Guide device of sliding shutter and sliding shutter comprising same

Abstract

The inventive guide device (2) for a sliding shutter (1) comprises at least one rail (3) and at least two support brackets (4). The support brackets (4) each comprise a first leg (5), which can be mounted with a connecting surface (5a) on a connecting plane of a facade, and a second leg (6) which can be connected to the at least one rail (3). The rail (3) mounted on the facade is designed to receive guide elements (7) of the sliding shutter (1) in a guided manner. An insertion opening (8) is formed on the second leg (6), into which an insertion element (9) with a connecting bore (10) can be positively inserted in at least two different positions. A rail (3) mounted on a facade or wall with support brackets (4) and insertion elements (9) inserted into their insertion openings (8) remains unchanged in the installed position even in strong winds.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a guide device of a sliding shutter according to the preamble of claim 1 and a sliding shutter with this guide device.

[0002] Sliding shutters are used to visually close and open building openings in facades. The sliding shutters are guided by guide devices so that they can be moved along the facade in front of the building opening and next to the building opening. The guide devices comprise at least one upper rail which can be mounted on the facade using support brackets. The upper rail is preferably designed as a running rail for receiving guide elements in the form of support rollers of the sliding shutter. The sliding shutters are also guided on the lower side so that they are held in a predetermined position relative to the facade. For guidance on the lower side, the guide device can comprise a lower rail which can be mounted on the facade. The lower rail makes guide elements connected to the lower side of the sliding shutter guideable along the lower rail.

[0003] EP 1 469 152 A1 shows a guide device for window shutters, which comprises support brackets with two orthogonal legs and a support rail for carriages. The support rail is fastened to the facade with the support brackets as the upper rail. The support brackets are each fastened to the facade with a first of the two legs in a vertical orientation. A second of the two legs projects horizontally from the facade and has a hole that is distant from the first leg. A web of the support rail, which is horizontal when installed, has holes. The connection between the support rail and the support bracket is achieved with a screw guided through the hole in the support rail and fastened to the hole in the second leg of the support bracket. It has now been shown that facades deviate locally from the planned surface.If support brackets of a support rail have to be mounted in areas that correspond to the planned surface as well as in areas that deviate from the planned surface, the holes of the second support brackets of deviating areas do not fit into the holes of the support rail.

[0004] DE 20 2005 019 742 U1 describes wall mounting brackets for a track of a sliding door fitting and the installation of the track to several wall mounting brackets attached to a wall. A second leg of the wall mounting bracket has a slotted hole for attaching the track, which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the track. With each wall mounting bracket, the distance between the track and the wall can be adjusted to suit local conditions by inserting a fastening screw through a hole in the track and passing it through the slotted hole at a corresponding point. The second leg and the track can be clamped together between the screw head and a nut arranged on the screw.

[0005] In buildings exposed to high wind speeds, turbulence-induced vibrations in the sliding shutters can exceed the load limit of the clamp connections between the second legs and the track. This can result in excessive movement of the track relative to the wall. The clamp connection can also be compromised due to creep of components of the guide mechanism.

[0006] The object of the invention is to find a solution in which the guide rails mounted on a facade or wall with support brackets remain unchanged in the mounting position even in strong winds.

[0007] This object is achieved by a guide device having the features of claim 1 and by sliding shutters having this guide device. The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments that achieve further objects.

[0008] As part of a first inventive step, it was recognized that force-locking or friction-locking connections are insufficient to safely absorb the high and variable forces that occur between the support brackets and the attached rails within the guide system during strong winds. To achieve the necessary connection stability, the connections between the support brackets and the attached rails should be form-locking.

[0009] As part of a second inventive step, it was recognized that different positions of the positive-locking connections relative to the support bracket could be achieved by forming a bore for a connecting screw leading through the rail and the support bracket in an insert element on the support bracket. The insert element can be inserted in at least two different positions on the support bracket in a form-fitting manner. A connecting screw that fits snugly through the bore of the insert element remains in the selected position relative to the support bracket even under large and variable forces.

