EP4141205A1

EP4141205A1 - Lock with automatic closure and push opening

Info

Publication number: EP4141205A1
Application number: EP22186967.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniele Zetti
Original assignee: DGN Srl
Current assignee: DGN Srl
Priority date: 2021-08-03
Filing date: 2022-07-26
Publication date: 2023-03-01
Also published as: IT202100020888A1

Abstract

A lock (1) with automatic closure and push opening, comprising a supporting body (2) which is associated with a lever (3) which supports a detent element (4) which oscillates between a locking position and a release position and with first elastic means (5) for keeping the lever (3) in the locking position, the supporting body (2) being associable with a closure leaf (101) of a compartment of a piece of furniture with the detent element (4) directed toward it. The lock (1) further comprises a coupling assembly (6) which comprises an abutment profile (7) of the detent element (4) in the locking position in order to hinder the opening of the lock, the coupling assembly (6) being associable with one of the walls (102) of the piece of furniture which form the compartment. During closure, the detent element (4) is movable in an insertion direction (I) with respect to the coupling assembly (6) until the abutment profile (7) is passed. The particularity of the invention resides in that the coupling assembly (7) also comprises means (12) for the movement of the detent element (4) toward the release position which are adapted to cooperate with the element during movement in the insertion direction (I) downstream of the abutment profile (7) and means (13) for retaining the detent element (4) in the release position during its movement in an extraction direction (E), which is opposite with respect to the insertion direction (I), relative to the coupling assembly (6) during opening.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock with automatic closure and push opening.
In the field of furniture manufacturing, particularly for furnishing caravans, campers, boats or truck cabins, pieces of furniture are known which comprise a structure which forms a compartment in front of which a closure leaf is arranged which is articulated about a substantially horizontal axis by means of hinges, of the type of conventional wall-mounted furniture, overhead compartments, and the like. These hinges must allow the movement of the leaf between a closed configuration, in which it is directed downward so as to occlude the corresponding compartment, and an open configuration, in which it is rotated and raised upward so as to allow access to said compartment.
Currently applicable statutory provisions related to safety require, in moving vehicles, the fitting of locks that lock the leaf in the closed configuration, until they are released manually, to avoid accidental openings of the compartment and the escape of the objects contained therein, with consequent risk of damage to them or of injury of nearby people.
For this purpose, locks with automatic closure have been developed which essentially provide a supporting plate which has a through hole inside which a lever is inserted so as to pass through, said lever oscillating about a pivot between a locking position and a release position, having a first end which supports a detent which protrudes from one side of the supporting plate and a second maneuvering end which protrudes from the opposite side of said supporting plate. The lock has elastic means for contrasting the movement of the lever from the locking position to the release position.
In use, the supporting plate is applied at a slot formed on the leaf, so that the lever passes through it and the corresponding first end that supports the detent protrudes toward the inside of the compartment and the second end is accessible from the outside of the leaf in order to actuate its movement from the locking position to the release position during opening.
The lock further comprises a fastening base which can be associated with one of the walls inside the compartment, from which an abutment tooth protrudes with which said detent engages in the locking position in order to prevent the accidental opening of the leaf.
The abutment tooth is shaped with a first surface, which in use is directed toward the leaf and acts as a ramp to guide the detent from the locking position to the release position, and a second surface, which is arranged opposite the first one and is directed, in use, toward the inside of the compartment and forms an undercut for the engagement of the detent in the locking position.
During closure, the detent, initially in the locking position, slides on the first surface of the abutment tooth, moving into the release position to pass beyond said tooth and return to the locking position by virtue of the elastic contrast means, engaging with the corresponding second surface in order to hinder the opening of the leaf of the piece of furniture.
To open the piece of furniture, the user must act from outside on the second end of the lever which supports the detent in order to move it from the locking position to the release position, acting in contrast with said elastic means.
The external surface of the leaf is generally associated with profiled elements or handles which partially cover the second end of the lever and the slot at which the supporting plate of said lever is applied.
