Patent Publication Number: US-6702271-B1

Title: Profile frames

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a profile frame for holding plane elements such as glass panes, plastic, wooden or metal plates, or similar plate-like elements. 
     Profile frames must absorb relatively high forces, particularly if the plane elements to be accommodated therein are not held at all edges, but rather solely on one side or on two opposing sides. In the profile frames used in practice, the plane elements are secured in part by bolts, which, however, require the presence in the plane elements of boreholes provided at predetermined locations. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the plane elements may be bonded into the profile frame, which however is detrimental to the extent that the profile frames cannot be processed further for a relatively long time after the plane elements are bonded into them, inasmuch as the bonding agents suitable for these applications cure very slowly. In addition, the two ways of fixation described above for securing plane elements in profile frames have the disadvantage that, in the case of plane elements of various thicknesses, one must provide different profile frames appropriately adjusted to them. 
     In DE 297 18 854 U1, there is therefore already a description of a profile frame, in which the legs of the profile frame that hold the plate element are constructed in two separate parts, which are telescoped or slide one into the other until they reach the thickness of the plane element, thus fixing the latter between them. These profile frames are suitable for accommodating plane elements of different thicknesses. However, they present the disadvantage that in each case two profile bars must be stored, shortened to the necessary length and, fitting accurately, inserted one into the other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a profile frame, which can be produced and stored economically and also makes it possible to provide in a simple manner a stable and secure mount for plane elements. 
     By designing the compressing leg with a nominal deformation region, whose deformation will cause a clamping region to press the plane element against the stopping leg and thus clamp it between the two legs, the accommodation in the profile frame of plane elements of different thicknesses is made possible, without having to construct the two legs, which extend at the side of the plane element, as separate parts of the profile frame. Depending on the thickness of the plane element, there occurs, in order to clamp the latter into the profile frame, a greater or lesser deformation of the nominal deforming region. This deformation can take place along the entire length of the profile frame, or only pointwise, and can be accomplished with the use of any desired tool. In so doing, the fastening of the plane element can be carried out solely by the clamping, or else the plane element can in addition be bonded. In the latter case the clamping between compressing leg and stopping leg alone suffices to fix the plane element in the profile frame and thus permits further transport and processing, as long as the bonding agent has not yet cured and cannot yet ensure a connection by adhesion between plane elements and the frame profile. 
     Preferably, the nominal deforming region is formed by a region, in which the compressing leg has a diminished material thickness, so that the deformation occurs in this region. Alternatively it would also be possible, for instance, to design the nominal deforming region without thinning it out, by using another material, more easily deformed than the rest of the profile frame; however, as a rule this causes higher fabrication costs. In order to achieve a controlled deformation at a defined spot of the compressing leg, the nominal deformation region has at least one designated buckling point, which may be constructed, for example, by introducing a notch. 
    
