METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GLAZING-IN AN OPEN SPACE

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of glazing-in an open space, a plurality of rectangular or square units being found, which comprise a glass-pane and/or a plastic pane, and the units being intended to move in upper and lower longitudinal rails. According to the invention the method is characterized by the following steps: the units (57-59) are conveyed along the rails (60, 61) and are brought to pass one or more 90 DEG corners, constituting a connection area for two adjacent rails (60, 61), which form a 90 DEG angle with each other; the units (57-59), when opening the space, glazed-in, are conveyed towards the end area of the one rail (61), each unit being turned out in that way that it is held in position in the upper and lower rail by two means, arranged essentially straightly above each other, and is then parked close to the unit, being in front of the former one. The invention also relates to apparatus for glazing-in the open space.

Description: METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GLAZING-IN AN OPEN SPACE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for glazing-in an open space, for instance, balconies, a plurality of rectangular or square units being found, which comprise a glass-pane and/or a plastic pane and are intended to cooperate for covering the open space. which is intended to be closed, and the units being intended to move in an upper and a lower longitudinal rail. Known technique in this area has a plurality of drawbacks. One problem is for instance the opening of the apparatus for glazing-in the open space. Firstly, the known apparatuses have had the consequence that the opening of the apparatus for glazing-in the open space has not been complete. Secondly, the apparatus for glazing-in the open space has had to be made very complicated in order to be able to allow parking of the units in an open position. Furthermore, it has appeared to be some problems in known apparatuses to get the units to pass so called 90" -corners, and to the extent that it has been possible to do this with existing technique the design as a rule has become complicated. The purpose of this invention is to remove the problems with known technique and to provide an apparatus for glazing-in an open space, allowing a smooth passage of 90' - corners. and parking of the units in an open position in a minimal area, seen in the longitudinal direction of the rails, but which in spite of these facts still has a simple design, relatively spoken. This has been made possible by the fact that the method and apparatus have the steps and the features which appear from the claims. Two preterred embodiments of the invention shall be described more closely below with reterence to the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a schematic sketch over a unit being an integral pan of the apparatus for glazing-in an open space, which unit is arranged between an upper and a lower rail. Fig. 2 shows a section of the unit according to fig. 1, taken along the line II-II. Fig, 3 shows the unit when passing a 90 ' -corner. Fig. 4 shows two units in a parking position for an "open space". Fig. 5 shows a detailed picture of an upper poπion of a unit according to fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a separate means being an integral part of a unit. Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus for glazing-in an open space with one unit when passing a 90 " -corner. Fig. 8 shows the design of the rail at a 90 ' -corner of the apparatus for glazing-in an open space. Fig, 9 shows a "parked" unit. Fig. 10 shows a portion of the upper rail for facilitating the parking of the units. Fig. 11 shows a means for fastening to the corners of each unit, and Fig. 12 and 13 schematically show the parking of the units and the passage of one 90 ' -corner for one unit. In fig. 1 is schematically shown a first unit being an integral pan of the apparatus for glazing-in an open space, and which has a rectangular or square form. This unit which has a glass-pane or a plastic pane 2, is suspended between an upper rail 3 and a lower rail 4. In the corner poπions of the unit 1 is a means 5-7 arranged, which have an essentially equal design. These means are accordingly positioned in that way that the position points form a triangle. The means 5-7 are intended to cooperate with the rails 3, 4 in such a way that the unit can be moved along the same. According to the invention each means 5-7 has a first portion 8, which is fastened to the corner ponion of the unit and a second ponion 9 which comprises a rotatable wheel 10, which is journalled on an essentially horizontal shaft 11 , the second poπion being tumable in relation to the first poπion. The rotatable wheel 10 is intended to roll in a space 12, intended for it, in a aluminium profile 13, 14 constituting the rail. As is apparent from fig. 3 each unit has the positive ability to be able to pass a 90'- co er, between two adjacent rails. This passage is facilitated by the fact partly that the wheel 10 by means of a spring 15 is movably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 11, paπly that one of the comers of each unit has no suspension means. An important feature of the apparatus according to the invention is the possibility to park the units beside each other in a minimal area, in that case there is a wish to have an open space in the balcony. In this connection is referred to figs. 4-6. In fig. 4 are shown two units 16. 