US-12618274-B2 - Hinge assembly and opening and closing device

US12618274B2US 12618274 B2US12618274 B2US 12618274B2US-12618274-B2

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of household appliance technologies and discloses a hinge assembly and an opening and closing device. The hinge assembly includes a first matching member and a second matching member rotatably connected. The first matching member has a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end, and the second matching member has a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end. The first matching member and the second matching member have a first state and a second state. The first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface.

Inventors

Benlei LIANG
Chao Liu

Assignees

HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD.
MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231008
Priority Date: 20230620

Claims (19)

1 . A hinge assembly configured to be used in an opening and closing device, the opening and closing device comprising a cabinet and a door body, the cabinet having an opening, the door body hinged to the opening of the cabinet through the hinge assembly: wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a first matching member provided in the door body, and provided with a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end of the first matching member; a second matching member provided in the cabinet, and provided with a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end of the second matching member; and an elastic member located at a side of the second matching member away from the first matching member; wherein the elastic member applies the axial force to the second matching member and the first matching member; the hinge assembly has a first state and a second state, and the first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state; and in the first state, the door body is open, and the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a first acting force under an axial force, the first acting force having opposite direction as gravity; and in the second state, the door body is close, and the second curved surface abuts against and is matched with the fourth curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a second acting force under the axial force, the second acting force having same direction as gravity; the door body is configured to suspend in the first state; the second matching member has a stop surface connected to an end of the fourth curved surface and extends to the first matching member; and when the door body rotates until the first matching member and the second matching member are in the second state, the stop surface is configured to match with the first curved surface to limit the first matching member from continuing to rotate towards direction of closing the door body.
2 . The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface, and the fourth curved surface are helical surfaces, the first curved surface and the second curved surface have opposite helical directions, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface have opposite helical directions, the first curved surface and the third curved surface have the same helical direction, and the second curved surface and the fourth curved surfaces have the same helical direction.
3 . The hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface all extend helically in a direction of the first axis.
4 . The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface are disposed along a circumferential direction of the first matching member, and the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface are disposed along a circumferential direction of the second matching member, and both the circumferential direction of the first matching member and the circumferential direction of the second matching member are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis.
5 . The hinge assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first matching member further has a first matching surface disposed between the first curved surface and the second curved surface; the second matching member further has a second matching surface disposed between the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface; and both the first matching surface and the second matching surface are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis, and the hinge assembly has a third state between the first state and the second state; and in the third state, the first matching surface abuts against and is matched with the second matching surface.
6 . The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein both the first curved surface and the second curved surface are provided on a side of the first matching surface away from the second matching member, and both the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface are provided on a side of the second matching surface away from the first matching member.
7 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first matching member comprises a plurality of first protrusion portions disposed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the first matching member, and each of the plurality of first protrusion portions is provided with the first curved surface and the second curved surface; the second matching member comprises a plurality of second protrusion portions disposed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the second matching member, and each of the plurality of second protrusion portions is provided with the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface; and the plurality of the first protrusion portions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of the second protrusion portions; and both the circumferential direction of the first matching member and the circumferential direction of the second matching member are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis.
8 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface or the fourth curved surface is provided with an oil storage tank.
9 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first hinge seat, wherein the first hinge seat is connected to the first matching member, and the first hinge seat rotates synchronously with the first matching member; a second hinge seat, wherein the second hinge seat is connected to the second matching member, and the second hinge seat rotates synchronously with the second matching member; wherein the first hinge seat is rotatably connected to the second hinge seat, and the first matching member is slidably connected to the first hinge seat in a direction of the first axis and/or the second matching member is slidably connected to the second hinge seat in a direction of the first axis.
10 . The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first hinge seat is provided with a first accommodating cavity extending in a direction of the first axis, and the second hinge seat is provided with a second accommodating cavity extending in a direction of the first axis, and the first accommodating cavity communicates with the second accommodating cavity, and the first matching member is disposed in the first accommodating cavity, and the second matching member is disposed in the second accommodating cavity; wherein the elastic member is provided in the second accommodating cavity.
11 . The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first hinge seat is integrated with the first matching member, and the second matching member is slidable within the second accommodating cavity in the direction of the first axis.
12 . The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first hinge seat comprises a first lock plate and a first hinge portion, and the first lock plate is integrated with the first hinge portion, and the first accommodating cavity is provided in the first hinge portion; the second hinge seat comprises a second lock plate and a second hinge portion, and the second lock plate is integrated with the second hinge portion, and the second accommodating cavity is provided in the second hinge portion; and the first hinge portion is rotatably connected to the second hinge portion.
13 . The hinge assembly of claim 12 , wherein a relief hole is disposed at an end of the first hinge portion away from the second hinge portion, and the relief hole communicates with the first accommodating cavity; and/or a relief hole is disposed at an end of the second hinge portion away from the first hinge portion, and the relief hole communicates with the second accommodating cavity.
