Damper device for furniture hinges, in particular for hinges of the toggle type, and furniture hinge, in particular a hinge of the toggle type, comprising such a damper device

Abstract

 A damper device (10) for furniture hinges (100), in particular hinges of the toggle type comprising a wing body or arm (102) associable with a fixed panel of a piece of furniture, a cuplike body (101) associable with a door to be articulated to the fixed panel of the furniture and a linkage (103) for articulating the cuplike body (101) to the wing body or arm (102), wherein the damper device (10) comprises a damped rotating body (11) which is provided with a rotation axis (11a) and which is associable with the cuplike body (101) with the rotation axis (11a) arranged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (100a) of the hinge (100) and a wing (13) which is associated with the rotating body (11) so as to rotate as a unique body with it and that, considering the damper device (10) in configuration of assembly on the hinge (100), extends towards the wing body or arm (102), and it is characterised in that it also comprises an actuator element (14) of the rotation of the rotating body (11) that is associated with the wing (13) in a rotatable way around an axis (14a) parallel to the rotation axis (11a) and that has a first end (15) that, considering the damper device (10) in configuration of assembly on the hinge (100), extends towards the inside of the cuplike body (101) and at which is defined a first support and sliding surface (16) along a wall (101') of the cuplike body (101) opposite the one to which the wing body or arm (102) is articulated and a portion (17) that is defined between the axis (14a) and the first end (15) and at which is defined a second support and sliding surface (18) along at least one back portion (102') of the wing body or arm (102).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a damper device for furniture hinges, in particular for hinges of the toggle-type.

[0002] The present invention also refers to a furniture hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, comprising such a damper device.

[0003] In the field of furniture hinges it has been known for some time to use hinges comprising a wing body or arm able to be fixed, in general, to a side of the furniture, a cuplike body able to be fixed, in general, to the door to be articulated to such a side and an articulation linkage that articulates together the cuplike body and the wing body or arm and that is provided with a spring mechanism that, starting from a pre-set angle of rotation of the hinge, ensures that the door closes automatically.

[0004] In order to open the door it is necessary to exert a pulling force on it such as to make it rotate around its own axis until it passes the aforementioned pre-set angle of rotation of the hinge, after which the door stays open.

[0005] In order to close the door it is necessary to exert a pushing action on it until, once such a pre-set angle of rotation of the hinge has been passed, the spring mechanism goes into action completing the closing of the door itself.

[0006] Often hinges of this type are combined with a damper device with the function both of avoiding banging when closing, and of accompanying the door so that it closes gradually.

[0007] Such a damper device is generally incorporated in the structure of the hinge itself in order both to provide an assembly that is compact and of low bulk and, therefore, less evident, and to reduce the number of perforations to be made in the sides and in the doors of the furniture and, therefore, to keep down the assembly operations and costs.

[0008] There are known solutions in which the damper device is incorporated inside the wing body or arm of the hinge. In this case, however, although the damper device is hidden from view, the overall structure of the hinge must be reviewed and redesigned in order to ensure the necessary adjustments of its position. Moreover, as the neck of the wing body or arm varies - i.e. the portion of the wing body or arm at which the levers (connecting rods) of the articulation linkage are articulated and that varies, in particular in height, according to the type of door - it is necessary to review and redesign the articulation linkage itself.

[0009] There are also known solutions in which the damper device is mounted on the wing body or arm of the hinge. Also in this case, however, it is necessary to use special adapting bases in order to ensure the assembly of the damper device on wing bodies or arms with different necks.

[0010] Finally, there are known solutions in which the damper device is integrated in or mounted on the cuplike body of the hinge.

[0011] In the first case (damper device integrated in the cuplike body), the damper device is specially designed and planned to be able to be integrated in the cuplike body.

[0012] In the second case (damper device mounted on the cuplike body), on the other hand, the damper device is generally selected among those of the rotary type or, more commonly, of the linear type and already available on the market and it is mounted on the cuplike body by means of supports and fastening means. In this case it is necessary to provide an actuation kinematic mechanism of the damper device operated by one of the components of the hinge, generally by the wing body or arm.

