Multi-link hinge

An universal joint hinge (10) for the articulation of a door leaf (12) on a carcass of a piece of furniture, the universal joint hinge comprising

• a mounting plate (18) designed to be disposed on a supporting wall (14) of the carcass and formed as an elongated support arm
• a carcass mounting part (16) mounted on the carcass mounting plate (16);
• a universal joint mechanism comprising two joint arms (22;
• 24),
• a door leaf mounting part (20), constructed as a hinge cup, is disposed on a door leaf, wherein the two joint arms (22;
• 24) are pivotably connected to each other in their centers and each joint arm is pivotable at one of its ends about a fixed axis on one of the mounting parts (16;
• 20) and the respective other end is attached to the respective other mounting part (20;
• 16) so as to be variable in position along a predetermined space curve extending in a plane lying at right angles to the pivot axis of the hinge,
• wherein the joint arm (24) is pivotably mounted about a fixed axis on or in the door leaf mounting part (20) at its opposite end coupled to the carcass mounting part (16) so as to be pivotable about a fixed axis on or in the end region of the carcass mounting part (16), and wherein a portion of the joint arm (24a) which is positioned between the region which is pivotably mounted on the carcass mounting part (16) and the region which supports the joints arms (22;
• 24) so that the joints arms (22, 24) pivot approximately centrally comprising two joint arm portions (24a;
• 24b) which are longitudinally displaceable relative to one another by a predetermined amount,
• wherein a damping device, which is effective at least during a part of a displacement movement of the joint arm portions relative to one another is provided between the two joint arm portions (24a;
• 24b) and wherein the joint arm portions (24a;
• 24b) which are displaceable relative to one another, are constructed so that they engage telescopically, and
• wherein one joint arm portion (24b) is formed by an elongated cylinder which is disposed so as to be longitudinally displaceable on a piston rod which forms the other joint arm portion.