Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-23
2002-08-27
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
C016S249000, C016S254000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06438799
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a hinge with a casing portion and a lid portion which is movably supported, preferably pivoted, on the casing portion.
Such hinges are already known. They possess two portions which are movable (for example in the form of a four-bar), preferably rotatable, relative to each other. One of the two portions can be termed the casing portion or hinge casing, the other portion can be termed the lid portion or the movable hinge portion. The casing portion can be connected to a stationary portion of a piece of furniture (that is the furniture body) or of an appliance, for example a freezer. The lid portion can be connected to the movable part of a piece of furniture (for example a cabinet door) or to the movable part of an appliance, for example the lid of a freezer.
During assembly, the hinge is connected to the parts of a piece of furniture or appliance named above. This can be done by means of a screw connection, but also in any other manner.
In a known hinge for a freezer, which is shown in
FIG. 8
, the casing portion
1
is connected to a freezer
17
by screws
2
. The lid portion
4
pivoted at a axis of rotation
3
on the casing portion
1
must be connected to the lid
7
of the freezer by further screws
5
,
6
.
The hinge comprises a compression spring
8
whose lower end lies on a spring plate
9
which possesses a recess at its centre with which it is supported on a projection
10
of the casing portion
1
. The upper end of the compression spring
8
is supported on a collar
11
which is provided on a spring rod
12
which possesses at its upper end a recess
13
with which it connects to an axle
14
provided on the lid portion
4
. The axle
14
is located at a distance to the axis of rotation
3
. It is moreover movable along a guideway
15
provided in the casing portion
1
which guideway is formed by a cutout
16
and which is located in the side walls of the casing portion
1
. The ends of the cutout
16
form stops for the axle
14
whose rotation capability around the axis of rotation
3
is restricted in this way, in the example in
FIG. 8
to slightly more than 90°. The assembly is here made in such a way that the hinge is closed over the neutral point by means of the compression spring . The axle
14
in the representation of
FIG. 8
is therefore located slightly to the left of, that is outside, the connecting line between the contact point of the central recess of the spring plate
9
on the projection
10
and the axis of rotation
3
. In the position shown in
FIG. 8
, the compression spring
8
presses the axle
14
against the left end of the cutout
16
, which forms a stop, so that by means of the action of the compression spring
8
the hinge remains stably in the position shown in FIG.
8
.
The hinge is supplied in the stable position shown in FIG.
8
. It is then located in the assembly position with biased spring. To ensure that the hinge does not snap open and the discharge of the spring bias lead to dangers, the hinge is closed over the neutral point in the manner described and in the way shown in FIG.
8
. However, this has the disadvantage that the lower screw
6
, with which the lid portion
4
is to be connected to the lid
7
, protrudes in the manner visible from
FIG. 8
so that the lower screw
6
is difficult to fit. Furthermore, when the screw connection
6
is tightened, the lid
7
is drawn close. To allow this assembly to be performed, the lid
7
must therefore be movable on the freezer body
17
in order to be able to reach the final position. For the same reason, a vertical movement also occurs so that the lower fastening screws
6
of the lid portion can only be tightened in a second step.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a hinge of the type first described which can be assembled in a more simple manner.
This object is solved in accordance with the invention by providing on the casing portion or on the lid portion a retaining part by means of which the relative position of both portions (that is of the casing portion and the lid portion) are fixed in place. Preferably, the casing portion and the lid portion are fixed in place relative to each other in the assembly position. The casing portion and the lid portion can then be assembled without problem. With the hinge shown in
FIG. 8
, the disadvantages described above do not occur.
Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims.
Preferably, the retaining part is provided on the casing portion. However, it can also be disposed on the lid portion.
In accordance with another advantageous further development, a tension spring is provided on one of the two portions (casing portion or lid portion). Preferably, the spring in question is a compression spring. By means of the tension spring or compression spring a force is exerted on the casing portion and lid portion which moves these two parts relative to each other.
The tension spring or compression spring can be provided on the casing portion of the hinge. However, it is also possible to provide it on the lid portion. Furthermore, a further part can be provided, for example a spring rod or another part by means of which the force exerted by the tension spring or compression spring is exerted on the housing portion and/or the lid portion.
Preferably, the retaining part is made of plastic.
Another advantageous further development is characterised in that the retaining part is inserted in an aperture, preferably in a punched-out opening, in the housing portion or the lid portion. The retaining part is therefore located in this aperture or punched-out opening. Preferably, the retaining part is designed so that it does not protrude. It is advantageous if the retaining part does not protrude on the hinge side, which may be formed by a bent or canted metal plate, so that the packing of the hinges can be performed without hindrance.
Another advantageous further development is characterised in that the aperture or punched-out opening possesses the shape of a polygon. Preferably, the shape of a regular polygon is used. The shape of a square is particularly suitable. The aperture or punched-out opening can, however, also have the shape of an oblong. It is furthermore advantageous if the aperture or punched-out opening possesses a shape which represents security against twisting.
Preferably, the retaining part possesses a serration. In that hinge portion in which the retaining part is not located, a corresponding counter-serration is preferably provided. If, therefore, the retaining part is provided on the casing portion, the counter-serration is located on the lid portion or on a part of the lid portion. If the retaining part is provided on the lid portion, the serration is located on the casing portion or a part of the casing portion. When the serration engages the counter-serration, the relative position of the casing portion and the lid portion is fixed in place.
The serration consists here of at least one tooth. A tooth can here be understood to mean any part of the retaining part which forms a fixing or twist security or any other movement security by acting together with a corresponding other part forming a counter-serration. For example, the tooth may be a projection and the counter-serration a corresponding recess. The serration can, however, also comprise multiple teeth, with the teeth being able to be formed by projections.
Another advantageous further development is characterised in that the serration is provided on several sides of the retaining part, preferably on all sides of the retaining part. This is particularly advantageous when the retaining part possesses the shape of a polygon, preferably the shape of a regular polygon, preferably the shape of a square. In this case, it is advantageous if the serration is provided on several sides of the polygon, preferably on all sides. If the retaining part is formed as a regular polygon, it can be used repeatedly by a twist.
Preferably, that part of the hinge portions or th
Dilworth & Barrese LLP
Williams Mark
LandOfFree
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