Patent Description:
There are known hinges which are assigned to constrain a door of a piece of furniture or of a household appliance to a respective body, so as to allow a user to move the door between the open conditions and a closed condition. These known hinges are equipped with a connection element for the connection to the body of the household appliance, and with a body comprising elastic elements, which facilitate the actuation of the door at least in the closing or opening direction, and force transmission elements to transmit the force of the elastic elements to the connection elements. The connection elements, the transmission elements and the body of the hinge are provided with pins abutting with respective cams or shaped slots for the metastable block of the door at least in a predetermined position.

A drawback of these known hinges consists in the fact that they are complex, and consequently delicate and noisy, as well as expensive due to the large number of components and the complexity required for their assembly.

Another drawback of the known hinges consists in the fact that often each of the connection elements and of the transmission elements carries both pins and cams, and that at least one pin is connected to an elastic element, consequently the machining of the individual components and their assembly are further complicated and costly in terms of time and money.

Prior art document <CIT> (C. Cerniere Meccaniche Industriali Srl [IT]) discloses a hinge according to the preamble of claim <NUM> of the present document.

Prior documents <CIT> [US]), <CIT> (Zanovello Srl [IT]) and <CIT>) define the general state of the art concerning the invention of the present document.

An object of the present invention is to propose a simplified hinge with multiple functions provided with a single elastic element.

Another object is to propose a simplified hinge with multiple functions in which the transmission element has cams and no pin, or vice versa, facilitating the production and the assembly of the components of the hinge itself.

The characteristics of the invention are highlighted below with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

With reference to <FIG>, numeral <NUM> indicates the simplified multi-function hinge object of the present invention.

The hinge <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and a connection element <NUM> mutually connected by means of a hinge pin <NUM> defining the hinge axis of the hinge itself.

The body <NUM> and the connection element <NUM> are assigned to be fixed preferably and respectively to a door and to the structure or frame of a household appliance such as an oven or a dishwasher, or vice versa the body <NUM> and the connection element <NUM> are respectively fixed to the frame and to the door of such household appliance. Alternatively, the invention provides that such device can be used as a hinge for furniture, furnishings and the like.

The body <NUM> and the connection element <NUM> can rotate with respect to each other around the hinge axis between a closed condition C of the hinge <NUM>, in which the appliance door closes an opening of an internal volume of the appliance itself, and a maximum opening condition A of the hinge <NUM>, in which the door forms a maximum opening angle with the plane defined by the edge of the opening.

The hinge <NUM> also comprises an elastic element <NUM> connected to the body <NUM> and to a transmission element <NUM>, shaped as a plate or elongated slab, by means of which it <NUM> transmits an elastic closing force between the body <NUM> and the connection element <NUM>, in other word said force tends to bring the hinge <NUM> towards the closed condition C.

A first cam <NUM>, preferably constituted by a respective slot formed through the thickness of the transmission element <NUM> in a first extreme portion <NUM> thereof, is coupled with a first pin <NUM> fixed to the connection element <NUM>, thus constraining the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> to the connection element <NUM>. Alternatively, the first cam <NUM> can consist of a shaped edge of an open concavity or slot or of a protruding protrusion of the transmission element <NUM>.

The first extreme portion <NUM> consists of the portion of the transmission element <NUM> closest to the hinge pin <NUM>.

A second extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>, opposite the first extreme portion <NUM>, is constrained to the elastic element <NUM> blocked to the body <NUM>.

A second cam <NUM>, constituted by a respective slot obtained in an intermediate portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> located between the first <NUM> and second <NUM> extreme portions, is coupled with a second pin <NUM> fixed to the body <NUM>, thus constraining the intermediate portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> to the body <NUM>.

The slots of the first cam <NUM> and of the second cam <NUM> have a transversal dimension (that is the width) equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the respective first pin <NUM> and second pin <NUM>, which are each slidably inserted through the respective cam <NUM>, <NUM>.

A third cam <NUM>, consisting of a shaped edge <NUM> of the free end of the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>, is coupled with a third pin <NUM> fixed to the connection element <NUM>, constituting a further constraint between the transmission element <NUM> and the connection element <NUM>.

The body <NUM> is a metal profile U-shaped or with a hollow rectangular section, one end of which is pivoted to the hinge pin <NUM>.

The connection element <NUM> is preferably constituted by two shaped slabs equal and parallel to each other, mutually spaced by a distance such as to allow the insertion between them of the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>. The connection element <NUM> can be removably fixed to the body of the household appliance, or to a receiver thereof or support S, by being fitted into a suitable seat of the latter, or by means of screws.

