Device for protecting against water intrusion

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile device (1) designed for installation or retrofitting on a building opening, in particular for a window or door of a building, to protect against water ingress from surface water. For this purpose, the device (1) is equipped in a service position with a rear side facing the adjacent wall surface and a front side facing away from the wall surface, forming a visible surface. The device (1) has a rectangular frame (4) in the illustrated embodiment, which can, in principle, be realized in any polygonal shape and consists of parallel profile elements (5). The profile elements (5) form a positive fit around a flat sealing element (6) on the front side and around the circumference, which is essentially planar on the rear side.The sealing element (6) protrudes in the expanded non-use position opposite the back of the frame (4) and is compressed in the use position against the wall surface in such a way that a watertight connection is created, the respective circumferential legs (7) of the profile elements (5) forming a depth stop to limit the compression.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile device intended for installation or retrofitting on a building opening, in particular for a window or a door of a building, for protection against water ingress by surface water, in particular due to heavy rainfall or flooding, with a frame made of profile elements and with a sealing element.

[0002] It is already known from the state of the art to protect building openings against the ingress of floodwater or precipitation using various types of protective devices. The primary goal is to temporarily seal building openings such as windows and doors while the water load is acting, so such protective devices are often installed manually.

[0003] Such devices are likely to become increasingly important in the future, as climate change is causing fears that areas that were not previously considered to be at risk of flooding will also be affected in the future.

[0004] When sealing a building opening, the basic shape of the sealing device must be designed so that it completely seals the opening in the masonry. Furthermore, the device must be securely attached to the building, as the forces acting on such a seal in the event of flooding are considerable. Finally, it must also be ensured that the sealing measure actually achieves reliable sealing, even at the edges.

[0005] Publication DE 10 2008 030 525 A1 discloses a mobile flood protection system for building openings. A sealing material is arranged circumferentially on a cover between two panels and is pressed into the surrounding building opening by pressing the panels together to create a seal. The panels inserted into the building opening must be precisely adjusted to the required size, as the sealing material can only bridge small gaps in the masonry.

[0006] From DE 195 12 747 A1 a tensionable frame is known which is clamped into a building opening and finally carries a plate which can be inserted into the frame, whereby the sealing is to be created.

[0007] In DE 20 2013 100 602 U1, a sealing plate is held in the building opening by means of profile rails.

[0008] In DE 20 217 205 U1, several panels of a panel construction are assembled to form a cover consisting of individual segments, so that partial covering of the building openings is also possible.

[0009] In a protective device according to DE 20 215 414 U1, the sealing effect is achieved by a circumferential air hose which is pressurised in the wall opening in order to create a seal and a pressing action.

[0010] DE 20 2012 006 032 U1 discloses a steel frame with interlocking elements that allow adjustment to the size of windows or doors using adjusting screws on the inside of the frame. After fitting the frame into the building opening, a corresponding sealing protective plate is inserted into the frame.

[0011] In DE 10 2009 017 158 A1, the corner parts of the frame allow the frame to be enlarged or reduced in size by sliding them in and out of the middle parts, whereby a corresponding sealing plate can be inserted into the frame.

[0012] In DE 299 18 780 U1, the cover is placed over the opening and fastened to the building by means of screw connections, so that the opening is sealed watertight by a circumferential rubber seal fixed to the edge profiles of the cover.

[0013] Furthermore, DE 76 05 029 U1 discloses a safety bulkhead for gates to protect against flooding, which consists of a torsion-resistant hollow body bulkhead which is arranged so that it can be moved vertically in front of the gate to be sealed.

[0014] Another sealing device is disclosed in DE 44 37 909 A1. Sealing against the building and securing these sealing inserts in the building openings is achieved by means of a pressurizable sealing body arranged in a profile connected to the sealing insert. Another device according to the preamble of claim 1 can be found in DE 8704794U1.

[0015] A disadvantage of known protective devices is that they limit the functionality of the existing door or window to such an extent that the protective device can usually only be used when needed and must then be stored separately and within easy reach for quick access. One could consider permanently fixing the device to the building in the sealing position, provided that the use of the closed building opening is unnecessary. However, it has been shown that a permanent closure can lead to moisture buildup due to the lack of air exchange and, in the worst case, to building damage.

[0016] The invention is based on the object of creating a cost-effective, practical and universal design of a mobile device for protection against water ingress by surface water, which can be implemented without individual adaptation.

