or doors, in particular of electrical appliances, comprises a first element, a second element and a lever for connecting the first and second elements; the lever pivots on the second element and has a first arm integral with the first element to render the first and second elements movable relative to one another with a tilting action between a closed position and an open position; the second element consisting of a substantially box-shaped body containing a spring, inserted between the second element and a second arm of the lever so as to apply an elastic action to the lever.

Claims

1. A hinge for wings or doors, in particular of electrical appliances, comprising:

a first element;

a second element;

a lever for connecting the first element and the second element, the lever pivoting on the second element by means of a pin rendering the first element and the second element movable relative to one another with a tilting action,

wherein the first element and the second element may be affixed, one to a frame and the other to a wing or door, so that the wing or door can move relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position;

the second element being a second box-shaped element and containing elastic means connected to the lever by a rod which slides inside the second box-shaped element; and

wherein the hinge further comprises friction means for applying a braking action to the reciprocal sliding of the rod relative to the second box-shaped element, the friction means comprising a friction element which comprises two teeth designed to engage with a snap-on action with a respective contact portion.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the friction element is inserted between the rod and the second box-shaped element and integral with one of the rod and the second box-shaped element.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the friction element is connected to the rod.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, wherein the friction element comprises removable connecting means for connecting the friction element to the rod.

5. The hinge according to claim 4, wherein at least one tooth, designed to engage with a snap-on action with a respective contact portion of the rod, forms the removable connecting means.

6. The hinge according to claim 3, where the second box-shaped element comprises two walls extending longitudinally opposite one another, wherein the friction element comprises two opposite lateral projections, each designed to engage with one of the walls of the second box-shaped element by rubbing.

7. The hinge according to claim 6, wherein the opposite longitudinal walls of the second box-shaped element comprise respective recesses forming a zone for housing the friction element, the friction element not applying any friction on the longitudinal walls in said zone.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein the friction element is positioned in the housing zone at least when the wing or door is in the closed position.

9. The hinge according to claim 6, wherein the opposite longitudinal walls converge with one another to increase the friction force developed between the walls and the friction element as the wing or door passes from the closed position to the open position.

10. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the friction element is made of a plastic material.

11. An electrical appliance, comprising a frame, a door and at least one hinge according to claim 1, for connecting the door to the frame.

12. The hinge according to claim 4, wherein the second box-shaped element comprises two walls extending longitudinally opposite one another, wherein the friction element comprises two opposite lateral projections, each designed to engage with one of the walls of the second box-shaped element by rubbing.

13. The hinge according to claim 5, wherein the second box-shaped element comprises two walls extending longitudinally opposite one another, wherein the friction element comprises two opposite lateral projections, each designed to engage with one of the walls of the second box-shaped element by rubbing.

14. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein the opposite longitudinal walls converge with one another to increase the friction force developed between the walls and the friction element as the wing or door passes from the closed position to the open position.

15. The hinge according to claim 8, wherein the opposite longitudinal walls converge with one another to increase the friction force developed between the walls and the friction element as the wing or door passes from the closed position to the open position.

16. The hinge according to claim 7, wherein the friction element is made of a plastic material.

17. The hinge according to claim 8, wherein the friction element is made of a plastic material.

18. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the friction element is made of a plastic material.

19. An electrical appliance, comprising a frame, a door and at least one hinge according to claim 9, for connecting the door to the frame.

20. An electrical appliance, comprising a frame, a door and at least one hinge according to claim 10, for connecting the door to the frame.

21. A hinge for wings or doors, in particular of electrical appliances, comprising:

a first element;

a second element;

a lever for connecting the first element and the second element, the lever pivoting on the second element by means of a pin rendering the first element and the second element movable relative to one another with a tilting action,

wherein the first element and the second element may be affixed, one to a frame and the other to a wing or door, so that the wing or door can move relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position;

the second element being box-shaped and containing elastic means connected to the lever by a rod which slides inside the second box-shaped element; and

the hinge further comprising friction means for applying a braking action to the reciprocal sliding of the rod relative to the second box-shaped element, the friction means comprising a friction element inserted between the rod and the second box-shaped element,

wherein the friction element comprises removable connecting means for connecting the friction element to the rod,

wherein the connecting means comprise at least one tooth designed to engage with a snap-on action with a respective contact portion of the rod.

22. A hinge for wings or doors, in particular of electrical appliances, comprising:

a first element;

a second element;

a lever for connecting the first element and the second element, the lever pivoting on the second element by means of a pin rendering the first element and the second element movable relative to one another with a tilting action,

wherein the first element and the second element may be affixed, one to a frame and the other to a wing or door, so that the wing or door can move relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position;

the second element being a second box-shaped element and containing elastic means connected to the lever by a rod which slides inside the second box-shaped element; and

wherein the hinge further comprises friction means for applying a braking action to the reciprocal sliding of the rod relative to the second box-shaped element, the friction means comprising a friction element which comprises two teeth and, on opposite sides of them, two respective lateral projections.