The invention relates to a door leaf for a door system as well as a door system.

Automatic door systems, in particular sliding doors are well known in the art. Typically, door leafs of a sliding door are mounted in a header at the upper side of the door. To avoid that the door leafs are swinging back and forth in the width direction, the door leafs need to be guided also at their bottom side. To this end, it is known to use door leafs having a sword extending from the bottom side downwards into a rail of a floor piece. The floor piece is integrated into the floor of the building.

To ensure a safe operation of the door, it has to be guaranteed that the sword always engages in the groove of the floor piece. This is in particular important for doors that experience wind loads. Thus, floor pieces have a height of 30 mm or more to ensure that even if the floor piece is tilted with respect to the header, the sword always engages in the groove. This leads to difficulties in the assembly of the door system as the floor piece has to be integrated into the floor at a very early stage of the construction of the building way before the actual door may be installed. It is thus the object of the invention to provide a door leaf and a door system that allow for the use of smaller floor rails without any compromises in door safety.

For this purpose, a door leaf for a door system is provided comprising a main component, a guide and a sword. The guide is attached to the main component at the bottom side of the main component, and the sword is mounted movably in the guide and extends at least partly from the guide downward. At least parts of the sword are movable in the height direction of the door leaf with respect to the guide.

By providing a sword movable in the height direction of the door leaf, it is possible to reduce the height of the groove in the floor rail necessary to ensure a safe operation. Deviations in the distance between the floor rail and the door leaf are compensated by the motion of the sword in the door leaf and need not to be compensated by leeway in the groove itself.

The inventors have realized that such a movable sword may be realized even though the sword has contact with the bottom surface of the groove of the floor rail leading to friction, which has been carefully avoided in the prior art.

The door leaf may be a door leaf for an automatic door system and/or a sliding door system.

For ensuring safe operation very reliably, the range of motion of the sword in the height direction is between 3 mm and 10 mm, in particular between 4 mm and 6 mm.

In an aspect, the guide extends along more than 80 %, particularly along more than 95% of the length of the door leaf, allowing for a large sword. For example, in the length direction of the door leaf, the sword is shorter than the guide. In particular, the sword may be 1/10 of the length of the guide shorter than the guide and/or 5 cm shorter.

In an embodiment, the sword is mounted movably in the length direction with respect to the guide, in particular wherein the range of motion of the sword with respect to the guide in the length direction is between 1 mm and 10 mm. By allowing motion in the length direction, the sword may tilt with respect to the guide allowing to compensate for floor rails tilted with respect to the main component of the door.

In particular, the main component of the door is mounted absolutely horizontally and the floor or the floor rail may be slanted.

For moving the sword along the length direction, the guide comprises two stops in the length direction, in particular the stops being further apart than the length of the sword.

For example, the stops correspond to the end of the door leaf in the length direction.

In an embodiment, the guide comprises a guiding section with two opposing walls, the walls being arranged spaced apart by a distance in the width direction of the door leaf, particularly wherein the distance corresponds to the width of the corresponding section of the sword. The guiding section reliably guides the sword in the length and height direction.

The corresponding section of the sword, called guided section, may be the section located between the walls of the guiding section.

For example, the sword is entirely movable in the height direction of the door leaf with respect to the guide. In an aspect, the guide comprises an undercut, in particular above the guiding section, and the sword comprises a nose extending above the undercut, the undercut providing a lower stop for the motion of the sword in the height direction, simplifying the design.

The undercut may be provided by one of the walls of the guiding section.

In order to restrict the motion of the sword in the height direction, the guide may comprise a top wall extending horizontally, in particular above the guiding section, wherein the top wall provides an upper stop for the motion of the sword in the height direction.

In an embodiment, the guide comprises a notch and the sword comprises a pivot section, an intermediate section and a lower section. The pivot section is engaged rotatably in the notch, the lower section extends in the height direction, when seen in a cross section, and the intermediate section extends in the width direction, when seen in a cross section, connecting the pivot section and the lower section.

