A door opening and/or closing device

Abstract

 A door (1; 101), designed to be positioned along the edge of a room, is equipped with a device (100; 106) for opening and/or closing it, which has a control section (6; 107), in particular of the type with a handle, supported by a door (1; 101) panel (2; 102) and which can be operated manually both from inside and from outside the room to open and/or close the door (1; 101), and a pedal part (8a; 110), supported by a lower portion of the door (1; 101) panel (2; 102) and at least partially housed inside the panel (2; 102) so that it is accessible both from inside and from outside the room; between the pedal part (8a; 110) and the control section (6; 107) there being a transmission part (18; 118) for operating the control section (6; 107) indirectly with the pedal part (8a; 110) and the transmission part (18; 118).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a door opening and/or closing device.

[0002] In particular, and without limiting the scope of application, the present invention relates to a device for opening and/or closing toilet doors.

[0003] It is known from many scientific studies carried out in recent years that the toilet doors in bars and restaurants, shops, hospitals, care homes, schools, stations, universities, etc., due to the contact between hands and the handles, constitute a vehicle for the spread of not just dirt, but also infections.

[0004] The above-mentioned studies, with the addition of statistical inquiries, demonstrated how a high percentage of users do not wash their hands before and/or after using the toilet.

[0005] In an attempt to at least partly overcome the above-mentioned problem, double swing doors were used, with elastic hinges. However, such doors have the disadvantage of requiring double the room for manoeuvre required by normal doors and, therefore, given that toilets are often in limited spaces, their use was not particularly practical. Moreover, due to the operating play required, double swing doors leave open gaps which limit the toilet user's "privacy".

[0006] Automatic, electric or pneumatic doors are also known, whose opening can be controlled by presence sensors able to detect an approaching user. Obviously, if these types of doors are effective as external doors, for example of a shop, the same cannot be said for access to a toilet, since they can easily open at an unwanted time, violating the toilet user's " privacy ". Moreover, such doors are very expensive and require continuous and qualified maintenance.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a door opening and/or closing device which offers sufficient hygiene guarantees and which is at the same time practical, simple and economical to use and produce and can provide and guarantee the user the necessary "privacy".

[0008] The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above-mentioned aim, can be clearly deduced from the claims herein, in particular claim 1 and, preferably, any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1. The advantages of the present invention are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, without limiting the scope of its application, and in which:

• Figure 1 illustrates a door fitted with a first embodiment of the opening and/or closing device made according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a vertical front section with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of a detail of the device illustrated in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a horizontal section with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of the detail illustrated in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is vertical side section with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of the door illustrated in Figure 1;
• Figure 5 illustrates a door fitted with a second embodiment of the opening and/or closing device according to the present invention;
• Figure 6 is a view of the device illustrated in Figure 5 with some parts in cross-section in a plane parallel with the larger faces of the door and with some parts cut away for greater clarity;
• Figure 7 is a front view, from an external larger face of the door illustrated in Figure 5, of a first detail of the opening and/or closing device made according to the present invention;
• Figure 8 illustrates the detail of Figure 7 in a vertical section plane transversal to the larger faces of the door illustrated in Figure 5;
• Figures 9 and 10 are front views, respectively from an inner larger face and an outer larger face of the door illustrated in Figure 5, of a second and a third detail of the opening and/or closing device made according to the present invention; and;
• Figure 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 10.

[0009] With reference to Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a door designed to be positioned along the edge of a room, in particular, but not necessarily, the edge of a room housing toilet facilities.

[0010] As is better illustrated in Figure 4, the door 1 comprises a panel 2, for example of the hollow, veneered, PVC type, etc., externally delimited, at the front and at the back, by two larger flat faces 3 set opposite, parallel with and at a distance from one another. The panel 2 has, between the faces 3, an inner cavity 4 housing a door 1 supporting structure, not illustrated.

[0011] The door 1 is hinged in the conventional way to a U-shaped fixed frame 5, which supports the door 1 so that it is suspended vertically over the floor. The door 1 is also equipped with a manual opening device 6 which, for each of the faces 3, comprises a handle 7 operating in conjunction with a latch, in the known way and not illustrated. The latter is brought into the opening position using the handles 7, whilst it is closed by simply pushing the door 1 against the fixed frame 5.

