EP2910153B1 - Device for holding letters, packages and/or goods shipments - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for receiving at least one letter, parcel and / or goods shipment, in particular letter box, with a housing, a receiving space formed in the housing, which is accessible through an opening in the housing, the opening being closable by means of a door , wherein the door can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position by means of at least one hinge, the hinge consisting of sheet metal strips which correspond to one another and are formed in one piece with the housing and / or the door or at least one hollow cylinder welded to the housing or the door and at least a sheet metal strip arranged on the door or the housing.

Such devices are well known from the prior art. Several such devices for receiving letters, parcels and / or goods can also be connected to a delivery station.

When manufacturing the devices, the focus is on being able to manufacture them in a production process that is as rationalized as possible, without having to perform a large number of manual tasks. For this purpose, it is advantageous to produce the housing of the device from as few components as possible, which are connected to one another in a simple manner, if possible by machine.

On the other hand, it matters that a generic device should be as robust as possible. The proper handling of a device means one considerable material stress. This is because the door is opened and closed frequently, with no particular care being taken by the user. Rather, it must be assumed that the door is frequently moved into the hinge's stop area. In addition, a certain level of security is expected with generic devices. The goods received in the devices, in particular parcel and / or goods shipments, often have a not insignificant value. The devices are therefore often exposed to manipulation attempts with the aim of violent opening.

In this context, the EP 2 340 747 A1 a generic device for receiving at least one letter, parcel and / or goods shipment, in particular a letter box with a housing, which has a receiving space, the housing having an opening which can be closed by means of a door. The door is hinged to the housing, the hinge being aligned horizontally. Also described are various damping elements that limit the door in terms of its path of movement and / or its speed of movement.

In order to meet the ever increasing requirements with regard to simple and inexpensive manufacture of the device, robustness and security against manipulation, the invention proposes a solution that the door with respect to its movement path and / or its movement speed at least in a partial area of the movement path a substantially rod-shaped damping element which is translationally movable with the door relative to the housing and which is arranged on the one hand on the housing and on the other hand on the door.

The invention is therefore based on the object of meeting the ever increasing requirements with regard to simple and inexpensive manufacture of the device, robustness and security against manipulation.

To achieve the object, the invention proposes a device according to patent claim. 1

According to the invention, a device is provided in which the door with respect to its path of movement and / or its speed of movement at least in a partial area the movement path is limited by means of an essentially rod-shaped damping element which is arranged on the one hand on the housing and on the other hand on the door. The rod-shaped damping element limits the opening movement of the door, in particular an uncontrolled tearing open, which could lead to increased stress and in particular damage to the hinge. The damping element can limit both the possible path of movement of the door and the speed at which the door can be opened.

In the sense of the invention, the damping element is bent in a hook shape in a first end region, the hook-shaped end region being arranged in a corresponding hole in the housing or the door. The hook-shaped arch on the end region enables the damping element to be fastened within the hole in the housing and also a spring effect due to the hook shape. If the damping element is made of a flexible material, such as a metal wire or a thin sheet or plastic, the hook shape can be deformed under load, so that there is a soft stop with respect to the limitation of the movement path and a resilient buffer in relation to the limitation of the speed of movement results. Due to the fact that the mechanical loads are compensated by means of a deformation of the damping element, the material wear is low.

The invention further provides that the damping element has a second end region which is formed in one piece or from two interlocking partial elements and which can be engaged in a hole arranged in a partial region of the door or the housing.

According to a first embodiment, the one-piece end region can be shaped and is cylindrical or cup-shaped. It is essential that the end area is deformed by the force so that its diameter widens or flares locally. This widening means that the second end area can no longer be removed from the hole in the door or housing provided for this purpose. For this purpose, the second end region is guided through a hole formed in the door or the housing, so that it partially projects beyond the wall of the door or the housing. The protruding part of the cylinder or cup shape can then be subjected to a force, so that the edge region of the cylinder or cup expands and prevents the cylinder or cup from moving backwards through the hole in the door or the housing. The second end region of the damping element is thus inseparably connected to the door or the housing of the device.