The first pin <NUM> and the third pin <NUM> are fixed between the two shaped slabs of the connection element <NUM> perpendicularly to these; the second pin <NUM> is fixed inside the body <NUM>, between two opposite faces of the latter, parallel to the first pin <NUM>, the third pin <NUM> and the hinge pin <NUM>.

The second extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>, that is the end thereof opposite the shaped edge <NUM>, has an attack <NUM> conformed by shaping the second extreme portion <NUM> itself and assigned for the connection with the elastic element <NUM>, which it is an air piston or preferably a coil spring <NUM>.

The spring <NUM> is preferably acting in compression, with one end blocked at the end of the body <NUM> opposite the pivoted end of the latter, and provided with a spring guide <NUM> connected between the opposite end of the spring <NUM> itself and the attack <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>.

Alternatively, the spring <NUM> acts in traction, with one end blocked at the end of the body <NUM> opposite to the pivoted end of such and with the opposite end, which is directed towards the hinge pin <NUM>, connected to said attack <NUM>.

The first cam <NUM> that is almost arc of circle shape whose development, that is its chord or interpolating straight line, is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the transmission element <NUM> and whose concavity faces in the opposite direction to the second extreme portion <NUM>.

The second cam <NUM> has an almost elongated "S" shape, that is in the shape of an inflection, and therefore has two consecutive concavities facing in opposite directions, and has any development, preferably approximately parallel to the longitudinal development of the transmission element <NUM>.

The shaped edge <NUM> is curvilinear and is obtained along the edge of the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> and interacts with the third pin <NUM>.

The first cam <NUM>, the second cam <NUM> and the third cam <NUM> are shaped and conformed in such a way that the third pin <NUM> abuts and is always in contact with the third cam <NUM> itself between the closed C and maximum opening A conditions of the hinge <NUM>. The shapes and positions of the first, second and third cams and the positions of the respective pins contribute to determining the behaviour of the hinge and can be modified to obtain a certain behaviour, motion or function.

For example, the third cam <NUM> preferably has concavities and convexities defining metastable positions for the respective third pin <NUM>. These metastable positions can for example correspond to at least one of the two end stroke positions of the third pin <NUM> along the third cam <NUM>, in other words at the closed C and/or maximum opening A conditions of the hinge <NUM>, but they can also correspond to further intermediate conditions of the hinge <NUM>, at predetermined partial opening angles of the hinge <NUM> itself.

Preferably, the hinge <NUM> also comprises at least one friction element <NUM> made of elastically compressible material, for example plastic, silicone or rubber, metal, and others having resilience, fixed along the edge of the second cam <NUM>. The friction element <NUM> is such as to make the transversal dimension of the lumen of the second cam <NUM> slightly smaller than the diameter of the respective second pin <NUM>, so as to oppose resistance to the sliding of such and to the mutual rotation of the body <NUM> and of the connection element <NUM> of the hinge <NUM>. The friction elements <NUM> are for example constituted by a gasket fixed by interlocking along the edge of the second cam <NUM> to form a sort of frame for the slot of the cam itself.

Alternatively or in addition, further friction elements can be fixed along the edge of the first cam <NUM> so as to oppose the sliding along it of the respective first pin <NUM>.

Optionally, at least one of the first pin <NUM>, the second pin <NUM> and the third pin <NUM> carries a roller assigned to reduce the sliding friction of the pin itself along the respective first cam <NUM> or second cam <NUM> or third cam <NUM> to avoid jamming or irregularities. Preferably, in particular, the third pin <NUM> is provided with a roller to make its sliding along the third cam <NUM> smoother and more fluid.

Preferably, the hinge <NUM> also comprises shaped holes <NUM> formed on the body <NUM> for fastening the latter to the household appliance by means of respective screws. Each of these shaped holes <NUM> has a broken shape approximately like a pinwheel having one or more protrusions <NUM>, teeth or fins, preferably four protrusions, projecting towards the inside of the shaped hole <NUM> itself and such that the minimum diameter of the shaped hole <NUM> is slightly smaller than the diameter of the respective screw. These protrusions <NUM> are assigned to be irreversibly deformed during the screwing of the respective screw to improve the grip of the screw itself to the respective shaped hole <NUM> and therefore to the body <NUM>, also reducing the risk of accidental unscrewing.

