DOOR CLOSING AND SECURING MECHANISM

Abstract

Door closing and securing mechanism, particularly a mechanism for closing and securing doors of laboratory, which mechanism consist of a fixed part (9) attached to the respective cabinet (12) and a movable part (14) arranged in the door (1), wherein the movable part comprises at least one plate (3) provided with flexible end stops (4) and inseparably coupled with the handle (2) by means of a center pin (10) with a coaxial end stop (7) attached thereto, the plate (3) being further provided with a pivot (5) eccentrically mounted thereon and carrying at least one pivotally arranged hook (8), which has a recess for engaging a protrusion of the fixed part (9), with an opening accommodating one end of a tensile spring (11) and with a second spring (6) formed by a compression spring arranged between the plate (3) and the hook (8).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door closing and securing mechanism, particularly a mechanism for closing and securing doors of laboratory, medical and sterilization cabinets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The known door locking and securing mechanisms, which constitute the prior art and are typically used in the doors of medical devices, sterilizers or laboratory apparatuses, are usually conceived as linkage-type mechanisms.

A known door closing mechanism is operated by means of a handle that is rigidly coupled with hooks. The axis of rotation of the hooks is identical to that of the handle. The movement of the handle causes the hooks to be driven in rotation. Once the mutual engagement of the hooks and the fixed part of the closing mechanism, which is attached to a cabinet, is achieved, the continuing movement of the handle causes the door to start moving towards the cabinet. The movement of the door, however, is accompanied by the friction between the hooks and the fixed part of the closing mechanism. The frictional force is inversely proportional to the distance between the door and the cabinet at any given moment. The above effect hinders the door from being closed or opened in a convenient manner. Moreover, it is often accompanied with undesirable acoustic emissions.

The U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,380 B2 discloses a cover closure for housing cover of laboratory and the like, in particular for centrifuge housings, in which a cover hook is engaged by a closure hook and brought into a closing position. The closing and opening movement of the closure hook is essentially caused by an eccentric in connection with a crank guide and a guide path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a novel design solution for door closing and securing mechanisms. The design solution according to the invention is simple and enables the particular door to be easily closed and opened.

The above mentioned drawback are largely eliminated by a door closing and securing mechanism, particularly a mechanism for closing and securing doors of laboratory, medical and sterilization cabinets, which mechanism consist of a fixed part attached to the respective cabinet and a movable part arranged in the door, wherein the movable part comprises at least one plate provided with elastic end stops and inseparably coupled with the handle by means of a center pin with a coaxial end stop attached thereto, the plate being further provided with a pivot eccentrically mounted thereon and carrying at least one pivotally arranged hook, which has a recess for engaging a protrusion of the fixed part, with an opening accommodating one end of a tensile spring and with a compression spring arranged between the plate and the hook.

According to the invention, the door closing and securing mechanism consists of a fixed part and a movable part, one or more of the components of the latter performing an eccentric movement in order to pull the door towards the respective cabinet.

The main advantage of a door, which is provided with the closing and securing mechanism according to the invention, consists in that the opening and closing operation of such door can be considerably facilitated. The door opening and closing operations are carried out through the corresponding movements of the handle requiring just a minimum force to be exerted, the movements of the internal eccentric mechanism being derived from those of the handle.

Furthermore, the technical solution, on which the door closing and securing mechanism according to the present invention is based, enables the force required both for closing the respective cabinet and for opening the same to be kept at a minimum level.

Another advantage of the invention consists in the simple design solution of the closing and securing mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows the door closing and securing mechanism in its open position, FIG. 2 shows the door closing and securing mechanism in the door closing position, FIG. 3 shows the door closing and securing mechanism in its closed position, FIG. 4 shows the movable part of the door closing and securing mechanism, and FIG. 5 shows the placement of the respective components of the door closing and securing mechanism on a cabinet and in a corresponding door.

EXAMPLES OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings.

The door closing and securing mechanism according to the present invention consists of the fixed part 9, which is arranged on the cabinet 12, and the movable part 14, which is situated in the door 1 and comprises a plurality of interacting components (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11), the movement trajectories of the individual components (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11) being derived from that of the handle 2. As clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and. 4, the movable part 14 according to the present embodiment of the closing and securing mechanism comprises the plate 3 that is inseparably coupled with the center pin 10 and the handle 2. The center pin 10 is pivotally interconnected with the door 1. The end positions of the plate 3 are delimited by the elastic end stops 4. Furthermore, the plate 3 is provided with the pivot 5 eccentrically mounted thereon and carrying the movable hook 8. The hook 8 and the plate 3 are interconnected by means of the compression spring 6 for forcing the hook 8 towards the fixed part 9 of the mechanism or towards the coaxial end stop 7. The end stop 7 is arranged coaxially with respect to the center pin 10 of the plate 3. The shape of the hook 8 enables the same to engage with the protruding fixed part 9. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the pivot 5, the hook 8 approaches to the fixed part 9 during the phase of the closing movement of the door 1 corresponding to the final phase of the movement of the handle 2. This causes the door 1 to be pulled towards the cabinet 12. During the phase of the closing movement of the door 1 corresponding to the final phase of the movement of the handle 2, the hook 8 will rest against the end stop 7 which causes the hook 8 to move away from the fixed part 9 and enables the door 1 to be opened.

The function of the closing and securing mechanism according to the present embodiment is as follows. In FIG. 1, the closing and securing mechanism is shown in its open position, the hook 8 resting on the end stop 7. Turning the plate 3 in the direction of the arrow 13 causes the hook 8 to move towards the fixed part 9 mounted on the cabinet 12 and to rest against the same, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Then, the continuing rotational movement of the plate 3 causes the hook 8, which engages with pro protruding fixed part 9, to start pulling the door 1 towards the cabinet 12. If the door assumes its closed position, no moment of force will act on the plate 3. This means that the position of the plate 3 corresponding to the closed position of the door is maintained by means of the friction produced by the center pin 10 or by means of the action of the tensile spring 11, as seen in FIG. 3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The door closing and securing mechanism is usable for operating cabinet doors of laboratory, medical and sterilization apparatuses.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 door

2 handle

3 plate

4 elastic end stop

5 pivot

6 compression spring

7 coaxial end stop

8 hook

9 fixed part

10 center pin

11 tension spring

12 cabinet

13 arrow

14 movable part

Claims

1. Door closing and securing mechanism, particularly a mechanism for closing and securing doors of laboratory, medical and sterilization cabinets, which mechanism consist of a fixed part (9) attached to the respective cabinet (12) and a movable part (14) arranged in the door (1), characterized in that the movable part (14) comprises at least one plate (3) provided with flexible end stops (4) and inseparably coupled with the handle (2) by means of a center pin (10) with a coaxial end stop (7) attached thereto, the plate (3) being further provided with a pivot (5) eccentrically mounted thereon and carrying at least one pivotally arranged hook (8), which has a recess for engaging a protrusion of the fixed part (9), with an opening accommodating one end of a tensile spring (11) and with a compression spring (6) arranged between the plate (3) and the hook (8).