Movable or removable closures – With means mounting closure for reciprocation – With counterbalance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-06-12
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
With means mounting closure for reciprocation
With counterbalance
C049S125000, C049S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243988
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an actuating device for a closing element movable in a vertical direction for openings of all kinds, preferably for furniture, e.g. wardrobes, which are guided in lateral guides having a spring-loaded element or a tension element taking up the door weight.
2. Description of the Related Art
Closing elements movable in a vertical direction are known, for example, from the German utility model DE 298 07 679 where, mounted on the upper closing element, there is a spring-loaded tension element whose force compensates the weight of the closing elements. This tension element can appropriately comprise a pneumatic spring or a helical spring.
If a helical spring is used, its variable forces must be compensated during the movement as is known, for example, from European patent EP 0 417 822 B. To allow the bias of the spring to be varied in line with the function of the door, it is provided here that the free end of the spring be anchored on the furniture body by means of an adjustable mounting device. However, this adjustment is only suitable for a small variation range of the door weight so that with different doors each with different weights, it is also necessary to use different springs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a generic, compensatable actuating device for vertical sliding doors which can be adapted easily to different door dimensions or door weights without any exchange of components and which simultaneously allows the adjustment of the manner of movement of the doors.
This object is achieved with a generic actuating device having a combination of features including a tension element guided via a rocking lever on which a spring-loaded element acts at a position-changing hinge position. In accordance with this, the spring acts on the rocking lever transmitting the door weight.
This hinge position can preferably be adjustable in two directions at right angles to each other. By means of this design, it is possible to modify the spring force and/or its distance to the pivot point of the rocking lever so that the torque exerted by this can be adjusted both in the opening and closing position of the door in such a way that it always compensates the weight of the closing elements. Preferred aspects of the invention include having the hinge position adjustable in the plane of the rocking lever, and having the hinge position on the rocking lever be adjustable in two directions at right angles to one another. The actuating device may include a cable which serves as the tension element and which acts with one end on the closing element, being guided around a return pulley fixed on a body and around a return pulley disposed on the rocking lever, and mounted with its other free end on the body. The hinge position for the free end of the cable on the body may be a rotatably pivoted pin on which the cable can be wound by turning. The rotatably pivoted pin can be turned via a worm screw. The spring of the, actuating device may be a helical spring which is hinged with its end opposite the hinge position on the rocking lever to a pin rotatably pivoted on a fixed body, by means of which the bias of the helical spring may be adjusted. Furthermore, the hinge position for the helical spring can be adjusted on the rocker lever via two screw pins disposed essentially perpendicularly to each, such screw pins interacting with worm screws.
By an appropriate compensation of the adjustment of the hinge point in both directions, it is partially possible to modify the torques in different regions in such a way that the movement of the closing elements is, for example, accelerated at the start and slowed at the end of the movement.
In accordance with one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided that the total swivel arc of the rocking lever can also be adjusted in relation to the direction of the force exerted by the door weight so that the torque to be compensated by the spring can also be modified in a small range. This is effected by the adjustment of the effective length of the cable forming the flexible tension element.
Another preferred aspect results from the actuating device, in accordance with which the spring acts on a lever coupled with the rocking lever which lever is movably supported with respect to the rocking lever. This solution may include further preferred aspects. Accordingly, the spring can be a pneumatic spring. The spring can act swivellably with one end on the lever and with the other end swivellably and movably on a support piece fixed on the body of a piece of furniture. Particularly advantageously, the rocking lever possesses on its free end a return pulley and on the opposite end it is supported swivellably in a support piece fixed on the body of a piece of furniture, while the additional lever, on which the spring is hinged, is supported on the one side movably in the support piece fixed on the body of a piece of furniture and, on the other side, rests with its free end on the rocking lever by means of a pulley.
Another independent solution of the object previously set results when the tension element accepting the closing element weight is connected to at least one counterweight guided in vertically running guides.
In accordance with further preferred embodiments, a further counterweight can be hung on the counterweight compensating the weight of the at least one closing element, which further counterweight ensures the required force for the maintaining of the closed position of the closing element. After the opening of the closing element, when this additional force is no longer required, advantageously a compensation means can be provided for the compensation of this additional counterweight. Such a compensation element can, for example, comprise a stop on which the additional counterweight is supported so that after a corresponding compensation of the additional counterweight the counterweight compensating the closing element now only works alone. In this case, it is therefore prevented that the closing element is pulled up when not wanted. Due to the balance with the pressing counterweight, it rather remains in the position in which it is left after pushing up a certain distance.
The weight can also comprise a steel container fillable with ballast. Here, therefore, the weight of the at least one closing element can be compensated depending on requirements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 884472 (1908-04-01), Daly
patent: 3977123 (1976-08-01), Clay et al.
patent: 4845890 (1989-07-01), Terada et al.
patent: 4949425 (1990-08-01), Dodson et al.
patent: 245782 (1965-07-01), None
patent: 40 13 571 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 693 13 879 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 298 07 679 U (1998-09-01), None
patent: 0 357 214 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 0 417 822 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 2 504 182 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 329 286 (1930-05-01), None
Arturo Salice S.p.A.
Jacobson Price Holman & Stern PLLC
Redman Jerry
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