Patent Publication Number: US-9840864-B2

Title: Hinge and damping device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly, to a hinge with a damping device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Generally, a damping device is applicable to a first object and a second object movable relative to each other, in order to provide damping effect when the second object is moved to switch from an open state to a close state relative to the first object, so as to mitigate movement of the second object being closed relative to the first object. For example, US patent numbers U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,691 B2 discloses a damper for movable furniture parts. The damper comprises a housing, a cylinder arranged in the housing, a piston with a piston rod movable relative to the cylinder, a stop for abutting against the piston rod and a transmission arranged on the housing and configured to adjust the stop to move along a longitudinal direction of the piston rod. Wherein, according to an embodiment of the case shown in  FIG. 1 a   , an actuation element ( 9 ) is configured to be driven by a tool, such as a screwdriver to spirally adjust the stop ( 7 ,  14 ) to move longitudinally, in order to adjust the piston rod. The case provides an adjustable damper. However, for different market requirements, dampers with different damping-stroke adjusting methods can be provided to bring more options to the market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a damping device comprising a damper, and the damping device has a plurality of abutting parts located at different positions. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a damping device comprises a damper and a blocking member. The damper comprises a first movable member and a second movable member longitudinally movable relative to each other. The first movable member has a first abutting part and a second abutting part. The first abutting part and the second abutting part are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member. The blocking member is movable relative to the damper and configured to abut against one of the first abutting part and the second abutting part of the first movable member. 
     According to the above embodiment, the damping device further comprises an adjusting member configured to adjust the blocking member to transversely move relative to the damper. 
     Preferably, the damping device further comprises a housing having a passage configured to accommodate the damper. The adjusting member is arranged adjacent to the housing. 
     Preferably, the housing further comprises an auxiliary base arranged adjacent to the passage. The auxiliary base has a plurality of engaging features. The blocking member is arranged on the auxiliary base, and the blocking member has a positioning feature configured to be engaged with one of the plurality of engaging features. 
     Preferably, the blocking member has an opening. The adjusting member comprises a first fastening member and a second fastening member penetrating through the opening and fastened to each other. 
     Preferably, the first movable member further has a third abutting part located at a longitudinal position different from the longitudinal positions of the first abutting part and the second abutting part on the first movable member. The blocking member comprises a main body and a flexible part connected to the main body. The flexible part is configured to selectively abut against one of the first abutting part, the second abutting part and the third abutting part. 
     According to the above embodiment, the first movable member of the damper is a cylinder, and the second movable member of the damper is a piston rod. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a damping device is applicable to two components movable relative to each other. One of the two components has a contact part. The damping device comprises a housing, a damper and a blocking member. The damper is arranged in the housing. The damper comprises a first movable member and a second movable member longitudinally movable relative to each other. A length is defined by the first movable member and the second movable member. The first movable member has a first abutting part and a second abutting part. The first abutting part and the second abutting part are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member. The second movable member is configured to abut against the contact part. The blocking member is movable relative to the damper and configured to abut against one of the first abutting part and the second abutting part of the first movable member in order to adjust the distance. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a hinge comprises a first component, a second component, an elastic member, a linkage member and a damping device. The first component comprises a contact part. The second component is pivoted to the first component. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force when the second component is opened or closed relative to the first component. The linkage member is configured to move when the second component is rotated relative to the first component. The damping device is mounted to one of the first component and the second component. The damping device comprises a damper and a blocking member. The damper comprises a first movable member and a second movable member longitudinally movable relative to each other. The first movable member has a first abutting part and a second abutting part. The first abutting part and the second abutting part are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member. The second movable member faces toward the contact part of the first component. The blocking member is movable relative to the damper and configured to abut against one of the first abutting part and the second abutting part of the first movable member. Wherein, when the second component is moved to switch from an open state to a close state relative to the first component with the blocking member abutting against one of the first abutting part and the second abutting part of the first movable member, the linkage member is moved toward the first movable member of the damper. 
     According to the yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first movable member further has a third abutting part located at a longitudinal position different from the longitudinal positions of the first abutting part and the second abutting part on the first movable member. 
     Preferably, the damping device further comprises an adjusting member configured to adjust the blocking member to transversely move relative to the damper for abutting against one of the first abutting part, the second abutting part and the third abutting part of the first movable member. 