[0010] A guide device according to the invention for a sliding shutter, which has a cover element for closing and uncovering building openings in facades, comprises at least one rail and at least two support brackets. The at least two support brackets each have a first leg, which can be mounted with a connecting surface on a connecting plane of a facade, and a second leg each connectable to the at least one rail. The rail mounted on the facade is designed to receive guide elements of the cover element in a guided manner. The second leg comprises an insertion opening and an insertion element with a connecting bore, wherein the insertion element can be positively inserted into the insertion opening in at least two different positions. The connecting bore is spaced at different distances from the connecting plane of the connecting surface of the first leg in the at least two different positions of the insertion element.

[0011] Preferably, the insertion opening of the second leg has a positioning extension transverse to the connection plane of the connection surface of the first leg which is greater than the corresponding extension of the insertion element and the positive insertion of the insertion element can be achieved in at least two different positions offset along the positioning extension of the insertion opening.

[0012] Preferably, the thickness of the insert element is less than or equal to the thickness of the second leg. This choice of thickness enables direct positioning of the second leg between the rail and a washer pressed against the second leg by a nut. A screw, whose screw head is held to the rail, extends through the connecting hole of the insert element to the nut. If the insert element has the same thickness as the second leg at the insertion opening, the insert element, which is positively inserted into the insertion opening, is fixed to the second leg without play by two parts that rest against the second leg at the top and bottom and are pressed against the second leg by a screw leading through the connecting hole.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the insertion opening comprises at least one edge region extending transversely to the connection plane of the connection surface of the first leg, with first locking elements arranged at uniform intervals, and the insertion element comprises a region with second locking elements engaging with the first locking elements. Preferably, the first locking elements are formed as uniform teeth along the edge of the insertion opening, and the second locking elements are formed as uniform teeth along the edge of the insertion element.

[0014] Particularly advantageous is an embodiment in which the insertion opening and the insertion element extend along an axis and toothings are formed on both sides of the axis along the edge of the insertion opening and the insertion element, wherein the shapes of the toothings on both sides of the axis can be brought into alignment by a displacement orthogonal to the opening axis, so that a recess is opposite each tooth.

[0015] The positions directly adjacent to one another in the direction of the axis, in which the insert element can be inserted into the insertion opening in a parallel position, are offset by the distance between two adjacent teeth of an edge. Preferably, the insert element can be inserted into the insertion opening in two positions, each rotated 180° relative to the axis, so that a minimal displacement of the connecting bore by the distance between a tooth and a subsequent recess can be achieved.

[0016] The achievable positions of the connecting bore are expanded if the insert element can also be inserted into the insertion opening in two positions rotated by 180° relative to each other around a tilt line running orthogonally to the axis. Preferably, the connecting bore is then not centrally located in the insert element in the direction of the axis and is located in different positions when rotated around the tilt line and the insert element is positioned the same along the axis.

[0017] For the typical material thicknesses of supporting brackets, a toothing for the positive insertion of the insert element into the insertion opening is suitable, even with small tooth pitches, for absorbing the forces occurring during maximum wind forces. These maximum forces can be transferred from the connecting hole to the second leg without damaging the toothing. The achievable minimal positional differences are particularly small with edge toothing on both sides, where the teeth on the insert element and the insertion opening are opposite the recesses, due to the halved offset achievable by rotating the insert element by 180°. This allows small facade inaccuracies in the supporting brackets to be precisely compensated for by selecting the correct position.

[0018] With advantageous toothing, the distance between two adjacent teeth is in the range of 2 to 6 mm, preferably 4 mm. Accordingly, the distance between a tooth and an adjacent recess is in the range of 1 to 3 mm, preferably 2 mm. When installing a rail, the distances of the connecting holes from the connection level of the connection surface of the first leg can be adjusted in steps of 1 to 3 mm, preferably 2 mm, by inserting the insert elements differently into the insertion openings of the support brackets. Because the fastening screw also has some space in the connecting hole, it can be ensured that a connecting hole positioned to match the course of the rail can be provided for each support bracket for common deviations of the facade from the planned shape.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the insert element can be inserted into the insertion opening in a form-fitting manner in at least five, preferably seven, different positions, and the connecting bore can be displaced along the axis by changing the position and orientation of the insert element, for example in steps of 2 mm.