[0013] In the case in which the damper device is of the linear type and is mounted on the cuplike body with its axis aligned or in any case parallel to the longitudinal axis (main axis) of the hinge itself, it is directly activated by the wing body or arm of the latter.

[0014] On the other hand, in the case in which the damper device comprises a body rotating around a rotation axis arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis (main axis) of the hinge - such a rotating body being able to be the mobile body of a damper device of the rotary type or a component of the actuation kinematic mechanism of a damper device of the linear type arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hinge - it is necessary to provide such a rotating body with an actuator element that rotates as a single body together with it and that is arranged to contact the wing body or arm of the hinge to be pushed by it in the direction of rotation of damping of the rotating body, maintaining such contact during the entire closing step of the hinge.

[0015] An actuator element of this type is generally shaped like a protuberance and, in particular, like a wing made so as to form a single body with the damped rotating body.

[0016] A solution of the type described above is known from W02006/088435-A2 to LAMA D.D. DEKANI.

[0017] Such a known solution, although it has proven to be effective and advantageous, nevertheless has a few drawbacks.

[0018] In particular, the damping effect during the closing step of the hinge is strictly dependent on the shape of the neck of the wing body or arm of the hinge itself, and the variation thereof can lead to a lesser damping effect, even by a substantial amount, with respect to what is expected.

[0019] This is schematically illustrated in the attached figures 1A-1B and 2A-2B.

[0020] Figures 1A and 1B schematically show a known hinge comprising a cuplike body T associable with a door of a piece of furniture, a wing body or arm B associable with the side of the furniture to which the door is to be articulated and an articulation linkage L of the cuplike body T and of the wing body or arm B.

[0021] On the cuplike body T a damper device D is mounted that is provided with a rotating body R the rotation axis R' of which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hinge itself. The rotating body R can be the mobile body of a rotary-type damper device or a component of an actuation kinematic mechanism of a linear-type damper device arranged with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hinge itself, as described in W02006/088435-A2, the content of which is referred to integrally here.

[0022] The rotating body R is provided with an actuator element consisting of a wing A that is fixedly associated with it so as to rotate as a single body together with it.

[0023] Considering the hinge in open configuration, the wing A extends towards the wing body or arm B in order to be able to contact it during the closing step of the hinge itself and thus activate the rotating body R of the damper device D in the rotation direction of damping (clockwise in the attached figures).

[0024] Figure 1A shows the hinge in the closing step at the moment when the wing body or arm B contacts the wing A for actuating the rotating body R. With α it has been indicated the angle formed by the rotating body R with respect to a reference plane parallel to the door with which the cuplike body T is associable, at the start of the actuation stroke of the damper device D.

[0025] Figure 1B shows the hinge completely closed, where with β it has been indicated the angle formed by the rotating body R with respect to a reference plane parallel to the door with which the cuplike body T is associable, at the end of the actuation stroke of the damper device D.

[0026] The difference between the two angles (β-α) corresponds to the angle of rotation of the rotating body R during which the damper device D is active.

[0027] Figures 2A and 2B show a hinge like the one of figures 1A and 1B, with the exception of the shape of the wing body or arm B' that, in this case, has a neck C.

[0028] It should be noted that the presence of the neck C reduces the extension in the longitudinal direction of the back of the wing body or arm B' along which the wing A can rest while sliding.

[0029] In an analogous way to figures 1A and 1B, figures 2A and 2B show the hinge during the closing step at the start and at the end, respectively, of the actuation stroke of the damper device D, where α and β' respectively indicate the angle formed by the rotating body R with respect to a reference plane parallel to the door with which the cuplike body T is associable, at the start and at the end, respectively, of the actuation stroke of the damper device D.

[0030] It is clear that, in this case, the angle β' is smaller than the angle β (figure 1B) and, therefore, the angle of rotation of the rotating body R during which the damper device (β'-α) is active is consequently smaller. For the same conditions, therefore, as the shape of the neck C of the wing body or arm B, B' varies, a not negligible fraction of the damping effect that can potentially be obtained with the same damper device D is lost.

