Abstract:
A door closer for a door of a movable wall element can preferably be configured for being disposed in a frame of the wall element for movement along with the wall element. The door closer can preferably be coupled to the door via a coupling pin in the door and a hole located in the drive shaft outlet of the door closer, which hole preferably runs perpendicular to the frame profile. Such an installation can be realized on existing door systems, without requiring complex and expensive caulking work in the floor.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part application of International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951, filed on Nov. 11, 1992 which is based on Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. P 41 33 578, filed on Oct. 10, 1991. International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951 was pending as of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/147,769 and the U.S. was an elected state in International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951. 
    
    
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951, filed on Nov. 11, 1992 which is based on Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. P 41 33 578, filed on Oct. 10, 1991. International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951 was pending as of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/147,769 and the U.S. was an elected state in International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a door closer which is hung in a frame of a bulk-head or glass entry facade, which consists in particular of several wall elements which can be combined, in which each wall element is equipped individually with at least one supporting apparatus, and which is movably supported in a ceiling rail. 
     2. Background Information 
     This type of wall element is preferably used in the facades of buildings, in particular, stores and restaurants, to keep the storeroom open or closed, depending on the weather. For this reason, it must be possible to park the entire facade in a lateral position, so that it does not interfere with the traffic of entering and exiting patrons. Inside these movable wall elements, there is generally a door, preferably an all-glass door, but one which can also be enclosed in a frame. So that this door does not stay open in cold weather when the facade is closed, these doors are also equipped with door closers. These door closers are recessed in the floor, and above their projecting shaft have a coupling to the door panel located above. This coupling is generally made by means of a shaft which projects from the door closer. But such a projecting shaft represents a hazard, especially when the entire wall element has been placed in its parked position. Because in this position, the floor is exposed, and pedestrians could trip over the projecting shaft. The holes for the coupling located at the floor level also get dirty as a result of pedestrian traffic. On the basis of this prior art, European Patent Application 0 340 795 A2 discloses a floor-concealed door closer for swinging, and/or oscillating doors. In that case, an adapter is bolted to the underside of the door, and with its projecting shaft forms the connection to the door closer which is recessed in the ground. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to create an easy-to-install coupling between a door closer and an all-glass or frame door panel which has been pre-assembled with all its armatures. The installation of a door closer should also be possible in an existing structure, but here it should be noted that the door closer, e.g. as with the floor-concealed door closer, is not visible to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention teaches that this object can be achieved by the installation of a door closer for framed doors inside the sleeper lying above the door, so that the door closer is not visible to the user. This frame-mounted door closer has a drive shaft extending toward the ground and equipped with a hole which runs through it perpendicular to the front of the wall. Engaged in this hole is a coupling pin pre-mounted on the door panel, which is connected to the armature of the door. This coupling pin is secured by a threaded connection, and there is a normal swinging operation of the door. The particular advantage of this coupling lies in the fact that the entire door element can be preassembled with all its armatures, and need only be installed on the construction site. There is only one additional hole for the axle bearing in the ground. To erect the door, the door is first placed on the axle bearing, and by tipping the door upright from its diagonal position, the coupling pin is inserted into the hole in the frame-mounted door closer and secured. An additional advantage over conventional floor-concealed door closers is that there is no need for complex and tedious caulking work in the vicinity of the floor for the large cement housings of the floor-concealed door closer. With existing systems, this is a very important feature, because this work on the floor can cause enormous damage to the floor covering. The door can be adjusted to compensate for any imprecision in the height of the door by means of a levelling screw which is located above the frame door closer. Such a door system can also be used as a normally accessible door. 
     The invention is explained below with reference to one possible embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the hanging of the door in cross section. 
     FIG. 2 shows the installation of the coupling. 
     FIG. 3 shows the installation of the door. 
     FIG. 4 shows a front view of the fully-installed door. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of a wall element, and associated components, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective elevational view of a wall element according to a least one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The roller track (2) is fastened to the ceiling (1). Inside the roller track (2) there are rollers (4), to which the frame profile (5) is attached by means of the height adjustment (3), the pivot (20) and the thrust bearing (21). This frame profile (5) runs at right angles over the entire width of the door. For cosmetic reasons, however, it is also possible to run this profile over the entire width of the wall when uniform elements are used. Inside the frame profile (5) is the frame-mounted door closer (6). This frame-mounted door closer is installed so that its drive shaft (7) which projects on one side, points toward the floor (18). As a result of the integration of the frame-mounted door closer (6) into the frame profile (5), only the drive shaft (7) is visible from the outside when the door is not being used. The drive shaft (7) has a transverse hole which runs perpendicular to the door or the facade, i.e. in the direction of travel of the user. This hole (14) is designed to hold the coupling of the door closer to the door. 
