Patent Publication Number: US-11021901-B2

Title: Multi-joint hinge

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a multi-joint hinge comprising a base part, on which a door bearing is held pivotably via a lever mechanism with a plurality of levers mounted in the manner of a parallelogram, and comprising within the multi-joint hinge a damping element for braking a closing movement and a spring element for pulling the door bearing in a closing area in the closing direction. 
     DE 20 2007 004 621 U1 discloses a multi-joint hinge comprising a stationary fastening element and a pivotable door bearing, which are connected to one another via a lever mechanism. To brake a closing movement shortly before the closed position, a damping element having a linear damper is provided. Furthermore, a spring element is arranged inside the lever mechanism, which ensures a retraction movement in a closing area. Such a multi-joint hinge has proven itself in practice, however, the installation space for the function of the damping and the pre-tensioning by the spring element is not optimally utilized. 
     Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a multi-joint hinge having a compact structure and an improved damping and closing function. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, in the multi-joint hinge, a damping element for braking a closing movement and a spring element for pulling the door bearing are connected in parallel. The damping element and the spring element can thus be connected between the same levers of a lever mechanism or in parallel between the base part and a lever or the door bearing and a lever, so that the damping and pre-tensioning function can be constructed compactly. Due to the parallel connection of damping element and spring element, the relative movement between the damping element and the spring element is reduced, so that the required installation space is decreased. 
     The damping element and the spring element are preferably connected in parallel between the door bearing and a deflection lever of the lever mechanism. The damping element and the spring element are then moved together with the door bearing and the deflection lever, so that an installation space adjacent to a pivot axis on the base part is used for the lever mechanism, which enables improved force dissipation and good lever ratios. 
     The damping element can comprise at least one linear damper, preferably two linear dampers, having a damping axis, and the spring element can have at least one linearly acting spring with a spring axis, wherein the damping axis and the spring axis are aligned essentially parallel to one another over the entire pivot area of the door bearing. The damping axis and the spring axis do not have to be aligned exactly in parallel in this case, but rather at an angle range of less than 20°, in particular less than 10°, for example, so that the damping element and the spring element can be arranged closely adjacent to one another. 
     The multi-joint hinge is preferably designed as a seven-joint hinge, wherein the lever mechanism comprises four levers between the door bearing and the base part. In a closed position, the multi-joint hinge can be essentially box-shaped. The lever mechanism can be arranged located concealed by two essentially plate-shaped covers in this case, wherein the covers are arranged on opposing sides of the multi-joint hinge, and preferably have a curve guide, to be able to conceal the lever mechanism even in various open positions. 
     In one design, the lever mechanism has a deflection lever comprising a receptacle, formed in particular by at least one axis, between two plates, wherein the plates are connected to one another via at least one connecting web. In this case, the damping element and the spring element can be inserted on the receptacle of the deflection lever, so that they are arranged protected, preferably by the interior formed between the at least two plates and the connecting web. In the closed position, the damping element is located with its damping axes nearly completely inside the interior formed of the deflection lever, wherein it is located with at least one damping axis outside the interior formed of the deflection lever in the open position. A cap can be provided on the door bearing or the deflection lever in this case, to cover the interior toward the multi-joint hinge or the deflection lever, wherein the cap is displaceably mounted in relation to the door bearing or the deflection lever. The cap can be displaceably mounted via catch elements on at least one linear damper in the direction of the damping axis in this case and/or can be rotatably mounted on an axis of the deflection lever. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The invention will be explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the appended drawings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a multi-joint hinge in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 1  in a first open position; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 1  in a maximally open position; 
         FIG. 4  shows a sectional view through the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  shows a sectional view through the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective exploded view through the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective exploded view of the area of the multi-joint hinge having the deflection lever, the damping element, and the spring element; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the multi-joint hinge of  FIG. 1 , partially in section, and 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the cap of the multi-joint hinge. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A multi-joint hinge  1  comprises a base part  2 , which is securable on a body of a piece of furniture or household appliance, and a door bearing  3 , on which a door is fixable. Two protruding tabs  10  are provided on the door bearing  3 , on which a door is fixable via screw connections or other fastening means. The door bearing  3  is pivotably mounted via a lever mechanism on the base part  2 . In the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , the multi-joint hinge is formed essentially box-shaped and comprises an interior located concealed, wherein a plate-shaped cover  6 , which is rotatably mounted about an axis  7  on the base part  2 , is provided on opposing sides. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the door bearing  3  has been pivoted in the opening direction, and it can be seen that the cover  6  was rotated about the axis  7  and therefore also covers a lever mechanism of the multi-joint hinge  1  in an open position. Each cover  6  comprises a curve guide  8 , which is arc-shaped and in which a guide pin  9  engages, which is fixed on a deflection lever  20  of the lever mechanism. The two covers  6  are thus positively guided via the deflection lever  20 . 
