EP0477578B1 - Partition wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A partition wall, in particular for bathrooms and/or shower rooms, comprises at least one sliding door (4) which is suspended, in particular, in an upper guiding device (2) and is displaceable and, furthermore, is guided in a lower guiding device (3) in order to expose or shut off an entry opening. The sliding door (4) is detachably engaged via at least one guide arm (6) with the lower guiding device (3) which is arranged in the region of an upper edge (22), in particular a rim (24), of a tub (7). This partition wall is to be developed to the extent that, with functionally reliable guiding of the sliding door (4), the requirements relating to hygiene in the region of the lower guide rail are met. It is proposed to arrange the lower guiding device (3) directly above the upper edge (22) in front of the sliding door (4) seen from the outside. In this case, the at least one guide arm (6) of the sliding door (4) engages in a guide region, in particular a guide gap (36), of the lower guiding device (3), said guide region being situated in front of a front vertical plane (48) of the sliding door (4). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a partition, in particular for bathrooms and / or shower rooms, according to the features specified in the preamble of claim 1. Such a partition is known from DE-A-27 47 480.

Another partition is known from DE-C-34 27 911, whose lower guide device is designed as a floor rail. The bottom rail is part of a frame which also contains an upper horizontal guide device and at least one vertical side post. Three sliding doors are suspended in the upper guide device and telescopically displaceable parallel to each other. The front sliding door facing the outside and the middle sliding door are arranged above the lower floor rail, while the rear sliding door is provided outside the frame in an interior in which a user is in the shower. Said bottom rail has an L-shaped cross section and the guide arms of the sliding doors, which are in engagement with the bottom rail, are designed to be elastic or arranged to be resilient with respect to the sliding door. The lower edges of the sliding doors are lower than the upper edge of the L-shaped floor rail, whereby there is a comparatively large gap between the lower edges of the sliding doors and the edge of a shower tray or the upper edge of the bottom of a shower room, in which the horizontal leg of the L- shaped bottom rail and on the other hand the guide arms of the sliding doors protrude. Overall, the lower guide device has a comparatively large height and forms an obstacle for a user who passes through the entry opening. The guide bodies, which consist of elastic material or are arranged in a resilient manner, result in only a flexible guide, so that, for example, when a user is leaning against or when a user grabs the doors, transverse movements can hardly be avoided. There is also a risk; that when a user is leaning, the flexible guide arms are pushed out of the lower guide device and malfunctions occur.

Furthermore, from FR-A-22 22 983 a partition with a fixed wall element and a sliding door is known, which is mounted in a telescopic guide. Such telescopic guides can lead to problems in practice, especially since there is no safe lower guide when the inlet opening is closed. If a user leans against the sliding door with the entrance opening blocked, it can give way and damage can hardly be avoided in the long run. Even if it is fundamentally conceivable to design such a partition for two sliding doors, this would require considerable design effort with regard to a telescopic guide for two sliding doors.

Furthermore, a partition is known from DE-U-89 00 097 with three telescopic sliding doors that can be moved relative to one another, the lower edges of which are in turn arranged above the bottom rail of the lower guide device. This bottom rail is part of the frame and lies in the same vertical plane as the other rails or profiles of the frame. A pivotably mounted guide part is connected to the bottom rail, with which guide arms of the sliding doors are releasably engaged. The bottom rail with the pivotably mounted guide part has a relatively large overall height.

Furthermore, a partition wall with sliding doors is known from DE-U-90 04 953, which are slidably suspended together in an upper horizontal guide device of a frame. There are three sliding doors that can be moved telescopically against each other, the upper guide device having only two raceways for the rollers, which are connected to the respective sliding door by means of angled holders. Details of the lower guide device are not explained here.

Furthermore, a partition wall with a sliding door is known from DE-U-85 22 003, the guide arms of which are designed to be pivotable so as to be able to move out of the lower one Guide device can be pivoted out. To release the guide arm from the guide device, the guide arm is pivoted completely under the lower edge of the sliding door and a correspondingly large gap must be maintained between the lower edge of the sliding door and the upper edge of a tub edge or a floor. The lower guide device is designed as a one-piece bottom rail which, for the reasons mentioned, has a relatively large height, especially since the lower edge of the sliding door is lower than the upper edge of the bottom rail.

The invention is therefore based on the object of further developing the partition of the type mentioned in such a way that, when the sliding door is guided in a functionally reliable manner, the requirements for hygiene in the region of the lower guide device are met.

