NL2032287B1 - Door closing device, doorway system, and door closing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Door closing device (4) for assisted closing of a door (2) which is hingedly connected to a door frame (3), wherein the door (2) is configured to be hinged between at least an open position, a 5 semi-closed position, and a closed position, the device (4) comprising a catch (40), configured to be mounted to one of the door (2) and the door frame (3) and configured to engage a latch (22), provided in the other one of the door (2) and the door frame (3), wherein the catch (40) is movable between a first position (P1), and a second position (P2), wherein in the first position (Pl) the catch (40) is positioned to engage the latch (22) in the closed position of the door (2), thereby holding the door (2) in its closed position, and wherein in the second position (P2) the catch (40) is positioned to engage the latch (22) in the semi-closed position of the door (2); and an actuator (44) connected to the catch (40) and configured to move the catch (40) between the first position (P1), and the second position (P2).

Description

DOOR CLOSING DEVICE, DOORWAY SYSTEM, AND DOOR CLOSING METHOD

The present disclosure relates to a door closing device, a doorway system, and a method for closing a door.

Devices and methods for opening and closing hinged barriers in doorways (e.g.. doors, gates, et cetera) are generally known. These hinged barriers are generally referred to as (hinged) doors in this disclosure, but also include hinged gates, hinged hatches, and other hinged barriers. Such devices include gravity assisted and spring assisted systems, which bias the door in its closed

IO position (or in certain cases its opened position), as well as motorized systems. An example of a motorized system is a door closer/opener (¢.g., an automatic swing door closer/opener), which consists of an articulated arm which is rotatably connected at one end to a first pivot point on a door frame, and rotatably connected at another end to a second pivot point on a door that is hingedly attached to the door frame. The articulated arm is actuated by a motor, such as an electric motor, at one of its ends, which rotates a first part of the articulated arm around the first pivot point or the second pivot point, so as to forcibly open and/or close the door. A door may also be referred to a doorleaf, and both terms may be used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure.

For various reasons, a relatively large amount of force may be required to effectively close a door.

Particularly, the last part of the closing movement, just before the latch of the door falls into the door frame. For instance, the door may be closed against overpressure in a certain chamber, the door may be particularly heavy or large, or the door may be a specialized door which has certain characteristics that makes it harder to fully close it. Also combinations of these situations may be present. Hingeable doors are used in various shapes and sizes and can be made of various materials, and may be used in various situations. Examples of a specialized doors are a vault doors, sound insulating doors having seals that are to be compressed against the door frame, doors for partly disabled persons, et cetera.

A few exemplary disadvantages of known automatic door closing systems, such as a motorized door closer/opener, are as follows. For instance, in the case of a relatively high required closing force for a door, the motor must be sized to handle such a force. Such motors are thus relatively large and heavy. A further disadvantage of such heavy motors is that manually opening the door, without assistance of the motor, is difficult due to the high force required to forcibly rotate the idle motor. This in turn introduces a potential safety hazard, such as in the case of a fire, wherein a person must be able to easily leave the premises. Moreover, pedestrian doors must comply with regulations to prevent entrapment of people, such that an automatic closing system may only have limited strength (e.g., force/torque) and/or speed characteristics, and must for instance reverse the direction of movement in case the force exceeds a certain threshold value.

It is thus an object of the present disclosure, amongst other objects, to provide a door closing device which mitigates at least part of the disadvantages of the prior art.

In view of the above, the present disclosure provides according to a first aspect, a door closing device for assisted closing of a door which is hingedly connected to a door frame, wherein the door is configured to be hinged between at least a semi-closed position, and a closed position, and optionally an open position, the device comprising a catch, configured to be mounted to one of the door and the door frame and configured to engage a latch, provided in the other one of the door and the door frame, wherein the catch is movable between a first position, and a second position, wherein in the first position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the closed position of the door, thereby holding the door in its closed position (in other words, the latch and catch are positionally locked with respect to each other when the door is in the closed position), and wherein in the second position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the semi-closed position of the door (in other words, the latch and catch cannot move past each other without engaging each other at the semi-closed position of the door), and an actuator connected to the catch and configured to move the catch between the first position, and the second position. The actuator may be a powered actuator, such as an electric motor, or a manual actuator. such as a lever.