[0017] This object is achieved according to the invention with a device according to the features of claim 1. The further embodiment of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0018] According to the invention, a device is provided, the rear side of which, in a position of use, faces a wall surface of the building adjacent to the door or window, and the front side of which forms a visible surface facing away from the wall surface, wherein the device has a preferably rectangular frame made of, in particular, parallel profile elements, which forms a receptacle for at least one flat and / or strip-shaped sealing element that is essentially flat on the rear side, wherein the profile elements enclose the at least one sealing element on the front side and the peripheral side in a form-fitting manner such that the sealing element protrudes relative to the rear side of the frame in a non-compressed non-use position, and wherein the frame has a plurality of fixing means that protrude, in particular laterally, relative to the peripheral side and cooperate with, in particular, stationary holding elements arranged on the building,so that in the use position, a prestressing force acting in the direction of the wall surface can be transmitted to the device and wherein the frame has at least one at least partially translucent or transparent insert as a light passage.

[0019] According to the invention, the device is pressed against the wall surface enclosing the building opening, either on the inside or outside of the building, by means of the circumferentially projecting fixing means and holding elements that are permanently connected to the building, in such a way that a sealed connection is created between the device and the wall surface. Contrary to the prejudice in the expert world, the device withstands even high water pressure, particularly due to the profile elements that enclose the sealing element both at the front and at the circumference. In particular, the seal is pushed back, for example, to the level of the profile elements in the compressed position of use, so that the water pressure does not act directly on the sealing element or acts only to a negligible extent.Furthermore, the device has a transmissive, translucent, or transparent insert, so that the incidence of light is only slightly reduced by the device and the device can therefore remain in the operating position for extended periods. As the device can be mounted either on the inside or outside of the building, the opening direction of the door or window can be taken into account and the door or window can still be opened. A variant is also possible in which the building opening is only covered up to a certain height, corresponding to an expected peak water level. The possibility of air exchange reliably prevents the formation of moisture or mold. The application can be easily adapted to the respective lighting requirements.Furthermore, the invention eliminates the need for laborious disassembly and separate storage of the device. The inventive fixing means, which interact with the stationary holding means, allow the frame's prestressing against the wall surface to be removed and the sealing element to be detached from the wall surface, creating a ventilation gap. This gap can be limited, for example, to a few millimeters to a few centimeters, thus ensuring increased burglary protection even in this non-use position. The fixing means are optionally designed to prevent complete separation from the holding elements, thus simultaneously meeting increased theft protection requirements for the device.

[0020] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is realized in that the insert is made of a plastic, in particular polycarbonate or acrylic glass, with a material thickness of at least 10 mm, preferably more than 12 mm. The material thickness can be adapted to the respective circumstances and installation situation to reduce the overall weight of the device. The plastic insert thus meets the highest requirements for protection against water pressure and tampering attempts.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the insert is equipped, at least in sections, with a sunshade, a privacy screen, or a colored design, for example, to achieve opacity or to match the color of the insert to the external appearance of the building. Corresponding aesthetically or visually effective designs or elements can also be attached to an inherently transparent insert, for example, and can also be replaced as needed. For this purpose, the frame can have a holder, for example, for additional plate-shaped surface elements that have the desired translucent or semi-transparent properties.

[0022] It is also advantageous if the insert is permanently and permanently connected to the frame's profile elements by means of an adhesive bond. In the installed position, the insert transfers the load to the edges of the profile elements when water pressure is applied, ensuring optimal force transmission.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the insert is fixed by means of the profile elements in a force-locking and form-locking manner by inserting the insert into a guide of the profile elements and then gluing it.

[0024] Another particularly practical embodiment of the invention is achieved by embodying at least one fixing means as a tab extending parallel to the plane of the frame and projecting laterally relative to the peripheral side of the frame, so that the retaining elements interact with the fixing means outside the area of ​​the frame subjected to water pressure. In an emergency, additional retaining means can even be attached to the already occupied or still unoccupied fixing means if increased fixing forces are required due to unexpected water loads.

[0025] For this purpose, according to a further, particularly practical embodiment of the invention, preferably all of the fixing means, in particular those in the form of tabs, have at least one recess and / or opening through which the holding elements pass in the use position. The holding elements, which are designed as threaded rods, for example, thus pass through the recess or opening, which is designed as a bore, so that the desired preload of the device against the wall surface can be easily applied using commercially available nuts, for example in a variant as a wing or star grip nut or as a lever. Of course, variants are also possible in which a sleeve with an internal thread is embedded in the wall surface and the device is fixed and preloaded accordingly using commercially available screws that penetrate the respective recess or opening.With this variant, the threaded rods of the holding devices that protrude when the device is not in use are no longer required and the recessed internal threads of the sleeves can be easily and inconspicuously closed with a screw.

[0026] Furthermore, eye nuts, eye bolts, eye nuts, eye bolts and the like can be used to achieve simple protection against tampering and theft by securing the respective screw or nut in a rotationally fixed manner using a padlock or cable connection.

