EP2118422A1

EP2118422A1 - Window, sliding window arrangement provided therewith and balcony glazing

Info

Publication number: EP2118422A1
Application number: EP08712724A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Björkman
Original assignee: Nordiska Balco AB
Current assignee: Nordiska Balco AB
Priority date: 2007-03-07
Filing date: 2008-02-20
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Also published as: SE0700550L; EP2118422A4; WO2008108703A1; SE529745C2

Abstract

A sliding window arrangement, used in glazing a balcony side, has an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail (101, 102) and, between the guide rails, vertical windows (105, 106 and 107) which are mounted to be laterally movable along the same and which are movable back and forth in the lateral direction each along a path. Each window (105, 106, 107) has a rectangular inner frame (111, 112, 113), which is mounted in a rectangular outer frame (114, 115, 116), the inner frame being pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the window, relative to the outer frame between a closed position and an open position. Each window is designed so that the vertical frame parts of the outer frame and inner frame, which frame parts are positioned at the other vertical lateral edge of the window, consist of a common frame part (126, 127, 128), which is releasably connected to the two horizontal frame parts (114a, b, 115a, b, 116a, b) of the outer frame (114, 115, 116) and is fixedly connected to the two horizontal frame parts of the inner frame (111, 112 and 113) to be entrained, after being released from the horizontal frame parts of the outer frame, in the pivoting of the inner frame relative to the outer frame. The windows (105, 106, 107) are movable to a movement end position, where their inner frames are pivotable to an open position to open said balcony side essentially along its entire width.

Description

WINDOW, SLIDING WINDOW ARRANGEMENT PROVIDED THEREWITH

AND BALCONY GLAZING

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a window, which is adapted to be arranged vertically between an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail in a sliding window arrangement included in a balcony glazing to be laterally moved along said guide rails and which has a rectangular window panel, which is mounted in a rectangular outer frame, the window panel being pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the window, relative to the outer frame between a closed position, in which the window panel extends along the guide rails, and an open position.

The invention also relates to a sliding window arrangement, which is adapted to be used when glazing one side of a balcony and which has an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail and, between the guide rails, vertical windows, which are mounted to be laterally movable along the same and which are movable back and forth in the lateral direction each along a path, the paths of the windows being parallel to and positioned next to each other, each window having a rectangular window panel, which is mounted in a rectangular outer frame, and the window panel being pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the window, relative to the outer frame between a closed position, in which the window panel extends along the guide rails, and an open position, in which it is pivoted inward toward the inside of the sliding window arrangement in order to the pivoted inward on the balcony.

The invention finally also relates to a balcony glazing, which has a sliding window arrangement of this type on at least one balcony side. Background Art

A balcony glazing with a sliding window arrangement and windows of the above type is disclosed in WO 03/064800. This known balcony glazing will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs 1-4, Fig. 1 showing the prior art balcony glazing from the outside of the balcony, Fig. 2 being a sectional view along line M-Il in Fig. 1 and showing glass doors included in the glazing in a position completely covering the front side of the balcony, Fig. 3 being a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the glass doors moved to a first end position to the left (seen from the inside of the balcony), and Fig. 4 being a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the glass doors moved to a second end position to the right (seen from the inside of the balcony). The glazing shown in Fig. 1 is arranged at the front side of a balcony.

The balcony glazing is arranged on a supporting stand 1 , which is mounted between a lower balcony slab and, arranged straight above the same, an upper balcony slab. The supporting stand 1 has an upper horizontal frame part 2, a lower horizontal frame part 3 and two vertical frame parts 4 and 5. The horizontal frame parts 2 and 3 constitute guide rails and carry between them a plurality - in the shown example three - juxtaposed vertical glass doors 6, 7 and 8 which are laterally movable. The vertical frame parts 4 and 5 extend downward past the lower horizontal frame part 3 and rest on the lower balcony slab. Cover plates 9, which form part of a balcony parapet, are supported between the vertical frame parts 4 and 5 under the lower horizontal frame part 3.

Each glass door 6, 7 and 8 consists of a rectangular glass pane 10, 11 and 12, a rectangular inner frame 13, 14 and 15, in which the glass pane is mounted, and a rectangular outer frame 16, 17 and 18, in which the inner frame is pivotally mounted about a vertical pivot axis 19, 20 and 21 positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the glass door.

