Door

Abstract

 A door (1) which comprises a closure element (2) moveable on command, by way of drive means, between an open condition and a closed condition in which at least one end element (2a) which extends at right angles with respect to the direction of movement (100) of the closure element (2) is designed to be brought proximate to an abutment portion (3a) formed on a fixed structure (3), the end element (2a) being associated with sensor means (4) which are functionally connected to the drive means in order to interrupt the operation of the drive means in the presence of an obstacle along the path of the end element (2a), the sensor means (4) comprising at least one first, emission sensor (4a) which is adapted to emit an infrared signal (200) and extends in parallel to the end element (2a) and a respective second, reception sensor (4b) which is adapted to receive the infrared signal (200); the first, emission sensor (4a) and the second, reception sensor (4b) are supported by a respective supporting body (5) which extends in parallel to the direction of movement (100) of the end element (2a) and is made of elastically yielding material in order to allow an elastic deformation of the supporting body (5) following an impact against an obstacle during the transition of the closure element (2) from the open condition to the closed condition or vice versa.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a door and, in particular, to a door that can be moved by way of drive means such as doors that can slide horizontally, leaf doors and the like.

[0002] It is known that doors of the type indicated above are increasingly often moved between the closed condition and the open condition by way of the use of motors, typically electric motors, which can be actuated by keypad, remote control, keys, proximity sensors etc.

[0003] In order to ensure the safety of people who are in proximity to the door during the closure operations, arranged on the lower edge of sliding doors or on the lateral edge of sliding gates are tubular rubber profiles which accommodate a detection device, for example infrared optical, or mechanical with a metallic cable connected to a switch, or resistive.

[0004] If during the closure operations the rubber profile impacts against an obstacle, this will deform and the circuits connected to the detection device will operate on the drive means, interrupting the travel of the door and inverting its movement.

[0005] It appears evident that such conventional devices, in order to be activated, necessitate a direct contact between the rubber profile and the obstacle.

[0006] Such a circumstance can sometimes result in some drawbacks such as, for example, the risk that the person located in the path of the door may be subjected to an excessive contact pressure from the rubber profile.

[0007] Doors have also been proposed in which the sensor means comprise at least one first, emission sensor which is adapted to emit an infrared signal which extends parallel to the end element and a respective second, reception sensor which is adapted to receive said infrared signal.

[0008] The practical implementation of such solutions, which as has been said seek to overcome the problem of contact between the person and the rubber profile, has clashed with the difficulty of providing a support that makes it possible to maintain, during use, the sensors in a stable position and to enable, in the event of impact of the sensors with an obstacle, an immediate shift of the axis of the emission or reception sensor.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and overcome the drawbacks, by providing a new door.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to devise a door fitted with sensor means that provide a contactless barrier which is simple in structure.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to make available a door with sensor means which is extremely reliable in operation.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a door which is low-cost, so as to make its use advantageous from an economic viewpoint as well.

[0013] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are all achieved by a door according to claim 1 below.

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of sensor means which can be associated with a door according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the sensor means associated with a closure element in the closed condition;

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the sensor means;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the sensor means.

[0015] In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

[0016] With reference to the figures, the present invention comprises a door, generally designated with the reference numeral 1, which is provided with a closure element 2 that is moveable on command, by way of drive means, not shown, between an open condition and a closed condition.

[0017] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, in the closed condition an end element 2a which extends at right angles with respect to the direction of movement 100 of the closure element 2 is designed to be brought proximate to an abutment portion 3a which is formed on a fixed structure 3.

[0018] The end element 2a is associated with sensor means 4 which are functionally connected to the drive means in order to interrupt the operation of the drive means in the presence of an obstacle along the path of the end element 2a.

[0019] The sensor means 4 comprise at least one first, emission sensor 4a which is adapted to emit an infrared signal 200 and extends in parallel to the end element 2a and a respective second, reception sensor 4b which is adapted to receive the infrared signal 200 emitted by the first, emission sensor 4a.

[0020] According to the present invention, the first, emission sensor 4a and the second, reception sensor 4b are supported by a respective supporting body 5 which extends in parallel to the direction of movement 100 of the end element 2a and is made of elastically yielding material in order to allow an elastic deformation of the supporting body 5 following an impact against an obstacle during the transition of the closure element 2 from the open condition to the closed condition or vice versa.

[0021] Advantageously, the supporting body 5 has a tubular structure which is connected, at a first end 5a, to the end element 2a, and a second end 5b which is connected to a seat 6 which accommodates the first, emission sensor 4a or the second, reception sensor 4b.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting body 5 has a bellows structure so as to render it, at the same time, stable and rigid in the condition of normal use and extremely elastically yielding in the event of impact against an obstacle.

