HINGE

Abstract: A hinge for movably fixing a door of furniture or the like. A base (1) is provided with a catching part (15) for catching a connecting member (2). The connecting member (2) is provided with a catcher (43) having an engaging part (42) to engage with the catching part (15) of the base (1), and also provided with a connecting body (31) to be connected to a hinge proper (3). Resilient bodies (44, 125) for energizing the catcher (43) are provided between the connecting body (31) and the catcher (43). The hinge proper (3) can be connected to the base (1) through the connecting member (2) with a single operation. Two catching parts (15a, 15b, 92 and 95) are provided at the rear and front parts of the base (1). Two engaging parts (42a, 42b, 123, 124, 135 and 139) are provided at the rear and front parts of the connecting member (2). Moment acting with the opening and closing movement of the hinge proper (3) is received by engaging parts at the front and rear parts of the base (1) and connecting member (2). Covers (150, 160 and 170) to cover the operating parts (45, 157) of the catching bodies (43, 100) are provided to the hinge proper (3). Misoperation of the catchers (43, 100) can be prevented.

Description: The present invention relates to a hinge for a door for furniture. As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.247679/1989, conventional hinges typically consist of a base, which is to be attached to a fixed object, such as a side panel of a furniture body, a hinge body having a cup to be attached to a movable object such as a door, said cup is rotatably connected, through a plurality of link arms, to the body member, and a connecting member is attached to the body member of the hinge body to be capable of being fitted on and removed from the base. The base is provided with a lip, which is integrally formed at one end thereof, and a stop lever at its other end. The connecting member, to which the body member of the hinge body is attached, is provided at one of its ends with a pin for engagement with the lip of the base and, at the other end, a hooking portion for engaging with and disengaging from the stop lever of the base. With the hinge above, the hinge body is attached to the base according to the following procedure: first, the connecting member, to which the body member is already attached, is placed over the base, the lip of the base is engaged with the pin at one end of the connecting member. The hooking portion at the other end of the connecting member is caught with and stopped by the stop lever of the base. Thus, the hinge body is attached to the base with the connecting member in between. The hinge body and connecting member can be removed from the base by reversing the procedure. In other words, with the stop lever having been pushed, the other end of the connecting member is removed from the base body in order to release it from the stop lever, the pin is then removed from the lip of the base by moving the connecting member. In the hinge described above when attaching the hinge body to the base, in particular when covering the base with the connecting member, to which the body member is attached, it is necessary to clip the pin at one end of the connecting member to the lip of the base and then to rotate the stop lever of the base in order to stop the hooking portion at the end of the connecting member with the stop lever. Further more, when removing the hinge body from the base, it is necessary to repeat the entire procedure in reverse, thus the hinge is troublesome to attach and remove. Further guidance to the state of the art can be found in EP-0 256 376 with reference to which claim 1 is drafted. The present invention has as its objective the provision of a hinge to alleviate the aforementioned problem whereby its hinge body can be easily and quickly attached to the base via a connecting member. Also an objective of the present invention is the provision of a more durable hinge. Accordingly the present invention provides a hinge as defined in claim 1, whereby the characterising part provides a solution to the objective as defined in the previous paragraph. Hinges embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the assembled first embodiment, figure 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment, figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment, figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the second embodiment, figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of a third embodiment, figure 7 is a sectional elevation of the third embodiment, figure 8 is a plan of the third embodiment, figure 9 is an exploded perspective of a connector usable in a fourth embodiment of the hinge, figure 10 is a sectioned elevation of the fourth embodiment of the hinge, figure 11 is a perspective view of a first pivotable cover for use in a hinge according to the invention, figure 12 is an elevation of a hinge including the cover of figure 11, figure 13 is a perspective view of a second form of cover for use in a hinge, figure 14 is an elevation of a hinge with the cover in figure 13, figure 15 is a perspective view of a third form of cover for use in a hinge, figure 16 is an elevation of a hinge having the cover in figure 15. In order to explain the present invention in further detail, in accordance with the attached drawings, detailed explanation of preferred embodiments of the present invention is given hereunder. First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained herunder, referring to Figures 1 through 3. In the drawings, letter A denotes a hinge, which consists of base 1, connecting member 2 capable of fitting on and removing from base 1, and hinge body 3 to be fitted and attached to connecting member 2. As shown in Fig. 1, base 1 consists of base body 11 long in the lengthwise direction, flat fitting plate portions 12 laterally protruding from base body 11. Protruding portion 13 is formed at the front end of and horizontally protruding from base body 11, and positioning ridge 14 is formed at the front end of protruding portion 13, positioning ridge 14 being higher and wider (longer in the lateral direction of the hinge) than protruding portion 13. At the rear, upper end of protruding portion 13, stopper portion 15 with the same width as the protruding portion's is formed, the bottom of stopper portion 15 being formed into stopping surface 16, which is a slope stretching diagonally upward from the rear end of protruding portion 13 towards the front end thereof. Guide surface 17 including down-forward is formed at the top of stopper portion 15, guide surface 17 having recess 18 formed at the center thereof. Ridges 19 and positioning protrusions 20 are formed on the right and left sides of the rear part and the lower middle part of body base 11, the distance between the ends of ridges 19 being identical to the width of stopper portion 15. Guide surface 21 is formed on inner-front end of each fitting plate portion 12, i. e. the part where fitting plate