The outer frames 16-18 and, thus, the glass doors 6-8 as a whole are movable back and forth each along a rectilinear path. The moving paths of the outer frames 16-18 extend parallel to and adjacent to each other along the entire length of the horizontal frame parts 2 and 3 and are formed in the underside of the upper frame part 2 and the upper side of the lower frame part 3. The outer frames 16-18 are mounted and guided in the horizontal frame parts 2 and 3.

Each glass door 6, 7 and 8 is movable between a first end position, in which it is located close to the vertical frame part 5, the left frame part seen from inside, and which position is shown for the three glass doors in Fig. 3, and a corresponding, second end position, shown in Fig. 4, adjacent to the vertical frame part 4, the right frame part seen from inside. Each glass door 6, 7 and 8 is movable in a first direction P1 from the first end position to the second position and in the direction P2 opposite to said first direction.

When the glass doors 6-8 are in the position illustrated in Figs 1 and 2, they cover the front side of the balcony along its entire width. When the glass doors 6-8 are in the end position shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4, the front side of the balcony is maximally open.

Each of the two glass doors 6 and 7 has, at the vertical lateral edge where its pivot axis 19, 20 is positioned, an engaging means 22a, 23a formed on the outside of the outer frame 16, 17, and each of the two glass doors 7 and 8 has, at its other vertical lateral edge, an engaging means 22b, 23b formed on the inside of the outer frame 17, 18. As will be evident from Figs 2- 4, the engaging means 22a and 22b on one side and the engaging means 23a and 23b on the other side are arranged to cooperate with each other in such a manner that the glass door 7 and the glass door 8 respectively, when the engaging means 22a and 22b and respectively 23a and 23b engage each other, entrain the glass door 6 and the glass door 7 respectively when being moved in the direction of the arrow P2, that is toward the first end position. Correspondingly, of course the glass door 6 and the glass door 7 in this engaging position entrain the glass door 7 and the glass door 8 respectively when being moved in the direction of the arrow P1 , that is toward the second end position. As will also be seen from Figs 2-4, the glass doors 6-8 are movable relative to each other in the opposite directions, whether the engaging means engage each other or not. As mentioned above, the inner frames 13, 14 and 15 are pivotally arranged in their outer frame 16, 17 and 18 respectively. As will be evident from Figs 2-4, the inner frames can, from their closed position shown in Figs 1-4, however only be pivoted inward, that is inward toward the balcony, to the open position, but not be pivoted outward. In the first end position of the glass doors 6, 7, 8 shown in Fig. 3, only the inner frame 13 can be pivoted inward to the open position, whereas the inner frame 14 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 7 is moved so far to the right (arrow P1) from the position shown in Fig. 3 that it passes the glass door 6. Correspondingly, the inner frame 15 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 1 is moved so far to the right (arrow P1) from the position shown in Fig. 3 that it passes both the glass door 7 and the glass door 6.

In the second end position of the glass doors 6, 7, 8 shown in Fig. 4, the inner frame 13 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 6 is moved a short distance to the left (arrow P2) to be released from the frame part 4. The inner frame 14 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 6 is moved so far to the left (arrow P2) from the position shown in Fig. 4 that it passes the glass door 7 (it should be noted that due to the engagement of the engaging means 22a and 22b with each other, the glass door 7 cannot be moved so far to the left that it passes the glass door 6). Correspondingly, the inner frame 15 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when both the glass door 6 and the glass door 7 are moved so far to the left (arrow P2) that they pass the glass door 8.

In the fully covering position of the glass doors 6-8 shown in Fig. 2, the inner frame 13 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 6 is moved a short distance to the left (arrow P2) to be released from the frame part 4. The inner frame 14 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when the glass door 6 is moved further to the left (arrow P2) and passes the glass door 7. The inner frame 15 can be pivoted inward to the open position only when both the glass door 6 and the glass door 7 are moved so far to the left that they pass the glass door 8, which means that this, too, must be moved to the right (arrow P1).

By the possibility of pivoting the inner frames 13, 14 and 15 inward toward the balcony, the cleaning of the windows will be significantly facilitated.

As mentioned above, the front side of the balcony is maximally open when the glass doors 6-8 are in the first end position (Fig. 3) and in the second end position (Fig. 4). In the described and shown example, as much as slightly more than one third of the front side of the balcony is, however, still covered by the glass doors 6, 7 and 8 when they are in the end positions according to Figs 3 and 4. Summary of the Invention

The main object of the invention is to provide a window, which is designed so that, when used in a sliding window arrangement in a balcony glazing of the type described above together with other similar windows, it makes it possible to easily open a glazed balcony side along essentially the entire width of the sliding window arrangement and, thus, the balcony side.

