Patent Grant
9605458
This application is related to and claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 14 196 234, filed on Dec. 4, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a corner fitting and a method for disposing a door element on a center of rotation and/or an axis via a corner fitting.
Conventional corner fittings serve for disposing door elements, in particular glass doors, such as for example double-action glass doors or sliding glass doors, on a center of rotation and/or an axis, for example a floor door closer axis (BTS-axis). Most of the time, the prior art corner fittings consist of two fitting elements, between which the door element, for example a glass door, is clamped between locating portions of the fitting elements. In addition, it is known to adapt the corner fittings to different glass cutout standards. For this purpose, in addition to the glass cutout corresponding to the standard glass cutout located in the corner area, where the fitting elements are clamped to, the door elements include additional bores, through which the attaching means pass, which reach abutment against the fitting elements, respectively connect the fitting elements to the door element. The cutouts in the corner area of the door element serve for forming a free space between the fitting elements outside the locating portions. Said free space is required for disposing, respectively for mounting the door element on a center of rotation and/or an axis via a connecting element, which is a structural component of the corner fitting and which is preferably disposed between the fitting elements.
It is disadvantageous in the prior art corner fittings that the connecting element, by means of which the door element, which is restrained between the locating portions, is supported on the center of rotation and/or the axis, is mostly configured integrally with the corner fitting, respectively the connecting element can just be utilized for disposing the door element on standardized centers of rotation and/or axes in order to guarantee a perfect mounting of the door element.
Therefore, the disclosure overcomes the above-described disadvantages of the state-of-the-art at least partially. Specifically, the disclosure provides a corner fitting for door elements, which allows for a perfect mounting and alignment of the door element restrained in the corner fitting also on non-standard centers of rotation and/or axes.
Features and details, described in conjunction with the inventive corner fitting are obviously also valid in conjunction with the inventive method, and respectively vice versa, such that mutual reference is made, respectively can be made with respect to the disclosure of individual aspects of the disclosure.
The inventive corner fitting for a door element to be disposed on a center of rotation and/or an axis, including a first fitting element and a second fitting element, which each include at least partially a locating portion for the abutment against the door element and are connectable to each other while restraining the door element, includes the technical teaching that a restraining area forms between both fitting elements, into which the door element can be inserted, and that the fitting elements are configured such that a holding element is disposed between both fitting elements, which is displaceable in relation to the fitting elements and wherein the holding element is in operative connection with a connecting element, which serves for supporting the door element on the center of rotation and/or the axis, wherein an attaching mechanism, which can be transferred between a released condition and a fixing condition, is incorporated at least in the holding element and at least at the connecting element, wherein in the released condition, the holding element is infinitely variably displaceable at the fitting elements, and in the fixing condition it is non-positively and/or positively connected at least to one fitting element.
On the one hand, this solution offers the advantage that the connecting element is connected to the holding element, which allows for the infinitely variable adjustment of the door element on non-standardized centers of rotation. Said two structural components connected to each other preferably form the attaching mechanism, which is advantageously incorporated at both structural components, namely at the holding element and at the connecting element, and which mechanism can be transferred between a released condition and a fixing condition, wherein the holding element is displaceable at the fitting elements in the released condition, and in the fixing condition, it is at least non-positively and/or positively attached to at least one fitting element. Accordingly, on the one hand, the attaching mechanism formed at the holding element and at the connecting element serves for infinitely variably adjusting the corner fitting on a center of rotation and/or an axis, i.e. for infinitely variably displacing the holding element and the connecting element connected to the holding element, in particular in relation to the longitudinal extension of the fitting elements. Moreover, the attaching mechanism serves for fixing the corner fitting in the adjusted position, namely for fixing the holding element via the attaching mechanism at least at one of the fitting elements at least non-positively and/or positively. Accordingly, for adjusting the connecting element on the center of rotation and/or the axis, the holding element can be freely displaceable with the connecting element, i.e. according to the disclosure, it can be guided to be infinitely variably displaceable with regard to the longitudinal extension of the fitting element. Once the position of the connecting element is adjusted to the center of rotation and/or the axis, immobilizing the holding element and thereby also at least indirectly the fitting element is realized via the attaching mechanism by means of a non-positive clamped connection with at least one of the fitting elements via the holding element, which is preferably configured as a clamping plate.
