Patent Publication Number: US-9422757-B2

Title: Hinge for the controlled rotatable movement of a door, in particular a glass door

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally applicable to the technical field of the closing or damping/control hinges, and particularly relates to a hinge for the controlled rotatable movement of a door, in particular a glass door. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As known, the hinges for glass doors generally comprise a movable element to be fixed to the door, which movable element is hinged on a fixed element, fixed to a support frame. 
     An example of such known hinges is shown in the document DE29618578U, which shows a hinge in which the door once opened is automatically closed by swinging several times around the closed position. 
     The absence of control makes this hinge extremely dangerous, because during the swing the door could hit an object or a person, thus breaking. It is apparent that in the case a person is close to the door, such a break may more or less seriously hurt him. 
     Moreover, this known hinge tends to lose the starting position and/or to misalign. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome at least partly the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a hinge having high performances, simple construction and low cost. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge which allows controlling the movement of the door upon its opening and/or its closing. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a strong and reliable hinge. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge having extremely small dimensions. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that has a minimum number of constituent parts. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge suitable to maintain the exact closing position during time. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is safe. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that is easy to install. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge that simplifies the operations of maintenance and/or replacement thereof. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge which allows a simple adjustment of the door to which it is connected. 
     These objects, as well as other which will appear clearer hereafter, are fulfilled by a hinge having one or more of the features herein disclosed, claimed and/or shown. 
     Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in accordance with the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more evident upon reading the detailed description of some preferred, non-exclusive embodiments of a hinge  1 , which is described as non-limiting examples with the help of the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the hinge  1 ; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 1  respectively in a closed and open position; 
         FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C  are sectioned views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 1  respectively in a closed, partly open and fully open position, the section being taken along a plane IIIa-IIIa; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the hinge  1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectioned views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 4  in the closed position, the sections being taken along planes Va-Va and Vb-Vb; 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C  are respective top, side and front views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the bushing  70  of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D  are respective side, sectioned along a plane VIIIb-VIIIb, sectioned along a plane VIIIc-VIIIc and enlarged views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 4  in an operative configuration; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of an alternative configuration of the pivot  40  and the pushing cylinder  68 ′, equivalent to the one shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the hinge  1 ; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are respectively perspective and partly cut sectional views of some details of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a sectional view of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a first operating step; 
         FIG. 12B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50  of  FIG. 12A , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61 ; 
         FIG. 13A  is a sectional view of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a second operating step; 
         FIG. 13B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50  of  FIG. 13A , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61 ; 
         FIG. 14A  is a sectional views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a third operating step; 
         FIG. 14B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50 , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61  of  FIG. 14A ; 
         FIG. 15A  is a sectional view of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a fourth operating step; 
         FIG. 15B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50 , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61  of  FIG. 15A ; 
         FIG. 16A  is a sectional views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a fifth operating step; 
         FIG. 16B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50 , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61  of  FIG. 16A ; 
         FIG. 17A  is a sectional views of the embodiment of the hinge  1  of  FIG. 10  in a sixth operating step; 
         FIG. 17B  is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the cam means  50 , the pushing member  68 ′ and the elastic counteracting element  61  of  FIG. 17A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the above figures, the hinge according to the invention, generally indicated  1 , is particularly useful for the rotatable possibly controlled movement during opening and/or closing of a door, in particular a glass door, which may be anchored to a stationary support structure, such as a wall or a frame. 
     The embodiments of hinges  1  herein shown are adapted to be mounted to a frame of a glass door through a plate P. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3C  differs from the one shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8D  for the fact that the latter has means for adjusting the position of the door when the same is in closed position. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 to 17B  differs from the others for the shape of the cam means  50  and the follower means  60 . 
     Conveniently, the hinge  1  may include a fixed element  10 , which may be fixed to the stationary support, on which a movable element  20  is pivoted to rotate about a longitudinal axis X, which may be substantially vertical, between an open position, shown for example in  FIGS. 2B, 3B and 3C  and a closed position, shown for example in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . 
