EP1953328B1 - Guiding threshold for sliding leaf of a door or window - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a guiding threshold for sliding door or window opening, in the form of a profile comprising a guide groove and closing and sealing means at least partially closing this groove, means constituted by a lap joint designed adapted to extend above said groove by bearing on the longitudinal edges of the latter, especially after opening of the opening.

The present invention relates to the field of building closure systems, more particularly, that of sliding doors of the garage door type or the like.

There are different opening systems for garage doors or the like, knowing that the system to which the present invention is attached is the horizontal sliding.

Specifically, the opening of such a horizontal sliding door is maintained, in the upper part, by means of a rail fixed at the height of the lintel of the door. Very frequently, but not exclusively, the opening is suspended from this rail through rollers, while in the lower part only guidance is provided.

In reality, an opposite configuration can be encountered for large openings. In this case, while being guided in its lower part the opening rests on the ground using suitable rolling means. In this case, the rail at the lintel height has a function of maintaining the opening in the vertical plane while ensuring its guidance.

In any case, the ground guidance function is provided by means of a threshold in the form of a profile having a generally U-shaped groove inside which can stagnate rainwater, but also and especially, dirt that could hinder the proper functioning of the door.

For this reason, it is quite common to design the guide elements associated with the opening and coming to move in the rail in such a way that during opening and closing, they push, naturally, the dirt at the ends of the groove of the profile. To ensure the evacuation, the latter can be provided at its ends with suitable openings.

In order to limit the infiltration of dirt into the groove, it is known to provide this type of guide threshold for a sliding door with means for closing and sealing designed to close at least partially said groove and in particular after opening the opening.

Such closure and sealing means usually take the form of brushes extending above the groove when the opening withdraws.

However, such brushes do not prevent dirt from falling into the groove under the influence of the passage, including a vehicle above the threshold of the door.

Indeed, the wheels of the vehicle tend to push the chippings between the strands of the brushes. It is also very common that the dirt accumulated above the brooms during the opening period of the door fall back into the groove under the influence of the closing of the opening.

Note also that due to the essential operating clearance between the guide means of the opening and the groove of the door sill, this opening can beat the wind which is particularly troublesome and the presence of brushes often only allows to mitigate this phenomenon without avoiding it.

It will be noted that it is also known from the documents US 6286263 and US 2005/262772 closing profiles of guide rails for sliding leaf. However, these profiles are not intended retractable and can not answer the problem.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a guiding threshold for sliding door or window opening, in the form of a profile comprising a guide groove and closing and sealing means at least partially closing this groove, means constituted by an overlap designed designed to extend above said groove bearing on the longitudinal edges of the latter, especially after opening of the opening. In particular, this lap joint is made integral, in an articulated or flexible manner, with one of the longitudinal edges of the groove.

According to another feature of the invention, on one of the longitudinal edges of the guide groove is provided a fastening groove designed adapted to cooperate by transverse engagement or longitudinal engagement with a hooking flange that includes said lap joint .

According to yet another feature of the invention, on one and / or the other of the longitudinal edges of the groove, the profile, defining the guide threshold, comprises a recess substantially corresponding to the thickness of the seal of recovery.

The advantages deriving from the present invention are that once the door opens, the lap joint covers, over the entire width, the guide groove. No dirt can infiltrate the latter.

Furthermore, when the sash is closed, the lap joint is progressively raised and tilted in a vertical position under the influence of said sash and the dirt which would have accumulated on the seam are evacuated to the outside without being able to fall back in the groove.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description relating to an exemplary embodiment.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématisée et en perspective du seuil de guidage conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une illustration schématisée et en coupe du seuil conforme à un premier mode de réalisation et dans lequel est engagé l'ouvrant ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation schématisée, partielle et en coupe du seuil conforme à l'invention, correspondant à un second mode de réalisation.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings.

• the figure 1 is a schematic representation in perspective of the guide threshold according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a schematic and sectional illustration of the threshold according to a first embodiment and in which the opening is engaged;
• the figure 3 is a schematic representation, partial and in section of the threshold according to the invention, corresponding to a second embodiment.