[0012] Door 1 opening can be controlled not just with the device 6, but also with a pedal device 8 comprising a pedal part 8a supported by a lower portion of the door 1. The devices 6 and 8 and the above-mentioned latch, labelled 100 as a whole, constitute the door 1 opening and/or closing device according to the present invention.

[0013] The part 8a comprises a frame 9 partially recessed into the panel 2 and a pedal 10 mounted in such a way that it slides vertically on the frame 9. The frame 9 forms a through-hole 11 in the panel 2 so that the pedal 10 can be accessed and operated from both faces 3 of the panel 2.

[0014] The pedal 10 has a lower portion 12 coated with non-slip material, and two side arms 13, which extend upwards from the portion 12 and have external longitudinal grooves 14 that slidably engage on corresponding vertical ribs 15 on the frame 9. In this way, the pedal 10 can slide relative to the frame 9 between two end positions, specifically, between a raised stand by position and a lowered door 1 opening position. The side arms 13 are connected to one another at the top by an arced bridge 16 to which a first end of a cable 17, preferably steel, is attached. The cable is part of a device 100 transmission part 18.

[0015] The transmission part 18 comprises, in addition to the cable 17, a pulley 19, connected to the device 6 so that it rotates integrally with the handles 7. The pulley 19 is mounted between the faces 3, coaxially on the rotation pins of the handles 7, and a second end of the cable 17, opposite the above-mentioned first end is partially wound around it.

[0016] The return of the pedal 10 from the above-mentioned lowered opening position to the raised stand-by position is guaranteed by a spring, not illustrated, in the device 6, also designed to return, in the known way, the handles 7 from their opening position, rotated downwards, to their stand by position, in which the handles 7 are horizontal. The cable 17 is slidably housed inside a tubular protective element 20, positioned inside the cavity 4 in the panel 2.

[0017] In this way, with obvious advantages in terms of aesthetics and reliability, the transmission part 18 is completely housed and fully protected inside the panel 2.

[0018] Thanks to its simple operation, economical production and versatile installation, said device 100 is particularly suitable for widespread use even on doors already in use.

[0019] Figures 5 to 11 refer to an alternative embodiment of the device 100 described above. Said alternative embodiment, labelled 106 as a whole, is mounted on a door 101 similar to the door 1 described above.

[0020] The door 101 comprises a panel 102, for example of the hollow, veneered, PVC type, etc., externally delimited, at the front and at the back, by two larger flat faces 103, 104 set opposite, parallel with and at a distance from one another. In particular, the face 103, illustrated in Figure 5, is designed to face the inside of the room, whilst the face 104 is designed to face the outside of the room. The panel 102 is hinged in the conventional way to a U-shaped fixed frame 105 of the door 101 and has, between the faces 103 and 104, an inner cavity housing a panel 102 supporting structure, not illustrated.

[0021] The device 106 comprises a manual control section 107 which in turn comprises, for each of the faces 103 and 104, a handle 108 supported by the panel 102 and operating in conjunction with a latch, in the known way and not illustrated. The latter, also part of the device 106, is brought into the opening position using the handles 108, whilst it is closed by the action of a return spring, not illustrated.

[0022] Door 101 opening can be controlled not just directly with the section 107, but also indirectly with an actuator 109 connected to the section 107 and also part of the device 106.

[0023] The actuator 109 comprises a pedal part 110, supported by a lower portion of the panel 102 and, in turn, comprising a frame 111 at least partially recessed into the panel 102 and a pedal 112 mounted in such a way that it slides vertically on the frame 111. The frame 111 forms a through-hole 113 in the panel 102 so that the pedal 112 can be accessed and operated from both faces 103, 104 of the panel 102.

