DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING THE OPENING OF A LIFT-AND-SLIDE ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for assisting in the opening of a lift-and-slide element. According to the invention, the device particularly assists in opening the lift-and-slide element by allowing it to be moved from its closed position toward its open position with as little effort as possible and without motorized assistance.

[0002] Conventional lift-and-slide elements, such as lift-and-slide doors, can have a considerable weight of up to 400 kg or more. This can result in a correspondingly large amount of force being required to set the sliding leaf of such a lift-and-slide door in motion, as is the case, for example, when opening a lift-and-slide door from its closed position. EP 4 053 366 A1 discloses an example of a device for assisting in opening a lift-and-slide element.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device with which a lifting and sliding element can be opened with only little effort and without motor assistance.

[0004] This object is achieved with a device having the features of claim 1 for assisting the opening of a lift-and-slide element such as a lift-and-slide door or a lift-and-slide window.

[0005] The device according to the invention for assisting the opening of a lift-and-slide element comprises an ejector unit with an axially expanding spring element, such as a gas spring, having a first end and a second end, wherein a first locking assembly is coupled to the first end and a second locking assembly is coupled to the second end. Furthermore, the device has a housing that accommodates the ejector unit and via which it can be fastened to the wing of a lift-and-slide element. For example, the lift-and-slide element can form a receiving groove along its upper edge and in an adjacent corner area, into which the housing accommodating the ejector unit can be fitted and secured to the wing.

[0006] The ejector unit, and in particular its spring element, serves to generate a force by which the sash can be pushed away from the frame from its closed position, thus facilitating the opening of the lift-and-slide element. Such lift-and-slide elements are typically mounted so as to be movable on a floor-side guide or track, with the lift-and-slide elements resting on the floor-side track via at least two carriages. The carriages comprise a lifting device by means of which the lift-and-slide element can be adjusted from a lowered position, in which it is secured to the frame, to a raised position, in which it is unlocked. For this purpose, the lifting device integrated into the respective carriage is coupled to a locking gear, which can be operated using an actuating lever.By operating the operating lever, the locking gear and, via this, the lifting devices of the carriages can be operated.

[0007] Since the lift-and-slide element thus rises during opening, it is desirable that the force exerted by the ejector unit to assist in opening the lift-and-slide element is only generated when the wing of the lift-and-slide element is unlocked in its raised position. Accordingly, according to the invention, the ejector unit has different configurations, states, or positions that can ensure that the ejector unit only becomes active when the wing is unlocked.

[0008] Thus, according to the invention, the ejector unit has a first configuration in which the spring element is compressed and the ejector unit is located completely within the housing. In this first configuration, due to the fact that the spring element is compressed, the ejector unit has a first length which is less than a second length of the ejector unit which it has when the spring element is relaxed. In order to be able to hold the spring element in its compressed state, the ejector unit has the two locking assemblies already mentioned, by means of which the ejector unit can be locked to the housing. Thus, when the spring element is in its compressed state, this state can be preserved to a certain extent by the locking assemblies locking the ejector unit to the housing so that the spring element cannot relax.In addition to this first configuration, the ejector unit further has a second configuration in which the spring element is relaxed and thus has the second length. In this second configuration, only the second locking assembly is locked to the housing, whereas the first locking assembly is unlocked, resulting in a locking element provided on the first locking assembly.

[0009] Buffer element for repelling the sliding sash from a frame extends or is located outside the housing. Starting from the first configuration, the first locking assembly was thus unlocked manually, for example, so that the spring element can relax. However, since the second locking assembly is still locked in the second configuration, the spring element in the second configuration can be supported on the housing via the second locking assembly and thus, via the buffer element provided on the first locking assembly, exert a repulsive compressive force on the frame, by means of which the sash of the lift-and-slide element is set in motion and thus pushed open.Although the first locking assembly can be unlocked manually, as already mentioned, according to a preferred embodiment, which will be discussed in more detail below, the first locking assembly can also be assigned a first unlocking element which can be actuated via the locking gear or its actuating lever to unlock the first locking assembly.

