GB2167804A

GB2167804A - A hinge with weight compensation means

Info

Publication number: GB2167804A
Application number: GB08528216A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilhelm Gronbach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-19
Filing date: 1985-11-15
Publication date: 1986-06-04
Also published as: FR2589934A3; IT8522797A0; DK532585D0; DK532585A; GB2167804B; GB8528216D0; FR2589934B3; IT1186056B

Abstract

A hinge is provided for a leaf member pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis such as a lid, flap or door or a chest-type freezer, which hinge has a spring (3) for compensation for the weight of the leaf member, when fitted thereto, particularly over the upper part of the opening movement of the leaf member, which spring (3) is supported at or adjacent one end thereof in a stationary portion (2) of the hinge and engaged at or adjacent its other end in, on or with a second hinge portion (1, 12) which is fixedly attachable to the movable leaf member, wherein the spring (3) is in the form of a bar spring and is supported in or on a pin (4) rotatably mounted in the second hinge portion (1), or in or on two opposing spaced apart projecting portions (14, 14') in or on the second hinge portion (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A hinge with weight compensation means This invention relates to a hinge with weight compensation means such as a compression spring for compensating for the weight of a leaf member, pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis, such as a lid, flap or door of a chest-type freezer. Such a hinge with a spring extending between a stationary portion of the hinge and a movable portion fixed to a leaf member is disclosed in German laid-open application (DE-OS) No 24 55 419.

There is a need to simplify the construction of the known hinge and in particular to provide it with operational characteristics such that the weight compensation effect is produced only in a restricted range or region of movement before the leaf member reaches the fully open position, while in the remaining range or region of movement into the closed position the closing moment of the leaf member remains substantially uninfluenced but nonetheless a moment urging the leaf member closed is produced in the closed position thereof.

According to the present invention there is provided a hinge for a leaf member pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis, such as a lid, flap or door of a chest-type freezer, which hinge has a spring for compensation for the weight of the leaf member, when fitted thereto, particularly over the upper part of the opening movement of the leaf member, which spring is supported at or adjacent one end thereof in a stationary portion of the hinge and engaged at or adjacent its other end in, on or with a second hinge portion which is fixedly attachable to the movable leaf member, wherein the spring is in the form of a bar spring and is supported in or on a pin rotatably mounted in the second hinge portion, or in or on two opposing spaced apart projecting portions in or on the second hinge portion.By virtue of the construction of the hinge of the invention, the bar spring acts as a buckling bar. This ensures that a high support force for the leaf member is produced in the open position of the hinge.

When the bar spring is supported on two pull-through or projecting portions, the hinge according to the invention also has the advantage of being substantially simpler to assemble. In such a case it is no longer necessary to fit a pin and the spring can also be mounted if the hinge is already fixed for example to a chest freezer. More specifically in the latter case the spring can still easily be pressed on to its mountings, precisely because no additional component is required for the assembly operation. The necessity of asembly in the manner described may arise particularly when it is necessary to omit a longitudinal opening in the spring.

Preferably a slight degree of bending initially is imparted to the bar spring by the configuration of the stationary hinge portion so that the support force of the spring is somewhat weakened. This has the advantage tha the lid can be closed more easily.

Conveniently said other end of the spring bar is supported in a slot in the rotatably mounted pin. By virtue of this construction, the spring is fixedly anchored at the pivot point and no bending moments are transmitted to the spring upon movement of the hinge portion mounted on the leaf member. Consequently, this ensures that there is a given loading on the spring in respect of buckling.

The spring is not subjected to any superimposition effect in regard to bending. The spring therefore is only lightly loaded.

Advantageously the bar spring is a leaf or plate spring. This configuration has the advantage that, when the bar spring undergoes a buckling deflection, the direction thereof is clearly predetermined, as a flat spring always deflects in the direction of the lowest moment of resistance and the direction of the deflection movement is also predetermined by the pre-bending of the spring.

Preferably the spring is supported on the stationary hinge portion by two sheet metal lugs formed thereon or by two mutually oppositely disposed projecting portions which are of such a configuration that the spring is pivotably mounted thereby or thereon. The spring is still only loaded in respect of buckling because no bending forces are superimposed by virtue of its being supported on the stationary hinge portion.

Advantageously an abutment is formed on the stationary hinge portion, which abutment is operable to restrict the angle of opening of the hinge in such a way that there is a dead motion between the relieved position of the spring and complete opening of the leaf member. This has the advantage of providing for a reduction in the impact force when the leaf member is opened without a braking effect, until it reaches a position of abutment. The effect of the spring force is exhausted before the abutment is reached. This protects the fixing elements, particularly on the leaf member.

More advantageously the second hinge portion has a U-shaped configuration and in a region directed in use towards the leaf member, has a further portion which is substantially U-shaped to extend over the stationary hinge portion and serve as a housing, there being a step formed on the stationary hinge portion. Possibly the abutment formed on the stationary hinge portion could be too weak in the event of continuous or repetitive loadings and could possibly be the cause of a risk of injury. Therefore the further U-shaped or bent portion forms an abutment with respect to the stationary hinge portion which serves as a housing, both in the open position and in the closed position. It is only necessary to provide a step on the stationary hinge portion which serves as a housing, in order to provide for a satisfactory mode of operation.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are views in longitudinal section through a hinge according to a first embodiment of the invention, with Fig. 1 showing the hinge in a closed position with a bar spring in a stressed condition and with Fig. 2 showing the hinge in an open position with the bar spring in an unstressed condition.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the hinge of Figs.

