Abstract:
The invention relates to a hinge comprising a moveable hinge section and a hinge section consisting of a fixed stop section, which are interconnected by at least one joint axis, and comprising a damping device mounted on one of the hinge sections whose translationally or rotatably moveable damping member is acted upon at least in the closure region of the hinge via gear means from the other hinge section. According to the invention for adjustment of the moveable damping member depending on the tilt of the moveable hinge section relative to the at least one joint axis, there is provided at least three moveable gear members are provided, of which one is the damping member itself.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hinge, preferably for furniture, comprising a moveable hinge section and a hinge section consisting of a fixed stop section, which are interconnected by at least one joint axis, and comprising a damping device mounted on one of the hinge sections whose translationally or rotatably moveable damping member is acted upon at least in the closure region of the hinge via gear means from the other hinge section. 
     Hinges of this type are known from DE 201 04 100 U1 and DE 202 05 905 U1 wherein the damping devices consist of rotation dampers fixedly connected to a hinge section, whose pinions mesh with tilted toothed segments from the other hinge section. The known hinges thus have only two intermeshing gear members which can be twisted relative to one another to turn the damping member of the rotation damper, which in the closure region of the hinge can only turn the pinion of the rotation damper through a relatively small angle, which results in a correspondingly small damping of the closure movement of the door or flap carried by the moveable hinge section. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is thus to provide a hinge of the type specified initially whose damping device develops a higher damping force or damping action in the closure region of the hinge. 
     This object is solved according to the invention by the fact that in order to adjust the moveable damping member depending on the tilt of the moveable hinge section relative to the at least one joint axis, there is provided at least three moveable gear members of which one is the damping member itself. 
     The hinge according to the invention differs from the known hinges in that between the two gear members connected to the damping device on the one hand and to the moveable hinge section on the other hand there is arranged a third moveable gear member which is configured such that it considerably enlarges the damping path of the moveable damping member as a result of the gear ratio with respect to the swivel movement of the moveable hinge section in the closure region. The damping member can consist of a piston or a rotary piston in a known fashion. 
     According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the damping device is a rotation damper whose damping member carries a pinion. 
     The central gear member supported on an axis of the hinge section preferably consists of two toothed segments concentrically curved with respect to the axis having a larger and a smaller radius, of which the toothed segment having the larger radius meshes with the pinion of the rotation damper and the toothed segment having the smaller radius meshes with a toothed segment whose swivel movement is derived from one of the hinge sections. 
     The damping device according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously with a double-joint hinge wherein the gear member is supported with two toothed segments on a fixed axis of the fixed hinge section and the toothed segment having the smaller radius meshes with a toothed segment connected to one of the connecting rods. The gear member is more suitably supported with two toothed segments on the fixed joint axis of one of the connecting rods wherein the toothed segment having the smaller radius meshes with a toothed segment connected to the other connecting rod. 
     The gear member with two segments is preferably symmetrical to a plane which runs through the centre of the two toothed segments. This configuration results in easier assembly and reduces the number of parts to be supplied. 
     The central gear member need not necessarily have two toothed arms. Other engaging pieces can also be provided on the gear member, which can be brought into engagement with complementary engagement pieces on the damper-side gear member or the gear member on the hinge section side. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central gear member can have two arms which extend radially away from the axis of rotation of the gear member, on which projecting ends suitable engaging pieces are constructed. In this case, by analogy with the toothed segments having smaller and larger radii, the gear member preferably has an engaging piece having a larger lever arm and an engaging piece having a smaller lever arm with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the engaging piece having the larger lever arm can be brought into engagement with the damper-side gear member and the engaging piece having the smaller lever arm can be brought into engagement with the gear member on the hinge section side. It is hereby ensured that a small movement of the gear member on the hinge section side is translated into a larger movement of the damper-side gear member and a greater damping action is thereby achieved. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said central gear member can, on the one hand, have a toothed profile curved concentrically with respect to the axis of rotation, that engages with the pinion of the rotation damper and, on the other hand, as a second engaging piece said central gear member can have a fork-shaped engaging recess which can be brought into engagement with a suitable engaging projection of the gear member on the hinge section side in mechanical inversion, the engaging recess can also be provided on the gear member on the hinge section side wherein a suitable engaging projection is then provided on the engaging piece of the central gear member. According to one embodiment of the invention, the two engaging pieces of the central gear member and the gear member on the hinge section side can also be constructed such that they are only in engagement over a part section of the swivel path of the moveable hinge section, especially when the hinge is moved into its closed position. The two engaging pieces then preferably come into engagement at least 20° to 30° before reaching the completely closed position so that a corresponding damping action is achieved. 
