TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains in general to self-closing assemblies and in particular to a self-closing assembly for a sliding door and an associated cabinet.

BACKGROUND

Self-closing assemblies may be used to control the final stages of a relative movement between two objects moving towards each other. For example, self-closing assemblies can be mounted to sliding door cabinets in order to provide a final relative movement between the sliding door and the cabinet when the end position of the sliding door is approaching.

Normally a self-closing assembly has one self-closing unit provided at the cabinet, and one activator element provided on the sliding door. In use the activator element, before the sliding door reaches its end position, engages the self-closing unit thereby activating the self-closing function thereof resulting in an automatic relative movement between the sliding door and the cabinet towards the end position. The self- closing unit may also be equipped with a damper in order to ensure a smooth movement to the end position.

A drawback of some self-closing assemblies is that one self-closing unit is required for each end position of the sliding door, thus leading to several required components. A first self-closing assembly, arranged at a specific position at the cabinet, will provide the desired self-closing when the sliding door reaches its open position. A second self-closing assembly, arranged at the cabinet at a remote position relative the first self-closing assembly, will provide the desired self-closing when the sliding door reaches its closed position.

Hence, an improved self-closing assembly would be advantageous.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawback of prior art self-closing assemblies. A further obj ect is to provide a single self-closing assembly that can be used for slowing down the closing movement, as well as the opening movement of a sliding door moving relative a cabinet.

According to a first aspect, a self-closing assembly for providing an automatic closing movement of an associated sliding door is provided. The self-closing assembly comprises a self-closing device for providing a self-closing action for the associated sliding door, wherein the self-closing device at a first end is connected to a first latch arrangement and at a second end connected to a second latch arrangement, each one of said latch arrangements being moveable between a first end position and a second end position. The first latch arrangement comprises a first connection member having a first end connected to the first end of the self-closing device and a second end connected to a first latch activation mechanism, and the second latch arrangement comprises a second connection member having a first end connected to the second end of the self-closing device and a second end connected to a second latch activation mechanism. The first latch activation mechanism, when arranged in a loaded state corresponding to the first end position of the first latch arrangement, is arranged closer to a midpoint of the self- closing device than the first latch arrangement. Moreover, the second latch activation mechanism, when arranged in a loaded state corresponding to the first end position of the second latch arrangement, is arranged closer to a midpoint of the self-closing device than the second latch arrangement.

In an embodiment, the midpoint of the self-closing device coincides with the midpoint of a housing, in which the self-closing device is at least partially arranged within.

The self-closing device may comprise an energy accumulator, such as a spring, connected to each latch arrangement for providing a pulling force urging the associated latch arrangement (13a, 13b) to its second end position, thereby forcing the sliding door towards its associated end position.

Each latch activation mechanism may be arranged to operate in an engaged statein which the latch activation mechanism upon interaction with a moving external activator element will load or unload the energy accumulator, and a loaded state in which the latch activation mechanism is locked in a fix position to the self-closing assembly, in which the energy accumulator is loaded.

In an embodiment the self-closing device comprises at least one dampening cylinder and at least one dampening piston.

The self-closing device may comprise two dampening pistons each being slidably arranged in a cavity extending through a respective end of the at least one cylinder. The two cavities are preferably separated, and the cylinder may be moveable in relation to said housing. According to one embodiment, when each latch activation mechanism is arranged in their engaged state, the self-closing device provides for a doubled stroke length by allowing each one of the two dampening pistons to move relative the cylinder.

Each latch activation mechanism may in use altematingly engage one of two activator elements provided at different positions of an associated sliding door.

In an embodiment, the distance between the latch activating mechanisms, when one latch activating mechanism is in its engaged state, is smaller than the distance between the latch activating mechanisms when both activating mechanisms are in their loaded state.

In an embodiment the self-closing assembly is further arranged to provide a self-opening functionality by slowing down the opening movement of the sliding door moving relative the support frame.