1 and 2 from the open side of a stationary hinge portion, Figure 4 is a plan view of a hinge according to a second embodiment of the invention showing a downwardly open stationary hinge portion which serves as a housing.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hinge of Fig. 5 in the open position, and Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hinge of Figs. 4 and 5 in the closed position.

A hinge according to the first embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, has a hinge portion 1 which is fixedly attachable to a leaf member such as a lid, flap or door and a stationary hinge portion 2, which portions are pivotable relative to each other about an axis of rotation 5. A spring for compensating for the weight of the lid, flap or door is provided in the form of a bar spring 3. This spring 3 is supported at or adjacent one end thereof in the stationary hinge portion 2 and engaged at or adjacent its other end in, on or with the second hinge portion 1 which is secured to the leaf member against which portion 1 the spring other ends bears. A pin 4 is rotatably mounted in the hinge portion 1 which is fixed to the leaf member. This rotatable pin 4 is provided with a slot 10 into which one end of the bar spring 3 engages.

The slot 10 may be wider than the thickness of the bar spring 3, thereby simplifying manufacture.

A slight degree of bending initially is imparted to the bar spring 3 by the configuration of the stationary hinge portion 2 so that the support force of the spring is somewhat weakened. In the illustrated embodiment, the above-mentioned configuration is provided by the length of the connection or flexing surface of the stationary hinge portion 2, an end 9 of which forms a support line for the bar spring 3 on the stationary hinge portion 2.

The bar spring 3 is supported on the stationary hinge portion 2 by means of two sheet metal lugs 6 which are formed thereon and which are of such a configuration that the spring 3 is mounted pivotably. As can be seen from Fig. 3, in the preferred embodiment the bar spring is in the form of a leaf or plate spring 3. It is provided with a longitudinal opening 11 which provides better access to the fixing screws for fixing the stationary hinge portion 2 to the chest-type freezer via the connection surface.

Also formed on the stationary hinge portion 2 are two abutments 7 which restrict the angle of opening of the hinge in such a way that there is a dead motion 8 between the unstressed position of the spring 3 and the position of complete opening of the movable leaf member.

The improved embodiment ilustrated in Figs.

4 to 6 differs from the embodiment just described, in the following ways.

The hinge again comprises a hinge portion 12 which is fixedly securable to the leaf member and a stationary hinge portion 2 which serves as a housing, the two hinge portions 12 and 2 being pivotable relative to each other about an axis of rotation as indicated at 5. In this respect therefore this construction is the same as the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

As will be seen from Figs. 4 to 6, the hinge portion 12 which is secured to the leaf member is substantially U-shaped in its basic configuration. In addition, in its front or outer region, the hinge portion 12 has a portion 13 which also is substantially U-shaped and which engages over the stationary hinge portion 2 that serves as a housing. A respective pull-through portion or dimple-like projecting portion 14, 14' is formed at or on each of the oppositely disposed side plate parts of the Ushaped hinge portion 12. The stationary hinge portion 2 also has two pull-through portions or dimple-like projecting portions 15 and 15', although they are at its end which is remote from the movable hinge portion 12. The plate spring 13 can be mounted between the pairs of portions 14, 14' and 15, 15', by means of bent portions 20 and 21 provided at the two ends of the spring.

The abutments for limiting the movement of the hinge portion 12 relative to the stationary hinge portion 2 can be seen from the drawings, as follows: In the open position of the hinge as shown in Fig. 5 the abutment 16 on the stationary hinge portion 2 and the abutment 17 on the U-shaped hinge portion 12 co-operate with each other. In the closed position of the hinge as shown in Fig. 6 the abutment 19 on the portion 13 of the movable hinge portion 12 and the step 18 on the stationary hinge portion 2 co-operate with each other.

Claims

1. A hinge for a leaf member pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis, such as a lid, flap or door of a chest-type freezer, which hinge has a spring for compensation for the weight of the leaf member, when fitted thereto, particularly over the upper part of the opening movement of the leaf member which spring is supported at or adjacent one end thereof in a stationary portion of the hinge and engaged at or adjacent its other end in, on or with a second hinge portion which is fixedly attachable to the movable leaf member, wherein the spring is in the form of a bar spring and is supported in or on a pin rotatably mounted in the second hinge portion, or in or on two opposing spaced apart projecting portions in or on the second hinge portion.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein a slight degree of bending initially is imparted to the bar spring by the configuration of the stationary hinge portion so that the support force of the spring is somewhat weakened.

3. A hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said other end of the spring bar is supported in a slot in the rotatably mounted pin.

4. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bar spring is a plate spring.

5. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an abutment is formed on the stationary hinge portion, which abutment is operable to restrict the angle of opening of the hinge in such a way that there is a dead motion between the relieved position of the spring and complete opening of the leaf member.

6. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second hinge portion has a U-shaped configuration and in a region directed in use towards the leaf member, has a further portion which is substantially U-shaped to extend over the stationary hinge portion and serve as a housing, there being a step formed on the stationary hinge portion.

7. A hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spring is supported on the stationary hinge portion by two sheet metal lugs formed thereon or by two mutually oppositely disposed projecting portions which are of such a configuration that the spring is pivotably mounted thereby or thereon.

8. A hinge for a leaf member pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.