An opening/closing device

Abstract

 An opening/closing device comprises a handle (2), a locking/unlocking assembly (3) active on the handle (2) and release means (5) simultaneously active on the handle (2) and the locking/unlocking assembly (3) to enable the handle (2) to reach the open position independently of the operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening/closing device, particularly appropriate for use when coupled with motor-vehicle hatches or doors.

[0002] It is known that heavy duty transport means travelling on wheels (articulated lorries, lorries with trailers, lorries and so on) often have a rigid closed structure inside which the goods are stowed; access to such a structure takes place through hatches or doors that are often of important sizes and therefore require appropriate mechanisms enabling easy opening and safe closing of same.

[0003] Generally these mechanisms consist of a handle pivotally mounted on a rod extending along the height of the door and having different hooks; through pulling (or pushing) of the handle the rod rotates and the hooks disengage (or engage) the door, thereby allowing opening (or closing) thereof.

[0004] The handle is usually housed in a metal cradle that is embedded in the outer face of the door, so that the handle itself is at the outside of the cargo compartment; in addition the devices of known type usually have a locking/unlocking assembly for the handle to be operated through a key that can lock the handle to the closed position and therefore prevent access to the cargo compartment.

[0005] In addition to the locking/unlocking assembly there is a safety assembly the main function of which is to prevent an operator from accidentally remaining closed within the cargo compartment: this safety assembly is conveniently drivable from the inside of the cargo compartment and acts on the handle (or on possible retaining hooks of the handle) so as to enable opening of the door.

[0006] In the devices of known type all the different mechanisms are housed on the same side of the metal cradle, through appropriate welding of the different components to the bottom of the metal cradle (and more specifically to the face of the cradle bottom facing outwardly of the vehicle).

[0007] However, the known art briefly described above, while widely spread, has some limits.

[0008] In fact, in spite of the presence of the safety assembly, in devices of known type opening of the door from the inside is in any case prevented should someone operate the key of the locking-unlocking assembly.

[0009] In other words, in devices of known type the safety assembly only acts on the handle but is not able to intervene on the locking/unlocking assembly and this obviously results in high risks in terms of safety of use (let us think of the possibility for an operator to be closed inside a refrigerating compartment of a lorry, for example, if a driver, being unaware of this, has locked the refrigerating compartment itself from the outside).

[0010] In addition, since all mechanisms present in the devices of known type are mounted on the same side of the metal cradle, there is a limited structural efficiency because the reduced available spaces and the most widespread interconnecting methodologies (such as welding, glueing, etc.) hardly support particularly high tensile loads or intense vibration conditions. Welds therefore can give way rather easily, following a breaking-open action or a long running on uneven road surfaces, for example.

[0011] Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive an opening/closing device to be advantageously used for hatches or doors in motor-vehicles such as lorries, vans and the like, capable of substantially obviating the mentioned limits.

[0012] Mainly, it is an aim of the present invention to conceive an opening/closing device enabling correct operation of the safety assembly even when the handle has been locked to a closed position, first of all operating the locking/unlocking assembly.

[0013] Within the scope of this technical task it is an important aim of the invention to conceive an opening/closing device that is substantially free from problems concerning separation of the components from the metal cradle following too high efforts or vibrations.

[0014] Another important aim of the invention is to conceive an opening/closing device having a great manufacture simplicity, together with a great facility of use and installation on any door (which is advantageous for the production economy and for cost reduction).

[0015] The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are substantially achieved by an opening/closing device having the features reproduced in one or more of the appended claims.

[0016] Description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an opening/closing device in accordance with the invention is now given by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a device in accordance with the present invention;
• Fig. 2 shows a detail of the cross-section seen in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a component of the device in accordance with the present invention; and
• Fig. 4 is a side view of a further component of the device in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] With reference to the drawings, the opening/closing device in accordance with the invention is generally identified by reference numeral 1.

[0018] As already mentioned above, this device can be advantageously employed coupled with hatches or doors, such as the doors of heavy-duty vehicles for goods transportation.

[0019] It substantially consists of at least one handle 2 that can be set between a closed position and at least one open position; a locking/unlocking assembly 3 is also present which is operatively active on handle 2 and in turn can be set between an operating condition at which it keeps handle 2 stably to the closed position and a second operating condition at which, on the contrary, it allows handle 2 to take (or better to be brought to) an open position.

[0020] In turn, the locking/unlocking assembly 3 comprises a transmission element 3a (that can merely consist of a suitably-shaped metal tab) which mainly aims at keeping handle 2 locked to a closed position (or, in other words, to the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly 3).

[0021] Clearly, in order to ensure the necessary safety against undesired opening actions from the outside, the locking/unlocking assembly 3 further comprises a lock block 3b to be conveniently operated by a key and operatively active on the transmission element 3a.