According to a second aspect, a sliding door system is provided. The system comprises a sliding door being provided with two activation members at different positions thereof, and a cabinet provided with a self-closing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in use altematingly one of the two activation members engage a respective latch activation mechanism of the self-closing assembly.

According to a third aspect, a sliding door system is provided. The system comprises a cabinet being provided with two activation members at different positions thereof, and a sliding door provided with a self-closing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in use altematingly one of the two activation members engage a respective latch activation mechanism of the self-closing assembly.

According to a fourth aspect a self-closing assembly for providing an automatic closing movement of an associated sliding door is provided. The self-closing assembly comprises a self-closing device for providing a self-closing action for the associated sliding door, wherein the self-closing device comprises a first latch arrangement and a second latch arrangement, each latch arrangement connected to a respective latch activation mechanism via a respective connection member. Each latch activation mechanism is arranged to operate in a loaded state in which the respective latch activation mechanism is located closer to a mid point of the self-closing device than its corresponding end portion, and an engaged state in which the associated latch activation mechanism is engaged to a sliding door activator attached to the sliding door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figs. 1 and 2 show a sliding door assembly having a self-closing assembly according to an embodiment mounted to a cabinet;

Figs. 3a-d show different stages of the self-closing action provided by the self- closing assembly when the sliding door is close to one of its end positions; and

Figs. 4a-d show different stages of the self-closing action provided by the self- closing assembly when the sliding door is close to the other end position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the present invention relates to a self-closing assembly 10 of a sliding door system 20, i.e. a sliding door 21 being moveable relative a cabinet 23 or other fixed frame structure. Although the following description will be focused on embodiments for which the self-closing assembly 10 is fixed to the cabinet 23, the self-closing assembly 10 could also be mounted in other ways, e.g. to a sliding door 21.

Fig. 1 shows a self-closing assembly 10 according to an embodiment. This particular self-closing assembly 10 is suitable for providing an automatic soft-closing action between a sliding door 21 and a support frame 23, such as a cabinet or wall divider. However, it should be noted that the self-closing assembly 10 could be used in other applications where such self-closing action is desired between two objects moving relative each other in a sliding manner.

In Fig. 1 a self-closing assembly 10 is mounted at an upper frame part of the support frame 23 extending between two lateral sidewalls of a cabinet. In Fig. 1 two sliding doors 21 are connected to the front face of the support frame 23. Each sliding door 21 may be connected to the support frame 23 using any known sliding mechanism (not shown), such as upper and/or lower guiding profiles supporting guiding brackets of the sliding door 21. As may be observed from Fig. 1, one sliding door 21 is connected to the self-closing assembly 10 arranged on an upper part of the support frame, and a further sliding door is connected to a second self-closing assembly 10' arranged on a bottom part of the support frame 23. Each self-closing assembly may be arranged on the upper part or lower part of the support frame depending on the sliding door system configuration. Hence, there is full freedom as long as the two self-closing assemblies are not placed in the same horizontal plane. In this embodiment, when one sliding door 21 is at its rightmost end position, an opening is created at the left half of the cabinet 23 and vice versa.

Preferably, a support frame 23 of this particular configuration could support two sliding doors 21 running in two spaced apart guiding profiles, such that one sliding door 21 may close one opening, while the other sliding door 21 may close the adjacent opening of the support frame 23, as shown in Fig. 1. As the sliding doors 21 may move freely without colliding with each other, the positions of the sliding doors 21 may change such that one or none of the openings are accessible for a user. For such sliding door system, a first self-closing assembly 10 may be provided at the upper frame part of the support frame 23. This upper self-closing assembly 10 is thus arranged to interact with activator elements 22 arranged at the upper portion of a first sliding door 21. A second self-closing assembly 10, indicated by dashed lines in Fig. l , may be provided at the bottom frame part of the support frame 23. This bottom self-closing assembly 10 is thus arranged to interact with activator elements 22 arranged at the lower portion of a second sliding door (not shown).

