Patent Publication Number: US-10781629-B2

Title: Sliding element with sealing device and sealing element

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a sliding element, particularly a sliding door, that is displaceable along a rail and that is provided with a sealing device, with which a room opening is closable. The invention relates further to a sealing element for such a sealing device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For separating or partitioning rooms or for closing room openings or window openings often sliding elements are used, such as sliding doors made of glass or wood, which are typically guided along a rail by means of two carriages. U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2 discloses a device with carriages that are movable along rails. The device allows moving a sliding element in front of a room opening and finally against the room opening in order to close it tightly. Between the sliding door and the edge of the room opening, e.g. a door frame or a casing, a sealing is provided, which is compressed by a desired degree as soon as the sliding door is guided against the room opening. In order to avoid an optical appearance of the sealing, the sealing is not placed at the front side, but at the rear side of the sliding door. 
     The sealing device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2, which is shown below in  FIG. 2 , comprises a multi-part mounting strip  6  to which a circumferential sealing element  5  is connected. Different elements of the mounting strip  6 , straight elements and corner elements are connected to the rear side of the sliding element in such a way, that a peripheral frame is formed, which runs close to the edge of the rear side of the sliding element. The mounting strip  6 , i.e. its elements are provided with an anchor channel  60 , in which an anchor member of the sealing element  5  can be anchored to secure the sealing element  5 . The anchor member  51  is provided with a compression element  52 , which has two chambers  521 ,  522 . The first chamber  521  is laterally outwardly directed and the second chamber  522  is directed downwardly. When contacting edges of the room opening the first chamber  521  is compressed. When lowering the sliding door the second chamber  522  is guided against the floor and compressed. 
     Hence, for mounting the sealing device a relatively large effort is required, because first the mounting strip  6  needs to be screwed precisely aligned to the sliding element  1 ′ and only then the sealing element  5  can be inserted. The sealing element  5  exhibits relatively large dimensions. The material expenditure and installation effort is therefore considerable. The combination of the mounting strip  6  and the damping element  5  also requires a large space, wherefore the sliding element  1 ′ cannot be guided as close to the room opening as desired. The sliding element  1 ′ driven in front of the room opening looks visually voluminous. In spite of the relatively large dimensions the sealing element  5  exhibits only small compression paths, wherefore correspondingly small and precise displacements of the sliding door or larger dimensions of the damping elements  52  need to be provided. 
     US2012260579A1 discloses a seal with a conventional T-shaped anchor member and a compression member, which comprises a circular cross-section and two chambers. The T-shaped anchor member requires a T-shaped anchor groove in a door panel into which the anchor member can be inserted only after considerable deformation. The anchor member sits therefore possibly with considerable play in the anchor groove and is exposed to significant wear. The compression body with the circular cross-section has only a relatively small compression path and can therefore seal only relatively small air gaps. 
     DE4228986A1 discloses a seal for a door or window with an arrow-shaped anchor member which is engaged in a T-shaped anchor groove that is opened towards the front side of the door. This seal cannot advantageously be anchored particularly at the edge of the sliding door. 
     EP1431501A2 discloses a sliding door system with a sliding door held in a guiding device and a sealing device with sealing profiles that directly contact the floor or directly contact one another, resulting in a disturbing friction which is reduced by appropriate choice of material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved sliding element with a sealing device as well as an improved sealing element. 
     The sealing device shall have a simple construction and shall be mountable with little effort. The sealing device shall require as little material as possible and shall be producible at low-cost. Further, the sealing device shall allow the sliding element, i.e. the sliding door, to be driven close to the room opening, i.e. the door frame or casing provided there. It shall be possible to manufacture the sliding element with the sealing device with slim dimensions, so that an aesthetically advantageous impression results. The sealing element shall effortlessly be mountable and shall in spite of the relatively small dimensions have a relatively large compression path and shall tightly seal the gap between the sliding element and the door frame or casing. 
     This problem is solved with a sliding element with a sealing device according to claim  1  as well as a sealing element according to claim  11 . Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in further claims. 
     The sliding element comprises a sliding plate and a sealing device that comprises at least one sealing element, which forms a sealing frame that is arranged on a rear side of the sliding plate and that extends peripherally along an edge of the sliding plate. 
