Abstract:
A bearing element for a substantially panel-like component having a support rail adjustably arranged thereon. The support rail may be connected to another bearing element of another component. The bearing element includes a recess in which the support rail is received at least in part. The bearing element includes a base member fastened by means of a pressure element to the component. The support rail may have a straight or angular shape and may include a hinge or joint in its central portion.

Description:
The present invention relates to a bearing element for a substantially panel-like component, for instance for a partition wall. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known from the prior art that partitionings are formed by substantially panel-like components which are interconnected in a suitable manner. Such partitionings or room dividers are, for instance, used for shower partitions. 
     Since the panel-like components are relatively large panels, the bearing elements must exhibit sufficient stability for transmitting great forces, too. Furthermore, they must be designed such that they can be mounted and dismounted easily and permit adaptation to measuring (inaccuracies, etc. 
     EP-A1 581 140 already discloses a clamping element for panel material, especially glass panels. The clamping element comprises a spacer sleeve and an inner sleeve which are provided with two grooves arranged in parallel with each other, in which a pair of connection rods can be inserted. This design has been found to be disadvantageous insofar as the assembly of the bearing element requires a great deal of skill and adroitness, since a plurality of constructional elements have to be interconnected. Furthermore, the torsional stiffness of the whole bearing element is very small, since the inner sleeve and the spacer sleeve of adjacent bearing elements can be rotated in unimpeded fashion relative to one another, and it is only the pair of connection rods that connect relative to each other. Hence, this prior-art clamping element is suited neither for a rapid and safe assembly of large panel-like components nor for the transmission of major forces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a bearing element of the above-mentioned type which, being of a simple construction and easily manufacturable at low costs, can be mounted easily and shows a high degree of stability during transmission of great forces and which additionally meets the highest optical demands. 
     In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by at least one bearing element which is fastened to the component and which has arranged thereon a support rail which is connected to another bearing element of another component. 
     The bearing element of the invention is characterized by a number of considerable advantages. Since adjacent bearing elements are connected in accordance with the invention by a support rail, it is possible to transmit great forces in a reliable manner. The support rail may have any desired cross-section, an especially advantageous cross-section of the support rail is however a rectangular one. 
     Thanks to the insertable arrangement of the support rail, the bearing element can clamp and hold the rail in an especially efficient manner. Thus the bearing element itself need only be of a small size, based on the dimensions of the support rail. 
     In a preferred development of the invention, the bearing element comprises a recess in which the support rail is received at least in part. Apart from an advantageous introduction of forces, an optimum optical appearance is obtained for such a design. This is especially of importance whenever the bearing element is used as a visible constructional member and is to serve decoration purposes at the same time. 
     In accordance with the invention, the recess for receiving the support rail is preferably formed at least in part in a base member. This creates the possibility of covering and holding the remaining cross-sectional portion of the support rail by another component. 
     To secure the bearing element to the panel-shaped component in such a manner that the component demands as little working as possible, it is advantageous when the base member is fastened by means of a pressure element to the component. The base member and/or the pressure element preferably extend through a recess. If the panel-like component is designed as a panel of a single-pane safety glass, very simple holes are sufficient for passing the base member and/or the pressure element therethrough. Troublesome and technically complicated working is not necessary. 
     The support rail is preferably fastened to the bearing element by means of a separate fastening element. The fastening element may be designed as an optically visible element, but it is also possible to additionally cover the fastening element with a cap, so that it will no longer be visible when the mounting of the construction has been finished. For instance, it is possible to provide a recess in the form of an elongated hole or the like in the support rail to clamp the support rail to the base member by means of a screw formed as a clamping element. The screw may then be covered with a cap or cover. Alternatively, it is also possible to design the clamping element such that it is the clamping element itself which forms a fastening screw which can be screwed to the base member to fasten the support rail. In such a case, the clamping element preferably comprises a recess in which the support rail is received at least in part. 
     The support rail is advantageously formed such that it can be held on two bearing elements which are fastened to adjacent components. To this end, the support rail may be given either a straight shape or an angular shape. However, it is also possible to provide a hinge or joint in the central portion of the support rail, so that the support rail permits the opening or closing of one of the components. Hence, the bearing element of the invention is suited either for interconnecting rigid components or for supporting a door on a stationary component. Such a universal design permits the most varied applications. Furthermore, it is possible by bending or folding the support rail to implement virtually any desired ground plan shapes. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the support rail may be designed such that its free end is shaped for any desired fastening to another constructional element. The support rail can thus be screwed directly to the wall of a building. Furthermore, it is possible to support running wheels or rollers on the support rail to move the panel-like component either on the ground or along running rails. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention shall now be explained with reference to embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a shower partition using bearing elements according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a bearing element according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2, offset by 90°; 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bearing element forming part of a hinge element; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view, top view, of another embodiment of the bearing element and the support rail, respectively, of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the assembly according to FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view, top view, of another variant of the bearing element and the associated support rail, respectively, of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view, top view, of another design of the bearing assembly of the invention, in which the support rail is provided with a central joint and thus corresponds to the development according to FIGS. 3 and 4; 
     FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the assembly according to FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view, top view, of an embodiment modified with respect to FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the assembly of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view on another variant of the bearing element of the invention, wherein the support rail is angled and provided with a hinge, 
     FIG. 14 is a lateral view of the assembly shown in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a variant in which a roller is arranged at the free end of the support rail; and 
     FIG. 16 is a lateral view of the assembly shown in FIG. 14. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the design of a shower partition using the bearing elements according to the invention. 
