AU6373894A

AU6373894A - Connector for securing plate-like wall components

Info

Publication number: AU6373894A
Application number: AU63738/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Eutebach
Original assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 1993-05-08
Filing date: 1994-03-24
Publication date: 1994-12-12
Also published as: KR950702631A; DK0651850T3; ES2070807T3; NO950026L; TW333262U; FI950060A0; EP0651850B1; GR950300033T1; EP0651850A1; FI950060A; NO950026D0; ATE154839T1; DE4409155A1; WO1994027019A1; ES2070807T1; DE59403217D1; NZ263153A; GR3024659T3; JPH07507853A

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector for plate-like wall components (3, 8) in this case glass panes, in particular, with which there is no need for costly glass cutting. Here, only drillings are rather made inside the glass panes into which a connector half (10, 22) is fitted on each side. The connector halves are secured together by a screw (23).

Description

Internal Reference No. 1992021 Title: Connection Member for Connection of Plate Shaped Wall Elements Description 5 The invention relates to a connection member for plate shaped elements, in particular those which are produced of glass. As a rule also pass through doors are used together with wall elements, which doors are integrated into the wall elements. This type of design and application often is found in the case of premanufactured constructions, however, it also can be applied in subsequent 1o expansion of buildings. Due to the optical impression often glass material is used in this field. This applies both to the door as well as to the surrounding wall elements. Due to this type of design, for example, an attractive open office landscape flooded by light is created- Because the plate shaped wall elements cannot be constructed in any desired size, a practical seamless joining of these 15 elements is necessary. Especially in the case of plate glass the connection members are disturbing, because, as a rule, they are optically very strongly noticeable and, in addition thereto, for these connection members additional glass cut-outs have to be introduced into the glass plates. This introduction of glass cut-outs is very expensive and time consuming, because the glass cut 20 outs have to be sawed. In the USA patent specification 5,163,257 a connection system for plastics plates is disclosed, in which the plates are coupled positively to each other. There the two connection halves are U-shaped and are joined by means of a joining member in the abutment region. For decorative cover the U-shaped 25 region is cladded by means of a cover. The object of the invention is to create a connection member for plate shaped wall elements, which is not optically strongly noticeable, and does not require any expensive glass cut-outs for the attachment of the plate shaped wall elements (preferably glass panes), whereby a sufficient tolerance compensation 30 of the glass plates relative to each other must exist. The object is achieved thereby that a connection member is created, which requires for the connection of the plate shaped wall elements to each other, only a centering or semi-bore, which can be drilled without great expense into the glass pane. The costly glass cut-outs are not necessary. Thereby the 35 connection members in accordance with the invention are designed such that an -2 element half is inserted from each side into the bore of the glass pane, and then, for example, is screwed together by means of a screw element. However, is also possible to do away with a screw connection and to provide the connection member such that within the passing through region a notch or clip connection 5 secures the required retention. The connection halves consist, for example, of round discs, which however, also can be quadratic, rectangular or be of any other suitable shape. Two connection members are always placed opposite to each other, whereby, however, between them also the wall elements, for instance a glass pane is situated, which is held by means of the positive 1o coupling provided by means of the connection halves and therewith is fixed in position. Thereby it is not important whether there is a semi-circular or a full bore in a wall element, the clamping effect and therewith the holding is achieved in any case. However, for cost reasons, it is better to produce only one bore than for example several. The connection member halves also can be provided with 15 a web extending cross the overall width. Thereby, that the glass preparation only has to be performed in only one of the panes to be joined, the other tolerances which normally occur are eliminated. It therewith is clear that with such a connection member two or more wall elements (glass panes) can be joined together, whereby only in one element a bore is introduced and 20 nevertheless a tolerance compensation is possible. A variation of the connection member halves can also be provided with a web extending across the overall width. The web, for example, then would be inserted into a joint between two glass shaped members to be joined together. The application of such above described connection members is universally possible, that is always the same 25 connection members are to be applied both for fan lights in connection with a solid glass door or also with joining side parts. Also two leaf door arrangements, in which above the two door leaves there is a fan light, and also on the right hand and left-hand side of the door leaves fixed side parts of glass are present, can be achieved by means of this type of connection. 