EP0191304A2 - Shower screen - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Partition (10) for showers, including a light metal profile frame (12) having vertical side stops (16), especially uprights, as well as horizontal top and bottom guide rails (14, 14'), including three shiftable door panels (18, 20, 22) each of which has a framed translucent area (24) and which are interarticulated so as to be foldable, and further including sealing components (56, 60, 70, etc.) at the profile frame and at the door panels, wherein the three door panels (18, 20, 22) are arranged to be shiftable and foldable between the vertical side stops (16) to either side thereof, the middle door panel (20) being connected to one outer door panel (e.g. 22) by an articulation (30) and to the other outer door panel (18) by a slidable articulation (28), and wherein the middle door panel (20) comprises in its upper frame profile (26) a guiding groove (36) for the slidable articulation (28).

Description

The invention relates to a shower screen according to the preamble of claim 1.

Conventional shower partitions, e.g. As disclosed in DE-OS 28 56 171 and 33 06 429, consist of several panel door segments, each of which is articulated to one another at adjacent vertical edges. An end door segment is articulated on the outside of a wall fastening rail. When closed, the door segments of the shower wall form an even escape.

When opened, the door segments fold inwards like a harmonica. Even with a two-part sliding door according to DE-GM 83 32 451, the closed door segments are aligned, one of which is attached to a profile frame. The same also applies to folding doors according to DE-AS 28 54 083 and DE-OS 30 08 826, for which special articulations and sealing elements are provided.

When installing shower walls it can happen that the local conditions require the installation of a door hinge on one side, but for actual use it might be much better to open and close in the opposite direction. Often it is not possible to meet the needs of the user or to take the user sufficiently into account. Therefore, there is a need for a design that can be adapted to different operating conditions. It is an important object of the invention to improve a shower screen of the type specified at the outset with the most economical possible means so that assembly and operation are independent of the direction of opening and closing. In particular, the invention aims to simplify handling for all users.

The principle of solving this problem forms the characterizing part of claim 1. Refinements are the subject of claims 2 to 21.

By arranging the three door segments to be displaceable and foldable between the lateral boundaries on both sides, there are significant advantages for the installation and use. In any case, there is no need for an articulated connection of an outer door segment with a lateral limitation, e.g. a vertical mounting rail of the usual type. This not only brings a cost saving, but above all a great ease of operation. Because for the first time it doesn't matter whether the shower screen is opened from the right or from the left; Both are possible according to the invention, both outside (i.e. in front of the partition) and inside a shower cubicle.

According to claim 2, the middle door segment is offset from the two outer door segments forward or outward. The invention therefore gives up the requirement for a flush shower wall in the closed state, which leads to considerable simplification of construction. Because the middle door segment is wider, it is also suitable for decorative effects. For example, it can have a different decor than the side parts, a mirror or the like. record, tape. In addition, the wider frame of the middle door segment is a particularly suitable component for the mechanical connecting elements.

According to claim 3 it is provided that the middle door segment is connected to the one outer door segment by means of a swivel joint and to the other outer door segment by means of a sliding swivel joint. This joint arrangement is fundamentally different from the conventional. It allows the pivoting displacement of an outer door segment with respect to the middle door segment during its folding movement, which was not possible in the previous construction, which only allowed either a parallel sliding past or a pivoting about a pure swivel joint. The invention goes far beyond the state of the art in that it enables both movements.

The special design with a guide groove according to claim 4 is a structurally very advantageous solution.

In the claims 5 to 10 details of an opening mechanism on the middle door segment are given. According to claim 5, an opener which can be actuated by means of the sliding rotary joint is present on the rotary joint. So if an outer door segment is moved, the transition from the closed position takes place by actuating the opener, which releases the folding in on the middle door segment. It can be designed according to claim 6 as a two-armed lever, lever arms and sliding surfaces of different lengths according to claims 7 to 9 having special functions for actuation, but also for the idle state. According to claim 10, an arm projecting into the guide groove can also be a limit stop for the associated outer door segment.

