Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a building element comprising a frame and at least one first sash, said at least one first sash comprising at least one pane of glass, e.g. two or three essentially parallel panes of glass, where said first sash is arranged in said frame, where said building element further comprises at least one second sash comprising at least one pane of glass, where said first and second sash is arranged in an essential par- allel manner with an internal distance describing an air space (a volume) between said facing panes of glass and said frame and/or casements, where said at least one second sash comprises a beading, e.g. a narrow frame, where said beading is arranged along the edges of at least one pane of glass and further comprises sealing and fixation means along the edges of and towards said edges of said at least one pane of glass.

The present invention also relates to a hinge system and locking system, where said hinge system and said locking system comprises manually and individually operable and adjustable securing means, and where said hinge and locking system are arranged in a frame or sash of a building element.

Background of the Invention

It is well known to have window constructions comprising more than one pane of glass arranged in some manner, either airtight or that e.g. are arranged together with ventilation systems, that allow air to be circulated from the outside to the inside of a room or building, by guiding the air between two panes of glass and into the inside. Alternatively air can be guided between two panes of glass from the inside to the outside or even to and from the same side.

This can be done to ventilate or heat the room or building with air that is preheated or cooled during its flow between the two panes of glass. Over the years it has been common to regulate such a flow by manually opening and closing shutters or sliding doors at the bottom and at the top of a window frame. This is however dependent of that an operator actually operates the mentioned shutters or sliding doors and as it is a manual process, an optimum operation is practically impossible to obtain. In order to have a more controlled system various automated systems has been developed that allows for a better control and for a more efficient use of the facilities in such windows. It is however needed to gain access now and then to the space between the two panes of glass where air is circulated as dust will enter and settle on the glass. There is thus a need for access for cleaning the glass panes and e.g. for other purposes also. Windows in the market of this kind normally comprises a frame having an outer sash and an inner sash, where said sashes are hinged either to each other or individually to the frame.

Such solutions do however have a tendency to become rather large and clumsy and not at all suitable for retrofitting to existing windows. As such solutions where air is circulated between two panes of glass becomes more and more attractive there is a need for solutions that allows for easy use, cleaning, service and also for easy and/or elegant installation. It is also a wish that as much light as possible will penetrate said window even though the window comprises two sashes. This is very important as the effect of the incoming light can be reduced quite drastic by having two of the known types of sashes.

Thus there is still room for improvement and the tendency for using window constructions as described above calls for development of a new improved product, which is efficient and easy operate during maintenance such as cleaning. Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a building element comprising a frame and one or more panes of glass arranged directly or indirectly to said frame, where said building element further comprises a sash arranged in parallel with a distance to said one or more panes of glass, thus creating a volume, where said sash is rather narrow and slim, where said sash is hinged and locked to the building element with adjustable hinges and thus is openable for service, maintenance or the like. Another object of the invention is to provide a solution suitable for integration into building elements during production and also for retrofitting on already installed building elements. A further object of the invention is to provide a solution that is more or less universal and that is suitable to be used on a variety of different types of building elements with a minimum of changes.

Description of the Invention

As mentioned above, the invention relates to a building element comprising a frame and at least one first sash, said at least one first sash comprising at least one pane of glass, e.g. two or three essentially parallel panes of glass, where said first sash is arranged in said frame, where said building element further comprises at least one second sash comprising at least one pane of glass, where said first and second sash is arranged in an essential parallel manner with an internal distance describing an air space (a volume) between said facing panes of glass and said frame and/or sashes, where said at least one second sash comprises a beading, e.g. a narrow frame, where said beading is arranged along the edges of at least one pane of glass and further comprises sealing and fixation means along the edges of and towards said edges of said at least one pane of glass. The mentioned beading of the second sash can e.g. be made from extruded aluminium or plastic profiles or from pultruded composite profiles. Said profiles can be cut into any desired length and joined at the corners via e.g. brackets and bolts. Said profiles can advantageously be designed with a recess for a sealing that is brought in contact with the glass pane and also with a recess for a second sealing that faces the first sash or the frame of the building element depending on the specific design of the building element.

A building element according to the invention comprises at least one second sash comprising at least a hinge system and a locking system, where said hinge system and said locking system comprises manually and individually operable and adjustable securing means, and where said at least one second sash is arranged in a rabbet in/at said frame or in/at said at least one first sash. The building element is special in that that each hinge or lock in said hinge/locking system each comprises a tower bolt, said tower bolts at least comprises a bolt and guiding means for guiding said bolt between a retracted and an extended position and further comprising sliding means for sliding the tower bolt in its longitudinal direction when used as a lock or locking means for pre- venting the tower bolt from sliding when used as a hinge.

Similarly, a hinge system and a locking system according to the present invention are special in that each hinge or lock in said hinge/locking system each comprises a tower bolt, said tower bolts at least comprises a bolt and guiding means for guiding said bolt between a retracted and an extended position and further comprising sliding means for sliding the bolt in its longitudinal direction when used as a lock or locking means for preventing the bolt from sliding when used as a hinge.

Preferably, said locking means for locking the bolt in the hinge comprises one or more circumferential grooves arranged at the bolt and a tap arranged at an interior surface of a side cover for engagement with at least one of the grooves in the tower bolt. Hereby it is obtained that the bolt can be locked and thus prevented from sliding when used as a hinge. The second sash is arranged either at the opposite side of the frame as the first sash or alternatively and more advantageously at the first sash. The first sash can typically be an outer sash facing the outside of a building e.g. the street or a garden The second sash can typically be an inner sash arranged as mentioned above on the frame of the building element or even more attractively on the inside of the first sash. This is pre- ferred as the first sash in this manner can be opened and closed together with the second sash as a single unit. The building element is thus operable without the need for any operation of the second sash.

