WO2024242356A1 - Multi-link hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-link hinge and, more specifically, to a multi-link hinge which is suitable for opening a relatively heavy door and is capable of stopping the operation of the door. To this end, the present invention comprises: a housing and an arm; a plurality of links mutually connected to be rotatable between the housing and the arm; and a plate cover, wherein the plate cover is provided with a protrusion and an elongated groove to allow the door to stop and to return to the operation during the opening or closing operations of the door.

Description

Multi-link hinge

The present invention relates to a multi-link hinge, and more particularly, to a multi-link hinge suitable for opening a door having a relatively heavy weight and capable of stopping the movement of the door.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that can store food at a low temperature in an internal storage space covered by a refrigerator door. It is configured to store stored food in an optimal condition by cooling the interior of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerator has a structure in which storage spaces can be divided into compartments according to temperature, and each storage space can be opened and closed by each door. At this time, each door can be supported by a hinge and mounted so as to be rotatable, and the storage space is opened and closed by the rotation of the door.

Meanwhile, since the thickness of the door of these refrigerators causes interference with adjacent components when the door rotates, a hinge that rotates so as not to interfere with the components is being developed.

In the case of conventional refrigerator door hinges, there is a problem in that the thickness is formed too thick to achieve the aforementioned function.

This results in a loss of storage space capacity in the refrigerator, a widening of the gap between each door, and problems such as fingers or toes getting caught in the hinges or a deteriorated appearance due to the wide gap between each door and the exposure of parts that make up the hinges.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a multi-link hinge that opens the door by pushing it out from the main body when the door is opened, thereby expanding the usable space.

The purpose is to provide a multi-link hinge that has a plate cover that protects the link that opens when the door is opened, thereby solving the problem of fingers or toes being caught or the appearance being impaired.

In addition, the purpose is to provide a multi-link hinge that can be stopped during the operation of the door, such as during the opening or closing operation of the door.

And the purpose is to provide a multi-link hinge that can adjust the maximum opening angle of the door according to the user's needs.

In addition, the purpose is to provide a multi-link hinge that can maintain the open state so that the door does not automatically close when the door is fully opened.

In addition, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be described below, and it is added that these are encompassed in a wider scope by means and combinations within the scope that can be easily deduced from the matters described in the claims of the present invention and the disclosure of the embodiments thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises: a housing installed in a main body of a mechanism provided with a door; an arm installed in the door; a multi-link portion composed of a plurality of links rotatably interconnected between the housing and the arm; and a plate cover configured to protect a link opened by opening the door, the plate cover comprising a first plate cover rotatably connected to the housing, a link connected closely to the arm, and a second plate cover rotatably connected to the first plate cover, respectively; and a protrusion and a groove are provided on the inner side of the first plate cover and the outer wall of the corresponding link, respectively, so that when the protrusion is fitted into the groove by a pressing motion of the first plate cover, the operation of the door stops.

And according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-link part is characterized by including a first link rotatably connected to the housing; a second link rotatably connected to the center of the arm and the first link, respectively; a third link rotatably connected to the center of the first link and the arm, respectively; a fourth link rotatably connected to the center of the third link and the housing, respectively; a cam link within the first link, the center of which is connected to the first link; a first spring link within the second link, the first spring link rotatably connected to the second link, the first spring link having a center that contacts the cam link; a second spring link rotatably connected to the first spring link and including a spring lever and a spring fitted into the spring lever; and a third spring link connected to the second link and including a rod fitted into the spring lever.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first plate cover is characterized by further including a return spring provided between the first plate cover and the housing.

And according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized by further including: a U-shaped cover part covering the front and rear sides of one end of the third link; a body fitted into the inside of the first link and in contact with the cover part; a rivet provided in the body and movably fitted along guide holes on both sides of the first link; and an angle adjusting part including a screw provided on the front side of the body and fitted into the guide hole on the front side of the first link and configured to move or fix the body from the first link.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an opening maintenance unit including a holder, a spring provided inside the holder, and a pusher provided on both sides of the spring and protruding toward both sides of the holder and both sides of the first link is further included, and a moving groove formed in a curved shape on the inner wall of the housing to correspond to a moving position of the pusher; and a fixed groove formed in the moving groove that is relatively deeper than the moving groove is characterized in that the moving groove is formed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

When the door is opened, the door is pushed out from the main body and opens, thereby expanding the usable space. As a result, there is no interference with adjacent components, and the user can secure sufficient space when opening the door of a home appliance, such as a refrigerator.

