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EP 1 553 248 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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18.07.2007 Bulletin 2007/29 |
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Date of filing: 04.12.2004 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Fastener for securing fold-down panels, preferably on trailers
Verschluss zum Verriegeln von abklappbaren Bordwänden, vorzugsweise auf Anhängern
Verrou pour le verrouillage de ridelles rabattables, de préférence en remorques
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI
SK TR |
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Priority: |
19.12.2003 DK 200301882
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Date of publication of application: |
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13.07.2005 Bulletin 2005/28 |
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Proprietor: Brenderup Trailers A/S |
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DK-5580 Nr. Aaby (DK) |
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Inventor: |
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- Bjarke, Nielsen
DK-8723 Losning (DK)
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Representative: Nielsen, Leif et al |
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Patrade A/S
Fredens Torv 3A 8000 Aarhus C 8000 Aarhus C (DK) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 058 990 US-A- 5 319 992 US-B1- 6 357 268
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DE-U- 1 787 857 US-A- 5 599 049
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention concerns a fastener for securing fold-down side and end panels,
preferably on trailers, and including a base plate disposed on the fold-down panels
and having a handle pivoting about a journal, the handle including a locking hook
intended for reception in an eyelet disposed on an adjacent panel, and further including
locking means that in their locked position prevent the handle/fastener from being
opened, and which in their unlocked position allow the handle/fastener to be opened,
and that on the mutually facing surfaces of the first and second projection or indentation
there are mutually interacting locking means that in mutual engagement prevent relative
rotational movement between the first and the second projection or indentation, and
which in their unlocked position allow relative rotational movement between the first
and the second projection or indentation.
[0002] A fastener is known from
EP-B-0 409 075, where the locking means are constituted by a resilient bracket-shaped locking element
disposed on the handle, the locking element serving as a latch bolt which in its locked
position is spring-loaded towards the locking hook, and where it in its unlocked position
is retained by means of retainer part on the handle or on the base plate. The base
plate includes further tooth means that, when the handle is turned to its open position,
automatically releases the locking mechanism from the holding position and allows
the locking means to return to the locked position.
[0003] The said locking mechanism is very often used in connection with fold-down side and
end panels on trailers etc, where the fold-down panels serve to provide a reliable
side limitation of the platform, so that articles placed on the platform do not fall
off while driving.
[0004] In most countries, in connection with fold-down side parts/panels, there is a requirement
that the vehicle, which is provided with a platform and fold-up and fold-down side
limitations, is to be provided with a double locking mechanism for securing the side
parts in an unfolded or folded-up position. This means that, besides a fastener featuring
abutting end edges being arrested to each other, there is also a requirement that
the fastener is safeguarded against unauthorised opening, and that said unfolded or
folded-up side parts are thereby released, e.g. during transport. The above prior
art fastener includes just such a double safety arrangement by means of a spring-loaded
bracket which is fastened in the grip part of the handle, and which in its locked
position is in contact with the locking hook, so that above the abutment of the locking
mechanism with the inner side of the locking hook there is room for a locking eyelet
which constitutes the second half of the fastener. Opening of the fastener is effected
by gripping about the grip part of the pivoting handle, after which a double locking
device/the locking bracket is pulled with the thumb or index finger back to neutral
position, after which there the handle is turned, whereby the locking hook is pivoted
out of the engagement with the eyelet on the adjacent side part.
[0005] Another fastener is known from
EP 0 058 990 A1 disclosing the features of the preamble of claim 1, where the locking means are constituted
by a resilient mounted projection in the base plate that fits into a corresponding
indentation with a release button in the handle, where the handle is released from
the locked position by pressing the release button with a finger, at the same time
as rotating the handle.
[0006] The said locking mechanisms require that the person with the task of opening the
double safety fastener has full mobility, particularly in the finger used for releasing
the locking bracket. Since it may not be expected always that the user of a trailer
or similar, which includes fold-up and fold-down side limitations with double safety
fasteners, there is thus need for a fastener which is readily operated - opened/closed
- by a disabled person, e.g a person missing one or more joints on the thumb or index
finger, respectively, on the hand typically used in connection with opening and closing
the fastener for fold-up side parts on trailers etc.
[0007] This purpose is achieved with a fastener according to claim 1.
