Greenhouse and corner connectors

Abstract

The greenhouse (1) comprises a sloping roof (2) with a closable window (6) having a frame (7) with a transparent cover (13). The frame (7) comprises a lower profile (8), an upper profile (9), a first side profile (10) and a second side profile (11) fixed to each other such that the first side profile (10) and the second side profile (11) extend between the lower profile (8) and the upper profile (9). In the closed state of the window (6), the frame (7) rests on the periphery of the roof (2) and the lower profile (8) is at a lower height level than the upper profile (9). At least one of the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) has a gutter (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) extending in its longitudinal direction for conveying water, e.g. condensation, from the interior of the greenhouse (1). At least the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) are attached to one another through a corner connector (14), the corner connector (14) having a first portion (16) secured to the lower profile (8) and a second portion (17a, 17b) secured to the first side profile (10). The corner connector (14) has a core (15) located between the first part (16) and the second part (17a, 17b) and between the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10), and the core (15) is provided with a drain opening (29) that communicates with the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) and is located below the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) in the closed state of the window (6) so as to drain water from the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a greenhouse having a sloped roof with a closable window having a frame including a transparent cover, the frame comprising a lower profile, an upper profile, a first side profile and a second side profile, the first side profile and the second side profile being fixed to one another so as to extend between the lower profile and the upper profile, in a closed state of the window, the frame rests on the periphery of the roof and the lower profile is located at a lower height level than the upper profile, and at least one of the lower profile and the first side profile has a gutter extending in its longitudinal direction for transporting water, e.g. condensation, from the interior of the greenhouse, and wherein at least the lower profile and the first side profile are attached to one another through corner connectors, the corner connectors having a first portion fixed to the lower profile and a second portion fixed to the first side profile. [Background technology]

[0002] Such greenhouses with closable windows are known. In the rectangular frame of the closable window of the known greenhouse, the lower profile, the upper profile, the first side profile and the second side profile are fixed to each other through corner connectors. The first and second parts of each corner connector fit into the respective chambers of two adjacent profiles. For example, the corner connectors connecting the lower profile and the first side profile to each other have a first part that fits inside and is fixed to the lower profile and a second part that fits inside and is fixed to the first side profile. The periphery of the roof on which the frame rests in the closed state of the window surrounds the roof opening so as to create ventilation, and through the roof, the interior communicates with the greenhouse environment in the open state of the window. The lower profile of the frame of the closable window of the known greenhouse has a gutter for collecting and transporting water. The gutter extends in its longitudinal direction and is positioned so that when condensation water on the transparent cover inside the greenhouse flows downwards towards the lower profile, the condensation water is collected in the gutter. The gutter is provided with drain holes that are drilled in the lower profile to drain the condensation outside the frame. This requires an additional step of manufacturing and preparing the lower profile before assembling the frame. It is important to drain the water from the gutter because this remaining water can cause frost damage.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a greenhouse that can be efficiently manufactured.

[0004] This object is achieved in a greenhouse according to the invention, characterized in that the corner connector has a core, which is located between the first part and the second part and between the lower profile and the first side profile, and in which the core is provided with a drain opening which communicates with the gutter and which is located below the gutter in the closed state of the window so as to drain water from the gutter.

[0005] An advantage of the greenhouse according to the invention is that the corner connector is multifunctional: it connects the bottom profile and the first side profile to each other and can also drain water from the gutter at at least one of the bottom profile and the first side profile.

[0006] The lower profile, the upper profile, the first side profile and the second side profile may be made from extruded aluminum.The transparent cover may be a glass plate.

[0007] It should be noted that the gutter can, for example, collect and transport condensation or seepage water that enters the gutter from the exterior or interior of the greenhouse through openings between multiple profiles or between profiles and other components.

[0008] The drain opening may be located on an underside of the core that is oriented towards the periphery of the roof in the closed state of the window.

