FI120513B - The latch device - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking device (1) for locking to and disconnecting from the floor (5) a movable wall element (2) , door or the like. The locking device (1) functions so that when there is an impact from an outside force on the release pin (13), as when it hits an obstacle, the release pin (13) moves against the springback factor of the second spring (16) from the stop position (III) to the release position (IV) so that the latch pin (9) can move due to the springback factor of the first spring (12) from the release location (II) to the stop location (I) . The locking device is provided with a rocker (17) which is jointed to the frame (6) so that it turns around the horizontal pivot shaft (18) , and said pivot shaft is horizontally at a distance from the first guide. The rocker (17) is provided with a first head (19) which is adapted to co-operate with the upper end (10) of the latch pin (9) in order to move the latch pin when turning the rocker around the pivot shaft, and a second head (20) to which a downwards impacting force (F) can be directed in order to turn the rocker around the pivot shaft (18) in order to lift the latch pin (9) from the stop location (I) to the release location (II) against the springback factor of the first spring (12) .

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a latch device as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A latching device for releasably locking a top-10 suspended partition element, a folding door, a sliding door, or the like, to the floor is known from JP 2001003626. The latching device includes a frame attached to the bottom of the door or the like. The body has a substantially vertical first guide and a substantially horizontal second guide. The latch pin is movable between the locking position and the release position when guiding the first guide. In the locked position, the lower end of the latch pin is extended downwardly at a distance from the outside of the frame to lock it to the floor 20. In the release position, the latch pin is released from the floor substantially retracted inside the frame to release the door or the like to move relative to the floor. The first spring is arranged to force the latch pin toward the locking position. 25 The trigger pin is movable between the hold position and the release position under the control of another guide. In the stop position, the release pin retains the latch pin in the up release position with the outer end of the release pin extending out of the housing. In the release position, the Sat-30 roll pin releases the latch pin to move to the lock position. The second spring is arranged to force the release pin toward the retaining position. When the trigger pin is subjected to external force, such as when it strikes an obstacle, the trigger pin moves against the spring force 35 of the second spring from the hold position to the release position so that the latch pin moves from the release position to the lock position. The recess in the floor has an inclined surface for returning the latch-5 pin back up into the frame to the release position when the door or the like is moved. The problem is that the locking pin on the floor is not very secure, and unintentionally moving the door can unlock it. A further problem is that a fastening piece with sloping surfaces, which is quite large in size, must necessarily be fixed to the floor. A further problem with the latching device is that it does not itself contain any means by which the latch pin could easily be raised from the locking position to the release position if the latching pin has been unintentionally released to the locking position somewhere other than the mounting fixture.

In the prior art publications FI 111749 and US 5,031,274, the operation of the latching device is quite the opposite of that of the aforementioned JP, in that the latch pin or the like is continuously loaded with a spring towards the release position and is moved by force against spring force. In the FI release, the trigger pin tends to hold the latch pin in the locked position, from which it moves upward to the release position by moving the trigger pin. The lock is uncertain as it can easily open unintentionally.

30

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a latch device which is simple, inexpensive and reliable in construction.

3

It is a further object of the invention to provide a latch device in which the latch pin is continuously loaded towards the latching position and wherein returning it from the latching position to the release position is as easy and ergonomic as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The latch device according to the invention is characterized in what is set forth in claim 1.

10

According to the invention, the latching device comprises a rocker lever which is pivotable on the body to pivot about a horizontal pivot shaft, the pivot shaft being horizontally spaced from the first guide, and having a first end adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the latch pin to move an end that is subjected to a downward force to rotate the rocker lever about the pivot shaft to raise the latch pin from the locking position to the release position against the spring force of the first spring.