17 parked beside and close to each other. As is apparent from the figure the units are swung out so that their suspension points is this position only consists of an upper 5 and a lower 6 means (see fig. 1). In order to be able to bring the unit to this position, the means 7 must be loosened from its lower rail 4. This has been made possible by the fact that a poπion of the lower rail has been cut away and been replaced by a door 18, which can be opened and closed. When this door has been opened, it is accordingly possible to catch the glass-/plastic pane and to swing it out, the means 7 going free from the rail 4. Since there is no means straightly above the means 7, i.e. at the upper right corner of the unit, the swinging out is made without difficulty. Next moment is to bring the unit, swung out, back along the rails 3, 4 to a parking position. In order that this position shall be a secure and stable position the apparatus is designed in that way that the end 19 of the shaft 11 in the upper means 5 shall be able to snap into a corresponding hole 20, which is made in the upper rail 3. In this connection is referred to fig. 5. which shows a detailed picture of an upper poπion of the apparatus according to fig. 4. By having snapped the shaft end 19 into the rail 3, the unit 16 is securely fixed in the parking position. As is apparent from fig. 5 the next unit 17 can be parked quite close to the first unit, the shaft end of the means 5 of this unit 17 being intended to snap into the hole 21. The distance between the holes 20 and 21 shall accordingly be such that the units can be placed close to each other. In fig. 6 is shown a preferred embodiment of the means 5, which embodiment is intended to be placed as an upper means on the unit 16, 17 and which in a simple smooth way makes possible to snap the shaft end into some one of the shown holes 20, 21. According to this embodiment the wheel 22 in an inactive position has such a position in relation to the locking peg 23, that the rotational plane of the wheel is positioned at the side of a longitudinal centre axis through the locking peg. The locking peg is intended to be fastened in the comer poπion of the unit, and the wheel 22 is rotatable about the shaft 24 and intended to roll in a groove of the rail. The shaft 24 is fixed in a angle bar 25, which is turnable in relation to the locking peg 23. In this connection a pan of the shaft 24 projects outside the angle bar 25 and accordingly forms a projecting shaft end 26. The wheel 22 is forced by a spring 27 in the direction towards the mentioned shaft end 26 so that its rotational plane in an inactive position of the wheel is closer the shaft end 26 than the longitudinal centre axis of the locking peg 23. When moving the unit normally along the rails, the wheel 22 against the action of the spring 27 takes a position essentially straightly below the locking peg. This means that when the unit has taken such a position that the shaft end 26 has come straightly in front of some one of the shown holes 20, 21 in the rail 3, the shaft end 26 will snap into the hole. In fig. 7-11 is shown a second embodiment of the invention which is principally the same as the invention according to fig. 1-6. Thus, also this embodiment has units 30, which are displaceable in upper 28 and lower 29 rails, whereby three 31-33 of the co ers of each unit having means 34, which are designed in that way that they can move smoothly in the upper and lower rail. The means, which are intended to be positioned in the corners of the unit 30, have an upper ponion (see fig. 11), comprising an essentially horizontal shaft 36, on which a rotatable wheel 37 is ananged. The horizontal shaft is changed to a venical part 38, the lower poπion of which is fastened to an essentially horizonal plate 39, which is pivotally ananged on a lower poπion 40 of the means 34, which poπion is fixed by screws on an upper and a lower aluminium profile 41, 42, which is fastened on the glass-/plastic pane 43 in the unit 30. The lower poπion 40 has an essentially circular-cylindrical form and extends essentially venically. At a ponion of the circular-cylinder there is a made a recess 44, whereby the circular-cylinder is narrower just there. The wheel 37 of the means 34 has its rotational plane essentially straightly above or straightly below the rail during the normal moving of the unit. An important advantage that this embodiment has in similarity with the previously described embodiment is the smoothness to pass 90 '-comers in the apparatus according to the invention. This has been made possible partly by the triangular suspension of the units, partly of the design of the 90 ' -corners of the rails, reference being made to fig. 8. As is apparent from this figure an intermediate piece 45 is put in between the two rails 46, 47, going against each other in each comer. This intermediate piece has such a design that the direction of the wheels 37 of the means is changed about 45 ' each time in two following phases instead of directly 90' . Due to that fact each unit can simply pass the 90 ' -comers in the apparatus according to the invention. In fig. 10 is shown a lower part of an outer poπion of the upper rail 48. In this connection is shown a means 49 for making possible a parking of the units 30 close to each other in an open position of the apparatus according to the invention. This means comprises a rail ponion which is provided with a slot 50, the width of which is less than the diameter of the lower poπion 40 of the means 34, which is fixed by screws on the aluminium profile 41 , 42. However, the means 34 provided with wheel 37 has a recess 44, which has been mentioned previously, and therefore the upper corner means of the unit can pass into the slot 50. The rail 49 provided with a slot has half circular formed recesses 51 , which are intended to cooperate with the lower poπion 40 of the means 34 when parking the different units (see fig. 9). As is apparent from fig. 9 the lower rail 29 is provided with a recess 53, which can be closed by a door 52, and through this recess 53 the front, lower means 54 can be taken out of the rail 29. This operation is facilitated by the fact that the plate 55 of the means 54 is tumed about 90' by the operator, whereby the wheel 56 of the means 54 is swung out. Referring to fig. 12 is shown there the function when parking the different units 57- 59. In this connection the units are taken along the two adjacent rails 60, 61 which form a 90 '-angle with each other to the end of the rail 61 , where they according to the invention are smoothly parked close to each other. In fig. 13 which is an enlarged picture of the poπion 62 in fig. 12 is shown a unit 57 in sequences when passing a 90" -comer, i.e. when passing from the rail 60 to the adjacent rail 61, which forms a 90 ' -angle with the former one. According to this figure an inseπ 63 with rounded grooves for the wheel 65 of the means 64 is inseπed between the two rails 60. 