EP1931848B1

EP1931848B1 - Door hinge attachable damper

Info

Publication number: EP1931848B1
Application number: EP05856504.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jae Hong Kim
Original assignee: Moonju Hardware Co Ltd
Current assignee: Moonju Hardware Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-20
Filing date: 2005-10-10
Publication date: 2013-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-10
Also published as: EP1931848A1; KR100785916B1; KR20070021862A; CN101238267A; WO2007024037A1; EP1931848A4; CN101238267B; DE05856504T1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a door damper, which is attachable to a door hinge and which is to reduce an impact and perform a damping function when a strong impact is applied.

Background Art

Generally, furniture and kitchen units have a door that can be closed or opened using a spring hinge. When the door is opened or closed, big noise occurs because a door is slammed into a frame of furniture with a bang. Specifically, there is bigger noise when children carelessly slam the door of the furniture. Moreover, it can be very dangerous for the children and also the furniture can be easily damaged.
To resolve these problems, when door is closed, an impact and noise of the door can be reduced by installing a damper at a frame of the furniture. Moreover, the damage of the furniture can be prevented by installing a damper for furniture.
Referring to FIG. 19, in a conventional damper for furniture, a cylindrical damper 1 is inserted in a hole formed away from a door hinge or an additional holder 2 mounted on a frame of furniture.
The reason why the damper is mounted away from the door hinge with a maximum distance is that a minimum power can be used to absorb an impact when the impact is directly applied to the end of the door. Because the force of closing the door needs to be the strongest at end of the door, that is, a portion of the door furthest from the door hinges.
As the damper is closer to the door hinge from the end of the door, the force of closing the door correlates in strength to the length that the damper moves. Consequently, the damper needs to absorb the impact with greater power.
Moreover, since the damper is formed on a frame of furniture in a circular shape, the size of the damper is limited. Consequently, the damper can not handle a greater impact and also there is a limitation to change a mounting position of the damper.
Since the damper is protruded from a side of frame in furniture, appearance becomes somewhat awkward. Moreover, the damper or the holder can be easily broken because the damper is protruded when door is open.
DE 20 2004 0 11 636 U1 discloses a door damper comprising a piston type damper which is inserted in a guide part of an auxiliary supporting part of an adapter being mounted by means of at least two stoppers on a hinge fixing part. US 6,591,454 B2 discloses a hinge for pieces of furniture comprising a hinge arm and a hinge casing which are connected to each other by means of at least one hinge axel. The hinge arm is provided with a fluid damper. The fluid damper is mounted on the side of the hinge arm without the use of a tool.

Technical Problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door hinge attachable damper having a higher absorption capability.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above object, a door hinge attachable damper according to claim 1 having a piston and a check valve in an oil chamber, and a rod inserted in the oil chamber so as to absorb an impact by controlling flux of flowing oil, is provided. Further, the door damper comprises an adapter having an auxiliary supporting part which includes a guide part such that the damper is inserted and moved, and at least two stoppers so as to be mounted on a hinge fixing part.
The damper includes a body having a rectangular shape, and an open rear side, a hinge guide stopper protruded on an outer upper surface, two spring guides protruded to an inside, and a conveying stopper on a side at a front lower end. Further, the door damper comprises springs inserted into an inside of the body and coupled with the spring guides, respectively. The door damper further comprises a piston formed of a flexible material to closely contact an inner periphery of the body, the piston having a front side which is open to receive a spring holder and a piston holder which includes a rod fixing member, the piston holder being adhered on a rear side of the piston. The door damper comprises a sponge case installed together with the piston holder, having a front side in which a through guide fixing hole, a rod insert hole, and a case passage hole are formed. The sponge case has a rear side which is open such that a sponge is inserted into an inside. The door damper further comprises a packing formed of rubber for blocking the sponge case and an open entry at the rear side. The packing having a rod packing member formed at a center; a cover having one side which is open to block the open rear side of the body and having the other side in which a hole is formed at a center. The damper further comprises a rod fixed in the rod fixing member of the piston holder and formed to pass through the rod insert hole of the sponge case, the hole of the packing, and the hole of the cover so as to be protruded to an outside.

