Patent Description:
Doors, windows, hatches or other openable elements may have a closing mechanism using a rod mounted on the openable element. The rod may be turned around its own axis, or moved axially, as to open or close the door or hatch.

To mount the rod on the openable element rod guides are used to keep the rod in place in connection to the openable element, making it possible for the rod to turn around its axis within the rod guide, and also to move in an axial direction.

Even though the opening/closing movement is turning around the axis of the rod, the rod might also move a little in its radial direction. If the rod guide is static it may induce tension in the rod, which is not favorable in terms of easy use and sustainability of the materials.

Since the openable elements using this type of opening/closing systems are often in environments where robust materials and constructions are needed, there is need for a rod guide that meet these requirements.

An example of a rod guide is given in <CIT>, which describes a rod guide for guiding a locking rod. This rod guide enables adjustment of the position of a rod mounted to an openable element.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution that alleviates certain drawbacks with present solutions. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a rod guide enabling an alternative way for adjustment of the position of a rod mounted to an openable element.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a rod guide for a rod arranged to an openable element, comprising a first part configured to be arranged with a bottom side onto the surface of the openable element, and having at least one recess extending, from an open end of the recess at the bottom side of the first part, in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the openable element, a second part enclosed by the first part and being movable relative to the first part in a direction perpendicular to the surface, and having at least one recess configured to create a receptacle for receiving the rod, wherein the recess of the second part has an open end in a direction in parallel with the surface of the openable element when the rod guide is arranged thereto, and a height adjusting element configured to adjust the position of the second part inside of the first part, wherein when moving the second part by the height adjusting element the rod received in the receptacle of the recess of the second part is moved along the recess of the first part in a direction perpendicular to the openable element.

Contrary to the state of the art, the invention does thus provide that the at least one recess of the first part extends, from an open end of the recess at the bottom side of the first part, and that the recess of the second part has an open end in a direction in parallel with the surface of the openable element when the rod guide is arranged thereto.

The rod may extend along the surface of the openable element through the receptacle of one or more rod guides mounted to the surface of the openable element. When adjusting the position of the second part inside of the first part, the position of the receptacle may be adjusted, and the position of the rod may be adjusted along with the receptacle.

When opening and closing a door, window or other openable element by a mechanism including a rod, the rod may be rotated around its axis, and/or moved axially, so as to open or close the openable element. For a well-functioning opening or closing procedure, it may be useful to have a rod guide to guide the movement of the rod. If the rod guide is static, there may be tension induced in the rod if the rod guide is not oriented in a precise way, making the opening and closing procedure harder and eventually also cause brittleness of the rod over time. An adjustable rod guide may thereby provide a way to configure the rod guide for easy operation of the rod.

The position adjusted may be in the radial direction of the rod. The position adjusted may be moving the rod closer to the surface of the openable element on which the rod guide is arranged, or further away from the surface of the openable element. The position adjusted may be in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the openable element. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the rod in the rod guide according to the position of the rod at the closing mechanism, releasing the tension that might have been induced. The first part may have a flat surface configured to face the surface of the openable element when in use. The first part may be fixed to the surface of the openable element in any way, for instance by means of a fastening means such as one or more screws or rivets, or by gluing or using other adhesive.

The rod guide may be made of plastic or metal such as steel or zinc or any other suitable material.

The rod guide is intended to be used for rods with a diameter of about <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>.

The receptacle holding the rod, provided by the recess of the first part and the recess of the second part, may limit the movement of the rod in at least two dimensions perpendicular to each other.

When the second part is enclosed by the first part, the recess of the second part is open in a direction perpendicular to the recess of the first part.

The rod may be limited in movement in the radial direction of the rod, and thereby controlled by the movement of the second part. The recess of the second part may move along the recess of the first part, thereby moving the receptacle and the rod. The rod may be rotatable around its own axis within the receptacle. The rod may be movable in an axial direction within the receptacle.

The recess in the first part limits movement of the rod in a direction in parallel with the surface, and the recess in the second part limits movement of the rod in a direction perpendicular to the surface.

The height adjusting element may be configured to be arranged to the second part and extending through the second part in a direction perpendicular to the surface.

The height adjusting element may be axially fixed inside of the first part, when the rod guide is mounted to the surface of the openable element. The surface of the openable element may restrict the movement of the height adjusting element in one direction along the axis of the height adjusting element. The first part may restrict the movement of the height adjusting element in one direction along the axis of the height adjusting element.

Movement of the height adjusting element may be restricted in a radial direction by the first part.

The second part may be moved along the height adjusting element so as to change its position in relation to the surface of the openable element and the first part.

The second part may further comprise at least one through hole, and wherein the height adjusting element may be arranged in the at least one through hole of the second part.

The through hole associated with the height adjusting element may be threaded or may have screw tracks. The through hole through the second part may extend in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the openable element when in use. The through hole in the second part may extend in parallel with the recess of the first part.

