[0001] The present invention relates to a locking assembly, and an engagement element, of
the door of vehicles.
[0002] In the field of vehicles, and more specifically of vehicles of the type of vans,
lorries, trucks, etc., apparatuses are widely used which are also known as undersill
devices and are adapted to the stably lock the rear door, in a configuration for closing
the internal compartment of the body, with which typically such vehicles are provided,
in order to allow the storage of the goods to be transported.
[0003] Such apparatuses thus prevent the accidental opening of the door, but can be actuated
by a user who wants to gain access to the compartment.
[0004] According to methods that are substantially known, undersill devices are thus provided
with a contoured plate, which can be fixed to the body (below the door for example),
and a lever, which is rigidly supported by the base of a vertical rod, which is rotatably
mounted on the door.
[0005] In this manner, when the door is arranged to close the compartment, the lever is
arranged proximate to the plate and can be engaged, with one of its ends, with a corresponding
retaining element, provided on the plate itself, thus defining the secured configuration
of the door.
[0006] Moreover, in order to strengthen the coupling of the door to the body, undersill
devices also comprise a pawl element, which is in turn rigidly supported by the top
of the vertical rod, and which, when the door is pulled to on the body, can be engaged
with a further plate (sometimes called a "strike plate") which is anchored to the
frame of the vehicle (for example above the door).
[0007] In order to gain access to the compartment, the user simply has to actuate the lever,
in order to determine the simultaneous disengagement of the lever and of the pawl
element (which is integral with it), respectively from the plate and from the strike
plate, and thus be able to rotate the door allowing entry inside the vehicle.
[0008] One of the technical problems that the firms that make the undersill devices described
above are called on to solve, in the face of increasingly frequent requests by customers,
is that of ensuring the ability to stably lock the door in a second configuration,
in which it is rotated by a few degrees with respect to the locked position, in order
to keep it essentially ajar, and make it possible to at least change the air between
the internal compartment and the external environment.
[0009] Implementation solutions have thus been proposed which make it possible to lock the
door in the second configuration mentioned above, thanks to modifications to the lever
and to other elements, which are mounted both on the plate and on the lever itself,
precisely in order to allow the user to anchor the lever to the plate after rotating
the door by a few degrees.
[0010] However, such implementation solutions are not devoid of drawbacks.
[0011] In fact they involve the need to make major modifications to the structure of the
plate and of the lever, thus making their use impossible on undersill devices that
are already on the market or which in any case have already been produced, but for
which the new functionality described above is in some cases required, and, what is
more, determining an unwanted increase of the overall cost of the product.
[0012] Moreover, it must be noted that often the contrivances adopted have been found to
be insufficient in ensuring the locking against accidental impacts and/or other stresses
to which the door is subjected, such as, for example, stresses owing to the action
of the wind, blowing at right angles to the door.
[0013] In fact, in order to allow an easy actuation by the user who wants to unlock the
door, the conventional solutions are of negligible size, weight and mechanical strength,
in order to prevent the coupling that was achieved from requiring a considerable force
in order to be undone. This however makes the locking unstable, and, as noted, makes
it easy to defeat by external forces that might affect the door.
[0014] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, by providing
an assembly that ensures the locking of the door of a vehicle in the partially open
configuration as well, in which the internal compartment is thus placed in communication
with the external environment.
[0015] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an element that makes it
possible to perform the locking of the door of a vehicle in the partially open configuration,
in which the internal compartment is thus placed in communication with the external
environment.
[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly that ensures the
locking of the door in the partially open configuration, with a coupling that is secure
and stable, even against shocks and violent stresses brought to bear on the door,
without affecting the ease of actuation for the user.
[0017] A further object of the invention is to provide an engagement element that can be
adopted on closure devices of existing doors, without requiring structural modifications
to such doors.
[0018] A still further object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly that ensures
a high reliability of operation.
