EP0504045B1 - Closure device for a reversible door, and cabinet with such a closure device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to cabinets, or other furniture of this type, of the type comprising a door equipped with a closure device specific to its locking on the frame to which it is articulated.

It relates more specifically to the case where this closing device itself comprises, for the control of at least one bolt, a rod mounted to slide under the control of a control member, such as a handle for example, which , rotatably mounted on the door, is available to the user.

This is the case, for example, in document No. DE-A-36 40 895.

It is usual to associate with the rod implementation stop means capable of limiting the stroke in at least one direction.

In document DE-A-36 40 895, these stop means result from the fact that this rod is connected by a link to a disc wedged in rotation on the control member.

When the closing device comprises, under the control of the control member, a latch, the abutment means can, for example, involve the latter at the opening.

But it remains to implement stop means complementary to the closure.

In document US-A-3 123 387, the stop means comprise a pawl, which, duly urged for this purpose by a spring, is responsible for keeping the rod in the open position when the door is itself in open position, to avoid damaging the frame by the bolt when closing, and which, when closed, bears against a stop integral with the frame and thus releases the rod.

One of the problems to be solved in the production of cupboards whose door is equipped with a rod closing device and abutment means of the kind in question is due to the fact that, for a standardization of their manufacture, this is particularly the case for cabinets intended to receive electrical equipment, it is desirable that this door be returnable, so that, as required, the user can inverting the assembly, by hinging it on the frame either to the right, with the control member of its closure device arranged in the left hand, or to the left, with this control member then arranged in the right hand.

The corresponding operations, already more or less complex, usually require to date a specific intervention on the stop means associated with the rod that comprises the door closing device.

The present invention generally relates to a provision making it possible to circumvent advantageously this intervention.

More specifically, it firstly relates to a door closing device, comprising, for the control of at least one bolt, a rod mounted to slide under the control of a control member available to the 'user, with, associated with this rod, stop means capable of limiting the stroke in at least one direction, this closing device being generally characterized in that these stop means comprise at least one pawl, which, mounted tilting, is suitable for bracing between the rod and a fixed element relative to the latter, in that this pawl intervenes by simple gravity, and in that, in the mounting position of the closing device on a door, it is active for a first of the mounting directions of the door and automatically becomes inactive after turning the door in the second of its mounting directions; it also relates to any cabinet whose door is equipped with such a closing device.

For example, the pawl used is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis relative to the line of displacement of the rod, and it has, on the one hand, a spout, by which it is adapted to carry by simple gravity on the rod, and, on the other hand, a shoulder, by which it is adapted to brace to it when this beak is engaged in a recess provided for this purpose in the rod.

The intervention of this pawl is thus advantageously done by itself, by simple gravity, by reason of the scrolling of the rod at the right of this pawl: when the recess provided for this purpose in this rod comes to the right of the pawl , the spout of this pawl engages in this recess, and, the shoulder which it comprises coming together to bear on the rod, it therefore ensures the retention thereof.

In practice, there are provided, pending, according to opposite arrangements, two pawls, which are intended to limit alternately the stroke of the rod in one direction or the other depending on the direction of assembly of the door.

Thus, it is, alternatively, one or the other of these pawls which becomes systematically active depending on whether the door is mounted in one direction, or that, after turning, it is mounted in the opposite direction to the previous one, while, jointly, the other pawl systematically becomes inactive.

But, to do this, there is advantageously no need for any specific intervention on the part of the user, everything being done on the contrary by yourself.

The operations necessary for turning the door over are advantageously simplified accordingly.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective, porte fermée, d'une armoire dont la porte est équipée d'un dispositif de fermeture suivant un mode d'emploi de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective porte ouverte ;
• la figure 3 est, à échelle supérieure, une vue partielle en perspective éclatée du dispositif de fermeture suivant un mode d'emploi de l'invention, représenté isolément ;
• la figure 4 est, à échelle différente, et en configuration d'ouverture, une vue partielle en élévation-coupe de ce dispositif de fermeture représenté en place sur la porte, pour un premier sens de montage de celle-ci ;
• la figure 5 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 4 repéré par un encart V sur cette figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue partielle en élévation-coupe analogue à celle de la figure 4, pour la configuration de fermeture du dispositif de fermeture ;
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle en élévation-coupe analogue à celle de la figure 4, pour l'autre sens de montage de la porte ;
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues partielles en élévation-coupe, qui, reprenant chacune respectivement pour partie celles des figures 4 et 6, se rapportent à une première variante de réalisation ;
• les figures 10 et 11 sont des vues partielles en élévation-coupe qui, correspondant chacune respectivement à celles des figures 8 et 9, se rapportent à une autre variante de réalisation.