[0022] By suitably rotating the key in the lock block 3b, the transmission element 3a is brought to interfere with, or is moved away from handle 2, preventing or allowing operation of the door from the outside.

[0023] Advantageously, release means 5 is present which is simultaneously active on handle 2 and on the locking/unlocking assembly 3 to enable the open position of handle 2 to be reached.

[0024] It is to be noted that the release means 5 operates in such a manner that it enables handle 2 to be brought to the open position at the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly 3 (in other words, when the locking/unlocking assembly 3 has been set so as to prevent opening of the door from the outside).

[0025] Conveniently this release means 5 will be operable from the inside of the door that in this manner can be opened even if someone has unintentionally operated the locking/unlocking assembly 3.

[0026] The release means 5 can be made in different ways and shapes, provided they meet the requirements.

[0027] In more detail, as viewed from the accompanying figures, the release means 5 comprises at least one release element or body 5a that can be shaped in any manner provided it transmits the appropriate mechanical actions to the locking/unlocking assembly 3 and to handle 2 (and possibly to other components of device 1 that could inhibit opening of handle 2, as better clarified in the following); advantageously, this release body 5a is operable from an inner compartment that typically is closed by a door that can be provided with device 1.

[0028] Advantageously, the release body 5a has an operating surface 4 suitably shaped and oriented so that it can exchange the required constraining reactions with the locking/unlocking assembly 3: with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it is possible to see that moving forward of the release body 5a (and consequently, moving forward of the inclined surface 4 forming the head of the wedge-shaped portion of the release body 5a) generates thrusts in the direction "F" on the locking/unlocking assembly 3, and more particularly on the transmission element 3a.

[0029] Still with reference to the drawings, displacement of the locking/unlocking assembly 3, even when it is in its operating condition, enables the transmission element 3a to be disengaged from handle 2, and therefore allows free rotation of the latter (that can be induced by the same moving forward of the release body 5a).

[0030] Therefore, within the scope of the present invention it is possible to notice that predetermined movements of the locking/unlocking assembly 3, that can be able to move fully or only partly, correspond to predetermined displacements of the release body 5a: for example, in the embodiment shown, due to the particular conformation of the transmission element 3a (shown in more detail herebelow) the latter can move close to the lock block 3b that practically keeps itself rigidly fastened to handle 2.

[0031] In fact, the transmission element 3a has a release groove 4a which is suitably shaped so as to allow relative movements (translation and/or rotation movements) of the transmission element 3a with respect to the lock block 3b. At all events, the whole assembly consisting of the transmission element 3a and lock block 3b can be made movable by forming appropriate slides between handle 2 and the locking/unlocking assembly 3, for example.

[0032] On the other hand, alternative solutions in accordance with the present invention can involve the presence of a release portion movably mounted on the transmission element 3a and submitted to mechanical actions from the operating surface 4: still by virtue of these displacements, such a release portion that generally is brought to interfere with handle 2 through suitable rotation of the key in the lock block 3b, is such displaced as to free handle 2.

[0033] In each of these cases, the operating surface 4 of the release body 5a and the release portion mounted on the transmission element 3a will be suitably shaped, so as to efficiently convert a thrust action exerted from the inside of the door into a (translation and/or rotation) displacement of the release body 5a and thus open handle 2.

[0034] In order to give more safety in use, above all in the closed position of handle 2, an unhooking body 6 can be advantageously present, said body being operatively active on handle 2; such an unhooking body 6 is preferably operable from the outside but, at all events, it can be also operated from the inside, by acting on the release body 5a. Conveniently operation of the release body 5a will have simultaneous effects on the locking/unlocking assembly 3, on handle 2 and also on the unhooking body 6, if any. During normal operation from the outside, the unhooking body 6 does not allow opening of handle 2 if said handle has been previously locked by acting on the locking/unlocking assembly 3.

[0035] In order to enable easy installation, a holding cradle 7 is present which is designed to (at least partly) hold handle 2, the locking/unlocking assembly, the release means 5 and possibly the unhooking body 6 (if present).

[0036] In more detail, this holding cradle 7 can be embedded in an outer face of a door and substantially comprises a bottom wall 7a from the periphery of which a side wall 7b extends. Also present is an edge 7c that at least partly surrounds the side wall 7b. Conveniently, edge 7c is defined by a frame substantially extending in a plane parallel to the plane of bottom 7a and has appropriate connecting holes for insertion of elements for fastening to the door.

[0037] According to a particularly innovative and original aspect of the present invention, the bottom wall 7a has a raised portion 8 extending in the direction of edge 7c.

