SE1950435A1 - Sliding window arrangement and use thereof for glazing of a balcony unit - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

SLIDING WINDOW ARRANGEMENT AND USE THEREOF FOR GLAZINGOF A BALCONY UNIT Technical Field of the lnventionThe present invention concerns a sliding window arrangement comprising parallel upper and lower guide rails and at least two verticalwindows, which are slidable on the guide rails along separate horizontal pathssuch that one window can be slid outside another, wherein each windowcomprises a frame structure that slidingly engages said guide rails and holdsa window pane, wherein at least one window, when viewed from inside out,slid to a closed position has a leading edge thereof arranged right behind anoutwardly exposed trailing edge of an outer window and slid to an openposition has a leading edge thereof arranged right behind a leading edge ofthe outer window.

Background of the lnvention A sliding window arrangement according to the preamble is knownbefore from for instance WO 2008/108703 A1 and is preferably used forglazing of a balcony. The known sliding window arrangement comprises aplurality of windows, each comprising a frame structure that consists of aninner frame, which surrounds a window pane and holds it by means of asealing strip, and an outer frame, which holds the inner frame and slidinglyengages upper and lower guide rails.

Especially when used for glazing of a balcony, due to their design andsize, sliding window arrangements tend to dominate appearance not only ofthe balcony as such, but of a building to which the balcony adheres as well.Hence, at least in some occasions sliding window arrangements, wheninstalled on an existing building, tend to alter appearance of the building to adegree which is not acceptable from a historic point of view. On the otherhand, even if installed from the beginning on a newly erected building, slidingwindow arrangements tend to dominate appearance and thus to shift focusfrom other architectural features.

When thoroughly analyzing the matter, the applicant came to theconclusion that a certain type of balcony glazings on the market were lessdisturbing to appearance than the sliding window arrangements according tothe preamble, namely balcony glazings with frameless window panes. Atdaylight such frameless window panes reflect the surroundings over a largeunbroken area, which makes them harmonize with the surroundings andappear less dominant on a building. However, such frameless window panesare by far not as weather and sound proof as framed window panes, which iswhy the applicant began to look for a solution that combines the advantagesof both.

Thus, against the above background it is an object of the presentinvention to improve a sliding window arrangement according to the preamblesuch that the tendency to dominate appearance of a building is reduced andyet weather proofness is maintained on a high level.

Summarv of the lnvention According to the invention this object is achieved in a sliding windowarrangement according to the preamble in that the frame structure of at leastone window comprises a pane frame, which is attached to an inside of thewindow pane by means of an adhesive and comprises a vertical trailingmember arranged behind a trailing edge portion of the window pane, saidtrailing edge portion stretching to and forming an outwardly exposed tralingedge of said at least one window. Thanks to this the sliding windowarrangement in a closed position does to the outside present a more or lessuniform, fully glazed appearance, which is less dominant than an appearancewhich is cluttered by a plurality of vertical frame members. Yet, as all windowsare safely held by a frame structure, the sliding window arrangementbecomes fully weather proof and stable to use.

Preferably, the adhesive comprises of a double-sided tape. A double-sided tape, i.e. a tape with adhesives on both sides, is easy to use andtherefore preferred before liquid adhesives.

Preferably, said vertical trailing member is darkened at least wherevisible from outside. The darkening helps hiding the leading frame member tothe outside and further enhances the fully glazed look.

Preferably, said vertical trailing member comprises of a dark anodizedaluminum section. Such an aluminum section is easy to accomplish and verysustainable and does improve adhesion quality as well.

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

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

Preferably, said pane frame extends around the entire window pane byfurther comprising a vertical leading member, a horizontal top member, and ahorizontal bottom member, of which the top and bottom members aremechanically attached at least to the vertical trailing member of said paneframe. A pane frame extending around the entire window pane and attachedthereto by means of an adhesive, such as a double-sided tape, rendersproduction and install easy and ensures tightness.

Preferably, the trailing member of the pane frame is mechanicallyattached to the top and bottom members thereof by means of lugs, whichprotrude from top and bottom ends of the trailing member and interengagewith corresponding cutouts in the top and bottom members. Theinterengagement helps to relieve stress on the adhesive attachment of the trailing member and helps to keep the trailing member in place even ifsubjected to forces that can arrise when the trailing member of one windowduring a window sliding operation encounters any part of another window.

Preferably, the frame structure further comprises a mounting frame, inwhich the pane frame is inserted, wherein said mounting frame comprises avertical leading section, which is rigidly connected to the vertical leadingmember of the pane frame, a horizontal top section, which is rigidlyconnected to the horizontal top member of the pane frame, and a horizontalbottom section, which is rigidly connected to the horizontal bottom member ofthe pane frame. ln other words, the mounting frame is C-shaped and does notcomprise any vertical section corresponding to the vertical trailing member ofthe pane frame. The mounting frame can for instance comprise of aluminumsections, which in a longitudinal direction are slid onto longitudinally extendingflanges of the top, bottom and leading members of the pane frame. They arethen interconnected at leading corners by means of screws and at trailingcorners terminated by means of caps, which are attached by means ofscrews and secure the pane frame to the mounting frame.