[0010] In addition to the two previously described configurations, the ejector unit further has a third configuration in which the spring element is relaxed, as in the second configuration. In contrast to the second configuration, however, the second locking assembly is now also in its unlocked state. To unlock the second locking assembly, a second unlocking element can be assigned to it, just like the first locking assembly, so that the second locking assembly can be unlocked by actuating the actuating lever of the locking gear. Alternatively, however, the second locking assembly can also be unlocked purely manually, according to one embodiment.

[0011] The third configuration differs from the second configuration essentially in that in the third configuration the second locking assembly is also unlocked. However, as in the second configuration, the buffer element is still located outside the housing. Due to the fact that in the third configuration both locking assemblies are unlocked, in the third configuration the ejector unit can be moved in its entirety within the housing without compressing the spring element. In the third configuration, the ejector unit is therefore, to a certain extent, floating in the housing, since it can be moved in its entirety within the housing without compressing the spring element.Therefore, when the sash of the lift-and-slide element is moved from the third configuration into its closed position, the buffer element comes into contact with the frame, causing the ejector unit to be pushed back into the housing in its entirety. The third configuration thus allows the ejector unit to be pushed back into the housing without having to overcome the spring force of the spring element when closing the sash.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be discussed below. Further embodiments may also emerge from the dependent claims or within the scope of the claims, from the description of the figures, and from the drawings themselves.

[0013] For certain applications, such as escape doors, it may be sufficient if the ejector unit can only be activated once to assist in opening the door, after which the ejector unit and in particular its spring element must then be manually compressed again in order to be available for a later activation process.

[0014] However, in order to support the everyday opening of a lift-and-slide element, for example, designed as a patio door, the ejector unit can have a fourth configuration into which it can be converted to facilitate the recompression of the spring element and thus the transition back to the first configuration, in which the ejector unit is available to support a renewed opening process of the lift-and-slide element. For this purpose, in the fourth configuration, only the first locking assembly is locked to the housing, whereas the second locking assembly is unlocked. The ejector unit, including the buffer element, is located within the housing, and the spring element remains in its relaxed state, as in the third configuration.Since the ejector unit is locked to the housing via the first locking assembly in this fourth configuration, the spring element of the ejector unit can be compressed by pushing the second locking assembly toward the first locking assembly, which ultimately results in the second locking assembly also re-engaging with the housing when the spring element is compressed. In this state, the ejector unit has then returned to its first configuration, in which it is available for the next opening operation of the lifting-sliding element.

[0015] In order for the first locking assembly to automatically engage with the housing when the ejector unit is pushed from its third configuration, in which the buffer element extends outside the housing, into its fourth configuration, in which the buffer element is located inside the housing, the first locking assembly can comprise at least one first locking bolt which is prestressed by a spring towards its locking position, in which it engages with a first locking receptacle formed in the housing for locking the first locking assembly to the housing. In a corresponding manner, the second locking assembly can also comprise at least one second locking bolt which is likewise prestressed by a spring towards its locking position, in which it engages with a second locking receptacle formed in the housing for locking the second locking assembly to the housing.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, each locking assembly can comprise two locks that are biased toward their respective locking positions by a spring. Preferably, both locks of a respective locking assembly can be pivotally mounted on a common axis. The locks can thus be single-armed levers that can be forced into their unlocked position by means of an associated unlocking element against the biasing force of the respective spring, thus releasing or unlocking the respective locking assembly.

[0017] Although the spring element of the ejector unit can be compressed purely manually in order to be able to transfer the ejector unit from its fourth configuration back to its first configuration, in order to be able to transfer the ejector unit automatically back to its first configuration when the lifting-sliding element is lowered, the device according to the invention can further comprise a tensioning unit accommodated in the housing, by means of which the spring element can be automatically compressed when the lifting-sliding element is lowered. For this purpose, the tensioning unit has an abutment element in the housing that serves as a driver and can be brought into contact with the second locking assembly. The abutment element is located at a first end of a bar that is slidably received in the housing, extends parallel to the ejector unit, and can be drive-coupled to the locking gear of the lifting-sliding element.By actuating the locking mechanism using the operating lever, the abutment element can be pulled against the second locking assembly, automatically compressing the ejector unit or its spring element when the lifting / sliding element is lowered, thus enabling it to return from its fourth configuration back to its first configuration. Since the weight of the lifting / sliding element typically acts on its operating lever via the locking mechanism during lowering, the weight assists in compressing the spring element when the lifting / sliding element is lowered, so the force required for this does not have to be applied solely by a person operating the operating lever.

