Self closing multi pintle hinge

A wide-angle hinge assembly includes a frame hinge section and a door leaf inge section connected to one another by a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement includes two double-armed link members and an intermediate link. The double-armed link members are pivotable about a common pivot point, and one of the link members pivotally engages one end of the intermediate link having its other end pivotally connected to the leaf hinge section. The linkage arrangement further includes a spring mechanism that is effective to provide a closing pressure during closing and maintaining the closed position for securing the door leaf. The spring mechanism is arranged on the intermediate link and coacts with a cam component included as a part of the leaf hinge section.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to a wide-angle hinge assembly for use in a 
concealed arrangement. More particularly, the hinge assembly has an 
opening angle up to about 180.degree. and is used for furniture. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There are various known constructional forms of wide-angle hinges. Such a 
known hinge assembly comprises a hinge section on the frame and a door 
leaf hinge section secured to the wing or door leaf. The hinge sections 
are connected to one another by double-armed link members pivotable about 
a common pivot. One of the link members is hingedly connected to the door 
leaf hinge section by an intermediate link. Such a linkage arrangement 
includes a spring mechanism which provides a closing pressure to the 
assembly and locks the door leaf in a closed position. 
With one constructional form of such a door hinge assembly, a spring loaded 
pressure member is arranged in the region of the common pivot axis. The 
pressure member is arranged on one of the double-armed link members and 
bears on the free end of the other link member which is formed as a 
control cam. A helical spring is used as the spring element in this known 
hinge assembly. 
With another known constructional form of wide-angle hinge, a spring lever 
is mounted on the common axis or pivot of the double-armed link members. 
The spring lever cooperates with a latching action at its free end portion 
with the pivot of the intermediate link in the closed position of the 
hinge. In this instance, the spring mechanism is located on the linkage of 
the double-armed link members which are pivotable in scissor-like fashion 
with one another about a common pivot point. It is necessary to have a 
high precision with respect to the various components used in the hinge 
assembly to ensure the engagement of the members in association with the 
spring mechanism. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to convert the 
normal hinge into a spring hinge and vice versa. Thus, neither of these 
known constructional forms of wide-angle hinge assembly is satisfactory. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of the invention is to provide a wide angle hinge 
assembly for use in a concealed arrangement. The hinge assembly has an 
opening range of up to about 180.degree.. The linkage of the double-armed 
link members which are pivotable about a common point is free from a 
spring mechanism. Thus, the hinge assembly can be quickly and easily 
converted from a normal hinge into a spring hinge and vice versa. A 
closing force is operable over a long distance in the hinge assembly of 
this invention. The spring mechanism of the hinge assembly as described 
herein is disposed on the intermediate link and cooperates with a cam 
component located on the leaf hinge section of the hinge assembly. 
According to another feature of the invention, a double-armed lever is 
rotatably mounted on the inside of the intermediate link. One arm of the 
double-armed lever faces the leaf hinge section and engages the fixed cam 
component of the leaf hinge section. A pulley or roller may be located on 
the lever. The control cam of the cam component is effective to have the 
lever arm or the pulley bear on the end portion of a shoulder of the cam 
component in the closed position of the hinge assembly. The further path 
of the control cam has an arcuate limit. The free end of the lever may 
carry at least one attachment for receiving a helical compression spring. 
The spring is supported against the inside of the intermediate link. 
Another feature of the invention is directed to the construction of the cam 
component. An interchangeable cam component is fixedly arranged on the 
leaf hinge section and includes a pin-like stem which is fitted into a 
corresponding bore. The relationship between the stem and the bore is such 
that the cam component is secured against turning movement. For example, 
the stem may have a polygonal cross section. With this arrangement, the 
cam component may be easily exchanged if worn along the control cam or the 
like without having to replace the linkage parts of the link members. 
