Self-adjusting locking piece for a locking unit

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking element for a locking unit, comprising a housing having a housing opening, in particular rectangular, and a slide arranged in the housing, which is linearly displaceable between two end positions on the housing side and has a locking arm extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slide and projecting forward through the housing opening. The invention further relates to a locking unit with such a locking element.

[0002] Such a locking piece with a floating locking arm has become known, for example, through DE 20 2018 106 887 U1 or US 2013 / 180991 A1.

[0003] Revolving doors and drawers are typically mounted in the furniture using hinges or guides. Due to the manufacturing process, the revolving doors, drawers of the furniture body, and the fittings themselves are subject to tolerances. Furthermore, some settling of the doors and drawers within the furniture is unavoidable over time due to use and loading / operation. This can result in the strike plate not engaging sufficiently in the lock jaw or being difficult or impossible to bring into the closed position. The strike plate then no longer aligns with the lock jaw. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adjustability for the strike plate, for example, in the form of elongated holes, so that the strike arm can always be (re)adjusted to the desired position relative to the lock jaw. Such adjustments are relatively laborious and time-consuming.

[0004] The locking element for a locking unit, known from the aforementioned DE 20 2018 106 887 U1, comprises a housing with a housing opening, a locking arm that extends through the housing opening and is slidably mounted in the housing opening in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, and a slide that is slidably guided in the housing in the direction of movement of the locking arm and is coupled to the locking arm in the direction of movement. The housing and / or the slide are made of a magnetically attractive material, and at least one magnet acts between the housing and the slide, fixing the locking arm in any possible slidable position within the housing opening. The floating mounting of the slide ensures that the locking arm connected to the slide always assumes and maintains the optimal position in the lock jaw of a lock.

[0005] In contrast, the invention is based on the objective of providing an alternative method of fastening the slider in the housing of a self-adjusting, position-holding locking element of the type mentioned above. In particular, the fastening should be designed with as few parts as possible.

[0006] This problem is solved in the closing piece of the type mentioned at the outset according to the invention by arranging a spring clip behind the slide, which extends along the direction of movement and is anchored in the housing at both ends of its clip, wherein the slide is arranged between the housing and the spring clip and is held in contact with the housing by the spring clip.

[0007] According to the invention, only a single part, namely the spring clip, is required to attach the slider. The floatingly mounted closing arm adjusts itself to the position of the lock mouth itself when it enters the lock opening.

[0008] Particularly preferably, the slide is pressed against the housing by the spring clip in such a way that the slide is fixed in any of its possible displacement positions along the direction of movement. After extending from the lock mouth, the locking arm is held in the adjusted position against the housing by the spring clip through friction, which holds or fixes the locking arm in any possible displacement position within the housing opening. Stepless displacement of the slide and the locking arm is possible by applying a force in the displacement direction to the locking arm, and thus to the slide, that overcomes the frictional engagement.

[0009] Preferably, the slider has a recess open at the rear, in which a permanent magnet is received. This magnet is engaged by the spring clip and thereby held in the recess. The permanent magnet interacts with a reed switch in the lock to detect the locking arm in the lock.

[0010] Preferably, the spring clip engages in a rear longitudinal groove of the slide that runs in the direction of movement, whereby the slide and spring clip are guided relative to each other.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the locking piece according to the invention, the two ends of the spring-loaded spring clip are each angled in a hook shape, and the spring clip, viewed from the rear, engages the housing with its two forward-facing, hook-shaped ends. Preferably, the housing, viewed in the direction of movement, has a mounting hole on each side of the housing opening, with the two hook-shaped ends of the spring clip extending through the mounting holes and gripping the housing wall of the mounting holes. Advantageously, the housing wall of the mounting holes can each have a groove into which the hook-shaped ends of the spring clip engage.

[0012] The spring clip is particularly preferably C-shaped and can advantageously be a wire clip or a sheet metal strip clip.

[0013] Preferably, the slider is guided so that it can be moved inside the housing and / or in the housing opening.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the locking element according to the invention, the slide has a base section that is wider than the housing opening and an intermediate section arranged between the base section and the locking arm, which supports the locking arm and is at most as wide as the housing opening. In a further development, the locking arm is also wider than the housing opening. At the level of a particularly central sliding position of the slide, the housing opening, viewed perpendicular to the direction of movement, has a keyhole recess on one or both sides through which the locking arm is inserted until it reaches its outwardly projecting position.

[0015] Advantageously, the closing arm can be designed as a closing bar or closing eyelet.

