DE29718854U1 - Profile frame, in particular U-profile frame for holding surface elements such as glass panes, plastic plates or the like. - Google Patents

Description

Andrejewski, Honke & Partners Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys * European Trademark Attorneys

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

87 02 0/MO/Nu D 4SI 27 Essen, Theaterplatz 3 D 45002 Essen, PO Box IO 02 54

30 September 1997

Gebrauchsmus t eranrae1dung

SKS-Stakusit-Kunststoff GmbH & Co. KG Eisenbahnstrasse 2B

47198 Duisburg

Profile frames, especially U-profile frames for holding surface elements such as glass panes, plastic panels or

the like

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Description

The invention relates to a profile frame, in particular U-profile frames for holding surface elements such as glass panes, plastic panels or the like, with a U-leg designed as a stop leg for securing one side of the surface element, with another U-leg designed as a fixing leg for securing the other side of the surface element, and with a U-base designed as a support leg, whereby the support leg is connected essentially perpendicularly to the stop leg to form an L-shaped receiving leg for the surface element, and whereby the fixing leg can be locked to the receiving leg during the fastening of the surface element by clamping it between the stop leg and the fixing leg. - Profile frames are essentially understood to mean both profile frame strips and closed, for example rectangular, profile frames composed of profile frame strips. The surface element can only be clamped on one side, i.e. on one edge, both sides, three sides, etc.

In general, profile frames of the embodiment described at the beginning are used in conjunction with sliding element devices, as are known, for example, from European patent specification 0 577 669. In this context, they mainly serve to fix a movable sliding element or a 0 surface element at its upper and lower edge.

Of course, all other

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Applications of the described profile frames for holding surface elements within the scope of the invention.

A profile frame of the type described above has become known from WO 95/22 676. The procedure here is that the fixing leg is designed to be pivotable and is held in place on the L-shaped receiving leg by means of locking mechanisms during the fastening of the surface element. Such a procedure is unsatisfactory in terms of assembly technology, especially since the pivot bearing is implemented by a pin engaging in a semicircular holder. This means that during fastening it must be ensured that the pin is pressed against the semicircular holder. In addition, the known embodiment is limited to an extremely small thickness range with regard to the thickness of the surface element to be clamped. This means that adapted profile frames must be kept in stock for glass or plastic panes or panels of different thicknesses. This is complex and expensive. In any case, flexible adaptation to different thicknesses of the surface element is not possible. - This is where the invention comes in.

The invention is based on the object of developing a profile frame of the embodiment described at the beginning in such a way that flexible adaptation to different thicknesses of the surface element is possible and at the same time assembly is simplified.

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

To solve this problem, the invention proposes that in a generic profile frame, in particular a U-profile frame for holding surface elements such as glass panes, plastic panels or the like, the fixing leg can be connected to the receiving leg by means of a tongue and groove connection, in particular an adhesive tongue and groove connection, whereby the fixing leg has the tongue and the receiving leg has the groove, or vice versa. According to a preferred embodiment, it is further intended that a groove leg is provided below the support leg, which together with the support leg located above it forms a groove channel or the groove, and that the fixing leg has an associated spring leg or the spring, whereby the fixing leg can be locked to the receiving leg by means of the spring leg that can be pushed into the groove channel in the locking direction. The spring leg is generally arranged perpendicular to the fixing leg and forms an L-shaped pressure leg with it. - These measures of the invention make assembly considerably easier. This is because a temporary pivot bearing - as in the prior art according to WO 95/22676 - is deliberately dispensed with. The surface element is attached simply by connecting the fixing leg to the receiving leg using the tongue and groove connection. For this purpose, the spring leg regularly formed on the fixing leg is pushed into the groove channel in the locking direction. In this way, the fixing leg is already locked to the receiving leg. Consequently, the surface element is reliably held between the stop leg

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

and fixing legs. This applies even if the surface element is only held with one edge, ie on one side, in a profile frame or a profile frame strip.
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The locking effect can be further increased by using an adhesive tongue and groove connection. This means that an adhesive is also regularly introduced into the groove channel, which ensures that the spring leg is securely fastened in the groove channel after the spring leg has been pushed in. Of course, the adhesive can also be applied to the spring leg. In general, however, the groove channel is designed to accommodate the adhesive. This adhesive is preferably a so-called silicone adhesive. Of course, portions of the adhesive covered with a skin are also conceivable in the groove channel, whereby the skin is destroyed by the penetration of the spring leg, so that the adhesive can take effect. Overall, there is the possibility that - for example, if silicone glue is used - the adhesive tongue and groove connection can be easily removed again. This means that replacing a surface element after it has been damaged or destroyed is no problem, simply because the fixing leg can be detached from the receiving leg. No complex repair work is required for this. It is even conceivable that a solvent that dissolves the glue can be used, so that the previously solid adhesive tongue and groove connection can be easily removed again.