Likewise, according to a further embodiment, the second end region can have two interlocking partial elements, which are a ring-shaped or cup-shaped element and a bolt that is designed to correspond to it in a positive-locking manner. A part of the door or the housing has a hole in which a part of the bolt can be arranged. This gives the same advantage as previously stated with regard to the formable cylinder or cup shape. In the configuration with a bolt, however, an additional separate element, namely the bolt, is used, so that the partial region of the door or the housing is clamped between the ring-shaped or cup-shaped element and the bolt. The bolt is inserted into the open end of the ring or cup shape and screwed in, hammered in or clamped by hand or with a tool. This creates a connection similar to a riveted connection.

Forming the hinge or hinges offers several advantages. On the one hand, the manufacture of such a hinge is extremely simple. Sheet metal strips are formed on the plate, from which the housing or the door is later made, which are rolled into rolls in a separate manufacturing step. Neither separate hinge elements have to be attached to the housing or the door, nor complicated shapes from the base plate. On the other hand, due to their cylindrical shape, the rollers offer a relatively large contact area between the roller and the hinge pin, which in turn enables stable guidance of the hinge pin within the hinge. In addition, manipulations of the hinge in the area of the rollers are not very successful, since the rollers represent stable hinge elements that can only be bent or damaged with considerable effort. The part of the hinge corresponding to the rollers is formed into a tab. This tab is also made from a sheet metal strip, which is located on the base plate of the door or housing. The tabs are formed, for example, from a sheet metal strip punched out of the base plate and folded over orthogonally to the rest of the base plate. This design also does not require any separately attached hinge elements, which would have to be attached to the device with additional fastening means and, moreover, could loosen due to frequent mechanical stress on the device. The rollers and the tabs have mutually corresponding openings for the passage of a hinge pin. The opening of the roller is formed parallel to its longitudinal axis, while the opening of the tab is drilled or punched into the tab. When installing the hinge, a roller and a tab are placed on top of each other so that their openings correspond to each other, i. H. lie directly on top of each other. The hinge pin is passed through these corresponding openings, the cylindrical design of the roller offering advantageous guidance of the hinge pin.

An alternative embodiment not according to the invention provides that the hinge consists of at least one hollow cylinder welded to the housing or the door and at least one sheet metal strip arranged on the door or the housing, which is formed in one piece with the door or the housing and formed into a tab is, the hollow cylinder and the tab corresponding openings for each other Have implementation of a hinge pin.

In this alternative embodiment it is provided that the hollow cylinder is welded to the housing or the door. For this purpose, laser welding in particular has proven to be preferred, since such laser welding can be used to design very fine and barely visible weld seams, which consequently do not impair the aesthetic design of an object in question. In addition, the connections between the hollow cylinder and the housing or door achieved with laser welding are designed with a sufficiently high strength so that the required security against manipulation can be achieved. Instead of a roller, a hollow cylinder is used here. This can be, for example, a section of a profile element which is welded to the housing or to the door. The hollow cylinder also has the advantage that it has a higher strength than a rolled tab, which ultimately has an interruption, which can also be suitable for the insertion of intrusion tools. Finally, the hollow cylinder can be designed with greater accuracy in a simple manner with regard to the guidance of the hinge rod. It is provided that the roller (s) or the hollow cylinder are arranged on the housing and the tab (s) on the door. This design is particularly advantageous because, as a result, the roller (s) or hollow cylinder, which, in contrast to the plate (s), is more solid, are arranged on the stationary part of the device, while the plate (s) with the Door can be moved when opening and closing the device. The weight advantage of the bracket (s) compared to the rollers or hollow cylinders results in easy movement when opening the door.

Alternatively, however, the rollers or hollow cylinders can also be arranged conversely on the door, while the tabs are arranged on the housing.