Optionally, the catch is further movable to a third position, wherein the catch is positioned to not engage the latch (e.g., disengage the latch), such that the door can move freely between its positions, i.e., the catch and the latch are distanced from each other such that the door can move freely past each other. The third position may be utilized in cases wherein the latch may be fixed, temporarily or permanently, in a certain position, in which position the latch is not able to pass the catch in the first and/or second position. Accordingly, the third position may be provided as a releasing position in which the door is freely movable between its closed and open positions.

Advantageously, the present door closing device is capable of assisting the closure of a door that is almost but not fully closed (i.e., from the semi-closed position to the closed position). In other words, the catch moving from the second to the first position pulls the door from its semi-closed to its closed position by engagement of the catch and latch. As noted above, the door may have at least a closed position, a semi-closed position, and an open position. The door can move freely between the open position and the closed position (and the intermediate semi-closed position) when the catch is in the optional third position, as in the third position the latch and the catch do not engage each other, i.e, are not in each other’s path. In other words, the catch is moved out of the way. When the catch is in the second position, the latch may for instance be held between the semi-closed position and the closed position, as the catch is positioned such that it can engage with the latch at the semi-closed position of the door. Moving from the second position to the first position, the catch engages (or keeps engaging) the latch and locks the catch and the latch in an engaged position, thus leading to the door being locked in the closed position. In this engaged position, the door is thus pulled in its closed position. The present door closing system thus allows for automatic closing of doors that may, for instance, be difficult to close fully, such as sound- and/or airtight doors which may have compressible seals around their perimeter (either on the door or on the door frame) which must be compressed to a certain extent in order to close the door, or doors that must be closed against an overpressure in a room. or the like. Other examples may include hatches that are closed vertically against the force of gravity or the like. It is noted that the latch may be part of a generally known door lock. Preferably, the latch is provided in the doorleaf.

In short. the present device picks up the door latch of a door or doorframe by means of the catch when the door is almost closed, such as for instance a few centimeters or millimeters away from being fully closed in the door frame. In a single door, the device is preferably installed in the door frame, and in a double door the device is preferably installed in the (passive) doorleaf.

Further advantageously, the present door closing device allows for normal usage of the door, such as anormal opening procedure. For instance, the door may have a standard door handle and a standard door latch (in this example corresponding to the latch of the door closing device), which is operable as usual when the door closing device is installed. For instance, in certain settings doors must be easily openable to meet safety standards, e.g., by means of a panic bar (may also be referred to as crash bar) or the like. The present door closing device allows for assisted closing of such a door, without influencing the opening mechanism of the door, such as the panic bar, e.g., according to EN1125, or panic handle, ¢.g., according to EN179. Even in the case of power outages or a failing catch mechanism, the door remains openable in the same manner and with the same force as usual. A panic door needs to meet safety standards in practice, which means that certified locks are used in the doorleaf. Since the catch of the present device is compatible with these locks, the catch mechanism does not have to go through extensive inspections and certifications, and there are no problems in the fact that regulations are drafted for new mechanisms. A doorway system equipped with the present door closing device may even be provided with a standard door opener, as known in the art (e.g., as described above). Such standard door opener need not be oversized for closing the door, as is the case in the prior art, as the present door closing device can be used to overcome the high closing force that may be required.

Accordingly, the present closing device is also applicable in applications wherein a maximum operating force requirement is set, such as for door systems specifically implemented for people with disabilities.

Preferably, the door closing device further comprises a latch position sensor, configured to be mounted on the door and/or the door frame, and to detect, directly or indirectly, a position of the latch relative to the catch. It is further preferred that the latch position sensor is a proximity sensor configured to detect a proximity of the door relative to the frame. Suitable position sensors may additionally or alternatively include {electro)ymagnetic sensors, light sensors, ultrasonic sensors, rotary position sensors, or the like. The latch position sensor may directly detect the position of the latch with respect to the catch, or may detect the position of the door relative to the doorframe from which the position of the latch with respect to the catch may be derived. or any combination thereof. For instance, an indirect manner of detecting the latch position relative to the catch is by deriving the latch position from an actuator position or door position, or the like.