     Advantageously, the fixed element  10  may include a box-shaped hinge body  11  anchored to the stationary support, while the movable element  20  may include means  21  for fixing to the glass door. In particular, in a per se known manner, the fastening means  21  may be defined by a pair of clamps  24 ,  24 ′ adapted to mutually cooperate to clamp a glass door. 
     Suitably, the hinge body  11  may include a passing-through seat  12  defining the axis X within which is inserted with minimal clearance the pivot  40 , which may be connected to the fixing means  21 . 
     The pivot  40  may have both ends  41  mutually connected with the fixing means  21 . In this way, the pivot  40  is unitary movable with the door between the open and closed positions. 
     Suitably, at the ends of the passing-through seat  12  of the box-shaped body  11  respective anti-friction elements  13  may be placed, such as bushings. 
     This allows the movable element  20  to rotate about the axis X with minimum friction, so that the hinge  1  is able to support even very heavy doors. 
     The hinge body  11  may internally include a working chamber  14  defining a second axis Y which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis X defined by the passing-through seat  12  for the pivot  40 . 
     Suitably, the pivot  40  may include cam means  50  rotating around the axis X, while the working chamber  14  may include follower means  60  interacting with the former to slidably move along the axis Y between a first and a second end-stroke position, shown for example in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     The follower means  60  may include an elastic counteracting element adapted to elastically oppose the pushing force imparted by the cam means. As non-limiting example, the elastic counteracting element may include, respectively may consist of, a spring, a nitrogen cylinder or a portion of polymeric material. 
     In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the hinge  1 , the elastic counteracting element may consist of an elastomer body  61 , which may be plate-shaped, disk-shaped or cylindrical-shaped. 
     Advantageously, the elastomer body  61  may be made of a polyurethane elastomer of the compact type, for example Vulkollan®. Suitably, the elastomer may have a Shore A hardness of 50 ShA to 95 ShA, preferably of 70 ShA to 90 ShA. More preferably, the elastomer body  61  may have a Shore A hardness of 80 ShA. 
     The use of the elastomer body  61  in place of the classic spring allows for secure stopping of the glass door without oscillations around the closed position. 
     Therefore, the hinge  1  is particularly safe, economical and long lasting in time. Moreover, the hinge  1  requires minimum maintenance and is extremely easy to install. 
     In the embodiments herein shown, the elastomer body  61  is used as urging member, in order to urge each towards the other the cam means  50  and the follower means  60  and to maintain the latter in the stop door positions, as better explained later. 
     Suitably, the elastomer body  61  may have discoidal shape, and may be housed in a seat S of the plate P. 
     In fact the plate P, in addition to allowing the connection of the hinge  1  to the stationary support structure, also acts as closing cap for the working chamber  14 . 
     Moreover, the follower means  60  may advantageously include an interface element  62  having a first end  63 ′ which interacts with the elastic counteracting element  61  and a second end  63 ″ interacts with the cam means  50 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3C and 10 to 17B , the interface element  62  may be a single piece of generally cylindrical or discoidal shape, and configured as a pushing member  68 ′. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. from  4  to  8 D, the interface element  62  may be composed of two pieces, a pushing cylinder  68 ′ and a pressure disc  68 ″ inserted in a bushing  70 , the function of which is better explained later. 
     Suitably, the pivot  40  may include the cam means  50 , so that the latter rotate unitary with the former around the axis X. The cam means  50  may in turn include one or more cam elements adapted to interact with the follower means  60 . 
     In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the cam means may be defined by a plurality of flat faces  43  formed at the central portion of the pivot  40 . 
     The relative angle between the flat faces of the cam means determines the stop positions of the door. 
     In particular, in the embodiments shown herein, the flat faces  43  may be three, mutually perpendicular each other to define an equal number of stop door positions, in the closed position and the open ones in both possible directions. 
     In fact, the elastomer body  61  pushes the pushing cylinder  68 ′ against the flat faces  43  formed at the central portion of the pivot  40 , so as to maintain the relative door open or closed positions. 
     To this end, the interface element  62  may have the second end  63 ″ that includes a substantially planar operating surface  66  susceptible to come in contact with the substantially planar faces  43 . 
     In this way, in the stop positions of the door the substantially planar operating surface  66  is parallel to the flat face  43  by which it interacts, in order to ensure the stability of the position. 
