EP3953554A1

EP3953554A1 - Sliding window arrangement and use thereof for glazing of a balcony unit

Info

Publication number: EP3953554A1
Application number: EP20788409.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johan LANDMÉR
Original assignee: Nordiska Balco AB
Current assignee: Balco Group AB
Priority date: 2019-04-08
Filing date: 2020-04-07
Publication date: 2022-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-07
Also published as: SE544307C2; EP3953554C0; EP3953554A4; EP3953554B1; WO2020209776A1; SE1950435A1

Abstract

A sliding window arrangement (10), especially for glazing of a balcony unit (1), comprises parallel upper and lower guide rails (11, 12) and at least two vertical windows (13-16), which are slidable on the guide rails (11, 12) along 5 separate horizontal paths such that one window can be slid outside another. Each window (13-16) comprises a frame structure (20) that slidingly engages said guide rails (11, 12) and holds a window pane (21), wherein at least one window (14-16) when slid to a closed position has a leading edge thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge (18) of an outer 10 window (13-15). The frame structure (20) of at least one window (13-16) comprises a pane frame, which is attached to an inside of the window pane (21) by means of an adhesive and comprises a vertical trailing member arranged behind a trailing edge portion (24) of the window pane (21), said trailing edge portion (24) stretching to and forming an outwardly exposed 15 traling edge (18) of said at least one window (13-16).

Description

SLIDING WINDOW ARRANGEMENT AND USE THEREOF FOR GLAZING

OF A BALCONY UNIT

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a sliding window arrangement comprising parallel upper and lower guide rails and at least two vertical windows, which are slidable on the guide rails along separate horizontal paths such that one window can be slid outside another, wherein each window comprises a frame structure that slidingly engages said guide rails and holds a window pane, wherein at least one window, when viewed from inside out, slid to a closed position has a leading edge thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge of an outer window and slid to an open position has a leading edge thereof arranged right behind a leading edge of the outer window.

Background of the Invention

A sliding window arrangement according to the preamble is known before from for instance WO 2008/108703 A1 and is preferably used for glazing of a balcony. The known sliding window arrangement comprises a plurality of windows, each comprising a frame structure that consists of an inner frame, which surrounds a window pane and holds it by means of a sealing strip, and an outer frame, which holds the inner frame and slidingly engages upper and lower guide rails.

Especially when used for glazing of a balcony, due to their design and size, sliding window arrangements tend to dominate appearance not only of the balcony as such, but of a building to which the balcony adheres as well. Hence, at least in some occasions sliding window arrangements, when installed on an existing building, tend to alter appearance of the building to a degree which is not acceptable from a historic point of view. On the other hand, even if installed from the beginning on a newly erected building, sliding window arrangements tend to dominate appearance and thus to shift focus from other architectural features. When thoroughly analyzing the matter, the applicant came to the conclusion that a certain type of balcony glazings on the market were less disturbing to appearance than the sliding window arrangements according to the preamble, namely balcony glazings with frameless window panes. At daylight such frameless window panes reflect the surroundings over a large unbroken area, which makes them harmonize with the surroundings and appear less dominant on a building. However, such frameless window panes are by far not as weather and sound proof as framed window panes, which is why the applicant began to look for a solution that combines the advantages of both.

Thus, against the above background it is an object of the present invention to improve a sliding window arrangement according to the preamble such that the tendency to dominate appearance of a building is reduced and yet weather proofness is maintained on a high level.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention this object is achieved in a sliding window arrangement according to the preamble in that the frame structure of at least one window comprises a pane frame, which is attached to an inside of the window pane by means of an adhesive and comprises a vertical trailing member arranged behind a trailing edge portion of the window pane, said trailing edge portion stretching to and forming an outwardly exposed trailing edge of said at least one window. Thanks to this the sliding window

arrangement in a closed position does to the outside present a more or less uniform, fully glazed appearance, which is less dominant than an appearance which is cluttered by a plurality of vertical frame members. Yet, as all windows are safely held by a frame structure, the sliding window arrangement becomes fully weather proof and stable to use.

Preferably, the adhesive comprises of a double-sided tape. A double sided tape, i.e. a tape with adhesives on both sides, is easy to use and therefore preferred before liquid adhesives. Preferably, the trailing member is dark at least where visible from outside, which helps hiding the trailing frame member to the outside and further enhances the fully glazed look.

Preferably, the trailing member comprises of a dark anodized aluminum section. Such an aluminum section is easy to accomplish and very sustainable and does improve adhesion quality as well.