In addition, a plate cover is provided to protect the link that opens when the door is opened, so that the problem of fingers or toes being caught in the multi-link section consisting of multiple links between the main body and the door or the appearance being impaired can be solved.

In addition, during the operation of the door, such as during the opening or closing operation of the door, the operation of the door can be stopped by pressing the plate cover, and when the pressing is released, the operation of the door can be resumed, thereby providing the effect of allowing the operation of the door to be simply paused and resumed.

There is also an effect that allows the user to easily adjust the maximum opening angle of the door according to the user's needs or the spatial environment for opening the door.

That is, by adjusting the position of the angle adjustment part and then fixing it with a screw, the maximum opening angle of the door can be limited depending on the position of the angle adjustment part.

In addition, when the door is fully opened, it can be maintained in the open state, which has the effect of preventing safety accidents and inconveniences that may occur due to the door automatically closing.

That is, when the door is opened to its maximum, the door is kept open due to the open maintenance member, that is, the pusher is fitted into the groove, and the open maintenance state can be easily released by applying a small amount of force.

In addition, it is added that other effects of the present invention are broadly encompassed by the effects that can be easily derived from the embodiments described above and the matters described in the claims of the present invention, as well as the possibilities of temporary advantages contributing to industrial development.

FIGS. 1a and 1b, 2a and 2b are perspective and side views showing the door opening and closing state of a multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A to 5C are drawings for explaining the motion stopping function of the multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are drawings for explaining the maximum opening angle adjustment function of the multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

FIGS. 7a and 7b and FIGS. 8a to 8c are drawings for explaining the open state maintenance function of the multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols>

100; Multi-link hinge

10; Housing

20; cancer

40: Plate Cover

51, 52, 53, 54, 55; Link

61, 62, 63; Spring Link

71; Cover

73; Angle adjustment part

80; Open maintenance unit

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to the description, the advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will be clarified by referring to the embodiments described in detail below together with the attached drawings. In addition, the terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Among these terms, the singular form also includes the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase, and words indicating directions in the description are intended to help the understanding of the description and may be changed depending on the time point.

Hereinafter, a multi-link hinge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIGS. 1a and 1b, 2a and 2b are perspective views and side views showing a door open/closed state of a multi-link hinge according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention includes a housing (10) installed in a main body of a mechanism provided with a door, an arm (20) installed in the door, a multi-link portion composed of a plurality of links rotatably interconnected between the housing (10) and the arm (20), and a plate cover (40) protecting a link that is opened by opening the door.

When the door is opened through the multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1b and 2b, the arm (20) installed on the door is rotated while being pushed downward from the housing (10) installed on the main body due to the multi-link part consisting of a multi-axis connection and multiple links, thereby providing the effect of widening the internal space.

The housing (10) is installed in a main body, for example, a main body of a refrigerator, and the arm (20) is installed in a door, for example, a refrigerator door, and rotates together with the door.

The housing (10) includes a hinge axis (11) and a link axis (13). Unlike conventional hinges that are single-axis hinges with a single hinge axis, the multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention is characterized in that the housing (10) includes multiple axes, i.e., multi-links, including a hinge axis (11) and a link axis (13). Due to this, when the door rotates, the multi-link part is stably driven, and the door can rotate while being pushed downward.

Next, looking at the multi-link portion, it is composed of a plurality of links that are rotatably interconnected between the housing (10) and the arm (20).

That is, a first link (51) is rotatably connected to the housing (10), and one end of the first link (51) is connected to the hinge axis (11) of the housing (10) using a rivet.

The second link (52) is rotatably connected to the center of the arm (20) and the first link (51), respectively. Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the other end of the first link (51) with a rivet, and the other end is rotatably connected to the center of the arm (20) with a rivet.

The third link (53) is rotatably connected to the center of the first link (51) and the arm (20), respectively. Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the center of the first link (51) with a rivet, and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of the arm (20) with a rivet.

