EP1268965B1

EP1268965B1 - Device for fastening a window or wall element to a vertical frame portion

Info

Publication number: EP1268965B1
Application number: EP01915989A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Per-Olof Santesson
Original assignee: Santex AB
Current assignee: Santex AB
Priority date: 2000-03-21
Filing date: 2001-03-16
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-16
Also published as: NO323747B1; ATE440202T1; WO2001071143A1; NO20024371D0; DK1268965T3; AU2001242933A1; NO20024371L; DE60139608D1; EP1268965A1; SE0000961D0

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device for securing a window or wall element in a vertical frame portion (1), the window or wall element having a panel-shaped element (3), such as a glass pane. The window or wall element further has an edge profile (4) along that side which faces towards the frame portion (1). The edge profile (4) has a flange (9) which projects out towards the frame portion (1). The flange (9) is substantially parallel with a plane of extend of the window or wall element and is positionally fixingly clamped between clamping members (12, 13) on an inner (11) and an outer (10) mounting profile. The mounting profiles are interconnected with one another and positionally fixed in relation to the frame portion (1). A device for interconnecting two window or wall elements is further disclosed in accordance with the foregoing. The window or wall elements have an edge profile (4) along their sides facing towards one another. The edge profiles (4) have mutually projecting flanges (9) which are clamped between clamping members (12, 13) in a manner corresponding to that disclosed above.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a window or wall element according to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND ART