Preferably, the device further comprises a controller. communicatively coupled with the actuator and the latch position sensor, and configured to cause the actuator to move the catch on the basis of the position of the latch relative to the catch. The controller is preferably further configured to move, by the actuator, the catch from the second position and/or the third position, to the first position, when the position of the latch relative to the catch reaches a first threshold value, and/or move, by the actuator, the catch from the first position, to the second position and/or the third position, when the position of the latch relative to the catch reaches a second threshold value.

Preferably. the first threshold value may represent a position of the latch relative to the catch wherein the door is in the semi-closed position. Preferably, the second threshold value may represent a position of the latch relative to the catch wherein the door is in the opened position, wherein the latch and catch are outside each other’s reach. For instance, the position wherein the latch and the catch engage in the second position of the catch (roughly corresponding to the semi- closed position of the door) may be used as a zero-point for the relative position of the latch to the catch, wherein the relative position value is calibrated to be zero. The position values between the zero-point and the closed position of the door, i.e, the position wherein the latch and the catch engage in the first position of the catch, may for instance be defined as negative values. and the position values between the zero point and the opened position of the door may be defined as positive values, or vice versa, or another variation thereon. In that case, the first threshold value may for instance be a negative value and the second threshold value may for instance be a positive value. Various threshold values may be defined depending on the type of latch position sensor, and the like. For instance, when a proximity sensor is used the first threshold may correspond to the existence of a proximity reading, and the second threshold may be that there is no proximity reading, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may be configured to move the catch on the basis of another parameter, such as sound level, air pressure, air composition, temperature, force applied to the door, light conditions, other environmental parameters, and any combination thereof. For instance, the controller may be configured to move the catch on the basis of move, by the actuator, the catch from the second position and/or the third position, to the first position, when a sound level exceeds a volume threshold. For instance, the controller may be configured to move the catch on the basis of move, by the actuator, the catch from the second position and/or the third position, to the first position, when a certain compound is detected in the air by a suitable detector, such as the detection of a gas, such as carbon monoxide. The controller may additionally or alternatively be configured to move the catch on the basis of an event. For instance, the event can be a predetermine moment in time, powering on certain equipment (e.g. starting a movie on a movie screen), activation or deactivation of a system such as an alarm, et cetera. The controller may have one or more operating modes, each operating mode comprising different configurations, such as for example the ones noted above, and combinations thereof.

Preferably, the catch is movable between the first position, the second position, and/or the third position by translation of the catch and/or by rotation of the catch by the actuator. Depending on the room available in the door or the door frame for harboring the movable catch, a choice can be made depending upon circumstances to move the catch by translation or rotation, or a combination thereof. The present device may comprise one catch, or a plurality of catches. For instance, a door system with a one-point lock may be provided with the present device having one catch, and a three-point lock may be provided with the present device having three respective catches.

Preferably, the movement of each of the plurality of catches is synchronized with the movement of the other of the plurality of catches, either by rigid connection or by other synchronization means, such as synchronization of electric motors, ¢.g., through a controller.

Preferably, the device further comprises an elongate drive rod configured to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by the actuator, wherein the catch protrudes from the elongate drive rod and is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate drive rod. It is further preferred that the actuator is a rotation motor, such as an electric motor, preferably coupled to a line reducer, which directly drives the drive rod (or indirectly through, for instance, a gearbox or the like). or the actuator is a linear actuator, wherein a linkage is rotatably coupled to an actuating end of the actuator and rigidly coupled to the elongate drive rod and is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate drive rod. Preferably the linear actuator is at its other end, distal from the actuating end. rotatably coupled to the door frame or the door, such that the actuator, as a unit, can rotate away from or towards the door frame or the door. In this case, the catch is movable between the first, second and optional third positions by means of rotation. Such device is relatively compact (i.e, small footprint) when incorporated vertically in a door frame, or in a door, such that the device may be installed in existing doorway systems. This configuration also makes it possible to position the actuator at a distance from the catch, away from the doorway system (e.g, above the door frame, such as near a ceiling or the like). This configuration also allows for a modular construction, making it possible to use the device with either a single-point lock or multi- point locks. by adding or removing catches from the elongate drive rod. The catch can work with standard locks. In combination with an anti-panic certified lock, the certification is retained when installing the present device. Particularly, even if the catch mechanism of the present device fails, the anti-panic function of the door system is still preserved.