[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly that can be easily
implemented using elements and materials that are readily available on the market.
[0020] Another object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly that is low cost
and safely applied.
[0021] This aim, these objects and others that will become more apparent hereinafter are
achieved by an assembly for locking the door of vehicles, of the type of vans, trucks,
lorries, semi-trailer trucks, trailers and the like, comprising at least one base
plate, which can be coupled rigidly to the chassis of a vehicle, proximate to an opening
for access to an internal compartment, and a lever, which is anchored rigidly to a
rod that can be supported rotatably by a door for closing the compartment, said plate
and said lever being affected by first coupling means, which can be actuated at a
first angular position of said lever and with the door arranged in the configuration
for closing the compartment, in order to lock the door, and by second coupling means,
which can be actuated at at least one second angular position of said lever and with
the door partially rotated with respect to the closed configuration, in order to lock
the door in at least one partially open configuration, said first coupling means comprising
a first, curved end of said lever which can be engaged by interlocking below a crossmember,
which is supported in a cantilever manner by said plate,
characterized in that said second coupling means comprise a contoured engagement element, which is anchored
externally to a second end of said lever, which is opposite said first end, and can
engage by elastic forcing with said crossmember, at said at least one second angular
position of said lever and with the door partially rotated with respect to the closed
configuration, in order to lock the door in the at least one partially open configuration.
[0022] This aim and these objects are also achieved by an engagement element for assemblies
for locking the door of vehicles, of the type of vans, trucks, lorries, semi-trailer
trucks, trailers and the like, said assemblies comprising at least one base plate,
which can be coupled rigidly to the chassis of a vehicle, proximate to an opening
for access to an internal compartment, and a lever, which is anchored rigidly to a
rod that is supported rotatably by a door for closing the compartment, the plate and
the lever being affected by coupling means, which can be actuated at a first angular
position of the lever and with the door arranged in the configuration for closing
the compartment, in order to lock the door, the coupling means comprising a first,
curved end of the lever which can be engaged by interlocking below a crossmember,
which is supported in a cantilever manner by the plate,
characterized in that it comprises a shell, which defines internally a recess that is shaped complementarily
to said second end, for shape mating with said lever, and a contoured surface portion,
which defines an elastic accommodation seat for the crossmember, at at least one second
angular position of the lever and with the door partially rotated with respect to
the closed configuration, in order to lock the door in at least one partially open
configuration.
[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent
from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the locking
assembly and of the engagement element according to the invention, which are illustrated
by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a view of the locking assembly according to the invention, applied to
a vehicle, in a first configuration of use;
Figure 2 is a view of the locking assembly according to the invention, in the first
configuration of use, showing how the engagement element is mounted;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 taken along the line III-III;
Figure 4 is a view of the locking assembly according to the invention, in a second
configuration of use;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the engagement element;
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the engagement element.
[0024] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a locking
assembly of the door A of vehicles B; the vehicles B can be of any type (as can the
doors A), while remaining within the scope of protection claimed herein, but according
to the preferred application the vehicles B are of the type of vans, trucks, lorries,
semi-trailer trucks, trailers and the like and the assembly 1 enables the locking
of the rear door A of such vehicles B, which is normally designed for closing an internal
compartment used for the storage and transport of different types of goods.
[0025] Thus reference shall be made to such preferred application in the present discussion,
but it should be noted from this point onward that the adoption is not ruled out of
the assembly 1 according to the invention in different applications, according to
specific requirements, while remaining within the scope of protection claimed herein.
[0026] It should further be noted from this point onward that the possibility exists of
providing a door A with two or more assemblies 1 according to the invention, just
as the possibility is not ruled out of installing, on the same vehicle B, an assembly
1 (or even two or more) for each door A that may be provided (such as for example
in the example shown in the accompanying figures, where the vehicle B is provided
with two doors A, each one of which is lockable by means of a respective assembly
1).
