Patent Publication Number: US-2003226315-A1

Title: Device for holding panels and separating element

Description:
[0001] The invention relates to a device for holding panels, in particular glass panels, and to a separating element provided with a panel according to the precharacterizing clause of Patent claims 1 and 11.  
       [0002] In order to separate or form rooms or in order to close off room or window openings, use is often made of glass or wooden walls, screens, doors or blinds, referred to in the following as separating elements, which are fitted in a fixed manner or are fastened to running mechanisms which can be displaced along a rail and, if appropriate, are mounted in a manner such that they can rotate.  
       [0003] Devices for holding glass panels are disclosed, for example, in WO 02/10544 A1 or EP 0 940 542 A2. These objects have a clamping device having two elements which can be displaced relative to each other by means of a screw and between which a glass panel is non-positively held.  
       [0004] Devices, by means of which glass panels can be positively held, are also known. For example, WO 98/59140 A1 discloses a device in which two fastening parts which are to be fitted into a recess in a glass panel can be connected to each other by means of a connecting part which can be guided through a drill hole provided in the glass panel and therefore positively holds the latter. In this case, the glass panel can be adjusted by means of an eccentric adjusting element which is introduced into the drill hole. This enables inaccuracies which have been produced during the processing of the glass panel to be compensated for.  
       [0005] A further adjusting element used for the adjustable fastening of a glass panel is described in EP 0 586 840 A1.  
       [0006] However, only relatively small deviations can be corrected by means of adjusting elements of this type, with the result that in the case of these devices, the processing of the glass panel has to take place in each case with high precision. All of the parts of the sliding element may already have been finished at the factory, so that corresponding transportation costs result. Furthermore, deviations from designated dimensions often also occur at the installation site and so adjustments also in situ are generally unavoidable.  
       [0007] In the case of the device disclosed in EP 0 586 840 A1, the glass panel can furthermore be displaced along a frame strip, after which it is fixed in place by wedging and bonding with putty. This is associated with a not inconsiderable outlay. Further adjustments may also be required later which, after the glass panel has been cemented with putty, results in further expense.  
       [0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for holding panels, in particular glass panels, and a separating element provided with a device of this type, which is not afflicted with the deficiencies described.  
       [0009] In particular, a device which is suitable for positively holding panels is to be provided, which device can be fitted with little outlay and can be connected to a panel in such a manner that the latter can be precisely adjusted with simple measures.  
       [0010] Furthermore, the device is to permit the holding of panels which are prepared for installation with the reduced outlay on processing.  
       [0011] Furthermore, a separating element provided with at least one device of this type is to be specified.  
       [0012] This object is achieved with a device and a separating element having the features specified in claims 1 and 11, respectively. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in further claims.  
       [0013] The device according to the invention, which is used for positively holding a panel, in particular a glass panel, has at least one supporting element which can be guided through a preferably circular hole in the panel and by means of which a first profile element and a second profile element, which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel, can be connected to each other. According to the invention, the supporting element has a head part, which is held displaceably in a receiving groove provided in the first profile element, and a connecting part which is to be guided through the hole in the panel and has a threaded drill hole which is provided for receiving an installation screw used for installing the second profile element.  
       [0014] The first and second profile elements which are connected to each other form a U-profile which grasps the panel on one side and is held in a designated position by means of the supporting elements. Unless the supporting elements are fixed in place, which can take place by tightening the installation screws or by means of threaded pins, the supporting elements, the two profile elements and the panel can be displaced relative to one another, so that, for example, the supporting elements can be displaced with respect to the holes provided in the panel and subsequently the first profile element and the panel, which is already held by the device but is not yet secured, can be displaced relative to one another until their end sides lie in a plane.  
       [0015] In a preferred refinement of the invention, the fixing of the supporting elements in a position designated for this purpose takes place by means of a threaded pin which is introduced into the threaded drill hole completely piercing the supporting element, and is screwed against the first profile element.  
       [0016] The threaded pin is preferably provided on the front side with a cup point which, when the threaded pin is tightened, engages positively in the first profile element, as a result of which the supporting element is held non-displaceably even in the case of relatively large actions of force which are produced, for example, when a sliding door provided with a panel strikes against a stop.  
       [0017] The supporting elements can be produced cost-effectively by a hollow-cylindrical connecting part being provided which is connected to a head part and is provided with a threaded drill hole running coaxially therein.  