The self-closing assembly 10 may be mounted at a position of the support frame such that it overlaps (as seen from a top view) the sliding door 21 to which it is connected. For a support frame to which two symmetrical sliding doors are arranged, the self-closing assembly 10 may be arranged symmetrically at the center, or mid point of the support frame 23, preferably on the top surface between the two lateral sidewalls of the support frame 23. In Fig. 1 each sliding door 21 is shown in one of two possible end positions. Two activator elements 22 are provided close to each lateral end of a first sliding door 21. In use, each of these activator elements 22 will alternatingly engage a self-closing device of the self-closing assembly 10 to activate the self-closing function thereof. As may be observed from Fig. 3d, when the first sliding door 21 is in its mid position, i.e. at an intermediate position between the two end positions, none of the activator elements 22 will engage the self-closing device of the self-closing assembly 10. However, it should be noted that when the sliding door 21 is slid further to the right in relation to the cabinet 23 the leftmost activator element 22 will engage with a latch activator mechanism 132a (see Figs. 3, 4) of the self-closing device, whereby the closing movement of the sliding door 21 will be effected and optionally damped by means of the self-closing device of the self-closing assembly 10 as will be further elucidated below. Figs. 3a-d and 4a-d show the self-closing assembly 10 further in detail. Each of these figures shows the sliding door 21 in different relative positions to the support frame 23, and thus the self-closing assembly 10, as well as how the components of the self-closing assembly 10 interact at these positions.

As may be observed from these figures, the self-closing assembly 10 comprises a self-closing device 11 providing an automatic soft-closing action for the associated sliding door 21. The self-closing device 11, extending in the moving direction of the sliding door 21, arranged within a housing 130 (see Fig. 1). The housing 130 may be realized in different ways; for example, the housing 130 may be an external shell, or cover, enclosing the self-closing device 11, and having means for attaching the housing 130 to the cabinet 23. The housing 130 may in other embodiments be formed by a recess in the cabinet 23.

Returning now to the details of the self-closing device 11, it is at a first end connected to a first latch arrangement 13a and at an opposite end connected to a second latch arrangement 13b. The first latch arrangement 13a is provided for self-closing the sliding door 21 when it moves to its right-most position, while the second latch arrangement 13b is provided for self-closing the sliding door 21 when it moves to its left-most position.

The first latch arrangement 13a comprises a first connection member 131a having a first end connected to the first end of the self-closing device 11 and a second end connected to a first latch activation mechanism 132a. The first connection member 131a is formed as an arm, extending from the first end of the connection member 131a towards the center, or mid-point, of the self-closing device 11. The latch activation mechanism 132a is provided for engaging with the activator element 22 of the sliding door 21.

The second latch arrangement 13b comprises a second connection member 131b having a first end connected to the second end of the self-closing device 11 and a second end connected to a second latch activation mechanism 132b. The second connection member 131b is formed as an arm, extending from the first end of the connection member 131b towards the center, or mid-point, of the self-closing device 11. The latch activation mechanism 132b is provided for engaging with the activator element 22 of the sliding door 21.

Each latch arrangement is arranged to operate in either a loaded state or an engaged state. In the loaded state the respective latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is located closer to a mid point of the self-closing device than its corresponding end portion 133a, 133b. In the engaged state in the associated latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is engaged to the sliding door activator 22 attached to the sliding door 21.

More specifically, each latch arrangement 13a, 13b is allowed to move between a first end position and a second end position. Each latch arrangement 13a, 13b attains its first end position, also referred to as load position, when the corresponding latch activation mechanism is in its loaded state. During the engaged state of the respective latch activation mechanism the associated latch arrangement 13a, 13b may be moved from the first end position towards the second end position.

When the two latch activation mechanisms 132a, 132b are in their respective loaded states, the distance between the corresponding latch arrangements 13a, 13b, i.e. the first end position to first end position distance is at its maximum. Hence, the distance between the second end position of a first latch arrangement 13a and the first end position of a second latch arrangement 13b is smaller, than the first end position to first end position distance.