Preferably, the trailing member comprises a rim, which protrudes to the outside along a trailing edge of said window pane. The rim is useful during assemby to ensure that the adhesive is correctly applied, and after assembly it hides the adhesive from being seem from the outside, although the rim preferably is lower than thickness of the window pane.

Preferably, the trailing member is in cross-section essentially L- shaped, wherein a first leg of the L-shape is outwardly covered by the trailing edge portion of the window pane, whereas the other or second leg of the L- shape from the trailing edge of the window is directed inwardly toward an underlying window. By making the trailing member essentially L-shaped in cross-section, it leaves maximum space for a window in behind, which means that the windows can be tucked away optimally in an open position. Further, the inwardly directed leg hides frame structures of a window behind, and, especially if dark, it enhances the uniform, fully glazed appearance of the sliding window arrangement.

Preferably, said pane frame extends around the entire window pane by further comprising a vertical leading member, a horizontal top member, and a horizontal bottom member, of which the top and bottom members are mechanically attached at least to the trailing member of said pane frame. A pane frame extending around the entire window pane and attached thereto by means of an adhesive, such as a double-sided tape, renders production and install easy and ensures tightness.

Preferably, the trailing member of the pane frame is mechanically attached to the top and bottom members thereof by means of lugs, which protrude from top and bottom ends of the trailing member and interengage with corresponding cutouts in the top and bottom members. The

interengagement helps to relieve stress on the adhesive attachment of the trailing member and helps to keep the trailing member in place even if subjected to forces that can arrise when the trailing member of one window during a window sliding operation encounters any part of another window.

Preferably, the frame structure further comprises a mounting frame, in which the pane frame is inserted, wherein said mounting frame comprises a vertical leading section, which is rigidly connected to the vertical leading member of the pane frame, a horizontal top section, which is rigidly

connected to the horizontal top member of the pane frame, and a horizontal bottom section, which is rigidly connected to the horizontal bottom member of the pane frame. In other words, the mounting frame is C-shaped and does not comprise any vertical section corresponding to the trailing member of the pane frame. The mounting frame can for instance comprise of aluminum sections, which in a longitudinal direction are slid onto longitudinally extending flanges of the top, bottom and leading members of the pane frame. They are then interconnected at leading corners by means of screws and at trailing corners terminated by means of caps, which are attached by means of screws and secure the pane frame to the mounting frame.

Preferably, the horizontal top and bottom sections on the outside stretch over top and bottom edge portions of the window pane. By this security is improved since a window pane is kept in place even in case the adhesive bond of a pane frame should fail.

Preferably, the trailing member of the pane frame on the inside comprises an inner flange, which is directed obliquely inwards away from said edge portion of the window pane, wherein the leading section of the mounting frame comprises an outer flange, which is directed obliquely outwards toward said edge portion of the window pane, wherein in a closed window position an inner flange of one window is slid in behind an outer flange of another window. At final closure, the interacting obliques flanges help to move the windows toward each other, which is very useful e.g. when a brush strip is used to mutually seal two adjacent windows.

Preferably, the frame structure further comprises a sliding frame to which the mounting frame is connected, wherein said sliding frame comprises a top profile slidable on the upper guide rail and a bottom profile slidable on the lower guide rail. As the sliding frame does not comprise any own parts, which interconnect its top and bottom profiles, but uses the mounting frame for that interconnection, the sliding frame itself is rendered very simple and thus cost-effective.

Preferably, wherein the mounting frame is pivotally connected to the sliding frame along a vertical axis at a trailing end of the mounting frame and releasably connected to the sliding frame at the leading section of the mounting frame. By this feature windows of the sliding window arrangement are rendered openable, which is advantageous when one wishes to open up to a maximum degree but also when one wishes to clean the windows, wherein cleaning is further simplyfied by the fact that the window panes on the outside run all the way to their trailing edges without any bordering frame members. The releasable connection can for instance be accomplished by means of an espagnolette, which is arranged on the leading section of the mounting frame.