[0008] Hereby is achieved a fastener which, firstly, may be operated single-handed, and
which does not require action from neither thumb nor index finger in connection with
opening thereof, as the said interacting locking means may be brought out of engagement
with each other by an outwards pull in the handle succeeded by a turning of the handle
about the centre axis of the journal.
[0009] With the intention of ensuring a well-defined position in which the fastener is double
safe with 100% certainty, the interacting locking means are disposed on the mutually
facing surfaces by the first and the second projection or indentation, respectively,
so that they may only assume their locked position when the locked position on the
handle is accommodated in the eyelet on the adjacent panel. Hereby is avoided that
the locking means are activated in other positions than the position in which the
locking hook is accommodated in the eyelet on the adjacent or abutting panel.
[0010] In a first preferred embodiment of the fastener, the interacting locking means may
be constituted by a pin projecting from the face of the first annular projection for
interactive reception in a corresponding cutout in the surface in the second annular
projection on the rotatably suspended handle, and where the cutout is pressed down
over the pin by lateral displacement in the longitudinal axis of the journal and provided
by the spring element. The lateral displacement of the handle activating the double
safety arrangement is only possible after performing a turning of the handle until
the said pin and cutout are disposed opposite each other, in which position the locking
hook is disposed in receiving position in the eyelet on the bordering panel part.
In a relatively simple way there is hereby indicated an efficient double safety fastener.
[0011] In claim 4 is specified a further preferred embodiment of the fastener according
to the invention, where the pin is projecting from the second annular projection,
and where cutout interacting with the pin is established in the surface of the first
annular part.
[0012] With the intention of ensuring a suitable operation of the fastener according to
the present invention, it is furthermore realised that the pin and the cutout may
advantageously be disposed in the part of the annular parts being closest to the grip
part on the handle. Hereby is achieved that the fastener in a relatively simple way
may be released from its locked position, gripping about the grip part on the pivoting
handle and actuating it with a pull in parallel with the centre axis of the pin, whereby
the cutout is released from the pin, after which it is possible to perform turning
of the handle so that the hook is pulled out from the eyelet on the adjacent panel.
Hereby is indicated a double fastener that may be operated by person without mobility
in thumb and index finger, as opening of the double safety fastener may be performed
by very simple movements that do not require co-operation of the said fingers, however,
without compromising the safety requirements that the fastener of the kind indicated
are to meet.
[0013] The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the
drawing, where:
- Fig. 1
- is an exploded perspective view of a double safety fastener according to the invention;
- Fig. 2
- is a perspective view of the fastener handle;
- Fig. 3
- is a perspective view of the base plate belonging to the fastener;
- Fig. 4
- is a formalised perspective view of a second embodiment of the fastener in closed
position mounted on the corner of fold-down sides;
- Fig. 5
- shows the second embodiment of the fastener during release from the locking means
constituting the double safety arrangement; and
- Fig. 6
- shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the fastener where the locking
hook is released from the locking eyelet.
[0014] In Fig. 1 is shown an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a double safety
fastener 2 according to the invention, preferably for securing fold-down side and
end panels 4, 6 preferably on trailers. It appears that the fastener includes a base
plate 8 which is intended for fastening on the outer side of the said fold-down side
and end panels 4, 6, cf. Fig. 4. The base plate 8 includes a through-going hole 9
for accommodating and fastening a journal 10 which is first passed through a hole
11 in a pivotably suspended handle 12 that includes a locking hook 14 intended for
accommodating in an eyelet 16 disposed on an adjacent panel 6, cf. Fig. 4. The journal
10 has a head 13, and between the head of the journal and side of the handle 12 there
is fitted a resilient member 26, which in the shown embodiment is constituted by a
helical spring. The base plate includes a first annular projection 18 which has a
lateral surface 22 facing the handle and further including a projecting pin 28, cf.
also Fig. 3. The handle 12 includes a second annular projection 20 interacting with
the first annular projection 18. The second annular projection 20 has an interacting
side face 24 facing the surface 22 of the first annular projection, and the second
annular projection has furthermore a cutout 30 as it clearly appears from Fig. 2,
the pin 28 and the cutout 30 constituting mutually interacting locking means.
