Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for closing a door, said device comprising a spring element, a fixing element for fixing the device to a door, and an actuating element. The actuating element and the fixing element can be coupled to the spring element in such a way that, when the door is opened, the spring element is stretched and the energy stored in the spring element causes the door to close automatically. The actuating element is embodied as a support element that can be placed against the door frame or the adjacent wall regions in a supporting manner, and the fixing element can be removably mounted on an edge of the door without the use of fasteners or adhesives.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part application that claims benefit, under 35 USC §120, of co-pending International Application PCT/DE2004/000598, filed on 23 Mar. 2004, designating the United States, which claims foreign priority under 35 USC §119(a) to German Patent Application No. DE10314098.0, filed 27 Mar. 2003, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Devices of the type to which the invention is directed are used for automatic closing of doors, gates, flaps or the like. When the door is opened, a spring element is tensioned. As soon as the opened door is released, the energy stored in the tensioned spring element is released and the spring element brings the door into the closed position, or at least into a position in which the door is ajar, as a result of its elastic restoring force.  
         [0003]     A plurality of generic devices are known from the prior art. Closing devices in which the entire device is arranged in a separate housing that is attached to the wall next to or above the door are used in the area of house doors and heavy gates. The door is connected to the device by means of a hinged arm mechanism attached to the door. High closing forces can certainly be stored and released with this known device; however, as a result of the size dependent on the design, its use for room doors or the like is generally not possible or at least is not desired for aesthetic reasons.  
         [0004]     Closing device integrated directly in a door hinge are further known. The closing forces are certainly small but these are generally sufficient to bring an opened door at least into an ajar position. However, a disadvantage with these known closing devices is that they must be planned and built in during the initial assembly of the respective door and the door frame; it is generally not possible to retrofit the door with such a closing device.  
         [0005]     Starting from this prior art, there is a need for a device to close a door, which can be mounted and dismounted subsequently even when the door is installed, without the need to make modifications to the door or the door frame.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A device according to the invention comprises in an initially known fashion a spring element, an attachment element for attaching said device to a door and an actuation element, wherein said actuation element and said attachment element can be coupled to said spring element in such a way that the spring element is tensioned during opening of said door and that the energy stored in said spring element causes a bias to said door. According to the invention, said actuation element is formed as a support element that can be brought into supporting abutment with a door frame or architrave or adjacent wall portions, and said attachment element can be removably engaged without fasteners to an edge or side portions of said door.  
         [0007]     As a consequence of this arrangement, no attachment of the support element to the door frame is necessary and the attachment to the door is effected by removable engagement with both sides of the door, or the door edge. Any arbitrary door can thereby be subsequently retrofitted in a simple fashion with a closing device that can additionally be mounted and dismounted without any modification to the door and door frame and usually without tools. In addition to retrofitting applications, it is thus also possible, when moving from one residence to another, for example, to dismount the closing device and use it on another door.  
         [0008]     According to one embodiment of the invention, the attachment element has an attachment section and a housing for at least partial receipt of the spring element. This means that the function of the spring element and the attachment of the device according to the invention are functionally and spatially separated.  
         [0009]     The shape of the attachment rail and thus its function of securely attaching the device on the door to be fitted therewith depends substantially on the geometry of the door edge.  
         [0010]     According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the attachment rail is formed as substantially U-shaped in cross-section at least in sections and embraces the door edge. The term “substantially U-shaped at least in sections” should in this case comprise both a complete U-profile and also a profile whose one leg extends over the entire length of the attachment rail whereas the opposing “leg” is merely formed by one or a plurality of hook-like attachments. An attachment rail comprising one or a plurality of U-shaped clips which are interconnected, should also come under this term. It is merely important that the attachment rail embraces the door edge on both sides, at least in sections. At the same time, the width of the U-profile can be predefined so that different attachment rails are used for different door frame profiles. Alternatively thereto, however, the U-profile can be variable in its width, i.e., adjustable.  