••••it » ·* «&Igr;&Ogr;···

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

is usually possible because the profile frame is generally designed as an extruded aluminum profile frame. Of course, extruded plastic profile frames are also conceivable. This depends on the respective installation conditions. - This is where the main advantages of the invention can be seen.

Further advantageous embodiments are listed below. The groove leg is generally arranged parallel to the support leg, so that the resulting groove channel generally has a rectangular cross-section. The support leg can have a length adapted to the thickness of the surface element to be clamped. In general, relatively large thickness ranges of the surface element can be covered, since the surface element can protrude beyond the front edge of the support leg. In any case, this enables particularly flexible adaptation to different thicknesses of the surface element to be clamped or fastened.

The groove leg mainly has a length that exceeds the front edge of the support leg by a specified amount. As a result, the groove leg acts as a guide for the spring leg, so that the insertion of the spring leg into the groove channel and thus the assembly of the profile frame according to the invention is made even easier. The measures aim in the same direction, according to which the spring leg preferably has a clamping nose arranged on the front in the locking direction. For secure fastening or holding of the

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

Surface element in the U-shaped holder formed by the support leg, fixing leg and stop leg, it is further provided that the stop leg and the fixing leg have internal recesses facing the respective adjacent sides of the surface element for receiving adhesive glue. This means that the surface element is attached to the stop leg and fixing leg by adhesive. As a rule, the adhesive glue used here is the same glue that is used in connection with the adhesive tongue and groove connection implemented. Consequently, the same advantages - as already described above - can be claimed. This means that the surface element can be replaced during repair work without any problems. The aforementioned recesses are preferably longitudinal grooves, which enable the adhesive glue to be applied mechanically and thus inexpensively.

In addition, there are generally fastening claw legs formed on the underside of the groove leg for connecting the profile frame to other components. In this context, it is conceivable, for example, to accommodate a strip to which rollers are connected. These 5 rollers can be used to guide the surface element as a sliding element in (upper and lower) profiles.
Finally, a visually appealing design is achieved by the fact that the L-shaped pressure leg has a locking leg with a locking lug for securing the locking leg in the lower extension of the fixing leg, whereby the locking lug is provided with a locking projection

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

interacts, and the locking projection is molded onto a fastening claw leg. This not only creates an attractive appearance, but also provides additional fastening or fixing of the pressure leg to the fastening claw leg and thus to the structural unit made up of the groove leg and the L-shaped receiving leg.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows a profile frame according to the invention with a fixed glass pane as a surface element in a perspective view,

Fig. 2, 3 a section through Fig. 1 along the line AA in the open (Fig. 2) and locked state (Fig. 3) and
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Fig. 4 shows the use of the profile frame according to the invention in connection with a sliding element device.

The figures show a profile frame, e.g. an extruded aluminum profile frame. This profile frame is a U-profile frame for holding surface elements 1. According to the example, the surface elements 1 are designed as glass panes.

Of course, plastic plates, metal plates, etc. are also conceivable here. This U-profile frame has a stop leg 2a

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

designed U-leg 2a for fixing one side la of the surface element 1. Furthermore, there is another U-leg 3a designed as a fixing leg 3a for fixing the other side Ib of the surface element 1. Finally, a U-base 2b designed as a support leg 2b is provided. It should be emphasized that according to the embodiment, the U-legs 2a, 3a are arranged essentially perpendicular to the U-base 2b, but any other angles are also covered by the invention.

The support leg 2b is connected essentially perpendicularly to the stop leg 2a to form an L-shaped receiving leg 2 for the surface element 1, molded onto it in the exemplary embodiment. The fixing leg 3a can be locked to the receiving leg 2 during the fastening of the surface element 1 by clamping it between the stop leg 2a and the fixing leg 3a (see the transition from Fig. 2 to Fig. 3). For the purpose of locking, the fixing leg 3a can be connected to the receiving leg 2 by means of a tongue and groove connection 3b, 5, in particular an adhesive tongue and groove connection 3b, 5. This means that the fixing leg 3a is connected to the receiving leg 2 in such a way that the fixing leg 3a has the tongue 3b and the receiving leg 2 has the groove 5, or vice versa.

In detail, for this purpose, a groove leg 4 is provided below the support leg 2b, which 0 together with the support leg 2b located above it forms a rectangular groove channel 5 or the groove 5.

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

The fixing leg 3a has an associated spring leg 3b or the spring 3b, whereby the fixing leg 3a can be locked to the receiving leg 2 by means of the spring leg 3b that can be inserted into the groove channel 5 in the locking direction V. The spring leg 3b is arranged perpendicular to the fixing leg 3a and forms an L-shaped pressure leg 3 with it.

