DE20019765U1 - Fitting for fastening glass panes and / or glass doors - Google Patents

Description

Andrejewski, Honke & Partners Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys European Trademark Attorneys

Graduate Physicist Dr. Walter Andrejewski (-1996) Graduate engineer Dr. Manfred Honke Graduate Physicist Dr. Karl Gerhard Masch Graduate engineer Dr.-lng. Rainer Albrecht Graduate Physicist Dr. Jörg Nunnenkamp Graduate Chemist Dr. Michael Rohmann Attorney file:

92 851/kno/Ro D 45127 Essen, Theaterplatz 3 D 45002 Essen, PO Box IO 02 54

20 November 2 000

Roth Werke GmbH Am Seerain

35232 Dautphetal

Fitting for fixing glass panes and/or glass doors

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Description:

The invention relates to a fitting for fastening glass panes or glass doors, in particular for showers, wherein two joint parts are provided and wherein the two joint parts can be pivoted relative to one another. - The terms glass panes and glass doors refer in particular to panes and doors made of conventional glass. However, the terms glass panes and glass doors in the context of the invention also refer to panes and doors made of glass substitutes, for example transparent plastic. The fitting according to the invention can be used to fasten a glass pane to a solid wall or, for example, to connect two glass panes to one another. The fitting according to the invention can also be used to fasten a glass door to a solid wall or to a glass pane. In this latter embodiment, the fitting according to the invention has the function of a hinge.

In the fitting of the type mentioned above, which is known from practice and from which the invention is based, the glass panes or glass doors must be specially tailored to the respective fitting. Fastening openings or fastening elements for the fitting must be arranged at precisely predetermined positions on the glass panes or glass doors. Only very narrow tolerances are permitted. Deviations from the predetermined positions and dimensions lead to undesirable mechanical constraints 0 and sometimes to the fact that a perfect fastening of the glass panes or glass doors is no longer possible.

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Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Such mechanical constraints can also easily damage or destroy the glass panes or glass doors. It goes without saying that manufacturing the glass panes and glass doors while maintaining the tight tolerances for the known fittings is very complex.

In contrast, the invention is based on the technical problem of specifying a fitting of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the disadvantages explained above are avoided and for which a simple and inexpensive standard production of glass panes and glass doors is possible.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches a fitting for fastening glass panes and/or glass doors, in particular for showers,

wherein two joint parts are provided and wherein the two joint parts are pivotable relative to each other,
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wherein at least one joint part can be fixed to a glass pane and/or glass door by means of a fastening element

5 and wherein the fixation of the joint part to the fastening element is temporarily releasable and the joint part is horizontally adjustable in the released state.

The fact that the two joint parts according to the invention are pivotable relative to each other means in the context of the

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Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Invention that in principle a pivoting of the two joint parts relative to each other is possible and thus different pivoting angles can be set between the two joint parts. As explained in more detail below, however, it is also within the scope of the invention that according to one embodiment the two joint parts can be locked at a certain pivoting angle and in the locked state further pivoting of the joint parts is no longer possible. - Horizontal adjustability means in the context of the invention that the joint part in question, which is arranged in front of a glass door or glass pane, can be moved horizontally when the fixation is released.

It is within the scope of the invention that a fastening element of a joint part passes through the glass pane and/or the glass door. According to a preferred embodiment, which is of particular importance within the scope of the invention, the fastening element has a conical section, which conical section passes through the glass pane and/or the glass door. The conical section of the fastening element is expediently fitted into the glass pane and/or the glass door with the interposition of a spacer ring. The conical section is preferably made of metal, while the spacer ring is expediently made of a plastic. It is within the scope of the invention that the conical base surface of the conical section lies in the rear surface of the glass pane and/or the glass door. In other words, the rear surface of the glass pane and/or the glass door facing away from the fitting expediently forms