[0009] In a particular embodiment, at least one of the frame and the roof periphery is provided with a sealing strip, which extends along the periphery between the frame and the periphery in the closed state of the window, where the drain opening is located on the side of the sealing strip that is directed away from the window. This allows the window water from the groove to be drained through the corner connector to a position outside the sealing strip, as seen from the opening surrounded by the periphery, due to the closed state. As a result, the sealing strip can form a substantially continuous sealing strip along the periphery. A properly sealed window is advantageous for achieving sustainable greenhouse cultivation, where optimized climatic conditions, such as temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration and light, are combined with limited energy use, since it is desired to minimize the exchange of air in such a sustainable greenhouse between the inside of the greenhouse and its environment. The corner connector provides an opportunity to seal the window better than a conventional greenhouse, resulting in less air exchange between the inside of the greenhouse and the environment. The corner connectors serve to drain water from the window in a controlled manner while preventing water from entering the greenhouse through the drain opening. The cooperation of the corner connectors and the sealing strips simultaneously prevents water from entering the greenhouse from the outside through the window, for example due to rainfall in windy conditions. The sealing strip may be formed by a separate piece of flexible material, but it may also be part of the periphery of the frame and / or the roof, which fit closely together in the closed state of the window.

[0010] Preferably, the lower profile has a support surface supporting the transparent cover and a gutter which is a lower profile gutter, which extends below the support surface and opens on the side facing the upper profile to collect condensate from the transparent cover, whereby the core is provided with a drain opening, which is a lower profile drain opening that communicates with the lower profile gutter, so that the lower profile gutter can collect the condensate flowing downwards from the transparent cover on the side facing the inside of the greenhouse. The collected condensate can flow through the lower profile gutter towards the corner connector. Therefore, there is no need to drill holes in the lower profile to drain the condensate.

[0011] The lower profile may have one or more additional lower profile grooves, where the lower profile drain opening comprises one or more lower profile drain openings in the core that are in communication with the additional lower profile grooves.

[0012] In another embodiment, the first side profile has a gutter that is a first side profile gutter, where the core is provided with a drain opening that is a first side profile drain opening in communication with the first side profile gutter. The first side profile gutter can collect and transport condensed or leaked water towards the corner connector and can drain the water through the first side profile drain opening of the corner connector.

[0013] The lower profile drain opening and the first side profile drain opening may form a common drain opening.

[0014] In certain embodiments, at least one of the first and second portions fits inside the lower and first side profiles, respectively. The first portion may fit inside the lower profile such that rotation of the corner connector about the longitudinal axis of the lower profile and displacement of the corner connector transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lower profile are prevented. Similarly, the second portion may fit inside the first side profile such that rotation of the corner connector about the longitudinal axis of the first side profile and displacement of the corner connector transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first side profile are prevented. This forms a rigid frame.

[0015] In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second parts fits inside the lower profile and the first side profile, respectively, and a screw is threaded into at least one of the first and second parts through the outer wall of the lower profile and the first side profile, respectively, and at least one of the first and second parts abuts against the inner side of the outer wall adjacent to the screw. This prevents the corresponding outer wall from forming a recess under the screw when tightening the screw. For example, at least one of the first and second parts may have two extensions that fit into parallel hollow chambers of the lower profile and the first side profile, respectively, separated by an intermediate wall, and where the screw passes along one of the extensions that abuts against the outer wall and is threaded into the other extension through the intermediate wall. Thus, the screw passes through one of the extensions without being threaded therein, which prevents the corresponding outer wall from forming a recess under the screw when the screw is tightened.

[0016] The trough may be defined by a hollow core of at least one of the bottom profile and the first side profile.

[0017] The corner connector is a single unit, the single unit being made of aluminium and preferably made by moulding. Alternatively, the single unit may be made of plastic or fibre reinforced plastic.