     According to the invention the sliding plate comprises a base plate and a flange plate, which is offset from the base plate, which is connected in one piece to the base plate and which is separated at its edge from the base plate by a circumferential anchor groove, which anchor groove serves for holding the at least one sealing element, which at least one sealing element comprises an anchor member that is inserted into the anchor groove and that is connected via a connection body to a compression member. Further, the anchor member of the at least one sealing element held within the anchor groove is aligned at least approximately in parallel to the sliding plate, i.e. to the front side or rear side of the sliding plate. 
     With the inventive solution, the requirement of a mounting strip, which is provided with an anchor groove, can be avoided. The anchor groove is advantageously incorporated into the sliding plate, whereby, on the one hand, the base plate, which is visible from the front side of the room opening and, on the other hand, the flange plate, which is visible from the rear side of the room opening, enclose the anchor groove. The base plate and the flange plate have outer surfaces facing in opposite directions, which preferably are identical in design and are indistinguishable by the user. Laterally and on the upper side, the dimensions of the base plate are preferably slightly larger than the dimensions of the flange plate, so that a receiving space for the connection body of the related sealing element is provided, which is displaced to the back relative to the flange plate and is supported by the base plate. Hence, the related sealing element is not only anchored in the sliding plate, but is also integrated therein, wherefore only device parts which are relevant for the sealing function, protrude from the sliding plate. At the lower side however, the flange plate can project beyond and cover the base plate and serve for covering sealing elements provided there. 
     Hence, the at least one sealing element can quickly and conveniently be mounted in the anchor groove and fulfils the sealing function optimally, while it does not appear optically. Due to the avoidance of a mounting strip the sliding plate with the sealing device integrated therein can be made slim and aesthetically advantageous. The room opening can tightly be closed by means of the inventive sliding element, i.e. the inventive sliding door. Due to the omission of the mounting strip and the integration of the sealing elements into the sliding plate, the slim sliding plate can be driven close against the room opening and requires little space only in front of the tightly sealed room opening. 
     Since the sliding plate with the anchor groove can be manufactured with machines and the sealing element can quickly be inserted into the anchor groove, e.g. also at the place of installation, the inventive sliding element can be manufactured inexpensively with minimal effort and material costs. 
     The sealing elements, i.e. sealing profiles, can be made from conventional materials such as rubber or silicone. Thereby, on the one hand for the anchor member and on the other hand for the compression member different materials can be used whose properties are adapted to the function of the anchor member or the compression member respectively. The anchor member can be manufactured for example from a less elastic material than the compression member. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a first sealing element with its anchor member is anchored in a upper member of the anchor groove at the upper side of the sliding plate and in a left and a right member of the anchor groove on the left and the right side of the sliding plate and a second sealing element with its anchor member is anchored in a lower member of the anchor groove at the lower side of the sliding plate. With two different sealing elements the assigned tasks can optimally be fulfilled with minimum material requirement. By the first sealing element a lateral coupling to a plane, which is defined by the edge of the room opening or the casing mounted there. I.e., the sliding plate can be moved in front of the room opening and then can be driven against the room opening, whereby the room opening, laterally and at the upper side, is tightly closed by means of the first sealing element. The second sealing element serves for closing a gap which remains after the sliding plate has been lowered to the floor. 
     A stable connection between the sliding plate and the first sealing element and, at the same time, a space saving partial integration of the first sealing element into the sliding plate is achieved because the anchor member of the first sealing element is held within the anchor groove aligned at least approximately in parallel to the sliding plate. Optimum sealing however results by the alignment of the compression member of the first sealing element with a first compression axis perpendicular to the sliding plate. 
     A particularly reliable sealing is achieved, by forming the compression member of the first sealing element at least approximately symmetrical and with a form of a cardioid having two contact zones and a symmetry axis, which corresponds to the first compression axis. With the embodiment at least approximately in the form a cardioid, two contact zones result after closing the sliding door, which practically effect a doubled sealing. 
     As mentioned, in preferred embodiments the first sealing element can exclusively be used for creating the sealing frame. I.e., the first sealing element can also be provided at the lower side the sliding plate. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, a second sealing element is provided, whose anchor member, within the anchor groove, is at least approximately aligned in parallel to the sliding plate, and whose compression member has a second compression axis, which extends in parallel to the sliding plate. Hence, the circumferential anchor groove is also aligned in parallel to the base plate and to the flange plate. 
     The second sealing element can be designed particularly slender, by providing that the second compression axis, which after mounting the second sealing element is vertically aligned, traverses the anchor member and the compression member of the second sealing element. 
