NO339544B1 - Panel system comprising a panel designed to separate or protect areas. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a panel system, as can be seen from the introductory part of patent claim 1.

Background

Balconies on a building are equipped with glass covering in a known way, often called balcony glazing. Such systems often comprise an upper profile and a lower profile, or a corresponding guide track, where the necessary guide track parts are placed inside, between which, in turn, simple panes of glass are suspended. The glass panes are used as panels, which delimit the room or protect it, for example against the effects of the weather, for example on balconies or terraces, or divide the room into several areas and divide rooms, such as in rooms or business areas, where the panels form doors and walls. The profiles usually extend horizontally and are attached to parts of the building. With the help of parts in guide tracks, individual panels can be opened and closed, normally about a vertical axis of rotation, and the profiles can be moved. The panels can be moved aside when not in use, or when a larger passage or space is required. Some known balcony glazings are known from Finnish patent publications 84645-B and 90796-B. One system for glazing is described in WO 97/11247. The panels can extend down to the floor, as shown in publications GB-1456283-B, FR-2545143-A and EP-0 457 286-A1.

When a guide track is placed on the floor, the disadvantage is that a structure is formed that lies slightly above the floor surface. It is therefore appropriate to place the guide rail in a groove in the floor, but in this case it is not possible, for example, to use guide rollers in accordance with FI-90796 B that extend towards the inside of the guide rail, because the side of the guide rail cannot be provided with a opening from which the guide rollers attached to the panel can come out when the panel is opened. The lower end of the panel, normally both corners thereof, must normally be provided with some form of guide means or guide rails, to prevent impact from the lower end of the panel during use or transfer. It is possible to mount manually transferable locking/control pins in the panel which are movable in the vertical direction. A mechanical solution is described in EP 1482 117 A2, where locking and opening is achieved by moving the panel. The guide mechanism releases the lower end of the panel, where the panel can be opened and turned around a hinge mechanism in the panel. At the upper end of the panel it is possible to use known type guide rail parts and openings in the upper profile make it possible to open the panel.

It is often necessary to seal the opening between the lower end of the panel and the floor in the guide rail, for example due to drafts, examples of which are given in EP 0 595 00 A2 and DE 9209496 Ul. Other examples of movable seals are described in JP 10306664 A and JP 2005054397 A, where the seal tends to be pressed continuously down, and in JP 1022016 A, JP 9060444 A, JP 1020123 A and JP 11182154 A, where the seal is freely pressed out and down, and in DE 19829783 Al and DE 29508535 Ul, where the seal is pressed freely and flexibly against the floor. In many cases, a control mechanism separate from the panel and/or guide rail is used to guide the seal into the desired position. The movable seal also takes into account unevenness in the floor when the height of the gap between the panel and the floor varies, or the guide is not horizontal.

In addition, the publication EP 0 860 561 A2 describes operable separating means with a sealing mechanism which can be operated, so that a seal can be formed between a panel and a surface adjacent to the panel if desired.

DE 19829783 A1 shows a long guide member which is guided in a groove and which is continuously pressed down by a spring and at the same time guides the movable panel, preventing, among other things, its movements which may lead to shocks. The guide member can be guided outside the rail, which allows the panel to move and swing more freely, but the guide member is continuously pressed against the floor. A disadvantage is that the guide can get stuck in grooves and irregularities in the floor, which limits its use and causes damage and wear and tear on the structures. Moreover, the alignment of the guide in the rail is difficult and requires a long transfer movement of the panel. The structure can be equipped with a manual lock to lift the seal and lock it in position, but the locking mechanism takes up space, is complicated and requires active action by the user. In accordance with JP 10220126 A, JP 1030664 A and JP 11182154 it will be possible to include separated separate guide elements to force the seal into the desired position. The problem would be that a number of separate guides would have to be passed on the floor, separately for each panel, so that unnecessary steps were formed above the floor surface, or their placement in storage position on the panels (see WO97/11247 and EP 0 457 286 al) would be impossible by aesthetic reasons or due to the use of space. The principle described in JP 9060444 A, in turn, requires precise positioning of a number of guide pins. Moreover, practically usable systems should be compatible with the locking and hinge mechanisms in accordance with, for example, WO 03/042482 Al.

