[0001] The present invention relates to cabinets having upwardly-movable or rotatable doors.
More specifically the invention relates to cabinets with upwardly-movable, self-opening,
contoured or curved doors that require little effort on the part of the user, so that
the user simply begins opening the door by rotating the door upwardly a specified
distance and then releasing the door, the door then continuing to the open position
unassisted by the user. Furthermore, the cabinet provides greater interior space to
accommodate shelves and other interior fixtures since the door is stored outside the
cabinet when in the open position.
[0002] Conveniently located and easily accessible storage space is highly desirable and
often required in an office environment. In modular office furniture systems, one
way of providing storage space adjacent a work area is to mount a cabinet or shelf
vertically above, and spaced apart from, a desk or work surface. Typically, such cabinets
are secured to a vertical modular wall panel adjacent the work surface. This type
of mounting arrangement enables the furniture designer to efficiently use storage
space which ordinarily is unused, above the office worker's head.
[0003] However, vertical mounting of storage cabinets creates certain furniture design problems.
For example, when movable doors are used to conceal the contents of overhead storage
cabinets, convenient means to raise and lower the door must be provided. Since the
office worker must reach up and push the door upward to open the door, the door must
be either relatively light in weight or provided with a balancing system to facilitate
upward movement. In fact, providing a door with self-opening capabilities so that
the user need only exert a minimum of effort to open the door is most desirable, especially
in today's society with the ever increasing concern about providing accessible work
areas to disabled workers.
[0004] The direction of motion chosen for the door is also critical. The door can be constructed
to swing into the cabinet structure or outside the structure. In known prior art,
"pocket" doors are well known, and combine a hinge and drawer slide to enable the
door to be swung up and then pushed on the slide into the cabinet. However, such pocket
doors reduce the usable interior volume of the cabinet because the door occupies interior
space when retracted. Furthermore, door structures in which the retracted door swings
outside and above the cabinet structure are well known in the art. These doors provide
added interior volume to the cabinet but can be heavy or cumbersome and may create
extra effort by the user to open the door and swing it outside and above the cabinet.
Consequently, there exists a need to provide door structures in which the retracted
door swings outside and above the cabinet structure, but also is easy to open with
little effort required by the user, in particular the seated or physically disabled
user.
[0005] The present invention consists in a storage cabinet having a rotating door, said
cabinet comprising first and second opposed, parallel side walls, a top wall and a
bottom wall, a door having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed side edges, a
pair of pivot arms for moving said door between an open position and a closed position,
each of said pivot arm means including a first portion rotatably mounted adjacent
one of said first and second walls and a second portion extending outwardly from said
first portion and attached to said door adjacent said bottom edge thereof, said door
being positioned above said top wall when in said open position, there being force
providing means connected to said pivot arms for both moving and counterbalancing
said door as said door moves between said open and closed positions, and assisting
in movement of said door once movement of said door is initiated, characterised in
that the door is an upwardly movable rotating door and each pivot arm for moving said
door between an open position situated above said cabinet and a closed position, has
a disk portion, a protrusion perpendicularly adjacent to said disk portion and an
elongated arm portion extending outwardly from said disk portion and having a mounting
bracket at its far end opposite said disk portion, said disk portion being rotatably
mounted about its center to one of said side walls, and said elongated arm portion
being secured to said door adjacent said bottom edge thereof, each of said force providing
means comprising a reciprocable piston and cylinder constructed and arranged to move
said door to its open position without assistance once movement of said door is initiated,
one of said piston and cylinder being pivotally connected to said protrusion on said
pivot arms and the other of said piston and cylinder being pivotally connected to
said side wall, so that when said door is in said closed position, the centerline
of said reciprocable piston and cylinder is only slightly offset from said center
of said disk portion of said pivot arms and when said door movement is initiated to
cause said door to move to said open position, said protrusion at which said piston
and cylinder is pivotally connected to said pivot arms moves slightly forward toward
said cabinet door, thereby redirecting the force generated by said movement of said
reciprocable piston and cylinder to be essentially tangential to said disk portion
of said pivot arms so as to permit said door to move for the remainder of its travel
solely under the force generated by said force means.
[0006] In FR-A-2091715 a storage cabinet is disclosed which subtantially provides the functionality
of the cabinet defined in the pre-characterising portion of the statement of invention
given above.
