LOCK FIXED TO THE END PROFILE OF A SWIVEL FENCE ELEMENT WITH HINGES

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock fixed to the end profile of a hinged fence element. The lock comprises a frame housing that is fixed to the end profile of the fence element, two adjacent locking latches that bear against the frame housing for vertical movement, and whose lower edges are beveled. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: LOCK FIXED TO THE END PROFILE OF A PIVOTING FENCE ELEMENT WITH HINGES

[0001] The subject matter of the invention is a lock attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element. The lock comprises a frame housing which is attached to the end profile of the fence element, two adjacent locking latches which bear on the frame housing for vertical movement and whose lower edges are equipped with bevels. The bevel lifts the locking latch when the bevel collides with a fixed locking pin, which is attached to a fixed structure, such as a fence post or a wall structure, whereby the locking pin fits between the lower ends of the locking latches and locks the fence element in a non-pivoting manner.

[0002] In livestock enclosure fences, the latches can advantageously be opened in two directions, whereby the fence elements can be combined more versatilely and security is improved. In this case, the fence can always be opened in a direction which, depending on the requirements, prevents or facilitates the entry of livestock through the fence opening. Traditionally, such latches have two locking latches which can be moved independently of each other, whereby each latch in its open position allows the fence element to rotate only in the direction from which the locking latch was opened.

[0003] In well-known locking solutions of the above-mentioned type, the user had to open the locking latches one by one, in which case a wrong latch could often be opened in a hurry and the fence would not open. The aim of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantage and to create a locking solution fixed to the end profile, where the latch release mechanism opens both latches of the latch at the same time, so that the fence element can be turned in either direction to open the fence.

[0004] The locking solution attached to the fence element according to the invention also has other properties that facilitate use and improve safety. An important feature is that the lock operates according to the so-called throwing principle, i.e. the fence can be quickly closed and the lock hooks onto a locking pin attached, for example, to a fixed post or wall structure. The fixed locking pin can be attached to a fixed structure in a height-adjustable manner. The lock can also be attached to the fence element at by means of a gap arranged in the end profile of the fence with continuous height adjustment within the limits permitted by the space, even along the height of the entire fence element. In terms of safety, it is also important that the fence can be opened from the inside of the fence. In addition, it is possible in the invention to ensure that the frame housing of the lock is a closed structure. In this way, for example, excrement, straw, dust, leaves, branches or snow falling from trees cannot penetrate into the lock, which improves the operational reliability of the lock.The shape of the frame housing is designed to receive the locking pin of the counterpiece in such a way that the locking latches and the frame housing together prevent the locking pin from coming out of the locking position, even if the fence element were subjected to a vertical, longitudinal or horizontal force. In the prior art solutions, telescopic parts of the fence must be locked with separate screws, so that the fence cannot be removed from the lock by force of animals.

[0005] The above advantages are achieved through the features of the present invention and its preferred embodiments.

[0006] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] [Fig.l] shows the lock according to the invention to be fixed on the end profile of a fence element in the form of a closed structure, seen from the front.

[0008] [Fig. 2] shows the lock according to the invention to be fixed on the end profile of a fence element with the latches in the locked position. In the figure, the lock is shown without the cover plate of the frame box and without the strike plate which allows locking, i.e. the locking pin.

[0009] [Fig. 3] shows the lock according to the invention to be fixed on the end profile of a fence element, seen from the side against the end profile of the fence.

[0010] [Fig.4] shows an exploded view of the lock according to the invention to be fixed on the end profile of a fence element.

[0011] [Fig.5] shows the lock according to the invention, fixed to the end profile of an articulated fence element, as well as a counter-piece to be fixed to a fixed structure.

[0012] [Fig.6] shows the side profile of the lock and its counterpart with the lock and counterpart in the locked position.

[0013] [Fig. 7] shows a fence element having a contour stamped at both ends and to which the lock according to the invention can preferably be fixed in a continuously height-adjustable manner. In the figure, eye bolts are fixed to the contours stamped at one end of the fence element to illustrate the function of the contours stamped. The area marked by dotted lines is an enlargement of the end profile at the level of the stamped contours.