[0020] The at least one rail of the guide device comprises a horizontally oriented region in the assembled state, which can be connected to the second legs of the support brackets. Preferably, the rail comprises a guide region facing away from the horizontally oriented region in the assembled state, which guide region is designed to accommodate guide elements of the sliding shutter. In a rail designed as a running rail, the guide region is preferably C-shaped, with an entry groove and two webs projecting toward the entry groove on either side of the entry groove, which webs serve as running surfaces for support rollers.

[0021] If the rail has horizontal fastening holes, these must be located at locations corresponding to the support brackets mounted on the façade. Where appropriate, the fastening holes are widened in a slot-like manner along the length of the rail. The rail is attached to the support brackets with screws that pass through the fastening holes in the rail and through the connecting holes of the insert elements inserted into the insertion openings, and with washers and nuts. Once a screw has been pushed through the fastening hole, the insert element can be inserted into the insertion opening so that the fastening hole is positioned to match the screw.

[0022] If the rail has a retaining groove with a narrowed entry opening in the horizontal area instead of individual mounting holes to securely hold screw heads, the screws can be positioned at locations corresponding to the support brackets mounted on the facade. The screws are guided through the connecting holes of the insert elements inserted into the insertion holes and secured to the support brackets with washers and nuts. The insert elements are inserted into the insertion holes so that the mounting holes are positioned to match the screws.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the guide device, the support brackets each comprise two insertion openings in the second leg and two insertion elements. The two insertion openings of a support bracket are preferably arranged at the same distance from the connection plane of the connection surface of the first leg. If the rail has fastening options at two positions offset transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rail, the insertion openings of a support bracket are positioned accordingly.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one rail in the assembled state is an upper rail which is designed as a running rail for receiving support rollers of the sliding shutter.

[0025] Preferably, the guide device comprises two rails, of which a lower rail is arranged in the assembled state at the lower end of the sliding shutter and is designed to guide guide elements of the sliding shutter at its lower end.

[0026] A sliding shutter according to the invention for closing and releasing building openings in facades comprises a cover element, with guide elements arranged on the cover element and a guide device according to the invention.

[0027] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to some figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sliding shutter with a guide device, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a section of a guide device and a sliding shutter guided from below, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a section of a guide device and a sliding shutter guided from above, Figure 4 shows a schematic assembly view of a guide device for a sliding shutter guided from below, Figure 5 shows a schematic assembly view of a guide device for a sliding shutter guided from above, Figure 6 shows a section through a guide device for a sliding shutter guided from below, Figure 7 shows a section through a guide device for a sliding shutter guided from above, and Figure 8 shows two top views of the second legs of support brackets, each with two insertion openings and insertion elements inserted therein.

[0028] The Figures 1 to 3show a sliding shutter 1 with a cover element 1a, with guide elements 7 arranged on the cover element 1a, and with a guide device 2, which comprises a rail 3 and support bracket 4 for fastening to a facade at the top and bottom of the sliding shutter 1. The rails 3 guide the guide elements 7 during movements of the cover element 1a.

[0029] The Figures 2 to 7 show details of the Figure 1with a support bracket 4 and a rail 3 of the guide device 2. Each support bracket 4 comprises a first leg 5, which can be mounted with a connection surface 5a on a connection plane of a facade, and a second leg 6 which can be connected to the at least one rail 3. The rails 3 mounted on the facade are designed to receive guide elements 7 of the cover element 1a. The rail 3 arranged at the top of the sliding shutter 1 comprises, as a running rail, a C-shaped receiving area 3a for receiving support rollers of the sliding shutter 1. The rail 3 arranged at the bottom of the sliding shutter 1 comprises, as a guide rail, a U-shaped receiving area 3b for receiving guide elements of the sliding shutter 1.

