The present invention relates to a drop-down seal for a door, in particular to a mechanically lowerable sealing device.
Mechanically lowerable sealing devices that are automatic are known. They are generally used for doors without thresholds in order to seal the lower gap between the door leaf and the floor against draft, noise and light transmission. A seal, such as is disclosed, for example, in EP 0 338 974, has proven its worth.
The actuation of the sealing device is effected automatically on one or two sides when the door is closed and opened, by a spring-loaded release bolt, which protrudes from the door leaf, being pushed in when the door is closed. A sealing strip is lowered as a result by means of a lowering mechanism. When the door leaf is opened, the release bolt is re-released and the lowering mechanism raises the sealing strip again thanks to the resetting force of the springs.
Examples of corresponding lowering mechanisms are disclosed in EP 0 509 961, DE 3 526 720, DE 3 418 438 and DE 3 427 938.
A particularly suitable lowering mechanism is described in DE 19 516 530. It includes the mentioned release bolt, to which a flat slide is fastened. The slide is held displaceably inside the housing rail. The lowering mechanism additionally includes at least two leaf springs which are fixedly connected to the slide at one first end each and are fastened pivotably to the housing rail at one second end each. In the central region the leaf springs are connected in a hinged manner to the sealing strip each by means of a plastics material body. A transverse bore, which is pushed through by a journal, is present for this purpose for a first leaf spring. Elongated holes, which are each also pushed through by a journal, are present for the second and following leaf springs. The transverse bore enables the sealing strip to be fixed to the leaf spring. The elongated holes allow the leaf springs to be deflected in a variable manner so that the sealing strip is automatically adapted to the inclination of the building floor.
In addition, sealing devices which can be shortened are known. EP 2 050 918 discloses a lowering mechanism which is set back at both ends of the sealing device in such a manner that the housing rail, the carrier rail and also the seal profile of the sealing device can be shortened together.
DE 20 2011 051 326 U describes a sealing device with multiple portions, wherein it is able to be shortened by the corresponding portion length.
The described spring-loaded lowering mechanisms have proven their worth in practice. It is characteristic that they displace the sealing strip in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device during lowering. This has to be taken into consideration when assembling the sealing device so that the hard carrier rail of the sealing strip does not grind on the door frame and scratch said door frame or so that the elastomer seal profile does not bend too much in the vertical door gap. If the sealing device, however, is chosen to be too short or the distance from the door frame is set to be too large, the sealing action is not optimum as the soft seal profile no longer abuts against the door frame and consequently can no longer seal the entire gap between the door leaf and the building floor. The known seals are, however, correspondingly optimized. If, however, the drop-down seal has to be shortened in order to be adapted to the weight of the door leaf, said optimum adaptation is lost.
The drop-down seal comprises a housing rail 1 as well as a sealing strip which is held therein so as to be raisable and lowerable. The sealing strip includes a carrier rail 2 and a seal profile 3 which is fastened thereto. The end face situated opposite the release button of the drop-down seal is visible. In the raised state the carrier rail 2 is set back on said end face with respect to the housing rail 1. The seal profile 3 protrudes from the carrier rail 2. The seal profile 3 is usually aligned with the housing rail 3 on said end face. The arrangement is usually different on the opposite end face that is not shown. There the carrier rail 2 is usually aligned with the end face of the housing rail 1 and the seal profile 3 protrudes from the housing rail 1.
When being lowered, the sealing strip is displaced in the longitudinal direction L, as shown in
Such drop-down seals are often shortened, as mentioned above, in situ or in the door factory in order to be adapted to the weight of the door to be sealed. To this end, the drop-down seal, i.e. the housing rail 1, the carrier rail 2 and the seal profile 3, can be shortened together by the end piece opposite the release button being sawn off or separated off in another manner. The shortening line K is shown by the dotted line in
It is, consequently, an object of the invention to create a sealing device which can be used in an optimum manner even once it has been shortened.
Said object is achieved by a sealing device with the features of claim 1.
