WO2002035044A1

WO2002035044A1 - Door opening device

Info

Publication number: WO2002035044A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/003307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Arias
Original assignee: Michel Arias
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2001-10-24
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Also published as: AU2002215076A1; FR2815663A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for opening a door opening horizontally, a window opening horizontally, or any type of panels with similar function, vehicle door, closets, wardrobe or refrigerator and/or freezer doors opening to the right or to the left at will. The invention is characterised in that the pivots (2, 3, 4, 5) located on either side are linked together by bars (7, 9, 13, 22) whereof the centre distance is identical and which are themselves maintained on fixed pivots (6, 12, 21) and pivot independently and in opposite direction from one another, accompanying each and separately an opening movement either to the right, or to the left

Description

DOOR OPENING DISPQSΓΠF

The present invention relates to a device making it possible to open a door with horizontal opening, a window with horizontal opening, a door for a cupboard, cupboard, vehicle, or any kind of panel having this function on the right or on the left at will and according to the need of the moment.

-A part of the device being adapted at the bottom, it is therefore necessary that there is a flange at the base of these various elements. That is to say that if a door arrives at ground level, there must be a ledge at its base and on its internal face, for example, a step on which it comes to close. Or if it is raised above the ground, such as a window, we use the part of the support, probably in this case a wall, to fix the lower part of the device.

The invention can be used for a refrigerator and / or freezer with one or more doors. These doors are not necessarily flat, if they have various shapes or curves, the centerpieces of this invention can be adapted to these shapes.

These household appliances are conventionally equipped with pivot systems which can be moved from one side to the other of their doors, which allows a choice of opening to the right or to the left, this choice sometimes imposing itself according to the location chosen for the device. This choice is not always easy in some apartment kitchens or others. There is a need for one of these devices which can be opened at any time on the right or on the left. The device according to the invention, suitable for a built-in or integrable refrigerator and / or freezer facilitates the choice of location for the cooking appliances according to the configuration of the rooms in the house. In the case of a built-in model, the two doors, that of the appliance and that of the fitted kitchen must be equipped with the device according to the invention.

The lower part of the device can be at the base and behind the door if the location is sufficient, on the other hand if the basic device is fixed under a raised door, it will be provided with any cover. In addition, the invention was designed with the aim of offering maximum security. Indeed, with the device of the invention, it is impossible to open the door on the right if one has started to open it on the left and vice versa. If necessary, an additional system to improve the retention in closing is also provided as well as an additional safety system with double handles. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 serve to present this invention as simply as possible.

The following figures represent its most interesting adaptation on various refrigerators and / or freezers with one or more doors, as well as the additional systems which are added to it.

In these figures 1,2,3 the support 1 is supposed to represent all imaginable bodies likely to be equipped with a door or a window (for example, carcass for a refrigerator, wall for a window, etc ... ) -

As for the bar 8, it can be a door in itself or the support on which it will be fixed.

Referring to Figure 1, we see a support 1 on which are maintained on each side of the bars 7 and 9 which are maintained on supports 6 which allow them to pivot opposite one another.

These bars 7 and 9 are each provided opposite their pivot support 6 with another pivot system allowing them to hold a bar 8 between them.

So there are four pivots 2,3,4 and 5.

The center distance of pivots 2 and 3 is identical to the center distance of pivot 4 and 5 and this also applies to the three bars 7,8,9.

The bars 7, 9 are identical but they accompany the bar 8 independently of one another depending on whether the latter is opened to the right or to the left.

So if we open the bar 8 on the left, it pivots on the pivot 2 of the bar 7 and the pivot 4 of the bar 9.

So, as we always see in Figure 1, as soon as we start to open the bar 8 on one side, for example on the left, as soon as the pivots 5 and 3 are no longer superimposed, it becomes impossible to open the bar 8 on the right because the pivots 2 and 4 can no longer move away from each other unless the bar 9 is capable of lengthening and vice versa in the other direction of opening. Of course, the opening stroke of the bar 8 must be limited to less than a hundred and eighty degrees, otherwise there is a risk at this point of seeing the pivots 4.2 deviate and the support assembly 1, bar 7, 8,9 to be placed in the square and with a weight fixed on the bar 8, one would cause the fall of the body supposed to replace the support 1.

An opening race limited to one hundred and twenty degrees would be ideal. As we can see, we cannot choose to open the bar 8 to the right or to the left only when the pivots 3 and 5 are superposed one above the other and that the pivots 2,4 are also them also superimposed. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device and FIG. 3 the opening opposite to FIG. 1.

Note on all three figures that the bars 7.9 have at their pivots 3, 4 a flange allowing them to come to bear on the support 1 so that the different pivots 2,3,4,5 remain well bunk. So as we can see, this set of three figures shows us that the fixed pivots 2,5 and their support 6 are placed vertically and opposite one another in the diagonal of the bar 8 or of the opening than that -this is supposed to represent, while the pivots 3,4 which accompany the opening movements of the bar 8 or the opening are also placed vertically and also opposite one another in the diagonal of the bar 8 or opening it, but they are in the diagonal opposite to that of the fixed pivots 2.5.

