WO2012085365A1

WO2012085365A1 - Automatic opening device

Info

Publication number: WO2012085365A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/000669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gilles Lescure
Original assignee: Gilles Lescure
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2011-12-21
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: FR2969199A1; FR2969199B1

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to an automatic opening and closing device (1) for a door (2), not requiring the user to use his hands, comprising a longitudinal edge (3) mounted such as to be able to pivot about a vertical axis (4) on a frame (5) between a closed position and an open position, said device being noteworthy in that it comprises a pedal (6) that is mounted such as to be able to pivot about a horizontal axis (7) between a raised position and a depressed position, said pedal being connected to a linkage system (8) arranged to transmit the force applied to pivot said pedal (6) to one of the ends (9) of a lever (10) mounted such that it can pivot about a vertical axis (11) and positioned such that said vertical axis (11) is approximately identical to the axis (4), and in that the other end (12) of the lever (10) is connected to the door (2).

Description

AUTOMATIC OPENING DEVICE

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for opening and closing an opening automatically. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for opening and closing an opening, particularly door type, not requiring the use of the hands of the user.

Prior art

One of the disadvantages associated with the use of the doors of the prior art comes from the fact that the user must handle the opening with his hands to put it in motion. This is particularly troublesome in places where pathogenic micro-organisms such as hospitals or toilets circulate. This is also the case in areas where the user must be able to access while he has his hands occupied.

In the prior art are known systems for opening and closing doors automatically where said door is moved by electric motors. Devices are also known for activating the systems previously described in the form of mechanical switches, pedals or photoelectric cells. Although effective, these systems are not always adaptable to existing structures since they require the prior presence of a source of energy.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention proposes to solve the problems related to the opening and closing devices of an opening as described in the prior art by providing a device for automatically opening an opening without the use of hands, requiring no external source of energy and can be installed on all types of existing opening .

Thus, the present invention proposes a device for opening and closing an opening leaf, comprising a pivotally mounted longitudinal edge, along a vertical axis on a frame between a closed position and an open position, which is remarkable in that it comprises a pedal, pivotably mounted on a horizontal axis between a raised position and a depressed position and connected to a linkage system arranged to transmit the applied force to pivot said pedal to one end of a lever pivotally mounted about a vertical axis and positioned such that said vertical axis is substantially identical to the vertical axis about which the longitudinal edge of said leaf is mounted, and in that the other end of said lever is associated with the leaf.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said linkage system comprises a vertical rod, one end of which is associated with said pedal and the other end is associated with one end of a lever mounted in rotation. around a horizontal axis, the other end of said lever being associated with one end of a horizontal rod whose other end is associated with one end of said lever pivotally mounted about a vertical axis.

According to an even more preferred embodiment of the invention the levers are brackets.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention further comprises a return means for holding said pedal in the raised position. According to an even more preferred embodiment, said return means is a spring placed under the pedal or a spring hinge associated with said pedal at the horizontal axis.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description below which presents a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment of a device according to the invention. Brief description of the figures

Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description of an alternative embodiment of an automatic opening and closing device of an opening according to the invention with reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a detail view of the lever of the linkage when the door is in the closed position;

- Figure 3 is a detailed view of the lever of the linkage when the opening is in the open position;

- Figure 4 is a detailed view of the lever of the device according to the invention when the door is in the closed position;

- Figure 5 is a detailed view of the lever of the device according to the invention when the door is in the open position;

- Figure 6 is a detailed view of an alternative embodiment of the pedal of the device according to the invention.

Best way to realize the technical invention

The following description of a preferred embodiment of a device 1 for opening and closing an opening 2 according to the invention automatically refers to figures in annex.

The opening 2 shown in the appended drawings is preferably a door. This opening 2 is pivotally mounted around a vertical axis 4, on a frame 5. The pivoting of the opening 2 can be provided by hinges (not shown) or by any other means known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, said opening 2 is pivotally opened on the vertical axis 4 towards the side of the opening 5 comprising the pedal 6. The opening of the opening 2 is caused by the user who will apply pressure on the pedal 6, pivotally mounted between a raised position and a depressed position, on a horizontal axis 7. This pedal 6 is arranged so that it is easily accessible for the foot of a user, preferably at a short distance from the ground and even more preferably so that the pedal 6 is in abutment against the ground when it is in the depressed position. The horizontal axis 7 can indifferently be placed on the ground, on the frame 5 or at any other position.

