The present invention is related to a slider element for a sliding channel of a guiding device, an assembly method for a guiding device of a door closer as well as a guiding device for a door closer.
It is already known that doors comprise so called door closers. These are used after opening of the door to automatically close the door in a further step. These door closers usually comprise a guiding arm as well as a guiding or sliding channel. A slider element, which is configured to be placed within the sliding channel, comprises a bearing area for rotational bearing of the guiding arm of the guiding device. Therefore, the closing movement of the door can be guided by respective rotational movement of the guiding arm relatively to the slider element in a sliding movement of the slider element within the sliding channel.
One disadvantage of commonly known slider elements is the complexity of mounting the slider element. Known assembly methods for the guiding device comprise the step of inserting the slider element into the sliding channel and in a second step mounting the guiding arm at a bearing area of the slider element. This mounting step is carried out by the use of fixing elements, for example in the form of screws. Therefore, the mounting of the guiding arm at the slider element takes the respective time for fixing the screw at the respective position. Moreover, it is a disadvantage to provide the respective internal thread at the slider element to be configured to correspond to the external thread of the screw. Typical materials for the slider elements are plastic materials. To comprise an internal thread in the plastic material is of disadvantage due to the fact that the plastic material sometimes does not give the necessary stiffness for such internal thread. Therefore, the risk occurs that a fixing element in form of a screw is detached by a demounting force by destroying the respective internal thread of the slider element.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems of commonly known slider elements, guiding devices and respective assembly methods. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the costs of the assembly of the slider element and the guiding device, in particular within an easy manner.
Aforesaid problem is solved by a slider element with the features of independent claim 1, an assembly method with the features of independent claim 9 and by a guiding device with the features of independent claim 10. Further features and details of the invention result from the dependent claims. Features and details, discussed in relation to the inventive slider element, are also related to the inventive assembly method as well as the inventive guiding device and the other way around such that it can be related to the disclosure of each singular invention aspect.
An inventive slider element is in use for a sliding channel of a guiding device of a door closer. The slider element comprises at least two sliding surfaces to contact respective channel surfaces of the sliding channel. Further, the slider element comprises one bearing area for rotational bearing of a guiding arm of the guiding device. The bearing area comprises at least one snap fit section for snap fit assembly with the guiding arm.
In contrast to commonly known slider elements, the assembly method of the slider element and the guiding arm can now take place by a snap fit movement. Compared to the use of fixing elements in form of a screw, the assembly method with a snap fit is carried out a lot faster and safer. It does not relate to a predefined and necessary mounting force for the fixing element but is only in need for carrying out a snap fit movement. Therefore, the rotational bearing of the guiding arm at the bearing area is received in a more safe manner.
Moreover, the use of a snap fit section to enable the snap fit assembly with the guiding arm allows the production of the slider element in an easier and cost efficient manner. In particular, the slider element can be produced within an injection molding process for example with a plastic material or thermoplastic material. This leads to an easy and cost efficient way of production of the slider element.
The bearing area comprises a bearing element which is detachable from the body of the slider element and comprises the at least one snap fit section. The bearing element is detachable by a separate fixing element which comprises the at least one snap fit section. In contrast to commonly known slider elements this fixing element in form of a bearing element is not a screw for a screw contact or screw assembly but is part of the snap fit assembly which will be discussed in detail below. After placing the guiding arm in the area of the bearing area, the bearing element can be put on top of the guiding arm and therefore fixes the guiding arm in the snap fit position. The snap fit section can therefore get into snap fit contact with respective contact surfaces of the bearing area. The bearing element is configured to be a cap to be placed on top of the bearing area and therefore fixing the guiding arm in the snap fit position. This is carried out in combination with a bushing which comprises rotational bearing of the guiding arm relatively to the bearing area.
The slider element can be formed by one single body, forming different kinds of functional areas. In particular, the sliding surfaces as well as the bearing area. Therefore, the whole slider element is in particular produced in one single body out of one single material.
The bearing area is located spaced apart from the sliding surfaces. In particular, the two sliding surfaces are arranged parallel to each other, while the at least one snap fit section comprises a snap fit axis which is also configured to be parallel to the sliding surfaces.
The snap fit section comprises at least one elastic part section elastically deformable during assembly with the guiding arm. This leads to a more easy production step of the at least one snap fit section. The elastic part section can take its elastic functionality from the material of the slider element. For example, the geometrical dimension of the snap fit section comprises the elastic part section such that the material parameters of the snap fit section allow the elastic deformability of the elastic part section. In an embodiment not forming part of the invention, a slider element which is produced in an integral uniform body can comprise such elastic part section. Moreover, one integral uniform body leads to a further reduced cost of the production of the slider element. During the assembly process of this non-inventive embodiment, the guiding arm is placed over the bearing area. During the movement into the snap fit position of the guiding arm, the bearing area is deformed in an elastic way by deforming elastically the elastic part section. After the guiding arm has arrived at the snap fit position, the elastic forces within the elastic part section form the snap fit section back into the original position such that the snap fit process is finalized.
