GB2451913A

GB2451913A - Non planer magnetic seal

Info

Publication number: GB2451913A
Application number: GB0724578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Self
Original assignee: DLP Ltd
Current assignee: DLP Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-17
Filing date: 2007-12-18
Publication date: 2009-02-18
Also published as: GB0724578D0; GB0716034D0

Abstract

A seal arrangement, for example for a folding shower door, has a first elongate magnetic seal member 24 and a matching second elongate magnetic seal member 26, the first and second matching seal members 24, 26 having sealing surfaces 30 arranged to bear against each other. The seal members 24, 26 are shaped such that the sealing surfaces 30 are of non-planar form and may have a sinusoidal, curved or step shape. Each matching seal member 24, 26 has a substantially uniform thickness from its sealing surface 30 to its rear surface opposite the sealing surface.

Description

SEAL ARRANGEMENT

This invention relates to a seal arrangement and in particular to a magnetic seal arrinomnt ziiith1" f,',r ie in r QI1C,U/Pr Ae,r,t-t-,r c'reen assembl" -----,,- J The provision of magnetic seal arrangements for use with a shower screen or door to hold the screen or door in a closed position, in use, and form a water resistant seal therebetween is well known, The seal arrangement used typically comprises a pair of elongate magnetic seal members, each of which has a substantially planar sealing surface arranged, in use, to bear against the sealing surface of the other of the magnetic seal members. The magnetic seal members serve to hold the screen or door in a closed position. In order to enhance the ability of the seal arrangement to block the passage of water, the seal arrangement typically further comprises wiper or bubble seals located on either side of the magnetic seal members.

It is an object of the invention to provide a seal arrangement of simple and convenient form.

According to the present invention there is provided a seal arrangement comprising a first elongate magnetic seal member and a matching second elongate magnetic seal member, the first and second matching seal members each including a sealing surface arranged to bear, in use, against the sealing surface of the other of the seal members, the seal members being shaped such that the sealing surfaces are of non- planar form, and wherein each matching seal member has a uniform or substantially uniform thickness from its sealing surface to its rear surface opposite the sealing surface.

By using seal members shaped such that the sealing surfaces are of non-planar form, the location of the screens or doors with which the seal arrangement is used in their closed position is enhanced. Further, the provision of additional seals, for example in the form of wiper or bubble seals, to achieve the desired sealing effect may be avoided.

Furthermore, the use of matching seal members with uniform thicknesses results in an even magnetic field strength, and thus prevents misalignment problems.

Preferably, the first and second seal members have identical lateral cross-sections. In this case, the cross-sectional shape may be of or substantially of sinusoidal form.

Conveniently, the first and second seal members are of the same cross-sectional shape.

This is advantageous as, where the same material is used for both seal members, assembly may be simplified as the seal members are automatically handed, automatically achieving the correct magnetic polarity on assembly.

The sealing surfaces of the seal members may be of smoothly curved form or, alternatively, may be of stepped form.

Preferably, the seal members are formed from a plastics material containing magnetic particles. For example, the seal members may be extruded from such a material.

The invention further relates to a shower screen or door assembly comprising a first panel component, a second panel component, at least one of the panel components being moveable relative to the other of the panel components between an open position and a closed position in which an edge of the first panel component lies adjacent an edge of the second panel component, and a seal arrangement as defined hereinbefore, the first seal member of the seal arrangement being associated with the said edge of the first panel component, and the second seal member of the seal arrangement being associated with the said edge of the second panel component, the sealing surfaces of the seal members bearing against one another when the panel components occupy their closed position, the seal members serving to hold the panel components in their closed position and forming a water resistant seal therebetween.

One or both of the panel components may be movable, in use. The panel components may be arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to one another when occupying their closed position or, alternatively. may be substantially co-planar when occupying their closed position. It will be appreciated that a number of other arrangements are also possible.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of a shower screen assembly incorporating a seal arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of the invention: Figures 2 and 3 are side and cross-sectional views illustrating the arrangement of Figure I; Figure 4 is an enlargement of part of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlargement of the seal arrangement shown in Figure 4; and Figures 6 to 8 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3 illustrating a second embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5 there is illustrated a shower screen assembly comprising a pair of panel components 10, 12, each of which is pivotally mounted, in use, to an adjacent support structure (not shown), the panel components 10, 12 being moveable between an open position in which edges 14, 16 are spaced apart from one another and a closed position (as illustrated) in which the said edges 14, 16 lie adjacent one another. In the closed position, the panel components 10, 12 are substantially perpendicular to one another.

The precise nature of the panel components 10, 12 is not relevant to the present invention and so they will not be described in further detail, other than where appropriate.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the panel components 10, 12 are each provided, at the said edges 14, 16, with an elongate housing 18. for example of an extruded plastics material.

Each housing 18 defines an elongate, re-entrant recess 20, the recesses serving to mount a magnetic seal arrangement 22 to the shower screen assembly. The seal arrangement 22 comprises a first magnetic seal member 24 mounted in the recess 20 of the housing 18 of the first panel component 10, and a second magnetic seal member 26 mounted in the corresponding recess 20 associated with the second panel component 12. The first and second seal members 24, 26 are each of elongate form, extending over substantially the full height of the associated panel component 10, 12. It is envisaged that the seal members 24, 26 are of extruded plastics form, the plastics material used having embedded therein particles of a suitable magnetic material.

The seal members 24, 26 each incorporate a pair of outwardly extending integral flanges 28 which are retained beneath parts of the formations defining the recesses 20 to secure the seal members 24, 26 to the housings 18.