Thus, there is a considerable saving with respect to the cost of 
replacement parts and a significant reduction in the amount of storage 
space required for spare parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The hinge, generally designated 1, has a wide opening range of up to about 
180.degree. and comprises a frame hinge section 2 and a wing or leaf hinge 
section 3. In this embodiment, the frame hinge section 2 includes a base 
plate 4 fixed on a frame 5 and an intermediate part 6 fitted axially to 
base plate 4. The leaf hinge section 3 has a cup-like form in a 
corresponding recess in leaf 7 and a screwplate 3a fixed to leaf 7 with 
screws as shown. The linkage mechanism between frame hinge section 2 and 
leaf hinge section 3 comprises the double-armed link members 8 and 9 
hingedly connected to one another and in scissor-like form with respect to 
one another about a common pivot 10. Guide pin 11 is disposed at one end 
of double-armed link member 8 and movably disposed in a longitudinal 
groove of the intermediate part 6. Link member 8 is hingedly connected at 
the other end thereof to a pivot 13 of leaf hinge section 3. The other 
double-armed link member 9 is hinged at one end on pivot 14 of 
intermediate part 6 and is pivotally connected at the other end to an 
intermediate or further link 15. Link 15 is hingedly connected at pivot 16 
to double-armed link member 9 and hingedly connected at pivot 17 to the 
leaf hinge section 3. 
The spring mechanism 20 is arranged directly on the intermediate link 15 
and coacts with a cam portion or component 21, which is fixedly mounted in 
leaf hinge section 3. A double-armed lever 22 is pivotally mounted on the 
inside of intermediate link 15 about a pivot 23. Pivot 23 is mounted in 
the sides 15a of intermediate link 15. One arm of the double-armed lever 
22 includes a pivot 24 which rotatably carries a pulley or roller 25. The 
other arm of the double-armed lever 22 includes at least one bent-over 
extension 26. A helical compression spring 27 is fitted over extension 26 
and is supported at one end on the inside of intermediate link 15 and at 
the other end on lever 22. In this embodiment, lever 22 is made as a 
U-shaped part. The pulley or roller 25 is disposed between the cheek 
portions of the U-shaped lever 22. 
The cam component 21 includes cam 28 having control surface 29 which 
extends along an arc with respect to the center of pivot 17. Cam 28 
comprises a nose-shaped end part 30 against which the lever arm of lever 
22 or roller 25 comes to bear in the closed position of the hinge section. 
Thus, the hinge sections are locked in the closed position under the 
compression of spring 27. Upon opening the hinge 1, roller 25 slides along 
the arcuate cam surface 29 causing hinge sections 2 and 3 to be held under 
uniform tension during the opening and closing operations. During these 
movements, the only pressure point to be overcome is directly at the 
latching position. The tightening mechanism permits a smooth transfer from 
the latching position into the opening movement and from the closing 
movement once again into the latching position. 
Cam component 21 includes a stem 31 fitted into a hole 32 located in hinge 
section 3. Advantageously, stem 31 and bore 32 have a rectangular 
cross-section 33 to secure cam component 21 against turning movement. 
Projection 34 of component 21 comes into a bearing position on the leaf 
hinge section 3. Cam component 21 can be easily exchanged for another 
component having a cam portion 28 of different shape or, in the event of 
wear, can be replaced by a new cam component. Thus, the closing pressure 
for the leaf hinge section can be easily and quickly changed by replacing 
cam component 21 with a component having a different shape of cam. 
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The construction of the spring hinge assembly made in accordance with this 
invention provides a spring influence of the hinge sections that is 
effective over the entire opening range. The cam component is fixedly 
arranged on the leaf hinge section. A smooth tightening mechanism is 
obtained with the spring hinge with the guide linkage being able to be 
held in synchronism in the tensioned position. A uniform opening and 
closing operation is produced under the spring action of the hinge 
assembly made in accordance with this invention. 
The spring mechanism of this assembly is completely arranged in the 
additional link member, that is, the intermediate link. Thus, it is 
possible to change over from a normal hinge to a spring hinge and vice 
versa only by effecting the change of the intermediate link member. It is 
also possible for the cup to be kept and stocked together with the 
intermediate link as a spring assembly part adjusted and adapted to one 
another. 
While the hinge assembly has been shown and described in detail, it is 
obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to 
the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may 
be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from 
the spirit thereof.