WO2022075898A1

WO2022075898A1 - Sliding window arrangement and use thereof for glazing of a balcony unit

Info

Publication number: WO2022075898A1
Application number: PCT/SE2020/050965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine ABREZOL
Original assignee: Nordiska Balco Ab
Priority date: 2020-10-08
Filing date: 2020-10-08
Publication date: 2022-04-14
Also published as: EP4226009A1

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 displaceably engages said guide rails (11, 12) and comprises a window pane (21), wherein at least one window (14-16) when slid to a closed position has a leading edge portion (17) thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) of an outer window (13-15). The window pane (21) of said at least one window (13-16) forms the outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) of said at least one window (13-16), wherein a weather strip is arranged behind said outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) to at least partially close a gap to a neighbouring window (13-15).

Description

SLIDING WINDOW ARRANGEMENT AND USE THEREOF FOR GLAZING OF A BALCONY UNIT

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a sliding window arrangement comprising parallel upper and lower guide rails and at least two vertical windows, which are slidable on the guide rails along separate horizontal paths such that one window can be slid outside another, wherein each window comprises a frame structure that displaceably engages said guide rails and comprises a window pane, wherein at least one window, when viewed from inside out, slid to a first position has a leading edge portion thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge portion of an outer window and slid to a second position has a leading edge portion thereof arranged essentially behind a leading edge portion of the outer window, and wherein at least one window comprises a pane frame, which holds the window pane and which from a closed position, in which it is in parallel with said guide rails, can be swung open inwardly about a vertical axis of said at least one window to an open position, in which it is at an angle to said guide rails.

Background of the Invention

A sliding window arrangement according to the preamble is known before from for instance WO 2008/108703 A1 and is preferably used for glazing of a balcony. The known sliding window arrangement comprises a plurality of windows, each comprising a frame structure that consists of an inner frame, which surrounds a window pane and holds it by means of a sealing strip, and an outer frame, which holds the inner frame and displaceably engages upper and lower guide rails.

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

When thoroughly analyzing the matter, the applicant concluded that a certain type of balcony glazings on the market were less disturbing to appearance than the sliding window arrangements according to the preamble, namely balcony glazings with frameless window panes. At daylight such frameless window panes reflect the surroundings over a large unbroken area, which makes them harmonize with the surroundings and appear less dominant on a building. However, such frameless window panes are by far not as weather and sound proof as framed window panes, which is why the applicant began to look for a solution that combines the advantages of both.

Thus, against the above background it is an object of the present invention to improve a sliding window arrangement according to the preamble such that the tendency to dominate appearance of a building is reduced and yet weather and sound proofness is maintained on a high level.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention this object is achieved in a sliding window arrangement according to the preamble in that the window pane of said at least one window forms the outwardly exposed trailing edge portion of said at least one window, wherein a weather strip is arranged behind said outwardly exposed trailing edge portion to at least partially close a gap to a neighbouring window. As the window pane itself forms said outwardly exposed trailing edge portion of said at least one window, the sliding window arrangement in a closed position does to the outside present a more or less uniform, fully glazed appearance, which is less dominant than an appearance which is cluttered by a plurality of vertical frame members. Yet, the weather strip and its placement enables the sliding window arrangement to reach high weather and sound proofness levels and renders it possible to chose among a plurality of solutions when it comes to shaping of the frame structure of the windows. Preferably, the weather strip comprises a first flange, which extends from the trailing edge portion toward the neighbouring window. Besides weather and sound purposes, the first flange serves the extra purpose to improve appearance of the sliding window arrangement when viewed from a side.

According to one embodiment, said first flange comprises a flexible lip or a brush strip. Use of such means renders it possible to fully close the gap to a neighbouring window and yet to maintain an unobstructed sliding movement.

Preferably, said weather strip comprises a second flange, which at least partially covers the pane frame underneath the trailing edge portion. Thanks to the second flange it is possible to shape the frame structure of the windows at will without compromising the outer appearance at said trailing edge.