portion 12 is connected to right or left side of the front end of base body 11, guide surfaces 21 inclining downward so as to directly lead to right and left sides of protruding portion 13 respectively. Base block 22 protrudes from the rear end of each fitting plate portion 12, i. e. the part joined with the right or left rear end of base body 11, and one each fitting hole 23 is bored through each center of right and left fitting plate portions 12. Said connecting member 2 consists of connector 31 long in the lengthwise direction, hooking bar 42 serving as the hooking portion to faciliate engagement and removal of the connecting member with and from stopper portion 15 of base 1, clip 43 to be integrally connected to hooking bar 42 and engaged with and removed from stopper portion 15, and a pair of coil springs 44 serving as the elastic member to apply force on clip 43 in the direction as to facilitate engagement of hooking bar 42 with stopper portion 15. Said connector 31 is formed into such a shape as to have a U-shaped section with top plate 31a long in the lengthwise dirction and side plates 32 formed by means of bending the sides of said top plate 31a downward. Top plate 31a is provided with elongated recess 33 at the front end thereof and opened at the front end, tapped hole 34 bored through the rear end part thereof and a pair of fitting pieces 35 protruding rearward. Each side plate 32 has protrusions 36 formed at the front end by means of bending the front tip of the side plate 32 laterally outward, approximately triangular positioning piece 37 so formed at the bottom of the front part as to protruding downward to be fitted against the corresponding side of said protruding portion 13, and positioning recess 38 for being fitted on positioning ridge 14, positioning recess 38 so formed at the front end of positioning piece 37 inclining upward as to be open at the lower end. Further, positioning recess 39 for being fitted on positioning protrusion 20 of base 1, open at the lower end, is formed at the center of the bottom of each side plate 32, and guide grooves 40 and 41 are respectively bored at the front part and the rear end of each side plate 32, both guide grooves 40 and 41 inclining upward at the identical angle, and guide groove 41 open at the rear end. Said clip 43 consists of operating portion 45 and, for being fitted against respective side plates 32 of connector 31, a pair of connecting pieces 46 integrally formed therewith and long in the lengthwise direction, each connecting piece 46 having fitting hole 47 bored at the front end for fitting a corresponding end of hooking bar 42 therein, and, protruding inward from the rear end, guide stud 48 for being fitted in guide groove 41 of corresponding side plate 32 of connector 31. A pair of recesses 49 are bored in the front end of operating portion 45 to hold the ends of coil springs 44 therein. With the configuration as above, the pair of connecting pieces 46 of clip 43 are fitted to side plates 32 of connector 31; hooking bar 42 is inserted through fitting holes 47 of connecting pieces 46 and guide grooves 40 of the pair of side plates 32, thereby connecting the ends of hooking bar 42 to fitting holes 47, while guide studs 48 of both connecting pieces 46 are fitted in guide grooves 41 of side plates 32; and then, one end of each coil spring 44 is stopped by corresponding fitting pieces 35 of connector 31, while the other end is held in recess 49 of clip 43. Thus, hooking bar 42 and guide studs 48 of clip 43 can be moved simultaneously in guide grooves 40 and 41 of connector 31 respectively, and clip 43 is movable in the diagonal, lengthwise direction, with its connecting pieces moving in parallel to each other, and being pushed rearward by coil springs 44. Said hinge body 3 consists of body member 51, cup 52 for being attached to a door, the first and the second link arms 53 and 54 respectively for connecting body member 51 and cup 52. Body member 51 has a U-shaped section and is formed with top plate 55 long in the lengthwise direction and side plates 56 formed by means of bending the sides of said top plate 55 downward, body member 51 being able to fit over the pair of side plates 32 of connector 31. Top plate 55 has tapped hole 57 bored in the middle part thereof and elongated hole 57 bored in the rear part and long in the lengthwise direction. Shafts 59 and 60 are placed between the pair of side plates 56, at the upper and lower positions respectively in the front part thereof, and shaft 61 is attached behind shaft 60, at a position higher than shaft 60. Body member 51 and connector 31 of connecting member 2 can be fixedly connected to each other by means of fitting groove portion 63, the portion with the smallest diameter, of adjusting screw 62, which is screwed in tapped hole 57 of body member 51, in elongated recess 33 of top plate 31a of connector 31, said groove portion 63 located near the end of adjusting screw 62; hooking top plate 31a from the lower surface thereof with disk-shaped portion 64 having the larger diameter than and located at the end of said groove portion 63; and screwing set screw 65 inserted through elongated hole 58 of body member 51 in tapped hole 34 of top plate 31a of connector 31. It is possible to adjust the vertical position of body member 51 in relation to connector 31 by means of controlling degree of tightening of adjusting screw 62 and also the lengthwise position of body member 51 in relation to connector 31 by loosening set screw 65. Further, clip 43 of connecting member 2 is movable in the diagonal lengthwise direction even though body member 51 is attached to cover connector 31. Said cup 52 consists of cup-shaped inset portion 66 open at one end, plate-shaped fitting portions 68 having one each fitting hole 67, fitting portions integrally formed with inset portion 66 and outwardly protruding the right and left ends thereof, and shafts 69 and 70 are attached accrose the inside of inset portion 66. Said first link arm 53 is formed to have a U-shaped section, with one end thereof rotatably connected to shaft 69 of cup 52 and the other end to shaft 59 at the front end of body member 51. The two ends of the second link arm 54 are rotatably connected to shaft 70 of cup 52 and shaft 60 at the front end of body member 51. Cup 52 is thus rotatably connected to body member 51 by means of the first and second link arms 53 and 54 and can be held open (the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2) or closed (as shown in Fig. 3) by elastic pressure of torsion spring 71 attached to shaft 61 of body member 51. Next, explanation is given to usage of a hinge having the above configuration for connecting side panel B and door C of a piece of furniture together. First, base 1 is fixed to side panel B of the furniture by tightening screws inserted through fitting holes 23 of base 1 into side panel B. Cup 52 of hinge body 3 is buried in recess D formed in door C of the furniture and fixed therein by fastening wood screws inserted through