Compact hinge apparatus and method of use
AssigneeHardware Resources, Inc.
InventorsDennis McGregor, Travis McElveen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a self-closing, soft-close compact hinge comprising of a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge body via a hinge arm. A coil spring wrapped around the hinge cup provides the self-closing functionality and biases the hinge to a closed position. A damper is contained within the hinge cup in the path of the swinging hinge arm and guided by a damper cover fixedly attached to the hinge cup. The hinge body is comprised of three separate plates adjustably connected to each other with cam screws. The position of the hinge body with respect to the hinge arm is adjustable in three directions without the need for removal or loosening of mounting hardware used to attach the hinge body to a furniture piece.
Claims20
A soft-close hinge for pivotally connecting a cabinet door to a cabinet frame comprising:
- a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge arm, the hinge cup having a first side wall and a second side wall defining an interior,
- a first tab extending into the interior from the first side wall;
- a second tab extending into the interior from the second side wall;
- a hinge body adjustably connected to the hinge arm;
- a damper cover permanently engaged with the first tab and the second tab;
- a damper, secured in the interior and adjacent the damper cover, that is positioned to operatively engage the hinge arm through a sliding engagement with an angled cylinder face;
- a spring, held adjacent the hinge cup, extending through the first side wall and the second side wall and biasing the hinge cup toward the hinge arm;
- and,
- wherein a position of the hinge arm relative to the cabinet frame is adjustable in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction.
A soft-close hinge for pivotally connecting a cabinet door to a cabinet frame comprising:
- a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge arm, the hinge cup having a first side wall and a second side wall defining an interior;
- a first tab extending into the interior from the first side wall;
- a second tab extending into the interior from the second side wall;
- a hinge body adjustably connected to the hinge arm;
- a damper cover permanently engaged with the first tab and the second tab;
- a damper, secured in the interior and adjacent the damper cover, that is positioned to operatively engage the hinge arm through a sliding engagement with an angled cylinder face;
- a spring, held adjacent the hinge cup, extending through the first side wall and the second side wall and biasing the hinge cup toward the hinge arm;
- wherein a position of the hinge arm relative to the cabinet frame is adjustable in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction;
- wherein the damper cover further comprises an engagement section having a first cutout engaged with the first tab and a second cutout engaged with the second tab;
- and,
- a guide section having a first set of ridges slidably engaged with a set of flanges extending from the damper and a second set of ridges slidably engaged with a curved section of the damper.
A compact, soft-close hinge for pivotally connecting a cabinet door to a cabinet frame comprising:
- a hinge cup defining an interior and having a set of tabs extending into the interior, the hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge arm;
- an overlay plate adjustably connected to the hinge arm by an overlay cam screw;
- an attachment section of the hinge arm slidably engaged with a pocket extending from the overlay plate;
- an adjustment plate adjustably connected to the overlay plate by a depth cam screw;
- a mounting plate adjustably connected to the adjustment plate by a vertical cam screw;
- a damper secured in the interior by a damper cover, the damper having a piston rod extending from a cylinder, the cylinder adjacent the hinge arm;
- the damper cover fixedly engaged with the set of tabs;
- a set of ridges extending from the damper cover and slidably engaged with the cylinder;
- a spring seated adjacent the hinge cup and biasing the hinge cup toward the hinge arm;
- wherein a position of the hinge arm relative to the mounting plate is adjustable in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction.
A compact, soft-close hinge for pivotally connecting a cabinet door to a cabinet frame comprising:
- a hinge cup defining an interior and having a set of tabs extending into the interior, the hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge arm;
- an overlay plate adjustably connected to the hinge arm by an overlay cam screw;
- an attachment section of the hinge arm slidably engaged with a pocket extending from the overlay plate;
- an adjustment plate adjustably connected to the overlay plate by a depth cam screw;
- a mounting plate adjustably connected to the adjustment plate by a vertical cam screw;
- a damper secured in the interior by a damper cover, the damper having a piston rod extending from a cylinder, the cylinder adjacent the hinge arm;
- the damper cover permanently engaged with the set of tabs;
- a first set of ridges extending from the damper cover;
- a second set of ridges, opposite the first set of ridges, extending from the damper cover;
- a spring seated adjacent the hinge cup and biasing the hinge cup toward the hinge arm;
- wherein a position of the hinge arm relative to the mounting plate is adjustable in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction;
- wherein the damper cover further comprises
- an engagement section having a first cutout engaged with the first tab and a second cutout engaged with the second tab;
- whereby the first set of ridges is slidably engaged with a first set of flanges extending from the damper;
- and,
- whereby the second set of ridges is slidably engaged with a second set of flanges, opposite the first set of flanges, extending from the damper.
A method of damping the closing movement of a compact hinge having a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge arm, an overlay plate connected to the hinge arm by an overlay cam screw, an adjustable plate connected to the overlay plate by a depth cam screw, a mounting plate connected to the adjustable plate by a vertical cam screw, a damper cover permanently engaged with a set of tabs extending from the hinge cup, a damping cylinder slidable within the hinge cup and positioned by the damper cover, and a spring held adjacent the hinge cup and biasing the hinge cup toward the hinge arm comprising:
- providing a closing force to the compact hinge to begin the closing movement;
- abutting the cylinder with the hinge arm;
- moving the cylinder through the hinge cup and adjacent the hinge cover;
- and,
- whereby closing speed of the compact hinge is controlled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.