[0018] In a particular embodiment, the first side profile has a support surface that supports the transparent cover, and the core has an upper surface portion adjacent to and flush with or immediately below the support surfaces of the lower profile and the first side profile, respectively. When the upper surface portion is flush with the support surfaces of the lower profile and the first side profile, it also supports the transparent cover; when the upper surface portion is immediately below the support surfaces of the lower profile and the first side profile, for example, when manufacturing tolerances are exceeded, the upper surface portion is prevented from supporting the transparent cover to avoid local stresses when the upper surface portion protrudes slightly above the support surfaces of the lower profile and the first side profile.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the lower profile and the first side profile are provided with a flexible lower profile clamping strip and a flexible first side profile clamping strip covering respective end portions of the transparent cover, wherein the clamping strips are inclined upwardly toward the outside of the transparent cover relative to the plane of the transparent cover, wherein the width of the lower profile clamping strip is adapted to slightly overlap the first side profile, wherein an end portion of the first side profile clamping strip overlaps a portion of the lower profile clamping strip, and wherein the core is provided with upwardly directed lugs for bending upwardly a corner of the lower contour clamp strip overlapped by the end portion of the first side profile clamping strip. This means that rainwater from the first side profile clamping strip is guided onto the lower profile clamping strip, thereby minimizing the risk of leakage between the first and lower profile clamping strips, while the size of the opening between the first and lower profile clamping strips is minimized due to the inclination of the clamping strips. The overlap serves to avoid gaps between the clamping strips, for example in the event of shrinkage of the clamping strips.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a corner connector for attaching to one another a lower profile and a first side profile of a frame of a closable window of a greenhouse as described hereinbefore, the corner connector comprising a first part configured to be fixed to the lower profile, a second part configured to be fixed to the first side profile, and a core located between the first and second parts, wherein the core is provided with a gutter opening on a side on which at least one of the first and second parts is located so as to communicate with a gutter in at least one of the lower profile and the first side profile, respectively, when the corner connector is attached to the lower profile and the first side profile, and wherein the core is provided with a drain opening which communicates with the gutter opening and which is located on a different side of the core than the side on which the first and second parts are located.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the first portion and the second portion protrude from the core in directions perpendicular to one another and thus span a corner connector plane.

[0022] The drain opening may be on a side of the core parallel to the corner connector plane.

[0023] Additionally, the corner connectors may be provided with other features previously described herein.

[0024] The invention will be explained below with reference to highly schematic drawings showing, by way of example, embodiments of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a portion of a greenhouse according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of a closable window of the greenhouse shown in FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is an enlarged portion of the closable window shown in FIG. 1, which portion is designated by III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above of the portion shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a portion of a closable window without the clamping strip s. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the closable part from below. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a corner connector located in the closeable window area as shown in FIGS. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a corner connector located in the closeable window area as shown in FIGS. 3-6. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a corner connector located in the closeable window area as shown in FIGS. 3-6. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a corner connector located in the closeable window area as shown in FIGS. 3-6. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an illustration of attaching a first portion of the corner connector to a lower profile of a closeable window. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing how the second portion of the corner connector is attached to the first side profile of the closeable window. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but also showing the sealing strip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a Venlo-type greenhouse 1 having a roof 2 comprising two sloping roof sections on either side of a ridge 3. The roof 2 is provided with rods 4 that are equally spaced along the ridge 3 and extend perpendicular to it. The rods 4 support glass panes 5. The ridge 3 and rods 4 are preferably made of extruded aluminium.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one of the sloping roof sections is provided with a closable window 6, which is shown separately in FIG. 2. The window 6 has a circumferential frame 7, which comprises a lower profile 8, an upper profile 9, a first side profile 10 and a second side profile 11, which are fixed to each other. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the frame 7 is rectangular. FIG. 1 shows the window 6 in an open state, which creates roof ventilation. In the closed state of the window 6, the lower profile 8 is located at a lower height level than the upper profile 9. The first side profile 10 and the second side profile 11 extend between the lower profile 8 and the upper profile 9. The upper profile 9 is attached to the ridge 3 by means of hinges 12 to allow the window 6 to be opened and closed. The frame 7 supports a transparent cover in the form of a glass pane 13.

[0028] In the closed state of the window 6, the frame 7 rests on the periphery of the roof 2, which surrounds an opening that opens the interior of the greenhouse 1 to the environment when the window 6 is in the open state. The periphery may be formed by the rods 4, the ridge 3 and some of the beams on which the lower profile 8 rests in the closed state of the window 6.

[0029] The bottom profile 8 is fixed to the first 10 and second 11 side profiles through respective corner connectors 14. The two corner connectors 14 as shown in Figure 2 are similar but mirror images with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bottom profile 8. Figures 3 to 14 show the corner connector 14 between the bottom profile 8 and the first 10 side profile in more detail. This corner connector 14 will be described below, but the other corner connector 14, i.e. the corner connector 14 connecting the bottom profile 8 and the second 11 side profile, has similar properties.

