Locking mechanism and container

Abstract

A locking mechanism for blocking an opening movement of a second body (3) movably held on a first body (2), in particular for blocking an opening movement of a container lid or container flap with respect to a container, has a latch (4) disposed on the second body (3), which, during a closing movement, is movable perpendicular to its longitudinal extension within a guide slot (52) open to the first body (2), and at least one spring-loaded rolling element (5) in a rolling element receptacle (54) open to the guide slot (52) by a spring element (6), which can be pressed against a spring force (F) from a clamping position projecting into the guide slot (52) to a pressed release position within the guide slot (52).wherein the geometry of an inlet area of ​​a rolling element receptacle (54) adjacent to the guide groove (52) is designed such that the rolling element (5) passing the latch (4) in a first direction (A) can be pushed from the clamping position projecting into the guide groove (52) to the release position pressed into the guide groove (52) and, after passing the latch (4), can be pushed back to the clamping position by the spring force of the spring element (6), wherein the geometry of the inlet area of ​​the rolling element receptacle (54) prevents the rolling element (5) from being pressed by the latch (4) in a second direction (B) opposite to the first direction (A), and wherein the latch (4) is slidably mounted on or over the second body (3) in the direction of its longitudinal extension, wherein, to unlock the second body (3) from the first body (2),The latch (4) is slidable along its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the pressure direction of the rolling element (5). A container is also described.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for locking an opening movement of a second body movably held on a first body, in particular for locking an opening movement of a container lid or a container flap relative to a container according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a container.

[0002] Snap-action latches are frequently used to close container lids that are pivotally mounted on containers. For example, a spring-loaded hook is mounted on the container lid, which, when the container is closed, slides along a sliding edge against a strike plate attached to the container and engages the locking mechanism when it reaches the closed position.

[0003] To open such a snap-lock latch, it must be swung back out of the rear handle with the strike plate against the force of the spring, so that the lid can then be opened again.

[0004] A problem with such snap locks is that while the container can be easily closed by pressing the lid against the container body, it cannot be locked.

[0005] For example, an unintentional impact against the container against the spring force of a spring that holds the latch bolt in the rear grip with the strike plate can cause the latch bolt to release from the rear grip with the strike plate due to inertia, resulting in the container being opened unintentionally.

[0006] Furthermore, such snap locks are very susceptible to manipulation, as they can be released with simple tools.

[0007] To lock such bodies together, sliding bolts can be used. However, these have the disadvantage that they must be in an unlocked position during the closing process and must be actively pushed into a locking position after, for example, a container lid is pressed onto a container body. Automatic locking by simply pressing the two bodies together is therefore not possible.

[0008] From JP H09 158590 A a locking mechanism is known in which several rolling balls are mounted in a housing with an annular groove receptacle open to an entrance opening, wherein a recess for receiving one of the rolling balls and a compression spring is provided on the side of the annular groove receptacle opposite the entrance opening.

[0009] From US 2 210 989 A a locking mechanism is known in which a wedge which can be expanded with a spring element can be inserted into a guide slot, from the sliding surfaces of which facing the wedge a spring-loaded mounted rolling ball protrudes, which is received in a rolling element receptacle open to the guide slot.

[0010] From US patent 2019 / 0063113 A1, an electronic locking device is known, comprising a bolt that can be extended linearly from a housing by an electric motor.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to improve a locking mechanism for locking an opening movement of a second body movably held on a first body in such a way that even in the event of a shock as described above, an accidental opening or unlocking of the first body by the second body is prevented.

[0012] This problem is solved by a locking mechanism having the features of claim 1 and by a container having the features of claim 11.

[0013] The inventive locking mechanism for locking an opening movement of a second body movably held on a first body, in particular for locking an opening movement of a container lid or a container flap relative to a container, has a bolt arranged on the second body which, during a closing movement, can be moved perpendicular to its longitudinal extent into a guide groove open towards the first body.

