EE01638U1 - Lock to be attached to the end profile of the hinged fence element - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is a lock attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element. The lock comprises a frame casing, which is attached to the end profile of the fence element, two adjacent locking latches, which are supported on the frame casing or vertical movement and whose lower edges are equipped with bevels. The bevel raises the locking latch when the bevel collides with a fixed locking pin, which is attached to a fixed structure, such as a fence post or a wall structure, whereby the locking pin gets between the lower ends of the locking latches and locks the fence element in a non-swiveling way.

Description

 TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a lock for attachment to the end profile of a hinged fence element. The lock comprises a frame body which is attached to the end profile of the fence element and two adjacent locking bolts which are supported for vertical movement on the frame body and have bevelled corners on their lower edges. The bevelled corner raises the locking bolt when the bevelled corner contacts a fixed locking pin which is attached to a fixed structure, such as a fence post or wall structure, the locking pin being positioned between the lower ends of the locking bolts and locking the fence element in a non-rotatable manner.

STATE OF THE ART

In livestock enclosure fences, locks can preferably be opened in two directions, which allows for more versatile combinations of fence elements and improves security. In this case, the fence can always be opened in a direction that, as needed, either prevents or facilitates the entry of livestock through the opening in the fence. Such locks usually have two independently movable locking latches, whereby in the open position each latch allows the fence element to be rotated only in the direction from which the locking latch is opened.

In the known lock solutions of the aforementioned type, the user had to open the locking latches one by one, in which case the wrong latch could often be opened in a hurry and the fence did not open. The aim of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawback and to create a lock solution attached to the end profile, in which the lock release mechanism opens both latches of the lock at the same time, so that the fence element can be rotated in both directions to open the fence.

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

The inventive lock solution attached to a fence element also has other features that facilitate use and improve safety. One important feature is that the lock works on the so-called "throw-in" principle, i.e. the fence can be quickly closed and the lock engages a locking pin attached to, for example, a fixed post or wall structure. The fixed locking pin can be attached to the fixed structure with an adjustable height. The lock can also be attached to the fence element using a gap in the end profile of the fence with smooth height adjustment within the limits allowed by the gap, even over the entire height of the fence element. From a safety point of view, it is also important that the fence is

openable from the inside. In addition, according to the invention, it is possible to implement the frame body of the lock as a closed structure. This helps to prevent, for example, manure, straw, dust, leaves, branches or snow falling from trees from entering the lock, which improves the reliability of the lock. The shape of the frame body is designed in such a way that it receives the locking pin of the counterpart so that the locking latches and the frame body together prevent the locking pin from moving out of the locking position, even if a vertical, longitudinal or horizontal force acts on the fence element. In prior art solutions, the telescopic parts of the fence must be locked with separate screws so that the force of the animals cannot pull the fence out of the lock.

The above-mentioned advantages are achieved by the features described in claim 1 appended to the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the independent claims.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a lock according to the invention attached to the end profile of a fence element as a closed structure;

Figure 2 shows a lock according to the invention attached to the end profile of a fence element with latches in the locked position. The figure shows the lock without the cover plate of the frame body and the locking pin enabling locking;

Figure 3 shows a lock according to the invention attached to the end profile of a fence element, viewed from the side facing the end profile of the fence;

Figure 4 shows an assembly drawing of a lock to be attached to the end profile of a fence element according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a lock according to the invention attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element, together with a counterpiece attached to a fixed structure;

Figure 6 shows a side profile of the lock and its counterpart, with the lock and counterpart in a locked position;

Figure 7 shows a fence element having a deep contour at both ends and to which a lock according to the invention with a continuously adjustable height can preferably be attached. The figure shows a fence element with a deep contour at one end

attached eye screws to illustrate the operation of deep contours. The area marked with dashed lines shows an enlarged view of the end profile on deep contours.