The sealing device according to the invention for a door comprises a housing rail, a sealing strip which is held in the housing rail and a lowering mechanism for raising and lowering the sealing strip relative to the housing rail and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sealing device. According to the invention, the sealing strip in the raised state is displaceable from a starting position into another position in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device and relative to the housing rail. It can preferably be displaced manually. It can preferably be pulled or pushed into said position. The sealing strip is preferably also resettable into the starting position again.
The terms “displace”, “displaceability” and similar are used below. In each case this means a movement from one position into another which does not necessarily have to be effected by pushing but could also be achieved as a result of another type of force application.
The drop-down seal can consequently be worked on in said shifted position. In particular, the housing rail can be shortened together with the sealing strip and the sealing strip then brought back again into its starting position. This ensures that the sealing strip does not protrude or hardly protrudes in the lowered state even in the case of a shortened drop-down seal and consequently cannot scrape along the door frame when being lowered and raised.
The sealing strip is preferably displaceable in its position approximately or precisely by a distance by which it is also displaced typically in the longitudinal direction when being lowered. This ensures that the shortened drop-down seal still comprises the same optimized characteristics as a non-shortened seal from the factory.
The sealing strip is preferably connected to the lowering mechanism by means of a fastening module, wherein the fastening module is fixedly connected to the lowering mechanism and wherein the location or position of the sealing strip is modifiable in the longitudinal direction with reference to the fastening module. The arrangement can also be reversed, i.e. the sealing strip is fixedly connected to the fastening module and the position of the fastening module is modifiable in the longitudinal direction with reference to the lowering mechanism.
The fastening module is preferably produced from plastics material. It is preferably held between two side walls of the sealing strip and preferably fixes a leaf spring of the lowering mechanism.
In preferred exemplary embodiments, the sealing strip comprises a carrier rail and a seal profile arranged thereon. The seal profile preferably consists of a soft elastic material, in particular an elastomer. The housing rail and the carrier rail are preferably produced from a metal, in particular aluminum.
In preferred embodiments, the lowering mechanism is fastened to the housing rail in a first fastening position and to the carrier rail in a second fastening position. The second fastening position enables the sealing strip to be shifted, also called displaced, in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device and relative to the housing rail.
The sealing strip, in particular the carrier rail, is preferably displaceable in at least one discrete step and is held sturdily in the new position so that the sealing strip is not able to be displaced on its own during the shortening operation and also during use.
Precisely one displacement position is preferably present. However, multiple displacement positions can also be present. The starting position of the sealing strip, in this case, can be located in the center or at an end of the displacement range.
The second fastening position preferably enables the sealing strip or the carrier rail to be displaced relative to the lowering mechanism. The entire sealing strip, i.e. the carrier rail and the seal profile, is preferably displaced.
The seal profile or at least part thereof is preferably held at the carrier rail so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction so that it is able to be moved back into an end-face position protruding from the carrier rail once it has been shortened. In other embodiments, the seal profile can be lengthened. This can be achieved in preferred embodiments by manually “massaging” the material of the seal profile in the longitudinal direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the second fastening position is formed by a connection between at least one journal and at least one displacement opening. The at least one journal engages in the at least one displacement opening and is held in said displacement opening. The at least one displacement opening is realized in a larger manner than the journal in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device so that the position of the at least one journal inside the displacement opening is modifiable in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device. Said device can be produced in a cost-efficient manner and is simple to assemble.
The at least one journal is preferably connected fixedly to the lowering mechanism and the at least one displacement opening is arranged in the carrier profile. However, the reversed arrangement is also possible.
So that discrete positionings are possible or so that the carrier rail is not able to move on its own when the drop-down seal is used as intended and also when the seal is shortened, the displacement opening, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, comprises in its central region a tapering which can be overcome by the journal under increased force. If more than two displacement positions of the carrier rail are to be possible, the displacement opening can be realized with multiple taperings or chicanes which are arranged one behind another in the longitudinal direction.
In preferred embodiments, the lowering mechanism comprises at least one leaf spring which extends in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device inside the housing rail and which is connected to the housing rail at the first fastening position so as to be pivotable, to the carrier rail at the second fastening position in a hinged manner and to an actuating element, preferably a slide, at a third fastening position in a fixed manner. The at least one leaf spring is preferably connected fixedly to the fastening module.