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

a continuous surface without any protruding or projecting structural elements from the rear surface of this glass pane and/or glass door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the joint part has a horizontal adjustment opening, in which adjustment opening at least one fixing element for fixing the joint part to the fastening element engages. The horizontal adjustment opening is, for example, a horizontal adjustment groove. According to a very preferred embodiment, which is of particular importance within the scope of the invention, at least one clamping profile is arranged in the adjustment opening as a fixing element, which clamping profile can be clamped in the adjustment opening to fix the joint part, and wherein after the fixation is released and when the joint part is adjusted horizontally, the clamping profile and the joint part can be moved relative to one another. When the fixation is released, the clamping profile 0 is expediently still connected to the fastening element and allows a horizontal displacement of the joint part, wherein the clamping profile remains in place and the adjustment opening is simultaneously moved relative to the clamping profile. Preferably, the adjustment opening is designed such that the joint part in question can be adjusted or displaced horizontally by a total of at least 10 mm.

It is within the scope of the invention that the fixation of the 0 joint part is realized by means of a screw connection. According to a very preferred embodiment of the invention

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

the clamping profile can be clamped in the adjustment opening using at least one fixing screw. In this embodiment, the fixing screw forms a further fixing element in addition to the clamping profile. In order to enable horizontal adjustment of the joint part, the fixing screw must be loosened, thereby temporarily canceling the clamping function of the clamping profile. The fastening element preferably has a hole on the joint part side with an internal thread for receiving the fixing screw.

It is within the scope of the invention that both joint parts of a fitting according to the invention can each be fixed to a glass pane and/or glass door by means of a fastening element. Preferably, the fixation of both joint parts to the respective fastening element can then be temporarily released and both joint parts can be adjusted horizontally in the released state.

0 According to a preferred embodiment, which is explained in more detail below, the fitting according to the invention takes on the function of a hinge for a glass door. According to another preferred embodiment, a fitting according to the invention also serves to connect two 5 panes of glass, in particular for separating a shower cubicle, or to attach a pane of glass to a solid wall. In this embodiment, a constant pivoting of the two joint parts is not desired. According to one embodiment of the invention, the 0 two joint parts can therefore be locked in a pivoting position with a defined pivoting angle between the two joint parts. For

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

A clamping screw is expediently provided for the locking, which is preferably arranged in the joint connection axis of the two joint parts. Preferably, the pivot angle between the two joint parts is infinitely adjustable. When the elements to be connected with the fitting have been moved into the desired position, a selected, defined pivot angle can then be set between the two joint parts and the two joint parts can be locked in this state, so that the further free pivoting of the joint parts is prevented.

According to a very preferred embodiment of the invention, a fitting according to the invention is used to fasten a glass door and then serves as a hinge for this glass door. The glass door is expediently fastened using at least two fittings. The glass door can be fastened to a solid wall. According to one embodiment of the invention, a glass door is fastened to a glass pane using at least two fittings according to the invention. Preferably, the glass pane and glass door are associated with a shower cubicle. It is within the scope of the invention that both the joint part of a fitting fastened to the glass pane and the joint part of this fitting fastened to the glass door are horizontally adjustable. Preferably, both joint parts are fixed by means of a fastening element which has a conical section, which conical section passes through the glass pane or the glass door. In the aforementioned preferred embodiment of the invention, optimal and precise adjustment is possible when fastening the

Andrejewski, Honlce & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Glass door is possible and thus a very precise alignment of the glass door can be achieved.

According to a very preferred embodiment of the invention, the first joint part of the fitting has an upper joint connection part with lower-side form-locking elements and the second joint part has a lower joint connection part with upper-side form-locking elements, wherein the lower-side and upper-side form-locking elements engage with one another in a functional position of the joint parts and wherein a pivoting movement of the joint parts relative to one another brings the form-locking elements out of the form-locking and the first joint connection part is thereby lifted off the second joint connection part. The aforementioned embodiment is particularly suitable for fastening a glass door with a fitting according to the invention. When the glass door is closed, the said form-locking elements are expediently in the form-locking and the glass door is in a lower position. When the glass door is opened and the two joint parts of the fitting pivot, the form-locking elements come out of the form-locking and the first joint connection part is thereby lifted relative to the second joint connection part. In this way, the glass door to which the first hinge connection part is connected is also lifted during the opening movement. This embodiment of the fitting according to the invention is particularly suitable for a glass door that has a sealing edge on the underside, preferably an elastic sealing lip on the underside

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

When the glass door is closed, this sealing edge or sealing lip rests on the floor and when the glass door is opened, the glass door is lifted in such a way that the sealing edge or sealing lip previously resting on the floor does not hinder the opening movement.