EXAMPLE

The inventive lock 1 for attachment to the end profile of a hinged fence element 10 comprises a frame body 2, which is attached to the end profile 11, two adjacent locking latches 3a, 3b, which are supported for vertical movement on the frame body 2 and have bevels 3a', 3b' on their lower edges, which raise the locking latch 3a, 3b when the bevel 3a', 3b' comes into contact with a fixed locking pin 4', which is attached to a fixed structure, whereby the locking pin 4' is arranged between the lower ends of the locking latches 3a, 3b and locks the fence element 10 in a non-rotatable manner. The fixed locking pin 4' is preferably attached to a fixed structure, such as a fence post or a building wall, with an adjustable height. The end profile 11 of the fence element 10 has a vertical gap 13. The lock 1 includes a release pin or lever 5 passing through the gap 13, on which the locking latches 3a, 3b rest and with which both locking latches 3a, 3b can be raised to the opening position of the lock 1 at the same time. The frame body 2 is preferably fixed to the desired height with fastening screws passing through the gap 13 of the end profile. The gap 13 of the end profile can protrude over the entire height of the end profile 11, in which case the widest possible height adjustment range is achieved for the lock 1, or the gap can be formed locally in the end profile, in which case the lock can be fixed and the height adjusted only within the limits permitted by the gap. The latter variant can be, for example, a vertical gap that is shaped into a tube. Thanks to the release pin or lever 5 passing through the gap 13 in the end profile, the fence user can safely open the lock from both the inside and outside of the fence.

In the described embodiment, the frame body 2 comprises a frame plate 2a and a cover 2b and side walls therebetween and a lower part and an upper part. The lower part and the upper part preferably have openings through which the locking latches 3a, 3b can be moved vertically between the locking position and the unlocking position. The locking latches 3a, 3b are preferably identical and arranged in a mirror image of each other in the frame body 2. The upper end of the locking latches 3a, 3b can be rectangular to allow the latches to move through openings corresponding to the cross-section of any locking latches located in the upper part of the frame body. The openings are preferably spaced apart from each other, thus leaving a gap between the locking latches in which the frame body fixing screw can be placed. The locking latches 3a, 3b have a contour in the middle of the locking latches 3a, 3b corresponding to the release pin or lever 5

3a", 3b", which extends partly around the release pin or lever 5 from the release pin or lever 5, whereby both locking latches 3a, 3b rest on the release pin or lever 5. The central part of the locking latches 3a, 3b can therefore be wider than its upper and lower ends. The lower edges of the locking latches have bevels 3a', 3b', which raise the locking latch 3a, 3b when the bevel contacts the fixed locking pin 4' of the counter part 4. The bevel 3a', 3b' thus starts below the release pin and the possible base plate, where the locking latch begins to taper in the direction of the vertical central axis of the lock. The lower ends of the locking latches 3a, 3b are arranged in such a way that the fixed locking pin 4' fits between them. The locking pin 4' slides along the inclined surface of the other locking latch 3a, 3b and forces the latch 3a, 3b to rise until the inclined surface ends and the latch 3a, 3b drops into the locking position. In this case, only one locking latch 3a, 3b moves when the hinged fence element 10 equipped with the lock 1 is pushed into the closed position. The fence element 10 cannot therefore move past the fixed locking pin 4' even with a strong push, unless the locking latch 3a, 3b is locked in the opening position. In the described embodiment, it is possible to keep the locking pin 4' firmly in place between the latches 3a, 3b by means of the structure of the frame housing 2. When the cover plate 2b of the frame housing 2 extends to the level of the locking position of the locking latches 3a, 3b, the lower edge of the cover plate 2b prevents the lock 1 from sliding off the counter part 4. Thus, the lock 1 and the locking pin 4' of the counter piece 4 remain mutually locked even in situations where the fence element is subjected to a force in the direction of telescopic movement, i.e. a force acting in the longitudinal direction of the fence element. In the locked state, the lock 1 bears the weight of the fence, because the bottom plate of the frame plate 2a remains supported against the upper surface of the locking pin 4'. The bent edges located in the lower part of the frame body act as guide surfaces that guide the lock both laterally and vertically relative to the locking pin 4'.

In one embodiment, the release pin or lever 5 is attached to a slider 6, which is supported for sliding in the vertical direction on the frame body 2. The slider 6 preferably has a vertical slot through which a fastening screw can be inserted. Thus, the fastening screw, which attaches the frame body 2 to the end profile of the fence element, simultaneously acts as a fastening point for the slider 6 and, together with the release pin 5, which passes through the intermediate slot 13 of the profile 11 and is attached to the slider, controls the movement of the slider 6 in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment, the lock 1 attached to the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 includes a multi-arm position lever 7, which is located on the opposite side of the end profile to the lock frame, and in its different positions, the release pin or lever 5 can be moved to the upper position, which is the opening position of the lock, and to the lower position, which is

a locked position preventing opening. The multi-arm position lever 7 thus allows the operation of the lock 1 to be controlled. When the release pin or lever 5 is in the lower position, i.e. directly below the multi-arm position lever 7, as shown in Figure 3, the multi-arm position lever 7 prevents the lock 1 from being opened, e.g. if livestock lick the lever, and thus acts as a safety lock. The upper position of the multi-arm position lever makes it easier to open the hinged fence element, especially if several locks are used. The release pin or lever 5 can be connected to the upper position of the multi-arm position lever from the left or right by turning the position lever to the side and attaching the release pin to the hooks of the position lever. When the frame body 2 is attached to the fence element 10 by fastening screws passing through the gap 13 in its end profile, the multi-arm position lever 7 is preferably attached to the fastening screw located above the release pin or lever 5, as shown in Figure 3.