This observation is confirmed by Figs 3a to 3d. For example, the second end position at which the latch arrangement 13b is situated in Fig. 3a is located closer to the first latch arrangement 13a than that of the first end position at which the latch arrangement 13b is situated in Fig. 3d.

It should be appreciated that in most circumstances, as shown in the appended drawings, only one of the two latch activation mechanisms may be in the engaged state at any one particular time, as may be observed in Figs 3a and 4d. However, both of the two latch activation mechanisms may be in their loaded state simultaneously, e.g. as may be observed in Figs 3d and 4a.

In Fig. 3a, the first latch arrangement 13a is arranged in the first end position, while the second latch arrangement 13b is arranged in its second end position. When a latch arrangement 13a, 13b is arranged in the first end position, the associated latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b will be arranged in a loaded state. When a latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is arranged in the loaded state, it will be arranged closer to a midpoint of the self-closing device 10 compared to the first end of its respective connection member 131a, 131b. When e.g. the self-closing device 11 is centrally arranged in a symmetric housing 130, as is shown in Fig. 3d, the midpoint of the self-closing device 1 1 coincides with the midpoint of the housing 130. In Fig. 3d the first latch arrangement 13a and the second latch arrangement 13b are in their respective first end positions. Each one of the first latch activation mechanism 132a and the second latch activation mechanism 132b is thus arranged closer to a midpoint of the self-closing device 1 1 compared to the first end of their respective first and second connection members 131 a, 131b.

The self-closing assembly 10 may preferably comprise an energy accumulator

14, such as an individual spring, connected to each latch arrangement 13a, 13b for providing a pulling force allowing for self closure of the sliding door 21 when one of the latch activation mechanisms 132a, 132b transit from its loaded state to its engaged state. When the spring 14 is loaded, e.g. extended, it will strive to retract to its idle position, thus causing a forced movement of the self-closing device 1 1 relative the housing 130. This forced movement provides a self closing movement of the sliding door 21. Due to increased pneumatic or viscous resistance or inertia, or friction in the self-closing device 11 , as will be described further below, a soft closing will occur until the self-closing device 1 1 reaches its end position. When the sliding door is moved from its end position, i.e. when the latch arrangement 13a, 13b is moved from its second end position towards the first end position, the spring 14 will become loaded, such that self- closing of the sliding door 21 will always be possible. Figs 3a to 3c show this process as the rightmost spring 14 is gradually extended to its extended loaded state.

As mentioned previously, each latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is arranged to operate in an engaged state and in a loaded state. In the engaged state the associated latch arrangement 13a, 13b is allowed to move between its first end position and second end position or vice versa, upon the engagement with a a activator element 22 attached to the sliding door 21. In the engaged state the latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is positioned such that it upon interaction with the activator element 22 will pull the sliding door 21 towards its end position relative the support frame 23 by means of the energy accumulator 14. When the self-closing assembly 10 is provided with a damper the self-closing device 11 will also provide a smooth self-closing.

In the loaded state the latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b is locked in position to the housing 130, or to some kind of support structure provided at the housing 130 in which the self-closing assembly 10 is arranged. As mentioned previously, the self-closing device 11 is in the loaded state when no activator element 22 engages either of the two latch activator mechanisms 132a, 132b.

Each latch activating mechanism 132a, 132b may be arranged closer to a mid point between the outermost lateral edges of the self-closing device in the engaging state than in the loaded state, as may be observed in e.g. Fig. 3b where the second latch activating mechanism 132b at the end position of its engaged state is closer to the mid point identified by line A than the first latch activating mechanism 132a being in its loaded state. The outermost lateral edges of the self-closing device may be defined by outermost longitudinal edges of the housing 130. It may also be noted that each latch activating mechanism may pass the mid point when moved from its loaded state to the end position of the engaged state, and vice versa, as is illustrated in Figs 3a to 3d. This allows for maximizing the distance between the lateral end positions of the sliding door 21. In other words this means that the opening into the support frame 23 formed next to the sliding door 21 when the sliding door 21 is at its respective lateral end positions is also maximized. Hence, by allowing each latch mechanism 132a, 132b to pass the midpoint of the self-closing device 11 in the engaging state the self-closing device 1 1 will actually pull the sliding door 21 all the way to its end position, as long as the activator elements 22 are arranged at the lateral ends of the sliding door 21, as shown in Fig. 3 a.