For establishing a connection between the holding element and the connecting element, i.e. for forming the attaching mechanism, the holding element and the connecting element are particularly advantageously non-positively and/or positively connected to each other via at least one attaching element. The attaching element between the holding element and the connecting element may be for example a screw, such as e.g. a headless screw, which connects the holding element and the connecting element to each other. Particularly advantageously, at least two attaching elements are provided, which connect the holding element to the connecting element. The non-positive and/or positive connection between the holding element and the connecting element, i.e. the transfer of the attaching mechanism from the released condition into the fixing condition, serves in addition in an advantageous manner for immobilizing the holding element at the attaching element. For this purpose, the attaching element includes preferably a free space as a guide, for example in the shape of a recess, a groove or a rail, at which, respectively in which the holding element is guided, respectively supported to be movable. Advantageously, in this case, the free space in the fitting element is configured such that the holding element is displaceable, respectively guidable in longitudinal extension of the fitting element. As the fitting element, respectively the fitting elements of the corner fitting are aligned parallel to the front and/or rear surfaces of the door element, the displacement of the holding element in longitudinal extension of the fitting element causes a displacement of the door element with the fitting element in the opposite direction to the displacement of the holding element in longitudinal extension of the fitting element. Thereby, it becomes possible to align the door element, for example within a door casing to the long sides of the casing and on the center of rotation and/or the axis. If said displaceability of the door element in relation to the center of rotation was not given, for example a double-action door, adjusted on a firm center of rotation and/or a firm axis, would unintentionally contact a wall or another structural glass element with one of its edges, in case of an incorrect position of the center of rotation and/or the axis. In the event an abutment of the double-action door is configured at least partially at another glass door element or at the wall, in case of incorrect adjustment of the corner fitting or in case of incorrect position of the center of rotation and/or the axis, the door element could pivot past the abutment.
In advantageous manner, the free space configured as a recess, a groove or a slot, is provided in both fitting elements. The recess, the groove or the slot extend in this case in advantageous manner in longitudinal extension of both fitting elements and extend in the two fitting elements preferably at the same height and parallel to each other. The free space in the fitting elements referred to as recess, groove or slot, advantageously serves for guiding the holding element essentially parallel to the fitting elements and in relation to the longitudinal extension thereof. Advantageously, for this purpose the holding element includes the head part, which serves for supporting the holding element, at least in the released condition of the attaching mechanism, to be movable in the free spaces of both fitting elements. Based on this configuration, in the fixing condition of the attaching mechanism, clamping the holding element via the head part is effective at both fitting elements, namely respectively in the recesses of both fitting elements, whereby the clamping force acting during clamping is advantageously distributed equally to both fitting elements.
In advantageous manner, the attaching mechanism is configured such that in the released condition a static friction is effective between the holding element and the recess, which is considerably lower than the static friction, which is effective in the fixing condition between the holding element and the recess. Preferably, the attaching element and even more preferred two attaching elements serve for increasing the static friction from the released condition into the fixing condition of the attaching mechanism, via which attaching elements the static friction is adjustable between the recess and the holding element. If for example the attaching element configured as a screw is screwed into the holding element via the connecting element, preferably the static friction is increased between the holding element and the recess. When unscrewing the attaching element, the static friction between the holding element and the recess is advantageously lowered and the attaching mechanism is transferred into the released condition.
Advantageously, the static friction between the holding element and the recess is increased until the holding element is fixed at least at one of the fitting elements via the attaching mechanism. In this case, advantageously in the fixing condition, a clamping acts between the holding element and the recess, wherein the clamping prevents a movement of the holding element in relation to the fitting element. With the clamping and the fixed positioning of the holding element in the fixing condition of the attaching mechanism, advantageously also the connecting element in operative connection with the holding element is fixed in its position in relation to the fitting elements.
Based on a compact embodiment of the inventive corner fitting requiring only little constructional space, the attaching mechanism is preferably configured in that, during the transfer from the fixing condition into the released condition and vice versa, the holding element performs a stroke movement within the free space. As the attaching mechanism is advantageously incorporated in the holding element and in the connecting element, no additional structural components are required for forming the attaching mechanism. In this case, advantageously, in addition to serving for infinitely variably guiding the holding element in longitudinal extension to the fitting elements, the free space, configured as a recess in the fitting elements, also serves for accommodating the holding element in an at least clamping manner and namely advantageously at any position in the recess.