     An increased damping action can also be achieved by not only the central gear member having engaging pieces with different effective lever arms. According to an embodiment of the invention, the gear member on the hinge section side, which is rotatably supported about an axis on the same hinge section as the damping device can also have an engaging piece which meshes with the engaging piece of the central gear member, which has a longer lever arm than the engaging piece of said central gear member. The point of engagement between the gear member on the hinge section side and the central gear member is thus closer to the axis of rotation of the central gear member than the axis of rotation of the gear member on the hinge section side. A small movement of the gear member on the hinge section side is hereby translated into a larger movement of the central gear member. 
     The gear member on the hinge section side can be affixed directly to the hinge section which does not carry the damper. In a double-joint hinge the gear member on the hinge section side can be affixed directly to one of the connecting rods which connect the two hinge sections. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention however, there can also be provided a separate gear member on the hinge section side which is rotatably supported on the hinge section to which the damping device is affixed and can be brought into engagement on the one hand with the central gear member and on the other hand with the respectively other hinge section which does not carry the damping device. A further translation possibility whereby the damping action can be increased is hereby achieved. 
     The separate gear member on the hinge section side preferably has an engaging projection which in the open position of the hinge projects into the swivel path of the hinge section or the corresponding connecting rod and on closure of the hinge is actuated by said hinge section or the connecting rod. In this case, a forced actuation can be provided in both directions wherein the gear member on the hinge section side is in fixed engagement with the hinge section. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it can also be provided that the hinge section only presses the gear member or its engaging projection in the desired direction when closing the hinge. In order to achieve a corresponding movement of the damping device on opening the hinge, in a further development of the invention, a suitable pre-stressing device, especially a spring, can be provided to pre-stress the damping device in a position corresponding to the open position of the hinge. In this case, the pre-stressing device again presses the engaging projection into the swivel path of the hinge section so that the desired damping action occurs on re-closing. More advantageously, the spring does not act on the damping device itself but indirectly via the central gear member and/or the gear member on the hinge section side. The inhibition of the damping device can hereby be overcome with only a small amount of pre-stressing. 
     In a further development of the invention the axes of rotation of the gear members and/or the axis of rotation of the rotation damper can be parallel to the swivel axis or the swivel axes of the two hinge sections. In an alternative further development of the invention, the axes of rotation of the gear members and/or the axis of rotation of the rotation damper can, however, also be arranged perpendicular to the swivel axes of the hinge sections, especially if the gear member on the hinge section side is constructed separately in the fashion described previously. The gear members and the damping device can in this case be arranged on a hinge section constructed as a hinge cup wherein preferably one flange of the hinge cup covers the damping device and the gear members. 
     In order to achieve an increased damping action, two or a plurality of separate damping devices, especially rotation dampers can also be provided, which are actuated simultaneously. Preferably all the damping devices are then in engagement with the central gear member so that said member actuates all the dampers. In this case, rotation dampers, each bearing a pinion, can more suitably be provided. The pinion can engage with the circular-arc-shaped toothed segment of the central gear member. 
     According to another preferred embodiment it is provided that the hinge is provided with a closing device which overcomes the damping force. This embodiment ensures that the hinge according to the invention always reaches its closed position and for example, a door or flap provided with the hinge according to the invention is completely drawn into its closing position after the damping action has completed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a section through a hinge according a preferred embodiment in its closed state, 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the central moveable member of the gear which transmits the closing movement of the moveable hinge section to the rotation damper, 
         FIGS. 3–5  show diagrams corresponding to  FIG. 1  of the hinge in different positions between its opening and closing position, 
         FIGS. 6–8  show diagrams corresponding to  FIGS. 3–5  of a hinge according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in different positions between its opening and closing position, 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a hinge according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the damping device and the gear members are affixed to a hinge section constructed as a hinge cup, 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view of the hinge cup of the hinge from  FIG. 9  and 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the third gear member arranged on the hinge section side to actuate the damping device of the hinge from  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The hinge according to the invention will be explained below with reference to a four-joint or double-joint hinge. 
