EP2997861B1 - Box-like housing, in particular for a letter box - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a box-shaped housing, in particular for a mailbox, a mailbox or a parcel box with a housing wall and provided in the housing housing opening and a housing opening closing element which is hinged to the housing wall, wherein either the occlusive element or the housing wall carries a first hinge element which cooperates with a second hinge element which is fixed to the respective other component, so the housing or the closing element, for pivotally mounting the element to be closed on the housing wall.

Mailboxes, mailboxes and parcel boxes are known in many configurations. The invention is concerned with such articles, which have a box-shaped housing, which consists in particular of one or more bent sheet metal parts. The housing has outer walls and a housing opening, which by a closable element, for. As a door or a flap, can be closed. Usually, the closable element is connected via a hinge pivotally connected to the housing wall at the edge of the housing opening. It can optionally be provided that the closable element can be fixed in a position closing the housing opening and / or releasing the housing opening at least partially.

In the case of a door, there are different configurations of this door, wherein a simple variant only provides a door leaf, which pivots into the housing opening and optionally can be locked there. However, this simple door leaf can also be swung open onto the housing opening and overlap slightly with the edge of the housing opening.

In another variant, the door has an inwardly curved side wall, which runs in particular parallel to the outer wall of the housing. This side wall is usually bent by 90 ° relative to the door leaf level and gives the door a high rigidity against deformation.

In addition, it is also known, for example from the DE 10 2009 064 508 A1 as well as the DE 10 2010 002 920 A1 in that the angle between the side wall of the door and the base surface, wherein the side wall is bent out of the plane of the base surface in the direction of the interior of the box-shaped housing, has an angle α <90 °. For this purpose, corresponding walls can be provided on the box-shaped housing, which preferably run parallel to this side wall of the closing element. Preferably, the closing element and the box-shaped box on all sides mutually parallel side walls.

In addition, it is from the DE 10 2010 002 920 A1 already previously known to provide a bearing block for forming a hinge, wherein the bearing block has a capsule which engages in a curl of a side wall of the occluding member. The bearing block can then be hooked by means of a mushroom-shaped suspension element, which cooperates with a keyhole-shaped receiving opening of the box-shaped housing, in this opening, so that it can then be fixed by means of a screw. The installer then has both hands for tightening free and no helper is required. The curl forms quasi a sliding bearing, in which engages the capsule as a bolt. For optical reasons, it is disadvantageous that openings for the keyhole-shaped receiving opening and for screwing the bearing block must be provided on the box-shaped housing on the outer wall of the housing-shaped box.

Another attachment of a bearing block is from the DE 693 02 964 T2 previously known, in which case the bearing block in a U-shaped leg clamped, so non-positively held.

Furthermore, a hinge solution from the US 5,810,458 B1 known in which a U-shaped profile is attached to a door leaf. In the generic GB 2,057,049 the hinge element is clamped locked in a U-profile of a door leaf. Finally, another hinge solution is in the WO 2005/071198 A1 described.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an alternative storage for a closing element.

This object is achieved by a box-shaped housing according to claim 1 according to the invention.

The storage can be designed so that the two hinge elements are detachably connected to each other. In particular, they are merely attached to each other.

In the bearing block and the bearing pin can preferably a tribologically optimal metal / plastic pairing or a metal / metal pairing, but also any other pairing, are formed from materials which are suitable together to form a kind of plain bearings.

In this way, a particularly simple design can be realized, wherein it is the bearing block in particular a sheet metal bent part, in which the opening is introduced by punching before bending. By the sheet bending process, a particularly good shape adaptation can be achieved. Alternatively, the bearing block may also be made of plastic or comprise a combination of different materials.

In the element to be closed may be a door or a flap, wherein in the door additionally a flap may be provided, wherein preferably at the closing element on the same side wall at least two spaced-apart hinge elements are provided, which with hinge elements on the housing wall interact. In this case, it may further be particularly preferred that the closing element has at least one angled from the base of the occlusive element in the direction of the interior side wall, which may be disposed at an angle of substantially 90 ° or less than 90 ° and to this side wall extends from the free end towards the inside of the element, the tab which forms the curl. In this way No additional space is required for the curl, which is exactly where it is needed, without the need for reworking. Preferably, the curl extends from the free end of the side wall away or from the side edge and is continuously bent from the side wall towards the inside of the element.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the curl can receive the journal, this being fixed in the curl.

If the element to be closed is a door, it can be provided that both bearing journals point in the same direction and, in particular in the installed position of the box-shaped housing, extend upward out of the curl. Alternatively, the journals may be directed toward or away from each other.

