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(11) | EP 1 333 140 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A locking device and related assembling method |
| (57) It is disclosed a locking device for cabinets comprising a support structure (2)
with which a driving handle (3) is associated, said handle involving displacement
of locking means (4), through transmission means, between a locked condition and an
unlocked condition of the device; a base body (20) defines, at an upper portion thereof,
a housing designed to receive the transmission means consisting of a cogwheel operated
by the driving element which meshes with corresponding sliding arms (8) to which a
reciprocating motion is transmitted. |
[0002] In particular such a locking device is preferably adapted for use on doors or panels of wardrobes, metal cabinets or lockers. It is however apparent that application of the locking device to other typologies of doors or panels is also possible depending on current requirements.
[0003] It is known that many types of locking devices are presently on the marked and have been widely spread, said devices being in particular suitable for metal cabinets or lockers holding electric and/or electronic apparatus.
[0004] For instance, known and widely marketed is a locking device of the type disclosed in patent EP 261 267 in which a support structure rigidly fastened to a door sheet metal supports a driving handle movable in rotation about its hinging axis on the cabinet frame.
[0005] A rotation from the rest position of the handle involves a rotatory movement of a pinion gear rigidly associated with the handle which meshes with corresponding slots present in a closing bar involving a translation of said bar parallel to the panel plane.
[0006] By this movement the bar engages or disengages the corresponding cabinet jamb enabling selective opening of the cabinet door.
[0007] It should be also noted that the device consisting of a pinion gear and rack is contained in a boxing arrangement disposed internally of the cabinet space on the opposite side with respect to the opening handle.
[0008] By a cylinder lock placed on the handle below the rotation axis and rigidly associated therewith, rotation of the handle and consequent opening of the cabinet door is prevented.
[0009] While locking devices in accordance with the known art are still widely spread and marketed, they however have some drawbacks, operating limits and/or improvable aspects.
[0010] In fact, taking into account the typology of coupling between the closing bars and pinion gear, surely a rigid observance of the construction tolerances is required, and important problems in terms of stress and fatigue resistance are to be tackled.
[0011] It is apparent that a lack of precision in the manufacture of the pinion gear and rack surely brings about a faulty and inaccurate operation of the opening device and unmeshing of the pinion teeth could even involve no operation of the whole locking device.
[0012] Also critical are the efforts transmitted to the transmission members during the opening/closing step of the door because these forces are often exactly concentrated on the pinion teeth.
[0013] Under this situation it is often necessary to make these components of metal materials or at all events stress-resistant materials; obviously, due to this technical specification the device costs are higher.
[0014] Finally, it is sometimes disadvantageous for the locking means to be enclosed within a boxing arrangement and disposed internally of the cabinet space because this involves manufacture and previous assembling of these component parts that are afterwards connected with the opening handle, and this makes the device complicated from a construction and assembly point of view.
[0015] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a locking device equipped with a novel and different movement-transmitting system.
[0016] It is another aim of the invention to ensure a reliable coupling over time and easy assembling and setting up of the device itself.
[0017] It is a further aim of the invention to provided movement-transmitting means that is directly contained within a base body that can be directly associated with the opening handle.
[0018] The foregoing and further aims that will become more apparent in the course of the present description are substantially achieved by a locking device as disclosed in the appended claims.
[0019] Further features and advantages will be best understood from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a locking device in accordance with the present invention. This description will be taken hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking device in accordance with the present invention;
- Figs. 2 and 3 show mounting of a cogwheel and the related O-ring to the grip handle;
- Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing engagement of the grip handle with the support structure and relative movement between the pieces;
- Fig 6 shows mounting of the sliding arms and the related covering element to the base element, these operations being seen in perspective and in subsequent steps;
- Figs. 7 and 7a show mounting of the sealing element to the base element and mounting of said base element to the metal sheet;
- Figs. 8 and 8a show fastening of the base element and the handle to the door;
- Fig. 9 shows mounting of the lower closing cover;
- Fig. 10 shows mounting of the lower hook, as an alternative to Fig. 9;
- Figs. 11a, 11b and 11c show three steps in succession concerning mounting of the closing bars or rods.