[0007] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and
in which:
[0008] Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a cabinet shown with a mounting
bracket for mounting the cabinet to a supporting wall structure.
[0009] Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet of Figure 1 shown with the door
in the raised, open position.
[0010] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing
the mounting bracket assembled to the cabinet.
[0011] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing the cabinet with
the door in the raised, open position.
[0012] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2, with parts broken
away and showing the mounting bracket assembled to the cabinet.
[0013] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cover plate for the mounting arm shown in Figure
1.
[0014] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mounting arm shown in Figure 1.
[0015] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7.
[0016] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a spring clip for attaching a gas spring to the
mounting arm and the cabinet.
[0017] Referring to Figures 1 through 5, there is shown an embodiment of a cabinet 100 adapted
for mounting on a modular furniture panel assembly 200 by a pair of mounting brackets
300.
[0018] As shown in Figures 1 through 5, cabinet 100 comprising a rectangular box having
a rectangular top wall 10 having opposed side edges 10a (Figures 1 and 2), opposed
front and back edges 10b and 10c (Figures 1 and 3-5), and a fascia strip 10d (Figures
2-5) extending downwardly from front edge 10b; two symmetrically identical, opposed
side walls 12 (Figures 1-5) each having opposed top and bottom edges 12a and 12b (Figures
1-5) and opposed front and back edges 12c and 12d (Figures 1 and 3-5); a rectangular
bottom wall 14 (Figures 2-5) having opposed side edges 14a (Figure 2) and opposed
front and back edges 14b and 14c (Figures 3-5); and a rectangular rear wall 16 (Figures
2-5) having opposed side edges 16a (Figure 2), and opposed top and bottom edges 16b
and 16c (Figures 2-5).
[0019] Figures 3-5 disclose a guide channel 20 secured to the lower surface of top wall
10 intermediate front and back edges 10a and 10b, for a purpose to be described hereinafter;
and rear wall 16 is provided with an inwardly formed, horizontally-elongated channel
22, for receiving mounting brackets 300. Also, each of side walls 12 has formed therein
an inwardly extending, central stud 24 (Figure 1), for a purpose to be described hereinafter.
[0020] An upwardly-movable cabinet door 30 (Figures 1-5) selectively provides access to
the interior of cabinet 100. Door 30 includes opposed side edges 30a (Figures 1 and
2) and opposed top and bottom edges 30b and 30c (Figures 1 and 3-5), and is substantially
planar adjacent bottom edge 30c and arcuate adjacent top edge 30b.
[0021] Referring now to Figure 2, cabinet 100 is shown with door 30 in the raised position.
Cabinet 100 is provided with plural vertical shelf brackets 40 engageable with guide
channel 20, and-plural horizontal shelves 42 supported between adjacent shelf brackets
40.
[0022] The structure and operation of the upwardly movable door 30 is operated using plural
planar, rigid door pivot arms 50, which are pivotably mounted to the inner surfaces
of end walls 12, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Pivot arms 50
are fabricated of injection molded plastic, but can be fabricated of material such
as sheet aluminum or sheet steel.
[0023] In the embodiment, two pivot arms 50 are provided, one at each of sides 30a of door
30. Pivot arms 50 serve to movably connect sides 30a of door 30 to end walls 12 of
cabinet 100 while restricting the movement of door 30 to an arcuate path. In Figure
2, each arm 50 is positioned immediately adjacent one of end walls 12. This arrangement
ensures that a minimum of interior cabinet space is occupied by the door operating
mechanism.
[0024] Figures 3-8 show arm 50 comprising a circular disk portion 52 integrally formed with
a tangential arm portion 54 and a mounting bracket 56. The arm portion 54 has a substantially
linear first side 54a formed as a tangent of disk portion 52; an L-shaped second side
54b a portion of which is parallel to first side 54a and a portion of which is substantially
perpendicular to first side 54a; an outer end 54c which joins first and second sides
54a and 54b; and an inner end 54d which is coextensive with the circumference of disk
portion 52. Side 54a forms an angle of approximately 45° with outer end 54c.