Preferably, the horizontal top and bottom sections on the outsidestretch over top and bottom edge portions of the window pane. By thissecurity is improved since a window pane is kept in place even in case theadhesive bond of a pane frame should fail.

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

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

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

Preferably, the sliding frame is arranged to allow only inwardlypivotation of the mounting frame. Use of the sliding frame to limit pivotation ofthe mounting frame is preferred and easily accomplished for instance bymeans of flanges, which limit outward movement of the mounting frame andoutwardly conceal mounting means, such as pivots of a hinge or pins of anespagnolette.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention will hereafter be described in more detail and withreference to the appended schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a sliding window arrangement that serves as abalcony glazing; Fig. 2 illustrates two sliding windows from inside and details of framestructures thereof; Fig. 3a illustrates a sliding window from outside and a trailing framemember thereof illustrated separately; Fig. 3b illustrates the sliding window of fig. 3a in an assembled state; Fig. 4a illustrates interaction between parts of two sliding windowsduring closure; and Fig. 4b illustrates interaction between parts of two sliding windows in aclosed state.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the lnvention ln fig. 1 at the top a balcony unit 1 is illustrated in a perspective view.The balcony unit 1 can be placed on the facade of a building (not shown) andcan, as shown, comprise two floors 2, 3 and a roof 4 on top. Between the twofloors 2, 3 and between the upper floor 3 and the roof4 left and right pillars 5,6 extend, and between the pillars 5, 6 railings 7 are arranged for safetyreasons. Above the railings 7 front openings 8 are defined that stretch all theway from the left to the right pillars 5, 6. These openings are for comfortreasons provided with sliding window arrangements 10 according to thepresent invention. One such sliding window arrangement 10 is shown ingreater detail at the bottom of fig. 1, where it is illustrated that the slidingwindow arrangement 10 forms a balcony glazing with practically no visibleframe members appearing on the outside of the balcony unit 1.

The sliding window arrangement 10 shown at the bottom of fig. 1comprises a horizontal upper guide rail 11 and in parallel therewith ahorizontal lower guide rail 12, both stretching along the front of the balconyunit 1 from a left pillar 5 to a right pillar 6. Between the guide rails11, 12 fourwindows are vertically arranged, to be more precise a left window 13, a leftmid window 14, a right mid window 15, and a right window 16. The number ofwindows is however not in any way limited to that exact number of four.

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

When in a closed position, such as shown in fig. 1, the left window 13has a left leading edge 17 thereof abutting the left pillar 5 (or some sealingmeans thereon) and an opposite right trailing edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1) of the left mid window 14. Then the left midwindow 14 has a right trailing edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge(not shown in fig. 1) of the right mid window 15, which has a right trailing edge18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1) of the rightwindow 16. Finally, the right window 16 has a right trailing edge 18 abuttingthe right pillar 6 (or some sealing means thereon).

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

As illustrated in fig. 1, in the closed position of the windows 13-16 onlyfew parts of a frame structure 20 of each window 13-16 can be seen fromoutside. The frame structure 20 as such will be described in further detailbelow with reference to the other drawing figures. lnstead, in connection withfig. 1 attention is paid to a portion of the frame structure 20, which is hidden tothe outside by a window pane 21 mounted on said frame structure 20, or, tobe more precise, hidden by a narrow vertical edge portion 24 at the righttrailing edge 18 of each window 13-16. ln the following, the right windows 14, 15 will be described in furtherdetail with reference being had to fig. 2 and the following figures. The othertwo windows 13 and 14 are however essentially alike, that is, the descriptionfits these two windows as well.

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

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

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

When seen in cross-section, the trailing member 32 of the pane frame30 of the left windows 13, 14 and the right mid window 15 is essentially L-shaped and comprise a first leg 35 and a second leg 36, whereas the trailingmember 32 of the right window 16 is flat and only comprises a first leg 35.The first leg 35 of all trailing members 32 lies flat on the inside 22 of thewindow pane 21, to which it is attached and outvvardly covered by a trailingedge portion 24 (c.f. fig. 3b) of the window pane 21. The second leg 36 of theleft windows 13, 14 and the right mid window 15 is perpendicular to the firstleg 35 and is directed inwards away from said trailing window edge 18 towardand into close proximity of an underlying window 14-16, that is an adjacentwindow immediately inside. The second leg 36 serves to hide parts of theframe structure 20 of the underlying window 14-16 to the outside, whichpromotes the fully glazed appearance of the sliding window arrangement 10.As the innermost, right window 16 has no such underlying window, it has noneed of such second leg 36, which is why it is flat as indicated above.

Further, opposite to the second leg 36 of windows 13-15 or acorresponding place of the trailing member 32 of the innermost, right window16, the trailing member 32 comprises a bead or rim 38 (c.f. figs. 4a, b), which has a height somewhat inferior to thickness of the window pane 21 andserves to facilitate mounting of the trailing member 32 and to conceal thedouble-sided tape 37 used for mounting to the outside 23.

