NO315573B1 - Arrangement for reversible glazing of an open area - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for reversible glazing-in of an open space, with at least one covering unit (102) carried on roller elements (103, 104, 105) between guide rails (106, 107). When in a predetermined position, each covering unit (102) is able to perform a pivoting motion while being arrested from horizontal transport by a parking station (112, 113). One or several of the covering units (102) comprise(s) a third roller element (105), wherein all three roller elements (103, 104, 105) comprise spherical shapes or truncated spherical shapes. The guide rails (106, 107) comprise substantially tubular profiles (114) having inner surfaces which partially enclose the three roller elements (103, 104, 105) during the horizontal transport and at least the first (103) and the second (104) roller element during the pivoting motion. The first and/or second hinge device comprises a recess and/or a protuberance (116, 117), arranged for receiving or being inserted in, and for cooperating with at least one protuberance and/or at least one recess (118, 119) of the parking station during the pivoting motion. The invention is implemented in connection with open spaces such as balconies, terraces, patios and the like.

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement for reversible glazing of an open area.

As used here, "reversible glazing" shall be understood as the type of open area that can be completely or partially surrounded by cladding elements that are guided on and slide along guide rails, and that this process can also take place in the opposite direction when it is desired to open the area hot or partial.

The invention is primarily intended to be used in connection with reversible glazing of fully or partially open areas such as balconies, terraces, patios and the like using sliding windows, sliding doors, sliding plates or the like, but can also be used e.g. in a greenhouse.

Within the field of glazing or covering open areas, a large number of different sliding systems, and in certain cases also rotatable, window, door or panel elements, are previously known.

According to this, describes e.g. patent publication WO 97/11247 a method for glazing an open area, for example balconies, by using a plurality of rectangular or square units comprising a sheet of glass or plastic, the units being intended to be moved on upper and lower longitudinal rails. According to WO 97/11247, the units are moved along the rails and brought to pass one or more 90° corners, which form a connection area for two adjacent rails forming a 90° angle with respect to each other. When the glazed area is to be opened again, the units are moved towards the end area of a rail and each unit is rotated outwards in such a way that it is retained in position in the lower and upper rail by means of two members which are arranged essentially directly above each other, after which the unit is parked close to a unit in front.

In WO 97/11247, an apparatus for glazing an open area, such as balconies, is also described. The apparatus includes a variety of rectangular or square units with plates of glass or plastic which are

intended to cooperate to cover the open area, in that the units can be brought to a parked position where the previously glazed area is open and the units are intended to be moved along an upper and a lower longitudinal rail. The apparatus described is stated to include each unit being provided with upper and lower members for cooperation with the two rails, the members being arranged so that their positions form a triangle. Each member is arranged at a corner position of the unit and has a first portion attached to the corner portion of the unit, and a second portion including a rotatable wheel mounted in bearings on a substantially horizontal axis. The second part of the body can rotate relative to the first part. Each unit is specified to be designed to pass a 90° corner relative to the first rail. Furthermore, it is claimed that each unit can pivot outwards from its position when moved along the rail, so that the unit suspended in an upper and a lower member can be moved to an end position, where each unit can be parked close to the next in the smallest possible space.

In WO 97/11247 it is also described that each unit advantageously includes two members in its lower part, one at each corner of the unit, and that a part of the lower longitudinal rail is cut away and replaced with a door that can be opened and closed , so that one of the lower members can be released from the rail and the unit respectively, can be rotated outwards while the unit is suspended in the upper member and in the remaining lower member.

Furthermore, patent publication EP 0 685 024 B1 describes a rotatable and sliding glazing construction which includes one or more window units which are guided between upper and lower guide rails for horizontal sliding movement along these, where each window unit has a front edge and a rear edge and is adapted to, by a predetermined position for each window unit along the guide rails, to perform a pivoting movement around its front edge by means of a hinge arrangement which is guided on the window unit and is arranged near the front edge, the structure further including means for locking the hinge arrangement against further sliding movement at the predetermined position before and during the turning movement.

According to EP 0 685 024 B1, the means for locking the hinge arrangement includes a means for displacing a part of the window assembly inwards to achieve that at least part of the hinge arrangement is guided into and held firmly in a receiving shaft element mounted on one of the guide rails.