fitting holes 67 of cup 52 into door C. Then, body member 51 of hinge body 3, cup 52 of which is already fixed to door C of the furniture, is attached to base 1, which is already fixed to side panel B, by means of fitting connecting member 2 already attached to body member 51 on base 1. More precisely, first, connector 31 of connecting member 2 is fitted on base body 11 of base 1 in order to cover it, thereby causing hooking bar 42 of connector 31 to abut against guide surface 17 of stopper portion 15 of base 1; and due to inclination of said guide surface 17, connector 31 moves forward, while the front parts of both positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 come to contact with positioning ridge 14 of base 1, thereby restraining connector 31 from moving further forward. Then, under the above condition, connector 31 is pushed against base 1 in order to cause the front ends of positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 to slide on positioning ridge 14 of base 1; connector 31 to be fitted over base 1 while moving rearward; the front ends of guide grooves 40 of connector 31 moving rearward to be fitted around hooking bar 42, which is in contact with stopper portion 15; and at the end parts of said guide grooves 40, hooking bar 42 to be pushed in the direction to cover base 1 (the downward direction in the drawings). As a result, hooking bar 42 is moved along the slopes of guide surface 17 towards the front end of stopper portion 15. At the same time, connector 31 moves rearward, and clip 43 moves forward together with hooking bar 42, thereby contracting springs 44. Then, by means of pushing connector 31 further against base 1 until hooking bar 42 moves beyond the end of stopper portion 15 of base 1 and faces stopping surface 16, and hooking bar 42 is moved rearward in guide grooves 40 by the force of springs 44 through clip 43 until abutting to guides surface 16 of stopper portion 15 of base 1. Hooking bar 42 continues to move on the slope of guide surface 16 in the direction to cause connector 31 to cover the base body 1 (the downward direction in the drawings); positioning recesses 38 and 39 of connector 31 come to be fitted on positioning ridge 14 and positioning protrusions 20 of base 1 respectively; and the rear ends of both side plates 32 of connector 31 come to abut against respective base blocks 22 of base 1. Thus, fitting of body member 51 of hinge body 3 is easily completed. Under the above condition, where body member 51 of hinge body 3 is attached to base 1, positioning recesses 38 and 39 of connector 31 are fitted on positioning ridge 14 and positioning protrusions 20 of base 1 respectively, thereby determining and maintaining the position of connector 31 in the lengthwise direction, while the widthwise position of connector 31 is determined and maintained by contact of side plates 32 of connector 31 with the right and left sides of base body 11 of base 1. Further, hooking bar 42, applied pushing force in the rearward direction by coil springs 44, is engaged with stopper portion 15 of base 1, thereby maintaining the downward hold. Thus, body member 51 is firmly fixed to base 1 and prevented from becoming loose. In order to remove body member 51 of hinge body 3 from base 1, operating portion 45 of clip 43 is pushed forward, resisting the force of coil springs 44, and hooking bar 42 is moved to the end of stopper portion 15, thereby releasing hooking bar 42 from stopper portion 15. Body member 51 of hinge body 3 can then be removed easily from base 1 by means of removing connector 31 from base 1. As hooking bar 42 is moved by clip 43 integrally connected thereto in the direction to be released, releasing of hooking bar 42 from stopper portion 15 is ensured. Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figures 4 and 5:- Base 1 has the front projecting part 81a and the rear projecting part 81b protruding from the front and rear parts of the upper surface of base body 11, and the front stopper portion 15a and the rear stopper portion 15b are formed at the front parts of said projecting parts 81a and 81b respectively, front projecting part 81a having at the bottom of each side the front positioning protrusion 20 and the rear projecting part 81b having at the top thereof recess 18. Guide surfaces 17 inclining down-forward are formed at the upper front ends of front and rear projecting parts 81a and 81b respectively, and said recess 18 is located at the center of the rear guide surface 17. Further, positioning grooves 82 are formed at the front part of body base 11 in parallel to each other, in the lengthwise direction of base body 11, and positioning ridge 14 is so formed to protrude upward from the front end of base body 11. As for configuration of connector 31 of connecting member 2, its top plate 31a has fitting piece 84 formed at the rear end thereof by means of bending its rear part vertically downward, said fitting piece 84 having protrusion 83, and each side plate 32 is provided, in the front and rear part thereof respectively, with one each guide groove 40a and 40b long in the lengthwise direction of the side plate, and at the bottom of front part thereof, with positioning piece 37 protruding downward, said positioning piece 37 capable of being fitted in corresponding positioning groove 82 of base 1. Hooking bar 42a serving as the front hooking portion and hooking bar 42b as the rear hooking portion are inserted and fitted respectively in the front and rear guide grooves 40a and 40b of side plates 32, both ends of hooking bars 42a and 42b fitted in fitting holes 47a and 47b respectively bored in the front and rear parts of a pair of connecting pieces 46 of clip 43, thereby enabling hooking bars 42a and 42b to move together with each other in the lengthwise direction. Coil spring 44 serving as the elastic member is fitted between protrusion 83 of fitting piece 84 and protrusion 85 formed on the front end of operating portion 45 of clip 43, coil spring 44 pushing clip 43 and hooking bars 42a and 42b rearward. With the configuration as above, in order to attach body member of hinge body 3 to base 1, first, connector 31 of connecting member 2 is fitted on base body 11 of base 1, thereby causing hooking bars 42a and 42b of connector 31 to abut against respective guide surfaces 17 of stopper portions 15a and 15b of base 1; and due to inclination of said guide surfaces 17, connector 31 moves forward, while the front parts of both positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 come to contact with positioning ridge 14 of base 1, thereby restraining connector 31 from moving further forward. Then, under the above condition, connector 31 is pushed against base 1 in order to cause the front ends of positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 to slide on positioning ridge 14 of base 1; connector 31 to be fitted on base 1 while moving rearward; the front ends of guide grooves 40a and 40b of connector 31 moving rearward to be fitted around hooking bars 42a and 42b respectively, which