CH684350A5 - Support installation for at least two moving wings (leaves) - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation comprises two straight parallel guides which are offset in the direction of the depth, allowing the movement of two moving wings, and one of the wings is suspended from the said guides by a retractable device. The retractable device is designed to allow, in the closed position, that is to say when the two panels are one beside the other, it to be possible to form a continuous plane. The retractable device essentially comprises two sections (1, 6), the first (1) used for the suspension of one of the guides, and the second (6) used to fix the upper edge of the wing. The two sections are joined together by two pairs of arms mounted like spiders (2, 4; 3, 5). A pair of homologous arms (4, 5) being connected by a short loop (6') to ensure synchronous movement of two spiders. <IMAGE>

Description

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Description

The present invention relates to a support installation for at least two movable leaves, each moving in a plane parallel to the other, intended to occupy essentially two different positions, ie a first position in which the leaves are offset laterally and constitute a separation. between two spaces, ie a second position, one being completely or partially behind the other and allowing communication between the two spaces, said installation comprising, for each of the leaves, guide means for at least one of the upper or lower edges in the sliding plane.

The systems of leaves sliding laterally on several parallel guide paths and allowing, by superposition of the leaves, that is to say an arrangement one behind the other, to create a free space or to connect two spaces separated by the leaves in the deployed position are known. These installations are commonly called sliding facades. They are used as well to separate two spaces, for example a large room in two, or very often for the facades of cupboards for which for aesthetic reasons or to place pivoting leaves around the hinges are not used. Such installations, currently known, are by sliding the leaves on parallel raceways implying the planar shift of the leaves in both the open and closed positions. The guide tracks are either on the ceiling and in this case the leaves are suspended, or on the ground and in this case we speak of rolling leaves.

The disadvantages of existing systems are mainly the fact that even in the closed position, that is to say when the leaves are deployed, they are in offset planes, which prevents obtaining a number of aesthetic advantages and techniques to know:

it is impossible to ensure, in the closed position, a continuous decorated surface,

it is not possible to affix projecting materials to the leaves, for example decorative moldings,

it is impossible to provide the leaves with mirrors constituting a continuous surface,

in the closed position of the leaves, the seal is not very good because of the offset position of the leaves,

the fact that the leaves, even in the closed position, are not on the same plane, the locking to prevent access to the interior, for example of a wardrobe or a room, leaves something to be desired.

Sliding wall installations have been proposed which are in the closed position on the same plane, but these solutions often require a large volume of storage for the leaves in the open position as well as a predefined positioning of each leaf, for example by using paths rolling or suspension which are not rectilinear, but have a curve to bring the panel in the same plane, but at a determined position. Other installations also make it possible to position the leaves on the same plane but, in this case, there is at least one of the leaves which must remain fixed.

The object of the present invention is to propose an installation for supporting sliding leaves avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks and giving the possibility of obtaining a continuous facade in the closed position without the position of one or the other of the leaves being necessarily predetermined. .

The support installation according to the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the leaves is supported by at least one retractable device arranged to allow the leaves in the first position to form a continuous plane, while in the second position, are offset and are in their respective sliding plane.

The advantages of the installation according to the present invention are as follows:

the fact that one of the leaves is supported by a retractable device allows in the closed position to ensure a continuous facade which can be decorated by images, photos, etc., which will be reproduced directly on the surfaces of the leaves and which in the closed position is faithfully reconstructed and without an anti-aesthetic cut a complete image.

Similarly it is possible to provide the leaves with projecting moldings which in the closed position also constitute a pleasant aesthetic assembly. In this case, it is possible to have moldings whose height is even relatively large because it suffices to provide during the rearward movement of the leaf or leaves that this displacement is sufficiently deep to allow sliding one behind the other of the leaves without friction.

Another significant advantage is the fact that in the closed position it is possible to obtain an excellent seal.