Another embodiment provides that the rollers and the tabs are each arranged both on the door and on the housing. This mixture of rollers and brackets enables a particularly even, stable connection between the housing and the door. In addition, the security against manipulation of the device is increased, since different types of connecting elements have to be overcome, which may require different tools.

It is also envisaged that both the roles and the Tabs are arranged in pairs on the housing or the door. In this case, one roller can be arranged immediately adjacent to a bracket, the two brackets advantageously holding the two rollers between them. With this configuration, the rollers limit the movement of the door in a direction parallel to the hinge pin. This principle of movement limitation would also work with a system that provides a role in conjunction with two limiting tabs. It would also be possible for two rollers or hollow cylinders to hold two tabs between them.

The device is particularly advantageously designed if two rollers are arranged in the area between two tabs, a partial area of an intermediate element being arranged between the rollers and having an opening corresponding to the openings of the rollers and the tabs. This intermediate element is advantageously designed in such a way that the partial area which projects between the two rollers is also designed as a tab with a hole or punching, while a further partial area of the intermediate element is designed in the form of a protective cap which holds the rollers and the tabs in Longitudinal direction of the hinge completely and in the circumferential direction of the hinge covers at least with respect to the outwardly facing part of the housing. The intermediate element serves as a protective cap, which protects the hinge from unauthorized attempts at manipulation from the outside. The protective cap completely surrounds the hinge area, which can be recognized from the outside by the housing of the device. In addition, the protective cap can be designed with reinforced elements that reliably prevent manipulation with tools. Since the intermediate element also fills the distance between the two adjacent rollers in a form-fitting manner, the entire hinge made up of rollers, brackets and intermediate element is completely shaped in such a way that the components cannot tilt relative to one another and, for example, tools such as screwdrivers cannot penetrate ,

It is further provided that the inside diameter of at least one roller is smaller than the outside diameter of the hinge pin. With this configuration, the roller is easily opened by bending apart when the hinge pin is inserted, so that there is a clamping effect between the roller and the hinge pin. As a result, the hinge pin is held by the roller so that the hinge pin cannot slip down through the openings in the rollers and tabs. For a reliable holding of the hinge pin, depending on the design and strength, a single clamping role may be sufficient, although it is advisable to design several or even all roles so that their inside diameter is smaller than the outside diameter of the hinge pin.

In the sense of the invention, it is also advantageous that the hinge pin is a one-piece hinge rod. The one-piece design reduces the number of individual parts required to form the hinge. In addition, this also results in an increased stability of the hinge and thus a more resilient design of the entire device.

It is not according to the invention that the hinge has both at least one roller and at least one hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder is welded to the housing or the door, laser welding being provided here, with which very precise and invisible weld seams are possible, which nevertheless allow an extraordinarily high strength of the connection of the components.

Fig. 1:

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in geschlossenem Zustand,

Fig. 2:

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in geöffnetem Zustand,

Fig. 3 a):

ein Scharnier,

Fig. 3 b):

ein erfindungsgemäßes Zwischenelement in einer Ansicht von außen,

Fig. 4 a):

das Scharnier gemäß Fig. 3 a) mit voneinander getrennten Rollen und Laschen,

Fig. 4 b):

das Zwischenelement gemäß Fig. 3 b) in einer Ansicht von innen,

Fig. 5:

eine vergrößerte Teildarstellung der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 6:

ein erfindungsgemäßes Dämpfungselement,

Fig 7:

eine vergrößerte Teildarstellung des Gehäuses der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in einer zweiten ,nicht erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform und

Fig 8.

die Teildarstellung gem. Fig. 7 mit an dem Gehäuse angeordneter Tür.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an example. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a device according to the invention in the closed state,