The pivot section allows a pivotal movement of the sword around an axis in the length direction of the door leaf leading to a movement of the lower section in the height direction of the door leaf. This way, a very robust sword is provided.

In particular, the notch extends in the length direction of door leaf.

The biasing member may be attached to the intermediate section or to the lower section.

In an aspect, the guide comprises a biasing member, in particular comprising a spring, applying a downward force on the sword further increasing the reliability of the construction.

In an embodiment, the sword comprises a glider at its bottom side, in particular wherein the glider extends to the end face of the sword in the length direction and comprises a slope at the end face configured to remove dirt from a groove of a floor rail. The glider increases the lifetime of the door system by reducing friction.

For reducing manufacturing costs, the door leaf may have a frame and the frame comprises the guide.

In a further embodiment, the door leaf comprises at least two individual sword segments arranged one after the other in the length direction of the door leaf, the at least to individual sword segments forming the sword. By dividing the sword in several segments in the length direction, the motion of the sword in the height direction is simplified.

The segments may be movable with respect to each other in the length direction.

In an aspect, the main component comprises a pane of glass, in particular a single pane of glass.

For above mentioned purpose, a door system is further provided comprising a door leaf with a movable sword, in particular as described above, and a floor rail, wherein the floor rail comprises a groove, wherein the sword extends into the groove and contacts the bottom surface of the groove.

The features and advantages discussed with respect to the door leaf also apply to the door system and vice versa.

The door system may be an automatic door system and/or a sliding door system.

In an embodiment, the floor rail, in particular the groove, has a height of 8 mm or less allowing an assembly on screed or screed coat.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following description as well as the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings: Figure 1 : shows a door system according to the invention having a door leaf according to the invention in a side view,

Figure 2: shows the door system of Figure 1 in a cross section,

Figure 3: shows an enlarged portion of Figure 2 showing the guide,

Figure 4: shows a portion of the door system according to Figure 1 in a side view,

Figure 5: shows a second embodiment of a door leaf according to the invention in a cross section, and

Figure 6: shows a third embodiment of a door leaf according to the invention in a side view.

Figure 1 shows a door system 10, in particular an automatic door system, according to the invention in a side view.

The automatic door system 10 may be a door system mounted in a building to allow access to a building or to separate different areas within the building, e.g. shops, from one another or the door system may be mounted in a vehicle, for example a train.

The automatic door system 10 comprises at least one door leaf 12, a door header 14 in which the door leaf 12 is mounted, and a floor rail 16.

The door system 10 and the door leaf 12 having a height direction H, a length direction L and a width direction W.

In the shown embodiment, the door system 10 is a sliding door comprising two door leaves 12.

The door leaves 12 are arranged absolutely horizontally below the door header 14, and the door leaves 12 are mounted movably with respect to the door header 14. The floor rail 16 is fixed to the ground below the header 14 and extends mainly in the length direction L.

The door leaves 12 are movable in the length direction L along the floor rail 16 between a fully open position and a closed position.

In the fully open position, the door leaves 12 are located the furthest apart from one another, generating a passageway between the door leaves 12.

In the closed position, the door leaves 12 are the closest to one another, in particular sealing elements of the door leaves 12 are in physical contact with one another.

The door header 14 comprises a controller 18 for controlling the motion of the door leaves 12, a sensor 20 detecting persons desiring to pass the door, and drive units 22.

The motion of the door leaves 12 along the floor rail 16 is carried out by the drive units 22 in a fashion per se known in the art. In particular, for each door leaf 12 one drive unit 22 is provided.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a portion of the door system 10, namely through the floor rail 16 and the lower part of one of the door leaves 12.

The floor rail 16 is fixed to the floor of the building, in particular onto the screed or screed coat. In particular, the floor rail 16 is flush with the floor covering in front and/or behind the door, for example flush with a carpet, a stone flooring or a wooden flooring.

For example, the floor rail 16 has a height (i.e. extends in the height direction H) of 8 mm or less. In the shown embodiment, the floor rail 16 has two grooves, 24, 26 extending in the length direction L and designed to receive respective components of the door leaf 12.