It is noted that these known locks close automatically if the leaf is supported in rotation by traditional snap-acting hinges or by hinges with damped closing. These hinges in fact are provided with springs for return to the closed configuration.
However, these locks of the known type are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that they entail the need to perform additional work on the leaf both to form the passage slots of the lever that supports the detent and to mount the external protective and aesthetic covering elements.
Moreover, these locks of the known type remain visible from the outside of the leaf and require protective or aesthetic covering elements provided on said leaf, which sometimes penalize the overall design of the pieces of furniture in which they are incorporated.
As an alternative, concealed locks with push opening are known which do not have components that are visible from the outside of the leaf and are released following a pressure applied to said leaf in the direction of approach to the structure of the piece of furniture.
However, these locks do not allow to obtain reliable automatic locking upon closure and therefore are not suitable to be used in moving vehicles.
Moreover, these locks have rather delicate components and therefore are often subject to failure if the user tries to open the leaf incorrectly by pulling the leaf instead of pushing it.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above of the background art by devising a lock with automatic closure and push opening that allows to obtain a stable closed locking in order to avoid accidental openings, without requiring the execution of particular provisions on the leaf or the fitting of additional components.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to devise a lock that has no elements that protrude or are in any case visible outside the leaf and to not require the fitting of additional components for covering and/or protecting said lock which are visible externally to the piece of furniture, so as to allow concealed fitting on the leaf.
A further object of the present invention is to devise lock that ensures reliable closed locking so that it can be used for pieces of furniture of campers, caravans, trucks, boats and vehicles in general.
Another object of the present invention is to devise a lock that is practical to release, in order to allow to open the piece of furniture, and to be sturdy in case of incorrect use.
Not least object of the present invention is to provide a lock that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and relatively low in cost.
This aim and these objects are all achieved by the present lock with automatic closure and push opening having the characteristics stated in the following claim 1 and optionally having one or more of the characteristics stated in the subsequent dependent claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a lock with automatic closure and push opening, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a lock with automatic closure and push opening, according to the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are respective perspective views of the lock of Figure 1 applied between a closure leaf and a wall of a piece of furniture during closure;
Figures 4-7 are respective partially sectional views of the first embodiment of the lock according to the invention applied between a closure leaf and a wall of a piece of furniture during closure with the detent element, respectively, in the locking position engaged with the abutment profile, in the equilibrium position and during movement toward the release position and during opening with the detent element in the release position;
Figures 8-11 are respective partially sectional views of a second embodiment of the lock according to the invention applied between a closure leaf and a wall of a piece of furniture during closure with the detent element, respectively, in the locking position engaged with the abutment profile, in the equilibrium position and during movement toward the release position and during opening with the detent element in the release position;
Figures 12-15 are respective partially sectional views of a third embodiment of the lock according to the invention applied between a closure leaf and a wall of a piece of furniture during closure with the detent element, respectively, in the locking position engaged with the abutment profile, in the equilibrium position and during movement toward the release position and during opening with the detent element in the release position;
Figures 16-19 are respective partially sectional views of a fourth embodiment of the lock according to the invention applied between a closure leaf and a wall of a piece of furniture during closure with the detent element, respectively, in the locking position engaged with the abutment profile, in the equilibrium position and during movement toward the release position and during opening with the detent element in the release position.

With particular reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a lock with automatic closure and push opening.
The lock 1 comprises a supporting body 2 associated with a lever 3, which supports a detent element 4 which oscillates between a locking position and a release position, and with first elastic means 5 for keeping the lever 3 in the locking position. The supporting body 2, in use, is associated with a closure leaf 101 of a compartment of a piece of furniture with the detent element 4 directed toward it.
The leaf 101 is generally constituted by a substantially plate-like element provided with two mutually opposite main faces, of which one is exposed and directed toward the outside of the piece of furniture and one is internal and faces the compartment of the piece of furniture. The supporting body 2, in use, is applied to the internal face of the leaf 101 by means of screws or other connecting elements of a known type.