[0025] Mounting bracket 56 extends perpendicularly from tangential arm portion 54 inwardly
of outer end 54c for mounting pivot arm 50 to door 30 adjacent bottom edge 30c. Thus,
when door 30 is closed as shown in Figures 3 and 5, side 54a is arranged at an angle
of approximately 45° relative to horizontal. Mounting bracket 56 is formed integrally
with tangential arm portion 54. Also, door 30 can be mounted to mounting bracket 56
by conventional screws inserted through threaded apertures 56a in mounting bracket
56.
[0026] A gas spring mounting pin 58 extends perpendicularly from a protrusion 54e on side
54a, adjacent disk portion 52. Mounting pin 58 is inserted into protrusion 54e during
the injection molding process.
[0027] Disk portion 52 is provided with a central boss 60 for receiving stud 24 positioned
on the inside of each of end walls 12 of cabinet 100, by which each of arms 50 is
mounted on its respective end wall 12 and about which each of arms 50 pivots.
[0028] The door 30 is counterbalanced by force providing means in the form of a gas spring
70 comprising a cylinder 72 provided with a reciprocating piston (not shown) and piston
rod 74, and having a cylinder end and a rod end. For example, doors having a nominal
width of 24, 30, 33, 36, 42 and 48 inches respectively employ a pair of gas springs
exerting a force of 15, 19, 22, 24, 31 and 33 psi respectively. The gas spring 70
serves a dual purpose, acting both as a means to counterbalance the weight of door
30 and as a means of opening door 30 unassisted once the user initiates the opening
of door 30 by rotating the door to an angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees and
then releasing the door.
[0029] At its cylinder end, the gas spring 70 is provided with a cylinder clevis 76 for
pivotably connecting cylinder 72 to mounting pin 54e of arm 50; while at its rod end,
it is provided with a rod clevis 78 for pivotably connecting piston rod 74 to a fixed
mounting bracket or stud 80 (Figures 3-5) positioned at the lower rear corner of each
of end walls 12.
[0030] The gas spring 70 is secured to mounting pin 58 of arm 50 and to mounting bracket
80 on end wall 12 by small spring clips 82, shown in Figure 9, which slide over clevises
76 and 78 and are press fit over mounting pin 58 and mounting bracket 80, respectively.
Suitable spring clips 82 are commercially available as part no. PC 119 from AVM, Inc.
of Marion, South Carolina.
[0031] The rod end of the gas spring 70 is positioned facing downwardly, with the cylinder
end facing upwardly, to keep the oil in cylinder 72 on the cylinder seal (not shown),
to extend the life expectancy of the gas.
[0032] The gas springs 70 are designed to assist the door 30 in opening after they have
rotated approximately 15-20 degrees. The gas springs 70 also provide a closing assist
feature so that the user need only exert limited force to overcome the force of the
gas spring to close the door at a controlled rate rather than slamming shut. The motion
of door 30 is curtailed at the top of its arc by striking a against sound-deadening
bumper 94 (Figure 6).
[0033] By using the arm 50 in conjunction with the gas spring 70, the arm 50 can be made
visually appealing and the gas spring 70 does not have to be mounted directly to door
30. Further, cover panels 90 can be provided at each of end walls 12, as shown in
Figures 2 and 5, to conceal the gas springs 70 and most of the pivot arms 50.
[0034] Although only one cover panel 90 is shown in detail, in Figure 6, it should be understood
that the cover panels 90 at either side of cabinet 100 (as shown in Figure 2) are
mirror images of each other. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, each of cover panels
90 is rectangular in shape, having a side wall 90a, and projecting outwardly from
side wall 90a a top wall 90b, a rear wall 90c, a bottom wall 90d, and a front wall
90e. Although each cover panel 90 is rectangular, front wall 90e is connected to top
wall 90b by an arcuate corner portion 90f parallel to the arcuate profile of door
30.
[0035] Front wall 90e and arcuate corner portion 90f have a continuous notch 90g formed
at the edge thereof along substantially its entire length, to provide clearance for
arm 50 as it moves between the open and closed position. Also, top wall 90b has an
inset portion 90h spaced rearwardly from arcuate corner portion 90f, for receiving
guide channel 20; and the corner formed by top wall 90b and rear wall 90c defines
an inset 90i, for receiving elongated channel 22. Bottom wall 90d has a notch 90j
formed therein adjacent rear wall 90c, to provide clearance for piston rod 74 of gas
spring 70, as shown in Figure 5.
