Door construction with slideable pivot hinge

Abstract

The invention provides a door construction comprising a door panel and at least one pivot hinge for rotatably suspending the door panel in a door opening. The at least one pivot hinge is integrated into the door panel at the top side or at the bottom side of the door panel. The door panel comprises a guide profile, extending along substantially the entire side of the door panel having the at least one pivot hinge. The at least one pivot hinge is slidably arranged in the guide profile, and the at least one pivot hinge is provided with attachment means for releasably attaching the at least one pivot hinge to the guide profile.

Claims

1. A self-closing pivot hinge (3) for a door construction comprising a door panel (1) and the pivot hinge (3) for rotatably suspending the door panel (1) in a door opening (2), wherein the pivot hinge (3) is integrated into the door panel (1) at a side of the door panel (1) selected from the top side of the door panel (1) and the bottom side of the door panel (1), the pivot hinge (3) comprising: an elongated housing (7), attachment means for attaching the pivot hinge (3) to the door panel (1); a rotation column (10), arranged to be mounted to a wall of the door opening (2) opposite the respective side of the door panel (1) into which the at least one pivot hinge (3) is integrated, wherein the housing (7) is mounted rotatably around the rotation column (10), so that the housing (7) is rotatable in relation to the rotation column (10) from a closed position, which defines a position in which the door panel (1) suspended by the pivot hinge (3) closes the door opening (2), in a first direction, to a first open position, and/or in a second direction opposite to the first direction, to a second open position; a first spring (35, 35), extending inside the housing (7) along a lengthwise direction of the housing (7) and conferring a self-closing function to the pivot hinge (3); a cam member (11), being part of the rotation column (10), and a first spherical ball (37), being urged against the cam member (11) by means of the first spring (35), wherein the cam member (11) is shaped to provide support positions (15, 17) in which the first ball (37) rests in the open and closed positions, and wherein the first ball (37), under the influence of the spring pressure from the first spring (35, 35), is urged, from substantially every position other than the support positions (15, 16), in the direction of the support position (15, 16) corresponding to the closed position, wherein the cam member (11) is a body comprising a first face (12) and a second face (13), positioned opposite each other, and a mantle surface (14) connecting the first face (12) and the second face (13), wherein the support positions (17) corresponding to the open positions are provided by two notches (17) at opposite positions on the mantle surface (14) of the cam member (11), wherein for the first ball (37), the support position (15) corresponding to the closed position is provided by a first recess (15) on the first face (12) of the cam member (11), wherein the first face (12) of the cam member (11) is provided as a convex surface in a primary direction extending along the support positions on the mantle surface (14) of the cam member (11), wherein the first face (12) of the cam member (11) is provided as a concave surface in a secondary direction substantially perpendicular to the primary direction.

2. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 1, wherein the pivot hinge (3) further comprises: a second spring (36, 36), extending inside the housing (7) along the lengthwise direction of the housing (7), wherein the first and the second spring (36, 36) are located at opposite sides of the rotation column (10); and a second spherical ball (38), being urged against the cam member (11) by means of the second spring (36, 36), wherein the cam member (11) is further shaped to provide support positions (16, 17) in which the second ball (38) rests in the open and closed positions, and wherein the second ball (38), under the influence of the spring pressure from the second spring (36, 36), is urged, from substantially every position other than the support positions (16, 17), in the direction of the support position (16) corresponding to the closed position, wherein for the second ball (38), the support position (16) corresponding to the closed position is provided by a second recess (16) on the second face (13) of the cam member (11), wherein the second face (13) of the cam member (11) is provided as a convex surface in the primary direction, wherein the second face (13) of the cam member (11) is provided as a concave surface in the secondary direction.

3. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 2, wherein the first recess (15) is arranged so that the first ball (37) is capable of being lowered into the first recess (15) until halfway through the cam member (11), and the second recess (16) is arranged so that the second ball (38) is capable of being lowered into the second recess (16) until halfway through the cam member (11).

4. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 2, wherein the first recess (15) is provided at its circumference with a first support surface (18) for the first ball (37), and the second recess (16) is provided at its circumference with a second support surface (19) for the second ball (38).

5. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 4, wherein the first support surface (18) has a shape which is complementary to the shape of the first ball (37), and the second support surface (19) has a shape which is complementary to the shape of the second ball (38).

6. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 2, wherein the transition between the first face (12) and the mantle surface (14) of the cam member (11) in the proximity of the support positions (17) on the mantle surface (14) is provided with a transition surface (22) to facilitate the transition of the first ball (37) between the first face (12) and the mantle surface (14), and the transition between the second face (13) and the mantle surface (14) of the cam member (11) in the proximity of the support positions (17) on the mantle surface (14) is provided with a transition surface (22) to facilitate the transition of the second ball (38) between the second face (13) and the mantle surface (14).

7. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 6, wherein the transition surface (22) is a convex surface.

8. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 2, wherein the pivot hinge (3) comprises a first adjustment means (40) for adjusting the spring pressure of the first spring (35, 35), and wherein the pivot hinge (3) comprises a second adjustment means (40) for adjusting the spring pressure of the second spring (36, 36).

9. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 8, wherein the adjustment means (40) comprises a screw (40), which is screwably arranged in an opening (44) through the housing (7), and which is arranged to press against the end of the spring (35, 36; 35, 36) located opposite the end of the spring (35, 36; 35, 36) pressing against the ball (37, 38), so that the spring pressure is adjustable by screwing the screw (40) through the opening (44) in the housing (7).

10. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according claim 9, wherein a head (41) of the screw (40) has a shape which is laterally engageable, so that the head (41) of the screw (40) is rotatable from a lateral position for screwing the screw (40) through the opening (44) in the housing (7).

11. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 10, wherein the head (41) of the screw (40) is laterally engageable by means of grooves (42) in the side of the head (41) of the screw (40), said grooves (42) being oriented along the lengthwise direction of the screw (40).

12. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 9, wherein the opening (44) in the housing (7) for the screw (40) of the adjustment means (40) is provided through a releasable cap (44) of the housing (7).

13. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 2, wherein each of the first spring (35) and the second spring (36) is a gas spring.

14. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 13, wherein each gas spring (35, 36) is a deflatable gas spring (35, 36), arranged for releasing gas from the gas spring (35, 36) to lower the spring force of the gas spring (35, 36).

15. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 14, wherein each deflatable gas spring (35, 36) is arranged for releasing a predetermined amount of gas from the gas spring (35, 36) for lowering the spring force of the gas spring (35, 36) step by step.

16. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 15, wherein each gas spring (35, 36) is provided with a hydraulic attenuation means.

17. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 1, wherein the cam member (11) is symmetrical in the direction perpendicular to the first face (12) and the second face (13), and wherein the cam member (11) is symmetrical in the direction extending along the support positions (17) on the mantle surface (14) of the cam member (11).

18. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (7) is provided with at least one closable opening (47) for introducing a lubricant into the housing (7).

19. The self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 1, wherein the pivot hinge (3) comprises blocking means (48, 49), arranged for preventing the rotation of the door panel (1) beyond the open positions and in a direction away from the closed position.

20. A door construction comprising a door panel (1) and at least one self-closing pivot hinge (3) according to claim 1, for rotatably suspending the door panel (1) in a door opening (2), wherein the at least one pivot hinge (3) is integrated into the door panel (1) at a side of the door panel (1) selected from the top side of the door panel (1) and the bottom side of the door panel (1).

21. The door construction according to claim 20, wherein the door panel (1) comprises a guide profile (4), extending along substantially the entire side of the door panel (1) provided with the at least one pivot hinge (3), wherein the at least one pivot hinge (3) is slidably arranged in said guide profile (4), and wherein attachment means (27) of the at least one pivot hinge (3) are provided for releasably attaching the at least one pivot hinge (3) to the guide profile (4).

22. The door construction according to claim 21, wherein the housing (7) of the at least one pivot hinge (3) is shaped to provide a first sliding surface (9) and a second sliding surface (9), said sliding surfaces (9) being provided to slide over complementary sliding surfaces (5) in the lengthwise direction and over substantially the entire length of the guide profile (4) when sliding the at least one pivot hinge (3) in the guide profile (4).

23. The door construction according to claim 21, wherein the guide profile (4) is part of a frame (6) at the circumference of the door panel (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will hereafter be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a frontal view, a simplified representation of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a pivot hinge of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a pivot hinge of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the rotation column of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the rotation column of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2, arranged in a guide profile.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2, arranged in a guide profile.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a part of a pivot hinge of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pivot hinge is in the open position.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the cam member of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a side view of the cam member shown in FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a top view of the cam member shown in FIG. 9.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the releasable cap of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(14) FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the screw of the adjustment means of the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(15) FIG. 14 shows a detail of a door panel provided with a recess for arranging therein a pivot hinge of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 15 shows the door panel shown in FIG. 14, wherein a pivot hinge is arranged in the recess provided thereto in the door panel, by means of mounting brackets.

(17) FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of mounting brackets by means of which a pivot hinge is arranged in the recess provided thereto in the door panel shown in FIG. 14.

(18) FIG. 17 shows an exploded view of a pivot hinge with gas springs of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(19) The present invention will hereafter be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto and is only defined by the claims. The drawings shown here are only schematic depictions and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated, which means that the elements in question are not drawn to scale, this being merely for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

(20) Furthermore, terms like first, second, third and the like, are used in the description and in the claims for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms in question are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

(21) Moreover, terms like top, bottom, over, under and the like are used in the description and the claims for descriptive purposes, and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are mutually interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

(22) The term comprising and related terms, as used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. The term should be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, without however precluding the presence or addition of one or more additional features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression a device comprising means A and B is not limited to devices consisting merely of components A and B. What is meant, by contrast, is that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

(23) It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to a door construction, and that other rotatable constructions, such as for example a window and a gate, can be implemented in a similar way as well. It should also be noted that the self-closing pivot hinge of the door construction according to the present invention is also highly suited to be used in those other rotatable constructions, either arranged slidingly in a guide profile of the rotatable construction, or arranged in the rotatable construction in any other way.

(24) FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a simplified representation of a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door construction shown comprises a door panel 1, which is rotatably suspended in a door opening 2 by means of a first pivot hinge 3 and a second pivot hinge 3. The first pivot hinge 3 is arranged in a first guide profile 4 extending along substantially the entire top side of the door panel 1, the second pivot hinge 3 is arranged in a second guide profile extending along substantially the entire bottom side of the door panel 1. Both guide profiles 4 are part of a frame 6, provided at the edges of the door panel 1.

