Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F3/00—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices
  • E05F3/04—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices with liquid piston brakes
  • E05F3/10—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices with liquid piston brakes with a spring, other than a torsion spring, and a piston, the axes of which are the same or lie in the same direction
  • E05F3/108—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices with liquid piston brakes with a spring, other than a torsion spring, and a piston, the axes of which are the same or lie in the same direction with piston rod protruding from the closer housing; Telescoping closers
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F3/00—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
  • E05Y2201/60—Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefor
  • E05Y2201/622—Suspension or transmission members elements
  • E05Y2201/644—Flexible elongated pulling elements
  • E05Y2201/656—Chains
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2600/00—Mounting or coupling arrangements for elements provided for in this subclass
  • E05Y2600/40—Mounting location; Visibility of the elements
  • E05Y2600/41—Concealed
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
  • E05Y2900/10—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof
  • E05Y2900/13—Type of wing
  • E05Y2900/132—Doors

Definitions

• This invention relates to a door closing devise for urging an opened door towards its closed position relative to a doorframe.
• the invention concerns improvements in a door closer, which is of the kind that usually acts between a door leaf and a doorframe.
• This type of door closer typically comprises a housing, a biasing element disposed in and connected to the housing, and a tension member having one end connected to the biasing element and another end, which extends to an anchor element.
• the housing is normally installed in a bore in the door leaf and the anchor element installed in the doorframe. However, the positions of the housing and the anchor element may be reversed.
• the biasing element comprises a spring, which operates to bias the tension member inwardly of the housing, for closing the door.
• the tension member is flexible, and for this, an articulated element such as a chain is normally employed.
• Door closers of this kind typically employ a conventional elongated chain formed of connecting links, each successive link in the chain having a body coupled by two link pins to two adjacent links, namely the links that precede and follow a given link along the chain.
• each link has two link plates that are laterally spaced relative to the longitudinal centre line of the chain, although other chain structures are possible, such as links that alternate one and two plates, or successive links with any number of plates.
• the link pins typically define parallel pivot axes.
• the use of such conventional elongated chains have considerable drawbacks when used in door closers of the type described above.
• a conventional chain when working in concealed door closers suffers from excessive loss of force transmission because free articulation of the chain link results in frictional losses consequent to the side load imparted on the chain and door closer. Consequently, when such a chain is articulated (as required by door closers of the type described above) the chain is unable to transmit effectively a force throughout its chain length.
• doors are mounted to a door leaf by a projecting hinge. When doors are required to be opened by large angles (for example, where doors are folded back on themselves by opening at an angle of greater than 100°, or even 180°), such hinges project from the door by typically two or more centimetres. In such cases, known door closers are unable to close doors which have been opened by large angles (for example greater than 100°, or even 180°), because they are unable to impart a sufficient force around such angles.
• a further disadvantage of employing such conventional chains arises from energy loss and structural damage due to friction between such chains and the housing/other surfaces.
• US-A- 1,962,291 discloses a non-jamming chain for door closers and checks of the "piston rod coiled spring" type.
• a flexible chain for such a door closer having a plurality of connected inter-fitting links.
• Each link has a N-shaped projection at one end and a V-shaped recess at its opposite end. Shoulders are provided at each side of the projection and recess, respectively, to limit the angle to which the chain may be flexed in both sideways directions. In one bending direction, the links of the chain are prevented from being bent backwardly beyond a straight-line position, and in the opposite bending direction, the chain is prevented from bending beyond a curved position having a predetermined radius.
• US-A-5,015,022 discloses a chain lock for a sliding door.
• the chain bends in only one direction.
• the chain may be latched to form an incompressible column.
• the chain disclosed in US-A-5,015,022 also suffers from the problem that the chain is unable to transmit a high closing force throughout its length for operation of a hinged door at large closing angles.
• the present invention at least partially aims to overcome the problems of the known door closers described hereinabove. Accordingly, the present invention provides a door closer for mounting between a door leaf and a door frame comprising a housing for mounting in one of the door leaf or door frame, a biasing element disposed in and connected to the housing and a chain, the chain having one end connected to the biasing element and another end for mounting to the other of the leaf or door frame, the chain comprising a plurality of link elements mutually connected together, each link element having two opposing ends, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, each end having a shoulder portion, each shoulder portion being inclined relative to a transverse direction of the chain, and adjacent link elements having opposed shoulder portions which are adapted to abut when the adjacent link elements of the chain are bent around a particular radius.
• the opposed shoulder portions have the same shape.
• the link elements have the same structure.
• the shoulder portions are substantially planar.
• the shoulder portions are inclined to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle in the range of from 5 to 30 degrees.
