FI114814B - Locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

Locking apparatus (3) for an openable and closable glass element (1) in a glazing system;vvhich locking apparatus comprises a first and a second locking member (4) arranged at least on the opposite edges of the glass element, and a tensile stress transmitting member (5). The locking apparatus (3) is provided with a rotary control member (6) for controlling at least the first and the second locking member (4) simul­taneously, and said control member is connected at least to the first locking member via the tensile stress transmitting member (5).

Description

114814

LOCKING SYSTEM

The invention relates to a locking apparatus for a glazing system for opening and closing a glass element according to the preamble of claim 1.

In new construction and refurbishment construction, glazing systems according to prior art, called e.g. balcony glazings. The systems 10 typically comprise a top guide and a bottom guide, within which are provided the necessary guide means between which the individual glass panes are hung. The rails are usually horizontal and attached to the building structures. The guide means allow the individual glass panes to be opened and closed, usually around a vertical axis of rotation 15, as well as slidable along the rails, whereby several glass panes form an upright stack and the balcony is completely open.

The conductive means comprise one or more locking members for the glass pane, by means of which the glass pane can be released between the guide and turned away. Typically, the glass element is locked into a guide by a pivotable tab fitted into a profile at the edge of the glass pane. : with. The locking member can be fitted to either of the profiles or to both profiles, but usually each locking member is controlled: · individually, whereby the locking of the element requires a lot of work and the other locking member; ·: Locking 25 menus may not be performed.

*] From EP 1 085 153 a locking apparatus is known in which vertically movable lugs are disposed on the upper and lower profiles of the laurel element. . inking rollers that lock the element into the guides. The axles are connected with one another by means of a wire which, by pulling perpendicular to the glass plane, allows both the upper locking member and the lower locking member to be opened simultaneously by one control movement.

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A prior art cable-based latch; The operation of the locking system is uncomfortable for the user and, moreover, the control of the glass element is particularly difficult when opened, due to the flexible cable which is used not only to open the locking means but also as a holding element. When pulled from the wire towards the wearer, due to the friction of the locking, the wire first moves away from the glass element before the la-element element opens. The release of the glass element from the locking and post-unlocking cannot be completely controlled by the handle holding the wire, because the flexible wire operates in a spring-like manner, allowing the opening element to collide with the hand or risk contact with other parts of the body.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a latch-10 apparatus for locking the glass element firmly in the guides and enabling the locking to be easily and safely unlocked in a single movement.

To accomplish this purpose, the locking device set according to the invention is essentially characterized in what is set forth in the characterizing part of independent claim 1.

Other dependent embodiments disclose certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

20

It is a further object of one embodiment of the invention to arrange the locking of the wettable glass element in the guides by means of locking means at least at different locations from the coffee so that the locking means at different points can be controlled from one place. One locking member comprises at least two locking tabs, arranged to move in substantially opposite directions. · The axles of the locking member are arranged to move in substantially parallel direction .- *! with the investment direction of the leads. Typically, the locking member axles have

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adapted to move horizontally.

Advantageously, the locking control is effected by a rotation movement of a control element, such as a torsion handle or knob, which causes the rotational movement of the locking member to move the axles as a result of the movement. Said control member may be located either in the same structure as the locking member. ·. or it can be located apart from the locking member. Preferably, oh-; The sensing device 35 is disposed in the same structure as the first locking member and the control movement is transmitted to the second steering member via a wire, a belt or a rod. For adjusting the length of the wire, it is preferable to use an advantageous adjustment structure, wherein the adjustment of the length of the wire can be made substantially without cutting the wire.

The control movement of the steering apparatus causes the rotation movement of the displacement member 5 in the locking member, resulting in a horizontal linear movement of the studs. The opposite movement of the axle is typically achieved by means of a spring member.

By guiding the locking member in the open position, the axles are disposed substantially within the locking member, releasing the locking between the glass element and the guide. The glass element in which the locking device is located can then be opened. Thereafter, the other glass elements of the glazing structure may be moved by dissolving at the resulting aperture and flipped open using openings provided in the guide of the opened locking members.

The opening and closing of the glass element provided with the locking device according to the invention is easy and convenient, since the control element used for unlocking the locking device, preferably a substantially fixed torsion handle 20 or a turning knob, also acts as a control element for the glass element. Hereby, the glass element can be controlled precisely and precisely when opening and closing the glass element, e.g. because the control member cannot move. earth relative to the glass element. One embodiment of the invention is particularly safe to use, even if a cable is shown.

I 25 The locking device is so constructed that the locking device does not open from the cable; but always use the handle or knob. It is also safe for children to use.

. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a large area of the bars of the locking member located against the guide is achieved when it is possible to use two or more bars in the locking member. In addition, a single-control locking mechanism is easy to operate and virtually eliminates the possibility of partial locking when all jointly controlled locking means are simultaneously either; 35 locked or open. As a result of the greater contact area and the prevention of partial locking, • the reliability of the locking system is improved while the risk of damage to the buckles and guide is reduced.

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In some preferred embodiments of the invention, it is possible to position the pivoting device substantially freely within the structure of the glass element, as in some embodiments, the wire can be rotated around the window region 5. In this case, the structure can be made multifaceted and well suited for other environments. In some embodiments, it is possible to connect the lock to the locking device and it is also possible to provide an opening mechanism on both sides of the glass element, such as by placing a handle on one side and a lock on the other side, such locking device being operable on both sides of the window structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the wire can be adjusted without cutting the wire, which makes installation and maintenance of the locking apparatus quick and easy. In service, the operation of the locking system can be adjusted to operate accurately even if the length of the cable in use changes, for example, as a result of stretching.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying principal drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in which: Fig. 1 shows a glass element having a locking apparatus according to the invention:::: 25: *. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the locking member, Fig. 3 shows the cable length adjusting unit, and »· 30 Fig. 4 shows the adjusting member and the displacement member of the locking member;

The glass element 1 is adapted to move with the conductors attached to the structures. den 2, which guides are typically located as exemplified; 35 up and down in relation to the glass element and are substantially U-shaped. Preferably, the guides are made by extrusion or pulling from aluminum.

5, 114874

At the edge of the glass element 1 which fits into the groove of the conductor 2, such as the upper and lower edges of the glass element of Fig. 1, there is provided a sliding rail comprising at least a sliding structure on which the glass element is guided. Typically, the aforementioned sliding structures are roll-like, friction-reducing structures.

The glass element 1 according to the invention further comprises a locking device 3 by means of which the glass element can be locked in place with respect to the guide 2.

Preferably, the locking apparatus 3 comprises locking members 4 as shown in Figure 2 located at opposite edges of the glass element 1 and controlled by a single guide member 6.

In addition to the frame, the locking member 4 comprises at least two latches 7 and, for transferring them 15, a transfer member 9 and return means. The axles 7 are arranged to engage the guides 2, typically upper and lower guides, surrounding the glass element 1. Said axles 7 are preferably bevelled at their ends, whereby when the glass element 1 closes, the bolt engages a lock housing formed by the edge of the guide 2 and the locking member 4 is preferably locked independently to the guide. In a preferred embodiment of the locking member 4, the axles 7 are arranged to move relative to the body of the locking member. : linearly in opposite directions. The transfer member 9 is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the body and said transfer member communicates with the tents 7 for moving them.

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The returning member is arranged in connection with the axle 7 and the frame so that the returning member ···. the tusel member attempts to return the axle moved by the displacement member 9 back to its home position. Preferably, the retraction member is spring-specific for the beam. . a member which is compressed when the locking member 4 is opened and returns to its ./30 basic position when the locking member is closed.

The displacement of the bars 7 can be accomplished in the spirit of the invention in several different ways. Transfer can be used. \ t for example various gear solutions to provide; 35 according to the invention, but the structure becomes more complicated than in the embodiment shown.

114814 6

The transfer member 9 may communicate directly with the guide member 6, such as a torsion knob or a torsion handle, or the guide member may be moved from the guide member to the transfer member via a tension-releasing member 5 such as a wire, belt or rod. In the embodiment of Figure 15, the lower locking member 4 is provided with a torsion handle 6 and a control movement is transmitted to the upper locking member via a cable 5. In the exemplary embodiment, the locking of the glass element 1 does not fully open if the cable 5 is pulled without the handle 6 being twisted. The upper lock is then released, but the lower lock holds the 10 elements 1. The wire 5 may be subjected to an unintentional pull, for example, in the event of a collision with the wire. In the example, the cable 5 passes directly from one locking member 4 to another, but it is possible to direct the cable along other paths, such as through the end of the glass element 1 and, if necessary, within the profiles, so that it is not disturbingly visible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention according to Figure 3, it is possible to adjust the length of the wire 5 between the locking members 4 without cutting the wire. In the example, the length adjustment is arranged in connection with the locking member 4 in which the guide member 6 is also located. The end of the cable 5 is attached to the adjusting member 8 and can be used to secure it. : a variety of known techniques, such as wire crimping

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inserting a structure formed between the structures or at the end of the cable into a suitable cavity. In the example, the adjusting member 8 is integral: 25 with the control member 6. When using the over-length cable 5, the excess cable portion is wound around the adjusting member 8, preferably in a rotating groove structure formed in the adjusting member. Thereafter, the adjusting member 8 is connected to the transfer member 9, whereby the adjusting member and the transfer member are opposite. the symmetrical grooves of the settling surfaces are aligned with each other.

