Door hinge device with fulcrum at variable position

• US 7,934,290 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.M.I. S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: C.M.I. S.r.l.
• Inventors: Ghedini, Teresa, Degli Esposti, Ermes, Gherardi, Eros
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/096,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 162/88, 162/87, 163/66, 163/68, 163/70, 162/86, 162/89, 162/90, 162/54, 162/58, 163/23, 162/80, 162/91, 217/60.G
• US Class Current: 16/288
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4261 Connections of the door to the casing, e.g. door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/163 Horizontal pivot-axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/16 with seven parallel pins and four arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/30 for domestic appliances
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/304 for dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

An hinge device with fulcrum at variable position for a door (2) of a structure (3) is provided with connecting members, first (4) and second (5), mutually connected and respectively fit to be fixed to the door (2) and to the structure (3) for rotating the door between the extreme closing (C) and the extreme opening (A) in which the door (2), in an operating condition of the structure, is respectively almost vertical and approximately horizontally orientated.

The second connecting member (5) has a first fixed pivot (6) and a second fixed pivot (7) for the rotating connection respectively with a first balancing mean (8) and a second balancing mean (9) mutually bound.

The end opposite to the first fixed pivot (6) of the first balancing mean (8) is connected by means of a first mobile pivot (10) to an end of the first arm mean (11) having the remaining end connected to the first connecting member (4) by means of a second mobile pivot (12).

The end opposite to the second fixed pivot (7) of the second balancing means (9) is connected by means of a third mobile pivot (13) to the first connecting member (4).

Claims

1. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second member via a first fixed pivot connection;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot;

(e) a first arm having one end connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot via a first mobile pivot and a second end connected with said first member via a second mobile pivot, said second balancing arm being connected at another end with said first member via a third mobile pivot; and

(f) a second arm connected between said first balancing device and said second balancing device via first and second binding pivots, respectively, said first mobile pivot being arranged above and between said first and second fixed pivots when the door is in the closed position, said second mobile pivot being arranged above and more external than said third mobile pivot relative to the structure, said second and third mobile pivots being arranged below and external to said second fixed pivot, said first and second binding pivots being arranged between said first and second fixed pivots, said first binding pivot being arranged at least as high as said first fixed pivot, said second binding pivot being arranged at or below the height of said second fixed pivot.

2. A hinge as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a spring connected between said second member and said first balancing arm to provide a closing force for the door.

3. A hinge as defined in claim 2, wherein said mobile and binding pivots form the vertices of an irregular and deformable pentagon.

4. A hinge as defined in claim 3, wherein the sides of the irregular pentagon formed between said first binding pivot and said first mobile pivot, between said first mobile pivot and said second mobile pivot, between said second mobile pivot and said third mobile pivot, between said third mobile pivot and said second binding pivot and between said first binding pivot and said second binding pivot have lengths approximately equal to 1, 5;

4, 4;

1, 4;

3, 3 and 0, 7 times of the distance between said fixed pivots, respectively.

5. A hinge as defined in claim 2, and further comprising a first coupling device connecting one end of said spring with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot and a second coupling device connecting another end of said spring with said second connecting member.

6. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first connecting member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second connecting member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second connecting member via a first fixed pivot connection in a mid-portion of said first balancing arm;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second connecting member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot;

(e) a first arm having one end pivotally connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot and a second end pivotally connected with said first connecting member, said second balancing arm being pivotally connected at another end with said first connecting member; and

(f) a spring connected between said second connecting member and said first balancing arm for providing a force to said first balancing arm to counteract the weight of the door, said first balancing arm including a pin which engages an end of said spring when the door is in the horizontal open position.

7. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first connecting member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second connecting member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second connecting member via a first fixed pivot connection;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second connecting member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot;

(e) a first arm having one end connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot via a first mobile pivot and a second end connected with said first connecting member via a second mobile pivot, said second balancing arm being connected at another end with said first connecting member via a third mobile pivot; and

(f) a spring connected between said second connecting member and said first balancing arm for providing a force to said first balancing arm to counteract the weight of the door, said first balancing arm including a pin which engages an end of said spring when the door is in the horizontal open position; and

(g) a follower connecting said spring with said second connecting member, said first arm having a cam surface for engaging said follower when the door is adjacent to the closed condition, said cam surface being configured to provide a removable stop for the door in a partial opening condition.

8. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 7, wherein said follower comprises a body portion having a pivot for pivotally connecting said body with said second connecting member, one end of said body being connected with said spring and another end of said body including an idler wheel which rotates along the cam surface in response to a force from said spring.

9. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 8, wherein said follower body includes a second pivot and said second connecting member contains a slot for receiving said second pivot for limiting oscillating movement of said body.

10. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 7, and further comprising a guide for said spring, said guide being connected with said second connecting member and receiving a portion of said spring.

11. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 10, wherein said first balancing arm includes a first limit stop to engage a portion of said guide of said second connecting member when the door is in the open condition.

12. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 11, wherein said first arm includes a second limit stop to engage a portion of said first connecting member when the door is in the open condition.

13. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 12, wherein said first arm includes a third limit stop adjacent to said first mobile pivot for engaging a stop on said second balancing arm when the door is in the open condition.

14. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first connecting member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second connecting member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second connecting member via a first fixed pivot connection in a mid-portion of said first balancing arm;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second connecting member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot; and

(e) a first arm having one end connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot via a first mobile pivot and a second end connected with said first connecting member via a second mobile pivot, said second balancing arm being connected at another end with said first connecting member via a third mobile pivot, said first arm having a protrusion adjacent to said second mobile pivot, said protrusion extending from said first arm in the direction of said first connection member for sliding on a flat surface of the first connecting member to reduce gaps and oscillations in the hinge.

15. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first connecting member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second connecting member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second connecting member via a first fixed pivot connection in a mid-portion of said first balancing arm;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second connecting member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot;

(e) a first arm having one end pivotally connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot and a second end pivotally connected with said first connecting member, said second balancing arm being pivotally connected at another end with said first connecting member; and

(f) an assembly for removably connecting said first connecting member with the door, said assembly including a cavity having an open lower end, said cavity receiving a protrusion on said first connecting member and a protrusion of said second mobile pivot.

16. A fulcrum type door hinge permitting movement of a door between horizontal open and vertical closed positions relative to a structure, comprising

(a) a first connecting member adapted for mounting to the door;

(b) a second connecting member adapted for mounting to the structure;

(c) a first balancing arm connected with said second connecting member via a first fixed pivot connection;

(d) a second balancing arm connected at one end with said second connecting member via a second fixed pivot, said first fixed pivot being arranged above and within the structure relative to the second fixed pivot;

(e) a first arm having one end connected with an end of said first balancing arm opposite said first fixed pivot via a first mobile pivot and a second end connected with said first connecting member via a second mobile pivot, said second balancing arm being connected at another end with said first connecting member via a third mobile pivot, said first connecting member including a first seat opposite to said first mobile pivot; and

(f) an assembly for removably connecting said first connecting member with the door, said assembly including a cavity having an open lower end, said cavity receiving a protrusion on said first connecting member and a protrusion of said second mobile pivot, said assembly including a first assembly pivot which engages said first connecting member first seat and a manually operable stop for blocking said first seat relative to said first assembly pivot.

17. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 16, wherein said first connecting member includes a second seat for a second assembly pivot of said assembly.

18. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 17, wherein said first connecting member includes a third seat on an external portion thereof adjacent to said third mobile pivot for engaging a border portion of said assembly.

19. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 18, wherein said first, second and third seats open upwardly when the door is in the closed condition.

20. A fulcrum type door hinge as defined in claim 16, and further comprising an assembly arm having one end rotatably connected with said first arm via a pivot and manually movable to engage an edge of said second connecting member to lock the first connecting member in a position for easy connection of the assembly with the door.