[0020] With reference to the drawings a locking devices has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.
[0021] In particular, such a device, as previously mentioned, will be preferably usable on panels or doors of metal material to enable locking/unlocking of a cabinet door. However such a device can be alternately used every time a locking mechanism is required to be associated with a panel or door.
[0022] As can be viewed from the accompanying figures, the device consists of a support structure 2, a driving element 3 or handle associated with the support structure 2, locking means 4 (only partly shown in Fig. 1) and transmission means 5 moved by the driving handle 3 and set to transmit motion to the locking means 4.
[0023] In more detail in terms of construction, the support structure 2 is intended to enable engagement of the locking device with a sheet metal 19 defining the wall of a panel or door of the cabinet with which the device is to be associated.
[0024] In particular the sheet metal is provided with two preferably identical holes 18, 21 of substantially rectangular shape arranged to be passed through and hooked by the locking device thereby enabling steady and irremovable engagement of same with the sheet metal.
[0025] In particular the base body 20 is provided, at its lower portion, with a shoulder 22 adapted to pass through the second hole 21 centring the device at the lower part thereof and enabling fastening of same to the sheet metal 19 by a closing cover 23, secured by means of screws or screwed down at shoulder 22 for example, and provided with an abutment surface adapted to abut against the sheet metal wall opposite to that against which the base element 20 abuts (see Figs. 1, 9 and 9a).
[0026] Alternatively, a hook 34 having respective fastening teeth 34a may be provided for engagement with the base element 20; said teeth, during the step of mounting the base element to the sheet metal 19, are caused to pass through hole 21 so that they clasp the sheet metal 19 itself keeping the device in place during fastening of the other components.
[0027] Still paying attention to the base element 20 and to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, it is possible to see that said base element, at an upper portion thereof has a preshaped structure 30 projecting from the opposite side with respect to the engagement region between the driving element and base element 20.
[0028] The preshaped structure 30 defines at least one and preferably two longitudinal housings 15 designed to guide respective sliding arms 8 as better clarified in the following. Said preshaped structure 30 also contemplates the presence of a first and a second centring surfaces 31, 32 opposite to each other and substantially performing the function of enabling positioning of the base element 20 at the first hole 18 present in the sheet metal 19.
[0029] The preshaped structure 30 also has a central hollow seating 14 adapted to receive the rotating body 6 of the movement-transmitting means and enabling operation thereof by means of handle 3.
[0030] The driving element 3 or handle is suitable to be interlocked with the support structure 2 at an upper portion thereof in such a manner that it is movable in rotation about an axis 11 (see Figs. 1 and 5).
[0031] In particular, in a rest condition, handle 3 will be disposed parallel to the base element 20, its extension axis being substantially vertical (arrangement shown in Fig. 1).
[0032] In this condition a housing seat 13 associated with handle 3 will extend through the lower portion of the base element 20 until passing through the sheet metal 19 (see Figs. 7 and 8).
[0033] A lock, of the cylinder type for example (not shown), contained in the housing seat 13 will enable the handle to be blocked to a vertical position allowing the cabinet to be locked or not.
[0034] The driving handle 3 may possibly consist of different components and also be provided with a closing cover sliding along its extension axis (or possibly its rotatory axis) on the main body of the handle to conceal/show access to the lock (embodiments not shown).
[0035] In other words the closing cover will be movable between a condition in which it prevents insertion of the key in a lock present in the handle and a position in which on the contrary insertion and unlocking of the lock is allowed.
[0036] In the condition in which the closing cover enables unlocking of the lock, a grip portion of said cover projects from the handle at the lower part thereof and allows easy extraction of the whole driving element 3 to enable rotation of the handle itself and therefore opening of the cabinet.