: / 30 The adjusting member 8 is locked to the transfer member 9 so that the members cannot move with respect to each other, thus keeping the length of the cable 5 adjusted. The locking can be implemented, for example, by means of a screw.

The grooves of the adjusting member 8 and the transferring member 9 can be implemented in several ways; 35, but it is preferable to form the grooves as shown in Fig. 4 in a radial direction with the groove and the ridge located between the central part of the member and the outer edge. In the exemplary embodiment 114814 7, the grooves form a perimeter which rises in and out of the central axis as standard ridges. It is advantageous to place the grooves as densely as possible, since this gives a large number of possible adjustment possibilities and thus the adjustment 5 of the cable 5 as accurate as possible. It is also possible to replace the grooves with different reductions and friction surfaces, which provides very precise adjustment almost steplessly, but on the other hand, the adhesion between the surfaces can be substantially reduced compared to the grooved solutions.

10

Adjusting the length of the cable 5 in this way is very advantageous in installation and maintenance, since the cable does not have to be cut and locked separately.

The operation of the locking apparatus 3 according to the above-described embodiment for opening and closing the window system 1 of the glazing system will now be described.

The operation of the locking device 3 is controlled by a control member 6, which is preferably a handle-like or knob-like rotatable structure. Other structures, such as, for example:: a lock, may also be used as the control member 6. By turning the control member 6 to the open position, the locking member 4 is also guided to the open position when the transmission member 9 is rotated either directly by the control member or by the transmission 5, such as the cable transmission.

: ·: 25 As a result of the pivoting of the transfer member 9, the axles 7 are disposed substantially inside the locking member 4, releasing the glass element 1 and the guide 2; lock.

After unlocking, the glass element 1 in which the locking device 3 is located 30 can be turned open, i.e. in a direction substantially different from the direction of the conductors 2. Thereafter, the other glass elements of the glazing structure can be moved by flagging to the resulting aperture and opened to the position using openings formed by the opened locking members 4 in the guide.

; 35: Turning the control member 6 in a different direction than when opened, or in a preferred embodiment, releasing the control member, provides 8

1148U

moving the latches 7 of the locking members 4 to the locking position, that is, the lugs settling out of the locking member. The movement of the bars 7 is preferably caused by a spring-like returning member which, when unlocked, is compressed and tends to return to its basic position when the guide member 6 5 is rotated in the opposite direction. By slanting the ends of the bars 7 according to the example, it is advantageously possible to close the glass element 1 by simply pushing the element towards the conductor 2, whereby the control element 6 need not be separately turned in the locking.

By combining the operating modes and structures disclosed in connection with the various embodiments of the invention described above, different embodiments of the invention may be obtained which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing examples should not be construed as limiting the invention, but embodiments of the invention may freely vary within the scope of the inventive features set forth in the claims below.

Claims (9)

A locking device (3) for opening and closing a glass element (1) for a glazing system, comprising at least first and second locking members (4) disposed at opposite sides of the glass element 5 and at least first and second locking members (4) ), which control member communicates with at least the first locking member by means of a tension-releasing member (5) disposed near the surface of the glass element (1), characterized in that the locking device (3) is arranged by pulling 5) in a direction perpendicular to the tensile stress, at least one of the locking members (4) remains locked. 15 Locking device (3) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (3) is arranged such that at least one of the locking members (4) remains locked by pulling the tension-releasing member (5) in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the glass element (1). . 20 Locking apparatus according to one of the preceding claims: ·. (3), characterized in that the tension-relaying member (5) is one of the following: wire, belt, rod. The locking device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member (6) is arranged in substantially the same structure with the other locking member (4). Locking device (3) according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the control element (6) is a torsion handle or a torsion knob. Locking device (3) according to claim 1, 4 or 5, characterized in that the control element (6) is arranged to operate on a glass element; ·: (1) for opening and closing controls. 35 I · »114814 A locking device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one locking member (4) comprises at least two latches (7) arranged to move in substantially linear directions. Locking device (3) according to Claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the locking member (4) further comprises at least an adjusting member (8) for securing the tension-releasing member (5), and a adjusting member for adjusting a part of the tension-releasing member for tightening and adjusting, and for moving the struts (7) of the displacement member (9), which displacement member is arranged to be connected to the adjusting member (8). Locking device (3) according to Claim 1, 7 or 8, characterized in that the surfaces to be fitted against the transfer member (9) and the adjusting member (8) are grooved, roughened or friction coated. t · • · 1 «114814