         [0011]     Since in particular newly installed doors generally have a peripheral rectangular edge, especially in the form of a peripherally projecting spring or a projection, a U-shaped attachment rail is sufficient for a plurality of applications. According to a further exemplary embodiment however, the inner profile of the attachment rail is formed substantially complementary in shape to the outer profile of the door edge. Thus, an adaptation to different door edge geometries can be made in a simple fashion by selecting the corresponding attachment rail.  
         [0012]     In order to ensure a secure and defined transmission of force from the door to the housing via the attachment rail during opening and closing the door, according to one exemplary embodiment, the attachment rail is disposed substantially rigidly on the housing. In this case, the rigid arrangement can be effected by a non-detachable fixing, for example, welding or gluing or, however, also by a detachable fixing in certain circumstances. A detachable fixing is especially advantageous when the attachment rail is to be exchanged to adapt to different door edge geometries.  
         [0013]     According to an especially preferred embodiment, however, the attachment rail is formed integrally on the housing, for example, is cast thereon or injection-molding thereon. Simple and inexpensive manufacture is thereby possible.  
         [0014]     The housing on which the attachment rail is disposed is used substantially for at least partial receipt of the spring element. According to one embodiment, this housing is formed for this purpose as substantially tube- or cup-shaped. In this case, “tube- or cup-shaped” in no way comprises only cylindrical shapes; rather the housing can also have a prismatic, triangular, square, polygonal or other cross-sectional shape.  
         [0015]     The attachment rail can be disposed in a fundamentally arbitrary fashion in the longitudinal direction of the housing. Preferably however, the attachment rail is disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the housing so that the attachment rail can be gently clipped onto the upper horizontal transverse edge of the door in the corner area whereas the housing extends substantially at right angles thereto and substantially parallel to the vertical edge of the door. A particularly simple and reliable attachment of the device according to the invention to the door is obtained in this case.  
         [0016]     The shape of the actuation element is fundamentally arbitrary so long as reliable transmission of force from the spring element to the door frame or the architrave is possible. According to a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention however, the actuation element is formed as substantially U- or L-shaped shaped and engages with one of its legs in the especially cup- or tube-shaped housing in such a way that the actuation element is pivotable about this leg and the longitudinal axis of said housing. Especially if the pivot axis of the actuation element, the longitudinal axis of the housing and the pivot axis of the door are in alignment, the actuation element undergoes an almost pure advantageous moment loading during opening and closing the door.  
         [0017]     The free leg of the actuation element is preferably formed as an abutment element on the door frame or architrave. At the same time, the abutment element can be provided with a coating, a covering or the like, in particular, of an elastomer, to protect the door frame.  
         [0018]     The type and shape of the spring element is fundamentally arbitrary as long as the force or energy applied during opening of the door can be stored elastically and released again. Thus, the spring element can be formed as a radial spring element. “Radial spring element” in the sense of the present invention means that the rotation of the actuation element, especially in the housing, brings about a compression or tensioning of the spring element in the circumferential direction relative to the axis of rotation of the actuation element. Thus, for example, an elastomer buffer can be used as a radial spring element, which is pressed by a radially projecting attachment on the actuation element against a counter-bearing disposed in the housing, or formed by a section of the housing inner wall. It is also feasible that the actuation element is vulcanised into the housing by means of a highly loadable elastomer, wherein the elastomer undergoes shear-loading when the actuation element is twisted.  
         [0019]     According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the spring element is formed as a coil spring. In this case, the coil spring is preferably disposed in the housing such that the first end of the coil spring can be brought into supporting abutment on the housing on opening the door. This supporting abutment can advantageously be achieved by the coil spring having a radially outwardly extending attachment at its first end, which can be brought into engagement in at least one slot-like recess in the front edge of the cup- or tube-shaped housing. The coil spring is thereby reliably secured against unintentional twisting in the housing.  