An advantage of the invention is that the latch pin is securely held in the locking position until it is raised by the rocker lever against the spring force of the first spring to the release position. Preferably, the rocker lever provides the direction of opening movement downwardly and thus ergonomically so that, for example, with the foot down, the push pin 30 can be released from the locking position to the release position without the user having to lean to manually lift any lever. A further advantage of the invention is that the locking can never be opened unintentionally, for example, by the attempt to move the transfer wall element 35 while it is in the locked state. Also, accidental contact of the trigger pin with the pin 4 in the locked position does not cause the lock to open.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the trigger pin 5 includes a shaft portion having a first taper. The second guide and the trigger pin touch the first guide partially overlapping. In the vicinity of the lower end of the latch pin, there is another narrowing means adapted to receive the release portion of the trigger pin for retaining the latch pin in the release position. The first reduction of the trigger pin is arranged such that, when the first taper is aligned with the latch pin, the latch pin is free to move between the locking position and the release position.

15

In one embodiment of the latching device, the shank portion and the first narrowing of the trigger pin are circular in cross-section.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the latch pin is a piece of uniform material in which said second narrowing is formed.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the latch pin has a circular cross-section 25.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the latch pin has a circumferential groove forming said second narrowing.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the latch pin comprises an upper portion, and a lower portion that is narrower in transverse direction than the upper portion, forming said second narrowing.

35 In one embodiment of the latching device, the upper part and the lower part are separate pieces which are joined by means of connecting members.

5

In one embodiment of the latching device, the upper part has a circular or rectangular parallelepiped, or the upper part includes both round and planar shapes.

5

In one embodiment of the latching device, the lower part has a circular cross-section.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the first spring 10 is adapted to act between the frame and the rocker lever to force the latch pin toward the locking position.

In one embodiment of the latching device, there is a hole, a recess, or a pin in the vicinity of the upper end of the latch pin adapted to receive the first end of the rocker lever.

In one embodiment of the latching device, an actuating handle or a Tapai 20 is provided at one end of the rocker lever which extends horizontally transversely at a distance from the rocker lever and to which a downward force on the actuating handle is applied manually, such as by foot or other suitable aid.

25

In one embodiment of the latching device, the body comprises a first chamber within which a rocker lever and a first spring are disposed, and a second chamber within which a second spring and a trigger pin are disposed and forming a second guide for the trigger pin.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the body is an extruded profile made of a light metal such as aluminum.

35 6

In one embodiment of the latching device, the body is a body formed of one or more injection molded plastic parts.

5 In one embodiment of the latching device, the first chamber is bounded sideways by two vertical walls spaced apart and that the pivot shaft carrying the rocker lever is a pin supported at its ends by the walls.

10

In one embodiment of the latch device, the walls form at least a portion of the first guide for guiding the latch pin.

15 In one embodiment of the latching device, the first spring is a helical spring arranged as a bending tension spring and supported by a through pin on the walls.

In one embodiment of the latching device, the second spring is a helical spring arranged as a compression spring 20 disposed in a second chamber relative to the body between a fixed support and a trigger pin.

LIST OF FIGURES

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the latch device 30 of the invention mounted at the bottom III in Figure 1,

7 I

Fig. 4 illustrates a latch device of Fig. 1 with the latch pin in the locked position, \, Fig. 5 shows a section VV of Fig. 4, 5 Fig. 6 illustrates a partition wall system provided with latch devices according to the invention; Fig. 8 shows the transfer wall system of Fig. 6 when all the diverting wall elements are in the unfolded position, Fig. 9 shows a side view of a latch pin of another 20 applications of a latch device according to the invention, and AA and BB, 10 shows a side view of a latch pin of a third embodiment of a latch device according to the invention, alternatives a) to d) of the upper section of the latch pin CC, and the lower section he D-D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figs. 1-5 have a latch device 1 having, for example, the displacement wall elements 2 shown in Figs. 6-9, or movable partitions, swinging or sliding doors, or the like, which are releasably lockable to immobilize the floor 5.

The latching device 1 includes a body 6 secured to the lower edge 4 of the displacement wall element 2. The body 6 has a substantially vertical first guide 7 and 8 a substantially horizontal second guide 8. The latch pin 9 is movable between the locking position I and the release position II.

5

In Figs. 1-3, the latch pin 9 is in the release position II with the latch pin 9 disengaged from contact with the floor 5 retracted substantially inside the frame, wherein the transfer wall element 2 or the like is free relative to the floor 5 of the ground.