     The double-joint hinge  1  usually consists of a U-shaped hinge arm  2  which can be positioned against a bearing wall and a swivellable cup-shaped hinge section  3  connectable to a door or flap, which is flexibly connected to the hinge section  2  by an inner connecting rod  4  and an outer connecting rod  5  having a U-shaped cross-section. The connecting rods  4 ,  5  are supported on the one hand on the joint axes of the hinge arm  2  and on the other hand on the joint axes  8 ,  9  of the cup-shaped hinge section  3  in the usual fashion. Bent out from the inner rolled-up bearing eye  10  of the inner connecting rod  4  is a tongue  11  forming a cam which slides in a fashion which can be seen from  FIGS. 3 to 5  on the inner leg of the of the double-layer hairpin-shaped locking spring  12  which is held between the legs  13  of the U-shaped connecting rod  5  on the joint axis  7  and is supported with its outer leg on the cross-piece  14  of the hinge arm  2 . So far the double-joint hinge  1  is of known design. 
     The damping device according to the invention consists of a rotation damper whose housing  16  is constructed as polygonal and abuts with one side against the cross-piece  16  of the hinge arm  2  so that it is only connected to the hinge arm  2  by a bolt  17  inserted through a hole in the housing, which is held in holes in the leg  18  of the hinge arm  2 . 
     Pinions  20  are keyed onto the pins  19  of the rotatable damping member which project on both sides of the housing.  16 . Toothed segments  21  of a gear member  22  enclosing the bearing eye in a fork-shaped fashion on both sides of the inner rolled-up bearing eye of the inner connecting rod  4  are supported on the axial pin  6 , which segments can be interconnected by a cross-piece not shown and extend in their plane into toothed segments  23  which for their part enclose the housing  16  of the rotation damper in a fork-shaped fashion and mesh with the pinions  20 . The gear member  22  is symmetrical, in a fashion which can be seen from  FIG. 2 , to a diameter plane  24  which runs through the central regions of the toothed segments  21 ,  23 . The ratio of the radii of the toothed segments  21  having the smaller diameter to the toothed segments  23  having the larger diameter can be 1:1.5 to 1:3, and in the exemplary embodiment shown is 1:2. 
     The legs of the outer U-shaped connecting rod  5  are provided with extensions  26  projecting beyond the fixed joint axis  7 , which run at an angle to the cross-piece of the connecting rod  5  and are provided at their free ends with toothed segments  27  which mesh with the toothed segments  21 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the toothed segment  27  makes only a small swivel movement between the open position of a door  30  which can be seen from  FIG. 3  to the closing position of the door which can be seen from  FIG. 4  whereas the swivel movement of the toothed segment  27  in the closure region of the door between  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  is substantially larger but is still so small that in order to achieve an improved damping action, the gearing according to the invention is required, which imparts a rotary movement over an enlarged angular range to the damping member of the rotation damper. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this rotary movement approximately corresponds to an angular range of 60° to 70° of the toothed segment  23  whereas the extensions  26  of the outer connecting rod  5  provided with the toothed segments  27  in the closure region only cover an angular range of approximately 30° in the exemplary embodiment shown. Since the radius of the toothed segment  23  is larger than the radius of the pinion  20  of the rotation damper, the rotation damper can develop an appreciable damping action in the closure region of the hinge. The radius of the toothed segment  23  is preferably at least twice the radius of the pinion  20  of the rotation damper. 
     The hinge shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8  substantially corresponds to the hinge shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  so that the same reference numbers are used for corresponding components and in this respect, reference is made to the previous description. The hinge according to  FIGS. 6 to 8  differs substantially from the hinge described previously by the construction of the central gear member and the gear member on the hinge section side constructed on one of the connecting rods. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the central gear member  22  is again located on the joint axis  6  on which the inner connecting rod  4  is pivoted. In the fashion described previously said member has the toothed segment  23  curved concentrically with respect to the axis  6 , which meshes with the pinion  20  located on the rotation damper  16 . However, for the gear connection with the connecting rod  5  there is provided not a curved toothed segment but an engaging piece in the form of a recess  33  which is bounded by two fork-shaped projections on an extension running radially to the axis  6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the engaging piece  33  has a smaller lever arm with respect to the axis of rotation  6  than the engaging piece  23  in the form of the toothed segment meshing with the pinion  20 . The hinge arm  5  engages in the recess of the engaging piece  33  with an engaging projection  37  which forms the gear member on the hinge section side and derives its movement from the hinge section  3 . The connecting rod  5  is so to speak constructed as an elbow lever with respect to the axis  7 . The lateral extensions of the outer connecting rod  5  are constructed as lever arms which enter into the suitably shaped recesses  33  of the sections of the central gear member  22  interconnected by a cross-piece  34 . It is to be understood that the recess  33  and the lever arm  37  can also be arranged inversely on the connecting rod  5  and the gear member  22 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , in the open region of the hinge the lever arm  37  of the connecting rod  5  can swivel freely in the recess  33  without any movement of the moving member  22  being induced so that the rotation damper  16  remains ineffective. 