The present invention relates to the field of sliding doors or windows, more particularly of type garage doors or the like.

As shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, the invention relates to a guide threshold 1 for contributing to the ground guide of the opening 2 of the door or window.

This guiding threshold 1, in the form of a profile, comprises, at its upper face 3, a guide groove 4 which is substantially U-shaped in which is provided able to move the lower end of the opening 2, or tenons or guide rollers equipping the latter in the lower part.

Note, with respect to this opening 2, it may be composed of one or more foils in the form of rigid or articulated panels, or collapsible blades or stackable.

To return to the threshold 1, it also comprises means 5 for closing and sealing designed able to close, at least partially, the guide groove 4, in particular after opening the opening 2.

These closure means 5 consist of a cover gasket 6 designed to extend above the groove 4 so as to bear on the longitudinal edges 7, 8 of this groove 4.

The cover joint 6 is made integral, in an articulated or flexible manner, with one of these longitudinal edges of the groove 4.

More particularly, according to an advantageous embodiment, at this longitudinal edge 7 of the groove 4, there is provided a hooking groove 9, in particular of T-section, with which is provided able to cooperate by transverse interlocking and / or longitudinal engagement, a latching tongue 10 that comprises the corresponding longitudinal edge 11 of the lap joint 6, this latching tongue 10 extending more particularly under the latter.

Thus, this hooking tongue 10 may have a "T" shape adapted to that of the hooking groove 9.

In this respect, insofar as the guiding threshold 1 is generally interposed between the panels of the frame of the door or window, if the cover gasket 6 is provided to be inserted longitudinally into the fastening groove 9 , this lap joint 6 will be put in place before the setting of the threshold.

However, in case this lap joint 6 was likely to wear over time and it was necessary to be able to replace it, if necessary, its hooking tongue 10 will preferably be designed so as to be fitted laterally, that is to say from above in the fastening groove 9.

It can also be provided as a replacement or combination of this transverse nesting solution that at at least one of the end portions of this threshold 1, the hooking groove 9 communicates with clearance openings ( not shown) opening through which the latching tongue 10 can be disengaged or threaded longitudinally in the fastening groove 9 without the tables of the frame of the door or window, against which abut the threshold 1 does not interfere with this release and this insertion.

Moreover, it will be facilitated, in these conditions, through the use of a flexible overlap and otherwise elastic.

More particularly, through this flexibility and elasticity, said cover gasket 6 if it is naturally in extended position above the guide groove 4, bearing on the longitudinal edges 7, 8 of the latter, he is likely to get up, to free the passage in this groove 8 of the opening 2 as is visible in the figure 1 .
It should be noted that, with regard to the properties of this lap joint 6, the greater its flexibility, the shorter the gap length 12 of this lap joint 6 as it approaches the opening 2.

Indeed, at the front of the latter, this lap joint passes, by elasticity and thanks to its flexibility from a closed position of the guide groove 4 in a substantially vertical position of opening bearing on the opening 2 .

Moreover, it will be observed that this lap joint 6 is preferably made integral with the longitudinal edge 7 located on the outer side relative to the opening 2.

This configuration has the advantage of sealing the door or sliding window to infiltrations of dirt and water from the outside to the extent that in the closed position of the opening 2, the cover joint 6 is under stress, is maintained against the latter which results, not only, this sealing but still a perfect maintenance of the opening 2 avoiding it beats under the effect of wind.

As explained above, the flexibility of the lap joint 6 is an essential property for reducing the gap length 12. However, a material with such flexibility generally provides a high frictional force.

To reduce the friction force provided by the cover gasket 6 resting on the outer side 13 of the opening 2, said cover gasket 6 preferably comprises, at its lower face 14, support elements 15 made of material with a lower coefficient of friction.