Advantageous Effects

The damper attachable to the door hinge according to the present invention can be attached to the door hinge to absorb greater impact energy. Accordingly, an appearance of the furniture is not disturbed by the damper although the damper is mounted, and the damper is not easily damaged. Furthermore, the damper according to aspects of the present invention includes a damping section and a deceleration section. Therefore, noise is dramatically reduced in the deceleration section.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an adapter of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a piston of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a spring holder of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a piston holder of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a piston holder of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a sponge and a sponge case of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a packing of a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a side sectional view illustrating a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a door hinge attachable damper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view when a door hinge attachable damper operates according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a plan view when a door hinge attachable damper operates according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of when a door hinge attachable damper is attached to a hinge fixing part according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of when a hinge attachable damper is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional damper for furniture.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
An adapter of a door hinge attachable damper includes a rectangular damper 500 with round corners, an auxiliary supporting part 210 formed with a guiding part 222 to allow the damper 500 to be inserted and moved, an adaptor 200 formed with a plurality of stoppers to be attached to a hinge fixing part 300.
The damper 500 includes a rectangular body 100, two springs 112, piston 120, a sponge case 130, a packing 140, a cover 150, and a rod 160. The rectangular body 100 has an open rear end, a hinge guide stopper 102 protruded on an external top side, two spring guides 110 protruded in an inside, a convey stopper 103 on a side of a front bottom end, and a rectangular body 100 with round corners. Two springs 112 are inserted inside the body 100 and coupled with the spring guides 110. The piston 120 is formed of a flexible material to come in contact with an inner circumference of the body 100, and also has a spring holder 122 inserted in an open front side and a piston holder 124 with a rod fixing member 124a adhered to a rear end. The sponge case 130 is connected to the piston holder 124, has a penetrated guide fixing hole 130b, a rod inserting hole 130a, and case passage hole 130d, and also a sponge inserted inside through an open rear. The packing 140 is formed of a rubber material to block the open entrance of a rear in the sponge case 130 and has a hole in the middle. The cover 150 has an open front to block an open entrance in the rear of the sponge case 130, and a hole in the middle of the rear. The rod 160 is fixed at a rod fixing member 124a of the piston holder 124 and protruded toward the external by passing through a rod inserting hole 130a of the sponge case, a hole of the packing 140, and a hole of the cover 150. The damper 500 is formed in a rectangular shape with round corners, has a rod protruded toward a rear side, and is inserted to the adapter 200.
The adapter 200 has an adapter body 230 opened in the front and closed in a rear side to support the rod 160 protruded from the damper, and an auxiliary supporting part 210 connected and protruded to a front side of the adapter body 230 and having a guide part 222 in the bottom.
Additionally, a plurality of stoppers 220 are formed on a front bottom end of the adapter body 230 and the auxiliary supporting part 210 to be rested on the hinge fixing part 200.
The adapter body 230 executes a damping function by supporting the rod 160 when a door is closed and a hinge pushes a hinge guide stopper in the body 100.
After the spring 112, the spring holder 122, piston 120, piston holder 124, sponge case 130, sponge 132, and packing 140 are sequentially inserted into the body 100, the fixing part 108 of the body 100 is inserted into the cover 150 and fused with the cover 150 by a high frequency. Then, the damper 500 is formed by inserting the rod 160 from a hole of the cover 150 to the piston holder 124 after oil is inserted.
The body 100 of the damper 500 in the rectangular shape with round corners has an open rear, an inclined part 104 is formed by cutting a front that is planed inward from the top toward the bottom, and the protruded hinge guide stopper 102 is formed on an external top end. Additionally, two spring guides 110 are protruded and formed on a front inner wall of the inclined part 104 and the fixing part 108 is formed on a rear with a thinner stepped end. The hinge guide stopper 102 is protruded above the front of the body 100. A curved surface is formed on a front side and a hole 102A is formed on a top side. The curved surface is used for a smooth contact with a hinge and the hole is used for a smooth operation.
The each spring guide 110 has a spring 112 to be returned toward the front by pushing the body 100. The spring guide 110 is formed in a cylindrical shape, a fixing stepped end 110a is formed on an end of the rear with a thinner diameter, and a passage control groove 114 is formed on a side with a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction respectively.
A section of the passage control groove 114 is used for a damping section since oil runs when absorbing an impact, and an end of the passage control groove can be used for a deceleration section.
The piston 120 is formed of a thin film of a material (e.g., rubber) having elasticity. The piston 120 has an open front side and a closed rear side. Also, the piston has two insert holes 120a and one passage hole 120B.
The piston 120 has a stepped stopper to a predetermined depth at the rear side and has the passage hole 120b formed on the center thereof. The outer periphery of the passage hole 120b has a tapered shape tapering toward the rear side and protruding to the rear side.
A spring holder 122 is formed such that it is inserted into the open inner periphery of the piston 120. The spring stand 122 includes: a thin press plate 122b formed to press a spring 112 when a damper 500 operates (i.e., a body 100 is pushed to the rear side); and a support plate 122a perpendicularly bent at the upper and lower surfaces of the press plate 122b and having a predetermined width.