• the shoulder portions are inclined to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle of about 14 degrees.
• the link elements are separated longitudinally across the chain by at least one spacer element which pivotally connects adjacent link elements together.
• the chain includes a plurality of such spacer elements, each spacer element having two opposing ends, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, each end having a shoulder portion, and adjacent spacer elements having opposed shoulder portions which are adapted to abut when adjacent spacer elements of the chain are bent around a particular arc or radius.
• the opposed shoulder portions of the spacer elements have the same shape.
• the spacer elements have the same structure.
• the shoulders of the spacer elements are substantially planar.
• the shoulders of the spacer elements are inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle in the range of from 5 to 30 degrees.
• the shoulder portions are inclined to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle of about 14 degrees.
• the spacer elements have the same structure as the linker elements.
• the chain of the door closer comprises two or more rows of link elements interleaved by spacer elements.
• the width of the chain consists of three link elements and two spacer elements.
• the link elements and spacer elements comprise one or more link plates.
• the link elements are in the form of blocks, each block having two opposing faces, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, each face having a shoulder portion, and adjacent link elements having opposed shoulder portions which are adapted to abut when the adjacent link elements of the chain are bent around a particular radius.
• the opposing faces include a male or female portion of a pivotal connection, and adjacent blocks are pivotally connected through said male and female portions.
• one of the said opposing faces of a given block comprises a female portion of a pivotal connection
• the other of the opposing face of the block comprises male portion of a pivotal connection
• the opposed shoulder portions have the same shape.
• the shoulder portions are substantially planar.
• the shoulder portions are inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle in the range of from 5 to 30 degrees.
• both male and female portions comprise a plurality of plates, and the plates of a male portion interleave with the plates of a female portion to form a sandwich-type construction.
• three plates of a male portion interleave with two plates of a female portion.
• the present invention also provides a door closer for mounting between a door leaf and a door frame, the door closer comprising a housing for mounting in one of the door leaf or door frame, a biasing element disposed in and connected to the housing, and a chain, the chain having one end connected to the biasing element and another end for mounting to the other of the leaf or door frame, the chain comprising a plurality of link blocks mutually connected together, each block having two opposing faces, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, wherein the opposing faces of each block comprise a male or female portion of a pivotal connection, and wherein adjacent blocks are pivotally connected through said male and female portions.
• one of the said opposing faces of a given block comprises a female portion of a pivotal connection
• the other opposing face of the block comprises a male portion of a pivotal connection
• both male and female portions comprise a plurality of plates, and the plates of a male portion interleave with the plates of a female portion to form a sandwich-type construction.
• three plates of a male portion interleave with two plates of a female portion.
• a door closer comprising a chain consisting of link elements which have two opposing ends, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, each end having a shoulder portion, and adjacent link elements having opposed shoulder portions which are adapted to abut when the adjacent link elements of the chain are bent around a particular arc or radius, gives rise to several advantages.
• a door closer comprising a plurality of such chain elements can effectively urge an open door towards its closed position even when the door is opened by large angles, for example 180°. Accordingly, such door closers provide a particular advantage when used with doors that employ projecting hinges which enable doors to be opened by large angles. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that this effect arises because when a force from the biasing element of the door closer is applied to a chain consisting of such link elements and which is articulated around a particular minimum arc or radius so that the shoulders of each set of adjacent link elements abut, a component of the force can be transmitted across the whole length of the chain. Again, without being bound by theory, it is believed that a line of force coincident to the line of force of the biasing element can be transmitted simultaneously through each chain element.
• a door closer comprising a chain consisting of such link elements enables the line of force from the biasing element of the door closer to be entirely or substantially coincident to the line of action of the door closer.
• the chain can readily be adapted to bend round a particular arc or radius, and thereby circumvents the problem of energy loss and structural damage arising from friction of the chain with the housing of the door closer/other surfaces.
• the above-mentioned shoulder portions can be inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain at a selected angle so that the chain at a junction between two link elements may only articulate by the degree determined by the selected angle. Accordingly, a chain made from a sequence of such link elements can be limited to a known arc.
• each symmetrical chain link element pair effectively has a 28-degree movement before opposing shoulders contact.
• This provides a working arc of 30 mm approximate radius for link elements whose pivot points are separated by 8mm.
• such blocks are easy to assemble and merely require the adjoining of the male and female portions to form a pivotal connection.
• pivotally connecting the blocks according to the present invention requires relatively little or no pressure to be applied along the pivot axis, and so the pivot connection requires little or no lubrication (from, for example, the application of oil).
• Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a door comprising a door closer according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a plan view of two adjacent link elements of a chain used in a door closer according to the present invention.