The floor rail 16 may also be designed to thermally separate the grooves 24, 26. For example, the floor rail 16 may be thermally broken and/or comprise materials with low thermal conductivity.

These features are per se known in the art and are not shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity.

Thus, the height of the grooves 24, 26 is smaller than the height of the floor rail 16. For example, the height of the grooves 24, 26 is smaller than 8 mm, in particular smaller than 7 mm.

The groove 24 has a bottom surface 27, the height of the groove 24 being the distance from the upper side of the bottom surface 27 to the upper end of the groove 24.

The floor rail 16 may be made of metal, in particular aluminum. For example, the floor rail 16 is made by extrusion.

The door leaf 12 comprises a main component 28, a frame 30, a guide 32, a sword 34 and a brush 36 or a similar sealing element.

The main component 28 is a, for example, a single pane of glass 38 as per se known in the art. It is also conceivable that the main component 28 comprises a plurality of panes of glass.

At the bottom side of the main component 28, the frame 30 is attached. The frame 30 may also extend along the front and rear side of the main component 28 in the length direction L. In the shown embodiment, the frame 30 is made of metal, in particular aluminum and attached to the bottom side of the main component 28. The frame 30 may also be made of plastics.

In particular, the frame 30 covers the main component 28 in the width direction W and the length direction L fully.

The cross section of the frame 30 and in particular of the guide 32 is constant along the length direction L.

For the sake of simplicity, in the drawings the frame 30 has been depicted as a single piece. However, as known in the art, the frame 30 may comprise two pieces connected by components with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, in particular plastics, in order to avoid a thermal bridge.

The guide 32 is formed as an integral part of the frame 30 at the bottom end of the frame 30. It is also conceivable, that the guide 32 is a part separate from the frame 30 or that no frame 30 is present but only the guide 32 is provided.

Further, the brush 36 or the sealing element is provided at the bottom side of the frame 30.

The guide 32 is shown in Figure 3 in an enlarged view. The guide 32 comprises a guiding section 40 and a clearance section 42.

The guiding section 40 extends from the bottom end face of the guide 32 and in the shown embodiment upwards.

The guiding section 40 is defined in the width direction W by two walls 44 which are opposite one another and spaced apart by a distance.

Directly above the guiding section 40, the clearance section 42 is located.

The clearance section 42 comprises at least one wall 46, which merges with the wall 44 of the guiding section 40. However, the inner side of the wall 46 of the clearance section 42 is offset outwardly with respect to the inside of the wall 44 of the guiding section 40.

Thus, an undercut 48 is provided, in particular formed by the wall 44 of the guiding section 40.

In the shown embodiment, opposite to the wall 46, the clearance section 42 has another wall 46. The distance between the walls 46 of the clearance section 42 in the width direction W is larger than the distance between the walls 44 of the guiding section 40.

The guide 32 further comprises a top wall 50 extending horizontally, i.e. in the width direction W and in the length direction L.

The top wall 50 is arranged above the clearance section 42 and extends at least directly above the guiding section 40 in the height direction H.

Figure 4 shows the lower part of the door leaf 12 in a side view. The guide 32 is indicated by a dashed dotted line.

The guide 32 comprises two stops 54 located at either end of the guide 32 in the length direction. The location of the stops 54 may correspond to the ends of the door leaf 12 in the length direction L.

The distance between the two stops 54 in the length direction L is to be regarded as the length of the guide 32 in the length direction L.

The length of the guide 32 is at least 80%, in particular more than 95% of the length of the door leaf 12.

The sword 34 is loosely mounted in the guide 32 as best seen in Figure 3. The sword 34 has a cross-section with a lower section 51, a guided section 52 and an upper section 53, wherein the guided section 52 is located between the upper section 53 and the lower section 51. In particular, the cross-section of the sword 34 is constant across the length of the sword in the length direction L of the door leaf 12.