Purpose

It is an object of the invention to develop a usable panel system and a seal that is easy to use and easy to assemble. The operation of the seal should also be suitable for panels that are both displaced and opened. The function of the seal should not be affected by unevenness in the floor.

The invention

These purposes are achieved with a panel system according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Further advantageous features appear from the associated independent claims.

The invention makes use of guide elements which are separate from the panel, but the number can be made as low as possible. The invention can be used with only one guide element, even if there are several separate panels. In one example, the panel was carried by the upper profile with two guide rails and to the lower profile with at least one guide element, when a second guide element is released. Suspended in this way, the panel can be transferred to a storage position and opened. The advantage is that the placement of a separate guide element is easy. In one example, the guide element was integrated with the guide rail, to achieve a compact structure and the integration of several functions in the guide element: control of the position of the seal, guiding of the panel along the guide rail, the hinge and the locking of the panel. In addition, the seal compensates for distortions in the floor or guide rail. The seal and its function utilized the guide rail along which the panel is guided.

The invention can be used with panels equipped with seals and with panel systems that also allow the panels to be opened.

In the following, the invention will be illustrated in more detail through a preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where

Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a known panel system,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of two guide rails of known design,

Figure 3 shows the operation of guide elements and a seal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in side view,

Figure 4 shows an edge element and a guide rail in accordance with the example in Figure 3,

Figure 5 shows a guide element in accordance with the example in Figure 3,

Figure 6 shows the construction of the guide element shown in Figure 3,

Figure 7 shows the operation and locking of the guide element in Figure 3,

Figure 8 shows the operation and release of the guide element in Figure 3, while

Figure 9 shows the construction of the guide piece shown in Figure 8.

Figure 1 shows a panel structure of a known type, which is mounted in position and which is also a glass system, for example for balconies. The panel system normally comprises several subsequent glass panes 1 which are movable. The panes 1 are normally rectangular, as they are normally positioned vertically and form a closed wall or a large window when they are placed one after the other. They can be displaced in the direction of the guide grooves, which are normally horizontal. The panels 1 can be opened to a position which is normally perpendicular to the closed position shown in Figure 1. In the open position, the panels are placed side by side, close to each other, where they are stored on one side of the opening 3 in the building 2, where they have first been moved along the guide tracks. The upper guide rail 4 and the lower guide rail 5 are placed in a horizontal direction, and in their interior there are arranged upper guide track parts 6 and lower guide track parts 7, which are simultaneously used as guide elements and between which the panels 1 are attached above and below. The guide tracks are normal aluminum profiles, which are provided with a long track for the guide track part. The panel 1 preferably consists of a pane of glass, the upper and lower edges of which are provided with edge elements 8 and 9, to which the guide track part is in turn attached.

An example of known upper guide track parts 6 is shown in Figure 2. The panel 1 is normally provided with an edge element 9, to which a hinge pin 10 is attached. The hinge pin is profiled and non-rotatable in relation to the panel 1. The hinge pin 10 on the guide track parts 6 makes it possible to turn the panel 1 around a vertical axis of rotation, from the closed position (position A) to the open position (position B) and vice versa. The rotation takes place around the hinge pin 10. The guide track parts 6 are positioned so that they are carried by the upper guide rail 4 and are attached to it, for example, by vertical rollers 11. Alternatively, the rollers 11 can be attached horizontally at the end 12 of the hinge pin 10. The rollers 11 carry the panel 1 and with the help of the rollers 11, the panel 1 is moved along the upper guide rail 4. A locking piece 13 that slides in the guide rail controls the movement and locks the panels 1 to each other if necessary. The locking pieces remain oriented to the guide rail and the panel 1 can swing in relation to them. In this example, the locking piece is locked to the hinge pin of the next guideway sections.