Figure 4 shows the principle of the invention adapted to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a single door.

Compared to Figure 1, all of the parts presented will be much larger and more resistant given the weight of door 10 of the device presented.

There are two bars 13 which have a cylindrical pivot 77, the length of these pivots 77 is important for maintaining the square of the assembly as well as for avoiding functional clearances in the closed position, the assembly must be sufficiently rigid. So either the pivot 77 is an integral part of the bar 13 or it is very securely kept welded, screwed, etc. This assembly must be made of metal insensitive to rust. A washer 78 is interposed for maintaining the door 10.

The parts 16, 17 are fixed inside the door 10 before foaming, by gluing or screwing by the screw 19, as desired.

The part 15 makes it possible to join the parts 16, 17 together, which both have an orifice 18 allowing the degassing of the foam.

The part 16 differs from the part 17 by the fact of being closed on the top. The parts 15, 16, 17 fit together to form an assembly, but they can also be one and the same part.

The pivot 77 is introduced into this assembly. The bar assembly 13, support 12 is the same as below.

Of course in this Figure 4, the door 10 of the refrigerator replaces the bar 8 of Figures 1,2,3 and the support 1 of these same figures becomes the carcass of the refrigerator.

The pivot supports 12 of the bars 13 must also be made of metal. We also see a screw 14 which can serve as a pivot.

The door 10 has two handles 11 for the double opening. Figure 5 always shows a refrigerator but it is differentiated by the fact that it has a double pivot system at the top and bottom.

The bar 13 is identical but the bars 22 are less thick, the thicknesses and the shapes of these bars can vary according to the desired resistance.

There is a long double handle 20 and longer pivot supports 21,28 which we will see next.

This double bar system can provide better support for door 10.

The bars 13, 22, 27 presented so far are apparent, plastic covers 23 will be fitted in front.

In addition, the bars 13, 22, 27 can each have an individual plastic cover because, depending on whether the door 10 is opened to the right or to the left, they appear from the front or from the back. Figure 6 shows an enlargement of the pivot supports 21,28 which, as can be seen, allow when the various bars 13,22,27,24 open, the cover 23 to enter a notch.

Also as seen in Figure 6, the pivot supports 21,28 have a different height adapted to the bar they receive.

The large pivots 77 of the bars 13, 22, 27, 24 can be hollow metal tubes filled with thermally insulating material.

The pivot supports 21 are shown here in abutment on the carcass 25 of a refrigerator and / or freezer. The bars 22 have a pivoting end piece 80 intended to be held in a cover 23.

Figure 7 shows a two-door refrigerator and / or freezer (top freezer).

Here we see bars 29,27 held together on the same pivot support, which makes it possible to operate the door 10 and the door 26 independently of one another, requiring less space than for two pivot supports separated. Also FIG. 7 shows various types of pivot supports 30 with a visible support and screws, or 31, perforated on the inside for hidden screws, or a set of pivot supports 34 allowing better support for the bars 32,33 more thick, these pivot supports 34 can fit separately through the top and bottom of these bars 33,32.

FIG. 8 shows one of the handles 11 presented in FIG. 4, this handle 11 is provided inside with another handle 35 which pivots by coming to push a part 37 which bears against the joint 39. This handle 35 is equipped with 'a spring 36. It also has holes

43 allowing it to pivot after fitting onto the pivots 44 of the handle 11.

On the two handles, there are various flanges 38 for holding the spring 36.

In the cutouts 42 of the handle 35, the pivots 41 of the part 37 are introduced. In the handle 11, there is a cutout 40 which lets slide while maintaining the part 37. This handle system is intended to facilitate the opening of the complementary closure system which is described in FIG. 9.

In this FIG. 9, there are pivot supports 21 on which are mounted pieces 48 provided with pivots 50, a piece 46 holds a spring 47 which pushes the piece 48.

This part pushed onto its stop 55 must then be located so that its pivot 50 is in the same pivot axis as the bar 27, 22 held on its pivot support 21. The part 48 pivots on an axis 81.

The bar 45 rotates a piece 49 at each of its ends.

This part 49 has a double system of pivots, a pivot 83 allowing it to be held on the bar 45 and a pivot 82 which will be fixed to it on a bar 22,27,13, because this complementary closure system works with a double system bars like the one shown in figure 5.

Still in FIG. 9, a part 49 has a pivot 82 fixed on a bar, for example 22.

Its attachment to this bar is on the side where the bar is held on the door 10 because this part 49 accompanies the opening movements and it has a curved face which allows it to pivot itself around the pivots 50 of the parts 48.

On the bar 45, there is therefore a part 49 which is fixed on a bar 22 and a part 49 which is itself fixed on a bar 27. Thus when a door 10 is opened on one side, a part 49 leaves the pivot 50 of the part 48 by pivoting around the pivot 50 and pushing the spring 47, it somehow passes a neutral position.

The center distance of the pivots 82 of the parts 49 which are in turn fixed to the bars 22, 27 should only allow the opening of one part 49 at a time.