Typically, the piece of furniture comprises a structure provided with walls 102 which form said compartment and with which the closure leaf 101 is associated and articulated, being movable between a closed configuration, in which it is adjacent to the structure of the piece of furniture so as to occlude the compartment, and an open configuration, in which it is rotated and lifted upward so as to allow access to said compartment. Generally, the leaf 101 is associated with the structure of the piece of furniture by means of one or more hinges, not shown since they are of a known type, which define a substantially horizontal movement axis.
For example, the hinges can be of the type of conventional snap-acting hinges, with return springs and an optional damper which act on closure.
In the closed configuration, a gap remains between the leaf 101 and the structure of the piece of furniture in order to allow the movement of the leaf toward the structure following a pressure applied by a user thereto to release the lock 1.
Compressible infilling elements, not described in detail, can be provided between the structure of the piece of furniture and the leaf 101.
Furthermore, the lock 1 can be paired with conventional pins with a contrast spring which are mounted inside the structure of the piece of furniture in order to keep the gap in the closed configuration of the leaf 101 and prevent the lock 1 from opening accidentally, for example, in the case of heavy leaves which on closure might bring the detent element 4 directly to the release position, without stopping in the equilibrium position.
The supporting body 2 comprises a fixing plate 8, which can be associated so as to adhere to the internal face of the leaf 101, and a bushing 9, which protrudes from said plate on the opposite side with respect to the one intended to face the leaf 101, to which the lever 3 is hinged about a first hinge pivot 10.
The lever 3 has a portion inserted in the bushing 9 in order to mate with the first pivot 10 and a portion which protrudes from the bushing and with the end of which the detent element 4 is associated.
As an alternative to the bushing 9, tabs for supporting the first pivot 10 which protrude from the fixing plate 8 might be provided.
Preferably, the lever 3 does not protrude with respect to the fixing plate 8 on the opposite side with respect to the detent element 4, so as to allow concealed mounting inside the leaf 101.
The fixing plate 8 can be fitted to the leaf by means of threaded elements or other connecting elements of a known type, not shown.
The first elastic means 5 have an elastic compression element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the lever 3 and the internal wall of the bushing 9 below said lever. As an alternative, the first elastic means 5 might have an elastic traction element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the lever 3 and the internal wall of the bushing 9 above said lever.
Furthermore, a stroke limit abutment 11 can be provided which protrudes from the internal wall of the bushing 9 in order to limit the inclination of the lever 3. The stroke limit abutment 11 can be of an adjustable type and can be constituted by a screw or grub in which the stem protrudes inside the bushing 9, as shown, or can be constituted by a fixed element which protrudes from the internal wall of said bushing.
Furthermore, the lock 1 comprises a coupling assembly 6 which comprises an abutment profile 7 of the detent element 4 in the locking position in order to hinder the opening of said lock.
In use, the coupling assembly 6 is designed to be associated with one of the walls 102 of the piece of furniture that define the compartment. Preferably, the coupling assembly 6 can be applied to the horizontal back wall of the compartment, but it might also be associated, for example, with one of the vertical walls.
During closure, the detent element 4 can move in an insertion direction, indicated by the arrows designated by the letter I in the figures, with respect to the coupling assembly 6 until it passes beyond the abutment profile 7.
When the detent element 4, initially held in the locking position by the first elastic means 5 and movable in the insertion direction I, interferes with the abutment profile 7, it tends to move into the release position, so as to pass beyond said profile and then return to the locking position downstream of the abutment profile 7 in order to hinder the opening of the leaf 101.
The coupling assembly 6 further comprises means 12 for moving the detent element 4 toward the release position, which are adapted to cooperate with said element during movement in the insertion direction I downstream of the abutment profile 7, and means 13 for retention of the detent element 4 in the release position during its movement in an extraction direction, designated by the arrows marked with the letter E in the figures, which is opposite with respect to the insertion direction I, relative to the coupling assembly 6 during opening.