[0030] The corner connector 14 has a core 15, a first portion 16 protruding from the core 15, and a second portion with an inner extension 17a and an outer extension 17b parallel to each other and protruding from the core 15. The directions in which the first portion 16 and the second portions 17a and 17b are oriented are perpendicular to each other. The core 15 is disposed between the first portion 16 and the second portions 17a and 17b, and between the bottom profile 8 and the first side profile 10.

[0031] The first part 16 fits inside the hollow core 18 of the lower profile 8 and is fixed to the lower profile 8 via screws 19, which pass through through-holes in the outer wall of the lower profile 8 and are screwed into corresponding holes 20 in the first part 16. The inner extension 17a of the second part fits partially inside the channel 21 of the first side profile 10 and the outer extension 17b fits inside the hollow core 22 of the first side profile 10. The second parts 17a and 17b are fixed to the first side profile 10 via screws 23, which pass through through-holes in the outer wall of the first side profile 10 and through-holes in the intermediate wall between the channel 21 and the hollow core 22 and are screwed into corresponding holes 24 in the inner extension 17a of the second part. The first part 16 fits inside the lower profile 8 in such a way that rotation of the corner connector 14 around the longitudinal axis of the lower profile 8 as well as displacement of the corner connector 14 in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the lower profile 8 are prevented. Similarly, the second parts 17a and 17b fit inside the first side profile 10 in such a way that rotation of the corner connector 14 around the longitudinal axis of the first side profile 10 as well as displacement of the corner connector 14 in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the first side profile 10 are prevented. It is noted that the screws 19 and 23 may be self-tapping screws so that it is not necessary to provide through holes in the lower profile 8, the first side profile 10 and / or the corner connector 14.

[0032] The inner extension 17a extends beyond the outer extension 17b as seen from the core 15 so that the screw 23 passes along the outer extension 17b. In order to avoid a depression in the outer wall of the first side profile 10 under the screw 23 when tightening the screw 23, the outer extension 17b abuts against the inner side of the outer wall adjacent to the screw 23, so as to exert a reaction force on the outer wall if it tends to form a depression. Similarly, the first portion 16 abuts against the inner side of the outer wall of the lower profile 8 around the screw 19 so as to exert a reaction force on the outer wall if it tends to form a depression in response to tightening the screw 19.

[0033] Figure 5 shows a part of the frame 7 without the glass pane 13. The lower profile 8, the upper profile 9, the first side profile 10 and the second side profile 11 have respective support surfaces for supporting the glass pane 13; the support surfaces 25 and 26 of the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10, respectively, are shown in Figure 5. The core 15 is provided with an upper surface portion 27, which is flush with or immediately below the support surfaces 25 and 26 of the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10, respectively. When the core 15 is flush with the support surfaces 25 and 26 of the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10, it can also support the glass pane 13.

[0034] The lower profile 8 is provided with a lower profile groove 28 extending in its longitudinal direction. The lower profile groove 28 extends below the support surface 25 of the lower profile 8 and is open at the side directed towards the upper profile 9. In this case, the lower profile gutter 28 is formed by an undercut. When condensate water forms on the inside of the glass pane 13, which is directed towards the interior of the greenhouse 1 and flows downwards along the glass pane 13 in the closed state of the window 6, it flows into the lower profile gutter 28 where it is collected. It can then flow through the lower profile groove 28 towards the corner connector 14. The core 15 of the corner connector 14 is provided on its underside with a drain opening 29 which in the closed state of the window 6 is directed towards the periphery of the roof 2 (see figures 6 to 8). The drain opening 29 communicates with the lower profile gutter 28 (see figure 6). The drain opening 29 is located below the lower profile gutter 28 when the window 6 is in a closed state, so that condensate water can flow from the lower profile gutter 28 through the drain opening 29 to the periphery of the roof 2, and so that the condensate water can flow further downwards on the upper side of the roof 2 below the window 6.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows the sealing strip receiving grooves 30 and 31 in the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10, respectively, which receive a flexible sealing strip 48, as shown in FIG. 15. The flexible sealing strip 48 may be made, for example, from rubber. The second side profile 11 likewise has a sealing strip receiving groove similar to the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10 for receiving the flexible sealing strip 48. In this case, the upper profile 9 does not have a sealing strip receiving groove for receiving the flexible sealing strip 48, e.g. the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10 and the second side profile 11, since the upper profile 9 is in direct contact with the ridge 3 in the closed state of the window 6. The flexible sealing strip 48 in the first side profile 10 and the second side profile 11 together with the direct contact between the lower profile 8 and the upper profile 9 and the ridge 3 provide a common sealing strip that extends substantially continuously along the periphery between the frame 7 and the periphery in the closed state of the window 6. FIG. 6 illustrates that the drain opening 29 is located on the side of the common sealing strip that is directed away from the window 6. Thus, the condensed water can, in the closed state of the window 6, exit the greenhouse 1 through the corner connector 14 by bypassing the common sealing strip. Due to the location of the drain opening 29 and the presence of the flexible sealing strip 48, water can easily exit the greenhouse 1 through the corner connector 14 of the window 6, but little or no water can enter the interior of the greenhouse 1 from the outside through the window 6. It should be noted that in practice the greenhouse 1 may be installed with a slight inclination in its longitudinal direction, so that the lower profile gutter 28 also has a slight inclination. This will cause most of the condensed water to drain through one of the two corner connectors 14 of the window 6 located at the lowest height. Moreover, in an alternative embodiment the upper profile 9 may be provided with a flexible sealing strip.