The main object is achieved by a window, which is of the type described by way of introduction and characterised in that the vertical frame part, positioned at the other vertical lateral edge of the window, of the outer frame is a separate frame part, which is releasably connected to the other frame parts of the outer frame and is fixedly connected to the window panel to be entrained, after being released from the other frame parts of the outer frame, in the pivoting of the window panel relative to the outer frame. In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular window panel is mounted in a rectangular inner frame and is, by means of the same, pivotally mounted in the outer frame about said pivot axis and the vertical frame parts of the outer frame and the inner frame, which frame parts are positioned at said other vertical lateral edge of the window, consist of a common frame part, formed of said separate frame part, which is fixedly connected to the window panel by the two horizontal frame parts of the inner frame.

In another preferred embodiment, the separate/common frame part is releasably connected to the two horizontal frame parts of the outer frame by an espagnolette type locking device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding window arrangement, which makes it possible, when used in a balcony glazing, to easily open a glazed balcony side along its entire width.

This object is achieved by a sliding window arrangement, which is of the type stated by way of introduction and is provided with windows according to the invention.

The two windows in each pair of windows, which are movable along two juxtaposed paths, preferably have engaging means, which, when the window in the pair which is positioned next to the outside of the sliding window arrangement is placed with said one vertical lateral edge essentially opposite the other vertical lateral edge of the window which is positioned next to the inside of the sliding window arrangement, engage each other in such a manner that the first-mentioned window in the pair is freely movable relative to the latter window in a first direction, in which said one vertical lateral edge is a front lateral edge, but entrain the latter window when being moved in the opposite direction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a balcony glazing, which has a sliding window arrangement on at least one balcony side and in which this balcony side can easily be opened essentially along its entire width.

This additional object is achieved by a balcony glazing, in which the sliding window arrangement is a sliding window arrangement according to the invention and its windows are movable in said first direction to a movement end position, in which their window panels are pivotable to an open position so as to open said balcony side essentially along its entire width. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the above described prior art balcony glazing from the outside of the balcony.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line H-Il in Fig. 1 and shows glass doors included in the glazing in a position fully covering the front side of the balcony.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but shows the glass doors moved to a first end position to the left (seen from the inside of the balcony).

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but shows the glass doors moved to a second end position to the right (seen from the inside of the balcony).

Fig. 5 shows, from the inside of a balcony, a sliding window arrangement according to the invention included in a balcony glazing according to the invention and arranged at the front side of the balcony, windows according to the invention included in this arrangement being shown in a movement position completely covering the front side of the balcony.

Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 5 but shows a window moved to an opening end position and in an open position.

Fig. 7 corresponds to Figs 5 and 6 but shows all windows moved to the opening end position and in an open position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along line IX-IX in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 shows a window seen from the inside of the balcony.

Fig. 11 shows the window in Fig. 9 in a horizontal section along line Xl-Xl.

Fig. 12 is a sectional end view along line XII-XII in Fig. 7. Description of a Preferred Embodiment The sliding window arrangement in Figs 5-7 is arranged at the front side of a balcony and is included in a balcony glazing, which in an ordinary manner extends along the three "free" sides of the balcony. A similar sliding window arrangement is thus arranged at each of the two other sides.

The sliding window arrangement according to the invention has an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail 101 and 102 respectively, which extend between two vertical posts 103 and 104. The guide rails 101 and 102 support between them a plurality - in the example here shown three - juxtaposed vertical windows 105, 106 and 107 which are movable in the lateral direction.

Each window 105, 106 and 107 consists of a rectangular window panel 108, 109 and 110 respectively, preferably of glass, a rectangular inner frame 111 , 112 and 113 respectively, in which the window panel is mounted, and a rectangular outer frame 114, 115 and 116 respectively, in which the inner frame is pivotally mounted about a vertical pivot axis positioned at one vertical lateral edge (to the right in Figs 5-7) of the window. The pivot axes of the inner frames 111 , 112 and 113 are in this embodiment defined by an upper and a lower pivot pin 117a, b, 118a, b and 119a, b respectively. Each inner frame 111 , 112 and 113 is pivotable between a closed position, in which it extends along the guide rails 101 and 102, and an open position, in which it is pivoted inward on the balcony and in which cleaning of the outside of the window panels is significantly facilitated. The outer frames 113, 115, 116, and, thus, the windows 105, 106, 107 as a whole are movable back and forth each along a rectilinear path. The moving paths of the outer frames 114, 115, 116 extend parallel to and adjacent to each other along the entire length of the horizontal guide rails 101 and 102. The moving paths are defined by upper guide strips 120a, 121a and 122a, which are formed on the underside of the upper guide rail 101 (see Fig. 8), and by lower guide strips 120b, 121b and 122b, which are formed on the upper side of the lower guide rail 102 opposite the corresponding upper guide strips. The outer frames 114, 115 and 116 are in a prior art manner carried on their lower guide strip 120b, 121b and 122b respectively, by rolls 123 and are guided in a prior art manner by means of their upper guide strip 120a, 121a and 122a respectively.