[0031] In order to avoid this drawback, it has been proposed to modify the shape of the wing bodies or arms of the various types of hinges so as to increase as much as possible the extension in the longitudinal direction of the back portion intended to contact the actuator element (wing) fixedly connected to the rotating body of the damper device, so as to ensure that the expected damping effect is achieved irrespective of whether or not there is a neck and irrespective of the more or less accentuated shape thereof.

[0032] It is clear that such a solution involves substantial investments in terms of design, production and management for modifying the numerous different types of hinges available on the market.

[0033] The present invention proposes to avoid the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0034] In such a general purpose, a particular purpose of the present invention is to propose a furniture hinges damper device of the type to be mounted on the cuplike body of a hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, and which allows the expected damping effect to be achieved irrespective of the shape of the wing body or arm of the hinge itself and, in particular, irrespective of whether or not there is a neck and irrespective of the more or less accentuated shape thereof.

[0035] Yet another purpose of the present invention is to propose a furniture hinges damper device of the type to be mounted on the cuplike body of a hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, which allows the expected damping effect to be achieved on any type of furniture hinge already present and available on the market without special interventions being necessary to modify or adapt them.

[0036] Another purpose of the present invention is to make a furniture hinges damper device of the type to be mounted on the cuplike body of a hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, that is particularly simple and functional, with low costs.

[0037] These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a furniture hinges damper device of the type to be mounted on the cuplike body of a hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, as outlined in claim 1.

[0038] Further characteristics are provided in the dependent claims.

[0039] These purposes according to the present invention are also accomplished by making a furniture hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, comprising a damper device as outlined in claim 14.

[0040] Further characteristics are provided in the dependent claims.

[0041] The characteristics and advantages of a furniture hinges damper device of the type to be mounted on the cuplike body of a hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, and of a furniture hinge, in particular a toggle-type hinge, comprising a damper device according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figures 1A and 1B schematically show a known damper device applied to a first type of known hinge during the closing step thereof at the start and at the end of the damping stroke, respectively;

figures 2A and 2B schematically show a known damper device applied to a second type of known hinge during the closing step thereof at the start and at the end of the damping stroke, respectively;

figure 3 shows a partial exploded view of a damper device according to the present invention applied to a known hinge with wing body or arm provided with a neck; figure 3A shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 3;

figures 4A, 4B and 4C show schematic section views of a damper device according to the present invention mounted on the hinge of figure 3 in successive steps of the damping stroke during the closing of the hinge itself;

figures 5A to 5E show schematic section views of a damper device according to the present invention mounted on a known hinge with wing body or arm with a neck having a different configuration with respect to the one according to figures 3 to 4C in successive steps of the damping stroke during the closing of the hinge itself respectively;

figure 6 shows an axonometric view of a detail of an alternative embodiment of the damper device according to the present invention;

figure 7 shows an axonometric view of a detail of a further alternative embodiment of the damper device according to the present invention;

figure 8 schematically shows an incorrect assembly step of the damper device according to the present invention on the cuplike body of a hinge.

[0042] With reference to the attached figures 3 to 5E, reference numeral 10 wholly indicates a damper device according to the present invention applicable to a furniture hinge 100, in particular a toggle-type hinge 100.

[0043] The hinge 100 is of the known type and its structure does not form the object per sé of the present invention.

[0044] The hinge 100 comprises, in general, a cuplike body 101 generally associable with a door of a piece of furniture, a wing body or arm 102, hereafter for the sake of simplicity indicated as "arm 102", generally associable with a fixed panel or side of the furniture to which the door is to be articulated and a linkage comprising two or more levers 103 that articulate together the cuplike body 101 and the arm 102.

[0045] The structural components of the hinge 100 are not described further since they are known to the man skilled in the art; it should also be specified that the shape and the structure of the hinge 100 can be different from those illustrated just as examples in the attached figures. Thus, for example, the articulation linkage of the cuplike body 101 to the arm 102 could be different, and, in particular, the shape of the arm 102 could be different.