This object is achieved in accordance with the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

The proposed partition has a stable and reliable construction and the escape of splash water is prevented in the manner of a labyrinth seal, since the lower edges of the sliding doors are arranged directly above the upper edge of a tub edge or the bottom of a bathroom. The lower guide device is arranged in the outer space in front of the front sliding door and in front of the side post of the frame, so that water dripping from the sliding door does not reach the guide device and the risk of contamination is thus reduced. The problem of difficult to clean and consequently unsanitary places in the area of the lower guide device is eliminated in that the lower guide device is moved out of the area of the sliding doors and in front of the frame. The lower guide device arranged in front of the area to be separated contains a movable cover or a movable guide part such that the guide arm of the respective sliding door can be removed from the guide area. The guide arms can be designed to be stable and nevertheless the guide device and the sliding doors can be cleaned on their lower edges without any problems.

If you want to be able to effortlessly clean the tiles or the wall cladding in front of the shower tray or bathtub without being hindered by the guide rail, it is advantageous if the guide rail is fastened to the tiles or to the wall cladding by means of a detachable latching device. Disengaging or detaching the guide rail always enables unimpeded cleaning of the tiles or wall cladding, so that the lower guide device in no way impairs the cleaning of the house. Since the sliding partition according to the invention is always used in wet rooms, it is nevertheless advantageous, even when avoiding splash water directly in the area of the lower guide device, if the guide rail is made of metal, preferably of stainless steel or of anodized aluminum. Stainless steel or anodized aluminum also ensure an acceptable optical - material-related - design of the guide device.

The individual sliding doors of the sliding partition can be telescopically extended to their entire width or pushed together to open the sliding partition. With regard to the articulation of the individual sliding doors, it is particularly advantageous if the sliding doors engaging behind another sliding door each have only one guide arm and if the sliding door not engaging behind the other sliding doors, that is to say the foremost sliding door, has at least two guide arms. This constructive measure ensures that the guide arms do not hinder the sliding doors from being pushed together or pushed behind one another. Only the front sliding door, which does not engage behind other sliding doors, can have two or more guide arms, since these cannot hinder the movement behind the other sliding doors.

With regard to the structural design of the guide arms, it is advantageous if they are firmly connected to a frame or the door leaf of the sliding doors. It is the sliding doors, for example around glass doors without a frame, the guide arms could be glued to the lower edge area of the sliding doors. On the other hand, if the individual sliding doors are framed, the guide arms can be attached to the frame. With such a design, the guide arms could also be an integral part of the frame of the sliding door.

So that a correct articulation of the sliding doors arranged in the area of the upper edge of the shower tray or the bathtub is now possible, the guide arms are advantageously designed to protrude from the partition or the sliding doors. If the guide rail is arranged below the sliding doors, it is also advantageous if the guide arms reach down into an area between the guide rail and the tiles or wall cladding. This intervention ensures that the sliding doors are slidably arranged in a predetermined position relative to the shower tray or bathtub. The guide arms could also be designed in such a way that they at least partially grip around the guide rail. In such a case, it would not be the tiled wall or wall cladding together with the guide rail, but only the guide rail that would ensure the guidance of the sliding doors.

With regard to a further embodiment of the guide arms, it is particularly advantageous if they have a guide element and this guide element forms the operative connection between the guide arm and the guide rail. In the case of a configuration that overlaps the guide rail, this guide element could have an essentially U-shaped guide region for gripping over the guide rail. So that - for cleaning purposes, for repair purposes or the like - the sliding doors can now be pivoted out of their usual position, so that the entire width of the sliding partition can be opened, the guide area of the guide element is its The guide rail overlapping position in a position releasing the sliding door for pivoting is designed to be pivotable, slidable or foldable. Consequently, each individual sliding door can be released from the guidance of the guide rail in a particularly advantageous manner in that the guide element or the guide region of the guide element is pivoted out, pushed out or folded out of its working position. For this purpose, the guide element can be pivoted or pivoted on the guide arm via a pivot axis, and it can preferably be latched in its working position, ie in the position forming an operative connection to the guide rail. The rotation or the pivoting of the guide element from its working position could also take place against the force of a spring or against a preload otherwise caused.

The guide rail could be greased so that the guide element or the guide region of the guide element slides easily on the guide rail, so that there is no risk of increased frictional resistance between the guide region and the guide rail. For hygienic reasons, this is particularly undesirable in the sanitary area. Consequently, it is particularly advantageous if at least the guide area is made of a material that slides well on metal, preferably plastic. In addition to the usual types of plastic, polyethylene and polyurethane in particular could be considered.