Advantageously, the holding element is configured as an L-profile with a head part and a connecting part, preferably in the shape of two surfaces essentially orthogonally to each other, wherein the head part is supported in the free space configured as a groove, slot or as a recess in one of the fitting elements to be movable in the released condition of the attaching mechanism, and in the fixing condition of the attaching mechanism acts in a clamping manner in the recess. In the event both respective fitting elements have a free space configured as a groove, slot or recess, the head part of the holding element, respectively the holding element is advantageously configured as a T-profile, for supporting the holding element to be movable in both recesses of the fitting elements, respectively for clamping it. By transferring the attaching mechanism from its released condition into the fixing condition, the holding element configured as a T-profile offers at least sectionwise a resting surface on both sides, i.e. in both free spaces configured as a groove, slot or recess of the fitting elements, which surface serves for the non-positive and/or positive connection between the holding element and the fitting elements. In this case, preferably in the fixing condition of the attaching mechanism, the head part of the holding element acts in a clamping manner in grooves, slots or recesses. In contrast to the holding element configured as an L-profile, the holding element configured as a T-profile clamps equally on both sides of the corner fitting, namely at both fitting elements. Thereby, it is possible to achieve a more stable non-positive and/or positive connection, i.e. an improved clamping action between the holding element and the fitting elements, with the holding element configured as a T-profile compared to the holding element configured as an L-profile. As also already described for the holding element configured as an L-profile, in the holding element configured as a T-profile, the connecting element is connected to the holding element via a connecting part.
Preferably, the connecting part and the head part of the holding element are configured as a common, monolithic and/or integral structural component. In this case, for example a structural component manufactured in an injection molding process from one or more different components can be understood as a monolithic structural component. A structural component manufactured from a material, which for example is carved out from a material block by milling, for example a material block, for example a metal block, can be understood as an integral structural component. Preferably, a common structural component is understood in that the head part and the connecting part are configured as individual parts, which are provided as a common structural component, namely as the holding element in a pre-mounted condition.
For adjusting the attaching mechanism, in particular for transferring the attaching mechanism from the released condition into the fixing condition and vice versa, preferably the attaching element is disposed at the connecting element to be accessible for the user from outside. As the connecting element is in operative connection with the holding element, which is guided between the fitting elements, and is therefore difficult to access, advantageously via the attaching elements, which can be manipulated from outside at the connecting element, the attaching mechanism and in particular the holding element can be transferred from the fixing condition, i.e. from the clamping with the free space configured as a recess, into the released condition, i.e. for establishing the infinitely variable displaceability in longitudinal extension of the fitting elements, and vice versa.
So that the holding element is able to perform a stroke movement preferably by means of the attaching elements disposed at the connecting element, which are accessible for the user, and for building the attaching mechanism incorporated at the holding element and at the connecting element, the holding element includes at least one bore, into which, in the fixing condition, the attaching element engages at least partially, whereby an increased clamping is caused between the holding element and the recess. Preferably, in the released condition, the attaching element engages far less deep into the bore or is located spaced apart from the bore, so that the clamping is lower or the clamping is almost rescinded.
With the intention to make the attaching element accessible from outside at the connecting element, the connecting element has at least one through-hole, in which the attaching element is disposed, wherein the through-hole extends in particular as far as to the bore. For configuring the attaching mechanism, which comprises a stroke movement of the holding element, preferably, in the released condition, the through-hole is not aligned flush with the bore at the holding element.
For moving the bore in relation to the through-hole for generating a stroke movement of the holding element, advantageously, the bore includes means, which cause the connecting part to move vertically to the direction of movement, when the attaching element engages in the bore. The measure of engagement of the attaching element in said bore is decisive for the measure of the stroke movement of the holding element. In case the attaching element engages less deep into the bore or in case the attaching element is spaced apart from the bore, i.e. unscrewed from the bore, preferably, the holding element performs a stroke movement in vertical direction from the attaching element and reaches the released condition. For clamping the holding element, the attaching element engages further into the bore, wherein, via means such as for example the configuration of the bore with a chamfer, which inclines from the border of the bore to the center of the bore, the holding element is pulled vertically to the direction of movement of the attaching element towards the attaching element and reaches clamping in the recess. As the through-holes serve for passing through the attaching elements, and advantageously, the attaching elements are screws, preferably the through-hole has an internal thread, which serves for the non-positive and/or positive connection to the attaching elements configured as screws. As the bore, respectively the bores of the holding element are not aligned with the through-holes of the connecting element and the bores are for example chamfered to the outside, the attaching element guided in the internal thread of the through-hole is pushed, respectively rotated along the chamfer of the bore. However, as the internal thread of the through-hole serves as a thrust bearing for the attaching element, the holding element is moved along the chamfer with the advance of the attaching element, in particular vertically to the direction of movement of the attaching element. In this case, the holding element guided in the free space configured as a recess in the fitting element reaches non-positive abutment at the recess.