The support plate 122b is designed to fix upper and lower inner walls of the piston 120 and allow the piston to operate with the outer periphery of the piston 120 closely contacted with the inner periphery of the body 100.
The press plate 122b has two guides through holes 122c that allow each spring guide 106 to pass through at both ends of the press plate 122b, and has a center passed through.
The piston holder 124 closely contacts the rear side of the piston 120 to support the piston 120. The piston holder 124 has a plate shape whose outer periphery is the same as the outer periphery of the piston 120 and has four sides spaced a little width from the inner wall of the body 100.
Also, the piston holder 124 has two through holes 124b communicating with two insert holes 120a formed at the rear side of the piston 120 to receive a spring guide 110. A passage groove 124c, a passage control groove 124d, and a passage through hole 124e are formed at the center of the piston holder 124, and a rod fixing member 124a is protruded at the center of the rear side to allow the rod 160 to be inserted and fixed therein.
The passage control groove 124d is a groove formed at the front center of the piston holder 124 and has a shape that corresponds to the outer periphery of the passage hole 120b tapered at the rear side of the piston 120.
Also, the passage groove 124c cut with a predetermined width is formed to communicate at both sides of the passage control groove 124d, and the passage through hole 124e is formed at the end of the passage groove 124c.
Unlike the shape of the piston 120, the sponge case 130 has a closed front side and an open rear side. A rod inserting hole 130a is formed at the front center of the sponge case 130 to receive the rod fixing member 124a and the rod 160. Two guide fixing holes 130b are formed at positions spaced right and left of the rod inserting hole 130a. A case passage hole 130d formed in a rectangular through hole shape is spaced up and down of each guide fixing hole 130b. A sponge guide 130c having a partition shape formed from the front to the rear is formed on the inside with the same length as that of the rear of the sponge case 130.
The sponge 132 closely contacts each sponge guide 130c and the inner wall of the sponge case 130 and is inserted therein.
The packing 140a blocks the rear side of the sponge case 130 and has an adherent part 140a to allow the outer periphery to closely contact the end side of the fixing part 108 formed at the rear side of the body 100. The packing part 140 has a rod packing part 140b formed at the center thereof, the rod packing part 140b having a through hole so that oil may not leak out along a rod 160.
The cover has an open front side and a closed rear side and has a hole at the rear side thereof so that the rod 160 may be inserted therein.
The cover 150 has a side formed to receive the fixing part 108 made thin by the stepped stopper of the body 100. At this point, the cover 150 has an outer periphery that coincides with the outer periphery of the body 100. That is, the fixing part 108 and the cover 150 overlap each other at the rear side of the stepped stopper of the body 100. At this point, the fixing part 108 sticks on the rear inner wall of the cover 150 with the packing 140 interposed. The rod 160 passes through the hole of the cover 150 and the hole formed on a rod packing part 140b of the packing 140 and is mounted on a rod fixing member 124a. At this point, the rod 160 is protruded from the cover 150 to the rear side.
Hereinafter, assembling and operation of a damper attachable to a door hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
The damper 500 is assembled as follows. The springs 122 is inserted to each spring guide 110 of the main body 100, and the spring holder 122 is inserted to a front side of the piston 120. After inserting, the piston holder 124 adhercs closely to a rear side of the piston 120, and the inserting hole 120a of the piston 120 is inserted to the spring guide 110. The fixing stepped end 110a formed on the spring guide 110 is inserted to the guide fixing hole 130b of the spring, and then the sponge 132 is inserted.
After inserting the fixing stepped end 110a into the guide fixing hole 130b, the packing 140 is inserted inside the cover 150, and the fixing part 108 of the main body 100 is inserted to the cover 150. At the moment, the end of the fixing part 108 is pressed to the adherent part 140a of the packing 140 to contact to the end of the fixing part 108 and the adherent part 140a. The fixing stepped end 110a and the front end of the cover 150 are fused using high frequency.
After then, the oil is injected inside the main body 100 and the cover 150 through a hole formed at a center portion of the rear side of the cover 150. After injecting the oil, the rod 160 is inserted and fixed in the rod fixing hole 124a of the piston holder 124. Finally, the damper 500 is completely assembled.
Such a damper 500 is inserted to the adapter 200 to contact the rod 160 protruded from the rear side of damper 500 to an inside surface of the damper 500 and to insert the convey stopper 103 of the main body 100 in the guide part 222 of the auxiliary supporting part 210 of the adaptor 200.
When the damper 500 is pushed in a backward direction, the convey stopper 103 is conveyed along the guide part 222, and accordingly, the rod 160 is inserted to the inside of the damper 500. That is, the inserted rod 160 pushes the piston holder 124, and the pushed piston holder 124 pushes the piston 120. As a result, the spring holder 122 presses the spring 112.
As shown in FIG. 17, the damper 500 jointing to the adapter is coupled to the hinge fixing part 300 using the stopper 220 formed at a front lower portion of the auxiliary supporting part 210 of the adaptor 200 and another stopper 220 formed on the front lower portion of the adaptor body 230. That is, the end of the hinge fixing part 300 is hooked on the stopper formed on the front lower portion of the adaptor body 230, and the stopper 220 formed on the front lower portion of the auxiliary supporting part 210 is jointed to a connection groove (not shown) formed on the hinge fixing part 300.
The hinge fixing part 300 hooked to the damper 500 may be installed at a door or an inside of furniture as shown in FIG. 18. The hinge fixing part 300 installed the door or the furniture is jointed to the hinge 310 installed a corresponding predetermined location of the furniture to the hinge fixing part 310.
Hereinafter, operations of the damper 400 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 according to three cases of operations, i.e., a case of opening a door, a case of slowly closing a door, and a case of forcibly closing a door.