Finally, with increasing aesthetic awareness of consumers, it is advantageous if the guide rail is at least partially surrounded by a cover serving as an aperture such that the guide arms or their guide elements can be moved freely on the rail or along the rail. This cover would not only elegantly clad the guide rail itself, but also the guide element at least partially overlapping the rail with its guide area. Except From the optical improvement achieved in this way, the cover offers protection against injuries on a possibly sharp-edged rail and protection against injuries due to pinching in the area of the operative connection between the guide element and the guide rail.

In order to be able to continue to clean or repair the area of the guide rail without any problems, it is also advantageous to screw the cover onto the guide rail or simply plug it on or plug it on. So that the cover can be attached as close as possible to the guide elements - while maintaining a distance necessary to move the guide elements, the guide elements should be adapted approximately to the shape of the cover, or the shape of the cover should be approximately adapted to the shape of the guide elements his.

In a special embodiment, the cover of the lower guide device is pivotally arranged on the guide rail. The guide rail firmly connected to the tub rim is normally covered by the cover in the first position of the cover in such a way that a gap remains free, through which the guide arm or guide arms of the sliding door engage and are guided. The cover expediently has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and is articulated to the guide rail below the tub rim. The cover is preferably held in the said first position with respect to the guide rail by means of magnets. The magnets are dimensioned and arranged in such a way that the cover can be pivoted outwards by hand after overcoming a predetermined force, so that the guide arms and / or guide elements are released and the sliding door can be pivoted towards the interior of the tub. Instead of the closure equipped with permanent magnets, a non-positive and / or positive and nonetheless releasable connection by means of locking elements or the like can be provided. In this regard, it is of particular importance to arrange the cover so that it can be pivoted outward of the guide rail with respect to the guide rail, in particular in a vertical direction.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Trennwand als Duschabtrennung,

Fig. 2

die Trennwand aus Fig. 1 in einer Detaildarstellung, wobei die Abdeckung der Führungsschiene abgenommen ist,

Fig. 3

die Trennwand aus Fig. 1, wobei die vorderste Schiebetür nach vorn weggeklappt ist,

Fig. 4

in einer weiteren Detaildarstellung die Wirkverbindung zwischen Führungsarm und Führungsschiene der Trennwand aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

aus den Gegenstand aus Fig. 4, wobei das Führungselement aus seiner Arbeitsposition herausgeschwenkt ist,

Fig. 6

teilweise in einem Schnitt und in einer Ansicht ein weiteres bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 7

in einer schematischen Darstellung eine Aufsicht von oben auf die Trennwand,

Fig. 8, 9

Darstellungen der oberen Führungsschiene, wobei die Schiebetüren in unterschiedlichen Positionen sich befinden,

Fig. 10

teilweise im Schnitt und in einer Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 6 ein anderes bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 11

einen Schnitt durch die Trennwand in einer horizontalen Ebene,

Fig. 12

eine Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 10 eines anderen bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels.

There are now various possibilities for advantageously designing and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, on the one hand, reference is made to the claims subordinate to claim 1, and on the other hand to the following explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred refinements and developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a partition according to the invention as a shower partition,

Fig. 2

1 in a detailed representation, the cover of the guide rail being removed,

Fig. 3

1, the foremost sliding door being folded away towards the front,

Fig. 4

in a further detailed representation the operative connection between the guide arm and the guide rail of the partition from FIG. 1,

Fig. 5

4, the guide element being pivoted out of its working position,

Fig. 6

partly in a section and in a view another preferred embodiment,

Fig. 7

a schematic representation of a top view of the partition,

8, 9

Representations of the upper guide rail, the sliding doors being in different positions,

Fig. 10

6 shows another preferred exemplary embodiment, partly in section and in a view similar to FIG. 6,

Fig. 11

a section through the partition in a horizontal plane,

Fig. 12

a view similar to FIG. 10 of another preferred embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a shower partition, which has a sliding partition according to the invention. This illustration shows that the sliding partition 1 has an upper guide device 2, a lower guide device 3 and three sliding doors 4 suspended in the upper guide device 2 and guided in the lower guide device 3. The sliding doors 4 are arranged telescopically parallel to each other to open the shower partition, i.e. in their working position they are arranged in an at least partially overlapping position with respect to one another and can be displaced relative to one another.

According to the invention, the lower guide device 3 is now arranged in front of the area to be separated below the sliding doors 4. 2 and 3 it can clearly be seen that the lower guide device 3 has a guide rail 5 and that the sliding doors 4 with guide arms 6 are displaceable are hinged to the guide rail 5. This articulation is designed to be detachable.