61. With the expression "glazing-in" in this connection is meant the aπangement of a plurality of units, which can comprise not only a glass-pane but instead can comprise a plastic pane or the like, or a combination of glass and plastic. The invention is not limited to the mentioned embodiment but can be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A method of glazing-in an open space, for instance balconies, whereby a plurality of rectangular or square units being found, which comprise a glass-pane and/or a plastic pane, and the units being intended to move in an upper and lower longitudinal rail, c h a r a c t- e r i z e d by the combination of the following steps: - the units (57-59) are conveyed along the rails (60, 61) and are brought to pass one or more 90"-corners, constituting a connection area for two adjacent rails (60, 61), which form a 90 '-angle with each other; - the units (57-59), when opening the space, glazed-in, are conveyed towards the end area of the one rail (61), each unit (57-59) being swung out in that way that it is held in position in the upper and lower rail by two means, arranged essentially straightly above each other, and is then parked close to the unit in front. 2. An apparatus for glazing-in an open space, for instance balconies, which comprises a plurality of rectangular and square units, which has a glass-pane and/or a plastic pane and is intended to cooperate for covering the open space, the units being able to be taken to a parking position in which the previously covered space is open, and the units being intended to move in an upper and lower longitudinal rail, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the combination of the following features: - each unit (16, 17; 30) is provided with upper and lower means (5-7; 31-33) for cooperation with the two rails (3, 4; 28, 29), the means being arranged in that way that their position between themselves forms a triangle; - each means (5-7; 31-33) of the unit (16, 17; 30) is arranged at the comer poπion of the unit and has a first portion, which is fastened to the corner portion of the unit, and a second poπion comprising a rotatable wheel (10, 22; 37; 56), which is journalled on an essentially horizontal shaft (11, 24; 36), and that the second poπion of the means is tumable in relation to the first poπion of the means; - each unit (16, 17; 30; 57) is designed for being able to pass a 90'-corner, which constitutes a connection area for a first rail (60) and a second, adjacent rail (61), forming a 90 ' -angle with the former one; - each unit (16, 17; 30) is intended from the position it has when moving along the rails to be able to swing out so that the unit suspended in an upper (5; 31) and a lower (6; 32) means can be moved to an end position, where each unit can be parked close to each other in a minimal area. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, each unit (16, 17; 30) comprising two means (6, 7; 32, 33) at the bottom, one at each comer of the unit, characterized in that a portion of the lower, longitudinal rail (4; 29) is cut away and replaced by an openable and closable door (18; 52), whereby the means (7; 33) can be taken loose from the rail and the unit accordingly be swung out, the unit (16, 17; 30) being suspended in the upper means (5; 31) and in the remaining, lower means (6; 32). 4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, character ized in that the rotatable wheel (10; 22) is movably ananged on the shaft (11; 24) against the action of a spring means (15; 27), whereby the passage of the unit (1; 16, 17) past sharp edges is facilitated. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that holes (20, 21) are made in at least one in the one rail (3, 4), preferably the upper rail (3), and these holes, which are positioned close to each other are intended to cooperate with the end (19; 26) of the shaft (11; 24) intended for the rotatable wheel (10; 22), the shaft end (19; 26) being intended to snap into respective hole. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, the means (5), the shaft end (26) of which is intended to snap into one of the holes (20, 21), being ananged as upper means on the unit (16, 17), and the means (5) comprising an elongated, vertically ananged locking peg (23), characterized in that the wheel (22) is intended for a pressing action by the spring means (27) in direction towards the mentioned shaft end (26), so that the rotational plane of the wheel in the inactive position of the wheel is closer the shaft end (26) than the longitudinal centre axis ofthe locking peg (23), whereby the snapping ofthe shaft end (26) into the mentioned holes (20, 21) is facilitated. 7. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the essentially horizontal shaft (36) ofthe means (34) is changed to a vertical part (38), the lower portion of which is fastened to an essentially horizontal plate (39), which is pivotally ananged on the first portion (40) of the means, and that this first portion has an essentially vertical extension and a circular-cylindrical form, a recess (44) being made on the ponion of the circular-cylinder (40). 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper and/or the lower rail has a means (49) provided with a slot (50), the width of which is less than the diameter of the circular-cylindrical ponion (40) of the means (34) but exceeds the width of the portion (40) at the recess (44), and that the means, provided with the slot (49), has halfcircle formed recesses (51), which are intended to cooperate with the circular- cylindrical portion (40) when parking the different units.

Inventors: HAUTAMAEKI OLAVI, HAUTAMAEKI, OLAVI
Applicants: HAUTAMAEKI OLAVI, NIKA SVENSKA AB, HAUTAMAEKI, OLAVI
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E05D15, E06B3