[0027] In any case, the assembly 1 comprises at least one base plate 2, which can be rigidly
coupled to the chassis C of the vehicle B, proximate to an opening for access to the
internal compartment, and a lever 3, which is anchored rigidly to a rod 4 that can
be supported rotatably by the door A for closing the compartment.
[0028] The plate 2 and the lever 3 are thus affected by first coupling means 5, which can
be actuated (manually by a user) at a first angular position of the lever 3 and with
the door A arranged in the configuration for closing the compartment (shown in Figures
1, 2 and 3), in order to lock the door A, guarding against its accidental opening
and preventing unwanted access to the compartment.
[0029] In more detail, according to substantially conventional methods, the first coupling
means 5 can comprise a first, curved end 3a of the lever 3 which can be engaged by
interlocking below a crossmember 6, which is supported in a cantilever manner by the
plate 2 (for example thanks to two mutually parallel side walls 7 which extend from
the plate 2).
[0030] Moreover, the plate 2 and the lever 3 are affected by second coupling means, which
can in turn be actuated (by a user) at at least one second angular position of the
lever 3 and with the door A partially rotated with respect to the closed configuration
(as in Figure 4), in order to lock the door A in at least one partially open configuration,
in order to allow at least a change of air between the internal compartment and the
external environment.
[0031] It should be noted that the locking assembly 1 according to the invention can also
comprise an abutment plate 8 (also called a "strike plate"), which in turn can be
coupled rigidly to the chassis C of the vehicle B, usually above the door A (and substantially
in vertical alignment with the plate 2).
[0032] The plate 8 comprises detachable anchoring means 9 for a pawl element 10, which in
turn can be rigidly keyed for example on the top of the rod 4, i.e. at the opposite
end to the lever 3 and to the plate 2.
[0033] More precisely, such detachable anchoring means 9 can comprise a contoured end nose
10a of the pawl element 10, which is adapted to engage with a sort of bracket 8a,
which is supported by the plate 8.
[0034] So in fact, the rotation of the lever 3 integrally determines the movement of the
pawl element 10, which, while the lever 3 engages with the plate 2 thanks to the first
coupling means 5, couples with the plate 8 by way of the detachable anchoring means
9, thus consolidating the stable locking of the door A in the configuration for closing
the compartment.
[0035] It should be noted that the plate 8, the pawl element 10 and the detachable anchoring
means 9 can be made according to different methods, including conventional (and for
example according to what can be seen in the accompanying figures), and we will therefore
not discuss such components further.
[0036] According to the invention, the second coupling means comprise a contoured engagement
element 11, which is anchored externally to a second end 3b of the lever 3, which
is opposite the first end 3a; such contoured element 11 can engage by elastic forcing
with the crossmember 6, when the lever 3 is arranged in the second angular position
and when the door A is partially rotated with respect to the closed configuration,
so as to ensure the locking of the door A in the partially open configuration as well.
[0037] In particular, according to an embodiment of important practical interest, cited
by way of non-limiting illustration of the application of the invention, the contoured
engagement element 11 comprises a shell 12, preferably made of a polymeric material,
which defines internally a recess 13, which is shaped complementarily to the second
end 3b of the lever 3, so as to enable the shape mating of the contoured element 11
with the lever 3.
[0038] Moreover, to ensure the desired locking of the door A in the partially open configuration,
the shell 12 has a contoured surface portion, which defines an elastic accommodation
seat 14 for the crossmember 6, so as to prevent further rotations of the door A and
thus achieving the set objective.
[0039] More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, which is shown in the accompanying
figures (see for example Figures 5 and 6) by way of non-limiting illustration of the
application of the invention, the contoured surface portion comprises a substantially
non-elastic expansion 15 of the shell 12, which can be inserted (as shown in Figure
4) below the crossmember 6 at the second angular position of the lever 3 (and when
the door A is partially rotated with respect to the closed configuration).