[0036] The glass pane 13 of the window 6 is covered all around by flexible clamping strips, which may be made of plastic. Figure 4 shows the lower profile clamping strip 32, whose fixing part is attached to the lower profile clamping strip channel 33 of the lower profile 8 and whose cover part covers the glass pane 13, and the first side profile clamping strip 34, whose fixing part is attached to the first side profile clamping strip channel 35 of the first side profile 10 and whose cover part covers the glass pane 13. Figure 5 shows the lower profile clamping strip channel 33 and the first side profile clamping strip channel 35. Figure 5 also shows that the core 15 of the corner connector 14 is similarly provided with a clamping strip recess 36 that aligns with the lower profile clamping strip channel 33 to receive the fixed portion of the lower profile clamping strip 32. The first side profile clamping strip 34 extends to the core 15.

[0037] The covering parts of the lower profile clamping strip 32 and the first side profile clamping strip 34 are each inclined upwards towards the outside of the glass pane 13 with respect to the plane of the glass pane 13 (see FIG. 4). The width of the lower profile clamping strip 32 is such that its covering part slightly overlaps the first side profile 10. As a result, the end part of the first side profile clamping strip 34 overlaps part of the covering part of the lower profile clamping strip 32 (see FIG. 4). This means that rainwater from the first side profile clamping strip 34 is guided onto the lower profile clamping strip 32. This minimizes the risk of leakage between the first side profile clamping strip 34 and the lower profile clamping strip 32.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to minimize the size of the opening 37 between the first side profile clamping strip 34 and the lower profile clamping strip 32, the corners of the lower profile clamping strip 32 are bent upward by the corner connectors 14 through upward lugs 38 on the core 15.

[0039] The support surface 25 is provided with a shallow recess along the lower profile 8 (see FIG. 7). The recess in the lower profile 8 and the lower profile clamping strip channel 33 also communicate with the drain opening 29 through a hole 39 and a passage 40 therein in the upper side of the core 15 of the corner connector 14. The hole 39 is next to the upper surface portion 27 of the core 15 (see FIG. 5). The recess in the support surface 25 and the lower profile clamping strip channel 33 in the lower profile 8 thus also form a gutter through which condensed or leaking water can be discharged. Similarly, the hollow core 18 in the lower profile 8 communicates with the drain opening 29 through the core 15 so that it also functions as a gutter (see FIG. 6).

[0040] The first side profile 10 also comprises a first side profile gutter for draining condensed or leaking water, which in this case is formed by the first side profile clamping strip channel 35 and the hollow core 22. The first side profile clamping strip channel 35 and the hollow core 22 communicate with the drain opening 29 through an upward groove 41 in the core 15 of the corner connector 14 (see, for example, Figures 8, 9, 12 and 14). The support surface 26 of the first side profile 10 is provided with a shallow depression along the first side profile 10 (see Figure 8). The depression also communicates with the drain opening 29 through a hole 39 in the upper side of the core 15 of the corner connector 14 and a passage 40 therein. Another first side profile gutter can be formed by the channel 21 of the side profile 10; however, in this case the channel 21 does not communicate with the drain opening 29, but the water collected in the channel 21 can evaporate inside the greenhouse 1.

