Patent Description:
In addition, the present invention relates to a screen device comprising such a screen profile assembly and an assembly of such a screen device and windows which comprise a first glazing unit and a second glazing unit which connects to the first glazing unit at an angle in a frameless manner. In this case, the angle at which such glazing units are connected to each other may vary from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. Typically, this angle is somewhere between <NUM>° and <NUM>° and is preferably <NUM>°.

A screen device of which this screen profile assembly forms part may, for example, comprise a screen which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a roll of cloth which may be in the form of an insect screen or of a blackout curtain, etc., or a slat wall with raisable and/or tiltable slats, etc..

In order to offer a maximum view to the outside, also on corners of buildings, more and more often windows are being fitted in which a first glazing unit and a second glazing unit connect to each other at an angle in a frameless manner. However, problems are encountered when a screen device is to be fitted to such windows comprising two screens for covering this first glazing unit and this second glazing unit. In order to be able to absorb any wind loads which may occur, it is desirable to hold the lateral sides of such screen devices by means of screen guides.

At such a corner, such screen guides cannot be attached to the glass. If such screen guides are only attached at the bottom and at the top, they will sag excessively due to the occurring loads. Therefore, a pillar is typically provided at such a corner in which or to which screen guides are provided. As a result thereof, known screen guides for the first screen and the second screen obstruct the view through the glazing unit at the corner, which is undesirable.

<CIT> and <CIT> therefore describe solutions in which such a screen guide can be omitted at the corner. However, with these screen devices, the glazing unit is not completely covered at the corner since there always remains a free opening between the screens.

<CIT> therefore describes a solution in which this opening is eliminated by means of a zip fastener. However, this solution is expensive and complicated with regard to installation and maintenance.

In CN <NUM><NUM><NUM> A a screen profile assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed. This assembly cannot easily be mounted in front of windows as the additional profile which, together with the base profile, delimits an installation opening in a front wall of the screen profile assembly through which the screen can extend in the installed position, is to be mounted at the side of such windows. When adapted to withstand large wind loads, this screen profile assembly visually takes up a lot of space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative corner solution for screen devices for covering glazing units which are connected to each other in a frameless manner which does not excessively restrict the view through these glazing units and which is less expensive and simpler with regard to installation and maintenance than the solution from <CIT>, this by providing a more rigid arrangement of screens at a corner of a window which can resist to larger wind load, while being also easier to mount and more visually discrete than the profile assembly of <CIT>.

This object of the invention is achieved by providing a screen profile assembly comprising a base profile and one or more additional profiles which, together with the base profile, delimit a first installation opening in a first front wall of the screen profile assembly which is provided so that a first screen can extend through the latter in the installed position in order to cover a first glazing unit, wherein the base profile comprises a first supporting wall which forms a first side wall of the screen profile assembly which extends transversely to the front wall and which is provided to bear against the first glazing unit of the windows, wherein the base profile comprises a second supporting wall which forms a second side wall of the screen profile assembly and which connects to the first supporting wall at an angle, wherein this second supporting wall is provided to bear against a second glazing unit of the windows which connects to the first glazing unit at this angle in a frameless manner, and wherein this second supporting wall extends transversely to a second front wall of the screen profile assembly, in which a second installation opening is delimited by the base profile and the one or more additional profiles of the screen profile assembly, wherein this second installation opening is provided so that a second screen can extend through the latter in the installed position in order to cover this second glazing unit, and wherein the base profile is to this end designed as a single part.

Providing supporting walls which are connected to each other at an angle with respect to each other and bear against the glass, results in a more rigid arrangement. Both the fact that the supporting walls are connected at an angle and the fact that they bear against the glass ensures that sagging of the base profile, and thus also of the screen profile assembly, is reduced. It is easier to absorb greater wind loads than is the case in the prior art.

Such a base profile with supporting walls which are connected to each other at an angle can also be fixed more easily at the top and at the bottom.

In addition, due to this angle, the base profile can be positioned particularly easily, since this corner can be fitted to the corresponding corner of the glazing unit, with the supporting walls bearing against the corresponding glazing unit.

Such a base profile can also be made sufficiently strong while the dimensions of the supporting walls over this corner remain minimal. Thus, it is possible to ensure that these supporting walls just cover the usual fillings and sealant joints by means of which the connection of such glazing units is typically sealed, so that they are hidden from view on the outside.

A base profile of a screen profile assembly according to the present invention is preferably made of aluminium and is preferably made by means of extrusion.

