DE102008034808A1 - Cabinet, particularly refrigerator, has two elements that are provided with hinge, where damping element is provided for pivoting of two elements against each other - Google Patents

Abstract

The cabinet has two elements (2,4) that are provided with a hinge (3). A damping element (5) is provided for pivoting of the two elements against each other. The damping element has a hinged connection element (9) about a swivel axis (11) in pivoting manner.

Description

The The invention relates to a cabinet with at least two against each other pivotable parts and a damping element for Damping of the pivotability of the two parts against each other.

A cabinet, in particular a refrigerator with a hinged thereto hingedly hinged refrigerator door, for example, from EP 1 884 614 A2 known. Here, a damper on the one hand directly to the refrigerator housing, on the other hand hinged directly to the refrigerator door. The damper is therefore pivoted when opening the door about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. This is a risk of entrapment between the damper and the refrigerator door when opening and closing the same.

Of the Invention is therefore the object of the damping a pivotally hinged to a housing door to improve.

These The object is solved by the features of claim 1. The gist of the invention is a damping element with the interposition of a connecting element with the housing of a To connect cabinet on the one hand and its door on the other. Advantageously, the damper is stationary, in particular non-pivotally connected to the housing or the door. As a result, the risk of pinching between the damper and the door significantly reduced.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

characteristics and details of the invention will be apparent from the description several embodiments with reference to the drawings. It demonstrate:

1 a perspective view of a cabinet according to a first embodiment of the invention;

2 a view of the cabinet according to 1 from above with opened door;

3 an enlarged partial view according to 2 with the damper in cut representation;

4 a view of the cabinet according to 2 with closed door; and

5 a perspective view of a cabinet according to a second embodiment.

The following is with reference to the 1 to 4 a first embodiment of the invention described. A cabinet 1 , especially a refrigerator, includes a body 2 trained first part and a hinge about it 3 hinged, as a door 4 trained second part. In addition, the cabinet includes 1 a designed as a piston-cylinder damper damping element 5 for damping the pivotability of the two parts, that is the door 4 and the body 2 , against each other. The damping element 5 has a housing 6 on, which is fixed, in particular non-pivotally connected to the one of these parts.

According to the first embodiment, the housing 6 of the damping element 5 at the door 4 of the cupboard 1 attached in such a way that its longitudinal axis 7 straight parallel to a horizontal edge 8th the door 4 runs. At the horizontal edge 8th It can be a top edge or a bottom edge of the door 4 act. It is advantageously provided, depending on a damping element 5 at the bottom of the door 4 and at the top of the door 4 to arrange.

To connect the damping element 5 with the body 2 is each a connection element 9 provided, which at a first end 12 over a first joint 10 around a first pivot axis 11 pivotable with the damping element 5 connected is. At its second, the first end 12 opposite end 13 is the connection element 9 over a second joint 14 about a second pivot axis 15 swiveling with the carcass 2 of the refrigerator 1 connected.

According to the first embodiment, the connection element 9 at the bottom of the door 4 under a floor 30 of the body 2 pivotable. Accordingly, the connection element 9 at the top of the door 4 over a blanket 31 of the body 2 pivotable.

The connection element 9 is rigid. It is designed in particular L-shaped. However, it may also be arcuate. It is formed in particular by a metal or plastic plate. The swivel axes 11 . 15 are aligned parallel to each other. They are in particular parallel to a vertical edge 16 the door 4 that is along a vertical direction 29 aligned.

Regarding the formation of the hinge 3 be for example on the DE 10 2006 019 332 A1 directed. The hinge 3 is designed in particular as a multi-joint hinge. One through the training of the crowd niers 3 certain third pivot axis 17 to which the door 4 relative to corpus 2 is pivotable, one of the opening position of the door 4 dependent position, that is the position of the third pivot axis 17 is during an opening operation of the door 4 not stationary, but, especially with respect to the body 2 , changeable.

The hinge 3 has a dead center, so that the opening position and the closed position of the door 4 represent stable end positions. Preferably, the second joint 14 just arranged so that the third pivot axis 17 when opening the door 4 then and only then on the connecting line from the first pivot axis 11 to the second pivot axis 15 to come to rest when the dead center of the hinge 3 is passed through. In all other opening positions of the door 4 is the third pivot axis 17 spaced from this connecting line, so that by means of the damping element 5 a torque on the door 4 with respect to the third pivot axis 17 exercisable.

The trained as a piston-cylinder damper damping element 5 has one along the longitudinal axis 7 slidable in the housing 6 guided piston rod 18 on. The piston rod 18 is thus in the direction parallel to the horizontal edge 8th the door 4 displaceable. The piston rod 18 points at her from the case 6 led out end a first attachment element 19 into which the first joint 10 is integrated. At the first attachment element 19 opposite end has the damping element 5 one on the housing 6 arranged second fastening element 20 on.