     Only on reaching the position shown in  FIG. 7 , which corresponds to a door angle of approximately 20° to 25°, does the upper edge of the lever arm  37  rest against the upper edge of the recess  33  so that the gearing can exert its effect during the closing movement and actuates the rotation damper  16 . 
     During the opening movement of the door the lower edge of the lever arm  37  rests against the opposite lower edge of the recess  33  so that the gear member is guided back into the position according to  FIG. 6 . 
     In the hinge shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the damping device  16  and the gear members  20 ,  22  and  45  are affixed to a hinge section  2  constructed as a hinge cup and in contrast to the embodiments of the invention described previously, have no axes of movement parallel to the hinge axes but swivel axes  62 ,  61  and  60  perpendicular thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the hinge comprises the hinge section  2  constructed as a hinge cup and the hinge section  3  pivoted thereon. Although the hinge section  2  constructed as a hinge cup is usually affixed to the moveable furniture part and the hinge section  3  shown is affixed to the fixed furniture part, for a better understanding because of the relative movement these parts can conversely be regarded as respectively fixed or moveable hinge sections so that the hinge sections in  FIG. 9  have retained the same numbering of the corresponding respectively fixed and moveable hinge sections from  FIG. 1 . The pivotable hinge section  3  can thus be pivoted about the swivel axes defined by the connecting rods  4 ,  5  in the hinge cup  2  and swivelled out therefrom into the open position wherein  FIG. 9  shows the swivelled-out position. 
     The damping device comprising two separate rotation dampers  17  is supported on the fixing flange  42  of the cup-shaped hinge section  2 . Located on the axes of rotation  62  of the two rotation dampers  16  are pinions  20  which mesh with a common engaging piece in the form of a toothed segment  23  of the central gear member  22  arranged concentrically to its axis of rotation  61 . The central gear member  22  furthermore has as a second engaging piece a toothed segment  21  also arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation  61  which however has a substantially smaller lever arm with respect to the axis of rotation  61  than the toothed segment  23  meshing with the pinions  20 . 
     The toothed segment  21  of the central gear member  22  meshes with a third gear member  45  on the hinge section side, which has as an engaging piece a corresponding toothed segment  48  arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation  60  of the third gear member  45 . As can easily be identified from  FIG. 10 , the point of engagement of the gear members  22  and  45  is substantially closer to the axis of rotation  61  of the central gear member  22  than to the axis of rotation  60  of the gear member on the hinge section side so that a corresponding translation of the movement of the gear member  45  is accomplished. A small movement of the gear member  45  is sufficient to achieve a substantially larger rotary movement of the central gear member  22 . This is again re-translated into an even larger rotary movement of the pinions  20  and thus of the rotation damper  16 . 
     The gear member  45  on the hinge section side has as a second engaging piece a lever arm  46  running radially away from the axis of rotation  60 , which comes out through an opening  44  between the fixing flange  42  and the cup of the hinge section  2 . The lever arm  46  thus projects into the cup-shaped recess of the hinge section  2  into which the hinge section  3  fits in the closed position of the hinge. The lever arm  46  thus lies in the swivel path of the hinge section  3  so that the later actuates the gear member  45  when the hinge is closed. 
     As can easily be identified from  FIG. 9 , the gearing and thus the damping device  16  is actuated just before complete closure of the hinge. If the lever arm  46  is pressed into the opening  44 , the gear member  45  turns about its axis  60 . The intermeshing toothed segments  48  and  21  bring about a corresponding rotation of the central gear member  22  about its axis of rotation  61 . The pinions  20  and thus the rotation dampers  16  are hereby correspondingly driven via the toothed segment  23 . 
     A bent lug  57  is acted upon by a leg spring  58  which presses the gearing into the extended position according to  FIG. 9  when the hinge is opened. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the hinge cup  9  is made of die-cast zinc and has fixed bolts which form the swivel axes  60  and  61  for the gear members  22  and  45 . The latter can be keyed onto the bolt or riveted or suitably fixed in another fashion.