Preferably, the sliding frame is arranged to allow only inwardly pivotation of the mounting frame. Use of the sliding frame to limit pivotation of the mounting frame is preferred and easily accomplished for instance by means of flanges, which limit outward movement of the mounting frame and outwardly conceal mounting means, such as pivots of a hinge or pins of an espagnolette.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will hereafter be described in more detail and with reference to the appended schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a sliding window arrangement that serves as a balcony glazing;

Fig. 2 illustrates two sliding windows from inside and details of frame structures thereof;

Fig. 3a illustrates a sliding window from outside and a trailing frame member thereof illustrated separately;

Fig. 3b illustrates the sliding window of fig. 3a in an assembled state; Fig. 4a illustrates interaction between parts of two sliding windows during closure; and

Fig. 4b illustrates interaction between parts of two sliding windows in a closed state.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In fig. 1 at the top a balcony unit 1 is illustrated in a perspective view. The balcony unit 1 can be placed on the facade of a building (not shown) and can, as shown, comprise two floors 2, 3 and a roof 4 on top. Between the two floors 2, 3 and between the upper floor 3 and the roof 4 left and right pillars 5, 6 extend, and between the pillars 5, 6 railings 7 are arranged for safety reasons. Above the railings 7 front openings 8 are defined that stretch all the way from the left to the right pillars 5, 6. These openings are for comfort reasons provided with sliding window arrangements 10 according to the present invention. One such sliding window arrangement 10 is shown in greater detail at the bottom of fig. 1 , where it is illustrated that the sliding window arrangement 10 forms a balcony glazing with practically no visible frame members appearing on the outside of the balcony unit 1.

The sliding window arrangement 10 shown at the bottom of fig. 1 comprises a horizontal upper guide rail 11 and in parallel therewith a horizontal lower guide rail 12, both stretching along the front of the balcony unit 1 from a left pillar 5 to a right pillar 6. Between the guide rails 11 , 12 four windows are vertically arranged, to be more precise a left window 13, a left mid window 14, a right mid window 15, and a right window 16. The number of windows is however not in any way limited to that exact number of four.

The windows 13-16 can be slid along the guide rails 11 , 12 on parallel paths (not shown), of which the path for the left window 13 is the outermost, which toward the inside is followed by the path for the left mid window 14, then by the path for the right mid window 15, and finally by the path for the right window 16.

When in a closed position, such as shown in fig. 1 , the left window 13 has a left leading edge 17 thereof abutting the left pillar 5 (or some sealing means thereon) and an opposite right trailing edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1 ) of the left mid window 14. Then the left mid window 14 has a right trailing edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1 ) of the right mid window 15, which has a right trailing edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1 ) of the right window 16. Finally, the right window 16 has a right trailing edge 18 abutting the right pillar 6 (or some sealing means thereon).

From the closed position shown in fig. 1 the windows 13-16 can be slid along the guide rails 11 , 12 to an open position, in which the windows 13-16 are superposed such that their left leading edges 17 are arranged one outside the other and their right trailing edges 18 are arranged one outside the other. Flence, in such an open position the four windows 13-16 only cover about a quarter of said opening 8.

As illustrated in fig. 1 , in the closed position of the windows 13-16 only few parts of a frame structure 20 of each window 13-16 can be seen from outside. The frame structure 20 as such will be described in further detail below with reference to the other drawing figures. Instead, in connection with fig. 1 attention is paid to a portion of the frame structure 20, which is hidden to the outside by a window pane 21 mounted on said frame structure 20, or, to be more precise, hidden by a narrow vertical edge portion 24 at the right trailing edge 18 of each window 13-16.

In the following, the right windows 14, 15 will be described in further detail with reference being had to fig. 2 and the following figures. The other two windows 13 and 14 are however essentially alike, that is, the description fits these two windows as well.

Each window 15, 16 comprises a rectangular window pane 21 , which is made of clear glass and held by a frame structure, generally depicted 20. An innermost part of that frame structure 20 is a pane frame 30, which is rigidly connected to a further part of the frame structure, a mounting frame, which is depicted 50. Finally, the frame structure 20 comprises a sliding frame 60, which is slidable along said guide rails 11 , 12 and is connected to the mounting frame 50.

The innermost pane frame 30 is according to the invention attached to an inside 22 of the window pane 21 by means of an adhesive, preferably in the form of a double-sided tape 37 (c.f. fig. 3a). The pane frame 30 as such comprises a vertical leading member 31 along a leading window edge 17, a vertical trailing member 32 along a trailing window edge 18, a horizontal top member 33 along a top window portion, and a horizontal bottom member 34 along a bottom window portion. The four members 31-34 of the pane frame are preferably made of extruded aluminum sections, which have been dark anodized. The anodization improves adherence of the double-sided tape 37 and the dark colour hides the pane frame 30 when viewed from outside 23 through the window pane 21.

The trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30 is mechanically attached to the top and bottom members 33, 34 thereof by means of lugs 40 (c.f. figs. 2 and 3a). They protrude from top and bottom ends of the trailing member 32 and interengage with corresponding cutouts 41 in the top and bottom members 33, 34 and help to keep the trailing member 32 in place if subjected to forces along a window sliding direction.

