Sliding wall arrangement with a covering element

Abstract

A sliding wall arrangement includes at least one wing and a running rail that can be sunk in a building floor and has at least one guide channel in which the at least one wing is displaceably mounted at the lower edge. At least one covering element is provided, which serves for covering the at least one guide channel if the guide channel is freed from the at least one displaceable wing. The at least one covering element has a raised state in which it covers the guide channel freed from the wing, and a lowered state in which it is lowered into the at least one guide channel, with the result that the at least one wing can be displaced across the at least one covering element.

Claims

1. A sliding wall arrangement, comprising: at least one wing having a lower edge; a running rail sunk into a building floor and having at least one guide channel, in which the at least one wing is displaceably mounted at the lower edge; and a guide means arranged in the at least one guide channel, wherein the guide means support the at least one wing and guide the at least one wing along the running rail; and at least one cover element configured to cover the at least one guide channel when the at least one guide channel is uncovered by the at least one displaceable wing, wherein the at least one cover element has a raised state, in which the at least one cover element covers the at least one guide channel uncovered by the at least one wing, and a lowered state, in which the at least one cover element shifts along the running rail in a same direction as the at least one wing and the at least one cover element is lowered into the at least one guide channel so that the at least one wing is displaceable across the at least one cover element.

2. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the guide means protrude upward above the at least one cover element in the lowered state.

3. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein a position of the at least one cover element in the lowered state differs from a position in the raised state solely by way of a parallel displacement.

4. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a spring mechanism arranged in the at least one guide channel, wherein the spring mechanism applies a spring force oriented toward the raised state to the at least one cover element, and wherein the spring mechanism has one or more leg springs.

5. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cover element has at least one opening configured to enable the guide means to protrude through the at least one cover element in the lowered state.

6. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 5, further comprising: a second guide means arranged in the at least one guide channel, wherein the second guide means extends spaced apart and parallel to the guide means along a displacement direction of the wing.

7. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 6, wherein the guide means or the second guide means is one or more running rollers.

8. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover element is connected to the running rail such that the at least one cover element is movable in a guided parallel displacement in relation to the running rail from the raised state into the lowered state and from the lowered into the raised state.

9. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: at least one support block, which is configured to absorb weight forces acting on the at least one cover element in the raised state, is movably arranged in the at least one guide channel.

10. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 9, wherein the at least one support block has a rounded rolling surface providing uniform rolling of the support block, and the at least one support block has an essentially planar contact surface.

11. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover element is a profile rail that is at least essentially U-shaped in cross-section.

12. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a wedge-shaped stop element attached to the at least one wing, wherein the wedge-shaped stop element is configured to move the at least one cover element during displacement of the wing in an essentially continuous uniform movement from the raised state into the lowered state and from the lowered into the raised state.

13. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: rollers attached to the lower edge of the at least one wing, wherein the rollers are arranged to roll on an upper side of the at least one cover element during displacement of the at least one wing and hold the at least one cover element in the lowered state.

14. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover element comprises multiple cover elements arranged in succession to cover the at least one guide channel when at least one the guide channel is uncovered by the at least one displaceable wing.

15. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple cover elements has a first end having a part protruding along a first displacement direction of the at least one wing and a second end having an opening extending along a second displacement direction of the at least one wing opposite to the first direction and is formed open outward.

16. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover element, in the raised state, is arranged above the guide means.

17. A sliding wall arrangement, comprising: a wing having a lower edge; a running rail sunk into a building floor and having a guide channel, in which the wing is displaceably mounted at the lower edge; running rollers arranged in the guide channel, wherein the running rollers support the wing and guide the wing along the running rail; and a cover configured to cover the guide channel when the guide channel is uncovered by the wing, wherein the cover has a raised state, in which the cover covers the guide channel uncovered by the wing, and a lowered state, in which the cover shifts along the running rail in a same direction as the wing and the cover is lowered into the guide channel so that the wing is displaceable across the cover, and wherein a portion of the running rollers protrude above the cover in the lowered state.