The lower section 51 of the sword 34 has a width in the width direction W corresponding to the width of the groove 24 of the floor rail 16.

The guided section 52 of the sword 34 extends through the guiding section 40 of the guide 32 and can thus be regarded as the section of the sword 34 corresponding to the guiding section 40.

The height of the guided section 52 is larger than the height of the guiding section 40, for example between 3 mm and 10 mm higher, in particular between 4 mm and 6 mm higher.

The width of the sword 34 in the guided section 52 is smaller than the width in the lower section 51 and corresponds to the distance between the walls 44 in the guiding section 40 of the guide 32.

The upper section 53 of the sword 34 has a width larger than the guided section 52 forming a nose 55.

The nose 55 extends in the clearance section 42 of the guide 32, in particular above the undercut 48.

In other words, the guided section 52 of the sword 34 may be regarded as a groove in the sword 34.

Further, the guide 32 may comprise a biasing member 56, for example a spring or any other elastic element that is fixed in the guide 32, in particular at the top wall 50 and in contact with the upper section 53 of the sword 34.

The biasing member 56 is designed to apply a force downwards i.e. against the height direction H on the sword 34. Turning again to Figure 4, in the length direction L of the door leaf 12, the sword 34 is smaller than the length of the guide 32. In particular, the sword 34 is 1/10 of the length of the guide 32 shorter and/or at least 5 cm shorter.

Thus, the sword 34 has a clearance in the guide 32 in the length direction L.

The sword 34 is mounted movably in the length direction L with respect to the guide 32 and thus the remaining door leaf 12 due to the fact that the guide 32 is larger in the length direction L than the sword 34.

Further, the sword 34 is movable in the height direction H with respect to the guide 32 due to the fact that the upper section of the sword 34 is movable in the high direction H in the clearance section 42 between the top wall 50 and the undercut 48.

The undercut 48 serves as a stop for the nose 55 and thus as a lower stop for the motion of the sword 34.

The range of motion of the sword 34 the height direction H corresponds to the amount that the guided section 52 of the sword 34 is higher than the guiding section 40 of the guide 32. The range of motion may lie between 3 mm and 10 mm, in particular the between 4 mm and 6 mm.

In the width direction W, the sword 34 cannot be moved due to the fit of the guided section 52 of the sword 34 in the guiding section 40 of the guide 32.

To reduce friction, the sword 34 may comprise a glider 58 at the bottom side of the lower section 51.

The glider 58 may also be provided on the sides of the sword 34. In fact, the glider 58 may encase all parts of the sword 34 which come in contact with the floor rail 16.

The glider 58 may be made of plastic material. The glider 58 may also extend to the end faces of the sword 34 in the length direction L. On the end faces, the glider 58 has a height larger than the groove 24 (shown with dashed lines) and slopes downwardly away from the end faces of the sword 34.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the sword 34 extends into the groove 24 of the floor rail 16 with its lower section 51 and contacts the bottom surface 27 of the groove 24. In particular, the glider 58 is in physical contact with the bottom surface 27.

The brush 36 or the sealing element extends into the second groove 26 of the floor rail 16 to provide an air barrier.

During motion of the entire door leaf 12 in the length direction L, the sword 34 will also be moved along as soon as the corresponding stop 54 of the guide 32 engages with the sword 34. The sword 34 is then moved through the groove 24.

The slope at the glider 58 transports any dirt located in the groove 24 upwards and out of the groove 24, thus cleaning the groove 24 and assuring a reliable motion of the door leaf 12.

Further, as the sword 34 is movable in the height direction H, the sword 34 will always be running in the groove 24 of the floor rail 16 even if the distance between the door leaf 12 and the floor rail 16 changes.

Advantageously, in the case that the floor rail 16 is not parallel to the lower edge of the frame 30 or the guide 32, the sword 34 will still be within the groove 24 along the full length of the door leaf 12 as the sword 34 may be tilted with respect to the guide 32 due to its clearance in the length direction L and the height direction H in the guide 32 itself. In other words, the sword 34 will be parallel to the floor rail 16 and thus may be tilted with respect to the guide 32. Even in cases where the floor rail 16 has a small curvature, the sword 34 will be able to follow the curvature and remain in the groove 24 - even though to different degrees - along the full length of the door leaf 12.