[0037] The driving element 3, when in operation, is movable between at least one first and one second operating conditions; in particular it is drivable in rotation from the first to the second operating conditions around axis 11 which is substantially coincident with the rotation axis of the rotating body 6 with which it is rigidly in engagement for rotation through a constraint obtained as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for example. The previously mentioned transmission means 5 is moved by handle 3 and transmits motion to the locking means 4.
[0038] This transmission means 5 comprises the rotating body 6 substantially defined by a cogwheel (as shown in the accompanying drawings) which is intended to engage, during its rotation, appropriate engagement counter-grooves 16 provided in at least one respective sliding arm 8 movable upon operation of the rotating body 6 to transmit a reciprocating motion to the locking means 4.
[0039] In other words, the movement-transmitting means 5 converts a rotatory movement of the driving element 3 into a translation movement of the locking means 4. In particular and as shown in the accompanying drawings, two sliding arms 8 will be advantageously present and they are disposed parallel to each other on opposite sides with respect to the cogwheel.
[0040] The first arm moves in a first way along a driving direction defined by the slide guides 15 present on the base element, following a rotation of the driving element 3; the second arm moves in a second way opposite to the first one along a parallel driving direction (also defined by a second slide guide 15), following the same movement of the driving element 3.
[0041] In other words and with reference to Fig. 1, a counterclockwise rotation of handle 3 from the condition shown in the drawing involves descent of the sliding arm 8 disposed uppermost in the figure and a corresponding ascent of the sliding arm 8 disposed at a lower position with respect to the preceding one, still with reference to Fig. 1.
[0042] Therefore the movement-transmitting means is such shaped that a rotation of the driving handle 3 always involves a corresponding backwards and forwards movement of the sliding arms.
[0043] As can be viewed again from Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the device contemplates use of a covering element which is intended for engagement with the base element 20 to enable correct constraint and positioning of the sliding arms 8.
[0044] In particular the covering element 26 and the preshaped structure 30, once they have been coupled, define a housing cavity 7 adapted to receive the transmission means.
[0045] Practically the covering element 26 is designed to keep the sliding arms in place and guide them along their reciprocating movements in the guides 15 and, due to the presence of longitudinal grooves 24, to enable respective emerging portions 27 of the sliding arms 8 to jut out of the housing cavity 7.
[0046] Substantially, once the movement-transmitting means 5 and driving handle 5 have been assembled, the device will have the configuration shown in Fig. 6 in which the sliding arms 8 are completely contained in the housing cavity 7 except for the emerging portions 27.
[0047] A rotatory movement of the driving element 3 will involve a reciprocating translation of the emerging portions 27 along the longitudinal grooves 24.
[0048] In addition, the base element 20 equipped with the covering element 26 secured thereto by means of screws or other fastening means for example, defines a shoulder 17 adapted to centre the base element 20 in the hole 18 of the sheet metal 19.
[0049] As can be seen in Figs. 1, 8-10, the device further comprises a tightening block 28 suitable for fastening of the device to the sheet metal 19.
[0050] In particular the base element 20 defines an abutment surface 20a susceptible of abutting against a wall of the sheet metal 10 at hole 18. The tightening block 28 defines another abutment surface 28a in mirror image relationship and adapted to abut against the opposite wall of the sheet metal 19 still at hole 18. In particular, the tightening block 28 and base element 20 once firmly fastened to each other clasp the sheet metal 19 keeping the device in place.
[0051] The locking means 4, only partly shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises at least one sliding bar 9 which has a first end 9a associated with the transmission means 5 and closing bolts for a door or the like to be hooked to a second end of the sliding bar.
[0052] The sliding bar 9 at its first end 9a is provided with a hooking seating 12 set to engage the corresponding emerging portion 27 of the sliding arm 8.
[0053] It is apparent that the device will include at least one, but preferably two, sliding bars 9 in engagement with the respective sliding arms 8.