Each window 105, 106 and 107 is movable between a first end position, in which it is positioned in the vicinity of the vertical post 103, to the left seen from inside, and a second end position, referred to as the opening end position, in which it is positioned in the vicinity of the vertical post 104, to the right seen from inside. Each window is movable in a first direction P3 from the first end position to the opening end position and in the direction P4 opposite to said direction. When the windows 105, 106 and 107 are in the movement positions which are shown in Fig. 5, they cover the front side of the balcony along its entire width. When they are in the above-mentioned end positions, slightly more than one third of the width of the front side is still covered by the windows 105, 106, 107, in the same way as in the above described prior art balcony glazing.

Each of the two windows 105 and 106, which are the two outermost ones, that is the windows next to the outside of the balcony, has, at the vertical lateral edge where its pivot axis (the pivot pins 117a, b and 118a, b respectively) is positioned, an engaging means 124 and 125, respectively, formed on the inside of the outer frame. Each of the two windows 106 and 107, which are the two innermost ones, that is the windows next to the inside of the balcony, has at its other vertical lateral edge, that is at the vertical lateral edge which is opposite the vertical lateral edge where the pivot pins 118a, b and 119a, b respectively are placed, an engaging means 124' and 125', respectively, formed on the outside of the outer frame. As is evident from Fig. 9, the engaging means 124 and 124' on one side and the engaging means 125 and 125' on the other side are arranged to cooperate with each other in such a manner that the window 106 and the window 107 respectively, when the engaging means 124 and 124' and respectively 125 and 125' engage each other, entrain the window 105 and the window 106 respectively when being moved in the direction of the arrow P3, that is toward the opening end position. Correspondingly, of course the window 105 and the window 106 entrain, in this engaging position of the engaging means 124 and 124' and respectively 125 and 125', the window 106 and the window 107 respectively when being moved in the direction of the arrow P4, that is toward the first end position. As is also evident from Fig. 9, the windows 105, 106 and 107 are movable relative to each other in the opposite directions, whether the engaging means engage each other or not.

Each window 105, 106 and 107 is designed so that the vertical frame parts of the inner frame and outer frame, which frame parts are positioned at said other vertical lateral edge of the window (that is the vertical lateral edge opposite the vertical lateral edge where the pivot pins are placed), consist of one and the same and, thus, common frame part 126, 127 and 128 respectively. Each such common frame part 126, 127 and 128 is releasably connected to the upper horizontal frame part 114a, 115a and 116a respectively and the lower horizontal frame part 114b, 115b and 116b respectively of the outer frame 114, 115 and 116 respectively by a locking device 129 of a suitable type. Fig. 10 shows, as an example, an espagnolette type locking device 129. Each such common frame part 126, 127 and 128 is in addition fixedly connected to the two horizontal frame parts of the inner frame 111 , 112 and 113 respectively to be entrained in the pivoting of the inner frame relative to the outer frame, after each frame part has been released from the two horizontal frame parts of the outer frame 114, 115 and 116, respectively, by operation of the locking device 129. The above described sliding window arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to easily open the glazed front side of the balcony along its entire width, that is provide the state illustrated in Fig. 7. This is done as follows:

Starting from the movement position of the windows 105, 106 and 107 shown in Fig. 5, the window 105 positioned next to the outside of the balcony is moved to the right (in the direction of the arrow P3) to the opening end position, where its inner frame 111 is pivoted from the closed position shown in Fig. 5 to the open position, after the two windows 106 and 107 being moved to the left (in the direction of the arrow P4). The achieved movement positions of the windows 105, 106 and 107 are shown in Fig. 6. Subsequently the intermediate window 106 is moved to the opening end position, where its inner frame 112 is pivoted to the open position. Finally, also the innermost window 107 is moved to the opening end position, where its inner frame 113 is pivoted to the open position. Now the state illustrated in Fig. 7 is reached, in which the front side of the balcony is open along its entire width. As is evident from Fig. 12, the inner frames of the windows are in the open position placed at an angle of about 90° to the guide rails 101 and 102.