       [0018] The receiving groove, which runs axially with respect to the first profile element and within which the supporting elements are displaceably held, is preferably formed by a C-profile-shaped supporting profile which partially surrounds the receiving groove by means of end pieces. The supporting element is held in this receiving groove in a displaceable and preferably rotationally fixed manner. For this purpose, the head part of the supporting element has, for example, a first and a second subsection which adjoin it axially with at least one segment having been removed, at least from the latter of the said subsections, in such a manner that it is held in a rotationally fixed and displaceable manner between the end pieces or by the entire supporting profile forming the receiving groove.  
       [0019] The rotationally fixed holding of the correctly positioned and fixed supporting elements is of importance for two reasons. Firstly, the installation screws, by means of which the second profile part is fitted, can be tightened without the supporting elements rotating at the same time. Furthermore, it is prevented that the threaded pins, which have been screwed in, can be loosened again during tightening of the installation screws.  
       [0020] The panel can therefore be precisely positioned and fixed in the horizontal direction, i.e. axially with respect to the profile elements. The positioning of the holes in the panel in the horizontal direction is thus not critical and can even be freely selected within a wide range.  
       [0021] During the preparation of the panel for the installation, deviations in position in the vertical direction of the holes used for receiving the supporting elements may also occur. In a preferred refinement of the invention, the connecting part of the supporting element is therefore provided for the axially parallel, eccentric mounting of a cylindrical adjusting element which can be correspondingly rotated within the associated hole for setting the position of the panel.  
       [0022] The introduction of the supporting elements in the receiving groove and the fitting and adjustment of the panel can take place in a simple manner before the second profile element is fitted by means of the installation screws. In contrast to a device used for non-positively holding the panel, the installation of the panel with the device according to the invention therefore takes place significantly more easily. The supporting elements can be positioned with just a few manoeuvres, after which the panel can be fitted. The displacement and adjustment of the panel can take place afterwards without there being the risk, as in the opening of a clamping device, that the panel may come loose from the device and bump against the floor.  
       [0023] The second profile element preferably has an installation rib which can be introduced into a holding groove provided in the first profile element, so that after fitting of the installation screws, which are introduced into the threaded drill holes of the supporting elements through openings in the second profile element, a stable, preferably positive connection between the first and second profile elements is produced.  
       [0024] The device according to the invention can be used advantageously for separating elements, for example wall elements or sliding doors, which are fitted in a fixed manner or are mounted displaceably. For this purpose, the first profile element is preferably provided with a guide profile which adjoins the supporting profile and runs parallel thereto and which has, for example, an outwardly open U-profile into which an installation block can be introduced and can be locked at a desired position. This permits individual positioning of supporting and guide parts, for example running mechanisms or guide pins, for each supporting element, which may be necessary, in particular in the case of systems in which a plurality of separating elements are parked in a stacked manner by means of parking rails which do not run parallel to one another.  
       [0025] A separating element can be provided with one or more devices according to the invention which are used to hold a panel, if appropriate a glass panel. For example, one or two devices can be provided on the upper side and/or the lower side of the panel. If only a single device is provided on one side, this can normally already be matched to the dimensions of the panel at the factory. If two devices are provided, they can be manufactured and supplied in a standardized embodiment for different lengths of the panel to be fitted.  
       [0026] The devices fitted to the separating elements can preferably be covered by means of covering elements with, for two devices arranged on one side of the panel, preferably just one covering being provided on each side. 
     
    
    
     [0027] The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:  
     [0028]FIG. 1 shows a device  1  according to the invention having a first and a second profile element  10 ,  20 , between which a panel  40  is held by means of supporting elements  30 ,  
     [0029]FIG. 2 shows the device  1  from FIG. 1 with the second profile element  20  removed,  
     [0030]FIG. 3 shows a frontal illustration of the device  1  from FIG. 1 with the panel  40  inserted,  
     [0031]FIG. 4 shows a first separating element  2  provided with four devices  1  according to the invention,  
     [0032]FIG. 5 shows a second separating element  3  provided on the upper side with just one device  1  according to the invention,  
     [0033]FIG. 6 shows a system for the stacked parking of separating elements  2 ,  3 ,  
     [0034]FIG. 7 shows the first profile element  10  with a supporting element  30  inserted therein into a receiving groove  13 , and an adjusting element  38  placed thereon,  
     [0035]FIG. 8 shows the removed supporting element  30 , as seen from the front, with a head part  31  comprising two subsections  310 ,  311 , and a hollow-cylindrical connecting part  32  which is connected thereto and is provided with a threaded drill hole  33 , and  
     [0036]FIG. 9 shows the device  1  which is connected to a panel  40  with the two profile elements  10 ,  20 , the supporting element  30 , a threaded pin  34  inserted therein, an installation screw  35  and the adjusting element  38 , in a sectional illustration.  
