EP0118883B1 - Shower separator in the form of a trapdoor - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A shower screen in the form of a hinged door (1) consisting in particular of silicate safety-glass, which may be fastened pivotally to a wall by means of hinges which consist respectively of one member next the wall and one member next the door (2, 3 ; 24, 24a), where each hinge member (2, 3) next the wall consists in turn of two parts (11, 16) adjustable with respect to one another for alteration of the clearance of the pivot (19) from the plane (14) of the wall, the first (16) of these parts receiving the pivot pin (20, 20a) and the second part (11) exhibiting means (4, 10) of permanent fixing, characterized in that the second parts (11) of the hinge members (2, 3) next the wall are fastened to one common wall-fillet (4), and that the first hinge parts (16) have receiver means (25) for a coversection (5) overlapping the wall-fillet (4).

Description

The invention relates to a shower partition in the form of a - in particular made of silicate safety glass - folding door, which can be pivotally attached to a wall with the aid of hinges, each consisting of a wall-side and a door-side element, each wall-side hinge element in turn consisting of two for change of the distance of the pivot axis from the wall plane mutually displaceable parts, of which the first part receives the pivot pin and the second part has means for fixed attachment.

Shower partitions or shower doors of this type, with which shower niches can be closed in a technically simple manner to form shower cubicles, are known, for example, from US Pat. No. 3,390,486. With the means described there, even in the case of hardened and therefore no longer workable silicate glass doors, deviations from the right angle between the upper edge of the shower base, which is mostly used as an alignment edge for the lower edge of the door, and the wall, on the other hand, can be compensated. However, the distance between the hinged side edge of the folding door and the wall is changed. If it is reduced, it can jam; if it is enlarged, water splashes out. Elastic sealing lips can only help to a very limited extent; especially not if the distance between the hinged side edge of the folding door and the wall is wedge-shaped.

The invention is therefore primarily based on the object of designing the articulation of the folding door in such a way that the respective adaptation to structural conditions is possible without sacrificing the shielding function of the folding door along its hinged side edge.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the second parts of the wall-side hinge elements are fastened to a common wall strip and in that the first hinge parts have receiving means for a cover profile overlapping the wall strip.

When the hinged door is aligned with the respective reference component using the adjustable hinges, the cover profile is carried along by the first hinge parts, so that its relative position relative to the hinged door remains independent of the setting of the hinges. A narrow gap between the folding door and the cover profile, which prevents the passage of splash water, is thus maintained in the closed folding door position. The overlap of the cover profile with the wall hinge common to the two hinges, which does not change their relative position to the second parts of the hinge, ensures that, even when the cover profile is moved relative to the wall hinge, there is no gap between the wall and the hinges that allows splashing water during the hinge adjustment.

Although - as I said - the distance between the hinged side edge of the folding door and the cover profile can be kept very small and does not change when the hinges are adjusted, there is preferably an additional elastic profile on the cover profile with its free longitudinal edge lying against the folding door along its other Longitudinal edge attached. From US-A 3390486 it is known per se to arrange a cover profile between the wall and the hinged side edge of the folding door, which is attached there to the folding door.

In the closed state, the free edge of the folding door can engage in a rebate provided by the customer or be bluntly opposed to an opposite wall. If, however, a special stop bar is provided for the free edge of the folding door, then in a further development of the invention, which is not limited to this, it is part of a stop profile corresponding to the cover profile, which overlaps a wall bar and is adjustably attachable to it. In this case, the stop profile preferably has a section which engages in the wall strip and in which expansion bodies are guided which can be widened from the outside in positive engagement with toothed surfaces of the wall strip. Several such expansion bodies can be provided over the height of the wall bar of the stop profile, the accessibility of which from the outside is facilitated by releasable clamping of the stop bar in the stop profile.

Difficulties arise with shower partitions with folding doors when they have to be opened to the outside - i.e. away from the shower - because then water running down the door drips onto the floor in the room outside the shower. On the other hand, it is difficult to enter and leave a shower cubicle, which is closed off by an inward opening door. In order to counter the above-mentioned difficulty with a folding door that opens outwards, according to another development of the invention, which, however, is not limited to the design of the folding door linkage described above, it is provided that a water drainage channel is attached to the inside of the lower edge of the folding door, which closed at the free edge of the folding door and open to the shower on the hinged edge. Water running off on the inside of the folding door does not drip, but gets into the water drainage channel and is discharged into the shower near the swivel axis.