[0016] The invention also relates to a locking unit – e.g., mechanical or electronic – comprising a lock with a lock opening, in particular a furniture lock, and a strike plate designed as described above, the locking arm of which engages in the lock opening and is locked therein when the lock is in the closed position. According to the invention, the locking arm is continuously moved in the lock opening against the frictional forces exerted by the spring clip into the correct position, which is then held by the spring clip. Preferably, the lock has a reed switch that interacts with the permanent magnet of the strike plate. When the locking arm engages in the lock opening, the reed switch is actuated by the permanent magnet of the strike plate, thereby detecting the locking arm located in the lock opening.

[0017] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the drawing. The embodiment shown and described is not to be understood as exhaustive, but rather serves as an example for the description of the invention.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of the locking piece according to the invention with a floatingly mounted, height-displaceable locking arm; Figs. 2a-2e the locking piece according to the invention in a front view ( Fig. 2a ), in a side view ( Fig. 2b ), in a rear view ( Fig. 2c ), in a top or bottom view ( Fig. 2d ) and in a perspective view ( Fig. 2e ); Figs. 3a-3c the locking piece according to the invention with the locking arm in a central position ( Fig. 3a ), in an upper end position ( Fig. 3b ) and in a lower end position ( Fig. 3c ), each in longitudinal section; and Fig. 4 a locking unit with a furniture lock and the locking piece according to the invention.

[0019] The in Fign. 1 und 2 shown locking piece 1 for a locking unit 20 ( Fig. 4 ) has a housing 2 with, for example, a rectangular case opening 3 and a slider arranged in housing 2 4 on, which on the housing side between two end positions linearly in the vertical displacement direction (double arrow) 5 It is guided in a sliding manner. Slider 4 has a locking arm (e.g., locking bar or locking eyelet). 6, which extends perpendicular to the direction of movement 5 and projects forward through the housing opening 3. The slider 4 can be slidably guided inside the housing 2 and / or in the housing opening 3.

[0020] Behind slider 4 is a spring clip. 7(e.g. wire bracket or sheet metal strip bracket) arranged, extending along the direction of displacement 5 and at its two bracket ends 8 The slide 4 is anchored in the housing 2. The slide 4 is arranged between the housing 2 and the spring clip 7 and is held in contact with the housing 2 by the spring clip 7. Preferably, the floating slide 4 is pressed so strongly against the housing 2 by the spring clip 7 that the slide 4 is fixed in position by the acting frictional force in each of its possible displacement positions along the displacement direction 5.

[0021] Slider 4 has a recess open at the back. 9 on, in which a permanent magnet 10 The permanent magnet 10 is gripped from behind by the spring clip 7 and thereby held in the recess 9. The slider 4 has a longitudinal groove on its back extending in the direction of movement 5. 11The closing arm 6 has a recess into which the spring clip 7 is inserted. The closing arm 6 is held in position by the frictional engagement between the spring clip 7 and the permanent magnet 10, as well as between the closing arm 6 and the housing 2. In embodiments without a permanent magnet, the closing arm 6 is held in position by the frictional engagement between the spring clip 7 and the closing arm 6, as well as between the closing arm 6 and the housing 2.

[0022] As in Fig. 1 As shown, the spring clip 7 is preferably C-shaped with two hook-shaped clip ends 8. The two hook-shaped clip ends 8 are directed forward and engage through mounting holes. 12of the housing 2, which, viewed in the direction of movement 5, are arranged on both sides of the housing opening 3. The two hook-shaped bracket ends 8 engage the walls of the mounting holes 12 and, viewed towards the rear, engage behind the housing 2. The walls of the mounting holes 12 can each have a groove 13 The strike plate 1 has prongs into which the hook-shaped ends 8 engage. The strike plate 1 is screwed to a door, for example, via the mounting holes 12. Alternatively, the strike plate 1 can also be glued to the door, in which case the housing does not need to have any screw holes.

[0023] As in Fig. 1 As further shown, slider 4 can be used to move a foot section. 4a and an intermediate section arranged between foot section 4a and closing arm 6 4bexhibiting the closing arm 6. The foot section 4a and the closing arm 6, viewed perpendicular to the direction of movement 5, each have a width B1, B2 on, which are larger than the width B The housing opening 3 is (B1, B2 > B). The width B3 The intermediate section 4b is at most as wide as the width B of the rectangular housing opening 3 (B3 ≤ B). At the level of a sliding position of the slider 4 – here the middle one – the housing opening 3, viewed perpendicular to the direction of movement 5, has a keyhole recess on both sides. 14 through which the closing arm 6 is inserted into its outwardly projecting position and can then be moved on the housing 2 in the sliding direction 5.

