Abstract:
A device ( 100 ) for closing a room opening includes a frame ( 102 ), at least one leaf ( 104 ), a deformable and/or moveable sealing member ( 114 ) and a sealing member actuation device ( 120 ). The frame ( 102 ) is adapted to be set in a reveal of a room opening, the leaf ( 104 ) being movably arranged relative to the frame ( 102 ) so as to move relative to the frame from an open to a closed position in which there nonetheless exists between the frame ( 102 ) and the leaf ( 104 ) a gap ( 112 ). The sealing member ( 114 ) is disposed at least substantially within the gap ( 112 ). The sealing member ( 114 ), when not pressurized, does not drag against an adjacent component of the device which is moving relative thereto when the room opening is opened or closed. The sealing member ( 114 ) is actuated by the actuation device ( 120 ) when the device is in a position suitable for actuation of the sealing member ( 114 ) so as to better ensure that the sealing member ( 114 ) does not drag against the adjacent component until desired. The sealing member actuation device ( 120 ) is arranged in the frame ( 102 ) and/or in the leaf ( 104 ), thereby permitting installation of the device without the need for a separate fluid pressure source.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/175,071, filed May 4, 2009, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein, 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT &amp; LEGAL NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Further, no references to third party patents or articles made herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such material by virtue of prior invention. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a device for closing a room opening. Such a device comprises a frame in the reveal of the room opening and at least one leaf which is movably arranged relative to the frame and can move relative to the frame into a closed position. In this closed position, there exists between the frame and the leaf a gap which can be sealed off by means of a deformable and/or movable sealing member. 
         [0004]    Such a device is known from EP 1 936 295 A2, the content of which is incorporated by reference hereto and relied upon. In the known devices of this type, the sealing member is pneumatically actuated. The compressed air source is in this case located outside the device. If a number of these devices are provided in a building, the respective sealing members are actuated by compressed air from a central compressed air source. During the installation of such devices, this requires additional complexity in respect of installing pneumatic lines in the building. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A device for closing a room opening includes a frame, at least one leaf, a deformable and/or moveable sealing member and a sealing member actuation device. The frame is adapted to be set in a reveal of a room opening, the leaf being movably arranged relative to the frame so as to move relative to the frame from an open to a closed position in which there nonetheless exists between the frame and the leaf a gap. The sealing member is disposed at least substantially within the gap. The sealing member, when not pressurized, does not drag against an adjacent component of the device which is moving relative thereto when the room opening is opened or closed. The sealing member is actuated by the actuation device when the device is in a position suitable for actuation of the sealing member so as to better ensure that the sealing member does not drag against the adjacent component until desired. The sealing member actuation device is arranged in the frame and/or in the leaf, thereby permitting a “plug-and-play” installation of the device without need for a pre-existing fluid pressure source. 
         [0006]    An object of the invention is to provide fluid-assisted sealing of a glazing system whereby no frictional resistance whatsoever is generated by the sealing system itself when an opening sealed therewith is being opened and shut and which is 100% weatherproof (i.e., an air and water-tight seal is generated) once activated. 