[0024] As is better illustrated in Figure 6, the pedal 112 has a lower portion 114 coated with non-slip material and two side arms 115, which extend upwards from the portion 114 and slidably engage on corresponding sides 116 of the frame 111. In this way, the pedal 112 can slide relative to the frame 111 between two end positions, specifically, as becomes clearer below, between a lowered door 101 opening position and a raised door closing position.

[0025] The side arms 115 are connected to one another at the top by an arced bridge 117 to which a first end of an actuator 109 transmission part 118 is hinged.

[0026] The part 118 is housed inside the panel 102, between the faces 103 and 104, and comprises a driving shaft 119 integral with the connecting pin of the handles 108 and a rigid connecting bar 120, whose first end 121 is hinged to the driving shaft 119 and whose second end 122 is hinged to the bridge 117 of the pedal 112.

[0027] The return of the pedal 112 from the above-mentioned lowered opening position to the raised closing position is guaranteed by the spring in the manual control section 107.

[0028] In addition to the manual control section 107 and the actuator 109, the device 106 comprises a security section 123 for preventing or allowing door 101 opening.

[0029] The section 123 is controlled by a transmission pin 124, rotatably supported by a lower portion of the panel 102, between the faces 103 and 104, at a right angle to the faces 103 and 104. The section 123 comprises an appendage 125 or finger or projection extending radially from an intermediate portion of the pin 124 and having a shape matching the shape of a race 126 made in the lower portion 114 of the pedal 112 and opposite the pin 124.

[0030] The appendage 125, which may or may not form a single piece with the pin 124, is designed to engage with the pedal 112 outside the race 126 (Figure 6), locking the pedal 112 in the above-mentioned raised closing position, when the pin 124 is in a first, locking angular position. It is also designed for insertion in the race 126, allowing the pedal 112 to reach the above-mentioned lowered opening position, when the pin 124 is in a second, unlocking angular position. In particular, when the pin 124 is in the second, unlocking angular position, the appendage 125 and the race 126 slide relative to one another as the pedal 112 passes between the above-mentioned opening and closing positions.

[0031] As is better illustrated in Figure 9, the pin 124 is part of a transmission part 127 of an actuator 128, which comprises a pedal part 129 for indirectly operating the security section 123.

[0032] The part 129 is supported by a lower portion of the panel 102, below the part 110 and by the pin 124 to which it is connected, and comprises a pedal 130 supported integrally and centrally, like a rocker arm, by one end 131 of the pin 124 projecting from the face 103. Relative to the pin 124, the pedal 130 has two opposite arms 132 and 133, forming a two-sided or double pedal, which can be used to rotate the pin 124 between the above-mentioned actuator 109 locking and unlocking angular positions. The arms 132 and 133 are both coated with a non-slip material, similar or identical to that used for the pedal 112.

[0033] The pedal 130 position illustrated with a continuous line in Figure 9 corresponds to the appendage 125 position illustrated in Figure 6, whilst the pedal 130 position illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 9 corresponds to the appendage 125 position, not illustrated, vertically aligned with the race 126.

[0034] As illustrated in Figure 10, on the opposite side of the pedal 130, and precisely with one of its ends 134 projecting from the face 104, that is to say, accessible from outside the room, the pin 124 supports a nut 136 of an emergency actuator part 135. The nut 136 is integral with the pin 124 and has a square cross-section so that it can be operated with a universal wrench, not illustrated.

[0035] The security section 123 may be operated not just using the pedal part 129 and the emergency part 135, but also using another manual control section 137, supported by the panel 102 on the face 103 side, that is to say, inside the room, and connected to the section 123.

[0036] The section 137 comprises a knob 138, extending from the face 103 and positioned close to the handle 108, a driving shaft 139, integral with the knob 138 pin, and a rigid connecting bar 140, with a first end 141 hinged to the driving shaft 139 and a second end 142 connected to the arm 133 of the pedal 130 by means of an arced connecting rod 143. The end 142 is hinged to a first end 144 of the connecting rod 143, whose opposite end 145 is hinged to a pin 146 in turn hinged to one end 147 of the arm 133. The pin 146 extends transversally to the face 103 and passes through the face 103 from one side to the other thanks to an arced slot 148 with which the pin 146 is slidably engaged.