It should not be possible to open the two parts 49 fixed on the same bar 45 at the same time. Thus, by opening a door 10 as soon as a part 49 leaves the pivot 50, the one which is opposite is pivoted inwardly around its pivot 50, thereby increasing the retention as additional security.

On one of its sides, the bar 45 has a cutout 51 which must be just sufficient to allow it to follow the opening movement of one of the parts 49, because when the latter will pivot on its fixed axis 82, its mobile axis 83 will need an offset to the outside.

The dimension of the cutout 51 of the bar 45 should also only allow the opening of a single piece 49 at a time. While in the fully closed position of a door 10 the pivots 50 of the parts

48 will push on the parts 49, the closing of the door 10 will be maximum.

• Figure 10 shows all the parts of Figure 9 installed in rear view of the assembly.

We see that the part 48 has an internal cavity 84 larger than the part 46 thus allowing the spring 47 to have the ease necessary for its operation.

Also the part 23 has a part 56 allowing to fit the bar 22 which will be maintained while being able to pivot.

This part 23 also has a cutout 57 allowing easier fitting.

FIG. 11 presents the system of the long handle 20 of FIG. 5.

This handle 20 has two internal handles 64 provided with holes 86 and oblong holes 87. The holes 86 fit onto the pins 66 of the long handle 20, thus allowing them to pivot.

The two handles 64 are coupled together by a bar 65 which will move from one side to the other, driven by the tilting of one of the handles 64 then causing the other handle 64 in the reverse movement. By any pivot system, the bar 65 is held on the handles 64 at their oblong holes 87. The ends 88 of the bar 65 are also coupled with parts 62 against the door 10 by a fixed pivot system 89.

On each side of the door 10, the part 62 enters the interior of a part 61. When a part 62 leaves its part 61, the part 62 which is located opposite enters its part 61.

This system keeps the door 10 closed either on one side or the other by tilting the handle system 64.

So here again it is an additional security. Between the two handles 64, a part 67 on which are fixed by a fixed pivot 90, two parts 69 act on a part 68 which in turn pushes on a spring 70.

This spring 70 is also held on the other side by another piece 68. The bar 65 has axes 71 allowing parts 69 to be tilted from one side to the other, thus compressing the spring 70 before tilting from the 'other side.

The parts 68 have cylindrical pins allowing them to tilt. This system is used to hold the handles 64 in the chosen position.

The pieces 62 are held by the door 10 by pieces 63 and the pieces 61 are held on the carcass 25 of the refrigerator.

FIG. 12 presents various views of the bar 65 with its cylindrical axes 71 which are provided with cutouts capable of receiving external clip clips to hold the parts 69 on each side.

FIG. 13 shows the operating principle of the part 62 when it is introduced into the part 61 presented here in section.

It can be seen that the part 61 is designed to allow the part 62 to pivot so as to then conform to the curve thereof when the latter penetrates inside. From this moment the part 62 can no longer open, thus preventing the double handle system 64 from tilting. FIG. 14 shows us that when the door 10 opens relative to the carcass 25 of the refrigerator, the part 62 abuts on the part 61, thereby limiting the opening angle of the door 10 by approximately four- ninety degrees.

The opening angle of door 10 must never reach one hundred and eighty degrees, but the system can be studied to allow an intermediate opening angle.

Figure 15 shows the handle 64 in different views.

Figure 16 shows the assembly of parts 62,63 pivoting on their common axis via a pivot 72 which can be held by a clip. Figure 17 shows all of the parts that allow the tilting of the double handle system presented in Figure 11.

The holes 73 of the part 67 serve to fix the latter on the door 10 of the refrigerator.

Figure 18 shows all the parts 62,63,64 mounted together. We see two spacers 71 interposed to center the part 62 on the handle 64.

FIG. 19 shows a support 98 crossed from top to bottom by an orifice 97 which is in fact an axis allowing it to be pivotally mounted, it has a magnetic system or magnetizable plate 99, because it is used for systems suitable for small doors to keep them in the closed position. But it can also accompany an opening movement when the door is opened on the other side.

Claims

REVENPICATIONS

1) Device allowing to open a door with horizontal opening, a window with horizontal opening, or any kind of panels having this function, vehicle door, cupboards, doors of cupboards or refrigerator and / or freezer on the right or on the left at will, characterized in that the pivots (2,3,4,5) which are on each side are connected together by bars (7,9,13,22) whose center distance is identical and which are themselves maintained on fixed pivot supports (6,12,21) and pivot independently and opposite one another, each accompanying distinctly an opening movement either to the right or to the left.

2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the fixed pivots (2,5) are placed vertically and opposite one another on a diagonal of the opening. 3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the pivots (3,4) which accompany the opening movements of the opening are also placed vertically and opposite one another on one of the diagonals opening but this is the diagonal opposite to that of the fixed pivots (2,5). 4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that fixed pivot supports (30,31) hold together two bars (27,29) which support superimposed openings.

5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical pivots (77) have a length which is large enough to keep the assembly square.

6) Device according to claim 1 equipped with a magnetic closure system (98.99) characterized in that it has the possibility of pivoting relative to an axis (97) so that it can accompany a movement of opening when the door is opened or opened on the other side.