[0040] Moreover, the contoured surface portion of the shell 12 comprises a tab 16, which,
together with the expansion 15 which it is placed opposite, delimits the seat 14.
[0041] The tab 16 is elastically deformable, in order to allow, by elastic forcing, the
accommodation in the seat 14 of the second end 3b of the lever 3, and subsequently
the extraction.
[0042] Positively therefore, as can be seen in particular from an examination of Figure
4, in the event the door A is subjected to a stress that is substantially perpendicular
to the lever 3 and is directed toward the vehicle B (for example caused by the wind
or by an accidental impact by a person outside), the expansion 15 opposes the disengagement
of the element 11 from the crossmember 6 (and thus the accidental unlocking of the
door A, thus keeping it in the partially open configuration), because it abuts against
the plate 2 (and in particular against the bottom of it).
[0043] Symmetrically, if door A is subjected to a stress that is substantially perpendicular
to the lever 3 but is directed away from the vehicle B (and tending thus to completely
open the door A), the expansion 15 abuts against the crossmember 6 and again opposes
the disengagement of the element 11 from the crossmember 6 (and thus the unwanted
unlocking of the door A).
[0044] More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the shell 12 comprises two half-shells
12a, 12b which have a mutually mirror-symmetrical shape (see for example Figure 6):
each half-shell 12a, 12b thus has a respective half-recess 13a, 13b, for their keying
on opposite sides (according to the respective directions for mounting shown schematically
in Figure 2), on the second end 3b of the lever 3.
[0045] To ensure the stable shape mating of the element 11 to the lever 3, the shell 12
thus comprises means of mutual fixing of the half-shells 12a, 12b, upon their keying
on the second end 3b of the lever 3.
[0046] In particular, the mutual fixing means comprise a pair of screws (or the like), which
can be inserted in respective pairs of female screw seats 14a, 14b which are mutually
aligned and are provided in each one of the half-shells 12a, 12b.
[0047] Conveniently, the lever 3 is made of steel, preferably selected of the type of forged
steel, while the plate 2 is made of sheet metal, but it should be noted that the possibility
is not ruled out of providing the lever 3, the plate 2 (and every other component
of the assembly 1 according to the invention) in any material, according to specific
requirements, while remaining within the scope of protection claimed herein.
[0048] The engagement element for assemblies 1 for locking the door A of vehicles B, of
the type of vans, trucks, lorries, semi-trailer trucks, trailers and the like, is
indicated for use on assemblies 1 which comprise at least one base plate 2, which
can be coupled rigidly to the chassis C of the vehicle B, proximate to an opening
for access to an internal compartment, and a lever 3, which is anchored rigidly to
a rod 4 that is supported rotatably by a door A for closing the compartment.
[0049] The plate 2 and the lever 3 are affected by coupling means (for example the first
coupling means 5 mentioned previously), which can be actuated at a first angular position
of the lever 3 and when the door A is arranged in the configuration for closing the
compartment, in order to lock the door A.
[0050] The coupling means can thus comprise a first, curved end 3a of the lever 3 which
is engaged by interlocking below a crossmember 6, which is supported in a cantilever
manner by the plate 2.
[0051] According to the invention, the engagement element comprises a shell 12, which defines
internally a recess 13 which is shaped complementarily to the second end 3b of the
lever 3, for shape mating with it, and a contoured surface portion, which defines
an elastic accommodation seat 14 for the crossmember 6, at at least one second angular
position of the lever 3 and when the door A is partially rotated with respect to the
closed configuration, so as to determine the locking of the door in at least one partially
open configuration.
[0052] Use of the locking assembly and of the engagement element according to the invention
is the following.
[0053] Firstly, when the door A of a vehicle B (of the type of a truck, van etc.) is arranged
so as to close the internal compartment, the lever 3 makes it possible to lock the
door, thus ensuring its coupling to the chassis C and guarding against the danger
of accidental opening.
