EP1444412B1

EP1444412B1 - Arrangement for providing a swivel point

Info

Publication number: EP1444412B1
Application number: EP02774794A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Niilo Karhu
Original assignee: Iloxi Oy
Current assignee: Iloxi Oy
Priority date: 2001-11-07
Filing date: 2002-11-01
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-01
Also published as: DE60215375D1; EP1444412A1; WO2003042478A1; DE60215375T2; FI111021B; ATE342420T1; FI20012149A0

Abstract

An arrangement for providing a swivel point (10) for the bottom end of panel-like elements (4), especially terrace enclosing glass elements or the like partition elements, movable along upper and lower guide rails (2, 3), said elements (4) comprising first and second lower guide means (5, 6) provided at the bottom edge of an element, said lower guide means in turn comprising a body portion (7), and a guide portion (8) bearing against the lower guide rail (3), and said lower guide means (5, 6) being adapted to support the element (4) in its vertical direction and to guide the element crosswise wit respect to the lower guide rail (3), a first upper guide means (9) provided at the top of the element (4), which is adapted to guide the element (4) crosswise with respect to the upper guide rail (2), and the element being pivotable at said swivel point (10) about a pivoting axle (11) established by the first upper guide means (9) present at the top edge of the element and by the first lower guide means (5) present at the bottom edge of the element. The swivel point (10) is included in a guide member (12), which is adapted to function as an extension of the lower guide rail (3) and upon which the first lower guide means (5) is adapted to travel while supported by its body portion (7), or a portion separately adapted to extend therefrom, in the lengthwise direction of the lower guide rail (3), and that the second lower guide means (6) is adapted to disengage from the lower guide rail (3) when the first lower guide means (5) is at said swivel point (10).

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement as defined in the preamble section of claim 1.
Panel-like elements, movable along upper and lower guide rails, are used as various space dividers. The elements must have at least two pairs of parallel guide rails provided therefor, on the one hand for providing a desired solid wall and on the other hand for opening the wall at least partially by pushing elements aside. In this solution, however, the width of a wall section that can be opened is bound to remain very limited.
The Applicant's earlier Finnish patent 81879 discloses a pivoting balcony glass structure, wherein the glass panes hanging from an upper rail and supported in a transverse direction by a lower rail can be moved one by one to the edge of an opening covered by the panes and swiveled there to a crosswise position relative to the rails, for example to a position parallel to the wall. Thus, the panes can be sort of stacked against the wall, whereby the opening covered by the panes can be virtually fully opened. In this prior known solution, a glass pane locks to the upper rail by its top end at its pivoting axle as soon as the pane starts its swinging motion.
This type of solution is only intended for such cases in which glass panes are supported by an upper guide rail and maintained in a proper direction by a lower rail. Such a solution is not applicable when a movable element is supported by a lower rail, and an upper rail is only used for holding the same in its direction.
It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement as described above for providing a swivel point for the bottom end of movable panel-like elements, especially terrace enclosing glass elements or the like partition elements, supported upon a lower guide rail and braced to an upper guide rail.
This object is accomplished by means of a swivel point arrangement of the invention, the characterizing features of which are set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1.
A guide member can be disposed at the end of a lower guide rail, for example alongside a wall. On the other hand, a guide member can also be disposed between two rail lengths of a lower guide rail, for example in the middle of a room space to be divided.
The guide member is provided with a guide slot, the body portion of a first lower guide means, or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, being adapted to bear against its bottom. It should be particularly noted that, when a lower guide means is supported upon a lower guide rail, the lower guide means braces itself on the rail by means of its guide portion. Regarding the guide member, on the other hand, the guide portion of a lower guide means has no bracing function at all, but the bracing is effected by way of the body portion of a lower guide means, or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom.
The guide member can be adapted to accommodate the lower guide means of one or more elements. In other words, in line with the guide member can be fitted one or more elements with main surfaces side by side.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement is such that the guide member, and the first lower guide means aligning therewith, are provided with locking means for immobilizing said pivoting axle of an element at its bottom end when the element is in a pivoted position.
In order to provide interlocking between a guide member and a first lower guide means coinciding therewith, the arrangement in one preferred embodiment of the invention is such that the first lower guide means is provided with a clamping member, having a cross-section in the shape of a circular segment and adapted to be non-rotatable relative to an element and having its straight section aligned to be essentially co-directional with guide rails as the element is moving along the guide rails, that the guide member has one of its opposite straight, parallel side surfaces provided with a recess in the shape of a circular arc, and that the clamping member in the shape of a circular segment has a smallest diametral dimension which is smaller than a distance between the straight side surfaces of the guide member and a greatest diametral dimension which is essentially equal to a maximum distance between the opposite side surfaces of the guide member in line with the recess shaped like a circular arc. However, it should be noted that locking between a guide member and a lower guide means can be effected in a variety of methods, the foregoing describing just one preferred solution.
In order to manage the disengagement of a second lower guide means, which is spaced from the first lower guide means, in a manner as simple as possible, from a lower guide rail as an element is pivoted, the arrangement in one preferred embodiment of the invention is such that alongside the lower guide rail in a predetermined position is fitted an auxiliary guide, which is adapted by way of a body portion of the second lower guide means, or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, to lift the second lower guide means off the lower guide rail as the first lower guide means approaches its swivel point included in the guide member.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: shows an arrangement of the invention in a diagrammatic elevation.
Fig.2A: shows a section along a line II-II in fig. 1.
Fig. 2B: shows a section along a line II-II in fig. 1, for an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3: shows a vertical section, wherein an element movable along upper and lower guide rails is in its entirety supported by said rails.
Fig. 4: shows a section consistent with fig. 3, along a line IV-IV in fig. 1.
Fig. 5: shows a section consistent with fig. 3, along a line V-V in fig. 1.