In patent publication US 4,573,286, a device for suspending a movable plate or similar load is described, which device includes at least one rolling element attached to the movable plate by means of a coupling device. The rolling element is claimed to include two rollers in cooperation with the rolling surfaces of a tubular guide rail, which can have rectilinear parts and curved parts, where the rolling surfaces of the guide rail are arranged in an opposite relationship on each side of the coupling element at an oblique angle in relation to the coupling element. The profile of the roller surfaces and the two rollers are designed to be matched to each other to prevent movement of the roller element in a plane across the tubular guide rail.

The previously known arrangements for reversible glazing of open areas with window units, plates or other cladding units can be perceived to be associated with certain problems.

Arrangements where the units can only move in the direction of the guide rails and cannot be opened by turning inwards, show a limited flexibility in cases where it is desirable to open the whole or only part of the area in question. In order to open up, for example, a glazed balcony, arrangements with sliding but non-rotating units will either require that there is sufficient available space to be able to push the units away in sequence in the direction of the guide rails, or that several pairs of guide rails one arranged parallel to each other, so that the cladding units on different pairs of guide rails can pass each other when glazing or opening the balcony.

As can be seen from the foregoing, there are several known arrangements where the units can both slide on rolling elements in the direction of the guide rails and can be opened by turning them around one of their edges by means of hinge arrangements attached to the upper and lower rolling elements which carry the unit underneath the turning movement. Such arrangements generally require a complicated opening method where a cover or the like is removed so that one or more rolling elements at the other edge of the unit are released from the guide rail or rails via a recess. Furthermore, it can be perceived as less attractive that one or more rolling elements follow the cladding unit when opening it, since the outwardly turned cladding unit thereby becomes significantly more visible and can disrupt the aesthetic expression of a beautiful view, wall or the like.

Previously known arrangements with cladding units which in their opened/overturned position can slide further along the guide rails entail a danger of the cladding unit colliding in such a way that e.g. a windowpane is broken.

During the assembly of arrangements with conventional type rolling elements, an accurate fit of the guide rails is necessary to enable the cladding units to slide forward and backward on the guide rails without binding or jerking, especially when the guide rails includes curved sections that the cladding units must be able to pass.

Conventional arrangements often have roller elements with a cylindrical shape and generally allow the roller elements to move slightly in the transverse direction of the guide rails, e.g. in the axial direction of the cylinder shape. Such slack is undesirable, as it can cause problems with noise or rattling when the units are pushed along the guide rails, or when strong gusts of wind occur.

Furthermore, the previously known arrangements for reversible glazing often have bulky hinge arrangements and roller elements, with the result that the cladding units which are parked in the outwardly rotated position require a large space and can be perceived as disturbing.

A first purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an arrangement for reversible glazing, which solves the problem of slack in the suspension of the cladding units in the guide rails and bulky hinge arrangements and rolling elements, and which ensures that the cladding units in the arrangement can slide along and be turned outwards from the guide rails on a safe, smooth and quiet way when parked.

According to claim 1, this first purpose is achieved by means of an arrangement for reversible glazing of an open area, which arrangement includes one or more cladding units which are guided on rolling elements between upper and lower guide rails for substantially horizontal movement along the guide rails, each cladding unit has a first edge and a second edge, and includes, near the first edge, a first hinge device connected to a first roller element guided by the upper guide rail and a second hinge device connected to a second roller element guided by the lower guide rail such that each cladding unit is capable of pivoting about its first edge when in a predetermined position along the guide rails, the cladding unit being blocked from further horizontal movement along the guide rails by a parking station acting on at least one of the hinge devices, and that one or more of the cladding units further include a third roller element, which arrangement is characterized by the fact that the first, second and third roller elements all include spherical shapes or truncated spherical shapes, and that both the upper and lower guide rails include substantially tubular profiles with internal surfaces, which during the horizontal movement partially surrounds the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes of the first, second and third rolling elements and during the turning movement partially surrounds the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes of at least the first and the second rolling element, and that the first and/or second hinge device includes a recess and the parking station includes at least one projecting member, which is arranged to, during the turning movement, step into and interact with the recess.

A second purpose of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for reversible glazing where the cladding elements are as discreet as possible when parked in an outwardly rotated condition.

According to claim 2, this second purpose is achieved in that the third roller element is placed on a locking unit, arranged for during the horizontal movement to lock a locking member to the cladding unit and for in the predetermined position to release the locking member and enable the turning movement, whereby the the inner surfaces of the tubular profile of either the upper or the lower guide rail partially surround the spherical shape or truncated spherical shape of the third roller element both during the turning movement and during the horizontal movement.

Further purposes of the present invention appear from the following description, while the features which make these purposes possible are clear from the accompanying, non-independent claims.

The invention will subsequently be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective of part of the arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a simplified and schematic sketch seen from above, with parts cut away, of an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, where an open area in the form of a rectangular, set back balcony is glazed with three cladding units in the arrangement. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement in fig. 2, while the front surface of the balcony is opened up, alternatively closed, by means of the arrangement according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows the movement pattern, seen from above, of the cladding units in an arrangement according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, where an open area in the form of a rectangular, protruding balcony is opened up using the arrangement according to the invention. Fig. 5 shows the movement pattern, seen from above, of the cladding units in an arrangement according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, where an open area in the form of a projecting balcony with slanted corners is glazed using the arrangement according to the invention. Fig. 6 shows a detailed sketch of a hinge device included in the arrangement in fig. 1 to which a roller element is connected. Fig. 7 shows a different sub-component which is included in the hinge device and the roller element in fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows various sub-components which are included in a locking unit with associated roller element to the arrangement in fig. 1, and a locking member intended to be attached to the rear edge of a cladding unit so that the locking member can be locked in and released from the locking unit.

In what follows, a preferred embodiment and a number of alternative embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying figures 1 - 8.

The arrangement according to the invention 100; 200, 200'; 400; 500; is intended for reversible glazing of an open area 101 ;201,201'; 401; 501, which is preferably a balcony, a terrace or a patio and in the described embodiment a balcony.

Arrangements include one or more clothing units 102; 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d; 202a', 202b', 202c', 202d'; 402; 502; 602 which is guided on rolling elements 103,104,105; 203a', 203b', 203C, 203d', 205a', 205b", 205C; between upper 106; 206' and lower 107 guide rails for substantially horizontal movement along the guide rails.

Each cladding unit has a first edge 108; 208b' and a second edge 109 and includes, near the first edge 108; 208b', a first hinge device 110; 210a', 210b', 210c', 21 Od'; 610 connected to a first rolling element 103; 203a'-d'; 603 which is guided by the upper guide rail 106; 206', and a second hinge device 111 connected to a second roller element 104 which is guided by the lower guide rail 107.

When it is in a predetermined position along the guide rails 106, 107; 206, each cladding unit is 102; 202a-d; 202a'-d' able to perform a turning movement about its first edge 108; 208b', while the cladding unit 102; 202b' is stopped against further horizontal movement along the guide rails 106, 107; 206' of a parking station 112,113; 212' which acts on at least one of the hinge devices 110,111; 210a'-b\ 21 Od'.

One or more of the cladding units 102; 202a'-c' of the arrangement also includes a third roller element 105; 205a'-c'.

According to the invention, the first, second and third roller elements include 103, 104, 105; 203a'-d', 205a'-c' spherical shapes or truncated spherical shapes, while both the upper 106; 206' and the lower guide rail 107 essentially include tubular profiles 114,115; 214' with internal surfaces, which partially surround the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes of the first, second and third rolling elements 103,104,105; 203a'-d', 205a'-c' during the horizontal displacement. During the turning movement, the inner surfaces of the profiles partially surround the spherical shapes or truncated spherical shapes of at least the first 102; 203a'-d' and the second 104 roller element. It is preferred that at least 60% of the first imaginary circumference of the spherical shape or the truncated spherical shape of the roller elements 103,104,105; 203a'-d\ 205a'-c* are surrounded by the second imaginary circumference of the inner surfaces of the tubular profiles 114, 115; 214'. In the described embodiment, the degree of winding is approximately 75%. Since the inner surfaces closely surround the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes, it is ensured that the cladding units can easily slide along the guide rails in a safe, smooth and quiet manner.

