Fixation device especially for glass folding devices

Abstract

A fixation device for limiting a gap between a first construction component and a second construction component relative to which the first construction component is movable has first and second fitting parts attached to the first and second construction components, respectively. The first fitting part has a fixation projection with first end and opposed second end. The first end is pivotable about a fixation axis fixed at the first construction component. The fixation projection is pretensioned so as to pivot the second end away from the first construction component. The second fitting part has a guiding surface and a holding element. Fixation projection and guiding surface interact such that, when the construction parts are moved toward each other, the second end glides along the guiding surface toward the holding element and catches therein. A folding device of construction components is provided with such fixation devices.

Claims

1. A fixation device for limiting a gap between a narrow side of a first construction component and a corresponding side of a second construction component relative to which the first construction component is movable, the fixation device comprising: a first fitting part configured to be attached to the narrow side of the first construction component; a second fitting part configured to be attached to the corresponding side of the second construction component; wherein at least the first fitting part comprises a first fixation projection comprising a first end and an opposed second end, wherein the first end is pivotably supported at a fixation axis that is fixed relative to the first construction component and wherein the first fixation projection is pretensioned by a pretensioning force such that the second end, facing away from the fixation axis, is pivoted away from the first construction component, and the first fixation projection is positioned at an opening angle of less than 90 relative to the narrow side of the first construction component in an open position of the first and second construction parts; wherein the second fitting part comprises a guiding surface and a holding element; wherein the first fixation projection and the guiding surface are configured to interact with each other such that, when the first and second construction parts are moved toward each other, the second end of the first fixation projection glides along the guiding surface toward the holding element and is forced against the pretensioning force toward the narrow side of the first construction component so that the opening angle decreases, wherein the second end of the first fixation projection catches in the holding element.

2. The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is a depression.

3. The fixation device according to claim 2, wherein the depression is of a rounded configuration with a radius that is smaller than a spacing of the second end of the first fixation projection from the fixation axis.

4. The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting part comprises a stop limiting a pivoting action of the fixation projection about the fixation axis in a direction of the pretensioning force and defining the opening angle in the open position.

5. The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the second fitting part comprises a second fixation projection and the first fitting part comprises a holding element, wherein the second fixation projection and the holding element of the first fitting part, respectively, the first fixation projection and the holding element of the second fitting part are arranged relative to each other such that, when the first and second fitting parts are completely moved toward each other, the gap remaining between the narrow side of the first construction component and the corresponding side of the second construction component is centered between the narrow side of the first construction component and the corresponding side of the second construction component.

6. The fixation device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second fitting parts have an identical structure.

7. A folding device comprising interconnected a real construction components connected to one another in a row and embodied as panels, wherein the panels, when opening the folding device, can be folded against each other, wherein each panel is connected to a neighboring panel by top and bottom supporting and guiding fittings arranged at the panels, wherein between the top and bottom supporting and guiding fittings at least one fixation device according to claim 1 is arranged.

8. The folding device according to claim 7, wherein a narrow side of the panels is formed by a frame section and wherein the at least one fixation device, when the folding device is closed, is arranged completely within a gap formed between the frame sections of two neighboring panels.

9. The folding device according to claim 7, wherein frame sections of neighboring panels comprise seals on an inner side and an outer side of the folding device, wherein the seals have a longitudinal extension and are continuous in the longitudinal extension, wherein between the seals the at least one fixation device is arranged between the neighboring panels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further advantages and details of the invention result from the claims and an embodiment illustrated in the drawing.

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically a three-panel folding device in the closed position.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the folding device of FIG. 1 in a partially open position.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the folding device of FIG. 1 in the completely open position.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a fixation device in enlarged detail view which is located at position IV in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a section view of the fixation device of FIG. 4 along section line V-V.

(7) FIG. 6 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 4 of the fixation device at the position VI of FIG. 2.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a section view of the fixation device of FIG. 6 along section line VII-VII.

(9) FIG. 8 shows the elements of FIG. 6 in an almost closed position.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a section view along section IX-IX of FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the position X of FIG. 1.

(12) FIG. 11 is a section view along section line XI-XI of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) The folding device illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a chain of three areal construction components 1, 2, 3 which are embodied here as glass panels with narrow frame sections 1, 2, 3. The panels 1, 2, 3 are guided on an outer frame 4 by means of supporting and guiding fittings 5, 6 in a pivotable and partially slidable way. The inner supporting and guiding fittings 5 are visible in FIG. 1 while the outer supporting and guiding fitting 6 are not visible when viewed from the inner side of the folding device shown in FIG. 1 so that the reference numeral 6 only indicates their position. The folding device comprises locking grips 7. The arrow indicates the opening direction of the folding device. When opening the folding device, the panels 1, 2, 3 move past the position of FIG. 2 to the completely open position of the folding device as shown in FIG. 3. Fixation devices can be located, for example, at the positions indicated by circles and one such fixation device will be explained in more detail in the following in connection with the additional Figures.