[0030] The Figure 8shows details of the second leg 6 of a support bracket 4, wherein the second leg 6 is shown one above the other for different mounting positions of the rail 3. In the embodiment shown, the second leg 6 preferably comprises two insertion openings 8 and, in each insertion opening 8, an insertion element 9 with a connecting bore 10. The insertion elements 9 are positively inserted into the insertion openings 8 in a different position in the second leg 6 shown above than in the second leg 6 shown below. The connecting bores 10 are spaced differently from the connection plane of the connection surface 5a of the first leg 5 in the two different positions. The difference between the two positions of the connecting bores 10 is designated by the dimension 2 as 2 mm, for example.

[0031] The insertion openings 8 and the insertion elements 9 extend along an axis A. On both sides of the axis A, toothings 8a extend along the edge of the insertion opening 8 and toothings 9a extend along the edge of the insertion elements 9. The shapes of the toothings 8a and 9a on both sides of the axis A coincide when shifted orthogonally to the axis A, because a recess is opposite each tooth.

[0032] The difference between the positions in the second leg 6 shown above and the positions in the second leg 6 shown below arise from the fact that the insertion elements 9 are inserted into the insertion openings 8 in positions rotated by 180° relative to each other about the axis A. With this change in position, the minimal displacement of the connecting bore 10 by the distance between a tooth and a subsequent recess can be achieved.

[0033] The insert elements 9 can also be inserted into the insertion openings 8 in two positions, each rotated by 180° relative to one another about a tilt line K running in the insert element 9 orthogonal to the axis A. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting holes 10 are not arranged centrally in the insert element 9 in the direction of the axis A. As a result, the connecting openings 10 reach different positions along the axis A in positions rotated about the tilt line.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the toothings 8a and 9a are formed by teeth and recesses of identical shapes, and the distance between two adjacent teeth is 4 mm. It goes without saying that this distance is chosen to achieve the desired positional differences. Given common deviations between the actual facade contours and the planned facades, distances between two adjacent teeth in the range of 2 to 6 mm are appropriate.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the insert element 9 can be positively inserted into the insertion opening 8 in seven different positions, and the connecting bore 10 can be displaced along the axis by changing the position in 2 mm increments. In addition to the illustrated embodiment, embodiments in which the insert element 9 can be positively inserted into the insertion opening 8 in at least five different positions are also suitable.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the second leg 6 of the support bracket 4 comprises two insertion openings 8, which are mirror-symmetrical with respect to a center line running between the insertion openings 8. To ensure that both insertion elements 9 are inserted in the same positions in the insertion openings 8 of a support bracket 4, they are also inserted mirror-symmetrically with respect to the center line.

[0037] It goes without saying that the shapes of the insertion openings 8 can also be designed such that they can be aligned by shifting them orthogonally to the center line. For smaller load-bearing requirements for the connection between the rail 3 and a support bracket 4, it is sufficient to provide only one insertion opening 8 in the second leg.

[0038] The Figure 4shows a schematic of the procedure for installing a rail 3, which is arranged as a running rail above the cover element 1a. The rail 3 comprises, in the upper, horizontal area, which is to be connected to the second leg 6 of the support bracket 4, a retaining groove 3c with a narrowed entry opening for torsion-proof holding of the screw heads of screws 11. The screws 11 are positioned with their screw heads in the retaining groove 3c at locations which are assigned to the insertion openings 8 of the support brackets 4 mounted on the facade. The screws 11 are guided through the connecting holes 10 of the insert elements 9 inserted into the insertion openings 8 and fastened to the support brackets 4 with washers 12 and nuts 13. The insert elements 9 are inserted into the insertion opening 8 in such a way that the fastening hole 10 is positioned to match the screws 11.

[0039] The Figure 5shows a schematic of the procedure for assembling a rail 3, which is arranged beneath the cover element 1a and allows guide elements arranged on the lower side of the cover element 1a to be guided. The rail 3 has, in the lower, horizontal area, which is to be connected to the second leg 6 of the support bracket 4, fastening holes or fastening slots that extend along the longitudinal axis of the rail. Screws 11 are guided through the fastening holes or slots of the rail 3 and through the connecting holes 10 of the insert elements 9 to be inserted into the insertion openings 8. The insert elements 9 are inserted into the insertion openings 8 in a manner that matches the positions of the screws 11. The rail 3 is then fastened to the support brackets 4 with the screws 11, the washers 12, and the nuts 13.