Preferably, the latch is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position the latch is not engageable by the catch (in all of the first, second and first positions). It is further preferred that the latch is movable between the extended position and the retracted position by a lever (and/or, e.g., fixed handle knob, kickplate, et cetera) and/or a switch.

The lever may for instance be a door handle, a door knob. a lock, or a panic bar (i.e, panic exit device, crash bar, push bar), or any suitable lever known to the skilled person. The switch may for instance be an electronic switch such as a button, a keypad, a keycard reader, or a fingerprint reader, or any suitable switch known to the skilled person. Further preferably, the latch has a first side with a flat surface, and a second side with an inclined surface, and wherein the catch is preferably configured to engage the first side of the latch, preferably in the first and second positions. The second side allows for the door to be closed without operating the aforementioned lever or switch (such as door handle). Because the latch is chamfered and can spring back when hitting the catch, the doorleaf can pass the catch in the first and second position, but only in the closing direction. In opening direction the first and second position of the catch prevents the door from opening. For instance, the latch is a standard door latch known to the skilled person, such as a tubular latch or any other generally available door latch. Accordingly, the door closing device of the present disclosure is easily installed in existing door systems, as a pre-existing latch, that is for instance installed in a door, can be used. In other words, a standard hingeable door can easily be converted to include the present door closing device, without any modification to the door itself.

By using a latch which is movable between the extended position and the retracted position, the door can still be closed and opened when the catch is stuck in its first position, e.g., in the case of a power outage. It is noted that the latches may also be formed as square or butterfly -shaped latches, or other geometries, and the catch can naturally be adapted to accommodate any suitable shape of the latch.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a doorway system comprising a door and a door frame, wherein the door is hingedly connected to the door frame and being configured to be hinged between at least a semi-closed position, and a closed position, and optionally an open position, the system further comprising a door closing device for closing a door which is hingedly connected to a door frame, wherein the door is configured to be hinged between at least an open position, a semi-closed position, and a closed position, the device comprising a catch, configured to be mounted to one of the door and the door frame and configured to engage a latch, provided in the other one of the door and the door frame, wherein the catch 1s movable between a first position, and a second position, wherein in the first position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the

IO closed position of the door (in other words, the latch and catch are positionally locked with respect to each other when the door is in the closed position), thereby holding the door in its closed position, and wherein in the second position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the semi- closed position of the door (in other words, the latch and catch cannot move past each other without engaging each other at the semi-closed position of the door), and an actuator connected to the catch and configured to move the catch between the first position, and the second position.

In other words, the doorway system may comprise the door and the door frame, wherein the door is hingedly connected to the door frame and bemg configured to be hinged between at least the open position, the semi-closed position, and the closed position, and the system further comprising the door closing device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The door closing device may be used to automatically move the door from its semi-closed position to its closed position.

For instance, when the doorway system comprises the door closing device with the latch position sensor and the controller, the aforementioned first threshold value corresponds to the door being in the semi-closed position, and moving the catch to the first position causes the door to move from the semi-closed position to the closed position by engagement of the catch with the latch.

Additionally or alternatively, the aforementioned second threshold value corresponds to the door not being in the closed position, or being in the semi-closed or open position, or the like. A certain threshold may optionally be activated after a certain event. For instance, the second threshold may be activated when the door reaches its closed position, thus resulting in the second threshold being used as an event trigger, wherein the trigger is activated when the door moves away from its closed position, and must therefore be closed again at some point (e.g., the catch needs to be moved to its second position or third position).

