ROLLING DOOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a rolling door comprising a door leaf which can be moved between an open position, in which it at least partially releases a wall opening and forms a multi-layer winding above the wall opening, and a closed position, in which it at least partially closes the wall opening, as well as comprising joint assemblies arranged in the region of the lateral edges of the door leaf, at least sections of which are running in the direction of gravity in the closed position, and secured to the door leaf, for guiding the door leaf movement, each of which includes a plurality of joint elements articulately connected relative to joining shafts running perpendicular to the lateral edges and approximately parallel to the door leaf plane, wherein at least sections of the door leaf are made of a bendable material, such as a plastic film, which is stabilised by two, three or more stabilising devices running perpendicular to the lateral edges and in the door leaf plane, wherein the door leaf is only connected to the joint assemblies via the stabilising devices.

Claims

1. A door, specifically a rolling door, comprising a door leaf which can be moved between an open position, in which it at least partially releases a wall opening and forms a multi-layer winding above the wall opening, and a closed position, in which it at least partially closes the wall opening, as well as comprising joint assemblies arranged in the region of the lateral edges of the door leaf, at least sections of which are running in the direction of gravity in the closed position, and secured to the door leaf, for guiding the door leaf movement, each of which includes a plurality of joint elements articulately connected to each other relative to joint axes running perpendicular to the lateral edges and approximately parallel to the door leaf plane, characterized in that at least sections of the door leaf are made of a bendable material, such as a plastic film, which is stabilised by two, three or more stabilising devices running perpendicular to the lateral edges and in the door leaf plane, wherein the door leaf is connected to the joint assemblies via the stabilising devices.

2. The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the door leaf includes at least one segment made of a preferably transparent, bendable material having pane edges running approximately perpendicular to the lateral edges of the door leaf and provided with a thickened portion, wherein at least one stabilising device includes a stabilising profile having at least one receiving region for receiving the thickened portion on a segment edge.

3. The rolling door according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one segment edge is firmly bonded and/or positively attached to a stabilising device.

4. The rolling door according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one segment of bendable material is arranged between two stabilising devices, wherein a lateral edge of the segment running approximately perpendicular to the stabilising devices and approximately parallel to the joint assemblies extends across two, three or more joint elements.

5. The door according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one segment edge is attached to the stabilising device by a clamping element releasably fixable to the stabilising device and preferably received at least partially within the stabilising device and/or bounding the stabilising device.

6. The door according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one segment edge is sandwiched between the clamping element and a sealing strip which preferably extends across the entire width of the door leaf.

7. The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the door leaf includes at least two segments of bendable material successively arranged in the direction of the door leaf movement sandwiching a stabilising profile having two receiving regions for receiving thickened portions provided on pane edges facing each other.

8. The door according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one stabilising device extends parallel to a joint axis and is connected to at least one, preferably two joint assemblies, provided on opposing lateral door leaf edges, along said joint axis.

9. The door according to claim 1, characterized by at least one reinforcing strip running approximately parallel to the lateral door leaf edge and secured to the door leaf.

10. The door according to claim 1, characterized by at least one helical optionally oval-helical guide track for guiding the door leaf movement and for determining the open position of the door leaf-.

11. The door according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one joint element includes a guide arrangement cooperating with the guide track in guiding the door leaf movement on a side thereof facing away from the door leaf, preferably comprising at least one guide roller rotatably mounted relative to a roller axis running parallel to the joint axes and preferably received within a guide track at least in the open position of the door leaf.

12. A door, specifically a rolling door, comprising a door leaf which can be moved between an open position, in which it at least partially releases a wall opening and forms a multi-layer winding above the wall opening, and a closed position, in which it at least partially closes the wall opening, at least sections of which are formed from a bendable material, such as a plastic film, preferably according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leading edge of the door leaf in an opening movement is formed by a leading stabilising device connected to an edge of a segment and made of a bendable material, which edge is an upper edge of the segment in the closed position, in a non-rotary manner and connected to a guide arrangement in a non-rotary manner.

