Abstract:
A hinge with adjusting devices has a hinge arm with a U-profile that can be secured to a base plate by an intermediate piece, and is connected to a hinge cup by articulated hinge links. The base plate has a mounting plane for abutting a furniture side wall in a mounted position. The position of the hinge arm is adjustable with respect to the base plate in a plane perpendicular to the mounting plane by means of an adjustment screw. Guides are provided for guiding the hinge arm in a direction of the depth of a piece of furniture when the position of the hinge arm is adjusted the adjustment screw. Two intermediate pieces are connected to the hinge arm before the hinge arm is mounted on the base plate. One intermediate piece is fixable to base plate by a spring locking mechanism, ad the other piece is slidably mounted on the first intermediate piece for slidable displacement in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hinge with adjusting devices in which a hinge arm with a profile can be secured to a base plate by means of an intermediate piece and is connected to a second hinge fastening part, for example a hinge cup, by means of articulated hinge links or the like. The base plate has a mounting plane for abutting a furniture side wall in the mounted position, and the position of the hinge arm is adjustable with respect to the base plate in a plane perpendicular to the mounting plane by means of an adjustment screw. Guide means are provided for guiding the hinge arm in a direction of the depth of a piece of furniture when the position of the hinge arm is adjusted by means of said adjustment screw. 
     With most hinges according to the state of the art the hinge arm is fastened to the base plate by means of a clamping screw or an intermediate piece. To make adjustment of the position of the hinge arm in a direction of the depth of the piece of furniture possible, the clamping screw protrudes through an elongated hole in the hinge arm. The range of adjustment of the hinge arm, in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture, is defined by the length of this elongated hole. 
     A further possibility is lateral adjustment of the hinge arm with respect to the base plate, that is, adjustment of the hinge arm in a plane which is perpendicular to the furniture side wall. This lateral adjustment is achieved by an adjustment screw which is screwed into a female thread in the hinge arm and has a head which is anchored in the base plate or an intermediate piece. 
     Further hinges are known which comprise the hinge arm mounted on an intermediate piece, with the intermediate piece being mounted on the base plate. 
     An example of such a hinge is shown in the WO 86/02402. When mounting such a hinge it is sufficient to hang the intermediate piece, which is screwed to the hinge arm, onto the base plate and to tilt the hinge arm with the intermediate piece towards the side wall of the piece of furniture, whereby the intermediate piece is automatically stopped on the base plate. The intermediate piece or the base plate are provided with a spring locking mechanism so that mounting and demounting of the hinge arm on the base plate can be done manually without the use of a tool. However, for adjusting the position of the hinge arm with respect to the base plate, a screw driver is needed. 
     A disadvantage with conventional hinges is that, when the side adjustment screw is turned, the position of the hinges axels on the hinge arm is not only altered laterally with respect to the side wall of the piece of furniture. Because the hinge arm is tilted around its rear end, the hinge axels are also displaced in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. Even if this displacement may only be in the range of the millimeter, it can result in non-correct opening and closing of the door. 
     European patent EP 0 168 731 discloses a hinge whereby guides are provided for the hinge arm so that, during lateral adjustment of the hinge arm relative to the position of the hinge axels on the hinge arm, the position is automatically corrected with respect to the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture so that in the end these hinge axels remain in the same position with respect to the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. The base plate is made of two pieces. The hinge arm of this hinge can only be mounted on the two part base plate specially provided for this hinge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to improve a hinge of the afore-mentioned kind in such a way that the hinge arm does not have to be mounted on a base plate specially provided for the hinge arm. For example, it should be possible to mount the hinge arm manually without the use of a tool on a base plate as used with a hinge according to the WO 86/02402. 
     According to the invention, this is achieved in that two intermediate pieces are connected to the hinge arm before the hinge arm is mounted on the base plate together with the two intermediate pieces. One of the intermediate pieces is fixable to the base plate by means of a spring locking mechanism, and the other intermediate piece is slidably mounted on the first intermediate piece for slidable displacement in the direction of the depth of a piece of furniture. 