[0054] When in fact the door A is arranged in the closed position, the lever 3 can be laid
on the base 2 (thus arranging it substantially in parallel with the base and with
the door A, in the above mentioned first angular position) and the first end 3a of
the lever 3 can thus be inserted below the crossmember 6, opposing the rotation of
the door A and thus preventing access to the compartment (optionally, together with
the action of the pawl element 10 coupled to the plate 8).
[0055] If on the other hand the user wants to gain access to the compartment, he/she can
grip the lever 3 (at the opposite end with respect to the first end 3a) and impose
a rotation upon it, in order to disengage it from the plate 2 and thus be able to
move the door A at will.
[0056] If the stable positioning of the door A in a partially open configuration is required,
in order for example to enable the free exchange of air between the internal compartment
and the external environment, it is possible to use the engagement element 11.
[0057] More precisely, after acting on the door A until it is brought to form an angle of
a few degrees with respect to the ideal plane containing the opening for access to
the compartment (and thus having it arranged in the manner in which it is partially
shown in Figure 4), the user can rotate the lever 3 until it is brought to the second
angular position, so that the second end 3b, and the engagement element 11 which is
anchored externally to it, are proximate to the plate 2, and more precisely until
elastic forcing results in the accommodation of the crossmember 6 in the seat 14.
[0058] As noted, the choice to define the accommodation seat 14 between a substantially
rigid (and in fact conveniently oversized) expansion 15 and, opposite it, an elastically
deformable tab 16, first of all makes it possible for the element 11 (thanks to the
expansion 15) to oppose and resist shocks and stresses even if violent (typically
directed at right angles to the door A). Moreover (thanks to the tab 16), accommodation
and extraction of the crossmember 6 can be performed easily and without requiring
heavy effort from the user (following a push exerted in a direction substantially
parallel to the door A).
[0059] Moreover, it can immediately be seen that the engagement element 11 (and as a consequence
the locking assembly 1) according to the invention can be effectively adopted on existing
levers 3 (and plates 2) and/or which are already on the market, in that it is sufficient
to conveniently shape the recess 13 of the shell 12 in order to ensure the coupling
of the element 11 to the lever 3, without requiring structural modifications of the
lever or of the plate 2.
[0060] In practice it has been found that the locking assembly and the engagement element
according to the invention fully achieve the set aim, in that the ability to anchor
the engagement element externally to the second end of the lever associated with the
door and to engage it by elastic forcing with the crossmember coupled to the chassis
of the vehicle makes it possible to achieve the locking of the door in the partially
open configuration, in which the internal compartment of the vehicle is thus placed
in communication with the external environment.
[0061] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations,
all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details
may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
[0062] In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific
examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing
in other embodiments.
[0063] An additional, technically equivalent component can be applied to the lever 3, linking
it to a button 17 that is elastically pivoted to the plate 2 and is usually arranged
in interference with respect to the rotation of the lever 3, and which can be manually
actuated in order to release it, so as to give the assembly 1 further assurances against
the accidental unlocking of the door A (when this is arranged in a partially open
configuration).
[0064] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according
to requirements and to the state of the art.
[0065] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
BO2012A000512 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
[0066] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference
signs.
1. An assembly for locking the door (A) of vehicles (B), of the type of vans, trucks,
lorries, semi-trailer trucks, trailers and the like, comprising at least one base
plate (2), which can be coupled rigidly to the chassis (C) of a vehicle (B), proximate
to an opening for access to an internal compartment, and a lever (3), which is anchored
rigidly to a rod (4) that can be supported rotatably by a door (A) for closing the
compartment, said plate (2) and said lever (3) being affected by first coupling means
(5), which can be actuated at a first angular position of said lever (3) and with
the door (A) arranged in the configuration for closing the compartment, in order to
lock the door (A), and by second coupling means, which can be actuated at at least
one second angular position of said lever (3) and with the door (A) partially rotated
with respect to the closed configuration, in order to lock the door (A) in at least
one partially open configuration, said first coupling means (5) comprising a first,
curved end (3a) of said lever (3) which can be engaged by interlocking below a crossmember
(6), which is supported in a cantilever manner by said plate (2), characterized in that said second coupling means comprise a contoured engagement element (11), which is
anchored externally to a second end (3b) of said lever (3), which is opposite said
first end (3a), and can engage by elastic forcing with said crossmember (6), at said
at least one second angular position of said lever (3) and with the door (A) partially
rotated with respect to the closed configuration, in order to lock the door (A) in
the at least one partially open configuration.