         [0020]     When a coil spring is used, the elastic storage of the force or energy expended during the opening is only possible in one direction of rotation. This means in particular that in the arrangement described heretofore, different devices, but at least different coil springs, must be used for left- and right-hand hinged doors. According to a quite especially preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, however, respectively at least one slot-like recess is provided in the axially opposing front edges of the cup- or tube-shaped housing. As a result, the coil spring can be inserted in the housing both from above and also from below, turned through 180 degrees, and can be locked rotationally fixedly therein, supported in the respective slot-like recess, whereby the direction of rotation of the device can be simply converted from left- to right-hand hinging.  
         [0021]     According to a further exemplary embodiment, the second end of the coil spring is attached to the actuation element such that, during opening and closing of the door, a reliable transmission of force and therefore a tensioning twist of the spring element is ensured between housing and door frame or architrave.  
         [0022]     According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, this attachment is effected by the L- or U-shaped actuation element engaging with its first leg in the cylindrical interior of the coil spring and the coil spring having an axially projecting attachment at its second end, which can be inserted into at least one recess disposed in the free leg of the L- or U-shaped actuation element. In this arrangement, the conversion from left- to right-hand hinging and conversely is made by changing over the coil spring as described heretofore and simultaneously changing over the actuation element, turned through 180 degrees, from above or from below in the interior of the coil spring.  
         [0023]     In order to be able to adjust the tension or pre-tension of the spring element and therefore the closing force, according to a further exemplary embodiment, the free leg is formed as plate-shaped, at least in certain areas, wherein in this plate-shaped area at least two recesses are disposed at a distance apart in the circumferential direction on a circular arc or section of a circular arc, which runs substantially concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the first leg. By means of this arrangement, the axially projecting attachment of the coil spring can be inserted into one of the recesses as desired whereby the pre-tension of the coil spring is pre-selected.  
         [0024]     Alternatively to the embodiments with a radial spring element described hereinbefore, the spring element can fundamentally also be formed as an axial spring element. For example, this can be effected in a fundamentally known fashion by providing the leg of the actuation element which dips into the housing, with a motion thread which passes through a spindle nut mounted axially movably but rotationally fixedly in the housing. During rotation of the actuation element relative to the housing on opening the door, the spindle nut moves in the axial direction, wherein a spring element disposed in the housing, for example a coil spring or an elastomer buffer, can be pressed by the spindle nut. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The invention is explained in detail hereinafter merely with reference to drawings which show exemplary embodiments. In the figures:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a partly broken exploded view placed on a door with a left-hand hinge;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the section A-A through the attachment rail from  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows the exemplary embodiment from  FIG. 1  in a view corresponding to  FIG. 1  placed on a door with a right-hand hinge; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a device  1  according to the invention for closing a door  2 . The device  1  has an attachment element  3  which substantially consists of a housing  4  and an attachment rail  5 . The attachment rail  5  has a substantially U-shaped cross-section (see  FIG. 2 ) and is welded on the housing  4  at its first end.  
         [0031]     The housing  4  is constructed as substantially cylindrically tube-shaped and is open at both faces  6 ,  7 . The walls of the housing  4  are each provided with a slot-like recess  8  and  9  in the area of its two faces  6  and  7 . A spring element in the form of a coil spring  10 , whose outside diameter is at least slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the housing  4  can be inserted into the housing from below in the view according to  FIG. 1 . The coil spring  10  has a substantially radially outwardly extending attachment  11  at its first end which enters into engagement in the slot-like recess  8  when the coil spring  10  is inserted. The coil spring  10  is thereby mounted rotationally fixedly in the housing  4 .  
         [0032]     At its second end axially opposed to the first end, the coil spring  10  further has an axially projecting attachment  12  which is disposed eccentrically to the central axis in the edge zone of the coil spring. The coil spring  10  has a length such that when the coil spring  10  is completely inserted into the housing  4 , the attachment  11  simultaneously engages in the recess  8  and the attachment  12  projects at least slightly from the face  6  of the housing  4 .  