The sword 34 is in contact with the bottom surface 27 of the groove 24 at all times. This is achieved either solely by the gravitational force and the weight of the sword 34 itself or forced by the use of the biasing member 56 urging the sword 34 downwards.

Thus, due to the motion of the sword 34, it can be ensured that the sword 34 is always engaged in the floor rail 16 even though the height of the groove 24 in the floor rail 16 has been reduced drastically. Thus, the floor rail 16 can also be reduced in height allowing for the placement of the floor rail 16 directly on the screed or screed coat facilitating the assembly of the door system 10.

Figures 5 and 6 show further embodiments of a door leaf 12 corresponding substantially to the one of the first embodiment. Thus, in the following only the differences are discussed and the same and functionally the same components are labeled with the same reference signs.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the door leaf 12 in a cross sectional view.

In the second embodiment, the sword 34 has a pivot section 54, an intermediate section 56 and the lower section 51.

In the cross section shown in Figure 5, the lower section 51 is located below the frame 30 and extends in the height direction H. In the shown embodiment, the lower section 51 lies in an extension of a side wall of the frame 30.

The intermediate section 56 of the sword 34 extends from the upper end of the lower section 51 in the width direction W, when seen in the cross section of Figure 5. For example, the intermediate section 56 extends below the frame 30 and/or further than half of the width of the door leaf 12.

At the end of the intermediate section 56 facing away from the lower section 51, the pivot section 54 is provided.

In the shown embodiment, the pivot section 54 extends from the intermediate section 56 upwards.

The pivot section 54 has at is upper end a bulge 60, which is in particular spherical.

In the second embodiment, the guide 32 is provided partly as a notch 62 at the bottom side of the frame 30. The notch 62 extends in the length direction L of the door leaf 12 and is open downwardly.

The pivot section 54, more precisely the bulge 60, engages in the notch 62, forming a joint having an axis of rotation in the length direction L.

The joint allows a pivotal movement of the pivot section 54 around the axis of rotation which leads, due to the length of the intermediate section 56, to a movement of the lower section 51 with respect to the guide 32 in the height direction H of the door leaf 12.

The joint may also extend in the length direction L along the entire extension of the sword 34.

Further, the biasing member 56 is provided at the bottom side of the frame 30 fixed to the frame 30, in the shown embodiment spaced apart from the notch 62 in the width direction.

The biasing member 56 engages with the sword 34 at the intermediate section 56 of the sword 34, in particular at the region of the end of the intermediate section 56 corresponding to the lower section 51. Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the door leaf 12 in a side view. In the third embodiment, the door leaf 12 comprises at least two individual sword segments 64.

In the shown embodiment, three sword segments 64 are shown that form the sword 34 but it is conceivable that only two or more than three sword segments 64 are provided.

The sword segments 64 have a length in the length direction L smaller than the sword 34 itself and are movable in the length direction L with respect to the frame 30 and the main component 28 as well as with respect to one another.

The sword segments 64 are arranged one after the other in the length direction of the door leaf 12 and together they form the sword 34.

Further, as indicated in Figure 6, the outer ones of the sword segments 64 may extend beyond the edge of the door leaf 12 in the length direction L. Thus, the sword 34 also extends beyond the edge of the door leaf 12 in the length direction L.

It is also conceivable for the other embodiments that the sword 34 extends beyond the edge of the door leaf 12 in the length direction L.

As the sword sections 64 have a smaller length than the entire sword 34, the swords segments 64 tilt more easily and can thus be moved in the height direction H with less effort.

The sword segments 64 may have a cross section of the sword 34 of the first embodiment (shown in Fig. 3) or of the sword 34 of the second embodiment (shown in Fig. 5). The guide 32 is provided accordingly.