Consequently, the profile frame according to the invention essentially consists of two L-shaped legs 2, 3, namely the L-shaped receiving leg 2 and the L-shaped pressing leg 3. The L-shaped receiving leg 2 is mainly composed of the stop leg 2a and the support leg 2b. The L-shaped pressing leg 3 is a structural unit made up of the fixing leg 3a and the spring leg 3b. Both of the aforementioned legs 2, 3 can be manufactured simply, inexpensively and quickly in the course of an aluminum extrusion process.

0 Of course, plastic extruded profiles can also be used here.

The groove leg 4 is arranged parallel to the support leg 2b. The support leg 2b has a length L adapted to the thickness B of the surface element 1 to be clamped (see in particular Fig. 2 and 3). According to the exemplary embodiment, the groove leg 4 has a length that exceeds the front edge 6 of the support leg 2b by a predetermined amount M. This means that the length of the groove leg 4 is essentially made up of the sum L + M.

The spring leg 3b has a locking direction V

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen

clamping nose 7 arranged on the front. The stop leg 2a and the fixing leg 3a have internal recesses 8 facing the respective adjacent sides la, lb of the surface element 1 for receiving adhesive glue (not shown). According to the embodiment shown, this adhesive glue is the same adhesive glue as is used in the adhesive tongue/groove connection (tongue leg 3b and groove channel 5). The recesses 8 are longitudinal grooves 8. The groove channel 5 is designed to receive the aforementioned adhesive glue.

In addition, there are fastening claw legs 9a, 9b formed on the underside of the groove leg 4 for connecting the profile frame to other components 10. Furthermore, a locking leg 11 with a locking lug 12 is provided in the underside extension of the fixing leg 3a for securing the locking leg 11. The locking lug 12 cooperates with a locking projection 13 which is formed on a fastening claw leg 9a.

The aforementioned component 10 is, as shown in Fig. 4, a rail 10 which is held between the two fastening claw legs 9a, 9b. Rollers 14 are connected to this rail 10, which serve to guide the surface element 1 as a sliding element in upper and lower profiles 15, 16. In addition, lateral cover caps 17 can be provided.

Claims (13)

Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen Protection claims 1. Profile frame, in particular U-profile frame for holding surface elements (1) such as glass panes, plastic panels or the like, with a U-leg (2a) designed as a stop leg (2a) for securing one side (la) of the surface element (1), with another U-leg (3a) designed as a fixing leg (3a) for securing the other side (lb) of the surface element (1), and with a U-base (2b) designed as a support leg (2b), wherein the support leg (2b) is connected essentially perpendicularly to the stop leg (2a) to form an L-shaped receiving leg (2) for the surface element (1), and wherein the fixing leg (3a) can be locked to the receiving leg (2) during the fastening of the surface element (1) by clamping between the stop leg (2a) and the fixing leg (3a), thereby characterized in that the fixing leg (3a) can be connected to the receiving leg (2) by means of a tongue and groove connection (3b, 5), in particular an adhesive tongue and groove connection (3b, 5), wherein the fixing leg (3a) has the tongue (3b) and the receiving leg (2) has the groove (5), or vice versa. 2. Profile frame according to claim 1, characterized in that a groove leg (4) is provided below the support leg (2b), which together with the support leg (2b) located above it forms a groove channel (5) 0, and that the fixing leg (3a) has an associated spring leg (3b), the fixing leg (3a) Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen can be locked to the receiving leg (2) by means of the spring leg (3b) which can be inserted into the groove channel (5) in the locking direction (V). 3. Profile frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring leg (3b) is arranged perpendicular to the fixing leg (3a) and forms an L-shaped pressure leg (3) with the latter. 4. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the groove leg (4) is arranged parallel to the support leg (2b). 5. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support leg (2b) has a length (L) adapted to the thickness (B) of the surface element (1) to be clamped. S. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the groove leg (4) has a length which projects beyond the front edge (6) of the support leg (2b) by a predetermined amount (M). 7. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring leg (3b) has a clamping nose (7) arranged on the front in the locking direction (V). 8. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized 0 characterized in that the stop leg (2a) and the fixing leg (3a) have internal, respectively adjacent Andrejewski, Honke & Sozien, patent attorneys in Essen Have recesses (8) facing the sides (la, 1b) of the surface element (1) for receiving adhesive. 9. Profile frame according to claim 8, characterized in that the recesses (8) are designed as longitudinal grooves (8). 10. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the gutter channel (5) is designed to receive adhesive. 11. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that fastening claw legs (9a, 9b) are formed on the underside of the groove leg (4) for connecting the profile frame to other components (10). 12. Profile frame according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pressure leg (3) in the 0 lower extension of the fixing leg (3a) has a locking leg (11) with a locking lug (12) for securing the locking leg (11), the locking lug (12) interacting with a locking projection (13). 13. Profile frame according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking projection (13) is formed on a fastening claw leg (9a).