Slideway and swivel bracket of the door segments are specified in claims 11 to 14. These include closure elements, namely magnetic strips, such as those used only at the shower entry, for example according to DE-GM 80 29 984. According to the invention, they are used on both sides and also replace the joint seal of the conventional stop connection on a side post or a fastening rail. It is particularly important that the lower guide rail on which the door segments are guided by means of rollers, completely free of openings, slots, grooves or the like. is what not only eliminates the susceptibility to failure of the management, but also makes maintenance extremely easy.

The edges of the shower wall assigned to the lateral boundaries are provided with handles or grip strips, to which a further grip strip can be hinged in accordance with claim 16. Snap-in inserts according to claim 17 allow a smooth-round shape, which also allows decorative designs. Thanks to the pressure of a rib according to claim 18, the locking can take place elastically and non-positively.

The construction specified in claim 19 provides a stop body which is arranged opposite the swivel joint on the middle door segment and which pushes the middle door segment to the side when a start-up or wedge surface of the outer swivel joint provided with the sliding swivel joint approaches and thus swivels it open.

The closing is supported by a locking device according to claim 20, whereby the outer door segments are slightly raised during the closing movement and engage in the closed position. An asymmetrical double wedge that interacts with a nose on the profile frame is particularly advantageous for this.

A post-free corner entry can be realized very easily by attaching a further similar shower wall at an angle to a first shower wall.

• Fig. 1 eine schematisierte Schrägansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Duschwand,
• Fig. 2 eine noch stärker schematisierte Draufsicht auf eine Duschwand nach der Erfindung,
• Fig. 3 vier schematisierte Draufsichten mit einer Duschwand nach der Erfindung in verschiedenen Gebrauchsstellungen,
• Fig. 4 eine konstruktive Draufsicht auf die Gelenkanordnung einer geschlossenen Duschwand nach der Erfindung,
• Fig. 4a eine Teil-Seitenansicht einer Rastvorrichtung,
• Fig. 5 eine Teil-Draufsicht ähnlich Fig. 4 einer öffnungs-Phase,
• Fig. 6 eine kombinierte Schnittansicht einer Türsegment-Aufhängung,
• Fig. 6a eine Teil-Draufsicht auf die Türsegment-Aufhängung von Fig. 6 und
• Fig. 7 eine Schnittansicht durch eine seitliche Begrenzung sowie eine Griffleiste mit Abdichtelementen.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. In it show:

• 1 is a schematic oblique view of a shower wall according to the invention,
• 2 is an even more schematic top view of a shower wall according to the invention,
• 3 shows four schematic top views with a shower wall according to the invention in different positions of use,
• 4 is a constructive top view of the hinge arrangement of a closed shower wall according to the invention,
• 4a is a partial side view of a locking device,
• 5 shows a partial top view similar to FIG. 4 of an opening phase,
• 6 is a combined sectional view of a door segment suspension,
• Fig. 6a is a partial plan view of the door segment suspension of Fig. 6 and
• Fig. 7 is a sectional view through a lateral boundary and a handle bar with sealing elements.

A shower wall, designated overall by 10, is shown in FIG. 1 for itself, i.e. without wall connection. You can on a bath or shower tray and the like. to be appropriate. A profile frame 12 has an upper guide rail 14 and a lower guide rail 14 'and side boundaries 16, which can be designed as posts or fastening rails. Three door segments or wings 18, 20, 22 are provided, each having a transparent field 24 and a frame profile 26.

As can be seen in the schematic plan view in FIG. 2, the central door segment 20 is farther forward or outward when the shower wall 10 is closed than the two lateral or outer door segments 18, 22. The latter have handles or respectively on the side facing the boundaries 16. Handle strips 58. The left door segment 18 is connected to the middle door segment by means of a sliding swivel joint 28 and this is connected to the right door segment by means of a swivel joint 30. This hinge arrangement enables a sliding folding movement, for which an intermediate state is illustrated in FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a typical mode of use. In part A, a schematically represented user M opens the shower wall 10 by grasping the right handle 58 with the right hand and that pushes the right door segment 22 in the R direction to the left. The sliding swivel joint 28 slides along the middle door segment 20, which at the same time folds in with the two side door segments 18, 22. Part B shows the state in which the shower wall 10 is pushed all the way to the left and folded. The user M can easily get into the shower tray and close the wall 10 from the inside (partial image C). As part D illustrates, the wall 10 can be opened in the opposite direction G, the user M (again with the right hand) touching the ^* left handle 58 and initiating the opening process by moving the left door segment 18. In this case, the fully opened shower wall 10 would be folded up exactly as shown in partial picture B, but on the opposite side.

