ATTACHMENT FOR ATTACHING A SEALING PROFILE TO THE END OF A PANEL, IN PARTICULAR A GLASS PANEL

Abstract

This invention concerns a portable accessory (1) for attaching a sealing profile (2) which is provided with an adhesive layer on which a removable protective strip (3) is applied, against a panel (4), where the said accessory (1) comprises an elongated housing with an inlet (6) and outlet (7) for a sealing profile (2) and two opposing side walls (5) between which a passage space for the sealing profile (2) is formed, where the housing further comprises a guide wall (8) extending between the two side walls over which the sealing profile (2) moves during its path through the passage space when using the accessory (1) and a separation bridge element (9) positioned between the two side walls (5), where the separation bridge element (9) is positioned in relation to the guide wall (8) such that when using the accessory (1) for attaching a sealing profile (2),the removable protective strip (3) at the separating bridge element (9) is separated from the sealing profile (2) with adhesive layer.,

Description

2 A possible solution that allows sealing against panel edges with bevels formed at different angles is described in British patent publication GB2538858. This publication describes a essentially I-shaped sealing profile for sealing the gap or joint between a first glass panel and a second glass panel adjacent to the first glass panel, where the strip is formed from two plastic materials, consisting of a base part of relatively rigid material adapted to be attached to both glass panels, where each longitudinal edge of the base part is provided with a pair of opposing flexible lips, where each lip protrudes from a longitudinal edge of the base part, a first pair of lips is adapted to seal against a bevel at an edge of the first glass panel, and the The second pair of lips is adapted to seal against a bevel at an edge of the second glass panel. The connection of the sealing profile to the glass panels is achieved here via the relatively rigid base section.15 The applicant for this patent application has also in the past developed a sealing profile to seal against panel edges with bevels. Such a sealing profile was described in the Belgian patent application BE2024 / 5024. 20 The sealing profiles are usually provided with a self-adhesive layer, protected by a removable protective strip, for secure attachment to the panel. Before use, the sealing profile is cut to the correct length. Subsequently, the said protective strip is removed from the sealing profile so that the outer adhesive side of this sealing profile can be applied against the panel, which is usually the end edge. For a firm attachment, the applied sealing profile must be pressed down. This can be done manually by pressing the applied sealing profile along its entire length by hand, or with the aid of a tool such as a rubber mallet or a finishing roller made of rubber or plastic.With a finishing roller, the applied sealing profile can be pressed down with even pressure using BE2024 / 5929 3. When using a finishing roller, it is not easy to follow the side edge of the panel and at the same time press down the applied sealing profile sufficiently firmly. This invention aims to provide an alternative tool with which it is possible to attach sealing profiles, in particular sealing profiles of which one or both longitudinal sides are provided with a self-adhesive layer, protected by a removable protective strip, in a comfortable manner.The purpose of the invention is achieved by providing a portable attachment10 for attaching a sealing profile equipped with an adhesive layer on which a removable protective strip is applied, against a panel or other support surface, where the said attachment comprises an elongated housing with an inlet and outlet side for a sealing profile and two opposing side walls between which a passage space for the sealing profile15 is formed, where the housing further comprises a guide wall extending between the two side walls over which the sealing profile moves during its trajectory through the passage space when using the attachment and a separation bridge element positioned between the two side walls, where the separation bridge element is positioned in relation to the guide wall such that when using the attachment for attaching a sealing profile, the removable protective strip is separated from the sealing profile with adhesive layer at the height of the separation bridge element.The accessory in accordance with the invention is preferably a one-piece element. The accessory is preferably made of plastic. With such an accessory, the comfort of installing sealing profiles is increased. By using a so-called separating bridge element to remove (delaminate) the protective strip, the force (speed) with which the protective strip is pulled determines the speed of applying the sealing profile, and thus also the movement of the BE2024 / 5929 4 accessory. The user only needs to press the accessory, usually with the hand other than the one used to pull the protective strip, against the relevant panel with sufficient force and hold it in the desired direction. There is a direct relationship between the speed with which the protective strip is removed and the application speed of the sealing profile, but the harder it is pulled, the faster the sealing profile is installed.In a preferred load-bearing design of the portable fitting according to claim 1, the guide wall has a front end situated at the level of the output side and a rear end situated at the level of the input side, where the guide wall is positioned so that it slopes towards the front end. In use, the guide wall will guide the sealing profile towards the output side. The inclined positioning of the guide wall allows the protective strip to be easily