[0041] The drain opening 29 forms a common drain opening which communicates with the lower profile trough 28, the hollow core 18 of the lower profile 8, the first side profile clamping strip channel 35, the hollow core 22 of the first side profile 10, the recesses in the support surfaces 25 and 26, and the lower profile clamping strip channel 33, which may also have their own separate drain openings.

[0042] The corner connector 14 is a single unit that is made of aluminum and is preferably molded. It can also be made of plastic, but this is less preferred because its durability and strength are limited.

[0043] 9 to 14 show that the inner extension 17a of the first part of the corner connector 14 is provided with two rivet recesses 42 on either side of a lateral projection 43. The lateral projection 43 provides a rigid connection in the channel 21 of the first side profile 10 and also hides the screw 23 so that it is not visible from inside the greenhouse 1. It also minimizes the risk of something getting caught behind the screw 23, thereby improving the installation environment. The rivet recess 42 may be used to receive the riveted edge of the channel 21 of the first side profile 10 if the corner connector 14 is fixed to the first side profile 10 by riveting in addition to or instead of the screw 23.

[0044] The core 15 is further provided with covering projections 44 for covering the transitions between the lower profile 8 and the core 15 and between the first side profile 10 and the core 15 .

[0045] Moreover, the first side profile clamping strip 34 is prevented from moving downwards by an abutment 45 on the core 15 (see Figures 9 and 10). The core 15 is provided with a first stop 46 against which the flexible sealing strip 48 in the sealing strip receiving groove 31 abuts and a second stop 47 against which the flexible sealing strip 48 in the sealing strip receiving groove 30 abuts (see Figures 6 and 15).

[0046] Considering the corner connector 14 itself, it can be defined as having a first portion 16 configured to be fixed to the first side profile 10, second portions 17a and 17b configured to be fixed to the first side profile 10, and a core 15 located between the first portion 16 and the second portions 17a and 17b, wherein the core 15 has gutter openings on a side on which at least one of the first portion 16 and the second portion 17a and 17b are located, so as to communicate with the gutters 18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33 and 35 of at least one of the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10 when the corner connector 14 is attached to the lower profile 8 and the first side profile 10, and wherein a drain opening 29 of the core 15 communicates with the gutter openings and is located on a side of the core 15 different from the side on which the first portion 16 and the second portion 17a and 17b are located. The upwardly facing groove 41 in the core 15 is for example a clearly visible example of such a gutter opening (41) which communicates with the drain opening 29 (see for example FIG. 9).

[0047] In fact, the first portion 16 and the second portions 17a and 17b project from the core 15 in a direction perpendicular to each other, so that they straddle the corner connector plane. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the drain opening 29 is on the side of the core 15 that is parallel to the corner connector plane. In other words, the drain opening 29 is located on the side of the core 15 that is perpendicular to the side from which the first portion 16 and the second portions 17a and 17b, respectively, project.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above, but may be modified in different ways within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents, for example, the first and second parts of the corner connector, as well as the bottom profile and the first side profile may have different shapes.

Claims

1. 1. A greenhouse (1) comprising a sloped roof (2) with a closable window (6) having a frame (7) including a transparent cover (13), the frame (7) comprising a lower profile (8), an upper profile (9), a first side profile (10) and a second side profile (11), the first side profile (10) and the second side profile (11) being fixed to one another so as to extend between the lower profile (8) and the upper profile (9), wherein in a closed state of the window (6), the frame (7) rests on the periphery of the roof (2) and the lower profile (8) is located at a lower height level than the upper profile (9), and wherein at least one of the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) has a gutter (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) extending in its longitudinal direction for conveying water, e.g., condensation water, from the interior of the greenhouse (1), and wherein at least the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) are fixed to one another so as to extend between the lower profile (8) and the upper profile (9). In a greenhouse (1) in which a lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) are attached to each other through corner connectors (14), the corner connectors (14) having a first portion (16) fixed to the lower profile (8) and second portions (17a, 17b) fixed to the first side profile (10), the corner connectors (14) having a core (15), the core (15) being disposed between the first portion (16) and the second portion (17a, 17b) and the The greenhouse (1) is located between the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10), and the core (15) is provided with drain openings (29), which communicate with the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) and are located below the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35) when the windows (6) are in the closed state so as to drain water from the gutters (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 33, 35).