Because the shower screen 10 can be opened and closed on each side, the actuating device no longer plays a role for the first time. The use of a typical right-handed person was explained above. It is also possible to make the opening in direction G and the closing in direction R, which e.g. a left-hander could do that automatically. At no time is it specified for any user M in which direction he wants to operate the shower wall 10, whether he is in a cabin or in front of it. In any case, there is also a large space inside during the folding of the door, since the joint arrangement 28/30 moves into the last third of the space, so that the user M is guaranteed ample freedom of movement.

The structure and mode of operation of the joint arrangement are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The three door segments 18, 20, 22 are shortened for the purposes of illustration. It can be seen that the sliding swivel joint 28 has an arm 74 with a pressure piece 54 which slides in a guide groove 36 in the upper frame profile 26 of the middle door segment 20. In a free space 38 (FIG. 6) of this profile there is an opener 40, which with a bearing 46 is pivotally mounted in a certain angular range. The opener 40 has two lever arms 42, 48 of different lengths, which are at an obtuse angle to one another. A sliding cam 44 is provided on the shorter lever arm 42, on which the pressure piece 54 of the sliding rotary joint 28 engages for actuation.

The end of the longer lever arm 48 rests on a joint head 50 of the swivel joint 30, with which the right door segment 22 is articulated on the middle door segment 20. The joint head 50 has a perpendicular sliding surface 52, which is inclined to the guide groove 36. One end of the sliding surface 52 merges into a run-in curve 72.

The function of the arrangement is explained below on the basis of the closed shower wall according to FIG. 4. When sliding the left door segment 18 to the right, the sliding swivel joint 28 moves forward in the guide groove 36 in the frame profile 26 of the middle door segment 20. As soon as it reaches the slide cam 44 of the opener 40, the arm 74 presses the shorter lever arm 42 with the pressure piece 54 back into the free space 38 of the frame profile 26. As a result, the opener 40 pivots around the bearing 46 and its longer lever arm 48 presses on the sliding surface 52 on the joint head 50 of the swivel joint 30. This has the consequence that the door segments 20 and 22 move from the parallel position (180 °) to e.g. Bend 140 ° inwards and the end of the longer lever arm 48 lies against the inlet curve 72 of the sliding surface 52. By pushing the left door segment 18, the sliding swivel joint 28 moves freely to the open end position next to the swivel joint 30, so that all three door leaves 18, 20, 22 are folded in next to each other while the opener 40 returns to its starting position. Its longer lever arm 48 extends so far to the right in the concealed free space area 38 of the frame profile 26 that the arm 74 of the sliding swivel joint 28 cannot move behind the opener 40 with the greatest possible opening. This rules out a malfunction.

If the door is actuated from the right, the opening process proceeds in the same way, with the relative movements of the individual parts being the same.

When the shower wall 10 is closed, the sliding swivel joint 28 temporarily moves the opener 40 into the open position, while the pressure piece 54 again passes the slide cam 44. However, since the movement of the door segments apart extends the angle between the door segments 20 and 22, that is to say approaches the parallel position (180 °), the sliding surface 52 presses the longer lever arm 48 inwards, so that the opener 40 pivots back into its starting position.

