Patent Application
20240159092
The invention relates to the technical field of a rail guidance system for a sliding device. In particular a rail guidance system for a sliding device for example such as a sliding door, a sliding window, or any other suitable slidable device such as a panel, a frame, a wall, etc. In particular when a rail guidance system like this is used on an inclined ground surface, for example such as is usual with a sliding device for a terrace, a balcony, etc. In particular when the rail guidance system is used with a sliding device that is fastened suspended, in other words wherein the weight of the sliding device is not or is barely received by a guide rail that is fastened on the ground surface.
From BE1022034B1, a guidance system for a sliding door device is known that is suitable for use on a terrace or a balcony, wherein the ground surface is normally positioned with a certain slope. In such circumstances the height difference that the rail guidance system must bridge may be up to several cm. Under the influence of temperature differences and weather conditions, this height difference may even increase. Such as is known from BE1022034B1, a height difference such as this may be compensated by means of a telescopic guide element. It is moreover desirable for a rail guidance system like this to be constructed sufficiently robustly for example to be able to withstand a large wind load. However, this guidance system limits the motion of the sliding device to a translation in the direction of the guide rail.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,903, a foldable door is known, which makes use of a telescopic hinge at the top of its two outer posts. The telescopic hinge comprises a holder with a cylindrical bush that is fastened to the upper corner of the post. A spindle is mounted in this cylindrical bush, with a roller at its top, which connects to a guide rail above the folding door. The spindle with the roller is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the bush, and, in the fastened state, is forced upward by means of a spring to make contact with the guide rail. It is clear that the vertical hinge spindle coincides with the axis of the roller, so that the roller as well as the associated guide rail extend in a horizontal plane above the folding door. A hinge of this kind allows the folding door to be fastened or to be removed in an efficient manner, since the telescopic hinge allows the folding door to be lifted upward, wherein the spindle can be removed from the bush of the fixed hinge at the bottom of a post. It is clear that such systems comprise the risk that, for example through an unintentional lifting motion, or for example if a strong wind load also exerts an upward force on the folding door, the folding door may be disconnected unintentionally or undesirably. This may be dangerous, particularly with larger or heavier doors. In addition it is clear that a foldable door of this kind is secured on one of the outer posts by means of fixed hinges to a vertical wall next to the foldable door. These posts of a foldable door of this kind are fastened vertically. The foldable door is supported at the bottom at the level of this one fixed outer post at one point by means of a hinge point on which the weight of the swing door is supported. This has the drawback that, particularly in the unfolded state of the foldable door, the other, movable outer post is not supported, which gives rise to large forces at the level of the post with the fixed hinge point. This makes such a configuration unsuitable for reliable fastening of larger and/or heavier foldable doors, since this would give rise to inadmissibly high forces, deformations and/or the risk of coming out of the lowest hinge point at the level of the fixed post.
Another folding door is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,701. On the movable post of the folding door, a downward directed spindle is mounted at the bottom, which in the fastened state is mounted in a slot of a guidance device on the floor surface. At the top of this post, a telescopic hinge is mounted that consists of a cylindrical bush mounted on the post, in which a spindle is mounted slidably along the longitudinal axis of the bush, and wherein the upward directed end of this spindle is forced upward by a spring in order to engage, in the fastened state, in a slot of a guide rail that is mounted above the folding door. Here too, the purpose of the system is to make efficient fixing or removal of the folding door possible. As with U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,903, it is clear that such a system comprises the risk of being disconnected unintentionally or undesirably.
In addition, it is clear that the folding doors from U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,701 are secured, on their outer posts, by means of a hinge to a vertical wall next to the door. In addition it is desirable that the posts of the swing door are fastened vertically. Since these swing doors are supported at the bottom, the guide rail should consequently be mounted horizontally at the bottom, on which the weight of the swing door is supported. Or in other words, the system from U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,701 is not suitable for interacting with a guide rail at the bottom that is mounted on a ground surface with a certain slope.