Preferably, the water drainage channel is connected to at least one downward-extending, elastic splash-water deflection strip, which allows a distance of the lower edge of the folding door from the reference component (approximately an upper edge of the shower tray) necessary for safe door function, without splashing water can get outside. This or one of the splash-water deflecting strips advantageously interacts with a rail which can be fastened on an edge of the shower base or the like and which bears sealingly on the shower base or the like with an integrally formed soft lip. The - essentially rigid - rail, which can be attached to the reference component, for example by gluing, offers a precise reference edge to the lower edge of the folding door, the soft lip covering and protecting the fastening of the rail to the component below.

• Fig. 1 eine Frontalansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Duschabtrennung;
• Fig. 2 eine teilweise geschnittene, teilweise aufgebrochene Darstellung der Scharnierausbildung der Klapptür gemäss Fig. 1 in vergrössertem Massstab;
• Fig. 3 teils eine Draufsicht, teils einen Querschnitt gemäss der Linie 111-111 in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 einen teilweisen Querschnitt gemäss der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 einen teilweisen Vertikalschnitt gemäss der Linie V-V in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 6 eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer abgewandelten Scharnierausbildung, und zwar im geöffneten Zustand;
• Fig. 7 eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles X in Fig. 6;
• Fig. 8 eine der Fig. 6 entsprechende (nicht geschnittene) Ansicht des Scharniers in geschlossenem Zustand; und
• Fig. 9 eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles Y in Fig. 8.

The drawings illustrate the invention using an exemplary embodiment, which shows:

• 1 shows a front view of a shower partition according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned, partially broken open representation of the hinge design of the folding door according to FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;
• Fig. 3 partly a plan view, partly a cross section along the line 111-111 in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a partial cross section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section along the line VV in Fig. 1;
• 6 is a partially sectioned view of a modified hinge design, in the open state;
• Fig. 7 is a view in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 6;
• FIG. 8 shows a view (not sectioned) of the hinge corresponding to FIG. 6 in the closed state; and
• 9 is a view in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 8.

1 consists of the folding door 1, the upper and lower hinges, of which only the parts 16 and 24 or 24a are visible, the hinge-side wall bar 4 with the cover profile 5 and the opposite wall bar 6 with the stop profile 7 and the stop bar 8. More details about the formation of the hinges and the various bars and profiles can be found in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The second part 11 of the upper wall-side hinge element 2 is fastened to the wall bar 4, which can be fastened to a wall for example by screws (fastening holes 10), using screws 12. It has an angular shape in the vertical section of FIG. 2 and is provided on its upward-facing surface 13 with a serration parallel to the wall plane 14 (= wall-side surface of the wall rail 4). A corresponding serration 15 is provided on the associated lower surface of the first part 16 of the hinge element 2, which extends like a cantilever from the wall plane 14 and is fastened to the second part 11 of the hinge element with the aid of a screw 17. The elongated hole 18 provided for the screw 17 in the first part 16 allows the parts 11, 16 to be adjusted relative to one another after the screw has been loosened, so that the distance between the pivot axis 19 and the wall plane 14 can be changed. A pivot pin 20 which is concentric with the pivot axis 19 is fastened by means of its screw section 21 in the first part 16 of the hinge element 2 and engages at 22 in a bearing part 24 fastened to the door leaf 23.

A groove 25 corresponding to the cross section of the cover profile 5 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in the lower surface of the first part 16 of the hinge element 2 forms a means for receiving and holding the cover profile 5, so that when the hinge parts 11, 16 are adjusted relative to one another, the cover profile 5 is taken with the second hinge part 16 and its position relative to the pivot axis 19 and thus to the hinged edge 26 of the folding door 1 does not change.

The design of the lower wall-side hinge element 3 is largely corresponding, and similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals. The only difference is essentially the screw 17a, which is inserted from above through the second part 11 and the elongated hole 18 of the first part 16 and is screwed to a nut 27. Furthermore, the hinge pin 20a is a simple pin which is pressed into the first part 16 of the hinge element 3 and is inserted into the bearing part 24a on the door leaf 23 of the folding door 1. Here too, however, a groove 25 in the corresponding surface of the first hinge part 16, which of course points upward, holds and holds the cover profile 5, so that it maintains its overall position relative to the folding door 1 when the hinge elements 2, 3 pass through Relative adjustment of their parts 11, 16 to be adapted to the local installation conditions.

3 and 4 make it clear how the cover profile 5 overlaps the legs 28 of the wall strip 4, so that when the hinge elements 2, 3 are adjusted differently, a shadow groove of different width results between the wall and the edges of the cover profile 5 facing it but a gap that allows splashing water. The important distance between the cover profile 5 and the articulated edge 26 of the folding door 1 remains unaffected by a hinge adjustment.

