Low profile adjustable soft close hinge apparatus

• US 9,169,681 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Rachel, McGregor, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): O BRIEN, JEFFREY D
• Application Number:
  US14/263,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20150218863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2007/0476 Pocket hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2007/0484 in a radial direction
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/14 with four parallel pins and two arms
• 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: E05D 3/16 with seven parallel pins and four arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/18 with sliding pins or guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/183 with at least one of the hinge parts having a cup-shaped fixing part, e.g. for attachment to cabinets or furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0276 for attachment to cabinets or furniture, the hinge having two or more pins E05D5/046, E05D5/065, E05D7/125 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0407 the hinges having two or more pins and being specially adapted for cabinets or furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0415 with adjusting drive means
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/123 specially adapted for cabinets or furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/125 the hinge having two or more pins
• 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: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/027 with closing action
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/624 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/12 by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/20 characterised by the movement transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/312 Horizontal motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 : Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/268 : cylindrical

Abstract

Disclosed is a low profile, adjustable, soft close hinge comprised of a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge body via a hinge arm and a hinge link in a four-bar linkage arrangement. A spring biases the hinge to a closed position. The hinge body is adjustably connected to an inner frame with an overlay adjustment screw and depth adjustment cam. The inner frame releasably connects the hinge body to a mounting plate. A stop bracket is adjustably and slidably connected to the hinge body by a helical cam. The adjustable position of the stop bracket relative to the hinge body determines the point at which the damping functionality of a damper begins during a hinge closing movement. A linkage sub-assembly pivotally connects the damper to the hinge link.

Claims

1. An adjustable soft close hinge comprising:

a hinge cup and a hinge body;

a hinge arm connecting the hinge cup and the hinge body;

a hinge link connecting the hinge cup and the hinge body;

wherein the hinge cup, hinge body, hinge arm and hinge link form a 4-bar linkage arrangement biased by a spring;

an inner frame adjustably connected to the hinge body;

a linkage sub-assembly connecting the hinge link to a damper, the damper having a damping function;

a stop bracket adjustably connected to the hinge body and receiving one end of the damper;

a helical cam seated in the hinge body and engaged with the stop bracket;

a groove in the helical cam;

a protrusion extending from the stop bracket and engaging the groove; and

,

wherein upon rotation of the helical cam, the protrusion moves through the length of the groove to adjust a longitudinal position of the stop bracket relative to the hinge body such that a start point of the damping function is adjusted.

2. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

a peak on the hinge link;

a spring arm, extending from the spring, adjacent the hinge body;

a spring brace, extending from the spring, contacting the peak; and

,

wherein during a closing movement of the hinge, the spring brace maintains contact with the peak.

3. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 wherein the hinge link is comprised of a plurality of interlocking plates.

4. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 wherein the linkage sub-assembly further comprises:

a pivot link and a connecting link;

the pivot link connecting the damper and the connecting link; and

,

the connecting link connecting the pivot link and the hinge link.

5. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 4 wherein the connecting link further comprises a pair of links bridged by a brace.

6. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 4 wherein the pivot link is pivotally connected to the damper, the connecting link, and the hinge body.

7. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

a first spacer adjacent the hinge link and the hinge body and a second spacer adjacent the hinge link and the hinge body.

8. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

an overlay adjustment screw threadably attached to the hinge body and slidably attached to the inner frame; and

,

wherein upon rotation of the overlay adjustment screw, a relative distance between the hinge body and the inner frame is altered.

9. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

a depth adjustment cam seated in and rotatable within the hinge body and rotatably connected to the inner frame; and

,

wherein upon rotation of the depth adjustment cam, a longitudinal position of the hinge body relative to the inner frame is altered.

10. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 wherein the helical cam further comprises:

a lip section adjacent the hinge body;

a base section adjacent the lip section and seated within the hinge body;

a neck section adjacent the base section and extending from the hinge body;

a head section adjacent the neck section;

a lock ring, adjacent the neck section, connecting the helical cam to the hinge body;

a post extending from the lip section and slidably engaging the stop bracket; and

,

wherein upon rotation of the helical cam, the stop bracket moves longitudinally relative to the hinge body.

11. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 1 further comprising:

the damper pivotally connected to the hinge body by a pin;

a slot on the stop bracket, having an open end and a closed end, where the pin is slidably engaged with the slot; and

,

wherein the damping function begins when the pin abuts the closed end.

12. The adjustable soft close hinge of claim 11 wherein a longitudinal position of the closed end is altered by rotation of the helical cam.

13. A low profile hinge comprising:

a hinge body having a generally U-shaped cross section comprised of an upper surface and a first side and a second side, where a damper pin is attached to the first side and the second side;

an inner frame, adjustably connected to the hinge body by an overlay adjustment screw threadably engaged with the upper surface and a depth adjustment cam rotatable within the upper surface, where the damper pin passes through the inner frame;

the hinge body pivotally connected to a hinge cup by a hinge arm and biased by a spring;

the hinge body pivotally connected to the hinge cup by a hinge link, where the hinge link is comprised of a plurality of interlocking plates;

a stop bracket adjustably connected to the hinge body by a helical cam rotatable within the upper surface;

a groove in the helical cam;

a protrusion extending from the stop bracket and engaging the groove; and

a damper having a damping function, the damper slidable within the stop bracket and pivotally connected to the hinge link; and

,

wherein as the hinge moves from an open position to a closed position, the damper pin abuts the stop bracket and

wherein upon rotation of the helical cam, the protrusion moves through the length of the groove to adjust a longitudinal position of the stop bracket relative to the hinge body such that a start point of the damping function is adjusted.

14. The low profile hinge of claim 13 further comprising:

a peak on the hinge link;

a spring arm, extending from the spring, adjacent the hinge body;

a spring brace, extending from the spring, contacting the peak; and

,

wherein during a closing movement of the hinge, the spring brace maintains contact with the peak.

15. The low profile hinge of claim 13 further comprising:

a linkage sub assembly pivotally connected to the hinge link and the damper.

16. The low profile hinge of claim 13 further comprising:

an overlay adjustment screw threadably attached to the upper surface and slidably attached to the inner frame;

a depth adjustment cam seated in the upper surface and rotatably connected to the inner frame;

wherein upon rotation of the overlay adjustment screw, a relative distance between the hinge body and the inner frame is altered; and

,

wherein upon rotation of the depth adjustment cam, a longitudinal position of the hinge body relative to the inner frame is altered.

17. A method of adjusting a damping function of a soft close hinge comprising:

providing a hinge cup and a hinge body;

providing a hinge arm connecting the hinge cup and the hinge body;

providing a hinge link connecting the hinge cup and the hinge body;

wherein the hinge cup, hinge body, hinge arm and hinge link form a 4-bar linkage arrangement biased by a spring;

providing a damper connected to the hinge link, the damper having a damping function;

providing a stop bracket adjustably connected to the hinge body, the stop bracket receiving one end of the damper;

providing a helical cam seated in the hinge body and engaged with the stop bracket;

providing a groove in the helical cam;

providing a protrusion extending from the stop bracket and engaging the groove; and

rotating the helical cam;

wherein upon rotation of the helical cam, the protrusion moves through the length of the groove to adjust a longitudinal position of the stop bracket relative to the hinge body such that a start point of the damping function is adjusted.