         [0007]    Further advantages, features and possible uses will emerge from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a device according to the invention with a frame and a leaf which is slidable relative thereto; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  schematically shows part of  FIG. 1  on an enlarged scale and with further details; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  schematically shows an enlarged view of the sectional plane A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the device of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a cross sectional view of the device of the invention taken along lines B-B of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a close up view of detail C of  FIG. 5A  around the sealing member of the invention, showing the sealing member in a deflated, open condition. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  is a close up view of area of detail C of  FIG. 5A , showing the sealing member in an inflated, sealing condition (note leaf  104  is removed against which the sealing member would seal, for clarity). 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the invention and its embodiments. Furthermore, when the terms ‘first’, ‘second’, and the like are used herein, their use is intended for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. Moreover, relative terms like ‘front’, ‘back’, ‘top’ and ‘bottom’, and the like in the Description and/or in the claims are not necessarily used for describing exclusive relative position. Those skilled in the art will therefore understand that such terms may be interchangeable with other terms, and that the embodiments described herein are capable of operating in other orientations than those explicitly illustrated or otherwise described. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    The following description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way as they are exemplary in nature and serve to describe the best mode of the invention known the inventors as of the filing date hereof. Consequently, changes may be made in the arrangement and/or function of any of the elements described in the disclosed exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a device  100  according to the invention includes a frame  102  and a leaf  110 . The leaf  110  is slidable relative to the frame  102 . Both the frame  102  and the leaf  104  in each case have two vertical legs and two horizontal legs, which are in each case connected to one another usually at right angles in the corners of the frame  102  and of the leaf  104 . A glass pane  106  and  110  is respectively inserted in the frame  102  and in the leaf  104 . The leaf  104  is arranged parallel to the frame  102  and is slidable parallel to the latter, as indicated by the arrow P. To this end, sliding rails, rollers  103  (shown in  FIG. 5A ) and the like are provided. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the leaf  104  is in the closed position, in which the room opening, i.e. the frame  102 , is practically completely covered by the leaf  104 . 
         [0018]    The frame  102  is intended to be inserted in a reveal in a wall, which delimits a room opening such as e.g. a window or a door in a wall. A plurality of such frames  102  can also be connected to one another without a brick-build or concrete or other such wall, so that the plurality of frames  102  form the actual wall structure. 
         [0019]    Arranged in the frame  102  is a sealing member  114  which extends along the entire frame. This sealing member  114  has the shape of a hollow profile or a tube made from an elastomer material. It is inserted in a rigid cutout  116  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the frame  102  which is shaped in a manner complementary to the cross-sectional shape (sealing profile) of the sealing member  114 . A sealing member actuation device  120  in the form of a compressed air source is arranged in the upper horizontal leg of the frame  102 . This compressed air source  120  is connected to the sealing member  114  via a pressure line  122  which runs in the interior of the frame  102 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , which schematically shows part of  FIG. 1  on an enlarged scale and with further details of the compressed air source  120 , a piston  124  is guided in a cylinder  130  and can be driven by means of a piston drive  132 . By moving the piston  124  to the left (as shown in figure), the air volume  126  becomes smaller. By moving the piston  124  to the right, the air volume  126  becomes larger. Air can thus be forced from the compressed air source  120  through the pressure line  122  into the sealing member  114  (overpressure) or sucked from the sealing member into the compressed air source  120  (underpressure). 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the frame  102  surrounds the outer edge of the leaf  104 . A gap  112  is located between the facing surfaces of the frame  102  and leaf  104 . The sealing member  114  is inserted in a cutout  116  of the frame  102 , said sealing member being connected via the pressure line  122  to the compressed air source  120 . 
         [0022]    Referring also to  FIGS. 5A to 5C , in a preferred embodiment, an air filter  140  and air lubricator  142  is interposed between the air inlet  144  and the compressed air source  120 . The compressed air source  120  is preferably a modular air compressor  146 , such as part no. WOB-L series 8000, available from Gardner Denver, Inc. of Quiny, Ill., USA. The compressor  146  is preferably housed in a sound filtering housing  150 . Further, a pressure or load sensor  152  senses when the compressed air source  120  has pressurized the sealing member  114  sufficiently to generate the desire sealing. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, as is common for use of pneumatic power tools, the fluid used in the device  100  is air in which an air lubricant such as “TELLUS 22”, “DUCKHAMS”, “ZIRCON  32 ”, or “CASTROL AWS32” is mixed with the air in the lubricator  142  to better lubricate the compressor  146  integrated in the frame  102 . Still further, a combination filter-lubricator can optionally be installed in the system and may be an integrated component of a suitable, off-the-shelf compressor  146 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the pressure sensor  152  which senses when there is insufficient pressure in the inflatable seal  114  when the device  100  is in a sealing position, and then both restarts the compressor  146  to reseal the seal and sends an error signal to the CPU controller  154 , indicating that there is there may be a leak. The CPU controller  154  and the compressor  146  are powered by an associated power supply  156  which, when the power supply is not a battery, connects to local electrical lines in the building. A control panel  158  is attached to the frame  102  or the leaf  104  and allows a user to seal and unseal the device  100 , and in automated versions, to open and close the leaf  104  with mechanical, electric or pneumatic assist. This electrical connection  160  is the only power interface that must be made with the building, thus providing an almost “plug-and-play” installation (apart from, of course, the fitting of the hardware into the room opening which in any case requires considerable effort). 