[0036] Side wall 90a is provided with a central boss 90k for receiving a flat-head screw
92 for securing each cover panel 90 and pivot arm 50 to its respective end wall 12.
Upper and lower, substantially V-shaped reinforcing ribs 90l and 90m are also formed
in side wall 90a, extending respectively inwardly from top wall 90b and bottom wall
90d. The forward arms of ribs 90l and 90m have respective insets 90n and 90o for receiving
upper and lower bumpers 94 and 96, respectively, and in conjunction with bumpers 94
and 96 limit upward and downward travel of door 30.
[0037] Cover panel 90 also is provided with a central, inwardly-projecting boss 90k as shown
in Figure 6 which registers with boss 60 of arm 50 and stud 24 of side wall 12, for
attaching cover panel 90 to side wall 12. Preferably, cover panels 90 are injection
molded plastic and are fastened to studs 24 by flat head machine screws 92. Cover
panels 90 are removable to provide for quick field replacement of a defective gas
spring 70.
[0038] When the cabinet door 30 is moved upwardly to an angle of rotation of approximately
15 to 20 degrees using manual force, arm 50 rotates around boss 60, causing cylinder
72 and piston rod 74 to move apart relative to one another as they rotate respectively
at clevises 76 and 78. More specifically, it will be noted in Figure 3, that the centerline
of gas spring 70 is only slightly offset from the center 60 of disk portion 52 of
arm 50 when the door is in a closed position. In this closed position the force generated
by gas spring 70 is restrained since it is substantially directed through the pivot
point. When the door is manually opened approximately 15 to 20 degrees, the pivot
point between gas spring 70 and arm 50 moves slightly forward of the cabinet causing
the force generated by gas spring 70 to now be essentially tangential to rotatably
mounted disk 52. Thus, when the user initiates movement of cabinet door 30, the user
may then release door 30 permitting door 30 to move for the remainder of its travel
solely under the force of gas spring 70. The moving apart motion of cylinder 72 and
piston rod 74 at a controlled rate provides a smooth continuing motion enabling door
30 to open completely without any further effort by the user.
[0039] The rotatable arms can also be used to rotatably mount a door in an article of furniture
other than the cabinets described herein, or to rotatably mount articles other than
a door. Also, the rotatable arms can be used to mount rotatable, side-by-side doors
in a cabinet.
1. A storage cabinet (100) having a rotating door (30), said cabinet comprising first
and second opposed, parallel side walls (12), a top wall (10) and a bottom wall (14),
a door (30) having opposed top and bottom edges (30b, 30c) and opposed side edges
(30a), a pair of pivot arms (50) for moving said door between an open position and
a closed position, each of said pivot arms including a first portion (52) rotatably
mounted adjacent one of said first and second side walls (12) and a second portion
(54) extending outwardly from said first portion (52) and attached to said door (30)
adjacent said bottom edge (30c) thereof, said door being positioned above said top
wall (10) when in said open position, there being force providing means (70) connected
to said pivot arms for both moving and counterbalancing said door as said door moves
between said open and closed positions, and assisting in movement of said door once
movement of said door is initiated, characterised in that the door (30) is an upwardly
movable rotating door and each pivot arm (50) for moving said door (30) between an
open position situated above said cabinet and a closed position, has a disk portion
(52), a protrusion (54E) perpendicularly adjacent to said disk portion (52) and an
elongated arm portion (54) extending outwardly from said disk portion and having a
mounting bracket (56) at its far end opposite said disk portion (52), said disk portion
(52) being rotatably mounted about its center to one of said side walls, and said
elongated arm portion (54) being secured to said door (30) adjacent said bottom edge
(30c) thereof, each of said force providing means (70) comprising a reciprocable piston
and cylinder (72) constructed and arranged to move said door (30) to its open position
without assistance once movement of said door is initiated, one of said piston and
cylinder (72) being pivotally connected to said protrusion (54E) on said pivot arms
and the other of said piston and cylinder (72) being pivotally connected to said side
wall, so that when said door is in said closed position, the center-line of said reciprocable
piston and cylinder (72) is only slightly offset from said center of said disk portion
of said pivot arms (50) and when said door movement is initiated to cause said door
to move to said open position, said protrusion (54E) at which said piston and cylinder
(72) is pivotally connected to said pivot arms (50) moves slightly forward toward
said cabinet door, thereby redirecting the force generated by said movement of said
reciprocable piston and cylinder to be essentially tangential to said disk portion
of said pivot arms so as to permit said door to move for the remainder of its travel
solely under the force generated by said force means.