     A further embodiment of the invention provides that both intermediate pieces have a U-profile in cross section and one intermediate piece is inserted into the other. 
     A further embodiment of the invention provides that the intermediate piece which is fixed to the base plate carries a pin which is parallel to the axis of the hinge. The pin protrudes through slots in the side web of the second intermediate piece and through slots in the side webs of the hinge arm. 
     A further embodiment of the invention provides that a tongue projects from the middle web of the hinge arm, the tongue being guided in a slot of one of the intermediate pieces. 
     A further embodiment of the invention provides that at least one pivot lever is provided which is pivoted on one end to one of the intermediate pieces and on the other end to the hinge arm. The pivot lever is pivoted when the adjustment screw for lateral adjustment of the hinge arm is turned. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture with a door, the door being mounted to the furniture side wall by means of two hinges, 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a hinge mounted to a furniture side wall and to a door, 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a hinge take in a plane perpendicular to the furniture side wall and to the door, 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge according to the invention, 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section through the parts of the hinge mounted to the furniture side wall in the rear area of the hinge arm, 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section through the parts of the hinge mounted on the furniture side wall taken in the area of an adjusting screw for lateral adjustment, 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through a hinge arm and intermediate pieces according to a further embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 7, 
     FIG. 9 a cross section through a hinge arm and intermediate pieces taken in the area of an adjustment screw for adjusting this hinge arm in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture, 
     FIG. 10 is a cross section of a hinge arm and the intermediate pieces taken in the area of an adjustment screw for adjusting the hinge arm in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture according to a further embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the rear end of the hinge arm, 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a hinge arm according to the invention, 
     FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section through the hinge arm and intermediate pieces, 
     FIG. 13 a  shows detail A of FIG. 13, 
     FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge arm, the intermediate pieces and associated parts, 
     FIG. 15 is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a hinge according to the invention in a closed position, and 
     FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge according to FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For mounting a door  2  on a furniture side wall  1  first base plate  4  is mounted on the furniture side wall  1  in such a way that the mounting plane  55  of the base plate  4  abuts the furniture side wall  1 . The hinge cup  3  is inserted into a bore  27  in the door  2 . The hinge cup  3  is hinged to a hinge arm  10  by means of articulated hinge links  23 . The hinge links  23  are pivoted to hinge axles  24  of the hinge arm  10  and hinge axles  26  of the hinge cup  3 . 
     Two intermediate pieces  5 ,  17  are held within the U-profile of the hinge arm  10 . 
     The intermediate piece  5  is at its front end, that is, the end nearest to the hinge axis, provided with a pin  6  which is held in a recess  14  of the base plate  4 , when the intermediate piece  5  is mounted on the base plate  4 . When mounting the door  2 , the intermediate piece  5 , which is fastened to the hinge arm  10  together with the intermediate piece  17 , is anchored to the base plate  4  by placing the pin  6  into the recess  14 , whereby the hinge arm  10  is held at an angle to the base plate  4  and the furniture side wall  1 . 
     Thereafter, the hinge arm  10 , together with the intermediate pieces  5 ,  17 , is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 2, whereby a tilting lever  7 , which is acted upon by a spring  8  automatically engages in a notch  25  of the base plate  4 . 
     Approximately in the middle of the intermediate piece  5  is provided locking bolt  11 , which is held in notch  12  when the hinge arm  10  is mounted on the base plate  4 . By means of the locking bolt  11  and the notch  12  the intermediate piece  5  is held on the base plate  4  without clearance. In WO 86/02402, the mounting of the intermediate piece  5  on the base plate  4  is described in detail. 
     The hinge arm  10  is provided with a female thread in which adjustment screw  13 , for lateral adjustment of the hinge arm  10 , is screwed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the intermediate pieces  5  and  17 , as well as the hinge arm  10 , have a U-profile in cross section, whereby the intermediate piece  5  is inserted into the intermediate piece  17  and both intermediate pieces  5 ,  17  are inserted into the hinge arm  10 . The intermediate piece  17 , which is suitable between the hinge arm  10  and the intermediate piece  5 , is provided at its front end with a slot  31  which is opened to the front end of the intermediate piece  17 . The adjustment screw  13  has a head  16  and a shaft  15  which protrudes through the slot  31  so that the adjustment screw  13  is anchored in the intermediate piece  17  by its head  16 . 