[0054] The tightening block is such designed as to define one and preferably two longitudinal guides 29 adapted to guide the sliding bars 9 during their translation movement.
[0055] Bars 9 can have any length depending on the operating requirements and at the other end thereof they are set to be hooked with the closing bolts of a panel, door or the like.
[0056] Assembling of the locking device in accordance with the invention described above mainly as regards structure, is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 11.
[0057] In particular, first of all a constraint between the driving element 3 and the rotating body 6 is created by use of an appropriate peg of the type shown in Fig. 2, for example. To ensure hermetic seal of the locking device use of an O-ring in engagement with the rotating body 6 is then provided.
[0058] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the driving element 3 and rotating body 6 are then associated with the base element 20 in such a manner that handle 3 can rotate about an axis 11 coincident with the rotation axis of the cogwheel 6.
[0059] Then the sliding arms 8 are placed to the correct positions enabling them to mesh with the teeth of the cogwheel and to rest on the slide guides 15. During this step mounting of the sliding bars 8 is carried out, the emerging portions 27 of which are correctly positioned in the grooves 24 of the covering element, which element is afterwards firmly secured to the base element 20.
[0060] As shown in Fig. 7a, positioning of a sealing element 33 is carried out and subsequently (Figs. 7 and 8) the base element 20 is centred on the sheet metal 19.
[0061] Then fastening of the tightening block 28 and closing cover 23 takes place (Figs. 9 and 9a), or alternatively positioning of hook 34 (Fig. 10) is carried out, in such a manner that the device is irremovably secured to the sheet metal 19.
[0062] At this point the sliding bars are such set that the hooking seatings of same are brought into engagement with the respective emerging portions of the sliding arms in the manner shown in sequence in Figs. 11a, 11b and 11c.
[0064] Driving in rotation of the handle (after unlocking of the lock) starting from the verticality or rest condition involves rotation of the upper portion of same, which rotation is in turn transmitted to the rotating body 6.
[0065] Rotation of body 6 causes the reciprocating movement of the sliding arms in alternated ways, the emerging portions of said arms carrying the sliding bars 9 along with them in their translation movement.
[0066] In particular a rotation from the first (vertical) operating condition to the second operating condition (transverse to the base element) of the driving element or handle involves a displacement from the locked condition to the unlocked condition of the locking means 4 and therefore enables opening of the cabinet door.
[0068] In particular, a new locking device provided with a renewed transmission structure has been accomplished.
[0069] This transmission structure is of innovative planning and conception and at the same time enables a locking device reliable over time to be obtained for which particular construction or setting up expedients are not required.
[0070] Among other things, the possibility of defining a housing for the movement-transmitting means directly on the base element 20 of the handle has been envisaged, also allowing the movement-transmitting means to be engaged within this housing before mounting of the device to the sheet metal.
[0071] In this manner the device can be previously assembled before being sold, the only further mounting operations to be carried out by the final user being fastening of block 28 and cover 23 and subsequent engagement of the sliding bars 9.
1. A locking device comprising:
- a support structure (2),
- a driving element (3) associated with the support structure (2) and shiftable between at least one first and one second operating conditions;
- locking means (4) set to be movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
- transmission means (5) moved by the driving element (3) and arranged to transmit motion to said locking means (4), a displacement of the driving element from the first to the second operating conditions involving displacement of the locking means (4) from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, characterized in that the support structure (2) comprises a base element (20) defining a housing cavity (7) preferably at an upper portion thereof, which housing cavity is designed to receive the transmission means (5), said transmission means being susceptible of engagement with the base element (20) prior to assembling of the whole device.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means (5) comprises:
- a rotating body (6) driven in rotation by the driving element (3); and
- at least one sliding arm (8) movable upon actuation of the rotating body (6) to transmit a reciprocating motion to the locking means (4).
