Patent Description:
A hinge is used to install a door plate to an installing surface of a wall or a door frame, and can make the door plate pivot relative to the installing surface to open or close the door plate. The hinge usually comprises a fixation seat, a shaft and a door-fixing component. The fixation seat is mounted on the installing surface. The shaft is mounted through the fixation seat and connects the door-fixing component. The door plate is mounted at the door-fixing component, so it can pivot via the door-fixing component and the shaft relative to the installing surface, which is connected with the fixation seat.

Additionally, compared to the normal hinge, a lift hinge nowadays further comprises a lift assembly. The lift assembly is mounted at the fixation seat. The shaft of the lift hinge is mounted at the lift assembly and connects the door-fixing component. When the door plate is closed, a bottom of the door plate is near the ground. When the door plate, mounted at the door-fixing component, is pushed, the lift assembly lifts the door-fixing component and the shaft relative to the fixation seat, so the door plate is lifted to prevent the bottom of the door plate from scratching the ground and getting damaged.

However, the lift hinge nowadays can only be used to install the door plate to a surface at one side. That is, the lift hinge can only install the door plate at either the left-side or the right-side installing surface of a wall or a door frame. For the installing surface at a left side of the door plate, a left-side lift hinge is required to connect the door plate and the left-side installing surface. As for the installing surface at a right side of the door plate, a right-side lift hinge is required to connect the door plate and the right-side installing surface. If misusing the left-side lift hinge to connect the door plate and the right-side installing surface, when the door plate is pushed, the left-side lift hinge will lower the door plate, causing it to scratch the ground. So, the lift hinge nowadays is not universal for installing the door plate at both of the left-side and right-side installing surfaces, causing inconvenience in installation, usage and manufacture, and therefore needs to be improved.

A door with a hinge with integrated stop damping is disclosed in <CIT>. A hinge for door is disclosed in Korean patent publication No. <CIT>.

The objective of the invention is to provide a hinge mechanism to resolve the drawback of a conventional lift hinge that can only be used to install a door plate to one single side of a wall, cannot be used to install the door plate at both left-side and right-side installing surfaces, and therefore is inconvenient in installation, usage and manufacture.

This objective is achieved by a hinge mechanism according to independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments.

The hinge mechanism is used to install a door plate to an installing surface of a wall or door frame. The fixation seat is mounted on the installing surface, and the door plate is installed to the door-fixing component of the movable assembly. According to at which of a left or a right side of the door plate the installing surface is located, a user connects the shaft to the chosen first or second guided assembly, so the shaft is connected and driven with the chosen one of the guided assemblies and is not driven with the other one of the guided assemblies. When pushed, the door plate pivots relative to the installing surface via the shaft, and is lifted or lowered as the shaft is moved with the first guided assembly or the second guided assembly, wherein the first guided assembly is guided by the first guiding element and the second guided assembly is guided by the second guiding element.

In addition, by the shaft optionally connected to the first guided assembly, guided by the first guiding element, or the second guided assembly, guided by the second guiding element, the door plate, the door-fixing component and the shaft can be moved up and down. Because the first guided assembly and the second guided assembly are guided to move away from each other or move back, the user can install the door plate to any of the left-side and right-side installing surfaces. By choosing to connect the shaft with the first guided assembly or the second guided assembly, the door plate is lifted when pushed open and is lowered when returning to its original position, the door plate functions in lifting and lowering normally, and is therefore convenient in installation, usage and manufacture.