     It is understood that in this document the terms “flat face” and “planar surface” and their derivatives indicate faces or surfaces whose geometry, even if not actually flat or planar, is equivalent thereto. 
       FIG. 9  shows a flat face  43  and a planar operating surface  66  which, although not actually flat, are equivalent to faces or surfaces flat or planar. Indeed, their geometry is such that the edges  45 ′,  45 ″ of the face  43  defines a flat surface resting on the operating surface  66 . 
     It is understood that any other geometry or configuration adapted to provide a flat surface or face falls within the scope of protection of the appended claims. 
     Advantageously, in the stop positions the flat faces  43  may be mutually in contact with the substantially planar operating surface  66  throughout all its width, as shown for example in  FIGS. 3A and 3C . 
     To ensure the stability of the stop position even in the event of accidental knocks to the door, the length Les of the contact surface between the substantially planar operative surface  66  and the substantially flat faces  43  may be slightly less than the diameter Dp of the pivot  40 . 
     Suitably, the ratio Les/Dp between the length Les above and the diameter Dp of the pivot  40  may be not less than 0.8, and preferably equal to or greater than 0.85. 
     Due to this feature, the hinge  1  is extremely safe, in particular in those applications in which there is a danger that an unwary user inadvertently bumps the door. In fact, in the case of glass door this may result in the breaking of the door and the consequent injury of the user. 
     To maximize this effect, in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, between the substantially planar faces  43  a connecting portion  44  may be interposed having a width Lpc substantially less than the one Lsc of the same flat faces  43 . Preferably, the connecting portion  44  may have non-planar shape, for example a rounded shape. 
     This results in the maximum possible compression of the elastic counteracting element  61 . In other words, to move from a stop position to another the user must exert a relatively high force on the door, thus minimizing the risk that small bumps may move the door with the above consequences. 
     Suitably, the ratio between the width Lpc of the connection portion  44  and the one Lsc of the flat faces  43  may be not more than 0.2, and preferably less than 0.15. 
     In another preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the interface element  62  may be configured as a pushing member  68 ′ and include a protrusion  300 , having a generally hemispherical shape. On the other hand, the cam means  50  may include a plurality of seats  310 ,  320 ,  330  each corresponding to a stop position of the door. 
     More in particular, the seats  310 ,  320 ,  330  are able to receive the positions  300  to stop the door in the stop positions. 
     Suitably, the seat  310  may correspond to the closed door position, while the seats  320 ,  330  may correspond to the open door positions. Advantageously, the latter may be mutually opposite with respect to the closed door position. 
     In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the seat  310  corresponding to the closed door position may have a generally “V”-shape with two consecutive planes  311 ,  312  angled each other with predetermined angle. 
     In this way, as particularly shown in  FIG. 13A , the sliding of the hemispherical protrusion  300  on the planes  311 ,  312  upon the rotation of the door is simplified, so as to ensure the automatic closing of the door starting from a predetermined angle α, for example 20°. 
     At the same time, user can rotate the door from the closed door position in both opening directions. 
     To maximize this effect, the angle between the planes  311 ,  312  may be at least 90°, preferably at least 110°. In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the angle between the planes  311 ,  312  may be 120°. 
     Moreover, each of the seats  320 ,  330  corresponding to the open door positions may advantageously have two consecutive portions  321 ,  322 ;  331 ,  332  having different shape. 
     The first portions  322 ;  332  may be generally flat, while the second portions  321 ;  331  may be countershaped with respect to the shape of the protrusion  300 , and in particular may be hemispherical. 
     In this way, the first flat portions  322 ;  332  may promote the sliding of the projection  310  thereon to convey it towards the second portions  321 ;  331 , suitable to stop the door. 
     In this way, as particularly shown in  FIG. 14A , the automatic opening of the door starting from a predetermined angle for example 70°, is ensured. 
     As particularly shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the first flat portions  322 ;  332  act as pilot members for the second hemispherical portions  321 ;  331 , an that the insertion of the protrusion  300  in the latter takes place without noise. 
     Advantageously, the first flat portions  322 ;  332  may be substantially perpendicular to the planes  312 ,  311 . 