[0046] It should also be specified that the attached figures 1A-1B, 2A-2B, 4A-4C and 5A-5E show, in sequence, some closing steps of the hinge 100 taking as a reference the cuplike body 101 just for illustrating purposes, being it well known to the man skilled in the art that, in use, the opening and closing of the hinge 100 generally occur through the effect of the relative motion of the cuplike body 101 which is associated with the door or leaf of a piece of furniture, with respect to the arm 102 which, on the other hand, is associated with a side or fixed panel of a piece of furniture.

[0047] The damper device 10 comprises a damped rotating body 11 which rotates around a rotation axis 11a.

[0048] The damper device 10 is associable with the cuplike body 101 with an arrangement such that the rotation axis 11a of the rotating body 11 is directed transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the longitudinal axis, i.e. the main axis 100a, of the hinge 100, where such a main axis 100a coincides with the longitudinal axis of the arm 102 when the hinge 100 is completely open or with a projection of the longitudinal axis of the arm 102 on a plane parallel to the bottom of the cup 101.

[0049] In particular, the damper device 10 comprises a box-like body 12 for containing and supporting the rotating body 11 and the damping mechanism associated with it and that can be anchored to the flange 104 of the cuplike body 101.

[0050] The rotating body 11 can be the mobile body of a rotary-type damping mechanism; in this case the rotation axis 11a coincides with the rotation axis of the rotary-type damping mechanism.

[0051] Alternatively, the rotating body 11 can be a component of an actuation kinematic mechanism of a linear-type damping mechanism arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to or coinciding with the rotation axis 11a, in which such an actuation kinematic mechanism is configured to transform the rotary motion of the rotating body 11 into rectilinear motion of the damping mechanism.

[0052] The rotating body 11 is provided with a wing 13 or in any case a protuberance, a projection, an arm or similar, which extends in a substantially radial direction and that is associated with it so as to rotate as a unique body with it.

[0053] The wing 13, for example, can be formed integral with the rotating body 11 or it can consist of a separate element fixed to it so that it rotates as a unit. Considering the hinge 100 in open configuration and, therefore, the damper device 10 not active, the wing 13 extends towards the arm 102.

[0054] The rotating body 11, the box-like body 12 and the relative anchoring means to the flange 104 of the cuplike body 101, the wing 13, the actuation kinematic mechanism of the damping mechanism of the damper device 10 will not be described or illustrated further, since they are known to the man skilled in the art and, in particular, they are known from W02006/088435-A2, the descriptive content of which is entirely referred to here as an integral part of the present description.

[0055] Similarly, the structure of the damping mechanism, be it of the rotary type or be it of the linear type, will not be described further, since it is known to the man skilled in the art and does not per sé form part of the present invention, regarding which reference is made to page 8 of W02006/088435-A2.

[0056] It should also be specified that in the attached figures and, in particular, in figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, from 4A to 4C and from 5A to 5E, for the sake of simplicity of representation the damper device is only schematically depicted; in particular, they do not show in detail the damping mechanism and the box-like body for containing and supporting it, which must in any case be considered to be present and the latter of which is only schematically and partially depicted. According to a peculiar characteristic of the present invention, the damper device 10 also comprises an actuator element 14 of the rotation of the rotating body 11, which is associated with the wing 13 in a rotatable way around an axis 14a parallel to the rotation axis 11a.

[0057] The actuator element 14 is associated with the free end 13a, i.e. the end opposite the one fixedly connected to the rotating body 11, of the wing 13 so as to be able to be free to oscillate around the axis 14a by an angle of predetermined amplitude.

[0058] The actuator element 14 extends substantially in the opposite direction to that of rotation of the rotating body 11 for the activation of the damping mechanism.

[0059] The actuator element 14 has a first end 15 that is free (i.e. not mechanically constrained to a component of the damper device 10 nor, considering the damper device 10 in configuration of assembly on a hinge 100, to a component of the hinge 100 itself, in particular when the latter is in open configuration, Figures 4A and 5A) and that, considering the damper device 10 in configuration of assembly on a hinge 100, faces towards the inside of the cuplike body 101 and that is provided with a first support and sliding surface 16 along a wall 101' of the cuplike body 101, in particular along the wall 101' opposite the one to which the arm 102 is articulated.