     The intermediate piece  5  is provided with a recess  32  so that the head  16  of the adjustments screw  13  abuts the bottom of the recess  32 . 
     The tilting lever  7  is mounted on an axle  9  and is acted upon by spring  8 . 
     The axle  9  is mounted in holes  28  of the intermediate piece  5  and protrudes through slots  29  of the intermediate piece  17  as well as through slots  30  in the hinge arm  10 . The slots  29  in the intermediate piece  17  are opened towards the rear of the intermediate piece  17 . 
     The axle  9  not only serves for mounting the pivot lever  7 , but also for retaining both intermediate pieces  5 ,  17  in the hinge arm  10 . 
     Near the front end of the intermediate piece  17 , bayonet-type slots  34  are provided in the side webs of the intermediate piece  17 . Pegs  35  provided on the side webs of the intermediate piece  5  protrude into the slots  34 . 
     The intermediate piece  17  is held on the intermediate piece  5  in such a way that it can be moved over the length of the slots  29 ,  34  with respect to the intermediate piece  5 . Movement of the intermediate piece  17  is parallel or approximately parallel to the mounting plane  55  of the base plate  4 . 
     An eccentric  18  is mounted in the intermediate piece  5 . The eccentric  18  protrudes into an elongated hole  19  in the intermediate piece  17 . The elongated hole  19  is aligned parallel to the axes of the hinge. 
     By turning the eccentric  18  the position of the hinge arm  10  is adjusted in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. During this adjustment the intermediate piece  17  is also moved in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture with respect to the intermediate piece  5 . The hinge arm  10  is provided with an opening which makes it possible to turn the eccentric  18  with a screw driver. 
     At its front end, that is the end nearest to the hinge axis, the intermediate piece  17  is provided with two lateral flaps  20 . The flaps  20  are provided with longitudinal slots  21  which are inclined toward the mounting plane  55  of the base plate  4  (FIG.  3 ). 
     A pin  22  which is held in the lateral webs of the hinge arm  10  protrudes into these slots  21 . If the adjustment screw  13  is turned the hinge arm  10  is tilted around its rear end. Because of this the hinge axles  24  are not only displaced in a direction perpendicular to the furniture side wall  1 , but also in a direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. Thereby the distance between the door  2  and the front face of the furniture side wall  1  is altered. If the hinge arm  10  was in a correct position with respect to the depth of the piece of furniture before its lateral positioning, then this correct position is disturbed. With most hinges it is therefore necessary to readjust the position of the hinge arm in a direction of the depth of the piece of furniture after lateral adjustment of the hinge arm. 
     With a hinge according to the invention, turning of the adjustment screw  13  also results in a translational motion of the hinge arm  10  with respect to the furniture side wall  1 . This sliding motion occurs because of the guidance provided by the pin  22  and the slots  21  at the front of the intermediate piece  27  and the pin  9  and the slots  30  at the rear of the intermediate piece  17 . 
     In the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 to  14 , the intermediate piece  17  is plate shaped. Again the intermediate piece  5  is held on the base plate  4  by an axle  6  at its front end and by means of a tilting lever  7  at its rear end. 
     As in the previously described embodiment, the intermediate piece  5  is provided with an open slot  31  at its front end. The adjustment screw  13  is inserted in the slot  31  with its shaft  15 . The head  16  of the adjustment screw  13  abuts the intermediate piece  5 . 
     Near its rear end the intermediate piece  17  is provided with hooks  47  which engage with hooks  49  of the hinge arm  10  (FIG.  9 ). 
     A clamping screw  43  extends through an elongated hole  44  in the hinge arm  10  and through an elongated hole  46  in the intermediate piece  17  and is held in a female thread  48  of the intermediate piece  5 . 