14 . The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first hinge seat is provided with a first positioning portion, and the second hinge seat is provided with a second positioning portion; and the second positioning portion is matchable with the first positioning portion to position the first hinge seat and the second hinge seat at an initial mounting angle, and the first positioning portion is disconnectable from the first hinge seat, and/or the second positioning portion is disconnectable from the second hinge seat.
15 . An opening and closing device, comprising: a cabinet, having an opening; and a door body, hinged to the opening of the cabinet through a hinge assembly; wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a first matching member provided in the door body, and provided with a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end of the first matching member; a second matching member provided in the cabinet, and provided with a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end of the second matching member; and an elastic member located at a side of the second matching member away from the first matching member; wherein the elastic member applies the axial force to the second matching member and the first matching member; wherein the hinge assembly has a first state and a second state, and the first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state; and in the first state, the door body is open, and the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a first acting force under an axial force, the first acting force having opposite direction as gravity; and in the second state, the door body is close, and the second curved surface abuts against and is matched with the fourth curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a second acting force under the axial force, the second acting force having same direction as gravity; the door body is configured to suspend in the first state; the second matching member has a stop surface connected to an end of the fourth curved surface and extends to the first matching member; and when the door body rotates until the first matching member and the second matching member are in the second state, the stop surface is configured to match with the first curved surface to limit the first matching member from continuing to rotate towards direction of closing the door body.
16 . The opening and closing device of claim 15 , wherein the opening and closing device is a freezer.
17 . The opening and closing device of claim 15 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface, and the fourth curved surface are helical surfaces, the first curved surface and the second curved surface have opposite helical directions, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface have opposite helical directions, the first curved surface and the third curved surface have the same helical direction, and the second curved surface and the fourth curved surfaces have the same helical direction.
18 . The opening and closing device of claim 17 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface all extend helically in a direction of the first axis.
19 . The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state is configured to be a threshold between suspending the door body and being unable to suspend, and when the opening angle of the door body is greater than the opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state, the door body is configured to suspend; and when the opening angle of the door body is less than the opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state, the door body is not configured to suspend.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present disclosure claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202310746653.3, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on Jun. 20, 2023, the entireties of which are herein incorporated by reference. FIELD The present application relates to the field of household appliance, and in particular, to a hinge assembly and an opening and closing device. BACKGROUND This section only provides background information related to the present application and does not necessarily refer to prior art. A freezer is a common type of opening and closing device, and it is generally provided with an upward opening door structure. When a door body of the freezer is opened, it is necessary to overcome the gravity of the door body, which makes it laborious to open the door. When closing the door body of the freezer, the door body may fall fast due to the gravity, causing a severe collision between the door body and a cabinet body of the freezer, and then affecting the user's experience. In some cases, such as when the door seal compensation is insufficient, the door body of the freezer may be not closed tightly, which results in air leakage and affects the refrigerating or freezing effect of the freezer, increases the energy consumption of the freezer, and results in poor user's experience. SUMMARY The purpose of the present application is to at least alleviate the problems that a door body of an opening and closing device such as a freezer is laborious to be opened and not tightly closed. The purpose of the present application is achieved by the following solution. In one embodiment of the present application provides a hinge assembly, including: a first matching member, provided with a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end of the first matching member;a second matching member, provided with a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end of the second matching member;where the hinge assembly has a first state and a second state, and the first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state; and in the first state, the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a first acting force under an axial force; and in the second state, the second curved surface abuts against and is matched with the fourth curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a second acting force under the axial force; the first acting force and the second acting force have opposite directions. According to the present application, in the first and the second states, the hinge assembly may have a force rotating the first matching member and the second matching member in opposite directions under the axial force, one of the first state and the second state corresponds to a closed state or a nearly closed state of the door body of the opening and closing device, and the other of the first state and the second state corresponds to an opening state of the door body of the opening and closing device. When the door body of the opening and closing device is in the opening state, the first matching member and the second matching member provide upward opening assistance to the door body under the axial force, which facilitates the opening operation of the door body and helps the door body suspend in the opening state; and when the door body moves from the opening state to the closed state, it may also offset a part of gravity and reduce the risk of rapid descent of the door body. When the door body of the opening and closing device is in the closed state, the first matching member and the second matching member provide downward pressing assistance to the door body under the axial force, which reduces the possibility that the door body is not closed tightly and improves the user's experience. The hinge assembly according to the present application may have the following additional features: in some embodiments, the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth curved surface are helical surfaces, the first curved surface and the second curved surface have opposite helical directions, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface have opposite helical directions, the first curved surface and the third curved surface have the same helical direction, and the second curved surface and the fourth curved surfaces have the same helical direction. In some embodiments, the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface all extend helically in a direction of the first axis. In some embodiments, the first curved surface and the second curved surface are disposed in sequence along a circumferential direction of the first matching member, and the third c