The invention is based on the finding that a fitting according to the invention enables a very effective and functionally reliable fastening of glass panes and glass doors. Damage to the glass panes and glass doors is virtually eliminated. Due to the horizontal adjustment options, a very precise alignment of glass doors and/or glass panes can be achieved. This is particularly important and advantageous for shower cubicles, since effective sealing of gaps and joints is desirable here. The invention is characterized by the very special advantage that the glass panes and glass doors associated with the fittings according to the invention can be manufactured within the framework of a very simple and inexpensive standard production. In contrast to the fittings known from the prior art and the glass panes and/or glass doors associated with these fittings, according to the invention it is not absolutely necessary to adhere to very tight tolerances when manufacturing the glass panes and glass doors. Due to the horizontal adjustment options of the joint parts according to the invention, dimensional deviations can be compensated for in a simple and effective manner. It should also be emphasized that the fittings according to the invention are characterized by simplicity and also

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

can be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner and is therefore cost-effective.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment. It shows in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1 A perspective view of two fittings according to the invention in the attached state,
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Fig.2 an enlarged section A from Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 a section through the object according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a fitting according to the invention,

Fig. 5 the object according to Fig. 2 in a first

Functional position and
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Fig. 6 shows the object according to Fig. 5 in another functional position.

Fig. 1 shows two fittings la, 1b according to the invention in their attached state. The fitting la serves to attach a glass pane 2 to a fixed wall 3. The fitting Ib serves to attach a glass door 4 to the glass pane 2. The fitting Ib thus takes on the function of a hinge for the glass door 4. Although only one fitting Ib is shown in Fig. 1, the glass door 4 is preferably attached to the glass pane by means of two fittings Ib.

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Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

2. The glass pane 2 and the glass door 4 preferably form boundaries of a shower cubicle in the exemplary embodiment.

A fitting la, 1b according to the invention has two joint parts 5, 6, which two joint parts 5, 6 can be pivoted relative to one another. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the two joint parts 5, 6 of the fitting 1b provided on the glass door 4 can also be pivoted when fastened, so that the glass door 4 can be pivoted or the glass door 4 can be opened and closed. The two joint parts 5, 6 of the fitting 1b can expediently be pivoted against one another by up to 180°. In contrast, the joint parts 5, 6 of the fitting la with which the glass pane 2 is attached to the fixed wall

3 cannot be pivoted relative to one another when fastened. When fastening the glass pane 2, a desired pivot angle α is first set between the two joint parts 5, 6 0 and then the two joint parts 5, 6 are locked in this pivot position with the set, defined pivot angle. The locking is preferably carried out via a clamping screw (not shown), which is preferably provided in the connecting axis 7 of the two joint parts 5, 6.

Preferably, both joint parts 5, 6 are fixed to the glass pane 2 or to the glass door 4 by means of a fastening element 8. Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the fastening element 8 passes through the glass pane 2 or the glass door 4. In the exemplary embodiment,

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

In the exemplary embodiment, the fastening element 8 has a conical section 9, which conical section 9 passes through the glass pane 2 or the glass door 4. Preferably and in the exemplary embodiment (see Fig. 3 and 4), the conical section 9 of the fastening element 8 is fitted into the glass pane 2 or the glass door 4 with the interposition of a spacer ring 10, the spacer ring 10 expediently being conical in shape. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 3, in the fitting 1b, with which the glass door 4 is fastened to the glass pane 2, each joint part 5, 6 is assigned a fastening element 8 with a conical section 9. In contrast, in the fitting 1a, with which the glass pane 2 is fastened to the fixed wall 3, only the joint part 6 is assigned a fastening element 8 with a conical section 9, which joint part 6 is fastened to the glass pane 2. In contrast, the joint part 5 of the fitting 1a is fastened to the fixed wall 3 with at least one fixing screw 14. In Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the conical base surface 11 of the conical section 9 lies in the rear surface of the glass pane 2 or the glass door 4. In other words, a flush finish has been achieved towards the shower cubicle and there are no disturbing protruding components here.