[0037] The driving shaft 139 and the bar 140 are both housed inside the panel 102 between the faces 103 and 104.

[0038] As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the security section 123 comprises, in addition to the appendage 125, a room status indication device 149, that is to say, a device for indicating whether the room is free or occupied.

[0039] The device 149 comprises a mobile sector 150, which is semi-circular in shape and is divided into a first, green half-portion 151 and a second, open half-portion 152 forming a window 153. The sector 150 is keyed to the knob 138 pin on the face 104 side, that is to say, outside the room, and moves integrally with the knob 138 between an "'occupied'' position, in which the window 153 leaves a fixed red sector 154 applied to the face 104 uncovered, and a "free" position, in which the half-portion 151 covers the sector 154. Notice that in Figure 7, which illustrates the sector 150 in the "occupied" position, the "free" position is turned clockwise relative to the " occupied " position. The sector 150 position illustrated in Figure 7 corresponds to the positions of the driving shafts 119 and 139 illustrated in Figure 6 and the position of the pedal 130 illustrated with a continuous line in Figure 9.

[0040] On the opposite side of the knob 138, and precisely with one of its ends 155 projecting from the face 104, that is to say, accessible from outside the room, the knob 138 pin supports another emergency actuator part 135 nut 156. The nut 156 is integral with the knob 138 pin and, like the above-mentioned nut 136, has a square cross-section so that it can be operated with a universal wrench, not illustrated.

[0041] Operation of the door 101 opening and/or closing device 106 can be immediately deduced from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, therefore, it requires no further explanation.

[0042] However, it is important to notice that the presence of the manual control section 137 is important in terms of safety. If door 101 locking is activated with the door in the closed position, deliberately or accidentally, by the pedal 130, it may be unlocked intuitively using the knob 138. The knob 138 is a conventional, universally recognised locking/unlocking device.

[0043] The presence of the manual control section 137 is also of universal significance. The knob 138 is useful, if not essential, for users with reduced motor capacity or those not particularly sensitive to the more hygienic use of the pedal 130.

[0044] This universal value is also guaranteed by the simultaneous presence of conventional handles 108 and the pedal-type actuator 109.

[0045] In a first embodiment of the invention disclosed, the emergency actuator part 135 may alternatively comprise only the nut 136 or only the nut 156.

[0046] In a second embodiment of the invention disclosed, the room status indication may involve the use of text rather than a colour. In particular, the text "free " may be an alternative embodiment to the colour green and the text "occupied" may be an alternative embodiment to the colour red.

[0047] In a third embodiment of the invention disclosed, the security section 123 may comprise alternatively only the appendage 125 or only the room status indication device 149. In the former case, the section 123 security function is to prevent or allow door 101 opening. In the latter case, it is simply to indicate the room status.

[0048] In a fourth embodiment of the invention disclosed, the manual control section 137 is absent.

[0049] In a fifth embodiment of the invention disclosed, the manual control section 137 is absent and the security section 123 comprises, not just the appendage 125, but also an indication device 157 similar to the device 149 but attached to the pin 124 as illustrated in Figure 11. Specifically, the sector 150 is keyed to the pin 124 at one of its ends 134.

[0050] Again, the room status indication may use text instead of a colour. In particular, the text "free" may be an alternative embodiment to the colour green and the text "occupied" may be an alternative embodiment to the colour red.

[0051] Again, the security section 123 may comprise alternatively only the appendage 125 or only the room status indication device 157.

[0052] From the embodiments of the invention described above by way of example, it is clear that the present invention achieves the aim of providing a door opening and/or closing device which offers sufficient hygiene guarantees and which is at the same time practical, simple and economical to use and produce and can provide and guarantee the user the necessary privacy''

[0053] In particular, it is important to emphasise the compatibility of the device disclosed with mass diffusion, since it is produced using few components, all commonly used in the manufacturing industry and in particular in the door and window frames sector.

