Importance

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Abstract

A furniture hinge has a hinge arm connectible to the body of a piece of furniture and a lever connectible to a closure for the furniture. The closure is movable between a closed position and an open position. A damping device is disposed between the hinge arm and the lever and includes a housing having a bellows-like first part and a second part secured to the hinge arm. A piston rides in the housing and divides it into first and second chambers. The piston is provided with flow channels which allow hydraulic fluid in the housing to flow between the first and second chambers. The piston is mounted on a rod which extends through, and is coupled to, the first housing part and is articulately connected to the lever. A sealing member likewise mounted on the rod is arranged to seal the flow channels upon movement of the closure to its closed position. As the closure moves to its open position, the rod moves out of the housing with an accompanying expansion of the first housing part and unblocking of the flow channels. The pressure in the first chamber is reduced so that the fluid enters this chamber via the flow channels. Upon movement of the closure to its closed position, the rod moves into the housing and the flow channels are sealed. Fluid then flows from the first chamber to the second chamber by leakage. This may be accomplished by providing the sealing member with a slit and making the second housing part or the sealing member elastically deformable. Alternatively, the piston may be formed with an elastically deformable sealing lip which engages the inner surface of the housing.

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First Claim