"Shock-absorber for sliding devices"

[001] The present invention relates to a shock-absorber for sliding devices such as, for example, doors, windows, panels, gates, drawers.

[002] The use of shock absorber stop devices mounted near the end stop position of a sliding device so as to prevent brusque impact of said sliding device against the rigid stop delimiting the travel is known of.

[003] Normally, such shock absorber devices use a decelerating device, such as a hydraulic, pneumatic or spring cylinder, which brakes the sliding device when it is about to reach the end stop position.

[004] Said decelerating devices, however, do- not allow perfect and constant blocking of the sliding device in the end stop position. In particular, the sliding device almost always rebounds, more or less depending on the thrust imparted, and tends to return backwards rather than blocking in the end stop position.

[005] In some cases, if the thrust imparted to the sliding device by the user is not well-judged or if the shock absorber device is not properly calibrated, it is not possible prevent violent impact against the end stop, causing unwanted banging and progressive wear of the parts hitting against each other. [006] In the case in point, of off-wall sliding doors or panels and, in particular, with visible guide and translation mechanisms, the heed to slow down the impetus of the door or panel in a controlled manner also contrasts with constraints of an aesthetic nature which such types of fixture or partition impose, and this conflict has not yet been resolved satisfactorily.

[007] The purpose of the present invention is to propose a shock-absorber able to overcome the drawbacks and limitations described above .

[008] Such purpose is achieved by a shock-absorber according to claim 1 and by a linear movement system according to claim 9. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[009] The characteristics and advantages of the shock- absorber according to the invention will however be evident from the description below, made by way of a non- limiting example, of its preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

[0010] - Figure 1 is an exploded view of the shock- absorber according to the invention;

[0011] - Figure 2 is a view of the assembled shock- absorber;

[0012] - Figure 3 is a view from the opposite side of the assembled shock-absorber; [0013] - Figure 4 is an exploded view of one end of a linear movement system of a glass door according to the invention;

[0014] - Figure 5 is a front view of the end of the movement system; and

[0015] - Figure 6 is an end view of the linear movement system.

[0016] In said diagrams, reference numeral 1 globally denotes, in its entirety, a shock-absorber for sliding devices such as sliding doors or windows, panels, gates, drawers and the like, according to the invention.

[0017] For the sake of simplicity arid if not specified otherwise, henceforth in the description sliding device will be taken to mean both the main element made to slide, such as the door, window, panel, gate and any mobile means supporting it to enable movement, where envisaged.

[0018] In a general embodiment, the shock-absorber 1 comprises a support body 10 bearing at least one decelerating device 20 and at least one magnet 40. The support body 10 is suitable for attaching near the end stop position of a sliding device 2. The decelerating device 20 is suitable for slowing down the travel of the sliding device 2 to the end stop position. The magnet 40 is suitable for attracting a corresponding magnetic or ferromagnetic element 45 borne by the sliding device 2, at least to block the sliding device in the end stop position.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the decelerator 20 is a hydraulic decelerator. For example, the decelerator 20 comprises a cylinder having a body 22 and a piston 23; when the moving load strikes the decelerator, the oil is pushed by the piston 23 through a series of brake holes. The number of holes which the oil comes out of decreases progressively and proportionately to the deceleration travel .

[0020] In one advantageous embodiment, the magnet 40 exerts an attractive force which not only blocks the sliding device 2 when it reaches the end stop position, but which helps to bring the sliding device 2 , slowed down by the decelerating device 20, to said end stop position.

[0021] Even more preferably, for an average force applied to the sliding device 2, the decelerating device 20 is calibrated to stop the sliding device before it reaches the end stop position, and the magnet exerts a greater force of attraction on the sliding device than the contrast force opposing the decelerating device, so as to attract the sliding device to the end stop position.

[0022] In this way, the sliding device 2 is prevented from always hitting against the shock-absorber as a result of the thrust imparted by the user, damaging it if the thrust is violent or in any case causing progressive wear. On the contrary, thanks to such calibration of the decelerating device 20 and of the magnet 40, in most cases the sliding device 2 reaches the end stop position at the same, controlled speed, caused only by the force of attraction exerted by the magnet 40.

[0023] In one embodiment, the decelerating device 20 and the magnet 40 are housed in respective seats 21, 41 made in the support body 10. For example said seats are parallel to each other and to the direction of sliding of the sliding device 2.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the support body 10 comprises a main body 11 and a plug 12 placed so as to seal said main body 11, for example on the side of the sliding device 2. In the main body 11 and in the plug 12 are obtained first and second cavities 21', 21"; 41', 41" facing each other which respectively form the seats 21, 41 for the decelerating device 20 and for the magnet 40, when said first and second cavities are flanking. For example, the plug 12 is attached to the main body 11 by screws 13.

[0025] Advantageously, the plug 12 is made in a magnetic material and the second cavity 41" for the magnet, that is the one made in the plug 12, is closed on the side facing the sliding device 2.

[0026] Just as advantageously, the first cavity 21' for the decelerating device 20, in other words the one made in the main body 11, houses the body 22 of said decelerating device 20; the plug 12 blocks said body 22 of the decelerating device 20 axially, for example by means of an annular boss 14 which engages the end of the body 22 of the decelerating device 20 axially; the second cavity 21" is a through cavity and houses the end part of the piston 23 of the decelerating device projecting from the body 22. Thanks to said through cavity 21", in other words, open towards the sliding device 2, such end of the piston 23 can be engaged by a portion of the sliding device 2.

[0027] Given such embodiment of the body of the shock- absorber, the assembly of the decelerating device 20 and of the magnet 40 to said body, is simple and fast to perform. In fact all that is required is to place the decelerating device 20 and the magnet 40 in the first cavities 21', 41' made in the main body 11, place the plug 12 over them and attach it to the main body. The decelerating device 20 and the magnet 40 are thereby immediately and firmly blocked in their respective seats, without the need for specific means of attachment.

[0028] In addition, the decelerating device 20 and the magnet 40 are practically hidden from view and the shock- absorber 1 presents a compact and regular body, for example of a substantially prismatic shape, suitable for visible applications.

[0029] In a practical example of one embodiment, illustrated in figures figure 4-6, the shock-absorber 1 is part of a translation system 3 of a sliding door 4 of the off-wall type.

[0030] In particular, the support body 10 is suitable for assembling to the end of a translation guide 5 of the sliding door 4, for example having a substantially horizontal extension. To such purpose, a coupling seat 15 to the guide 5 is made in said support body 10, able to receive, for example via a shaped coupling, one end of the translation guide 5.

[0031] Said translation system 3 comprises at least one carriage 6 joined in a translatable manner to the translation guide 5, for example sliding on said guide by means of at least one castor 7. The carriage 6 comprises coupling devices 8 to the door 4.

[0032] In addition, the carriage 6 is provided with an end stop bracket 9 bearing a pin 9' suitable for engaging the piston 23 of the decelerating device 20. In said bracket 9 the magnetic or ferromagnetic element 45 suitable for interacting with the magnet 40 of the shock-absorber 1 is also housed.

[0033] It is to be noted that the support body 10, for example of a cylindrical shape or having an elliptical section presents, in the specific embodiment shown, a 'slot or groove 17, in a rearward position in relation to the end facing the carriage 6, to house the castor 7 of the carriage when the latter is in the end stop position.

[0034] A person skilled in the art may make modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with others functionally equivalent to the embodiments of the shock- absorber according to the invention so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the sphere of protection of the following claims. Each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments described.