Door assemblies

Abstract: A door assembly comprises a door frame (2) comprising a hinge formation (4) providing a concave-curved surface (6), and a complementary hinge formation (16) providing a convex-curved outer surface (18) which may be engaged with the hinge formation (4) to allow pivotal movement of the door relative to the frame about an axis, with the surface (6) and (18) being in sliding engagement. Door closing mechanism (30) comprises a bracket (32) having an outer flange (34) and spaced parallel arms (36) between which a split pin (38) extends. Mounted around the split pin (38) is a coil spring (40), an inner end of which being located between the legs of the split pin, an outer hooked end (42) of the coil spring being located against a lip (10) of the hinge formation (4). The force tending to uncoil the spring is operative to urge the door to its closed position. Should the need arise to replace the coil spring, the door closing mechanism (30) may simply be removed, allowing a fresh coil spring to be inserted.

Description: This invention is concerned with improvements relating to door closing mechanisms. The invention has been devised particularly in relation to the provision of a simple but reliable door closing mechanism for a door assembly of the kind commonly found in locker rooms. It is however to be appreciated that the door closing mechanism the subject of this invention may be utilised for doors in general terms, such as cupboard doors. There is disclosed in FR-A-1444727 a door closing mechanism comprising a helical spring, one leg of which engages a fixed abutment and the other leg engages the door to exert on the door a closing force. Difficulty however is encountered when it becomes necessary to replace the spring. According to this invention there is provided a door closing mechanism for a door assembly comprising a frame and a door pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein the door closing mechanism is capable of being separated from the door assembly as a sub-assembly without disassembling of the door from the frame, said door closing mechanism comprising: a) a support member; b) securing means for securing the support member to the door assembly; c) a spindle supported by the support member; and d) a coil spring coiled around the spindle, one end of the coil spring being held captive with the closing mechanism and the other end engaging the door assembly to exert a door closing force. Preferably the coil spring is located on or closely adjacent to the axis about which the door rotates, on movement thereof between its open and closed positions. Preferably the construction and arrangement is such that the door closing force is exerted as a force tending to cause the spring to unwind. In this manner the spring may be retained relatively fully wound, and hence compact. Preferably the closing mechanism comprises a support member, including a spindle on which the spring is coiled, and a flange adapted to be secured to the door e.g. by the use of a screw. Conveniently the spindle is in the form of a split pin, between the legs of which one (inner) end of the spring is conveniently located. Preferably the frame comprises a hinge formation providing a concave-curved surface and the door comprises a complementary hinge formation providing a convex-curved surface adapted to seat against that of the hinge formation of the frame. Preferably the hinge formation of both the frame and the door are axially elongate. Preferably a substantial part at least of the coil spring is located within the circumferential boundary of the hinge formation, and preferably the axis of the coil spring is located close to (i.e. within 10mm of, and preferably within 2mm of) the axis of closing movement of the door. In this manner a compact construction of door closing mechanism may be obtained. There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a door assembly comprising a door closing mechanism which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example. In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view, showing part of a door frame of the assembly, a door thereof, and hinge mechanism therefor; FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken on Figure 1, showing the door in a closed position; FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing the door in an open position; and FIGURE 4 is a view of part of the door frame, showing the cut-away mounting of the door closing mechanism. The door closing mechanism which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is for a door assembly comprising a door frame 2 comprising a hinge formation 4 providing a concave-curved surface 6, an opening 8 being provided into the interior of the hinge formation, said opening being bounded on one edge on a lip 10. Also located within the hinge formation is a secondary convex bearing surface 12, having a centre closely adjacent to that of the surface 6. The door 14 comprises a complementary hinge formation 16 providing a convex-curved outer surface 18, which together with a secondary convex bearing surface 20 may be engaged within the hinge formation 4 to allow pivotal movement of the door relative to the frame about (in use) a vertical axis, the surfaces 6 and 18 being in sliding engagement, together with the surfaces 12 and 20. Provided in the door 14, opening through the hinge formation 16 is a recess 22, adjacent to which is a bore 24. The door closing mechanism of the preferred embodiment, indicated by the general reference numeral 30, comprises a bracket 32 having an outer flange 34, and spaced, parallel arms 36 between which a spindle, in the form of a split pin 38, extends. Mounted around the spindle 38 is a coil spring 40, an inner end of which being located between the legs of the split pin, and the outer end thereof being provided with a hook formation 42. Provided in the flange 34 is a bore 44. In the assembly of the door, door frame and door closing mechanism, the hinge formation 16 of the door is located within the hinge 4 of the door frame, allowing arcuate movement of the door relative to the frame about a longitudinal axis, between an open and closed position of the door. With the door in its fully open position, to present access to the recess 22, the arms 36 of the bracket 32, together with the coil spring carried thereby, are moved into the recess 22 within the peripheral confines of the concave-curved surface 6 of the door hinge formation, and the hooked outer end 42 of the coil spring is located against the lip 10 of the formation 4. The door closing mechanism is located further within the confines of the surface 6, and the flange 34 is pressed against the door frame, with the bore 44 in alignment with the bore 24, the flange being secured to the door frame by the use of a rivet (not shown). In this position the coil spring is located substantially on the longitudinal axis of the door closing movement i.e. within 2mm of said axis, and the force tending to uncoil the spring is operative to urge the door to its closed position, shown in Figure 2. Should the need arise to replace the coil spring, the door closing mechanism 30 may simply be removed by removal of the screw, and angling the door so that the mechanism 30 may be removed from the hinge mechanism, the split pin removed and a fresh coil spring replaced thereon, for reassembly with the door.

Claims: A door closing mechanism (30) for a door assembly comprising a frame (2) and a door (14) pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein the door closing mechanism (30) is capable of being separated from the door assembly as a sub-assembly without disassembling of the door from the frame, said door closing mechanism comprising: a) a support member (34); b) securing means (24, 44) for securing the support member to the door assembly; c) a spindle (38) supported by the support member; and d) a coil spring (40) coiled around the spindle (38), one end of the coil spring being held captive with the closing mechanism and the other end (42) engaging the door assembly to exert a door closing force. A door closing mechanism according to Claim 1 wherein the coil spring (40) is located on or closely adjacent to the axis about which the door rotates, on movement thereof between its open and closed positions. A door closing mechanism according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the construction and arrangement is such that the door closing force is exerted as a force tending to cause the spring to unwind. A door closing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spindle (38) is in the form of a split pin, between the legs of which said one end of the spring (40) is located. A door closing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame (2) comprises a hinge formation (4) providing a concave-curved surface (6) and the door comprises a complementary hinge formation (16) providing a convex-curved surface (18) adapted to seat against that of the hinge formation of the frame. A door closing mechanism according to Claim 5 wherein a substantial part at least of the coil spring (40) is located within the circumferential boundary of the hinge formation. A door closing mechanism according to Claim 6 wherein the axis the coil spring is located within 10mm of the axis of closing movement of the door. A door closing mechanism according to any one of Claims 5, 6, and 7 wherein the hinge formation (4, 16) of both the frame (2) and the door (14) are axially elongate.

Inventors: POYNER DONALD EMANUEL, WILDE ROGER, POYNER, DONALD EMANUEL, WILDE, ROGER
Applicants: LINK 51 LTD, LINK 51 LIMITED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E05F1
IPC codes: E05D1, E05F1