Lockable Coupling Device

Abstract

A coupling device for coupling folding elements of a folding device has first and second coupling elements that lock the folding elements relative to each other. The coupling device has a locking device with sliding element whose rearward part, when the second folding element is not closed, is in a rest position in which a locking member of the sliding element engages a locking receptacle of the first coupling element when the coupling elements are latched. In the rest position, the locking member contacts a guiding contour of the second coupling element and unlocking of the locking member from the locking receptacle by pulling on the coupling elements is prevented. When the second folding element is closed, the rearward part of the sliding element contacts the frame causing the locking member to move along the guiding contour out of the locking receptacle; the locking action is released.

Claims

1. A lockable coupling device for a folding device comprising at least three substantially planar folding elements arranged in a frame and including a first folding element and a second folding element neighboring the first folding element, wherein the first folding element is pivotably connected to the second folding element about a substantially vertical axis; the lockable coupling device comprising: a first coupling element and a second coupling element configured to releasably lock with each other, wherein the first coupling element is arranged at the first folding element and the second coupling element is arranged at the second folding element, wherein the first folding element is pivotable toward the second folding element into a position in which the first and second coupling elements engage each other and latch in a latched position; a locking device comprising a sliding element slidably arranged on the second coupling element in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the second folding element; wherein the sliding element comprises a leading part comprising a locking member and projecting past a leading edge of a horizontal boundary part of the second folding element, wherein the leading edge is facing the second coupling element; wherein the sliding element comprises a rearward part projecting past a rearward edge of the horizontal boundary part of the second folding element, wherein the rearward edge is facing away from the second coupling element; wherein the rearward part of the sliding element is supported by a spring action on a side of the second folding element that is opposite the second coupling element; wherein the rearward part is configured such that, when the second folding element is not in a closed position, the rearward part is arranged in a rest position projecting past the rearward edge, wherein in the rest position the locking member of the leading part of the sliding element engages by a locking action a locking receptacle of the first coupling element when the first and second coupling elements are in the latched position, wherein in the rest position the locking member contacts a guiding contour of the second coupling element such that unlocking of the locking member from the locking receptacle of the first coupling element by a pulling movement acting between the first and the second coupling elements is prevented; wherein the rearward part is configured such that, when the second folding element is moved into a closed position in the frame, the rearward part of the sliding element operatively contacts the frame acting as an abutment, so that the locking member of the leading part is pushed along the guiding contour out of the locking receptacle of the first coupling element and the locking action is released.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element is a bent part.

3. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element is a bent sheet metal part.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element is formed together with the locking member as one piece.

5. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the rearward part of the sliding element comprises a leaf spring providing the spring action.

6. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is wedge-shaped and wherein the guiding contour comprises a guiding ramp interacting with the wedge-shaped locking member.

7. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element is a male latching part and the second coupling element is a female latching receptacle, wherein the male latching part comprises the locking receptacle for the locking member and the locking receptacle is a recess.

8. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the second coupling element comprises a projection extending substantially in a vertical direction, wherein the sliding element engages the projection.

9. The coupling device according to claim 8, wherein the sliding element comprises a slot-shaped recess and the projection engages the slot-shaped recess such that a movement of the sliding element in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of the second folding element is enabled.

10. The coupling device according to claim 9, wherein the slot-shaped recess comprises a mounting opening that is wider than a widened portion of the projection.

11. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a substantially planar center part and the rearward end is a bent part that is bent relative to the center part of the sliding element.

12. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a substantially planar center part and the leading end is a bent part that is bent relative to the center part of the sliding element.

13. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a substantially planar center part, wherein the leading end and the reward end are bent parts that are bent relative to the center part of the sliding element.

14. A folding device comprising at least three folding elements arranged in a frame, wherein the at least three folding elements include a first folding element and a second folding element, wherein the first folding element is arranged at the second folding element so as to be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis in such a way that the first folding element can be placed against the second folding element, wherein the folding device comprises a coupling device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] FIGS. 1a to 1c show schematically a folding device in closed position (FIG. 1a), partially open position (FIG. 1b), and open position (FIG. 1c).