According to the invention, the fixation of a joint part 5, 6 to a fastening element 8 is temporarily releasable and the joint part 5, 6 is horizontally adjustable in this released state. Preferably and in the exemplary embodiment, a joint part 5, 6 has a horizontal adjustment opening 12 for this purpose, into which adjustment opening 12 fixing

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

elements for fixing the joint part 5, 6 to the fastening element 8. In the adjustment opening

12, a clamping profile 13 is provided, which in the embodiment is designed as a U-shaped clamping profile. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the clamping profile

13 merely as a rectangular clamping plate, for example. Furthermore, a fixing screw 14 is provided as a fixing element in the adjustment opening 12. By tightening the fixing screw 14, the clamping profile 13 is pressed against the support surfaces 15 of the adjustment opening 12 and is clamped in place, as it were. In this way, a joint part 5, 6 is fixed to the fastening element 8 or to the associated glass pane 2 or glass door 4. In the exemplary embodiment, the fixing screw 14 has a hexagon socket 16 in the screw head for its operation. By releasing the fixation, i.e. by loosening the fixing screw 14, the clamping profile 13 is also released from the support surfaces 15. In this released state of the fixation, the joint part 5, 6 0 can then be moved horizontally or adjusted. When the desired position of the joint part 5, 6 is reached, the fixation is then restored or the fixing screw 14 is tightened. Preferably and in the exemplary embodiment, the fastening element 8 has a hole 17 on the joint part side with an internal thread for receiving the fixing screw 14. Preferably and in the exemplary embodiment, cover elements 18 are also provided for covering the adjustment openings 12. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cover element 18 is designed as a clip element which can be plugged onto a joint part 5, 6 from the front.

a a a · •♦ « ·

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

In Fig. 3 it can also be seen that, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a vertical sealing strip 28 is provided in the area of the edge 19 of the glass door 4 on the glass pane side, which vertical sealing strip covers and seals the gap 20 between the glass pane 2 and the glass door 4 on the inside of the shower cubicle. This is expediently an elastic sealing strip 28, which preferably extends over the entire vertical height of the glass door 4. In Fig. 3 a U-shaped sealing profile 29 can also be seen, which is arranged between the glass pane 2 and the fixed wall 3. In the measures known from the prior art, the gap 21 between the glass pane 2 and the fixed wall 3 is sealed in a complex manner with silicone. Due to the fittings 1a, 1b according to the invention and the adjustment options according to the invention, a functionally reliable seal can be achieved in a simple manner with such a U-shaped sealing profile 29. - In the fittings la, lb according to the invention, in the embodiment an adjustment opening 12 is provided on each of the two joint parts 5, 6 and a horizontal adjustment or adjustment option is thus provided for each joint part 5, 6. As a result, a fitting la, lb can be adjusted or aligned particularly precisely.

A preferred embodiment of the fittings 1a, 1b according to the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. According to this embodiment, the joint part 6 has an upper joint connection part 22 with form-locking elements 23 on the underside. Preferably and in the embodiment

