SLIDING ROOF STRUCTURE, MORE SPECIFICALLY VERANDA ROOF

Abstract: The invention concerns a sliding roof structure with sliding profiles (8) that comprises laterally at various levels, wings (8′, 8″) of which the top one serves as a support for a fixed frame (28), the one in the middle as a slide for a top sliding frame (31) and the bottom one as a slide for a bottom sliding frame (32), with the latter frames so designed that they can be moved up and down along the aforesaid sliding profiles, and with the top and the bottom sliding frame profiled in such a manner that during a displacement toward the closed position, the bottom sliding frame (32) will carry along the top sliding frame (31) while the top sliding frame (31) is opened by pushing against this frame two angle bars (41) fixed to the bottom sliding frame (32).

Description: This invention relates to a sliding roof structure with at least two sliding profiles with at least two wings at each side and at different levels, on which a number of frames are movable, actuated by a motor. Sliding roof structures with two or more sliding panels which overlap one another when the roof is in the open position are known from the following documents: US A-2,094,801 and DE-A-2 610 398. The sliding sections of these roof structures are pulled along inclined tracks by cables or ropes actuated manually or by means of a motor. In both the roofstructures according to the referred to documents, the ropes or cables which are from the point of view of security an important element can be reached by hand. Also the place where the rope is running over pulleys can be reached by the user. These circumstances make the whole pulling system dangerous and less esthetic. The present invention has for an object to obviate the drawbacks of roof structures built up as suggested by these two patents. To realize this object, the sliding roof structure according to the invention is characterized in that the sliding profiles are provided with an inside chamber wherein the chamber is open to the bottom side, in which chamber a sliding block is provided which is actuated by said motor via chains being guided in the sliding profiles, and in that, two sliding blocks in two sliding profiles are connected to a lath which is fixed to at least one frame. Further details and advantages of the invention will be shown by the description given below of a sliding roof structure according to the invention. The reference numbers refer to the figures appended hereto. Figure 1a shows the sectional view according to the displacement direction of the components, of the roof structure in the closed position according to the invention (top longitudinal beam, top fixed frame and, partly, top sliding frame). Figure 1b shows the sectional view according to the displacement direction of the components, of the roof structure according to the invention (top sliding frame (partly), bottom sliding frame and bottom longitudinal beam). Figure 2 shows the sectional view according to the displacement direction of the component parts, of the roof structure according to the invention in the open position. Figure 3 is a cross section through a sliding profile according to the invention with the sliding block and chain wheel comprised. Figure 4 is, at a larger scale and with partial omissions, a lateral view of the sliding block according to the invention, together with the small bar and spring co-operating therewith. Figure 5 shows, at a larger scale, a front view of a terminal part of two profiles connected at a right angles one to the other. The sliding roof structure shown by these figures uses a top longitudinal beam 2 fixed to a wall 1 or similar structure. The cross section profile of this longitudinal beam 2 comprises at the top a continuous rounded groove 3 providing for taking a filler 4 such as, preferably, silicone. At the bottom, the cross section forms a chamber 5 designed for taking a continuous tube 6 with a so-called tube motor 7. The function of this tube 6 with the tube motor 7 will be explained later in the text. Sliding profiles 8 (detailed clearly especially by figure 3) are fixed at right angles to the top longitudinal beam 2 and they are fixed below to a bottom longitudinal beam 9. The sliding profiles 8 with the wings 8' and 8'' consist of one top hollow 10, of one middle hollow chamber subdivided into two superposed passages 11 and 11'. Passage 11' plays a technically significant role here as in this passage 11', a sliding block 12 has been installed in a slideable manner, while a chain 13 is running in this same passage 11'. This chain is running, on one hand, over a chain wheel 14 fitted to the aforesaid tube 6 and, on the other hand, over a freewheeling chain wheel 16 installed in a U-profile 15 in the passage 11'. The sliding blocks 12 may be replaced by small wheels. In the chain 13 there is fitted a small bar 17 around which a spring 18 is wound which is set partly in an enlarged cylinder-shaped part 19 of the cylindrical bore 20 through which the small bar 17 is passing. This cylindrical bore 20 passes through the small sliding block 12 in the longitudinal direction. This small sliding block 12 is fixed to the lath 22 by means of bolts 21. This, in the cross section, right-angled lath 22 connects several frames installed one next to the other. Figure 3 shows on both sides of the hollow chamber 10, curved continuous small grooves 23 designed for taking the sealing strips 24 (figure 1A). Similar sealing strips 25 (figure 1A and 1B) are running in parallel with the top longitudinal beam 2 and they are set in similar grooves 26 that are part of the top longitudinal beam 2. This top longitudinal beam 2 also displays a continuous right-angled profile 27 that exists between the aforesaid small groove 26 and the aforesaid chamber 5. The fixed frame 28 is set between the groove 26 and the profile 27. This fixed frame displays at the front (meaning the side facing away from the wall 1) a curved wing 29 with, along the free edge, draught-resistant elements such as small brushes 30. To note that both in their open and in their closed position, the small brushes 30 of the curved wing 29 of the fixed frame 28 are providing close contact with the profile of the top sliding frame 31. Noteworthy is also that along the front side, the top sliding frame 31 features the same cross section as shown very clearly by figure 3. This profile, too, displays a curved wing 29' fitted with small brushes 30'. The bottom sliding frame 32 alone is provided with a linear wing 33 with small brushes 34. The wing 33 runs into a more or less resilient wing 35 with small brushes 36 arranged at right angles with respect to the small brushes 34. The small brushes 34, respectively 36 come into contact, in closed position, with the walls 37 and 38 of the bottom longitudinal beam 9. Both the top sliding frame 31 and the bottom sliding frame 32 display at the end pointing toward the top longitudinal beam 2, one curved wing 39, respectively 39', both fitted with sealing brushes 40, respectively 40' so that a draught-free seal will be provided between the various frames in the closed position of the roof structure. Laterally, the brushes pointing upward will come into contact with the bottom face of the wings 8', respectively 8''. When the roof structure is in closed position i.e. as shown in figure 1A and 1B, the small brushes 30-30' and 40-4O' will press against the respective frames of the component parts that are co-operating one with the other. The brushes 34 and 36, too, are in close contact with the walls 37, respectively 38. The draught-free pressing of the brushes 36 against the wall 38 and the close reciprocal fit of the curved wings 29 and 39 on one hand, and 29' and 39' on the other, is the result of the resilient action of the small sliding block 12. As explained already above, this sliding block 12 is set in the chain 13 and fitted to the right-angled lath 22, with the small bar 17 passing through this small block in the longitudinal direction. The spring 18 is wound on part of the small bar 17. This spring fits with one end into an enlarged cylinder-shaped section 19 that belongs to the cylindrical bore through which the small bar 17 is passed. At the end of the displacement of the bottom sliding frame 32, the tube motor 7 provided therefor continues to turn a little more so that the chain 13 pulls at the bar 17 which compresses the spring 18 sufficiently to apply a springy action to the sliding block 12. This sliding block 12 will carry the lath 22 along to which is connected the bottom sliding frame 32. This structure provides for the entirely draught-free seal between the front section of the bottom sliding frame 32 and the bottom longitudinal beam 9 as well as between the top edge of the bottom sliding frame and the bottom section of the top sliding frame. The roof structure according to the invention is opened by having the tube motor run in the opposite sense, which will move first the bottom sliding frame 32 until the angle bars 41 fitted to the front of the bottom sliding frame 32 come into contact with the front section of the profile that belongs to the top sliding frame 31. The top and the bottom sliding frames 31 and 32 are displaced until both of these parts are in the position shown in figure 2. To note that the top and the bottom sliding frames 31 and 32 are provided with similar profiles with curved wings that will provide both during the reciprocal displacement of these parts and in the closed position a draught-free seal with the profiles of the frames 31 and 32 that are extending in parallel with the direction of displacement of these frames. The description above of the sliding roof structure according to the invention shows that all the top and bottom sliding frames that co-operate reciprocally consist along their four sides of the same profiles of which the curved wing, however, is always aligned in such a manner that they will always perform the following functions: 1) The wings that extend transverse to the direction of displacement and in parallel therewith, provide for a draught free seal, on one hand among themselves and with the fixed frame and, on the other hand, with the wings of the sliding profiles. 2) The bottom wing of the top sliding frame and the top wing of the bottom sliding frame engage one with the other in such a manner that the bottom sliding frame will carry the top sliding frame along when the roof structure is being closed. As the profiles of the aforesaid frames are not mitre-jointed but at right angles, the head of the profile is capped with a part 42 made of plastic material such as for example "Hertalon". This part 42, the face 43 of which can serve as a sliding plane, is being shown in figure 5. The sliding plane 43 will then slide on the top side of the wing 8' of 8'' concerned.