[0014] The lock 1 attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element 10 according to the invention comprises a frame housing 2, which is attached to the end profile 11, two adjacent locking latches 3a, 3b which are supported on the frame housing 2 to be able to move vertically and whose lower edges are equipped with bevels 3a', 3b', which lift the locking latch 3a, 3b when the bevel 3a', 3b' collides with the fixed locking pin 4', which is attached to a fixed structure, whereby the locking pin 4' fits between the lower ends of the locking latches 3a, 3b and locks the fence element 10 so that it becomes non-pivoting. The fixed locking pin 4' is preferably fixed in a height-adjustable manner to a fixed structure, such as a fence post or a wall of a building. The end profile 11 of the fence element 10 has a vertical gap 13.The lock 1 comprises a release pin or lever 5 passing through the gap 13, on which the locking latches 3a, 3b bear and by means of which both locking latches 3a, 3b can be raised simultaneously to the open position of the lock 1. The frame housing 2 is preferably fixed at the desired height with fixing screws passing through the gap 13 of the end profile. The gap 13 of the end profile can either extend over the entire height of the end profile 11, in which case the widest possible height adjustment for the lock 1 is achieved, or the gap can be formed in the end profile as a local formation, whereby the fixing and height adjustment of the lock are only possible within the limits permitted by the gap. The latter formation can be, for example, a vertical slot formed in a solid tube.By passing the pin or release lever 5 through the gap 13 in the end profile, the fence user can safely open the lock both from inside and outside the fence.

[0015] In a disclosed embodiment, the frame housing 2 comprises a frame plate 2a and a cover 2b, and between them side walls and a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion and the upper portion are preferably provided with openings through which locking latches 3a, 3b can be moved vertically between the locking position and the opening position. The locking latches 3a, 3b are preferably identical and arranged in the frame housing 2 as a mirror image of each other. The upper end of the locking latch 3a, 3b may be rectangular, thus allowing the latches to be moved through openings corresponding to the cross-section of the locking latches located in the upper portion of the frame housing.The openings are preferably located at a distance from each other, thus leaving a space between the locking latches to accommodate the frame box fixing screw. In the . central part of the locking latches 3a, 3b, a contour 3a”, 3b” corresponding to the release pin or lever 5 is arranged, which extends partially around the release pin or lever 5 from above the release pin or lever 5, whereby both locking latches 3a, 3b rest on the release pin or lever 5. The middle part of the locking latches 3a, 3b may therefore be wider than its upper and lower ends. The lower edges of the locking latches are equipped with bevels 3a', 3b', which raise the locking latch 3a, 3b when the bevel collides with the fixed locking pin 4' of the counterpiece 4. The bevel 3a', 3b' thus starts below the release pin and the possible base plate, from where the locking latch tapers towards the vertical central axis of the lock.The lower ends of the locking latches 3a, 3b are arranged so that the fixed locking pin 4' fits between them. The locking pin 4' slides along the beveled surface of the second locking latch 3a, 3b and forces the latch 3a, 3b to lift until the beveled surface ends and the latch 3a, 3b falls into the locking position. In this case, only one of the locking latches 3a, 3b moves when the hinged closing element 10 equipped with the lock 1 is pushed into its closed position. The closing element 10 therefore cannot move past the fixed locking pin 4', even with a strong push, unless the locking latch 3a, 3b has otherwise been locked in its open position. In a disclosed embodiment, it is possible to hold the locking pin 4' firmly in place between the locks 3a, 3b due to the design of the frame housing 2.When the cover 2b of the frame housing 2 extends to the level of the locking position of the locking latches 3a, 3b, the lower edge of the cover plate 2b prevents the lock 1 from sliding out of the counterpart 4. Thus, the lock 1 and the locking pin 4' of the counterpart 4 remain locked to each other even in situations where a force in the direction of movement of the telescope is applied to the closing element, i.e., a force in the longitudinal direction of the closing element. In the locked state, the lock 1 supports the weight of the closing, since the lower plate of the frame plate 2a remains in contact with the upper surface of the locking pin 4'. The folded edges arranged in the lower part of the frame housing serve as guide surfaces which guide the lock both laterally and vertically to the locking pin 4'.

[0016] In one embodiment, the release pin or lever 5 is attached to a slider 6, which bears on the frame housing 2 to slide in the vertical direction. The slider 6 preferably has a vertical slot through which a fixing screw can be inserted. Thus, the fixing screw fixing the frame housing 2 to the end profile of the fence element simultaneously serves as a fixed point for the slider 6 and, together with the release pin 5 passing through the gap 13 of the profile 11 and fixed to the slider, guides the movement of the slider 6 in a vertical direction.