The following is the essential structure of the damping element 5 briefly described. Regarding the detailed construction of the damping element 5 be on the description of EP 1 884 614 A2 directed. The housing 6 is on the one hand from a soil 21 on the other hand from a lid 22 limited. The housing 6 has a diameter D which is at most as large as a width B of the door 4 , Advantageously, D: B <0.8. The damping element 5 is thus in the door 4 integrated. The housing 6 surrounds a work space 23 passing through one along the longitudinal axis 7 slidably mounted piston 24 in a first part-workroom 25 and a second part workspace 26 is divided. The workroom 23 is with a damping fluid 27 , in particular with oil, at least partially filled. It may also be at least partially filled with gas, in particular with air. The lid 22 includes a guide and seal unit 28 through which the working space 23 is sealed to the outside. Through the guide and seal unit 28 is the piston rod 18 sealed led to the outside.

To generate a damping are in the piston 24 Distributed over its circumference distributed damping bores that surround the piston 24 penetrate and parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 run. The damping holes connect the first part working space 25 with the second part working space 26 and generate upon movement of the piston 24 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 7 a speed-dependent damping force. In the damping holes may be arranged at least partially valves that allow flow in one direction and prevent flow in the opposite direction. By such valves, the damping element 5 have a directional damping. In the damping element 5 Springs and / or other energy accumulators, in particular a pressure gas chamber, can be arranged, which control the displacement of the piston 24 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 7 support.

The damping element 5 and the connection element 9 are in a vertical direction 29 spaced apart from the hinge 3 arranged. In particular, they are independent of the hinge 3 and can thus be easily retrofitted.

The following is the function of the damping element 5 when opening and closing the door 4 described. It is assumed that the door 4 initially closed, like this in 4 is shown. The piston rod 18 is in this position in the inserted state. The third pivot axis 17 is located at a distance from the connecting line between the first pivot axis 11 and the second pivot axis 15 so that the damping element 5 a closing moment about the third pivot axis 17 on the door 4 exercises. When opening the door 4 becomes the piston rod 18 out of the case 6 pulled out. In addition, the position of the third pivot axis changes 17 when opening the door 4 , The third pivot axis 17 is here as long as spaced from the connecting line between the first pivot axis 11 and the second pivot axis 15 until the dead center of the hinge 3 is reached. When passing through the dead center position of the hinge 3 crosses the position of the third pivot axis 17 this connecting line, so in this position by the damping element 5 no torque with respect to the third pivot axis 17 on the door 4 is exercised. Will the door 4 Open beyond the dead center position, this is the damping element 5 torque applied thereto with respect to the third pivot axis 17 opposite to that before passing through the dead center.

Depending on the design of the damping element 5 will open and / or close the door 4 steamed or supported by this.

When closing the door 4 becomes the piston rod 18 according to the case 6 pushed. The damping element 5 is preferably formed such that a through the hinge 3 caused automatic closing movement of the door 4 gently steamed.

The following is with reference to the 5 A second embodiment of the invention described. Identical parts are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, to the description of which reference is hereby made. The difference from the first embodiment is that the damping element 5 with the connection element 9 in vertical direction 29 each at the same height as the hinge 3 is arranged. Due to the angled design of the connection element 9 and the arrangement of the second joint 14 with the second pivot axis 15 on the body 2 it still occurs when the door is opened 4 not to a contact between the connection element 9 and the hinge 3 , For receiving the connection element 9 when closing the door 4 shows the body 2 a recess 32 on.

Of course, the arrangement of the damping element 5 and the connection element 9 on the body 2 and the door 4 also just be reversed, so the damping element 5 on the body 2 is attached while the second joint 14 the articulation of the connection element 9 to the door 4 serves.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - EP 1884614 A2 [0002, 0020]
• - DE 102006019332 A1 [0017]

Claims (9)

Cabinet, in particular refrigerator, comprising a. a first part ( 2 b. at least a second part ( 4 i. where the parts ( 2 . 4 ) via at least one hinge ( 3 ) are pivotally hinged together, c. at least one damping element ( 5 ) for damping the pivotability of the two parts ( 2 . 4 ) against each other and d. on at least one damping element ( 5 ) about a first pivot axis ( 11 ) pivotally articulated connection element ( 9 ), e. wherein the damping element ( 5 ) with one of the parts ( 2 . 4 ), and f. the connection element ( 9 ) with the other of the parts ( 4 . 2 ) about a second pivot axis ( 15 ) is pivotally connected. Cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping element ( 5 ) a housing ( 6 ), which stationary, in particular unverschwenkbar with one of the parts ( 2 . 4 ) connected is. Cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element ( 9 ) is rigid, in particular L-shaped or arcuate. Cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one of the parts as a body ( 2 ) the other as a door ( 4 ) is formed with an upper and a lower side. Cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping element ( 5 ) as a piston-cylinder damper with one along a longitudinal axis ( 7 ) slidably guided piston rod ( 18 ) is trained. Cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that the piston-cylinder damper ( 5 ) on the door ( 4 ) is attached, that the piston rod ( 18 ) parallel to the door ( 4 ) is displaceable. Cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one damping element ( 5 ) in a vertical direction ( 29 ) each spaced from the at least one hinge ( 3 ) is arranged. Cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one damping element ( 5 ) in vertical direction ( 29 ) at the same height as the at least one hinge ( 3 ) is arranged. Cabinet according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that two damping elements ( 5 ), one at the bottom and one at the top of the door ( 4 ) is arranged.