EP1640537B1

EP1640537B1 - Device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilizing sliding doors and shutters

Info

Publication number: EP1640537B1
Application number: EP05019200A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Terno
Original assignee: Terno Scorrevoli SpA
Current assignee: Terno Scorrevoli SpA
Priority date: 2004-09-28
Filing date: 2005-09-05
Publication date: 2008-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-05
Also published as: DE602005004216D1; EP1640537A2; ATE383482T1; EP1640537A3; ITMI20040445U1

Abstract

A device (10-10') for stopping with shock absorption and stabilizing sliding doors and shutters (14-62), cooperating with a carriage (12-60) provided with framework 22 fixed to said doors and shutters, rollers or guide shoes (18-70) connected to support (28) and mounted in a section bar (16) whose down-facing side features a central slot (20) running along its length, comprises a support base unit (30-72) having two opposed and aligned arms (32-34), (76-78), protruding from the anterior side facing carriage (12-60) and bearing, at the free end, a boss or cam (38-82) kept in tension by one or more springs (46-90), said base unit (30-72) comprising elastic and shock absorbing elements (50-51) partly protruding from the base unit itself at the side facing the carriage (12-60).

Description

The invention relates to a device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilizing sliding doors and shutters.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a device specifically suited for stopping and blocking after shutting, in a smooth and deadbeat manner, the excursion of panelling such as doors or shutters sliding on guides or tracks, respectively used for separating rooms or shielding furniture.
As known, especially in the real estate furnishing, both for living or different use, sliding doors between adjoining rooms have been used for long time. The shutter or shutters constituting the door, slide by means of carriages, featuring rollers or guide shoes, on a plane perpendicular to the floor. Same solution is used for shutters of a piece of furniture, and, in both cases, it allows to reduce the overall area used while opening.
This construction approach, further, gives advantages also in terms of aesthetic, provided that motion means are hidden and hinges and the like are kept out of sight.
The shutters constituting rooms' separation doors, but usually also the ones used in a big piece of furniture, are heavy, sometimes up to 150 kg; in these cases, the sliding carriages and their relative guides are suitably dimensioned, in order to guarantee a proper sliding motion despite the shutters' heavy weight.
Inconveniences, on the contrary, are found in relation to the means used to stop, especially during the closing phase, the excursion of the shutters at the end of the movement and to keep them in position.
Known devices that, for this purpose, are associated to carriages, traditionally comprise one or more springs whose task is to realize a dragging effect to the closing shutter. These devices, nevertheless, are found suitable just for small and light shutters, and at any rate for drawers; in case of heavy shutters, on the contrary, these type of devices cannot guarantee a proper closing and stability, even if they are over-dimensioned, and above all, they are not suitable for stopping the excursion of the shutters themselves in a progressive manner or with shock absorption, as it would be desirable.
As a matter of fact, if the closing is not helped, the shutters will violently hit at the end of the movement and bounce back, requiring a further and additional manual intervention for closing. In addition to the discomfort for the user, this situation creates noise and makes the components for the sliding and connected to the shutters, undergo a relevant shock which might lead, in time, to break, thus requiring complicated and expensive recovery interventions.
WO 00/55460 A discloses a buffer device having a body which can be fitted in a rail, a damping element for cushioning, and an elongated retaining spring one end of which is shaped for retaining a running mechanism which is guided in the rail and is provided for carrying and guiding sliding wing elements.
Object of the present invention is to avoid the above mentioned inconveniences.
More particularly, the object of the present invention, is to provide a device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilize sliding doors and shutters in order to allow a precise closing of said doors and shutters in a smooth and gradual manner, preventing the door from rebounding to an open position when the door is slammed with force.
Further object of the invention is to provide a device as previously defined, suitable for avoiding the sliding means fixed to the doors and shutters to be strongly stressed.
Further object of the invention is to provide a device to be used to stop with shock absorption and stabilize sliding doors and shutters characterized by a high level of resilience and reliability over time, to be further easily and economically manufactured.
These and other objects can be obtained by the device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilization sliding doors and shutters as claimed in claim 1.
Construction and functional characteristics of the device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilize sliding doors and shutters of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following explanation, which relates to the appended drawings describing a preferred but non limitative embodiment and wherein:

figure 1 schematically represents, in a perspective view, the device
of the present invention associated to a sliding carriage;
figure 2 represents the same device on rest position, with approaching carriage;
figure 3 represents the same device during the beginning of the carriage stopping and stabilizing phase;
figure 4 represents the same device on the completed stabilization phase of the carriage, then door or shutter connected to the carriage itself.
figure 5 represents a schematic perspective view from the front side of the device according to an example alternative embodiment;
figure 6 represents the device of the present figure on a schematic perspective view from the opposite rear side;
figure 7 represents the same device of figures 5 and 6 connected to a sliding carriage;
figure 8 represents an enlarged detail of previous figure.