2. The locking assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said contoured engagement element (11) comprises a shell (12) which defines internally
a recess (13) that is shaped complementarity with respect to said second end (3b),
for the shape mating of said contoured element (11) with said lever (3).
3. The locking assembly according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said shell (12) has a contoured surface portion which defines an elastic accommodation
seat (14) for said crossmember (6).
4. The locking assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contoured surface portion comprises a substantially non-elastic expansion (15)
of said shell (12), which can be inserted below said crossmember (6) at said at least
one second angular position of said lever (3), and a tab (16), which is arranged opposite
said expansion (15) and can be deformed elastically for accommodation in said seat
(14) and for extraction, by elastic forcing, of said second end (3b), said seat (14)
being delimited by said expansion (15) and by said tab (16), upon a force applied
to the door (A) that is substantially perpendicular to said lever (3) and is directed
toward the vehicle (B), said expansion (15) abutting against said plate (2) and contrasting
the disengagement of said element (11) from said crossmember (6), upon a force applied
to the door (A) that is substantially perpendicular to said lever (3) and is directed
away from the vehicle (B), said expansion (15) abutting against said crossmember (6)
and contrasting the disengagement of said element (11) from said crossmember (6).
5. The locking assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shell (12) comprises two half-shells (12a, 12b) which have a mutually mirror-symmetrical
shape, each one of said half-shells (12a, 12b) having a respective half-recess (13a,
13b), for their keying, on opposite sides, on said second end (3b) of said lever (3),
said shell (12) comprising means for the mutual fixing of said half-shells (12a, 12b)
upon their keying on said second end (3b), for the stable shape mating of said element
(11) with said lever (3).
6. The locking assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said mutual fixing means comprise a pair of screws, which can be inserted in respective
pairs of female threads (14a, 14b) which are mutually aligned and are provided in
each one of said half-shells (12a, 12b).
7. The locking assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shell (12) is made of a polymeric material.
8. The locking assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lever (3) is made of steel, preferably selected of the type of forged steel,
said plate (2) being made of sheet metal.
9. An engagement element for assemblies (1) for locking the door (A) of vehicles (B),
of the type of vans, trucks, lorries, semi-trailer trucks, trailers and the like,
said assemblies (1) comprising at least one base plate (2), which can be coupled rigidly
to the chassis (C) of a vehicle (B), proximate to an opening for access to an internal
compartment, and a lever (3), which is anchored rigidly to a rod (4) that is supported
rotatably by a door (A) for closing the compartment, the plate (2) and the lever (3)
being affected by coupling means, which can be actuated at a first angular position
of the lever (3) and with the door (A) arranged in the configuration for closing the
compartment, in order to lock the door (A), the coupling means comprising a first,
curved end (3a) of the lever (3) which can be engaged by interlocking below a crossmember
(6), which is supported in a cantilever manner by the plate (2), characterized in that it comprises a shell (12), which defines internally a recess (13) that is shaped
complementarily to said second end (3b), for shape mating with said lever (3), and
a contoured surface portion, which defines an elastic accommodation seat (14) for
the crossmember (6), at at least one second angular position of the lever (3) and
with the door (A) partially rotated with respect to the closed configuration, in order
to lock the door (A) in at least one partially open configuration.