[0017] In another embodiment, the lock 1 fixed to the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 comprises a multi-pronged position lever 7, which is located, relative to the locking frame, on the opposite side of the end profile, and in different positions thereof the release pin or lever 5 can be switched to an upper position, which is the opening position of the lock, and to a lower position, which is the locked position preventing opening. The multi-pronged position lever 7 thus allows the operation of the lock 1 to be controlled. When the release pin or lever 5 is in the lower position, i.e. directly below the multi-pronged position lever 7, as in [Fig. 3], the multi-pronged position lever 7 prevents the lock 1 from opening, for example when cattle lick the lever, and thus acts as a safety lock.The upper position of the multi-pronged position lever facilitates the opening of the hinged fence element, especially when multiple locks are used. The release pin or lever 5 can be connected to the upper position of the multi-pronged position lever either from the left or from the right by turning the position lever to the side and attaching the release pin to the hook designs of the position lever. When the frame housing 2 is attached to the fence element 10 with fixing screws passing through the gap 13 of its end profile, the multi-pronged position lever 7 is preferably attached to a fixing screw located above the release pin or lever 5, as in [Fig. 3].

[0018] The operational safety of the lock 1 fixed to the end profile 11 of a fence element 10 can be further improved by connecting to the lower part of the lock 1 a safety projection 8, which prevents the lock 1 and the locking pin 4' from moving relative to each other in the vertical direction of the fence element 10. The safety projection 8, which can be for example in the form of a pipe sleeve, can also serve as a passage point for a fixing screw passing through the end profile 11 of another fence element 10.In such an embodiment, the safety projection 8 is located below the locking latches 3a, 3b at a distance allowing the locking pin 4' to fit between the latches 3a, 3b and the safety projection 8, thereby preventing the latch 1 and the fixed locking pin 4' from moving independently of each other in the vertical direction of the fence member, when the fixed locking pin 4' is located between the lower ends of the latches 3a, 3b. A cow or other livestock therefore cannot lift the fence from its location when the latch 1 is locked in the locking pin 4'. The safety projection 8 is fixed to the frame plate 2a of the frame housing 2 and constitutes a horizontal portion protruding from the frame plate 2a. and the end profile of the fence element. Its shape may differ from the design shown in [Fig.l], in which case, for example, a plate-shaped element may serve as a safety projection 8 corresponding to the pipe sleeve.

[0019] It is also possible to arrange other functional designs in the frame housing 2. The grooves 9 shown in Figures 1 to 4 allow a chain to be fixed to the frame housing 2a of the lock frame 2. The chain can thus either serve as a safety lock or allow the fencing element to be fixed, for example to the structures of a livestock building or around a tree.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the fence element is part of a livestock enclosure fence.

[0021] The fences may be formed from horizontal or vertical tube fence elements. Preferably, the horizontal tube fence elements are telescopic, in which case their length can be adjusted. At at least one end of the hinged fence element, a vertical gap is formed through which the release pin can be inserted and in which the release pin can be moved in the height direction. In a preferred embodiment, the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 is formed from two adjacent furnishing tubes 12a, 12b which are substantially parallel and located at a distance from each other. The furnishing tubes 12a, 12b may be fixed to the end of the horizontal tubes or the fence element by welding.The gap 13 between the furnishing tubes 12a, 12b is preferably about 12, 14 or 16 mm, whereby a screw of 10, 12 or 14 mm, respectively, can pass through the gap 13 in order to fix a lock 1 or other additional parts on the end profile 11 of the fence element. The furnishing tubes 12a, 12b can be rectangular tubes, whereby good torsional rigidity is achieved for the fence element 10. The advantage of such a fence element 10 is a high strength in relation to the weight of the fence element 10.

[0022] The end profile 11 of the closing element 10 may consist of two parallel tubes 12a, 12b, between which said space 13 is located. Preferably, the space has been locally widened at one or more points by means of transverse grooves 14 made in the walls of the tubes, which grooves face each other at the same height. In such a highly preferred embodiment, at the edges of the adjacent furniture tubes 12a, 12b forming the space 13, a stamped contour 14 is thus formed, which allows the passage of a fastening system wider than the space 13. Stamped contours 14, i.e. the grooves made in the furniture tubes 12a, 12b, function as a passage point for a fastening means. The grooves are formed in the furnishing tubes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the furnishing tube 12a, 12b. In the end profile 11, stamped designs 14 of the furniture tube 12a, 12b are placed opposite each other. Preferably, the stamped contours 14 have the shape of a circular segment, whereby a screw-like fastening system such as, for example, a fastening bolt or a threaded eye screw can be inserted through the two opposing segments. Threaded eye screws 15 inserted at the stamped contours 14 of the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 can at the same time serve as a hinge fastening for the pivoting fence element 10. Two adjacent fence elements 10 equipped with threaded eye screws 15 can also be fixedly connected to each other by means of a locking element passing through the loops. In the simplest form, two adjacent fence elements 10 can be connected to each other via the stamped contours 14 with a bolt and nut fastening.Correspondingly, other functional accessory parts or fastening systems can be inserted through the stamped contours 14 of the fence element 10. The stamped contours 14 located in the end profile of the fence element 10 thus allow a versatile use of the fence elements 10, since they can be connected to each other in a fixed or hinged manner. Other accessory parts can also be fixed to rest on the fastening system inserted through the end profile 11 of two fence elements 10 by leaving between the fence elements 10 a space necessary for fastening the accessory part. It is thus possible to fasten functional accessory parts or a support system belonging to the accessory part between the fence elements 10.Alternatively, accessory parts can be attached by hanging the required accessory part or support system directly above the fastening system connecting the fence elements 10. Stamped contours 14 formed in the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 prevent a fastening system passing through them and being wider than the gap 13 between the furnishing tubes 12a, 12b from moving in the vertical direction of the end profile 11, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the furnishing tubes 12a, 12b forming the gap 13 of the end profile 11. The stamped contours 14 of the end profile 11 can also be used to attach other types of fence parts, such as cup openings, arched gates or access gates.The torsional rigidity of the fence can be further improved by adding reinforcements that extend over the fence element to these accessory parts, particularly at the crossing points, i.e. the stamped contours.

