Self-close and slow-close hinge
A hinge includes a hinge body, a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, and a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body. The hinge body has a first portion rotatable with respect to a second portion between an open position and a closed position. The self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion. The closing force urges the first portion to the closed position. The slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position. The damping force slows a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position.
1 . A hinge, comprising:
a hinge body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion between an open position and a closed position;
a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion, the closing force urging the first portion to the closed position; and
a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the damping force slowing a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position.
2 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the opened angle of rotation is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 180°.
3 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the opened angle of rotation is less than 20°.
4 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the opened angle of rotation is greater than or equal to 45°.
5 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the slow-close mechanism has a damping element including a damping housing, a shaft extending from the damping housing, and an engagement mechanism positioned within the damping housing.
6 . The hinge of claim 5 , wherein the damping housing defines a mechanism receiving space containing the engagement mechanism and a viscous liquid.
7 . The hinge of claim 5 , wherein the engagement mechanism includes a one-way clutch.
8 . The hinge of claim 7 , wherein the engagement mechanism includes a plurality of gears and an inner rotor, the one-way clutch is engaged with the gears and the inner rotor when the shaft rotates in a first direction.
9 . The hinge of claim 8 , wherein engagement of the one-way clutch with the gears and the inner rotor applies the damping force to the shaft as the shaft rotates in the first direction.
10 . The hinge of claim 8 , wherein the one-way clutch slips and the shaft rotates freely in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
11 . The hinge of claim 10 , wherein the shaft rotates in the second direction during rotation from the closed position to the opened angle of rotation.
12 . The hinge of claim 9 , wherein the damping element is a rotary hydraulic damper when the shaft rotates in the first direction.
13 . The hinge of claim 5 , wherein the slow-close mechanism has a damper stop disposed on the shaft.
14 . The hinge of claim 13 , wherein the damper stop has a damper protrusion engaging the second portion of the hinge body, the damper stop and the shaft rotate with the second portion of the hinge body.
15 . The hinge of claim 5 , wherein the damping housing rotates with the first portion of the hinge body.
16 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the self-close mechanism includes a center pin, a bottom pin, and a torsion spring held between the center pin and the bottom pin, the torsion spring applies the closing force.
17 . The hinge of claim 16 , wherein the bottom pin is rotatable within the hinge body to adjust the closing force by rotating the torsion spring.
18 . The hinge of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first housing and a first flange extending from the first housing, and the second portion has a pair of second housings connected by a second flange, the first housing is positioned between the second housings, the self-close mechanism and the slow-close mechanism are positioned in the first housing and the second housings.
19 . A door assembly, comprising:
a door; and
a hinge attached to the door and controlling rotational movement of the door, the hinge including:
a hinge body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion between an open position and a closed position;
a self-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the self-close mechanism applies a closing force on the first portion from an opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position having a 0° angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion, the closing force urging the first portion to the closed position; and
a slow-close mechanism disposed within the hinge body, the slow-close mechanism applies a damping force on the first portion from the opened angle of rotation between the first portion and the second portion to the closed position, the damping force slowing a rotational speed of the first portion to the closed position.
20 . The door assembly of claim 18 , wherein the door has a panel, the first portion is attached to a hinge side of the panel and the door has a frame piece with an angled flange on a free side of the panel opposite the hinge side.