(25) The pivot hinges 3 are slideable along the lengthwise direction of the guide profiles 4, and the pivot hinges 3 are releasably attached to guide profiles 4 by means of attachment means (not shown in FIG. 1). These attachment means can for instance be bolts or screws by means of which the pivot hinges 3 can be screwed to the guide profiles 4, or, for instance, a tensioning system for clamping the pivot hinges 3 into the guide profiles 4, or other releasable attachment means known to the person skilled in the art. As a result of the pivot hinges 3 being slideable in the guide profiles 4, there is a greater freedom of choice regarding the position where the pivot hinges 3 are attached to the guide profiles 4. This position defines the position of the rotational axis or pivot axis around which the door panel 1 rotates, for which there is, consequently, an extensive freedom of choice as well. Herein, the pivot hinges 3 should logically be aligned straight above each other. For a regular door panel 1 of standard dimensions, the rotational axis is typically chosen so that it is located as close as possible against one of the sides of the door opening 2. As a result of this, the entire width of the door opening 2 can be used for passing through. For a wide door panel 1, it is advantageous to choose the rotational axis at a certain distance from the side of the door opening 2, for instance at of the width of the door panel 1. As a result of this, a smaller force is required to be exerted on the door panel 1 for opening and closing the door panel 1. Alternatively, the rotational axis can for instance also be chosen to be in the center of the door panel 1, so that forces exerted on opposite sides of the pivot axis cancel each other out. As a further alternative, the rotational axis may be chosen to be essentially at any position between both sides of the door panel 1.

(26) In the embodiment of the door construction according to the present invention shown here, the door panel 1 is rotatably suspended in the door opening 2 by means of two pivot hinges 3, which are arranged in guide profiles 4 at the bottom side of the door panel 1 and at the top side of the door panel 1. In other embodiments, however, the door panel 1 may also be rotatably suspended in the door opening 2 by means of a single pivot hinge 3. This pivot hinge 3 is then integrated into the door panel 1 at the bottom side of the door panel 1 or at the top side of the door panel 1, and at the opposite side, though not necessary, a rotation axis element can be arranged. Said rotation axis element may for instance be a connection between the door panel and the wall of the door opening 2, provided with a bearing or a sliding bushing.

(27) FIGS. 2 and 3 show an exploded view of a pivot hinge 3 according to different embodiments of the door construction according to the present invention. For the greater part, both pivot hinges 3 shown are shaped and constituted in the same way. The pivot hinges 3 shown differ in the way in which they are arranged to be mounted to a wall of a door opening 2. The pivot hinge 3 shown in FIG. 2 is thereto provided with a wall mounting part 29, which can be mounted directly to the wall of the door opening 2 by means of screws. The wall mounting part 29 in question is provided with an attenuation means 30 to counter the transfer of vibrations from the door panel 1 and the pivot hinge 3 to the wall of the door opening 2, and vice versa. In the pivot hinge 3 shown in FIG. 3, a wall profile mounting part 31 of modular construction is used to this end, which can be connected with a wall profile 32 arranged on the wall of the door opening 2, for instance as a part of a door casing. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the central part of the pivot hinges 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, particularly the rotation column 10, in more detail. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the pivot hinge 3 shown in FIG. 2, mounted in a guide profile 4. The cross-section extends centrally through the pivot hinge 3 along the lengthwise direction of the pivot hinge 3, as additionally indicated with line VI-VI in FIG. 7, where a side view is shown of the pivot hinge 3 shown in FIG. 2 mounted in a guide profile 4. The construction of the pivot hinge 3 according to an embodiment of the door construction according to the present invention is elucidated below, with reference to these figures.

(28) The pivot hinge 3 comprises an elongated housing 7 with a cavity 8 arranged therein, in which a number of the parts of the pivot hinge 3 are arranged. In the center, considered along the lengthwise direction of the housing 7, a rotation column 10 is arranged through the housing 7, in such a way that the housing 7 is rotatable around the rotation column 10.

(29) The housing 7 of the pivot hinge 3 is provided with two sliding surfaces 9, arranged in the lengthwise direction of the housing 7 and on opposite sides of the housing 7. The sliding surfaces 9 of the housing 7 are arranged to slide over two sliding surfaces 5 of the guide profile 4 in which the pivot hinge 3 is arranged. The sliding surfaces 5 of the guide profile 4 have a shape that is complementary to the shape of the sliding surfaces 9 of the housing 7. The sliding surfaces 5 of the guide profile 4 are arranged over substantially the entire length of the guide profile 4, so that the pivot hinge 3 is slideable through the guide profile 4 over substantially the entire length of the guide profile 4. It is evident that the housing 7 and the guide profile 4 may also be implemented in different ways, though preferably complementary to each other and/or fitting inside each other.