With the intention to increase the advance of the attaching element along the means configured as a chamfer, respectively to guarantee said advance, preferably, in the frontal area, which reaches engagement with the bore, the attaching element has a cone-shaped surface, which almost corresponds to slope of the chamfer, respectively is adapted to the chamfer.
As already described, by bringing the attaching element in engagement with the bore of the holding element, i.e. it is moved with the advance of the attaching element into the bore of the holding element. Advantageously, in this case, the movement of the holding element is understood as vertically to the displaceability thereof in longitudinal extension of the fitting elements. In an even more preferred manner, the vertical displacement of the holding element is understood that bringing the attaching element in engagement with the bore causes the holding element to reach at least sectionwise non-positive and/or positive abutment with one of its surfaces at or in the free space configured as a recess respectively guide, respectively the clamping between the free space and the holding element is rescinded.
Obviously, it is also conceivable that the bore itself includes an internal thread for the non-positive and/or positive connection to the attaching element. Obviously, the through-hole in the connecting element may be then optionally embodied as a bore with internal thread or without internal thread, through which the attaching element is advanced in the direction of the bore of the holding element.
Preferably, by bringing the attaching element in engagement with the bore, the holding element is moved vertically with regard to the parallel guide. The vertical movement of the holding element immobilizes the latter, via at least one engagement portion, which is configured at one of the surfaces of the holding element, at least at one fitting element. Preferably, in this case, the engagement portion of the holding element comprises a portion of a surface of the holding element, which portion is guided in the recess, respectively in the free space and is located in particular at the head part of the holding element. In the event according to the disclosure, the connecting element is non-positively and/or positively coupled to the holding element, the engagement portion is non-positively and/or positively coupled in or at the recess. A displacement of the connecting element to align of the door element on the center of rotation and/or the axis is therefore just possible by uncoupling the non-positive connection between the holding element and the fitting element. The non-positive uncoupling of the holding element from the fitting element is realized in this case and as already mentioned by releasing the non-positive and/or positive connection between the connecting element and the holding element. Accordingly, the non-positive uncoupling between the holding element and the fitting element is released in that the attaching element is pushed respectively rotated out of the bore, and by a vertical movement of the holding element, releases the holding element from the clamped position into released position. So that the holding element can be again non-positively connected to the fitting element, the fitting element needs to be advanced in the direction of the bore. When advancing the attaching element into the bore, the holding element is then moved in the opposite vertical direction, whereby the engagement portion at the head part of the holding element is being non-positively connected to the fitting element and the holding element is located in its clamped position.
In a preferred way, the free space is and/or the fitting elements are formed in this case in such a manner towards the holding element that a movement of the holding element along the longitudinal extension of the fitting element can be realized for up to 35 mm. Said configuration of the corner fitting allows for guaranteeing that an adjustment on centers of rotation and/or axes having a measure in the range from approximately 45 mm to approximately 80 mm is possible.
With the intention to increase the clamping effect, i.e. the friction between the holding element, i.e. the engagement portion of the head part and the free space configured as a recess in at least one of the fitting elements, and with the intention to establish in addition to a non-positive connection between the holding element and the attaching element, a positive connection as well between said two elements, in the area of the engagement portion, the surface of the holding element has advantageously a profile, a ribbing and/or an increased roughness. Advantageously in this case, the profile of the engagement portion is configured such that the clamping, respectively the friction between the holding element and the fitting element guarantees a form closure, which absorbs the torque via the door closer. Obviously, as an alternative or in addition, also the free space configured as a recess for example of the fitting element may include at least sectionwise a profile, which preferably corresponds to the profile of the engagement portion of the holding element, i.e. reaches mutual engagement with the latter.
In addition to the free space configured as a groove, as a slot or as a recess in longitudinal extension of the fitting elements in at least one of the fitting elements, preferably a free space in the shape of a distance between the fitting elements is formed, which allows for guiding the holding element between the fitting elements at least in relation to the longitudinal extension thereof, wherein the connecting part of the holding element extends through the distance. In this case, in a preferred manner, the free space formed as a distance between the fitting elements is configured to be larger than the material thickness of the connecting part. In a preferred manner, the distance ranges between 1% to 100% larger than the material thickness of the connecting part, wherein in a preferred manner, in particular based on a compact construction type of the inventive corner fitting, the distance is equal to or larger than 10% with regard to the material thickness of the connecting part. Accordingly, the holding element is movable in a second direction of movement orthogonally to a first direction of movement in longitudinal extension of the fitting elements. In this way, via the holding element also a plane offset of the center of rotation, respectively the axis might be compensated for, i.e. that a glass element rotatably supported by means of the inventive corner fitting on the center of rotation and/or the axis can be aligned flush for example from door to sidepanel or from door to center joint.