There is thus a need for an alternative rail guidance system, as well as guide elements for the latter, which can compensate for a height difference on placement of the guide rail, which are robust and can withstand a large wind load on the sliding device, and which allow greater flexibility with respect to the motion of the sliding device, particularly also in the case of sliding devices with larger dimensions and/or greater weight.
For this purpose, according to a first aspect a telescopic hinge is provided for a rail guidance system for guiding a sliding device along an elongated guide rail with a longitudinal axis, comprising:
By employing the telescopic hinge in the sliding device, a robust and simple system is formed that makes greater flexibility possible for the motion of the sliding device, since besides a translation, a rotation about the hinge spindle also becomes possible. Moreover, any height differences are also compensated in a simple and robust manner by the telescopic action of the telescopic hinge.
According to one embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the telescopic hinge further comprises:
This allows the telescopic hinge to be coupled to the guide rail in a flexible manner and allows efficient mounting of the telescopic hinge.
According to another embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the coupling piece is coupled tiltably to the end of the second hinge part.
According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling piece is mounted to the end of the second hinge part tiltably about a tilt axis, wherein the tilt axis extends transversely or substantially transversely to the direction of the hinge-rotation axis, and/or also extends transversely and/or substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.
According to a preferred embodiment, in the fastened state the tilt axis is horizontal or substantially horizontal and transverse or substantially transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.
This makes it possible, in a simple manner, to compensate for height differences, slopes, inclines, etc. of the ground to which the guide rail is fastened. The tiltable coupling piece also allows the hinge to be adapted in an efficient manner in various situations, with a varying slope of the ground surface on which the guide rail is fastened.
According to another embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the coupling piece and the guide rail are configured in such a way that in the coupled state they:
In this way, the coupling between the telescopic hinge and the guide rail is never lost. In this way, robust coupling is created, wherein contact between the guide rail and the coupling piece is assured in all circumstances.
According to another embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the coupling piece comprises an elongated slot with a cross section that abuts with the cross section of a guide element of the guide rail, and wherein the elongated slot is configured so that:
According to another embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the elongated slot of the coupling piece:
In this way, a simple and reliable coupling is produced between the telescopic hinge and the guide rail.
According to another embodiment, a telescopic hinge is provided, wherein the end of the second hinge part, when the telescopic hinge is fastened to a sliding device, forms a downward directed end of the second hinge part that is configured to be coupled to the guide rail slidably along the longitudinal axis, when the guide rail is fastened to a surface. Moreover, it is clear that the surface may also be indicated as a ground surface.
This makes it possible for height differences, slopes, inclines, etc., which are typically present in the ground on which the guide rail is fastened, to be compensated, so that it is no longer necessary for an upright or leveling of the ground to be provided at the level of the guide rail and efficient, simple mounting of the guide rail is possible. In addition, this avoids said upright forming an additional obstacle over which a user has to step.
According to a second aspect, an assembly for a rail guidance system is provided, comprising at least one telescopic hinge according to the first aspect, wherein the assembly further comprises:
According to a preferred embodiment, in the fastened state, the guide rail to which the telescopic hinge is coupled, is fastened to the ground surface.
According to one embodiment, an assembly is provided, wherein the assembly further comprises:
According to a preferred embodiment, an assembly is provided wherein, in a fastening state, the second guide rail is positioned at the top of the sliding device and is configured so that the sliding device is fastened suspended.
According to another embodiment, an assembly is provided, wherein the assembly further comprises one or more of the aforementioned sliding devices to which an aforementioned telescopic hinge is mounted.
According to another embodiment, an assembly is provided, wherein the telescopic hinge is mounted onto and/or into an upright profile element of one or more sliding devices.
According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding device is fastened suspended on the second guide rail, which is positioned at the top of the sliding device.
According to a preferred embodiment, in a fastened state, the weight of the sliding device is carried completely or substantially completely by the second guide rail, which is positioned at the top of the sliding device.
According to a preferred embodiment, in a fastened state, the weight of the sliding device is not or substantially not taken by the guide rail that is fastened on the ground surface, and to which the sliding device is coupled by the telescopic hinge.