According to the invention, the first includes 110; 210a'-d' and/or other 111 hinge device a recess 116,117, 216b' and/or a projection 116,117; 216b' arranged to receive or be introduced into and to cooperate with the recess 118,119; 218b' to the parking station during the turning movement. The cooperation, which according to the invention is achieved between the above-mentioned protrusions and recesses, ensures that the cladding units can be rotated outwards from the guide rails in a safe, smooth and quiet way when they are parked, without any danger that e.g. a pane of glass is broken. In the embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention shown in fig. 1, the parking station 112,113 acts on both the first 110 and the second 111 hinge device. However, it is also conceivable with embodiments where the parking station only acts on the first or the second hinge device.

As used herein, "parking station" should be understood as the entire area where the cladding units are intended to be parked in an outwardly rotated position. The design of the hinge devices makes them very compact and light, which is an advantage in terms of appearance and when the cladding units are to be moved along the guide rails.

In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the third rolling element 105; 205b' mounted on a locking unit 120; 220b', 220c'. Thereby, the locking unit is arranged to block a locking device 121; 221 c' on the cladding unit 102; 202c' during the horizontal movement and for releasing the locking member 221b' and enabling the turning movement when in a predetermined position, where the inner surfaces of the tubular profile 114; 214' to either the upper 106; 206' or down the guide rail partially surrounds the spherical shape or truncated spherical shape of the third roller element 105; 205b'-c' both during the turning movement and during the horizontal movement. This implies that the third rolling element 105; 205b'-c' in the preferred embodiment are retained in the tubular profile regardless of the position of the cladding unit, or whether the cladding unit slides along or pivots outward from the guide rail. Since the locking unit and the third rolling element do not follow the cladding unit during rotation, the cladding units become very discreet even when they are in their outwardly rotated state.

It is also conceivable with embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention without any locking unit and where the third rolling element participates in the turning movement of the cladding unit (not shown in the drawings). Such an embodiment requires that the degree of winding of the relevant rail is reduced locally with a recess or the like, so that the third rolling element can be released from the guide rails when the cladding unit is in the predetermined position. Such embodiments do not provide all of the above-mentioned aesthetic advantages, but may however be beneficial from an economic point of view.

In the preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, it is locking station 122; 222' arranged at an upper 106; 206' and/or the lower guide rail, in the described embodiment only at the upper guide rail. The locking station is arranged to actuate the locking unit 220b' to release the locking member 221b' and allow the turning movement when the cladding unit 202b' is in the predetermined position and to lock the locking member 121; 221 c' during the horizontal movement of the cladding unit 102; 202c' from or to the predetermined position. However, it is also conceivable with less advantageous embodiments where locking or unlocking takes place in a different way, e.g. manually by pressing a button or similar.

In the preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the locking unit 120 includes; 220a' to one or more cladding units a coupling means 123; 223a', 223b', which are arranged for connection to a connection part 124,125 of the first 110; 210b', 210c' or other 211 the hinge device of another cladding unit during the horizontal movement from the parking station 112,113; 212' to the locking station 122; 222' and for disconnection from the first and second hinge devices during further horizontal movement past the locking station 122; 222'. This feature ensures that a third roller element with its locking unit is always in the correct position to be able to block a locking member of a cladding unit which is closed by the turning movement to then be moved substantially horizontally along the guide rails. It is, of course, also conceivable with embodiments where the connection instead, or in addition, takes place between a coupling member and a second hinge device that runs along the lower guide rail. Furthermore, it is also not fully required that the locking unit at the end of the row has any connecting element, since there is no further hinge device to connect to. A hinge device at the end of the row therefore does not need to have any connecting part, since there is no connecting means to connect the hinge device at the end of the row to.

In an alternative, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement includes a plurality of cladding units, of which a first cladding unit 202d' is arranged to cooperate with a child-proof locking device 226'. The first cladding unit is thereby permanently arranged in the predetermined position in order to be able to perform only turning movement. In the described embodiment, the child-proof locking device can be operated exclusively by means of a special key (not shown) which is intended to fit into a keyhole in the locking device. Since none of the other cladding units can be moved horizontally or rotated outwards until the first cladding unit 202d' has been unlocked via the locking device 226' and rotated outwards, this embodiment ensures that small children cannot begin to open the glazed open area 201 unless a the adult has provided the key.