Closing requires little effort. A latching device 82 (FIG. 4a) supports the transition to the closed position. For this purpose, a lug 84 can be provided on the frame profile 26 of the outer door segments 18, 22 on the handle side, at least below or above, which interacts with a double wedge 86 on the relevant guide rail 14 or 14 '. This advantageously has a flatter slope 88 and a steeper slope 90. During the closing movement, a nose 84 arranged at the bottom runs up on the flat slope 88 and falls in along the steep slope 90. As a result, the associated door segment 18 or 22 is raised and lowered slightly. The latter process serves to gently latch the shower wall 10 in its closed position.

Further details of the structure are shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 6a. The upper guide rail 14 has grooves 34, on or in which the sliding elements are movable, which carry the door segments 18, 20, 22. For this purpose, a support body 62 is fastened with a clamping part 64 to the frame profile 26 of the relevant door segment. The support body 62 holds a roller 66 which is supported on a groove 34 and moves in the cavity 32. The frame profiles 26 of the side door segments 18, 22 are provided with a splash guard 70 which projects beyond the frame profile 26 of the central door segment 20 and is designed as a bent sheet metal can be. On the end side, ie facing the lateral boundaries 16, the outer door segments 18, 22 each have a grip strip 58. This is connected via a grip joint 68 to an inner grip strip 58 ', which in turn is attached to the frame profile 26 of the relevant door segment. While the rollers 66 carry the weight of the door segments and allow their displacement in the upper guide rail 14, the handle joints 68 allow the outer door segments 18, 22 to be folded in. Outside, at or near the edges 56, these outer door segments 18, 22 each have magnetic strips 60 (FIG. 7), which cooperate with corresponding magnetic strips in the lateral boundary 16. The shape of the handle strips 58 also ensures that splash protection is provided on the high edges 56.

7 that the profile of the grip strips 58 has vertically extending steps or shoulders 78, 78 '. This can be supported by a handle insert 76, the inner or bottom part of which rests against a rib 80 under elastic tension. Such handle inserts 76 are interchangeable; Depending on the color and shape or surface quality, a wide variety of decorative effects can therefore be achieved by using appropriate grip inserts 76.

In general, the shower wall 10 according to the invention is characterized by great ease of maintenance. There are no hidden corners or grooves, and a guide roller guide is provided on the lower guide rail 14 ', which is designed as a closed strip and has no openings or slots. Conventionally necessary inner guide elements or grooves with holding parts (folding profiles) or inner guide rods or holding profiles are therefore unnecessary.

A particular advantage of the construction according to the invention is that one and the same door segments 18, 20, 22nd can also be used in a narrower frame 12. If, for example, it is necessary to arrange the lateral boundaries 16 with a smaller internal width than would correspond to the fully extended shower wall 10, suitable compensating pieces can be attached to the vertical posts or fastening rails. The movement sequence of the door segments 18, 20, 22 is not influenced by this.

All of the features and advantages of the invention arising from the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in the most varied of combinations.

Legend PA 445 EP

• M user R direction
• r Frame thickness G opposite direction I to V arrow directions
• 10 shower screen
• 12 profile frames
• 14 upper guide rail
• 14 lower
• 16 pages Limits / posts
• 18 left
• 20 middle door segment (wing)
• 22 right
• 24 transparent field
• 26 frame (profile)
• 28 sliding swivel
• 30 swivel
• 32 cavity
• 34 groove
• 36 guide groove
• 38 free space
• 40 NC contacts
• 42 shorter lever arm
• 44 sliding cams
• 46 bearings
• 48 longer lever arm
• 50 rod end
• 52 sliding surface
• 54 pressure piece
• 56 upright
• 58, 58 'handle
• 60 magnetic strips
• 62 supporting body
• 64 clamping part
• 66 roller
• 68 handle joint
• 70 splash guard
• 72 inlet curve
• 74 arm
• 76 handle insert
• 78, 78 'steps / shoulders
• 80 rib
• 82 locking device
• 84 nose
• 86 double wedge
• 88 flat (right) bevels
• 90 steep (re) slope

Claims (21)