[0018] As already mentioned, the two locking assemblies or their locking latches can be unlocked as needed using associated unlocking elements. For this purpose, a first unlocking element assigned to the first latch and at least one second unlocking element assigned to the second latch can be provided on the bar. The second unlocking element is spaced from the first unlocking element by a distance that is less than the distance between the two latch receptacles of the housing. Due to the fact that the two unlocking elements are spaced from each other by a distance that is less than the distance between the two latch receptacles, it can be ensured that initially only the first locking assembly is unlocked when the ejector unit is transferred from its first configuration to its second configuration by actuating the clamping unit.This ensures that in the second configuration the second locking assembly remains locked in the desired manner in order to serve as an abutment over which the spring element of the ejector unit can be supported in the second configuration in order to be able to push the sash of the lift-slide element away from the frame.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that in the first configuration the first unlocking element is located between the first latch engaging in the first latch receptacle and the buffer element and that the second unlocking element is located between the second latch engaging in the second latch receptacle and the second end of the spring element.

[0020] According to yet another embodiment, it can be provided that in the second configuration the first unlocking element is aligned with the first locking receptacle and / or is located between the two ends of the spring element and the second unlocking element is located between the second locking bar engaging in the second locking receptacle and the second end of the spring element.

[0021] In the third configuration, it can further be provided that the first unlocking element is located between the two ends of the spring element and / or between the two locking receptacles and the second unlocking element is aligned with the second locking receptacle and thus urges the at least one second locking bar into its unlocking position.

[0022] Furthermore, in the fourth configuration, it can be provided that the first unlocking element is located between the first latch engaging in the first latch receptacle and the first end of the spring element and the second unlocking element is located between the second end of the spring element and the second latch.

[0023] In order to be able to drive-couple the bar of the tensioning unit to the locking gear or a drive rod driven by it, a further embodiment can provide for the bar to be made of a spring steel strip that is bent by 90° in the housing at the second end opposite the first end of the bar (where the abutment element is located). The end of the spring steel strip bent by 90° thus extends in the direction of the drive rod driven by the locking gear and can thus be connected to it.

[0024] The spring steel strip extends over the entire length of the ejector unit, regardless of its configuration, and is guided parallel to the ejector unit in the housing, so that the abutment element provided at the first end of the spring steel strip can be brought into contact with the second locking assembly by actuating the actuating lever of the locking unit, in order to compress the ejector unit or its spring element upon continued actuation of the actuating lever. By constructing the strip from a spring steel strip, it is not only possible to deflect the strip as desired in the region of its second end; moreover, the strip is pressure-stable and insensitive to buckling within certain limits due to its construction from a spring steel material.The bar can thus be pushed away from the second locking assembly with its abutment element while the lifting and sliding element is lowered, without there being any risk of the bar buckling.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a lift-slide element such as a lift-slide door or a lift-slide window is further proposed, which is equipped with a device as described above.

[0026] The lifting and sliding element comprises at least one carriage with an integrated lifting device for raising and lowering the lifting and sliding element, as well as a locking gear which is drive-effectively coupled to the lifting device for actuating the latter. The locking gear is further drive-effectively coupled to the clamping unit of the device according to the invention. If the lifting and sliding element is raised from its lowered and locked position by actuating the locking gear, the first locking assembly is automatically unlocked upon reaching the raised position due to the fact that the locking gear is coupled to the clamping unit of the device according to the invention. This has the consequence that the ejector unit orwhose spring element relaxes and thus assumes its second configuration, in which the sash of the lift-and-slide element is pushed away from the frame by the ejector unit toward its open position. The device is thus synchronized with the locking mechanism in such a way that, starting from its first configuration, the device maintains this configuration until the sash of the lift-and-slide element is in a raised position due to actuation of the lifting device by the locking mechanism, in which position the tensioning unit is in the position in which the first unlocking element is aligned with the first latch, thus unlocking it.

