CLAMPING SYSTEM FOR SLIDING PANEL-LIKE ELEMENTS

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for clamping together two successive panel-like elements (4a, 4b) movable along an upper and lower guide rail in a manner impeding a lateral movement, said elements (4a, 4b) being provided with guide means (2a, 2b) mounted on a top and bottom edge and adapted to travel with play in guide slots (1) existing in said guide rails. At least one (2a) of the guide means mounted on the top and/or bottom edge of each element (4a, 4b) is fitted adjacent to the vertical edge of the discussed element for cooperation with a corresponding guide means (2b) existing adjacent to the opposite vertical edge of a neighbouring element in such a fashion that at least one (2b) of said two guide means adapted to cooperate with each other is provided with a latch member (3) which includes a wedge-like portion (6) whereby, upon sliding the elements (4a, 4b) into contact with each other, said wedge-like portion (6) places itself between the corresponding guide means (2a) or a portion thereof of the neighbouring element (4a) and the inner wall of the guide slot (1) so as to impede a lateral movement of the elements (4a, 4b).

Description: CLAMPING SYSTEM FOR SLIDING PANEL-LIKE ELEMENTS The present invention relates to a system for clamping together two successive panel-like elements movable along an upper and lower guide rail in a manner impeding a lateral movement, said elements being provided with guide means mounted on a top and bottom edge and adapted to travel with play in guide slots existing in said guide rails. Various panel-like sliding structures, such as balcony glasses, partitions, and the like, are known to be provided with guide mechanisms, wherein a pin 2 or a wheel or the like travels in a guide rail slot 1 for preventing the lateral movement of a panel 4 (fig. 1). In order to make such a pin, a wheel, or the like, functioning as a guide means, readily slidable in a slot, there must be a sufficient clearance between the guide means and the slot and, from the user's point of view, this causes annoying clatter even when the panels are in a closed position. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved reciprocal clamping system for sliding elements, which is capable of eliminating the unpleasant clatter caused by wind and various vibrations. In order to achieve this object, a system of the invention is characterized in that at least one of the guide means mounted on the top and/or bottom edge of each element is fitted adjacent to the vertical edge of the discussed element for cooperation with a corresponding guide means existing adjacent to the opposite vertical edge of a neighbouring element in such a fashion that at least one of said two guide means adapted to cooperate with each other is provided with a latch member which includes a wedge-like portion whereby, upon sliding the elements into contact with each other, said wedge-like portion places itself between the corresponding guide means or a portion thereof of the neighbouring element and the inner wall of the guide slot so as to impede a lateral movement of the elements. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 is a schematic view of one prior art system for guiding panel-like elements by means of a guide rail, figs. 2-4 are schematic views from below, depicting details in a clamping system of the invention with elements in various positions. Fig. 1 illustrates schematically one prior art system for guiding panel-like elements 4 by means of a guide rail, wherein a pin 2 travels in a guide rail slot 1 to impede a lateral movement of the panels 4. Fig. 1 , as well as figs. 2-4, is shown from below (seen from the direction of a lower rail) and the only items illustrated therein are those necessary for the invention. Figs. 2-4 illustrate a system of the invention, wherein two panel-like elements 4a, 4b are carried along an upper (not shown) and a lower guide rail with the help of guide means 2a, 2b, said guide means being adapted to travel with play in guide slots 1 existing in the guide rails. The embodiment for a clamping system of the invention shown in figs. 2-4 is mounted on the bottom edge of the elements 4a, 4b. In this embodiment, the guide means 2a, 3b comprise sliding wheels, mounted on the bottom edge of the elements 4a, 4b and rotating around a vertical spindle 7, whereby there is a clearance between a circumference 8 of said wheels and an inner wall of the guide slot 1 of a lower guide rail for sliding the elements lightly along the guide rail. The guide means 2b intended for the element 4b is provided with a latch member 3, which includes a wedge-like portion 6 such that, upon sliding the elements 4a and 4b into contact with each other from the position shown in fig. 2 to the position shown in fig. 3, the wedge-like portion 6 places itself in the illustrated embodiment between the spindle 7 of the guide means 2a and an inner wall of the guide slot 1 so as to impede a lateral movement of the elements 4a, 4b. The latch member 3 is preferably mounted to be pivotable around the spindle 7 of the guide means 2b for conforming the same to a guide rail shape other than linear, whereby, whenever necessary, the panel elements 4a, 4b are immobilizable at an angle relative to each other, as shown in fig. 4. It is also conceivable to design the latch member 3 in such a way that the wedgelike portion 6 places itself between the circumference 8 of the sliding wheel functioning as a guide means and the inner wall of the guide slot 1 of a guide rail. It is also conceivable to design the guide means e.g. as a sliding pin shown in fig. 1 , the wedge-like portion 6 placing itself between the sliding pin and the inner wall of the guide slot 1.

Claims: Claims 1. A system for clamping together two successive panel-like elements (4a, 4b) movable along an upper and lower guide rail in a manner impeding a lateral movement, said elements (4a, 4b) being provided with guide means (2a, 2b) mounted on a top and bottom edge and adapted to travel with play in guide slots (1) existing in said guide rails, characterized in that at least one (2a) of the guide means mounted on the top and/or bottom edge of each element is fitted adjacent to the vertical edge of the discussed element for cooperation with a corresponding guide means (2b) existing adjacent to the opposite vertical edge of a neighbouring element in such a fashion that at least one (2b) of said two guide means adapted to cooperate with each other is provided with a latch member (3) which includes a wedge-like portion (6) whereby, upon sliding the elements (4a, 4b) into contact with each other, said wedge-like portion (6) places itself between the corresponding guide means (2a) or a portion thereof of the neighbouring element (4a) and the inner wall of the guide slot (1 ) so as to impede a lateral movement of the elements (4a, 4b). 2. A system as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the guide means comprises an essentially vertical sliding pin. 3. A system as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the guide means comprises a sliding wheel rotatable around an essentially vertical spindle, and that the wedge-like portion (6) is adapted to place itself between a circumference (8) of the wheel and an inner wall of the guide slot (1 ) or between the spindle (7) of the wheel and an inner wall of the guide slot (1 ). 4. A system as set forth in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the latch member (3) is adjustable by turning it around the vertical spindle of the guide means, whereby, whenever necessary, the elements (4a, 4b) are also immobilizable in an angular position relative to each other.

Inventors: AIRIKKALA PEKKA, AIRIKKALA, PEKKA
Applicants: AIRIKKALA PEKKA, ILOXI OY, AIRIKKALA, PEKKA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E05F7