BUSHING ASSEMBLY FOR HINGE

Abstract

 The invention relates to a bushing assembly (109) for hinge (100), the hinge (100) providing a pin (103), at least a male wing (105, 105') and at least a female wing (107) rotatably coupled to each other by the pin (103), wherein the bushing assembly (109) comprises a bushing (190) and a ring (192) made of plastic material, the bushing (190) having a substantially tubular hollow shape open at its opposite ends, extending along a longitudinal axis (AR) and having a first open end (190') of the bushing (190) delimited by a first end edge (190") the ring (192) having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the first open end (190') of the bushing (190) so as to abut against the same, rotary reversible coupling means being further provided between the bushing (190) and the ring (192). The invention also relates to a hinge (100) provided with at least one bushing assembly (109).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bushing assembly for hinges and a hinge provided with such a bushing assembly, which can be used, for example, for doors or windows or for furniture doors.

State of the art

[0002] Hinges of the type shown in Figure 1 are currently known to be used to articulate doors and windows in building, frames, the hinge being generically referred to as 1. The hinge 1 comprises a pin 3, a male wing 5, into which the pin 3 is forcibly inserted or otherwise locked with an essentially irreversible coupling, and a female wing 7, which is designed to fit over the pin 3 so that it can rotate about it.

[0003] The pin 3 and male 5 and female 7 wings are usually made of metal.

[0004] In this description, the "male wing" of a hinge means a wing that is fixed integrally to the hinge pin, preventing relative rotation between the wing and the pin; the "female wing" means a wing that is not fixed integrally to the hinge pin so that it can at least rotate about such pin. It is clear that this indication cannot in any way constitute a limitation of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0005] To reduce the internal friction of the hinge 1, it is known to interpose one or more wear-resistant bushings 9, usually made of plastic, between the pin 3 and the two wings 5 and 7.

[0006] A known anti-wear bushing 9 has a hollow tubular body 90 and a flange 92 that extends around either end of the tubular body 90 projecting radially therefrom. According to a first known assembly method, a wear-resistant bushing 9 is threaded onto the pin 3 and inserted into a suitable female seat (not shown) obtained in the female wing 7, allowing the female wing 7 to rotate about the pin 3, avoiding direct metal-on-metal sliding during such rotation.

[0007] However, this system has several drawbacks, including the fact that the male wing 5 is in direct contact with the flange 92, applying relatively high loads on it; as a result, the flange is subject to considerable wear during the operating life of the hinge.

[0008] In order to avoid this drawback and thus avoid metal-on-plastic sliding, a second assembly method is also known in the art, whereby two wear-resistant bushings 9 are threaded onto the pin 3, so that the respective flanges 92 rest against each other.

[0009] This second solution, although effective in solving the above-mentioned problem of metal-on-plastic rubbing of the first known solution, eliminating, or at least considerably limiting, the wear on the bushings 9, increases the axial distance between the male wings 5 and female wings 7, so that the flanges 92 constitute a higher, and therefore visible, element, with an inevitable impact on the aesthetics of the hinge.

[0010] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a bushing assembly and hinge that can address and solve the above-mentioned problems typical of prior art hinges, both with regard to wear on their wear-resistant bushings and with regard to the aesthetic appearance of the hinge itself.

Summary of the invention

[0011] These and other results are obtained, according to the present invention, by means of a bushing assembly having the features according to claim 1.

[0012] Further features of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0013] The advantages achievable by the present invention shall become more apparent to the person skilled in the art, by the following detailed description of a particular, non-limiting example of embodiment, illustrated with reference to the following schematic figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a known type of hinge for doors and windows;

Figure 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a hinge for doors and windows with a bushing assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a first exploded perspective view of the bushing assembly of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a second exploded perspective view of the bushing assembly of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view, according to a sectional plane passing through the longitudinal axis AR, of the bushing assembly of Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a portion of a door or window provided with the hinge and bushing assembly of Figure 2.

Detailed description

[0014] Figures 2-6 relate to a bushing assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and to a hinge provided with said bushing assembly.

[0015] Such a hinge, indicated by the overall reference 100, comprises a pin 103, a first male wing 105 and a second male wing 105', into which the pin 103 can be inserted, and at least one female wing 107 arranged to fit onto the pin 103 so as to be able to rotate about it.