18. The sliding wall arrangement of claim 17, wherein the cover, in the raised state, is arranged above the running rollers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereafter on the basis of the drawings, which merely serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the figures of the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through the lower region of a sliding wall arrangement known in the prior art, which is inserted into a depression provided in a building floor;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a first cross-sectional view through the lower region of a first embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention, which is inserted into a depression provided in a building floor;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a second cross-sectional view through the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2, without the running rail;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the lower region of a part of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2, with raised cover element and without the running rail;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the same view as in FIG. 5, but with wing displaced across the lowered cover element;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view through the lower region of the displaceable wing of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a side view of the lower region of a part of the displaceable wing of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a side view of the lower region of a part of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2, during the displacement of the wing in the transition from a first to a second cover element, without running rail;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a side view of a cover element and the spring mechanism and the support blocks of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2, in the raised state of the cover element;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a top view of the cover element shown in FIG. 10 including spring mechanism and support blocks;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a side view of a cover element and the spring mechanism and the support blocks of the sliding wall arrangement of FIG. 2, in the lowered state of the cover element;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a top view of the cover element shown in FIG. 12 including spring mechanism and support blocks,

(15) FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view through the lower region of a second embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention, which is inserted into a depression provided in a building floor; and

(16) FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view through the lower region of a third embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention, which is inserted into a depression provided in a building floor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) A sliding wall arrangement known in the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2 to 13 show a first embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention. Further embodiments of sliding wall arrangement according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Similar or identically-acting elements of the various embodiments of sliding wall arrangements are provided with the same reference signs in each of FIGS. 1 to 15.

(18) The sliding wall arrangement of the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1 has a running rail 1 having a first guide channel 11 and a second guide channel 12. The running rail 1 is formed by a profile rail, whose cross-section is identical over the entire longitudinal extension of the running rail 1. The two guide channels 11 and 12 extending in parallel to one another are each delimited laterally outward by a lateral web 13 and separated from one another by a middle web 14. The two lateral webs 13 and the middle web 14 extend parallel to one another and perpendicularly upward from a main section 15. The main section 15 thus connects the side webs 13 and the middle web 14 to one another.

(19) The running rail 1 is sunk into a building floor in such a way that the guide channels 11 and 12 are open on top and the upper end faces of the side webs 13 and the middle web 14 come to rest flush with the floor surface B.

(20) The two guide channels 11 and 12 are each used for mounting one or multiple wings, which are displaceably guided along the longitudinal direction of the guide channels 11, 12. The wings 2 can be, in particular, wings of a sliding window or a sliding door. Because of the dimensioning of the guide channels 11, 12 and because of the sunken arrangement of the running rail 1 in the building floor, a part of a frame 22 extending along the lower side of the wing 2 can be completely accommodated by the respective guide channel 11 or 12. The lower part of the frame 22 is thus largely invisible to the observer and the width of the clear opening in the perspective through the glass panes 21 held in the frame 22 is maximized.

(21) The lower part of the frame 22, which is arranged inside the guide channel 11 or 12, has an upper channel 23, which is open on top and which is used for accommodating and holding the glass panes 21. Seal elements 24 can be provided in the region between the frame 22 and the glass panes 21.

(22) The lower side of the frame 22 forms two running surfaces 25 and 25′ extending parallel to one another, which are each formed curved in the present case. A lower channel 26, which is open toward the bottom, can be provided between the two running surfaces 25 and 25′.

(23) A base rail 3 having running rollers 4 or 4′ attached thereon is attached in each case for guiding the wing 2 in the guide channels 11 and 12. The base rails 3 are formed as profile rails each having a substantially unchanging cross-section along the longitudinal extension of the base rail 3. They each have a main section 31, from which two outer webs 32 and two inner webs 33 extend downward in the perpendicular direction and parallel to one another. The outer webs 32 and the inner webs 33 each extend the same distance downward and end with their lower end faces at the upper side of the main section 15 of the running rail 1.

(24) The running rollers 4 or 4′ are attached at regular intervals along the longitudinal extension of the running rail 1 in two parallel rows so they are freely rotatable between the outer webs 32 and the inner webs 33. The first row of running rollers 4 forms a first guide means and the second row of running rollers 4′ forms a second guide means for guiding the wing 2. The running rollers 4 or 4′ are each attached on running roller axles 35 or 35′, respectively, which each extend from an outer web 32 to an inner web 33. An empty space, which is unused, remains between the inner webs 33 of the base rail 3.