The objects of the invention, their characteristics and their advantages will also emerge from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view, closed door, of a cabinet whose door is equipped with a closing device according to a manual of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view with the door open;
• Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, a partial exploded perspective view of the closure device according to a manual of the invention, shown in isolation;
• Figure 4 is, on a different scale, and in the opening configuration, a partial elevational view in section of this closing device shown in place on the door, for a first mounting direction thereof;
• Figure 5 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 4 identified by an insert V in this Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a partial elevational sectional view similar to that of Figure 4, for the closing configuration of the closing device;
• Figure 7 is a partial view in elevation-section similar to that of Figure 4, for the other mounting direction of the door;
• Figures 8 and 9 are partial views in elevation-section, which, each taking up respectively partly those of Figures 4 and 6, relate to a first embodiment;
• Figures 10 and 11 are partial views in elevation-section which, each corresponding respectively to those of Figures 8 and 9, relate to another alternative embodiment.

In a manner known per se, and as illustrated in these figures, the cabinet 10 for which the invention is intended, which is for example a cabinet for electrical equipment, comprises, overall, a frame 11 and a door 12 articulated by hinges to this frame 11 along one of the vertical edges thereof.

In the embodiment shown, the door 12 is articulated along the right vertical edge of the frame 11.

In a manner also known per se, this door 12 is equipped with a closing device 13 comprising, in this embodiment, for the control, internally, of at least one bolt 14, a rod 15 mounted to slide under the control of 'a control member 16 which, externally, is available to the user.

For example, and as shown, the control member 16 is a handle rotatably mounted on the door 12.

On this handle 16 is locked in rotation a drive square 18, which passes through the door 12, and which, beyond this, is engaged with a star cam 19 rotatably mounted in a housing 20 duly attached by screw 21 on the interior surface of this door 12.

On this star cam 19 can if desired be locked in rotation a latch not shown in the figures.

In the embodiment shown, the rod 15 is in the form of a strip, the main faces of which extend perpendicular to the interior surface of the door 12.

It has, in practice, by folding, a succession of sections, which, all parallel to one another, in the direction of the height of the door 12, are offset with respect to each other by connecting sections of square with them.

By its median section, the rod 15 is slidably engaged by its edge in the housing 20.

To do this, this box 20 has, longitudinally, in the direction of the height of the door 12, a groove 22 with which the star cam 19 interferes.

Through the central part, 23, forming a rack, of its median section, the rod 15 meshes with this star cam 19.

On the housing 20 is attached, transversely, beyond the rod 15, by the screws 21, a cover 24 having, in its central part, a bore 26 leaving free access to a screw 27 ensuring the maintenance of the square of drive 18 relative to the star cam 19.

In addition to the housing 20, the rod 15 is also slidably mounted in guides 28 which, staggered over its height, are duly attached to the interior surface of the door 12.

In the embodiment shown, finally, the rod 15 carries, back to back, at one and the other of its ends, two bolts 14, and, in correspondence, it is attached, on the frame 11, two strikes 30.

The corresponding provisions not falling within the scope of the present invention, they will not be described in more detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that, for reasons relating to their mounting, each of these strikes 30 has, symmetrically on either side of a horizontal median plane, two inlets each formed respectively by the ends of the same elongated recess.

While still engaging from above in these strikes 30 when closing, the bolts 14 enter there by a first of their inputs for a first direction of assembly of the door 12, and by the second of these for the direction mounting the door 12 opposite to the previous one.

It follows from the above that if, on opening, the latch possibly used can, by abutting against the housing 20, appropriately limit the stroke of the rod 15 in the direction of movement corresponding to this opening, it it is necessary, having regard to the strikes 30 implemented, to associate with this rod 15 stop means capable of correspondingly limiting its stroke in the direction of movement corresponding to the closure.