30 The invention is explained in more detail by means of schematically represented examples of embodiments. It is shown in: Figure 1: A glass door with joined wall elements Figure 2: A glass door with joined wall elements and continuous upper part 35 Figure 3: A double leaf glass door with joined wall elements -3 Figure 4: A double leaf glass door within existing walls with a fan light Figure 5: A glass door with side fan light Figure 6: A connection member in front view with continuous web Figure 7: Same as figure 6, however in section in side view 5 Figure 7a: Wall elements Figure 8: Connection member for joining to existing fixed walls in front view Figure 9: Same as figure 8, in side view and sectional representation Figure 9a: Wall elements Figure 10: Connection member in side view 10 Figure 11: Same as figure 10, however in side view and sectional representation Figure 12: Connection member with an indent connection and intermediate glass pane Figure 12a: Wall elements 15 Figure 13: Connection member half with two attachment possibilities Figure 14: Wall elements Figure 15: Connection member half with an off-central attachment possibility Figure 16: Wall elements Figure 17: Connection member for joining to fixed walls in front view 20 Figure 18: Same as figure 17, however in side view and sectional representation D-D Figure 19: Wall elements -4 A connection member consists of two connection element halves 10 and 15, of which respectively one is inserted into connection bore 25 or 27 on each side of the glass walls to be joined. The figure 10 shows a connection member half 10, which consists of a round circular element. These connection member halves 10 5 and 15 can consist of plastics material, light metal or stainless steel or of other materials having the required rigidity. Thereby it is not important whether the geometric form is round circular or whether it is necessary, for aesthetic reasons, to provide the connection member in another form adapted to the mountings. For simplicity reason, the description of the example hereafter is 1o based on a round connection member. On the flat connection member half 10 there is a projection 20, which preferably is round circular, because this projection 20 projects into the wall element to be joined and therewith simultaneously is centred in the connection bore 25 or 27. For the further description it is assumed that the wall elements are glass shaped elements, 15 whereby, however, it must be stated that all other plate shaped materials available can be applied, if these have the necessary rigidity as wall element. In order not to saw an expensive glass cut-out into the glass walls 5, the more cost favourable procedure, namely the introduction of bores, is preferred. Into this connection bore 25, 27 the aforementioned projection 20 of the connection 20 member half 10 is inserted. From the other wall elements side now the second connection member half 15 has to be oppositely arranged. The connection member halves 10, 15 or 22 are coupled positively by means of a screw element, which is not illustrated, pressing through the attachment bore 18. Due to the flat abutment of both connection member halves 10, 15 or 22 therewith a 25 secure retention of the glass parts to be joined is provided. Figure 11 shows the connection member half 10 illustrated in figure 10 in a sectional side view C-C and here it becomes clear that the projection 20 also is used for centering the two connection member halves, and therewith for an exact alignment on both sides of the glass panes. 30 In figure 12 the connection of two connection member halves 10 and 22 to the intermediately located glass panes 3 and 8 is shown. In this connection the connection member halves 10 and 22 have a notch connection 23, which engages or clips into a blind bore 24 as is shown. A notch connection 23 can be used easily in the connection elements if the required pressure of the connection 35 member halves 10 and 22 is applied on the glass panes 3 and 8 for retention. This for example, can also be achieved thereby that the notch connection 23 is under tension, and if it is ensured by way of a gap 21 that the projections 20, -5 between the glass panes 3 and 8, do not come together. The connection bores 25, necessary for this example, are shown in figure 12 a in the side wall 3 and the fan light 8. In the figures 6 and 7a a connection member half 10 is shown, which has not 5 projection 20 in the centre region. In place thereof a web 17, extending across the overall connection member half 10, is present. This web 17, for example, is used for the purpose to be pressed in between two glass walls 3 and 16 into the gap 28 remaining between the two glass panes. These connection member halves 10 are joined by means of a connection member via the connection bore 10 18. The figure 7 shows in this embodiment of the connection member half 10 the side view in section A-A. A connection member half 15 which is used for connection, of for example, fan lights 8 to glass doors 4, in which the side adjoining walls 14 consist of another 15 material, for example brick work, is illustrated in figure 8. In this case also the semi-circular connection member halves 15 are shown with a passing through web 19, which web is inserted either into the joint between the wall and the glass part or also can have such a size by way of its leg that it can be attached through the wall, and the glass pane of the fan light 8 is then joined by means of 20 this connection bore 25 to the connection member half 15. The figure 9 thereby shows the side sectional representation B-B of figure 8 and the figure 9a shows the connection bore 25 in the fan light 8. The figure 15 shows a connection member half 29, in which the attachment bore 18 is situated in the projection 20 outside of the geometric centre of the 25 connection member. By means of this arrangement only one connection bore 27 (figure 16) need to be introduced into the fan light 8, whereby simultaneously, however, the fan light 8 and the side glass wall 3 can be joined together by means of the connection member 29 inserted from each side via the connection member bore. 30 If heavy embodiments of wall elements are involved, then for these also a double attachment possibility can be selected, as is shown in figure 13. This connection member half 30 has two projections 20, which penetrate into the connection bores 27 (figure 14) and can be joined together via the connection bores 18.