[0027] Particularly preferably, at least two different use positions are adjustable, wherein in the first use position all fixing means are pretensioned relative to the wall surface of the building and in the second use position at least the fixing means associated along a horizontal or vertical frame side are arranged and fixed at a distance from the wall surface in a position spaced from the wall surface.

[0028] Another, equally particularly promising embodiment of the invention is achieved in that a plurality of fixing means arranged along a straight line have an oversize relative to the holding elements, in particular recesses and / or openings designed as elongated holes, so that at least one further use position can be set, in which a first frame side equipped with these fixing means is positioned at a greater distance of between 1 cm and 30 cm from the wall surface than a frame side opposite the first frame side, which rests against the wall surface or is positioned at only a small distance from the wall surface. In this way, a tilted or inclined position of the frame relative to the plane of the wall surface can be set.For example, when installed on the inside of the building, a greater distance from the wall surface can be set on the upper frame side, as is common with conventional window designs. When installed on the outside of the building, a greater distance from the wall surface can be set on the lower frame side to provide rain protection.

[0029] It proves particularly practical if the retaining elements are equipped with an external thread, at least in sections, so that they can be secured without tools using nuts, especially star-grip or cross-grip nuts, with the external threads interacting with commercially available internal threads. Of course, a captive arrangement of the nut can also be provided, for example, by providing a locking element or head that prevents the nut from being removed from the retaining element.

[0030] Another particularly useful modification of the present invention is achieved in that the device comprises a mounting subframe that can be permanently and sealingly fixed to the wall surface and has a flat contact surface for the sealing element. This allows unevenness in the building's wall surface to be compensated for by the contact surface of the mounting subframe with the sealing element forming the sealing surface. For this purpose, the mounting subframe is embedded in the wall surface or placed on it, and any existing cavities between the mounting subframe and the wall surface are sealed.

[0031] Preferably, the frame is equipped with several mounting handles on its front, which are connected to the frame in a foldable or removable manner, for example, and which simplify the transport and positioning of the device.

[0032] The invention is not limited to installation on vertical wall surfaces of buildings. Of course, the device can also be advantageously mounted on inclined or horizontal building surfaces, and is not limited to stationary structures or buildings, but can also be used effectively on transportable buildings.

[0033] The invention permits various embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention with a frame; Fig. 2 is a top view of the frame; Fig. 3 is a side view of the frame; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the frame along the line III - III; Fig. 5 is a motor-operated variant of the device during the closing process in a perspective view; Fig. 6 is a further perspective view of the device during the closing process; Fig. 7 is a detailed illustration of the device with a sensor.

[0034] A device 1 according to the invention for protection against water ingress due to precipitation or flooding is described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 7explained in more detail. The device 1 is based on the principle of covering building openings that are endangered by a high water load and where there is a risk of water ingress, regardless of whether the building opening can already be closed by a window 19, a door or other cover or not. The device 1 enables the building opening to be covered either inside or outside the building and a temporary sealing connection of the device 1 to the adjacent, flat wall surface 18 of the building. For this purpose, the device 1, in a position of use, is equipped with a rear side 2 facing the adjacent wall surface 18 and a front side 3 facing away from the wall surface 18 and forming a visible surface.The device 1 has a rectangular frame 4 in the illustrated embodiment, which can in principle be realized in any polygonal shape and which consists of parallel profile elements 5. The profile elements 5 enclose a flat sealing element 6, which is essentially flat on the rear side, on the front side 3 and in a form-fitting manner on the peripheral side.

[0035] As in the Figure 1As can be seen, the sealing element 6 protrudes from the rear side 2 of the frame 4 in the expanded non-use position and is compressed in the use position against the wall surface 18 such that a watertight connection is created, with the respective circumferential legs 7 of the profile elements 5 forming a depth stop to limit the compression. The frame 4 has four fixing means 8 projecting laterally from the circumferential side in the direction of the main extension of the frame 4, which cooperate with holding elements (not shown) arranged on the building, so that in the use position a prestressing force acting in the direction of the wall surface 18 can be transferred to the device 1.

[0036] As particularly in the Figures 1 and 2As can be seen, the fixing means 8 assigned to the various frame sides 9, 11 are designed differently. The fixing means 8 of the first frame side 9 are each equipped with a bore 10 which is slightly oversized compared to the holding means designed as a threaded rod, while the fixing means 8 assigned to the opposite second frame side 11 each have an open, slot- or hook-shaped recess 12. This means that in addition to the position of use which serves to protect against water ingress, at least one further position of use can be set, in which the first frame side 9 rests against the wall surface 18, while at the same time the second frame side 11 is positioned at an adjustable distance between 1 cm and 30 cm from the wall surface 18 and thereby assumes a tilted position which is inclined relative to the plane of the wall surface 18.

