TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention regards a protection device for door locks.

More in particular the invention regards a protection device for locks which are generally exposed to external atmospheric agents, such as the locks used on handles for opening cabinets or panels adapted to house electrical material or similar casings adapted to be exposed to harsh conditions over a long period of time.

PRIOR ART

As known, cabinets adapted to house electrical material comprise a box- shaped body closed by one or more doors, each provided with a handle and a lock, generally cylinder-like for the safety closure of the cabinet.

Regarding these types of cabinets which are installed outdoors, besides that of being difficult to tamper with, there arises the need of resisting against harsh conditions and climatic variations over time.

Hence, one of the main critical points for such cabinets is represented by the metal parts which, if not suitably covered, are easily subjected to oxidation by the atmospheric agents.

The parts revealing greatest criticality include the lock, which should be necessarily made of metal, so as to guarantee high security of the cabinets, but it is simultaneously a source of possible problems related to oxidation thereof, especially if - as it generally occurs - it is not used frequently.

With the aim of resolving the problem related to the formation of oxides which would complicate the actuation of the lock there are known protection devices, like described in the patent n° EP 2 239 399 on behalf of the very applicant, comprising a covering element, for example plate-like made of hard plastic (for example polyamide resin) or metal, which is adapted to be hinged to the support element of the lock, whether the handle or the door, and it is such to be arranged superimposed to the lock, moveable between a closing position in which it conceals the lock and an opening positioning in which the covering element is rotated laterally and the lock is accessible from outside.

However, these protection devices of the known type reveal drawbacks including the fact that, given that the covering element is made of rigid material, like in the most frequent case in which it is made of plastic, with exposure to the external environment, i.e. the exposure to solar rays, harsh weather conditions and heat excursions, it is subjected to breakage and ageing jeopardizing the use thereof.

Such phenomenon is even more accentuated at the hinge which supports the covering element, which is made of metal material and, thus, it is also subjected to oxidation forming crusts which, at times, prevent the rotation of the covering element.

Furthermore, the protection devices of the known type are constituted by several parts which should be assembled to each other and which, thus, imply high production costs and relatively long installation times.

Furthermore, it should be observed that protection elements known in the market which are adapted to perfectly fit and cover a portion of the handle are not suitable for the purpose of protecting the locks of the handles intended to be recessed in the door of the electrical equipment cabinet, given that the space of manoeuvre between the recessed seat and the handle must be small (also with the aim of preventing and avoiding tampering actions on the handle itself) to a point of not allowing the space required for the very protection device.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the known art, through a solution that is simple, rational and inexpensive.

Such objects are attained by the characteristics of the invention indicated in the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the invention provides a door for closing cabinets intended to contain electrical equipment, which comprises:

- a hollow seat, - a handle comprising a support body inserted in said seat of the door and a moveable body hinged to the support body so as to rotate with respect to the very support body at least with respect to a rotational axis, said moveable body being provided with a lock adapted to constrain the moveable body to the support body in a locking position in which the moveable body is superimposed to the support body and it is at least partly inserted, for example substantially fittingly, within the seat of the door, and

- a device for protecting the lock which comprises at least one covering element, which is integrally associated to said moveable body so as to cover the exposed surface thereof and close the seat of the door when the moveable body is in a locking position, characterised in that said covering element comprises a mobile portion substantially superimposed to the lock, which is made of elastically deformable material and it is detached from the moveable body, so as to be able to bend from a closing position, in which it conceals the lock, to an opening position, in which the lock is accessible from outside, and it elastically returns to the closure position.

Due to such solution, the covering element lasts longer over time, maintaining the functionality thereof also when subjected to particularly aggressive atmospheric agents.

Furthermore, due to such solution the elastically deformable material that the covering material is made of allows a greater tolerance with respect to the shape variations it may be subjected to over the time.

Furthermore, the possibility of tampering with the handle is limited to the minimum due to such solution and thus the safety of the cabinets is not altered.

Then, due to such solution, the handle is concealably integrated in the door under the covering element which allows an efficient protection thereof against the atmospheric agents and, it simultaneously improves the ergonomics.

In addition, an aspect of the invention provides for that the deformable material be rubber.

Thus, the covering element is particularly economical, easy to grip and comfortable, simultaneously allowing a substantially airtight protection for the lock.

A further aspect of the invention provides for that the moveable portion comprises at least one extended strip whose first end can be fixed to a support structure of the lock and whose second free end extends on the lock, so as to cover it.

Advantageously, the covering element comprises a shell which can be integrally associated to the support structure so as to cover it and from which said strip is derived.

Still, the covering element also comprises a shaped portion configured in a manner such to completely contour the mobile portion in a closing position. Due to such solutions, the handle is concealable beneath the covering element thus allowing the efficient protection thereof against the atmospheric agents.