[0027] If, however, the locking mechanism or its actuating lever is actuated in the opposite direction when the ejector unit is in its fourth configuration, the abutment element of the tensioning unit comes into contact with the second locking assembly. With continued actuation of the actuating lever, this results in the ejector unit or its spring element being compressed until the latch of the second locking assembly engages the housing. In this state, the ejector unit is thus returned to the first configuration and is therefore ready to push the lift-and-slide element away from the frame during a subsequent opening operation.

[0028] In the following, the invention will now be described purely by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a lift-sliding door according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows the detail "A" of the Fig. 1 in an enlarged view; Fig. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the device of the Fig. 3 in the assembled state without a lid; Figs. 5a and 5b show the (second) locking assembly in different representations and states; Figs. 6a, 6b and 6c show a movement sequence showing the individual states of the device according to the invention during the closing of a lifting-sliding element; and Figs. 7a, 7b and 7c illustrate a movement sequence showing the individual states of the device according to the invention during the opening of a lifting-sliding element.

[0029] In the following, with reference to the Fig. 1 und 2 a possible positioning and type of attachment of the device 30 according to the invention will be discussed, before then referring to the Fig. 3 bis 7 the structure and functioning of the device 30 according to the invention is discussed.

[0030] The Fig. 1 shows a lift-and-slide element, and more precisely, a lift-and-slide door 10 with a surrounding frame 12, which accommodates a sliding sash 14, which is guided within the frame 12 along an upper guide or running rail 26 and a bottom-side lower guide or running rail 28. The sliding sash 14, in turn, comprises a sash frame 16, which accommodates the glazing of the sliding sash 14.

[0031] Furthermore, the lift-sliding door 10 has a locking mechanism 18 which can be actuated by means of an actuating lever 20 and by actuating which the sliding sash 14 can be locked to the frame 12 and moved between a raised and a lowered position. For this purpose, the sliding sash 14 rests on the bottom side of the lower guide rail 28 via two carriages (not shown) with an integrated lifting device, wherein the locking mechanism 18 for raising and lowering the sliding sash 14 is coupled in a known manner to the lifting devices of the carriages via a drive rod or rail 24 guided in a fitting groove of the frame 12. By pivoting the actuating lever 20 by 180°, the sliding sash 14 can thus be raised or lowered, wherein the sliding sash 14 can be moved in the Fig. 1 The operating lever 20 is in its raised position, shown in the 6 o'clock position. However, if the operating lever 20 is pivoted counterclockwise by 180°, the sliding sash 14 is lowered by means of the lifting devices and thus locked to the frame 12, provided the sliding sash 14 is in its closed position.

[0032] Again Fig. 2 which can be seen from the detail "A" of the Fig. 1 As shown in an enlarged view, the casement 16 has, in the corner above the locking mechanism 18, a device 30 according to the invention, which assists an operator in opening the lift-sliding door 10. The device 30 has a substantially L-shaped housing 36, which accommodates the mechanism of the device 30, which is explained in more detail below. The longer housing leg 38 of the housing 36 is located in a horizontally extending receiving groove of the casement 16, whereas the shorter housing leg 40 is located in a vertically extending receiving groove in the casement 16. As the Fig. 2 can be removed, the housing 36 has an opening 32 through which, in the position shown, a buffer element 34 of the device 30 extends outward. The buffer element 34 serves to repel the sliding sash 14 from the frame 12 after the sliding sash 14 has been raised during the opening of the lift-sliding door 10.

[0033] In the following, with reference to the Fig. 3 und 4 The general structure of the device 30 according to the invention is explained. As already mentioned, the housing 36 has a substantially L-shaped configuration and serves to accommodate the mechanism of the device 30, in particular an ejector unit 48 and a clamping unit 50. The housing 36 has a removable cover 46, which can be fastened to the housing base body 52 by means of three screws in order to close it. In addition, a cover 54 can be attached to the shorter housing leg 40. This cover holds the linkage rod 22 in the housing and whose opening 42 is aligned with the opening 32 of the housing 36.