• Figures 3 shows a plan view of part of a chain used in the door closer according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 3 shows the chain when straight.
• Figure 4 shows a plan view of part of a chain used in the door closer according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 4 shows the chain when articulated about a given radius.
• Figure 5 is a side view of a part of a chain according to the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a side view of a part of a chain according to the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a plan view of part of a chain used in the door closer according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 8 is a plan view of a chain element shown in Figure 7.
• Figure 9 is a side view of two adjacent links in the part of the chain shown in Figure 7.
• Figure 10 is plan view of part of a chain used in the door closer according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 1 shows how a door closer according to the present invention can be used for urging an opened door towards its closed position relative to a doorframe.
• a housing element 2 comprising a biasing element 1 (shown in phantom) disposed in and connected therein is mounted in the leaf of a door 3, a mounting plate 10 (shown in phantom)being recessed into the door leaf and affixed thereto, for example by screws.
• a chain 4 comprising link elements 5 has one end 6 connected to the biasing element and another end 7 for mounting to the door frame 8 via an anchor element 100(shown in phantom) to which the chain 4 is coupled pivotally.
• the anchor element 100 may also have a mounting plate similar or identical to mounting plate 10.
• the biasing element 1 When the door is opened, the biasing element 1 exerts an inward force 9 which operates to bias the chain 4 inwardly of the housing, for closing the door.
• the biasing element 1 typically comprises a helical tension spring and the construction of such an element is well known in the art.
• the door closer will also incorporate a damper to provide a decelerated or damped closing action.
• dampers for example hydraulic cylinder/piston dampers are well known in the art.
• the positions of the housing and the anchor element may be reversed.
• each link element 5 has two opposing ends 10 mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain. Each end has a shoulder portion 11, and adjacent link elements have opposed shoulder portions 12, 13 which are adapted to abut 14 when adjacent link elements are bent around a particular arc or radius 13.
• each end of a link element has two shoulder portions, although it will be appreciated that each end of a link element may comprise only one shoulder portion.
• each link element 5 is the same and each shoulder portion 11 is planar and inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle 15 (see Figure 2).
• the shoulders are not restricted to being the same shape or planar.
• the angle 15 with which the shoulders are inclined to the transverse direction of the chain will dictate the particular minimum arc or radius 13 around which adjacent link elements 5 can be bent. Accordingly, by choosing the one or more angles by which the shoulders axe inclined, it is possible to provide a sequence of link elements which will be limited to an arc of a predetermined radius. This can be matched to the hinging arc formed between the door leaf and doorframe, as shown in Figure 1.
• each shoulder portion 11 is on a respective side (in a transverse direction) of an imaginary longitudinal central line L of the link element 5, which line L connects together the two spaced pivot points P for the link element 5. As shown, each shoulder portion 11 extends over a distance equal to one half of the transverse width (in a transverse direction along an imaginary transverse line T perpendicular to the line L) of the link element 5, and so extends from the line L to the respective longitudinal edge E of the link element 5.
• shoulder portions 11 are symmetrical and complementary in construction on opposite longitudinal sides of the link element 5 (i.e. on opposite sides of the line L). This permits the chain to be bent in each opposite bending direction about a common maximum predetermined radius. This enhances the versatility of the door closer, and permits reading installation.
• each link element 5 is identical in structure, with one end being a mirror image of the other end, and with four inclined shoulder portions 11 in total, with two shoulder portions 11 at each end 10 of the link element 5.
• the link elements 5 are separated longitudinally across the chain by spacer elements 16 which pivotally connect adjacent link elements together via a pivot pin 17.
• spacer elements 16 which pivotally connect adjacent link elements together via a pivot pin 17.
• Each spacer element 16 has two opposing ends 18, mutually spaced in the direction of the length of the chain, and, typically, each end has a shoulder portion, with adjacent spacer elements having opposed shoulder portions which are adapted to abut when adjacent spacer elements of the chain are bent around a particular radius.
• each spacer element 16 has the same structure and each shoulder is planar (although other surface shapes may be employed) and inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain by an angle in the preferred range of from 5 to 30 degrees, most preferably about 14 degrees.
• Each of these ends of the spacer elements 16 has two shoulder portions, although it will be appreciated that each end of a link element may comprise only one shoulder portion.
• the spacer elements have the same structure and shape, and in turn, have the same structure and shape as the link elements, although it will be appreciated that the spacer elements need not all be the same, and need not be the same as the link elements. It will also be appreciated that the spacer elements need not comprise shoulder portions.
• FIG. 6 shows how the embodiment described in Figure 5 can be assembled into rows of link elements 5 interleaved by spacer elements 16.