[0016] The hinge 100 may comprise, for example, a single male wing 105 and/or two or more female wings 107.

[0017] Clearly, the scope of protection of the present patent is not limited to a particular type or mechanical construction of the hinge 100.

[0018] The pin 103 and male wings 105, 105' and female wings 107 can be made, for example, of steel, aluminium or other suitable metal materials.

[0019] According to the invention, the hinge 100 comprises one or more bushing assemblies 109, each of which in turn comprises a bushing 190 and a ring 192, wherein both the bushing 190 and the ring 192 are preferably made of a suitable plastic material.

[0020] The bushing 190 and ring 192 can be made of the same or different plastic material. The bushing 190 has a substantially tubular shape that is hollow and open at opposite ends, with a first open end 190' delimited by a first end edge 190".

[0021] The ring 192 substantially has a shape corresponding to the first open end 190' of said bushing 190 in order to be coupled with the first open end 190' of the bushing 190 by resting against at least part of the first end edge 190", and more preferably against the entire end edge 190", also being able to protrude radially beyond it (Figure 5).

[0022] The bushing 190 also has a second end edge 190‴ at the second open end thereof (Figures 3 and 4).

[0023] The inner cavity 194 of the bushing 190 has a longitudinal axis AR, which preferably coincides with the axis of mutual rotation between the male wings 105 and female wings 107 of the hinge 100 and/or with the longitudinal axis of the pin 103.

[0024] Said bushing 190 and said ring 192 have means for being reversibly and rotatably attached to each other.

[0025] In particular, as can be seen in Figures 3 - 5, the bushing 190 and the ring 192 in the illustrated embodiment provide for a snap-fit coupling system, consisting of one or more axial coupling projections 198, 199.

[0026] According to the invention, the ring 192 may be provided with one or more first axial coupling projections 199, for example of two, three, four, five or more projections 199.

[0027] Correspondingly, the bushing 190 provides for an equal number of second axial projections 198.

[0028] Each first axial coupling projection 199 can be in the form of, for example, a tongue or a protruding, relatively elastic and deformable rib. Each first axial coupling projection 199 will have a shape complementary to that of the second axial coupling projections 198. With the solution proposed according to the present invention, the female wing 107, in its rotation, drags the bushing 190, inserted therein so as to come into contact with the pin 103. The bushing 190 thus rotates with respect to the ring 192, which is substantially integral with the top of the male wing 105, ensuring plastic-on-plastic sliding of the former on the latter, rather than plastic-on-metal when the hinge 100 rotates. The present invention has been described by way of a non-limiting illustrative example according to preferred embodiments thereof, however, it is understood that variations and/or modifications may be introduced by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Bushing assembly (109) for hinge (100), said hinge (100) providing a pin (103), at least a male wing (105, 105') and at least a female wing (107) rotatably coupled each other by said pin (103);

characterised in that said bushing assembly (109) comprises a bushing (190) and a ring (192) made up of plastic material;

said bushing (190) having a substantially tubular hollow shape open at its opposite ends, extending along a longitudinal axis (AR) and having a first open end (190') delimited by a first end edge (190");

said ring (192) having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of said bushing (190) first open end (190'), so as to abut against the same; rotary reversible coupling means being further provided between said bushing (190) and said ring (192).

2. Bushing assembly (109) according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means provide a snap coupling system.

3. Bushing assembly (109) according to claim 2, wherein the snap coupling system comprises one or more first coupling projections (198) protruding from said ring (192) or from said first open end (190') and second axial coupling projections (199) protruding respectively from said first open end (190') or from said ring (192).

4. Bushing assembly (109) according to claim 3, wherein each first axial coupling projection (198) comprises at least a projecting flap or rib protruding from said ring (192) or from said first open end (190').

5. Bushing assembly (109) according to claim 4, wherein each first axial coupling projection (198) realizes a free end or edge, which in turn realizes a hook arranged for cooperating with one or more of said second axial coupling projections (199) obtained respectively at said first open end (190') or at said ring (192).

6. Bushing assembly (109) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said bushing (190) provides an inner cavity (194).

7. Bushing assembly (109) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the bushing (190) provides a second open end delimited by a second end edge.

8. Hinge (100) comprising at least one bushing assembly (109) according to claims 1 - 7.

Drawing