Latch toggle clamp for a door pivotally constrained to a mounting frame for said door and respective method for holding a door in its closed configuration relative to a frame as a result of an impulsive force acting on said door by means of said latch toggle clamp

Abstract

Latch toggle clamp (1) for a door (100) pivotally constrained to a mounting frame (101) for said door, said latch toggle clamp (1) comprising a first loadbearing element (2) constrainable to said mounting frame (101) or to said door (100), and a fastening lever (3) pivotally constrained to said first loadbearing element (2) about a first axis (X) between an operative position (L) and at least one idle position (R), said clamp (1) further comprising a second loadbearing element (4) constrainable to said door (100) or to said mounting frame (101), and a fastening element (6) pivotally constrained to said fastening lever (3) about a second axis (Y), at least at one first end (6a), said fastening element (6) further being reversibly engageable, at a second end (6b) thereof, to said second loadbearing element (4), at least when said fastening lever (3) is in its operative position (L) and being releasable from said second loadbearing element (4) at least when said fastening lever (3) is in said at least one idle position (R), characterized in that said fastening element (6) comprises a first portion (61), a second portion (62) and energy absorption and release means arranged between said first portion (61) and said second portion (62), said second portion (62) being slidable with respect to said first portion (61) upon exceeding of a specified impulsive force acting between said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) and at least when said fastening lever (3) is in its operative position (L), between a first position (P1), wherein said first portion (61) moves away from said second portion (62), by compressing or extending said energy absorption and release means, and a second position (P2), wherein said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.

Description

[0001] "LATCH TOGGLE CLAMP FOR A DOOR PIVOTALLY CONSTRAINED TO A MOUNTING FRAME FOR SAID DOOR AND RESPECTIVE METHOD FOR HOLDING A DOOR IN ITS CLOSED

[0002] CONFIGURATION RELATIVE TO A FRAME AS A RESULT OF AN IMPULSIVE FORCE ACTING ON SAID DOOR BY MEANS OF SAID LATCH TOGGLE CLAMP"

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a latch toggle clamp for a door pivotally constrained to a mounting frame for said door and a respective method for holding a door in its closed configuration relative to a frame as a result of an impulsive force acting on said door by means of said latch toggle clamp.

[0005] Specifically, such a latch toggle clamp is adapted to be used on doors of environmental control chambers intended for testing electrification components, such as batteries, fuel cells and similar products. Under certain temperature, pressure, and / or humidity conditions, as well as certain operating conditions, these products can indeed release flammable gases that, in the presence of an ignition source (e.g., sparks or very hot spots), can ignite, causing a sudden pressure increase.

[0006] Known prior art

[0007] According to prior art, there are latch toggle clamps for doors pivotally constrained to a frame and used in environmental control chambers.

[0008] For example, documents US5165148A and US7213848B2, both in name of Delaware Capital Formation Inc, describe a latch toggle clamp also used in environmental control chambers.

[0009] In these patents, a latch toggle clamp is described for a door pivotally constrained to a mounting frame for said door. That clamp comprises a first loadbearing element constrained to the mounting frame and a fastening lever pivotally constrained to the first loadbearing element about a first axis, between an operative position and at least one idle position. The latch toggle clamp also comprises a second loadbearing element constrained to the door and provided with a securing element. The clamp also comprises a fastening element pivotally constrained about a second axis to said fastening lever, at least at one first end. The fastening element is also reversibly engageable, at a second end, to the securing element, at least when the fastening lever is in its operative position and is releasable from the securing element at least when the fastening lever is in its idle position.

[0010] Documents US5445422A in name of Weinernam and US4243255A in name of Hornak also describe clamps similar to the one mentioned above.

[0011] However, such a clamp, as it is designed, is not able to guarantee that the door remains closed if a high intensity impulsive force acts on the latter.

[0012] Conversely, if an impulsive force acts on that door, resulting, for example, from a rapid increase in pressure inside the chamber, when the door is in its closed configuration, the latch toggle clamp may completely break. This can not only be dangerous because the clamp components could be thrown even tens of meters away from the control chamber, but also because the door, once opened and therefore no longer secured to the frame in its closed position, will allow the release from the control chamber of gases potentially harmful to people.

[0013] Object of the present invention is therefore to make a latch toggle clamp that can increase the safety level of doors, specifically those used in environmental control chambers, thus avoiding potentially dangerous situations for people passing near the door itself in the event of a rapid pressure increase inside the control chamber itself.