Preferably, the doorway system is configured such that the latch is mounted to the door, and the catch is mounted to the door frame. In this configuration, a standard door latch can be used, such that the door does not need to be modified for the installation of the door closing system. In this case, only the door frame needs to be fitted with the movable catch (and further accessories as required). Accordingly, the present doorway system is easily retrofitted to existing buildings.

In athird aspect. the present disclosure provides a method for closing a door, which is hingedly connected to a door frame, wherein the door is configured to be hinged between an open position, a semi-closed position, and a closed position, wherein one of the door and the door frame comprises a latch and the other one of the door and the door frame comprises a catch, which is movable between a first position and a second position, the method comprising the steps of: - detecting that the door is in the semi-closed position, and moving the catch to the second position, wherein in the second position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the semi-closed position of the door; and - moving the catch from the second position to the first position, whilst the catch remains in engagement with the latch, wherein in the first position the catch is positioned to engage the latch in the closed position of the door, thereby holding the door in its closed position in the door frame.

For instance, the method may be embodied as programmed instructions in a memory coupled to a processor, which are incorporated in a controller, such as the controller of the door closing device as described above.

Preferably, the method is performed using the door closing device of the first aspect of the present disclosure. Preferably. the method is performed on the doorway system of the second aspect of the present disclosure.

The present method allows for assisted closure of a door in a door frame. providing at least the technical benefits as presented above regarding the first and second aspects of the present disclosure.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of moving the catch to a third position, wherein the catch is positioned to not engage the latch, such that the door can move freely between its positions.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of detecting that the door is not in the closed position (e.g.. detecting that the door is in the semi-closed position or the open position}, and subsequently moving the catch to the second position. or optionally to the third position.

The present invention will hereinafter be elucidated by means of illustrative examples with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: — FIG. 1 shows an exemplary doorway system; — FIG. 2 shows an exemplary schematic top view of a single leaf door; — FIG. 3 shows a graph of the closing force required for closing an exemplary door; — FIG. 4A shows an exemplary doorway system equipped with a door closing system, with the door in an opened position; — FIG. 4B shows an exemplary schematic top view of the door closing system of FIG. 4A; — FIG. 5A shows an exemplary doorway system equipped with a door closing system, with the door approaching the door frame at its free end. the door being in an open position; — FIG. 5B shows an exemplary schematic top view of the door closing system of FIG. 5A; — FIG. 6A shows a detail view of an exemplary schematic top view of the door closing system of

FIG. 6B, with the catch in a third position; — FIG. 6B shows an exemplary doorway system equipped with the door closing system of FIG. 6A, with the door in a semi-closed position; — FIG. 6C shows a detailed perspective view of the latch and catch of the door closing system of

FIGS. 6A and 6B; — FIG. 7A shows a detail view of an exemplary schematic top view of the door closing system of

FIG. 7B, with the catch in a second position; — FIG. 7B shows an exemplary doorway system equipped with the door closing system of FIG. 7A, with the door in a semi-closed position; — FIG. 7C shows a detailed perspective view of the latch and catch of the door closing system of

FIGS. 7A and 7B: — FIG. 8A shows a detail view of an exemplary schematic top view of the door closing system of

FIG. 8B, with the catch in a first position; — FIG. 8B shows an exemplary doorway system equipped with the door closing system of FIG. 8A, with the door in a closed position; and — FIG. 8C shows a detailed perspective view of the latch and catch of the door closing system of

FIGS. 8A and 8B.

In FIG. 1 a doorway system 1 is depicted. The doorway system 1 is installed in a wall W and terminates at the floor F. The system 1 has a door frame 3, and two doors 2 (2A, 2B) which are installed in the door frame 3. The left door 2A is hingedly connected to the door frame 3 at its left side, as shown, and the right door 2B is hingedly connected to the door frame 3 at its right side, as shown. A doorway system 1 with two doors 2 may be referred to as a double leaf door system.

