Fitting for movably mounting a pivoting element
The present invention relates to a fitting, in particular a hinge, for movably supporting a
pivoting element, in particular for movably supporting a furniture part, a window or a door,
5 relative to a stationary carrier, the fitting comprising:
− a first fitting portion configured to be fixed to the stationary carrier,
− a second fitting portion configured to be fixed to the pivoting element,
− at least one hinge lever pivotally supported about at least one hinge axis, the at least
one hinge lever hingedly connecting the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion
10 to each other,
− at least one spring device for moving the two fitting portions into a, preferably fully,
closed position and/or into a, preferably fully, open position relative to each other,
− at least one support element on which a portion, preferably an end portion, of the spring
device is supported.
15
Moreover, the invention relates to an item of furniture comprising a stationary carrier, in
particular a furniture carcass, a pivoting element, in particular a movable furniture part,
movable relative to the stationary carrier, and at least one fitting of the type to be described.
20 DE 79 14 231 U1 discloses a furniture hinge, in which a hinge arm to be fixed to the furniture
carcass and a hinge cup to be fixed to the movable furniture part are pivotally connected to
each other via two hinge levers. The furniture hinge is held in the closed end position by a
spring device in the form of a coiled leg spring. The leg spring is formed of a spring wire
having a rectangular cross-section. In this way, a larger spring force can be stored in the leg
25 spring, in a direct comparison with a spring wire having a round cross-section and an
identical spring length. The leg spring is supported on one of the two hinge levers on the
one hand, and is supported on an underside of the hinge arm on the other hand. Due to the
rectangular cross-section of the spring wire, a line contact is present between the ends of
the spring, the hinge arm and the hinge lever. As a result, a favorable load distribution can
30 be achieved in comparison with a leg spring made of a round spring wire. However, the
frictional resistance between the leg spring and the hinge arm on the one hand, and between
the leg spring and the hinge lever on the other hand is increased. As a result, the wear of
the hinge and the required forces for moving the hinge are also increased.
2
It is an object of the present invention to propose a fitting mentioned in the introductory part,
thereby avoiding the drawbacks as discussed above. In particular, the frictional conditions
of the fitting shall be improved.
5 This is accomplished by the features as recited in claim 1. Further advantageous
embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
According to the invention, the at least one support element for supporting the spring device
is rotationally mounted, preferably on the at least one hinge lever.
10
In other words, at least one rotationally mounted support element for supporting a leg of the
spring device is provided, so that a rolling friction is present between the mutually bearing
surfaces of the spring device and of the bearing element. A force of a rolling friction, with an
identical pressing force, is usually less than a force of a gliding friction. In this way, the wear
15 of the fitting and the forces required for moving the fitting can be reduced, and the lifespan
of the fitting can be increased.
Basically, it is possible that the at least one support element is rotationally arranged on the
first fitting portion, on the second fitting portion and/or on the at least one hinge lever of the
20 fitting.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fitting includes an inner hinge lever and an outer
hinge lever, and the at least one support element is rotationally arranged on the inner hinge
lever.
25
The item of furniture according to the invention includes a stationary carrier, in particular a
furniture carcass, a pivoting element, in particular a movable furniture part, movable relative
to the stationary carrier, and at least one fitting of the type in question. The first fitting portion
of the fitting is fixed to the stationary carrier, and the second fitting portion of the fitting is
30 fixed to the pivoting element.
Further details and advantages of the present invention result from the following description
of figures.

CLAIMS:
1. A fitting (4), in particular a hinge (4a), for movably supporting a pivoting element (3), in
particular for movably supporting a furniture part (3a), a window or a door, relative to a
5 stationary carrier (2), the fitting (4) comprising:
− a first fitting portion (5) configured to be fixed to the carrier (2),
− a second fitting portion (6) configured to be fixed to the pivoting element (3),
− at least one hinge lever (7a) pivotally supported about at least one hinge axis (A),
the at least one hinge lever (7a) hingedly connecting the first fitting portion (5)
10 and the second fitting portion (6) to each other,
− at least one spring device (16) for moving the two fitting portions (5, 6) into a,
preferably fully, closed position and/or into a, preferably fully, open position
relative to each other,
− at least one support element (17) on which a portion (16a), preferably an end
15 portion, of the spring device (16) is supported,
characterized in that the at least one support element (17) for supporting the spring
device (16) is rotationally mounted, preferably on the at least one hinge lever (7a).