Figures 1 to 3 show overall that the guide rail 5 in front of a tub 7, which is hereinafter referred to as the shower tray, is attached to the tiles 8 provided in front of the panel parallel to the upper edge 9 of the shower tray 7. The guide rail 5 is expediently fastened by means of a releasable latching device, not shown in the figures. Furthermore, the guide rail 5 should be made of metal, for example of stainless steel or anodized aluminum. The sliding doors 4 which engage behind another sliding door 4 each contain a single guide arm 6, while the foremost sliding door 4, which has the smallest distance from the guide rail 5, has two guide arms 6. In this embodiment, the guide arms 6 are firmly connected to a frame 10 of the sliding doors 4. More specifically, the guide arms 6 are formed as an integral part of the frame 10 of the sliding doors 4.

4 and 5 show in detail that the guide arms 6 protrude from the sliding doors 4 and extend downward. They at least partially grip around the guide rail 5. Furthermore, the guide arms 6 have a guide element 11, the guide element 11 forming an operative connection between the guide arm 6 and the guide rail 5. 4 clearly shows that the guide element 11 has an essentially U-shaped guide region 12 for gripping over the guide rail 5. 4 and 5 show together that the guide region 12 can be pivoted or rotated from its position overlapping the guide rail 5 into a position which releases the sliding door 4 for pivoting. When the guide element 11 with its guide area 12 has been brought into the position shown in FIG. 5, the sliding door 4 can be pivoted forward as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, it is indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 that the guide element 11 is pivoted or pivoted on the guide arm 6 via a pivot axis 13.

It has already been explained above that at least the guide area 12 of the guide element 11 is advantageously made of a material, preferably of plastic, that slides well on the metal of the guide rail 5. Finally, it is indicated in FIG. 1 that the guide rail 5 is at least partially surrounded by a cover 14 serving as an aperture such that the guide arms 6 or their guide elements 11 can be moved freely on the guide rail 5 or along the guide rail 5. The cover 14 is attached to the guide rail 5. Furthermore, it can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5 that the guide elements 11 are roughly adapted to the shape of the cover 14, so that the cover 14 is fastened as close as possible to the guide elements 11, while maintaining a distance required to move the guide elements 11. The cover is designed as a profile rail, which extends over the entire width of the partition and / or the tub edge.

FIG. 6 shows, in a section and in a view, a special configuration when viewed in the plane of the three sliding doors 4. As indicated by the dashed lines, the sliding doors 4 each contain a plate 16 made of glass or plastic. Profiles 17 can be arranged on the vertical longitudinal edges, which in particular contain grip strips for moving the sliding doors. Furthermore, these profiles 17 can also be designed as sealing profiles, which at least partially consist of an elastic material, in particular an elastomer. The sliding doors are suspended and guided in the upper guide rail 2 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing by means of guide rollers and the like in two mutually parallel guide tracks 18, 19. On the upper edge and the lower edge, the sliding doors contain 4 horizontal profiles 20, 21, which form a frame for the plates 16 with the profiles 18 already mentioned. Instead of such an embodiment with a frame, the sliding doors 4 can also be designed without a frame, the guide arms 6 being expediently provided only in the lower corner regions of the respective door element and connected to the plates 16. Furthermore, it has proven to be particularly expedient to form only the two lateral vertical profiles 17, in particular made of metal, and to fasten and hang the plates 16 therein. On the lower edge of the doors 4 or panels, elastic sealing profiles can be provided as required, but, as will be explained below, a small labyrinth gap in connection with the front guide rail can ensure reliable protection against the escape of splash water. It is essential that the lower edges 25 of the plates 16 and / or the sliding doors 4 to the upper edge 22 of the tub edge 24 have only a comparatively small gap 26. The upper edge 22 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal to the interior 28 of the bath or shower tray not shown here.

The lower guide rail 5 is fastened to the outside of the tub rim 24 and, in particular, screwed on, as is indicated by the dash-dotted line 30. The cover 14 is articulated on the guide rail 5 and can be pivoted about an axis 32 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing at the lower end of the guide rail 5. The guide rail 5 and the cover 14 form the lower guide device, which is arranged in front of the sliding doors 4 when looking at the interior 28 of the tub. The lower edges 34 of all sliding doors 4 are arranged leaving the above-mentioned gap 26 directly above the tub rim 24 without parts of the lower guide device or the lower guide rail 5 and the cover 14 being present there.