Claims: Sliding roof structure with at least two sliding profiles (8) with at least two wings (8', 8'') at each side and at different levels, on which a number of frames (31, 32) are movable, actuated by a motor (7), characterized in that the sliding profiles (8) are provided with an inside chamber (11') wherein the chamber is open to the bottom side, in which chamber (11') a sliding block (12) is provided which is actuated by said motor (7) via chains being guided in the sliding profiles (8), and in that two sliding blocks (12) in two sliding profiles (8) are connected to a lath (22) which is fixed to at least one frame (31). Roof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame (31, 32) comprises in the direction at right angles to the direction of displacement, one curved wing (39-39'), the free edge whereof is fitted with draught-resistant elements such as brushes (40-40'), which brushes when in closed position, will be kept in contact with the profiles of which said frames are made and that belong to another frame that is co-operating with said frame, and further characterized in that said bottom sliding frame (32) comprises a resilient wing (35) that is provided with two draught-resistant elements such as brushes (34-36) that are aligned at right angles one to the other and that are pressed, in closed position, against the two walls at right angles of the aforesaid bottom cross beam (9). Roof structure according to one of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said fixed frame (28) comprises at the bottom a curved wing (29) of which the free edge is provided with draught-resistant elements (30) that are kept pressed, in closed condition, against the profile of the top sliding frame (31) and further characterized in that said top sliding frame (31) comprises at the top and at the bottom a top curved wing (39'), respectively a bottom curved wing (29'), each provided with draught resistant elements. Roof structure according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wings (8, 8') with which said sliding profiles (8) are fitted laterally, are provided along their free edges with draught-resistant elements. Roof structure according to one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said frames comprise in the direction that runs parallel to the direction of displacement, a curved wing of which the free edge is provided with draught-resistant elements that are pressed against the bottom walls of the corresponding wing from said sliding profiles. Roof structure according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said top and bottom sliding frames (28, 31) comprise at the top and at the bottom curved wings (39, 29 respectively 39', 29') that are aligned in the opposite sense and that fit one another at one side, at least, when the roof structure is being closed. Roof structure according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when a frame is formed by profiles that are not mitre-jointed but fitted at right angles one to the other, the head of a profile will be capped by means of a part (42) made of plastic material.

Inventors: DRIES, JOHAN
Applicants: WIZO INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04B7
IPC codes: E04B7