[0015] In Fig. 4 is shown schematically how a second embodiment of the fastener with double
safety arrangement is mounted on a fold-down side panel 4, 6 with the base plate including
the handle and the gripping hook 14 engaging the eyelet 16 which is mounted on an
adjacent panel 6. As it appears, the mutually facing side faces 22, 24 on the first
projection 18 and the second projection 24, respectively, are pressed against each
other, as the head 13 of the journal 10 presses the spring 26 against handle 12, so
that the previously mentioned surfaces 22, 24 are pressed against each other, and
so that the pin 28 on the surface 22 on the annular projection on the base plate 8
is accommodated in the cutout 30 in the surface 24 on the second projection 20 on
the handle 12. Hereby the fastener is closed and locked in its closed position, as
it appears from Fig. 4.
[0016] Opening the fastener is effected by gripping the grip part 34 of the handle 12 and
pulling it away from the front side of the panel 4 in parallel with the centre axis
32 of the journal. The pin 28 is hereby released from the cutout 30, and the movement
is enabled by compressing the spring 26. After releasing the pin 28 from the cutout
30, the handle 12 is turned so that the hook 14 is moved out of engagement in the
eyelet 16 on the adjacent panel 6, whereafter the panel is released for folding down.
[0017] As it appears from the illustrations 4, 5 and 6, by a relatively simple movement
it is thus possible to perform release of the double safety fastener without having
to use fingers for withdrawing spring-loaded pawls etc. The operating handle according
to the invention is thus very friendly to the disabled.
1. Fastener (2) for securing fold-down side and end panels (4, 6), preferably on trailers,
and including a base plate (8) disposed on the fold-down panels (4, 6) and having
a handle (12) pivoting about a journal (10), the handle including a locking hook (14)
intended for reception in an eyelet (16) disposed on an adjacent panel (6), and further
including mutually interacting locking means (28, 30) that in their locked position
prevent the handle/fastener from being opened, and which in their unlocked position
allow the handle/fastener to be opened, characterised in that the handle (12) is further suspended on the journal (10) so that it may perform a
displacement along the longitudinal axis (32) of the journal away from and towards
the base plate (8), that the base plate (8) includes at least one first projection
(18) or indentation that interacts with at least one other projection (20) or indentation
on the side of the handle (12) facing the base plate, so that the mutually facing
surfaces (22, 24) of the projection (18, 20) or indentation are resiliently pressed
against each other by a spring element (26), and that the mutually interacting locking
means are disposed on the mutually facing surfaces (22, 24) of the first and second
projection or indentation, the mutually interacting locking means (28, 30) preventing
in mutual engagement relative rotational movement between the first and the second
projection (18, 20) or indentation, and allowing in their unlocked position relative
rotational movement between the first and the second projection (18, 20) or indentation.
2. Fastener (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the interacting locking means (28, 30) are disposed on the mutually facing surfaces
(22, 24) by the first and the second projection (18, 20) or indentation, respectively,
so that they may only assume their locked position when the locking hook (14) on the
handle (12) are accommodated in the eyelet (16) on an adjacent panel (6).
3. Fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the interacting locking means (28, 30) are constituted by a pin (28) projecting from
the face (22) of the first annular projection (18) for interactive reception in a
corresponding cutout (30) in the surface (24) in the second annular projection (20)
on the rotatably suspended handle (12), and where the cutout (30) is pressed down
over the pin (28) by lateral displacement in the longitudinal axis (32) of the journal
provided by the spring element (26), and which is enabled by turning the handle (12)
until the pin (28) and the cutout (30) are disposed opposite each other.
4. Fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the interacting locking means (28, 30) are constituted by a pin (28) projecting from
the face (24) of the second annular projection (20) for interactive reception in a
corresponding cutout (30) in the surface (22) in the first annular projection (18)
on the rotatably suspended handle (12), and where the cutout (30) is pressed down
over the pin (28) by lateral displacement in the longitudinal axis (32) of the journal
provided by the spring element (26), and which is enabled by turning the handle (12)
until the pin (28) and the cutout (30) are disposed opposite each other.
5. Fastener according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the pin (28) and the cutout (30) are preferably disposed in the part of the annular
projection (19, 20) which is closest to the grip part (34) of the handle (12).