In the first position shown, which is also referred to below as the normal guide position, there is a guide gap 36 in the area of the lower edge 34 of the sliding doors 4, in front of these, in which the guide arm or arms 6 of the sliding doors 4 engage. This guide gap 36 is open in the direction of the interior 28 and has an extension 38 to the outside, in which a guide element arranged on the guide arm 6 in the form of a slider 40 or the like engages. This slider 40 can, if necessary, be designed as a roller and / or made of plastic, smooth guidance being ensured by appropriate choice of material. Due to the expansion 38 and in cooperation with the slider 40 it is ensured that the sliding doors are oriented vertically in the manner shown and can not move to the left or to the right, even with a load in the horizontal according to the drawing. As will be explained below, only the front sliding door (left in the drawing) when viewed from the outside has two guide arms, while the other two sliding doors, which are arranged behind the front sliding door in the direction of view mentioned, only have one Have guide arm such that it engages outside of the gap 26 and laterally next to the front sliding door in the guide rail 5 arranged on the outside. Since no guide arms reach through the gap 26, the gap 26 can be made small, and by means of the guide device which is arranged in front of the front sliding door, a functionally reliable guidance is nevertheless ensured. In an expedient manner, the guide device can partially protrude beyond the upper edge of the tub rim 24 and, in conjunction with the narrow gap 26, the escape of splash water is prevented.

The inner end 42 of the cover 14 is lower than its upper region 44, the inner end 42 delimiting the guide gap 36 upwards. The guide rail expediently lies 5 with an arm 46 on the upper edge 22 of the tub rim 24, the arm 46 and the inner end 42 ending in front of the front vertical plane 48 of the foremost sliding door 4. The cover 14 has a substantially cylindrical outer surface 50, whereby an elegant design is achieved as well as the possibility of easy cleaning is ensured. The arm 46 resting on the tub rim expediently reduces the penetration of splash water between the guide rail 5 and the tub rim, so that no special sealing measures are necessary. Since the upper region 44 of the cover 14 lies at a distance 52 above the upper edge 22, and furthermore the gap 26 is smaller than the distance 52 by a predetermined factor, the escape of splash water is reliably prevented.

To lock the cover 14 in the first position shown, 5 magnetic parts 54, 56 are provided between the cover 14 and the guide rail. At least one of these magnetic parts 54, 56 is designed as a permanent magnet and the other magnetic part is designed as a ferromagnetic yoke part or also as a permanent magnet in such a way that the cover can be held in the position shown due to magnetic holding forces. The two opposite magnetic parts 54, 56 are anchored in undercut grooves 58, 60 of the cover 14 and the guide rail 5. The magnetic parts 54, 56 are dimensioned in such a way that, if necessary, a user can grip the cover 14 in the region of the inner end 42 by hand and pivot it away in the direction of arrow 62 about said axis 32. The cover 14 then assumes the second position indicated by dash-dotted lines. In this second position, the guide arms 6 of the sliding doors 4 are released and they can be pivoted in the direction of arrow 64 over the interior 28 for the purpose of cleaning. For this purpose, the suspension of the sliding doors 4 in the upper guide rail 2 is designed accordingly that at least in a predetermined angular range, the pivoting indicated by arrow 64 is made possible.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a plan view from above along a section plane VII according to FIG. 6. For clear differentiation, the three staggered sliding doors are provided with the reference numerals 71, 72, 73. The front sliding door 71 when viewing the interior 28 of the tub 7 for a viewer standing in front of the tub has two guide arms 74, 75 which engage in the schematically indicated lower guide device 3 towards the front. In contrast, the two other sliding doors 72, 73 each have only a single guide arm 76, 77, which extend laterally on the respective other sliding doors to the lower guide device 3. There are no guide arms that would reach under one of the sliding doors. Furthermore, the sliding doors can be easily pushed together without the guide arms interfering with the close sliding of the sliding doors. The four guide arms 74 to 77 have essentially the same width 78 as the vertical profiles 17. As can be seen, the sliding doors 71 to 73 each have only two of these vertical profiles 17, with which the plates 16 made of glass or the like are firmly connected are. Upper and / or lower frame profiles are not available. Since the guide arms 74 to 77 are not wider than the profiles 17, the sliding doors 71 to 73 can be pushed together practically immediately one behind the other. The total width of the sliding doors 71 to 73 pushed together is predetermined by the width of the front sliding door 71 and the width of the two lateral profiles of the sliding doors 72 and 73. The free entry opening when the sliding doors are pushed aside into the interior 28 is consequently very large. There is no fixed wall element in the plane of the three sliding doors 71 to 73. In the corner of the tub rim 24, a corner post 80 is provided, with which a side wall 82 is tightly and firmly connected in a known manner. The side wall 82 consists of the same material as the panels 16 of the sliding doors, safety glass or acrylic glass also being mentioned here in particular.

