Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including adjustment for changing relative orientation of...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-07
2003-03-18
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including adjustment for changing relative orientation of...
C016S238000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06532626
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an adjustable hinge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable hinges of this type serve to connect two cabinet/furniture components to one another in that the adjustable hinge is fastened to a cabinet/furniture component (for example, door) with a cabinet hinge and fastened to another cabinet/furniture component (for example, the cabinet body) with a baseplate. There is a spring mechanism between the cabinet hinge and the baseplate to snap this on and off the cabinet hinge that is fastened to the cabinet/furniture component. On the other hand, a hinge arm is fastened on the other side of the spring mechanism, which is connected to the baseplate by means of an adjustment plate, whose baseplate is then connected to a second cabinet/furniture component.
The distance piece is connected releasable by a stop screw to the hinge arm and to others by a so-called side adjustment screw with which the distance can be set between the hinge arm and the distance piece. Together, with the setting of this distance between the hinge arm and the distance piece, the side movement of the cabinet hinge then goes somewhat perpendicular around to the rest of the hinge, so that the first cabinet/furniture component (for example, door) moves somewhat perpendicular to the second cabinet/furniture component (for example, the body of the cabinet). Consequently, the doors can then be moved laterally in the width of the cabinet in such a manner that the vertical side panels of the cabinet then align with the doors.
DE 2660736 C2 shows an adjustable hinge, according to the above-mentioned type, with a distance piece into which a stop screw and an adjustment screw are screwed. The stop screw then engages through the hinge arm and is screwed down and fixed on the baseplate. The adjustment screw is attached with its ring-shaped groove underneath its screw head in an elongated hole in the hinge arm and can, thus, move by turning the distance piece somewhat in the direction of the screw symmetry line relative to the hinge arm. The distance piece then engages with the flanges into the baseplate's horizontal grooves.
The disadvantage of this version is that between the adjustment screw's ring-shaped groove and the hinge arm and between the distance piece and the baseplate's grooves, there is a relatively large clearance that does not allow exact adjustment. The adjustment screw has a large screw head, resulting in a relatively large overall height. Additionally, the assembly is complicated because the adjustment screw then has to be inserted in the borehole provided in the hinge arm. Afterwards, a piece must be screwed into the thread in the distance piece and, then, must be pushed into the hinge arm's elongated hole. Furthermore, there is not much sturdiness in this connection because the adjustment screw merely rests in an non-reinforced elongated hole in the hinge arm, and the hinge arm can deform flexibly or plastic under the effects of force. As a result of this, again, an exact adjustment cannot be made. Also, the strength and stability are decreased by the adjustment screw's reduction in the area of the cross section because of the ring-shaped groove.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,740, likewise, shows an adjustable hinge with stop screws and adjustment screws, according to the above known general type. As in DE 26 60 736 C2, a stop screw is provided; however, the adjustment screw shows the functional reversal. The elongated hole is now no longer provided in the hinge arm, but instead, in the distance piece in whose elongated hole the adjustment screw's lower ring-shaped groove engages so that the adjustment screw is screwed into the thread in the hinge arm. The elongated hole is formed open to the edge of the distance piece. The distance piece is fastened by tabs and is specially formed as a leaf or compound spring on the baseplate. Again, the disadvantage here is that there is a lot of clearance or play between the adjustment's plate's ring-shaped groove and the distance piece, as well as between the distance piece and the baseplate. There is relatively little durability or strength because the elongated hole is not additionally strengthened and is also open on one side. Here, too, the stability and strength are decreased by the adjustment screw's reduction in the area of the cross section because of the ring-shaped groove. Additionally, only a slight adjustment is possible because by tilting the adjustment screw in the elongated hole, a further adjustment between the hinge arm and the distance piece is no longer possible since the adjustment screw is wedged there.
WO 97/22773 shows a version similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,740 with the same disadvantages. Here, however, an adjustment is also possible somewhat in the longitudinal axis of the distance piece and the hinge arm by means of a complicated mechanism with spiral screw, gear rack and tilting lever. Because of the multitude of these structural components, there is additional play or clearance, which operates in a negative manner on the precise adjustability and sturdiness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The task of the invention is to develop an adjustable hinge of the above described type which adjusts between the hinge arm and baseplate or between the distance piece and with it two (cabinet/furniture) components, so that a simple, precise and reproducible adjustment can be made without damaging the hinge, while simultaneously designing a hinge that is simpler, lighter and more economical.
The fundamental characteristic here is the adjustment screw represents a set screw, which has on its one end a device for the releasable coupling with a tool, and, on the other end, has a plate with a larger diameter; whereby, the lower surface of the plate, when assembled in the adjustable hinge, rests on the baseplate and on the plate's upper surface, the edge of the adjustment plate's elongated hole.
The advantage here is that there is practically no clearance or play between the hinge arm and the adjustment plate and that there is only a slight play or clearance between the adjustment plate and baseplate, resulting in an adjustment that is easy, precise and reproducible.
Also here, a simple assembly/disassembly of the adjustment screw is Guaranteed because no threading of the adjustment screw's ring-shaped groove into the elongated hole, perhaps by additional bore holes in the hinge arm, is necessary.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate's surface bottom side and/or surface upper side are designed spherical or cone-shaped.
This offers the advantage that, independently from the adjustment path, the bearing surface between the adjustment screw's plate and the adjustment plate always has an approximately constant size and, thus, increases the durability and service life and, additionally, guarantees an accurate, easy and reproducible adjustment.
Furthermore, it is preferred that this bearing surface in the bearing area of the plate on the baseplate is designed, likewise, spherical or cone-shaped, to fit the plate shape. Because of this, the bearing surface is increased and the plate is stabilized on the baseplate.
Here the advantage is that the clearance or play is almost constant, which again, results in a simple, precise and reproducible adjustment process. That also rules out a tilting and with that, a wedging of the adjustment screw in the-elongated hole, because the ring-shaped groove is missing completely with this state-of technology, and, so, larger range of adjustment can be made.
It is preferred that if the elongated hole in the adjustment plate is designed closed, thus, an enclosed opening by the material of the adjustment plate and not as an open release or catch, which runs openly to the edge of the adjustment plate. This results in additional advantages with regard to the adjustment plate's strength and stability and, thus, the entire hinge. This embodiment of the adjustment plate with an closed elongated hole is possible only
Albrecht Markus
Muller Wolfgang
Grass GmbH
Harrington John M.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Knight Anthony
Pickard Alison K.
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