[0038] Advantageously, the presence of a hooking base 9 can be provided; said base is designed to be interposed, under the assembled conditions of device 1 and a door, between the holding cradle 7 and a face of the door itself.

[0039] This hooking base 9 has a predetermined number of hooking expansions 9a jutting out towards the edge 7c (or in other words, at the inside of the holding cradle 7, or towards the outside of the door). These hooking expansions 9a practically act as anchoring points for the different components of device 1 housed within cradle 7 and can be obtained through bending (or drawing, or at all events through any production methodology).

[0040] In order to be able to correctly house the hooking base 9, the holding cradle 7 may have a raised portion 8 at its bottom 7a, which raised portion when device 1 is assembled with a door defines a hollow space adapted to receive at least the hooking base 9 itself.

[0041] In other words, the space included between the ideal surface subtended by bottom 7a and the ideal surface subtended by the raised portion 8 has a shape matching that of the hooking base 9 at least partly, whereas the hooking expansions 9a project into the holding cradle 7 (or in other words, towards the outside of the door).

[0042] Due to the particular construction architecture of the hooking base 9, bottom 7a may have a given number of through openings 8a, preferably at the raised portion 8, for insertion of the hooking expansions 9a themselves.

[0043] The structure hitherto described enables an innovative and original method of assembling a closing device and a door to be defined: in fact, first the holding cradle 7 and the different mechanisms to be housed within the cradle 7 itself (handle 2, the locking/unlocking assembly 3, release means 5, and possibly the unhooking body 6) are arranged, then the hooking base 9 and the related hooking expansions 9a are set, through punching (or equivalent methodology) and subsequent bending to obtain the hooking expansions 9a.

[0044] Advantageously, the appropriate through openings 8a are made in the bottom 7a of cradle 7 and then the hooking base 9 is positioned on the door; once the hooking base 9 is put in place, the holding cradle 7 is superposed thereon so as to make the expansions 9a pass through openings 8a and finally the different components of device 1 are mounted on the expansions 9a. (In other words, all the necessary components are assembled on the door).

[0045] At this point it is to be noted that the raised portion 8 is optional: in fact, alternatively the fitting seat of the cradle on the door could be shaped so that a space for the hooking base 9 would be provided or cradle 7 could be forcedly fitted into the door taking care to carry out interposition of the base 9 itself (thereby letting the mechanical action combined with deformability of the materials automatically create the necessary space).

[0046] In addition, the hooking base 9 could possibly be welded (or fastened in any manner) to bottom 7a before assembling to the door, always keeping into account the above described particular arrangement.

[0047] In this way, the hooking base 9 is practically embedded between the holding cradle 7 and the door, and therefore it cannot be separated from the door unless a very destructive action is exerted on said cradle 7: this is very different from the devices of known type, where all components are on the same side of the cradle and therefore can be broken rather easily (or more generally separated very easily) also as a result of weak pulling actions.

[0048] It will be recognized that also falling within the scope of the present invention is a door provided with a device 1 of the type hereinbefore described, as well as a vehicle comprising at least one door having a device 1 of the described type.

[0049] The invention achieves important advantages.

[0050] First of all it will be appreciated that the particular construction architecture of the present device enables both the handle and the locking/unlocking assembly to be unlocked by intervening from the inside of the cargo compartment of a vehicle: this obviously involves an important increase in the safety features of the whole device, without on the other hand impairing safety resulting from carrying out locking from the outside by a key.

[0051] Another advantage of the present invention resides in that it is possible to obtain a great stability and coherence of the different components assembled, due to the particular arrangement of the components of the device themselves: in other words, while in devices of known type all components are assembled on the same side of the metal cradle, in the present invention exploitation of the hollow space formed between the metal cradle and the door gives rise to a much safer and more efficient interlocking.

[0052] Finally the structural features herein described and claimed are of great construction simplicity and very high operating reliability, which is advantageous in terms of practical working, regular operation in use and cost reduction.

Claims

1. An opening/closing device, preferably to be associated with vehicle hatches or doors, comprising:

- at least one handle (2) that can be reversibly set between a closed position and at least one open position; and

- a locking/unlocking assembly (3) operatively active on said handle (2), which locking/unlocking assembly (3) can be reversibly set between a first operating condition at which it keeps the handle (2) in said closed position and a second operating condition at which it allows the handle (2) to be brought to said open position;

characterized in that it further comprises release means (5) simultaneously active on the handle (2) and the locking/unlocking assembly (3) to enable the handle (2) to reach the open position at the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly (3).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the release means (5) comprises a release body (5a) active at least on the handle (2) and/or the locking/unlocking assembly (3) and operable from an inner compartment delimited by a door.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking/unlocking assembly (3) comprises a transmission element (3a) designed to keep the handle (2) in a closed position at the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly (3).

4. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking/unlocking assembly (3) further comprises a lock block (3b) preferably operable by a key and operatively active on the transmission element (3a).

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said release body (5a) has at least one operating surface (4) designed to engage the transmission element (3a) and/or the lock block (3b).

6. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission element (3a) and/or lock block (3b) is movably engaged along a release direction (F), predetermined displacements of the operating surface (4) corresponding to movements of the transmission element (3a) and/or of the lock block (3b) along said release direction (F).

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the transmission element (3a) has a release groove (4a) adapted to enable sliding and/or rotation movements of the transmission element (3a) relative to the lock block (3b) .

8. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an unhooking body (6) operatively active on the handle (2), said unhooking body (6) being preferably operable by the release means (5) too.

9. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a holding cradle (7) designed to at least partly hold the handle (2) and/or the locking/unlocking assembly (3) and/or the release means (5) and/or the unhooking body (6).

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said holding cradle (7) can be embedded in an outer face of a door and comprises:

- a bottom wall (7a);

- a side wall (7b) peripherally extending from said bottom wall (7a); and

- an edge (7c) at least partly surrounding said side wall (7b).

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises a hooking base (9) designed to be interposed, under the assembled conditions of the device (1) and a door, between the holding cradle (7) and a face of the door itself.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the bottom wall (7a) has a raised portion (8) extending in the direction of the edge (7c), said raised portion (8) under the assembled conditions of the device (1) and a door, defining a hollow space adapted to receive at least said hooking base (9).

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the hooking base (9) has a predetermined number of hooking expansions (9a) jutting out towards the edge (7c) of the holding cradle (7), the bottom (7a), at the raised portion (8), preferably showing a predetermined number of through openings (8a) for insertion of said hooking expansions (9a).

14. An opening/closing device to be associated with vehicle hatches or doors, comprising:

- a handle (2) that can be reversibly set between a closed position and at least one open position; and

- a locking/unlocking assembly (3) operatively active on said handle (2), which locking/unlocking assembly (3) can be reversibly set between a first operating condition at which it keeps the handle (2) in said closed position and a second operating condition at which it allows the handle (2) to be brought to said open position, the locking/unlocking assembly (3) comprising a transmission element (3a) active on the handle (2) and a lock block (3b) operable by a key and operatively active on the transmission element (3a);

characterized in that it further comprises release means (5) simultaneously active on the handle (2) and the locking/unlocking assembly (3) to enable the handle (2) to reach the open position at the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly (3), the release means (5) comprising a release body (5a) active on the locking/unlocking assembly (3) and operable from an inner compartment delimited by a door, said release body (5a) having at least one operating surface (4) designed to engage the transmission element (3a) and/or the lock block (3b), predetermined displacements of the operating surface (4) corresponding to movements of the transmission element (3a) and/or the lock block (3b) along said release direction (F).

15. An opening/closing device to be associated with vehicle hatches or doors, comprising:

- a handle (2) that can be reversibly set between a closed position and at least one open position; and

- a locking/unlocking assembly (3) operatively active on said handle (2);

- release means (5) simultaneously active on the handle (2) and the locking/unlocking assembly (3) to allow the handle (2) to reach an open position at the first operating condition of the locking/unlocking assembly (3);

- a holding cradle (7) to be embedded in an outer face of a door and designed to at least partly hold the handle (2), the locking/unlocking assembly (3) and the release means (5);

characterized in that it further comprises a hooking base (9) designed to be interposed, in the assembled conditions of the device (1) and a door, between the holding cradle (7) and a face of a door, said holding cradle (7) comprising a raised portion (8) that, under the assembling conditions of the device (1) and a door, defines a hollow space adapted to receive at least said hooking base (9).

16. A hatch or door or similar element, characterized in that it comprises at least one device (1) as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims.

17. A vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle or the like, comprising at least one door as claimed in claim 16.

18. A method of assembling an opening/closing device on a door, comprising the following steps:

- arranging a holding cradle (7), a handle (2), a locking/unlocking assembly (3), release means (5) and/or a hooking body (6); and

- assembling the holding cradle (7), handle (2), locking/unlocking assembly (3), release means (5) and/or hooking body (6) on the door;

characterized in that said assembling step comprises a sub-step of interposing said hooking base (9) between the door and at least the holding cradle (7).

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said arranging step comprises the following substeps:

- making a raised portion (8) on the bottom (7a) of the holding cradle (7);

- making a predetermined number of through openings (8a), preferably in the raised portion (8);

- making a predetermined number of hooking expansions (9a) on the hooking base (9).

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the assembling step involves a sub-step of causing the hooking expansions (9a) to pass through the through openings (8a).

Drawing