According to a preferred embodiment, in a fastened state, the sliding device is fastened suspended to the second guide rail that is positioned at the top of the sliding device, by means of the non-telescopic hinge and/or a guide element fastened to the non-telescopic hinge.
According to another embodiment, an assembly is provided, wherein the assembly comprises:
According to a third aspect, a kit of components for the telescopic hinge according to the first aspect and/or for the assembly according to the second aspect is provided, wherein the kit comprises:
In this way the telescopic hinge and/or the assembly can be distributed in a simple manner, wherein for example use may be made of common components.
According to a fourth aspect, a method is provided for the manufacture, assembly and/or mounting of a telescopic hinge for a rail guidance system for guiding a sliding device along an elongated guide rail with a longitudinal axis according to the first aspect, comprising the following steps:
In this way, the telescopic hinge and/or the assembly can be manufactured in a simple manner.
According to a fifth aspect, the use is provided of a telescopic hinge according to the first aspect and/or for the assembly according to the second aspect in a rail guidance system for sliding and/or rotating a sliding device, wherein:
It is clear that further embodiments, particularly of the third, fourth and fifth aspect, are possible with respect to embodiments of the telescopic hinge according to the first aspect and/or the assembly according to the second aspect.
Some embodiments without any limiting character are described in the appended figures.
Before embodiments are described, it is clear that the extent of protection as defined in the claims is not limited to specific embodiments or combinations described, since such embodiments and combinations thereof may naturally vary. It should also be made clear that the terminology used herein is not intended as limiting. The extent of protection is determined by the appended claims.
As used hereinafter in this text, the singular forms “a” and “the” comprise both the singular and the plural unless the context is clearly otherwise.
The terms “contain”, “contains” as used hereinafter are synonymous with “inclusive”, “include” or “comprise, “comprises” and are inclusive or open and do not exclude additional, unnamed members, elements or method steps. The terms “comprise”, “comprises” include the term “contain”, “contains” and/or vice versa.
The enumeration of numerical values on the basis of a range of digits comprises all values and fractions in this range, as well as the stated end points.
The term “about”, “in essence”, “mainly”, “substantially” or “approximately”, as used when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a duration, an angle, a direction, and so on, is intended to include variations of ±10% or less, preferably ±5% or less, more preferably ±1% or less, and even more preferably ±0.1% or less, above and below the specified value, insofar as the variations are applicable for functioning in the invention described herein. It is clear that the value to which the term “about”, “in essence”, “mainly” or “approximately” refers per se, was also made known.
Various aspects and/or embodiments are defined further in the following passages. Moreover, each aspect and/or embodiment, which is thus defined in the following passages, may be combined with another aspect or aspects, and/or embodiment or embodiments, unless the contrary is clearly stated. In particular, a feature indicated as “preferred” or “advantageous”, “optional”, “by way of example”, “for example”, etc., may be combined with other features or properties that are stated as “preferred” and/or “advantageous”, “optional”, “by way of example”, “for example”, etc. Such combinations and/or variations of aspects and/or embodiments are, however, also possible for aspects and/or embodiments for which no particular indication is stated. Reference in this description to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” signifies that a certain function, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is applicable in at least one embodiment of the present invention. When the phrases “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” are given at various points in this text, they do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although this is not excluded. Moreover, the aspects, embodiments, features, structures or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable way, such as is clear to a person skilled in the art on the basis of this description. The embodiments described, and claimed in the claims, may thus be used in any suitable combination. In the present description, reference is made to the appended drawings, which form a part thereof, and which illustrate specific embodiments by way of example. References, for example such as reference numbers, etc., which refer to certain elements, refer to the respective elements as an example, without necessarily limiting the elements thereby to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. It must be understood that further and/or alternative embodiments may be used and structural or logical changes may be made while remaining within the extent of protection as defined by the claims. The following detailed description is not to be considered as limiting, and the extent of protection is defined by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all terms as used, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning such as is usually understood by a person skilled in the art. As further guidance, definitions are given for further explanation of terms that are used here.