Each of the doors 2 has a door handle 20, in the form of a panic bar in this example, which can be used to operate the latch (not shown here) of the door 2A, 2B.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of a door 2, from a top view. The door 2 is hingedly connected to a door frame 3 through a hinge 21. The door 2 and door frame 3 may be provided with seals 6 or the like, for instance for sound proofing a door system 1. When the door 2 is hinged about its hinge 21 it makes an opening angle [3 with respect to the door frame 3. For instance, an opening angle of 0° represents a closed position of the door. For example, a semi-closed position of the door may be represented by an opening angle B of between 1° and 10°, or between 2° and 8°, or between 3° and 7°, or between approximately 3° to 5°.

FIG. 3 shows a qualitative graph showing the closing force F required for closing a door 2 over varying opening angles {3 of said door 2. For instance. the door 2 of FIG. 2 may be used as an example. As seen in the graph of FIG. 3, a door 2 may have a rapidly increasing required closing force F when the door is almost closed (i.e. at 0°). This may for instance be due to the force required for compressing seals 6 or the like. Such required force F may exceed a certain safety threshold ST, which makes the door system impractical in view of safety requirements.

Accordingly, the door closing device 4 of the present disclosure may be useful in such cases, as explained below.

FIG. 4A shows a doorway system 1 with a single door 2 (i.c., a single leaf door system) installed in a door frame 3. The door 2 has a door handle 20 and is hingedly connected to the door frame 3 by means of two door hinges 21. The door handle 20 can be operated to retract the latch 22 of the door 2. The door 2 is shown in an opened position, wherein the door 2 is pivoted away from the door frame 3 at its free end. i.¢., at its side opposite to the side connected to the door frame 3 by the hinges 21. The doorway system 1 is equipped with a door closing device 4, of which a schematic top view is shown in FIG. 4B. In this example the door closing device 4 is configured to close the door 2, when the door latch 22 is in range of the movable catch 40 of the device 4. Being in range means, in this case, that the catch 40 can be brought into a position (particularly its second position as for instance shown in FIGS. 7A-7C) wherein it can engage with the door latch 22. The closing device 4 has a controller (not shown) which is connected to sensor means 5 that are installed in the door 2 and the door frame 3. Sensor means 5 can in some cases also be installed only in the door 2 or only in the door frame 3. The controller detects with the sensor means 5 when the free end of the door 2 is in close proximity to the door frame 3. Specifically, the controller and sensor means 5 are calibrated such that the controller can detect when the latch 22 of the door 2 is in reach of the catch 40 installed in the door frame 3. The catch 40 is embodied as a hook-shaped element, as detailed below, and is attached to a drive rod 41. The drive rod 41 is rigidly connected with one end of a drive member 42 (also called a linkage 42), which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive rod 41. The other end of the drive member 42 is rotatably connected to a free end of an actuator rod 43. which can be extended and retracted by the actuator 44, which is a linear actuator which linearly moves the actuator rod 43 (i.e., translational motion). In turn, the back end of the actuator 44 is rotatably connected to the frame 3. Accordingly. translational movement of the linear actuator rod 43 is translated to a rotational movement of the drive rod 41 about its longitudinal axis. Hence, the catch 40 can be rotated by the actuator 44 through the actuator rod 43, the drive member 42 and the drive rod 41.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, a doorway system 1 equipped with a door closing system 4 is shown, with the door 2 approaching the door frame 3 at its free end. The door 2 is in an open position. The door frame 3 is depicted in partially transparent manner such that more components, especially of the door 2, are visible. It can be seen that the sensor means 5 of the door 2 and the door frame 3 are moving closer together, which can be detected by the controller of the closing system 4. The door latch 22 is not yet in reach of the movable catch 40, which thus remains in a position, specifically its third position P1, wherein the door latch 22 can freely move pas the catch 40.

In FIGS. 6A-6C, the door 2 has arrived at a semi-closed position, such that the latch 22 has arrived ina position in which it can be reached by the catch 40, which is shown as a hook-shaped element. which is here still in its third position P3. In the third position P3 the actuator rod 43 is in its fully extended position. At this point, the controller recognizes that the door 2 is in its semi-closed position, by means of the sensor means 5 which are now in a certain proximity to each other. In this situation the controller will send a command to the actuator 44 to move the movable catch 40 to its second position P2 (see FIGS. 7A-7C), by means of the actuator rod 43, the drive member 42. and the drive rod 41. The catch 40 is thereby rotated by rotation R about the rotation axis 410 of the drive rod 41, which coincides with the longitudinal axis 410 of the drive rod 41.

