Adjustable hinge for doors and windows or furniture

Abstract

 Adjustable hinge to hinge a mobile element (11) with respect to a fixed element (12), comprising a first hinging unit (13) and a second hinging unit (15), configured to be rotatably coupled with each other by means of a pivoting member (44) along a hinging axis (Z), and one or more adjustment mechanisms configured to adjust the reciprocal position of the two hinging units (13, 15). At least one of the adjustment mechanisms comprises a command member associated to the pivoting member (44) in order to make it selectively rotate with respect to a pivoting axis associated to the hinging axis (Z).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a hinge to hinge a mobile element, such as for example a door or window of a building, or the panel of a furnishing component or other, with respect to a fixed element, such as for example the frame of a door or window or support structure. In particular, the hinge according to the present invention comprises at least two hinging units, hinged to each other, and some adjustment mechanisms that allow to adjust the position, in several directions, of one hinging unit with respect to the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the field of doors and windows and furniture, hinges are known consisting of two or more hinging units, hinged to each other along a common hinging axis, and provided with one or more adjustment mechanisms.

[0003] Usually an adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the reciprocal axial position of the hinging units, and consequently the position in height of the mobile element to which the hinge is associated, with respect to the corresponding fixed element.

[0004] A hinge provided with a height adjustment element is described in the European Patent EP-B-1.452.679.

[0005] Hinges are also known provided with other adjustment mechanisms, as for example those described in the European Patent Application EP-A-2.390.446, each of which allows to obtain an adjustment of an orthogonal axis to the hinging axis.

[0006] The disadvantage of known hinges provided with two or more adjustment mechanisms is that the latter are complex to make, so that the hinges in their entirety are costly.

[0007] Document US 2008/104798 A1 describes a hinge of the type identified above having an adjustment mechanism with a command element configured to act on a pivoting element in order to make it selectively rotate around a pivoting axis.

[0008] One purpose of the present invention is to make a hinge for doors and windows or furniture which is adjustable in several directions and which is provided with adjustment mechanisms which are simple to make and easy to use.

[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to make an adjustable hinge which is reliable over time and which allows to achieve the different adjustments even after the hinges have been mounted in the corresponding fixed element and in the mobile element.

[0010] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0012] In accordance with the above purposes, an adjustable hinge according to the present invention to hinge a mobile element to a fixed element comprises a first hinging unit and a second hinging unit, configured to be rotatably coupled with each other by means of a pivoting member along a hinging axis, and one or more adjustment mechanisms configured to adjust the reciprocal position of the two hinging units.

[0013] According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, at least one of the adjustment mechanisms comprises a command member associated with the pivoting member in order to make it selectively rotate with respect to a pivoting axis associated to the hinging axis.

[0014] In particular, the pivoting axis is parallel to the hinging axis.

[0015] According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the first hinging unit comprises a support body provided with at least a first longitudinal seating into which at least a part of a first support is inserted, which is provided with a first cylindrical seating configured to receive at least a corresponding first cylindrical part of the pivoting member.

[0016] According to a variant, the support body also comprises a second longitudinal seating in which at least a part of a second support is inserted, which is provided with a second cylindrical seating configured to receive at least a corresponding second cylindrical part of the pivoting member.

[0017] According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the longitudinal seating is defined by two curved internal surfaces which are coaxial with respect to a first pivoting axis of a first adjustment mechanism, and the first pivoting axis lies on a first sliding axis, perpendicular to it.

[0018] According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the pivoting member comprises an actuation part inserted with ample play in a cavity made in the second hinging unit.

[0019] According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the actuation part of the pivoting member has a drop-shaped cross section, with a pointed zone, inserted into a corresponding vertical groove of the through cavity.

[0020] Moreover, a second pivoting axis of a second adjustment mechanism of the hinge passes through the top of the vertical groove, which lies on a second sliding axis perpendicular both to the hinging axis and to the first sliding axis.

