EP1571406A2

EP1571406A2 - Door construction with an adjustable closure device for refrigerators and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1571406A2
Application number: EP05004175A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marino Saletti
Original assignee: PRIOLINOX SpA
Current assignee: PRIOLINOX SpA
Priority date: 2004-03-02
Filing date: 2005-02-25
Publication date: 2005-09-07
Also published as: ITMI20040394A1; EP1571406A3

Abstract

A door construction with an adjustable closure device for refrigerators and the like comprises a door wing (2) pivoted to a bearing framework (3) through hinge assemblies (4) and including a sealing gasket (5) arranged along the outer perimeter, and being characterized in that said door construction further comprises an adjustable magnetic closure device (6).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door construction, including an adjustable closure device, specifically designed for refrigerating benches and refrigerators in general.
As is known, in barrooms, coffee shops, restaurants and the like, are conventionally used refrigerating cells, benches or containers, staring food articles to be served in a refrigerated condition, such as, beverages, for an immediate delivery in a cool condition to the clients.
The above mentioned containers are conventionally arranged near delivery points, for example under a refrigerated bench, so as to allow operating personnel to easily access the products to be served to the clients.
In particular, the access to a refrigerated cell is usually performed very frequently and, in each case, it must be of very short duration.
Accordingly, it is necessary to quickly open and close the refrigerated container doors, without an excessive effort and without the need of operating complex opening and closing devices.
A preferred closure system, as is also known, is a magnetic closure system in which the door gasket, usually made of a rubber material, holds therein a ferrous element, designed for cooperating with magnets embedded near the door construction, at the opening therefor.
The above mentioned magnetic closure must provide a sufficient drawing force to allow the refrigerator door to be properly closed, but, in the meanwhile, it must be sufficiently yieldable, so as not to require an excessive operating effort by the operator.
However, a proper adjustment of a magnetic closure is very difficult, since the use conditions of the door are very different, depending on the position and physical condition of the operators.
Moreover, in the time, the magnetic force tends to decrease and, accordingly, such a magnetic closure cannot offer the required tight closure property.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a door construction, including a magnetic closure device, the closure force of which can be easily adjusted, both in the installation step and during the use thereof.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a door construction which is very reliable and safe in operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a door construction the magnetic closure device of which can be held in optimum operation condition, even after a long period of use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a door construction the closure device or system of which can be easily fitted to different operators.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a door construction including an adjustable closure device, specifically for refrigerators, comprising a door wing pivoted to a bearing framework by hinge assemblies and including a gasket arranged along an outer perimeter thereof, characterized in that said door construction comprises moreover an adjustable magnetic closure device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a door construction according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the door construction of the preceding figure;
Figure 3 is a further elevation view, on an enlarged scale, which clearly illustrates the detail of the adjustable closure or closing device associated to the door construction according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectioned top plan view illustrating the adjusting device in a position thereof providing a minimum locking force;
Figure 5 is a view similar to that of figure 4 but illustrating the device in a door opening operation;
Figure 6 is a view similar to that of figure 4, but illustrating the adjusting device in a maximum locking force position;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectioned side elevation view of the adjustable closure or closing device; and
Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7 but illustrating the adjusting device including an adjusting or adjustment slider.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the door construction according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1 comprises a door wing 2, pivoted to a bearing framework 3, through hinge assemblies 4 and including a tightness gasket 5, arranged along the overall outer perimeter thereof, in a per se known manner.
The door construction according to the invention comprises at least an adjustable closure or closing device, generally indicated by the reference number 6, arranged at any desired portion of the perimeter, preferably on a side thereof opposite to the hinge assembly 4 side.
More specifically, the adjustable closure device comprises a gasket element 55, made rigid with an inner edge portion 7 of the door wing 2, for example by resilient pin elements 8 which can be pressure engaged in suitable recesses 9, formed in the inner edge portion 7.
In particular, the gasket element 55 has a hollow construction and comprises inside thereof a ferrous material rod 10.
Said rod 10, in particular, can comprise a second magnet element.
The gasket element 55 is adapted to be abutted, in a closed condition of the door, against an abutment surface 11 formed on a contoured plate 12 in turn made rigid with the construction 3 perimeter.
On the rear of the abutment surface 11 an adjustment or adjusting assembly 13 is provided, said adjusting assembly essentially comprising a block 14 including a magnet and adapted to slide in a seat 15, defined by a L-shape body 16, clamped inside the perimeter of the construction 3.
Said L-shape body 16 comprises a threaded hole engaged by a screw 17 having an end thereof rotatably engaged with the block 14 and the other end thereof engaged by a pair of adjusting and locking nut 18.
The position of the block 14 in said seat or recess 15, i.e. the distance of said block 14 from the inner surface of the abutment portion 11 can be adjusted by either screwing on or off said screw 17 and by locking it by said nuts 18.
Figure 4 shows the magnetic block 14 in a position thereof spaced from the abutment surface or portion 11, corresponding to a smaller locking force or effort, since the magnet is arranged with a larger spacing from the metal rod 10 of the door construction 2 gasket 55.
In figure 6, said magnetic block 14 is shown in a position thereof arranged very near the abutment surface or portion 11, which would correspond to a larger locking force, since the magnet would be arranged nearer to the metal rod or magnet 10 of the door construction 2 gasket 55.
Figure 8 shows, by a side elevation view, the application of an adjusting slider 19 to the closure device, in order to quickly change the closure force.
More specifically, said slider element 19 can be driven from a position between said block 14 and abutment surface 11 to a withdrawn position, in which it would not interfere between the abutment surface 11 and block 14.
In particular, as said slider 19 is arranged between said block 14 and abutment surface 11, the drawing magnetic force between the block 14 and rod 10 would be reduced, thereby reducing the locking force of the closure device.
On the contrary, by withdrawing said slider 19, the drawing force and accordingly the locking force will increase.
Figure 8 shows said slider in a middle insertion position thereof.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the- intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention provides a refrigerator door construction including a magnetic closure device which can be easily adjusted to be fitted to different use conditions and requirements.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, and the contingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements and the status of the art.