In FIGS. 7A-7C, the door 2 is still in the same semi-closed position as in FIGS. 6A-6C. but the catch 40 has moved from its third position P3 to its second position P2 so as to engage with the door latch 22, as can be seen clearly in FIGS. 7B and 7C. The engagement of the catch 40 with the latch 22 prevents the door 2 from opening (i.e, prevents the door 2 from moving to its opened position). The door 2 can now only move between the semi-closed position as shown here in FIGS. 7A-7C and its (fully) closed position as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C. At this point the controller may command the actuator 44 to fully close the door 2, by sending a command resulting in the catch 40 moving from its second position P2 to its first position P1 (see FIGS. 8A-8C), by further rotation R about the rotation axis 410 of the drive rod 41.

As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, when the movable catch 40 is moved from the second position P2 to the first position P1, it keeps engaging the latch 22 of the door 2. so as to pull the latch 22 and thereby the door 2 to its closed position. The controller detects by the sensor means 5, which now fully overlap. that the door 2 is successfully closed in the frame 3, such that the actuator 44 can be commanded to shut off. As shown, the door latch 22 is a standard door latch 22 which can be retracted in the door 2 (i.e, away from the frame 3 in the shown situation). The latch 22 can for instance be retracted by the operation of the door handle 20, or an alternative element such as a panic bar (i.e, a crash bar; see FIG. 1). Accordingly, in the case of a power outage, wherein the actuator 44 cannot be controlled to move the catch 40 away from its first position P1 (e.g., to its second position P2 or third position P3), the door 2 is still openable and closable in a normal fashion. The inclined face 220 of the latch 22 allows for the door 2 to be pushed shut (i.e. fully closed) without operating the door handle 20, as the inclined face 220 will ensure that the latch 22 is forcibly retracted in the door 2, such that the latch 22 can move past the catch 40 in its first position P1. In the first position P1 the actuator rod 43 is in its fully retracted position.

In view of the above, the doorway system 1 of the present disclosure, having the door closing device 4, is suitable for automatically closing a door 2 from a semi-closed (e.g., FIGS 6A-6C and 7A-7C) to a fully closed position (e.g., FIGS 8A-8C) without safety risks. For instance, when a power outage or a failure in the device 4 or its controller occurs, the door 2 is operable as a normal door 2. In such case, when the device 4 is not responsive, no excessive force is required to open the door in an emergency situation. On the other hand, the assisted closing of the door 2 by means of the device 4 allows for increased user-friendliness of doors 2 with relatively high required closing forces. such as doors with seals that must be compressed in order to close the door 2, or doors that are closed against an overpressure, or other situation in which the assisted closure of a hinged door is useful, such as a situation in which a door is mainly used by a disabled person or when full closure of a door is an important requirement (e.g.. clean rooms, laboratories. soundproof rooms, safes, panic rooms, et cetera).

The illustrative embodiments or examples described above are not to be construed as limiting the scope of protection, which is determined by the appended claims.

Claims (17)