(25) Openings 34, through which the running rollers 4, 4′ protrude, to enable resting of the running surfaces 25, 25′ on the running rollers 4, 4′, are provided above each of the running roller axles 35, 35′ in the main section 31 of the base rail 3.

(26) The radial outer surfaces of the running rollers 4, 4′ are formed complementary to the running surfaces 25 or 25′, respectively, of the frame 22 because of their curvature, which is oriented radially inward. During the displacement of the wing 2, the running surfaces 25 and 25′ of the frame 22 rest on the running rollers 4, 4′, which roll on the running surfaces 25, 25′ and thus ensure easy displaceability of the wing 2. Due to the interlocking of the running surfaces 25, 25′ and the running rollers 4, 4′ with their surfaces formed complementary because of the respective curvature, lateral guiding of the wing 2, i.e., perpendicular to the displacement direction, is achieved.

(27) The base rails 3 can be fixedly connected to the running rail 1, in particular welded thereto in each case. The running rail 1 can also be formed in one piece with the base rails 3.

(28) The sliding wall arrangement of the prior art shown in FIG. 1 has the significant disadvantage that the guide channels 11, 12 are uncovered outside the displaceable wing 2. Dirt can thus penetrate easily into the guide channels 11, 12. In addition, the guide channels thus form a tripping hazard and are unfavorable in particular for high-heeled shoes.

(29) In the embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 13, these disadvantages of the prior art are solved in that a cover element 5 is provided, which has a raised state and a lowered state. In the raised state, the cover element 5 covers the guide channel 11 or 12, which would otherwise be uncovered, as shown in FIG. 2 on the left side at the guide channel 11. To enable a displacement of the wing 2 across the cover element 5, it is moved into the lowered state, as shown in FIG. 2 on the right side at the guide channel 12. The guide channel 12 is then covered by the wing 2.

(30) The running rail 1 is formed identically to that of the embodiment of the prior art of FIG. 1.

(31) In contrast to the embodiment of the prior art shown in FIG. 1, however, the base rail 3, which is formed substantially identically, is arranged reversed in the running rail 1, so that the main section 31 rests directly on the main section 15 of the running rail 1 and the outer webs 32 and the inner webs 33 extend upward from the main section 31. In contrast to the base rail of FIG. 1, that of FIG. 2 does not have openings 34. The running rollers 4, 4′ are arranged here in such a way that the free ends of the inner webs 33 and outer webs 32 protrude upward and thus enable resting of the running surfaces 25, 25′ of the wing 2.

(32) The cover element 5 is formed as a profile rail having a U-shaped cross-section, a main section 51 and two outer webs 52 extending parallel to one another and downward in the perpendicular direction. The upper side of the main section 51 comes to rest essentially flush with the floor surface B in the raised state of the cover element 5 and substantially covers the guide channel 11, 12 on top at the same time. The outer webs 52 bear with their inner surfaces facing toward one another on the outer surfaces of the outer webs 32 of the base rail 3, whereby laterally guided movement of the cover element 5 from the raised into the lowered state and vice versa is achieved. Moreover, the parts arranged below the cover element 5 are better protected from the penetration of dirt particles because of the outer webs 52.

(33) Openings 54, which enable the running rollers 4, 4′ to protrude through in the lowered state of the cover element 5, are provided in the main section 51 of the cover element 5. The cover element 5 is thus arranged above the running rollers 4, 4′ in the raised state and below the running surfaces 25, 25′ of the frame 22 in the lowered state.

(34) Two inner webs 53 each extend downward perpendicularly from the main section 51 between the two outer webs 52 of the cover element 5. The inner webs 53 do not extend as far downward as the outer webs 52, however. The inner webs 53 are connected to one another at regular intervals along the longitudinal extension of the cover element 5 by transverse axles 50 and 56, the functions of which will be explained.

(35) The upper side of the main section 51 of the cover element 5 has a middle part formed slightly elevated, which is used for the rolling of rollers 28, which are attached to the lower side of the frame 22, during the displacement of the wing 2. The rollers 28 are each attached so they are freely rotatable via a transverse axle 27 in the lower channel 26 of the frame 22. The wing 2 is otherwise formed identically to the embodiment of the prior art shown in FIG. 1.