2. 2. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1, wherein the drain opening (29) is arranged on the underside of the core (15) that is directed towards the periphery of the roof (2) in the closed state of the window (6).

3. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the peripheral edges of the frame (7) and the roof (2) is provided with a sealing strip (48), which extends along the peripheral edge between the frame (7) and the peripheral edge when the window (6) is in the closed state, and wherein the drain opening (29) is located on the side of the sealing strip (48) facing away from the window (6).

4. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower profile (8) has a support surface (25) for supporting the transparent cover (13) and a gutter which is a lower profile gutter (28), which extends below the support surface (25) and opens on the side facing the upper profile (9) to collect condensed water from the transparent cover (13), and wherein the core (15) is provided with a drain opening which is a lower profile drain opening (29) that communicates with the lower profile gutter (28).

5. 5. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 4, wherein the lower profile (9) has one or more additional lower profile gutters (18, 25, 33), and wherein the lower profile drain openings comprise one or more lower profile drain openings (29) in the core that communicate with the additional lower profile gutters (18, 25, 33).

6. 2. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first side profile (10) has a gutter which is a first side profile gutter (22, 26, 35), and wherein the core (15) is provided with a drain opening which is a first side profile drain opening (29) which communicates with the first side profile gutter (22, 26, 35).

7. 7. A greenhouse (1) according to claim 6 when relying on claim 4 or 5, wherein one or more of the lower profile drain openings and the first side profile drain opening form a common drain opening (29).

8. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first part (16) and the second part (17a, 17b) fits inside the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10), respectively.

9. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trough is formed by a hollow core (18, 22) of at least one of the bottom profile (8) and the first side profile (10).

10. 3. A greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the corner connector (14) is a single unit, the single unit being made of aluminium, preferably by moulding.

11. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first side profile (10) has a support surface (25) for supporting the transparent cover (13), and the core (15) has an upper surface portion (27) adjacent to and flush with or immediately below the support surfaces (25, 26) of the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10), respectively.

12. 3. The greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) are provided with flexible lower profile clamping strips (32) and flexible first side profile clamping strips (34), respectively, which cover the respective end portions of the transparent cover (13), wherein the clamping strips (32, 34) are inclined upwardly with respect to the plane of the transparent cover (13) toward the outside of the transparent cover (13), wherein the width of the lower profile clamping strip (32) is such that it slightly overlaps the first side profile (10), wherein an end portion of the first side profile clamping strip (34) overlaps a portion of the lower profile clamping strip, and wherein the core (15) is provided with upwardly directed lugs (38) for bending upward the corners of the lower profile clamping strips (32) that are overlapped by the end portion of the first side profile clamping strip (34).

13. 3. A corner connector (14) for attaching a bottom profile (8) and a first side profile (10) of a frame (7) of a closable window (6) of a greenhouse (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the corner connector (14) comprising a first portion (16) configured to be fastened to the bottom profile (8), a second portion (17a, 17b) configured to be fastened to the first side profile (10), and a core (15) located between the first portion (16) and the second portion (17a, 17b), wherein the corner connector (14) is configured to fasten the bottom profile (8) and the first side profile (10) to each other. The corner connector (14) is provided with a gutter opening (41) in the core (15) on the side where at least one of the first and second portions is located so as to communicate with a gutter in at least one of the lower profile (8) and the first side profile (10) when attached to the core (10), wherein the core (15) is provided with a drain opening (29) that communicates with the gutter opening (41) and is located on a different side of the core (15) than the side where the first portion (16) and the second portion (17a, 17b) are located.

14. 14. The corner connector (14) of claim 13, wherein the first portion (16) and the second portion (17a, 17b) protrude from the core (15) in directions perpendicular to each other and thus extend into a corner connector plane.

15. 15. The corner connector (14) of claim 14, wherein the drain opening (29) is on a side of the core (15) parallel to the corner connector plane.

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