With reference to <FIG>, a hinge mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a fixation seat <NUM>, a first guided assembly <NUM>, a second guided assembly <NUM> and a movable assembly <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the fixation seat <NUM> has a first containing indentation <NUM>, a second containing indentation <NUM>, a first guiding element <NUM> and a second guiding element <NUM>. The first containing indentation <NUM> and the second containing indentation <NUM> are arranged axially up and down and opposite to each other, and are in spatial communication with each other. The first guiding element <NUM> is mounted in the first containing indentation <NUM>. The second guiding element <NUM> is mounted in the second containing indentation <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first guided assembly <NUM> is mounted at the first containing indentation <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM>, corresponds to and abuts the first guiding element <NUM>. The second guided assembly <NUM> is mounted at the second containing indentation <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM>, corresponds to and abuts the second guiding element <NUM>. The first guided assembly <NUM> is guided by the first guiding element <NUM> to move away from the second guided assembly <NUM> or move back to its original position, and the second guided assembly <NUM> is guided by the second guiding element <NUM> to move away from the first guided assembly <NUM> or move back to its original position.

With reference to <FIG>, the movable assembly <NUM> comprises a shaft <NUM> and a door-fixing component <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is axially movable and pivotable, and is mounted through the fixation seat <NUM>, the first containing indentation <NUM> and the second containing indentation <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is optionally connected to one of the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM>. The door-fixing component <NUM> is mounted at the shaft <NUM>, such that the door-fixing component <NUM> is pivotable relative to the fixation seat <NUM> via the shaft <NUM>. When the shaft <NUM> is connected to the first guided assembly <NUM>, while the door-fixing component <NUM> is pivoted, the door-fixing component <NUM> is moved up and down via the first guided assembly <NUM> guided by the first guiding element <NUM>. When the shaft <NUM> is connected to the second guided assembly <NUM>, while the door-fixing component <NUM> is pivoted, the door-fixing component <NUM> is moved up and down via the second guided assembly <NUM> guided by the second guiding element <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the hinge mechanism is used to install a door plate <NUM> to an installing surface <NUM> of a wall or a door frame. The fixation seat <NUM> is mounted on the installing surface <NUM>, and the door plate <NUM> is installed to the door-fixing component <NUM> of the movable assembly <NUM>. A user operates the shaft <NUM> to connect it with the chosen first guided assembly <NUM> or second guided assembly <NUM>. When being pushed, the door plate <NUM> pivots relative to the installing surface <NUM> via the shaft <NUM>, and is lifted or lowered by cooperation between the first guided assembly <NUM> and the first guiding element <NUM> or by cooperation between the second guided assembly <NUM> and the second guiding element <NUM>. In addition, the door plate <NUM> can be made of glass, metal or other materials.

Besides, with reference to <FIG>, the first guided assembly <NUM> comprises a first moved element <NUM>, a first elastic element <NUM> and a first connecting element <NUM>. The first moved element <NUM> is capable of moving up and down, is pivotable, is mounted in the first containing indentation <NUM>, and abuts the first guiding element <NUM>. The first elastic element <NUM> abuts the first moved element <NUM> and the door-fixing component <NUM>. The first connecting element <NUM> is optionally operated to connect the first moved element <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>. The second guided assembly <NUM> comprises a second moved element <NUM>, a second elastic element <NUM> and a second connecting element <NUM>. The second moved element <NUM> is capable of moving up and down, is pivotable, is mounted in the second containing indentation <NUM>, and abuts the second guiding element <NUM>. The second elastic element <NUM> abuts the second moved element <NUM> and the door-fixing component <NUM>. The second connecting element <NUM> is optionally operated to connect the second moved element <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>.

Additionally, the door-fixing component <NUM> comprises two position-limiting rings <NUM> mounted on the shaft <NUM>. The first elastic element <NUM> and the second elastic element <NUM> respectively abut the two position-limiting rings <NUM>.