    
     Further advantages and details are provided in the dependent claims and in the example of the invention, described in the following and shown in the accompanying drawings, 
     FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of an inventive profile frame, before a plane element is accommodated, 
     FIG. 2 shows the object of FIG. 1, with a plane element introduced into the accommodating profile, 
     FIG. 3 shows the object of FIG. 2 during the clamping of the plane element, 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of part of a profile frame with a plane element, and 
     FIG. 5 shows inventive profile frames, when used in a sliding element arrangement. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The profile frame  1 , shown in the FIGS. 1 to  3 , has a U-shaped accommodating profile  2  for accommodating a plane element  3 . One leg of the U of the accommodating profile  2  is constructed as a stopping leg  4 , while the other leg of the U fulfills the function of a compressing leg  5 . The latter has at its outer end a clamping region  6 , which is connected over a nominal deformation region  7  with the rest of the accommodating profile  2 . In the case of the embodiment shown, the nominal deformation region  7  is formed by two designated buckling points  8  with a material thickness, which is clearly reduced by notches, and by a bridge  9  connecting them. By these means, the clamping region  6 , when pressed against the plane element  3 , can be moved almost parallel to the latter, while the designated buckling points  8 , in hinge-fashion, permit swiveling of the bridge  9 . The accommodating profile  2 , designed in this fashion, can be extruded preferably from aluminum, in one piece. Due to the fact that the accommodating profile  2  is wider in its bottom region than the plane element  3  that is to be held, plane elements  3  of different thicknesses or even those thickened or strengthened at the edges, can be accommodated. 
     The pressing of clamping region  6  against the plane element  3  can also be carried out by means of or several clamping elements  10 , so that, in order to clamp the plane element  3 , no additional tool is required. For this purpose, the clamping element  10  preferably comprises one or several screwing components such as threaded pins or screws, disposed at the level of the clamping region  6 . In the case of the embodiment shown, the locking screws  11  are set screws, which, when rotated, can be screwed further into the clamping element  10  and thus press the clamping region  6  against the plane element  3 , as can be seen in FIG.  3 . 
     Admittedly, the clamping action of the clamping region  6  of the compressing leg  4  against the plane element  3  may be sufficient to hold the plane element  3 . However, it is advantageous, particular in the case of heavy plane elements  3 , such as glass, if the profile frame  1 , as shown, has one or more clamping element  10 , which will maintain the pressure on the clamping region  6  of the compressing leg  5 , even after the actual deformation process of the nominal deformation region  7 . 
     In order to be able to position the clamping elements  10  at any desired position of the profile frame  1 , they are preferably held at the accommodating profile  2 , displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the latter, as indicated in FIG. 4 by an arrow  12 . In the case of the embodiment shown, this is brought about particularly easily from a production point of view and, nevertheless stably by tongue and groove connections  13 , for which purpose the stopping leg  4  and the pressing leg  5  have extensions  14  on their upper side. In the case of the embodiment shown, locking screws  12 , which not only press the locking region  6  against the plane element  3 , but also fix the clamping element  10  itself to the accommodating profile  2 , fix the clamping element  10  in the longitudinal direction  12  of the accommodating profile  2 . 
     In addition to the clamped mount of the plane element  3  in the profile frame  1 , the plane element  3  can be bonded to the latter, whereby the bonding agent, which is not shown in the Figures, may simultaneously function as insulation against penetrating moisture. In order to have sufficient storage and escape areas for the bonding agent, the accommodating profile  2  has recesses  15 , preferably at the internal sides facing the plane element  3 . These are constructed preferably as channels with a groove, which extend along the accommodating profile  2 . This facilitates the introduction of the bonding agent and permits bonding agent to be injected in the case of a previously inserted plane element  3 . 
     Since accommodating profiles  2  of aluminum and plane elements  3  of glass, for example, have greatly different coefficients of expansion, the bonding agent must absorb large shearing forces in the event of temperature fluctuations. In such cases, tearing of the bonding agent can be prevented owing to the fact that the recesses  15  are sufficiently deep, so that the bonding agent, contained in them, elastically compensates for the displacements between the accommodating profile  2  and the plane element  3 . For this purpose, the dimensions of the recess  15  should preferably be selected so that the depth T of the recess is equal to at least ⅔ of its width B. Preferably, the depth T of the recesses  15  should is at least 1 mm or, better yet, 1.5 mm or more. 
     The inventive profile frames  1  are suitable particularly for accommodating plane elements  3  in so-called sliding or gliding systems, such as those used for glassed-in terraces, or for partitions, room dividers, shading devices or the like. Such a glassed-in terrace system is shown in part in FIG.  5 . In that case, the plane elements  3 , held in the profile frames  1 , are guided movably and pivotably in guide rails  17  over roller devices, guide pins, etc., which are referred to collectively as fittings  16 . Since the fittings  16  must be connected with the profile frame  1 , the clamping elements  10  can advantageously be constructed to accommodate the fittings  16 , by having appropriate boreholes, threaded boreholes, grooves, cut-outs or the like for connection with the fittings  16 . The fittings  16  can also be connected solidly, that is, in one piece, with the clamping elements  10 . By means of a displaceable arrangement of the clamping elements  10  at the accommodating profile  2 , a variable positioning of the fittings  16  along the profile frame  1 , which facilitates the construction and adjustment of the sliding system, is then possible in an ideal manner. By means of the locking screws  11 , a loosening, shifting and renewed fixing of the clamping elements  10 , is then also possible in an advantageous manner, if it should become necessary to adjust the position of these clamping elements along the accommodating profile  2 . 
     Finally, the clamping elements  10  can serve to accommodate a cover profile  18 , which lies opposite the stopping leg  4  and protects the profile frame  1  against contamination by dirt or other external effects and visually enhances the system. In the case of the embodiment shown, the clamping elements  10  are designed so that they accommodate the cover profile  18 , shown by lines of dots and dashes in FIGS. 1 to  4 , locking it in place. 
     To sum up, the, inventive profile frame  1  offers a high degree of flexibility with respect to its application possibilities, can be manufactured cost effectively, is easily installed and has a high stability. It can encompass the plane element, which is to be accommodated, on all its sides, or be attached to only one, two, or three edges.