Fig. 2:

the device according to Fig. 1 in the open state,

3 a):

a hinge,

Fig. 3 b):

an intermediate element according to the invention in a view from the outside,

4 a):

the hinge according to 3 a) with separate roles and tabs,

Fig. 4 b):

the intermediate element according to 3 b) in an inside view,

Fig. 5:

an enlarged partial view of the device according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 6:

a damping element according to the invention,

Fig 7:

an enlarged partial view of the housing of the device according to Fig. 2 in a second embodiment not according to the invention and

Fig. 8.

the partial representation acc. Fig. 7 with a door arranged on the housing.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 for receiving at least one letter, parcel and / or goods shipment, in which for example parcels can be parked. If this device 1 is additionally equipped with a slot, this device 1 can advantageously also be used as a mailbox 1. The device 1 has a housing 2 and a door 4 connected to the housing 2.

Fig. 2 shows the device 1 according to Fig. 1 in the open state, the receiving space formed in the housing 2 being accessible through the opening 3. The housing 2 and the door 4 are pivotally connected to one another by means of a hinge 5. The hinge 5 has a one-piece hinge pin 9 which is guided through the individual hinge elements. In addition, the movement path of the door 4 in relation to the housing 2 is limited by means of a damping element 12.

The detailed view of the hinge 5 according to 3 a) shows the partial elements of the hinge 5. According to the embodiment shown, two rollers 6, two brackets 7 and an intermediate element 10 are installed, the two rollers 6 being arranged between the two brackets, and the intermediate element 10 being arranged between the two rollers 6. The hinge pin 9 is passed both through the rollers 6 and through the tabs 7 and the intermediate element 10. The 3 b) shows the intermediate element 10 in a view from the outside, ie when the device is viewed from the outside.

The rollers 6 can be formed from a sheet metal strip which is formed in one piece with the housing 2 or the door 4 connected to it. This sheet metal strip of each roll 6 is wound in such a way that a circular opening 8 results, wherein the sheet metal strip can also be wound over more than 360 degrees, so that the sheet metal strip can be formed in two or more layers in parts of the rollers 6. Instead of rolled sheet metal strips, it is also possible to use pipe sections which are connected, in particular welded, to the housing at the location provided for this purpose.

The Figures 4 a) and b ) show the hinge 5 according to the Figures 3 a) and b ) in disassembled condition. The two rollers 6 are formed on the housing 2, while the tabs 7 are arranged on the door 4. Both the rollers 6 and the tabs 7 have openings 8 which are formed with respect to the rollers 6 by the cylindrical shape and are designed as punchings or bores with respect to the tabs 7. Fig. 4 b) shows the intermediate element 10 in a view from the inside, on the one hand the partial area which is inserted between the two rollers 6 and the partial area which serves as a protective cap can be seen.

This in Figure 4 b) The intermediate element 10 shown has a single partial area which is arranged between the two rollers 6. Alternatively, there is also the possibility of providing two subregions which are arranged at a distance from one another on the intermediate element 10, so that they are above and below the two rollers 6 in Figure 4 a) are arranged and separate the rollers 6 from the tabs 7. In a configuration of the intermediate element 10 made of plastic, the partial regions then serve as sliding elements, so that direct contact between the two metallic elements, namely the rollers 6 and the tabs 7, is avoided. A further embodiment provides that the intermediate element 10 has three partial areas, the embodiment according to Figure 4 b) is supplemented by two further sub-areas as described above.

In Fig. 5 is shown in detail the structure of the device in the hinge area. The housing 2 and door 4 of the device 1 are pivotally connected by means of a hinge 5. The hinge 5 has two rollers 6, two tabs 7 and an intermediate element 10. The hinge pin 9 is inserted through the rollers 6, the tabs 7 and the intermediate element 10, the hinge pin 9 connecting three individual partial hinges to one another. A rod-shaped damping element 12 is arranged in the upper region in the image plane between the door 4 and the housing 2.