In the present application the following terms are understood as follows, however should not be understood as being limited thereto:
A structural component, which is movable essentially parallel to the fitting elements, i.e. displaceable and advantageously also rotatable, is understood as the “holding element” and which serves for displacing the connecting element, which is operatively connected to the holding element, parallel to the fitting elements and for aligning it with a door element restrained in a restraining area about a center of rotation and/or an axis. In this case, the holding element may be configured as a single-surface or multi-surface body. Obviously, the holding element may as well be configured of one or more struts connected to each other or otherwise, such as e.g. an angled part. The space available between the fitting elements and formed by the distance of the fitting elements to each other is the only limiting factor for the type and construction form of the holding element.
A structural component accommodating the center of rotation and/or the axis is understood as the “connecting element”. For increasing the variability of the connecting element, said reception may have different sizes, respectively may be adaptable to receptions having different sizes, for example by means of adapter inserts. The connecting element may thus be a separate structural component, which is in operative connection with the holding element via attaching elements, or it may as well be embodied with the holding element as a common monolithic and/or integral structural component.
The “infinitely variable selection of centers of rotation” is understood to range between approximately 45 mm and 80 mm. Obviously, if required, the inventive corner fitting may be configured to allow for selecting centers of rotation outside the above-described range. However, this would require having to cut out the door element in a larger than usual area and the corner fitting would have to be dimensioned correspondingly to allow for expanding the displaceability of the holding element between the fitting elements.
A free space configured in the shape of grooves, small channels, furrows, shoulders, rails, protrusions, slots and/or for example roller belts, which allows for displaceable, i.e. mobile support of the holding element, may be understood as the “free space, which is configured as a recess in at least one fitting element”. Obviously, latching means may be configured along the free space, which allow for the holding element to latch in and thus for a pre-adjustment of the door element to given measures of centers of rotation and/or measures of axes. However, it might be that just latching and/or stop centers are configured for standardized centers of rotation and/or the axes. In this case, an infinitely variable displaceability of the holding element in the free space is guaranteed advantageously between two latching means, respectively between two latching and/or stop centers, whereby a fine-tuning of the corner fitting is possible on non-standardized centers of rotation.
The inventive method for disposing a door element on a center of rotation and/or an axis via a corner fitting, in particular via the inventive corner fitting, including a first fitting element and a second fitting element, which each include at least sectionwise a locating portion for the abutment against the door element, and while restraining the door element are connected to each other, according to the disclosure, includes the technical teaching that the corner fitting includes an attaching mechanism, which can be transferred between a released condition and a fixing condition, wherein in the released condition a connecting element, which is supported in the corner fitting to be displaceable, can be aligned on the center of rotation and/or the axis and after aligning the connecting element on the center of rotation and/or the axis, the attaching mechanism is transferred into the fixing condition, such that the holding element is attached in a clamped manner at least at one fitting element, whereby a relative movement is excluded between the holding element and the fitting element.
With the intention to avoid repeating the advantages of the inventive method, it is referred to the description of the advantageous embodiment of the inventive corner fitting and it is fully and comprehensively referred to the latter.
Hereinafter, further measures enhancing the disclosure will be illustrated in the following in detail in conjunction with the description of one preferred exemplary embodiment of the disclosure based on the Figures. In this context, the features mentioned, individually or randomly combined, may be essential to the disclosure.
In the drawings:
Throughout the different Figures, same parts are always identified by the same reference numerals, and therefore they will be normally only described once.
With the intention to assist the infinitely variable displacement of the holding element 8 in longitudinal extension of the fitting elements 4 and 5, which holding element is connected to the connecting element 9 via the connecting part 8.2, a lower recess 18 is configured at the fitting elements 4 and 5, which is preferably formed parallel to the recess 11.1 formed as the free space 11 and preferably extends over the same length as the recess 11.1 configured as the free space 11. Preferably in this case, the lower recess 18 is formed in both fitting elements 4 and 5 and extends over the distance 17 of the fitting elements from the one to the other fitting element 4 and 5.
For a better illustration of the support of the holding element 8 in the corner fitting 1,
In a top view,
In a diagrammatical sectional view,
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| 14196234 | Dec 2014 | EP | regional |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160160548 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |
