SOFT CLOSE DEVICE FOR COMPACT HINGES

• US 20170107749A1
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hardware Resources Incorporated (Dimora Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGregor, Dennis, McElveen, Travis
• Granted Patent: US 10,344,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/006 for hinges having a cup-shaped fixing part, e.g. for attachment to cabinets or furniture

Abstract

Disclosed is a soft-close device for a compact hinge comprising a housing removably fitted to the compact hinge and a plunger slidingly engaged with the housing. The housing includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the plunger. The plunger includes a collar that when the plunger is rotated will engage a slot in the housing to deactivate the soft close functionality of the device. In an alternate embodiment, a tab slides around the exterior of the collar to engage the slot. In another alternate embodiment, the plunger includes a detent that engages a catch formed in the housing. The catch extends from a flexible arm of the housing that can be elastically deformed to deactivate and reactivate the soft-close functionality.

Claims

1. A soft-close device for a compact hinge comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to the compact hinge;

a plunger slidingly engaged with the housing and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a deactivation means extending from the plunger;

a slot formed in the housing for slidable engagement with the deactivation means;

wherein upon contact with the compact hinge the plunger slides toward the housing and provides a soft-close functionality; and

,

wherein upon movement of the deactivation means with respect to the housing in a first direction, the deactivation means engages the slot to deactivate the soft-close functionality.

2. The soft-close device of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein upon movement of the deactivation means with respect to the housing in a second direction, the deactivation means disengages from the slot to reactivate the soft-close functionality.

3. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises:

a cavity for slidable engagement with the plunger;

an upper surface defining an opening where the opening leads to the cavity; and

,

a lower surface configured to be adjacent the compact hinge.

4. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises:

a cavity for slidable engagement with the plunger;

an opening in an upper surface of the housing leading to the cavity;

a first angled edge in the opening and a second angled edge in the opening;

wherein as the plunger slides toward the housing, the deactivation means contacts the first angled edge and the second angled edge; and

,

wherein the slot is formed in the first angled edge.

5. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises:

a first side extending from an upper surface;

a second side extending from the upper surface;

a first attachment means on the first side configured to be attached to the compact hinge; and

,

a second attachment means on the second side configured to be attached to the compact hinge.

6. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a fluid filled cylinder for slidable engagement with the housing;

a piston rod extending from the cylinder and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a piston head attached to the piston rod for movement through the cylinder; and

,

wherein the deactivation means extends from the cylinder.

7. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a cylindrical shaped body for slidable engagement with the housing;

an angled face on the cylindrical body configured to abut the compact hinge; and

,

a set of ridges extending from the cylindrical body proximate the angled face.

8. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a fluid filled cylinder for slidable engagement with the housing;

a piston rod extending from the cylinder and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a spring, surrounding the piston rod, adjacent the cylinder and the housing; and

,

the spring biasing the cylinder away from the housing.

9. The soft-close device of claim 1 wherein the deactivation means further comprises:

a tab slidingly engaged with a collar, where the collar extends from the plunger;

whereby in a first position of the tab with respect to the collar, the tab engages the slot and the soft-close functionality is deactivated; and

,

whereby in a second position of the tab with respect to the collar, the tab is disengaged from the slot and the soft-close functionality is activated.

10. A soft-close device for a compact hinge comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to the compact hinge;

a plunger slidingly engaged with the housing and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a detent extending from the plunger;

a catch extending from the housing for engagement with the tab;

wherein upon contact with the compact hinge the plunger slides toward the housing and provides a soft-close functionality; and

,

wherein upon engagement of the detent with the catch, the soft-close functionality is deactivated.

11. The soft close device of claim 10 further comprising:

wherein upon disengagement of the detent with the catch, the soft-close functionality is activated.

12. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises:

a cavity for slidable engagement with the plunger;

a flexible arm extending toward the plunger; and

,

the catch extending from the arm toward the cavity.

13. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises:

a cavity spaced between a first sidewall and a second sidewall;

a flexible arm extending from an upper surface;

a first slot adjacent the first sidewall and the arm;

a second slot adjacent the second sidewall and the arm; and

,

an arch extending from the arm adjacent the first slot and the second slot.

14. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises:

a first side extending from an upper surface;

a second side extending from the upper surface;

a first attachment means on the first side configured to be attached to the compact hinge; and

,

a second attachment means on the second side configured to be attached to the compact hinge.

15. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises:

a cavity spaced between a first sidewall and a second sidewall;

a flexible arm adjacent the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the cavity; and

,

whereby deformation of the flexible arm in a direction away from the cavity allows the detent to bypass the catch.

16. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a fluid filled body for slidable engagement with the housing;

a piston rod extending from the body and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a piston head attached to the piston rod for movement through the body; and

,

wherein the detent extends from the body.

17. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a body, having a first cross-section, for slidable engagement with a cavity formed in the housing, where the cavity has the first cross-section; and

,

an angled face on the body configured to abut the compact hinge.

18. The soft-close device of claim 10 wherein the plunger further comprises:

a fluid filled body for slidable engagement with the housing;

a piston rod extending from the body and configured to abut the compact hinge;

a spring, surrounding the piston rod, adjacent the body and the housing; and

,

the spring biasing the body away from the housing.

19. A method of deactivating the soft-close functionality of a soft close device having a housing slidingly engaged with a plunger, a first part defined in the housing, and a second part extending from the plunger comprising:

sliding the plunger toward the housing until the first part is adjacent the second part;

engaging the first part with the second part; and

,

whereby the soft-close functionality of the device is deactivated.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

rotating the plunger.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the first part extends from a flexible arm formed in the housing, further comprising:

deforming the flexible arm away from the plunger; and

,

sliding the plunger toward the housing until the second part bypasses the first part.