An elastic lip profile 29 is fastened on the inside along its longitudinal edge 30 to the cover profile 5, namely inserted into a groove 31. With its free longitudinal edge 32, it bears sealingly on the door leaf 23 of the folding door 1, but due to its elasticity and slight pretension easily follows its pivoting movements.

Fig. 3 also illustrates how the stop bar 8 is part of the stop profile 7, namely inserted into this clamping. An internally molded U-shaped section 40 of the stop profile 7 engages between side jaws 41 of the wall bar 6, which have longitudinal grooves 42. Distributed over the height of the stop profile 7, 40 (short) expansion bodies 43 are inserted into the U-shaped projection, which can be expanded with the aid of the screw connection 44 and the wedge 45 in such a way that lateral projections 46 are pressed into the longitudinal grooves 42 and a positive one Establish the connection between the stop profile 7 and the wall bar 6, in such a way that the stop bar 8 has the same relative position to the door leaf 23 of the folding door 1 over its entire height.

5 illustrates the development described above in the region of the lower edge 50 of the folding door 23. A section 52, 53 of a plastic profile 51 encompasses the lower edge 50 and is glued to the door leaf 23. A further section 54 of the profile 51 forms a water drainage channel 55, which - in a manner not shown - is closed at its end adjacent to the free edge 33 of the folding door 1, while - also not shown - that adjacent to the hinged edge 26 of the folding door 1 Drained towards the shower interior. On the underside, elastic splash-proof strips 56, 57 extending downward are formed on the profile 51. These interact with a rail 58, the relatively rigid section 59 of which can be attached to a base (for example the upper edge of a shower tray) with the aid of an adhesive strip 60, while a molded-on soft lip 61 seals the interior (located on the right in FIG. 5) causes the shower and at the same time covers the permanently elastic putty, which can be arranged in the cavity 62 between the section 59 and the lip 61 of the rail 58.

To the interior of the shower base, the profile 51 also continues in a lip 62, which prevents splash water and large amounts of splash water from impinging on the edge seal formed by the deflecting strips 56, 57 with the rail 58 from the outset. The cross hatching of certain sections of the profile 51 indicates that these are sections made of softer plastic than the other profile sections.

The modification of the hinge design shown in FIGS. 6-9 relates to the lower wall-side hinge element 3, and specifically to the interaction of its first part 16 with the pivot pin 20a and the bearing part 24a fastened to the door leaf 23 (FIG. 2). The modified design of the lower hinge element 3 provides that the door leaf 23 (which is not shown in FIGS. 6-9) is raised when the door is opened, remains in the open state (approximately 90 ° opening angle) and when the door is closed during the last part of the closing path (approximately from a remaining opening angle of 45 ° to 30 °) automatically completes the closing process and exerts a closing force on the stop bar 8. In order not to hinder the lifting of the door leaf 23, the upper hinge element 2 with its first part 16 must be at a distance from the door leaf 23; this is already provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, so that when the door leaf 23 is lifted, the pivot pin 20 penetrates deeper into the bearing part 24.

Hinge elements which raise the door leaf when opening and release a closing force during the closing process are known per se. However, their constructive training has proven disadvantageous for a number of reasons. For example, the closing force distribution over the opening angle is unfavorable for optimal function (especially in the case of a shower partition), and the known hinge lifting devices also wear out too quickly. The hinge design described below avoids these disadvantages.

The pivot pin 20a is fastened in part 16 of the lower hinge element 3 (FIG. 2). In the bearing part 24a, which in turn is attached to the door leaf 23 (not shown), the pivot pin 20a is axial, i.e. vertically movable. The surface section 70 of the upper side of the hinge part 16 facing the bearing part 24a is beveled, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6-8.

A disk 71 is arranged between the surface section 70 and the underside of the bearing part 24a facing it. This engages around the pivot pin 20a with an essentially U-shaped cutout 72, the edge of the cutout 72 having the configuration which can best be seen in FIG. 6 for adaptation. Furthermore, in the extension of the central axis of the U-shaped cutout 72, a ball socket 73 is formed on the upper side in the disk 71, into which a spherical cap 74 engages, which forms the end of a pin 75 which projects vertically downward from the bearing part 24a and is fastened therein . Compared to the pivot axis determined by the pivot pin 20a, the central axis of the pin 75 is offset eccentrically by the dimension x (towards the free vertical edge 33 of the door leaf 23).