The drawings depict diagrammatically an arrangement for providing a swivel point 10 for the bottom end of panel-like elements 4, especially terrace enclosing glass elements or the like partition elements, movable along upper and lower guide rails 2, 3.
The elements 4 are provided with first and second lower guide means 5, 6 fitted at the bottom edge of an element. The lower guide means 5, 6 are in turn provided with a body portion 7 and a guide portion, bearing against the lower guide rail 3 and generally designated with reference numeral 8 (fig. 4), which in the example of fig. 4 is constituted by an open-bottom slot, included in the body portion 7 and having its top end provided with a rotatably bearing-mounted wheel 25. Thus, the lower guide means 5, 6 enclose the lower guide rail 3 from top and two sides.
The lower guide means 5, 6 are adapted to support the element 4 in its vertical direction and at the same time to guide the element crosswise with respect to the lower guide rail 3. The element 4 has its upper edge provided with a first upper guide means 9, which is adapted to guide the element 4 crosswise with respect to the upper guide rail 2. If necessary, the number of upper guide means 9 may be more than one.
In order to enable turning of the element 4, an extension to the lower guide rail 3 is provided by a guide member 12, along which the first guide means 5 is adapted to move carried by its body portion 7 or a portion (not shown) adapted separately to extend therefrom in the lengthwise direction of the lower guide rail 3. The portion adapted separately to extend from the body portion refers for example to a wheel (not shown), which may be necessary for reducing friction, especially in the case of heavy elements 4.
It should be particularly noted that, as the first lower guide means 5 is supported upon the lower guide rail 3, the lower guide means 5 bears against the rail 3 by way of its guide portion 8 and the wheel 25 included therein. As for the guide member 12, on the other hand, the guide portion 8 of the lower guide means 5 has no bracing function at all, but the bracing is effected by way of said body portion 7 of the lower guide means 5 or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom.
The guide member 12 can be disposed at the end of the lower guide rail 3, as in the case of figs. 1, 2A and 2B, or the guide member 12 can be disposed between two rail lengths of the lower guide rail 3.
The guide member 12 is provided with a guide slot 14, as best shown in figs. 4, as well as 2A and 2B. When the lower guide means 5 proceeds from the lower guide rail 3 onto being supported by the guide member 12, the body portion 7 of the first lower guide means 5, or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, braces itself against a bottom 15 of the guide slot 14.
In the solution of fig. 2A, the guide slot 14 is of a uniform width over the entire length of the guide member. The end of the guide member 12 further away from the lower guide rail 3 is provided with a limiter (not shown) for the lower guide means 5, said limiter being possibly constituted by a wall, against which the elements 4 can be turned.
In the solution of fig. 2A, the body portion 7, which is circular in cross-section and slightly smaller in diameter than the width of the guide slot 14, is capable of free movement even at the time when the element 4 has been pivoted to a crosswise position relative to the upper and lower guide rails 2, 3. In order to secure control over the element 4, the first upper guide means 9 of the element 4 is at that point adapted to be locked as the element 4 is being pivoted, the swivel point 10 for the element 4 locating itself in line with a pivoting axle 11 established by the lower guide means 5 and the upper guide means 9.
In the solution of fig. 2A, the swivel point 10 may have a slightly varying location. In the solution of fig. 2B, on the other hand, the lower guide means 5 clamps in a fixed position in the guide member 12 and, consequently, the swivel point 10 lies always at an exactly defined location.
The following describes further the solution of fig. 2B, wherein the lower guide means 5 is adapted to lock onto the guide member 12.
In the example shown in figs. 1 and 2B, the swivel points 10 occupy four locations (the only illustrated swivel points 10 are those provided for the lower guide means 5). The element 4 is pivotable about the pivoting axle 11 established by the first upper guide means 9 present at the top edge of the element and the first lower guide means 5 present at the bottom edge of the element. Both of the guide means 6, 9 establishing the pivoting axle 11 are adapted to lock themselves in a fixed position relative to the lengthwise direction of the guide rails 2, 3 as the element 4 is rotated about said pivoting axle 11 at said swivel point 10.