     An axis  12 , on which a second lever  4  is rotatably mounted, is formed on the base part  2 . The deflection lever  20 , which is articulated with the door bearing  3  via an axis  38 , is rotatably mounted via an axis  22  on the second lever  4 . A cap  11 , which covers an opening on the deflection lever  20 , is provided between the deflection lever  20  and the door bearing  3 . 
     A maximally open position of the multi-joint hinge  1  is shown in  FIG. 3 , and it is recognizable that the door bearing  3  was pivoted over more than 90°, in particular between 100° and 140°. An interior of the multi-joint hinge  1  is also protected via the second lever  4 , the deflection lever  20 , the cap  11 , and the covers  6  in the open positions of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The multi-joint hinge  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is shown in a section in  FIG. 4 . The second lever  4  is rotatably mounted via an axis  12  on the base part  2 , and a third lever  14  is rotatably mounted via an axis  13 , which is provided spaced apart from the axis  12 . The third lever  14  is articulated via an axis  15  in an opening  151  with a fourth lever  16 , which is articulated via an axis  18  with the door bearing  3 . The axis  18  extends through openings  181  on the fourth lever  16  and openings  182  on the door bearing  3  in this case. The fourth lever  16  is furthermore connected via an axis  17  to the second lever  4 . The deflection lever  20  is rotatably connected via an axis  38  to the door bearing  3  and via an axis  22  to the second lever  4 . The lever mechanism for connecting the base part  2  to the door bearing  3  thus comprises the second, third, and fourth levers  4 ,  14 ,  16  and the deflection lever  20  and seven axes  12 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17 ,  18 ,  22 , and  38 . 
     The multi-joint hinge  1  furthermore comprises a damping element  30  for braking a closing movement. The damping element  30  has one or more linear dampers, which are articulated with the deflection lever  20  and the door bearing  3 . A spring element  40 , which is also connected between the door bearing  3  and the deflection lever  20 , is connected in parallel to the damping element  30 . The spring element  40  comprises a spring  41  formed as a coiled spring, which is guided via a telescoping spring holder. The spring holder comprises an inner part  42 , which is articulated via an axis  46  with the deflection lever  20 , and an outer part  44 , which encloses a spring axis  43  of the inner part  42  in the manner of a sleeve. The outer part  44  is articulated at the end via a bearing section  45  on an axis  56  with a spring lever  50 . The spring lever  50  is rotatably mounted on the deflection lever  20  via an axis  59 . The spring lever  50  furthermore forms a bearing for a roller  51 , which rolls on a cam element  54 . The cam element  54  is connected via two axes  22  and  55  to the lever  4 , and it is determined via the cam element  54  in which area the spring  41  tensions and relaxes. 
     The multi-joint hinge  1  is shown in a sectional view in the open position in  FIG. 5 . Although the door bearing  3  was pivoted by over 90°, the damping element  30  and the spring element  40  are located adjacent to one another and are aligned essentially parallel, similarly as shown in the closed position in  FIG. 4 . The damping element  30  comprises at least one damping axis  33 , which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of a linear damper, and the spring element  40  comprises a spring axis  43 , which extends in the action direction of the spring  41 . The damping axis  33  and the spring axis  43  are aligned approximately in parallel essentially over the entire opening area, in particular at an angle less than 20°, preferably less than 10°, particularly preferably less than 7°. The damping element  30  and the spring element  40  can thus be arranged closely adjacent to one another, which results in a particularly compact construction. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a blocking means  52  is provided as a screw on the spring lever  50 . This blocking means  52  is removed before the use of the multi-joint hinge  1 . Instead of a screw, for example, a rivet as a mounting aid screw could also lock the maximally pre-tensioned spring, for example, in the open position or 50° position of the hinge, so that the hinge can be actuated without force and can be installed harmlessly. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the multi-joint hinge  1  is shown with the individual parts in an exploded view, wherein the axes were omitted for more comprehensible illustration. The base part  2 , the second lever  4 , the fourth lever  16 , and the deflection lever  20  and also the door bearing  3  are produced from U-shaped bent metal plates. The second lever  4  has openings  60 ,  61 ,  62 , and  63  on opposing legs for the axes  12 ,  17 ,  22 , and  55 . Similarly, the fourth lever  16  has openings  152 ,  171 , and  181  on opposing legs to fix the axes  15 ,  17 , and  18  therein. An axis  13 , which engages in openings  132  on the base part  2  and openings  131  on the third lever  14 , is provided on one side on the third lever  14 . At the opposing end, the axis  15  for linking the fourth lever  16  is provided. The cover  6  is rotatably mounted via the axis  7  on the base part  2 , and the guide pin  9  in the curve guide  8  is fixed on an opening  91  on the deflection lever  20 . The deflection lever  20  has two plate-shaped side parts  23 , which are connected to one another via two spaced-apart connecting webs  24  and  25 . An opening is formed on the deflection lever  20 , which is covered by a cap  11 , between the connecting webs  24  and  25 . The cap  11  is fixed on an axis  33 , on which the two linear dampers of the damping element  30  are also held at the end. 