This in Fig. 6 Rod-shaped damping element 12, shown in more detail, has a first end region 13 and a second end region 14. The first end region is 13 hook-shaped, the hook-shaped end region 13 can be arranged in a corresponding hole in the housing 2. Due to its special shape, the first end region 13 has resilient properties. The second end region 14 of the rod-shaped damping element 12 is cup-shaped, so that a bolt 15 essentially corresponds to it in a form-fitting manner. A partial area of the door 4 is clamped between the cylindrical second end area 14 and the bolt 15.

The hinge according to the invention has rollers 6 which have an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the hinge pin 9 passed through the rollers 6. As a result, the rollers 6 are widened when the hinge pin 9 is inserted, so that a clamping connection between the restoring force is created the rollers 6 and the hinge pin 9 results. An additional element for holding the hinge pin in a constant position, for example end caps that prevent slipping, is no longer required. The roller hinge shown in the exemplary embodiments has three subregions, each of which has two rollers 6, two tabs 7 and an intermediate element 10. The two rollers 6 are each arranged between the two plates 7 and a partial area of the intermediate element 10 between the two rollers 6. The partial area of the intermediate element 10, which is arranged between the two rollers 6, has the shape of a plate and has exactly a height that corresponds to the distance between the two rollers. As a result, the intermediate element 10 fits seamlessly into the series of tabs 7 and rollers 6, so that it is no longer possible for the individual components to tilt. Likewise, the concatenation makes it impossible to pry in between using a screwdriver, for example. When viewed from outside the housing 2, the intermediate element 10 has the shape of a protective cap which completely surrounds the rollers 6 and the tabs 7 in the longitudinal direction of the hinge 5 and the rollers 6 and the tabs 7 in the circumferential direction of the hinge 5, at least with respect to that of FIG outside part of the housing 2 covers. Thus, the elements of the hinge 5 are additionally protected against attempts at manipulation.

In order to limit the movement path and / or the movement speed of the door 4 in relation to the housing 2, a rod-shaped damping element 12 is arranged between the housing 2 and the door 4. This rod-shaped damping element 12 is advantageously a metal wire, which has an elasticity due to its strength and material properties. The rod-shaped damping element 12 has a first end region 13 and a second end region 14, of which the first end region 13 is in engagement with the housing 2 and the second end region 14 is in engagement with the door 4. The first end region 13 is bent in the shape of a hook and engages in a corresponding hole in the housing 2. The fact that the hook is also formed from the metal wire and also has a certain elasticity due to its hook shape results in a soft stop or a resilient buffer when the door 4 is opened. In addition, the elasticity reduces the wear of the damping element 12 as a result of frequent opening of the Door.

The second end region 14 of the damping element 12 is essentially cup-shaped, the cup shape with its opening pointing in the direction of the upper edge of the door 4. A hole is formed in the corresponding area of the door 4, through which a bolt 15 can reach from above, so that it comes into engagement with the cup shape of the second end area 14 of the damping element 12.

As an alternative to fastening the damping element 12 by means of a bolt 15, the second end region 14 can also be fastened by partially inserting it through the hole in the door 4 and then widening it using a tool, so that the widened region is not withdrawn through the hole can. In this respect, the same effect results as with the help of the pin 15, with the additional advantage that no separate element, namely a pin 15, is required.

Figure 7 shows a section of a housing 2 of a letter box 1, this section essentially coinciding with the illustration in FIG Figure 5 is, as far as the design of part of the hinge 5 is concerned. The transition area of the housing 2 between a side wall 16 and a cover 17 can be seen. In the area of the cover 17 it can be seen that this is U-shaped in cross section and has an L-shaped angled sheet metal element 18 above the opening 3, which in the closed state of the letter box 1 from the in Figure 2 Door 4, not shown, is covered. This sheet metal element 18 serves to reject precipitation which can penetrate between the closed door 4 and the housing 2 and which is to be derived in such a way that it cannot get into the interior of the letter box 1.

The sheet metal element 18 is formed in one piece with the cover 17.