[0040] The Figures 6 and 7show embodiments of the guide device after mounting the rail 3 on a support bracket 4.

Claims

1. A guide device (2) of a sliding shutter (1) comprising a cover element (1a) for closing and uncovering building openings in facades, comprising at least one rail (3) and at least two support brackets (4), wherein the at least two support brackets (4) each comprise a first leg (5) which can be mounted with a connecting surface (5a) on a connecting plane of a facade, and a second leg (6) which can be connected to the at least one rail (3), and wherein the rail (3) mounted on the facade is designed to guide guide elements (7) of the cover element (1a), characterized in thatthe second leg (6) comprises an insertion opening (8) and an insertion element (9) with a connecting bore (10), wherein the insertion element (9) can be inserted into the insertion opening (8) in a form-fitting manner in at least two different positions and the connecting bore (10) is spaced at different distances from the connection plane of the connection surface (5a) of the first leg (5) in the at least two different positions of the insertion element (10).

2. Guide device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion opening (8) of the second leg (6) has a positioning extension transversely to the connection plane of the connection surface (5a) of the first leg (5) which is greater than the corresponding extension of the insertion element (9), wherein the positive insertability of the insertion element (9) can be achieved in at least two different positions offset along the positioning extension of the insertion opening (8).

3. Guide device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness of the insert element (9) is less than or equal to, preferably equal to, the thickness of the second leg (6).

4. Guide device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insertion opening (8) comprises at least one edge region extending transversely to the connection plane of the connection surface (5a) of the first leg (5) with first locking elements formed at regular intervals and the insertion element comprises a region with second locking elements engaging in the first locking elements in the inserted state.

5. Guide device (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first locking elements are designed as uniform teeth (8a) along the edge of the insertion opening (8) and the second locking elements are designed as uniform teeth (9a) along the edge of the insertion element (9).

6. Guide device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the insertion opening (8) and the insertion element (9) extend along an axis (A) and have a toothing (8a, 9a) along the edge on both sides of the axis, wherein the shapes of the toothings (8a, 9a) on both sides of the axis (A) can be brought into alignment by a displacement orthogonal to the axis (A), so that a recess is opposite each tooth.

7. Guide device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the insertion element (9) can be inserted into the insertion opening (8) in two positions rotated by 180° to each other about the axis (A), so that a minimal displacement of the connecting bore (10) by the distance between a tooth and a subsequent recess can be achieved.

8. Guide device (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in thatthe insert element (9) can be inserted into the insertion opening (8) in two positions rotated by 180° to one another about a tilt line (K) running in the insert element (9) orthogonal to the axis (A), wherein the connecting bore (10) is preferably not arranged centrally in the insert element (9) in the direction of the axis (A) and can therefore be positioned differently along the axis (A) in positions rotated about the tilt line (K).

9. Guide device (2) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that in the toothings (8a, 9a) the distance between two adjacent teeth is in the range of 2 to 6 mm, preferably 4 mm.

10. Guide device (2) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in thatthe insertion element (9) can be positively inserted into the insertion opening (8) in at least five, preferably seven, different positions and the connecting bore (10) can be displaced by changing the position in steps of 2 mm along the axis (A).

11. Guide device (2) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the at least two support brackets (4) each comprise two insertion openings (8) in the second leg (6) and two insertion elements (9).

12. Guide device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the at least one rail (3) in the assembled state is an upper rail (3) which is designed as a running rail for receiving support rollers of the sliding shutter (1) at its upper end.

13. Guide device (2) according to claim 12, characterized in thatthe guide device (2) comprises two rails (3) and at least two support angles (4) for each rail (3), wherein the second rail (3) in the assembled state is assigned to the lower end of the sliding shutter (1) and is designed to guide guide elements of the sliding shutter (1) at its lower end.

14. Sliding shutter (1) for closing and releasing building openings in facades, comprising a cover element (1a), guide elements (7) arranged on the cover element (1a), and a guide device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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