• the chain shown in Figure 5 has a width along the pivot axis of three link elements and two spacer elements, although the width can be varied by changing the number of rows of link elements required.
• the number of link elements 5 (and spacer elements 16) required along the width of the chain will vary depending on several factors, for example, the size of the link/spacer elements and the size/type of door the door closer is to act upon.
• the link elements 5 and spacer elements 16 shown in Figures 5 and 6 are in the form of plates. However, as long as the link elements 5 and spacer elements 16 can be pivotally connected to each other, alternative forms of the link elements and spacer elements are possible. Other than the necessary feature of the shoulder portions, the shape of the link elements are not particularly limited. As shown in Figures 1-4, the longitudinal sides of the link elements can have a recess 19 extending towards the centre of the link element.
• the link elements 5 are in the form of unitary blocks 20.
• the blocks 20 may be produced by injection moulding a metal.
• Each block has two opposing faces 21 and 22, mutually spaced in the direction of the chain.
• Each face has a shoulder portion 23, and adjacent link elements have opposed shoulder portions 24, 25 which are adapted to abut when the adjacent link elements of the chain are bent around a particular rm ' nimum arc or radius.
• Each shoulder is planar (although other shaped surfaces may be employed) and inclined relative to the transverse direction of the chain. The angles of inclination of the shoulder may be the same as for the first embodiment (i.e.
• the shoulders are not restricted to being the same shape or planar.
• each shoulder portion 23 is on a respective side (in a transverse direction) of an imaginary longitudinal central line of the block 20. As shown, each shoulder portion 23 extends from the male or female portion 26, 27, respectively, to the respective longitudinal edge of the block 20. On each side of the longitudinal central line, for each end of the block 20, the two shoulder portions 23 are each inclined at the same angle to the transverse direction. There is a symmetrical and complementary construction for the shoulder portions 23 at opposed ends of each block 20 on at least one longitudinal side of the block 20.
• shoulder portions 23 are symmetrical and complementary in construction on opposite longitudinal sides of the block 20. This permits the chain to be bent in each opposite bending direction about a common maximum predetermined radius. This enhances the versatility of the door closer, and permits reading installation.
• each block 20 there are four inclined shoulder portions 23 in total, with two shoulder portions 23 at each end of the block 20.
• each block 20 is identical and one opposing face of a given block has a female portion of a pivotal connection 26, and the other opposing face of the block has a male portion of a pivotal connection 27.
• the male and female portions 26 and 27 together form a pivotal connection.
• the form of the male and female portions is not particularly restricted.
• the male and female portions 26 and 27 of the pivot connection comprise plates in the form circular lugs 28, each spaced apart relative to each other along the respective face.
• Each lug has a central hole 29 through which a hinge pin 30 can enter orthogonally.
• the circular lugs 28 of a male portion 26 interleave with the circular lugs 28 of a female portion to form a sandwich-type construction.
• both opposing faces 21,22 of a block 20 can have a female portion of a pivotal connection (Type II block) or both can include a male portion of a pivotal connection (Type III block).
• Type II block can have a female portion of a pivotal connection
• Type III block can include a male portion of a pivotal connection
• each opposing face 21, 22 of the blocks are adapted to receive the male or female portion of the pivotal connection.
• each face has a recess 32 between each lug 28 which is substantially flush with the connecting lug present on the face of the adjacent link element.
• the recess 32 is in the form of an arc which is flush with the circular lug of the adjacent face, thereby facilitating pivotal rotation of adjacent link elements 5.
• the shoulder portions are configured to be recessed backwardly away from the opposed shoulder portion of the adjacent link, in particular by having an inclined face which is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective link.
• the shoulder portions may be configured to project forwardly towards the opposed shoulder portion of the adjacent link, in particular by having an inclined face which is inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective link.
• each recessed shoulder portion faces a respective projecting shoulder portion. The extent of any recess or projection depends upon the longitudinal dimensions of the links and the dimension of the arc or radius around which the chain is intended to be bent to exert a longitudinal closing force there along.
• FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the invention.
• the door chain includes link elements 5 in the form of unitary blocks 31.
• the unitary blocks 31 comprise the same features as described in respect of blocks 20 referred to above but differ in that they do not comprise shoulder portions.

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• Hinges (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2002
  • 2002-11-11 GB GB0226244A patent/GB2395228B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-11-11 JP JP2004550816A patent/JP2006505725A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-11 WO PCT/GB2003/004884 patent/WO2004044361A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-11-11 EP EP03811024A patent/EP1565638A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-11 AU AU2003301994A patent/AU2003301994A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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