[0018] FIGS. 2a to 2c show enlarged details of FIGS. 1a to 1c, respectively.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the coupling device according to the invention in a perspective view.

[0020] FIGS. 4a to 4c shows the coupling device of FIG. 3 in plan view (FIG. 4a) in side view (FIG. 4b), and section view (FIG. 4c).

[0021] FIGS. 5a to 5c show views in accordance with FIGS. 4a to 4c of the coupling device in unlocked position.

[0022] FIGS. 6a to 6c show another embodiment of the coupling device in an illustration according to FIGS. 4a to 4c.

[0023] FIGS. 7a to 7c shows the coupling device of FIGS. 6a to 6c in unlocked position.

[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates the installation situation of the coupling device as shown in FIG. 6b.

[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates the installation situation of the coupling device as shown in FIG. 7b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Individual technical features of the embodiments described in the following can also be combined with the afore described embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and further claims to subject matter in accordance with the invention.

[0027] Elements that functionally are acting at least partially in same way are identified with identical reference characters.

[0028] FIGS. 1a to 1c show a folding device with three folding elements 1, 2, 3 secured in a frame 4. The frame 4 however must not be embodied as a separate peripheral component but can also be embodied, for example, by surrounding wall or building areas, for example, when required guiding sections are embedded therein. The left folding element 1 in the illustration is designed as a rotary panel and the folding device opens, as symbolized in FIG. 1a by the arrows. FIG. 1b shows all three folding elements 1, 2, 3 of the device in partially open position in order to indicate their movement directions wherein it is precisely the position of the rotary panel 1 illustrated in FIG. 1b that is to be avoided by the coupling device in accordance with the invention. In FIG. 1c, the folding device is in completely open position in which the folding elements 1, 2, 3 with their boundary parts 5 are almost contacting each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the boundary parts 5 are panel frame sections of the folding elements 1, 2, 3 that carry glass elements (glass panes). However, in case of frameless panels, the boundary parts 5 can also be the edges of the glass elements.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows in detail the upper left edge of the folding device with a first coupling element 10 arranged on the rotary panel 1 and a second coupling element 20 which is arranged on the directly neighboring folding element 2. For opening the folding device, first the rotary panel 1 is rotated about axis A and placed against the second folding element 2. In doing so, the coupling elements 10 and 20 latch with each other (see FIG. 2b) so that this position of the folding elements 1, 2 is maintained even when the folding device is opened farther, as indicated in FIG. 2c. The configuration and function of the coupling device according to the invention will be explained in the following with the aid of FIGS. 3, 4a-4c, 5a-5c, 6a-6c, 7a-7c, 8, and 9.

[0030] The coupling device is comprised substantially of the first coupling element 10, the second coupling element 20, and a locking device 30 which prevents separation of the coupling elements 10, 20 when the second folding element 2 is open. The first coupling element 10 in the embodiment is designed as a locking member and the second coupling element 20 is embodied as a corresponding locking receptacle which comprises a recess 21 surrounded by two springy locking tongues 22. The coupling elements 10, 20 form a latch device that is secured (locked) by the locking device 30 in the connected latched position (FIGS. 3 and 4a-4c) or, for disengagement of the coupling elements 10, 20 (FIGS. 5a-5c), can be released (unlocked). In the first embodiment (FIGS. 3, 4a-4c, 5a-5c), the locking device 30 comprises a sliding element 31 with a locking member 32. The locking member 32 engages in the locked position (FIGS. 3 and 4a-4c) a locking receptacle 11 formed in the first coupling element 10 so as to lock the coupling elements 10, 20. The rearward part of the sliding element 31 projects past a rearward edge 5 of the horizontal boundary part 5 of the folding element 2 to which the second coupling element 20 is connected; this rearward part is elastically supported against the rearward side 2 of the folding element 2 which is positioned opposite the coupling element 20 (see FIG. 4b). In the illustrated embodiment, this is realized in a preferred way in that the rearward part of the sliding element 31 itself is designed as a leaf spring 33. The sliding element 31 can be produced as a stamped bent part, preferably of sheet metal; such an embodiment is particularly preferred, simplifies production, and is inexpensive. As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4a-4c, and 5a-5c, even a monolithic configuration of the sliding element 31 together with the locking member 32 at the front end that is bent in a hook shape is possible.