are in contact with stopper portions 15a and 15b; and at the end parts of said guide grooves 40a and 40b, hooking bars 42a and 42b to be pushed in the direction to cover base 1 (the downward direction in the drawings). As a result, hooking bars 42a and 42b are moved along the slopes of guide surfaces 17 towards the front ends of stopper portions 15a and 15b. At the same time, connector 31 moves rearward, and clip 43 moves forward together with hooking bars 42a and 42b, thereby contracting coil spring 44. Then, by means of pushing connector 31 further against base 1, positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 come to fit in positioning grooves 82 of base 1; positioning recesses 38 and 39 of connector 31 come to fit on positioning ridge 14 and positioning protrusion 20 of base 1 respectively; and the rear ends of side plates 32 of connector 31 come to abut against the top of base 1. At that time, as hooking bars 42a and 42b of connector 31 move beyond the ends of stopper portions 15a and 15b of base 1 respectively, hooking bars 42a and 42b are moved rearward, by means of force of coil spring 44 through clip 43, in guide grooves 40a and 40b of base 1 of connector 31 until they are caught with stopping surfaces 16 of stopper portions 15a and 15b. Thus, fitting of body member 51 of hinge body 3 is easily completed. Under the above condition, where body member 51 of hinge body 3 is attached to base 1, positioning recesses 38 and 39 of connector 31 are fitted on positioning ridge 14 and positioning protrusions 20 of base 1 respectively, thereby determining and maintaining the position of connector 31 in the lengthwise direction, while the widthwise position of connector 31 is determined and maintained by contact of side plates 32 of connector 31 with the right and left side of base body 11 of base 1 as well as engagement of positioning pieces 37 of connector 31 in positioning grooves 82 of base 1. Further, hooking bars 42a and 42b, applied pushing force in the rearward direction by coil spring 44, are engaged with stopper portions 15a and 15b of base 1, thereby maintaining the downward hold. Thus, body member 51 is firmly fixed to base 1 and prevented from becoming loose. In order to remove body member 51 of hinge body 3 from base 1, operating portion 45 of clip 43 is pushed forward, resisting the force of coil spring 44, and hooking bars 42a and 42b are moved to the respective ends of stopper portions 15a and 15b, thereby releasing hooking bars 42a and 42b from stopper portions 15a and 15b. Body member 51 of hinge body 3 can then be removed easily from base 1 by means of removing connector 31 from base 1. In case force F₁ is applied upon door C by means of opening or closing said door C, as shown in Fig. 5, moment of F₁ X L₁ works upon hinge A, concentrating on engaging points of positioning ridge 14 at the front end of base 1 and positioning recesses 38 of connector 31, said moment received by engaging points of the rear stopper portion 15b of base 1 and hooking bar 42b of connector 31. The force worked upon said engaging points of stopper portion 15b and hooking bar 42b can be formulated as f₁ = (F₁ X L₁)/ℓ₁ . Therefore, value f₁, in other words the force applied on hinge A, can be reduced by means of increasing value ℓ₁. Value ℓ₁ in case of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3 is small, thereby making f₁ great, because of the position of hooking bar 42, which is at the front part of the connector. In case of the above second embodiment, however, value ℓ₁ can be made large, because hooking bar 42b is provided at the rear part in addition to hooking bar 42a at the front part. In case force F₂ is applied upon door C by means of opening or closing said door C, moment off F₂ X L₂ works upon hinge A, concentrating on the points where the rear end of base 1 abuts against the rear ends of side plates 32 of connector 31, said moment received by engaging points of the front stopper portion 15a of base 1 and hooking bar 42a of connector 31, and the force worked upon said engaging points of stopper portion 15a and hooking bar 42a can be formulated as f₂ = (F₂ X L₂)/ℓ₂ . Therefore, value f₂, in other words the force applied on hinge A, can be reduced by means of increasing value ℓ₂. If force is received by the rear stopper portion 15b and hooking bar 42b, value ℓ₂ is small, thereby making f₂ large. In case of the second embodiment, however, value ℓ₂ can be made large, because hooking bar 42a and stopper portion 15a are provided at the front part in addition to those at the rear part. Thus, it is possible to reduce force applied which is the result of the opening or closing of door C upon hinge A, thereby improving durability of hinge A, by means of providing base 1 with two stopper portions, 15a and 15b, and connector 31 with two hooking bars, 42a and 42b. Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figures 6 through 8:- As with those of the above two embodiment, hinge A of this embodiment consists of base 1 to be attached to side panel B of furniture, connecting member 2 to be so attached on base 1 as to be fitted on and removed from it , and hinge body 3 to be fitted on and engaged with connecting member 2 and attached to door C of said furniture. Said base 1 has base body 11 long in the lengthwise direction and provided at both sides thereof with laterally protruding flat fitting plate portions 12, with step 5 between base body 11 and each fitting plate portion 12, step 5 in horizontally parallel to base 1; and laterally elongated fitting hole 23 is bored through each fitting plate portion 12. At the front end of base body 11, projecting portion 90 is so formed as to protrude upward, and front stopper portion 92 protruding forward is formed at the front end of said projecting portion 90, front stopper portion 92 having at the front end thereof guide surface 91 inclining down-forward. Swelling portion 90 is also provided, at each sides of the rear part of stopper portion 92, with vertical stopper end 93 integrally formed with stopper portion 92. Curved guide surface 94 is formed at the part where each stopper end 93 meets the front end of corresponding step 5 mentioned above. Further, at the rear end of base body 11, rear stopper portion 95 having approximately the same height and width as projecting portion 90 is formed, rear stopper portion 95 having at the lower front part thereof stopping recess 96 inclining front-upward and open at the top and at the front end thereof guide surface 97 inclining downward towards the opening of said stopping recess 96. Curved guide surface 98 is formed at the part where the front part of each side of stopping recess 96 meets the rear end of corresponding step 5. Fitting hole 11a is bored at the approximate middle part of base body 11. Said connecting member 2 consists of connector 99 and plastic or metallic clip 100. Connector 99 consists of, and is so formed to have a U-shaped section with, top plate 101 long in the lengthwise direction and side plates 102 formed