Thus, these support elements 15 may be in the form of pins or at least one longitudinal boss 16 of hard material. Thus, this or these longitudinal bosses 16 may be in the form of metal inclusion or hard synthetic material coextruded with the cover gasket 6, itself designed of a flexible and elastic synthetic material.

In a particularly advantageous manner, at least one longitudinal boss 16 is thus defined at the lower face 14 of the lap joint 6 at its free longitudinal edge 17, that is to say not secured to the threshold 1.

According to an advantageous embodiment, this longitudinal projection 16 along the longitudinal edge 17 of the lap joint 6, can be defined to be accommodated in a trough 18 along the longitudinal edge 8 of the groove 4, this when the lap joint 6 is closed again the latter.

This cooperation between the trough 18 and said longitudinal boss 16 leads to a fastening of said cover gasket 6 at this longitudinal edge 8 of the guide groove 4.

According to another feature of the invention, at the longitudinal edges 7, 8 of the groove 4, the threshold 1 comprises recesses 19, 20 defining support zones for the cover gasket 6 set back from the upper contour 21 of the threshold 1.

Advantageously, these recesses 19, 20 are substantially equal in height, or even greater than said thickness 22 of the cover joint 6 so that it is merged, at its upper face with the upper outer contour 21 of the threshold. 1, avoiding the attachment of this seal or premature wear.

As has already been explained above, if the lap joint 6 can be made integral with the threshold 1 through a connection comparable to a recess, visible in the Figures 1 and 2 it is quite possible to imagine this connection by means of articulation means. For example, along the longitudinal edge 7 of the groove 4, the threshold 1 may include a groove for receiving, pivotally, a bead which is then provided with the longitudinal edge 11 of the cover gasket 6.

In addition, it is conceivable to integrate, at this joint, hinge means to enable it to pass from its covering position, in its raised position against the opening 2.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the present invention advantageously overcomes the disadvantages and solutions hitherto known.

Claims (8)

1. Guiding threshold for sliding leaf (2) of a door or window in the form of a profile bar, including a guiding groove (4) and including closing and sealing means (5), which close at least partially this groove (4), which means (5) are formed of a capping strip (6) designed capable of extending above said groove (4) by resting on the longitudinal edges (7, 8) of the latter, namely upon opening of the leaf (2), wherein the capping strip (6) is made integral, in a hinged and flexible way, with one (7) of the longitudinal edges (7, 8) of the groove (4).
2. Guiding threshold according to claim 1, wherein is provided, at the level if the longitudinal edge (7) of the groove (4), a coupling groove (9), namely with a T-shaped cross-section, which a coupling tongue (10) the corresponding longitudinal edge (11) of the capping strip (6) includes is designed capable of co-operating with through transversal encasement and/or longitudinal insertion.
3. Guiding threshold according to claim 2, wherein the coupling tongue (10) has a T-shape adapted to that of the coupling groove (9).
4. Guiding threshold according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the coupling groove (9) communicates, at the level of at least one of the end portions of the threshold (1), with free apertures through which the coupling tongue (10) of the capping strip (6) is designed capable of being inserted longitudinally into said coupling groove (9).
5. Guiding threshold according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the capping strip (6) is made out of flexible and elastic material, in particular synthetic material.
6. Guiding threshold according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said capping strip (6) includes, at the level of its inner face (14) aimed at applying against the sliding leaf (2), in the closing position of the sliding leaf, supporting elements (15) in the form of spikes and/or at least one longitudinal boss (16) made of material with low friction coefficient, namely of hard material.
7. Guiding threshold according to claim 6, wherein the capping strip (6) includes, at the level of its inner face (14) and at the level of its free longitudinal edge (17), a longitudinal boss (16) designed capable of being accommodated in a channel (18) in the longitudinal edge (8) of the groove (4) in closing position of the latter.
8. Guiding threshold according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it includes, at the level of the longitudinal edges (7, 8) of the groove (4), setbacks (19, 20) defining supporting areas for the capping strip (6), these setbacks (19, 20) having essentially the same height, even larger than the thickness (22) of this capping strip (10).

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