[0054] Moreover, installation of a device made according to the present invention does not require modifications to known door construction techniques, and the device may be attached to the various types of locks, handles and knobs now used. Finally, the structure of the device disclosed, being exclusively mechanical, makes the device particularly suitable for operation in environments with a high level of humidity and in which there may even be corrosive agents present, for example and in particular in public baths. To this it is important to add that the device's simplicity and strength and the fact that most of the device is housed inside the door panel means that it does not require maintenance.

[0055] The invention described can be subject to modifications and variations, or various combinations of the above-mentioned embodiments, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A door opening and/or closing device; the door (1; 101) comprising a panel (2; 102) with two larger faces, opposite and at a distance from one another, and control means (6; 107), mounted on the panel (2; 102), it being possible to operate them manually to open the door (1; 101); the device (100; 106) being characterised in that it comprises a pedal part (8a; 110), supported by a lower portion of the door (1; 101), and a transmission part (18; 118), inserted between the pedal part (8a; 110) and the control means (6; 107) for operating the control means (6; 107) indirectly with the pedal part (8a; 110) and the transmission part (18; 118); the pedal part (8a; 110) being at least partially housed inside the panel (2; 102) and accessible from at least one of the larger faces of the panel (2; 102).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the transmission part (18; 118) is housed inside the panel (2; 102) between the larger faces.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pedal part (8a; 110) can be accessed from both of the larger faces of the panel (2; 102).

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the pedal part (8a; 110) comprises a frame (9; 111) at least partially recessed into the panel (2; 102) and a pedal (10; 112) mounted in such a way that it slides on the frame (9; 111) and connected to the transmission part (18; 118).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the pedal (10; 112) is coated with non-slip material.

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the transmission part (18) comprises a pulley (19) integrally connected to the control means (6) and a cable (17) inserted between the pedal (10) and the pulley (19).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterised in that the cable (17) is slidably housed inside a tubular protective element (20) positioned inside the panel (2) between the larger faces (3), and is at least partially wound around the pulley (19).

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the control means (6) comprise at least one handle (7) integrally connected to the pulley (19).

9. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 8 for opening a door (1; 101) fitted with a latch connected to the control means, characterised in that the transmission part (18; 118) is inserted between the pedal part (8a; 110) and the latch for operating the latch indirectly with the pedal part (8a; 110) and the transmission part (18; 118).

10. The device according to claim 1, in which the door (101) is designed to be positioned along the edge of a room and in which a first larger face (103, 104) of the panel (102) is designed to face the inside of the room and a second larger face (103, 104) is designed to face the outside of the room; the pedal part (110) and the transmission part (118) forming actuator means (109) for indirect operation of the first control means (107); the device (106) also comprising security means (123) for preventing or allowing door (101) opening and/or for indicating the room status, in particular with text, "free" or "occupied", or with colour, green or red; the device (106) being characterised in that it comprises a second pedal-type actuator part (129), supported by a lower portion of the panel (102) and which can be operated from the first face (103) side, that is to say, from inside the room, and a second transmission part (127), inserted between the second pedal-type actuator part (129) and the security means (123) to allow operation of the security means (123) indirectly using the second pedal-type actuator part (129) and the second transmission part (127).

11. A door opening and/or closing device; the door (101) being designed to be positioned along the edge of a room and comprising a panel (102) with two larger faces (103, 104), which are opposite and at a distance from one another; a first face (103, 104) being designed to face the inside of the room and a second face (103, 104) being designed to face the outside of the room; the device (106) comprising first control means (107), in particular of the type with a handle, supported by the panel (102), it being possible to operate them manually to open and/or close the door (101), actuator means (109) for indirectly operating the first control means (107) and security means (123) for preventing or allowing door (101) opening and/or for indicating the room status, in particular with text, "free" or "occupied", or with colour, green or red; the device (106) being characterised in that it comprises a first pedal-type actuator part (129), supported by a lower portion of the panel (102) and which can be operated from the first face (103) side, that is to say, from inside the room, and a first transmission part (127), inserted between the first pedal-type actuator part (129) and the security means (123) to allow operation of the security means (123) indirectly using the first pedal-type actuator part (129) and the first transmission part (127).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that it comprises an emergency actuator part (135) which can be operated from the second face (104) side, that is to say, from outside the room; the emergency actuator part (135) being connected to the security means (123) so that the security means (123) can be operated from outside the room.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterised in that the emergency actuator part (135) is connected to the first transmission part (127) so that the security means (123) can be operated using the first transmission part (127).