[0014] Further object is to make a latch toggle clamp that is still simple from a structural point of view and easy to use.

[0015] Yet still, object of the present invention is to make a clamp that can be used regardless of the sealing grade that must be guaranteed in the environmental control chamber, i.e., regardless of the sealing grade between the door and its frame.

[0016] Finally, object of the present invention is to provide a method that implements the latch toggle clamp according to the invention in a simple and quick way.

[0017] Summary of the invention

[0018] The above-mentioned objects are achieved by means of a latch toggle clamp according to claim 1.

[0019] Specifically, the above-mentioned objects are achieved by means of a latch toggle clamp for a door pivotally constrained to a mounting frame for said door, said latch toggle clamp comprising a first loadbearing element constrainable to said mounting frame or to said door, and a fastening lever pivotally constrained to said first loadbearing element about a first axis between an operative position and at least one idle position, said clamp further comprising a second loadbearing element constrainable to said door or to said mounting frame, and a fastening element pivotally constrained to said fastening lever about a second axis, at least at one first end, said fastening element further being reversibly engageable, at a second end thereof, to said second loadbearing element, at least when said fastening lever is in its operative position and being releasable from said second loadbearing element at least when said fastening lever is in said at least one idle position, characterized in that said fastening element comprises a first portion, a second portion and energy absorption and release means arranged between said first portion and said second portion, said second portion being slidable with respect to said first portion upon exceeding of a specified impulsive force acting between said first portion and said second portion and at least when said fastening lever is in its operative position, between a first position, wherein said first portion moves away from said second portion, by compressing or extending said energy absorption and release means, and a second position, wherein said first portion and said second portion are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.

[0020] This solution allows to overcome the above-mentioned problems of known art.

[0021] Indeed, thanks to the fact that said first and second portions slide relative to each other upon exceeding a specified impulsive force acting on the door (and therefore between the two portions), the locking element can be prevented from suddenly breaking if the door is precisely subjected to a high impulsive force, such as for example a rapid pressure increase in an environmental control chamber delimited by the aforementioned door. In this case, indeed, the first and second portions, which slide relative to each other upon exceeding a specified threshold, move one away from the other to allow the door to slightly open to vent outward the excess pressure inside the chamber; however, the energy absorption and release means are able to absorb part of the force transmitted from the door to the fastening element once this impulsive force is applied, so as to prevent dangerous movements of the door itself. In prior art solutions, on the contrary, this impulsive force is transmitted to the door and, from there, to the fastening element which, due to its total rigidity, not allowing the door to open to vent outside the excess pressure inside the chamber, results in the uncounteracted rise of pressure inside the chamber, and with it, the impulsive force too, until the breaking stress is reached, with subsequent impairing of the compartmentalization of the chamber's test compartment. This also results in a risk for operators, due to uncontrolled movements of chamber components. On the contrary, thanks to the energy absorption and release means, part of the energy that reaches the fastening element is absorbed by these means which, in this way, thanks to the first portion and the second portion being able to slide relative to one another, allow the fastening element to be prevented from breaking. Moreover, these release means, at the end of the application of the impulsive force, may be able to release the energy accumulated in the previous step and bring the first portion and the second portion closer together.

[0022] Furthermore, said energy absorption and release means comprise elastic means; in said second position, said first portion and said second portion are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force. This way, the first portion and the second portion are pulled back to their initial distance at the end of the application of the impulsive force.

[0023] Thanks to this solution, the latch toggle clamp can be applied to different types of control chamber doors, aiming to preserve the structural tightness of the control chamber itself following internal impulsive overpressure events.

[0024] The maximum door opening, which allows the system to vent outside the excess pressure, is linked to the maximum distance between the first portion and the second portion and is set during the design step, it being linked to the maximum compression (or tension) achievable by the elastic means. On the other hand, the presence of the elastic means allows the door to close, once the impulsive overpressure event has ended, thus preventing any vapors and / or unwanted substances present within the chamber from contaminating the external environment, such as, for example, a laboratory.

[0025] Furthermore, the latch toggle clamp according to the invention allows the elastic response to be adapted by simply replacing the elastic means.

[0026] Yet still, according to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the latch toggle clamp comprises means for adjusting the preload of the elastic means in such a way as not to impair the functionality of the latch toggle clamp itself under normal conditions, i.e. in the absence of the impulsive force.