1. shower wall (10) with a light metal profile frame (12), the laterally vertical boundaries (16), in particular posts, and horizontal top and bottom guide rails (14, 14 '), with three movable door segments (18, 20, 22 ), which each have a framed transparent field (24) and are foldably connected to one another by means of joints (28, 30), and with sealing elements (56, 60, 70 etc.) on the profile frame and on the door segments, characterized in that the three door segments (18, 20, 22) between the lateral boundaries (16) are arranged to be displaceable and foldable towards both sides. 2. Shower screen according to claim 1, characterized in that the middle door segment (20) in the guide rails (14, 14 ') out front and by frame thickness (r) wider than the left and right adjoining, outwardly guided outer door segments (18th , 22) is. 3. Shower screen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the middle door segment (20) with the one outer door segment (for example 22) by means of a swivel joint (30) and with the other outer door segment (18) by means of a sliding swivel joint (28 ) connected is. 4. Shower screen according to claim 3, characterized in that the central door segment (20) in the upper frame profile (26) has a guide groove (36) for the sliding swivel joint (28). 5. Shower screen according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that on the swivel joint (30) by means of the sliding swivel joint (28) operable opener (40) is present. 6. Shower screen according to claim 5, characterized in that the opener (40) is designed as a two-armed lever and in addition to the guide groove (36) in a free space (38) in the upper frame profile (26) of the middle door segment (20) is mounted. 7. Shower screen according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the opener (40) is pivotable by passing the sliding swivel joint (28) and that its longer, the swivel joint (30) adjacent lever arm (48) 'on a sliding surface (52 ) of this joint (30) which faces the front of the central door segment (20). 8. Shower wall according to claim 7, characterized in that the swivel joint (30) has a joint head (50) on which the sliding surface (52) is designed as a perpendicular slope with a run-in curve (72). 9. Shower screen according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the opener (40) on its shorter lever arm (42) facing away from the swivel joint (30) has a sliding cam (44) on which a pressure piece (54) of the Sliding swivel joint (28) comes to rest as it passes. 10. Shower screen according to at least one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the sliding swivel joint (28) has an arm (74) projecting into the guide groove (36) which at the same time has a stop for the articulated frame profile (26) of the associated one outer door segment (18) forms. 11. Shower screen according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the door segments (18, 20, 22) each have at least one corner sliding elements (66) with which they are displaceably guided on or in the upper guide rails (14) are. 12. Shower screen according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the door segments (18, 20, 22) are guided by means of sliding rollers running on the lower guide rail (14 ') and that the lower guide rail (14') is designed to be closed, is free of openings or slots. 13. Shower wall according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the door segments (18, 20, 22) are guided in a cavity (32) of the upper guide rail (14) with ball-bearing rollers (66) held on supporting bodies (62), and that the support body (62) are each secured in a frame profile (26) or a profile part, in particular with a snap or clamp fit. 14. Shower wall according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the lateral boundaries (16) and the door segment edges (56) adjacent to them are provided with closure elements, in particular with magnetic strips (60). 15. Shower wall according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the side boundaries (16) adjacent door segment high edges (56) each have at least one handle or a handle bar (58, 58 '). 16. Shower screen according to claim 15, characterized in that on the head and foot of the or each handle (58) a handle joint (58) for an associated with the associated outer door segment (18, 22) inner handle bar (58 ') is present. 17. Shower screen according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the or each grip strip (58) is curved inwards on the outside and is provided with vertical shoulders (78, 78 '), behind which a grip insert (76) can be latched. 18. Shower screen according to claim 17, characterized in that between the shoulders (78, 78 ') there is a rib (80) on which the handle insert (76) rests under tension. 19. Shower screen according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an opener (40) in the form of a stop body near the vertical edge is attached to the middle door segment (20), which has the sliding pivot joint (28) having the outer door segment (18) is adjacent, the upper frame profile (26) near the grip bar (58) has a run-up or wedge surface assigned to the stop body. 20. Shower wall according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that on the frame profile (26) of the outer door segments (18, 22) on the handle side at least below or above a locking device (82) is arranged, in particular one towards the closed position on a double wedge (86) rising and falling nose (84). 21. Shower screen according to at least one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that a further similar shower screen (10) is arranged at an angle to it in order to form a post-free corner entry.

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