[0021] The actuation part of the pivoting member also comprises a toothed arched zone disposed on the opposite side with respect to the pointed zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• fig. 1 is a plan view of a hinge according to the present invention, in accordance with a first form of embodiment, installed to hinge a mobile element with respect to a fixed element;
• fig. 2 is a lateral and sectioned view of the hinge in fig. 1;
• fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge in fig. 1, in the hinging position;
• fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge in fig. 3, in the dismantled position;
• fig. 5 is a section from V to V of fig. 2;
• fig. 6 is a section from VI to VI of fig. 2;
• fig. 7 is a section from VII to VII of fig. 2;
• fig. 8 is a section from VIII to VIII of fig. 2;
• fig. 9 is a plan view of a hinge according to the present invention, in accordance with a second form of embodiment, installed to hinge a mobile element with respect to a fixed element;
• fig. 10 is a lateral and sectioned view of the hinge in fig. 9;
• fig. 11 is a perspective view of the hinge in fig. 9, in the hinging position;
• fig. 12 is a perspective view of the hinge in fig. 11, in the dismantled position.

[0023] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

[0024] Moreover, in the following description, the function of the words "lower", "upper", "high" and "low" is only to illustrate the present invention better, and they must in no way be used to limit the scope or use thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] In accordance with a first form of embodiment, a hinge 10 according to the present invention, shown in figs. 1 to 8, is configured to hinge a mobile element 11, for example the panel of a door, window, or piece of furniture, to a fixed element 12, for example the frame of a door, window or piece of furniture.

[0026] The hinge 10 comprises a first hinging unit 13 (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), configured to be attached to the fixed element 12, for example using screws 14, and a second hinging unit 15, configured to be attached to the mobile element 11, for example using screws 16. The two hinging units 13 and 15 are configured to be coupled to each other, along a common hinging axis Z which is substantially vertical, in an adjustable manner, as will be described in detail hereafter.

[0027] The first hinging unit 13 comprises a support body 17 (figs. 2, 3 and 4) of an oblong shape, which is provided with two transverse positioning and support pins 18, configured to be inserted with precision into corresponding holes of the fixed element 12.

[0028] In its turn the support body 17 comprises a lower part 17a with which a support 19 is slidingly coupled, which acts as the female element of the hinge 10.

[0029] The support 19 is shaped so as to comprise a first part 20, substantially cylindrical and coaxial to the hinging axis Z, and a second part 21, with two lateral surfaces 22 (figs. 5 and 6) curved and coaxial to a first pivoting axis Z1, parallel to the hinging axis Z and disposed along a first sliding axis X perpendicular to it.

[0030] The first part 20 of the support 19 comprises a cylindrical seating 23 coaxial to the hinging axis Z, into which a cylindrical bushing 24 is inserted. A sphere 25 is disposed on the bottom of the cylindrical seating 23 (fig. 2).

[0031] The second part 21 of the support 19 is disposed inside a longitudinal seating 26 of the support body 17, which is defined by two internal surfaces 27, also curved and coaxial to the first pivoting axis Z1.

[0032] The radius of curvature of the lateral surfaces 22 of the support 19, with its center on the pivoting axis Z1, is equal to that of the corresponding internal surfaces 27 of the longitudinal seating 26, so that the support 19 can rotate around the first pivoting axis Z1 by a determinate angle, between 20° and 30° for example.

[0033] An axial adjustment mechanism 28 (fig. 2) is disposed in the lower part 17a of the support body 17, in order to adjust the axial position of the support 19 with respect to the latter.

[0034] In particular, the axial adjustment mechanism 28 comprises a first threaded worm screw 29 which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded seating 30 made in the lower part 17a of the support body 17.

[0035] The first threaded worm screw 29 is coaxial to the first pivoting axis Z1 and is provided with an axial hole 31 into which an axial positioning pin 32 is inserted with precision, solid to the support 19.

[0036] The hinge 10 is also provided with a lateral adjustment mechanism 33, configured to adjust the position of the hinging axis Z with respect to the support body 17, so that the position of the mobile element 11 can be adjusted substantially along a second sliding axis Y (figs. 1, 5 and 6), passing through the hinging axis Z and orthogonal both to the latter and to the first sliding axis X, by means of a lateral movement with respect to the fixed element 12.

[0037] More particularly, as will be seen in detail hereafter, the hinging axis Z can be moved by means of the lateral adjustment mechanism 33 either toward the right or toward the left (fig. 1), describing a slight arc of a circle with the radius equal to the distance between the axes Z and Z1 (fig. 5).