If for safety reasons it is necessary to lock the sliding front, this locking can be obtained more easily when dealing with a continuous surface than with sliding panels offset in depth.

There are different possibilities for obtaining the retraction of a leaf, for example by using either at least a pair of arms which are articulated, on the one hand, to connecting elements with a rectilinear guide ensuring the sliding of the leaf in its sliding plane and, on the other hand, to the leaf itself, the two arms being connected, for example, by a rod to ensure that the retraction or movement in the opposite direction is done in synchronism in order to ensure that during retraction or in the opposite direction, the leaf always remains parallel to its sliding plane.

Another way to obtain a movement strictly perpendicular to the direction of sliding is to use two pairs of crossed arms, each pair of arms consisting of a first articulated arm, on the one hand, to the means of connection with the device straight guide and, on the other hand, at the midpoint of the other arm which on its side

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is articulated by one end to the leaf and its other end is guided in a direction parallel to the sliding plane. Again to ensure synchronism between the two pairs of arms a connecting rod is provided.

In order to ensure better stability of the retractable device, provision has been made for the two retractable devices to be mounted on the same rigid support. To facilitate the arrival of a leaf in the same plane as the others, the retractable device can be provided with return means which tend to push the retractable means into the deployed position.

It is also possible to provide that instead of simple arms or crosspieces, telescopic arms are used moving at least approximately perpendicular to the sliding plane, for example of a jack, making it possible to ensure the movement of each range of the closed position to the open position. In this case too, this movement should be synchronized and a mechanical connection by a bar, for example, is desirable.

The retractable device can be used both to suspend the leaf and to make it rolling, this being a choice depending on the application and the space available. In some cases the leaf will be provided with two retractable devices, one at the upper edge and one at the lower edge.

In all cases in order to avoid that both during the movement in its sliding plane of the leaf provided with a retractable device, that during its movement between the deployed position and the retracting position, does not balance, provided with the other edge of the leaf of guide means preventing such swinging and, on the contrary, allowing the leaf to be guided so that it always remains in a plane parallel to the sliding plane.

According to a preferred embodiment, the installation and in particular two consecutive leaves are provided with means making it possible to facilitate the passage of a leaf from the deployed position to the retracted position by using, for example, two surfaces inclined relative to the sliding plane. at least one of which is provided with a roller facilitating the sliding of these two surfaces. The well-arranged roller also makes it possible, when sliding the leaf retracted behind the other, to keep it at a distance so that the two leaves do not rub against each other, which is undesirable especially when the leaves are decorated moldings or other images.

It is also possible to control the movement of the leaves by electrical, or electromechanical, or purely mechanical means, which can be particularly important and pleasant if they are relatively heavy leaves, for example, used to separate a large room. .

The invention will be described in more detail with the aid of the appended drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a retractable device.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same device.

Fig. 3 is a side view of an installation.

Fig. 4 is a view of the lower part of FIG. 3 showing a variant.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the suspension of a non-retractable leaf.

In the example which we are going to describe, we have chosen as retractable means crossbars which will be supported by a rigid support which in this case is an L-shaped profile 1. This profile is intended to be suspended in this case, by suitable means, for example a carriage S with rollers like that illustrated in FIG. 5 to a suspension rail which can be arranged on the ceiling or another wall. Two arms 2 and 3 are articulated around the axes 2a, 3a to the profile 1, their second ends being articulated by an axis 2b, 3b to a second arm 4, 5 of which one end is articulated by an axis 4a, 5a to a second profile 6 which also has an L shape. The second ends of the arms 4 and 5 are connected by a link 6 'articulated at said ends by axes 6'a, 6'b while said ends are also provided with a roller 7, 8 rolling in a guide 9, 10 fixed on the profile 1. These guides 9, 10 have a U-shape. The profile 6 is used for hanging a leaf but it is obvious that the leaf could also be suspended directly to the axes of articulations 4a and 5a of the arms 4 and 5. A screw 11 is used to adjust the maximum deployment of the device obviously any other means could be used for this purpose. A spring 12 is also used tending to return the retractable device to the deployed position and it is dimensioned to allow the return to the deployed position of both the device and the leaf which will be suspended. In order to allow a gentle articulation and to avoid possible articulation noises, the articulations 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 2b, 3b, as well as the rollers 7 and 8 are provided with ball bearings.