As can be seen, the telescopic hinge 30 comprises a first hinge part 32 that is mounted to the sliding device 20. The telescopic hinge 30 further comprises a second hinge part 34 that is mounted rotatably in the first hinge part 32 for rotation about a hinge-rotation axis 38. It is then clear that the hinge-rotation axis 38 runs in an upward and/or downward direction, for example in a vertical and/or substantially vertical direction, in the state shown in
As also shown, the embodiment in
As can be seen in
According to the embodiment example shown, the elongated guide rail 10 comprises a guide element 14 with a circular cross section which, in the coupled state, abuts with the circular perimeter of the slot 366 of the guide element 14 of the guide rail 10. According to this embodiment, the slot 366 further comprises a downward facing opening 368 that abuts with the base 16 of the guide element 10. It is clear that the width, i.e. in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction 12 and substantially horizontal or parallel to the ground surface, of the base 16 of the guide rail 10 is less than the maximum width of the guide element 14 extending above it. Similarly, the width of the downward facing opening 368 of the slot 366 at the bottom of the coupling piece 36 that abuts onto the base 16, is thus smaller than the higher located maximum width of the part of the slot 366 that abuts onto the guide element 14 of the guide rail 10 inserted in the slot 366. It is clear that according to an embodiment of this kind, for the coupling piece 36, when coupled to the guide element 14 of the guide rail 10, by means of the elongated slot 366, only a translation of the coupling piece 36 in the longitudinal direction 12 of the guide rail 10, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slot 366, is possible along the guide element 14 of the guide rail 10 inserted in the slot 366. In other words, another translation, in another direction, is prevented through engagement of said coupling piece 36 on the guide rail 10, i.e. no translation of the coupling piece is possible relative to the guide rail 10 in an upward or downward direction, or in a direction parallel to the ground surface but transverse relative to the longitudinal axis 12, or in any other direction that intersects the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.
In other words, the coupling piece 36 is configured for coupling the end 342 of the second hinge part 34 to the guide rail 10 so that with a change of the distance between the sliding device 20 and the guide rail 10, the coupling with the guide rail 10 is maintained. In other words, when this distance between the guide rail 10 and the sliding device 20 changes, during sliding of the sliding device 20 along the guide rail 10, this change will thus be compensated by a translation of the second hinge part 34 relative to the first hinge part 32 along the hinge-rotation axis 38 of the telescopic hinge 30. According to the state of the embodiment shown in
It is clear that the sliding device 20, in the embodiment example shown, at the top is also preferably mounted by means of a hinge 50 to a guide rail 40, wherein this hinge is configured for rotation about a hinge-rotation axis 58 in the extension of the hinge-rotation axis 38 of the telescopic hinge 30, for example as shown in
It is clear that the longitudinal direction 42 of the guide rail 40, at the top of the sliding device 20, is parallel to the longitudinal direction 12 of the guide rail 10 at the bottom of the sliding device 20. In a frequently occurring situation, this guide rail 40, for example at the top of a sliding device 20, such as a sliding door, sliding window, sliding panel, etc., is mounted level, whereas the opposite guide rail 10 at the bottom of the sliding device 20 preferably follows any slope or the differences in level of the ground surface. In other words the guide rail 40, at the top of the sliding device 20, is mounted horizontally or substantially horizontally.
It is also clear that according to the embodiment example shown, the cross section of the guide element 14 has an element with a circular or substantially circular cross section that is fastened to the fastening plate 18 via a narrower base 16. It is clear, however, that a number of variant embodiments are possible wherein another guide element 14 or other elements of the guide rail 10 have another suitable cross section, for example such as a guide element 14 with the cross section of a polygon, a suitable profiled shape, etc. It is clear that according to such embodiments, the telescopic hinge 30 then comprises a coupling piece 36 with an elongated slot 366 that forms, on a side facing the guide rail 10, an opening 368, the width of which is less than the maximum width of the slot 366. Furthermore, according to such embodiments, the slot 366 in a coupled state abuts onto a guide rail 10. Moreover, this guide rail 10 comprises a base 16 at the level of the opening 368, in the side of the coupling piece 36 facing the guide rail 10, the width of which is less than the maximum width of the guide element 14 of the guide rail 10 inserted in the slot 366 of the coupling piece 36. It is then clear that just like the guide rail 10, the guide element 14, the base 16, the slot 366 and the opening 368 are elongated and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.