Each of the seal members 24, 26 includes a sealing surface 30 arranged to bear against the sealing surface 30 of the other of the seal members 24, 26 when the panel components 10, 12 occupy their closed positions. The sealing surfaces 30 are of non-planar form and are shaped to positively mate with one another. As illustrated, the sealing surfaces are of continuously curved form, each including a first part 32 of smoothly curved concave form and a second part 34 of smoothly curved convex form.

The sealing surfaces are thus of or substantially of sinusoidal form. When the panel components 10, 12 occupy their closed position, the concave first part 32 of each of the sealing surfaces 30 positively receives the convex second part 34 of the other of the seal members 24, 26.

An essential part of this invention is that the two seal members 24, 26 have an identical lateral cross-sectional shape and size. In this case, the lateral cross-sectional shape of the seal member itself is sinusoidal or substantially sinusoidal. In other words, the body of each seal member, excluding the flanges, has a succession of curves across its lateral extent.

Each seal member 24, 26, excluding the flanges, has a uniform or substantially uniform front-to-back thickness from the sealing surface 30 to the rear surface 31 across the lateral extent. As best understood from Figure 5, the front-to-back thickness is referenced as T and the lateral extent is referenced as L. It has been found through research and development to be essential to have this even or uniform thickness T, so that an even field strength between the two seal members is produced.

If the field strength is uneven across the lateral extent, then it has been found that the seal members tend to misalign during use, leading to incorrect closure or relative positioning of the panel components 10, 12.

It will be appreciated that the use of magnetic seal members 24, 26 shaped so as to include sealing surfaces of undulating, non-planar form is advantageous in that the abutment of the seal members 24, 26 with one another, and the magnetic attraction therebetween, positively locates the panel components 10, 12 in their closed position.

The use of traditional, planar faced seal members does not provide such positive location. Further, the ability of the seal members to block the passage of water is enhanced compared to traditional planar faced seal members, thus the desired level of water resistance may be achieved without requiring the provision of sepal-ate seals, for example in the form of bubble or wiper seals. Another advantage of the arrangement illustrated is that, by using the same material for both of the seal members 24, 26, the assembly procedure is simplified as, if the seal members 24, 26 are orientated such that their shapes will mate together, then the correct magnetic polarity is automatically achieved. With traditional planar faced seal members, it is possible for the seal members to appear to be correctly fitted but to actually be orientated with the incorrect magnetic polarity with the result that the magnetic seal members urge the panel components away from the closed position rather than positively holding the panel components in this position.

Turning to Figures 6 to 8 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment. The embodiments are similar in many respects and so like reference numerals will be used to denote like parts, and only the significant differences between the two embodiments will be described.

A first difference between the two embodiments is that, with the arrangement of Figures 6 to 8, the panel components 10, 12 are substantially co-planar when in their closed position, rather than substantially perpendicular to one another. A second difference is that the non-planar sealing surfaces 30 of the seal members 24, 26, rather than being of smoothly curved, undulating form, are of stepped form, the sealing surfaces 30 still being shaped to bear against one another when the panel components 10, 12 occupy their closed positions and thereby positively locate and retain the panel components 10, 12 in their closed positions as well as enhancing their ability to block the passage of water therebetween.

Importantly, as with the first embodiment, to ensure even field strength across the lateral extent of the seal members 24, 26, each seal member, exclusive of the flanges, has an identical lateral cross- sectional shape and size. Each seal member thus has a uniform or substantially uniform front-to-back thickness across its lateral extent.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made to the arrangements described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the panel components 10, 12 may be angled at other angles, when occupying their closed positions, just one of the panel components may be movable, and movement other than pivotal movement of the panel components may be used in moving the panel components between their open and closed positions. Further, other profiles for the non-planar sealing surfaces may be used.

Claims

1. A seal arrangement comprising a first elongate magnetic seal member and a matching second elongate magnetic seal member, the first and second matching seal members each including a sealing surface arranged to bear, in use, against the sealing surface of the other of the seal members, the seal members being shaped such that the sealing surfaces are of non-planar form, and wherein each matching seal member has a uniform or substantially uniform thickness from its sealing surface to its rear surface opposite the sealing surface.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second seal members have identical lateral cross-sections..

3. An arrangement according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the first and second seal members are of the same cross-sectional shape.

4. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sealing surfaces of the seal members are of smoothly curved form.

5. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lateral cross-section of the seal members is of or substantially of sinusoidal form.

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein the sealing surfaces of the seal members are of stepped form.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a lateral cross-section of the seal members if of or substantially of stepped form.

8. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding clailTns, wherein each sealing member is positively locatable on the other sealing member, so that, when located, relative lateral displacement is prevented or limited.

9. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the seal members are formed from a plastics material containing magnetic particles.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the seal members are of extruded form.

11. A seal arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A shower screen or door assembly comprising a first panel component. a second panel component, at least one of the panel components being moveable relative to the other of the panel components between an open position and a closed position in which an edge of the first panel component lies adjacent an edge of the second panel component, and a seal arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the first seal member of the seal arrangement being associated with the said edge of the first panel component, and the second seal member of the seal arrangement being associated with the said edge of the second panel component, the sealing surfaces of the seal members bearing against one another when the panel components occupy their closed position, the seal members serving to hold the panel components in their closed position and forming a water resistant seal therebetween.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein just one the panel components is movable, in use.

14. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein both of the panel components are movable, in use.

15. An assembly according to any of claims 12 to 14, where the panel components are arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to one another when occupying their closed position.

16. An assembly according to any of claims 12 to 14. wherein the panel components are arranged to be substantially co-planar when occupying their closed position.

17. A shower screen or door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.