In Figures 4 and 5, the latch pin 9 is in locking position I with the lower end 11 of the latch pin 9 projecting downwardly at a distance from the body 6 outside, 15 allowing the lower end 11 to protrude into the recess 32 in the floor 5, or the like. The first spring 12 is arranged to force the latch pin 9 towards the locking position I.

Further, the latching device 1 includes a trip pin 13 which, under the control of the second guide 8, is movable between the holding position III and the release position IV.

In Figures 1-3, the release pin 13 is in the retaining position 25 III, with the release pin 13 retaining the latch pin 9 in the up release position II. The outer end 15 of the release pin 13 then extends outwardly from the horizontal body 5.

4 and 5, the release pin 13 is in release position IV, wherein the release pin 13 releases the latch pin 9 to move freely between release position II and locking position I.

A second spring 16 arranged to force the release pin 13 toward the retaining position III.

9

The latching device 1 locks automatically when the trigger pin 13 is subjected to external force, such as when it strikes a fixed stop. The release pin 13 then moves against the spring force 5 of the second spring 16 from the holding position III of Figures 1-3 to the release position IV of Figures 4 and 5, whereby the latch pin 9 is released to move from the release position II to the locking position

The latching device 1 includes a rocking lever 17 pivoted to the body 6 for pivoting about a horizontal pivot shaft 18, the pivot shaft being horizontally spaced from the first guide 7. The pivot lever 17 includes a first end 19 adapted to cooperate with the upper end 10 of the latch pin 9. with the latch pin 9 moving as the rocking lever 17 pivots about the pivot shaft 18 and vice versa. A downward force F can be exerted on one end 20 of the rocker lever 17 to pivot the rocker lever 17 around the pivot pin 20 to raise the latch pin 9 from the locking position I to the release position II against the spring force of the first spring 12.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the latch pin 9 is circular in cross-section and consists of a single member. Preferably, the latch pin 9 is formed by turning. The body 6 has a vertical bore into which a latch pin 9 is inserted. The bore forms a first guide 7 for controlling the movement of the latch pin.

30

The trigger pin 13 includes a shaft 21 of circular cross-section having a first taper 22 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. The second guide 8 and the trigger pin 13 partially overlap the first guide 35 with the crossbar as shown in the cross-sectional views 3 and 5. In the vicinity of the lower end 11 of the latch pin 9, there is a second narrowing 23 adapted to receive the circular arm portion 21 of the release pin 13 to hold the latch pin 9 in the release position 11 (see Figures 1 and 3). The second narrowing 23 here is a wedge which is turned on the latch pin 9. The first narrowing 22 of the firing pin 5 13 is arranged so that the first narrowing 22 is aligned with the latch pin 9 and the latch pin is free to move between locking position I and release position II. 4 and 5).

10

1 and 4, the first spring 12 acts between the body 6 and the rocker lever 17 to force the latch pin 9 toward the locking position I. In the vicinity of the upper end 10 of the latch pin 9 is a hole 24 adapted to receive the first end 19 of the rocker lever 17. Provided at one end 20 of the rocker lever 17 is a drive handle 25 or the like extending horizontally transversely to a distance from the rocker lever 17. A downwardly directed force F, such as a foot or other suitable auxiliary means, actuates the drive handle 25 3 position.

The body 6 is a die-cast profile of a light metal, such as aluminum, formed by two chambers 26 and 27. The body 6 comprises a first chamber 26 within which a rocker lever 17 and a first spring 12 are disposed. Further, the body 6 includes a second chamber 27, within which a second spring 16 and a trip pin 13 are disposed, and which forms a second guide 8 for the trip pin 13. The first chamber 26 is delimited sideways by two vertical walls 28, 29 spaced apart. The pivot shaft 18 supporting the rocker arm 17 is a pin supported at its ends 35 on the walls 28, 29. The first spring 12 is a helical spring arranged as a flexural tension spring supported by a pin 30 on the walls 28, 29. The second spring 16 is a helical spring arranged as a compression spring a second chamber 27 with respect to the body 6 between the fixed support 31 and the firing pin 13.

In another embodiment, the body 6 may consist of one or more injection molded plastic parts.