Furthermore, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> has a first screw hole <NUM> and a second screw hole <NUM> that are arranged up and down and spaced apart from each other. The first connecting element <NUM> is threaded and is fastened in the first screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. The second connecting element <NUM> is threaded and is fastened in the second screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is mounted through the first moved element <NUM> and the second moved element <NUM>. The first moved element <NUM> has a first cooperating hole <NUM> corresponding to the first screw hole <NUM>. The second moved element <NUM> has a second cooperating hole <NUM> corresponding to the second screw hole <NUM>. By operating the first connecting element <NUM> to connect the first moved element <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>, the first connecting element <NUM> reaches into the first cooperating hole <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM>. By operating the second connecting element <NUM> to connect the second moved element <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>, the second connecting element <NUM> reaches into the second cooperating hole <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first guiding element <NUM> has one or two first slopes <NUM>. Two ends of the one or two first slopes <NUM> are away from the second guiding element <NUM> relative to a middle point of the one or two first slopes <NUM>. The first moved element <NUM> abuts the one or two first slopes <NUM> of the first guiding element <NUM> and is guided by the one or two first slopes <NUM> to be moved up and down and pivoted. The second guiding element <NUM> has one or two second slopes <NUM>. Two ends of the one or two second slopes <NUM> are away from the first guiding element <NUM> relative to a middle point of the one or two second slopes <NUM>. The second moved element <NUM> abuts the one or two second slopes <NUM> of the second guiding element <NUM> and is guided by the one or two second slopes <NUM> to be moved up and down and pivoted.

Moreover, the one or two first slopes <NUM> of the first guiding element <NUM> comprise two first inclined segments <NUM>, which are opposite to each other, and a first level segment <NUM> disposed between the two first inclined segments <NUM>. The first moved element <NUM> has one or two first cooperating portions <NUM> abutting the one or two first slopes <NUM>. A contour of the one or two first cooperating portions <NUM> corresponds to a contour of the one or two first slopes <NUM>. The one or two second slopes <NUM> of the second guiding element <NUM> comprise two second inclined segments <NUM>, which are opposite to each other, and a second level segment <NUM> disposed between the two second inclined segments <NUM>. The second moved element <NUM> has one or two second cooperating portions <NUM> abutting the one or two second slopes <NUM>. A contour of the one or two second cooperating portions <NUM> corresponds to a contour of the one or two second slopes <NUM>. Preferably, an amount of the one or two first slopes <NUM> of the first guiding element <NUM> is two, and an amount of the one or two second slopes <NUM> of the second guiding element <NUM> is two. Therefore, guidance stability of the first moved element <NUM> guided by the first guiding element <NUM> and the second moved element <NUM> guided by the second guiding element <NUM> are increased.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, by operating the first connecting element <NUM>, letting it reach into the first cooperating hole <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM> while fastened in the shaft <NUM>, the user can choose to connect the shaft <NUM> with the first guided assembly <NUM>. Hence, when the shaft <NUM> pivots, the one or two first cooperating portions <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM> move along one of the two first inclined segments <NUM> of the one or two first slopes <NUM> of the first guiding element <NUM>, and therefore the door-fixing component <NUM> is lifted or lowered along with the shaft <NUM> and the first moved element <NUM>. Alternatively, by operating the second connecting element <NUM>, letting it reach into the second cooperating hole <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM> while fastened in the shaft <NUM>, the user can choose to connect the shaft <NUM> with the second guided assembly <NUM>. Hence, when the shaft <NUM> pivots, the one or two second cooperating portions <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM> move along one of the two second inclined segments <NUM> of the one or two second slopes <NUM> of the second guiding element <NUM>, and therefore the door-fixing component <NUM> is lifted or lowered along with the shaft <NUM> and the second moved element <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the fixation seat <NUM> comprises an assembling plate <NUM> and a fixation component <NUM>, which is mounted at the assembling plate <NUM>. The first containing indentation <NUM> and the second containing indentation <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM> are formed in the fixation component <NUM>, which has two penetrating holes <NUM>. The assembling plate <NUM> can be mounted at the installing surface <NUM> of a wall or a door frame.

In addition, the movable assembly <NUM> comprises a cover <NUM>, which is disposed in the door-fixing component <NUM> and shields the fixation component <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM>, the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is mounted through the cover <NUM>, which has two through holes <NUM> respectively corresponding to the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM> in position.