According to such embodiments it is thus advantageous that the coupling piece 36 comprises an elongated slot 366 with a cross section that abuts with the cross section of a guide element 14 of the guide rail 10 so that the elongated slot 366 cannot lose contact with the guide element 14, to make the telescopic action of the telescopic hinge 30 possible. This means for example that as in the embodiment example shown, the elongated slot 366 and the associated guide element 14 are configured in such a way that the guide element 14 can only be inserted in the elongated slot 366 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12. In other words, according to such embodiments the elongated slot 366 is clamped to or round the guide element 14 slidably in the longitudinal direction 12. According to such embodiments, the guide element 14 need not be inserted in the elongated slot 366 in a direction that intersects the direction of the longitudinal axis 12, or the guide element 14 thus also does not need to be removed from the elongated slot 366 in said direction. This means in particular that with a telescopic motion of the second hinge part 34 of the telescopic hinge 30 about the hinge-rotation axis 38, the coupling between the second hinge part 34 on the end 342 and the guide rail 10 is maintained by means of coupling piece 36.
According to these embodiments, the coupling piece 36 and/or the guide rail 10 are configured so that, and/or interact in such a way that, in the coupled state they only allow a translation of the coupling piece 36 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 along the guide rail 10. In other words, similarly to the embodiment example shown, it is clear that in the coupled state no translation of the coupling piece 36 is possible in a direction that intersects the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 relative to the guide rail 10.
However, it is clear that according to embodiments of an assembly of this kind, the assembly may also additionally comprise a non-telescopic hinge 50 that interacts with a second guide rail 40 and the sliding device 20, for example as described above with reference to
It is clear that according to the embodiment shown in
According to an alternative embodiment, said telescopic hinge 30 may also be used for two sliding devices 20 mounted next to each other. This means that the telescopic hinge 30 is mounted to two sliding devices 20 that are mounted next to each other. Like in the embodiment described above, the embodiment shown in
It is clear that yet other alternative embodiments are possible of an assembly that comprises one or more sliding devices 20 on which a telescopic hinge 30 is mounted. Preferably, similarly to as described above, the telescopic hinge 30 is mounted onto and/or into an upright profile element 21 of one or more sliding devices 20.
It is also clear that the embodiments of the telescopic hinge and/or the assemblies for example such as described above, may optionally be offered in the form of a kit of components, which for example comprises the first hinge part 32 and the second hinge part 34 for at least one telescopic hinge 30. Optionally, the kit may also comprise the guide rail 10, the sliding device 20, and/or any other suitable component of the embodiment of the telescopic hinge and/or the assemblies for example such as described above.
It is also clear that a telescopic hinge 30 for a rail guidance system 1 for guiding a sliding device 20 along an elongated guide rail 10 with a longitudinal axis 12 similar to that described above can be manufactured, assembled and/or mounted in a simple manner. For example, the second hinge part 34 may be mounted rotatably and slidably in the first hinge part 32 for rotation about a hinge-rotation axis 38 and slidably in the direction of the hinge-rotation axis 38. The first hinge part 32 is then mounted to the sliding device 20 and the second hinge part 34 is coupled to the guide rail 10 at an end 342 slidably along the longitudinal axis 12.
Finally, the use of the embodiments of the telescopic hinge and/or the assembly for example such as described above in a rail guidance system 1 for sliding and/or rotating a sliding device 20 is also clear.
It is clear that a number of further combinations and/or variant embodiments are possible without departing from the extent of protection as defined in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/5202 | Mar 2021 | BE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/052414 | 3/17/2022 | WO |