[0060] The actuator element 14 also comprises a portion 17 that is defined between the first end 15 and the axis 14a and at which a second support and sliding surface 18 along at least one portion of the back 102' of the arm 102 is defined.

[0061] The second support and sliding surface 18 consists of a plane or in any case it is flat and, considering the damper device 10 in configuration of assembly on a hinge 100, it faces towards the arm 102 of the hinge 100 itself.

[0062] The actuator element 14 also comprises a second end 19 that prolongs on the opposite side, with respect to the axis 14a, to the first end 15 and that, considering the damper device 10 in configuration of assembly on a hinge 100, lies outside of the cuplike body 101. Such a second end 19 is provided with an abutment surface 20 against a corresponding contrast surface 21 defined on the rotating body 11.

[0063] Finally, the actuator element 14 has a protuberance in the form, for example, of a nose 22 that prolongs from the portion 17 from the side opposite to the first end 15 and that has a shaped profile for inviting the engagement of the actuator element 14 with the back portion 102' of the arm 102.

[0064] The nose 22 extends for the all or part of the width of the actuator element 14.

[0065] The actuator element 14 consists of a vane or shovel-shaped body which has a cradle portion 23 or spoon that prolongs, from one side, in the portion 17 to end with the first end 15 and, from the other side, in the second end 19.

[0066] On the opposite walls of the cradle portion 23 there are supports 24 for the ends of the articulation pin 25 to the wing 13 and that defines the axis 14a.

[0067] The nose 22 is formed on the outer surface of the cradle portion 23 as an axial prolongation of the portion 17.

[0068] Advantageously, the end 13a of the wing 13 opposite the one fixedly connected to the rotating body 11 and the internal surface of the cradle 23 are shaped so as to define a cylindrical turning coupling.

[0069] Advantageously, the damper device 10 comprises limiting means 26,26' for limiting the rotation of the actuator element 14 (vane-shaped body) with respect to the rotating body 11 in the direction of rotation opposite to the direction of damping active rotation of the rotating body 11. Such limiting means 26,26' are suitable for holding the actuator element 14 in non-interference configuration with the cuplike body 101, or better with the flange 104 thereof, during the assembly steps of the device 10 on the cuplike body 101, without interfering with the correct operation of the damper device 10 once mounted on the hinge 100.

[0070] In particular, such limiting means 26,26' are arranged to prevent that during the assembly steps of the device 10 on the attachment flange 104 of the cuplike body 101 the actuator element 14 becomes arranged with its free first end 15 between the box-like body 12 and the attachment flange 104, as represented in figure 8 that, indeed, shows the case of such undesired interference. In a first possible embodiment represented in figure 6, the limiting means 26 comprise a protuberance 27 formed in the box-like body 12 and suitable for interfering with the actuator element 14.

[0071] Such an embodiment can be used in particular in the case in which the rotating body 11 of the damper device is also equipped with sliding motion along the axis 11a; this is the case in which the rotating body 11 is part of a transmission kinematic mechanism of the motion to a linear-type damping mechanism, of the cylinder and piston type.

[0072] In greater detail, the box-like body 12 comprises a base 28 for hooking onto the flange 104 and a cover 29 coupled with the base 28.

[0073] The base 28 is substantially C-shaped and has an elongated element 30 that extends in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 11a and from which arms 31 extend, the arms 31 being provided with teeth 32 for hooking into corresponding seats formed on the flange 104 and not shown.

[0074] The elongated element 30 has a half-seat 33 for containing and supporting the rotating body 11 or better the entire damping mechanism.

[0075] Between the elongated element 30 and the arms 31 a window is defined that is intended to coincide with the opening at the top of the cuplike body 101 and in which the actuator element 14 is housed.