[0038] The lateral adjustment mechanism 33 comprises a second threaded worm screw 34 which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded seating 35 also made in the lower part 17a of the support body 17, but coaxial to an axis Y1 (fig. 5), parallel to the second sliding axis Y. The second threaded worm screw 34 comprises an annular groove 36 into which an appendix 37 of the second part 21 of the support 19 is inserted. The appendix 37 (fig. 2) is high enough to be able to stay engaged with the annular groove 36 even when the support 19 is moved axially with respect to the support body 17 by means of the first mechanism 28.

[0039] In this way, the second threaded worm screw 34, screwing or unscrewing in the threaded seating 35 commands the rotation, in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, of the support 19 with respect to the first pivoting axis Z1, so that the hinging axis Z can be moved up to some millimeters, 5 for example, substantially along the second sliding axis Y, as described above.

[0040] The first hinging unit 13 also comprises a clamping screw 38 (figs. 2 and 6) which can be selectively screwed or unscrewed in a corresponding threaded seating 39 in order to clamp the support 19 in the position reached driving the two adjustment mechanisms 28 and 33.

[0041] The second hinging unit 15 comprises a support body 40 (figs. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8), provided with two transverse positioning and support pins 41, configured to be inserted with precision into corresponding holes of the mobile element 11.

[0042] The support body 40 comprises a substantially cylindrical part 42, in which a through cavity 43 is made with a substantially oval cross section (figs. 7 and 8) and into which a pin 44 is inserted with ample lateral play, which pin 44 acts as a male element of the hinge 10.

[0043] In fact, the pin 44 comprises a lower cylindrical part 45 (fig. 2) configured to protrude downward from the through cavity 43 and to be inserted into the cylindrical bushing 24 of the first hinging unit 13, coaxially to the hinging axis Z.

[0044] The pin 44 also comprises an internal part 46 (figs. 2, 7 and 8), or actuation part, with a drop-shaped cross section, with a pointed zone 47, inserted into a corresponding vertical groove 48 of the through cavity 43.

[0045] The second hinging unit 15 also comprises a front adjustment mechanism 49, which in its turn comprises a toothed arched zone 50 (fig. 7) made in the internal part 46 of the pin 44, on the side opposite to the pointed zone 47.

[0046] The toothed arched zone 50 is coupled to a third threaded worm screw 51, which is inserted rotatably into a corresponding cylindrical seating 52 made in the support body 40 and kept in a determinate axial position by a peg 56.

[0047] In this way, rotating the third threaded worm screw 51 in one direction or another in the cylindrical seating 52 commands the rotation, in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, of the support body 40 with respect to the pin 44 positioned with its lower part 45 in the cylindrical bushing 24. The fulcrum of this rotation is represented by a second pivoting axis Z2, parallel to the hinging axis Z and passing through the top of the vertical groove 48, lying on the second sliding axis Y.

[0048] A movement of some millimeters, for example 5, of the mobile element 11 associated with the support body 40 is thus achieved, along the first sliding axis X, in this way adjusting the so-called depth of the mobile element 11 with respect to the fixed element 12.

[0049] The second hinging unit 15 also comprises a clamping peg 53 (figs. 2 and 8), which is put in a corresponding cylindrical seating 54 to transmit to the support body 40 the load to which the pin 44 is subjected during use.

[0050] A lid 55 is disposed to cover the through cavity 43.

[0051] According to a variant, not shown in the drawings, but easily understood by a person of skill in the art, the hinge 10 can be mounted inverted with respect to how it has been described heretofore, that is, with the second hinging unit 15 rotated by 180° and coupled to the fixed element 12, and therefore with the part 45 of the pin 44 facing upward. In this case, in the same way, the first hinging unit 13 will be coupled to the mobile element 11, with the aperture of the cylindrical bushing 24 facing downward in order to couple with the corresponding part 45 of the pin 44.

[0052] In accordance with a second form of embodiment, a hinge 110 (figs. 9 to 12) according to the present invention, unlike the hinge 10 described above, comprises a support body 117 having, in addition to the lower part 17a, also an upper part 117b, provided with a longitudinal seating 126 identical to the longitudinal seating 26 and aligned to it.

[0053] An upper support 119, substantially equal to the lower support 19, except that there is no seating 30, comprises a first part 120 which is substantially cylindrical and coaxial to the hinging axis Z, in a cylindrical seating 123 of which a second cylindrical bushing 124 is inserted. The upper support 119 also comprises a second part 121, identical to the second part 21, disposed in the longitudinal seating 126.