[0034] The ejector unit 48, which is located in the horizontally extending long housing leg 38, has a spring element in the form of a gas spring 56, with a first locking assembly 66 attached to the free end of the piston rod 58, referred to here as the first end 62. In contrast, a second locking assembly 68 is attached to the free end of the cylinder 60 of the gas spring 56, also referred to here as the second end 64. The cylindrical buffer element 34, in turn, is rigidly attached to the end of the first locking assembly 66 that is opposite the end to which the first locking assembly 66 is attached to the free end 62 of the piston rod 58.

[0035] In the following, with reference to the Fig. 5a bis 5d The structure of the second locking assembly 68 is discussed in more detail. This has a locking housing 70 that forms a passage 72 in which two locking bars 74 are pivotally mounted on a common axis 75. The two locking bars 74, which are also referred to here as second locking bars 74 due to the fact that they belong to the second locking assembly 68, each have a convexly curved outer cam surface 78, on which a locking projection 76 is formed near the free end of the respective locking bar 74. In the Fig. 5a und 5c the two bolts 74 are in their unlocking position completely within the passage 72, whereas the bolts 74 in the Fig. 5c und 5d in their locking position, in which they are pre-tensioned from their unlocking position by a spring 80. In the locking position according to the Fig. 5c und 5d At least the locking projections 76 extend out of the passage 72 of the locking housing 70. In order to be able to hinge the locking housing 70 to the second end 64 of the gas spring 56, the locking housing 70 has a fork 82, which receives a flange formed on the second end 64 of the gas spring 56 and is connected to it by means of a bolt 84.

[0036] The first locking assembly 66 is essentially identical to the second locking assembly 68, with the difference that the fork 82 is not located at the end of the locking housing 70 that is closer to the axis 75; rather, in the first locking assembly 66, the fork 82 is located at the other end of the locking housing 70' and thus at the end of the locking housing 70 that is farther away from the axis 75. To better distinguish the individual components of the two locking assemblies, the reference numerals of the first locking assembly 66 are provided with an apostrophe below.

[0037] In the following, with reference to the Fig. 3 und 4 The design of the clamping unit 50 is discussed in more detail. This comprises a strip 86 in the form of a spring steel band, which is slidably guided in the housing 36. In particular, the spring steel band 86 is located below the ejector unit 48 in the installed state of the device 30 and thus on that side of the long housing leg 38 from which the shorter housing leg 40 protrudes.

[0038] As in particular the Fig. 4 can be removed, the housing base body 52 has in its interior a corner deflection 88 in the form of two mutually opposite concave or convex curved surfaces, by means of which the spring steel band 86 is deflected by 90° between the long housing leg 38 and the short housing leg 40. At that end of the spring steel band 86 which is located in the long housing leg 38, an abutment element 90 is fastened, whereas at the other end of the spring steel band 86 which is located in the short housing leg 40, a coupling element 92 is fastened, via which the spring steel band 86 of the tensioning unit 50 can be coupled in a driving manner to a drive rod 22 which can be actuated by means of the locking gear 18 and which is also referred to here as the linkage rod 22.

[0039] As again the Fig. 3 As can be seen, the first locking assembly 66 is assigned a pair of first unlocking elements 94, whereas the second locking assembly 68 is assigned a pair of second unlocking elements 96. The unlocking elements 94, 96 are components of two sliding carriages 98 fastened to the spring steel strip 86, which serve to slidably receive the two locking assemblies 66, 68 and in particular their locking housings 70', 70. The unlocking elements 94, 96 protrude upwards on both sides of the respective sliding carriages 98 in order to come into contact with the convex cam surfaces 78', 78 of the two locking assemblies 66, 68 if necessary.

[0040] As already mentioned above, the latches 74', 74 of the two latch assemblies 66, 68 are each pre-tensioned towards their locking position by means of a spring 80', 80. In In their locking position, the latches 74', 74 and in particular their latch projections 76', 76 engage with first and second latch receptacles 100', 100, respectively, which are openings in the housing cover 46 and in the wall of the housing body 52 opposite the cover 46.