The guide member 12, and the first lower guide means 5 coinciding therewith, are provided with appropriate clamping means 16, 20 (one preferred exemplary embodiment of which will be described hereinafter) for immobilizing said pivoting axle 11 of the element 4 when the element is in a pivoted position (fig. 2B).
Interlocking action between the guide member 12 and the first guide means 5 coinciding therewith is implemented in the example of fig. 2B in such a way that the first guide means 5 is provided with a clamping member 16, which has a cross-section in the shape of a circular segment and which is adapted to be non-rotatable relative to the element 4. The clamping member 16 has its straight section 17 aligned to be essentially co-directional with the guide rails 2, 3 as the element is moving along the guide rails. With regard to straight, parallel side surfaces 18, 19 of the guide member 12, one 19 of such surfaces is provided with recesses 20 in the shape of a circular arc, one for each element 4. The clamping member 16 in the shape of a circular segment has a smallest diametral dimension d which is smaller than a distance a between the straight side surfaces 18, 19 of the clamping member 12. A greatest diametral dimension D is essentially equal to a maximum distance A between the opposite side surfaces of the clamping member in line with the recess 20 shaped like a circular arc.
In the solution of figs. 1, 2A and 2B, the guide member 12 is adapted to accommodate four separate elements 4, in other words it can provide facilities for four lower guide means 5 and, thus, facilities for four separate elements 4. Naturally, the number of elements 4 accommodated by the guide member 12 can be selected according to a particular situation.
Alongside the lower guide rail 3 in a predetermined position is fitted an auxiliary guide 21, as best shown in figs. 1, 2A, 2B and 5. The auxiliary guide 21 is adapted by way of the body portion 7 of the second lower guide means 6, or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, to lift the second lower guide means 6 off the lower guide rail 3 (fig. 5) as the first lower guide means 5 approaches its swivel point 10 included in the guide member 12.
The arrangement for providing the swivel point 10 operates as follows.
In reference to what is shown in figs. 2A and 2B, both cases have two left-hand side lower guide means 5 in a position, wherein the element 4 has been pivoted to a crosswise position with respect to the lower guide rail 3. The right-hand side lower guide means 5, and the lower guide means 6 coinciding with the rail 3, are included in the same element 4 which, both in fig. 2A and 2B, is in a condition in which it has been pushed co-directionally with the lower guide rail 3 to its left-hand side end position, wherein the lower guide means 6 has risen, by virtue of the auxiliary guide 21, to the position depicted in fig. 5, in which the element 4 can be shifted in the direction of an arrow 22. In the case of fig. 2B, the lower guide means 5 immobilizes itself in the recess 20 of the guide member 12, as soon as the element 4 starts its rotation about the pivoting axle 11. In the case of fig. 2A, the lower means 5 has no locking at all, the clamping upper guide means 9 nevertheless keeping the element 4 under control.
Finally, it should be noted that, unlike what is described in the example, the lower guide rail 3 can also be in the shape of a gutter, in which case the guide portion 8 for the lower guide means 5, 6 is in the form of a wheel adapted to travel in said gutter. The wheel is dimensioned to have a slightly narrower width than the internal width of the guide rail 3. In this case, as well, the swivel point 10 can be included in the guide member 12 adapted to function as an extension of the lower guide rail 3. In this case, the guide slot 14 for the guide member 12 may have its cross-section for example in the shape of a semicircle or a rectangle, depending on whether the guiding for the lower guide means 5 in the process of pivoting the element 4 in the guide member 12 is effected by means of the cross-sectionally circular body portion 7 of the lower guide means 5 or by means of the guide component 8 (a wheel). Thus, the disengagement of the lower guide means 6 from the lower guide rail 3 can be adapted to take place through an opening provided in a side wall of the lower guide rail 3.

