Hinge in particular for household appliance
A hinge in particular for a household appliance, for example a refrigerator, adapted to connect together at least one closing element 1, 1 ′ with the body 2 of said household appliance 3 at an opening 4 provided in said body, said hinge allowing to roto-translate said closing element 1, 1 ′ between a first operating position P 1 in which it closes said opening 4 , to a second operating position P 2 , P 3 angularly spaced by at least 90° with respect to said first operating position P 1 , and preferably angularly spaced by at least 100°, said hinge comprising: a first support structure 5 adapted to be constrained to a front bearing structure or wall 2 A of the body 2 of said household appliance 3 , a second support structure 6 adapted to be constrained to said closing element 1, 1 ′, a first 7 and a second 8 connecting element adapted to connect together said first 5 and second 6 support structures, and a first elastically deformable member 9 which interact s with at least one 8 of said two connecting element s to exert a force that pushes said closing element 1, 1 ′ against said opening 4 of the body 2 of the household appliance at least when said closing element 1, 1 ′ is in its first operating position P 1 ; wherein said first and second connecting element s 7, 8 and the first and second support structures 5, 6 form an articulated quadrilateral system 10.
1 . A hinge for a household appliance, adapted to connect together at least one closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) with the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ) at an opening ( 4 ) provided in said body, said hinge allowing to roto-translate said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between a first operating position (P 1 ) in which it closes said opening ( 4 ), to a second operating position (P 2 , P 3 ) angularly spaced by at least 90° with respect to said first operating position (P 1 ),
said hinge comprising:
a first support structure ( 5 ) comprising a first flat wall ( 5 D) adapted to be constrained to a front bearing structure or wall ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ),
a second support structure ( 6 ) comprising a second flat wall ( 6 D) adapted to be constrained to said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′),
a first ( 7 ) and a second ( 8 ) connecting element adapted to connect together said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
and a first elastically deformable member ( 9 ) which interacts with at least one ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements to exert a force that pushes said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) against said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance at least when said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) is in its first operating position (P 1 ),
wherein said first and second connecting elements ( 7 , 8 ) and the first and second support structures ( 5 , 6 ) form an articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ):
the four components of said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising: said first connecting element ( 7 ), said second connecting element ( 8 ), and at least one first ( 5 A) and one second ( 6 A) portion of said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures, respectively,
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) being adapted to define a member for opening and closing said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between said operating positions (P 1 -P 3 ),
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising hinge elements ( 12 ) of end portions ( 7 A, 7 B, 8 A, 8 B) of said first ( 7 ) and second ( 8 ) connecting elements for connection to said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
wherein in a closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ), said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) closes said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance, and said first and second flat walls ( 5 D, 6 D), of the first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures respectively, are substantially parallel to each other,
wherein:
in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 ) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) define:
a first distance (D 1 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 ) provided in a first end ( 7 A) and in a second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ),
a second distance (D 2 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 3 , A 4 ) provided in a first end ( 8 A) and in a second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a third distance (D 3 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 3 ) provided in the first end ( 7 A) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the first end ( 8 A) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a fourth distance (D 4 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 2 , A 4 ) provided in the second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
wherein:
the first distance (D 1 ) is between 150.48 mm and 152.48 mm,
the second distance (D 2 ) is between 121.81 mm and 123.81 mm,
the third distance (D 3 ) is between 45.69 mm and 47.69 mm,
the fourth distance (D 4 ) is between 19.12 mm and 21.12 mm.
2 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system, with the origin of a Cartesian axes system XY being fixed in the hinge axis (A 4 ) of the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
the horizontal distance (X 1 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 2 ) of the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), and of the second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ), respectively, is between 5.00 mm and 7.00 mm,
the horizontal distance (X 2 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 3 ) of the second and first ends ( 8 B, 8 A) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), respectively, is between 121.80 mm and 123.80 mm,
the horizontal distance (X 3 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 1 ) of the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), and of the first end ( 7 A) of the first connecting element ( 7 ), respectively, is between 155.80 mm and 157.80 mm,
the vertical distance (Y 1 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 2 ) of the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), and of the second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ), respectively, is between 18.20 mm and 20.20 mm,
the vertical distance (Y 2 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 3 ) of the second and first ends ( 8 B, 8 A) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), respectively, is between 0.50 mm and 2.50 mm,
the vertical distance (Y 3 ) between the hinge axes (A 4 and A 1 ) of the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ), and of the first end ( 7 A) of the first connecting element ( 7 ), respectively, is between 32.50 mm and 34.50 mm.