[0014] The locking mechanism further comprises at least one rolling element mounted in a rolling element receptacle open to the guide groove by a spring element, which can be pressed against a spring force from a clamping position projecting into the guide groove to a release position pressed into the guide groove.

[0015] The geometry of an entry area of ​​the rolling element receptacle adjacent to the guide groove is designed such that, when the bolt is moved in the guide groove, the rolling element can be pressed in a first direction from the clamping position projecting into the guide groove to the release position pressed into the guide groove.

[0016] After passing the locking bar, the rolling element can be pushed back into the clamping position by the spring force of the spring element.

[0017] The geometry of the entry area of ​​the rolling element receptacle prevents the rolling element from being pressed in by passing the bar in a second direction opposite to the first.

[0018] The bolt is mounted in or on the second body so as to be displaceable in the direction of its longitudinal extension, wherein, in order to unlock the second body from the first body, the bolt is displaceable in the direction of its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the indentation direction of the rolling element.

[0019] On the first body a locking plate unit is arranged, which has at least one rolling element receptacle with the rolling element held therein and at least one receiving groove with the spring element held therein.

[0020] This makes it easy to arrange or retrofit a container or the like with such a locking mechanism.

[0021] At one end of the receiving groove furthest from the rolling element receptacle, a locking element receptacle is attached for receiving a locking element with which the spring element is held securely and pre-tensioned in the respective receiving groove.

[0022] The locking element can be variably positioned in the locking element receptacle to adjust the preload of the spring element.

[0023] With such a locking mechanism, a locking of an opening movement of a second body held movable on a first body is effectively prevented in a simple and efficient manner, whereby even a shock movement against the direction of the spring force of the spring element with which the rolling element is pressed into the clamping position does not lead to unlocking.

[0024] In particular, the separation of the locking direction and the closing direction allows for easy closing while simultaneously ensuring reliable locking of the bodies to each other.

[0025] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first body has two rolling element receptacles open to the guide groove, each with a rolling element mounted in them, wherein the rolling element receptacles are positioned directly opposite each other in the guide groove.

[0027] This further improves the secure locking of the bolt.

[0028] The at least one rolling element is preferably spherical, which has a particularly advantageous effect on the low friction against the bolt, which as a result can be retracted from the locking position to the unlocking position in a particularly energy-efficient manner with only a small amount of force.

[0029] According to the invention, at least one rolling element receptacle connects to a receiving groove in the first body in which the spring element is held. This makes it possible to mount the rolling element directly on the spring element.

[0030] It is also conceivable to mount the rolling element in a spherical cap supported by the spring element with a radius larger than the radius of the rolling element, which leads to a further reduction in the frictional resistance of the rolling element and significantly increases the efficiency of the overall system.

[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiving groove adjoining the at least one rolling element receptacle is aligned at an acute angle to the guide groove, wherein one of the legs of the acute angle extends from the apex of the angle towards the closed end of the guide groove.

[0032] This further increases the shock resistance of the locking mechanism and ensures that the locking mechanism is secured against movement of the second body from the closed position.

[0033] According to another preferred embodiment, the rolling element receptacle is concave in a region close to the second body.

[0034] In an advantageous further development, the area of ​​the rolling element mounting forms an acute-angled projection towards the guide groove.

[0035] This further training also contributes to locking against movement of the second body from the closed position.

[0036] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt is slidably mounted connected to an electric motor mounted on or in the second body.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the bolt and the electric motor associated with it are mounted in a bolt housing fixed to the second body, thus enabling simple fitting or retrofitting of such a locking mechanism to a container, analogous to the strike plate unit.

[0038] A container comprising a first body with a bottom and at least one side wall, a second body designed as a lid for the first body, and a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the container is characterized by a locking mechanism as described above.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism housing is arranged on an underside of the second body facing the bottom of the first body, and is in particular detachably attached.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the strike plate unit is arranged in the area of ​​a section of a side wall of the first body facing the interior of the first body, which is located away from the bottom of the first body, and is in particular detachably fastened.