The reliability of the lock 1 attached to the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 can be further improved by connecting a security projection 8 to the lower part of the lock 1, which prevents the lock 1 and the locking pin 4' from moving relative to each other in the vertical direction of the fence element 10. The security projection 8, which may be in the form of a tubular sleeve, may also serve as a penetration point for a fastening screw that passes through the end profile 11 of the other fence element 10. In such an embodiment, the security projection 8 is located below the locking latches 3a, 3b at a distance that allows the locking pin 4' to fit between the latches 3a, 3b and the security projection 8, thus preventing the lock 1 and the fixed locking pin 4' from moving independently of each other in the vertical direction of the fence element when the fixed locking pin 4' is located between the lower ends of the latches 3a, 3b. A cow or other livestock cannot therefore lift the fence out of place when the lock 1 is locked by the locking pin 4'. The safety protrusion 8 is attached to the frame plate 2a of the frame body 2 and represents a horizontal part that projects from the frame plate 2a and the end profile of the fence element. It may differ in shape from the variant shown in Figure 1, in which case, for example, a plate-like element may act as the safety protrusion 8 corresponding to the pipe sleeve.

It is also possible to place other functional structures in the frame housing 2. The grooves 9 shown in Figures 1 to 4 allow a chain to be attached to the frame housing 2a of the lock frame 2. Such a chain can act as a security lock or allow a fence element to be attached, e.g. to the structures of a livestock building or around a tree.

In a preferred embodiment, the fence element is part of a pen fence.

The fence can be formed from horizontal or vertical tubular fence elements. Fence elements with horizontal tubes are preferably telescopic and their length can be adjusted in this case. A vertical gap is formed at at least one end of the hinged fence element, through which a release pin can be inserted and in which the release pin can be moved in the height direction. In a preferred embodiment, the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 is formed from two adjacent tubes 12a, 12b, which are essentially parallel and are located at a certain distance from each other. The tubes 12a, 12b can be attached to the horizontal tubes or to the end of the fence element by welding. The size of the gap 13 between the tubes 12a, 12b is preferably approximately 12, 14 or 16 mm, whereby a screw of 10, 12 or 14 mm, respectively, can be placed through the gap 13 to attach the lock 1 or other additional parts to the end profile 11 of the fence element. The tubes 12a, 12b can be rectangular tubes, by means of which good torsional rigidity of the fence element 10 is achieved. The advantage of such a fence element 10 is good resistance to the weight of the fence element 10.

The end profile 11 of the fence element 10 may consist of two parallel tubes 12a, 12b, between which the said gap 13 is located. Preferably, the gap is locally widened at one or more points by means of transverse grooves 14 made in the walls of the tubes, which are located opposite each other at the same height. In such a preferred embodiment, a deep contour 14 is formed on the edges of the adjacent tubes 12a, 12b forming the gap 13, which allows a fastening system wider than the gap 13 to be inserted. The deep contours 14, i.e. the grooves made in the tubes 12a, 12b, act as a penetration point for the fastening means. The grooves are formed in the tubes transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tubes 12a, 12b. In the end profile 11, the deep contours 14 of the tubes 12a, 12b are located opposite each other. Preferably, the deep contours 14 are in the shape of a segment of a circle, whereby a screw-type fastening system, such as a fastening bolt or a threaded eye bolt, can be inserted through two opposing segments. The threaded eye bolts 15 inserted into the deep contours 14 of the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 can also serve as a hinge fastening for the pivotable fence element 10. Two adjacent fence elements 10, which are equipped with threaded eye bolts 15, can also be fixedly connected to each other by means of a locking element directed through the eyes. In the simplest form, two adjacent fence elements 10 can be connected to each other through the deep contours 14 by means of a bolt and nut fastening. Accordingly, other functional accessories or fastening systems can also be inserted through the deep contours 14 of the fence element 10. The deep contours 14 located in the end profile of the fence element 10