     Preferably, the damping device further comprises a housing arranged on the first component. The housing has a passage configured to accommodate the damper. The adjusting member is arranged adjacent to the housing. 
     Preferably, the blocking member comprises a main body and a flexible part connected to the main body. The main body has an opening. The adjusting member comprises a first fastening member and a second fastening member penetrating through the opening and fastened to each other. The flexible part of the blocking member is configured to selectively abut against one of the first abutting part, the second abutting part and the third abutting part. 
     Preferably, the hinge further comprises a sleeve member detachably mounted to the contact part of the first component. The sleeve member is configured to abut against the second movable member of the damper. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a hinge applicable to two objects being in an open state according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the two objects in  FIG. 1  being in a close state. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the hinge with a damping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the damping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an adjusting member and a blocking member according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the blocking member being adjusted to move to a first position relative to a damper. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a housing of the damping device in  FIG. 8  having a first engaging feature configured to engage with the blocking member when the blocking member is located at the first position. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing the blocking member being adjusted to move to a second position relative to the damper. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing the housing of the damping device in  FIG. 10  having a second engaging feature configured to engage with the blocking member when the blocking member is located at the second position. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing the blocking member being adjusted to move to a third position relative to the damper. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing the housing of the damping device in  FIG. 12  having a third engaging feature configured to engage with the blocking member when the blocking member is located at the third position. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing the hinge being in an open state according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the blocking member abuts against a first abutting part of the damper. 
         FIG. 14A  is an enlarged view of an area  14 A in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a linkage member pushing the damper in a process of the hinge in  FIG. 14  being moved to switch from the open state to a close state when a second component of the hinge is at a first angle. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing the hinge in  FIG. 15  being in the close state. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing the hinge being in an open state according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the blocking member abuts against a second abutting part of the damper. 
         FIG. 17A  is an enlarged view of an area  17 A in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing the hinge in  FIG. 17  being in the close state. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram showing the hinge being in the open state according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the blocking member abuts against a third abutting part of the damper. 
         FIG. 19A  is an enlarged view of an area  19 A in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram showing the linkage member pushing the damper in a process of the hinge in  FIG. 19  being moved to switch from the open state to the close state when the second component of the hinge is at a second angle. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram showing the hinge in  FIG. 20  being in the close state. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram showing the blocking member being located at the first position relative to the damper according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 22  being located at the first position relative to the damper in another angle. 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 22  being moved relative to the damper with a first movable member of the damper being moved along a direction. 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 24  being moved relative to the damper in another angle. 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram showing the blocking member being located at the third position relative to the damper according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 26  being located at the third position relative to the damper in another angle. 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 26  being moved relative to the damper with the first movable member of the damper being moved along the direction. 
         FIG. 29  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 28  being moved relative to the damper in another angle. 
         FIG. 30  is a diagram showing the blocking member being located at a second position relative to the damper according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 31  is a diagram showing the blocking member in  FIG. 30  being located at the second position relative to the damper in another angle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are diagrams showing a hinge  20  applicable to two objects movable relative to each other according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the two objects can be a first furniture part  22  and a second furniture part  24  for example. The hinge  20  comprises a first component  26  mounted to the first furniture part  22 , and a second component  28  mounted to the second furniture part  24 . The first component  26  can be a hinge arm. The second component  28  can be a hinge cup. Wherein, the second component  28  is pivoted to the first component  26 , such that the second furniture part  24  can be opened or closed relative to the first furniture part  22 . The hinge  20  further comprises at least one elastic member  29  configured to provide an elastic force when the second component  28  is opened or closed relative to the first component  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the first component  26  of the hinge  20  comprises a contact part  30 , such as a supporting shaft. In particular, the hinge  20  further comprises a linkage member  32  and a damping device  34 . The linkage member  30  is configured to abut against the damping device  34  in response to the second component  28  moving toward a close position relative to the first component  26 , in order to mitigate a force for closing. The damping device  34  can be mounted to one of the first component  26  and the second component  28 . In the present embodiment, the damping device  34  is mounted to the first component  26  for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the damping device  34  comprises a damper  36  and a blocking member  38 . The damper  36  is configured to provide damping effect. The damper  36  comprises a first movable member  40  and a second movable member  42  longitudinally movable relative to each other. In the present embodiment, the first movable member  40  can be a cylinder, and the second movable member can be a piston rod constantly driven by a force to extend out of the cylinder. Wherein, operation of the cylinder and the piston rod is well known to those skilled in the art, therefore, no further illustration is provided. In the present embodiment, the hinge  20  further comprises a sleeve member  44  detachably mounted to the contact part  30  of the first component  26 . For example, the sleeve member  44  has a fastening part  46  configured to be engaged with the contact part  30 . The second movable member  42  of the damper  36  faces toward the contact part  30  of the first component  26 . In the present embodiment, the second movable member  42  abuts against the contact part  30  of the first component  26  through the sleeve member  44 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  has a first abutting part  48  and a second abutting part  50 . Preferably, the first movable member  40  further comprises a third abutting part  52 . The first abutting part  48 , the second abutting part  50  and the third abutting part  52  are located at different longitudinal positions on the first movable member  40 . For example, the first abutting part  48  is located at a first longitudinal position P 1  on the first movable member  40 ; the second abutting part  50  is located at a second longitudinal position P 2  on the first movable member  40 ; the third abutting part  52  is located at a third longitudinal position P 3  on the first movable member  40 . Preferably, the hinge  20  in the present embodiment further comprises a housing  54  arranged on the first component  26 . The housing  54  comprises a passage  56  and an auxiliary base  58  arranged adjacent to the passage  56 . The passage  56  is configured to accommodate the damper  36 , such as accommodating the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 . The auxiliary base  58  has a pair of mounting holes  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the blocking member  38  can be arranged on the auxiliary base  58 . The blocking member  38  comprises a main body  62  and a flexible part  64  connected to the main body  62 . The main body  62  has an opening  66 . Preferably, the damping device further comprises an adjusting member  68  arranged on the blocking member  38 . The adjusting member  68  comprises a first fastening member  70  and a second fastening member  72  respectively having a first hook part  74  and a second hook part  76 . The first fastening member  70  and the second fastening member  72  penetrates through the opening  66  of the blocking member  38  via predetermined holes  27   a ,  27   b  on the first component  26  of the hinge  20  and the mounting holes  60  of the auxiliary base  58 . The first fastening member  70  and the second fastening member  72  are engaged with each other by the first hook part  74  and the second hook part  76 . The first fastening member  70  and the second fastening member  72  are respectively located at two sides of the blocking member  38  and extended out of the first component  26  of the hinge  20  in order to facilitate operation for pushing the blocking member  38  to move. Preferably, the auxiliary base  58  of the housing  54  has a plurality of engaging features, such as a first engaging feature  75   a , a second engaging feature  75   b  and a third engaging feature  75   c . On the other hand, the blocking member  38  has a positioning feature  77 . In the present embodiment, the engaging features  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  can be grooves, and the positioning feature  77  can be a protrusion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the blocking member  38  is movable relative to the damper  36 . In particular, when a user operates the adjusting member  68 , such as pushing the second fastening member  72  of the adjusting member  68 , to adjust the blocking member  38  to transversely move relative to the damper  36  to a first position L 1 , the positioning feature  77  of the blocking member  38  is correspondingly engaged with the first engaging feature  75   a  of the auxiliary base  58  of the housing  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , when the user operates the adjusting member  68 , such as pushing the first fastening member  70  of the adjusting member  68 , to adjust the blocking member  38  to transversely move relative to the damper  36  to a second position L 2 , the positioning feature  77  of the blocking member  38  is correspondingly engaged with the second engaging feature  75   b  of the auxiliary base  58  of the housing  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , when the user operates the adjusting member  68  to adjust the blocking member  38  to transversely move relative to the damper  36  to a third position L 3 , the positioning feature  77  of the blocking member  38  is correspondingly engaged with the third engaging feature  75   c  of the auxiliary base  58  of the housing  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 14A ,  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , when the blocking member  38  is adjusted to move to the first position L 1 , the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  abuts against the first abutting part  48  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 , such that a first length D 1  is defined by the first movable member  40  and the second movable member  42  of the damper  36 . In such state, during a process of the second component  28  being moved to switch from an open state to a close state relative to the first component  26 , the linkage member  32  is moved toward the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  along with the second component  28  rotating relative to the first component  26 . Wherein, the linkage member  32  starts to push the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  when the second component  28  is moved relative to the first component  26  to be at a first angle A 1 . On the other hand, the second movable member  42  of the damper  36  abuts against the sleeve member  44 . As