The fourth link (54) is rotatably connected to the center of the third link (53) and the housing (10), respectively. Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the other end of the housing (10) with a rivet, and the other end is rotatably connected to the center of the third link (53) with a rivet.

These third and fourth links (53, 54) serve to support the rotation of the first and second links (51, 52), as shown in FIGS. 1b and 2b, and the door can be opened by being pushed out from the main body due to this multi-link part.

The cam link (55) is located inside the first link (51), with its center connected to the first link (51). Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, it is provided inside the other end of the first link (51), with its center connected to the other end of the first link (51) with a rivet. At this time, as described above, it is connected with the same rivet as the second link (52) connected with a rivet at the other end of the first link (51).

And the cam link (55) is riveted to the edge portion of the other end of the first link (51) at one end. That is, as shown in the drawing, the cam link (55) is provided as if fitted inside the other end of the first link (51), one end of the cam link (55) is connected to the edge portion of the other end of the first link (51), and the center of the cam link (55) is connected to the other end of the first link (51).

In addition, when the door is operated, the center of the first spring link (61) comes into contact with the other end of the cam link (55), so that the other end of the cam link (55) becomes curved.

The first spring link (61) is provided so as to be rotatably connected to the second link (52) within the second link (52), but so as to have its center touch the cam link (55). Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, it is provided so as to have one end rotatably connected to one side of the second link (52) by a rivet within the second link (52), but so as to have its center touch the other end of the cam link (55).

That is, the first spring link (61) is provided with a roller (61a) at the center, and the roller (61a) is provided so as to contact the curved other end of the cam link (55), so that when the door is opened, the first spring link (61) rotates around the axis connected to the second link (52) due to the movement of the arm (20), and moves along the other end of the cam link (55) through the roller (61a).

The second spring link (62) is rotatably connected to the first spring link (61), and when examined in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the other end of the first spring link (61) by a rivet, and includes a spring lever (62a) provided at the other end and a spring (62b) fitted to the spring lever (62a).

That is, the second spring link (62) has a hole formed at the other end and is fitted into a rivet provided at the other end of the first spring link (61).

Here, the spring lever (62a) has a perforated interior, into which the rod (63a) of the third spring link (63) is inserted.

The third spring link (63) is connected to the second link (52), and when examined in more detail with reference to the drawing, the other end of the third spring link (63) is connected to the second link (52) and includes a rod (63a) fitted inside a spring lever (62a).

That is, the load (63a) of the third spring link (63) is fitted inside the spring lever (62a) of the second spring link (62), and the other end is connected to the other end of the second link (52).

At this time, the connection between the third spring link (63) and the second link (52) is made at a part slightly offset to one side from the other end, because, as described above, the other end of the second link (52) is connected to the arm (20) through a rivet.

Here, since the third spring link (63) is fixedly connected at the other end to the second link (52), when the door is operated, the second spring link (62) into which the load (63a) of the third spring link (63) is fitted supports the first spring link (61).

Next, as drawings for explaining the plate cover (40), FIGS. 4a and 4b and FIGS. 5a to 5c are drawings for explaining the operation stop function of the multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the plate cover (40) includes a first plate cover (41) and a second plate cover (42). In the present invention, the plate cover (40) is illustrated and described as being connected in two parts, but is not limited to this form.

The first plate cover (41) is rotatably connected to the housing (10). Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the housing (10), and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of the second plate cover (42).

The first plate cover (41) is provided with a protrusion (43) on the inside, and a groove (45) is formed on the outer wall of the second link (52) corresponding to the path along which the protrusion (43) moves due to the operation of the door.

That is, when the door is opened from FIG. 4a to FIG. 4b, a groove (45) is formed corresponding to the movement path of the protrusion (43), as indicated by A and A'.

At this time, the protrusion (43) is spaced apart from the groove (45), because the first plate cover (41) is coupled to the outer wall of the housing (10), and the coupling with the second plate cover (42) is also connected to cover one end of the second plate cover (42), and in addition, because of the return spring (47) as shown in Fig. 5c. The return spring (47) is described below.

That is, as shown in Fig. 5a, the protrusion (43) of the first plate cover (41) is in a state where it is spaced apart from the groove (45) by a predetermined distance, and Fig. 5b shows a state where the operation stop function of the multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention is performed, and the protrusion (43) is fitted into the groove (45).