    
    
     [0037]FIG. 1 shows a device  1  according to the invention having a first and a second profile element  10 ,  20  which are connected to each other, and a panel  40  which is held positively in between by means of supporting elements  30  and has holes  41 , if appropriate openings having a circular cross section, for guiding the supporting elements  30  through (see FIG. 4). FIG. 2 shows the device  1  from FIG. 1 with the second profile element  20  removed and with the panel  40  removed.  
     [0038] It is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the first profile element  10  has a guide profile  11  and a supporting profile  12 .  
     [0039] The U-profile-shaped guide profile  11  is used, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , for receiving an installation block  61  which, in the designs shown, is connected by means of a connecting screw  62  to a running mechanism  60  guided in a guide rail  70 . The guide profile  11  can be adapted to the respective conditions by means of expert measures. For example, the direct connection of the device  1  to the brickwork is possible. For this purpose, the guide profile  11  could merely be provided with at least one flange.  
     [0040] The supporting profile  12  is of C-profile-shaped designed in such a manner that an at least approximately T-profile-shaped receiving groove  13  is formed which is open towards the second profile element  20 , runs parallel to a longitudinal axis x of the first profile element  10  and is partially surrounded by end pieces  18  of the C-profile, which end pieces are directed towards each other.  
     [0041] The supporting elements  30 , which are shown in FIG. 2, have a head part  31  which can be introduced into the receiving groove  13 , and a hollow-cylindrical connecting part  32  having a threaded drill hole  33  which is provided for receiving an installation screw  35  used for connecting the second profile element  20 . The supporting elements  30  can therefore be displaced along the receiving groove  13  and can therefore be positioned as required.  
     [0042] A threaded pin  34  is preferably provided for fixing the supporting elements  30  in a desired position within the receiving groove  13 , which threaded pin can be introduced into the threaded drill hole  33  which completely pierces the supporting element  30 . As shown in FIG. 9, the threaded pin  34  can be screwed against the supporting profile  12  in such a manner that the supporting element  30  is held non-displaceably. The threaded pin  34  is preferably provided on the front side with a cup point  341  which can be screwed positively into the supporting profile  12  and thereby ensures a good connection.  
     [0043] It is furthermore shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 that the head part  31  of the supporting element  30  has a first and a second subsection  310  and  311  adjoining it axially with at least one segment  3101 ;  3111  having been removed, at least from the latter of the said subsections, in such a manner that the supporting element  30  is held in a rotationally fixed, but displaceable, manner between the end pieces  18  or by the entire supporting profile  12  forming the receiving groove  13 .  
     [0044] The supporting elements  30  are therefore held fixedly in the receiving groove  13  after fixing the threaded pins  34 , so that the installation screws  35  can be screwed in without any problem without the positive connection between the threaded pins  34  and the supporting profile  12  being released by rotation of the supporting elements  30 .  
     [0045] In the refinement of the device  1  shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the connecting part  32  of the supporting element  30  is also used for the eccentric mounting of a cylindrical adjusting element  38  which can be correspondingly rotated within an associated hole  41  for setting the position of the panel  40 . The required rotation can be brought about, for example, by means of a tool which can be introduced into a drill hole  381 , which is designated for this purpose, in the adjusting element  38 . The central axes of the connecting part  32  and of the adjusting element  38  run parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other by an eccentricity. By means of a corresponding rotation of the adjusting element  38 , a desired, vertical positioning of the held panel  40  can therefore be set during the installation.  
     [0046] The introduction of the supporting elements  30  into the receiving groove  13  and the fitting and adjusting of the panel  40  can take place in a simple manner before the second profile element  20  is fitted by means of the installation screws  35 . The supporting elements  30  are brought into the required position with just a few manoeuvres, after which the panel  40  can be fitted. The horizontal and vertical adjustment of the panel  40  can then be carried out without there being the risk of the panel  40  being able to come loose again from the device  1 .  