[0037] In order to allow light to enter during use of the device, the frame 4 has a translucent or transparent insert 13 made of a plastic, in particular acrylic glass or polycarbonate, which simultaneously meets different requirements for sun protection, opacity or even color design and which is permanently connected to the frame 4 by means of an adhesive connection.

[0038] Two parallel mounting handles 14 arranged on the front side 3 of the frame 4 on the short profile elements 5 simplify the transport and positioning of the device 1 and protect the insert 13 from damage during storage and use.

[0039] In the Figures 5 to 7The closing process of the device 1 is illustrated using a variant equipped with two drives 15. As can be seen, a drive 15 is arranged on each of the two outer sides of the frame 4, which can be operated synchronously by means of a control unit (not shown). By means of a connecting element 16 designed as a threaded spindle, the frame 4 is placed against the wall surface 18 in the direction of arrow 17 after the corresponding control signal is triggered. Of course, the drive 15 can be designed such that manual operation of the device 1 is also possible if necessary. As can be seen, this closing process can also be carried out without any problems with a tilted window 19.

[0040] The corresponding control signal is transmitted by means of a Figure 7The sensor 20 is triggered by a sensor 21, which is shown only briefly, and which detects a critical water level 21. Furthermore, a corresponding control signal can also be triggered by other signals independent of an increased water level, for example a surveillance camera 22, in order to quickly and effectively improve burglary protection, especially in the case of a tilted window 19, by closing the device 1.

Claims

1. Mobile device (1) intended for arranging on a building opening and serving to protect against water intrusion by surface water, in particular as a result of heavy precipitation or floodwater, wherein, in a use position, the device (1) has a rear side (2) facing the wall surface (18) enclosing the building opening and a front side (3) facing away from the wall surface (18) and forming a visible surface, comprising an, in particular rectangular, frame (4) consisting in particular of profile elements (5) which are parallel in pairs and have a receptacle for at least one flat and / or strip-shaped sealing element (6) of the device (1), which sealing element is substantially planar on the rear side (2), wherein the profile elements (5) form-fittingly enclose the at least one sealing element (6) on the front side (3) and on a circumferential side, and wherein the frame (4) has a plurality of fixing means (8) which interact with, in particular positionally fixed, holding elements arranged on the building, so that, in the use position, a preloading force acting in the direction of the wall surface (18) can be transmitted to the device (1), and wherein the frame (4) has at least one insert (13), characterized in that the fixing means (8) project with respect to the circumferential side and the sealing element (6) protrudes with respect to the rear side (2) of the frame (4) in a non-compressed non-use position, wherein the insert (13) is translucent or transparent at least in sections, and in that at least one further use position can be set in which a first frame side (11) is positioned with a greater distance of between 1 cm and 30 cm from the wall surface (18) than a second frame side (9) which is opposite the first frame side (11), bears against the wall surface (18) or is positioned with only a small distance from the wall surface (18).

2. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the insert (13) consists of a plastic, in particular polycarbonate or acrylic glass.

3. Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insert (13) is equipped at least in sections with sun protection, with visual protection and / or with a coloured design.

4. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (13) is permanently connected to the frame (4) by means of an adhesive connection.

5. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (13) is fixed in a force-fitting and form-fitting manner by means of the profile elements (5).

6. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fixing means (8) is configured as a lug extending parallel to the plane of the frame (4).

7. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fixing means (8) is arranged so as to be laterally projecting with respect to the circumferential side of the frame (4), outside the profile elements (5).

8. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing means (8) have at least one cutout (12) and / or aperture which is penetrated in the use position by the holding elements.

9. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of fixing means (8) have an oversize with respect to the holding elements, in particular as slot-formed cutouts (12) and / or apertures.

10. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a first use position, all the fixing means (8) are preloaded with respect to the wall surface (18) of the building, and, in a second use position, at least the fixing means (8) assigned along a horizontal or vertical frame side (9, 11) are arranged spaced apart from the wall surface (18) in a position spaced apart from the wall surface (18).

11. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding elements are equipped at least in sections with an external thread, so that the fixing is carried out by nuts, in particular star grip nuts or cross grip nuts.

12. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a mounting subframe with a planar bearing surface for the sealing element (6), which mounting subframe can be sealingly and permanently fixed to the wall surface (18).

13. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (4) is equipped on its front side with at least one mounting grip (14).

14. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) is movable, by means of at least one drive (15), from an at least partially open position into a use position in which it bears sealingly with respect to the wall surface (18).

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