8 and 9 are perspective views of the upper part of the partition, the sliding doors being shown in different positions. 8, the sliding door 71 is partially pushed to the side, so that the manhole is largely open. The further guideways 18, 19 of the upper guiding device 2 can be clearly seen, which is closed off in the area of the corner post 80 with a cap 84. According to FIG. 9, the front sliding door 71 is pushed into the vicinity of the corner post 80 and the entry opening is thus almost closed. The front sliding door 71 is slidably suspended in the front guideway 19 and the rear sliding door 73 in the rear guideway 18. In contrast, the middle sliding door 72 is guided on the one hand in the front guideway 19 and on the other hand in the rear guideway 18.

FIG. 10 shows a preferred exemplary embodiment of the partition wall similar to FIG. 6, only the different features being explained below. The cover, which can also be referred to as the second guide part 14 of the lower guide device, is not articulated on the lower guide rail 5 by means of a fixed axis. Rather, the second guide part can be lifted vertically upwards in the direction of arrow 86, in order then to be pivoted into the position indicated by dash-dotted lines 88, in which the guide arm 6 is released and the sliding door 4 can be pivoted in the direction of arrow 64 to the shower interior can. In the normal position of the cover or of the second guide part 14, which is carried out with thick lines, this is secured against shifting in the plane of the drawing transversely to the direction of arrow 86. For this purpose, the second guide part 14 has a web 90 on the one hand and a wall 92 on the other hand. The web 90 lies on the inside of an angle part 94 of the lower guide rail 5. Furthermore, the lower guide rail 5 contains a downward projection 96 with a particularly rounded, vertically downward end 98, which is at a distance 102 from the inside of a hook-like part 100 of the second guide part 14 in the vertical direction. The web 90 of the second guide part 14 rests with its lower end on the arm 46 of the guide rail 5, so that the second guide part 14 is also secured in the normal position shown with regard to vertical downward movement. Finally, there is an extension 104, in particular of the arm 46 of the lower guide rail 5 on the inside of the wall 92, possibly with a slight play to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, so that the second guide part 14 of the lower guide device in the illustrated also reliably against one towards the inside directed movement and / or is locked against a rotational movement. On the other hand, the second guide part 14 can be raised in the direction of arrow 86. If the lower end of the web 90 reaches the upper edge of the angle part 94, the guide part can be pivoted outwards into the position indicated by the broken lines 88 in order to release the slider 40 of the arm 46 of the respective guide element. The second guide part 14 is thus locked in the illustrated position in a form-fitting manner with respect to the lower guide rail 5 and, if necessary, can be pivoted outwards, essentially in the vertical direction according to arrow 86, and about a longitudinal axis, which is essentially caused by the vertically downward end 98 is defined. The distance 102 already mentioned is at least as large as the height of the angle part 94, so that the web 90 can be lifted above the surface of the same according to the invention and then moved outwards on the latter when the second profile part is pivoted away. In the pivoted-away position according to the dashed lines 88, there is a particularly expedient one Supporting the second profile part via the web 60 on the angle part 94.

11 shows a section in a horizontal plane through the sliding door 73 and partially the other sliding door 74, the two guide arms 76, 77 being indicated schematically. So that the sliding door 73 is oriented in a defined manner in the illustrated closed position, the two sliding doors 73, 74 have intermeshing profile parts 108, 109 on their mutually facing vertical profiles 106, 107. The sliding door 73 has the guide arm 77 explained above only on the other vertical profile 105, specifically at its lower end. By means of the interlocking profile parts 108, 109, in a particularly expedient manner, a defined alignment with respect to the lower guide rail is achieved in the area of the vertical profile 106, on which the sliding door 73 has no guide arm, via the sliding door 74 and its guide arm 76. As shown, the two profiles 106 and 107 of the two sliding doors 73, 74 can therefore be arranged one behind the other in the same plane 110, so that an optimal use of the available space and material is achieved in a particularly expedient manner. Overlap of the sliding doors is kept to a minimum. The vertical profiles 106, 107 each have on their mutually facing sides a flat 112 and a cut groove 114, in each of which the profile part 108 or 109 is securely anchored. Due to the flattening of the essentially circular vertical profiles 106, 107, a minimum distance 116 is expediently achieved between the vertical planes of the two sliding doors.