In Figure 1, the guide track parts 7 placed in the lower guide rail 5 mainly correspond to the guide track parts 6, at least for the parts of the hinge pin 10, but the rollers 9 are not necessary, for example. The guide track parts 6 and 7 are placed on the same vertical axis of rotation, as shown in Figure 2. For example, a guide element, which can be a pin and/or a guide roller, is in turn placed on the other and opposite edge of the panel 1, or close to it, and attached to the edge strip, placed inside relative to the guide rail and keeps the panel closed. The purpose of the guide element is to guide the other edge of the panel 1 during movements, where the guide element keeps the panel 1 correctly oriented in relation to the upper and lower guide rails, which are normally mutually parallel. The guide element is attached to both the lower edge and the upper edge of the panel.

In order to be able to open the panel, in accordance with known technology, the side of the guide rail is provided with an opening, through which the guide element can be led out of the guide rail. In a situation where the lower guide rail 5 is placed completely submerged, for example in a floor, or the parts 7 of the guide rail otherwise extend below the floor surface, a pin which can be lifted is used to enable the panel 1 to be pivoted. Figure 3 shows an example where the panel extends down to the floor. The lower edge of the panel 14 is provided with a floor strip 28, which is, for example, an aluminum profile, the inside of which includes a space into which a movable seal 15 can be inserted and from which the seal and from which the seal 15 can protrude at the same time as it is connected to the edge strip 28 which controls the movement of the seal. The seal 15 is, for example, a profile which extends mainly over the entire width of the panel 1. The seal 15 can consist of metal, for example aluminum and/or plastic, being flexible if necessary. In the example in Figure 3, the seal 15 consists of a part that can be placed in an inclined position in relation to the edge strip 28, so that unevenness in the floor and inclination of the guide rail 16 can be compensated for. The seal 15 can also comprise several separate parts, and typically two guide elements are needed for each part. In the example shown in Figure 4, the seal 15 is a U-shaped profile, with a curved tongue 15a extending downwards from one of the lower edges of the seal. If desired, the tongue 15a can be in contact with the surface of the guide rail 16. The guide rail 16 is used as a guide rail. The guide rail 16 can be submerged in the floor. The mobility of the seal 15 makes it possible that the guide rail does not need to be horizontal. The panel 14 is supported by a guide rail which is placed above the panel 1 and which extends in a horizontal direction. The panel 14 is carried by the guide rail 16 only in the lateral direction, because the guide rail above the panel 14 carries the panel 14 and receives all the vertical forces caused by the weight of the panel 14. Figure 5 shows an example of the design of the guide element 17 and its location in the edge strip 28. Figure 15 shows a frame part 19 which is fixed inside the edge strip 28 and which is used to connect the guide element 17 and the shaft of the guide element 17 with the edge strip 28. The frame part 19 is also placed inside the outer shape of the seal 15. The guide element 18 in Figure 3 closely corresponds to the design of the guide element 17 and for the shaft 29 in the guide element 18, a corresponding frame part is arranged and placed inside the edge strip 28. The frame part is placed at opposite ends of the edge strip 28 and the seal 15, and with the help of these can the seal 15 and the necessary mechanism are easily placed in the panel 14. Figure 14 shows an example of the edge strip 28 in more detail. The edge strip 28 can consist of one or more parts, preferably of an aluminum profile. The seal 15 is placed partially inside the edge strip 28. The seal 15 is attached to the edge strip 28 with one or more members 20 shown in Figure 5, which pull the seal 15 into the edge strip 28, that is to say upwards, The member 20 can for example be a coil spring . On the other side, the seal is also connected to the guide elements 17 and 18, preferably to their vertical shafts 26 and 29 which extend from the edge strip 28 towards the guide rail 16 and into this, when the shafts 26 and 29 are slightly pulled out of the edge strip 28. The shafts 26 and 29 move up and down in their axial direction. The frame part 19 is provided with a hole 21 in which the shaft 26 can move. The guide element 17 and the shaft 26 are shown in more detail in Figure 6. The shaft 26 is connected to the frame part 19 with a member 22 which pulls the shaft 26 into the edge strip 28, the means upwards. The organ 22 can for example be a coil spring which is placed around the shaft 26 and which is held between the frame part 19 and the shaft 26. The guide element 18 and the shaft 29 are provided with a corresponding connection to the corresponding frame part.