thus enable versatile use of the fence elements 10, as they can be connected to each other either fixedly or with hinges. Other accessories can also be attached to the fastening system inserted through the end profile 11 of two fence elements 10, leaving a gap between the fence elements 10 for attaching the accessory. Thus, it is possible to attach functional accessories or a support system belonging to the accessory between the fence elements 10. Alternatively, accessories can be attached by hanging the accessory or the necessary support system directly on the fastening system connecting the fence elements 10. The deep contours 14 formed in the end profile 11 of the fence element 10 prevent the movement of the fastening system passing through them and wider than the gap 13 of the pipes 12a, 12b in the vertical direction of the end profile 11, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the pipes 12a, 12b forming the gap 13 of the end profile 11. The deep contours 14 of the end profile 11 can also be used to attach other types of fence parts, such as drinking bowls, arched gates or access gates. The torsional rigidity of the fence can be further improved by adding reinforcements extending across the fence element to such accessories, especially at penetration points, i.e. deep contours.

The above-described fence elements 10 are very suitable for use with the lock 1 according to the invention. Preferably, the end profiles 11 at both ends of the fence element 10 are identical, so that similar fence elements 10 can be freely combined and used in different sections of the fence by exchanging the functional parts connected to them. Preferably, both tubes contain two deep contours 14 at both ends of the fence element, which are located opposite each other in the end profile 11. There may also be more deep contours 14, for example 2 to 6 pieces in each tube 12a, 12b and they may be located in pairs at different distances from both ends of the end profile 11.

The deep contours 14 of the end profile 11 and the gap 13 make it possible to attach fence elements of different sizes to each other, or, for example, an accessory forming a drinking vessel opening. The gap 13 of the end profile 11 allows for the attachment of accessories with smooth height adjustment, whereby the lock 1 or other accessory can be attached or moved to the desired height in the longitudinal direction of the end profile. This is an important function, especially in situations where the fence installation level is uneven. For example, in nature or in a barn, where the floor is located at different heights in places, it is therefore possible to connect two fence elements 10 to each other using the gap 13 of the end profile 11, e.g. using the lock 1 according to the invention. The fence element 10, which is equipped with two locks 1 located at different heights, ensures the necessary rigidity in use, while at the same time allowing the fence to be opened, e.g. to move working machines into the pen.

Alternatively, the accessory or fence element 10 may have several deep contours, which can be connected in a stepped manner to the end profile 11 of the fence element 10.

Claims (6)

1. A lock (1) to be attached to the end profile of a hinged fence element, the lock (1) comprising a frame body (2) attached to the end profile (11), two parallel locking latches (3a, 3b) supported for vertical movement on the frame body (2) and having bevels (3a', 3b') on their lower edges which raise the locking latch (3a, 3b) when the bevel (3a', 3b') is in contact with a fixed locking pin (4') attached to a fixed structure, as a result of which the locking pin (4') is arranged between the lower ends of the locking latches (3a, 3b) and locks the fence element (10) in a non-rotatable manner, characterised in that the end profile (11) comprises a vertical gap (13), and the lock (1) comprises a release pin or lever (5) passing through the gap, on which the locking latches (3a, 3b) rest, and which simultaneously raises both locking latches (3a, 3b) to the opening position of the lock (1). 2. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a fence element according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame body (2) is fixed at the desired height with fastening screws passing through the gap (13) of the end profile. 3. A lock (1) to be attached to the end profile of a fence element according to claim 2, characterized in that the release pin or lever (5) is attached to a slider (6) which is supported on the frame body (2) for sliding in the vertical direction. 4. A lock (1) to be attached to the end profile of a fence element according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lock (1) comprises a multi-arm position lever (7) which is located on the side of the end profile (11) opposite the frame body (2), and in different positions of which it is possible to move the release pin or lever (5) to an upper position, which is the opening position of the lock (1), and to a lower position, which is the position preventing the lock (1) from being opened. 5. A lock (1) to be attached to the end profile of a fence element according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lock (1) comprises a security projection (8) located below the locking latches (3a, 3b) at a distance that allows the fixed locking pin (4') to fit between the latches (3a, 3b) and the security projection (8), thus preventing the lock (1) and the fixed locking pin (4') from moving independently of each other in the vertical direction of the fence element when the fixed locking pin (4') is located between the latches (3a, 3b). 6. A lock (1) attached to the end profile of a fence element according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the fence element is part of a pen fence.