(14) With the aid of FIGS. 4 to 11, the fixation devices F according to the invention will be explained which, as needed, are arranged at various positions between pivotable panels 1, 2, 3 as well as between a pivotable panel, here panel 3, and a further construction component, here the outer frame 4. The fixation device F (see FIGS. 8, 9, 11) is comprised in the illustrated embodiment of two fitting parts 11 which here are screwed to the narrow sides of the frame sections 2 and 3. When looking first at the top half of each fitting part 11, the right fitting part 11 comprises a fixation projection 12 embodied as a tab that is pivotable with a first end about a fixation axis 13 and is pretensioned here by means of a spiral spring 14 so that the second end pivots away from the frame section 3. The maximum opening angle of the tab 12 relative to the fastening side of the construction component 3 is indicated in FIG. 5 and is limited by stop 15 to an angle between 30 and 40 in this case. The top half of the left fitting part 11 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a guiding surface 17 and a holding element 18 interacting with the fixation projection 12.

(15) FIGS. 4-11 show a particularly preferred embodiment in which each fitting part 11 comprises a fixation projection 12 as well as a guiding surface 17 and a holding element 18. Therefore, in FIGS. 5, 7, 9, and 11 (sectional plan views) identical elements can be seen on both construction components. The fitting parts 11 can thus be advantageously embodied identically. In their inverted arrangement relative to each other, they secure the construction components relative to each other when closing the construction components but also center a gap that is located between the construction components; this gap is caused by the supporting and guiding fittings 5, 6 and the pivot axis of the construction components defined by the fittings 5, 6 and indicated in the Figures by cross 20.

(16) In FIGS. 4 through 11 (provided in pairs, respectively), the course of movement upon pivoting the narrow sides of the frame sections 2, 3 toward each other until the folding device is completely closed (FIGS. 10 and 11) is illustrated. In this context, the panels 2, 3 with their frame sections 2, 3 supporting glass panes 21 pivot about pivot axis 20 (or point of rotation 20) so that the fitting parts 11 move toward each other (FIGS. 6, 7). In FIGS. 8, 9, a position is reached in which the tabs 12 with their free ends 12 facing away from the fixation axis 13 come into contact with the guiding surface 17 of the respective oppositely positioned fitting part 11. Upon further pivoting of the panels 2, 3 (FIGS. 10, 11), the free ends 12 of the tabs 12 glide along the guiding surfaces 17 so that the tabs 12 are folded inward in a direction against their pretension. In this situation, the free ends 12 of the tabs 12 engage the holding elements 18 embodied as a depression and catch therein. This is realized in a particularly simple way without unnecessary friction in that the depression of the holding element 18 is embodied with a radius that is preferably corresponding to the configuration of the free end 12 of the tab 12 and significantly smaller than the pivot radius of the tab 12; the pivot radius corresponds to the spacing A of free end 12 relative to the fixation axis 13 (see FIG. 7).

(17) FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate also that the fixation device F according to the invention enables a configuration in which the fixation device F can be completely arranged within a gap 22 between two closed neighboring panels 2, 3. On both sides, externally and internally, the gap 22 can be closed by seals S provided with continuous sealing lips 23 which is advantageous for seal tightness relative to wind, for visual appearance, and for protection against burglary.

(18) With the illustrated fixation devices, the folding device between its panels 1, 2, 3 is self-centering but variable as regards clearance. Accordingly, the fixation devices can be used individually for different sizes of clearance. Each fitting part 11 of the fixation device, as illustrated, can be comprised of only four parts, i.e., the guiding surface 17 with integrally formed holding element 18, the fixation projection 12, the spring 14, and a pin 10 forming the fixation axis 13.

(19) When, for example, for cleaning the exterior surfaces, it is required to separate the panels 2, 3 from each other, it is only necessary to release the fittings 5, 6 at the top and bottom. In case of the fixation devices this is not necessary because they are not fixedly connected to each other but automatically separate from each other when opening the panels 2, 3. By a variable number of employed fixation devices, it is also possible to fulfill different wind load specifications even for tall and slim panels. The practical benefit of such fixation devices is thus significant and so is the visual benefit, in particular in case of large glass surface areas and slim profiled sections.

(20) The specification incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of German priority document 10 2016 125 655.2 having a filing date of Dec. 23, 2016.

(21) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.