The height adjusting element arranged to extend through the second part may further extend through said through hole. The height adjusting element may interact with the through hole to provide adjusting movement of the second part. The height adjusting element may be provided with threads configured to interact with threads of the through hole.

The height adjustable element may be a screw or a bolt, and a nut.

The through hole of the second part may have flat or substantially flat walls, wherein the threads of the nut can be moved along the threads of the screw.

The nut may be integrated with the second part, provided as a threaded portion of the through hole of the second part.

In one embodiment the second part may have a nut receiving space configured to receive a nut, through which the through hole extend. Wherein the nut receiving space may be configured to prevent rotation of a nut received therein relative to the second part. The nut may be arranged in one through hole. The screw may be arranged in the other through hole and passing through the nut so as the threads of the nut may be engaged with the threads of the screw.

The first part may have an opening aligned with one end of the height adjusting element.

The opening of the first part aligned with the height adjusting element may give access to the height adjusting element for adjusting the height of the second part. The adjustment of the height adjusting element may be done by rotating the height adjusting element by hand or by a tool.

In one embodiment the height adjusting element may be a screw and the opening of the first part may align with the drive of the screw. The position of the second part may then be adjusted by screwing the screw in one direction.

The first part may be mounted on the openable element by at least one screw or bolt or other fastening means.

In one embodiment the rod guide may have a mounting arrangement integrated with the first part. In another embodiment there may be flanges extending from the first part for mounting the rod guide to the surface of the openable element.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for adjusting the position of a rod in a rod guide according to the invention, the method comprising rotating the height adjusting element, such that the second part is moved inside of the first part in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the openable element.

When rotating the height adjusting element, the second part may be moved together with the height adjusting element. The recess of the second part creating a receptacle for holding the rod may move along the recess of the first part when the height adjusting element is rotated. The receptacle may be moved inside the first part in a radial direction of the rod, closer to or further away from the surface of the openable element. The rod may be moved with the receptacle so as to be closer to or further away from the surface of the openable element. By rotating the height adjusting element in one direction, the rod may be moved closer to the surface of the openable element and by rotating the height adjusting element in a direction opposite to the first, the rod may be moved further away from the surface of the openable element.

According to a third aspect there is provided an openable element comprising a rod and at least one rod guide according to any one of the embodiments of the invention attached to a surface of the openable element, wherein the rod extends through the rod guide.

The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:.

This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an openable element <NUM> in the form of a door having a rod <NUM> being held by a rod guide <NUM>. The rod guide <NUM> is mounted on a surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>. The rod <NUM> may be held by more than one rod guide <NUM> mounted on the surface <NUM>. The rod <NUM> may extend the full length of a side of the surface <NUM> or a portion of a side. The rod <NUM> extends in parallel with the surface <NUM> and may be oriented in any direction along the surface <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the rod guide <NUM> mounted on a surface <NUM> of an openable element <NUM>. The rod guide <NUM> comprises a first part <NUM> and a second part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> encloses the second part <NUM>. The second part <NUM> is movable within the first part <NUM>.

The first part <NUM> has a mounting arrangement <NUM> for mounting the rod guide <NUM> to the surface <NUM> by a screw or a bolt. The mounting arrangement is illustrated at one side of the rod guide <NUM>. In another embodiment there can be more than one mounting arrangement <NUM>. The mounting arrangement <NUM> may be integrated in a portion of the first part <NUM> as seen in <FIG> or the mounting arrangement <NUM> may be one or more flanges extending from a side of the first part.

The first part <NUM> has an opening suitable for interaction with the second part <NUM>, for adjusting the position of the second part within the first part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-section of the rod guide illustrated in <FIG>. The second part <NUM> is enclosed by the first part <NUM>.

The second part has a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> limits movement of the rod in a direction perpendicular to the surface <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is mounted to the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>. When the second part <NUM> is arranged inside the first part <NUM>, the opening of the recess <NUM> of the second part <NUM> is closed by an inner surface of the first part <NUM>.

The height adjusting element <NUM> in this embodiment is a screw. The screw <NUM> is positioned inside of the first part <NUM> by an indentation in the first part <NUM> suitable for holding the screw head. However, the inside may be substantially flat or may have any other shape suitable for receiving the second part <NUM> and the height adjusting element <NUM>, <NUM>.

The height adjusting part <NUM> in this embodiment is a nut. The nut <NUM> is positioned within the second part <NUM>. In another embodiment, the nut <NUM> may be integrated with the second part <NUM>, provided as a threaded opening in the second part <NUM>.

The screw <NUM> extends through a hole in the second part <NUM>. The hole which the screw <NUM> is extending through intersects a hole wherein the nut <NUM> is positioned, or it intersects the portion where the nut <NUM> is integrated with the second part <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the first part <NUM> of the rod guide <NUM> having at least one recess <NUM> according to one embodiment. The recess <NUM> limits radial movement of the rod <NUM> in a direction in parallel with the surface <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is mounted to the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>.