The coupling assembly 6 comprises a frame 30 provided with a fastening base 14 which in use is mounted on the wall 102 by means of threaded elements 32 or other connecting elements of a known type.
The fastening base 14 further has a face that can be associated with the wall 102 so as to adhere to it.
The abutment profile 7, the movement means 12 and the retention means 13 are associated with the frame 30 at the face of the fastening base 14 that is opposite the one that is associable with the wall 102.
Preferably, the frame 30 comprises a pair of sides 15 that protrude from the fastening base 14 at the corresponding face that is opposite to the one associable with the wall 102.
Preferably, the abutment profile 7 is interposed between the sides 15.
The abutment profile 7 is formed by a pivot interposed between the sides 15, but it is not excluded that it might be shaped differently.
Preferably, the movement means 12 and the retention means 13 also are associated with the sides 15.
The movement means 12 comprise a pusher profile 16 adapted to cooperate with the detent element 4. The detent element 4 can move in the insertion direction I and is adapted to abut against the pusher profile 16 to reach an equilibrium position comprised between the locking position and the release position in the closed configuration of the lock 1.
The pusher profile 16 is arranged downstream of the abutment profile 7 in the insertion direction I, so that the detent element 4 interferes during closure first with the abutment profile 7 and then with the pusher profile 16 during movement in the insertion direction I, stopping in the equilibrium position in the closed configuration of the lock 1.
When the detent element 4 that is movable in the insertion direction I interferes with the pusher profile 16, the contact reaction that acts on it contrasts the action of the first elastic means 5, allowing the movement of said detent element until the equilibrium position is reached.
Furthermore, the movement means 12 comprise barrier means 17, comprising an element 18 which is movable between an active position and a passive position and is adapted to abut in the active position against the detent element 4 in the equilibrium position, and second elastic means 19 for keeping the movable element 18 in the active position. The detent element 4 is adapted to press on the movable element 18, moving from the active position to the passive position following a further movement in the insertion direction I from the equilibrium position toward the release position, and the movable element 18 being adapted to return to the active position following the arrangement of the detent element in the release position to prevent its return to the locking position.
When, with the lock 1 in the closed configuration, pressure is applied to the leaf 101, the detent element 4 performs a further movement in the insertion direction I, cooperating as described above with the barrier means 17 so as to allow the opening of said lock.
At this point the detent element 4 cooperates with the retention means 13 to contrast the action of the first elastic means 5 and remain in the release position while it is moved in the extraction direction E, until the lock 1 reaches the open configuration.
The retention means 13 comprise at least one guide 20 for the movement in the extraction direction E of the detent element 4 in the release position.
Preferably, the retention means 14 comprise a bridge element 21 associated with the at least one guide 20.
The bridge element 21 is arranged above the abutment profile 7. The abutment profile 7 is interposed between the fastening base 14 and the bridge element 21.
The bridge element 21 can be blended with the sides 15 and be integrated with the frame 30 or be arranged between said sides.
The retention means 13 comprise at least one tab 22 which is associated with the detent element 4 and is arranged so as to rest slidingly along the at least one guide 20 during the opening of the lock 1.
During the movement of the detent element 4 in the release position in the extraction direction E, the tab 22 is kept in contact with the corresponding guide 20 by virtue of the action of the first elastic means 5.
Preferably, the retention means 13 comprise two guides 20 associated with the bridge element 21 and two tabs 22 associated with the detent element 4, each of which is arranged so as to rest slidingly along a corresponding guide 20 during opening.
The two tabs 22 can be obtained from a preferably metallic pivot which is inserted so as to pass through the detent element 4 and protrudes laterally with respect to it, or they can be formed integrally with said detent element.
In a preferred embodiment of the lock 1, the pusher profile 16 can move with respect to the frame 30 and incorporates the movable element 18.