With reference to the above figures, the device for stopping with shock absorption and stabilize sliding doors and shutters of the present invention is indicated as a whole as 10 in figure 1 and is destined to cooperate with a carriage 12 fixed to door or shutter, the latter schematically indicated as 14.
Said device is inserted and fixed in a section bar or track 16, known in the art, wherein rollers 18 uf carriage 12 run; section bar 16 at its inferior side is provided with a central slot 20 running along its length, wherefrom the lower part of carriage 12 protrudes, constituted by a profiled frame 22 destined to be fixed to door or shutter 14. Said latter, in the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1, is provided with a perimetral metal section bar structure, e.g. aluminium, wherein at least section bar 24 which represents its horizontally developed superior part defines a house 26 wherein the profiled frame 22 of carriage 12 will be set and fixed in a known manner. Carriage 12 is generally known in its overall structure, i.e. frame 22, rollers 18 and relative support, schematically shown as 28 and constituted by a plate or the like; further, provided that carriage 12 is destined to cooperate with device 10, the carriage itself is provided to additionally feature, on this purpose, a strike element 12', described in the following part.
Device 10 comprises a base support 30, built of a suitable material, preferably nylon added with glass fibres, constituted by an essentially parallelepiped solid piece, whereon two opposed and aligned arms 32, 34 are fixed, protruding from base 30 on the front side facing carriage 12.
Said arms, preferably made in metal plates, are fixed on support base unit 30 by means of rivets 36 or the like and on the anterior free end bear a boss or cam 38, provided on one face or on a part of its lateral surface with a profiled seat 40; the configuration of said seat 40 is so that it matches, at least partially or temporarily, with the profile of strike element 12' of carriage 12'. In the example embodiment relative to the figures, seat 40 defines a cavity with substantially semicircular shape and horizontally extended, complementary to strike element 12' defining a substantially semicircular configuration. Boss or cam 38 is hinged on arms 32 and 34 by means of through stud or pin 42 running through the boss itself about at the middle point of its longitudinal development; a further through stud, in case two opposed and aligned studs 44, are inserted at the sides of boss 38 before stud 42 and protrude from the stud itself beyond arms 32 and 34, creating coupling points for end points of the same number of spiral springs 46, of whom just one is shown in the figures. The opposite end point of said springs 46 engages a projection 48, protruding from each arm 32, 34 at the middle point of their length. Springs 46 keep boss 38 in tension which, having a fulcrum on stud or pin 42, in theory is free to rotate, even though the presence of further studs 44 protruding from it limits said rotation: as a matter of fact, studs 44 during the rotation of said boss strike the anterior side or head of arms 32 and 34, as in figure 2. Boss 38, therefore, while rotating anticlockwise is limited and its movement is reduced to a partial balancing one. In the opposite direction, i.e. clockwise, said boss is equally limited by the presence of elastic shock absorption elements 50 described as follows. Said elements 50 protrude from the base of support base unit 30 on the anterior side facing carriage 12 and are constituted, for example, by rubber or elastomeric material elements, in case suppurted by springs, partially inserted in the base unit itself. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, said elements 50 are constituted by one, preferably two close oil, air or silicone, pistons, of the type known for example, in the market as Smove, from the company Salice; said pistons, substantially cylindrical, are inserted into seats created onto the support base 30 wherefrom they protrude at the front part with their retractile stem, schematically shown as 50' in figures 1, 2 and 3. Stem or stems 50' of pistons 50 progressively withdraw as they are struck by element 12' of carriage 12, as schematically shown in figures 3 and 4 and described in detail as follows with reference to the functioning of device 10 of the present invention. Said device is fixed within section bar 16 by means of screws 52 or the like, vertically running through support base 30 wherefrom they protrude at the superior part for striking the internal surface of the superior side or base of the section bar itself; head of screws 52 is properly dimensioned in order to strike the opposite inferior base of said section bar, from central slot 20 through which screws run. Carriage 12 is stabilized into section bar 24 by means of known elements, e.g. self-threading screws (not shown) being inserted in one or more holes 54 created on a wing 56 of the carriage itself arid inserting into corresponding seats 58 of said section bar. On functioning, i.e. during door or shutter closing, carriage 12 progressively gets closed to device 10 sliding with rollers or guide shoes 18 on section bar 16, until it gets in contact with its boss or cam 38 by means of relative strike element 12'. During this phase, said boss is positioned according to the configuration shown in figure 2, i.e. with profiled seat 40 basically facing downward in order to match the profile of said element 12'. Once the contact is reached, semi-cylindrical surface of element 12' appears to be precisely inserted into profiled seat 40 of boss 38, which under the pushing effect positions itself according to a substantially horizontal manner, partially rotating clockwise, as in figure 3. At the same time, element 12' of carriage 12, coupled to boss 38, strikes elastic shock absorbing elements 50, advantageously constituted by above mentioned pistons, causing their stem 50' to withdraw. This withdrawal, progressive and with shock absorption, determines door or shutter to move with a gradual and free of deadbeat approach to the end position while closing; this end of movement is preferably defined by total withdrawal of stems 50', therefore by the contact between elements 12' and front part of support base 30 of device 10, as in figure 4. On the other side, for opening the door or shutter, it is sufficient to win the resistance of spring 46 in order to let element 12' disengage from boss 38, which can only make opposite movement, anticlockwise, and automatically moves to the position of figure 2, with stud/s 44 striking, on abutting, the anterior side or head of arms 32, 34. At the same time, stems 50' of pistons 50 previously withdrawn, stretch and move out again going back to the position of figures 2 and 3. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 schematically represent the device of the present invention according to an alternative and simplified embodiment.