(36) The region of the base rail 3 between the two inner webs 33 is used in the present embodiment according to the invention for housing a spring mechanism having one or more leg springs 6. The spring mechanism applies a spring force to the cover element 5, which presses the cover element 5 in the direction of its raised state. The one or more leg springs 6 each have two upper legs 61, the end regions of which, as is apparent particularly well when considering FIGS. 2 and 5 together, each bear on the transverse axle 56 and are bent around it. Two lower legs 62 of the leg springs 6 each rest flatly on the upper side of the main section 31 of the base rail 3. A coiled part of the leg spring 6 is penetrated by a transverse axle 36, which is fastened with its respective ends on the inner webs 33 of the base rail 3.

(37) The cover element 5 is thus moved into its raised state and held therein because of the spring force of the at least one leg spring 6. When the wing 2 is pushed across the cover element 5, the cover element 5 is pressed against the spring force into the lowered state and held therein by the weight force of the wing 2, which is transmitted via the rollers 28. The mutual friction between the wing 2 and the cover element 5 during the displacement of the wing 2 is minimized by the rolling of the rollers 28 on the main section 51 of the cover element 5.

(38) In addition, support blocks 7 are arranged in the region between the inner webs 33 of the base rail 3, which are movably connected on one side to the cover element 5 and on the other side to the base rail 3. The connection to the cover element 5 is produced in each case via a transverse axle 50, which penetrates the support block 7, and around which the support block 7 is freely rotatable. The connection to the base rail 3 is produced in each case via a transverse axle 37, which extends between the two inner webs 33 of the base rail 3, and around which the support block 7 is also freely rotatable. The support block 7 therefore has two axle holes for the two transverse axles 50 and 37.

(39) The support blocks 7, which are all formed identically, have an elongated shape extending from the transverse axle 37 to the transverse axle 50 in the side view, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. A first side of the support block 7 facing toward the longitudinal direction of the running rail 1 in the raised state of the cover element 5 is essentially planar and merges into a rounded surface in the regions of each of the axle holes, wherein this surface extends around the corresponding axle hole in a semicircle in the region of the transverse axle 50. This surface extends around the corresponding axle hole over an angle range of approximately 75° in the region of the transverse axle 37 and thus forms a rolling surface 72 of the support block 7. This rolling surface 72 merges into a planar surface of an attachment 71 attached on the support block 7. This planar surface forms a contact surface 73 of the support block. The attachment 71 has a triangular shape in the side view, which is connected along one of its lateral lines in one piece to a planar second side of the support block 7. The second side of the support block 7 is formed between the two rounded surfaces of the support block 7 and faces in the opposite direction in comparison to the first side.

(40) It can be seen well from FIG. 5 how the cover element 5 is borne in the raised state by two support blocks 7 and is held in this position by a leg spring 6 arranged therebetween. The support blocks 7 stand in this case with their contact surfaces 73 on the upper side of the main section 31 of the base rail 3. Because of the attachment 71, tipping over of the support blocks 7 is prevented, which could otherwise take place because of the spring force of the leg springs 6 possibly still present in this location of the cover element 5.

(41) Upon displacement of the wing 2, the cover element 5 is pressed by means of stopping of the wing 2 on an end facing in the longitudinal direction of the running rail 1 against the spring force caused by the leg spring 6 horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the running rail 1 and downward into the guide channel 11, 12 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The upper leg 61 approaches the lower legs 62 of the leg spring 6 in this case. At the same time, the support blocks 7 tip over by approximately 90°, wherein the rolling surfaces 72 roll on the main section 31 of the base rail 3. The lowering of the cover element 5 is possible until the attachments 71 of the support blocks 7 stop on the lower side of the main section 51 of the cover element 5. The cover element 5 is held in the lowered state against the spring force by the weight force of the wing 2. The cover element 5 is then located below the lower edge of the wing 2 and completely inside the guide channel 11, 12 of the running rail 1 (see FIG. 6).

(42) Because of the support blocks 7, the movement of the cover element 5 from the lowered into the raised state and vice versa occurs in a guided parallel displacement. It is thus ensured in particular that the cover element 5 is always arranged parallel to the running rail 1 and/or to the floor surface B. Furthermore, the support blocks 7 enable a high load of the cover element 5 in the raised state of the cover element 5.