[0027] In accordance with a non-limiting preferred embodiment, said first portion comprises one or more hollow cylinders arranged in parallel with each other and said second portion comprises one or more guide rods arranged in parallel with each other and sliding within the respective hollow cylinder of said one or more hollow cylinders; said one or more guide rods comprise in turn a respective abutment head integrally constrainable to the respective guide rod and said one or more hollow cylinders comprising a respective perforated abutment base for the passage of the respective guide rod. Said elastic compression means comprising one or more springs arranged between said abutment head of said one or more guide rods and said abutment base of said one or more hollow cylinders. Said one or more guide rods are connected to each other at said second end by means of an engagement bracket engaging said second loadbearing element and each hollow cylinder is pivotally constrained to said first loadbearing element at the respective first end.

[0028] Specifically, said preload adjusting means comprise a first thread on the free end of said one or more guide rods and respective one or more abutment heads having a second thread which can be coupled to said first thread. This way, by screwing or unscrewing said one or more abutment heads with respect to the respective free ends of the guide rods, the preload of said elastic means can be either increased or decreased.

[0029] This way, since the spring is arranged between the abutment head and the abutment base and the abutment head can be screwed to the abutment rod, being able to reach a different distance from the abutment base, the spring preload can be adjusted under normal conditions, so that it does not work under the normal conditions of use of the door relative to the frame (e.g. closing a door of an environmental control chamber for which a specific compression of the sealing gaskets must be ensured).

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, said one or more hollow cylinders are two in number and said one or more guide rods are two in number, therefore said fastening element is substantially U-shaped.

[0031] The objects are also achieved by an environmental control chamber comprising a door and a frame, wherein said door is pivotally constrained to said frame between an open position and a closed position for said chamber, said chamber further comprising a latch toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 10.

[0032] Finally, the objects are also achieved by a method for holding a door in its closed configuration relative to a frame as a result of an impulsive force acting on the door by means of a latch toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, said door and said frame being preferably installed in an environmental control chamber, said method comprising the steps of: a) constraining said first loadbearing element to said mounting frame of said door, or to said door; b) constraining said second loadbearing element to said door, or to said frame; c) reversibly engaging said fastening element to the second loadbearing element; and d) rotating said fastening lever about a first axis with respect to said first loadbearing element to bring it from said at least one idle position to said operative position; characterized by comprising the step e) of sliding said second portion with respect to said first portion upon exceeding a specified impulsive force acting between said first portion and said second portion, between a first position, in which said first portion moves away from said second portion, by compressing or extending said absorption and release means, and a second position, in which said first portion and said second portion are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.

[0033] Furthermore, in said second position, said first portion and said second portion are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.

[0034] Finally, before said step c), a step f) is comprised of adjusting the preload of said elastic means by rotating said abutment head of said one or more guide rods with respect to said one or more guide rods, so as to move each abutment head closer to, or farther away from, the respective abutment base.

[0035] Brief description of the figures

[0036] Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

[0037] - figure 1 shows a side view of the toggle clamp according to the invention, between the operative position (solid line) and the idle position (dotted line) of the fastening lever;

[0038] - figure 2A shows an axonometric view of the latch toggle clamp according to the invention, in which a part of a hollow cylinder of the first portion is removed to show the inside of the cylinder itself;

[0039] - figure 2B shows an axonometric view of the partially exploded fastening element;

[0040] - figure 3A is a top view of the latch toggle clamp according to the invention, when no impulsive force is applied to the fastening element;

[0041] - figures 3B and 3C are two sectional views of the toggle clamp of figure 3A;

[0042] - figure 4A is a sectional view of a control chamber on which a latch toggle clamp according to the invention is installed, when no impulsive force is applied to the fastening element;

[0043] - figure 4B is a detailed view of figure 4A;

[0044] - figure 5A is a top view of the latch toggle clamp according to the invention, when the impulsive force is applied to the fastening element; - figures 5B and 5C are two sectional views of the toggle clamp of figure 5A;

[0045] - figure 6A is a sectional view of a control chamber on which a latch toggle clamp according to the invention is installed, when the impulsive force is applied to the fastening element;

[0046] - figure 6B is a detailed view of figure 6A.

[0047] Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0048] Various embodiments and variants of the invention will be described hereunder, and this with reference to the figures set forth above. Specifically, the latch toggle clamp according to the invention will be denoted by numeral 1.