removed from the sealing profile and prevents pressure from being applied to the protective strip with the fitting. Preferably, the guide wall has an angle of inclination between 5° and 70°. In a more preferred load-bearing design of the portable fitting according to the invention, the separating bridge element extends transversely across both side walls.According to a special design of the portable accessory in accordance with the invention, there is an opening between the rear end of the guide walls and the separating bridge element, which opening forms the entry side for the sealing profile. In a more special design of the portable accessory according to the invention, the guide wall protrudes from the housing at the level of the output side, BE2024 / 5929 5, whereby the protruding part forms a pressure element with which the sealing profile can be pressed after installation. In an economical design of the portable fitting in accordance with the invention, the said side walls extend at a distance from each other, which distance lies between 8 mm and 26 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm. The relevant distance is chosen depending on the width of the sealing profile to be installed and the width of the panel or glass panel against which the sealing profile is to be installed.Preferably, the height of the side walls is chosen such that, in the used part, they are placed over the edges of the panel against which the sealing profile is applied. In this way, the accessory is held securely in position to correctly apply the sealing profile. In a more economical design of the portable accessory according to the invention, the accessory is suitable for dual use, where the side walls of the left part of the housing are positioned at a first distance from each other, and where the side walls of the right part of the housing are positioned at a second distance from each other, where the first distance differs from the second distance. Each part, i.e.left and right section, comprises an inlet and outlet side for a sealing profile and a passage space for the sealing profile, whereby each section further comprises a view between the two side walls, the guide wall over which the sealing profile moves during its trajectory through the passage space when using the accessory, and a separation bridge element positioned between the two side walls, whereby the separation bridge element is positioned in relation to the respective guide wall in such a way that when using the accessory for installing a sealing profile, the removable protective strip at the height of the separation bridge element is separated from the rest of the sealing profile. Preferably, the relevant intermediate distance is between 8 mm and 26 mm. In practice, a distance that is close together is chosen, for example BE2024 / 5929 6 side walls standing at an intermediate distance of 10 mm at the one section, while the The side walls of the other part are spaced at an intermediate distance of 12 mm.In a particularly advantageous design of the accessory according to the invention, during use, the application speed of the sealing profile is synchronous with the speed at which the protective strip is removed from the sealing profile. The removal of the protective strip will usually be performed manually by the user applying a pulling force to the strip in question. In an alternative design, the accessory according to the invention is equipped with motorized pulling devices designed to automatically remove the protective strip from the sealing profile. The accessory according to the invention is preferably suitable for applying a sealing profile provided for a profile against a panel edge in a comfortable and high-quality manner, more particularly against a panel edge with bevels.The fitting according to the invention is particularly suitable for applying a sealing profile suitable for sealing the joint between a first panel and a second panel adjacent to the first panel, where the said sealing profile is a co-extruded profile formed from plastic material, comprising a base body and at least two flexible lips,20 where each lip protrudes from a longitudinal edge of the base body, where a first lip is adapted to seal in use against a bevel on an edge of a first panel, and the second lip is adapted to seal in use against a bevel on an edge of a second panel, where the said lips are connected to the base body via a crack or notch line, whereby each lip can25 be separated from the base body to change the appearance of the sealing profile function of the positioning of the panels relative to each other.Naturally, the tool can also be used to apply other sealing profiles provided with an adhesive layer, such as plastic strips, to a desired support surface.30 BE2024 / 5929 7 In order to further clarify the properties of this invention and to indicate additional benefits and particulars thereof, a more detailed description of an accessory for applying a sealing profile in accordance with the invention and the manner in which a sealing profile is applied follows. It should be clear that nothing in the description below can be interpreted as a limitation of the protection claimed in the claims.In this description, reference figures are used to refer to the attached drawings, where: 10 - Figure 1: is a perspective representation of the placement of the accessory according to the invention during the application of a sealing profile against a supporting surface in the form of a panel; 10 - Figure 2: schematically illustrates the method of applying a sealing profile against a supporting surface using the accessory in accordance with the invention, 15 showing the course (trajectory) of the protective strip after the application of the sealing profile; 10 - Figure 3: is a perspective representation of an accessory according to the