1. Befestigungseinrichtung (2) zum Sichern von herunterklappbaren Seiten- und Stirnbordwänden
(4, 6), vorzugsweise an Anhängern, mit einer Grundplatte (8), die an den herunterklappbaren
Bordwänden (4, 6) angeordnet ist, und einem Griff (12), der um einen Lagerzapfen (10)
schwenkt, wobei der Griff einen Verriegelungshaken (14) aufweist, der in einer an
einer benachbarten Bordwand (6) angeordneten Öse (16) aufgenommen werden soll, und
ferner mit gegenseitig wechselwirkenden Verriegelungsmitteln (28, 30), die in ihrer
verriegelten Position verhindern, dass der Griff/die Befestigungseinrichtung geöffnet
wird, und in ihrer entriegelten Position ein Öffnen des Griffs/der Befestigungseinrichtung
zulassen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Griff (12) ferner an dem Lagerzapfen (10) aufgehängt ist, derart, dass er eine
Verlagerung in Richtung der Längsachse (32) des Lagerzapfens von und zu der Grundplatte
(8) ausführen kann, dass die Grundplatte (8) wenigstens einen ersten Vorsprung (18)
oder eine erste Vertiefung aufweist, die mit wenigstens einem weiteren Vorsprung (20)
bzw. einer weiteren Vertiefung auf der der Grundplatte zugewandten Seite des Griffs
(12) in Wechselwirkung steht, so dass die einander zugewandten Oberflächen (22, 24)
des Vorsprungs (18, 20) oder der Vertiefung durch ein Federelement (26) elastisch
gegeneinander gepresst werden, und dass die gegenseitig miteinander wechselwirkenden
Verriegelungsmittel an den einander zugewandten Oberflächen (22, 24) des ersten und
des zweiten Vorsprungs bzw. der ersten und der zweiten Vertiefung angeordnet sind,
wobei die gegenseitig wechselwirkenden Verriegelungsmittel (28, 30) in einem gegenseitigen
Eingriff eine relative Drehbewegung zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Vorsprung
(18, 20) bzw. der ersten und der zweiten Vertiefung verhindern und in ihrer entriegelten
Position eine relative Drehbewegung zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Vorsprung
(18, 20) bzw. der ersten und der zweiten Vertiefung zulassen.
2. Befestigungseinrichtung (2) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die wechselwirkenden Verriegelungsmittel (28, 30) an den einander zugewandten Oberflächen
(22, 24) durch den ersten und den zweiten Vorsprung (18, 20) bzw. die erste und die
zweite Vertiefung angeordnet sind, so dass sie ihre verriegelte Position nur einnehmen
können, wenn der Verriegelungshaken (14) an dem Griff (12) in der Öse (16) an einer
benachbarten Bordwand (6) aufgenommen ist.
3. Befestigungseinrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die wechselwirkenden Verriegelungsmittel (28, 30) durch einen von der Fläche (22)
des ersten ringförmigen Vorsprungs (18) vorstehenden Stift (28) gebildet sind, um
in einem entsprechenden Ausschnitt (30) in der Oberfläche (24) im zweiten ringförmigen
Vorsprung (20) an dem drehbar aufgehängten Griff (12) wechselwirkend aufgenommen zu
werden, wobei der Ausschnitt (30) durch eine seitliche Verlagerung der Längsachse
(32) des Lagerzapfens, die durch das Federelement (26) geschaffen wird, über den Stift
(28) nach unten gedrückt wird, was durch Drehen des Griffs (12) ermöglicht wird, bis
der Stift (28) und der Ausschnitt (30) einander gegenüber angeordnet sind.
4. Befestigungseinrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die wechselwirkenden Verriegelungsmittel (28, 30) durch einen von der Fläche (24)
des zweiten ringförmigen Vorsprungs (20) vorstehenden Stift (28) gebildet sind, um
in einem entsprechenden Ausschnitt (30) in der Oberfläche (22) in dem ersten ringförmigen
Vorsprung (18) an dem drehbar aufgehängten Griff (12) wechselwirkend aufgenommen zu
werden, wobei der Ausschnitt (30) durch eine seitliche Verlagerung der Längsachse
(32) des Lagerzapfens, die durch das Federelement (26) geschaffen wird, über den Stift
(28) nach unten gedrückt wird, was durch Drehen des Griffs (12) ermöglicht wird, bis
der Stift (28) und der Ausschnitt (30) einander gegenüber angeordnet sind.
5. Befestigungseinrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Stift (28) und der Ausschnitt (30) vorzugsweise in dem Teil des ringförmigen
Vorsprungs (19, 20) angeordnet sind, der sich am nächsten bei dem Greifabschnitt (34)
des Griffs (12) befindet.
1. Dispositif de fixation (2) pour fixer des panneaux latéraux et d'extrémité rabattables
(4, 6), de préférence sur des remorques, et comprenant une plaque de base (8) disposée
sur les panneaux rabattables (4, 6) et dotée d'une poignée (12) qui pivote autour
d'un tourillon (10), la poignée comprenant un crochet de verrouillage (14) destiné
à être reçu dans un oeillet (16) ménagé sur un panneau adjacent (6) et comprenant
en outre des moyens de verrouillage à interaction réciproque (28, 30) qui, dans leur
position verrouillée, évitent que la poignée/le dispositif de fixation ne soit ouvert(e)
et qui, dans leur position déverrouillée, permettent d'ouvrir la poignée/le dispositif
de fixation, caractérisé en ce que la poignée (12) est en outre suspendue sur le tourillon (10), de sorte qu'elle puisse
effectuer un déplacement le long de l'axe longitudinal (32) du tourillon, en s'éloignant
et en se rapprochant de la plaque de base (8), en ce que la plaque de base (8) comprend au moins une première saillie (18) ou indentation
qui interagit avec au moins une autre saillie (20) ou indentation sur le côté de la
poignée (12) faisant face à la plaque de base, de sorte que les surfaces se faisant
réciproquement face (22, 24) de la saillie (18, 20) ou indentation soient comprimées
de manière résiliente l'une contre l'autre par un élément à ressort (26) et en ce que les moyens de verrouillage à interaction réciproque sont disposés sur les surfaces
se faisant réciproquement face (22, 24) de la première et de la seconde saillie ou
indentation, les moyens de verrouillage à interaction réciproque (28, 30) évitant,
en prise mutuelle, le mouvement rotatif correspondant entre la première et la deuxième
saillie (18, 20) ou indentation, et permettant, dans leur position déverrouillée,
un mouvement de rotation correspondant entre la première et la deuxième saillie (18,
20) ou indentation.
2. Dispositif de fixation (2) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de verrouillage interactifs (28, 30) sont disposés sur les surfaces se
faisant réciproquement face (22, 24) par la première et la seconde saillie (18, 20)
ou indentation, respectivement, de sorte qu'ils puissent uniquement prendre leur position
verrouillée lorsque le crochet de verrouillage (14) sur la poignée (12) est disposé
dans l'oeillet (16) sur un panneau adjacent (6).
3. Dispositif de fixation selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de verrouillage interactifs (28, 30) sont constitués d'une broche (28)
se projetant depuis la face (22) de la première saillie annulaire (18) pour une réception
interactive dans une découpe correspondante (30) dans la surface (24) de la seconde
saillie annulaire (20) sur la poignée suspendue en rotation (12) et où la découpe
(30) est comprimée sur la broche (28) par un déplacement latéral dans l'axe longitudinal
(32) du tourillon, fourni par l'élément à ressort (26) et qui est activé en tournant
la poignée (12) jusqu'à ce que la broche (28) et la découpe (30) soient disposées
l'une à l'opposé de l'autre.
4. Dispositif de fixation selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de verrouillage interactifs (28, 30) sont constitués d'une broche (28)
se projetant depuis la face (24) de la seconde saillie annulaire (20) pour une réception
interactive dans une découpe correspondante (30) dans la surface (22) de la première
saillie annulaire (18) sur la poignée suspendue en rotation (12) et où la découpe
(30) est comprimée sur la broche (28) par un déplacement latéral dans l'axe longitudinal
(32) du tourillon, fourni par l'élément à ressort (26) et qui est activé en tournant
la poignée (12) jusqu'à ce que la broche (28) et la découpe (30) soient disposées
l'une à l'opposé de l'autre.
5. Dispositif de fixation selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-3, caractérisé en ce que la broche (28) et la découpe (30) sont de préférence disposées dans la partie de
la saillie annulaire (19, 20) qui est la plus proche de la partie de prise (34) de
la poignée (12).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description