During assembly, it may then be provided that the bearing block is first pushed onto the bearing journal and then the element to be closed, including the bearing blocks is closed by placing the element to be closed on the box-shaped housing, in which case the bearing blocks are brought into position they are brought into conformity with the detents with respect to their openings or beads and lock.

It can be provided that the locking lug is particularly advantageously designed so that it is arranged on a side wall of the box-shaped housing in which also the housing opening is provided and the area in which the latch is provided, in the state in which the occlusive Element closes the housing opening, is covered by the closing element. However, in particular, preferably, this does not cause an opening in the side wall.

In particular, it may be provided that the side wall, on which the housing opening is provided, is bent over at least some edges in the direction of the housing exterior, wherein it may be provided that the free edges of the bent portions are folded over again to the outside, to prevent ingress of To prevent liquid in the housing.

In this case, the region of the bearing block, which connects the two legs, of which one leg carries the opening or bead and the other leg, the curl for receiving the journal, with each other, come against the outwardly folded housing in the region of the housing opening to the plant and so stabilize the bearing block and prevent unwanted loosening of the latch, even if the forces act on the bearing block when opening the element to be closed.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the bearing journal having and in particular at the same time the locking lugs supporting member projecting elevations, preferably in addition to the locking lugs against which the bearing block in an assembled position with an edge, to a displacement of the bearing blocks, especially in the direction of installation down, so by gravity to prevent.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following description, in which a particularly preferred embodiment is described in detail with reference to the drawing.

• Figur 1 zeigt in den Darstellungen a) und b) einen Lagerbock in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,
• Figur 2 zeigt einen Briefkasten vor Montage der Tür,
• Figur 3 zeigt eine vergrößerte Ansicht aus Figur 2,
• Figur 4 zeigt den nächsten Montageschritt zum Montieren der Tür an dem Briefkasten,
• Figur 5 zeigt den auf Figur 4 folgenden Montageschritt,
• Figur 6 zeigt in den Darstellungen a) und b) die Befestigung der Tür am Briefkasten,
• Figur 7 zeigt in den Darstellungen a) und b) den zeitlich darauf folgenden Montagezustand und
• Figur 8 zeigt in den Darstellungen a) und b) die fertig montierte Tür am Briefkasten.

In the drawing show:

• FIG. 1 shows in the representations a) and b) a bearing block in a perspective view,
• FIG. 2 shows a mailbox before mounting the door,
• FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view FIG. 2 .
• FIG. 4 shows the next mounting step for mounting the door to the mailbox,
• FIG. 5 shows that up FIG. 4 following assembly step,
• FIG. 6 shows in the illustrations a) and b) the attachment of the door to the mailbox,
• FIG. 7 shows in the representations a) and b) the temporally subsequent mounting state and
• FIG. 8 shows in the illustrations a) and b) the fully assembled door on the mailbox.

FIG. 1 shows in two views a bearing block, which is provided with the reference numeral 10. The bearing block has a U-shaped configuration with a first leg 12 and a second leg 14. Between the two legs, a connecting region 16 is arranged. The leg 14 includes a curl 18 directed inwardly toward the other leg 12 and the leg 12 comprises an opening 20, centrally arranged in the leg, as the first catch connection element. The bearing block 10 is formed as a sheet metal bent part, wherein the opening 20 has been punched out of the bent sheet metal part.

In the following FIGS. 2 to 8 Now, the assembly of a closing element 22, which is designed here as a door 24 with a flap 26 of a mailbox, shown on a box-shaped housing 28. In this case, the closing element 22 has a closing mechanism 30, which may be formed in a conventional manner, as well as an area 32 for attaching a name tag.

The occluding member 22 further includes a base 34 formed here by the door panel. The base is bounded on all sides by side surfaces 36-39, wherein the side surface 36 serves for fastening the closing element 24 on the box-shaped housing 28, since in its area the connection between the closing element 24 and the housing 28 takes place.

All side walls 36, 37, 38 and 39 are bent substantially at 90 ° in the direction of the interior of the box-shaped housing 28.

Starting from the free edge 40 of the side surface 36, a tab 42 is provided in two areas, namely in the installed position at the lower and upper end, which is bent towards the base 34 to form a curl and the curl has such a diameter in that a journal 44 can each be received herein. The bearing pins 44 point towards each other.

The box-shaped housing 28 comprises four in the usual way Side walls 46 and a rear wall 48 and a front side 50. The front side 50 in this case essentially has a frame-shaped configuration which limits the housing opening 52. The side edge 56 of the front side 50 in the region of the upper surface 46 and the side edge 54 in the region of the two adjoining vertical surfaces 46 are also bent at right angles out of the front side 50 in the direction of the closing element 22. The edge 56 is then deflected once again to form a gutter by an angle. The side edges 54 are overlapped by the side surfaces 36 to 39 of the closing element 22.