[0076] On the edge 34 of the elongated element 30 that faces such a window and that, therefore, faces towards the actuator element 14 the protuberance 27 is formed.

[0077] In particular, the protuberance 27 is formed at the end of such an edge at which there is the rotating body 11, and with it the actuator element 14, when the damping mechanism is in resting configuration.

[0078] The protuberance 27 is shaped so as to promote the sliding in translation of the rotating body 11 and for this purpose it has a chute profile 27'.

[0079] In a possible alternative embodiment represented in figure 7, the limiting means 26' comprise at least one elastic thrusting element 35 arranged between the actuator element 14 and the rotating body 11.

[0080] The elastic thrusting element 35 can be in the form of an elastic tongue made on the wing 13 of the rotating body 11 or on the actuator element 14 and respectively act on the actuator element 14 or on the rotating body 11. The function of the elastic tongue, i.e. of the elastic thrusting element 35, is to maintain a certain opening angle between the actuator element 14 and the rotating body 11 or better between the actuator element 14 and the base 28 so as to allow easy assembly of the damper device 10 on the flange 104 without the actuator element 14 interposes between them.

[0081] At the same time, the elastic thrusting element 35 is sized so as not to hinder the rotation of the actuator element 14 during the closing step of the hinge 100 for the activation of the damper device 10, said sizing being within the design capabilities of a man skilled in the art.

[0082] The limiting means 26' in the form of at least one elastic thrusting element 35 can be used both in the case in which the rotating body 11 is equipped with purely rotary motion, and in the case in which it is also equipped with motion with rectilinear displacement component along the axis 11a.

[0083] With reference to figures 5A to 5E, the use and operation of a damper device 10 according to the present invention will now be illustrated.

[0084] The damper device 10 is mounted on the cuplike body 101 of a hinge 100 so that the rotation axis 11a of the rotating body 11 is arranged in a transverse direction, in particular orthogonal, to the longitudinal axis 100a of the hinge 100 itself, by fixing the box-like body 12 onto the flange 104 as described in WO2006/088435.

[0085] When the hinge 100 is open, the damper device 10 is in resting configuration (figure 5A).

[0086] In such a resting configuration, the actuator element 14 (vane-shaped body) is in a resting position in which the portion 17 thereof extends towards the inside of the cuplike body 101, the first end 15 lies inside the cuplike body 101 with the first support and sliding surface 16 free from any engagement with the wall 101' of the cuplike body 101 and in which the abutment surface 20 formed at the second end 19 rests on the contrast surface 21.

[0087] The actuator element 14 is free to oscillate around its own axis 14a in the direction indicated by the arrow F, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the rotating body 11 for the actuation of the damper device 10. The rotation of the actuator element 14 in the opposite direction, the same way as the direction of rotation of the rotating body 11 for the actuation of the damper device 10, is limited by the resting of the abutment surface 20 on the contrast surface 21.

[0088] In this way, it is ensured that, whatever position the actuator element 14 is in, it is correctly arranged so as to receive and contact the arm 102 during the closing steps of the hinge 100.

[0089] During the closing of the hinge 100, the damper device 10 takes up a working configuration, in which the rotating body 11 is made to progressively rotate around its own rotation axis 11a in the direction of activation of the damper device 10, schematically indicated by the arrow G in the attached figures, carried out by the actuator element 14 (figures 5C and 5D) until the hinge 100 has completely closed (figure 5E).

[0090] In passing from the resting configuration to the working configuration, the damper device 10 takes up at least one intermediate configuration (figure 5B), in which the actuator element 14 is in an intermediate position in which it is intercepted by the arm 102 of the hinge 100 during the closing motion of the cuplike body 101.

[0091] In particular, in such an intermediate configuration, the back portion 102' of the arm 102 contacts the second support and sliding surface 18. Thanks to the freedom of rotation (oscillation) of the actuator element 14 around its own axis 14a, it is arranged so that the portion 17 and, in particular, the second support and sliding surface 18, lies in contact with the back portion 102' of the arm 102. In such an intermediate configuration, the damper device 10 is not yet activated, i.e. the rotating body 11 has not yet undergone any rotation with respect to its rotation axis 11a.