Preferably, the weather strip comprises an extruded or cast section of a metal, rubber or plastic material, or, alternatively, a sheet profile of a metal or plastic material. Such a section or profile is easy to accomplish and easy to adapt to different window sizes.

Preferably, the weather strip is dark colored at least where visible from outside. A dark colored weather strip has turned out to improve the fully glazed appearance of the sliding window arrangement that the present invention strives for.

According to a first alternative, the weather strip is stationary in relation to the frame structure of said at least one window and is mechanically or adhesively attached to said frame structure or forms an integral part thereof. According to a second alternative, the weather strip is stationary in relation to the pane frame of said at least one window and is mechanically or adhesively attached to said pane frame or forms an integral part thereof. And, according to a third alternative, the weather strip is stationary in relation to the window frame of said at least one window and is mechanically or adhesively attached to the window pane of said at least one window. Which alternative to chose, is dependent on the shape of the frames used as well as on the shape of the weather strip. The sliding window arrangement according to the present invention comes best to its right if used for glazing of a balcony unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will hereafter be described in more detail and with reference being had to the appended schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a sliding window arrangement that serves as a balcony glazing;

Fig. 2a is a sectional view that illustrates a sliding window in a closed position;

Fig. 2b is a sectional view that illustrates the sliding window of fig. 2a swung to a partly open position; and

Fig. 2c is a sectional view that illustrates the sliding window of figs. 2a and 2b swung to a fully open position.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In 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) and can, as shown, comprise two floors 2, 3 and a roof 4 on top. Between the two floors 2, 3 and between the upper floor 3 and the roof 4 left and right pillars 5, 6 extend, and between the pillars 5, 6 railings 7 are arranged for safety reasons. Above the railings 7 front openings 8 are defined that stretch all the way from the left to the right pillars 5, 6. These openings are for comfort reasons provided with sliding window arrangements 10 according to the present invention. One such sliding window arrangement 10 is shown in greater detail at the bottom of fig. 1 , where it is illustrated that the sliding window arrangement 10 forms a balcony glazing with practically no visible frame members appearing on the outside of the balcony unit 1 .

The sliding window arrangement 10 shown at the bottom of fig. 1 comprises a horizontal upper guide rail 11 and in parallel therewith a horizontal lower guide rail 12, both stretching along the front of the balcony unit 1 from a left pillar 5 to a right pillar 6. Between the guide rails 11 , 12 four windows are vertically arranged, to be more precise a left window 13, a left mid window 14, a right mid window 15, and a right window 16. The number of windows 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 parallel paths (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 the right window 16.

When in a closed position, such as shown in fig. 1 , the left window 13 has a left leading edge 17 thereof abutting the left pillar 5 (or some sealing means 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 mid window 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 edge 18 arranged outside a left leading edge (not shown in fig. 1 ) of the right window 16. Finally, the right window 16 has a right trailing edge 18 abutting the right pillar 6 (or some sealing means thereon).

From the closed position shown in fig. 1 the windows 13-16 can be slid along the guide rails 11 , 12 to an open position, in which the windows 13-16 are superposed such that their left leading edges 17 are arranged one outside the 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 a quarter of said opening 8.

In fig. 1 , which shows the windows 13-16 slid to a closed position, a frame structure 20 of each window 13-16 is indicated by arrows 20. The frame structure 20 can be shaped in different ways for the present invention to enable the sliding motion, which was described above, as well as a swinging motion, which will be described below with reference to figs. 2a-c. However, in connection with fig. 1 and said frame structure 20, it is important to note that the frame structure 20 at the trailing edge 18 of each window 13-16 is hidden to the outside by a window pane 21 mounted on said frame structure 20, or, to be more precise, hidden by a narrow vertical edge portion 24 at the right trailing edge 18 of each window 13-16. By this the fully glazed appearance mentioned before is achieved.

In figs. 2a-c a swinging motion of any of the windows 13-16 is illustrated in three consecutive stages. In fig. 2a the window 13-16 is shown in a fully closed stage, which is the one shown in fig. 1 , and allows sliding of a window 13-16 in front of or behind another window 13-16.