[0024] The closing arm 6 is located in Fig. 3a in its middle sliding position in the housing opening 3, which is marked by a dashed line, in Fig. 3b in its upper end position, pushed up from the middle displacement position by +Z (e.g. 2.5 mm) and in Fig. 3c in its lower end position, which is pushed down from the middle displacement position by -Z (e.g., 2.5 mm). In each of its 5 possible displacement positions along the displacement direction, the closing arm 6 is held in position-fixed position by the spring clip 7.

[0025] The in Fig. 4 The locking unit 20 shown consists of a mechanically or electronically operated furniture lock. 21 with a lock mouth 22and the locking element 1 according to the invention, the locking arm 6 of which engages in the lock mouth 22 in the closed position of the furniture lock 21 and is locked therein. The height-adjustable locking arm 6 adjusts itself with respect to the height position of the lock mouth 22 when moving into it and remains held in the adjusted position by the spring clip 7 after moving out of the lock mouth 22. When the locking arm 6 is moved into the lock mouth 22, a reed contact (monitoring contact) arranged on the lock mouth 22 is activated. 23 The permanent magnet 10 of the strike plate 1 is actuated to detect the locking arm 6 located in the lock mouth 22. This allows it to be determined whether the door / drawer / flap etc., on which the furniture lock 21 or the strike plate 1 is mounted, is open or closed.

[0026] In Fig. 4The locking arm 6 is moved into the lock mouth 22 of the furniture lock 21 from the front, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the furniture lock 21, e.g., in the case of a sliding door. However, it is also possible to arrange the locking piece 1 laterally of the furniture lock 21, so that the locking arm 6 is moved into the lock mouth 22 from the side, i.e., in the transverse direction of the furniture lock 21, e.g., in the case of a swing door.

Claims

1. A locking piece (1) for a locking unit (20), comprising a housing (2) which has an in particular rectangular housing opening (3), and a slide (4) which is arranged in the housing (2) and which, at the housing side, is guided so as to be able to be linearly displaced between two end positions and which has a locking arm (6) which extends at right-angles with respect to the displacement direction (5) of the slide (4) and protrudes forward through the housing opening (3), characterized in that a spring clip (7) is arranged behind the slide (4), which spring clip (7) extends along the displacement direction (5) and which is anchored at the two clip ends (8) thereof in the housing (2), wherein the slide (4) is arranged between the housing (2) and the spring clip (7) and is retained in abutment with the housing (2) by the spring clip (7).

2. The locking piece as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the slide (4) is pressed by the spring clip (7) into abutment against the housing (2) in such a manner that the slide (4) is fixed in position in each of the displacement positions thereof which are possible in the displacement direction (5).

3. The locking piece as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the slide has a recess (9) which is open at the rear side and in which a permanent magnet (10) is received behind which the spring clip (7) engages and which is retained by the spring clip (7) in the recess (9).

4. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring clip (7) engages in a rear longitudinal groove (11), which extends in the displacement direction (5), of the slide (4).

5. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two clip ends (8) are each angled in a hook-like manner, and the spring clip (7), when viewed in the direction toward the rear, engages behind the housing (2) with the two forward-facing, hook-like clip ends (8).

6. The locking piece as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the housing (2), when viewed in the displacement direction (5), has a securing hole (12) at both sides of the housing opening (3) and the two hook-like clip ends (8) engage through the securing holes (12) and engage around the housing wall of the securing holes (12).

7. The locking piece as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the housing wall of the securing holes (12) have each a groove (13) in which the hook-like clip ends (8) engage.

8. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring clip (7) is constructed in a C-shaped manner.

9. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring clip (7) is a wire bracket or a metal strip bracket.

10. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (4) is displaceably guided internally on the housing (2) and / or in the housing opening (3).

11. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (4) has a base portion (4a), which is wider than the housing opening (3), and an intermediate portion (4b) which is arranged between the base portion (4a) and the locking arm (6) and which carries the locking arm (6) and is at a maximum as wide as the housing opening (3).

12. The locking piece as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the locking arm (6) is wider than the housing opening (3) and in that, at the height of an in particular central displacement position of the slide (4), the housing opening (3), when viewed in the direction at right-angles with respect to the displacement direction (5), has at one or both sides a keyhole recess (14) through which the locking arm (6) is inserted as far as the outwardly protruding position thereof.

13. The locking piece as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking arm (6) is in the form of a locking bracket or locking eyelet.

14. A locking unit (20) comprising a lock (21), in particular a furniture lock, which has a lock mouth (22), and a locking piece (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, the locking arm (6) of which engages in the locking position of the lock (21) in the lock mouth (22) and is locked therein.

15. The locking unit as claimed in claim 14 and comprising a locking piece (1) according at least to claim 3, characterized in that the lock (21) has a reed contact (23) which cooperates with the permanent magnet (10) of the locking piece (1).