EP1195490A2

EP1195490A2 - Pawl and corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like

Info

Publication number: EP1195490A2
Application number: EP01121772A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lando Bortolotti
Original assignee: Pastore and Lombardi SpA
Current assignee: Pastore and Lombardi SpA
Priority date: 2000-10-03
Filing date: 2001-09-19
Publication date: 2002-04-10
Also published as: IT251160Y1; ITBO20000126U1; ITBO20000126V0; EP1195490A3

Abstract

A pawl with corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremonebolt type for doors of trucks or the like, in which the pawl has two elongated prongs on one side of the rotation axis and, on the other side, two heels adapted to mate respectively with a mushroom-shaped part and with a lug (12), which protrude from the coupler, the prongs being slightly arc-shaped and the point of contact between the pawl and the fixed coupler being very close to the rotation axis of the pawl.

Description

The present invention relates to a pawl and corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like.
Closure of the cremone-bolt type, provided with at least one pawl and corresponding fixed coupler, are often used to close vehicle doors or the like; the pawl usually has, on one side of the rotation axis, two elongated prongs adapted to mate with a mushroom-shaped part that protrudes from the coupler; during the opening of the door (which is performed by turning the pawl through approximately 90°), the back of the pawl presses against the base of the coupler in order to force the opening of the door, which is contrasted by the presence of gaskets.
In order to reduce the opening force, the prongs are often increased in length, but this allows the door to open spontaneously if the actuation handle has been closed imperfectly and with the load pressing on the door in the opening direction.
The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional pawls, by providing a pawl whose actuation does not entail great effort and does not entail the spontaneous opening of the door: in practice, the door is allowed to open only after a rotation of the pawl of distinctly more than 90°.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.
This aim and this and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present pawl with corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like, in which the pawl has two elongated prongs on one side of the rotation axis and, on the other side, two heels suitable to mate respectively with a mushroom-shaped part and with a lug, which protrude from the coupler, characterized in that said prongs are slightly arc-shaped and in that the point of contact between the pawl and the fixed coupler is very close to the rotation axis of the pawl.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a pawl with corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figures 1a, 1b, 1c are respectively a front view, a side view and a bottom view of a pawl according to the invention, and Figures 1d and 1e are sectional views taken along the lines "d" and "e" of Figure 1a;
Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are respectively a front view, a side view, a bottom view and another side view of a fixed coupler according to the invention, and Figure 2e is a sectional view taken along the line "f" of Figure 2c;
Figures 3a and 3b are respectively a front view and a bottom view of a pawl with a fixed coupler according to the invention in the coupling configuration.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a pawl and 2 designates a corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like, according to the invention.
The pawl 1 comprises a stem 3 provided with a collar 4 and a thinner end portion 5 for interlocking and coupling with a coaxial tubular element for connection to a rotary actuation handle, not shown in the figure.
The pawl 1 has, on one side of the rotation axis A, two elongated and curved prongs 6a and 6b and, on the other side, two short spaced heels 7a, 7b which substantially act as an extension of the prongs 6a, 6b of the pawl and taper toward their ends.
The coupler is constituted by a flat elongated base 8, whose tapering ends 9a, 9b end with a semicircular shape and are crossed by respective holes 10 for fixing to the door by means of screws or the like.
A mushroom-shaped part 11 and a lug 12 protrude from the base 8, are mutually connected by a central ridge 13, and are designed to mate respectively with the prongs 6 and the heels 7.
During the opening of the door, the arc-shaped back 14 of the prongs pushes against the base of the coupler in order to force the opening of the door.
The mushroom-shaped part 11 is substantially T-shaped, with a head 15 that has, in a downward region and transversely, a profile 16 which is substantially elliptical and against which the complementarily shaped end 17 of the prongs rests during closure.
The stem 18 of the mushroom-shaped part tapers, by way of symmetrical inclined lateral surfaces, in order to define a guide for coupling with the complementarily inclined lateral profiles of the prongs 6a and 6b.
A sort of contoured central slot 19 is provided between the heels 7a and 7b and is adapted to cooperate with the corresponding central ridge 13 in order to keep the pawl and the fixed coupler aligned.
Advantageously, all the exposed edges are rounded or beveled.
It is noted that the prongs are slightly arc-shaped and that in the closure configuration the point of contact between the pawl and the fixed coupler is very close to the rotation axis of the pawl, so as to prevent a slight pressure from inside from causing the door to open.
It has thus been observed that the pawl with corresponding fixed coupler according to the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. BO2000U000126 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A pawl (1) with corresponding fixed coupler for a closure of the cremone-bolt type for doors of trucks or the like, in which the pawl (1) has two elongated prongs (6a,6b) on one side of the rotation axis and, on the other side, two heels (7a,7b) adapted to mate respectively with a mushroom-shaped part (11) and with a lug (12), which protrude from the coupler, characterized in that said prongs are slightly arc-shaped and in that the point of contact between the pawl and the fixed coupler is very close to the rotation axis of the pawl.
The pawl according to claim 1, characterized in that the prongs (6a,6b) of the pawl taper toward their end and the stem (3) of the mushroom-shaped part (11) tapers in order to define a guide for coupling.
The pawl according to claim 1, characterized in that said heels (7a,7b) are separated by a central slot (19), adapted to cooperate with a corresponding central ridge (13) of the lug (12) and of the base (8) of the coupler.