In this case, the axes of articulation are vertical, but they could also be horizontal if the situation required.

In fig. 3 we have seen seen from the side two panels A and B, the panel B being supported by a retractable device.

The lower part of the two leaves A and B is also guided to prevent the leaves from swinging. Two variants of guides are shown at the bottom of FIG. 3 as well as in FIG. 4. What is very important is the guidance of leaf B since it must be able at any time to come to the position of leaf A, for example, if leaf A is moved in its guide GA leaf B can while remaining suspended by the guide GB, come in the same plane as the leaf A to form a continuous wall. Likewise if the leaf B is moved in its guide GB and in its sliding plane, which passes through the axis of the guide GB, it is necessary that when the leaf B exceeds the leaf A it can also come in the same plane as the leaf A. To get this without swaying, we have

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two spaced-apart connecting rods 20 guided on the one hand by rollers 22 rolling in a guide 21 buried in the ground and on the other hand fixed on the lower edge of leaf B, in particular on a U-shaped profile 24 by the end 23. So that this guidance can be done without causing jamming, there is a connection between the two links 20, for example a link. Instead of the rollers 22, the sliding link rod can be placed in the guide 23 thus simplifying the construction.

Fig. 4 the same device is used except that this time the rods 20 ′ are guided by one of their ends by conical rollers 22 ′ moving in the dovetail guide 21 ′ fixed to the ground or another surface . Its end 23 'is fixed directly to the lower edge of leaf B, or a U-shaped section 24'. Here also a connecting rod is recommended and preferably a dovetail profile sliding in the guide 21 'is used.

For leaf A, guidance is also recommended by at least one threaded rod fixed on the lower edge and provided with a roller 26, 26 'rolling in a guide 25, 25'.

In fig. 5 we have shown a suspension device S from a guide G which is entirely conventional and can be used to suspend a panel A or B.

In order to allow retraction of a leaf B in a gentle manner, the profile 6 is provided at its two ends with two oblique surfaces 6A and 6B. A surface of complementary shape 16 is fixed at the two ends of the upper edge of the panel A and in addition is provided with a roller 17 which has two roles: when the leaf B in the deployed position is pushed towards the leaf A, the two surfaces 16 and 6a or 6b come into contact and using the roller 17 the surface 6A or 6B slides on the surface 16 and a force of which a component is perpendicular to the sliding plane is applied to the profile 6 which pushes the profile 6 towards the inside, that is to say towards the profile 1 until the surface 6C of the profile 6 comes into contact with the roller 17 which makes it possible to position the leaf B in its sliding plane. The roller 17 has a second role of always maintaining the section 6 at a sufficient distance preventing the leaves A and B from touching.

When going back, that is to say when we want to put the two leaves in a position forming a continuous plane, the inclined surfaces 6A or 6B and the surface 16 and the roller 17 allow to reach this position in a gentle way.

It is obvious that one can also provide that it suffices to push the leaf inward until it is in its sliding plane and thereafter push it laterally, nevertheless, an arrangement like that shown here allows to get this result in a more pleasant way. Execution variants can be provided, for example, one could very well provide one of the surfaces 6A or 6B with a roller and one of the surfaces 16 of the leaf A with a roller so that one end of the profile 6 is provided with a roller which will collaborate with an inclined surface 16 only of leaf A while the second end 16 (not shown here) of leaf A will be provided with a roller against the end 6B of profile 6 does will not have a roller. Variants of execution in this spirit obviously are included in the present invention.