(30) The rotation column 10, shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, is constructed from a cam member 11 positioned inside the cavity 8 of the housing 7, and retained by two cam member retainers 23 placed in two openings 34 through the housing 7 located opposite each other, known as rotation column openings 34. A first of these rotation column openings 34 is located at a side of the housing 7 arranged to face the door panel 1 when the pivot hinge 3 is arranged in the guide profile 4, and a second of these rotation column openings 34 is located at a side of the housing 7 arranged to face the wall of the door opening 2 when the pivot hinge 3 is arranged in the guide profile 4. The cam member retainer 23 positioned in this second rotation column opening 34 is part of a means 29, 31 for releasably attaching the pivot hinge 3 to the wall of the door opening 2, either directly to the wall by means of the wall mounting part 29 as shown, among others, in FIG. 2, or via of a wall profile 32 on the wall, by means of the wall profile mounting part 31, as shown, among others, in FIG. 3.

(31) The cam member retainers 23 retain the cam member 11 by means of a groove 24 arranged on each of the cam member retainers 23, and by means of protrusions 20 arranged on the cam member 11 and placed in the groove 24 of the cam member retainers 23. The protrusions 20 on the cam member and the groove 24 in each of the cam member retainers 23 are shaped so that the cam member 11 and the cam member retainers 23 cannot rotate in relation to each other.

(32) Furthermore, the cam member retainers 23 are also connected to the cam member 11 by means of screws 33 screwed into openings 21, 25 provided thereto in the cam member 11 and in the cam member retainers 23. In the embodiment shown, two screws 33 are used for separately connecting each of the cam member retainers 23 to the cam member 11, but optionally a single screw 33 can be used that extends through the cam member 11 and connects to both cam member retainers 23.

(33) The cam member retainers 23 and the rotation column openings 34 are also shaped in such a way that the cam member retainers 23 can only be inserted into the rotation column openings 34 up to a certain depth. That way, when the cam member 11 is connected on opposite sides to the cam member retainers 23 by means of the screws 33 provided thereto, the housing 7 is clamped between the cam member retainers 23 in such a way that the rotation column 10 is substantially only rotatable in relation to the housing 7, and so can no longer shift in relation to the housing 7.

(34) Furthermore, the rotation column 10 is provided with two sliding bushings 26, also placed in the rotation column openings 34 in which the cam member retainers 23 are placed as well. These sliding bushings 26 are arranged between the cam member retainers 23 and the housing 7, and there reduce the friction between the cam member retainers 23 and the housing 7 when rotating the cam member retainers 23 in the rotation column openings 34. As a result of this, the rotation of the housing 7 around the rotation column 10 occurs more smoothly.

(35) On opposite sides of the rotation column 10 a first spherical ball 37 and a second spherical ball 38 are arranged in the housing, and said balls 37, 38 are pressed against the cam member 11 of the rotation column 10 by a first spring 35 and a second spring 36, respectively. The first ball 37 and the second ball 38 are arranged to roll over the surface of the cam member 11 when rotating the housing 7 around the rotation column 10 while opening and closing the door panel 1. The cam member 11 is shaped to provide support positions 15, 16, 17 in which the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 rest when the door panel 1 is in the closed position and when the door panel 1 is in one of the open positions. In the embodiments shown, the springs 35, 36 are implemented as cylindrical springs, but the springs 35, 36 can also be equivalently implemented as any other resilient element, such as for example a pneumatic spring 35, 36 or gas spring 35, 36, as shown in FIG. 17.

(36) Furthermore, the cam member 11 is also shaped in such a way that the first spring 35 and the second spring 36 are in a compressed state when the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 are in the support positions 17 on the cam member 11 corresponding to the open positions of the door panel 1, being compressed in comparison with the state of the first spring 35 and the second spring 36 when the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 are in the support positions 15, 16 on the cam member 11 corresponding to the closed position of the door panel 1. The compressed first spring 35 and the compressed second spring 36 ensure that the first ball 37 and the second ball 38, respectively, are urged towards the support positions 15, 16 on the cam member 11 corresponding to the closed position of the door panel 1. As such, the first spring 35 and the second spring 36 bestow a self-closing function to the pivot hinge 3 according to the embodiments shown.

(37) The cam member 11 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 9-11. The cam member 11 according to the embodiment shown is a disc-shaped object comprising a first face 12 and a second face 13, and a mantle surface 14 connecting the first face 12 and the second face 13. The housing 7 of the pivot hinge 3 and the door panel 1 are arranged to rotate about a rotational axis extending through the cam member 11, said rotational axis being positioned along the vertical direction, centrally through the cam member 11 in the embodiment shown.

(38) The cam member 11 provides support positions 15, 16 in which the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 rest when the door panel 1 is in the closed position. For the first ball 37, the support position 15 is provided in the form of a first recess 15 in the first face 12, and for the second ball 38, the support position 16 is provided in the form of a second recess 16 in the second face 13.

(39) The first recess 15 and the second recess 16 provided at their circumference with a first support surface 18 for the first ball 37 and with a second support surface 19 for the second ball 38, respectively. The support surfaces 18, 19 ensure a proper support for the balls 37, 38 in the recesses 15, 16. These support surfaces 18, 19 are preferably provided with a shape complementary to the shape of the balls 37, 38, which ensures an even more stable positioning of the balls 37, 38 in the recesses 15, 16.

(40) The first recess 15 and the second recess 16 in the cam member 11 shown are arranged so that there is a passage through the cam member 11, extending from the first face 12 of the cam member 11 to the second face 13 of the cam member 11. This allows both the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 to be lowered as deeply as possible into, preferably both until halfway through, the cam member 11 when the door panel 1 is in the closed position. This increases the spring path of the first spring 35 and of the second spring 36.