In a preferred embodiment, the base profile comprises a first rear wall which rises with respect to the first supporting wall at an intermediate distance from the first front wall, and a second rear wall which rises with respect to the second supporting wall at an intermediate distance from the second front wall. Such a single-part base profile results in an even more rigid arrangement.

The base profile of a screen profile assembly according to the present invention may additionally be provided with a reinforcing wall which connects the rear walls to one another in order to be able to absorb even greater wind speeds.

The object of the present invention is furthermore also achieved by providing a screen device, comprising a first screen for covering a first glazing unit, a second screen for covering a second glazing unit which connects to the first glazing unit at an angle in a frameless manner, and an above-described screen profile assembly according to the present invention for holding a lateral side of the first screen and for holding a lateral side of the second screen.

In addition, the object of the present invention is also achieved by providing an assembly of windows which comprises a first glazing unit and a second glazing unit which connects to the first glazing unit at an angle in a frameless manner, and an above-described screen device according to the present invention.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of screen profile assemblies according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to provide illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the present invention and can therefore not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:.

The assembly (<NUM>) illustrated in <FIG> comprises windows (<NUM>) and a screen device (<NUM>). The screen device (<NUM>) is further illustrated in <FIG>.

The windows (<NUM>) comprise a first glazing unit (<NUM>) and a second glazing unit (<NUM>) which connects to the first glazing unit (<NUM>) at an angle (α) in a frameless manner. In the illustrated figure, this angle (α) is <NUM>°. In alternative embodiments, this angle could also be made larger or smaller, as long as it differs from <NUM>° or from <NUM>°. Sealant (<NUM>) is applied between the glazing units (<NUM>) in a known manner. Such a sealant (<NUM>) is typically applied in accordance with the window manufacturer's instructions. Usually, such a sealant (<NUM>) has a thickness of approximately <NUM>. However, the market is evolving towards thicker glass panels which require correspondingly thicker sealants.

The screen device (<NUM>) comprises a first screen (<NUM>) for covering the first glazing unit (<NUM>) and a second screen (<NUM>) for covering the second glazing unit (<NUM>). On its lateral sides, every illustrated screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) is provided with a thickening (<NUM>), for example in the form of a half zip fastener. In the illustrated embodiment, each screen (<NUM><NUM>) can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a screen roll (not shown). In order to hold these lateral sides of the screens (<NUM>, <NUM>) at the location of the connection of the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>), a screen profile assembly (<NUM>) is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, this screen profile assembly (<NUM>) also serves for guiding these lateral sides when rolling up and unrolling the screens (<NUM>, <NUM>). To this end, said thickening (<NUM>) is held in a corresponding fitting space (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a corresponding front wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>). The illustrated screen profile assembly (<NUM>) is also provided for guiding the lateral sides of bottom laths (<NUM>, <NUM>) which are attached at the bottom of the screens (<NUM>, <NUM>). To this end, these lateral sides of these bottom laths (<NUM>, <NUM>) are held in a corresponding fitting space (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the corresponding front wall (<NUM>, <NUM>).

Any possible space which may typically be present between the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) may be sealed further, for example, by means of an optionally elastic seal, for example in the form of foam tape (<NUM>).

The illustrated screen profile assembly (<NUM>) comprises a base profile (<NUM>) which is shown separately in <FIG>. Alternative embodiments of this base profile (<NUM>) are illustrated in <FIG>.

This base profile (<NUM>) is in each case designed as a single part and may to this end be produced, for example, by means of extrusion, for example from aluminium.

Each illustrated base profile (<NUM>) furthermore comprises:.

In addition, various illustrated embodiments of such a base profile (<NUM>) (see <FIG>, <FIG>) comprise a reinforcing wall (<NUM>) which connects the rear walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) to one another.

By fitting the supporting walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) against the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>), such a base profile (<NUM>) can easily be positioned with respect to this glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>).

Such a base profile (<NUM>) can then easily be attached to a surface at the bottom and to an overhead structure element at the top. To this end, attachment means may be provided which can engage with this base profile (<NUM>). To this end, the base profile (<NUM>) may, if desired and as is shown in <FIG>, also be provided with, for example, one or more screw channels (<NUM>) for screws to engage in for attaching, for example, a mounting plate or a mounting base or alternative attachment means above and/or below the base profile (<NUM>).