     The intermediate piece  17  is also provided with an elongated hole  45  through which the adjustment screw  13  extends so that sliding movement of the intermediate piece  17  is not impeded by the adjustment screw  13 . 
     At its front end the intermediate piece  17  is provided with an angular flap  40 . In the flap  40  there is a slot  41  which is aligned parallel to the axis of the hinge. The flap  40  is bent in a direction toward the middle web of the hinge arm  10 . 
     A tongue  42  is stamped out of the middle web of the hinge arm  10 . The tongue  42  engages in the slot  41  of the flap  40  (FIG.  7 ). The tongue  42  and the flap  40  with the slot  41  are the guiding means for the hinge arm  10  when the adjustment screw  13  is turned. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to  11  the position of the hinge arm  10  with respect to the depth of the piece of furniture can be adjusted manually after the clamping screw  43  has been loosened. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 show a different version of the rear guiding means for the intermediate piece  17 . Instead of the hooks  47  and  49 , the hinge arm  10  is provided with nubs  50 , which are stamped out of the lateral webs of the hinge  10 . The nubs  50 , together with a middle web of the hinge arm  10 , are the guiding means for the plate like intermediate piece  17  (FIG. 10, FIG.  11 ). 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to  14  the adjustment of the position of the hinge arm  10  in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture is again effected with an eccentric  18  mounted to the intermediate piece  5 . 
     The eccentric  18 , which extends through a hole  44  in the hinge arm  10 , has a cam  51  which is situated in an elongated hole  52  of the intermediate piece  17 . 
     By turning the eccentric  18 , the intermediate piece  17  is moved in a longitudinal direction of the hinge arm  10 , whereby the intermediate piece  17  moves the hinge arm  10 , which is coupled to the intermediate piece  17  by means of the tongue  42  engaging the slot  41  of the flap  40  of the intermediate piece  17 . 
     When the adjustment screw  13  is turned the hinge arm  10  is moved by the intermediate piece  17 , whereby the tongue  42  shifts the intermediate piece  17 . 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16, again an intermediate piece  17  is provided which is held on the intermediate piece  5  by means of the adjustment screw  13  and the clamping screw  43 . The clamping screw  43  protrudes through a slot  19  in the intermediate piece  17 . The intermediate piece  17  is linked to the hinge arm  10  by means of a pivot lever  60 . The pivot lever  60  is pivotally mounted on an axle  61  on the hinge arm  10  and an axle  64  on the intermediate piece  17 . 
     At is rear end the intermediate piece  17  is provided with lateral protrusions  62  which engage in slots  63  in the lateral webs of the hinge arm  10 . 
     When the adjustment screw  13  is turned the hinge  10  is tilted slightly around its rear end. According to the invention turning of the adjustment screw  13  also pivots the pivot lever  60  so that hinge arm  10  is moved linearly in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. This linear movement of the hinge arm  10  makes up for the displacement of the axles  24  in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture which is due to the tilting of a hinge arm. With a hinge according to the invention, it is not necessary to readjust the position of the axles  24  with respect to the depth of the piece of furniture after lateral adjustment of the hinge arm. 
     If the adjustment of the position of the hinge arm  10  in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture is necessary, the clamping screw  43  is loosened and the hinge arm can be moved manually together with the intermediate piece  17  over the length of the elongated hole  19  in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture. 
     The hinge arm  10  is provided with an elongated hole  44  which makes it possible to reach the clamping screw  43  with a screw driver. 
     In both cases, turning of the adjustment screw  13  for lateral adjustment of the door  2  results in the following movement of the hinge arm  10 . 
     If the front end of the hinge arm  10  is moved away from the furniture side wall  1  by means of the adjustment screw  13 , the hinge arm  10  is also moved linearly towards the rear of the piece of furniture. Reverse turning of the adjustment screw  13  effects movement of the hinge arm  10  towards the front of the piece of furniture. 
     Linear movement in the direction of the depth of the piece of furniture of the hinge arm  10 , as a result of the lateral adjustment of the door  2 , is only in the range of a millimeter, but it is sufficient to correctly position th axels  24  of the hinge links  23  on the hinge arm  10 .