Figures 6 to 8 show a transfer wall system if the transfer wall elements 2 are provided with latching devices 1 in Figures 1-5,

In the example of Fig. 6, there are four elements 2. The transfer wall system of Figure 6 is in a closed position-15, in which the transfer wall elements 2 are successively in the same vertical plane and form a space divider. In Fig. 8, the transfer wall system is in an open position in which the transfer wall elements 2 are displaced side by side and rotated perpendicular to the image plane. Figure 7 shows an intermediate step in moving the transfer wall elements from the position of Figure 6 to the position of Figure 7.

The system is so called. the upper rail 33, which includes an overhead rail 33 mounted on the fixed structure 25 of the building and on which the transfer wall elements 2 can be moved and guided. The entire weight of the shifting wall elements 2 rests on the guide rail 33. Figure 6 shows a straight overhead guide 33, but angles, arcs, etc., which are off-line, can be formed in the overhead guide 33. Further, the transfer wall elements 2 can be pivoted about a vertical axis to open the wall, as will be described in more detail in connection with Figures 7 and 8.

The shifting wall elements 2 include a rectangular glass plate 34 provided with a frame profile 35, 36. The first frame profile 35 is fixed to the horizontal upper edge 3 of the transfer wall element 2. The gears' 1 12 37, 38 movable by the support 35 The horizontal lower edge 4 of the wall wall element 2 has a similar second frame profile 35 to which a latch device 1 is attached 5. The latch device 1 is arranged in a housing-like space inside the second frame profile 36, as shown in Figs.

In Figure 6, the transfer wall elements 2 are locked in the closed position 10 by latching devices 1.

Fig. 7 illustrates a situation in which the leftmost partition wall element 2 is turned perpendicular to the image plane in an open position using the latch pin 9 in the locking position I of the latch 15 device 1 within the recess 32 in the floor 5 The adjacent transfer wall element 2 is displaced by its hinges-20 adjacent to the inverted transfer wall element 2 and is still parallel to the image plane. The latch pin 9 of the latching device 1 is in the release position IX, but moves to the locking position I as soon as the release pin 13 contacts the lower frame profile 25 of the inverted transfer wall element 2. After this, the second transfer wall element 2 can also be rotated to an open position perpendicular to the image plane.

Figure 8 illustrates a situation in which all four transfer wall elements 2 of the transfer wall system of Figure 30 6 are turned into the open position and the latch pins 9 of their latching devices 1 are inserted into the recesses 32 in the floor 5 in locking position.

Figure 9 shows a latch pin 9 of a single unitary material. The latch pin 9 comprises a top portion 39 of circular cross section, and a lower portion 40 narrower in cross section 13 than the top portion 39 which forms a second taper 23. In the release position of the latch pin 9 which is formed at the transition between the top and bottom.

5

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the upper portion 3 9 and the lower portion 40 of the latch pin 9 are separate pieces joined by suitable connecting members 41, which in this example are threaded connecting members. The lower portion 40 has a pin having an external thread and the upper portion 39 has a closed hole having an internal thread into which the external thread of the lower pin 40 is rotatable. The C-C section illustrates the various possible cross-sectional shapes of the top 39. The upper portion 15 of section 39 may be a) circular, b) square, c) rectangular, or d) may have straight and circular shapes. The lower part 40 preferably has a cross-sectional D-D.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments only, but many modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

U.

Claims (20)