         [0033]     An actuation element  13  in the form a substantially L-shaped clip has a first leg  14  and a second free leg  15  running substantially at right angles thereto. The free leg  15  is bent at its free end. In this case, the actuation element  13  consists of a round material which has an outside diameter at least slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the coil spring  10 . The actuation element  13  can be inserted into the coil spring  10  with its leg  14 .  
         [0034]     In the area of its free leg  15 , more precisely in the transition zone between the first leg  14  and the free leg  15 , the actuation element  13  is provided with a through recess  16  having a diameter which is at least slightly larger than the diameter of the attachment  12  of the coil spring  10 . When the actuation element  13  is inserted into the coil spring, the attachment  12  of the coil spring  10  enters into engagement in the recess  16 .  
         [0035]     The exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention from  FIG. 1  is clipped onto the upper edge  17  of the left-hand hinged door  2  with the attachment rail  5 , where the width of the edge profile of the door  2  substantially corresponds to the inner width “b” (see  FIG. 2 ) of the U-shaped attachment rail  5 . A fixed arrangement of the attachment rail  5  on the door  2  which is substantially free from play in the horizontal direction is thus obtained. When the door  2  is almost closed, the clip-shaped actuation element  13  inserted in the coil spring  10  is brought into a position by twisting in which the free end  15  can be brought into abutment on the door frame  18  wherein in this case the coil spring  10  is advantageously at least slightly pre-stressed. If the door  2  is now opened, as a result of the relative pivoting movement between the actuation element  13  and the housing  4  and the coupling of the coil spring  10  on the one hand to the actuation element  13  and on the other hand to the housing  4 , the coil spring  10  is tensioned, the energy expended on opening the door being stored elastically. If the opened door is now released, the tension of the coil spring  10  is removed, wherein the stored energy is released and the door is thereby closed.  
         [0036]     The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  has the same structure as the exemplary embodiment from  FIG. 1  and in particular, the same elements. Merely by changing over the coil spring  10  and the attachment element  13 , the device  1  according to the invention can be converted for use on a door with a right-hand hinge without any constructive modifications and without using a tool.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention where the coil spring which corresponds to the coil springs shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  is not shown to simplify the diagram. The device comprises an attachment element  3 ′ with an attachment rail  5 ′ and a housing  4 ′ for receiving the coil spring not shown. The attachment element is manufactured in one piece as a plastic injection moulding. Respectively two slot-like recesses  8 ′ or  9 ′ are disposed in the area of the faces  6 ′ and  7 ′ for fixing receipt of the radial attachment of the coil spring. The turning position of the coil spring and therefore the pre-stress can be pre-set through the choice of the respective recess  8 ′ or  9 ′.  
         [0038]     The device according to  FIG. 4  further has a substantially L-shaped actuation element  13 ′ with a first leg  14 ′ and a free leg  15 ′. The first leg  14 ′ is inserted in the housing  4 ′ through the coil spring disposed in the housing  4 ′ and substantially serves as an axis of rotation for the actuation element  13 ′. The free leg  15 ′ is constructed as substantially wedge-shaped with a plate-shaped area  19  and at its end pointing away from the first leg  14 ′ has a flat clip-shaped abutment element  20  with which the actuation element  13 ′ is supported on the door frame during opening and closing of the door. In the plate-shaped area  19  a plurality of axially continuous recesses  16  are disposed on a circular arc whose centre point lies on the longitudinal axis of the first leg  14 ′. As a result, when the actuation element tilts as prescribed, the recesses  16 ′move on a circular or circular-arc-shaped path around the longitudinal axis. By selecting the recesses  16 ′ in which the axial attachment of the coil spring will be inserted when the device according to the invention is mounted on a door edge, the pre-stress of the coil spring and, therefore, the closing force can be pre-set in a simple fashion. The actuation element  13 ′ is manufactured in one piece as a plastic injection moulding.