With reference to <FIG>, when the movable assembly <NUM> is at a starting position, the two penetrating holes <NUM> of the fixation component <NUM> respectively align with the two through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. The one or two first cooperating portions <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM> are completely attached to the one or two first slopes <NUM> of the first guiding element <NUM>. The first cooperating hole <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM> aligns with the first screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and with one of the two through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. The one or two second cooperating portions <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM> are completely attached to the one or two second slopes <NUM> of the second guiding element <NUM>. The second cooperating hole <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM> aligns with the second screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and with the other one of the two through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. Therefore, when the movable assembly <NUM> is at the starting position, the user can use a tool passing through the two through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and the two penetrating holes <NUM> of the fixation component <NUM> to operate the first connecting element <NUM> and the second connecting element <NUM>, so the shaft <NUM> is connected to one of the first connecting element <NUM> and the second connecting element <NUM> and is disconnected from the other.

With reference to <FIG>, when the door plate <NUM> is being pushed, the door plate <NUM>, the door-fixing component <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> are moved up and down because the shaft <NUM> is moved with the first guided assembly <NUM>, which is guided by the first guiding element <NUM>, or with the second guided assembly <NUM>, which is guided by the second guiding element <NUM>. Because the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM> are guided to move away from each other or move back, the user can install the door plate <NUM> to any of the left-side and right-side installing surfaces <NUM>. By installing the fixation seat <NUM> of the hinge mechanism at the installing surface <NUM> and choosing to connect the shaft <NUM> with the first guided assembly <NUM> or the second guided assembly <NUM>, the door plate <NUM> is lifted and lowered normally. The door plate <NUM> is lifted when pushed open and is lowered when returning to its original position, that is, when moved away from the original position, the movable assembly <NUM> lifts the door plate <NUM>, and when moved back to the original position, the movable assembly <NUM> lowers the door plate <NUM>. Therefore, the hinge mechanism is convenient in installation, usage and manufacture.

To be specific, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, to install the door plate <NUM> at the left-side installing surface <NUM>, the user operates the first connecting element <NUM> to let it reach into the first cooperating hole <NUM> of the first moved element <NUM> and fasten at the first screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> simultaneously to connect the shaft <NUM> and the first moved element <NUM>. Then the user operates the second connecting element <NUM>, letting it fasten into the second screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and detach from the second cooperating hole <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM>. So, when the door plate <NUM> is being pushed, the door-fixing component <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> move up and down by cooperation between the first moved element <NUM> and the first guiding element <NUM>. While the movable assembly <NUM> moves up, the second elastic element <NUM> is compressed. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, to install the door plate <NUM> at the right-side installing surface <NUM>, the user operates the second connecting element <NUM> to let it reach into the second cooperating hole <NUM> of the second moved element <NUM> and fasten at the second screw hole <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> simultaneously to connect the shaft <NUM> and the second moved element <NUM>. Then detach the shaft <NUM> and the first moved element <NUM>, so the door-fixing component <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> can move up and down by cooperation between the second moved element <NUM> and the second guiding element <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the movable assembly <NUM> is moved, that is, when the door plate <NUM> is pushed so the movable assembly <NUM> is moved away from the original position, the cover <NUM> is lifted along with the movable assembly <NUM>. The cover <NUM> shields the fixation component <NUM> of the fixation seat <NUM>, the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM>, thus preventing external objects from entering the cover <NUM> to ensure operation fluency of the movable assembly <NUM>. This further avoids an internal environment of the door plate <NUM> being seen from an external environment when the door plate <NUM> is pushed open, therefore increasing aesthetic appeal.