(41) The cam member 11 also provides support positions 17 in which the first ball 37 and the second ball 38 rest when the door panel 1 is in the first open position and when the door panel 1 is in the second open position. These support positions 17 are provided on the cam member 11 in the form of two notches 17 on the mantle surface 14. Said two notches 17 are located at two opposite positions on the mantle surface 14 according to a horizontal direction centrally through the cam member 11 and the mantle surface 14, and these two notches 17 are consequently on opposing sides of the rotational axis through the cam member 11 mentioned above. Said notches 17 are used by both balls 37, 38. When the door panel 1 is in the first open position, the first ball 37 rests in one of the two notches 17 while the second ball 38 rests in the notch 17 located opposite the notch 17 in which the first ball 37 rests. When the door panel 1 is in the second open position, each ball 37, 38 rests in the notch 17 located opposite the notch 17 in which each respective ball 37, 38 rests when the door panel 1 is in the first open position.

(42) At the transition between the mantle surface 14 and the first face 12, and at the transition between the mantle surface 14 and the second face 13, transition surfaces 22 are arranged on the mantle surface 14 in the proximity of the notches 17. The transition surfaces 22 are provided for facilitating the transition of the balls 37, 38 from the first face 12 or the second face 13 to the mantle surface 14, and the transition of the balls 37, 38 in the opposite direction. The transition surfaces 22 are preferably convex surfaces.

(43) The cam member 11 is also provided with protrusions 20, which are, as mentioned above, arranged to be inserted into a groove 24 provided thereto on each of the cam member retainers 23 retaining the cam member 11 in the rotation column 10. These protrusions 20 are located at two opposite positions on the mantle surface 14 along the vertical direction centrally through the cam member 11, i.e., along the rotational axis through the cam member 11. Additionally, openings 21 through the cam member 11 are also provided at these positions. These openings 21 are arranged for providing a screw connection between the cam member 11 and the cam member retainers 23 by means of screws 33.

(44) FIG. 10 shows how the first face 12 and the second face 13 are shaped as a concave surface along the vertical direction of said faces 12, 13, i.e., in the direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis through the cam member 11. FIG. 11 shows how the first face 12 and the second face 13 are shaped as a convex surface along the horizontal direction of said faces 12, 13.

(45) The cam member 11 according to the embodiment shown is furthermore point-symmetrical in relation to a central point of the cam member 11. Rotating the cam member 11 over an angle of 180 in relation to this central point thus brings the cam member 11 back onto itself. As a result of this, the cam member 11 is rotatable so that the first recess 15 in the first face 12 and the second recess 16 in the second face 13 change places, without thereby influencing the construction and the operation of the pivot hinge. The same also applies to the notches 17 on the mantle surface 14, and also to the protrusions 20 on the mantle surface of the cam member 11.

(46) When rotating the door panel 1 in the door opening 2, the pivot hinge 3 according to the embodiments shown functions as follows. If the door panel 1 is in the closed position, the first ball 37 rests in the first recess 15 in the first face 12 of the cam member 11, and the second ball 38 rests in the second recess 16 in the second face 13 of the cam member 11. This position is shown in FIG. 2, among others. From the closed position, the door panel 1 can be rotated to a first open position, in which the door panel 1 is rotated over an angle of approximately 90 in relation to the closed position. The door panel 1 can also be rotated to a second open position, in which the door panel 1 is rotated over an angle of 90 in the opposite direction.

(47) When rotating the door panel 1 from the closed position to one of the open positions, the housing 7 of the pivot hinge 3 rotates around the rotation column 10. The first ball 37 and the second ball 38 herein rotate together with the housing 7 around the rotation column 10, and the balls 37, 38 herein roll over the surface of the cam member 11, as the balls 37, 38 are pressed against the cam member 11 by the springs 35, 36. Thus, the first ball 37 rolls out of the first recess 15 and over the first face 12, then over one of the transition surfaces 22 between the first face 12 and the mantle surface 14, and finally over the mantle surface 14 up to and into one of the notches 17 on the mantle surface 14. Simultaneously, the second ball 38 rolls out of the second recess 16 and over the second face 13, then over a transition surface 22 and the mantle surface, up to and into the notch 17 on the mantle surface 14 located opposite the notch 17 in the mantle surface 14 to which the first ball 37 rolls. This position of the pivot hinge 3 is shown in FIG. 8, where the housing 7 is not shown to show the inner parts of the pivot hinge 3 more clearly.

(48) From the open positions, the door panel 1 can then be rotated back to the closed position. To this end, it suffices to exert a force only on the door panel 1, causing the balls 37, 38 to roll out of the notches 17 on to the mantle surface 14 up to the transition surfaces 22. From this position, a moment is exerted by the springs 35, 36 on the cam member 11 via the balls 37, 38, causing the first ball 37 to roll over the first face 12 up to and into the first recess 15, and causing the second ball 38 to roll over the second face 13 up to and into the second recess 16. Thus, the springs 35, 36 provide the self-closing function of the pivot hinge 3.

(49) Furthermore, the pivot hinge 3 according to the embodiment shown comprises a first adjustment means 40 for adjusting the spring pressure of the first spring 35, and a second adjustment means 40 for adjusting the spring pressure of the second spring 36. Both adjustment means are implemented as a screw 40, arranged screwable in an opening 43 through the housing 7. For each adjustment means, the screw 40 presses against the end of the spring 35, 36 located opposite the end of the spring 35, 36 that presses against the balls 37, 38. By screwing the screw 40 in a direction inwards in the housing, the spring pressure of the spring 35, 36 against which the screw 40 presses is increased, and by screwing the screw 40 in the opposite direction, the spring pressure is reduced. The use of a screw 40 allows the spring pressure of the springs 35, 36 to be finely adjusted.

(50) The screw 40 of the adjustment means is shown in more detail in FIG. 13. At the head side, the head 41 of the screw 40 is provided with a recess (not visible) for allowing a screwing means, such as for example a screwdriver or a socket head wrench, to engage therein. In the embodiment shown, such as can be seen in FIG. 7, a hexagonal recess is used, but it can be any shape known to the person skilled in the art, such as for example a slot or a cross. Furthermore, the head 41 of the screw 40 is arranged to be laterally engageable by means of grooves 42 in the side of the head 41 of the screw 40. These grooves 42 are arranged to allow an L-shaped screwing means (not shown) to engage therein and, by means of a pulling motion or a pushing motion, to screw the screw 40 through the opening 43 in the housing 7. The L-shaped screwing means in question may be shorter than a screwing means engaging the recess in the head side of the head 41 of the screw 40, such as a screwdriver. This is because the screw 40 is typically accessible over a shorter distance from a lateral position relative to the pivot hinge 3 arranged in a guide profile 4, than it is from one of the ends of the guide profile 4. The short distance between the screw 40 of the adjustment means and the side of the guide profile 4 can be seen in FIG. 7, among others.

(51) Furthermore, the pivot hinge 3 also comprises pressing elements 39 arranged between the springs 35, 36 and the balls 37, 38, on the one hand, and between the springs 35, 36 and the adjustment means for adjusting the spring pressure on the other hand. The pressing elements 39 shown are in the form of a piston of which the narrow part is arranged in the spring 35, 36, and of which a wider part presses against the spring 35, 36. The pressing elements 39 are arranged for improving the contact between the springs 35, 36 and the balls 37, 38, and for improving the contact between the springs 35, 36 and the adjustment means 40 for adjusting the spring pressure.

(52) In the embodiments shown, the openings 43 through the housing 7, in which the screws 40 of the adjustment means are positioned, are arranged through releasable caps 44 of the housing 7. The caps 44 provide an easy access to the internal parts of the pivot hinge 3, such as, among others, the springs 35, 36 and the balls 37, 38.

(53) The cap 44 is shown in more detail in FIG. 12. Here, centrally in the cap 44, the opening 43 for the screw 40 of the adjustment means for the spring pressure is visible. Furthermore, the cap 44 is also provided with two openings 45, arranged for receiving screws 52 with which the cap 44 can be secured in the housing 7. To this end, the respective screws 52 are arranged through openings 51 provided thereto in the housing 7, and also through the openings 45 in the cap 44. Around its entire circumference, the cap 44 is also provided with a recess 46 for placing an O-ring (not shown) therein. The O-ring contributes to the hermetical sealing of the housing 7 so that, for instance, no lubricant can leak from the cavity 8 in the housing 7.

(54) For releasably attaching the pivot hinges 3 shown to the guide profile 4 by means of attachment means 27, the pivot hinges 3 are provided with openings 28 through the wall of the housing 7. These openings 28 in the housing 7 are preferably arranged at the ends of the housing 7, so that a maximal amount of space remains in the housing 7 for the first spring 35 and the second spring 36. To this end, the openings 28 in the housing 7 of the pivot hinges shown are implemented as U-shaped openings 28 at the two ends of the housing 7. Attaching the pivot hinge 3 to the guide profile 4 is carried out by applying screws 27 of the attachment means through said openings 28, and subsequently by screwing these screws 27 in the openings (not shown) provided thereto in the guide profile 4. As such, the screws 27 of the attachment means clamp the pivot hinge 3 tightly against the guide profile 4. These openings in the guide profile 4 for attaching the pivot hinge 3 can be made in the guide profile 4 while arranging the pivot hinge 3 in the guide profile 4, for instance by means of a drilling machine.

(55) In the embodiments shown, the pivot hinges 3 are also provided with two closable openings 47, implemented as non-return valves, for introducing a lubricant into the housing 7. A first of these closable openings 47 is located at the part of the housing 7 where the first spring 37 is located, and a second of these closable openings 47 is located at the part of the housing 7 where the second spring 38 is located. In this way, the parts of the housing 7 located at opposite sides of the rotation column 10 can be easily and properly filled with a lubricant.

(56) Furthermore, the pivot hinges 3 shown are also provided with blocking means 48, 49 that prevent the door panel 1 from being able to rotate beyond the open positions in a direction away from the closed position. The blocking means 48, 49 comprise a blocking pin 48 and two blocking protrusions 49. The blocking pin 48 is arranged in an opening 50 provided thereto in the housing 7 at the side of the housing 7 arranged to face the wall of the door opening 2 when the pivot hinge 3 is arranged in the guide profile 4, and in the proximity of the rotation column 10. In the pivot hinge 3 shown in FIG. 2, the two blocking protrusions 49 are arranged on the wall mounting part 29, and in the pivot hinge shown in FIG. 3, the two blocking protrusions 49 are arranged on the wall profile mounting part 31. The blocking protrusions 49 are oriented along a direction substantially perpendicular to the door panel 1, when the door panel 1 is in the closed position. The height of the blocking pin 48 and the height of the blocking protrusions 49 are chosen so that the blocking pin 48 cannot pass beyond the blocking protrusions 49 when rotating the door panel 1 around the rotation column 10. When rotating the door panel 1 from the closed position to the open positions, the blocking pin 48 will then approach one of the blocking protrusions 49, and abut against it when the door panel 1 is pushed beyond the open positions, and the door panel 1 will be prevented from being rotated farther.

(57) In the figures referenced above, pivot hinges 3 are described that comprise both a first ball 37 pressed against the cam member 11 by a first spring 35, and a second ball 38 pressed against the cam member 11 by a second spring 36. The pivot hinge 3 can also, according to an embodiment of the door construction according to the present invention, be implemented without using the second ball 38 and the second spring 36. It should be evident to the person skilled in the art how such a pivot hinge 3 can be implemented. For instance, by making the housing 7 of the pivot hinge shorter on one side of the rotation column 10, i.e., by letting the end of the housing 7 on this side fit more closely to the cam member 11. The releasable cap 44 and/or the opening 28 for the screw 27 of the attachment means for attaching the pivot hinge 3 to the guide profile 4 may herein optionally be retained. However, there is no need then for providing any opening 43 through the cap 44 for the screw 40 of the adjustment means for adjusting the spring pressure of the second spring 36. Furthermore, the second face 13 of the cam member 11 does not necessarily need to be provided with a second recess 16 as a support position for the second ball 38. It should also be clear to the person skilled in the art that a pivot hinge 3 implemented in this way, will function in a similar manner to the pivot hinge 3 described above that employs two balls 37, 38 and two springs 35, 36.

(58) As mentioned above, the self-closing pivot hinge 3 of the door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be used in door panels 1 not provided with a guide profile 4. Thus, for instance, it is also possible to use the pivot hinge 3 in combination with a door panel 1 that is provided with a recess 53 in which the pivot hinge 3 can be arranged. Shown in FIG. 14 is a detail of a door panel 1 arranged in this way, near the recess 53 for the pivot hinge 3. The door panel 1 shown is also additionally provided with two openings 54 intended to connect two mounting brackets 55, 56 arranged on opposite sides of the door panel 1, shown in FIG. 16, to each other and also to the door panel 1 by means of bolts or other possible connecting elements through the openings 54. These mounting brackets 55, 56 are arranged so that between the interconnected mounting brackets 55, 56, a space is formed through the recess in the door panel 1, in which space the pivot hinge 3 can be placed and secured. All of this is further elucidated in FIG. 15, in which a first mounting bracket 55 is placed on one side against the door panel 1 and the pivot hinge 3 in the recess 53 in the door panel 1. Starting from this arrangement, the second mounting bracket 56 can then be placed against the other side of the door panel 1, and both mounting brackets 55, 56 can be connected to each other by means of bolts or optionally other connecting elements through openings 54 and the mounting brackets 55, 56.

(59) The parts of the door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention, selected from the group consisting of the cam member 11, the cam member retainers 23, the screws 33 for connecting the cam member retainers 23 and the cam member 11, the wall mounting part 29, the wall profile mounting part 31, the blocking pin 48 of the blocking means, the screws 27 for attaching the pivot hinge 3 to the guide profile 4, the releasable cap 44 of the housing 7 and the screws 27 of the adjustment means for adjusting the spring pressure, are preferably manufactured from steel, because of its strength, and more preferably from a rustproof or stainless steel (SST) because of its resistance against corrosion. An example of a stainless steel that may be used is ANSI 304 stainless steel.

(60) The parts from the group mentioned above that during use of the door construction are subjected to large forces, such as the cam member 11, the cam member retainers 23, the screws 33 for connecting the cam member retainers 23 and the cam member 11, the wall mounting part 29, the wall profile mounting part 31 and the blocking pin 48 of the blocking means, are even more preferably manufactured from a duplex rustproof or stainless steel (duplex steel) because of its greater strength and stability, and also because of its even better resistance against corrosion. Duplex steel is a very sturdy alloy that shows no or very little deformation when subjected to large forces. An example of a duplex steel that may be used is CD4MCu duplex stainless steel.

(61) The first ball 37 and the second ball 38 are preferably manufactured from a tempered and stainless steel, in order to limit wear and deformation of the balls 37, 38 as a result of the forces and friction to which they are subjected. An example of a metal alloy that may be used for the balls 37, 38 is ISO3290 chromium steel, which is a metal alloy that is very suitable for use in ball bearings because of its hardness and shape retention.

(62) In an embodiment of the door construction according to the present invention, balls 37, 38 with a diameter of about 21 mm are used.

(63) The first spring 35 and the second spring 36 are preferably manufactured from spring steel, i.e., steel known to the person skilled in the art to be suitable for use in springs. An example of a metal alloy that may be used for the springs 35, 36 is DIN 17223-1 type C steel (EN 10270-1-SH).