     The deflection lever  20  is fixed on the axis  38  on the door bearing  3 . The axis  33  extends through two eyes  31  of the linear damper in this case, wherein the linear dampers of the damping element  30  also have eyes  32  or catch elements on the opposing side, which are fixed on an axis  34  inside a holder  21 . The holder  21  holds the eyes  32  of the dampers on the axis  34  at a defined distance in relation to one another. The axis  34  extends through two openings  27  on the deflection lever  20 , which are provided adjacent to openings  28  for guiding through the axis  22 . 
     When the multi-joint hinge  1  is moved from a closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) in the opening direction, the door bearing  3  and the deflection lever  20  rotate in opposite directions around the axes  18  and  34 . The area between the connecting web  24  and the connecting web  25  thus becomes accessible from the outside. To avoid an effect on the damping element  30  and the spring element  40  from the outside, the cap  11  covers the area of the opening between the connecting webs  24  and  25 , wherein the cap  11  is moved in relation to the deflection lever  20  and hangs on the axis  33 . This area is thus also arranged protected from an access from the outside in the open state. 
     The spring element  40  comprising the spring  41  between the inner part  42  and the outer part  44  is supported via the spring lever  50  and the roller  51 , wherein the roller  51  rolls on the cam element  54  along a running surface  58 . If the multi-joint hinge  1  is closed, the roller  51  moves over a projection on the cam element  54  and can ensure a relaxation of the spring  41  from a predetermined opening angle, for example, at approximately 30°, so that in the closing area between the closed position and the opening angle of approximately 30°, the spring element  40  is active and tensions the door bearing  3  in the closing direction. 
     The use of two parallel linear dampers enables the application of higher damping forces and the braking of even heavy door weights. The linear dampers are preferably filled with oil, such as silicone oil, for example, as fluid dampers. Other linear dampers comprising a cylinder and a piston movably mounted therein and a piston rod can also be used. 
     In the spring element  40 , each spring  41  is designed as a compression spring. Of course, it is also possible to design the springs  41  as traction springs or to use more than only one spring  41  for the spring element  40 . 
     Optionally, opening damping and/or closing damping can also be achieved via the linear dampers to brake the multi-joint hinge  1  via the damping element  30  upon reaching the maximally open position and/or closed position. 
     It is also possible to generate a stepped damping force behavior during a closing or opening procedure of the hinge, by the dampers providing a differing damping action at different opening or closing angles. 
     Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  multi-joint hinge 
           2  base part 
           3  door bearing 
           4  lever 
           6  cover 
           7  axis 
           8  curve guide 
           9  guide pin 
           91  opening 
           10  tab 
           11  cap 
           12  axis 
           13  axis 
           131  opening 
           132  opening 
           14  lever 
           15  axis 
           151  opening 
           152  opening 
           16  lever 
           17  axis 
           171  opening 
           18  axis 
           181  opening 
           182  opening 
           20  deflection lever 
           21  holder 
           22  axis 
           23  side part 
           24  connecting web 
           25  connecting web 
           27  opening 
           28  opening 
           30  damping element 
           31  eye 
           32  eye 
           33  axis 
           34  axis 
           35  guide channel 
           36  catch element 
           38  axis 
           40  spring element 
           41  spring 
           42  inner part 
           43  spring axis 
           44  outer part 
           45  bearing section 
           46  axis 
           50  spring lever 
           51  roller 
           52  blocking means 
           54  cam element 
           55  axis 
           56  axis 
           58  running surface 
           59  axis 
           60  opening 
           61  opening 
           62  opening 
           63  opening