According to the invention, these abutment means comprise at least one pawl 32, 32 ′ which, tiltably mounted, is adapted to brace between the rod 15 and a fixed element relative to the latter.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, this pawl 32, 32 ′ is pivotally mounted on an axis 36, which, for example, can be carried by door 12, but which, more generally, is simply fixed relative to the line of displacement of the rod 15, and it has, on the one hand, a spout 33, by which it is adapted to carry by simple gravity on the rod 15, and, on the other hand, a shoulder 34, by which it is adapted to brace to it when its beak 33 is engaged in a recess 35, 35 ′ provided for this purpose in this rod 15.

Either at the axis of articulation of a pawl 32, 32 ′.

In the embodiments shown, this axis of articulation A is perpendicular to the interior surface of the door 12, and it extends transversely with respect to the rod 15, parallel to the main faces of the latter.

It is therefore against the corresponding main face of this rod 15 that the pawl 32, 32 ′ thus used is intended to bear.

In practice, this pawl 32, 32 ′ is in the form of a simple plate of suitable contour.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the shoulder 34 of the pawl 32, 32 ′ is substantially square with its beak 33, and this pawl 32, 32 ′ is of generally slender shape.

As a corollary, its beak 33 has, externally, a rounded profile.

In practice, there are, pending, according to opposite arrangements, two pawls 32, 32 ′ and these, which, in practice, are each respectively arranged on either side of the housing 20, are intended to limit in alternating the travel of the rod 15 in one direction or the other depending on the mounting direction of the door 12.

Only the upper pawl 32, 32 ′ is active, that is to say the one which, for this first of the mounting directions of the door 12, is disposed above the housing 20.

In FIGS. 2 to 6, this is the pawl 32.

Indeed, for this pawl 32, and taking into account the mounting direction of the door 12, the center of gravity G is above the articulation axis A.

By its beak 33, the pawl 32 therefore rests on the rod 15, below the corresponding recess 35 thereof, so that it is able to penetrate itself into this recess 35 when, at the closing, this recess 35 comes to its level.

By its beak 33, the pawl 32 then bears on the edge of the recess 35 of the rod 15, while, by its shoulder 34, it comes to bear on the corresponding main face thereof, FIG. 6; it therefore provides by bracing on its axis 36 the desired retention for this rod 15.

In other words, in this embodiment, the axis 36 which carries it forms the fixed element which is associated with it.

At the opening, the rod 15 pushes the pawl 32, taking into account the rounded external profile of its beak 33.

As a corollary, the other pawl, in this case the pawl 32 ', which is identical to the previous pawl 32, is inactive; in practice, it rests, by simple gravity, on a stop 38, 38 'provided for this purpose projecting from the interior surface of the door 12.

But it is he who, in substitution for the previous pawl 32, and according to the same modalities as for this one, in turn becomes automatically active, as represented in FIG. 7, for the second of the directions of mounting of the door 12, when, after having been turned 180 ° in its plane, the door 12 is articulated, no longer along the right vertical edge of the frame 11, but along the left vertical edge of the latter.

As a corollary, for this second of the mounting directions of the door 12, the pawl 32 in turn becomes automatically inactive.

As will be noted, this substitution of a pawl 32, 32 ′ for the other occurs by itself, by simple gravity, and there is thus advantageously no need for any specific intervention on the pawls 32, 32 ′ when the door 12 is turned over.

The corresponding operations are advantageously thereby simplified accordingly.

In practice, for a pawl 32, 32 ′ hitherto inactive to abandon its stop 38, 38 ′, it is important that, when it is supported on it, and as indicated in FIG. 5 for the ratchet 32 ′, its center of gravity G is away from the vertical plane P passing through its hinge axis A, being disposed between this vertical plane P and the rod 15 when, as in the present case, and as indicated above, the ratchet 32, 32 ′ upper is active.

The configuration of the pawls 32, 32 ′ is therefore established accordingly.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the shoulder 34 of a pawl 32, 32 ′ belongs to the spout 33 thereof, so that such a pawl 32, 32 ′ is generally bent .

For retaining the rod 15, its shoulder 34 then bears, no longer on one of the main faces of the rod 15, but on the edge of the corresponding recess 35 thereof.

The operation is however for the rest of the same type as the previous one.