A further aspect of the invention provides a handle for opening doors, as described above.

Due to this, the part of the handle exposed to harsh weather conditions is always covered and protected, allowing an efficient protection that lasts over time.

Furthermore, the presence of the rubber shell allows improving the ergonomic qualities of the handle, as well as varying the aesthetic finishing thereof depending on the requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will apparent from reading the following description provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the figures illustrated in the attached drawings

Figure 1 is a front axonometric view of a handle in closed position.

Figure 2 is a rear axonometric view of figure 1.

Figure 3 is the front view of figure 1 , with the moveable portion of the covering element in closing position.

Figure 4 is the view along the section line IV-IV of figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front view of the handle of figure 1 , with the moveable portion of the covering element in opening position.

Figure 6 is the view along the section line VI-VI of figure 5.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to such figures, a handle for opening doors 100 adapted to close cabinets is indicated in its entirety with 10.

In particular the cabinets intended to house electrical apparatus, such as low voltage electrical panels, and which are, during use, installed outdoors, such as for example road cabinets or the like.

The handle 10 is rotatably associated to the door 100 (which is formed by a substantially plate-like element hinged to the cabinet, as known to a man skilled in the art) so as to actuate, during the rotation thereof, a mechanism for locking and unlocking the door 100 with respect to the cabinet, as better observable hereinafter.

The door 100 has an inner side and an outer side, which remains exposed from outside the cabinet even when the door 100 is closed.

In particular, the handle 10 is of the so-called concealable type, i.e., such to be at least partly inserted in the direction of the thickness thereof into a hollow seat 101 , obtained in the door 100, so as to be substantially recessed therein once it is in inoperative position, i.e. when the door is maintained in closing position.

The hollow seat 101 is contoured by a projecting portion 102 fixed projecting on the outer side of the door 100 or made in a single piece thereof, which extends the hollow seat 101 increasing the depth thereof.

The hollow seat 101 , for example, is thus partly defined within the thickness of the door 100 and partly by the inner edge of the projecting portion 102.

In practice, the handle 10 comprises a support body 20 extended and adapted to be inserted, substantially fittingly, within the seat 101 of the door 100 and be fixed to the door.

A cylindrical seat 21 open at the upper part (at the front wall of the support body 20 intended to be arranged outside the cabinet) and whose bottom has a through cavity 22 also cylindrical and coaxial with the cylindrical seat 21 is obtained at one end of the support body 20. A shaped cavity 23 which is open at the top part and closed at the bottom by the rear wall of the support body 20 is obtained at the opposite end of the support body 20.

An abutment seat is obtained on the lateral wall of the shaped cavity 23.

The handle 10 comprises a moveable body 30, which can be gripped by a user, comprising a substantially rigid extended plate 31 also adapted to be inserted, substantially fittingly, within the seat 101 when it is superimposed to the support body 20, and adapted to be hinged to the support body 20 so as to rotate with respect thereto between a position in which it is substantially superimposed thereto and a position from which it is angularly spaced.

The expression the moveable body 30 of the handle 10 be recessed in the seat 110 particularly means that the seat 101 and/or the projecting portion 102 cover - at least partly laterally - the moveable body 30 on each side, so that the moveable body 30 cannot be gripped, seizing it, when it is inserted in the seat 101.

The moveable body 30 is inserted in the seat 101 , so that the lateral clearance is maintained between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

Thus, the possibility of tampering with the handle 10, for example for inserting levers or the like is considerably limited, if not excluded.

At one end of the moveable body 30, at the rear position thereof intended to face the support body 20, there is obtained a widened strip 32 which derives from the rear surface of the moveable body orthogonal thereto.

On each lateral wall of the widened strip 32 there is obtained a rotation pin 33, with longitudinal axis parallel to the laying plane of the moveable body 30. The pins 33 are adapted to be inserted respectively in two opposite and aligned circular holes 43 which are obtained in two ears 42 parallel to each other and projecting from the upper surface of a cylindrical body 40 adapted to be inserted, substantially fittingly, in the cylindrical seat 21 of the support body 20.

In practice, the moveable body 30 is thus adapted to rotate with respect to the support body 20 with respect to two rotational axis orthogonal to each other (and horizontal in the figures) including a first rotational axis parallel to the laying plane of the door 100 and a second rotational axis orthogonal to the laying plane of the very door.

The first rotation occurs around the pins 33 and the second around the cylindrical body 40 which serves as a further rotational pin for the moveable body 30 with respect to the support body 20.

From the lower surface of the cylindrical body 40 there derives a shank 41 , also cylindrical, which is fittingly inserted within the through cavity 22 projecting therefrom into the cabinet.