As can also be seen from FIG. 11, the outer sliding door 73 is assigned a profile post 120 which can be connected via a connecting profile 122, in particular to a wall of the shower room (not shown here) can be aligned with this. According to the invention, the profile post 120 is composed of two extruded profile parts 124, 126. In the direction of the sliding doors, the first profile part 124 contains an undercut groove 128, in which an adapter profile 130 is preferably inserted, which advantageously consists of plastic and has sufficient elasticity. According to the invention, this adapter profile contains two webs 132, 134, between which a tongue 136 of another profile part 138 engages. The tongue 136 and the webs 132, 134 mentioned have mutually associated latching elements, so that the profile part 138 is firmly connected to the profile part 124 in the manner of a latching or clip connection. The profile part 138 contains a permanent magnet 140, to which a further oppositely magnetized permanent magnet 142 of the sliding door 73 is assigned. The first profile part 124 and the second profile part 126 are each connected at their upper and lower ends, respectively, by means of suitable cover caps and screws which are screwed into the two screw channels 144 of the first profile part 124.

The corner post 80 mentioned with reference to FIG. 8 is largely constructed within the scope of this invention from the same components as the profile post explained in FIG. 11. For this purpose, the profile part 126 is replaced by a profile part indicated by dashed lines. Between the profile part according to the lines 146 and the profile part 124 there is a gap 148, in which the mentioned side wall with its vertical longitudinal edge is inserted. Since the other parts of the corner post designed in this way correspond to the corresponding parts of the profile post explained in FIG. 11, the manufacturing and storage expenditure is considerably reduced. Furthermore, it should be expressly stated that the different parts of the profile post or corner post can be installed rotated by 180 ° with respect to a horizontal axis, so that the upper and lower ends are interchanged and consequently the side wall can be mounted on the left or right when looking at the front of the partition and on the right or left according to the profile posts.

12 shows a further embodiment of the partition, the lower guide rail 5 of which is now attached directly to the upper edge 22 of the base 150. In comparison with the embodiment according to FIG. 10, the lower guide device has now been modified such that it is only above the upper edge 22 of the base 150. The extension 96 is now arranged on the lower edge of the upwardly elongated angle part 94 and the hook-shaped part 100 of the second guide part 14 is also above the upper edge 22 of the floor. As can be seen, the second profile part 14 can also be lifted vertically upwards in the direction of the arrow 86 in this embodiment, in order then to be pivoted away from the sliding doors. As can be seen, in this embodiment the second guide part 14 lies on top of the angle part 94 and the web 90 ends at a distance above the arm 46. The length of the web 90 and the distance 102 between the end 98 and the hook-shaped part 100 are 100 matched to one another in such a way that after lifting the guide part 14, it can be pivoted away from the sliding doors 4 in the required manner and thereby releases the guide arm 6.

Reference numerals

1

Sliding partition

2nd

upper guide device

3rd

lower guide device

4th

sliding door

5

Guide rail

6

Guide arm

7

Tub

8th

tile

9

edge

10th

frame

11

Guide element

12th

Leadership area

13

Swivel axis

14

Cover, second guide part

16

plate

17th

vertical profile

18, 19

Guideway

20, 21

horizontal profile

22

Top edge

24th

Tub rim

25th

Lower edge of 16

26

gap

28

inner space

30th

line

32

axis

34

Lower edge of 4

36

Leadership gap

38

extension

40

Glider

42

inner end of 14

44

upper range of 14

46

Arm of 5

48

front vertical plane of 4

50

Outside area of 14

52

distance

54, 56

Magnetic part

58, 60

Groove

62, 64

arrow

71 to 73

sliding door

74 to 77

Guide arm

78

width

80

Corner post

82

Side wall

84

cap

86

arrow

88

dashed line

90

Bridge from 14

92

Wall of 14

94

Angled part

96

Approach of 5

98

rounded end of 5

100

hook-shaped part

102

distance

104

Extension of 5

105, 107

vertical profile

108, 109

Profile part

110

level

112

Flattening

114

Groove

116

distance

120

Profile post

122

Compensation profile

124, 126

Profile part

128

Groove

130

Adapter profile

132, 134

web

136

tongue

138

Profile part

140, 142

Permanent magnet

144

Screw channel

146

dashed line

148

gap

150

ground

Claims (17)