[0031] While the locking device 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4a-4c is illustrated in a locked rest position in which the leaf spring 33 is unstressed, FIGS. 5a-5c show a disengaged or unlocked position. Here, the second folding element 2 is closed so that the rearward part of the sliding element 31, here the leaf spring 33, is in operative contact with an abutment W which is formed by the frame 4 of the folding device. The leaf spring 33 is compressed so that the sliding element 31, in a movement direction S perpendicular to the plane E of the second folding element 2, is moved toward the first folding element 1. A guiding contour 23 is provided in the second coupling element 20, in the illustrated embodiment provided at its upper locking tongue 22, and pushes the locking member 32 out of the locking receptacle 11 so that the locking device 30 is disengaged (unlocked). In order to prevent that a simple pulling action acting on the rotary panel 1 or on the first coupling element 10 causes release of the locking device 30, the locking member 32 is designed as a hook in the illustrated embodiment and the locking receptacle (recess) 11 is provided with a projection 12 acting as a barb.

[0032] The sliding element 31 is secured on the second coupling element 20 in a constructively simple but effective way in that the sliding element 31 comprises a slot-like cutout 34; an upwardly extending projection 24 of the second coupling element 20 passes through this cutout 34 and in this way guides the movements in the sliding direction S of the sliding element 31. In order to prevent that the sliding element 31 accidentally is released in upward direction from the coupling element 20, the projection 24 has preferably laterally widened portion 24 wider than the relevant parts of the slot-type cutout 34 so that the coupling device according to the invention can be installed not only at the top side of the folding elements but, if desired, also at the bottom side. For simplified assembly of the sliding element 31 on the coupling element 20 itself, in such an embodiment the slot-type cutout 34 of the sliding element 31 is provided with a mounting opening 35 which is greater than the widened portion 24 of the projection 24.

[0033] FIGS. 6a-6c and 7a-7c show a modified embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention in illustrations which correspond to those of FIGS. 4a-4c and 5a-5c. The modification concerns only the configuration of the locking member 32 which is a separate component in the embodiment of FIGS. 6a-6c and 7a-7c. The locking member 32 is of a wedge-shaped configuration and can glide with its slanted bottom side along a guiding contour 23 which forms a guiding ramp. For securing the locking member 32 on the sliding member 31, the leading part of the sliding element 31 is angled and is inserted into a receptacle 32 of the locking member 32. When this receptacle 32 as illustrated is provided with sufficient clearance, the leading part of the sliding element 31 is not subjected to a bending load even when being unlocked (FIGS. 7a-7c); and this can increase the service life of the locking device.

[0034] FIGS. 8 and 9 show finally only the second coupling element 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 6a-6c and 7a-7c in an installation situation. In FIG. 8, the folding element 2 which carries the coupling element 20 is not completely closed so that the leaf spring 33 of the sliding element 31 at the rear does not contact an abutment. In FIG. 9, on the other hand, the leaf spring 33 is compressed by the seal 40 of the frame 4 which forms the abutment so that the sliding element 31 is pushed in the direction S forwardly and moves the locking member 32 in forward/upward direction so as to disengage (unlock) the locking device 30.

[0035] The coupling device according to the invention can be embodied in a simple way and comprised of only three components (FIGS. 3, 4a-4c, 5a-5c) or four components (FIGS. 6a-6c, 7a-7c) but is effective despite the simple configuration Individual components in a service situation can be exchanged in a simple way; also, the entire device can be retrofitted. It can be screwed onto folding elements 1, 2 (see receptacles 6 in FIG. 3 provided for fastening elements) but can also be embodied to be adhesively connected or to be inserted into profiled sections of the boundary parts 5 of folding elements.

[0036] The specification incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of German priority document 10 2017 100 742.3 having a filing date of Jan. 16, 2017.

[0037] 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.