[0023] Preferably, the supporting body 5 and the seat 6 are made in a single body.

[0024] Conveniently such supporting body 5 can be made of an elastomer, for example of rubber such as NBR or silicone.

[0025] The first, emission sensor 4a and the second, reception sensor 4b are arranged substantially at respective lateral ends of the end element 2a.

[0026] Advantageously, the seat 6 is defined inside a head which is associated, at its outer surface, with a fin-shaped element 6a which lies on a plane parallel to the direction of movement 100 and is adapted to facilitate, following the impact against an obstacle, the shifting of the direction of emission/reception of the respective first, emission sensor 4a or of the second, reception sensor 4b.

[0027] Between the supporting body 5 and the end element 2a it is possible to have an intermediate fixing body 7 comprising a base 8 which can be fixed, for example by way of first fixing means 8a, to the end element 2b, and a closing cover 9.

[0028] The closing cover 9 is designed to support the respective first, emission sensor 4a or the respective second, reception sensor 4b and cooperates with the base 8 to define a receptacle for a control card 10 and optionally, with the transmission/reception antenna 14, if it is intended to use the invention on wireless type devices.

[0029] The control card 10 can be connected, for example by way of a first connection pin 10a, to a respective connecting body 11 which is connected, by means of a connection cable 12, to an emission or reception body 13 of the sensor means 4.

[0030] For the purposes of example, the closure element 2 can be constituted:

• by a horizontally sliding door such as for example a gate;
• by a leaf door or, in general, by a closure element which is moveable thanks to the operation of drive means.

[0031] The operation of a door according to the invention is as follows.

[0032] If, during the transition of the closure element 2 from the open condition to the closed condition, an obstacle is interposed between the first, emission sensor 4a and the second, reception sensor 4b, such obstacle will cause an interruption of the signal with the consequent stopping of the drive means.

[0033] If the obstacle is instead located in the path of the supporting body 5 or of the seat 6, then the supporting body 5 will yield elastically resulting in a shift of the axis of the first, emission sensor 4a or of the second, reception sensor 4b with consequent immediate stopping of the drive means.

[0034] Thanks to the characteristics (elastic tubular element in the form of a bellows) of the supporting body 5, the latter will be returned to the condition of normal use, thus ensuring a high precision in its positioning.

[0035] In practice it has been found that in all the embodiments the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.

[0036] In practice the materials employed may be any, according to requirements.

[0037] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0038] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. VR2012U000024 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

1. A door (1) which comprises a closure element (2) which is moveable on command, by way of drive means, between an open condition and a closed condition in which at least one end element (2a) which extends at right angles with respect to the direction of movement (100) of said closure element (2) is designed to be brought proximate to an abutment portion (3a) formed on a fixed structure (3), said end element (2a) being associated with sensor means (4) which are functionally connected to said drive means in order to interrupt the operation of said drive means in the presence of an obstacle along the path of said end element (2a), said sensor means (4) comprising at least one first, emission sensor (4a) which is adapted to emit an infrared signal (200) and extends parallel to said end element (2a) and a respective second, reception sensor (4b) which is adapted to receive said infrared signal (200), characterized in that said first, emission sensor (4a) and said second, reception sensor (4b) are supported by a respective supporting body (5) which extends in parallel to the direction of movement (100) of said end element (2a) and is made of elastically yielding material in order to allow an elastic deformation of said supporting body (5) following an impact against an obstacle during the transition of said closure element (2) from said open condition to said closed condition or vice versa.

2. The door (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting body (5) has a tubular structure which is connected, at a first end (5a), to said end element (2a), and a second end (5b) which is connected to a seat (6) which accommodates said first, emission sensor (4a) or said second, reception sensor (4b).

3. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting body (5) has a bellows structure.

4. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first, emission sensor (4a) and said second, reception sensor (4b) are arranged substantially at respective lateral ends of said end element (2a).

5. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said seat (6) is defined inside a head which is associated, at its outer surface, with a fin-shaped element (6a) which lies on a plane parallel to the direction of movement (100) and is adapted to facilitate, following the impact against an obstacle, the shifting of the direction of emission/reception of the respective first, emission sensor (4a) or the second, reception sensor (4b).

6. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure element (2) comprises a horizontally sliding door.

7. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure element (2) comprises a leaf door.

8. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure element (2) comprises a barrier.

9. The door (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting body (5) and the respective seat (6) are made in a single body.

Drawing