1. Partition wall, in particular for bathrooms and/or shower cubicles, comprising a frame with an upper horizontal guide system (2) and at least one vertical side post (80, 120), and further comprising at least two sliding doors (4) suspended from the upper guide system (2) and sliding together telescopically, and which are guided by a lower guide system (3) so as to open or unblock an access opening between an outer area and an inner space (22), such that each sliding door (4) engages detachably via a guide arm (6) with a guide slot of the lower guide system (3) fitted close to an upper surface (22), in particular that of the rim (24) of a shower tray (7), and such that the sliding doors (4) slide relative to one another in parallel planes and one of the sliding doors is fitted as the foremost sliding door as seen from the outer area,
   characterized in that the lower edges (34) of all the sliding doors (4) are positioned directly above the upper surface (22) with a gap (26) in between,
   and in that the lower guide system (3) is located in the outer area in front of the said foremost sliding door (4) and in front of the side posts (80, 120),
   and in that the lower guide system (3) comprises a movable cover or guide component (14) such that the guide arm (6) can be extracted from the guide channel.
2. Partition wall according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lower guide system (3) comprises a guide-rail (5) that can be firmly attached to the upper surface (22) or the rim (24) of the shower tray, and is covered by the cover or movable guide component (14).
3. Partition wall according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that no fixed wall element is present parallel to the planes of the sliding doors (71, 72) or the access, opening,
   and in that the foremost sliding door (71) has two guide arms (6), while the inner sliding door (72) or doors (73) each have only one guide arm (6), the arms extending forwards alongside the other sliding doors so as to engage in the guide system (3).
4. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there are three mutually parallel sliding doors (71 to 73), and in that the upper guide system (2) has two guide tracks (18, 19), such that the foremost sliding door (71) slides in one of the guide tracks (19) and the rear sliding door (73), adjacent to the inner space (28), slides in the other guide track (18), with the middle sliding door (72) sliding in one and/or the other of the slide tracks (18, 19).
5. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower guide system (3) comprises an upper part (44) positioned some distance (52) above the upper edge (22), such that the gap (26) is smaller than the distance (52) by a predetermined factor.
6. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide arms (6) are firmly attached to the frames (10) or to the panels of the sliding doors (4).
7. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, at least in part, the guide arms (6) move essentially horizontally or parallel to the upper surface (22), and/or in that the guide system (3) comprises a guide slot (36) with which the guide arm (6) of the sliding door (4) engages, with the said guide slot (36) essentially in a horizontal plane above the upper surface (22).
8. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guide-rail (5) is attached to the front of a shower tray (7), on the wall tiles (8) or other wall cladding usually provided for it, and parallel to the front edge (9) of the shower tray (7), by means of a detachable detent device.
9. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide arms (6) projecting downwards from the sliding doors (4) engage in an area between the guide-rail (5) and the tiles (8) or wall cladding, or in that the guide arms (6) projecting downwards from the partition wall enclose the guide-rail (5) above and at least partially around it.
10. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each guide arm (6) has a guide element (11) forming the effective link between the guide arm (6) and the guide-rail (5), such that the guide element (11) has an essentially U-shaped guide channel (12) which straddles the guide-rail (5) and can be swivelled, turned, slid or raised to a position where the sliding door (4) is released and can be tilted free, and in that the guide channel (12) at least is made of a material which slides easily over a metal surface.
11. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the guide-rail (5) is at least partly surrounded by a cover (14) serving as a shutter, and the guide arms (6) or their guide elements (11) can slide freely on or along the guide-rail (5), with the second guide component (14) in particular screwed or otherwise fixed to the guide-rail (5).
12. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the shape of the guide element (11) approximately matches that of the cover (14), so that the cover (14) can be attached as close as possible to the guide element (11) while maintaining the gap necessary to allow free sliding of the guide element (11).
13. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second guide component (14) is hinged to the lower guide-rail (5) and can pivot about an axis (32), with the guide system (3) positioned in a vertical plane underneath the upper surface (22) and in front of the front edge (9) of the shower tray (2).
14. Partition wall according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lower guide system (3) comprises a guide-rail (5) firmly fixed to the upper surface (22) and a second guide component (14) that can be raised, and in that at least one guide arm (6) of the sliding door (4) engages with a guide slot of the lower guide system (3), and in that when the second guide component (14) is raised, it can pivot about a horizontal axis so as to free the guide arm (6).
15. Partition wall according to Claim 14, characterized in that the second guide component (14) comprises a hook-shaped part (100) which, in the raised position, encloses a downward-directed rib (96), in particular the rounded end (8) thereof that defines the pivoting axis of the second guide component (14), and which is preferably connected to the guide-rail (5) even in the raised position.
16. Partition wall according to Claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the guide-rail (5) comprises an upward-directed angled portion (94) against whose inner side a fillet (90) of the second guide component (14) rests, and/or in that when in the raised and pivoted position, the lower end of the fillet (90) rests against the said angled portion (94).
17. Partition wall according to any of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the second guide component (14) comprises a wall (92), and in that the angled portion (94) of the guide-rail (5) is positioned between the wall (92) and the fillet (90) running parallel to the said wall (92), and/or in that the wall (92) rests on the outside against the rib (96) and/or an outwards-directed extension (104) of the guide-rail (5).

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