The seal 15 is also connected to the shafts 26 and 29, so that the position and height level of the shaft 26 in relation to the guide rail 16 for example determines the position and height level of the seal 15. If the shaft 26 is pulled down, the seal 15 will also be pulled down together with it. The seal 15 is, for example, provided with an opening through which the shaft 26 extends. The shaft 26 is provided with a stopper 23, for example a collar which cannot pass through the opening, but which presses the seal 15 downwards, so that it is carried along by the shaft 26. The organ 20 which lifts the seal 15 up, keeps it pressed against the stopper 23 .The stopper 23 allows the seal to descend. In accordance with another example, the seal 15 is connected to the shaft 26 in such a way that the seal follows the movement of the shaft 26 also without the member 20. The seal 25 is then locked between, for example, two stoppers. The bodies 20 and 22 will thus try to pull the guide element 17 and the seal 15 away from the guide rail 16 and thus away from the floor. The guide element and the seal are thus pulled automatically and directly and also continuously away from the guide rail by the elements 20 and/or 22.

A guide element 24 is attached to the end of the shaft and placed inside the guide rail 16. As shown in

Figure 4 has, for example, the cross-section of the guide rail 16 C-shaped, with the shaft fitting into the C-shaped opening 16a and extending into the guide rail 16. Guide element 24 remains enclosed in the guide rail 16, even if the shaft 26 is continuously pulled into the edge strip, for example of a feather. Guide element 24 is, for example, a horizontal roll with a diameter that is larger than the opening 16a. A long opening 16b on the upper side of the guide rail 16 allows movement of the guide element 17 and the shaft 26 along the guide rail 16 when the roller 24 is inside the guide rail 16. When the roller 24 moves in the guide rail 16, the roller 24 will simultaneously ensure that the seal 15 is at the desired distance from the guide rail 16 and pulled out of the panel 14. The guide element 17, the shaft 26 and the seal 15 move towards or away from the panel 14 and the guide rail 16. In the present example, the guide element 18 functions in the same way as the guide element 17. It can also have a different shape and a part that remains locked in the guide rail. An L-shape can be used which is attached to the axle. Another part can also be used which slides inside the guide rail and for which a corresponding opening 16b is arranged.

The function of the seal 15 is controlled by the guide element 17 and the roller 24, as the seal 15 works when the roller 24 is inside the guide rail 16 and this pulls the guide element 17 down together with the shaft 26 and the seal 15 as shown in Figure 7. The seal 15 is disconnected and lifted up in its upper position when the guide element 17 has been freed from the inside of the guide rail 16 and pulled up together with the shaft 26, the connection between the shaft 26 and the seal 15 also allows the seal 15 to be lifted, as shown in Figure 8. The guide rail 16 has a shorter and further opening 16b, shown in Figure 4, through which the guide element 17 and the roller 24 can leave or be guided down into the guide rail 16. The distance between the seal 15 and the guide rail 16 can be set through the connection between the seal 15 and the shaft 26. In addition, a sufficiently large clearance for the shaft 26 in the edge strip 28, so that it can be compensated for even a significant inclination of the guide rail 16.

The guide element 18 and the shaft 29 are controlled in a similar way. When the guide element 17 is pulled out of the guide rail 16 in Figure 3, the panel 14 can be swung to the side, the guide element 18 and its shaft 29 acting as a hinge, as long as the guide element 18 and its shaft 29 are inside the guide rail 16. The panel 14 can be moved along the guide rail 16 , for example to a storage position or to another desired position. If the guide rail 16 includes the opening 16b, the guide element 17 is pulled up from the guide rail 16 and the panel 14 can be swung to another position. Guide element 18, which acts as a hinge, can be designed differently, for example in size and shape, from the roller 24 in the guide element 17, so that the guide element 18 cannot come out of the opening 16b, but remains in the guide rail 16. For example, flanges can be arranged inside the guide rail 16, which supports the shaft 29 or the guide roller of the guide element 18, without having an opening corresponding to the opening 16b. This arrangement can be used for panels that must be openable, but both guide elements 17 and 18 can be lifted in such panels, which cannot be opened and which always hang from two guide rail parts. With such panels, the locking means, which will be described below, are not necessary.