When seen in cross-section, the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30 of the left windows 13, 14 and the right mid window 15 is essentially L- shaped and comprise a first leg 35 and a second leg 36, whereas the trailing member 32 of the right window 16 is flat and only comprises a first leg 35.

The first leg 35 of all trailing members 32 lies flat on the inside 22 of the window pane 21 , to which it is attached and outwardly covered by a trailing edge portion 24 (c.f. fig. 3b) of the window pane 21. The second leg 36 of the left windows 13, 14 and the right mid window 15 is perpendicular to the first leg 35 and is directed inwards away from said trailing window edge 18 toward and into close proximity of an underlying window 14-16, that is an adjacent window immediately inside. The second leg 36 serves to hide parts of the frame structure 20 of the underlying window 14-16 to the outside, which promotes the fully glazed appearance of the sliding window arrangement 10. As the innermost, right window 16 has no such underlying window, it has no need of such second leg 36, which is why it is flat as indicated above.

Further, opposite to the second leg 36 of windows 13-15 or a corresponding place of the trailing member 32 of the innermost, right window 16, the trailing member 32 comprises a bead or rim 38 (c.f. figs. 4a, b), which has a height somewhat inferior to thickness of the window pane 21 and serves to facilitate mounting of the trailing member 32 and to conceal the double-sided tape 37 used for mounting to the outside 23.

The mounting frame 50 comprises a vertical leading section 51 , a horizontal top section 52, and a horizontal bottom section 53, which preferably are extruded aluminum sections coloured at wish. The leading section 51 is rigidly connected to the leading member 31 of the pane frame 30, e.g. by being slid onto a flange of that leading member 31. In a similar way the top and bottom sections 52, 53, respectively, are rigidly connected to the top and bottom members 33, 34, respectively, of the pane frame 30, wherein the sections 51 -53 at meeting corners are connected to each other by fasteners, such as screw, and at open ends terminated for instance by means of caps, which can assist in holding the pane frame 30 in place inside the mounting frame 50.

At least the horizontal top and bottom sections 52, 53 of the mounting frame 50 preferably comprise flanges that on the outside 23 stretch over top and bottom edge portions of the window pane 21 (c.f. figs. 3a, b). They serve primarily to keep the window pane 21 in place even if the double-sided tape 37 should fail but contribute to appearance as well.

The sliding frame 60 of the frame structure 20 is arranged to hold the mounting frame 50 and to enable sliding of a respective window 13-16 along the guide rails 11 , 12. For this the sliding frame 60 comprises a top profile 61 , which slidingly engages the upper guide rail 11 , and a bottom profile 62, which slidingly engages the lower guide rail 12.

The mounting frame 50 is held by the sliding frame 60 preferably in such a way that it can be opened by pivotation to the inside 22 around a vertical axis at a trailing window edge 18. To enable pivotation a suitable hinge mechanism (not shown) can be used at said trailing window edge 18, and to releasably lock the mounting frame 50 to the sliding frame 60 in a closed window position, a suitable locking means, such as an espagnolette (not shown), can be used at the opposite leading window edge 17. Such an espagnolette can for instance be contained in the leading section 51 of the mounting frame 50. Now, with reference being had to figs. 4a, b, an oblique inner flange 39 of the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30 and an oblique outer flange 55 of the leading section 51 of the mounting frame 50 are described in common as these flanges 39, 55 interact directly. As can be seen, the inner flange 39 of the trailing member 32 is directed obliquely inwards away from the edge portion 24 of the window pane 21 , wheras the outer flange 55 is directed obliquely outwards toward said edge portion 24 of the window pane 21 , such that when the windows 14, 15 are slid to a closed position (c.f. fig. 4b) the inner flange 39 of window 14 is slid in behind the outer flange 55 of window 15 until, finally, the above oblique franges 39, 55 abruptly stop motion. The shock caused by that is taken up by both the adhesive of the double-sided tape 37 and the interacting lugs 40 and cutouts 41. By means of the interacting flanges 39, 55 the windows 14, 15 are held firmly together, which is good for weather and sound proofness and can be used too to press a brush strip (not shown) on the leading section 51 of the mounting frame 50 onto the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30.