It is further of advantage, if an inventive slider element is characterized in that it comprises a body which integrally forms at least one of the sliding surfaces and the bearing area. As it has already been discussed in detail, such a uniform body can be produced in an easy and cost efficient way. In particular, it can be produced during an injection molding process and can be made of plastic, in particular thermoplastic material. Therefore, the slider element is further configured with a reduced complexity. All different functional sections of the slider element are part of one single and uniform body. This leads further to cost efficiency of the slider element.
It is further of advantage, if the bearing element comprises at least two snap fit sections and if the snap fit sections are separated from each other at least partly by a gap. Comprising at least two snap fit sections gives the possibility to reduce the elastic deformability of each of the snap fit sections and in the same way providing enough elastic deformability for the assembly movement of the guiding arm. The use of a gap is a very easy and cost efficient way to separate each of the snap fit sections from each other. In particular, the gap comprises geometric dimensions, which are greater or at least equal to the necessary elastic movement of the top end of the snap fit sections. Therefore, it is possible that the snap fit sections can deform inwardly during the snap fit assembly step. After the guiding arm has arrived at its snap position, the respective snap fit sections can snap back in an elastic way and therefore finalize the snap fit movement. During the snap fit movement, the gap gives enough space to allow this snap fit deflection of each of the snap fit sections. In particular, the gap is a full gap which extends between the top end of the bearing area until the most bottom end of the snap fit section.
It is further of advantage, if an inventive slider element is characterized in that the bearing area is formed in a rotational symmetric way. Due to the fact that the bearing area is made for a rotation bearing of the guiding arm, the rotational symmetric way of a bearing area is directed to that rotational movement of the guiding arm. Therefore, the rotational movement of the guiding arm can take place directly at the bearing area. Therefore, the bearing area can be used for direct or indirect contact to the guiding arm. A further element between the guiding arm and the bearing area can be avoided by the rotational symmetric construction of the bearing area. For example, the bearing area is configured to comprise at least in general a cylindrical geometrical dimension.
It is further possible that an inventive slider element is characterized in that all snap fit sections are formed identical or almost identical. That leads to almost identical snap fit movements for all snap fit sections. During the assembly of the guiding arm each snap fit section therefore comprises almost identical snap fit deflections and therefore almost identical elastic deformations. This leads to in general symmetrical snap fit movement of the guiding arm. Unwilling tilting of the guiding arm during the assembly step is avoided by such a geometrical expression of each of the snap fit sections. Moreover, this comprises an easy way of manufacturing all the snap fit sections and thereby comprises a cost efficient production possibility.
It is further of advantage, if an inventive slider element is characterized in that at the bearing area at least one sealing element is provided for sealing the contact between the guiding arm and the slider element. The sealing element is in particular used by the use of fluids for example hydraulic oils. If there is a lubricant used for example in the guiding channels, the sealing element avoids this lubricant for introduction into the gap between the snap fit sections respectively the bearing area and the guiding arm.
It is further of advantage, if the at least one snap fit section comprises at least one assembly interface for elastic deformation of the snap fit section. This assembly interface can be used as an interface for a mounting tool. Therefore it is more easy to elastically deform the snap fit section and therefore to carry out the assembly as well as the disassembly process. For example, the assembly interface can comprise recess sections for introducing parts of a mounting tool.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an assembly method for a guiding device of a door closer. Such an inventive assembly method comprises the following steps:
Due to the use of an inventive slider element, an inventive assembly method comprises the same advantages which have been discussed in detail with respect to an inventive slider element.
A further object of the present invention is a guiding device for a door closer, comprising a sliding channel, a slider element and a guiding arm. The inventive guiding device is characterized in that the slider element comprises the features according to the present invention. Therefore, the inventive guiding device comes with the same advantages which have been discussed in detail with respect to the inventive slider element.
The present invention is discussed in more detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. The figures show in schematic way:
In
The two snap fit sections 22 comprise each one elastic part section 24, which are able for elastic deformation of the whole snap fit section 22 inwardly. Both snap fit sections 22 are separated fully by a gap 26.
During the mounting assembly steps of guiding arm 120, the guiding arm 120 is placed on top of the two snap fit sections 22. During the downward movement of the guiding arm 120, the two snap fit sections 22 move inwardly, thereby giving way for the guiding arm 120. When the guiding arm 120 arrives at its snap fit position at the lowest end, the two snap fit sections 22 can snap back into their original position thereby finalizing the snap fit fixation. This can in particular also be understood in comparison to
The aforesaid discussion of the figures describes the invention only by the way of one example.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.