The mounting frame 50 comprises a vertical leading section 51, ahorizontal top section 52, and a horizontal bottom section 53, whichpreferably are extruded aluminum sections coloured at wish. The leadingsection 51 is rigidly connected to the leading member 31 of the pane frame30, e.g. by being slid onto a flange of that leading member 31. ln a similarway the top and bottom sections 52, 53, respectively, are rigidly connected tothe top and bottom members 33, 34, respectively, of the pane frame 30,wherein the sections 51-53 at meeting corners are connected to each otherby fasteners, such as screw, and at open ends terminated for instance bymeans of caps, which can assist in holding the pane frame 30 in place insidethe mounting frame 50.

At least the horizontal top and bottom sections 52, 53 of the mountingframe 50 preferably comprise flanges that on the outside 23 stretch over topand bottom edge portions of the window pane 21 (c.f. figs. 3a, b). They serveprimarily to keep the window pane 21 in place even if the double-sided tape37 should fail but contribute to appearance as well.

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

The mounting frame 50 is held by the sliding frame 60 preferably insuch a way that it can be opened by pivotation to the inside 22 around avertical axis at a trailing window edge 18. To enable pivotation a suitablehinge mechanism (not shown) can be used at said trailing window edge 18,and to releasably lock the mounting frame 50 to the sliding frame 60 in aclosed window position, a suitable locking means, such as an espagnolette(not shown), can be used at the opposite leading window edge 17. Such anespagnolette can for instance be contained in the leading section 51 of themounting frame 50.

Now, with reference being had to figs. 4a, b, an oblique inner flange 39of the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30 and an oblique outer flange 55of the leading section 51 of the mounting frame 50 are described in commonas these flanges 39, 55 interact directly. As can be seen, the inner flange 39of the trailing member 32 is directed obliquely inwards away from the edgeportion 24 of the window pane 21, wheras the outer flange 55 is directedobliquely outwards toward said edge portion 24 of the window pane 21, suchthat when the windows 14, 15 are s|id to a closed position (c.f. fig. 4b) theinner flange 39 of window 14 is s|id in behind the outer flange 55 of window15 until, finally, the above oblique franges 39, 55 abruptly stop motion. Theshock caused by that is taken up by both the adhesive of the double-sidedtape 37 and the interacting lugs 40 and cutouts 41. By means of theinteracting flanges 39, 55 the windows 14, 15 are held firmly together, whichis good for weather and sound proofness and can be used too to press abrush strip (not shown) on the leading section 51 of the mounting frame 50onto the trailing member 32 of the pane frame 30.

Finally, with reference being had to fig. 4b, some more words on theinwardly directed second leg 36 of the trailing member 32 of the pane frame30. As can be seen, in a sliding window arrangement 10, when two windows14, 15 are s|id to the closed position, the second leg 36 of the trailing member32 of window 14 is arranged in close proximity the window pane 21 of window15. This means that the second leg 36 of window 14 to the outside 23 coversthe leading section 51 of window 15. By this said leading section 51 is totallyconcealed and the impression of one single large window enhanced,especially if said second leg 36 just like the remainder of the trailing member32 is darkened.

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

Claims (15)

1. A sliding window arrangement (10) comprising parallel upper and lowerguide rails (11, 12) and at least two vertical windows (13-16), which areslidable on the guide rails (11, 12) along separate horizontal paths such thatone window can be slid outside another, wherein each window (13-16)comprises a frame structure (20) that slidingly engages said guide rails (11,12) and holds a window pane (21 ), wherein at least one window (14-16),when viewed from inside out, slid to a closed position has a leading edge (17)thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge (18) of anouter window (13-15) and slid to an open position has a leading edge (17)thereof arranged right behind a leading edge (17) of the outer window (13-15), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame structure (20) of at least onewindow (13-16) comprises a pane frame (30), which is attached to an inside(22) of the window pane (21) by means of an adhesive (37) and comprises avertical trailing member (32) arranged behind a trailing edge portion (24) ofthe window pane (21), said trailing edge portion (24) stretching to and formingan outwardly exposed traling edge (18) of said at least one window (13-16).

2. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein theadhesive (37) comprises of a double-sided tape (22).

3. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, whereinsaid vertical trailing member (32) is darkened at least where visible fromoutside.

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

5. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-4,wherein said vertical trailing member (26) comprises a rim (38), whichprotrudes to the outside along a trailing edge of said window pane (21). 12

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

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

8. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 7, wherein thetrailing member (32) of the pane frame (30) is mechanically attached to thetop and bottom members (33, 34) thereof by means of lugs (40), whichprotrude from top and bottom ends of the trailing member (32) andinterengage with corresponding cutouts (41) in the top and bottom members(33, 34).

9. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 6-8, wherein theframe structure (20) further comprises a mounting frame (50), in which thepane frame (30) is inserted, wherein said mounting frame (50) comprises avertical leading section (51), which is rigidly connected to the vertical leadingmember (31) of the pane frame (30), a horizontal top section (52), which isrigidly connected to the horizontal top member (33) of the pane frame (30),and a horizontal bottom section (53), which is rigidly connected to thehorizontal bottom member (34) of the pane frame (30). 13

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

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

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

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

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

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