[0092] As the cuplike body 101 closes on the arm 102, the constraining reaction VR between the back portion 102' of the arm 102 and the second support and sliding surface 18 moves towards the articulation axis 14a of the actuator element 14 and from this towards the rotation axis 11a of the rotating body 11, activating the rotation of the latter in the direction of actuation of the damper device 10. The damper device 10 thus takes up the working configuration and the actuator element 14 takes up a corresponding start of work position represented in figure 5C.

[0093] From such a position, as the cuplike body 101 continues its closing stroke towards the arm 102, the actuator element 14 takes up at least one intermediate working position, in which the first support and sliding surface 16 formed at the first end 15 contacts the wall 101' of the cuplike body 101, the second support and sliding surface 18 staying in sliding contact along the back portion 102' of the arm 102 (figure 5D).

[0094] The actuator element 14 continues to activate the progressive rotation of the rotating body 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow G until it reaches the final work position corresponding to the closed configuration of the hinge 100 (figure 5E).

[0095] Figures 4A, 4B and 4C substantially correspond to figures 5A, 5D and 5E and show a damper device 10 applied to a hinge 100 the arm 102 of which shows a more accentuated neck 105.

[0096] It should be noted that, thanks to the provision of the actuator element 14 and to the arrangement and shape thereof, the rotating body 11 of the damper device 10 according to the present invention completes its rotation in the damping direction irrespective of the shape of the arm 102, whether or not it is provided with a neck 105 and whatever the shape of such a possible neck 105.

[0097] The portion 17 of the actuator element 14, indeed, acts as a prolongation of the back portion 102' of the arm 102 beyond the neck 105, ensuring the constant application of a thrusting action on the rotating body 11 in the direction of activation of the damper device 10.

[0098] In practice it has been noted how the damper device according to the present invention allows the predetermined purposes to be achieved.

[0099] In particular, the damper device according to the present invention makes it possible to obtain the expected damping effect irrespective of the shape of the wing body or arm of the hinge itself and, in particular, irrespective of whether or not there is a neck and irrespective of the more or less accentuated shape thereof. This is thanks to the provision of the actuator element that, thanks to its arrangement and configuration, ensures the complete rotation of the rotating body of the damper device through the effect of the thrusting exerted on it by the wing body or arm of the hinge itself, whatever the shape thereof.

[0100] The damper device according to the present invention, therefore, can easily be applied to any known type of hinge already present on the market without requiring particular modifications or adaptations, whilst still ensuring that the expected damping effect is obtained. The damper device for furniture hinges, in particular hinges of the toggle type, and the furniture hinge, in particular a hinge of the toggle type, comprising such a damper device thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1. A damper device (10) for furniture hinges (100), in particular hinges of the toggle type, comprising a wing body or arm (102) associable with a fixed panel of a piece of furniture, a cuplike body (101) associable with a door of a piece of furniture and a linkage (103) for articulating said cuplike body (101) to said wing body or arm (102), wherein said damper device (10) comprises a damped rotating body (11), which is provided with a rotation axis (11a) and which is associable with said cuplike body (101) with said rotation axis (11a) arranged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (100a) of said hinge (100) and a wing (13), which is associated with said rotating body (11) so as to rotate as a unique body with it, said damper device being characterized in that it further comprises an actuator element (14) of the rotation of said rotating body (11), which is associated with said wing (13) in a rotatable way around an axis (14a) parallel to said rotation axis (11a).

2. The damper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator element (14) extends in the direction opposite to the direction of active rotation of damping of said rotating body (11).

3. The damper device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said actuator element (14) is free to rotate around said axis (14a) for at least one pre-set angle.

4. The damper device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, considering said damper device (10) in a configuration of assembly on said hinge (100), said wing (13) extends towards said wing body or arm (102), and said actuator element (14) has a first end (15), which extends towards the inside of said cuplike body (101) and at which is defined a first support and sliding surface (16) along a wall (101') of said cuplike body (101) opposite to the one to which said wing body or arm (102) is articulated, and a portion (17), which is defined between said axis (14a) and said first end (15) and at which is defined a second support and sliding surface (18) along at least one back portion (102') of said wing body or arm (102).