Finally, with reference being had to fig. 4b, some more words on the inwardly directed second leg 36 of the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30. As can be seen, in a sliding window arrangement 10, when two windows

14, 15 are slid to the closed position, the second leg 36 of the trailing member 32 of window 14 is arranged in close proximity the window pane 21 of window

15. This means that the second leg 36 of window 14 to the outside 23 covers the leading section 51 of window 15. By this said leading section 51 is totally concealed and the impression of one single large window enhanced, especially if said second leg 36 just like the remainder of the trailing member 32 is dark.

The skilled person realizes that the present invention can be altered in different ways within the scope of the claims and that for instance the shape of the frame structure can be varied in different ways while maintaining the appearance effect aimed at.

Claims

1. A sliding window arrangement (10) comprising parallel upper and lower guide rails (11 , 12) and at least two vertical windows (13-16), which are slidable on the guide rails (11 , 12) along separate horizontal paths such that one window can be slid outside another, wherein each window (13-16) comprises a frame structure (20) that slidingly engages said guide rails (11 ,

12) and holds a window pane (21 ), wherein at least one window (14-16), when viewed from inside out, slid to a closed position has a leading edge (17) thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge (18) of an outer window (13-15) and slid to an open position has a leading edge (17) thereof arranged right behind a leading edge (17) of the outer window (13- 15), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame structure (20) of at least one window (13-16) comprises a pane frame (30), which is attached to an inside (22) of the window pane (21 ) by means of an adhesive (37) and comprises a vertical trailing member (32) arranged behind a trailing edge portion (24) of the window pane (21 ), said trailing edge portion (24) stretching to and forming an outwardly exposed trailing edge (18) of said at least one window (13-16).

2. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises of a double-sided tape (37).

3. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trailing member (32) is dark at least where visible from outside.

4. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 -3, wherein the trailing member (32) comprises of a dark anodized aluminum section.

5. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein the trailing member (32) comprises a rim (38), which protrudes to the outside along a trailing edge of said window pane (21 ).

6. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein the trailing member (32) is in cross-section essentially L-shaped, wherein a first leg (35) of the L-shape is outwardly covered by the trailing edge portion (24) of the window pane (21 ), whereas the other or second leg (36) of the L-shape from the trailing edge (18) of the window (13-15) is directed inwardly toward an underlying window (14-16).

7. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 -6, wherein said pane frame (30) extends around the entire window pane (21 ) by further comprising a vertical leading member (31 ), a horizontal top member (33), and a horizontal bottom member (34), of which the top and bottom members (33, 34) are mechanically attached at least to the trailing member (32) of said pane frame (30).

8. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 7, wherein the trailing member (32) of the pane frame (30) is mechanically attached to the top and bottom members (33, 34) thereof by means of lugs (40), which protrude from top and bottom ends of the trailing member (32) and

interengage with corresponding cutouts (41 ) in the top and bottom members (33, 34).

9. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 6-8, wherein the frame structure (20) further comprises a mounting frame (50), in which the pane frame (30) is inserted, wherein said mounting frame (50) comprises a vertical leading section (51 ), which is rigidly connected to the vertical leading member (31 ) of the pane frame (30), a horizontal top section (52), which is rigidly connected to the horizontal top member (33) of the pane frame (30), and a horizontal bottom section (53), which is rigidly connected to the horizontal bottom member (34) of the pane frame (30).

10. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 9, wherein the horizontal top and bottom sections (52, 53) on the outside stretch over top and bottom edge portions of the window pane (21 ).

11. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to 9 or 10, wherein the trailing member (32) of the pane frame (30) on the inside comprises an inner flange (35), which is directed obliquely inwards away from said edge portion (24) of the window pane (21 ), wherein the leading section (51 ) of the mounting frame (50) comprises an outer flange (55), which is directed obliquely outwards toward said edge portion (24) of the window pane (21 ), wherein in a closed window position an inner flange (35) of one window (13- 15) is slid in behind an outer flange (55) of another window (14-16).

12. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 9-11 , wherein the frame structure (20) further comprises a sliding frame (60) to which the mounting frame (50) is connected, wherein said sliding frame (60) comprises a top profile (61 ) slidable on the upper guide rail (11 ) and a bottom profile (62) slidable on the lower guide rail (12).

13. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 12, wherein the mounting frame (50) is pivotally connected to the sliding frame (60) along a vertical axis at a trailing end (54) of the mounting frame (50) and releasably connected to the sliding frame (60) at the leading section (51 ) of the mounting frame (50).

14. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 13, wherein the sliding frame (60) is arranged to allow only inwardly pivotation of the mounting frame (50).

15. Use of a sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims for glazing of a balcony unit (1 ).