For example, in a first embodiment (Figures 1-7) the movable pusher profile 16-18 is hinged to the sides 15, the second elastic means 19 being interposed between the movable pusher profile 16-18 and the frame 30.
The movable pusher profile 16-18 is hinged about a second pivot 31 for articulation with respect to the sides 15.
The second elastic means 19 can have an elastic compression element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the movable pusher profile 16-18 and the sides 15, which is compressed when said profile moves from the active position to the passive position.
As an alternative, the second elastic means 19 might provide an elastic traction element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the movable pusher profile 16-18 and the fastening base 14, which is tensioned when said profile moves from the active position to the passive configuration.
The movable pusher profile 16-18 comprises two mutually opposite wings 23, each of which is arranged so as to face the inside of a corresponding side 15 and is hinged to the second pivot 22, and between which an abutment ramp 24 of the detent element 4 is interposed. Each wing 23 has a protrusion 25 adapted to abut against a stroke limit pin 26 interposed between the sides 15 when the movable pusher profile 16-18 is in the active position.
The stroke limit pin 26 is preferably covered with, or integrally made of, impact-resistant material in order to reduce the noise of the lock 1 during operation.
As an alternative, the pusher profile 16 can be fixed with respect to the frame 30.
In this case, preferably, the pusher profile 16 is interposed between the sides 15 and is fixed with respect to them. For example, the pusher profile 16 can be constituted by a fixed pin or by a fixed wall interposed between the sides 15, against which the detent element 4 abuts in the locking position and movable in the insertion direction I to reach the equilibrium position.
In a second embodiment (Figures 8-11), the movable element 18 comprises a torsion spring which has a fixed leg and a movable leg with respect to the frame 30, against which the detent element 4 abuts in the equilibrium position, the torsion spring 18 also incorporating the second elastic means 19.
The torsion spring 18-19 is wrapped around a supporting pin 27 interposed between the sides, with the fixed leg locked between two abutment pins 28 interposed between the sides 15.
The pusher profile 16 is constituted by a fixed pin which is interposed between the sides 15 and is arranged between the abutment profile 7 and the movable leg of the torsion spring 18-19.
As an alternative, the bridge element 21 can be movable with respect to the frame 30 and can incorporate the movable element 18.
In this case, preferably the movable bridge element 18-21 is interposed between the sides 15 and is hinged with respect to them about a third articulation pivot 29, the second elastic means 19 being interposed between the movable bridge element 18-21 and the frame 30.
The pusher profile 16 consists of a wall interposed between the sides 15.
In a third embodiment (Figures 12-15), the second elastic means 19 comprise an elastic traction element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the movable bridge element 18-21 and the frame 30.
In a fourth embodiment (Figures 16-19), the second elastic means 19 comprise an elastic compression element, of the type of a helical spring or the like, interposed between the movable bridge element 18-21 and the frame 30.
In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the intended aim and objects and in particular the fact is stressed that the lock according to the invention allows to obtain a safe and reliable locking in closure and easy push opening, being practical to use even for pieces of furniture intended to be installed in vehicles.
Furthermore, the lock according to the invention can be installed without performing particular provisions on the closure leaf and without necessarily having to install covering and protection elements that are visible outside the leaf.
Therefore, the lock according to the invention, in addition to simplifying the entire production cycle of the piece of furniture in which it is inserted, reducing its costs, allows to perform concealed fitting so as to be able to provide leaves without discontinuities.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements without thereby abandoning the protective scope of the claims that follow.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102021000020888 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A lock (1) with automatic closure and push opening, comprising
a supporting body (2) which is associated with a lever (3) which supports a detent element (4) which oscillates between a locking position and a release position and with first elastic means (5) for keeping said lever (3) in the locking position, the supporting body (2) being associable with a closure leaf (101) of a compartment of a piece of furniture with the detent element (4) directed toward it, and

a coupling assembly (6) which comprises an abutment profile (7) of said detent element (4) in the locking position in order to hinder the opening of said lock, the coupling assembly (6) being associable with one of the walls (102) of the piece of furniture which form the compartment,

during closure the detent element (4) being movable in an insertion direction (I) with respect to the coupling assembly (6) until the abutment profile (7) is passed,

characterized in that said coupling assembly (7) comprises means (12) for the movement of said detent element (4) toward the release position which are adapted to cooperate with said element during movement in the insertion direction (I) downstream of said abutment profile (7) and

means (13) for retaining said detent element (4) in the release position during its movement in an extraction direction (E), which is opposite with respect to the insertion direction (I), relative to said coupling assembly (6) during opening.
The lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling assembly (6) comprises a frame (30) provided with a fastening base (14) which can be associated with said wall (102) and in that said abutment profile (7), said movement means (12) and said retention means (13) are associated with said frame (30) on a same side of said fastening base (14).
The lock (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lever (3) does not protrude with respect to said supporting body (2) on the opposite side of said detent element (4).
The lock (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (12) comprise a pusher profile (16) which cooperates with said detent element (4), the detent element (4) movable in the insertion direction (I) being adapted to abut against the pusher profile (16) in order to reach an equilibrium position comprised between the locking position and the release position in the closed configuration of said lock.
The lock (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said movement means (12) comprise barrier means (17) which comprise an element (18) which can move between an active position and a passive position and second elastic means (19) for keeping said movable element (18) in the active position, the detent element (4) being adapted to move the movable element (18) from the active position to the passive position as a consequence of a further displacement in the insertion direction (I) from the equilibrium position toward the release position and the movable element (18) being adapted to return to the active position following the arrangement of the detent element (4) in the release position so as to prevent the return thereof to the locking position.
The lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said retention means (13) comprise at least one guide (20) for the movement in the extraction direction (E) of said detent element (4) in the release position.
The lock (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said retention means (13) comprise a bridge element (21) associated with said at least one guide (20).
The lock (1) according to claims 2 and 7, characterized in that said abutment profile (7) is interposed between said fastening base (14) and said bridge element (21).
The lock (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said retention means (13) comprise at least one tab (22) which is associated with said detent element (4) and is arranged so as to rest slidingly along said at least one guide (20) during opening.
The lock (1) according to claims 6, 7 and 9, characterized in that said retention means (13) comprise two of said guides (20) which are associated with said bridge element (21) and two of said tabs (22) which are associated with said detent element (4), each of which rests slidingly along a corresponding guide (20) during opening.
The lock (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (30) comprises a pair of sides (15) which protrude from said fastening base (14) with which said abutment profile (7), said movement means (12) and said retention means (13) are associated.
The lock (1) according to one or more of claims 1-11, characterized in that said pusher profile (16) can move with respect to said frame (30) and incorporates said movable element (18).
The lock (1) according to claims 11 and 12, characterized in that said movable pusher profile (16-18) is hinged to said sides (15), the second elastic means (19) being interposed between the movable pusher profile (16-18) and the frame (30).
The lock (1) according to one or more of claims 1-11, characterized in that said pusher profile (16) is fixed with respect to said frame (30).
The lock (1) according to claims 11 and 14, characterized in that said pusher profile (16) is interposed between said sides (15).
The lock (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said movable element (18) comprises a torsion spring which has a fixed leg and a movable leg with respect to said frame (30), on which said detent element (4) abuts in the equilibrium position, the torsion spring (18) incorporating the second elastic means (19).
The lock (1) according to claims 15 and 16, characterized in that said torsion spring (18-19) is wrapped around a supporting pin (27) which is interposed between said sides (15).
The lock (1) according to claims 7 and 14 or 15, characterized in that said bridge element (21) can move with respect to said frame (30) and incorporates said movable element (18).
The lock (1) according to claims 11 and 18, characterized in that said movable bridge element (18-21) is interposed between said sides (15) and is hinged to them, the second elastic means (19) being interposed between the bridge element (21) and the frame (30).