However, it is the lower pawl 32, 32 ′, that is to say the one which is disposed below the housing 20, which, as shown, is then active.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, each pawl 32, 32 ′ is pivotally mounted by a clearance articulation 40, according to which it is engaged by a buttonhole 41 on the corresponding axis 36, and it has a heel 42, by which it is able to bear on a bearing 43, 43 ′ fixed relative to the rod 15.

In the embodiment shown, the axis 36 is carried by the housing 20, and the corresponding fixed range 43, 43 ′ also belongs to it.

In addition, and as in the embodiment of Figures 2 to 7, the shoulder 34 is then substantially square with the spout 33, for a general configuration of the generally slender assembly.

The operation is of the same type as the previous one.

However, the rod 15 retaining force is advantageously transmitted to the housing 20.

In other words, in the embodiment shown in Figures 10, 11, it is the housing 20 which forms the fixed element associated with the pawls 32, 32 ′.

Of course, taant in the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9 than in that shown in Figures 10 and 11, the center of gravity G of the pawls 32, 32 ′ and the stops 38, 38 ′ or the fixed bearings 43 , 43 ′ corresponding are arranged so that, as for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, this results in a natural positioning against the rod 15 of that of these pawls 32, 32 ′ which must be active for a given mounting direction of door 12.

Of course, also, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment and / or combination of their various elements.

In particular, the axis 36 of the pawls 32, 32 ′ can indifferently be carried by the door 12, by the housing 20, or by any other element fixed relative to the rod 15, and, for example, by a guide 28 of this one.

However, as a variant, the pawls 32, 32 ′ can also be carried by the rod 15 itself.

In this case, there is provision, on the door 12, on the housing 20, or, as previously on any other element which is fixed relative to the rod 15, and for example on one of the guides 28 thereof, or even on a keeper, a shoulder specific to the bracing of such a pawl 32, 32 ′.

Finally, instead of having only one rod, as more particularly described and shown by way of example, the closure device concerned can, of course, include several rods.

Claims (10)

1. A closure device for a door comprising, for actuating at least one bolt (14), a bar (15) mounted slidably under the control of an actuating member (16) available to the user, with, associated with said bar (15), abutment means for limiting the travel movement thereof in at least one direction, characterised in that said abutment means comprise at least one pawl (32, 32') which, mounted pivotably,is adapted to be braced between the bar (15) and an element (36, 20) which is fixed with respect to the bar, that said pawl (32, 32') comes into action simply under the effect of gravity, and that, in the position of fitment of the closure device to a door, said pawl (32, 32') is active for a first of the directions of fitting of the door and becomes automatically inactive after reversal of the door in the second of its directions of fitting.
2. A closure device according to claim 1 characterised in that the pawl (32, 32') is mounted pivotably about an axis (36) which is fixed with respect to the line of displacement of the bar (15).
3. A closure device according to claim 1 characterised in that the pawl (32, 32') is mounted pivotably by means of a pivot mounting (40) having play, and it has a heel (42) by way of which it is capable of bearing against a bearing surface (43, 43') which is fixed with respect to the bar (15).
4. A device according to either one of claims 2 and 3 characterised in that the pawl (32, 32') has on the one hand a projection (33) by way of which it is adapted to bear simply under the effect of gravity against the bar (15) and on the other hand a shoulder (34) by way of which it is adapted to be braced to same when said projection (33) is engaged in an opening (35) provided for that purpose in said bar (15).
5. A closure device according to claim 4 characterised in that said shoulder (34) is substantially at a right angle to said projection (33).
6. A closure device according to claim 4 characterised in that said shoulder (34) belongs to said projection (33).
7. A closure device according to any one of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that an abutment (38, 38') is associated with the pawl (32, 32') and, when the pawl bears against said abutment, its centre of gravity (G) is spaced from the vertical plane (P) passing through its pivot mounting axis (A).
8. A closure device according to claim 1 characterised in that the pawl (32, 32') is carried by the bar (15) and provided on an element which is fixed with respect to the line of displacement of the bar is a shoulder for bracing thereof.
9. A closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that there are in readiness in arrangements in opposite relationship two pawls (32, 32') which are intended alternately to limit the travel movement of the bar (15) in one direction or the other depending on the direction of fitting of the door (12).
10. A cupboard characterised in that its door (12) is fitted with a closure device (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images