     Preferably the compression member of the second sealing element comprises at least on one side or on both sides each at least one bending fold, which are aligned inclined, preferably perpendicular to the second compression axis. If a plurality of bending folds is provided, then they are arranged alternately on both sides of the compression member and mutually displaced along the second compression axis. 
     The bending folds are designed and arranged in such a way that, when the second sealing element is displaced along the second compression axis, the compression member of the second sealing element is compressed, whereby the compression chambers move essentially along the second compression axis and are not laterally swivelled out. By the inventive embodiment of the second sealing element is therefore provided that its compression member is compressed along the second compression axis. Hence, after closing the sliding door a broad sealing body results at its lower side, which tightly closes the related door gap. Lateral tilting of the compression member, which would inhibit a desired compression, is avoided. By the compression of the compression member along the second compression axis a relatively broad door gap can reliably be sealed without requiring larger dimensions of the sealing element. Hence, in spite of the slender design of the second sealing element, the sealing function is still optimally fulfilled. 
     In preferred embodiments, the compression member of the second sealing element comprises at least two compression chambers, which are arranged upon one another along the second compression axis and which move essentially along the second compression axis when the second sealing element is lowered to the floor. By the compression chambers, which comprise hollow spaces, a perfect acoustic and thermal sealing is reached. 
     The bending fold, i.e. at least one of the bending folds, is preferably arranged along the second compression axis between the compression chambers. Bending folds can also be incorporated in the walls of the compression chambers to facilitate the compressions process, optionally in combination with a folding process. The at least one bending fold can be provided in the form a curvature, groove or material recess. 
     The sealing frame can also be formed completely by the second sealing element. I.e., the second sealing element can also be inserted into the anchor groove laterally and on top of the sliding plate. 
     Hence, for forming the sealing frame the first sealing element or the second sealing element or combinations of the first and second sealing element may advantageously be used. In all possible alternative embodiments the compression axis of the compression member is preferably always aligned perpendicular to the body, i.e. to the body surface that needs to be sealed. 
     The compression axis of the compression members of the first sealing element and of the second sealing element can be aligned in parallel or inclined, preferably perpendicular to the axis of the anchor member of the related sealing element. Hence, the first and second sealing elements can universally be used individually or in combination and in different embodiments for forming a sealing frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described below in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1 a    shows a sliding system  100  with a sliding element, i.e. a sliding door  1 , that is provided with a sliding plate  10  and a sealing device with a sealing frame, which comprises a first sealing element  2  that runs along the upper side and along the lateral edges of the sliding plate  10 , and a second sealing element  3  that runs along the lower side of the sliding plate  10 ; 
         FIG. 1 b    shows the sliding door  1  of  FIG. 1 a   , which by means of carriages  91 ,  91 ′ is guided along rails  9 ,  9 ′, without the cover  99  of the rail  9  and without a door frame or casing  8 ; 
         FIG. 2  shows the sliding door  1 ′ disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2, which is provided with a sealing device, which comprises mounting strips  6 , that are screwed to the sliding door  1 ′, and a circumferential sealing element  5  or a looped sealing frame; 
         FIG. 3 a    shows the left upper corner of the asymmetrically designed sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 1 b   , which comprises a flange plate  12  that serves for holding the sealing frame  2 ,  3  and an edge member  15 , which is provided at the left side of the sealing elements  2  and which is connected by means of a connection device  92  to a first carriage  91 ; 
         FIG. 3 b    shows the left upper corner of the asymmetrical formed sliding element  1  of  FIG. 3 a    before mounting the sealing frame  2 ,  3 ; 
         FIG. 3 c    shows the left upper corner of an alternative embodiment of the formed sliding element  1  of  FIG. 3 a    before mounting the sealing frame  2 ,  3  that is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 b    but does not have the optional edge member  15 ; 
         FIG. 4 a    shows corner pieces of the sliding plate  10  cut along the cutting lines A--A, B--B of  FIG. 1 b    with the flange plate  12 , which peripherally is separated from the base plate  11  by an anchor groove  18 , which serves for mounting the sealing frame  2 ,  3 ; 
         FIG. 4 b    shows the corner pieces of the right edges of the sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 4 a    with the protruding flange plate  12 , which holds the sealing frame  2 ,  3 ; 
         FIG. 5 a    shows the upper right corner piece of the sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 4 b    with the mounted first sealing element  2 ; 
         FIG. 5 b    shows the lower right corner piece the sliding plate  10  in a preferred embodiment with the second sealing element  3 , which in this embodiment is used for all four members of the sealing frame; 
         FIG. 6 a    shows in spatial view a section of the unstressed second sealing element  3  with the anchor member  31  and the compression member  32 , which are connected with one another by a connection body  30 ; 
         FIG. 6 b    shows the unstressed second sealing element  3  of  FIG. 6 a    from the front side; 
         FIG. 6 c    shows the stressed second sealing element  3  of  FIG. 6 b    with the anchor member  31  displaced downwards and the compressed compression member  32 ; 
         FIG. 7 a    shows the first sealing element  2  with the longitudinal axis a of the anchor member  21  and the compression axis x of the compression member  22  coaxially aligned; and 
         FIG. 7 b    shows the second sealing element  3  with the longitudinal axis a of the anchor member  31  and the compression axis y of the compression member  32  aligned perpendicular to one another. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1 a    shows an inventive sliding system  100  with an inventive sliding element, i.e. a sliding door  1 , which in this preferred embodiment is displaceable along two rails  9  in front of a room opening, i.e. a door frame or casing  8 . The rails  9  are covered by a bezel  99 . As an alternative only one rail can be used as well. 
