Safety edge for horizontally pivoted rolling gates

• US 20040194386A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stagnoli T.G. S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Stagnoli T.G. S.R.L.
• Inventors: Albiero, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/27
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

A safety edge element made of flexible material includes a flat electric conductor, a rounded electric conductor as well as a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a base for the connection to a door or gate, a top with a seat to receive the flat electric conductor and two lateral sides to flexibly connect the base with the top. The base, top and lateral sides define a chamber. The second portion has a top and two lateral sides for the engagement with the top of the first portion and a seat arranged in the top of the second portion to receive the rounded electric conductor so that the rounded electric conductor is spaced from the flat electric conductor when the safety edge element is at rest and so that the rounded electric conductor is brought into contact with the flat conductor when the safety edge element experiences forces in orthogonal and inclined directions with respect to the base of the first portion.

Claims

1. A safety edge element made of flexible material, the safety element comprising:

a flat electric conductor;

a rounded electric conductor;

a first portion comprising a base for the connection to a door or gate, a top with a seat to receive said flat electric conductor and two lateral sides to flexibly connect said base with said top, said base, top and lateral sides defining a chamber;

a second portion comprising a top and two lateral sides for the engagement with said top of said first portion and a seat arranged in said top of said second portion to receive said rounded electric conductor so that said rounded electric conductor is spaced from said flat electric conductor when the safety edge element is at rest and so that said rounded electric conductor is brought into contact with said flat conductor when the safety edge element experiences forces in orthogonal and inclined directions with respect to said base of said first portion.

2. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said base of said first portion comprises a seat suitable to engage with a support frame.

3. A safety edge element according to claim 2, wherein said seat comprises two longitudinal teeth which engage with corresponding undercuts of said support frame.

4. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said top of said first portion has an outer surface defining a seat to house and removably hold said flat electric conductor.

5. A safety edge element according to claim 4, wherein said seat is provided with retaining means for retaining said flat electric conductor.

6. A safety edge element according to claim 4, wherein guide element extends from said outer surface.

7. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said lateral sides are connected to said first portion by means of two corresponding side elements.

8. A safety edge element according to claim 7, wherein said side a elements are releasable clamping means.

9. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said top of said second portion comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface being provided with a seat for housing and releasable holding said rounded electric conductor.

10. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said top of said second portion comprises two longitudinal edges functioning as guide elements.

11. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said lateral sides of said second portion comprises elastic elements and connecting elements.

12. A safety edge element according to claim 11, wherein said elastic elements are longitudinal elastic strips.

13. A safety edge element according to claim 11, wherein said connecting elements comprise a first portion suitable to engage with clamping means of a first portion of said safety edge and a second portion suitable to engage with said outer surface of one of said clamping means.

14. A safety edge element according to claim 1, wherein said first and second portions of the safety edge are each coextruded with said flat and rounded conductors.

15. A safety edge element according to claim 11, wherein said elastic elements are made with an elastomer.

16. A safety edge element according to claim 1, further comprising a resistor to detect a change in the electrical signal caused by a break along one or both said flat and rounded electric conductors.

17. A safety edge element according to claim 1, comprising a support frame suitable for removably supporting the safety edge element an a door or gate.

18. A safety edge element according to claim 17, wherein said support frame comprises a first surface for releasably connecting the safety edge element and a second surface for blocking said support frame on a door or gate.

19. A safety edge element according to claim 18, wherein said second surface comprises a projection functioning as a blocking means for blocking said support frame on a door or gate.

20. A safety edge element according to claim 18, wherein said first surface comprises two flexible longitudinal wings for releasable engaging with said base of said safety edge element.

25. A safety edge element according to claim 1, in combination with a sliding door.

27. A safety edge element according to claim 1, in combination with a sliding gate.

28. A combination according to claim 27, wherein said gate comprises at least two lateral sides suitable to close the entry in a limited open or closed space, said lateral sides being provided with the safety edge.

29. A safety edge element according to claim 1, in combination with a sectional type door.

21. A safety edge element made of flexible material, the safety element comprising:

a flat electric conductor;

a first portion comprising a base for a connection to a door or gate, a top having an outer surface with a seat to receive a flat electric conductor and two lateral sides to flexibly connect said base with said top, said base, top and lateral sides defining a chamber;

a roundel electric conductor; and

a second portion comprising a top and two lateral sides for the engagement with said top of said first portion, a seat arranged on an inner surface of said top to receive a roundel electric conductor so that said rounded electric conductor faces said flat electric conductor and is spaced from it when the safety edge is at rest.

22. An automated closing system comprising:

a door having an upper side, a lower side and two lateral sides;

a motor moving said door between an open position and a closed position;

a safety edge element arranged on said door and extending away from said door, wherein said door is pivoted on as horizontal axis and has said safety edge element extending along or adjacent to said lower side and two lateral sides, said safety edge element comprising;

a flat electric conductor;

a rounded electric conductor;

a first portion comprising a base for the connection to a door or gate, a top with a seat to receive said flat electric conductor and two lateral sides to flexibly connect said base with said top, said base, top and lateral sides defining a chamber;

a second portion comprising a top and two lateral sides for the engagement with said top of said first portion and a seat arranged in said top of said second portion to receive said rounded electric conductor so that said rounded electric conductor is spaced from said flat electric conductor when the safety edge element is at rest and so that said rounded electric conductor is brought into contact with said flat conductor when the safety edge element experiences forces in orthogonal and inclined directions with respect to said base of said first portion.

26. An automated closing system according to claim 22, wherein said door is a sliding door according and said door is a door of a machine tool.

23. An automated closing system, comprising a door having an upper side, a lower side and two lateral sides;

a motor moving said door between an open position and a closed position;

a safety edge element arranged on said door and extending away from said door, wherein said door is pivoted on a horizontal axis and has said safety edge element extending along or adjacent to said lower side, said safety edge element comprising;

a flat electric conductor;

a rounded electric conductor;

a first portion comprising a base for the connection to a door or gate, a top with a seat to receive said flat electric conductor and two lateral sides to flexibly connect said base with said top, said base, top and lateral sides defining a chamber;

a second portion comprising a top and two lateral sides for the engagement with said top of said first portion and a seat arranged in said top of said second portion to receive said rounded electric conductor so that said rounded electric conductor is spaced from said flat electric conductor when the safety edge element is at rest and so that said rounded electric conductor is brought into contact with said flat conductor when the safety edge element experiences forces in orthogonal and inclined directions with respect to said base of said first portion.

24. An automated closing system according to claim 23, wherein said door comprises a plurality of pivoting sections articulated one to each other, said sections being generally horizontally disposed in the open position of said door and being generally vertically disposed in the closed position of said door.