[0023] The above-described fencing elements 10 are perfectly suitable for use with the lock 1 according to the invention. Preferably, both ends of the fencing element 10 have identical end profiles 11, whereby similar fencing elements 10 can be freely combined and used in different ways. different sections of the enclosure by changing the functional parts to be connected to them. Preferably, the two furnishing tubes at each end comprise two stamped contours 14, located opposite each other in the end profile 11. The stamped contours 14 may also be more numerous, for example 2 to 6 in number in each furnishing tube 12a, 12b, and they may be in pairs at different distances from each end of the end profile 11.

[0024] By means of the stamped contours 14 and the gap 13 of the end profile 11, it is also possible to fix elements of different sizes or, for example, an accessory part forming a cup opening to each other. The gap 13 of the end profile 11 allows for the attachment of accessory parts with continuous height adjustment, whereby the lock 1 or another accessory part can be fixed or moved to the desired height in the longitudinal direction of the end profile. This is an important function, especially in a situation where the installation level of the fence is uneven. For example, in nature or in a barn, where the ground is at different heights in places, it is thus possible to connect two fence elements 10 to each other using the gap 13 of the end profile 11, for example using a lock 1 according to the invention.A fence element 10 equipped with two locks 1 at different heights provides the rigidity required for use, while also allowing the fence to be opened, for example, to bring work equipment into the enclosure. Alternatively, the accessory part or fence element 10 may have multiple stamped contours, so that it can be connected in stages to the end profile 11 of a fence element 10.

Claims

Claims

1. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element, the lock (1) comprising a frame housing (2) which is attached to the end profile (11), two adjacent locking latches (3a, 3b) supported on the frame housing (2) for vertical movement and the lower edges of which are provided with bevels (3a', 3b') which lift the locking latch (3a, 3b) when the bevel (3a', 3b') collides with a fixed locking pin (4'), which is attached to a fixed structure, causing the locking pin (4') to fit between the lower ends of the locking latches (3a, 3b) and locking the fence element (10) in a non-pivoting manner, characterized in that the end profile (11) comprises a vertical gap (13), and in that the lock (1) has a release pin or lever (5) passing through the gap, on which the locking latches (3a,3b) are supported and with which the two locking latches (3a, 3b) can be lifted simultaneously to the opening position of the lock (1).,

2. Lock (1) fixed to the end profile of a fence element according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame housing (2) is fixed at the desired height with fixing screws passing through the gap (13) of the end profile.

3. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a fence element according to claim 2, characterized in that the release pin or lever (5) is attached to a slider (6) which is supported on the frame housing (2) to slide in the vertical direction.

4. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a fence element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (1) comprises a multi-armed position lever (7) located on the side of the end profile (11) opposite the frame housing (2), and in different positions in which the pin or release lever (5) can be switched to an upper position, which is the opening position of the lock (1), and to a lower position, which is the position preventing the lock (1) from opening.

5. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a fence element according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lock (1) comprises a safety projection (8) located below the locking latches (3a, 3b) at a distance which allows the pin

6. fixed locking pin (4') to fit between the latches (3a, 3b) and the safety projection (8), thereby preventing the latch (1) and the fixed locking pin (4') from moving independently of each other in the vertical direction of the fence element, when the fixed locking pin (4') is located between the latches (3a, 3b). A livestock enclosure fence, characterized in that it comprises a lock (1) fixed to the end profile of a fence element according to any one of the preceding claims.

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