Due to the fact that the base profile (<NUM>) is made as a single part with a first supporting wall (<NUM>) and a second supporting wall (<NUM>), which bear against the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>), this base profile (<NUM>) will not sag to such a degree as is the case in the prior art and will be able to absorb greater wind loads. Due to the fact that the base profile (<NUM>) furthermore also comprises rear walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) which are made as a single part with the supporting walls (<NUM>, <NUM>), this base profile (<NUM>) is able to absorb even greater wind loads.

When the supporting walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) bear against the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>), these supporting walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) cover the sealant (<NUM>) between the glazing unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the foam tapes (<NUM>), as is shown in <FIG>, so that these are hidden from view from the outside.

In addition to the base profile (<NUM>), the illustrated screen profile assembly (<NUM>) comprises:.

In order to attach these further profiles (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) to the base profile (<NUM>), the base profile (<NUM>) is provided with attachment ribs (<NUM>) and attachment slots (<NUM>) in a known manner.

Together with the first closing profile (<NUM>), the first covering profile (<NUM>), the first retaining profile (<NUM>) and the first guiding profile (<NUM>), the base profile (<NUM>) forms a first screen guide (<NUM>). This first screen guide (<NUM>) is in this case delimited by the first supporting wall (<NUM>), the first front wall (<NUM>), the first rear wall (<NUM>) and a first side wall (<NUM>), on the side of the first front wall (<NUM>) and the first rear wall (<NUM>) opposite to the first supporting wall (<NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, the first side wall (<NUM>) is formed by the first closing profile (<NUM>). In alternative embodiments, the first side wall (<NUM>) could, for example, also form part of the base profile (<NUM>).

Together with the second closing profile (<NUM>), the second covering profile (<NUM>), the second retaining profile (<NUM>) and the second guiding profile (<NUM>), the base profile (<NUM>) forms a second screen guide (<NUM>). This second screen guide (<NUM>) is in this case delimited by the second supporting wall (<NUM>), the second front wall (<NUM>), the second rear wall (<NUM>) and a second side wall (<NUM>), on the side of the second front wall (<NUM>) and the second rear wall (<NUM>) opposite to the second supporting wall (<NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, the second side wall (<NUM>) is formed by the second closing profile (<NUM>). In alternative embodiments, the second side wall (<NUM>) could, for example, also form part of the base profile (<NUM>).

Due to the fact that the lateral sides of the screens (<NUM>, <NUM>) are held in thickenings (<NUM>) in corresponding installation openings (<NUM>, <NUM>) and due to the fact that the bottom laths (<NUM>, <NUM>) are held in corresponding installation openings (<NUM>, <NUM>), even greater wind loads can be absorbed by means of an illustrated screen profile assembly (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
Screen profile assembly (<NUM>) for holding a lateral side of a screen (<NUM>) for covering windows (<NUM>), comprising a base profile (<NUM>) for fitting the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) against the windows (<NUM>) and one or more additional profiles which, together with the base profile (<NUM>), delimit an installation opening (<NUM>) in a front wall (<NUM>) of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) through which the screen (<NUM>) can extend in the installed position, wherein this base profile (<NUM>) comprises a supporting wall (<NUM>) which forms a side wall of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) and extends transversely to the front wall (<NUM>), wherein the front wall (<NUM>) is a first front wall (<NUM>), the installation opening (<NUM>) is a first installation opening (<NUM>) which is provided so that a first screen (<NUM>) can extend through the latter in the installed position for covering this first glazing unit (<NUM>), and wherein the base profile (<NUM>) comprises a second supporting wall (<NUM>) which forms a second side wall of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>) and which connects to the first supporting wall (<NUM>) at an angle (α), characterised in that the assembly is provided in order to bear against the windows (<NUM>) in order to attach the base profile (<NUM>) to the windows (<NUM>), in that the supporting wall (<NUM>) is a first supporting wall (<NUM>) which is provided to bear against a first glazing unit (<NUM>) of the windows (<NUM>), in that the second supporting wall (<NUM>) is provided to bear against a second glazing unit (<NUM>) of the windows (<NUM>) which connects to the first glazing unit (<NUM>) at this angle (α) in a frameless manner, in that the second supporting wall (<NUM>) extends transversely to a second front wall (<NUM>) of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>), in which a second installation opening (<NUM>) is delimited by the base profile (<NUM>) and the one or more additional profiles of the screen profile assembly (<NUM>), wherein this second installation opening (<NUM>) is provided so that a second screen (<NUM>) can extend through the latter in the installed position in order to cover this second glazing unit (<NUM>), and in that the base profile (<NUM>) is to this end designed as a single part.