2. The fitting (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fitting (4) includes an inner
20 hinge lever (7a) and an outer hinge lever (7b), wherein the at least one support element
(17) is rotationally mounted on the inner hinge lever (7a).
3. The fitting (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one support
element (17)
25 − is arranged adjacent to the hinge axis (A) of the at least one hinge lever (7a),
and/or
− is at least partially, preferably substantially entirely, received within the first fitting
portion (5), and/or
− is configured as a, preferably cylindrical, pin, and/or
30 − has a longitudinal direction extending substantially parallel and/or spaced apart
from the hinge axis (A) of the at least one hinge lever (7a), and/or
We Claim:
9
− has a maximum diameter, wherein at least one end, preferably two ends, of the
support element (17) for supporting, preferably on the at least one hinge lever
(7a), has or have a smaller diameter relative to the maximum diameter.
5 4. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least
one spring device (16)
− includes a further portion (16b), preferably a further end portion, supported on the
first fitting portion (5), and/or
− is supported on a hinge axis (C) of the fitting (4), and/or
10 − is configured as a helical spring, preferably as a torsion spring, and/or
− includes a spring wire having a cross-section deviating from a circular form,
preferably having a square or a rectangular cross-section, and/or
− includes a spring wire which bears, preferably directly, against the at least one
support element (17), and/or
15 − includes at least one bent end portion (16c), and/or
− includes a coiling body with two portions (16a, 16b) projecting from the coiling
body, preferably wherein the portions (16a, 16b) of the spring device (16) project
from the coiling body to a different extent.
20 5. The fitting (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first fitting portion (5)
includes a U-shaped portion having a base limb (5a) and two transverse limbs (5b)
projecting from the base limb (5a), wherein the further portion (16b) of the spring device
(16) is supported on the base limb (5a) of the first fitting portion (5).
25 6. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fitting (4)
is configured as a four-pivot-point hinge (4a), wherein two hinge levers (7a, 7b) are
pivotally connected to the first fitting portion (5) via two hinge axes (A, C), and are
pivotally connected to the second fitting portion (6) via two further hinge axes (B, D).
30 7. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least
one hinge axis (A) of the hinge lever (7a) is arranged on the first fitting portion (5).
10
8. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first fitting
portion (5a) includes a hinge arm and/or the second fitting portion (6) includes a hinge
cup.
5 9. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least
one support element (17) and/or the portion (16a) of the spring device (16) which is
configured to bear against the support element (17) is or are at least partially coated
with a lubricant, preferably an oil or a grease.
10 10. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least
one support element (17) and/or the portion (16a) of the spring device (16) which is
configured to bear against the support element (17) includes or include at least partially
a coating, preferably made of plastic.
15 11. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least
one hinge lever (7a)
− includes at least one recess (18a), preferably at least two recesses (18a), for
supporting the at least one support element (17), and/or
− is configured at least partially U-shaped in a cross-section, and/or
20 − is configured at least partially curved, and/or
− is pivotally supported about a first hinge axis (A) on the first fitting portion (5), and
is pivotally supported about a second hinge axis (B) on the second fitting portion
(6).
25 12. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fitting (4)
includes at least one damper (9), preferably a piston-cylinder-unit, configured to
dampen a relative movement of the two fitting portions (5, 6) to each other.
13. The fitting (4) according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one damper (9)
30 is arranged on or within of one of the two fitting portions (5, 6).
14. The fitting (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fitting (5)
is configured as a hinge (4a) for moving a movably-supported furniture part (3a).
11
15. An item of furniture (1) comprising a stationary carrier (2), in particular a furniture
carcass (2a), a pivoting element (3), in particular a movable furniture part (3a), movable
relative to the stationary carrier (2), and at least one fitting (4) according to one of the
5 claims 1 to 14 for moving the movable pivoting element (3), wherein the first fitting
portion (5) of the fitting (4) is fixed to the stationary carrier (2), and the second fitting
portion (6) of the fitting (4) is fixed to the pivoting element (3).