by means of bending both sides of top plate 101 downward. Top plate 101 is provided at the front part thereof with stopping recess 103 open at the front end, at the rear part thereof tapped hole 104, and at the middle part thereof, between said stopping recess 103 and tapped hole 104, rectangular window having at the front end thereof projecting stopper 106, which is integrally formed with the top plate and inclining down-rearward. Side plates 102 are provided with front projecting pieces 107 protruding from the front ends thereof and respectively having one each elongated guide hole 108 long in the lengthwise direction, said pair of elongated guide holes 108 being in parallel to and facing each other. Side plates 102 are also provided with rear projecting pieces 109 protruding from the rear ends thereof and each respectively having one elongated guide hole 110 long in the lengthwise direction, said pair of elongated guide holes 110 being parallel to and facing each other. Said clip 100 is formed into such a shape as to have a U-shaped section with top Plate 111, which is long in the lengthwise direction and to be fitted under top plate 101 of said connector 99, side plates 112 formed by means of bending both sides of top plate 111 downward and to be fitted against the inner surfaces of top plates 102 of connector 99. Top plate 111 is provided at the front part thereof with guide recess 113, which is open at the front end and corresponds to said stopping recess 103 of connector 99, at the rear part thereof with guide hole 114 long in the lengthwise direction and corresponding to tapped hole 104 of connector 99, and at the middle part, between said guide hole 114 and guide recess 113, with container recess 115 long in the lengthwise direction and open at the top, container recess 115 having at its rear end vertical stopping wall 116. Front projecting piece 118 is formed at the front end of each side plate 112, and the rear end of front projecting piece 118 is formed into curved hooking end 117 to be fitted against the inner surface of corresponding front projecting piece 107 of connector 99 and come to contact with and be guided by corresponding curved guides surface 94 of base 1. Through hole 119 directly connected to corresponding elongated guide hole 108 of connector 99 is bored in each front projecting piece 118, both through holes 119 so formed as to face each other. Rear projecting piece 121 is formed at the rear end of each side plate 112, and the front end of rear projecting piece 121 is formed into curved hooking end 120 to be fitted against the inner surface of corresponding rear projecting piece 109 of connector 99 and come to contact with and be guided by corresponding curved guide surface 98 of base 1. Through hole 122 directly connected to corresponding elongated guide hole 110 of connector 99 is bored in each front projecting piece 118, both through holes 119 so formed as to face each other. With the configuration as above, connector 99 is placed over clip 100; and hooking bar 123 serving as the front hooking portion, with and from which front stopper portion 92 of base 1 is to be engaged and removed, is inserted through front through holes 119 and elongated guide holes 108, hooking bar 123 so inserted through both elongated guide holes 108 as to be movable therein in the lengthwise direction and having both ends thereof held in and stopped by said through holes 119 respectively. Further, hooking bar 124 serving as the rear hooking portion, with and from which rear stopper portion 95 of base 1 is to be engaged and removed, is inserted through rear through holes 122 and elongated guide holes 110 said through holes 122 and elongated guide holes 110 being adjacent to and overlapping each other as connector 99 is place over clip 100, hooking bar 124 so inserted through both elongated guide holes 122 as to be movable therein in the lengthwise direction and having both ends thereof held in and stopped by said through holes 122 respectively. Contracted coil spring 125 is contained in container recess 115 bored in top plate 111 of clip 100, where connector 99 and clip 100 are engaged with each other, the end of coil spring 125 inserted to fit around and stopped by projecting stopper 106 of connector 99, and the rear end of the spring stopped by stopping wall 116 at the rear end of container recess 115. Connector 99 is so attached and held by coil spring 125 to clip 100 as to be movable in the lengthwise direction. Also, under a normal condition, clip 100 is constantly pushed, by means of the pushing force of coil spring 125, rearward, in the direction parallel to the length of connector 99, thereby causing hooking bars 123 and 124 at the front and rear ends of clip 100 to be engaged in the rear parts of respective elongated guide holes 108 and 110 at the both sides of connector 99. Coil spring 125 can be easily placed in container recess 115, i. e. the engaging point of connector 99 and clip 100, and stopped by projecting stopper 106, and installation of coil spring 125 at the above engaging point prevents the total length of the hinge from becoming excessively long. As hinge body 3 according to this embodiment has virtually the same configuration as those according to the said first and second embodiments, the same parts of hinge body 3 as the corresponding parts of the previously mentioned embodiments are given the same numeral codes, explanation of which is omitted. Operational recess 126 to push the rear end of clip 100 is formed in the rear part of top plate 55 of body member 51. Connector 99 of connecting member 2 is integrally fixed to body member 51 by fitting groove portion 63, the portion with the smallest diameter, at the end of adjusting screw 62, which is screwed in tapped hole 57 of body member 51, in stopping recess 103 of connector 99, hooking disk-shaped portion 64 having the larger diameter than and located at the end of said groove portion 63 with the lower edge at the opening of stopping recess 103; end screwing set screw 65 inserted through elongated holes 58 of body member 51 in tapped hole 104 of connector 99. It is possible to adjust the vertical position of body member 51 in relation to connecting member 2 by means of controlling degree of tightening of adjusting screw 62 and also the lengthwise position of body member 51 in relation to connecting member 2 by loosening set screw 65. Cup 52 is rotatably connected to body member 51 by means of the first and second link arms 53 and 54 and can be held open or closed by elastic pressure of torsion spring 71 attached to shaft 61 of body member 51. Next, in order to connect together side panel B and door C of a piece of furniture using hinge A with the above configuration, first, base 1 is attached and fixed to side panel B of the furniture by tightening screws 127 inserted through fitting holes 11a and 23 of base 1 into side panel B. Cup 52 of hinge body 3 is then buried in recess D formed in door C of the furniture and fixed therein by fastening screws 128 inserted