[0049] As shown in figures 4A, 4B and 6A, 6B, the latch toggle clamp 1 according to the invention is applied in an environmental control chamber 200 which comprises a door 100 pivotally constrained to the respective mounting frame 101.

[0050] The latch toggle clamp 1 comprises a first loadbearing element 2 constrained to the mounting frame 101 and a fastening lever 3 pivotally constrained to the first loadbearing element 2 about a first axis X between an operative position L and at least one idle position R. In figure 1, the operative position L and an idle position R are shown, respectively. It should be noted that in figure 1, for simplicity, the operative position L is shown with solid line, whereas the idle position R is shown with dashed line.

[0051] The latch toggle clamp 1 further comprises a second loadbearing element 4 constrainable to the door 100 and a fastening element 6 which is pivotally constrained to the fastening lever 3 about a second axis Y, at least at a first end 6a. This fastening element 6 is also reversibly engageable, at a second end 6b, to the second loadbearing element 4, at least when the fastening lever 3 is in its operative position L and is releasable from the second loadbearing element 4 at least when the fastening lever 3 is in at least one idle position R (see again figure 1).

[0052] It should be noted that, a solution in which the first loadbearing element 2 was constrained to the door 100 and the second loadbearing element 4 was constrained to the mounting frame 101 would still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0053] Furthermore, it should also be noted that the first X-axis is parallel to the second Y-axis, wherein the first X-axis is distinct from the second Y-axis.

[0054] Advantageously, the fastening element 6 comprises a first portion 61 and a second portion 62 and energy absorption and release means arranged between the first portion 61 and the second portion 62. Such energy absorption and release means may comprise, for example, highly resilient materials such as elastic polymers, rubbers and the like, or may comprise elastic elements such as springs made of steel, aluminum or the like.

[0055] The first portion 61 is slidable with respect to the second portion 62 (or vice versa) upon exceeding a specified impulsive force acting between the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 and at least when the fastening lever 3 is in its operative position L, between a first position Pl (figures 6A, 6B), in which the first portion 61 moves away from the second portion 62, by compressing or extending said absorption and release means, and a second position P2 (figures 4A, 4B), in which the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of the aforementioned impulsive force.

[0056] For example, that an impulsive force may be generated by a sudden pressure increase caused by the ignition of potentially explosive atmospheres generated by an accidental release of flammable gases, within the chamber 200 closed by the door 100, which are contained in a component contained within it such as, for example, a battery that is subjected to harsh working conditions in terms of temperature and humidity.

[0057] It should be noted that specific impulsive force can be greater than 5000 N, considering an overpressure of more than 10 kPa applied on a door with a surface area of approximately 1 m2.

[0058] In any case, that impulsive force value must be anyway higher than the fastening value achieved between the door 100 and the frame 101, to prevent the energy absorption and release means from working in the normal conditions of use of the door 100 relative to the frame 101.

[0059] According to the specific embodiment described herein, the absorption and release means comprise elastic means. This way, in the second position P2, the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of the aforementioned impulsive force. Indeed, the elastic means are able to absorb energy and release an identical amount thereof (except for losses due to friction) once the force acting on the elastic means is no longer applied, following the reduction of the pressure inside the chamber. This way, the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of the impulsive force by means of the aforementioned elastic means so that any gases produced within the chamber 200 following the combustion of flammable gases, which are accidentally released by the components under test and harmful to people being outside the chamber 200 itself, cannot be released externally.

[0060] According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the latch toggle clamp comprises means for adjusting the preload of the elastic means so as not to impair the functionality of the latch toggle clamp 1 itself under normal conditions, i.e., in the absence of the impulsive force. In practice, these preload adjusting means are able to adjust the distance at which the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 in the second position P2 are located, i.e., in the position where no impulsive force is acting and the latch toggle clamp 1 is in normal operating conditions. Thereby, depending on the type of chamber on which the latch toggle clamp 1 is mounted, the user can decide to vary the preload of the elastic means which are located between the first portion 61 and the second portion 62.