[0054] The pin 44 also comprises, in this case, a cylindrical upper part 145 equal to the lower part 45 and configured to be inserted into the cylindrical bushing 124.

[0055] An additional clamping screw 138 is provided in the upper part 117b, which can be driven with the corresponding clamping screw 38.

[0056] From the previous description it is clear that both the hinge 10 and the hinge 110 are provided with adjustment mechanisms which are simple, reliable and easy to use, even after they have been assembled, and which allow to adjust the reciprocal position of the two hinging units 13 and 15, and therefore the mobile element 11 with respect to the fixed element 12, both in a vertical direction (axis Z), in a front direction, or depth (axis X), and in a horizontal or lateral direction (axis Y).

[0057] It is understood that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hinge 10, 110 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0058] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of hinges for doors, windows or furniture, adjustable in several directions, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Adjustable hinge to hinge a mobile element (11) with respect to a fixed element (12), comprising a first hinging unit (13) and a second hinging unit (15), configured to be rotatably coupled with each other by means of a pivoting member (44) along a hinging axis (Z), and adjustment mechanisms (28, 33, 49) configured to adjust the reciprocal position of said hinging units (13, 15), a first axial adjustment mechanism (28) being present to adjust the reciprocal axial position of said hinging units (13, 15), a second lateral adjustment mechanism (33) to adjust the lateral position of the hinging axis (Z) with respect to the fixed element (12), and a third front adjustment mechanism (49), wherein said front adjustment mechanism (49) comprises a command member (51) configured to act on said pivoting member (44) in order to make it selectively rotate with respect to a pivoting axis (Z2) parallel to said hinging axis (Z), characterized in that said pivoting member (44) comprises an actuation part (46) inserted with ample lateral play in a cavity (43) made in said second hinging unit (15), in that said actuation part (46) of said pivoting member (44) has a drop-shaped cross section, with a pointed zone (47), inserted into a corresponding vertical groove (48) of said through cavity (43), and in that said actuation part (46) of said pivoting member (44) also comprises a toothed arched zone (50) disposed on the opposite side with respect to said pointed zone (47), and on which said command member (51) is able to engage.

2. Hinge as in claim 1, characterized in that said lateral adjustment mechanism (33) comprises a command member (34) configured to act on said pivoting member (44) to make it selectively rotate with respect to a pivoting axis (Z1) parallel to said hinging axis (Z).

3. Hinge as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first hinging unit (13) comprises a support body (17, 117) provided with at least a first longitudinal seating (26) into which at least a part (21) of a first support (19) is inserted, which is provided with a first cylindrical seating (23) configured to receive at least a corresponding first cylindrical part (45) of said pivoting member (44).

4. Hinge as in claim 3, characterized in that said support body (117) also comprises a second longitudinal seating (126) into which at least a part (121) of a second support (119) is inserted, which is provided with a second cylindrical seating (123) configured to receive at least a corresponding second cylindrical part (145) of said pivoting member (44).

5. Hinge as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said longitudinal seating (26, 126) is defined by two internal surfaces (27) which are curved and coaxial with respect to a first pivoting axis (Z1) of a first of said adjustment mechanisms (33), and in that said first pivoting axis (Z1) lies on a first sliding axis (X) perpendicular to it.

6. Hinge as in claim 5, characterized in that said part (21, 121) of said support (19, 119) is shaped so as to have two lateral surfaces (22) coaxial to said first pivoting axis (Z1) and parallel to said internal surfaces (27).

7. Hinge as in claim 6, characterized in that the radius of curvature of said lateral surfaces (22), with its center in said first pivoting axis (Z1), is equal to that of said internal surfaces (27) of said longitudinal seating (26, 126).

8. Hinge as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said pivoting axis (Z2) of said front adjustment mechanism (49) passes through the top of said vertical groove (48), lying on a second sliding axis (Y) perpendicular to said hinging axis (Z) and to said first sliding axis (X).

9. Hinge as in any of the claims from 2 to 8, characterized in that said command member (34, 51) comprises a threaded worm screw.

10. Hinge as in claims 6 and 9, characterized in that, in said lateral adjustment mechanism (33), said threaded worm screw (34) engages with an appendix (37) of said part (21, 121) of said support (19, 119) interposed between said two lateral surfaces (22).

Drawing