Besides, the fixation component <NUM>, the first guiding element <NUM> and the second guiding element <NUM> can be one-piece formed or can be independent units. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first containing indentation <NUM> has at least one first position-limiting groove <NUM>. The second containing indentation <NUM> has at least one second position-limiting groove <NUM>. The first guiding element <NUM> has at least one first position-limiting protrusion <NUM> reaching into the at least one first position-limiting groove <NUM> to limit the first guiding element <NUM> in position. The second guiding element <NUM> has at least one second position-limiting protrusion <NUM> reaching into the at least one second position-limiting groove <NUM> to limit the second guiding element <NUM> in position. If the fixation component <NUM>, the first guiding element <NUM> and the second guiding element <NUM> are independent units, then by cooperation between the position-limiting grooves and position-limiting protrusions, the first guiding element <NUM> does not pivot in the first containing indentation <NUM>, and the second guiding element <NUM> does not pivot in the second containing indentation <NUM>, thereby increasing operation stability of the movable assembly <NUM>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG>, the door-fixing component <NUM> comprises a foundation plate <NUM> and a clamping plate <NUM> mounted at the foundation plate <NUM>. The movable assembly <NUM> comprises two pressing elements <NUM> and multiple pressing screws <NUM>. The two pressing elements <NUM> are fixed at the foundation plate <NUM> with the multiple pressing screws <NUM>. The two pressing elements <NUM> and the foundation plate <NUM> together clamp two ends of the shaft <NUM> to connect the shaft <NUM> and the door-fixing component <NUM>. The foundation plate <NUM> and the clamping plate <NUM> together clamp the door plate <NUM> to install it on the door-fixing component <NUM>.

To sum up, the first guided assembly <NUM> and the second guided assembly <NUM> are respectively guided by the first guiding element <NUM> and the second guiding element <NUM> to move away from each other or move back. Therefore, by connecting the shaft <NUM> with the first guided assembly <NUM> or the second guided assembly <NUM>, the movable assembly <NUM> drives the door plate <NUM> up and down normally regardless that the fixation seat <NUM> is mounted at the left-side or right-side installing surface <NUM>. So, the hinge mechanism can be used to install the door plate <NUM> to both the left-side and right-side installing surfaces <NUM>, and therefore is convenient in installation, usage and manufacture.

Claim 1:
A hinge mechanism, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
a fixation seat (<NUM>) having
a first containing indentation (<NUM>);
a first guiding element (<NUM>) mounted in the first containing indentation (<NUM>);
a first guided assembly (<NUM>), which is mounted at the first containing indentation (<NUM>) of the fixation seat (<NUM>), corresponds to and abuts the first guiding element (<NUM>);
a movable assembly (<NUM>) comprising
a shaft (<NUM>) axially movable and pivotable, mounted through the fixation seat (<NUM>) and the first containing indentation (<NUM>); and
a door-fixing component (<NUM>) mounted at the shaft (<NUM>), such that the door-fixing component (<NUM>) is pivotable relative to the fixation seat (<NUM>) via the shaft (<NUM>);
wherein when the shaft (<NUM>) is connected to the first guided assembly (<NUM>), the pivoting door-fixing component (<NUM>) is moved up and down via the first guided assembly (<NUM>) guided by the first guiding element (<NUM>);
wherein the hinge mechanism is characterized in that:
the fixation seat (<NUM>) has
a second containing indentation (<NUM>); the first containing indentation (<NUM>) and the second containing indentation (<NUM>) arranged axially up and down and opposite to each other and in spatial communication with each other;
a second guiding element (<NUM>) mounted in the second containing indentation (<NUM>);
the hinge mechanism comprises
a second guided assembly (<NUM>), which is mounted at the second containing indentation (<NUM>) of the fixation seat (<NUM>), corresponds to and abuts the second guiding element (<NUM>);
the first guided assembly (<NUM>) is guided by the first guiding element (<NUM>) to move away from the second guided assembly (<NUM>) or move back, and the second guided assembly (<NUM>) is guided by the second guiding element (<NUM>) to move away from the first guided assembly (<NUM>) or move back;
the shaft (<NUM>) is mounted through the second containing indentation (<NUM>) and optionally connected to one of the first guided assembly (<NUM>) and the second guided assembly (<NUM>); and
when the shaft (<NUM>) is connected to the second guided assembly (<NUM>), the pivoting door-fixing component (<NUM>) is moved up and down via the second guided assembly (<NUM>) guided by the second guiding element (<NUM>).