[0061] In detail, as shown in figures 2A and 2B, 3A-3C and 5A-5C, the first portion 61 comprises two hollow cylinders 64, 64' arranged in parallel with each other, and the second portion 62 comprises two guide rods 65, 65' arranged in parallel with each other and sliding within the respective hollow cylinder of the two hollow cylinders 64, 64'. The two guide rods 65, 65' comprise a respective abutment head 66, 66' integrally constrainable to the respective guide rod 65, 65' and the two hollow cylinders 64, 64' comprise a respective perforated abutment base 67, 67' for the passage of the respective guide rod 65, 65'. These abutment bases 67, 67' can be preferably combined by screwing with the respective hollow cylinder 64, 64'. The elastic means comprise two springs 70, 70' arranged between the abutment head 66, 66' of the two guide rods 65, 65' and the abutment base 67, 67' of the two hollow cylinders 64, 64'. In the embodiment herein described, the two guide rods 65, 65' are connected to each other at the second end 6b by means of an engagement bracket 63 engaging the second bearing element 4, while each hollow cylinder 64, 64' is pivotally constrained to the first loadbearing element 2 at the respective first end 6a. The number of these first ends 6a is therefore equal to the number of hollow cylinders 64, 64', i.e. two, and each first end 6a is arranged in a position opposite the respective abutment base 67, 67'.

[0062] According to the embodiment herein described, the fastening element 6 thus takes an overall "U" shape, in which the short side is the engagement bracket 63 and the two long sides are the two guide rods 65, 65' and the two hollow cylinders 64, 64' which would be the first portion 61 and the second portion 62, respectively.

[0063] Furthermore, the second loadbearing element 4 is provided with a securing element 5. The fastening element 6 is thus reversibly engageable, at the second end 6b, with the securing element 5. Specifically, the bracket 63 engages with the securing element 5.

[0064] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the preload adjusting means comprise a first thread 75, 75' on the free end of the two guide rods 65, 65' and respective abutment heads 66, 66' having a second thread 76, 76' which can be coupled to the first thread 75, 75'. This way, by screwing or unscrewing the abutment heads 66, 66' with respect to the respective first ends 75, 75', the preload of each spring 70, 70' can be adjusted under normal conditions, so that it does not work under the normal conditions of use of the door 100 with respect to the frame 101 (e.g. closing a door of an environmental control chamber for which some compression of the sealing gaskets must be ensured).

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, the fastening lever 3 comprises a handle 20 to facilitate the rotation of the fastening lever 3 between the operative position L and the idle position R, and vice versa.

[0066] Described below is a method for holding a door 100 in its closed configuration relative to a frame 101, as a result of an impulsive force acting on the door 100 by means of a latch toggle clamp 1 of the type described above and, anyway, according to one or more of claims 1 to 9. As set forth above, the door 100 and the frame 101 are preferably installed in an environmental control chamber 200 in which, for example, an electrification component has been positioned, chosen from a battery, a fuel cell or a similar product which, under specified conditions of temperature, pressure and / or humidity, as well as under specified operating conditions, can release flammable gases which, in the presence of an ignition source (e.g. sparks or very hot spots) can ignite, giving rise to a sudden pressure increase.

[0067] The method comprises the steps of: a) constraining the first loadbearing element 2 to the frame 101 of the door 100; b) constraining the second loadbearing element 4 to the door 100; c) reversibly engaging the fastening element 6 to the second loadbearing element 4; d) rotating the fastening lever 3 about the first axis X with respect to the first loadbearing element 2 to bring it from one of its idle positions R to the operative position L; and e) sliding the second portion 62 with respect to the first portion 61 upon exceeding a specified impulsive force acting between the first portion 61 and the second portion 62, between a first position Pl, in which the first portion 61 moves away from the second portion 62, by compressing or extending the absorption and release means, and a second position P2, in which the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of the impulsive force.

[0068] Specifically, in the event the absorption and release means comprise elastic means, in the second position P2, the first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.

[0069] Finally, before step c), the step f) is comprised, of adjusting the preload of the elastic means by rotating each abutment head 66, 66' of the respective guide rod 65, 65' so as to bring the abutment head 66, 66' closer to, or further away from, the respective abutment base 67, 67'.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Latch toggle clamp (1) for a door (100) pivotally constrained to a mounting frame (101) for said door, said latch toggle clamp (1) comprising a first loadbearing element (2) constrainable to said mounting frame (101), or to said door (100), and a fastening lever (3) pivotally constrained to said first loadbearing element (2) about a first axis (X) between an operative position (L) and at least one idle position (R), said clamp (1) further comprising a second loadbearing element (4) constrainable to said door (100), or to said mounting frame (101), and a fastening element (6) pivotally constrained to said fastening lever (3) about a second axis (Y), at least at one first end (6a), said fastening element (6) further being reversibly engageable, at a second end (6b) thereof, to said second loadbearing element (4), at least when said fastening lever (3) is in its operative position (L) and being releasable from said second loadbearing element (4) at least when said fastening lever (3) is in said at least one idle position (R), characterized in that said fastening element (6) comprises a first portion (61), a second portion (62) and energy absorption and release means arranged between said first portion (61) and said second portion (62), said second portion (62) being slidable with respect to said first portion (61) upon exceeding of a specified impulsive force acting between said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) and at least when said fastening lever (3) is in its operative position (L), between a first position (Pl), wherein said first portion (61) moves away from said second portion (62), by compressing or extending said energy absorption and release means, and a second position (P2), wherein said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.2) Toggle clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that said absorption and release means comprise elastic means, in said second position (P2) said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) being pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.3) Toggle clamp according to claim 2, characterized by comprising adjusting means for adjusting the preload of said elastic means in such a way as not to impair the functionality of the toggle clamp itself in the absence of said impulsive force.4) Toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first portion (61) comprises one or more hollow cylinders (64,64') arranged in parallel with each other and said second portion (62) comprises one or more guide rods (65,65') arranged inparallel and sliding within the respective hollow cylinder (64,64') of said one or more hollow cylinders (64,64'), said one or more guide rods (65,65') comprising a respective abutment head (66,66') integrally constrainable to the respective guide rod (65,65') and said one or more hollow cylinders (64) comprising a respective perforated abutment base (67,67') for the passage of the respective guide rod (65,65'), said elastic compression means comprising one or more springs (70,70') arranged between said abutment head (66, 66') of said one or more guide rods (65, 65') and said abutment base (67, 67') of said one or more hollow cylinders, said one or more guide rods (65,65') being connected to each other at said second end (6b) by means of an engagement bracket (63) engaging said second loadbearing element (4), each hollow cylinder (64,64') being pivotally constrained to said first loadbearing element (2) at the respective first end (6a).5) Toggle clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that said preload adjusting means comprise a first thread (75,75') arranged on the free end of said one or more guide rods (65,65') and respective one or more abutment heads (66,66') having a second thread (76,76') which can be coupled to said first thread (75,75').6) Toggle clamp according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said one or more hollow cylinders are two in number and said one or more guide rods are two in number, preferably said fastening element being substantially U-shaped.7) Toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first axis (X) is parallel to said second axis (Y), with said first axis (X) being distinct from said second axis (Y).8) Toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said fastening lever (3) comprises a handle (20) to facilitate rotation of said fastening lever (3) between said operative position (L) and said at least one idle position (R), and vice versa.9) Toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said specific impulsive force is greater than 5000 N.10) Toggle clamp according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said second loadbearing element (4) is provided with a securing element (5), said fastening element (6) being reversibly engageable, at said second end (6b), with said securing element (5).11) Environmental control chamber (200) comprising a door (100) and a frame (101), wherein said door (100) is pivotally constrained to said frame (101) between an open position and a closed position for said chamber, said chamber further comprising a latchtoggle clamp (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10.12) Method for holding a door (100) in its closed configuration relative to a frame (101) as a result of an impulsive force acting on said door by a latch toggle clamp (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, said door and said frame being installed in an environmental control chamber (200), said method comprising the steps of: a) constraining said first loadbearing element (2) to said frame (101) of said door, or to said door; b) constraining said second loadbearing element (4) to said door (100), or to said frame (101); c) reversibly engaging said fastening element (6) to said second loadbearing element (4); and d) rotating said fastening lever (3) about a first axis (X) with respect to said first loadbearing element (2) to bring it from said at least one idle position (R) to said operative position (L); characterized by comprising the step e) of sliding said second portion (62) with respect to said first portion (61) upon exceeding a specified impulsive force acting between said first portion (61) and said second portion (62), between a first position (Pl), in which said first portion (61) moves away from said second portion (62), by compressing or extending said absorption and release means, and a second position (P2), in which said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) are pulled back, at least in part, to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.13) Method according to claim 12, characterized in that, in said second position (P2), said first portion (61) and said second portion (62) are pulled back to the distance at which they were located before the application of said impulsive force.14) Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by comprising, before said step c), a step f) of adjusting the preload of said elastic means by rotating said abutment head of said one or more guide rods with respect to said one or more guide rods, so as to move each abutment head closer to, or farther away from, the respective abutment base.

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