As seen from e.g. Fig. 3a the two latch activator mechanisms 132a, 132b are located very close to each other, and may even be in direct contact with each other when the sliding door 21 is at its end position in the engaged state. Also in Fig. 3 a it is shown that the sliding door 21 is pulled passed the center of the support frame 23, indicated by the vertical wall separating the two openings from each other. This is in fact a major advantage of the self-closing assembly 10 described herein; a single self-closing assembly 10 may by arranged at the center of the support frame 23, while still allowing a sliding door 21 to self-close to any of its two end positions.

The self-closing assembly 10 may comprise a dampening cylinder 11 1 and two dampening pistons 112a, 112b. With reference to Figs. 3a-d, and 4a-d two dampening pistons 1 12a, 1 12b each slidably arranged in a cavity extending through a respective end of the cylinder 1 11 are provided. The cavities are preferably separated, such that in principle two cylinders 11 1 are provided each housing a piston 1 12a, 1 12b. The cylinders 1 11 may be connected at their facing ends. The latch arrangements 13a, 13b are preferably directly connected to the pistons 1 12a, 1 12b.

The cylinders 11 1 may be pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, or any other cylinders operating by means of a viscous fluid. The pistons 112a, 112b are configured to move in a linear direction in a reciprocal manner whereby the damping effect is formed by compressing fluid when a piston 112a, 112b moves into the cylinder 1 11. As will be shown below with reference to Figs 3a-d, and 4a-d the cylinder 1 11 may be moveable in relation to a housing 130 in which the self-closing assembly 10 is arranged. This means that in the engaged state each latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b of the self-closing device 11 provides for a doubled stroke length by the two dampening pistons 112a, 112b. That is, the spring 14 will not only pull one piston 112a, 1 12b into its associated cylinder cavity, but also pull the entire cylinder 11 1 towards the end of the housing such that the other piston 1 12a, 1 12b is also moved into its associated cylinder cavity.

By providing each activator element 22 at a lateral position close to the sidewalls of the sliding door, this will ensure that each latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b will altematingly engage one of the two activator elements provided at the different positions of the sliding door 21.

Fig. 3a shows a state in which the sliding door is at its leftmost position. Here, an activator element 22 provided on the top surface close to the right sidewall of the sliding door 21 engages the second latch activator mechanism 132b, meaning that the self-closing device is in its engaging state. The spring 14 exerts a pulling force between the end points of the self-closing device 11 , which means that the sliding door 21 will be held in place at this position unless an external force, e.g. applied by a person wanting to slide the sliding door to the right, is applied. At this stage the pistons 1 12a, 1 12b will be encompassed by the respective cavities formed at each end of the cylinder 1 11. As may be seen in Fig. 3a, each latch arrangement 13a, 13b may be attached to one end of a spring 14 wherein the other end of the spring is attached to a fix position adjacent to the mid point of the self-closing assembly 10. In the engaged state each latch arrangement 13a, 13b will move longitudinally towards (i.e. along the direction of the spring force of the associated spring 14) or from (i.e. against the direction of the spring force of the associated spring 14) the other latch arrangement 13a, 13b which has a fix longitudinal position in its loaded state. When the self-closing assembly 10 has a housing 130, this means that each latch arrangement 13a, 13b in the engaged state moves away or towards the outermost longitudinal edge of the housing 130. For example, in Fig. 3 it may be noticed that the second latch arrangement 13b is now located at a longitudinal distance from the outermost longitudinal edge of the housing 130 as it is in its engaged state, while the first latch arrangement 13a is arranged close to the opposite outermost longitudinal edge of the housing 130 as it is in its loaded state. As seen in Figs 3c and 3d the longitudinal distance between the second latch arrangement 13b and the outermost longitudinal edge of the housing 130 is reduced to a minimum as the second latch arrangement 13b is moved to its loaded state against the spring force of the associated spring 14.