2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said force providing means
(70) is arranged to move said door (30) between said open and closed positions at
a controlled rate once movement of said door is initiated a predetermined distance,
preferably at an angle of rotation of about 15 to 20 degrees.
1. Vorratsschrank (100) mit einer Schwenktür (30), wobei der Schrank erste und zweite
sich gegenüberliegende parallele Seitenwandungen (12), eine Deckwandung (10) und eine
Bodenwandung (14), eine Tür (30) mit sich gegenüberliegenden Deck- und Bodenrändern
(30b, 30c) und sich gegenüberliegenden Seitenrändern (30a) und ein Paar Schwenkarme
(50) zum Bewegen der Tür zwischen einer geöffneten Stellung und einer geschlossenen
Stellung aufweist, wobei jeder der Schwenkarme einen schwenkbar an der benachbarten
ersten beziehungsweise zweiten Seitenwandung (12) angebrachten ersten Abschnitt (52)
und einen sich von dem ersten Abschnitt (52) nach außen erstreckenden und an der Tür
(30) benachbart zu dem Bodenrand (30c) angebrachten zweiten Abschnitt (54) aufweist,
wobei die Tür in der geöffneten Stellung oberhalb der Deckwandung (10) angeordnet
ist und dabei kraftbeaufschlagende Mittel (70) an den Schwenkarmen sowohl zum Bewegen
und Kompensieren der Tür, wenn sich die Tür zwischen der geöffneten Stellung und der
geschlossenen Stellung bewegt, als auch zur Unterstützung bei der Bewegung der Tür,
wenn die Bewegung der Tür begonnen hat, vorgesehen sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Tür (30) eine nach oben bewegbare Schwenktür ist und jeder Schwenkarm (50)
zum Bewegen der Tür (30) zwischen einer oberhalb des Schrankes gelegenen geöffneten
Stellung und einer geschlossenen Stellung einen kreisförmigen Rundabschnitt (52),
ein rechtwinklig an den Rundabschnitt (52) angrenzendes Vorsprungstück (54e) und einen
länglichen, sich von dem Rundabschnitt nach außen erstreckenden und an seinem dem
Rundabschnitt (52) gegenüberliegenden entfernten Ende mit einem Befestigungstrageteil
(56) versehenen Armabschnitt (54) aufweist, wobei der Rundabschnitt (52) an einer
der Seitenwandungen um seinen Mittelpunkt schwenkbar angebracht und der längliche
Armabschnitt (54) an der Tür (30) benachbart zu deren Bodenrand (30c) angebracht sind,
wobei jedes der kraftbeaufschlagenden Mittel (70) eine hin- und herbewegbare Kolben-
und Zylindereinheit (72) aufweist, die zum Bewegen der Tür (30) nach Beginn der Bewegung
der Tür ohne Unterstützung in deren geöffneten Stellung ausgelegt und angeordnet ist,
wobei eines der Elemente der Kolben- und Zylindereinheit (72) an dem Vorsprungstück
(54e) an den Schwenkarmen drehbar angebracht ist und das jeweils andere Element der
Kolben- und Zylindereinheit (72) drehbar an der Seitenwandung angebracht ist, so daß
in der geschlossenen Stellung der Tür die Mittellinie der hin- und herbewegbaren Kolben-
und Zylindereinheit (72) lediglich geringfügig von dem Mittelpunkt des Rundabschnittes
(52) der Schwenkarme (50) versetzt ist, und bei der die Tür in die geöffnete Stellung
überführenden Bewegung sich das Vorsprungstück (54e), an dem die Kolben- und Zylindereinheit
(72) an den Schwenkarmen (50) drehbar angebracht ist, geringfügig nach vorne in Richtung
der Schwenktür bewegt, so daß die bei der Bewegung der hin- und herbewegbaren Kolben-
und Zylindereinheit erzeugte Kraft im wesentlichen tangential in den Rundabschnitt
der Schwenkarme umgeleitet ist, so daß ein Bewegen der Tür über den restlichen Weg
lediglich unter der durch die Kraftmittel erzeugte Kraft geschaffen ist.