In the securement of window or wall elements, for example, in an opening in a wall, the opening in the wall does not often have exact dimensions, nor necessarily absolute right-angled corners. This places demands on adjustment capabilities in the securement of a window or wall element in such an opening in a wall.
Correspondingly, in the joining together of two window or wall elements which are disposed in an opening in a wall, adjustments must often be made between adjacent window or wall elements.
A large number of arrangements are previously known in the art for securing or integrating a window or wall element in an opening in a wall, in particular to a vertical frame portion along the opening. In such arrangements, use is often made of large number of compensation profiles, gauge blocks and the like, whereby storage problems in such instance will be considerable. The prior art arrangements also generally require extensive on site work in connection with the mounting operation, for which reason the time consumed and thereby costs have become unnecessarily large.
Corresponding problems have applied in arrangements for interconnecting two adjacent window or wall elements arranged in an opening in a wall.
US 4 407 100 discloses a window having a first frame and a second frame interconnected by means of mutually engaging barbs. A window is fastened to the interconnected frames by means of a window retaining structure.
Neither the barbs nor the window retaining structure allows any adjustments for compensating dimensional errors.
WO 95/33901 discloses a frontage having vertical and horizontal frame elements. Panels, e.g. insulating glass units, have edge portions received in sealing strips. The sealing strips are clamped between outer and inner portions of the frame elements. The edge portions of the panels gripped in the sealing strips are so narrow that no adjustments and, thus, no compensation for dimensional errors are possible.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the devices intimated by way of introduction such that the drawbacks inherent in prior art technology are obviated, that the number of profiles or components is reduced to a minimum, that the construction will be such that no leakage need be feared, nor rattling or other disruptive noise in constructions which are exposed to the wind. Further, the present invention has for its object to design the devices intimated by way of introduction such that they offer large adjustment possibilities and superior mechanical strength.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained with a subject-math according to the characterising pest of claim 1.
The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained in respect of the device for joining together two window or wall elements if the device is characterised in that the edge profiles have flanges which project towards one another, and which are substantially parallel with a plane of extent of the window or wall elements, and that the flanges are positionally fixingly clamped between clamping members on inner and outer interconnected mounting profiles.
In that the edge profiles have, in the manner described above, projecting flanges which may be clamped in between clamping members urged towards one another on the two mounting profiles, major adjustment possibilities will be afforded at the same time as the anchorage is extremely stable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: shows a horizontal end elevation from above of a window or wall element which is secured in a frame portion; and
Fig. 2: shows, in a corresponding view, two interconnected window or wall elements.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Inasmuch as directional or positional disclosures are employed, such as inward/outward or outside/inside, these relate to the position of the components in a finished, operational state.
In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 relates to a frame portion which has a vertical laterally defining surface 2 to an opening in a wall which is to be closed by means of a window or wall element which has a panel-shaped element 3 which is intimated by a broken line and which may consist of a glass pane or an insulating glass unit. The panel-shaped element 3 has, at least on its vertical side edges, an edge profile 4 in which the glass pane or glass unit is secured in a suitable manner. The edge profile 4 has an outer defining wall 5 and an inner defining wall 6, both of these defining walls being substantially parallel with one another. The two walls 5 and 6 are interconnected by the intermediary of a transverse wall 7 which also has a screw pocket 8 for securing the top and bottom pieces of the window or wall element.
The edge profile 4 has a projecting flange 9 which is substantially parallel with a plane of extent of the window or wall element. In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting flange 9 is arranged as an extension of the outer wall 5 of the edge profile 4 in a direction towards the frame portion 1. The illustrated edge profile 4 will, therefore, have a wholly planar outer side. Alternatively however, the projecting flange 9 may be placed somewhere along the transverse wall 7 and, in the extreme case, may be arranged as a continuation of the inner wall 6 in a direction towards the frame portion 1.
The device according to the present invention further includes an outer mounting profile 10 and an inner mounting profile 11 which both have clamping members 12 and 13, respectively, between which the flange 9 is positionally fixingly clamped. The clamping together of the two clamping members 12 and 13 is realised by means of a screw 14 which is intimated by broken lines and which is accommodated in a screw pocket 15 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer mounting profile 10 on its inside. The screw 14 has its head placed on the inside of the inner clamping member 13 of the inner mounting profile 11, and this member may also be designated a base portion included in the inner mounting profile 11. By the screw union 14, 15, the two mounting profiles 10 and 11 are interconnected with one another and clamp fast, between their clamping members 12 and 13, the flange 9 projecting from the edge profile 4.
In certain cases, the inner mounting profile 11 need not extend continuously along the entire height of the window or wall element. In may be sufficient to employ three or four shorter pieces of the inner mounting profile, distributed along the height of the window or wall element.
It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the flange 9 is of such great width that it extends right into the screw 14 when the transverse wall 7 of the edge profile 4 abuts against the inner mounting profile 11. If the edge profile 4 is displaced in a direction to the left, the clamping union between the two clamping members 12 and 13 and the projecting flange 9 will still be able to be maintained, whereby a relatively large adjustment range is achieved. In practice, in the illustrated embodiment the adjustment range may amount to 5-8 mm in the employment of a single glass pane, but may be 5-15 mm in the employment of insulating glass units.
Along its central region, the outer mounting profile 10 has a main portion 16 from whose inside the two clamping members 12 extend in an inward direction. Along opposing edge portions of the main portion 16, the outer mounting profile 10 has side shanks 17 which are mirror reflections of each other and which, at their free edges, make approximately a right angle with the plane of extent of the main portion 16.
The inner mounting profile 11 has, along opposing edges of the clamping member 13, side portions 18 which are approximately at right angles to the clamping member 13 and are thereby parallel with each other. Along the inner edges of the side portions 18, the inner mounting profile 11 has shanks 19 which are directed away from one another and which are parallel with the clamping member 13. In Fig. 1, the left-hand shank 19 abuts against the inside of the inner wall 6 of the edge profile 4 and is held urged against it under the action of the screw union 14, 15. The width of the left-hand shank 19 illustrated in Fig. 1 is sufficiently great so as not to affect the adjustment possibility which is offered via the considerable width of the projecting flange 9. In practice, this implies that the width of the shank 19 must be greater than the intended maximum adjustment range between the edge profile 4 and the two mounting profiles 10 and 11.
For anchoring the two mounting profiles 10 and 11 in the frame portion 1, use is made of an anchorage profile 20 which, by means of a series of screws 26 (shown by broken lines), is fixed in the frame portion 1. In its inner end, the anchorage profile 20 has a transversely directed flange 21 which is approximately parallel with the plane of extent of the window or wall element. The inside of this flange 21 is intended for supporting the right-hand shank 19 of the inner mounting profile 11 in Fig. 1.
In the outer end of the anchorage profile 20, this has a projection 22 directed towards the frame portion 1 and whose outside is intended for supporting the right-hand shank 17 of the outer mounting profile 10 in Fig. 1 when the screw union 14, 15 is tightened. Hereby, the anchorage profile 20 will be clamped in between the shanks 17 and 19 on the outer and the inner mounting profile 10,11, respectively.
In order to prevent displacement of the two mounting profiles 10 and 11 in the plane of extent of the window or wall element towards and away from the frame portion 1, there is provided, at the outer edge of the anchorage profile 20, an outwardly directed projection 23 which, thus, is approximately parallel with the laterally defining surface 2 of the frame portion 1. The outwardly directed projection 23 grasps interiorly behind the right-hand shank 17 of the outer mounting profile 10 in Fig. 1 and thereby prevents displacement of the outer mounting profile 10 in a direction to the left approximately parallel with the plane of extent of the window or wall element.
In order to conceal the screw union 14, 15, but also for general aesthetic reasons, the inner mounting profile 11 has a covering bead 24 which, via snap connections 25, is secured in the inner mounting profile 11. The covering bead 24 is of a width which is sufficiently great to wholly cover the inner mounting profile 11, for which reason it abuts, with its opposing side edge regions, partly against the inside 6 of the edge profile 4 and partly against the transverse flange 21 on the anchorage profile 20,
In Fig. 2, the above-described invention is shown as applied in the interconnection of two window or wall elements with each other. The two window or wall elements illustrated in Fig. 2 have the glass panes or glass units 3 with the edge profiles 4.
It will be apparent from the Figure that the left-hand window or wall element has its projecting flange 9 clamped in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 1 between the clamping members 11 and 12 on the outer mounting profile 10 and inner mounting profile 11, respectively. In order to illustrate the possibilities for adjustment in the plane of extent of the two window or wall elements, the left-hand window or wall element is shown inserted so far that the transverse wall 7 of the edge profile 4 abuts against the one side portion 18 in the inner mounting profile 11. The right-hand window or wall element is, on the other hand, drawn out a distance from the inner mounting profile 11, for which reason there is a space between the transverse wall of the right-hand edge profile 4 and the right-hand side portion 18 in the inner mounting profile 11. It will also be apparent from the Figure that the right-hand projecting shank 19 on the inner mounting profile 11 still abuts against the inside 6 of the right-hand edge profile 4.
It will further be apparent from the Figures that the end edges of the two shanks 17 of the outer mounting profile 10 lie in one and the same plane as the insides of the two outer clamping members 12. This implies that the end edges of the shanks 17 tightly abut to the outsides 5 , of the two edge profiles 4 ,
In the application according to Fig. 2, the inner mounting profile 11 displays a relatively great material thickness, at least in the two side portions 18, whereby the interconnection of the two window or wall elements will enjoy good mechanical strength in an inward/outward direction.