In another preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the upper and lower guide rails are bent at an angle in the horizontal plane at one or more positions to form several corners 427a, 427b; 527a, 527b, 527c, 527d past which one or more cladding units 412; 502a, 502b are capable of passing during the substantially horizontal movement. This is made possible since all the roller elements are arranged rotatably in relation to their respective cladding units and since the winding angle of the guide rails in the corners is adapted so that all moving parts can run freely without the roller bodies being inadvertently removed. Such adaptation will have to be carried out separately for each individual case depending on the design of the guide rails and the geometrical design of the rest of the relevant arrangement. Since the cladding units can pass corners, the arrangement according to the invention achieves great flexibility in this embodiment and can be used for open areas with a number of different shapes.

In another preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the parking station 412; 512 arranged near a corner 428; 528 of the open area 401; 501.1 this embodiment, the cladding units are therefore parked in a place where they obstruct as little as possible, and the open area can be used in the best possible way.

in yet another preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the upper guide rail has the same geometric shape as the lower guide rail (not shown in the drawings). This enables the first and second rolling elements to be identical. This embodiment results in particularly low production costs, since the number of different components is minimized. Fig. 6 and 7 show a preferred design of a first hinge body 110 with associated first roller element 102 for use in the assembly according to the invention where the roller element 103 is rotatably arranged on a curved axis 129 by means of a ball bearing 132. Furthermore, it includes an attachment link 131, which is rotatably arranged in relation to the axis and intended to be attached to a cladding unit (not shown in Fig. 6-7). The design shown can also be used for a second hinge device with a second rolling element. Within the scope of the invention, it is of course also conceivable to have many other design solutions than those shown in fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 8 shows components that are included in a preferred design of a locking unit 120 with its associated third rolling element 105 for use in the arrangement according to the invention, where also the third rolling element 105 is rotatably mounted in bearings by means of a ball bearing 132 on a curved axis 133. Furthermore, fig. 8, the coupling member 123 intended to be connected to a coupling part of a hinge device (not shown) which is part of another cladding unit (not shown), and a locking member 121 in the form of a fastening link intended to be permanently attached to the associated cladding unit ( not shown) to be able to be locked and released from the locking unit 120.

In the preferred design, there is also a spring-loaded flap 134 on which the above-described locking station 122 is intended to act by means of a projection 135, shown in fig. 1. When a cladding unit is in the predetermined position, the projection 135 will act on the opening flap 134 so that the locking member 121 is released from the locking unit 120 and the cladding unit 102 can be turned outwards for parking. The above-mentioned coupling member 123 is designed to be locked to a coupling part (corresponding to those indicated 124,125 in e.g. Fig. 1) on a nearby hinge device (not shown).

In the preferred embodiment, the coupling portion 124 is a recess in the hinge assembly 110, with dimensions adapted to enable the insertion of the coupling member of a nearby hinge assembly of a cladding assembly to be closed and to retain the coupling member of a nearby locking assembly by means of friction with a force which is adapted to release the locked coupling means when a cladding unit during horizontal movement along the guide rails in a direction away from the parking station reaches and passes the locking station. This is obvious from fig. 3, where the cladding unit 202b' performs a turning movement, and the cladding units 202c' are to pass the locking station 222'. It is, however, also conceivable with other design solutions that incorporate the coupling within the scope of the invention.

The present invention should in no way be considered limited to what has been described above in connection with the various embodiments, or to what is shown in the accompanying drawings, but the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

Regarding the choice of materials for the components included in the arrangement according to the invention, it is conceivable both with different metal alloys and polymer materials. When choosing a material, a number of different factors should be taken into account, such as price, weight, durability, appearance and friction. When these factors and the information described in the description are taken into account, one skilled in the art can make an appropriate choice of material for the application in question.

It is also conceivable with embodiments within the scope of the invention where the number of rolling elements is greater than three and with more than one parking station and locking station.

Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable with embodiments each, seen from a spectator's point of view, the cladding units are rotatable outwards to the right or left, and embodiments where the parking station or stations are located to the left or right.