[0041] Preferred embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic isometric representation of a variant embodiment of a container with a locking mechanism attached to it, with transparent container walls for better understanding, Fig. 2 a side sectional view through the Fig. 1The container shown, Fig. 3 a front view of the container with a partially cut-away side wall to show the strike plate unit and the bolts operatively connected to it, Fig. 4 a detailed view of the strike plate unit with the bolt housing and bolt in a locking position of the locking mechanism arranged behind it, Fig. 5 an isometric view of the strike plate unit with the bolt locked to it, Fig. 6 a front view of the strike plate unit without showing the bolt with the rolling elements positioned in the clamping position, Fig. 7 a sectional view through the strike plate unit to show the receiving groove with the spring element arranged therein and the geometry of the rolling element receptacle, Fig.8 a sectional view through an alternative embodiment of the strike plate unit to show a slightly pre-tensioned spring element and a clamping element receptacle for a clamping element to adjust the pre-tension of the spring element, Fig. 9 a view from below of the strike plate unit according to . Figure 8 To illustrate the clamping element received in the clamping element holder in a position of the clamping element that slightly preloads the spring element, Fig. 10 shows a sectional view accordingly. Figure 8 with a spring element strongly pre-tensioned by the clamping element, Fig. 11 a view from below of the strike plate unit according to Figure 10To illustrate the clamping element received in the clamping element receptacle in a position of the clamping element that strongly preloads the spring element, Fig. 12 shows an isometric close-up view of the locking mechanism with bolt housing and strike plate unit with the bolt locked in the strike plate unit, Fig. 13 shows a detailed view of the locked state of the bolt in the strike plate unit of the Fig. 12 section marked IX and Figs. 14 and 15 Figs. 12 and 13 Corresponding illustrations of the locking mechanism in the unlocked state with the bolt retracted into the bolt housing.

[0042] It is pointed out that only those in the Figures 8 to 11 The embodiment of the locking plate unit shown in the present application is part of the present invention.

[0043] In the following figure descriptions, terms such as top, bottom, left, right, front, back, etc., refer exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the locking mechanism, bolt, rolling element, spring element, and the like as chosen in the respective figures. These terms are not to be understood as restrictive; that is, these references may change due to different working positions, mirror-symmetrical design, or similar factors.

[0044] In Figure 1 The reference numeral 1 denotes a complete variant of a container.

[0045] A variant embodiment of a generic locking mechanism is arranged on the container 1, which serves to lock an opening movement of a second body 3, designed here as a container lid, relative to a first body 2, designed as a container body.

[0046] The second body 3, designed as a container lid, can be connected to the container body on a side of the container 1 opposite the locking mechanism, for example via a hinge (not shown), so that the container lid is pivotably fixed to the container body.

[0047] It is also conceivable to arrange a locking mechanism on opposite sides of container 1, so that in this case the container lid can preferably be placed vertically onto the container body. As in the Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the locking mechanism has a bolt 4 arranged on the second body 3, which can be moved into a guide groove 52 open towards the first body 2 during a closing movement perpendicular to its longitudinal extension.

[0048] In the embodiment shown here, the guide groove 52 is part of a strike plate unit 50 arranged on the first body 2, as shown in the Figures 5 to 7 is shown in detail.

[0049] The strike plate unit 50 is designed here as a separate component that can be attached to a side wall 21 of the first body 2, for example by screwing or gluing.

[0050] To enable screwing, fastening openings 56 are preferably provided on the strike plate unit 50, through which screws can be guided to fix the strike plate unit 50 to the first body 2.

[0051] While the fastening openings 56 in the Figures 4 to 7 In the illustrated version, the mounting openings 56 are designed as circular mounting holes. Figures 8 to 11 The illustrated version of the strike plate unit 50 is designed as elongated holes.

[0052] This makes it possible to compensate for larger positional tolerances between the first body 2, designed as the container body, and the second body 3, designed here as the container lid.

[0053] The locking mechanism further comprises at least one rolling element 5 which is spring-loaded in a guide groove 52 by a spring element 6 and which opposes a spring force from a clamping position projecting into the guide groove 52, such as is found, for example, in the Figures 4 and 6 shown, can be pressed into a release position pressed into the guide groove 52.