It is very important to note here that the leaves A and B can move independently of each other and are not obliged to occupy a specific place unless for aesthetic reasons, for example, if a photo or if any image is affixed to the two leaves at this time, a determined position is desirable for aesthetic but not technical reasons.

Of course, if we use three leaves, we can have either two leaves which always move in the same plane and there is only the third which can be retractable, or have two retractable leaves and one which moves only laterally. This is a choice depending on the result you want to obtain either having an opening, making 1/3 or 2/3 of the facade.

It is understood that the retractable device shown here, that is to say composed of crosspieces allows the movement of a leaf between the retracted position and the deployed position or vice versa perpendicular to the plane of the leaf but it is also possible to remove the arms 2 and 3 and articulate the second end of the arms 4 and 5 on the profile 1. In this case we also obtain a parallel displacement of the leaf B but a displacement which is done in an oblique direction relative to the plane of the leaf.

With an adequate adaptation, the retractable device described can be placed on the lower edge in this case it is sufficient that the section 1 is not suspended by a carriage but supported by rolling means and the section 6 which carries the leaf is disposed at- above profile 1.

Depending on the use of the leaves, it is possible to provide the retractable leaf with two devices, one by horizontal edge.

Claims (13)

Claims 1. Support installation for at least two movable leaves, each moving in a plane parallel to the other, intended to occupy essentially two different positions, ie a first position in which the leaves are offset laterally and constitute a separation between two spaces, or a second position, one being behind the other completely or partially and allowing communication between the two spaces, said installation comprising for each of the leaves guide means for at least one of the upper or lower edges in the respective sliding plane, characterized in that at least one of the leaves is supported by at least one retractable device arranged to allow the leaves in the first position to form a continuous plane, while in the second position, are offset and are in their respective sliding plan. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises at 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 7 CH 684 350 A5 8 at least two retractable elements provided with means of connection with a guide to guide the said retractable elements in or parallel to the sliding plane of the supported leaf, said retractable means are connected so that they act in synchronism so that the leaf remains parallel to its sliding plane during its displacement towards the sliding plane or from the sliding plane to come into the continuous plane formed with the other leaf. 3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that said retractable means are integral with a rigid support. 4. Installation according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said retractable means consist of at least two arms spaced apart in the sliding direction, each arm being articulated, on the one hand, to said connecting means and, on the other hand, to the leaf by articulation axes parallel to the sliding plane, said arms being connected by a link ensuring that they always remain parallel to each other. 5. Installation according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said retractable means comprise at least two pairs of arms spaced in the sliding direction, one of the arms being articulated by one end to said connecting means, while the other end is articulated at the midpoint of the second arm of the same pair, the second arm being articulated by one of its ends to the leaf and its other end is guided so as to slide parallel to the sliding plane during the retraction or during deployment, and that a link connects two arms homologous of the two pairs to ensure an asynchronous movement of said retractable means. 6. Installation according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said retractable means are provided with return means arranged to return the retractable means in the deployed position. 7. Installation according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that two consecutive leaves are provided with complementary means arranged to facilitate the retraction of one leaf behind the other or the deployment, and means holding the leaf in the retracted position behind the other leaf. 8. Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that said complementary means are two surfaces inclined relative to the sliding plane arranged to guide the leaf in the retracted position and vice versa, at least one of said surfaces is provided with '' a roller facilitating the relative sliding between the two surfaces. 9. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the retractable means comprise two telescopic elements supported by connecting elements, a device for guiding said means parallel to the sliding plane, arranged and arranged to allow the 'retraction or deployment of the leaf at least approximately perpendicular to its sliding plane. 10. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said retractable device is arranged to support the leaf either by the upper edge, or by the lower edge. 11. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the retractable device is arranged to be controlled by electrical, or electromechanical or mechanical means. 12. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the other edge of the leaf is provided with guide means arranged to prevent the leaf from swinging. 13. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the leaf is provided with two retractable devices, one on the upper edge and one on the lower edge. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 5