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said sliding arm (8) carries out a reciprocating motion along a corresponding slide
guide (15) present in the base element (20) or added thereto, said sliding arm being
substantially contained in the housing cavity (7).
4. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the rotating body (6) is defined by a cogwheel, the sliding arm having appropriate
engagement counter-grooves (16) adapted to mesh with the teeth of the cogwheel, the
movement-transmitting means (5) converting the rotatory movement of the driving element
(3) into a translation movement of the locking means (4).
5. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the movement-transmitting means (5) comprises two sliding arms (8) disposed parallel
to each other on opposite sides with respect to the rotating body (6), the first arm
moving in a first way along a driving direction, following a rotation of the driving
element (3), the second arm moving in a second way opposite to the first one along
a parallel driving direction, following the same rotation movement of the driving
element (3).
6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises:
- at least one sliding bar (9) having a first end (9a) associated with the transmission means (5); and
- bolts for closing a door or the like, to be hooked with a second end of the sliding bar (9).
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the sliding bar (9) at the first end thereof has a hooking seating (12) set to engage
a corresponding emerging portion (27) of the sliding arm (8), the device preferably
including two sliding bars (9) in engagement with two respective sliding arms (8).
8. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving element (3) is movable in rotation from the first to the second operating
conditions about an axis (11) substantially coincident with the rotation axis of the
rotating body (6).
9. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing cavity (7) defined on the base element (20) has a central hollow seating
(14) adapted to receive the rotating body (6) and to enable actuation of same by the
driving element (3), and at least one longitudinal housing (15) adapted to receive
and guide the sliding arm (8), a covering element (26) being provided to keep the
sliding arm (8) in place and guide it.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the covering element (26) has longitudinal grooves (24) to enable an emerging portion
(27) of the sliding arm (8) to slide externally of the housing cavity (7) for the
transmission means.
11. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the base element (20) provided with the covering element (26) secured thereto defines
a shoulder (17) adapted to centre the base element (20) in a hole (28) of the sheet
metal (19) of a door, a tightening block (28) being provided on the opposite side
with respect to the sheet metal (19) to enable steady fastening of the device, preferably
the base element (20) defining an abutment surface (20a) adapted to abut against a
wall of the sheet metal (19), the tightening block (28) defining another abutment
surface (28a) adapted to abut against the opposite wall of the sheet metal (19).
12. A device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the tightening block (28) comprises one and preferably two longitudinal guides (29)
adapted to guide the sliding bars (8) during their movement.
13. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base element (20) at an upper portion thereof has a preshaped structure (30)
projecting on the side opposite to the engagement region of the driving element (3),
said preshaped structure (30) defining at least one longitudinal housing (15) to guide
the sliding bar (8), and first and second centring surfaces (31, 32) opposed to each
other and adapted to enable positioning of the base element (20) in the region of
a hole (18) present in a sheet metal (19) of a door, said longitudinal housing being
also adapted to contain the sliding arm (9) and restrain the translation length of
same.
14. A method of assembling a locking device preferably in accordance with anyone of claims
1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- arranging a base element (20);
- associating a driving element (3) with the base element (20), said driving element being shiftable with respect to the base element (20) between at least one first and one second operating conditions;
- bringing movement-transmitting means (5) which are movable upon the action of the driving element (3), into engagement with the base element (20);
- subsequently to the step involving engagement of the transmission means (5) with the base element (20), irremovably associating the base element (20) with the sheet metal (19) of a door;
- associating locking means (4) with the transmission means (5) in order that, following a displacement of the driving element (3) from the first to the second operating conditions, a displacement of the locking means (4) from a locked condition to an unlocked condition is allowed.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the step involving engagement of the transmission means (5) with the base element
(20) comprises the substeps of:
- associating at least one sliding arm (8), and preferably two sliding arms (8), with the base element (20); and
- fastening the sliding arm (8) to the base element (20) by means of a covering element (26) irremovably secured to the base element (20).