1) case of opening a door

When a door opens, the damper 500 inserted to the adapter 200 moves in a forward direction to be retuned to an original position by the sprig 112. While opening, the oil in the main body 100 flows from a BB section to an AA section.
The oil in the BB section flows to the AA section passing through a case oil passage hole 130d of the sponge case 130, an oil passage hole 124e of the piston holder 124 and an oil passage hole 12B of the piston 120.
When the piston 20 reaches the oil control groove 114 of the spring guide 110 by the movement of main body 100, the oil in the AA section directly flows to the oil through hole 214E through the oil control groove 114.

2) case of slowly closing a door

When the door is slowly closed, the hinge operation part 312 pushes the hinge guide stopper 102. As a result, the damper 500 is inserted into the adaptor body 230. Accordingly, the rod 160 is inserted to the inside of the damper 500 and the oil moves from the AA section to the BB section.
The oil in the AA section flows along the oil passage groove 124c through the oil passage hole 120b formed on a center portion of the piston 120 and the oil through hole 124c. After then, the oil flows to the sponge 132 through the case oil passage hole 130d of the sponge case 130. And then, the oil flows to the oil passage hole 214E through the oil passage control groove 114 of the spring guide 110.
When the piston 120 reaches the end of the oil passage control groove 114 of the spring guide 110 by the movement of the main body 100, the flow of the oil through the oil passage control groove 114 of the spring guide 110 is closed. That is, the oil flows through only the oil passage hole 120b formed on a center portion of the piston 120. Such an oil passage forms a deceleration section. That is, the amount of the flowing oil is reduced to smoothly close the door at the moment of completely closing the door.

