Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2004-06-22
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3677)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C292S056000, C292S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06752437
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastening mechanism for a cover, door or the like, hinged on a body, frame or the like, wherein a locking element is fixedly attached to the body, frame or the like, the cover, door or the like supports an actuating element, the actuating element controls a locking mechanism which can be disengaged from the locking element during opening and engaged with the locking element during closing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A fastening mechanism is desired for furniture, in particular, which is easy to operate and yet results in a definite securing of the closed position. This is of special importance for overhead cabinets in house trailers and mobile homes and the like, since their fastening mechanisms are often only accessible at the level of the head of the user.
Various so-called rotatable fastening mechanisms are known, wherein an actuating element must be rotated for opening, and thereafter the cover, door and the like must be pulled into the opening position. Opening of the cover, door or the like is more difficult with the operating step, which can be performed in two directions, in particular in those cases where the fastening mechanism is arranged at a height which is disadvantageous for the user.
Magnetic and snap fastening mechanisms are also known, which do not require a separate actuating element and which can be brought into an opening or closing position merely by the pivot movement of the cover, door or the like. Here, a compromise is made between the holding and the opening force of the cover, door or the like, which often leads to an insufficiently fixed locking position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of this invention to provide a fastening mechanism of the type mentioned above but which is easy to operate and in particular results in an assured locking in the closed position.
In accordance with this invention this object is attained with the actuating element that is moved from the closed position to the open position by a pulling force acting essentially perpendicularly in relation to the connecting plane defined by the cover, door or the like.
With this fastening mechanism the lock between the cover or door and the body or frame is released when the user exerts a force on the actuating element, which acts generally perpendicular with respect to the door plane. Thus the movement required for unlocking also extends in the direction in which the cover or door is pivoted open. A harmonious and compulsory course of movement results when unlocking and opening the cover or door, which is considered to be pleasant and therefore results in a simple operation of the fastening mechanism.
In one preferred embodiment the actuating element is designed as a bow-shaped or U-shaped handle with two legs, which extend parallel to each other, and a handle element, wherein the two legs are adjustably fastened on the cover, door or the like. At least one of the legs passes through an opening in the cover or door and on the back of the cover or door is in an operative connection with the locking mechanism.
The handle has a pleasant appearance and can be simply manipulated for actuating the fastening mechanism.
To prevent tilting of the two legs of such a fastening mechanism with respect to the cover, door or the like, the two legs can control the locking mechanism. The second leg is connected to a mounting element on the back of the cover or door and is held adjustably there.
A simple mechanical structure for a fastening mechanism with a handle results if at least one of the legs is connected to a locking lever and/or a guide lever. The locking lever and/or the guide levers are seated on a mounting element and are pivotal around a hinge pin that extends parallel with a link pin of the cover, door or the like. The hinge pin is maintained at a distance away from the leg by the locking lever and/or the guide lever. The greater the distance of the leg is selected to be from the hinge pin, the closer the unlocking movement of the actuating element approaches a linear movement, so that a quasi perpendicular movement results.
For fastening the handle on the cover or door the free end of at least one of the legs of the actuating element is coupled with a connecting sleeve, which passes through the opening of the cover, door or the like and is connected on the back of the cover or door to a mounting element. A fastening screw is pushed through the connecting sleeve and is screwed into the leg connects the leg with the mounting element. The connecting sleeve can also be used for matching the different thickness of the cover or door for which connecting sleeves of different lengths are used.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the locking element is embodied as a locking bolt on the body, frame or the like. The actuating element is adjustable relative to the cover, door or the like and controls a locking mechanism on the inside thereof, which includes of a locking lever and a rotatably seated locking claw. The locking claw is held in a receiving position for the insertion of the locking bolt in the open position of the fastening mechanism. The locking claw extends behind the locking bolt in the closed position, and the locking lever, which is displaced by the actuating element and is spring-loaded, locks the locking claw in the closed position.
For opening the cover, door and the like it is only necessary to operate the actuating element in order to move the locking lever far enough so that it releases the lock with the locking claw. The locking bolt is released by the pivot movement of the cover, door and the like by rotating the locking claw, and the cover, door and the like can be opened without hindrance. The locking claw is pivoted so far that it assumes its receiving position and is held therein, so that when the cover, door and the like is closed, the locking bolt is again inserted into the locking claw. In the final closing movement of the cover, door and the like the locking claw is rotated into the locked position by the inserted locking bolt, so that the spring-loaded locking bolt can lock the locking claw. Thus, the cover, claw and the like is clearly secured in the locked position and can only be unlocked and opened by operating the actuating element.
In one embodiment, the operation of the fastening mechanism is further eased because the locking lever and/or the guide lever are supported by a compression spring on the inside of the cover, door and the like, and a locking projection can be moved into a pivot range and out of the pivot range of the locking claw, which has a locking shoulder.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the locking lever and the locking claw are rotatably seated on a mounting element attached to the inside of the cover, door and the like, wherein the hinge pins are aligned parallel with respect to each other and parallel with the link pin of the cover, door and the like. The locking mechanism can be attached as a unit on the inside of the cover, door and the like, and only needs to be connected with the actuating element.
Following the opening of the fastening mechanism, the locking claw can be maintained in the receiving position for the locking bolt. In the opening position of the fastening mechanism, the locking claw can be restored to and maintained in the receiving position for the locking bolt by a spring, which is guided in a guidance receiver of the locking lever.
The same result can also be achieved because in the receiving position the locking claw is snapped into a snap-in receiver of the mounting element by a snapin projection. During closing and releasing the fastening mechanism, the snapped-in connection can be achieved and released by rotating movement of the locking claw.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the locking mechanism is simplified because the locking lever and the mounting element are embodied as a one-piece plastic element and are hingedly connected with each other.
In accordance with another embodiment, the displacement movement of the actuating
Bantle Ulrich
Köster Walter
Karl Simon GmbH & Co. KG
Luu Teri Pham
Pauley Petersen Kinne & Erickson
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