through fitting holes 67 of cup 52 into the vicinity of the opening of recess D of door C. Then, body member 51 of hinge body 3, cup 52 of which is already fixed to door C of the furniture, is attached to base 1, which is already fixed to side panel B, by means of fitting connecting member 2 already attached to body member 51 on base 1. In other words, first, when body member 51 of hinge body 3 is fitted on base body 11 of base 1 in order to cover it, hooking bar 123 at the front part of connecting member 2 abuts against guide surface 91 of front stopper portion 92 of base 1; and by means of guiding action of guide surface 91 and hooking bar 123, the front part of clip 100 comes to contact with and thus attached to projecting portion 90 of base 1. Then, when body member 51 is moved rearward along base 1, front projecting pieces 118 of clip 100 come to contact with curved guide surfaces 94 of projecting portion 90; and front stopper portion 92 of projecting portion 90 is inserted above hooking bar 123, with both ends of hooking bar 123 engaged with respective stopping ends 93 at the right and left ends of lower part of front stopper portion 92, thereby restraining body member 51 from moving further rearward, away from base 1. Together with said restraint of movement of body member 51, rear hooking bar 124 for connecting member 2 comes to contact with guide surface 97 of rear stopper portion 95 of base 1. Then, under the above condition, body member 51 is pushed against base 1 in order to rotate rear hooking bar 124 around front hooking bar 123, in the direction to push rear stopper portion 95. Rear hooking bar 124, guided by guide surface 97, is forced to move forward, towards front hooking bar 123, contracting coil spring 125 at the same time. Rear hooking bar 124 and front hooking bar 123 move forward in elongated guide holes 110 and 108 at the rear and front parts of connector 99 respectively, thereby moving clip 100 provided with said front and rear hooking bars 123 and 124 along connector 99. Then, when rear hooking bar 124 is removed from guide surface 97 of rear stopper portion 95, curved hooking ends 117 of front projecting pieces 118 at both sides of clip 100 are guided by curved guide surfaces 94 of base 1, thereby causing body member 51 to be pushed further against base 1, and curved hooking ends 120 of rear projecting pieces 121 at both sides of clip 100 are guides by curved guide surfaces 98 of base 1, thereby causing clip 100 to be fitted on and attached to base 1. Upon separation of rear hooking bar 124 from guide surface 97 of rear stopper portion 95 and attachment of clip 100 to base 1, clip 100 is pushed rearward, along connector 99, by restoring force of coil spring 125, thereby causing rear hooking bar 124 of clip 100 to be inserted, by pressure, into stopping recess 96 of rear stopper portion 95 of base 1 and stopped therein. Therefore, as front and rear hooking bars 123 and 124 of clip 100 of connector 99 connected to body member 51 are automatically hooked with front and rear stopper portions 92 and 95 of base 1 respectively by means of quick and simple operation of body member 51 towards base 1, clip 100 can be attached to base 1 easily and securely, and through clip 100 and connector 99, body member 51 of hinge body 3 is hooked and connected to base 1. Clip 100 is firmly fitted and held down to base 1 in lengthwise, widthwise, and vertical directions by front and rear hooking bars 123 and 124 of clip 100 and front and rear stopper portions 92 and 95 of base 1, clip 100 thus being prevented from loosening and comming off accidentaly. Thus, door C of furniture can be easily so attached, through hinge A, to side panel B as to be able to close and open smoothly. In order to remove body member 51 of hinge body 3 from base 1, at the area of operating recess 126 at top plate 55 of body member 51, the rear end of clip 100, which projects from said recess 126, is pushed forward, so that clip 100 is moved forward, contracting coil spring 125 at the same time, along connector 99, together with hooking bars 123 and 124 and through elongated guide holes 108 and 110, through which hooking bars 123 and 124 are inserted. Then, as rear hooking bar 124 pulls body member 51 outward, in the direction to be removed from base 1, when comming out of stopping recess 96 of rear stopper portion 95 of base 1, clip 100 is removed from base 1 easily, thereby faciliating easy removal of body member 51, which is fastenedd to said clip 100 from base 1. Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figures 9 and 10:- The present embodiment provides improvement of connector 99 and clip 100, which comprise the above third embodiment. Connector 99 according to the present fourth embodiment is provided, at the front end of each side plate 102 connecting to top plate 101, guide groove 129 open at the front, said pair of guide grooves 129 so formed as to be symmetrical and parallel to each other; near the rear end of each side plate 102, with vertical insertion groove 130 open at the lower end; and at each side plate 102, from the top of insertion groove 130 towards the rear end of the side plate, with guide groove 131, said pair of guide grooves 131 so formed as to be symmetrical and parallel to each other. Clip 100 of the present fourth embodiment is provided with boss 132 integrally formed at the front end thereof. Boss 132 is provided at both sides thereof guide studs 133 to be so inserted into respective guide grooves 129 at the front end of connector 99 as to be able to move in the lengthwise direction, guide studs 133 integrally formed and protruding outward from boss 132; and with insertion recess 134, into which front stopper portion 92 of base 1 of the third embodiment described above is to be inserted, and stopping ridge 135 serving as a horizontal hooking portion to be stopped by vertical stopping ends 93 at the lower part of said front stopping portion 92, insertion recess 134 and stopping ridge 135 integrally formed at the lower part of the rear end of boss 132. Clip 100 of the present fourth embodiment is also provided with boss 136 integrally formed near the bottom of the rear end thereof. Boss 136 is provided at each side thereof guide stud 137 to be so inserted from corresponding insertion groove 130 into its guide groove 131 of connector 99 as to be able to move in the lengthwise direction, guide studs 137 integrally formed and protruding outward from boss 136; and with insertion recess 138, into which rear stopper portion 95 of base 1 of the third embodiment described above is to be inserted, and stopping ridge 139 serving as a horizontal hooking portion to be engaged in stopping recess 96 at the lower part of said rear stopping portion 95, insertion recess 138 and stopping ridge 139 integrally formed at the lower part of the rear end of boss 136. Guide studs 133 and 137 are inserted into front guide grooves 129 and rear guide grooves 131 at the sides of clip 100 respectively, guide studs 137 inserted from respective