14. The device according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the emergency actuator part (135) can be operated with a universal wrench.

15. The device according to any of the claims from 11 to 14, characterised in that the actuator means (109) comprise a second pedal-type actuator part (110), supported by a lower portion of the panel (102) which can be operated from at least one of the larger faces (103, 104), and a second transmission part (118), inserted between the second pedal-type actuator part (110) and the first control means (107) so that the first control means (107) can be operated indirectly using the second pedal-type actuator part (110) and second transmission part (118).

16. The device according to claim 15, characterised in that the second pedal-type actuator part (110) is at least partially housed inside the panel (102) between the larger faces (103, 104).

17. The device according to claim 16, characterised in that the second pedal-type actuator part (110) comprises a frame (111) at least partially recessed into the panel (102) and a first pedal (112) mounted in such a way that it slides vertically on the frame (111) and connected to the second transmission part (118); the first pedal (112) being mobile between a lowered door (101) opening position and a raised door (101) closing position.

18. The device according to claim 17, characterised in that the second transmission part (118) comprises a first driving shaft (119) integral with the first control means (107) and a first rigid connecting element (120) with two ends (121, 122) respectively hinged to the first driving shaft (119) and to the first pedal (112).

19. The device according to any of the claims from 15 to 18, characterised in that the second transmission part (118) is housed inside the panel (102) between the larger faces (103, 104).

20. The device according to any of the claims from 11 to 19, characterised in that the first transmission part (127) comprises a pin (124) rotatably supported by the panel (102) between the larger faces (103, 104) at a right angle to the larger faces (103, 104).

21. The device according to claim 20, characterised in that the first pedal-type actuator part (129) comprises a second pedal (130) supported integrally and centrally, like a rocker arm forming a two-sided or double pedal (132, 133), by one end (131) of the pin (124) to rotate the pin (124) between a first, locking angular position and a second, unlocking angular position of the actuator means (109).

22. The device according to claims 17 and 21, characterised in that the first pedal (112) has a race (126) opposite the pin (124) and in that the security means (123) comprise an appendage, finger or projection (125) extending radially from an intermediate portion of the pin (124); the appendage (125) being designed to engage with the first pedal (112) outside the race (126), locking the first pedal (112) in the raised closing position, when the pin (124) is in the first, locking angular position; and the appendage (125) being designed for insertion in the race (126), allowing the first pedal (112) to reach the lowered opening position, when the pin (124) is in the second, unlocking angular position.

23. The device according to any of the claims from 11 to 22, characterised in that it comprises second control means (137) supported by the panel (102), connected to the security means (123), it being possible to operate the second control means manually from the first face (103) side, that is to say, from inside the room, so as to operate the security means (123).

24. The device according to claims 21 and 23, characterised in that the second control means (137) comprise an element (138) which can be operated manually, in particular a knob (138), a second driving shaft (139) integral with the element (138) which can be operated manually and a second rigid connecting element (140) with one end (141) hinged to the second driving shaft (139) and another end (142) connected to one end (147) of the second two-sided rocker arm pedal (130).

25. The device according to claim 24, characterised in that the second driving shaft (139) and the second rigid connecting element (140) are both housed inside the panel (102) between the larger faces (103, 104).

26. A door comprising a panel (2; 102) with two larger faces, opposite and at a distance from one another, and control means (6; 107), mounted on the panel (2; 102), which can be manually operated to open the door (1; 101), the door being characterised in that it comprises an opening and/or closing device (100; 106) connected to the control means (6; 107) and made according to any of the claims from 1 to 9.

27. A door characterised in that it comprises a door (1; 101) opening and/or closing device (100; 106) made according to any of the claims from 10 to 25.

Drawing