Preferably, the hinge <NUM> also comprises a blocking element <NUM> constrained to the connection element <NUM> and which can be operated manually, in correspondence with the maximum opening condition A of the hinge <NUM>, between an interference state X in which the blocking element <NUM> interferes with a blocking matching part <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> to prevent the hinge <NUM> from reaching its closed condition C, and a disengagement state Y of the blocking element <NUM>, in which it does not interfere with the transmission element <NUM> leaving the hinge <NUM> free to be operated between its closed C and maximum opening A conditions.

The blocking element <NUM> preferably consists of a pin or latch slidably constrained between two elongated slots <NUM> each formed in a respective shaped slab of the connection element <NUM> and oriented almost in the direction towards the hinge pin <NUM>. The two ends of the elongated slots <NUM> constitute the two conditions, for blocking and unblocking the hinge, for such pin or latch of the blocking element <NUM>. The disengagement state Y of the blocking element <NUM> is reached by the latter at the end of the elongated slots <NUM> furthest from the hinge pin <NUM>, while when the blocking element <NUM> is at the opposite end of the elongated slots <NUM>, in other words at the end closest to the hinge pin <NUM>, it is in its interference state X and interferes with the blocking matching part <NUM> which protrudes outwards from the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>, preventing the rotation of the transmission element <NUM> itself and of the body <NUM> towards the closed condition C of the hinge <NUM>.

A variant of the hinge <NUM> provides that the first cam <NUM> is obtained in the connection element <NUM> and that the respective first pin <NUM> is fixed to the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM>, and/or that the second cam <NUM> is double and made in two side walls of the body <NUM> with the respective second pin <NUM> fixed to the intermediate portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> so that it protrudes from both sides of the latter <NUM>, and/or that the third cam <NUM> is fixed or obtained in the connection element <NUM> or is obtained on the edges of the slabs of such connection element <NUM> and that the respective third pin <NUM> is fixed to the first extreme portion <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> protruding from both sides. Naturally, these cams <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> arranged as above described are in any case shaped so that the third pin <NUM> always results in sliding abutment with the third cam <NUM>.

With reference now to the variant of <FIG>, the hinge <NUM> comprises a blocking element <NUM> consisting of a lever or pawl pivoted to the connection element <NUM> and operable, by means of a portion of the blocking element <NUM> itself accessible from the outside of the hinge <NUM>, between the disengagement state Y and the interference state X, in correspondence with which a hooking end <NUM> of the blocking element <NUM> protruding from it, engages with the blocking matching part <NUM> of the transmission element <NUM> to prevent the sliding of the third cam <NUM> against the third pin <NUM>, in other words to prevent the movement of the transmission element <NUM> with respect to the connection element <NUM> and to block the body <NUM> in the maximum opening condition A of the hinge <NUM>.

An advantage of the present invention is that of providing a simplified multi-functions hinge equipped with a single elastic element <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Simplified multi-function hinge comprising a body (<NUM>) and a connection element (<NUM>) mutually connected by means of a hinge pin (<NUM>), said body (<NUM>) and connection element (<NUM>) being assigned to be fixed respectively to a door and to the frame or structure of an appliance or vice versa, and being rotatable with respect to each other between a closed condition (C) of the hinge (<NUM>), in which the door closes an opening of the appliance frame or structure, and a maximum opening condition (A) of the hinge (<NUM>), in which the door forms an angle of maximum opening with the plane defined by the edge of the opening; said hinge (<NUM>) also comprises an elastic element (<NUM>) connected to the body (<NUM>) to transmit, by means of a transmission element (<NUM>), an elastic closing force to the connection element (<NUM>); the transmission element (<NUM>) comprises:
- a first extreme portion (<NUM>) constrained to the connection element (<NUM>) by the coupling of a first cam (<NUM>) and a first pin (<NUM>), obtained or fixed respectively in the first extreme portion (<NUM>) and on the connection element (<NUM>) or vice versa;
- a second extreme portion (<NUM>) opposite to the first (<NUM>) and constrained to the elastic element (<NUM>) blocked to the body (<NUM>);
- an intermediate portion (<NUM>) between the first (<NUM>) and second (<NUM>) extreme portions constrained to the body (<NUM>) by the coupling of a second cam (<NUM>) and a second pin (<NUM>), obtained or fixed respectively in the intermediate portion (<NUM>) and on the body (<NUM>) or vice versa;
the hinge (<NUM>) being characterized in that said transmission element (<NUM>) is constrained to the connection element (<NUM>) also by the coupling of a third cam (<NUM>) and a third pin (<NUM>), obtained or fixed respectively in the transmission element (<NUM>) and on the connection element (<NUM>) or vice versa.