EP0107529B1 - Device for holding a wing in position - Google Patents

Abstract

The holding device comprises a part provided at each of its ends with a lug, each lug being caught between the walls of a groove of elongated shape formed in a casing and capable of having a translational and rotational motion, each groove having adjacent at least one of its ends a zone of narrowed cross-section with elastic walls, and each casing being intended for securement to the corresponding element of the jointed assembly to which the device of the invention is applied.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for maintaining in position, with safety, a flap when the latter is, depending on the case, raised or lowered.

A large number of devices are known which meet this need. They are generally produced by means of parts assembled and hinged together in the manner of branches of scissors, compasses or articulated parallelograms and include systems of notches, snaps, locks and the like for maintaining the desired position of these parts together when the assembly is deployed or folded.

This type of device is widely used in the case of flaps for secretaries or other furniture with so-called folding shelves, table legs known as bridge or camping tables, lids or flaps for suitcases, bags, briefcases, etc. If these systems are satisfactory in most of these uses, there is a significant drawback in the case of suitcases, bags or briefcases. Indeed, in these latter cases, the branches of the articulated systems generally fold back inside the volume constituted by these suitcases, bags or briefcases and there is a risk of pinching, jamming, or even cutting or tearing of objects that might get caught in these systems. They are moreover, in all the uses mentioned above, sometimes troublesome or bulky. In addition, maintaining the desired position is only obtained if it has previously been ensured that the means of notches, snaps or locks have been properly engaged, actuated or requested; otherwise, we are witnessing the phenomenon radically opposite to that sought. It is, for example, very unpleasant that the cover or the flap of a suitcase suddenly folds down as a result of a simple involuntary action of the system for maintaining the open position of said cover.

Also known are devices of the type comprising a part provided at each of its ends with a stud, each stud being caught between the walls of an elongated groove formed in a housing and capable of carrying out a translational or rotational movement therein. . Such devices do not have security allowing the flap to remain in the raised or lowered position (see DE-A-1 912949).

However, the present invention overcomes these drawbacks and aims at a device having the dual function, first of all of maintaining a flap in position when the latter is raised or lowered, and that of safety in the event that the function of maintaining position would come to be unintentionally thwarted.

The device according to the invention is essentially of the type comprising a flat piece provided at each of its ends with a nipple, each nipple being caught between the walls of an elongated groove formed in a housing and capable of carrying out a movement therein. translation or rotation, and characterized in that each groove has, in the vicinity of at least one of its ends, a zone of smaller section and with walls endowed with a certain elasticity, each housing being intended to be made integral with the 'corresponding element of the articulated assembly to which this device is applied.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en élévation-coupe d'une valise ou d'un coffre (en position ouverte) muni du dispositif selon l'invention;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un élément constitutif du dispositif selon l'invention, et
• - la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'une partie du dispositif selon l'invention dans une des positions possibles en cours de fonctionnement.

Other details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings. To illustrate the invention, an application example was taken of that of a suitcase or a trunk. Thus, on these drawings:

• - Figure 1 is an elevation-sectional view of a suitcase or a trunk (in the open position) provided with the device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a component of the device according to the invention, and
• - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a part of the device according to the invention in one of the possible positions during operation.

Referring to these figures, we have designated by the reference 1, the trunk of the trunk or the suitcase and by the reference 2 the corresponding cover. On the internal face of each of these two parts contained in the same vertical plane, is fixed a housing 3-3a inside which is made an oblong groove 4-4a whose ends 5-5a, 5b-5c, are of preferably rounded. In the vicinity of the ends 5 and 5b of each of these grooves, the section is narrowed and the walls at this location are advantageously endowed with a certain elasticity for the reason which will emerge below. These walls could, for example, consist of two bosses or two leaf springs 8-8a.

These two boxes are joined together by a flat piece 6, for example twice bent, as illustrated in the drawings. This part is provided, in the vicinity of each of its ends, with a stud 7-7a.

• Le coffre ou la valise étant en position ouverte, comme représenté sur la figure 1, on se rend tout d'abord compte que les tétons 7 et 7a ne peuvent franchir l'étranglement délimité par les parois en saillie 8-8a que si l'on exerçait une force sensible les obligeant à franchir cette zone. Ceci constitue une première sécurité: le couvercle ne peut se rabattre que sous l'action d'une force d'une certaine importance exercée volontairement.

The operation of the device described above is as follows:

• The trunk or suitcase being in the open position, as shown in Figure 1, we first realize that the pins 7 and 7a can not cross the constriction defined by the projecting walls 8-8a if they exerted a sensitive force forcing them to cross this zone. This constitutes a first security: the cover can only be folded down under the action of a force of a certain importance exerted voluntarily.

So let the exercise of this force in the direction of arrow F, tending to fold the cover 2 on the bowl 1:

Initially, the stud 7 crosses the boss area 8 and performs a translational movement along its groove 4, the opposite stud 7a serving as the axis of rotation of the part 6 during this translation. Arrived at the end of the race, the stud 7 abuts at the bottom of the groove 5a. If the force F is stopped at this time, the neck vercle can come to a standstill in the position taken, its weight not being sufficient to urge, through the bottom of the groove 5a, the part 6, and cause the stud 7a to cross the narrowed zone delimited by the bosses 8a of the Exhibit 3a. It is a second security.

On the other hand, if one continues to exert the force F, the stud 7a crosses the boss area 8a and the cover continues to fold down, said stud 7a performing a translational movement along the groove 4a, the stud 7 serving axis of rotation of the part 6 to promote this movement. At the end of the stroke (stop in 5c), the cover is considered to be closed. The respective position of the elements and the parts is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

For the opening, an opposite force is exerted (F _l ); the stud 7 initially in abutment against the bottom of the groove 5a follows the walls of the groove 4 then crosses the narrowed zone delimited by the bosses 8. If the opening force ceases, the position taken by the cover is maintained by itself even, the weight of the cover is not sufficient to cause it to drop, that is to say to ensure that the stud 7 crosses the area delimited by the boss 8. It is a first safety opening.

If, on the other hand, the force F "is continued, the rod 6 is in turn urged, the stud 7 being in abutment at the bottom of the groove 5; the stud 7a initially in abutment at the bottom of the groove 5c follows the groove 4a, crosses the zone delimited by the boss 8a and one finds oneself in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 with its double safety; the pins 7-7a respectively in double stop (bottom of groove 5-5b and boss 8-8a).

Figure 3 illustrates the possibility of rotation of the rod 6 by taking each stud such as 7 as the axis of rotation.

From the foregoing description, one immediately realizes the main advantages of the invention, in particular: minimum size, absence of articulated branches which can act as scissors, double security at opening and closing; this security is all the more assured as the force necessary to cross the bosses 8-8a will be significant, as will be understood very well by those skilled in the art who will choose the constituent material accordingly.

Claims (1)

1. Device having the dual function of holding a flap in position and serving as a safety device when said flap is raised or lowered, of the type comprising a flat member (6) provided at each end with a lug (7-7a) engaged between the walls of an elongate groove (4-4a) formed in a housing (3-3a) and able to move therein in translation or rotation, characterized in that each groove (4-4a) has in the vicinity of at least one end a portion of reduced cross-section where its walls (8-8a) have some degree of elasticity, each housing (3-3a) being adapted to be attached to the corresponding part (1-2) of the hinged assembly to which the device is applied.

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