2. Tür nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das kraftbeaufschlagende Mittel (70)
so eingerichtet ist, daß die Tür (30) zwischen der geöffneten und der geschlossenen
Stellung bei Beginn der Bewegung der Tür bei einer vorbestimmten Distanz, vorzugsweise
bei einem Schwenkwinkel von etwa 15 bis 20 Grad, mit einer vorbestimmten Rate bewegt
ist.
1. Coffret de stockage (100) à porte pivotante (30), ledit coffret comprenant une première
et une deuxième parois latérales parallèles opposées (12), une paroi supérieure (10)
et une paroi inférieure (14), une porte (30) à bords supérieur et inférieur opposés
(30b, 30c) et à bords latéraux opposés (30a), une paire de bras de pivotement (50)
pour déplacer la porte entre une position ouverte et une position fermée, chacun desdits
bras de pivotement incluant une première partie (52) montée à rotation près de l'une
desdites première et deuxième parois latérales (12) et une deuxième partie (54) s'étendant
vers l'extérieur à partir de ladite première partie (52) et attachée à ladite porte
(30) près dudit bord inférieur (30c) de celle-ci, ladite porte étant positionnée au
dessus de ladite paroi supérieure (10) lorsqu'elle est dans ladite position ouverte,
des moyens (70) servant à exercer une force étant en outre connectés auxdits bras
de pivotement tant pour déplacer et équilibrer cette porte, tandis que ladite porte
se déplace entre lesdites positions ouverte et fermée, que pour aider au déplacement
de cette porte une fois qu'un déplacement de ladite porte a été initié, caractérisé
en ce que la porte (30) est une porte pivotante mobile vers le haut, et chaque bras
de pivotement (50), destiné à déplacer ladite porte (30) entre une position ouverte
située au dessus dudit coffret et une position fermée, comporte une partie (52) de
disque, une saillie (54e) perpendiculaire à la partie (52) de disque et proche de
celle-ci et une partie allongée (54) de bras qui s'étend vers l'extérieur à partir
de ladite partie de disque et comporte une console de montage (56) à son extrémité
éloignée opposée à ladite partie (52) de disque, ladite partie (52) de disque étant
montée à rotation autour de son centre sur l'une desdites parois latérales et ladite
partie allongée (54) de bras étant fixée à ladite porte (30) près dudit bord inférieur
(30c) de celle-ci, chacun desdits moyens (70) servant à exercer une force comprenant
un ensemble (72) de piston et cylindre mobile à va-et-vient, structuré et agencé de
manière à déplacer sans aide ladite porte (30) vers sa position ouverte une fois que
le déplacement de ladite porte a été initié, l'un des éléments de l'ensemble (72)
de piston et cylindre étant connecté à pivotement à ladite saillie (54e) formée sur
lesdits bras de pivotement et l'autre élément de l'ensemble (72) de piston et cylindre
étant connecté à pivotement à ladite paroi latérale, de sorte que l'axe dudit ensemble
(72) de piston et cylindre mobile à va et vient n'est que légèrement déporté, lorsque
ladite porte est dans ladite position fermée, par rapport au centre de ladite partie
(52) de disque des bras de pivotement (50), et que ladite saillie (54e) à laquelle
ledit ensemble (72) de piston et cylindre est connecté à pivotement auxdits bras de
pivotement (50) se déplace légèrement vers l'avant en direction de la porte de coffret,
lorsque ce déplacement de la porte est initié pour amener ladite porte à se déplacer
vers ladite position ouverte, ce qui modifie la direction de la force engendrée par
ledit déplacement dudit ensemble de piston et cylindre mobile à va-et-vient pour qu'elle
devienne essentiellement tangentielle à ladite partie de disque desdits bras de pivotement
de façon à permettre à ladite porte de se déplacer sur le reste de son parcours sous
l'effet de la seule force engendrée par ledit moyen exerçant un force.
2. Coffret selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (70) servant
à exercer une force sont agencés de manière à déplacer ladite porte (30) entre lesdites
positions ouverte et fermée à une vitesse contrôlée dès lors qu'un déplacement de
ladite porte est initié d'une distance prédéterminée, de préférence à un angle de
rotation d'environ 15 à 20 degrés.