13. The door according to claim 12, characterized in that the guide arrangement connected to the leading stabilising device in a non-rotary manner includes two guide rollers successively arranged in the direction of the door leaf movement, each of which is connected to a common carrier, which is connected to the leading stabilising device in a non-rotary manner, in a rotatable manner relative to a roller axis running parallel to the joint axes, wherein the carrier preferably is attached to a joint element leading in the opening movement.

14. The door according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one joint element is associated with a sealing arrangement which may abut a boundary surface, specifically the inner boundary surface, of the door leaf in the closed position.

15. The door according to claim 14, characterized in that the sealing arrangement includes at least one sealing member extending across two, three or more joint elements.

16. The door according to claim 12, characterized by a bias device that can be coupled to a trailing edge of the door leaf in an opening movement during the opening movement and can be biased during the opening movement for decelerating the opening movement and for providing a biasing force forcing the door leaf from the open position into the closed position.

17. The door according to claim 16, characterized in that the biasing device includes a tension spring extending approximately in the direction of gravity and embodied, for example, as an elastic cord, the upper end of which is captured and entrained by a driver attached in the region of the trailing edge of the door leaf in the opening movement during the opening movement.

18. The door according to claim 12, characterized in that the length of at least one joint element is more than 20 mm, preferably more than 30 mm and/or less than 400 mm in a direction running parallel to the lateral edges of the door leaf in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Hereinafter the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings which are explicitly referenced for all features essential to the invention and not set forth in detail in the description. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a view of a rolling door in the closed position, according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a partially cut away side view of a rolling door transitioning from the closed position into the open position, according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a detailed illustration of the door leaf of a rolling door according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a detailed illustration of the rolling door according to FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a stabilising device of a door according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a stabilising device of a door according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 7 shows detailed illustrations of a joint element of a joint assembly of a door according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 8 shows illustrations of joint elements associated with seal assemblies of a door according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 9 shows the attachment of a stabilising device of a door according to the invention to a joint assembly of a door according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 10 shows detailed illustrations of a guide assembly of a door according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 11 shows a detailed illustration of the seal assembly of a door according to the invention; and

[0045] FIG. 12 shows a detailed illustration of a biasing device of a door according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The rolling door shown in FIG. 1, comprises a door leaf, generally indicated by 10, comprised of panes 12 of a bendable, transparent material connected to each other via stabilising profiles 40. Joint assemblies in the form of hinge straps 20 and 30, connected to the door leaf 10 via the stabilising profiles 40, are disposed on the lateral edges of the door leaf 10. The hinge straps include guide rollers 22 and 32, respectively, on the joints between each hinge element on the side thereof facing away from the door leaf 10, which may guide the door leaf movement using suitable guide rails.

[0047] According to FIG. 1, each of the hinge straps 20 and 30 forming a push-pull assembly consists of hinge elements 26 and 36, respectively, having a fork-shaped receiver or the like engaging a stud of an adjacent hinge element. Both fork and stud are penetrated by a common hinge pin, causing an articulate connection between subsequent hinge elements. The roller axes of the guide rollers 22 and 32 run parallel to the joint axes, preferably colinearly thereto. Furthermore, the stabilising profiles 40 embodied as aluminium strand pressing profiles run parallel to the joint axes and roller axis. The stabilising profiles 40 may be attached to the joint assemblies 20 and 30 at the pivot points of the hinge straps.

[0048] According to FIG. 2, a rolling door according to the invention includes a helical guide track 100 entered by the guide rollers 22 and 32 attached to the hinge straps 20 and 30 upon reaching the open position. In FIG. 2, the joint elements 26, 36 in the region of the helical guide track are hidden, to better illustrate the door leaf itself. As can be seen, panes 12 of a bendable material are able to easily conform to the desired helical shape. For this purpose, no connection of the panes 12 themselves to the hinge straps is required. Rather, it is sufficient to secure just the stabilising profiles 40 between each pane in the joint assembly in the form of the hinge straps 20, 30. It is further shown, that each pane of bendable material may extend across a substantial height of the door leaf. This constitutes an advantage compared to conventional sectional doors by allowing for minimization of the helical diameter.