The force applied by the user on the pedal 6 is transmitted via the linkage system 8 to a lever 10. Said lever 10 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis 11, positioned so that said vertical axis 11 is substantially identical to the vertical pivot axis 4 of the leaf 2. By "substantially identical" is meant that the vertical axis 4 and the vertical axis 11 are parallel and at a short distance from one of the other (preferentially less than 10 cm and even more preferably less than 1 cm). The linkage system 8 is associated with one of the ends 9 of the lever 10, while the other end 12 of the lever (10) is associated with the opening 2. Thus the force transmitted by the linkage system 8 and applied to the end 9 of lever 10 causes rotation of said lever 10 about the vertical axis 11 and therefore that of the opening 2 about the vertical axis 4.

The linkage system 8 is preferably composed of a vertical rod 13 whose one end 14 is associated with the pedal 6. Said vertical rod 13 is preferably placed in a screw in the frame 5, parallel to the free longitudinal edge of the Opening 2. The depressed passage of the pedal 6 causes the lowering of the vertical rod 13. The other end 15 of the vertical rod 13 is associated with one end 16 of a lever 17 pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis 18. Said lever 17 is preferably associated, at the level of the horizontal axis 18, the frame 5. In a preferred embodiment, the lever 17 has a square shape and the horizontal axis 18 is placed at level of the intersection of the two wings of it. A horizontal rod 20 is associated with the other end 19 of the lever 17 so that the lowering of the vertical rod 13 will cause the displacement of the horizontal rod 20 in the direction of the lever 10 of the device 1. Said horizontal rod 20 is preferentially placed above the opening 2 vis-à-vis the frame 5. The other end of the horizontal rod 20 is associated with the lever 10 of the device 1 via its end 9. In a preferred embodiment, said lever 10 has a form of square with one wing positioned perpendicular to the plane of the opening 2 and the other wing is positioned parallel to the plane of the opening 2.

When the user releases the pressure on the pedal 6, a return system 21 returns the pedal 6 from the depressed position to its raised position. This movement of the pedal 6 induces a return of the linkage system 8, previously described, to its initial position and the closure 2. The return system 21 is advantageously a spring placed under the pedal 6.

Advantageously, a blocking means 22, preferably of the bolt-type, that can be manipulated by the user's foot can be used to prevent opening of the opening 2.

Description of other embodiments

According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6, the device 1 for opening and closing an opening 2 has a pedal 6 pivotally mounted between a substantially horizontal raised position and a depressed position (shown in dotted line) around a horizontal axis 7 associated for example with a wall. This pedal 6 is offset from the ground and therefore has the advantage of not having a footprint and thereby facilitate the cleaning of the ground under said pedal 6. To enhance the advantage described above, this variant of the device 1 advantageously comprises a return system (not shown) integrated in the hinges of the opening 2, said hinges being such that the opening 2 is naturally in the closed position and said pedal 6 is in the raised position. To do this, said hinges are of the type hinged helical ramp or spring hinge.

Possibility of industrial application

It is understood that the device 1 for opening and closing an opening 2 automatically without the use of the hands of the user according to the invention can be used to equip the doors of any type of room. However, this device 1 is particularly intended for doors of premises where pathogenic micro-organisms such as hospitals or toilets circulate for example. Finally, it goes without saying that the example of device 1 according to the invention which has just been described is only a particular illustration, in no way limiting of 1 ¹ invention.

Claims

1. Device (1) for opening and closing automatically an opening (2) not requiring the use of the user's hands, comprising a longitudinal edge (3) pivotally mounted along a vertical axis (4) on a frame (5) between a closed position and an open position, comprising a pedal (6) pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis (7) between a raised position and a depressed position, connected to a linkage system (8) arranged to transmitting the applied force to pivot said pedal (6) at one end (9) of a lever (10) pivotally mounted about a vertical axis (11) and positioned so that said vertical axis (11) ) is substantially identical to the axis (4), and in that the other end (12) of the lever (10) is associated with the opening (2) characterized in that said linkage system (8) comprises a vertical rod (13) whose one end (14) is associated with said pedal (6) and the other end ( 15) is associated with one end (16) of a lever (17) rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis (18), the other end (19) of said lever (17) being associated with the one end of a horizontal rod (20) whose other end is associated with one end (9) of the lever (10).

2. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the lever (10) and / or the lever (17) is a square.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it further comprises a return means (21) for holding said pedal (6) in the raised position.

4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that said return means (21) is a spring placed under the pedal (6)

5. Device (1) according to claim 4 characterized in that said return means (21) is integrated with the hinges of the opening (2), said hinges being spring hinge type or hinge with helical ramp.