I» 1

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

For this purpose, an upper lifting ring 24 is provided which is inserted into the joint part 6 (see in particular Fig. 4). Furthermore, according to this embodiment of the invention, the joint part 5 has a lower joint connection part 25 which is provided with upper-side form-locking elements 26. Preferably and in the exemplary embodiment, a lower lifting ring 27 is provided which is equipped with the upper-side form-locking elements 26 and can be inserted into the lower joint connection part 25 of the joint part 5. When the glass door 4 is closed (Fig. 5), the lower-side form-locking elements 23 and the upper-side form-locking elements 26 engage with one another in a form-locking manner. When the glass door 4 is opened and the joint parts 5, 6 pivot accordingly, the positive locking elements 23 on the underside and the positive locking elements 26 on the top are brought out of the positive locking and the joint part 6 is thereby raised relative to the joint part 5. The stroke may be 6 mm, for example. As a result of the lifting of the joint part 6, the glass door 4 connected to it is naturally also raised, which is preferably connected to the glass pane 2 via two appropriately designed fittings 1b. Raising the glass door 4 is particularly advantageous if the glass door 4 has a horizontal sealing strip (not shown) on its underside, which rests on the floor when the glass door 4 is closed. So that this sealing strip does not interfere when the glass door is opened, the glass door 4 with the connected sealing strip is raised with a corresponding pivot movement of the joint parts 5, 6.

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper lifting ring 24 and the lower lifting ring 27 or the form-locking elements 23, 26 can be designed in such a way that the form-locking elements 23, 26 engage or snap into one another in a form-locking manner at 45° angular intervals. For example, the 90° angle can be easily achieved with the fitting la (see Fig. 3). Furthermore, a 135° angle can also be easily achieved, for example with a fitting 1b that connects the glass pane 2 to the glass door 4. This latter angle setting is particularly suitable for pentagonal shower cubicles.

Claims (10)

1. Fitting ( 1 a, 1 b) for fastening glass panes ( 2 ) and/or glass doors ( 4 ), in particular for showers,
wherein two joint parts ( 5 , 6 ) are provided and wherein the two joint parts ( 5 , 6 ) are pivotable relative to each other,
wherein at least one joint part ( 5 , 6 ) can be fixed to a glass pane ( 2 ) and / or glass door ( 4 ) by means of a fastening element ( 8 )
and wherein the fixation of the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) to the fastening element ( 8 ) is temporarily releasable and the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) is horizontally adjustable in the released state. 2. Fitting according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element ( 8 ) passes through the glass pane ( 2 ) and/or glass door ( 4 ). 3. Fitting according to claim 2, wherein the fastening element ( 8 ) has a conical section ( 9 ), which conical section ( 9 ) passes through the glass pane ( 2 ) and/or glass door ( 4 ). 4. Fitting according to claim 3, wherein the conical base surface ( 11 ) of the conical section ( 9 ) lies in the rear surface of the glass pane ( 2 ) and/or glass door ( 4 ). 5. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) has a horizontal adjustment opening ( 12 ), into which adjustment opening ( 12 ) at least one fixing element for fixing the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) to the fastening element ( 8 ) engages. 6. Fitting according to claim 5, wherein at least one clamping profile ( 13 ) is arranged in the adjustment opening ( 12 ) as a fixing element, which clamping profile ( 13 ) can be clamped in order to fix the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) in the adjustment opening ( 12 ), and wherein after the release of the fixation and during horizontal adjustment of the joint part ( 5 , 6 ), the clamping profile ( 13 ) and the joint part ( 5 , 6 ) can be displaced relative to one another. 7. Fitting according to claim 6, wherein the clamping profile ( 13 ) can be clamped in the adjustment opening ( 12 ) under the action of at least one fixing screw ( 14 ). 8. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fastening element ( 8 ) has a joint part-side bore ( 17 ) with an internal thread for receiving a fixing screw ( 14 ). 9. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the two joint parts ( 5 , 6 ) can be locked in a pivoting position with a defined pivoting angle α between the two joint parts ( 5 , 6 ). 10. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first joint part ( 6 ) has an upper joint connection part ( 22 ) with lower-side form-locking elements ( 23 ) and the second joint part ( 5 ) has a lower joint connection part ( 25 ) with upper-side form-locking elements ( 26 ), wherein the lower-side and upper-side form-locking elements ( 23 , 26 ) engage one another in a functional position of the joint parts ( 5 , 6 ) and wherein the form-locking elements are brought out of the form-locking by a pivoting movement of the joint parts ( 5 , 6 ) and the first joint connection part ( 6 ) is thereby lifted off the second joint connection part ( 5 ).