     In preferred embodiments the sliding system  100  is designed in such a way that the sliding door  1  can be moved horizontally in front of the room opening and in the final phase of the closing process can be moved against the casing  8  and against the floor, in order to tightly close the room opening on all sides. 
     For this purpose, the sliding door  1  comprises a sliding plate for example made from wood, that in this preferred embodiment is provided with a sealing device, which comprises a first sealing element  2  arranged along the upper edge and along the lateral edges of the sliding plate  10 , and a second sealing element  3  arranged along the lower side of the sliding plate  10 . Hence, both sealing elements  2 ,  3  form a sealing frame at the rear side of the sliding door, which is partly or preferably fully closed in itself. When closing the sliding door  1 , the first sealing element  2  is guided against the casing  8  and the second sealing element  3  is guided against the floor and compressed, thereby providing optimal acoustic and thermal sealing. 
     The sliding plate  10  comprises on the front side a base plate  11  and on the rear side a flange plate  12  that is facing the door frame or casing  8 . Between the base plate  11  and the flange plate  12  an anchor groove  18  is provided, which surrounds the flange plate  12  like a frame and in which the sealing frame with the first and second sealing element  2 ,  3  has been inserted. 
     At the left side and outside of the sealing element  2  the sliding plate  10  is optionally provided with an edge member  15 , which is connected to a first carriage  91 . At the front side the sliding plate  10  is connected to a second carriage  91 ′. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2 the two carriages  91 ,  91 ′ are preferably guided on separate rails  9 ,  9 ′. Along the second rail  9 ′, the front-sided second carriage  91 ′ can completely be driven away from the room opening. In order to avoid that the first carriage  91  enters the range of the second rail  9 ′, it is displaced relative to the range of the sliding door  1 , which together with the sealing device is used for sealing the room opening. In the shown embodiment, this is reached particularly advantageous by the asymmetrical design of the sliding door  1  which in addition is provided with the edge member  15 . Hence, the carriages  91 ,  91 ′ can advantageously be decoupled from the neighbouring rails  9 ′,  9  and the room opening can completely be opened. 
     The edge member  15  is therefore only optionally provided and, as shown in  FIG. 3 c   , can also be omitted. Without this edge member  15  the left side of the sliding plate  10  would be identical to the right side and would identically be provided with the elements of the sealing frame  2 ;  3 . Hence, the sliding element  1  can have a symmetrical or asymmetrical design. 
       FIG. 1 b    (see also  FIG. 3 a   ) shows, that the sliding door  1  is very slim even with the mounted sealing device. Essentially, only the parts of the sealing elements  2 ,  3 , which are required for sealing purposes, are visible. The further parts of the sealing elements  2 ,  3  are integrated into the sliding door  1 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the sliding door  1 ′ disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,977B2, which is provided with a sealing device, that comprises mounting strips  6  screwed to the sliding door  1 ′ and a circumferential sealing element  5 . The sealing element  5  comprises an anchor member  51  and a compression member  52  with two compression chambers  521 ,  522 . The anchor member  51  is held in an anchor channel  60  provided in the mounting strip  6 . 
