Door hinge for a laboratory instrument door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320179-B2
Application number	US-202117444105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2021
Priority date	Aug 27, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A door hinge for a laboratory instrument door, the door hinge comprising a hollow body with a first longitudinal axis and a curved side wall comprising a track. At least a part of the track is inclined relative to the first longitudinal axis. The door hinge further comprises a linear guiding element with a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis. At least a part of the linear guiding element is arranged in the hollow. The linear guiding element and the hollow body are rotatable against each other. The door hinge further comprises a body comprising a protruding pin. The body is movably attached to the linear guiding element so that the body is movable in two opposite directions along the second longitudinal axis and the protruding pin is movable on the track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door hinge for a laboratory instrument door comprising:
a hollow body with a first longitudinal axis, wherein the hollow body comprises a curved side wall, wherein the curved side wall comprises a track that defines a first section, a second section and a moving section that connects the first section with the second section and is inclined relative to the first longitudinal axis;
a linear guiding element with a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis, wherein at least a part of the linear guiding element is arranged in the hollow body, wherein the linear guiding element and the hollow body are rotatable against each other; and
a body comprising a protruding pin, wherein the body is movably attached to the linear guiding element so that the body is movable in two opposite directions along the second longitudinal axis and the protruding pin is movable on the track wherein the second section is oriented in a right angle relative to the first longitudinal axis so that the protruding pin is stopped and held on the second section, wherein the door hinge further comprises a force generator configured to exert a force on the body for moving the body in a first direction of the two opposite directions, wherein the force generator is an elastic member connecting the linear guiding element with the body, wherein the force generates a tension relaxation within the elastic member.

2. The door hinge for a laboratory instrument door according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding pin is a lateral protrusion of the body, wherein the linear guiding element comprises a linear through hole, wherein the linear through hole is parallel to the second longitudinal axis and adapted to guide the protruding pin.

3. The door hinge for a laboratory instrument door according to claim 1 , wherein the first section is oriented in a right angle relative to the first longitudinal axis so that the protruding pin is stopped and held on the first section.

4. The door hinge for a laboratory instrument door according to claim 1 , wherein the track comprises a third section, wherein the moving section comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the moving section is connecting the first section with the third section of the track and the second part of the moving section is connecting the third section with the second section of the track, wherein the third section is oriented in a right angle relative to the first longitudinal axis so that the protruding pin is stopped and held on the third section.

5. The door hinge for a laboratory instrument door according to claim 1 , wherein the linear guiding element comprises a supporting element adapted to mount the linear guiding element on a door frame or on a door leaf.

6. The door hinge for a laboratory instrument door according to claim 1 , wherein the linear guiding element protrudes beyond the hollow body, the linear guiding element is movably attached to the hollow body and movable along the first longitudinal axis in a third direction and in a fourth direction opposite of the third direction when the protruding pin is held on the first section, second section, or third section of the track.

7. A laboratory instrument door assembling kit comprising:
a door frame;
a door hinge according to claim 6 ; and
a door leaf, wherein the door leaf or the door frame comprises a mounting element configured to mount the hollow body, wherein the door frame comprises a mounting structure if the door leaf comprises the mounting element or the door leaf comprises the mounting structure if the door frame comprises the mounting element, wherein the mounting structure is configured to mount the linear guiding element, and wherein the mounting structure comprises:
a fixing plate comprising a first side, a second side, an elongated slot, and a fixation position, wherein the elongated slot is configured to insert the linear guiding element to the fixation position, wherein the hollow body is slidable on the first side of the fixing plate when the linear guiding element is inserted into the elongated slot;
an introduction slope configured to exert a further force on the linear guiding element when the linear guiding element is inserted into the elongated slot, wherein the linear guiding element is movable in the third direction when the introduction slope exerts the further force on the linear guiding element, wherein the elastic member can build up a tension when the linear guiding element moves in the third direction; and
a fixing recess configured to fix the linear guiding element, wherein the elastic member can relax its tension when the linear guiding element is in the fixation position, wherein the linear guiding element is movable in the fourth direction when the elastic member relaxes its tension, wherein the linear guiding element is movable into the fixing recess when the linear guiding element moves in the fourth direction, and wherein a supporting element of the linear guiding element can press against the second side of the fixing plate when the linear guiding element moves in the fourth direction.

8. A method for assembling the laboratory instrument door assembling kit according to claim 7 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:
mounting the hollow body on the mounting element; and
inserting the linear guiding element into the elongated slot of the mounting structure until the linear guiding element is in the fixation position.

9. A laboratory instrument door comprising:
a door frame;
a door hinge according to claim 1 , wherein the linear guiding element or the hollow body is mounted on the door frame; and
a door leaf, wherein the hollow body is mounted on the door leaf if the linear guiding element is mounted on the door frame and the linear guiding element is mounted on the door leaf if the hollow body is mounted on the door frame.

10. The laboratory instrument door according to claim 9 , wherein the door frame is configured to stop the door leaf when the body moves in the first direction so that the protruding pin is stopped on the moving section when the door frame stops the door leaf.

11. A laboratory instrument comprising:
a laboratory instrument door according to claim 9 ; and
a housing, wherein the door frame is mounted on the housing or the door frame is comprised by the housing.

Assignees

• Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc

Inventors

• Meyer Thomas

Classifications

• E05D11/06

  Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges · CPC title

• E05D11/04

  relating to the use of free balls as bearing-surfaces (E05D7/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05D3/02 Primary

  with one pin · CPC title

• E05Y2999/00

  Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• B01L1/00

  Enclosures; Chambers (provided with manipulation devices or glove boxes B25J21/00) · CPC title