     FIG. 2 also shows an exploded view of an overall installation. The all-glass door (8) has rubber liners (11), which are inserted in the areas where the swinging door armatures (9) and (10) overlap the glass recess (23). The swinging door armatures (9) and (10) are connected to one another by the threaded connection (15). At the same time, the mounting (24) with the coupling pin (13) inside it is inserted into the swinging door armature (9). This mounting (24) is connected by means of the threaded connection (16) to the swinging door armature (9). In this position, the coupling pin (13) is engaged in the hole (14) in the drive shaft (7) of the frame-mounted door closer (6). So that the coupling pin (13) cannot slide out, a thrust plate (17) is placed on the opposite side, and is secured by means of the threaded connection (16) or another suitable fastening means. This guarantees that there is a secure and positive connection between the frame-mounted door closer (6) and the all-glass door (8). For cosmetic reasons, the entire sliding door armature is covered on both sides by cover plates (12). 
     But the type of installation described above is not the normal installation, because it assumes that the door has been preassembled in the factory, along with all its armatures. This pre-assembled door panel, as shown in FIG. 3, is installed on the construction site. The floor brace (19) with the shaft pin is placed on the floor (18). The all-glass door (8) is then raised from a diagonal position and placed in the position in which the coupling pin (13) of the door can be engaged in the hole (14). Then, all that is necessary is to secure the thrust plate (17) by means of the threaded connection (16) to secure the door. If there are any uneven spots in the floor, any height correction which may be required can be made by using the height adjustment (3), which is located above the frame profile (5). As a result of this simple installation process, the unit can be installed quickly, and can move freely both in its swinging motion, and can also be moved along with part or all of the facade into a secure parked position, without removing the coupling between the door panel and the door closer. When the door is in a parked position, the entire floor or ground area is free of interfering connecting shafts. 
     To provide a better understanding of the location of various components, as well as their interrelationship, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG. 5 and 6. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of a wall element, and associated components, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, a movable wall element 100, suspended from roller track 2 by a roller-and-suspension arrangement 102, preferably has a door-opening 104 disposed therewithin. As discussed heretofore, a door, such as an all-glass door 8, may preferably be provided within door-opening 104. 
     Preferably, concealed within what may be termed the &#34;frame profile&#34; 5, a door closer. 6 is mounted. Preferably extending downwardly from door closer 6 is a drive shaft 7, this preferably being connected to door 8 by way of a coupling pin 13, substantially as described heretofore. For cosmetic reasons, there may preferably be provided cover plates 12, in order to conceal the pins, armatures, and other components disposed therewithin. 
     Thus, in accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a movable wall system may be provided in which a swinging door 8 is provided within the wall element 100, so as to be pivotably displaceable with respect to wall element 100. Drive shaft 7, in conjunction with coupling pin 13, preferably supports door 8 with respect to wall element 100. Preferably, door closer 6 and drive shaft 7 are configured so as to urge the door 8 to return to a closed position with respect to wall element 100, to effectively close the door-opening 104, upon the door 8 being positioned in an open position with respect to wall element 100 and door-opening 104. 
     It will be understood, then, that in accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, wall element 100 will essentially be slidably disposable with respect to roller track 2, while door 8 will be pivotably displaceable with respect to wall element 100, whereby, through its pivotable displacement, door 8 serves to essentially close the door-opening 104 of wall element 100 or, to varying degrees, open the door-opening 104. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective elevational view of a wall according to a least one embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, FIG. 6 shows door 8 in a partly open position with respect to wall element 100. FIG. 6 shows the support of door 8, with respect to wall element 100, provided by drive shaft 7. 
     It is to be understood that FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic illustrations intended merely for the purpose of providing a better understanding of various components of at least one embodiment of the present invention, and their interrelationship, and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The corresponding International Application No. PCT/DE92/00951, filed on Nov. 11, 1992, having inventor Herbert Kordes, is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein. 
     Nomenclature 
     1. Ceiling 
     2. Roller track 
     3. Height adjustment 
     4. Rollers 
     5. Frame profile 
     6. Frame-mounted door closer 
     7. Drive shaft 
     8. All-glass door 
     9. Swinging door armature 
     10. Swinging door armature 
     11. Rubber liners 
     12. Cover plates 
     13. Coupling pin 
     14. Mounting hole 
     15. Threaded connector 
     17. Backplate 
     18. Floor 
     19. Floor armature 
     20. Peg 
     21. Thrust bearing 
     23. Glass recess 
     24. Mounting