[0049] According to the FIG. 3, the panes 12 include thickened portions formed on the pane edges running perpendicular to the lateral edges by welding piping 14 thereto, the thickened portion being received within the receiving areas 42, 44 of the stabilising profiles. The width of the receiving areas 42 and 44 tapers from the receiving areas 42 and 44 in a radial direction, such that the receiving areas only permit passing of the panes 12 with piping strips adhered thereto, but not passing of the thickened portion or piping 14. The result is a secure connection of individual panes via the stabilising profiles 40. However, no transmission of pulling or pushing forces by said connections is necessary. The forces are transmitted by the hinge straps 20, 30 instead.

[0050] According to FIG. 4, the attachment of the hinge straps 20, 30 via the stabilising elements 40 is achieved using a screw running colinearly to the roller axes of the guide rollers 22, 32 and secured by a lock nut 50. The screw engages a corresponding recess 52 (see FIG. 3) within the stabilising profiles 40. FIG. 4 shows that the joint axis of the articulate connection between adjacent hinge elements 26, the roller axis, the screw axis and the axis of the stabilising profile 40 are all approximately colinear.

[0051] The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 5 essentially differs from the embodiment discussed with reference to the FIG. 3 in that the stabilising profile 140 includes two receiving areas 142 and 144 configured to receive a clamping element 150 (see FIG. 5b) and a sealing strip 160 (see FIG. 5c). When assembled, the clamping element and the sealing strip are received within the receiving areas 142 and 144 with a segment or pane edge sandwiched between the clamping element 150 and the sealing strip 160 (see FIG. 5d).

[0052] The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 essentially differs from the embodiment discussed with reference to FIG. 5 in that the clamping element 250 confines the stabilising device 240. This is done by clipping the clamping element 250 into the stabilising profile 240, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment of the invention the edge of the pane 212 is again sandwiched between the clamping element 250 and the sealing strip 260, when assembled, wherein the sealing strip 260 is received within a corresponding receiver of the stabilising profile through a fastening bead.

[0053] FIG. 7a shows joint elements 126 embodied as aluminium strand pressing elements, illustrating the attachment of the rollers 122 to the joint assembly via slide bearings.

[0054] FIG. 7b shows joint elements embodied as a plastic injection moulded hybrid having a plastic injection moulded shell and a sheet steel core.

[0055] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, a seal assembly 370 is placed onto joint elements 360. The seal assembly 370 includes a sealing strip 380 which forms a continuous seal when closed due to the sealing strip 380 extending across a plurality of joint elements 360. The sealing strip may engage an outer boundary surface of each segment or pane of the door leaf when closed.

[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates the attachment of the stabilising profiles 240 to the joint assembly via screw bolts running colinearly to the joint axes, wherein the stabilising profile is mounted to the joint assembly and the guide rollers are mounted to the joint assembly.

[0057] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the leading edge of the door leaf during opening movements is formed by a stabilising device 40 connected to a guide assembly generally indicated by 60 in a non-rotary manner. The guide assembly comprises a roughly U-shaped bracket 62. An outer leg of the U-shaped bracket 62 is fastened to the stabilising device 40 via a pin 64 and a locking screw 66. The pin 64 and the screw 66 are spaced apart in the direction of the door leaf movement indicated by arrow P. Thus, a non-rotary attachment of the bracket 62 to the stabilising device 40 is achieved. Two guide rollers 22 arranged in series in the door leaf movement direction P are secured to the bracket 62, each fastened to the bracket 62 in a rotatable manner relative to roller axes running parallel to the joint axes of the joint or hinge elements 26. The bracket 62 is further connected to the hinge or joint element 26 leading during opening movements in a non-rotary manner.