Furthermore, bearing blocks 10 are provided, which are still arranged separately here. FIG. 3 now shows an enlarged section, wherein also the bearing blocks 10 are shown, as well as on the side edges, wherein on a side edge 54, on which the closing element 22 is struck, extending inwardly into the housing interior extending latching noses 60 are provided, wherein the latching lugs 60 are formed by an indentation in the sheet of the housing 28 and form a Kuhle on the outside and on the inside (not shown) a survey. Below the locking lugs 60 and spaced therefrom is an equally trained, but slightly smaller further elevation in the interior, which corresponds to a depression from the outside, 62, which serves for fixing the position of the bearing block 10 in the installed state.

In FIG. 4 It can now be seen how the bearing blocks 10 are positioned in the direction of the bearing pin 44, then, as in FIG. 5 shown to be deferred to this. FIG. 6 shows the abutment of the occlusive member 22 on the housing 28, wherein the bringing of the occlusive member 22 is shown to the housing 28. In FIG. 6b is a sectional view shown in which is seen how the Latch 60 is arranged and beyond the element 62 can be seen. The bearing block 10, in the curl of the bearing pin 44 is guided, is now guided around the side wall 54 of the side surface 50 until, as in FIG. 7 shown, the leg 12 of the bearing block 10 comes to rest so that the area 16 encloses the side wall 54 and then, as in FIG. 8 shown, the opening 20 comes to lie on the locking lug 60 and the bearing block 10 is held by this locking form-fitting manner. In this position, the closing element 22 is then firmly fixed to the housing 28, wherein slipping of the bearing blocks 10 in the axial direction is prevented by the elevations 62 in the interior, which abut directly against an edge of the bearing block 10 and so against displacement in the axial Secure the direction of the journal.

In this way, an attachment of the element to be sealed to a housing can be ensured in a particularly simple manner. In particular, it is not necessary to provide a screw connection, so that the attachment of the closing element on the housing box is particularly easy for a single craftsman. As a further advantage, it should be mentioned in particular that openings must be provided on the outside of the housing, neither in the region of the surface 50 nor in the region of the remaining side surfaces of the housing 28, which results from the attachment of the bearing blocks 10.

Claims (9)

1. Box-shaped housing (28), in particular for a mailbox, a mailbox system or a parcel box, comprising a housing wall (50), a housing opening (52) provided in the housing wall (50) and an element (22) that closes the housing opening (52) and is pivotally fastened to the housing wall (50), with either the closing element (22) or the housing wall (50) supporting a first hinge element (40) that interacts with a second hinge element (44) which is secured to the corresponding other component in order to pivotally mount the closing element (22) on the housing wall (50), a journal (44) of the second hinge element engaging in a bearing block (10) of the first hinge element, the bearing block (10) being secured to the housing wall (50) or to the closing element (22) by means of a snap-on connection, the bearing block (10) comprising an opening (20) or bead acting as a first snap-on connection element in which a snap lug (60) acting as a second snap-on connection element of the closing element (22) or of the housing wall (50) engages in a locking manner, or the bearing block (10) comprising a snap lug (60) acting as a first snap-on connection element which engages in a locking manner in an opening or bead acting as a second snap-on connection element of the closing element (22) or of the housing wall (50), and the bearing block (10) being substantially U-shaped, with one limb (14) forming an inwardly-oriented curl (18) for receiving the journal (44) and the other limb (12) comprising the opening (20) or bead or snap lug (60), characterized in that the closing element (22) comprises, on a lateral edge (36), a tab (42) having a rolled-up portion that is formed towards the inner face of the closing element (22) for receiving the journal (44).
2. Box-shaped housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (22) is a door or a flap.
3. Box-shaped housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two mutually spaced hinge elements that interact with hinge elements on the housing wall are provided on the closing element (22) on the same lateral wall (36).
4. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing block (10) is a bent sheet-metal part, a plastics part, or a combination thereof.
5. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (50) that comprises the journal (44) comprises projections (62) which protrude from the component and against which an edge of the bearing block (10) rests in order to prevent the bearing blocks (10) moving in the axial direction of the journals (44).
6. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (22) comprises at least one lateral wall (36-39) that is angled from the base (34) of the closing element (22) towards the interior, and the tab (42) that forms the curl extends from the free end of the lateral wall (36) towards the inner face of the closing element (22).
7. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curl receives the journal (44), and said journal is secured in the curl.
8. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing block (10) is arranged so as to be adjacent to the curl.
9. Box-shaped housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (22) is a bent sheet-metal part.

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