[0054] While the rolling elements 5 during the in Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, if the rolling element 5 rests directly against the respective spring element 6, it is also conceivable to arrange a spherical cap with a radius larger than the radius of the rolling element 6 between a respective rolling element 5 and a spring element 6, which leads to a further reduction of the frictional resistance of the rolling element 5, which, through such a single-point bearing, enables movement of the bolt 4 in the direction of its longitudinal extension with extremely little resistance.

[0055] In the embodiment shown here, the first body 2 or the strike plate unit 50 attached to it has two such rolling element receptacles 54 open to the guide groove 52, in each of which a rolling element 5 is mounted.

[0056] The rolling element receptacles 54 are positioned directly opposite each other in the guide groove 52.

[0057] The rolling elements 5 themselves are preferably designed as spheres.

[0058] Barrel-shaped rolling elements would also be conceivable, whereby the rolling elements 5 designed as spheres have the particular advantage that only a point contact with the bolt 4 to be locked is given and thus a movement of the bolt 4 in the direction of its longitudinal extension is made possible with the application of a very small force.

[0059] What next, especially in Figure 4 As can be seen, the geometry of an entrance area of ​​the rolling element receptacle 54 adjacent to the guide groove 52 is designed such that the rolling element 5, when the bolt 4 moves in the guide groove 52, is guided in a first direction A, as shown in Figure 6 , can be pushed from the clamping position projecting into the guide groove 52 into the release position pressed into the guide groove 52 and, after passing the latch 4, is pushed back into the clamping position by the spring force of the spring element 6.

[0060] When attempting to move the bolt 4 in the guide groove 52 past the rolling element(s) 5 in a second direction B opposite the first direction A, this movement is prevented by the geometry of the entry area of ​​the rolling element receptacle 54 preventing the rolling elements 5 from being pressed in.

[0061] The geometry of the entry area of ​​the rolling element receptacles 54 is in Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, a region 541 of the rolling element receptacle 54, close to the second body 3 designed as a cover, is concave.

[0062] In this process, an edge of this area 541 of the rolling element receptacle 54, adjacent to the guide groove 52, encompasses the rolling element 5 to such an extent that the rolling element 5 or the rolling elements 5 are held in place during a movement of the bolt 4 in the direction of B. Figure 4 are pressed upwards against the concave inner wall of the rolling element receptacle 54.

[0063] A further displacement of the rolling elements 5 towards a receiving groove 53 adjoining the rolling element receptacle 54, in which the spring element 6 is received, is not possible when a force is exerted on the rolling element 5 by the movement of the bolt 4 in direction B, due to the positive locking of the rolling element 5 in the concave inner wall of the rolling element receptacle 54 as described above. This area 541 forms an acute-angled projection of the rolling element receptacle 54 towards the guide groove 52.

[0064] The bar 4 is slidably mounted in or on the second body 3 in the direction of its longitudinal extension.

[0065] As in the Figures 2 , 4 and 12 to 15As shown, in the preferred embodiment depicted here, the bolt 4 is received in a bolt housing 40. An opening 42 is provided in a side wall 41 of the bolt housing 40, through which the bolt 4 projects from the bolt housing 40 and extends in the direction of its longitudinal extent from one side wall 41 into the other. Figures 12 and 13 shown locking position in one in the Figures 14 and 15 The unlocking position shown is movable.

[0066] The locking bar 4 is displaceable in the direction of its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the indentation direction of the at least one rolling element 5 in order to unlock the second body 3 from the first body 2.

[0067] To move the bolt 4 within the bolt housing 40, the bolt 4 is preferably connected to an electric motor. The electric motor is preferably also mounted within the bolt housing 40 and can be actuated via an electronic circuit.

[0068] Manual operation of bolt 4 is also conceivable in principle.