3 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system, the hinge horizontal dimension (K 1 ) is between 178 mm and 185 mm.
4 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system, the vertical dimension (K 2 ) of the first support structure ( 5 ) adapted to be constrained to the front bearing structure or wall ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance ( 3 ), can vary according to the thickness(S) of the closing element ( 1 ), constrained to the second support structure ( 6 ) of the hinge, the minimum vertical dimension (K 2 ) being between 50.20 mm and 52.20 mm.
5 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein it provides:
a first horizontal distance (X 1 ) between the rotation axes (A 4 , A 2 ), of the end pairs ( 7 B and 8 B) which are closer to each other than the first and second connecting elements ( 7 and 8 ),
a second horizontal distance (X 4 ) between the rotation axes (A 1 , A 3 ), of the end pairs ( 7 A and 8 A) which are further apart from each other than the first and second connecting elements ( 7 and 8 ),
a first vertical distance (Y 1 ) between the rotation axes (A 4 , A 2 ), of the end pairs ( 7 B and 8 B) which are closer to each other than the first and second connecting elements ( 7 and 8 ),
a second vertical distance (Y 5 ) between the rotation axes (A 1 , A 3 ), of the end pairs ( 7 A and 8 A) which are further apart from each other than the first and second connecting elements ( 7 and 8 );
wherein:
said first distance (X 1 ) is between 5.4 mm and 6.6 mm,
said second distance (X 4 ) is between 33 mm and 35 mm,
said first vertical distance (X 1 ) is between 18.20 mm and 20.20 mm,
said second vertical distance (Y 5 ) is between 31 mm and 33 mm.
6 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein the first ( 7 ) and the second ( 8 ) connecting elements are sized and shaped so that during the movement of the hinge one ( 7 ) of said two connecting elements is at least partially housed inside the other (( 8 ) connecting element, so as to reduce the empty space between one connecting element and the other.
7 . The hinge according to claim 6 , wherein one ( 7 ) of said two connecting elements has a substantially flat shape,
and in that the other ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements comprises an upper wall ( 20 A) and a lower wall ( 20 B), substantially flat and parallel to each other and connected to each other by a vertical part ( 20 C), which define a body with a 90° reversed U-shaped cross-section,
wherein the height (H 3 ) between the opposite faces of said two substantially flat and parallel walls ( 20 A-B) is greater than the height (H 4 ) of at least one portion ( 7 E, 7 F) of said one connecting element having a substantially flat shape, so that during the movement of the hinge at least one portion of said two substantially flat and parallel walls ( 20 A-B) covers said at least one portion ( 7 E, 7 F) of said one connecting element having a substantially flat shape.
8 . The hinge according claim 7 , wherein the at least one portion ( 7 E, 7 F) of said connecting element ( 7 ) having a substantially flat shape, having a height (H 4 ) less than the height (H 3 ) between the opposite faces of said two walls ( 20 A-B), substantially flat and parallel to each other comprises at an upper and lower surface of said connecting element ( 7 ), recessed portions ( 7 E, 7 F) which reduce the overall height of said connecting element ( 7 ).
9 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein one ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements comprises an upper wall ( 20 A) and a lower wall ( 20 B), substantially flat and parallel to each other and connected to each other by a vertical part ( 20 C), which define a body with a 90° reversed U-shaped cross-section so as to make its production simple and make it more stable and resistant to bending.