Claims

An arrangement for providing a swivel point (10) for the bottom end of panel-like elements (4), especially terrace enclosing glass elements or the like partition elements, movable along upper and lower guide rails (2, 3), said elements (4) comprising first and second lower guide means (5, 6) provided at the bottom edge of an element, said lower guide means in turn comprising a body portion (7), and a guide portion (8) bearing against the lower guide rail (3), and said lower guide means (5, 6) being adapted to support the element (4) in its vertical direction and to guide the element crosswise with respect to the lower guide rail (3), a first upper guide means (9) provided at the top edge of the element (4), which is adapted to guide the element (4) crosswise with respect to the upper guide rail (2), and the element being pivotable at said swivel point (10) about a pivoting axle (11) established by the first upper guide means (9) present at the top edge of the element and by the first lower guide means (5) present at the bottom edge of the element, characterized in that the swivel point (10) is included in a guide member (12), which is adapted to function as an extension of the lower guide rail (3) and upon which the first lower guide means (5) is adapted to travel while supported by its body portion (7), or a portion separately adapted to extend therefrom, in the lengthwise direction of the lower guide rail (3), and that the second lower guide means (6) is adapted to disengage from the lower guide rail (3) when the first lower guide means (5) is at said swivel point (10).
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (12) is provided with a guide slot (14), the body portion (7) of the first lower guide means (5), or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, being adapted to bear against its bottom (15).
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (12) is adapted to accommodate the first lower guide means (5) of one or more elements (4).
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (12), and the first lower guide means (5) coinciding therewith, are provided with clamping means (16, 20) for locking said pivoting axle (11) of the element (4) at its bottom end in a fixed position, as the element is in a pivoted position.
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the first lower guide means (5) is provided with a clamping member (16), having a cross-section in the shape of a circular segment and adapted to be non-rotatable relative to the element (4) and having its straight section (17) aligned to be essentially co-directional with the guide rails (2, 3) as the element (4) is moving along the guide rails, that the guide member (12) has one (19) of its opposite straight, parallel side surfaces (18, 19) provided with a recess (20) in the shape of a circular arc, and that the clamping member (16) in the shape of a circular segment has a smallest diametral dimension (d) which is smaller than a distance (a) between the straight side surfaces (18, 19) of the guide member (12) and a greatest diametral dimension (D) which is essentially equal to a maximum distance (A) between the opposite side surfaces of the guide member in line with the recess (20) shaped like a circular arc.
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that alongside the lower guide rail (3) in a predetermined position is fitted an auxiliary guide (21), which is adapted by way of the body portion (7) of the second lower guide means (6), or a portion adapted separately to extend therefrom, to lift the second lower guide means (6) off the lower guide rail (3) as the first lower guide means (5) approaches its swivel point (10) included in the guide member (12).
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the portion adapted to extend from the body portion (7) of the lower guide means (5) comprises a guide portion (8), preferably a wheel (25).