         [0025]    The object of the invention is to provide a device  100  for closing a room opening which functions as independently as possible and which can be installed with little assembly complexity in the reveal of the room opening. This object is achieved according to the invention in that a sealing member actuation device  120  is arranged in the frame  102  and/or in the leaf  104 , by means of which the sealing member can be deformed and/or moved. 
         [0026]    This allows a decentralized actuation of a sealing member  114  of each device  100 . The sealing member  114  in a device  100  is thus in each case is associated with its own sealing member actuation device  120 . 
         [0027]    In an advantage of the invention, all the elements required for opening and closing the room opening are present in the device  100  according to the invention and are functionally connected to one another. They therefore do not need to be installed separately and then subsequently connected to one another. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the sealing member actuation device  120  is in a functional relationship with a triggering device  170  which is arranged in the frame  102  and/or in the leaf  104  and which can trigger the action of the actuation device  120 . Preferably, the triggering device  170  triggers the action of the sealing member actuation device  120  when the leaf  104  is in a defined triggering position relative to the frame  102 . Advantageously, the defined triggering position is the closed position of the leaf  104  relative to the frame  102 . The sealing member  114  is thus not deformed and/or moved until the room opening is covered by the leaf  104  and only the gap  112  remains to be sealed. The principle according to the invention can be applied regardless of whether the leaf  104  is slidable, kippable, and/or pivotable relative to the frame  102 . 
         [0029]    It is advantageous if the sealing member actuation device  120  is arranged in the frame  102 . It is particularly advantageous if the triggering device  170  is also arranged in the frame  102 . Then all the important functional elements of the device  100  according to the invention are arranged in the frame  102  and can be connected to one another in the factory, it being unimportant whether these connections are mechanical, electrical, optical or the like. Preferably, the sealing member  114  is also advantageously but not necessarily arranged on the frame  102 . In one special embodiment, the sealing member  114  may either be an actively deformable and/or movable part or an immobile or passively deformable and/or movable part. In this case, it is advantageous if the actively deformable and/or movable part of the sealing member  114  is arranged on the frame  102  so that the immobile or passively deformable and/or movable sealing (via, for example, a standard seal) is arranged in or on the leaf  104 . Preferably, all seals extend along the circumference of all gaps (gap  112  included) that may exist between the frame  102  and the leaf  104 . As a result, efficient, essentially 100% sealing can be achieved. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , as for the actively deformable and/or movable sealing member  114 , preference is given to a sealing member in the form of a hollow profile or tube, the cavity  172  of which contains a fluid (i.e., liquid or gas) which can be pressurized (as shown in  FIG. 5C ). By increasing the pressure, the sealing member  114  is widened, so that it completely fills the gap  112  that exists in the closed position. In this case, the sealing member actuation device  120  used may be a pressure source which is in fluid communication (i.e., there exists a liquid or gas connection path) with the cavity  172  of the sealing member  114  and can pressurize the fluid. In a hydraulic variant, the fluid used is a liquid or a liquid mixture and in particular water or oil. In a pneumatic variant, the fluid used is a gas or a gas mixture and in particular air. In this case, the sealing member  114  and the sealing member actuation device  120  are parts of a closed fluid volume. 