The function shown in Figures 7 and 8 is controlled with a guide piece 27 which guides the arriving guide element 17 either down into the guide rail 16 or out of it. Because of the guide piece 27, it will not be necessary to transfer the guide element 17 to the guide rail, either manually or by means of a mechanism. The guide piece 27 is placed on top of the guide rail 16 at the opening 16b, so that the guide element 17 reaches the guide piece 27, where inclined and leading surfaces are designed, to pull the guide element 17 down into the guide rail 16 when the panel 14 is moved from left to right in Figure 7. similarly, the guide surfaces will allow the guide element 17 to be lifted or even forced up from the guide rail, when the panel is guided from right to left in Figure 8. The shape and structure of the guide surfaces varies, depending on the shape of the guide element 17 or those parts thereof, which is enclosed in the guide rail 16 or moves in this. If necessary, the guide piece 27 includes an opening corresponding to the opening 16a, through which the guide element 18, which remains fixed in the guide rail 16, can pass the guide piece 27.

The guide piece 27 and its location in the opening 16b is shown in more detail in Figure 9. The guide piece comprises two parts which are mirror-symmetrical and which are placed on opposite sides of the opening 16a.

As shown in Figure 3, a locking member 25 is connected to the guide element 18 and the shaft 29, which corresponds mainly to the locking piece 12 in Figure 2 and its function. The locking member 25 extends from the shaft 29 towards the opposite shaft 24. The shaft 29 corresponds to the non-rotating, shaped hinge pin 10 in Figure 2, which is pivoted with the panel and to which the locking member of the next panel is anchored when the panels are pivoted, for example 90 degrees in relation to the guide rail 16. The locking element 25 is placed between the seal 15 and the guide rail 16 and therefore partly in the opening 16a which controls the position of the locking element 25 and keeps it directed towards the incoming hinge pin, the shaft or corresponding guide element to the neighboring panel. By means of the locking device 25, several panels are locked together in a secure and slack-free manner when the panels are in the storage position. Guide element 18 of each panel is locked to guide element 18 of the adjacent panel, in other words the shaft 29 of guide element 18 is locked to the locking element of the neighboring panel and the locking element 25 of guide element 18 is locked to the shaft of the guide element of another adjacent panel.

Claims (18)