[0041] After the basic structure of the device 30 according to the invention and the design of the individual components thereof have been explained, reference will now be made to the Fig. 6a bis 6c and 7a bis 7c the functioning of the device 30 according to the invention is explained. At this point it should be noted in advance that in the Fig. 6a bis 6c and 7a bis 7c For the sake of clarity, the two vertical arrows above the top figure indicate the position of the locking receptacles 100', 100 in the vertical housing leg 38.

[0042] The Fig. 6a, 6b und 6c illustrate a movement sequence of the device 30 when closing the sliding sash 14. In the starting position of the Fig. 6a The gas pressure spring 56 is initially released and both locking assemblies 66, 68 are unlocked, with the buffer element 34 extending outwards from the housing 36 through the housing opening 32. More precisely, in the Fig. 6a illustrated configuration, which is also referred to here as the third configuration, the first unlocking element 94 between the two ends 62, 64 of the gas spring 56 and between the two locking receptacles 100', 100, whereas the second unlocking element 96 is flush with or aligned with the second locking receptacle 100, thereby preventing the second locking bars 74 from engaging the associated locking receptacles 100. In In the third configuration shown, the ejector unit 48 is thus mounted in its entirety in a floating manner in the long housing leg 38, since both locking assemblies 66, 68 are unlocked and thus the ejector unit 48 can be moved in its entirety in the long housing leg 38 without the gas pressure spring 56 being compressed.

[0043] If the sliding sash 14 is now moved in the direction of its closed position, the buffer element 34 comes into contact with the vertical leg of the frame 12, which, with continued closing movement, leads to the ejector unit 48 in its entirety starting from the third configuration according to Fig. 6a into the fourth configuration according to Fig. 6b is pushed into the long housing leg 38 until the first bolts 74' with their bolt projections 76' engage in the corresponding bolt receptacle 100'. In In this fourth configuration, the gas spring 56 is still relaxed and the first unlocking elements 94 are located between the first latches 74' engaging in the first latch receptacles 100' and the first end 62 of the gas spring 56. In contrast, the second unlocking elements 96 are located between the second end 64 of the gas spring 56 and the second latches 74.

[0044] Now, starting from the fourth configuration according to Fig. 6b the sliding sash 14 is lowered by actuating the operating lever 20 in the counterclockwise direction towards the 12 o'clock position, the spring steel band 86 in the horizontally extending long housing leg 38 is pulled to the left due to the coupling of the tensioning unit 50 with the locking gear 18 via the link rod 22, as shown in the Fig. 6c as illustrated by the corresponding arrow pointing to the left. The abutment element 90 at the end of the spring steel strip 86 thus comes into contact with the free end of the locking housing 70 of the second locking assembly 68, which, upon continued movement of the actuating lever 20, results in the gas pressure spring 56 being compressed until the locking bars 74 of the second locking assembly 68 also engage the corresponding locking receptacles 100.

[0045] This configuration is in the Fig. 6c which is also referred to here as the first configuration. In this configuration, the first unlocking elements 94 are located between the first latches 74' engaging in the first latch receptacles 100' and the buffer element 34, whereas the second unlocking elements 96 are located between the second latches 74 engaging in the second latch receptacles 100 and the second end of the gas pressure spring 56. At this point, it should be noted that during the transition from the fourth configuration to the first configuration, the first latch assembly 66 is briefly unlocked, since the first unlocking elements 94 come into contact with the convex cam surfaces 98 of the two first latches 74' and thus briefly push them back into their unlocked position. However, since the sash 16 is already secured to the frame 12 at this time, the gas pressure spring 56 cannot relax.

[0046] If the ejector unit 48 and in particular its gas pressure spring 56 were tensioned according to the above explanations during the closing of the sliding sash 14, the ejector unit 48 is available during a subsequent opening process to support the same, as will be explained below with reference to the Fig. 7a, 7b und 7c is explained.