The window in figs. 2a-c comprises a frame structure, generally depicted 20, of which a pane frame 30 forms a part. However, just as the frame structure 20, the pane frame 30 can be designed in many different ways and is therefor not described or shown in further detail, except for two important features.

The first feature is that the pane frame 30 is pivotably mounted within the frame structure 20, such that it can be swung in relation to the guide rails 11 , 12 about a vertical axis in an inside direction (cf. the sequence from fig. 2a to fig. 2c). Said axis is generally depicted 31 and can be defined by for instance a hinge pin or the like.

The second feature is that the pane frame 30 mounts a window pane 21 , preferably such that the window pane 21 , as shown, surpasses the pane frame 30 and, in any way, such that it forms an outwardly exposed trailing edge portion 18, which to the outside hides underlying parts of the frame structure 20 of the window 13-16 in question.

Now, to further improve appearance, to improve weather and sound proofness and to create more freedom in relation to the design of the frame structure 20 of the windows 13-16, according to the present invention a weather strip 40 is vertically mounted on the frame structure 20 along an edge thereof beneath the trailing edge portion 18 of the window pane 21 .

The weather strip 40 preferably comprises an extruded aluminum section, which is easily cut to a length fitting the window 13-16 in question and comprises a first and a second flange 41 , 42, which are arranged at right angle to each other. Of these the first flange 41 serves to essentially close a gap between the trailing edge portion 18 of the window 13-16 in question and the window pane 21 of a window 13-16 beneath, whereas the second flange 42 serves to at least partially cover parts of the frame structure 20, such as parts of the pane frame 30 underneath the trailing edge portion 18.

The skilled person realizes that the present invention can be altered in different ways within the scope of the claims and that for instance the shape of the weather strip can be varied in different ways while maintaining the appearance effect aimed at.

Claims

8 CLAIMS

1 . A sliding window arrangement (10) comprising 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, wherein each window (13-16) comprises a frame structure (20) that displaceably engages said guide rails (11 , 12) and comprises a window pane (21 ), wherein at least one window (14- 16), when viewed from inside out, slid to a first position has a leading edge portion (17) thereof arranged right behind an outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) of an outer window (13-15) and slid to a second position has a leading edge portion (17) thereof arranged essentially behind a leading edge portion (17) of the outer window (13-15), and wherein at least one window (13-16) comprises a pane frame (30), which holds the window pane (21 ) and which from a closed position, in which it is in parallel with said guide rails (11 , 12), can be swung open inwardly about a vertical axis (31 ) of said at least one window (13-16) to an open position, in which it is at an angle to said guide rails (11 , 12), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the window pane (21 ) of said at least one window (13-16) forms the outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) of said at least one window (13-16), wherein a weather strip (40) is arranged behind said outwardly exposed trailing edge portion (18) to at least partially close a gap to a neighbouring window (13-15).

2. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claim 1 , wherein said weather strip (40) comprises a first flange (41 ), which extends from the trailing edge portion (18) toward the neighbouring window (13-15).

3. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to claim 2, wherein said first flange (41 ) comprises a flexible lip or a brush strip. 9

4. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said weather strip (40) comprises a second flange (42), which at least partially covers the pane frame (30) underneath the trailing edge portion (18).

5. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said weather strip (40) comprises an extruded or cast section of a metal, rubber or plastic material.

6. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said weather strip (40) comprises a sheet profile of a metal or plastic material.

7. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein said weather strip (40) is dark colored at least where visible from outside.

8. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said weather strip (40) is stationary in relation to the frame structure (20) of said at least one window (13-16) and is mechanically or adhesively attached to said frame structure (20) or forms an integral part thereof.

9. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said weather strip (40) is stationary in relation to the pane frame (30) of said at least one window (13-16) and is mechanically or adhesively attached to said pane frame (30) or forms an intergral part thereof.

10. The sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 -7, wherein said weather strip (40) is stationary in relation to the window frame (30) of said at least one window (13-16) and is mechanically or adhesively attached to the window pane (21) of said at least one window (13-16). 10

11 . Use of a sliding window arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims for glazing of a balcony unit (1 ).