     Moreover, thanks to the above configuration the door may be rotated from the stop position only in one direction. In other words, the rotation in the other direction is prevented. 
     Indeed, as shown in  FIG. 17B , if a user attempts to further rotate the door, the momentum caused by the elastic counteracting element  61  opposes this force, which momentum urges the one against the other the protrusion  300  and the second portions  321 ;  331 . 
     Suitably, the elastic counteracting element  61  may be configured so as to allow a further slight rotation of the door after the stop position in the door open position. To this end, the elastic counteracting element  61  after this minimum rotation can reach the position of maximum compression. 
     This absorbs the shock undergone by the door upon the reaching of the stop position. This configuration is particularly advantageous in the case of glass door, which in the case of abrupt shock could be damaged or broken. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 to 17B  and described above is particularly advantageous with the above described elastic counteracting element  61  made of elastomer. 
     In fact, in the latter a minimum stroke corresponds to a very high strength. 
     Therefore, suitably precompressing the elastic counteracting element  61  in the working chamber  14  the strength of the hinge  1  is maximized. 
     Also, the elastic counteracting element  61  made of elastomer maximizes the effect of stopping the rotation, as described above. 
     The shape of the cam means  50  determines the stroke of the elastomer body  61 . In particular, the cam element may be configured so that the stroke can be of 1 mm to 5 mm, and preferably of 1 mm to 3 mm. 
     In the embodiment of the hinge  1  shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8D  is possible to adjust the position of the movable element  20  in the closed door position. 
     For this purpose, a bushing  70  may be provided with a central hole  71  which houses the pushing cylinder  68 ′. The bushing  70  may include a tubular portion  72  having an outer diameter DB and a height HB. The bushing  70  may further have substantially flat upper and lower surfaces  73 ′,  73 ″, and slanted peripheral portions  74 ′,  74 ″. 
     On the other hand, the working chamber  14  may include a first tubular portion  17 ′ having a first inner diameter DC 1  and a second portion  17 ″ of generally rectangular shape and transverse dimension DC 2  and height HC. 
     The bushing  70  may be inserted into the working chamber  14  with the tubular portion  72  placed in correspondence of the second portion  17 ″ of the same working chamber  14 . 
     The outside diameter DB of the portion  72  of the bushing  70  may be slightly less than the inside diameter DC 2  of the portion  17 ″ of the working chamber  14 . The height HB of the portion  72  of the bushing  70  may be substantially equal to the height HC of the second portion  17 ″ of the working chamber  14 . 
     The connecting portion  17 ′″ between the two portions  17 ′ and  17 ″ of the working chamber  14  may be suitably rounded, as well as the corresponding operating portion  75  of the bushing  70 . 
     Thanks to this configuration, the bushing  70  is free to transversely move once inserted in the working chamber  14 . The stroke of this movement is defined by the difference between the outer diameter DB of the portion  72  of the bushing  70  and the inner diameter DC 2  of the portion  17 ″ of the working chamber  14 . During this movement, the bushing  70  is horizontally guided by the sliding of the substantially flat upper and lower surfaces  73 ′,  73 ″ on the walls  18 ′,  18 ″ of the portion  17 ″ of the working chamber  14 , which is also flat. 
     To adjust the movement, adjusting screws  19 ′,  19 ″ may be provided acting on the slanted portions  74 ′,  74 ″. In practice, the adjusting screws  19 ′,  19 ″ act in a substantially vertical direction, and the inclined planes defined by the slanted portions  74 ′,  74 ″ transmit the horizontal component of the pushing force to the bushing  70 , thus causing the shift thereof in the portion  17 ″ the working chamber  14 . 
     Furtherly, the connecting portions  17 ′″ of the working chamber  14  and the corresponding operating portion  75  of the bushing  70  cooperate with each other to allow the partial rotation of the bushing  70 , in such a way as to vary the inclination of the axis Y, and therefore the closed door position, as particularly shown in  FIG. 8C . 
     From the above description, it is apparent that the hinge  1  fulfils the intended objects. 
     The hinge  1  is susceptible to many changes and variants. All particulars may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to the needs, without exceeding the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.