3) case of forcibly closing a door

When the door forcibly closes, the hinge operation part 312 pushes the hinge guide stopper 102 with an impact, and the damper 500 is inserted into the adaptor body 230. At this moment, the rod 160 is also inserted inside the damper 500 and the oil flows from the AA section to the BB section.
The flow of the oil is identical to that of the case of slowly closing a door. However, if the greater impact is applied, an outer peripheral surface of the oil passage hole 120b of the piston 200 becomes closely adhered to the oil control groove 124d by the inertia force as shown as a dotted circle E in FIG. 14. As a result, the entrance of the oil passage hole 120b become narrow and accordingly, the amount of flowing oil is suddenly reduced by blocking a predetermined portion of the oil passage groove 124c.
As like as the case of slowly closing the door, the amount of the flowing oil is reduced after the piston 120 reaches the end of the oil control groove 14 of the spring guide 110, which is the deceleration section, to smoothly close the door.
The damper 500 is formed as a rectangular shape having tapered corners in order to widen a size of the piston that absorbs the impact. Such a rectangular shaped damper 500 with round corners can absorb three or more times greater impact than a circular damper 500. And, it is easier to manufacture the rectangular shaped damper than the circular damper.

Claims

A door hinge attachable damper comprising: a body (100) having an oil chamber,
a piston and a check valve in the oil chamber, and a rod (160) inserted in the oil chamber so as to absorb an impact by controlling flux of flowing oil;

an adapter (200) having an auxiliary supporting part (210) which includes a guide part (222) such that the damper is inserted and moved and at least two stoppers (220) so as to be mounted on a hinge fixing part (300); wherein the damper is characterized by

the body (100) having a rectangular shape and whose edges are rounded and an open rear side; a hinge guide stopper (102) protruded on an outer upper surface, two spring guides (110) protruded to an inside, and a conveying stopper (103) on a side at a front lower end;

springs (112) inserted into an inside of the body (100) and coupled with the spring guides (110), respectively;

the piston (120) being formed of a flexible material to closely contact an inner periphery of the body (100), that the piston (120) comprises a front side that is open to receive a spring holder (122) and a piston holder (124) which includes a rod fixing member (124 a), the piston holder (124) being adhered on a rear side of the piston;

a sponge case (130) installed together with the piston holder (124), having a front side in which a through guide fixing hole (130 b), a rod insert hole (130 a), and a case passage hole (130 d) are formed, the sponge case (130) having a rear side which is open such that a sponge (132) is inserted into the inside;

a packing (140) formed of rubber for blocking the sponge case (130) and an open entry at the rear side;

the packing (140) having a rod packing member (140 b) formed at a center;

a cover (150) having one side which is open to block the open rear side of the body (100) and having another side in which a hole is formed at a center, and

the rod (160) being fixed in the rod fixing member (124 a) of the piston holder (124) and formed to pass through the rod insert hole (130 a) of the sponge case (130), the hole of the packing (140), and the hole of the cover (150) so as to be protruded to an outside.
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the hinge guide stopper (220) is protruded further than a front side of the body (100), and has a front side constituting a curved surface and has an upper side in which a groove is formed.
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the piston (120) has a stepped stopper cut with a predetermined depth at a rear side and has a passage hole (120b) formed on a center thereof, and the passage hole (120b) has a tapered shape tapering toward the rear side.
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the spring guide (110) has a cylindrical shape, a reduced diameter by a stepped stopper at an end of a rear side of the spring guide (110), and has a passage control groove (114) with a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction on a side of the spring guide (110).
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the spring holder (122) comprises:
a thin press plate (122b) formed to press the spring (112); and

a support plate (122a) perpendicularly bent at upper and lower surfaces of the press plate (122b) and having a predetermined width.
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the piston holder (124) has a passage control groove (124d) to correspond to an outer periphery of a tapered passage hole (120b) at a rear side of the piston (120), a passage groove (124c) cut with a predetermined width is formed to communicate with both sides of the passage control groove (124d), and a passage through hole (124b) is formed at both ends of the passage groove (124c).
The door damper according to claim 1, wherein the case passage hole (130 d) of the sponge case (130) is formed in a rectangular shape at upper and lower portions of each guide fixing hole (130 b).