10 . The hinge according to claim 9 , wherein the two substantially flat and parallel walls ( 20 A-B) have an end portion ( 8 B) which is closer to the support structure ( 6 ) adapted to be constrained to said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′), having a rounded shape and protruding with respect to the main shape of said substantially flat and parallel walls ( 20 A-B), wherein said protruding end portion ( 8 B) is shaped and sized so as to be at least partially housed in a concavity of a cranked part ( 7 D) of the other connecting element ( 7 ) when the hinge is in a maximum opening position (P 2 , P 3 ), and in that the curvature of this cranked part is equal to or greater than the curvature of this protruding and rounded part ( 8 B).
11 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein one ( 7 ) of said two connecting elements has a substantially flat shape, with an arched profile which provides, going from one end portion ( 7 A) to the other ( 7 B), a first slightly arched part ( 7 C) with a first concavity, facing the outside of the hinge, and a second part ( 7 D) which provides a cranked bend with a concavity facing the inside of the hinge, and opposite to that of the arched part ( 7 C).
12 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a member ( 17 ) for adjusting the hinge maximum opening position (P 2 , P 3 ), and in that said adjustment member ( 17 ) is positioned on one of the two connecting elements ( 8 ) and acts on the other ( 7 ) by limiting the approach between the same ( 7 and 8 ).
13 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a member ( 17 ) for adjusting the hinge maximum opening position (P 2 , P 3 ), and in that said adjustment member is at least partially housed in a recessed seat ( 20 D, 20 E) provided in the body of a connecting rod ( 20 ) of said one connecting element ( 8 ).
14 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a member ( 17 ) for adjusting the hinge maximum opening position (P 2 , P 3 ), and in that said adjustment member ( 17 ) comprises an elastically deformable element ( 28 ) adapted to make the stroke of the connecting rod ( 19 ) to which said member ( 17 ) is not constrained more gradual and “softer”, in the desired end-of-stroke position.
15 . The hinge according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a second deformable member ( 14 ), adapted to act as a damper and calibrate the force (F) exerted by the first deformable member ( 9 ) during the hinge closing phase.
16 . The hinge according to claim 15 , wherein the second deformable member ( 14 ) comprises a single-acting damper, adapted to act wherein a damping effect occurs only when a door closes and not also when the door is opened.
17 . The hinge according to claim 15 , wherein the second deformable member ( 14 ) is constrained to the connecting element ( 8 ) to which said first elastically deformable member ( 9 ) is also constrained.
18 . The hinge according to claim 16 , wherein both said deformable members ( 9 , 14 ) act on said connecting element ( 8 ) to which they are connected, the second member ( 14 ) acting as a damper of the force exerted by the first member ( 9 ).
19 . A hinge for a household appliance, adapted to connect together at least one closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) with the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ) at an opening ( 4 ) provided in said body, said hinge allowing to roto-translate said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between a first operating position (P 1 ) in which it closes said opening ( 4 ), to a second operating position (P 2 , P 3 ) angularly spaced by at least 90° with respect to said first operating position (P 1 ),
said hinge comprising:
a first support structure ( 5 ) comprising a first flat wall ( 5 D) adapted to be constrained to a front bearing structure or wall ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ),
a second support structure ( 6 ) comprising a second flat wall ( 6 D) adapted to be constrained to said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′),
a first ( 7 ) and a second ( 8 ) connecting element adapted to connect together said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
and a first elastically deformable member ( 9 ) which interacts with at least one ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements to exert a force that pushes said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) against said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance at least when said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) is in its first operating position (P 1 ),
wherein said first and second connecting elements ( 7 , 8 ) and the first and second support structures ( 5 , 6 ) form an articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ):
the four components of said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising: said first connecting element ( 7 ), said second connecting element ( 8 ), and at least one first ( 5 A) and one second ( 6 A) portion of said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures, respectively,
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) being adapted to define a member for opening and closing said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between said operating positions (P 1 -P 3 ),
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising hinge elements ( 12 ) of end portions ( 7 A, 7 B, 8 A, 8 B) of said first ( 7 ) and second ( 8 ) connecting elements for connection to said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
wherein in a closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ), said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) closes said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance, and said first and second flat walls ( 5 D, 6 D), of the first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures respectively, are substantially parallel to each other,
wherein:
in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 ) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) define:
a first distance (D 1 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 ) provided in a first end ( 7 A) and in a second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ),
a second distance (D 2 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 3 , A 4 ) provided in a first end ( 8 A) and in a second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a third distance (D 3 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 3 ) provided in the first end ( 7 A) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the first end ( 8 A) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a fourth distance (D 4 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 2 , A 4 ) provided in the second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
wherein:
the first distance (D 1 ) is between 150.48 mm and 152.48 mm,
the second distance (D 2 ) is between 121.81 mm and 123.81 mm,
the third distance (D 3 ) is between 45.69 mm and 47.69 mm,
the fourth distance (D 4 ) is between 19.12 mm and 21.12 mm;
wherein one ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements comprises an upper wall ( 20 A) and a lower wall ( 20 B), substantially flat and parallel to each other and connected to each other by a vertical part ( 20 C), which define a body with a 90° reversed U-shaped cross-section so as to make its production simple and make it more stable and resistant to bending.