[0069] As in the Figures 4 to 7 As further shown, the strike plate unit 50 has at least one rolling element receptacle 54 with the rolling element 5 held therein and at least one receiving groove 53 with the spring element 6 held therein, wherein in the embodiment shown here two rolling element receptacles 54 with rolling elements 5 and two receiving grooves 53 with spring element 6 held therein are formed on the strike plate unit 50.

[0070] The receiving grooves 53 adjoining the rolling element receptacles 54 are oriented at an acute angle to the guide groove 52. The acute angle considered here is oriented such that one leg of the acute angle extends from the apex of the angle along the inner wall of the guide groove 52 towards the closed end of the guide groove 52. The acute angle is preferably between 10° and 45°.

[0071] The movement of the bolt 4 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in direction A into the guide groove 52 is made possible in a simple way by the fact that the rolling elements 5 can be pressed in the direction of the receiving grooves 53, since the force acting on the rolling element(s) through the outer surface of the bolt 4 is essentially directed in the direction of the receiving grooves 53.

[0072] In contrast, when the bolt 4 moves in the direction of B, the force acting on the rolling element(s) 5 through the outer surface of the bolt 4 acts essentially perpendicular to the direction of the receiving grooves 53, so that the bolt 4 presses the rolling element(s) 5 against the inner wall of the rolling element receptacle 54, preventing them from moving in the direction of the receiving grooves 53.

[0073] Each of the receiving grooves 53 for the spring elements 6 is connected at the ends facing away from the rolling element receivings 54 by a locking element receiving 55 for receiving a locking element 7, preferably in the form of a screw which can be screwed into a locking element receiving 55 provided with an internal thread in order to hold the respective spring element 6 securely and pre-tensioned in the respective receiving groove 53.

[0074] During the Figures 8 to 11 The design variant shown has a different locking element receptacle 55 compared to the one in Figure 7 The version shown is extended.

[0075] This makes it possible to variably adjust the preload of the spring element 6 depending on the positioning of the locking element 7. In the Figures 8 and 9 the locking elements 7 are positioned so that the spring elements 6 are only slightly pre-tensioned, while in the Figures 10 and 11the locking elements 7 are positioned so that the spring elements 6 are strongly pre-tensioned.

[0076] The locking elements 7 are preferably designed as screws, in particular as grub screws, which can be screwed into corresponding internal threads of the locking element receptacles 55.

[0077] For easy adjustment of the position, i.e., the screw-in depth of the locking elements 7, the locking elements 7 have a head with a tool holder 71, for example an internal polygon, in particular an internal hexagon, wherein the tool holder 71 is accessed via the [missing information] in the Figure 9 and 11 The rear opening of the locking element receptacle 55 shown is easily accessible.

[0078] This ensures that an opening movement of the second body relative to the first body is locked in the closed position of both bodies 2, 3 relative to each other.

[0079] In the Figures 12 and 13The locking mechanism is shown again in the locked position, where lifting the bolt 4 in Figure 12 and Figure 13 upward movement is prevented by the protruding rolling elements 5.

[0080] The Figures 14 and 15 The figures show the release position of the locking mechanism, in which the bolt 4 is fully or almost fully retracted into the bolt housing 40, thus enabling the lifting of the second body 3, designed here as a cover, with the bolt housing 40 and bolt 4 attached therein, without further ado, for example by actuating the actuating handle 31 arranged on the second body 3.

[0081] It is also conceivable in principle to attach the locking bar 4 to the first body 2 and the rolling element receptacle 54 or the rolling element receptacles 5 mounted in the rolling element receptacles 54 to the second body 3.