A latching device (1) for releasably locking a partition wall element (2), a door or the like having a top edge (3) and a bottom edge (4), to a floor (5) comprising a latch device (1) - a frame (6), which can be secured to the lower edge (4) of a partition wall element, a door or the like, and which body has a substantially vertical first guide (7) and a substantially horizontal second guide (8), - a latch pin (9) having an upper end (10); the lower end (ii) being movable between the locking position (I) 15 and the unlocking position (II) under the control of the first guide (7), wherein in the locking position (I) the lower end (11) of the latch pin is extended downwardly 5) for locking and wherein in the release position (II) the latch pin (9) is disengaged from the floor substantially retracted into the frame to release the partition wall element, the door or the like relative to the floor (5), a first spring (12) arranged to force the latch pin (9) toward the locking position (I), a 25. release pin (13) having an inner end (14) and an outer end (15), the release pin being a second guide (8); in the control movable between the retaining position (III) and the release position (IV), wherein in the retaining position (III) the release pin retains the latch pin 30 (9) in the upper release position (II) with the outer end (15) (IV) the release pin (13) releases the latch pin (9) to move to the locking position (I), and - a second spring (16) arranged to push the release pin (13) toward the retaining position (III), by external force exerted on the release pin; as in contact with the trigger, when the trigger pin moves against the spring force of the second spring from the retaining position to the release position the latch pin head-5 sees to move under the action of the spring force of the first spring from the release position (II) to the center position (I), characterized in that the latching device comprises a rocker lever (17) pivoted on the body (6) to pivot about a horizontal pivot shaft (18), which n-10 shaft is horizontally spaced from the first guide, and ) includes - a first end (19) adapted to cooperate with the upper end (10) of the latch pin (9) to move the latch pin when rotating the rocker lever around the PTO shaft, and - a second end (20) for applying downward force (F). ) for rotating the rocker lever about the pivot shaft (18) to raise the latch pin (9) from the locking position (I) to the release position (II) against the spring force of the first 20 springs (12). A latch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the release pin (13) comprises a shaft portion (21) formed with a first narrowing 25 (22); that the second guide (8) and the trigger pin (13) are adjacent to the lower end (11) of the first guide (7) partially intersecting, with a second taper (23) adapted to receive the trigger pin arm (21). (9) 30 for retaining in the release position (II); and that the first narrowing (22) of the release pin (13) is arranged such that, when the first narrowing (22) of the release pin (13) is aligned with the latch pin (9), the latch pin is free to move in the locking position (I) and between. A latch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shank portion (21) and the first taper (22) of the release pin are circular in cross-section. 5 A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the latch pin (9) is a piece of uniform material in which said second narrowing (23) is formed. 10 Latch device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the latch pin (9) has a circular cross-section. A latch device according to claim 5, characterized in that the latch pin (9) has a circumferential groove forming said second narrowing (23). Latch device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the latch pin (9) has an upper part (39) and a lower part (40) which is narrower in cross-section than the upper part (39), forming said second narrowing. (23). Latch device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the upper part (39) and the lower part (40) are separate pieces which are joined together by means of connecting means (41). A latch device according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper part (39) is of circular or rectangular cross-section, or the upper part (39) comprises both circular and planar shapes. 35 Latch device according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lower part (40) has a circular cross-section. Latching device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first spring (12) is arranged to act between the frame (6) and the rocking lever (17) to force the latch pin (9) towards the locking position (I). 10 Latching device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, in the vicinity of the upper end (10) of the latch pin (9), there is a hole (24), a recess or the like adapted to receive the first end (17) of the rocker lever. 19) inside. A latching device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at one end (20) of the rocker lever (17) there is provided a drive handle (25) 20 or the like extending horizontally transversely to the rocker lever and the downward force (F) can be applied manually, such as by a foot or other suitable aid, by pressing. 25 Locking device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the body (6) comprises a first chamber (26) within which a rocking lever (17) and a first spring (12) are arranged, and a second chamber (27). ), within which a second spring (16) and a trip pin (13) are disposed, and which forms a second guide (8) for the trip pin (13). A latch device according to claims 1-14, characterized in that the body (6) is an extruded profile of a light metal such as aluminum. Latching device according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the body (6) is a piece formed of one or more injection molded plastic parts. 5 A latching device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the first chamber (26) is deflected sideways by two vertical walls (28, 29) spaced apart and that the pivot shaft carrying the rocking lever (17) (18) is a pin which is supported at its ends on the walls (28, 29). Latch device according to claim 17, characterized in that the walls (28, 29) form at least part of the first guide (8) for guiding the latch pin (9). A latching device according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the first spring (12) is a helical spring arranged as a bending tension spring and supported by a pin (30) on the walls (28, 29). Sal-25 unit according to one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the second spring (16) is a helical spring arranged as a compression spring, which is fitted to the second chamber (27) with respect to the body (6) with a fixed support (31) and a trip pin (13). between.