Claims

A door construction including an adjustable closure device, specifically for refrigerators, comprising a door wing pivoted to a bearing framework by hinge assemblies and including a gasket arranged along an outer perimeter thereof, characterized in that said door construction comprises moreover an adjustable magnetic closure device.
A door construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said closure device is arranged on a side of said door construction opposite to the side thereon are arranged said hinge assemblies
A door construction, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said closure device comprises a gasket element made rigid with an inner edge portion of said door wing, by resilient pin elements which can be pressure engaged in corresponding recesses formed in said inner edge.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gasket element is hollow and comprises a ferrous material rod therein.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gasket element is hollow and comprises a magnetic material rod therein.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gasket element is adapted to abut, with the door construction in a closed position, against an abutment portion formed on a contoured plate made rigid with a perimeter of said door construction.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on a rear of said abutment portion, an adjustment assembly is provided, said adjustment assembly essentially comprising an adjustment block including a magnet and adapted to slide in a seat defined by L-shape body clamped inside said construction perimeter.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said L-shape body comprises a threaded hole, engaged by a screw which has an end portion thereof rotatably engaged with said block and the other end portion thereof engaged by a pair of adjusting and locking nuts.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of said block in said seat, i.e. the distance of said block from an inner surface of said abutment portion, can be adjusted by screwing on/off said screw, and being lockable by said nuts.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a position of said magnetic block spaced from said abutment portion corresponds to a smaller locking force, since said magnet is arranged at a larger spacing from said metal rod of said door construction gasket element.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a position of said magnetic block near to said abutment portion corresponds to a larger locking force, since said magnet is arranged nearer to said metal rod of said door construction gasket element.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said door construction comprises moreover an adjustment slider, for quickly changing the closure force.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slider can be driven from a position thereof arranged between said block and abutment portion to withdrawn position thereof, at which said slider does not interfere between said abutment portion and said block.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, as said slider is arranged between said block and said abutment portion, the drawing magnetic force between said block and gasket rod is decreased, thereby decreasing the locking force of the closure device.
A door construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that as said slider is withdrawn, said drawing force and accordingly said locking force is increased.