insertion grooves 130 into the said guide grooves. Contracted coil spring 125 is placed in container recess 115 of clip 100, the end of coil spring 125 inserted to fit around and stopped by projecting stopper 106 of connector 99, and the rear end of the spring stopped by stopping wall 116 at the rear end of container recess 115. Thus, connector 99 is so attached and held by coil spring 125 to clip 100 as to be movable in the lengthwise direction. Also, under a normal condition, front and rear guide studs 133 and 137 at both sides of clip 100 are held in guide grooves 129 and 131 respectively by means of pushing force of spring 125. As other parts of this embodiment are same as those of the third embodiments, they are given the same numeral codes, explanation of which is omitted herein. With the configuration as above, in order to attach hinge body 3 through connecting member 2 to base 1, execute the same operation as that of the third embodiment. Then, as a result, upon insertion of front stopper portion 92 of base 1 into insertion recess 134 of clip 100, stopping ridge 135 of clip 100 is stopped by stopping end 93 of base 1, and upon insertion of rear stopper portion 95 of base 1 into insertion recess 138 of clip 100, stopping ridge 139 of clip 100 is stopped by stopping recess 96 of base 1, engagement of the said parts maintained as above by means of pushing force of coil spring 125. Hinge body 3 can also be removed from base 1 through the same operation as that of the third embodiment. Furthermore, because of integral formation of guide studs 133 and 137 with the front and rear parts of each side of clip 100, the number of parts is fewer, compared with other configurations which call for provision of separate hooking bars 123 and 124, therby making the assembly much easier as well as reducing the cost. Next, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figs. 11 and 12. Hinge A of this embodiment is identical to body member 51 of hinge body 3 of the said third and fourth embodiments with the exception of the addition of cover 150. In other words, body member 51 of this embodiment is provided, as it is in the above embodiments, with operating recess 126 formed at the rear end of top plate 55 of body member 51, operating portion 157 at the rear end of clip 100 facing said operating recess 126, and the rear end of both side plates 56 of body member 51 projecting rearward from operating recess 126. Fitting hole 151 is bored in each side plate 56, near the rear end thereof, fitting holes 151 facing each other. Said cover 150 has covering portion 153 with a shape of a rectangular plate that comes to contact with rear end 152 of side plates 56, and fitting pieces 154 are integrally formed with the lateral ends of covering portion 153, fitting pieces 154 being parallel to and facing each other. Stopper portion 155 which hooks with the upper part of the rear end of side plates 56 is formed at the top of covering portion 153. Said fitting pieces 154 face each other at such a distance as that they fit to the outer surface of side plates 56, and studs 156 provided at both sides of cover 150 are rotatably fitted in fitting holes 151 of side plates 56, cover 150 so supported at the rear end of side plates as to be able to vertically rotate around studs 156. As other parts of this embodiment are the same as those of the third and the forth embodiments, their explanations are omitted herein. Because of the configuration as above, when cover 150 is rotated downward around studs 156 at both sides after body member 51 of hinge body 3 is connected through connecting member 2 to base 1, stopper portion 155 of covering portion 153 comes to be engaged with the upper part of the rear end of side plates 56, and covering portion 153 comes to contact with rear end 152 of each side plate 56. Covering portion 153 covers connector 99 of connecting member 2 and operating portion 157 at the rear end of clip 100, thereby preventing said operating portion 157 of clip 100 from being accidentally pushed forward. When cover 150 is rotated upward around studs 156 at its both sides, operating portion 157 of clip 100 comes out of covering portion 153. Under this condition, body member 51 of hinge body 3 can be easily removed from base 1 by pushing operating portion 157 of clip 100. Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figs. 13 and 14. Hinge A of this embodiment is identical to body member 51 of hinge body 3 of the said third and fourth embodiments with the exception of the addition of cover 160. In other words, body member 51 of this embodiment is provided, as it is in the above embodiments, with tapped hole 57 and elongated hole 58 respectively at the front and rear parts of top plate 55 of body member 51; and also with operating recess 126 formed at the rear end of top plate 55 of body member 51, operating portion 157 of clip 100 facing said operating recess 126. Square hole 161 for fitting the hinge is bored at top plate 55, at a position between said tapped hole 57 and elongated hole 58. Said cover 160 consists of overlapping portion 162, which is the long and narrow plate-shaped portion to lay upon top plate 55, and covering portion 163 comprising rectangular plate that contacts rear end 152 of side plates 56, overlapping portion 162 and covering portion 163 being integrally formed into a L shape. Hooking end 164 which hooks on top plate 55 is formed at the lower part of each side of overlapping portion 162. Stopping ridge 165 with a rectangular box shape which fits in said square hole 161 is formed at the bottom of the middle part of overlapping portion 162, and stopping end 166 which abuts and is thus stopped by the opening is formed at the bottom circumference of said stopping ridge 165, stopping end 166 spreading upward and being open at the top. Hooking recess 167 which hooks to the top of adjusting screw 62 is formed at the bottom of the end of overlapping portion 162. As other parts of this embodiment are the same as those of the third and the forth embodiments, their explanations are omitted herein. Because of the configuration as above, after body member 51 of hinge body 3 is connected through connecting member 2 to base 1, when overlapping portion 162 of cover 160 is placed on top plate 55 of body member 51 and stopping ridge 165 of overlapping portion 162 is inserted in square hole 161 of stopping end 166 with pressure, stopping ridge 165 is hooked to square hole 161 by stopping end 166; hooking end abuts and is thus stops on top plate 55; covering portions 163 abuts rear ends 152 of side plates 56; and hooking recess 167 becomes engaged with the upper part of adjusting screw 62. Covering portion 163 covers connector 99 of connecting member 2 and operating portion 157 at the rear end of clip 100, thereby preventing said operating portion 157 of clip 100 from being accidentally pushed forward. Next, the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder, referring to Figs. 15 and 16. Hinge A of this embodiment is identical to body member 