(43) To achieve lowering of the cover element 5 in a continuous uniform movement during the displacement of the wing 2, a wedge 29 can be attached on the lower region of one or both of the end faces of the wing 2 facing in the displacement direction (see, for example, FIGS. 8 and 9). Moreover, a freely rotatable roller 55 can be attached at the end of the cover element 5, which rolls on a lower inclined surface of the wedge 29 during the displacement of the wing 2. Because of the wedge 29, the force exerted by the wing 2 on the cover element 5 has both a horizontal and also a vertical, downwardly oriented force component.

(44) If the wing 2 is located only partially above the cover element 5, a certain opening of the running rail 1 remains outside the wing 2. The cover element 5 is in the lowered state, but the wing 2 is then not located in all regions above the cover element 5. However, the cover element 5 also substantially reduces in size the exposed opening of the running rail 1 in the lowered state and also covers the parts arranged in the running rail, such as the leg springs 6, the support blocks 7, and the base rail 3 in particular, which has an aesthetically appealing effect for the observer. The cover element 5 thus still causes a certain coverage of the guide channels 11, 12 in the lowered state. A high weight load of the cover element 5 is also possible in the lowered state due to the stop of the attachments 71 of the support blocks 7 on the lower side of the cover element 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 6.

(45) As is apparent from FIG. 9, multiple cover elements 5 arranged in succession can be provided in a guide channel 11, 12, which are pressed downward in the lowered state in series during the displacement of the wing 2. The more cover elements 5 are provided, the shorter the regions are between the wing 2 and the respective next cover element 5 located in the raised state. It is also possible without problems for multiple displaceable wings 2 to be mounted in a single guide channel 11, 12.

(46) During the transition from the raised into the lowered state, the cover element 5 is moved over a certain distance along the longitudinal extension of the running rail 1 as a result of the tilting movement of the support blocks 7. To take this circumstance into consideration, in particular in the case of multiple cover elements 5 arranged in succession, the outer webs 52 can each have a rounding 58 in the end regions of the cover elements 5, as is apparent in FIGS. 10 and 12.

(47) To enable a continuous coverage and interlocking of cover elements 5 arranged in succession, they each advantageously have a protruding middle part 59 in a first end region, on which the roller 55 is attached, and an opening 57 formed open in the longitudinal direction of the cover element 5 in a second, opposing end region, which is formed complementary to the protruding middle part 59 of the cover element 5 adjoining thereon. See FIGS. 11 and 13 in this regard.

(48) A second embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention is shown in FIG. 14. In contrast to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 13, the cover element 5 does not extend beyond the outer webs 32 of the base rail 3 here, but rather is located completely within the inner webs 33 of the base rail 3. In this embodiment, which is somewhat structurally simpler than the first embodiment, however, a certain coverage of the running rail 1 and reduction in size of the exposed guide channel 11, 12 is also achieved. The spring mechanism housed in the base rail 3 and also the support blocks are also covered well by the cover element 5 here.

(49) A third embodiment of a sliding wall arrangement according to the invention is shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, multiple cover elements 5 formed and arranged as lamellae are provided, which are arranged upright in the guide channel 11 or 12, respectively. Multiple, specifically two, thin support blocks 7, instead of only one thick one, are arranged parallel to one another between the cover elements 5, which support blocks are each penetrated by a common transverse axle 50 and a common transverse axle 37. The transverse axles 50 moreover also hold together the cover elements 5 arranged parallel to one another. A coverage of the running rail 1 and reduction in size of the exposed guide channel 11, 12 is also achieved here by the cover elements 5.

(50) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(51) B floor surface 1 running rail 11 first guide channel 12 second guide channel 13 side web 14 middle web 15 main section 2 wing 21 glass pane 22 frame 23 upper channel 24 seal element 25, 25′ running surface 26 lower channel 27 transverse axle 28 roller 29 wedge 3 base rail 31 main section 32 outer web 33 inner web 34 opening 35, 35′ running roller axle 36 transverse axle 37 transverse axle 4, 4′ running roller 5 cover element 50 transverse axle 51 main section 52 outer web 53 inner web 54 opening 55 stop roller 56 transverse axle 57 opening 58 rounding 59 protruding middle part 6 leg spring 61 upper leg 62 lower leg 7 support block 71 attachment 72 rolling surface 73 contact surface