such, when the linkage member  32  continues to push the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 , the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  is moved relative to the second movable member  42  according to a damping stroke corresponding to the first length D 1 , in order to provide a first damping effect to mitigate movement of the second component  28  being closed relative to the first component  26 . In other words, the first damping effect is provided when the second furniture part  24  is closed relative to the first furniture part  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 17A  and  FIG. 18 , when the blocking member  38  is adjusted to move to the second position L 2 , the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  abuts against the second abutting part  50  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 , such that a second length D 2  is defined by the first movable member  40  and the second movable member  42  of the damper  36 . Wherein, the second length D 2  is smaller than the first length D 1 . In such state, during the process of the second component  28  being moved to switch from the open state to the close state relative to the first component  26 , the linkage member  32  starts to push (or contact) the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  when the second component  28  is nearly at the close state, such that a second damping effect provided by the damper  36  is almost zero. Or, in the state that the first movable member  40  and the second movable member  42  of the damper  36  define the second length D 2 , during the process of the second component  28  being moved to switch from the open state to the close state relative to the first component  26 , the linkage member  32  does not push (or contact) the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  even the linkage member  32  is moved toward the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 . In other words, the second damping effect provided by the damper  36  is zero during the process of the second component  28  being moved to switch from the open state to the close state relative to the first component  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 ,  FIG. 19A ,  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 , when the blocking member  38  is adjusted to move to the third position L 3 , the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  abuts against the third abutting part  52  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 , such that a third length D 3  is defined by the first movable member  40  and the second movable member  42  of the damper  36 . Wherein, the third length D 3  is between the first length D 1  and the second length D 2 . That is to say, the first length D 1  is greater than the third length D 3 , and the third length D 3  is greater than the second length D 2 . The relationship between the first to third lengths D 1 -D 3  can be represented by an equation: D 1 &gt;D 3 &gt;D 2 . In such state, during the process of the second component  28  being moved to switch from the open state to the close state relative to the first component  26 , the linkage member  32  is moved toward the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  along with the second component  28  rotating relative to the first component  26 . Wherein, the linkage member  32  starts to push the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  when the second component  28  is moved relative to the first component  26  to be at a second angle A 2 . On the other hand, the second movable member  42  of the damper  36  abuts against the sleeve member  44 . As such, when the linkage member  32  continues to push the first member  40  of the damper  36 , the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  is moved relative to the second movable member  42  according to a damping stroke corresponding to the third length D 3 , in order to provide a third damping effect to mitigate movement of the second component  28  being closed relative to the first component  26 . In other words, the third damping effect is provided when the second furniture part  24  is closed relative to the first furniture part  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , when the blocking member  38  is located at the first position L 1  relative to the damper  36 , the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  abuts against the first abutting part  48  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 ,  FIG. 25 ,  FIG. 26  and  FIG. 27 , in an operation mode, the blocking member  38  is operatively moved from the first position L 1  to the third position L 3  relative to the damper  36 . For example, when the user operates the adjusting member  68  to move the blocking member  38  transversely (laterally) relative to the damper  36  from the first position L 1  to the third position L 3 , the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  can be operatively moved relative to the second movable member  42  along a longitudinal direction D, such that the flexible part  64 , which previously abutted against the first abutting part  48 , is adjusted to abut against the third abutting part  52 . In such process, the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  is pushed by a lateral side of the third abutting part  52  for accumulating an elastic force, and the flexible part  64  releases the elastic force to abut against the third abutting part  52  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  once the first movable member  40  is moved to a predetermined position along the longitudinal direction D. 
     As shown in  FIG. 28 ,  FIG. 29 ,  FIG. 30  and  FIG. 31 , the blocking member  38  is operatively moved from the third position L 3  to the second position L 2  relative to the damper  36 . For example, when the user operates the adjusting member  68  to move the blocking member  38  transversely (laterally) relative to the damper  36  from the third position L 3  to the second position L 2 , the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  can be operatively moved relative to the second movable member  42  along the longitudinal direction D, such that the flexible part  64 , which previously abutted against the third abutting part  52 , is adjusted to abut against the second abutting part  50 . In such process, the flexible part  64  of the blocking member  38  is pushed by a lateral side of the second abutting part  50  for accumulating an elastic force, and the flexible part  64  releases the elastic force to abut against the second abutting part  50  of the first movable member  40  of the damper  36  once the first movable member  40  is moved to another predetermined position along the longitudinal direction D. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.