51 of hinge body 3 of the said third and fourth embodiments with the exception of the addition of cover 170. In other words, likewise the other embodiments described above, body member 51 of this embodiment consists of top plate 55 and side plates 56 projecting downward from both sides of top plate 55 and thus forming a U-shaped section with top plate 55. Body member 51 is provided with adjusting screw 62 and set screw 65 at the front and the rear parts of top plate 55 respectively. Operating recess 126 is formed at the rear end of top plate 55, with operating portion 157 at the rear end of clip 100 facing said operating recess 126. Said cover 170 consists of, as a single body, upper plate 171 facing said top plate 55, side plates 172 to be elastically engaged with said side plates 56 and has covering portion 173 with a shape of a rectangular plate that comes to contact with rear end 152 of side plates 56. Hooking recess 174 to hook to the top of adjusting screw 62 and protruding hooking ends 175 are respectively formed at the lower part of the front end of upper plate 171 and the rear bottom of side plates 172. As other parts of this embodiment are the same as those of the third and the forth embodiments, their explanations are omitted herein. With the configuration as above, after body member 51 of hinge body 3 is connected through connecting member 2 to base 1, when side plates 172 of cover 170 are fitted from above top plate 55 of body member 51 to side plates 56, hooking recess 174 of upper plate 171 of cover 170 becomes engaged with the top of adjusting screw 62; side plates 172 at both sides of cover 170 are elastically engaged with side plates 56; both protruding hooking ends 175 abut and thus stop on base 1; and covering portion 173 comes to contact with rear end 152 of each side plate 56. Covering portion 173 covers connector 99 of connecting member 2 and operating portion 157 at the rear end of clip 100, thereby preventing said operating portion 157 of clip 100 from being accidentally pushed forward. Although covers 150, 160 and 170 of the fifth to seventh embodiments were explained hereinabove, regarding the cases where they are respectively attached to body member 51 of hinge body 3 according to the third and the fourth embodiments, cover 150, 160 or 170 is not limited to usage with the body member according to the third or fourth embodiment but may by attached to body member 51 of hinge body 3 according to the first or second embodiment by the same means as those described above. When used for a hinge according to the first or the second embodiment, cover 150, 160 or 170 covers operating portion 45 of clip 43, thereby preventing operating portion 45 from being accidentally pushed forward. Although the above embodiments were explained, referring to cases where coil springs are used as the elastic member, other elastic materials, such as rubber, synthetic resin and leaf spring, may be used in place of coil spring.

Claims: A hinge having a base (1) a connecting member (2), and a hinge body (3), the connecting member (2) including a connector (31, 99) adapted to be secured to a body member (51) forming part of the hinge body (3), and a clip (43, 100) attached to the connector (31, 99) so that the clip (43, 100) is longitudinally displaceable between first and second positions with respect to the connector (31, 99), the clip (43, 100) having a hooking portion (42, 123, 124, 135, 139) adapted to removably engage a stopper portion (15, 92, 95) of the base (1), and an elastic member (44, 125) placed between the clip (43, 100) and the connector (31, 99) so that the hooking portion (42, 123, 124, 135, 139) is urged to engage the stopper portion (15), the connector (31, 99) being provided with at least one of an integrally formed positioning recess (38, 39) or a positioning protrusion or ridge for co-operation with a complementary positioning projection or positioning ridge (14, 20, 94, 98), formed integrally on the base (1) to restrain relative longitudinally displacement of the connector (31, 99) and the base (1) characterised in that the connector (31, 99) has a U-shaped section with side plates (32, 102), the hooking portion (42, 123, 124, 135, 139) is formed either by one or two hooking bars (42, 42a, 42b, 123, 124) or by two stopping ridges (135, 139) the clip (43, 100) has two guide studs (48) and one hooking bar (42) or has two hooking bars (42a, 42b, 123, 124) or has four guide studs (133, 137) and two stopping ridges (135, 139), the guide studs (48, 133, 137) protrude from the clip (43, 100), and the hooking bars (42, 42a, 42b, 123, 124) are mounted in holes (47, 47a, 47b, 119, 122) provided in the clip (43, 100), the guide studs (48, 133, 137) and the hooking bars (42, 42a, 42b, 123, 124) are received in guide grooves (41; 40, 40a, 40b, 108, 110, 129, 131) provided in the side plates (32, 102) of the connector (31, 99) to attach the clip (43, 100) to the connector (31, 99). A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stopper portion (15, 92, 95) provides an inclined guide surface (17, 91, 97) presented for co-operation with the hooking portion (42, 123, 124, 135, 139) to constrain the clip (43, 100) to be displaced as it is pressed downwardly against the guide surface (17, 91, 97) and a stopping surface (17, 91, 97) with which the hooking portion (42, 123, 124, 135, 139) is engaged by the action of the elastic member (44, 125) to restrain separation of the connecting member (2) from the base (1). A hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body member (51) is engaged with the connector (31) by two longitudinally spaced screws (62, 65). A hinge according to claim 2 or claims 2 and 3 wherein the elastic member is a helical coil spring (44, 125). A hinge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a cover (150, 160, 170) is provided to cover at least part of the connector (2) and thus to prevent displacement of the clip (43, 100). A hinge according to claim 5 wherein the cover (150) has studs (156) engageable in holes (151) in side plates (56) of the hinge body (3) to be pivotable to cover and uncover the clip (43, 100). A hinge according to claim 5 wherein the cover (160) overlies the hinge body (3) and is secured thereto by a rectangular projecting fitting (165) which engages in a correspondingly shaped hole (161) provided in the body member. A hinge according to claim 5 wherein the cover (170) comprises a first panel (171) to overlie the body member (51), opposed side wall panels (172) extending from the longitudinal edges of the first panel (171) to cover the sides of the hinge and a clip cover panel (173) extending to cover the clip. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 8 having hooking portions (135, 139) integrally formed with the clip (100).

Inventors: TOYAMA HIROAKI, TOYAMA, HIROAKI
Applicants: MURAKOSHI SEIKO KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA MURAKOSHI SEIKO
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E05D7
IPC codes: E05D5, E05D7, E05D11