20 . A hinge for a household appliance, adapted to connect together at least one closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) with the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ) at an opening ( 4 ) provided in said body, said hinge allowing to roto-translate said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between a first operating position (P 1 ) in which it closes said opening ( 4 ), to a second operating position (P 2 , P 3 ) angularly spaced by at least 90° with respect to said first operating position (P 1 ),
said hinge comprising:
a first support structure ( 5 ) comprising a first flat wall ( 5 D) adapted to be constrained to a front bearing structure or wall ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ) of said household appliance ( 3 ),
a second support structure ( 6 ) comprising a second flat wall ( 6 D) adapted to be constrained to said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′),
a first ( 7 ) and a second ( 8 ) connecting element adapted to connect together said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
and a first elastically deformable member ( 9 ) which interacts with at least one ( 8 ) of said two connecting elements to exert a force that pushes said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) against said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance at least when said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) is in its first operating position (P 1 ),
wherein said first and second connecting elements ( 7 , 8 ) and the first and second support structures ( 5 , 6 ) form an articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ):
the four components of said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising: said first connecting element ( 7 ), said second connecting element ( 8 ), and at least one first ( 5 A) and one second ( 6 A) portion of said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures, respectively,
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) being adapted to define a member for opening and closing said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) between said operating positions (P 1 -P 3 ),
said articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) comprising hinge elements ( 12 ) of end portions ( 7 A, 7 B, 8 A, 8 B) of said first ( 7 ) and second ( 8 ) connecting elements for connection to said first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures,
wherein in a closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ), said closing element ( 1 , 1 ′) closes said opening ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the household appliance, and said first and second flat walls ( 5 D, 6 D), of the first ( 5 ) and second ( 6 ) support structures respectively, are substantially parallel to each other,
wherein:
in the closed position (C) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 ) of the articulated quadrilateral system ( 10 ) define:
a first distance (D 1 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 2 ) provided in a first end ( 7 A) and in a second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ),
a second distance (D 2 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 3 , A 4 ) provided in a first end ( 8 A) and in a second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a third distance (D 3 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 1 , A 3 ) provided in the first end ( 7 A) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the first end ( 8 A) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
a fourth distance (D 4 ) defined by the line passing through the hinge axes (A 2 , A 4 ) provided in the second end ( 7 B) of the first connecting element ( 7 ) and the second end ( 8 B) of the second connecting element ( 8 ),
wherein:
the first distance (D 1 ) is between 150.48 mm and 152.48 mm,
the second distance (D 2 ) is between 121.81 mm and 123.81 mm,
the third distance (D 3 ) is between 45.69 mm and 47.69 mm,
the fourth distance (D 4 ) is between 19.12 mm and 21.12 mm;
wherein the hinge comprises a member ( 17 ) for adjusting the hinge maximum opening position (P 2 , P 3 ), and in that said adjustment member ( 17 ) is positioned on one of the two connecting elements ( 8 ) and acts on the other ( 7 ) by limiting the approach between the same ( 7 and 8 ).