At least two such leaf springs are preferably arranged one behind the other and each is fastened with its own fastening points, wherein each of the second fastening points enables the displacement of the entire carrier rail.
A lowering mechanism, as is described and shown in DE 19 516 530 and EP 2 050 918 which are mentioned in the introduction, is preferably used.
The fastening module is preferably arranged between two side walls of the carrier rail and comprises two journals, wherein one of the two journals is directed toward a side wall and wherein each of the two side walls comprises one of the at least one displacement opening.
Said fastening module can be produced in a cost-efficient manner and is simple to assemble.
The fastening module preferably consists of plastics material so that it comprises lightly sprung characteristics which are helpful when assembling and disassembling. The fastening module can preferably be clipped into the housing rail.
The fastening module preferably comprises at least one upwardly projecting lug which projects above the carrier profile. Two oppositely situated lugs are preferably present. This also makes assembly easier.
The idea according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for embodiments where the lowering mechanism, when lowering the sealing strip, displaces said sealing strip in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing rail. However, it can also be used in other sealing devices.
Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of the drawings which serve purely for explanation and are not to be seen as limiting. The drawings are as follows:
For this purpose, they are either inserted into a lower groove of the door leaf, fastened to a lower end face or are arranged laterally in the lower region of the door leaf. Assemblies in the upper or lateral region of the door leaf are also possible. If terms such as “below” and “above” are used below, said locational and directional specifications refer to the use of the drop-down seal in the lower region of the door leaf. The terms are to be adapted in an analogous manner to the other mounting positions and the description and the patent claims should also include them.
The drop-down seal is automatically lowered mechanically when the door leaf is closed in order to protect a gap between the door leaf and the building floor against light transmission, draft and noise. Fire protection, smoke protection and flood protection are also possible depending on the design of the seal profile.
The drop-down seal according to the invention also comprises the housing rail 1 and the sealing strip which is raisable and lowerable therein. The sealing strip includes the carrier rail 2 and the seal profile 3 which is fastened thereto.
The housing rail 1 is preferably fastened to the door leaf on both sides by way of a fastening bracket. Other types of fastenings are disclosed in the prior art and are also applicable here.
The housing rail 1 and the carrier rail 2 are preferably produced from an extruded profile, in particular from aluminum. The seal profile 3 is preferably realized in one piece. It can also be realized in multiple pieces. The seal profile 3 preferably consists of silicone or rubber or from another elastomer material.
The drop-down seal additionally includes a lowering mechanism in order to lower the sealing strip automatically when the door leaf is closed. The lowering mechanism includes a release button 6 which protrudes from the housing rail 1 at a front end. It is connected via an actuating rod 60 to a flat slide 61. The actuating rod 60 and the slide 61 extend in the longitudinal direction L of the housing rail 1 and can be moved in said longitudinal direction relative to the housing rail 1.
The lowering mechanism additionally includes at least one, preferably two or more leaf springs 4 which are arranged one behind another in the longitudinal direction L of the drop-down seal.
Each leaf spring 4 is pivotably connected to the housing rail 1 at a first fastening position 7 by way of one of its ends. The central region of each leaf spring 4 is connected in a hinged manner to the carrier rail 2 at a second fastening position 8. The second end of each leaf spring 4 is connected fixedly to the slide 61 at a third fastening position 9. As an alternative to this, the first leaf spring 4 can also be connected directly to the actuating rod 60. The first fastening position 7 is preferably situated on the side of the leaf springs 4 which are remote from the release button 6.
The release button 6 is present on the door frame when the door leaf is closed and is pressed in. As a result, it displaces the slide 61 in the longitudinal direction L of the drop-down seal. The leaf springs 4 are bent and the carrier rail 2 is lowered together with the seal profile 3 which is fastened thereto. When the door leaf is opened, the release button 6 is released again, the leaf springs 4 are able to relax and the sealing strip is raised again as a result.