Claims (10)

1. Arrangement for reversible glazing of an open area, which arrangement (100; 200, 200'; 400; 500) includes one or more cladding units (102; 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, 202a', 202b', 202c', 202d'; 402 ; 502) which are guided on roller elements (103,104,105; 203a', 203b', 203c', 203d", 205a', 205b', 205c') between upper (106; 206';) and lower (107) guide rails for essentially horizontal movement along the guide rails, where each cladding unit (102; 202a-d, 202a'-d'; 402, 502) has a first edge (108; 208b') and a second edge (109), and includes, near the first edge , a first hinge device (110; 210a', 210b', 210c', 21 Od') connected to a first roller element (103; 203a'-d') which is guided by the upper guide rail (106; 206') and a second hinge device (111) connected to a second roller element (104) which is guided by the lower guide rail (107) so that each cladding unit (102; 202a-d, 202a'-d') is able to perform a turning movement about its first edge ( 108; 208b') reaches it is in a predetermined position along the guide rails (106,107; 206'), As the cladding unit (102; 202b') is blocked against further horizontal movement along the guide rails (106,107;206') by a parking station (112, 113; 212') which acts on at least one of the hinge devices (110,111; 210a'-b'; 21 Od'), and that one or more of the cladding units (102; 202a'-c') further includes a third roller element (105; 205a'-c'), characterized in that the first, second and third roller elements (103, 104, 105; 203a'-d', 205 a'-c') all include spherical shapes or truncated spherical shapes, and that both the upper (106; 206') and lower the guide rail (107) essentially includes tubular profiles (114,115; 214') with inner surfaces, which during the horizontal movement partially surround the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes of the first, second and third roller elements (103,104,105; 203a'-d) ', 205 a'-c') and during the turning movement partially surrounds the spherical shapes or the truncated spherical shapes of at least the first (103, 203a'-d') and the second (104) roller element, and that the first (110; 210a'-d') and/or other (111) the hinge device includes a recess (116,117; 216b') and the parking station includes at least one protruding member (118,119; 218b'), which is arranged to step into and interact with the recess (116,117; 216b'). 2. Arrangement according to requirement 1, characterized in that the third roller element (105; 205b') is placed on a locking unit (120; 220b', 220c'), arranged to lock a locking device (121; 221c') to the cladding unit (102; 202c) during the horizontal movement ') and to, in the predetermined position, release the locking means (221b<1>) and enable the turning movement, whereby the inner surfaces of the tubular profile (114; 214') of either the upper (106; 206') or the lower guide rail partially surrounds the spherical shape or truncated spherical shape of the third roller element (105; 205b'-c') both during the turning movement and during the horizontal movement. 3. Arrangement according to requirement 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking station (122; 222') is arranged at the upper (106; 206') and/or the lower guide rail, which locking station is arranged for influencing the locking unit (220b') to release the locking member (221b') and allowing the turning movement when the cladding unit (202b') is in the predetermined position and to lock the locking member (121; 221c') during the horizontal movement of the cladding unit (102; 202c') from and to the predetermined position. 4. Arrangement according to requirement 3, characterized in that the locking unit (120; 220a') of one or more cladding units includes a coupling member (123; 223a', 223b'), which is arranged for connection with a coupling part (124, 15) to the first (110; 210b', 210c') or second (211) the hinge device of another cladding unit during the horizontal movement from the parking station (112,113; 212') to the locking station (122; 222') and for disconnection from said first or second hinge device during further horizontal movement past the locking station (122 ; 222'). 5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, including a plurality of cladding units, characterized in that a first cladding unit (202d') is arranged to cooperate with a child-resistant locking device (226'), and that the first cladding unit (202d') is permanently arranged in the predetermined position to be able to perform a turning movement only. 6. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least 60% of a first imaginary circumference of the spherical shape or the truncated spherical shape of the rolling elements (103-105; 203a'-d', 205a'-c' ) is surrounded by a second imaginary perimeter to the inner surfaces of the tubular profiles (114,115; 214'). 7. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper and lower guide rails are bent at an angle in the horizontal plane at one or more positions to form one or more corners (427a, 427b; 527a, 527b, 527c, 527d) past which one or more cladding units (402; 502a, 502b) may pass during the substantially horizontal movement. 8. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parking station (412; 512) is arranged near a corner (428; 528) of the open area (401; 501). 9. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the open area (101; 201, 201'; 401; 501) is a balcony, a terrace or a patio. 10. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cladding units (102; 202a-d, 202a'-d') include window, door or panel units.