-6 The figures 17 to 19 show a connection member half 31, which can be connected to a wall by way of a web 19. Thereby, firstly, the connection member half 31 is to be attached to the wall 14 by means of the screw connection 32. Next the fan light 8 with its connection bore 27 is fitted onto the projection 20 5 and on the opposite side an attachment plate is fixed against it, which is joined by means of the attachment bore 18. Also in this embodiment a projection 20 is located away from the edge so that only one round circular bore 27 is necessary. As is shown by the aforesaid description of the subject in accordance with the 1o invention, the connection member can be applied very universally, which has not been illustrated fully by way of the figures 1 to 5. The figure 1 shows a glass door 4, which is rotatably mounted by means of the upper hinge 9 and the lower hinge 2. Additionally the door is joined to a floor door closer 1, which provides a suitable entry accessory for pedestrians making 15 use thereof. The glass door 4 thereby is provided with a handle 7 and a lock 6. Above the glass door 4 there is a fan light 8, which has the same width as the glass door 4. A dead stop 11 is attached as dead stop for the glass door 4 at the fan light 8. On the left and the right side of the glass door 4 there are side glass walls 3 and 5. These glass walls 3 and 5 extend from the floor up to the ceiling 20 in the application shown in this example of the embodiment. However, to ensure that the glass walls 3 and 5 can be joined to the fan light 8 situated above the door 4, the aforesaid connection member halves 10, 22 are necessary. These connection member halves 10, 22 are coupled positively together as already described, so that the fan light 8 is held by the side glass walls 3 and 5. 25 Another embodiment is shown in figure 2, where, next to the glass door 4 two side glass walls 3 and 5 are provided, which however, only extend to the height of the door 4. Above there is a fan light 8, which extends across the overall width of the side walls 3 and 5 as well as of the door 4. This fan light 8 in turn is again joined positively by means of a suitable number of connection member 30 halves 10, 22 to the side glass walls 3 an 5. Also the use of double leaf doors 12 and 13 within an all glass arrangement with side glass walls 3 and 5 and the fan light 8 above, as is shown in the example of the embodiment, is applicable. In the example of the embodiment 4 the use of the connection member 15 is illustrated, whereby the door leaves 12 and 13 are 35 located within a wall recess, which is formed by way of the walls 14. In this case -7 connection members are used, which are attached, on the one hand, to the wall 14 and, on the other hand, to the fan light 8. The embodiment of one sided glass upper side 16 is shown in figure 5, whereby the glass part 3 extending on the side from the floor up to the ceiling of the room 5 is led further. Here it also becomes clear that a universal application of the connection members are possible.

-8 Reference Numerals 1 Floor door closer 2 Lower hinge 3 Side glass wall 5 4 Glass door 5 Side glass wall 6 Lock 7 Handle 8 Fan light 10 9 Upper hinge 10 Connection member half 11 Mounting 12 Left door leaf 13 Right door leaf 15 14 Wall 15 Connection member half 16 Upper glass wall 17 Web 18 Attachment bore 20 19 Web 20 Projection 21 Gap 22 Connection member half 23 Notch connection 25 24 Blind bore 25 Connection bore 26 Cover plate recess 27 Connection bore 28 Gap 30 29 Connection member half 30 Connection member half 31 Connection member half 32 Screw connection

Claims

1. Connection member for the connection of plate shaped wall elements (3, 5, 8, 16), in particular of wall elements of glass, characterised thereby that the connection member consists of two connection member 5 halves (10, 22) or (15, 29, 30, 31) which are applied on each side of the wall elements (3, 5, 8, 16), which are to be joined together and the two opposite connection member halves (10, 22) or (15, 29, 30, 31) are joined together by means of an attachment element trough the wall elements (3, 5, 8, 16), where at least one of the connection halves (10, 10 22, 15, 29, 30, 31) has a projection (20).

2. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the projection (20) is a web (17 or 19) extending across the connection member halves (10, 15, 31).

3. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the 15 projection (20) is of round circular shape.

4. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the connection member halves (10, 15, 22, 29, 30, 31) are joined together by means of a screw element.

5. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the 20 doinection member halves (10, 15, 222, 29, 30, 31) are joined together by means of a notch/clip connection (23).

6. Connection member according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised thereby that the connection member halves (10, 15, 22, 29, 30, 31) consist of plastics material. 25

7. Connection member according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised thereby that the connection member halves (10, 15, 22, 29, 30, 31) consist of stainless steel.

8. Connection member according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised thereby that for the attachment of the connection member 30 halves (10, 15, 22, 29, 30, 31) no glass cut-out need to be made. -10

9. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the connection member halves (10, 22, 29, 30) consist of round circular flat discs.

10. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the 5 connection member halves (15 and 31) consist of semi-circular flat discs.

11. Connection member according to claim 10, characterised thereby that a web (19) is positively joined to the semi-circular connection member half (10 and 31) as an attachment means to a wall (14). 10

12. Connection member according to one are more of the preceding claims, characterised thereby that for the connection of two wall elements only in one of the wall elements a bore (27) or semi-bore (25) need to be introduced.

13. Connection member according to claim 1, characterised thereby that the 15 connection member halves (10, 15, 22, 29, 30, 31) have different shapes.