Said lowering mechanism and said type of fastening are known and have proven their worth. Alternative arrangements and realizations are disclosed in the prior art and can also be used analogously in the drop-down seal according to the invention.
As already mentioned above, when the sealing strip is lowered said sealing strip is not only lowered but is also moved in the longitudinal direction L on one end side, namely the side remote from the release button 6. This is why, when the drop-down seal is manufactured, the carrier rail 2, in the raised starting state, is preferably arranged set back relative to the housing rail 1 on said side. The seal profile 3 is also arranged on said end face protruding from the carrier rail when the drop-down seal is manufactured. It preferably ends flush with the housing rail 1 and in an even more preferred manner it protrudes slightly from said housing rail. This is shown in
According to the invention, the sealing strip in the raised state is then displaceable in the longitudinal direction L of the drop-down seal. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the second fastening point 8 is realized correspondingly for this purpose. This can be seen, for example, in
The seal according to the invention as produced at the factory can be seen in
The sealing strip of the seal according to the invention can then be moved back, however, into its original position again with reference to the housing rail 1. This is shown in
Pulling out the end-face end of the seal profile 3 can be made easier in different ways. In simple embodiments, the seal profile 3 is displaced over its entire length relative to the carrier rail 2. In other embodiments, the seal profile 3 comprises a bellows-shaped region which is pulled apart in order to allow the free end to project out of the housing rail 1. In further embodiments, the seal profile 3 is massaged by hand in such a manner and at the same time pulled in the longitudinal direction L that the material stretches and the overall length of the seal profile 3 is thus increased, as a result of which the free end is also able to be pulled out of the housing rail 1.
The carrier rail 2 is upwardly open, realized in a u-shaped manner in cross section with two side walls 20 which are arranged spaced apart from one another. The closure is formed by a downwardly projecting, T-shaped carrier part with a connecting web 21 and a carrier bar 22. The seal profile, not shown in said
A fastening module 5 is arranged in the cavity between the two side walls 20. Said fastening module preferably consists of plastics material. It comprises a cuboid, flat basic body 50 which is penetrated by one of the leaf springs 4. The leaf spring 4 is connected fixedly to the basic body 50 and cannot be displaced relative to said basic body.
Side walls 51, which are spaced apart from one another, are present, preferably integrally molded, on the basic body 50. They extend parallel to the side walls 20 of the carrier rail 2.
The upper end of each side wall 51 is realized by an upwardly protruding lug 52, which preferably projects above the carrier rail 2, as can be seen well in
Each side wall 20 of the carrier rail 2 comprises a displacement opening 23 which is realized in the form of an elongated hole which extends in the longitudinal direction. The elongated hole is preferably realized as a figure of eight with a central tapering. One of the two journals 53 engages in said displacement opening 23.
The upwardly protruding lugs 52 make it easier to assemble the fastening module 5 in the carrier rail 2. The fastening module 5 is preferably pressed into said carrier rail.
The displacement openings 23 allow the carrier rail 2 and consequently the sealing strip to be displaced relative to the fastening module 5 and consequently to the leaf springs 4 and the housing rail 1.
The displacement opening 23 is preferably realized with one or multiple taperings 230 so that the journals 53 are able to latch into individual displacement positions. Two displacement positions and one tapering 230, which is arranged centrally in the longitudinal direction, are present in said exemplary embodiment, as can be seen well in
In
In
If the release button 6 is situated on the right-hand side of the seal according to
The length of the displacement opening 23 preferably corresponds at least approximately to the displacement of the sealing strip in the longitudinal direction when the sealing strip is lowered.
The drop-down seal can then be cut off using simple tools and consequently shortened to a desired measurement.
Said displaceability of the sealing strip in the longitudinal direction of the drop-down seal enables simple adaptation to door situations on site and at the door factory without the method of operation of the seal being diminished and in particular without the relative end-face arrangement of housing rail 1, carrier rail 2 and seal profile 3 being negatively impaired. In particular, the carrier rail 2 still does not protrude too far forward after shortening.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
17181903.0 | Jul 2017 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2018/067669 | 6/29/2018 | WO | 00 |