(64) Preferably, springs 35, 36 are used that are capable of exerting a force of at least 200 N, preferably of at least 250 N, and even more preferably of at least 300 N. This allows the smooth opening of door panels 1 with dimensions of up to about 2 m by 2.5 m and a weight of about 150 kg. It should however be clear to the person skilled in the art that for smaller door panels 1, springs 35, 36 of smaller strength may also be used.

(65) In an embodiment of the door construction according to the present invention, springs 35, 36 are used with a free length of about 60 mm and with a spring constant of about 23 N/mm. The springs 35, 36 used are compressible up to a maximal allowed length of about 30 mm, wherein the springs exert a force of about 690 N.

(66) The parts of the door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention selected from the group consisting of the guide profile 4 and the housing 7 of the pivot hinge 3 preferably comprise aluminum, and even more preferably anodized aluminum. Using aluminum is advantageous because this material combines a low weight with a high strength, and because of its resistance to corrosion. Furthermore, aluminum is easily molded to the desired shape, such as the shape of the guide profile 4 and the shape of the housing 7 of the pivot hinge 3, by means of extrusion. Using anodized aluminum is advantageous because this means that the surface of the aluminum is provided with an extra wear and corrosion resistant layer. The additional resistance to wear of the anodized aluminum is, for instance, advantageous for limiting wear due to the shifting of the balls 37, 38 and the springs 35, 36 inside the housing. An example of an aluminum allow that may be used is AlMgSi 0.5.

(67) The pressing elements 39 are preferably manufactured from a plastic, and even more preferably from polyoxymethylene (POM). The use of POM is advantageous because of its high hardness, low coefficient of friction and excellent shape retention. Furthermore, POM also offers the advantage of not being affected by lubricants.

(68) The sliding bushings 26 of the rotation column 10 are preferably manufactured from a plastic. An example of a plastic that may be used Iglidus G, from Igus GmbH. This is a plastic with a low coefficient of friction that is capable of withstanding high loads and is not affected by lubricants.

(69) FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of the self-closing pivot hinge 3 of the door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein, contrary to the embodiment discussed above, gas springs 35, 36 are used instead of the cylindrical springs 35, 36. Other than that, the construction of this alternative embodiment of the self-closing pivot hinge 3 is, apart from a few small details, similar to the construction of the embodiment discussed above. By means of the gas springs 35, 36, a substantially constant spring force or spring pressure can be exerted on the first ball 37 and the second ball 38, and on the cam member 11 located between them.

(70) The gas springs 35, 36 are preferably deflatable gas springs 35, 36, provided with a flap or valve that can be opened, in order for a gas that is present in the gas spring 35, 36 for building the spring pressure to be released from the gas spring 35, 36, to lower the spring force or spring pressure. This allows gas springs 35, 36 to be provided that are capable of supplying their maximal spring force, which then, when installed in a door construction according to an embodiment of the present invention, are adjusted to a desired spring force. As a result of this, one single type of the self-closing pivot hinge 3 can advantageously be used for different applications requiring a different spring force from the first spring 35 and the second spring 36 in the self-closing pivot hinge 3. Preferably, the gas springs 35, 36 are arranged to be able to supply a maximal spring force of about 700 N, and to be adjustable to supply a minimal spring force of 50 N.

(71) Preferably, the deflatable gas springs 35, 36 are arranged so that upon opening the valve or flap, a predetermined amount of gas is released from the spring, after which the valve or flap automatically closes again. This allows the spring pressure or spring force to be lowered in a step-by-step fashion, with steps of a predetermined size, which allows the spring force to be finely adjusted and prevents an excessive amount of gas to be released from the gas spring 35, 36.

(72) Preferably, the gas springs 35, 36 are provided with hydraulic damping, for instance by means of oil provided inside the gas spring 35, 36 in addition to the gas provided for building the spring pressure of the gas spring 35, 36. The hydraulic damping causes the gas spring 35, 36 to be slowed down at the end of an inward or outward movement. This may for instance be used advantageously to cause a self-closing pivot hinge 3 to slow down a door panel 1 moving towards the closed position in a door opening 2, to prevent swinging or oscillation of the door panel 1 around the closed position.

(73) TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers: 1 door panel 2 door opening 3 pivot hinge 4 guide profile 5 guide profile sliding surface 6 door panel frame 7 pivot hinge housing 8 housing cavity 9 housing sliding surface 10 rotation column 11 cam member 12 first face 13 second face 14 mantle surface 15 first recess 16 second recess 17 mantle surface notch 18 first support surface 19 second support surface 20 cam member protrusion 21 cam member opening 22 transition surface 23 cam member retainer 24 cam member retainer groove 25 cam member retainer opening 26 sliding bushing 27 attachment means screw 28 attachment means opening 29 wall mounting part 30 attenuation means 31 wall profile mounting part 32 wall profile 33 rotation column screw 34 rotation column opening 35, 35 first spring 36, 36 second spring 37 first ball 38 second ball 39 pressing element 40 adjustment means screw 41 screw head 42 groove in screw head 43 adjustment means screw opening 44 releasable cap 45 cap opening 46 circumferential recess 47 lubricant opening 48 blocking pin 49 blocking protrusion 50 blocking pin opening 51 cap housing opening 52 cap screw 53 door panel recess 54 door panel openings 55 first mounting bracket 56 second mounting bracket