[0058] In FIG. 10b the door leaf equipped with the guide assembly 60 is shown entering the helical guide track. By forcibly guiding the guide rollers 22 mounted to the bracket 62 the stabilising device 40 connected to the guide assembly 60 in a non-rotary manner and the edge of the disc 12 leading during opening movements and connected thereto in a non-rotary manner are entrained and/or oriented along the guide track, forcibly bulging the disc 12 in an outward direction. This bulge is transmitted to the subsequent discs of the door leaf due to the connection of the stabilising devices 40 provided between each pane 12 to the guide rollers 22 rotatable relative to a roller axis running colinearly to the joint axes of the joint elements. By forcibly guiding the guide assembly 60, the guide rollers 22 mounted thereto, the stabilising device 40 connected thereto and the upper edge of the leading segment during opening movements or the leading pane 12 during opening movements connected to the stabilising device 40 an uncontrolled transition of the disc 12 and the subsequent discs 12 from an inner bulge to an outer bulge may be avoided, thereby increasing the resistance to the wear of the inventive door.

[0059] Further, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10 differs from the embodiments of the invention shown with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 in that each joint element includes two fork-shaped receivers on one side thereof and studs engaging with the fork-shaped receivers of an adjacent joint element on the other side thereof. This results in an improved winding stiffness of the joint assembly.

[0060] The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11 illustrates a seal assembly 470 abutting an inner surface of the panes 12 facing toward the space to be closed by the door leaf. The seal assembly 470 comprises a U-shaped sealing profile extending across one, two, three or more joint elements 26, from which a sealing lip 472 extends towards an inner boundary surface of the disc 12.

[0061] The sealing lip 472 is equipped with a cavity seal 474 on an edge thereof facing the inner boundary surface of the pane 12, the cavity seal achieving a particularly reliable sealing effect. The sealing profile 476 of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 11 may extend across two, three or more joint elements extending between adjacent stabilising devices 240. In general, the seal assembly 470 extends approximately in the direction of gravity in the closed position of the door leaf.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows a top perspective view of one of two lateral edge profiles 600 of a door according to the invention. The lateral edge profile 600 includes a channel 610 running in the direction of gravity, receiving a tension spring 500, the upper end of which can be seen in FIG. 12. A cantilever arm 520 is mounted to the upper end of the tension spring 500, wherein a driver (not shown) mounted to the lower joint element 26 trailing during opening movements comes to rest on the arm during the opening movement. The driver may entrain the arm 520 and thus the upper end of the tension spring 500 in an upward direction during the opening movement, thereby tensioning the tension spring 500. Consequently, the opening movement of the door leaf is decelerated and a breakaway torque promoting initiation of a closing movement is provided in an open position.

[0063] The invention is not limited to the embodiment discussed with reference to the drawing. Rather, adding additional stabilising strips parallel to the lateral edges of the door leaf providing additional stabilisation with respect to wind loads is also contemplated. Furthermore, the push-pull assemblies implemented in the form of hinge straps in the embodiment described may be implemented in a different manner. The connection of the stabilising elements to the push-pull assembly may also be configured articulately without a rigid connection. Thus, a floating bearing is created that helps avoid transmission of torsional forces from the winded segments to the push-pull assembly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0064] P direction of door leaf movement [0065] 20/30 hinge straps [0066] 22/32 guide rollers [0067] 26/36 hinge elements [0068] 42/44 receiving areas [0069] 10 door leaf [0070] 12 panes [0071] 14 piping [0072] 40 stabilising profile [0073] 50 locking nut [0074] 52 recess [0075] 60 guide assembly [0076] 62 bracket [0077] 64 pin [0078] 66 locking screw [0079] 100 guide track [0080] 122 rollers [0081] 126 joint elements [0082] 140 stabilising profile [0083] 142 receiving area [0084] 144 receiving area [0085] 150 clamping element [0086] 160 sealing strip [0087] 212 pane [0088] 240 stabilising device [0089] 250 clamping element [0090] 260 sealing strip [0091] 360 joint elements [0092] 370 seal assembly [0093] 380 sealing strip [0094] 470 seal assembly [0095] 472 sealing lip [0096] 474 cavity seal [0097] 476 sealing profile [0098] 500 tension spring [0099] 520 arm [0100] 600 lateral edge profile [0101] 610 channel