[0047] The configuration of the Fig. 7a corresponds entirely to the first configuration as described above with reference to the Fig. 6c was explained. If, starting from this first configuration, the sliding sash 14 is raised by pivoting the operating lever 20 clockwise back to its 6 o'clock position, the spring steel band 86 is displaced to the right in the horizontally aligned long housing leg 38 due to the coupling of the tensioning unit 50 and in particular its spring steel band 86 via the drive or link rod 22 with the locking gear 18, as shown in the Fig. 7b as illustrated by the arrows. Due to the fact that the unlocking elements 94, 96 are spaced apart by a distance that is smaller than the distance between the two locking receptacles 100', 100, initially only the first locking assembly 66 is unlocked, as the associated unlocking elements 94 slide along the convex cam surfaces 78' of the two locking bars 74, thus forcing them into their unlocked position. Since the first locking assembly 66 is now unlocked and the sliding sash 14 is already in a raised and unlocked position, the gas pressure spring 56 can relax or expand and thus push the buffer element 34 out of the housing 36 against the vertical leg of the frame 12, with the result that the sliding sash 14 is pushed into its open position by the gas pressure spring 56 in order to assist the opening of the lift-sliding door 10.

[0048] If the operating lever 20 now reaches the position shown in the Fig. 7b shown configuration, the spring steel band 86 is pushed further to the right until the second unlocking elements 96 are again aligned with the second locking receptacles 100. This then corresponds again to the previously described with reference to the Fig. 6a illustrated third configuration, in which the second locking assembly 86 is also unlocked due to the fact that the second locking members 74 are urged back into their unlocked position by the second unlocking elements 96 sliding along the cam surfaces 78. Since both locking assemblies 94, 96 are now unlocked again, the ejector unit 48 can be pushed back into the housing 36 in its entirety during a subsequent closing operation, so that the movement sequence can begin again. Bezugszeichenliste

[0049] 10 Lift-sliding door 12 Frame 14 Sliding sash 16 Sash frame 18 Locking gear 20 Operating lever 22 Drive rod / Linkage rod 24 Drive rod / Drive rail 26 Upper guide rail / Running rail 28 Lower guide rail / Running rail 30 Device 32 Opening 34 Buffer element 36 Housing 38 Long housing leg 40 Short housing leg 42 Opening 46 Cover 48 Ejector unit 50 Clamping unit 52 Housing body 54 Cover 56 Gas spring 58 Piston rod 60 Cylinder 62 First end 64 Second end 66 First bolt assembly 68 Second bolt assembly 70, 70' Bolt housing 72, 72' Passage 74, 74' Bolt 75, 75'Axle 76, 76'Latch projection 78, 78'Cam surface 80, 80'Pre-tension spring 82, 82'Fork 84, 84'Bolt 86Bar, spring steel band 88Deflection 90Abutment element 92Coupling element 94First release element 96Second release element 98Sliding carriage 100, 100'Latch receptacles

Claims

1. An apparatus (30) for assisting the opening of a lift and slide element such as a lift and slide door (10) or a lift and slide window, said apparatus (30) comprising: an ejector unit (48) comprising a spring element, in particular a gas pressure spring (56), having a first end (62) and a second end (64), a first latch assembly (66) connected to the first end (62) and a second latch assembly (68) connected to the second end (64); and a housing (36) which receives the ejector unit (48) and which is configured for attachment to a leaf of a lift and slide element; wherein the ejector unit (48) has at least three configurations, namely: - a first configuration in which the spring element is compressed and the ejector unit (48) is locked to the housing (36) by means of both latch assemblies (66, 68); - a second configuration in which the spring element is relaxed and only the second latch assembly (68) is locked to the housing (36), whereas the first latch assembly (66) is unlocked and a buffer element (34) provided at the first latch assembly (66) extends at least partly outside the housing (36) in order to repel the lift and slide element from a frame (12); and - a third configuration in which the spring element is relaxed and both latch assemblies (66, 68) are unlocked, wherein the buffer element (34) extends at least partly outside the housing (36).

2. An apparatus (30) according to claim 1, wherein the ejector unit (48) has a fourth configuration in which the spring element is relaxed and only the first latch assembly (66) is locked to the housing (36), whereas the second latch assembly (68) is unlocked, wherein the ejector unit (48), including the buffer element (34), extends within the housing (36).