1. Panel system comprising: • a panel (14) intended to separate or protect areas, • a guide rail (16) to which the panel (14) is connected and can be moved along, as well as • a seal (15) to close the opening between the panel (14) and the guide rail (16) and which is connected to the panel (14) in such a way that the seal (15) can be moved in relation to the panel (14) and to the guide rail (16), and • a guide element (17) that the panel (14) is connected to the guide rail (16) with and which is attached to the panel (14), so that the guide element (17) is movable in relation to the panel (14) and the guide rail (16), in which the guide element (17) is also connected to the seal (15) so that the guide element (17) controls the distance between the seal (15) and the panel (14) when the guide element (17) is moved along the guide rail (16), characterized in that the panel system also comprises: a guide member (27) which is connected to the guide rail (16) and which presses the guide element (17) into the guide rail (16) and guides the guide element (17) away from the guide rail (16) when the guide element (17) passes through the guide member (27). 2. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 1, characterized in that the guide element (17) is also attached to the panel (14) in such a way that it is spontaneously pulled away from the guide rail (16), and that the guide element (17) is designed to hold the seal (15) ) at the desired distance from the guide rail (16) when the guide element (17) is moved in the guide rail (16), for example when the distance between the seal (15) and the panel (14) changes. 3. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the panel system also comprises a second guide element (18) which is connected to the panel (14) in such a way that the second guide element (18) is movable in relation to the panel (14) and to the guide rail (16) and is spontaneously pulled away from the guide rail (16), as the seal (15) and the second guide element (18) are also connected to each other in such a way that the position of the second guide element (18) in relation to the panel (14) ) controls the position of the seal (15) in relation to the panel (14). 4. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 3, characterized in that the panel (14) can be swung around the second guide element (18) in relation to the guide rail (16) when the first guide element (17) is released from the guide rail (16) and the second guide element ( 18) is locked to the guide rail (16). 5. Panel system in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a second guide rail, so that the first guide rail (16) and the second guide rail are parallel, with the panel (14) placed between the first guide rail (16) and the second guide rail, and that the panel (14) can be moved along the first and second guide rails. 6. Panel system in accordance with one of patent claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide element (17) is arranged to remain locked to the guide rail (16), so that the guide element (17) when the panel (14) is moved, cannot be pulled away from the guide rail (16), regardless of the distance between the panel (14) and the guide rail (16), and that the guide element (17) is further arranged to keep the seal (15) at a desired distance from the guide rail (16), for example when the distance between the seal (15) and the panel (14) are changed. 7. Panel system in accordance with one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide element (17) is attached to the panel (14) in such a way that the guide element (17) tends to be spontaneously pulled away from the guide rail (16), in which the panel system further comprises first member (22) connected to the guide element (17) and continuously pulls the guide element (17) away from the guide rail (16). 8. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 7, characterized in that the panel system also comprises a second body (20) connected to the seal (15) and continuously pulls the seal (15) away from the guide rail (16). 9. Panel system in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide element (17) is provided with a third member (23) with which the guide element (17) is connected to the sealing element (15) and which is moved along the guide element (17), and which allows the movement of the seal (15) in relation to the guide element (17) and limits the movement of the seal (15) away from the guide rail (16). 10. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 9, characterized in that the third members (23) allow the movement of the seal (15) towards the guide rail (16). 11. Panel system in accordance with one of patent claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the guide element (17) is provided with a guide element (24) which can be placed inside the guide rail (16) and which prevents the guide element (17) from being pulled away from the guide rail (16) ). 12. Panel system in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the guide element (17) is shaped like a shaft (26) connected to the panel (14) in a movable manner, and that the panel system comprises a spring (22) as the shaft ( 26) is connected to the panel (14) with and which pulls the shaft (26) continuously towards the panel (14). 13. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 12, characterized in that the guide element (17) is provided with a roller which is connected to the end of the shaft (26) and is intended to be placed and locked inside the guide rail (16). 14. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 3, characterized in that the second guide element (18) is arranged to remain locked to the guide rail (16), so that the second guide element (18) cannot be pulled away from the guide rail (16) when the panel (14 ) is moved. 15. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 3 or 14, characterized in that a locking device (25) is connected to the second guide element (18), which locking device (25) is movable with the second guide element (18) and is arranged to be connected to a corresponding third guide element connected to a corresponding second panel, and to be locked to the third guide element when the second panel is rotated next to the panel (14). 16. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 15, characterized in that the second guide element (18) is designed as a non-rotatable shaft (29) which is connected to the panel (14) in a movable manner, and that the panel system comprises a spring as the shaft ( 29) is connected to the panel with and which pulls the shaft (29) continuously against the panel (14), wherein the shaft (29) is arranged to connect and lock to a corresponding second locking means connected to a corresponding third panel, when the third panel is turned next to the panel (14). 17. Panel system in accordance with patent claim 15, characterized in that the locking device (25) is connected to the guide rail (16), so that the position of the locking device (25) does not change in relation to the guide rail (16) when the panel (14) is rotated around the other the guide element (18) in relation to the guide rail (16) and when the guide element (17) is released from the guide rail (16) and the other guide element (18) is locked to the guide rail (16). 18. Panel system in accordance with one of the patent claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the panel comprises an edge strip (28) to which the seal (15) is connected and inside which edge strip (28) a frame part (19) is placed, to which the guide element ( 17) is connected.