The user can press the first plate cover (41) to stop the door from moving during operation, thereby causing the protrusion (43) to fit into the groove (45), thereby stopping the door from moving any further.

At this time, the door operation can be stopped by the user's continuous pressing of the first plate cover (41), and when the pressing is released, the door operation can be resumed, so that the door operation can be easily stopped and resumed.

Here, a return spring (47) is provided to facilitate the return of the door operation.

The return spring (47) is provided between the first plate cover (41) and the housing (10), as indicated by B in Fig. 5a, and is provided in a form as shown in Fig. 5c.

By means of this return spring (47), the user's action of pressing the first plate cover (41) can be performed smoothly, and when the pressing is released, the first plate cover (41) can be easily returned.

The second plate cover (42) is rotatably connected to a link that is closely connected to the arm (20), for example, the second link (52) and the first plate cover (41). Looking at it in more detail with reference to the drawing, one end is rotatably connected to the other end of the first plate cover (41), and the other end is rotatably connected to the center portion of the second link (52).

These first and second plate covers (42) serve to cover and protect the multi-link section that opens between the housing (10) and the arm (20) due to the operation of the door, thereby solving the problem of fingers or toes being caught in the multi-link section composed of multiple links or the appearance being impaired.

Next, the multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention can further include a cover part (71) and an angle adjustment part (73) configured to adjust the maximum opening angle of the door.

As drawings for explaining a configuration capable of adjusting the maximum opening angle, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D. FIGS. 6A to 6D are drawings for explaining the maximum opening angle adjustment function of a multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the cover part (71) is provided to cover the front and rear sides of one end of the third link (53), and for this purpose, forms a U shape.

This cover part (71) comes into contact with the angle adjustment part (73) depending on the operation of the door.

The angle adjustment part (73) is fitted inside the first link (51), for example, inside the other end, and is provided adjacent to the cam link (55), but as shown in the drawing, is provided at a part slightly to one side from the cam link (55) at the other end of the first link (51).

The angle adjustment part (73) includes a body (73a), a rivet (73b) provided on the other end of the body (73a), and a screw (73c) provided on the front side of the body (73a).

The rivet (73b) is fitted into the body (73a) so as to be movable along the guide holes (51b, 51c) on both sides of the first link (51), for example, on both sides of the other end, and the screw (73c) is fitted into the guide hole (51a) on the front side of the other end of the first link (51) to move or fix the body (73a) from the first link (51).

That is, the position of the angle adjustment part (73) can be moved by loosening the screw (73c), and the angle adjustment part (73) is fixed at the desired position by tightening the screw (73c).

As shown in Fig. 6a, in the closed state of the door, the position of the angle adjustment part (73) can be moved using the screw (73c), and the movement of the angle adjustment part (73) is achieved by movement of the screw (73c) within the front guide hole (51a) of the first link (51) and movement of the rivet (73b) within the guide holes (51b, 51c) on both sides.

FIG. 6b shows a state in which the angle adjustment part (73) is in close contact with the other end within the first link (51) as in FIG. 6a. In this case, when the door is opened, the door can be opened to the maximum as shown in the drawing.

Fig. 6c shows a state in which the angle adjustment part (73) is positioned in the middle portion within the guide holes (51a, 51b, 51c) through a screw (73c). In this case, the maximum opening angle of the door can be set to about 85˚.

Fig. 6d shows a state in which the angle adjustment part (73) is tightly fitted within the guide hole (51a, 51b, 51c). In this case, the maximum opening angle of the door can be set to about 65˚.

In this way, the maximum opening angle of the door is adjusted according to the position of the angle adjustment part (73), so that the user can easily adjust the maximum opening angle of the door according to the user's needs or the spatial environment for opening the door.

Next, the multi-link hinge (100) according to the present invention can further include an opening maintenance member (80) and a moving home (87) configured to maintain the open state of the door.

A description of a configuration for maintaining the open state of such a door is described with reference to FIGS. 7a and 7b, and FIGS. 8a to 8c. FIGS. 7a and 7b, and FIGS. 8a to 8c are drawings for explaining the open state maintaining function of a multi-link hinge according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 7a, the open maintenance member (80) is provided inside one end of the first link (51) and is provided so as to be able to move along a moving groove (87) formed in a curved shape around the hinge axis (11).