       FIG. 3 a    shows the left upper corner of the asymmetrical designed sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 1 b   , which comprises at the left side besides the first sealing element  2  the extended edge member  15 , which is connected by a connection device  92  to the first carriage  91 . For this purpose, a mounting device has been inserted into a mounting channel  19 , which is provided at the upper side of the sliding plate  10 . 
     The sealing element  2  shown forms a member of the sealing frame shown in  FIG. 1 b   , which is provided at the rear side of the sliding plate  10 . The sealing frame comprises, as shown in  FIG. 1 b    and  FIG. 4 b   , the first sealing element  2 , which forms the upper part and the lateral parts of the sealing frame, as well as the second sealing element  3 , which forms the lower member of the sealing frame. The form of the sealing frame is preferably adapted to the form of the sliding plate  10  and/or the form of the edges of the room opening, i.e. the door frame or casing  8  provided there. 
       FIG. 4 b    shows further, that the first and the second sealing elements  2 ,  3  comprise each an anchor member  21 ;  31  and a compression member  22 ;  32 , which are connected with one another by a connection body  20 ;  30 . 
     The first sealing element  2  shown in  FIG. 3 a    is almost completely integrated into the sliding door  1 . The anchor member  21  is received in an anchor groove  18 . The connection body  20  is received in a receiving space  14  that adjoins the anchor groove  18 . The compression member  22  protrudes however out of the receiving space  14 , preferably at least to an extent, as it shall be compressed to obtain a tight closing. Hence,  FIG. 3 a    shows that the sliding door  1  can be designed with minimal dimensions and the sealing device can aesthetically advantageously be integrated into the sliding plate  10 . 
     For the purpose of advantageously mounting the sealing frame with the sealing elements  2 ,  3 , a circumferential anchor groove  18  is introduced at the rear side of the sliding plate  10 . The anchor groove  18  forms an anchor frame, which corresponds to the sealing frame with the sealing elements  2 ,  3 . The sliding plate  10  comprises a base plate  11  at the front side and a flange plate  12  at the rear side facing the room opening, which is connected in one piece with the base plate and which is merely peripherally separated from the base plate  11  by the anchor groove  18  and the receiving space  14 . 
     By introducing the receiving space  14  and the anchor groove  18  the flange plate  12  is excavated at the edges. For example, in a first process the receiving space  14  and in a second process step the anchor groove  18  is excavated, which is directed between the base plate  11  and the flange plate  12  in parallel thereto against the neighbouring side of the sliding door  1 . Hence, the profile of the excavated recess with the receiving space  14  and the anchor groove  18  is preferably an L-profile that is directed towards the centre of the flange plate  12 . Since the sliding plate  10  with the base plate  11  and the flange plate  12  is preferably made as one unitary piece, the front side and the rear side of the sliding door  1  have an identical appearance, if the user does not prefer another design. After the sliding door  1  has been closed, the sealing frame  2 ,  3  adjoins the casing  8  and the floor and is therefore invisible. At the front side and the rear side for example only a white surface or the wooden structure of the sliding plate  10  is visible. 
     The sliding plate  10  can be made from metal or plastic. If the sliding plate  10  is made from plastic, a casting box, whose interior space corresponds to the dimensions the sliding plate, may for example be provided and filling material with an L-profile is positioned at locations, where the receiving space  14  and the anchor groove  18  are provided. Subsequently plastic is poured into the casting box. 
     Since in the receiving space  14  receives at least a part of the sealing frame  2 ,  3 , the dimensions of the flange plate  12  will typically by a degree, which corresponds to the dimensions of the sealing frame  2 ,  3 , be smaller than the dimensions of the base plate  11 . 
       FIG. 3 b    shows the left upper corner of the asymmetrical designed sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 3 a    before insertion of the sealing frame, i.e. of the first sealing element  2 . It is shown, that the flange plate  12  is peripherally separated from the base plate  11  by the receiving space  14  and the anchor groove  18 , which extend in the shape of a frame. Hence, at the rear side of the sliding plate  10 , the flange plate  12  is offset from the base plate  11 . The flange plate  12  and the edge member  15  of the sliding plate  10  preferably form a planar surface. Hence,  FIG. 3 b    shows that not only the mounting strip  6  of the known solution of  FIG. 2  can be avoided to spare material labour and space, but that parts of the sealing frame  2 ,  3 , which are not required for the sealing function,  3  can be sunk into the sliding plate  10  in order to save further space. 