Said device, indicated as a whole as 10', is destined also in this case to cooperate with carriage 60, fixed in a known manner to the door or shutter schematically indicated as 62 in figure 7. Device 10' is inserted and fixed in a known manner onto section bar or track 64, known in the art, which preferably comprises two close sliding guides 66, 68 for one or more rollers 70 or the like belonging to the same number of carriages 60; embodiment of figure 7, wherein section bar 64 comprises the above mentioned sliding seats 66, 68, features two devices 10', each seated and constrained to one of said seats 66, 68. A solution of this kind is suitable for double shutters, i.e. external and internal shutter, both sliding along section bar 64 by means of respective carriages 60. In case of single shutter, section bar 64 will obviously feature just one sliding seat 66 or 68 where is set just one sliding device 10'. Said latter, shown in detail in figures 5 and 6 comprises, likewise previously described device 10, a support base unit 72, metal made, nylon with class fibres and other suitable material; support base unit 72 is constituted by a parallelepiped solid piece, and from the superior side of it, shoulder 74 protrudes, for example from one of the edges corresponding to one of the longest sides, whose shape is bar like with limited width.
Said shoulder 74 can be made solid with base support unit 72, i.e. can be reported and fixed to it in one known manner. Shoulder 74 represents the support for a couple of opposed and aligned arms 76, 78, like arms 32, 34 of the previously mentioned embodiment and constituted by metal plates. Arms 76, 78 are fixed at their rear end parts to the opposed sides of shoulder 74 by means of rivets 80 or similar means; the opposed anterior end part of arms 76, 78 bears a profiled boss or cam 82, hinged on arms themselves by means of a through pin 84. Boss 82 is shown as example configuration as an arched lozenge whose anterior extremity protrudes from arms 76, 78 and creates a nozzle 86. A pin 88 is transversely inserted into nozzle 86, in a position close to the anterior end part of arms 76, 78; said pin protrudes from opposed sides of nozzle 86 of cam 82 and creates the coupling points for the end parts of the same number of spiral springs 90. The opposed end part of springs 90 is hooked to a prominence 93 protruding from each arm 76 and 78, close to rivets 80 constraining them to shoulder 74 of base unit 72. Springs 46 keep in tension cam or profiled boss 82 which is pivoted on pin 84 and is therefore, in theory, free to rotate according to a wide arch of circumference; this rotation, further, is limited as a function of the configuration of a plate 92 whose description will came later on, fixed on carriage 60.
From the anterior side facing nozzle 86 of support base unit 72 retractile stem 94 of oil piston 50' protrudes in the previously described embodiment. Plate 92 is brought by carriage 60, known in itself, whereon is fixed by means of screws 95 or the like displaced on vertical wall 96 of the plate itself. Said wall 96 is expended overhanging and perpendicularly outward, i.e. according to the direction opposed to shutter 62, creates a plane surface and comprises, at least at one end point, a folding 98 destined to be struck by nozzle 86 of cam 82 and by stem 94 of the oil piston, as will be better explained later.
Along plate 92, closed to folding 98, a window 100 is created in order to house nozzle 86. Preferably, folding 98 and window 100 are present on both sides of plate 92, so that carriage 60 can be applied both to shutters with right or left closing.
On functioning, while shutter 62 is closing nozzle 86 of cam 82 is struck by folding 98 of plate 92 which steers it downward in order to prepare it to hook to window 100; at the same time, also stem 94 of the gas piston strikes folding 98 absorbing the shock of the shutter's excursion in the moment nozzle 86 folds further to get into window 100. Said further folding of nozzle 86, putting springs 90 in tension, is imposed by one of the walls or edges of window 100, in particular by rear edge 102 resulting farther away from folding 92.
On the contrary, requiring the opening of door or shutter 62 it is sufficient to win the resistance of nozzle 86, therefore of springs 90, in order to have the nozzle itself to raise striking the opposite edge 104 of window 100.
As can be seen by the above description, the advantages obtained by the invention are evident.
The device of the present invention, in both the embodiments described, allows to close sliding doors and shutters in a gradual manner, precise, without undesirable collisions, guiding the closing element with a shock absorption effect avoiding noises and, above all, possible tear of sliding elements as a consequence of violent collisions.
The above described solutions could anyway comprise also the possibility to utilise magnetic components, i.e. cam or boss 38-86 and/or strike element 12'-98, in order to ease reciprocal cooperation before and during the intervention of the pistons destined to perform the shock absorption.
It is to be further taken into account that device 10 or 10' of the present invention can be applied also on the opposite side, i.e. during total opening of door or shutter, for example through the positioning of carriage 12 or 60 rotated by 180° by means of two independent carriages 12, 60 suitably displaced on one or more section bars 16 or 64 and cooperating with as many devices 10, 10'. Although the invention has been previously described with particular reference to one embodiment, given with sole intention to explain and not to limit, numerous modifications and variants will become evident to a person skilled in the art on the base of the above reported description. The present invention, therefore, intends to embrace all the modifications and variants falling within the spirit and object of protection of the following claims.