     A shower pan 13 is mounted in an angle of two walls 11 and 12 that are at right angles to each other. The interior of the shower cabinet which is defined by the size of the shower pan 13 is surrounded by a panel-like component 1 which is shaped like a door. Next to the door, there is arranged a stationary component 1b which is fixed via a holding rod 14. Next to component 1b, there is mounted another component 1a which forms the lateral wall. The components are each manufactured as single-pane safety glass. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, respective bearing elements 2 are provided and interconnected by a respective support rail 3. To fasten components 1a and 1b to wall 12 and to each other, respectively, the support rails 3 are each given an angled shape. The door is also fastened by an angled support rail 3 which is additionally provided with a hinge. 
     FIGS. 2 to 4 show the design of the bearing element of the invention in detail. 
     First of all, the bearing element comprises a base member 5 which can be fastened to a pressure element 6. Base member 5 and/or pressure element 6 extend at least in part through a recess of component 1. Recess 7 is, for instance, designed as a bore. FIGS. 2 to 4 show further that the support rail 3 has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is arranged at least in part in a recess 4 of the bearing element 2 and of base member 5, respectively. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, support rail 3 is provided at both sides with grooves 15 shaped in the form of elongated holes, which are dimensioned such that head 16 of a screw 17 can be received entirely in groove 15. The support rail has a symmetrical structure relative to grooves 15. The two grooves are interconnected by a recess 18. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, screw 17 serves both to fasten base member 5 and pressure element 6 and to clamp support rail 3. 
     As becomes especially apparent from FIG. 2, a clamping element 8 which is designed as a cover serves to mask screw 17. However, it is also possible to make the head of screw 17 integral with the clamping element 8 or to fasten the clamping element 8 additionally by means of the screw, with head 16 of screw 17 being then arranged in a recess of the clamping element 8 and being possibly covered in addition. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the free end of the support rail 3 is designed as a U-shaped fork 19 which forms part of a hinge that will be described in the following by way of example in conjunction with FIGS. 9 to 12. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a variant in which the support rail 3 is angled in its central portion by 90°, so that adjacent components 1a and 1b can be mounted to abut on each other laterally. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another variant in which a bearing element 2 is connected to the panel-like component 1 whilst the other bearing element 2 is directly screwed to a wall 20. This variant is illustrated byway of example in FIG. 1 on the right half of the figure (fastening of component 1a to wall 12). 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another variant in which a hinge 9 is provided in the central portion of support rail 3, so that the adjacent components 1a and 1b can be pivoted relative to each other. An additional sealing lip 21 serves sealing purposes. 
     Another variant of a hinge-like connection is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. To arrange the components 1a and 1b in overlapping fashion relative to each other, a spacer 22 is inserted on the right bearing element 2 between base member 5 and pressure element 6. The spacer is held by the screw 17 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     A modified hinge-like design is shown by FIGS. 13 and 14, with the hinge corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 1 (support of door 1 on wall 11). Like with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a free end of the support rail 3 is directly screwed to a wall 20 of a building while the free end of the support rail 3 which is hingedly supported communicates via a bearing element 2 with component 1. 
     The free edge of component 1 (door) is sealed via a sealing lip 23. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 show another variant in which the support rail 3 extends vertically and supports, on its free upper end, a roller 10 which is guided in a rail 24. Hence, it is also possible to realize sliding doors or overhung doors with the aid of the bearing element of the invention. It is also possible to form slidable panels, for instance for decoration purposes. The double-headed arrow in FIG. 16 shows the vertical adjustability of the construction which follows from the slidability of the support rail 3 relative to the bearing element 2. 
     The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather many variations and modifications are obvious to the person skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. 
     To sum up, the following should be stated: 
     The present invention relates to a bearing element for a substantially panel-like component (1), characterized by at least one bearing element (2) which is fastened to component (1) and which has adjustably arranged thereon a support rail (3) which is connected to another bearing element (2) of another component (1) (FIG. 1).