The weight of the door leaf 23 is supported via the bearing part 24a, the pin 75 and the washer 71 on the surface section 70 of the hinge part 16. In the opening state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (opening angle 90 °), the force resulting from the weight does not produce any torque about the pivot axis of the hinge pin 20a. Only the reduction in the opening angle when the door closes gives rise to such a torque, because then the horizontal force component generated by the slope of the surface section 70 no longer passes through the pivot axis, but passes it; the vertical distance of this component from the swivel axis represents the lever arm of the torque. Because this lever arm - starting from zero at an opening angle of 90 ° - is initially very small, initially only a small torque is produced. This takes place according to a sine function with a smaller opening angle and a correspondingly larger one dend the lever arm so that when a remaining opening angle of about 45 to 30 ° is reached, the torque is sufficiently large to carry out the rest of the closing automatically and to press the door leaf 23 against the stop bar 8.

During this pivoting process, the spherical cap 74 of the pin 75 slides in the ball socket 73 of the disk 71, and its cutout 72 ensures the general arrangement of the disk 71 on the surface section 70, on the one hand, and on the other hand allows the disk 71 to move relative to the pivot pin, which is necessary for geometric reasons 20a. Neither the movement of the spherical cap 74 in the ball socket 73 nor that of the disk 71 on the inclined surface section 70 is susceptible to wear, and the increase in the closing force after closing the door when the door is closed ensures comfortable handling of the shower partition.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the relative position of the disk 71, which differs considerably from the open state, with respect to the inclined surface section 70 and the hinge pin 20a. In particular, FIG. 8 shows the expediency of the edge contour of the U-shaped cutout 72 in the disk 71.

Claims (10)

1. A shower screen in the form of a hinged door (1) constisting in particular of silicate safety- glass, which may be fastened pivotally to a wall by means of hinges which consist respectively of one member next the wall and one member next the door (2, 3; 24, 24a), where each hinge member (2, 3) next the wall consists in turn of two parts (11, 16) adjustable with respect to one another for alteration of the clearance of the pivot (19) from the plane (14) of the wall, the first (16) of these parts receiving the pivot pin (20, 20a) and the second part (11) exhibiting means (4, 10) of permanent fixing, characterized in that the second parts (11) of the hinge members (2, 3) next the wall are fastened to one common wall-fillet (4), and that the first hinge parts (16) have receiver means (25) for a coversection (5) overlapping the wall-fillet (4).

2. A shower screen as in Claim 1, characterized in that an elastic lip-section (29) which rests against the hinged door (1) by its free longitudinal edge (32) is fastened along its other longitudinal edge (30) to the cover-section (5).

3. A shower screen in particular as in one of the preceding Claims and having a stop-fillet for the free edge of the door, characterized in that the stop-filled (8) is part of a stop-section (7) corresponding with the cover-section (5), which overlaps a wall-fillet (6) ans is fastened adjustably to it.

4. A shower screen as in Claim 3, characterized in that the stop-section (7) has a portion (40) which engages in the wall-fillet (6) and in which are guided spreaders (43) which may be widened from outside into close-fitting engagement with toothed areas (longitidunal grooves 42) of the wall-fillet (6).

5. A shower screen in particular as in Claim 1 or one the following Claims, in which the hinged door may swing away from the shower (outwards), characterized in that on the inside at the bottom edge (50) of the hinged door (23) a water run-off trough (55) is fastened, which is closed off at the free edge (33) of the hinged door (23) and is open towards the shower at the hinged edge (26).

6. A shower screen as in Claim 5, characterized in that at least one elastic splash-rejector strip (56, 57) extending downwards is connected to the water run-off trough (55).

7. A shower screen as in Claim 6, characterized in that the splash-rejector strip (56, 57) cooperates with a rail (59) which may be fastened to one edge of the shower pan or the like and which rests by a moulded-on soft lip (61) to make a seal against the shower pan or the like.

8. A shower screen in particular as in Claim 1 or one of the following Claims, characterized in that the first hinge part (16) of the bottom hinge member (3) has an upper portion (70) of the face of it, which slopes at right angles to the main plane of the closed leaf (23) of the door and against which a pressure disc (71) is held slidably, in which a pin (75) engages which projects downwards in parallel with the axially relatively shiftable hingepin (20a) at a radial clearance (x) from it.

9. A shower screen as in Claim 8, characterized in that a spherical segment (74) made at the free end of the pin (75) engages in a ball socket (73) made in the disc (71).

10. A shower screen as in Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the disc (71) embraces the hingepin (20a) loosely with a cut-out (72).

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