3. An apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first latch assembly (66) comprises at least a first latch (74') which is preloaded by means of a spring (80') towards its locking position in which said first latch (74') is in engagement with a first latch receiver (100'), which is formed in the housing (36), for locking the first latch assembly (66) to the housing (36), and the second latch assembly (68) comprises at least a second latch (74) which is likewise preloaded by means of a spring (80) towards its locking position in which said second latch (74) is in engagement with a second latch receiver (100), which is formed in the housing (36), for locking the second latch assembly (68) to the housing (36).

4. An apparatus (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each latch assembly (66, 68) comprises two latches (74', 74) which are preloaded towards one another in the direction of their locking position by means of a spring (80', 80), wherein it is in particular provided that the two latches (74', 74) of each latch assembly (66, 68) are pivotably supported at a respective common axis (75', 75).

5. An apparatus (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (30) further comprises a clamping unit (50), received by the housing (36), for compressing the spring element, wherein the clamping unit (50) has an abutment element (90) for contacting the second latch assembly (68), said abutment element (90) being provided at a first end of a displaceable strip (86) which extends along the ejector unit (48) and is drive-effectively couplable to a locking gear (18) of a lift and slide element.

6. An apparatus (30) according to claim 5, wherein at least a first unlocking element (94) associated with the first latch (74') and at least a second unlocking element (96) associated with the second latch (74) are further provided at the strip (86), said second unlocking element (96) being spaced apart from the first unlocking element (94) by an amount which is less than the spacing between the two latch receivers (100', 100).

7. An apparatus (30) according to claim 5 and / or 6, wherein, in a position of the clamping unit (50) in which the first unlocking element (94) is aligned with the first latch (74'), said first latch (74') is held in its unlocking position by the first unlocking element (96), and / or wherein, in a position of the clamping unit (50) in which the second unlocking element (96) is aligned with the second latch (74), said second latch (74) is held in its unlocking position by the second unlocking element (96).

8. An apparatus (30) according to at least one of the claims 5 to 7, wherein, in the first configuration, the first unlocking element (94) is disposed between the first latch (74') engaging into the first latch receiver (100') and the buffer element (34) and the second unlocking element (96) is disposed between the second latch (74) engaging into the second latch receiver (100) and the second end of the spring element; and / or wherein, in the second configuration, the first unlocking element (94) is aligned with the first latch receiver (100') and / or is disposed between the two ends of the spring element and the second unlocking element (96) is disposed between the second latch (74) engaging into the second latch receiver (100) and the second end of the spring element; and / or wherein, in the third configuration, the first unlocking element (94) is disposed between the two ends of the spring element and / or between the two latch receivers (100', 100) and the second unlocking element (96) is aligned with the second latch receiver (100'); and / or wherein, in the fourth configuration, the first unlocking element (94) is disposed between the first latch (74') engaging into the first latch receiver (100') and the first end of the spring element and the second unlocking element (96) is disposed between the second end of the spring element and the second latch (74).

9. An apparatus (30) according to at least one of the claims 5 to 8, wherein the strip (86) is made of a spring steel strip which extends along the entire length of the ejector unit (48) irrespective of the configuration thereof, wherein it is in particular provided that the second end of the strip (86) disposed opposite the first end is deflected by 90° in the housing (36) in order to be coupled to a connecting rod (22) driven by a locking gear (18).

10. A lift and slide element, in particular a lift and slide door (10) or a lift and slide window, comprising an apparatus (30) according to any one of the claims 5 to 9, wherein the lift and slide element comprises a carriage with an integrated lifting device for raising and lowering the lift and slide element and a locking gear (18) which is drive-effectively coupled to the lifting device for actuating the latter, wherein the locking gear (18) is further drive-effectively coupled to the clamping unit (50) of the apparatus (30).

11. A lift and slide element according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus (30) is synchronized with the locking gear (18) such that, when the lift and slide element is raised, the apparatus (30), starting from its first configuration, maintains the first configuration until the lift and slide element, due to an actuation of the lifting device by the locking gear (18), is in a raised position in which the clamping unit (50) is in that position in which the first unlocking element (94) is aligned with the first latch (74') and thus unlocks the latter.