       FIG. 4 a    shows above the upper right corner piece of the sliding plate  10  cut along the cutting line A--A of  FIG. 1 b    and below the lower right corner piece of the sliding plate  10  cut along the cutting line B--B of  FIG. 1 b   . By auxiliary lines the cut-out intermediate piece between the two corner pieces as well as the cut-out left member of the sliding plate  10  is symbolised, which can be designed symmetrical or asymmetrical. It is shown that the flange plate  12  peripherally is separated by the anchor groove  18  from the base plate  11 , but else is connected in one piece to the base plate  11 . The anchor groove  18  comprises an upper anchor groove section  181  at the upper side, a lower anchor groove section  183  at the lower side and lateral anchor groove sections  182  at the right and left side of the flange plate  18  auf. Hence, the anchor groove  18  with the anchor groove sections  181 ,  182 ,  183  has the form of a frame and allows receiving the sealing frame  2 ,  3 , which preferably forms a closed loop, which in the shown embodiment has a rectangular form, but can also incorporate curves and bows. 
       FIG. 4 b    shows the corner pieces of the right edge of the sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 4 a    with the sealing frame inserted into the anchor groove  18 . The sealing frame comprises in this preferred embodiment a first sealing element  2  and a second sealing element  3  which are differently designed and which fulfil different functions. The first sealing element  2  is inserted into the upper anchor groove section  181  and into the lateral anchor groove sections  182  and serves for sealing the sliding plate  10  against the casing  8  (see  FIG. 1 a   ). The second sealing element  3  is inserted into the lower anchor groove section  183  and serves for sealing the lowered sliding plate  10  against the floor. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 b   ,  5 ,  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c , the two sealing elements  2 ,  3  comprise each an anchor member  21 ;  31 , which can be inserted into the anchor groove  18 , and a compression member  22 ;  32 , which are mutually connected by the connection body  20 ;  30 . 
       FIG. 5 a    shows, that the anchor member  21  of the first sealing element  2 , which has the profile of a tree, is held within the anchor groove  18  and is aligned at least approximately in parallel to the sliding plate  10  and that the compression member  22  of the first sealing element  2  has a first compression axis x, which is aligned perpendicular to the sliding plate  10 . Hence, the anchor member  21  is securely held in the anchor groove  18 , while the connection body  20  is received in the receiving space  14  and is supported by a part of the base plate  11 . Adjacent to the anchor groove  18  the connection body  20  of the sealing element  2  is seated with a shoulder member  201  on the flange plate  12 , which ensures even alignment of the first sealing element  2 . 
     The compression member  22  of the first sealing element  2  is designed at least approximately symmetrical and has at least approximately the form of a cardioid that exhibits two contact zones  221 ,  222  and a symmetry axis, which corresponds to the compression axis x and which is aligned perpendicular to the room opening. When closing the sliding door  1  the two contact zones  221 ,  222  hit the casing  8 , whereafter the compression member  22  is pressed against the base plate  11  and is deformed while maintaining symmetry. The two contact zones  221 ,  222  thereby effect a doubled sealing, wherefore reliable acoustic and thermal sealing results. 
       FIG. 4 b    shows, that the anchor member  31  of the second sealing element  3 , which also exhibits the form of a tree and which essentially corresponds to the anchor member  21  of the first sealing element  2 , is held within the anchor groove  18  and is aligned at least approximately in parallel to the sliding plate  10  and that the compression member  32  of the second sealing element  3  exhibits a second compression axis y, which is aligned at least approximately in parallel to the sliding plate  10  and after installation of the sliding door  1  perpendicular to the floor. 
     In this preferred embodiment the compression axis y traverses the anchor member  31  and the compression member  32  of the second sealing element  3  approximately in the middle. In this way only little space is required for mounting the second sealing element  3 . The connection body  30  of the second sealing element  2  is seated with a shoulder member  301  on a shortened member  111  of the base plate  11  thereby ensuring that the mounted second sealing element  3  is aligned along a straight line. The flange plate  12  extends beyond the shortened member  111  of the base plate  11  and serves thereby as a bezel for covering the connection body  30 . 
     It has been outlined that the sealing frame comprises the first sealing element  2 , the second sealing element  3  or a combination therefrom. If the sealing frame consists only of the first sealing element  2 , then it forms all four parts of the sealing frame as shown above in  FIG. 4 b   . If the sealing frame however consists only of the second sealing element  3 , then, as shown in  FIG. 5 b   , it can be inserted from all sides into the anchor groove  18 . 