In the area of the side wall 16 there is a hollow cylinder 6.1. attached, the hollow cylinder 6.1 a bore for receiving the in Figure 7 Has hinge pin 9, not shown. The hollow cylinder 6.1 is connected to the side wall 16 by laser welding on the outer lateral surface of the side wall 16. It can be seen here that the outer wall 16 is L-shaped, a short leg 20 extending at right angles to the second leg of the side wall 16 into the opening 3. The hollow cylinder 6.1 is arranged on this leg 20 directly in the area for the transition into the second leg of the side wall 16. Below the hollow cylinder 6.1, the leg 20 is formed with a recess 21. This recess serves to pass through a tab 7, which according to Figure 8 is arranged on the door 4, the door 4 engaging behind the leg 20 with a web 22. In this way it is ensured that both the hollow cylinder 6.1 and the tab 7 are covered by the door 4 both in the open and in the closed state. In the closed state there is therefore manipulation of the hollow cylinder 6.1. or the tab 7 or the hinge pin 9 not directly possible.

From the Figure 8 it can be seen that a total of 3 hinges 5 are arranged at equal distances from one another over the height of the housing 2. Each hinge 5 consists of a hollow cylinder 6.1 and two brackets 7, which are arranged on the door 4, the distance between two brackets 7 in the region of a hollow cylinder 6.1 essentially corresponding to the axial extension of the hollow cylinder 6.1, so that one bracket 7 above and a tab 7 is arranged below the hollow cylinder 6.1. The tabs 7 and the hollow cylinder 6.1 are penetrated by the hinge pin 9, which can also be referred to as a hinge rod in the illustrated embodiment. There is also the possibility that the hinge pin 9 is divided into three sections, so that each hinge 5 has a separate section of the hinge pin 9. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 mailbox 17 cover 2 casing 18 sheet metal element 3 opening 19 drilling 4 door 20 leg 5 hinge 21 recess 6 role 22 web 6.1 hollow cylinder 7 flap 8th opening 9 hinge pin 10 intermediate element 11 opening 12 damping element 13 first end area 14 second end area 15 bolt 16 sidewall

Claims (8)

1. A device for receiving at least one consignment of a letter or a parcel and/or a shipment of goods, in particular a letter box (1), comprising a housing (2), a receiving space formed in the housing (2), which receiving space is accessible via an opening (3) of the housing (2), wherein the opening (3) can be closed by means of a door (4), wherein the door (4) can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position by means of at least one hinge (5), wherein the hinge (5) is composed of metal strips corresponding to each other and being integrally formed with the housing (2) and/or the door (4),
   wherein
   the door (4) is limited with respect to the motion path thereof and/or the movement speed thereof in at least a part of the motion path by means of an essentially rod-shaped dampening element (12) that can be moved with the door (4) in a translational manner with respect to the housing (2), which dampening element (12) is arranged on the housing, on the one hand, and on the door (4), on the other hand, characterized in that a first metal strip of the hinge (5) is formed into a roll (6) and a second metal strip corresponding to this one is formed into a bracket (7), and wherein at least one roll (6) and at least one bracket (7) comprise openings (8) that correspond to each other for passing a hinge pin (9) therethrough.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first end portion (13) of the dampening element (12) is bent in the form of a hook, wherein the hook-shaped end portion (13) is arranged in a corresponding hole of the housing (2) or the door (4).
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dampening element (12) comprises a second end portion (14), which is formed in one piece or is composed of two partial elements that are interlocked in a positive-locking way, and which end portion (14) can engage in a hole arranged in a partial area of the door (4) or the housing (2).
4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the end portion (14) formed in one piece is configured as to be formable and cylinder- or cup-shaped.
5. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two partial elements that are interlocked in a positive-locking way are a ring- or cup-shaped element and a bolt (15) that is formed in a positively corresponding way with respect to this one.
6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the partial area of the door (4) or the housing (2) is clamped between the ring- or cup-shaped element and the bolt (15).
7. A device according to one of the claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the dampening element (12) is a metal wire.
8. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge pin (9) is a one-piece hinge rod.

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