Claims

Device (10-10') for stopping with shock absorption and stabilization sliding doors and shutters (14-62), cooperating with a carriage (12-60) fixed to said doors and shutter and provided with rollers and guide shoes (18-70),
comprising a support base unit (30-72) with a cam or boss (38-82) kept in tension by at least one spring (46-90), elastic and shock absorbing means (50-51) partly protruding from said base unit on the side facing said carriage (12-60),
characterized in that
said support base unit (30-72) has two opposed and aligned arms (32-34), (76-78), protruding from the anterior side facing the carriage (12-60) and featuring at the free end point said cam or boss (38-82), said base unit (38-72) further integrating said elastic and shock absorbing means (50-51)
and in that
said boss or cam (38) is hinged on said arms (32, 34) by means of a pin (42) running through the boss near its intermediate point, and its lateral surface is provided with a profiled seat (40) having a shape complementary to that of a strike element (12') solid to the anterior side of said carriage (12) facing the said boss,
and in that
the opposite sides of said boss (38) are provided with a stud (44) protruding beyond said arms (32-34) and represents coupling points for the end parts of said spring/s (46) whose opposed extremity engages a projection (48) protruding from each one of said arms (32-34) which are constituted by metal plates fixed to support base unit (30) by means of rivets (36) or the like.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said boss (82) is provided with a nozzle (86), hinged on said arms (76-78) through a pin (84), striking a folding (98) fixed on carriage (60) by means of screws (95) displaced along a vertical wall (96) of the plate itself, said wall (96) extending overhanging and, perpendicularly outward and comprising said folding (98).
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said folding (98) is formed on opposite sides of plate (92) and a window (100) is created close to it, in order to house said nozzle (86) of said cam or boss (82).
Device according to claims 1-3, characterized in that said rollers (18) of said carriage (12) are connected to a support (28) and are displaced onto a section bar (16) featuring, on its inferior side, a central slot (20) running along its length, said carriage (12) comprising a frame (22) fixed to the door or shutter (14).
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic and shock absorbing means (50-51) integrated onto support base (30-72) are comprises one or more oil-, air- or silicone-piston(s), whose stem protrudes from the front side of said base unit and is struck by an element (12') of said carriage (12) or by said folding (98) of plate's (92) vertical wall (96).
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said profiled seat (40) of boss or cam (38) defines a horizontally extending cavity with a substantially semicircular shape, said element (12') of carriage (12) featuring a complementary substantially semicircular configuration.
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said door or shutter (14) associated to the device itself comprises a perimetral frame formed by profiled section bars wherein at least the up-per one (24) representing its horizontally developing upper part - defines a seat (26) for housing and fixing said frame (22) of carriage (12), said device being fixed internally to said section bar (16) by means of screws (52).
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is displaced and stabilized into a section bar (64) comprising at least one sliding guide (66) and/or (68) for said carriage/s (60), said support base unit (72) featuring a substantially parallelepiped configuration and comprising shoulder (74) developing from the superior side thereof along one of the edges corresponding to one of the longer sides.
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said nozzle (86) of cam or boss (82) comprises a transversely extending pin (88), protruding from opposed sides through the constrain of an end point of said spring/s (90) which, at the other end point, are fixed to one or more prominences (93) protruding from said arms (76-78).