The first part <NUM> has sides enclosing an open space of the first part <NUM>. The open space of the first part <NUM> can receive the second part <NUM> of the rod guide <NUM>. A side <NUM> configured to be in parallel to and adjacent to a surface <NUM> of an openable element <NUM>, can be open or partly open at least where the recess <NUM> is oriented. The side <NUM> is a bottom side of the first part <NUM>, being formed by the surfaces and openings extending in a plane configured to coincide with the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is arranged thereto. The first part <NUM> has a top portion <NUM>. A lower side of the top portion <NUM> is facing the open or partly open side <NUM>, which thereby may include facing the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is arranged thereto. The top portion <NUM> may have an opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may be suitable for reaching and rotating the height adjusting element <NUM> by hand or by a tool.

The recess <NUM> extends from a portion of the first part <NUM> which is adjacent to the surface <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is mounted to the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>, and along a side <NUM> of the first part <NUM> that is perpendicular to the surface <NUM> when mounted. The recess <NUM> may extend the full length of the side <NUM> or a portion of the side <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may at least have the length about the same as the diameter of a rod <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is open at an end of the first part <NUM> facing the surface <NUM> when mounted to the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>. The extension of the recess <NUM> may determine the limits of the adjustability of the position of the rod <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the second part <NUM> of the rod guide <NUM> according to one embodiment. The recess <NUM> is U-shaped and extends from one side of the second part <NUM> and inwards at least a length corresponding to the diameter of the rod <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is open in a direction perpendicular to the opening of the recess <NUM> when the second part <NUM> is enclosed by the first part <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is open in a direction parallel with the surface <NUM> when the rod guide <NUM> is mounted to the surface <NUM>.

The recess <NUM> creates a receptacle for holding the rod <NUM> in the position set by the rod guide <NUM>. The recess <NUM> extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recess <NUM> of the first part <NUM> extends.

The second part <NUM> has a through hole for holding the height adjusting element <NUM>. The through hole in the second part <NUM> extends in parallel with the recess <NUM> when the second part <NUM> is enclosed by the first part <NUM>.

The second part <NUM> further has a space, or a second through hole, for holding the height adjusting element <NUM>.

The space for holding the height adjusting element <NUM> intersects with the through hole for holding the height adjusting element <NUM> so that the height adjusting element <NUM> can pass through the height adjusting element <NUM>. The height adjusting element <NUM> is threaded so as to be able to interact with threads of the height adjusting element <NUM>. The height adjusting element <NUM> is further arranged in the second part <NUM> so as to be rotationally fixed.

In another embodiment, the height adjusting element <NUM> can be an integrated part of the second part <NUM>.

To adjust the position of a rod <NUM> in a rod guide <NUM> , the height adjusting element <NUM> is rotated by hand or by a tool. The threads of the height adjusting element <NUM> will work along the threads of the height adjusting element <NUM>, so as to move the height adjusting element <NUM> along the height adjusting element <NUM>. The second part <NUM> will move together with the height adjusting element <NUM>, and the position of the recess <NUM> will be changed, within the first part <NUM>, in the direction of the movement of the height adjusting element <NUM>. By such movement of the second part <NUM>, a rod <NUM> arranged to the rod guide <NUM> and extending through the recesses <NUM>, <NUM> will be moved in relation to the surface <NUM> of the openable element <NUM>. The rod's distance to the surface <NUM> may be changed.

Claim 1:
A rod guide (<NUM>) for a rod (<NUM>) arranged to an openable element (<NUM>), comprising:
a first part (<NUM>) configured to be arranged with a bottom side (<NUM>) onto a surface (<NUM>) of the openable element (<NUM>), and having at least one recess (<NUM>) extending, from an open end of the recess (<NUM>) at the bottom side (<NUM>) of the first part, in a direction perpendicular to the surface (<NUM>) of the openable element (<NUM>),
a second part (<NUM>) enclosed by the first part (<NUM>) and being movable relative to the first part (<NUM>) in a direction perpendicular to the surface (<NUM>), and having at least one recess (<NUM>) configured to create a receptacle for receiving the rod (<NUM>), wherein the recess (<NUM>) of the second part (<NUM>) has an open end in a direction in parallel with the surface (<NUM>) of the openable element (<NUM>) when the rod guide is arranged thereto, and
a height adjusting element (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to adjust the position of the second part (<NUM>) inside of the first part (<NUM>) along said direction,
wherein when moving the second part (<NUM>) by the height adjusting element (<NUM>, <NUM>) the rod (<NUM>) received in the receptacle of the recess (<NUM>) of the second part (<NUM>) is moved along the recess (<NUM>) of the first part (<NUM>) in a direction perpendicular to the openable element (<NUM>).