Turning to Fig. 3b, upon an external force applied to the sliding door 21 in a right direction, the latch activator mechanism 132b engaged with the activator element 22 will be moved to the right, which in turn leads to the left piston 1 12b being secured to the latch arrangement 13b and its second connection member 131b, moving out of the cavity of the cylinder 11 1. Since the second connection member 131b is connected to the latch arrangement 13b, upon this movement the associated spring 14 will begin to extract, thus loading force for later use with regards to self-closing.

Upon further movement of the sliding door further to the right, the piston 1 12b reaches its end position relative the cylinder 1 11. However, as the activator element 22 will continue pulling the piston 112b the entire cylinder 11 1 will move with the sliding door 21 thus pulling the cylinder 1 11 to the right as may be seen in Fig. 3c.

Upon further movement of the sliding door to the right the self-closing device 1 1 reaches its fully extended and loaded state, in which the two pistons 112a, 1 12b are at their respective end positions within the cavities of the cylinder 1 11. Hence, in this state the activator element 22 is released from the right latch activator mechanism 132b whereby a further movement of the sliding door to the right will not be influenced by the self-closing assembly 10 until the activator element provided close to the left lateral side of the sliding door 21 will engage with the latch activator mechanism 132a. At the same time the latch activation mechanism 132a, 132b will be locked in position to the housing 130, or to some kind of support structure provided at the housing 130 in which the self-closing assembly 10 is arranged. The latch activation mechanism 132b will be kept in this loaded and locked state, thereby holding the the latch arrangement 13b is in first end position.

Opening of a sliding door 21 will thus include three stages; i) an initial movement during which the spring 14 will be loaded, e.g. extended, ii) an intermediate movement in which the sliding door 21 moves without engagement with the self-closing assembly 10, and iii) a final movement in which the self-closing assembly 10 provides a self-closing of the sliding door 21. Fig. 4a shows the position of the sliding door 21 just before the third stage described above. Hence, in Fig. 4a the sliding door 21 is moving in a self-closing-free state when the leftmost sliding door activator 22 is just about to engage with the latch activator mechanism 132a, when the sliding door continues to move towards the right in relation to the cabinet 23. d In Fig. 4b the right activator element 22 engages with the latch activator mechanism 132a, wherein the self-closing device is activated. By engagement of the activator element 22 the latch activator mechanism 132a will tilt, thereby releasing from its locked position to the housing 130 e.g. by releasing from a locking pin attached to the housing 130, such that it is allowed to move relative the self-closing assembly housing 130. This means that the associated latch arrangement 13a to which the spring is connected is also released from its first end position. When this is the case the associated spring 14 (i.e. leftmost spring in Fig. 4b) will pull the latch activator mechanism 132a, and thus the entire sliding door 21 , towards the right. Upon further movement of the sliding door 21 to the right the two pistons 1 12a, 112b will increasingly be forced into their respective cylinder cavity as shown in Fig. 4c in view of Fig. 4d, until the sliding door reaches its right lateral end position as shown in Fig. 4d. Hence, self-closing is achieved as the sliding door 21 is pulled passed the mid-point of the cabinet 23 leaving the entire opening accessible for a user.

The tilt or rotation of the latch activation mechanism may have a component in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the same direction as the activator 22 moves. The tilt allows the latch activation mechanism to rotate around a center thereof, thereby allowing it to become free of e.g. the locking pin arranged in the housing 130, which allows the latch activating mechanism to move in relation to the housing 130 again under the influence of the force of the spring 14.

In the claims, the term "comprises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor.

Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.