Claims

A window or wall element comprising a panel-shaped element (3) such as glass pane, outer inner mounting profiles (10, 11) and an edge profile (4) for securing the panel-shaped element (3) in a fixed vertical frame portion (1) or in a second window or wall element, characterised in that the edge profile (4) (extends at least along the vertical side edges of the panel-shaped element (3) which are facing towards the frame portion (1) or towards the second window or wall element and) has a flange (9) projecting towards the mounting profiles (10, 11), said flange (9) being substantially parallel with the plane of extent of the window or wall element, and that the flange (9) is between clamping members (12,13) on the outer (10) and inner (11) interconnected mounting profile, which are fixed to the frame portion (1) or to the second window or wall element.
The window or wall element as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that there is secured, on the edge surface (2) of the frame portion (1) facing towards the window or wall element, an anchorage profile (20) which is clamped in between the mounting profiles (10, 11), whereby these are fixed to the frame portion (1).
The window or wall element as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the two mounting profiles (10, 11) have a shank (17, 19 ) 20 substantially directed towards the frame portion (1), the anchorage profile (20) being clamped in between them; and that the anchorage profile (20), on that side of the one free edge of the shank (17) facing away from the frame portion (1), has a projection (23) which engages in behind the shank (17), whereby the mounting profiles (10,11) are fixed against movement towards and away from the frame portion (1) parallel with the plane of extent of the window or wall element.
The window or wall element as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the flange (9) is disposed in a plane with the outside (5) of the edge profile (4).
The window or wall element as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised
in that the outer mounting profile (10) has a strip shaped main portion (16) along whose opposing edges shanks (17) extend inwards and which, at their edge portions, are transversely directed in relation to the main portion (16).
The window or wall element as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the clamping members (12) of the outer mounting profile (10) are disposed on the inside of the mounting profile (10) and have clamping surfaces which substantially lie in a common plane with the free edges of the shanks (17).
The window or wall element as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the outer mounting profile (10) has, on its inside, a longitudinal screw pocket (15) which, in the width direction of the profile (10), is placed substantially in the centre.
The window or wall element as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the screw pocket (15) is disposed between the clamping members (12).
The window or wall element as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 8, characterised
in that the clamping member (13) of the inner mounting profile (11) has a substantially planar clamping surface for the flange (9) whereas from opposing edges of the clamping member (13), side portions (18) extend inwardly, and which, along their edges, have shanks (19) which are substantially parallel with the clamping surface and which abut against the inside of the edge profile (4) and the anchorage profile (20).
The window or wall element as claimed in Claims 7 and 9, characterised in that the inner mounting profile (11) has, along a central line of the clamping member (13), a number of holes through which screws (14) extend into the screw pocket (15) of the outer mounting profile (10).
The window or wall element as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the inner mounting profile (11) has a snap connection (25) for a covering bead (24) of a width which is sufficiently great to cover the inner mounting profile (11).