The open retainer (80) includes a holder (81), a spring (83) provided inside the holder (81), and pushers (85a, 85b) provided on both sides of the spring (83) and protruding to both sides of the holder (81), as shown in detail in Fig. 7b.

This open maintenance part (80) has pushers (85a, 85b) that protrude to both sides of the first link (51) and come into contact with the inner wall of the housing (10), and at this time, a curved moving groove (87) is formed on the inner wall of the housing (10) corresponding to the pushers (85a, 85b).

That is, the moving home (87) is formed in a curved shape on the inner wall of the housing (10) to correspond to the moving position of the pusher (85a, 85b) due to the movement of the door.

A fixed groove (89) that is relatively deeper than the moving groove (87) is formed in the moving groove (87), and this is formed at the other end of the moving groove (87), that is, the other end of the moving groove (87), so that the open state of the door can be maintained.

Due to this, when the pusher (85a, 85b) moves along the movable groove (87) due to the operation of the door, when the door is opened to its maximum, the pusher (85a, 85b) is engaged with the fixed groove (89) at the other end, thereby maintaining the door in its maximum opening state.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 8a to 8c, when the door is fully opened, the pusher (85a, 85b) of the open maintenance part (80) is fitted into the fixing groove (89), thereby maintaining the door in the open state.

Due to this, the door can be maintained in the open state when it is fully opened, which has the effect of preventing safety accidents and inconveniences that may occur due to the door automatically closing.

Meanwhile, to release the maximum open hold, the closing motion of the door can be performed by the user applying a force to slightly close the door.

That is, since the pusher (85a, 85b) fitted into the fixed home (89) has elasticity through the spring (83), the door can be easily closed with a small amount of force to release the open state.

The above description is merely an illustrative description of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, changes, and substitutions may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. In addition, as described above, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the attached drawings are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain it, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments and the attached drawings. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims (5)

A housing installed in the body of a device having a door; A lock installed on the above door; A multi-link unit comprising a plurality of links rotatably interconnected between the housing and the arm, the first link being connected to the hinge axis of the housing, and the second link being rotatably connected to the center of the arm and the first link, respectively; and A plate cover comprising a first plate cover rotatably connected to the housing, a link connected closely to the arm, and a second plate cover rotatably connected to the first plate cover, each protecting a link that opens by opening the door; A multi-link hinge characterized in that a protrusion and a groove are provided on the inner side of the first plate cover and the outer wall of the corresponding link, respectively, so that when the protrusion is fitted into the groove by a pressing motion of the first plate cover, the operation of the door stops. In the first paragraph, the multi-link part, A third link rotatably connected to the center of the first link and the arm, respectively; A fourth link rotatably connected to the center of the third link and the housing, respectively; Within the first link, a cam link having a center connected to the first link; Within the second link, a first spring link rotatably connected to the second link, the first spring link having a center that contacts the cam link; A second spring link rotatably connected to the first spring link and including a spring lever and a spring fitted to the spring lever; and A multi-link hinge characterized by comprising a third spring link connected to the second link and including a load fitted inside the spring lever. In the second paragraph, the first plate cover, A multi-link hinge further characterized by including a return spring provided between the housing and the hinge. In the third paragraph, A U-shaped cover covering the front and rear of one end of the third link; and A multi-link hinge characterized in that it further includes an angle adjusting portion, which is fitted into the inside of the first link and includes a body that comes into contact with the cover portion, a rivet provided in the body and movably fitted along guide holes on both sides of the first link, and a screw provided on the front side of the body and fitted into the guide holes on the front side of the first link to move or fix the body from the first link. In the third paragraph, A holder, a spring provided inside the holder, and a pusher provided on both sides of the spring and protruding toward both sides of the holder and both sides of the first link, and an open retainer provided inside one end of the first link; It further includes a moving groove formed in a curved shape on the inner wall of the housing to correspond to the moving position of the pusher; A multi-link hinge characterized in that a fixed groove that is relatively deeper than the moving groove is formed in the moving groove.

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