invention suitable for dual use, showing the trajectory of the sealing profile and protective strip; 20 - Figure 4: shows the inside of the representation depicted in Figure 3.The portable attachment(1) in accordance with these inventions as shown in the attached figures is suitable for attaching a sealing profile(2) that is provided with an adhesive layer on which a removable protective strip(3)25 (protective film / protective layer) is applied, against a panel(4) or other support surface. The attachment(1) is particularly suitable for attaching a sealing profile(2) against the edge of a panel(4), preferably a glass panel, in order to create a seal and a mechanical connection between the respective edges of a pair of adjacent panels, where the edges in question are, for example, provided with an angled bevel which can vary in size and angle. For the attachment of the sealing profile(2) against the edges of the panels(4), the longitudinal sides thereof are provided with an adhesive layer or glue layer with sufficient adhesive properties. The adhesive layer (glue layer) is provided with a removable protective strip(3) which must be removed just before applying the sealing profile(2) against the (end) edge of a panel(4).The aforementioned fitting(1) comprises an elongated housing with an outlet(6) and outlet(7) for a sealing profile(2) and two opposing side walls(5) between which a passage space for the sealing profile(2) is formed. Furthermore, the housing comprises at least one guide wall(8) extending between the two side walls(5), over which the sealing profile(2) moves at least partially during its journey through the passage space when using the fitting(1). Furthermore, the housing is provided with at least one separating bridge element(9) positioned between the two side walls(5), preferably transversely. This separation bridge element(9) is positioned in relation to the guide wall(8) such that when using the tool(1) to install a sealing profile(2), the removable protective strip(3) at the height of the separation bridge element(9) is separated from the rest of the sealing profile.The characteristic of the tool(1) according to the invention is that in use the speed of removing the protective strip(3) from the sealing profile(2) determines the speed at which the sealing profile(2) is applied. In practice, the removal of the protective strip(3) will often be done manually by the user applying a pulling force to the protective strip(3). The guide wall(8) of the fitting(1) has a front end, located at the level of the output side(7), and a rear end, located at the level of the input side(6). The guide wall(8) has a sloping design and is positioned in such a way that it slopes towards the front end. The input side(6) (input opening) for the sealing profile(2) is located between the rear end of the guide wall(8) and the separating bridge element(9). Preferably, the guide wall(8) should protrude from the housing at the level of the output side(7). This protruding part forms a pressure element(10) with which the sealing profile5(2) can be pressed down after installation.Before use, the sealing profile(2), preferably from a roll, is cut to the desired length and inserted into the housing via the input side(6) of the attachment(1). During use of the attachment(1), as shown in 10 figures 1 and 2, the input side(6) is located on the longitudinal side of the housing that extends furthest from the surface than where the sealing profile(2) is applied. At the start of the application process, the entire sealing profile(2), with the protective strip(3) still present, is inserted through the attachment(1) until a part protrudes along the output side(7). Then 15 a part of the protective strip(3) is detached so that the adhesive layer is exposed. Then the sealing profile(2) is attached to the desired location against the support surface to which it is to be attached and the user pulls on the detached protective strip(3) so that it comes further loose from the rest of the sealing material.The tension applied to the protective strip20 (3) moves the attachment(1), this is because the protective strip(3) rests against a part of the separating bridge element, whereby the applied force is transferred to this separating bridge element(9), and thus also to the entire attachment(1), as shown, for example, in figures 2 to 4. The protective strip(3) moves over the top side of the separating bridge element(9), in use the said 25 top side is the side closest to the application surface. The force (speed) with which the protective strip(3) is pulled determines the speed of applying the sealing profile(2), and thus also the movement of the attachment(1).30 BE2024 / 5929 10 The removal of the protective strip(3) will usually be done manually by applying a pulling force, by the user, to the strip in question. In an alternative design, the attachment(1) is equipped according to the invention with motorized pulling devices to automatically remove the protective strip(3) from the sealing profile(2).5 With such an accessory(1) increase the ease of installing sealing profiles(2). The side walls(5) of the housing of the accessory(1) are located at a distance of 10 from each other. This distance is between 8 mm and 26 mm. The distance is chosen depending on the width of the sealing profile(2) to be installed and the width of the panel(4) or glass panel against which the sealing profile(2) is to be installed. The side walls(5) have a certain height, the height is chosen so that they fit over the edges of the 15 panel(4). This ensures that the accessory is held in the correct position to install the sealing profile(2) correctly. Often a different attachment(1) needs to be developed for each width. However, it is also possible to adapt the attachment(1) in accordance with the invention so that it is suitable for dual use.