At the projecting end of the shank 41 there is fixed a plate 44, positioned parallel to the support body 20, to which there are integrally associated abutment elements 45 (three in the example) adapted to engage abutment areas separate from each other defined in the cabinet, for holding the door 100 in closing position.

In practice, to the plate 44 there is integrally associated an extended tab 450 laterally extending to the plate for engaging a rear edge of the lateral side of the cabinet (of the frame arranged adjacent to the door 100 thereof), so as to prevent the opening of the door when the moveable body 30 is superimposed to the support body 20.

On the plate 45 there are also hinged, substantially undercut with respect to the tab 450, two return rods 451 (guided by eyelets fixed to the door 100 as known to a man skilled in the art) which are adapted to be frontally inserted in two seats respectively obtained in the upper and lower side of the cabinet, so as to prevent the opening of the door when the moveable body 30 is superimposed to the support body 20.

In practice, there is provided a lock with the so-called three-point closure which guarantees adherence of the door 100 to the cabinet.

At the opposite end of the moveable body 30 with respect to the hinging point thereof, there is obtained a shaped seat 34, of the through type and perforated laterally, adapted to house a lock 50.

The lock 50 is of the conventional type, i.e., it comprises a cylinder that can be rotated by a key and adapted to laterally move a bolt adapted to engage the abutment seat obtained on the lateral wall of the shaped cavity 23 of the support body.

Thus, the lock 50 is adapted to lock the moveable body 30 of the handle 10 with respect to the support body 20, without the same unlocking the door 100 from the cabinet.

In order to unlock the door from the cabinet it is necessary to rotate the moveable body 30 first by rotating it with respect to the rotation pins 33 (by lifting the end containing the lock 50 with respect to the support body 30) and subsequently rotating it (for example by 90°, in one direction or the other) with respect to the rotation pin formed by the cylindrical body 40, so as to disengage the abutment elements 45 from the cabinet.

In particular, for the purposes of the present invention the handle 10 comprises a protection device 60 for protecting the lock 50, which comprises a cover shell 61 adapted to be arranged substantially superimposed to the lock 50.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the shell 61 is made of soft rubber and it is adapted to entirely cover the front surface (exposed outside the cabinet in use) of the moveable body 30, so as to entirely occlude the seat 101.

In practice, as shown by the figures, the projecting portion 102 of the door defines an inclined surface gradually increasing from the outer side of the door 100 from the peripheral up to the upper opening which defines the very seat, the outer surface of the shell 61 , when the moveable body 30 is inserted in the seat 101 , is adapted to define a surface substantially continuous with the projecting portion 102, further limiting the risk of tampering with the very handle 10.

The rear surface 62 of the shell 61 is fixed to the front surface of the moveable body 20 by gluing or any other suitable fastening method.

The shell 61 is provided with a strip 64, adapted to be arranged superimposed to the lock 50, which derives from the shell and it is detached from the front surface of the moveable body 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strip derives from a central portion of the shell 61 , for example by cutting a substantially U-shaped notch, which leaves defined a shaped portion 65 adapted to laterally contour said strip 64, so that the latter is substantially associated to disappear into the shell 61.

In practice the outer surface of the strip 64 and the outer surface of the shell 61 (same case applying to that of the shaped portion 65) define a substantially continuous surface, i.e. a substantially continuous cap which prevents the access of water and moisture towards the lock 50.

The strip 64 (in particular the free end thereof) is moveable with respect to the lock 50 between a closing position, in which it is coplanar (it being understood that it creates the aforementioned cap) with the shell 61 and conceals the lock, and an opening position, in which it is raised from the shell and the lock 50 is accessible from outside.

Given that the strip 64, same case applying to the shell 61 , made of rubber, i.e. an elastically deformable material, the return from the opening position to the closing position occurs due to the elasticity of the material, allowing the strip 64 to remain in the closing position when not stressed.

The free end of the strip 64 further comprises anchoring means not illustrated in that of the known type such as mechanical engagement or coupling means, which are adapted to be removably engaged to the front surface of the moveable body 20 or, alternatively, to the shaped portion 65 of the shell 61.

When the moveable body 30 is superimposed to the support body 20 (position in which the door 100 is closed), the moveable body 30 is substantially recessed in the seat 101 obtained in the door 100, thus making tampering therewith difficult.

In addition, the shell 61 is the sole part accessible from outside the handle 10 when the latter is in such position and the strip 64 has the function of concealing and covering the lock 50.

The actuation of the lock 50 actually simply requires lifting the free end of the strip 64 so as to uncover the lock and allow inserting the key thereinto.

When the key is removed from the lock 50 the strip 64 elastically returns in the closing position protecting the lock.

The invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials used, as well as the shapes and contingent dimensions, may vary depending on the needs without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.