The window, the sliding window arrangement and the balcony glazing can be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. In particular the window panel of the window can be mounted in an optional manner in the outer frame, that is not necessarily by means of an inner frame, although this is preferred. The important thing of the invention is that the vertical frame part, at the lateral edge which is opposite the lateral edge where the pivot axis is positioned, of the outer frame is a separate frame part, that is a frame part separated from the other frame parts of the outer frame, which frame part is releaseably connected to the other frame parts of the outer frame and fixedly connected to the window panel to be entrained in the pivoting of the window panel relative to the outer frame, after being released from the other frame parts of the outer frame.

Claims

1. A window, which is adapted to be arranged vertically between an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail (101 , 102) in a sliding window arrangement included in a balcony glazing to be laterally moved along said guide rails and which has a rectangular window panel (108; 109; 110), which is mounted in a rectangular outer frame (114; 115; 116), the window panel being pivotable about a vertical pivot axis (117a, b; 118a, b; 119a, b), positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the window (105; 106; 107), relative to the outer frame between a closed position, in which the window panel extends along the guide rails, and an open position, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the vertical frame part, positioned at the other vertical lateral edge of the window (105; 106; 107), of the outer frame (114; 115; 116) is a separate frame part (126; 127; 128), which is releasably connected to the other frame parts (114a, b; 115a, b; 116a, b) of the outer frame (114; 115; 116) and is fixedly connected to the window panel (108; 109; 110) to be entrained, after being released from the other frame parts of the outer frame, in the pivoting of the window panel relative to the outer frame.

2. A window as claimed in claim 1 , in which the rectangular window panel (108; 109; 110) is mounted in a rectangular inner frame (111 ; 112, 113) and is, by means of the same, pivotally mounted in the outer frame (114; 115, 116) about said pivot axis (117a, b; 118a, b; 119a, b) and in which the vertical frame parts of the outer frame (114; 115; 116) and the inner frame (111 ; 112; 113), which frame parts are positioned at said other vertical lateral edge of the window (105; 106; 107), consist of a common frame part, formed of said separate frame part (126; 127; 128), which is fixedly connected to the window panel (108; 109; 110) by the two horizontal frame parts of the inner frame (111 ; 112; 113).

3. A window as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the separate/common frame part (126; 127; 128) is releasably connected to the two horizontal frame parts (114a, b; 115a, b; 116a, b) of the outer frame (114; 115; 116) by an espagnolette type locking device (129).

4. A sliding window arrangement, which is adapted to be used when glazing one side of a balcony and which has an upper and a lower horizontal guide rail (101 , 102) and, between the guide rails, vertical windows (105; 106; 107), which are mounted to be laterally movable along the same and which are movable back and forth in the lateral direction each along a path, the paths of the windows being parallel to and positioned next to each other, each window having a rectangular window panel (108; 109; 110), which is mounted in a rectangular outer frame (114; 115; 116), and the window panel being pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, positioned at one vertical lateral edge of the window, relative to the outer frame between a closed position, in which the window panel extends along the guide rails, and an open position, in which it is pivoted inward toward the inside of the sliding window arrangement in order to be pivoted inward on the balcony, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that each window (105; 106; 107) is a window as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3.

5. A sliding window arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the two windows (105, 106; 106, 107) in each pair of windows, which are movable along two juxtaposed paths, have engaging means (124, 124'; 125, 125'), which, when the window (105; 106) in the pair which is positioned next to the outside of the sliding window arrangement is placed with said one vertical lateral edge essentially opposite the other vertical lateral edge of the window (106; 107) which is positioned next to the inside of the sliding window arrangement, engage each other in such a manner that the first-mentioned window (105; 106) in the pair is freely movable relative to the latter window (106; 107) in a first direction (P3), in which said one vertical lateral edge is a front lateral edge, but entrain the latter window (106, 107) when being moved in the opposite direction (P4).

6. A balcony glazing, which has a sliding window arrangement on at least one balcony side, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the sliding window arrangement is a sliding window arrangement as claimed in claim 5 and that its windows (105; 106; 107) are movable in said first direction (P3) to a movement end position, in which their window panels (108; 109; 110) are pivotable to an open position so as to open said balcony side essentially along its entire width.