       FIG. 5 b    shows as an example the lower right corner piece of the sliding plate  10  in a preferred embodiment with the second sealing element  3 , which in this embodiment forms all four parts of the sealing frame. The longitudinal axis a of the anchor member  31  and the second compression axis y are coaxially aligned. 
       FIG. 6 a    shows in spatial view a section of the unstressed second sealing element  3  with the anchor member  31  and the compression member  32 , which are mutually connected by the connection body  30 . The anchor member  31 , which adjoins the connection body  30  at the upper side and which is aligned along the compression axis y, shows the profile of a tree and is provided with two pairs of anchor elements  311 . The connection body  30  is provided with the shoulder member  301 , which serves as flange element. The compression element  32  comprises a smaller first compression chamber  321  and a larger second compression chamber  322 , which are arranged along the compression axis Y one above the other. In the sidewalls of the first compression chamber  321  a first bending fold  323  is formed in. Between the two hollow compression chambers  321 ,  322  a second bending fold  324  is formed in. The first and the second bending fold  323 ,  324 , i.e. the corresponding indentations are directed against one another and are formed at least approximately symmetrical to the compression axis y. 
     The bending folds  323 ,  324  and the compression chambers  321 ,  322  are formed in such a way, that when the second sealing element  3  is displaced along the second compression axis y, i.e. when vertically lowering the sliding plate  10 , the compression member  32  of the second sealing element  3  is compressed and optionally partly folded. Thereby, the compression chambers  321 ,  322  are displaced downwards essentially along the second compression axis y. A lateral displacement of the compression element  22 , by which the compression of the compression member  22  would fail, is avoided. Instead the compression chambers  321 ,  322  are compressed along the compression axis y, whereby a tight closure results below the sliding plate  10 . 
       FIG. 6 b    shows the unstressed second sealing element  3  of  FIG. 6 a    from the front side. 
       FIG. 6 c    shows the stressed second sealing element  3  of  FIG. 6 b    with the anchor member  31  displaced downwards and the compression member  32  compressed along the compression axis y. 
       FIG. 7 a    shows the first sealing element  2  with the longitudinal axis a of the anchor member  21  and the compression axis x of the compression member  22  coaxially aligned with one another. Hence, instead of the second sealing element  3  the first sealing element  2  can be inserted in the same way into the anchor groove  18  e.g. at the lower side of the sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 4 b   . The shoulder member  201  drawn with a dashed line can optionally be provided. 
       FIG. 7 b    shows the second sealing element  3  with the longitudinal axis a of the anchor member  31  and the compression axis y of the compression member  32  aligned perpendicular to one another. Hence, instead of the first sealing element  2  the second sealing element  3  can be inserted in the same way into the anchor groove  18  e.g. at the upper side the sliding plate  10  of  FIG. 4 b   . The shoulder member  301  drawn with a dashed line can optionally be provided as required. 
     LIST OF REFERENCES 
     
         
           100  sliding system 
           1  inventive sliding element, sliding door 
           1 ′ known sliding element with sealing device 
           10  sliding plate 
           11  base plate 
           111  shortened member of the base plate  11   
           12  flange plate 
           14  receiving space 
           15  extended edge member 
           18  anchor groove 
           181  upper anchor groove section 
           182  lateral anchor groove sections 
           183  lower anchor groove section 
           19  mounting channel 
           2  first sealing element 
           20  connection body of the first sealing element 
           201  shoulder member of the connection body  20   
           21  anchor member of the first sealing element  2   
           22  compression member of the first sealing element  2   
           221  first contact wave 
           222  second contact wave 
           3  second sealing element 
           30  connection body of the second sealing element 
           301  shoulder member of the connection body  30   
           31  anchor member of the second sealing element  3   
           311  anchor elements 
           32  compression member of the second sealing element  3   
           321  first compression chamber 
           322  second compression chamber 
           323  first bending fold 
           324  second bending fold 
           5  known sealing element 
           51  anchor member of the known sealing element  5   
           52  compression member of the known sealing element  5   
           521  lateral compression chamber 
           522  lower compression chamber 
           6  mounting strip 
           60  anchor channel 
           8  door frame, casing 
           9  rails 
           91  carriages 
           92  connection device 
           93  mounting device 
           99  cover