CONCLUSIONS I. Door closing device (4) for assisted closing of a door (2) which is hinged to a door frame (3), wherein the door (2) is arranged to be hinged between at least an open position, a semi-closed position position, and a closed position, the device (4) comprising: a catch (40) adapted to be mounted on one of the door (2) and the door frame (3) and adapted to engage a latch (22), which is provided in the other of the door (2) and the door frame (3), the pawl (40) being movable between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2), the pawl ( 40) in the first position (P1) is positioned to engage the latch (22) in a closed position of the door (2), thereby holding the door in its closed position, and with the catch (40) in the second position (P2) is positioned to engage the latch (22) in the semi-closed position of the door (2). and an actuator (44) connected to the pawl (40) and adapted to move the pawl (40) between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2). A door closing device (4) according to claim 1, wherein the catch (40) is further movable to a third position (P3), the catch (40) being positioned so as not to engage the latch (22) so that the door ( 2) can move freely between its positions. A door closing device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a latch position sensor (5), adapted to be mounted on the door (2) and/or the door frame (3) and to detect a position of the latch (22). relative to the pawl (40), directly or indirectly. The door closing device (4) of claim 3, further comprising: a controller, communicatively coupled to the actuator (44) and the latch position sensor (5), and adapted to cause the actuator (44) to move the pawl (40) based on the position of the latch (22) in relation to the catch (40). Door closing device (4) according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further arranged for: moving, by the actuator (44), the pawl (40) from the second position (P2) and/or the third position (P3) , to the first position (P1), when the position of the latch (22) relative to the pawl (40) reaches a first threshold value, and/or the movement, by the actuator (44), of the pawl (40) from the first position (P1), to the second position (P2) and/or the third position (P3), when the position of the latch (22) relative to the catch (40) reaches a second threshold value. Door closing device (4) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the latch position sensor (5) is a proximity sensor adapted to detect a proximity of the door (2) to the frame (3). 7. Door closing device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pawl (40) is movable between the first position (P1), the second position (P2), and/or the third position (P3) by translation of the pawl ( 40) and/or rotation of the pawl (40) by the actuator (44). A door closing device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an elongated actuator rod (41) adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis (410) by the actuator (44), the pawl (40) extending from the elongate drive rod (41) and is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (410) of the elongated drive rod (41). A door closing device (4) according to claim 8, wherein: the actuator (44) is a rotary motor, such as an electric motor, which drives the drive rod (41), or the actuator (44) is a linear actuator, wherein a connection (42) rotatably coupled to a drive end (43) of the actuator (44) and rigidly coupled to the elongate drive rod (41) and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (410) of the elongate drive rod (41). Door closing device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (22) is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the latch (22) cannot be engaged by the catch (40) in the retracted position. A door closing device (4) according to claim 10, wherein the latch (22) is movable between the extended position and the retracted position by means of a lever. such as a door handle, a door knob, or a panic lock, and/or a switch, such as a button, or a keyboard. A door closing device (4) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the latch (22) has a first side with a flat surface and a second side with an inclined surface (220), and wherein the catch (40) is adapted to to grip on the first side of the latch (22). 13. Door opening system (1, 1A, 1B). comprising: a door (2, 2A, 2B) and a door frame (3), wherein the door (2, 2A, 2B) is hingedly connected to the door frame (3) and is adapted to be hinged between at least one open position , a semi-closed position, and a closed position; and a door closing device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims. A door opening system (1, IA, 1B) according to claim 13, comprising the door closing device (4) according to any one of claims 5 - 12, wherein the first threshold value corresponds to the door (2) being in a semi-closed position, and wherein it moving the pawl (40) to the first position (P1) causes the door (2) to be moved from the semi-closed position to the closed position by engagement of the pawl (40) with the latch (22). Door opening system (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 13 or 14, comprising the door closing device (4) according to any one of claims 5 - 12, wherein the second threshold value corresponds to the door (2) not being in the closed position. 16. Door opening system (1, 1A, 1B) according to any one of claims 13 - 15, wherein the latch (22) is mounted on the door (2) and the catch (40) is mounted on the door frame (3). 17. Method for closing a door (2) which is hingedly connected to a door frame (3), wherein the door (2) is adapted to be hinged between an open position, a semi-closed position, and a closed position wherein one of the door (2) and door frame (3) comprises a latch (22), and the other of the door (2) and door frame (3) comprises a catch (40). which is movable between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2), the method comprising the steps of: detecting that the door (2) is in the semi-closed position, and moving the catch (40) to the second position (P2), with the catch (40) positioned in the second position (P2) to engage the latch (22) in the semi-closed position of the door (2): and moving the pawl (40) from the second position (P2) to the first position (P1), while the pawl (40) continues to engage the latch (22), with the pawl (40) positioned in the first position (P1) to engage the latch (22) in the closed position of the door (2), thereby holding the door (2) in its closed position in the door frame (3).