         [0031]    If the closed fluid volume is a gas volume (pneumatic variant), the gas volume preferably contains a desiccant, optionally introduced with the lubricator  142 . As a result, the formation of condensation in the gas volume is prevented, thereby preventing any impairment of the material of the sealing member  114  (damage to the elastomer) or impairment of the gas flow (freezing of lines). It is particularly practical if the pressure source  146  and the desiccant are arranged together in a module  120  which can be inserted in the frame  102  at the factory prior to installation on site (construction site). 
         [0032]    Preferably, the sealing member actuation device  120  contains an electromagnetic actuator which can be controlled by an electric current and which may comprise for example a permanent magnet and a coil through which a current can flow, wherein the coil is connected to a special mechanical element. Preferably, the pressure source  146  comprises a piston  124  or a membrane which can be electromagnetically displaced or deformed in order to vary the pressure in the fluid volume. 
         [0033]    The sealing member actuation device  120  may be connected to the power supply  156  via electrical lines  160  in the frame  102 . As an alternative or in addition, the sealing member actuation device  120  may be connected, in a known manner, to a battery (not shown) in the frame  102 . By virtue of such an electric “island” variant, there is no need to connect the frame  102  to a local power supply network, as a result of which the installation of the device according to the invention is facilitated. Preferably, a part of the outer surface of the frame  102  which is exposed to sunlight is equipped with solar cells (not shown) which charge the battery. 
         [0034]    The triggering device  170  is preferably a switch arranged in the frame  102 , which can be switched on or off by the movable leaf  104 . If the leaf  104  is pivotably arranged relative to the frame  102 , the switch used may be a pressure switch. If the leaf  103  is slidably arranged relative to the frame  102 , the switch used may be a pressure switch with an angled surface (“ramp”). When the leaf  104  is pivoted or slid into the closed position relative to the frame  102 , both types of switch are pushed in by the moving leaf  104 , as a result of which the sealing member actuation device  120  becomes active. As an alternative or in addition, a light sensor or barrier (i.e., a light beam which emits a signal when the light beam is broken or re-established) may be provided which detects the closed position of the leaf  104  and sets the sealing member actuation device  120  into action as a result. 
         [0035]    In a primary advantage, the device  100  of the invention provides a fluid-assisted sealing system that itself generates no frictional resistance whatsoever when an opening sealed therewith is being opened and shut and is essentially 100% weatherproof (i.e., an air and water-tight seal is generated) once activated. 
         [0036]    In another advantage, the device  100  is safe in that failure of the device (e.g., a leak in the fluid system therein) causes unsealing of the glazing system which ensures that a user can open a leaf or door fitted with the device in the event of failure. 
         [0037]    The specification and figures are to be considered in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all modifications described herein are intended to be included within the scope of the invention claimed, even if such is not specifically claimed at the filing of the application. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims appended hereto or later amended or added, and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described above. For instance, steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in any claim. Further, the elements and/or components recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the present invention. Consequently, the invention is not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims. 
         [0038]    Benefits, other advantages and solutions mentioned herein are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims. 
         [0039]    As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any variation thereof, are intended to refer to a non-exclusive listing of elements, such that any process, method, article, composition or apparatus of the invention that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements described in this specification. The use of the term “consisting” or “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the enumerated elements named thereafter, unless otherwise indicated. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described elements, materials or structures used in the practice of the present invention may be varied or otherwise adapted by the skilled artisan to other design without departing from the general principles of the invention. 
         [0040]    The patents and articles mentioned above are hereby incorporated by reference herein, unless otherwise noted, to the extent that the same are not inconsistent with this disclosure. 
         [0041]    Other characteristics and modes of execution of the invention are described in the appended claims. 
         [0042]    Further, the invention should be considered as comprising all possible combinations of every feature described in the instant specification, appended claims, and/or drawing figures which may be considered new, inventive and industrially applicable. 
         [0043]    Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments of the invention described here. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described here, a wide range of modifications, changes, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoing description be construed broadly and understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the claims which ultimately issue in this application.