5. The damper device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that said actuator element (14) comprises a second end (19) opposite, with respect to said axis (14a), to said first end (15) and provided with an abutment surface (20) against a corresponding contrast surface (21) defined in said rotating body (11).

6. The damper device (10) according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said second support and sliding surface (18) is defined by a plane.

7. The damper device (10) according to one or more of claims from 4 to 6, characterized in that said actuator element (14) comprises a protuberance, which prolongs from said portion (17) from the side opposite to said first end (15) and which has a shaped profile for inviting the engagement of said second support and sliding surface (18) with said at least one back portion (102') of said wing body or arm (102).

8. The damper device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuator element (14) comprises a vane or shovel-shaped body.

9. The damper device (10) according to claim 8 and one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said vane or shovel-shaped body comprises a cradle or spoon portion (23), which prolongs, on one side, into said portion (17) to terminate with said first end (15) and, on the other side, into said second end (19), wherein on the opposite walls of said cradle portion (23) supports are obtained (24) of the ends of an articulation pin (25) to said wing (13) and which defines said axis (14a).

10. The damper device (10) according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the end (13a) of said wing (13) opposite to the one associated with said rotating body (11) and the internal surface of said cradle or spoon portion (23) are shaped so as to define a cylindrical turning coupling.

11. Damper device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises limiting means (26; 26') of the free rotation of said actuator element (14) in the direction of rotation opposite to the direction of active rotation of damping of said rotating body (11), suitable for holding said actuator element (14) in non-interference configuration with said cuplike body (101) during the assembly steps of said damper device (10) on said hinge (100).

12. Damper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a box-like body (12) for containing and supporting said rotating body (11) and in that said limiting means (26) comprise a protuberance (27) formed in said box-like body (12) and suitable for interfering with said actuator element (14).

13. Damper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that said limiting means (26') comprise at least one elastic thrusting element (35) arranged between said actuator element (14) and said rotating body (11).

14. A furniture hinge (100), in particular a hinge of the toggle type, comprising a wing body or arm (102) associable with a fixed panel of a piece of furniture, a cuplike body (101) associable with a door of a piece of furniture, a linkage (103) for articulating said cuplike body (101) to said wing body or arm (102), and a damper device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said damper device (10) comprises a damped rotating body (11), which is provided with a rotation axis (11a) and is associated with said cuplike body (101) with said rotation axis (11a) arranged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (100a) of said hinge (100), a wing (13), which is associated with said rotating body (11) so as to rotate as a unique body with it and which extends towards said wing body or arm (102), and an actuator element (14) of the rotation of said rotating body (11), which is associated with said wing (13) in a rotatable way around an axis (14a) parallel to said rotation axis (11a).

15. Hinge (100) according to claim 14, wherein said actuator element (14) has a first end (15) that extends towards the inside of said cuplike body (101) and at which is defined a first support and sliding surface (16) along a wall (101') of said cuplike body (101) opposite the one to which said wing body or arm (102) is articulated and a portion (17) that is defined between said axis (14a) and said first end (15) and at which is defined a second support and sliding surface (18) along at least one back portion (102') of said wing body or arm (102), and wherein said hinge (100) takes an open configuration, wherein said actuator element (14) is in a resting position with said portion (17) that extends free towards the inside of said cuplike body (101) and with said first end (15) housed free inside said cuplike body (101), and a closed configuration, wherein said actuator element (14) is in a working position with said first support and sliding surface (16) resting on said wall (101') of said cuplike body (101) and said portion (17) set as prolongation of the back portion (102') with said second support and sliding surface (18) resting on at least one portion of said back (102'), passing through at least one intermediate configuration, wherein said actuator element (14) is in an intermediate position wherein it is intercepted by said wing body or arm (102), the back (102') of which contacts at at least one portion thereof said second support and sliding surface (18).

Drawing