[0082] It is also conceivable, for example, that the first body is designed as a furniture wall and the second body as a furniture door, flap or drawer, on which the bolt housing 40 described above with bolt 4 or the strike plate unit 50 with rolling element(s) 5 are arranged. Reference symbol list

[0083] 1 container 2 first body 21 side wall 22 bottom 3 Second body 31 Operating handle 4. Bars 5. Rolling elements 6. Spring element 7 Clamping element 71 Tool holder 40 Bar housing 41 Side wall 42 Opening 50 Strike plate unit 51 Spring receptacle 52 Guide groove 53 Receptacle groove 54 Rolling element receptacle 541 Area 55 Clamping element receptacle 56 Mounting opening First direction Second direction

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking the opening movement of a second body (3) movably mounted on a first body (2), in particular for locking the opening movement of a container lid or a container flap relative to a container, comprising - a latch (4) arranged on the second body (3), which, during a closing movement, is movable perpendicular to its longitudinal extension into a guide groove (52) open toward the first body (2), - at least one roller body (5) mounted in a roller body receptacle (54) open toward the guide groove (52) and spring-loaded by a spring element (6), which can be pressed against a spring force (F) from a clamping position projecting into the guide groove (52) into a release position pressed into the guide groove (52), - wherein the geometry of an entrance region of the roller body receptacle (54) adjacent to the guide groove (52) is designed such that the roller body (5) can be pressed, upon passing the latch (4) in a first direction (A), from the clamping position projecting into the guide groove (52) into the release position pressed into the guide groove (52), and can be pressed back into the clamping position by the spring force of the spring element (6) after passing the latch (4), - wherein the latch (4) is mounted in the second body (3) such that it can slide in the direction of its longitudinal extension, - wherein, to unlock the second body (3) from the first body (2), the latch (4) can be moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the roller body (5), - wherein the rolling body (5) is prevented from being pushed in by passing the latch (4) in a second direction (B) opposite to the first direction (A) due to the geometry of the entrance region of the rolling body receptacle (54), - wherein the at least one roller body receptacle (54) adjoins a receptacle groove (53) in the first body (2) in which the spring element (6) is held, - wherein a strike plate unit (50) is arranged on the first body (2), wherein the strike plate unit (50) comprises the at least one roller body receptacle (54) with the roller body (5) held therein and the at least one receptacle groove (53) with the spring element (6) held therein, characterized in that a locking element receptacle (55) for receiving a locking element (7) adjoins an end of the receptacle groove (53) remote from the rolling element receptacle (54), by means of which the spring element (6) is secured against loss and held in a preloaded state in the respective receptacle groove (53), and in that - the locking element (7) can be variably positioned within the locking element receptacle (55) to adjust the preload of the spring element (6).

2. Locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the first body (2) has two roller element receptacles (54) open toward the guide groove (52), each with a roller element (5) mounted therein, wherein the roller element receptacles (54) are provided directly opposite one another in side walls of the guide groove (52).

3. Locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one rolling element (5) is spherical in shape.

4. Locking mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling element (5) is mounted against the spring element (6) in a cup having a radius greater than the radius of the rolling element (5).

5. Locking mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving groove (53) adjoining the at least one rolling element receptacle (54) is oriented at an acute angle to the guide groove (52), wherein one of the legs of the acute angle extends from the apex of the angle toward the closed end of the guide groove (52).

6. Locking mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the rolling element receptacle (54) is concave in a region (541) close to the second body (3).

7. Locking mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the region (541) of the rolling element receptacle (54) forms an acute-angled projection toward the guide groove (52).

8. Locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving groove (53) is oriented at an angle between 10° and 45° relative to the guide groove (52).

9. Locking mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bolt (4) is mounted so as to be displaceable and is connected to an electric motor mounted on or within the second body (3).

10. A locking mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the latch (4) and the electric motor connected thereto are mounted in a latch housing (40) fixed to the second body (3).

11. Container (1) comprising a first body (2) with a bottom (22) and at least one side wall (21), as well as a second body (3) configured as a lid of the first body (2) and at least one locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the container (1), characterized in that the locking mechanism is configured according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Container (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the latch housing (40) is arranged, in particular detachably fastened, on an underside of the second body (3) facing the bottom (22) of the first body (2).

13. Container (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the strike plate unit (50) is arranged, in particular detachably fastened, in the region of a section of a side wall of the first body (2) facing the interior of the first body and spaced from the bottom (22) of the first body (2).

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