     [0047] After installation and adjustment of the panel  40 , the device  1  is closed by means of the second profile element  20  which, in the refinement shown in FIG. 2, has an installation rib  22  which can be introduced into a holding groove  14  provided in the first profile element  10 . The second profile element  20  can therefore be fitted comfortably into the holding groove  14  and can subsequently be fastened by means of the installation screws  35  which are guided through openings  21  in the second profile element  20  and are screwed to the supporting elements  30 . By means of the two profile elements  10 ,  20 , which are preferably connected positively to each other, a preferably symmetrical U-profile is therefore formed which, in an end region, surrounds the panel  40  which is held by the supporting elements  30 . In order to avoid vibrations of the panel  40 , tapes  8 , which are preferably elastic, are provided between the two profile elements  10 ,  20  and the panel  40 , as shown in FIG. 1, and are easily compressed during tightening of the installation screws  35 , which can preferably be countersunk into the second profile element  20 .  
     [0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the two profile elements  10 ,  20  preferably have means  16 ,  19  which permit the fastening of covering elements  50 ,  51  which can be used to cover the fitted device  1  on one side, on both sides, on the front side and/or on the rear side. A screw channel  16  is provided on the front side and is used for receiving a screw  52  by means of which a front covering  51  can be fitted. For the lateral fastening of covering elements  50 , the profile elements  10 ,  20  preferably have short wing elements  19 .  
     [0049]FIGS. 4 and 5 show separating elements  2 ;  3 , for example wall elements or sliding doors, which are provided with devices  1  according to the invention and are mounted in a manner such that they can be displaced by means of running mechanisms  60 A,  60 B guided in rails  70 . The running mechanisms  60 A,  60 B are connected to the associated device  1 , for example by means of an installation block  61 , which is introduced into the guide profile  11 , and a connecting screw  62 .  
     [0050] Each installation block  61  can preferably be displaced within the guide profile  11 , which has an outwardly open U-profile, and can be locked at a desired position. This permits individual positioning of supporting and guide parts, for example the running mechanisms  60 A,  60 B or guide pins  63 , which may be required in particular in the case of systems in which a plurality of separating elements  2 ;  3  are parked in a stacked manner by means of parking rails  70 A,  70 B not running parallel to one another. A system of this type, in which a guide rail  70  is divided into two parking rails  70 A,  70 B, is shown in FIG. 6. It can be seen here that the distances between the running mechanisms  60 A,  60 B are set differently for each of the separating elements  2  and  3 .  
     [0051] The separating element  2  shown in FIG. 4 is provided on the upper side and the lower side with two devices  1  according to the invention in each case which are connected to running mechanisms  60 A,  60 B and guide pins  63  and are clad by means of coverings  50 . The devices  1  shown in FIG. 4 can therefore be used irrespective of the dimensions of the panel  40  to be held.  
     [0052]FIG. 5 shows a further separating element  3  which is provided on the upper side with just one device  1  according to the invention, the dimensions of which have preferably already been adapted at the factory to the panels  40  to be fitted.  
     [0053] The device  1  according to the invention has been described and illustrated in a preferred refinement. However, further expert refinements can be realized using the teaching according to the invention. In particular, various refinements and dimensions of the device parts, in particular of the profile parts, can be selected and various manufacturing materials, preferably light metals, such as aluminium, can be used for their production.  
     List of Reference Numbers  
     [0054]                                      1   Holding device       2   Elastic tape       10   First profile element       11   Guide profile       12   Supporting profile       13   Receiving groove       14   Holding groove       16   Screw channel       18   Groove wing       19   Wing element       20   Second profile element       21   Opening in the second profile element 20       22   Installation rib       30   Supporting element       31   Head part       310   First subsection       3101   First segment       311   Second subsection       3111   Second segment       32   Connecting part       33   Threaded drill hole       34   Threaded pin       341   Cup point       35   Installation screw       38   Adjusting element       381   Drill hole in the adjustment element 38       40   Glass panel       41   Hole in the glass panel 40       50   Covering element       51   Front covering       52   Fastening screw for the front covering       60   Running mechanism       61   Installation block       62   Connecting screw       63   Guide pin       70   Guide rail