Most building elements are rectangular, but can however have other shapes and the invention also relates to non-rectangular building elements, but in the following text there will be given only examples relating to rectangular building elements. In order to maintain the building element e.g. to polish the glass panes on the sides facing the internal air space it is beneficial to be able to access said air space in an easy and convenient manner and in order to minimise the dust that enters into the air space and in order to benefit the most of ventilating said air space it is advantageously that the second sash is arranged very tight to the frame or first sash. By arranging a first sealing between the frame eading of the second sash and towards the edge of the glass pane and further arranging a second sealing along the frame/beading of the second sash and towards the frame of the building element or the first sash, such a tight sealing is obtained. But as the building elements and the first and second sash can be produced with some tolerances it is very important to be able to adjust especially the second sash in relation to the frame of the building element or in relation to the first sash.

Still it is important to be able to open the second sash in a safe and easy manner that holds the second sash in a firm position at a hinge system. Releasing the second sash is done by deactivating locking means and by swinging the second sash about the hinge system.

In an embodiment of a building element according to the invention, the building element comprises locking means and hinge means that is adjustable in order to position the second sash in a very specific position in relation to the frame, or more preferably in relation to the first sash. According to the invention said adjustment can be done in two directions namely perpendicular to the glass panes and also in the direction of the plane of the glass panes. This way the second sash can be adjusted to have a tight fit towards the frame/first sash and also to have a perfect fit in relation to the right angles of the building element as the hinge system and the locking system, typically arranged at the corners of the second sash, is individually adjustable.

In an embodiment of a building element according to the invention the second sash is arranged in a rabbet, where said rabbet is arranged directly in said frame or in said at least one first sash. Such a rabbet is made during production of the building element and allows the second sash to be installed in said rabbet in a discreet and elegant manner without "stealing" any or only very little of the light area. In another embodiment of a building element according to the invention that said rabbet is arranged along a strip eading arranged at said frame or at said at least one first sash. The rabbet can be shaped by the strip eading together with parts of the building element or the rabbet can be made in the strip eading that is fitted at the building ele- ment frame or first sash. This is mainly for retrofitting purpose if already installed building elements have to be fitted with a second sash according to the invention. This solution can be adapted without minimising the light area and the costs for either heating or cooling can in some situations be reduced quite drastic. A building element according to the invention comprising a hinge and locking system further comprises that said hinge system and locking system comprises frame parts/first sash parts and also comprises second sash parts. The frame parts or first sash parts are arranged at the frame/sash and the second parts are arranged at the second sash. When the second sash is installed at a building element the mentioned first and second parts are brought together and constitute the fixating means that fixated the second sash to the building element. By operating the locking system the second sash can be opened as it can be rotated about a hinge axis of the hinge system.

In an advantageously embodiment of a building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention, said hinge system and said locking system both comprises a number of tower bolts, e.g. two tower bolts constituting the hinge system and two other tower bolts constituting the locking system. By using tower bolts in or at the second sash it is possible to install and to operate the second sash in a very easy manner. Opening for any purpose is easily done by operating the locking system - two tower bolts - and then by swinging the second sash to the side to get access to the air space between the two facing glass panes. If the second sash needs to be dismounted from the frame/first sash then also the hinge system can be operated - two tower bolts - and the second sash is free to be removed. The tower bolts used in the locking and in the hinge system can be of exactly the same type and there is thus no technical or me- chanical difference of the tower bolts used, and there is only need for one kind of tower bolt whereby the number of different parts is limited and the solution is also very simple and robust. In an embodiment of the invention the building element as well as the hinge and lock system said tower bolts comprises at and sliding means for sliding said bolt between a retracted and an extended position and further comprises means for engagement with said bolt when in extended position. Said bolt can typically be a cylindrical bolt ar- ranged in connection with said sliding means, where the sliding means comprises a handle or a sliding button. By moving the sliding means in the direction of the length of the bolt said bolt can be moved between said retracted and extended position. The bolt will typically be arranged in guiding means e.g. a kind of bearing that allows for movement of the bolt and at the same time supports the bolt to be stable and capable of per- forming as intended. As a safety precaution the second sash can be designed having the sliding means for the hinge system only accessible from the inside of the second sash. This prevents unintended loosening of the hinge system instead of the locking system. In some embodiment this will have no influence but if the frame parts/first sash parts not is the same for the hinge as for the locking system this may cause problems. An example of different frame parts/first sash parts will be discussed below and it will then be clear that "hiding" the sliding means for the hinge system on the inside of the second sash can be a good idea. Still the second sash can only be installed in one way, namely the correct way as if it is installed with the sliding means for the hinges facing outward it will become impossible to activate the locking system. Then the second sash will have to be turned upside down and then installed by activating the bolts of the hinge system on the inside before closing the second sash (rotating the second sash about the hinges) and then activating the bolts of the locking system.

Said sliding means e.g. a sliding button can be arranged inside the profiles for the bead- ing of the second sash together with the bolt, the guiding means and other parts needed to fulfil the function of the tower bolt (hinge and locking system).

At a building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention said tower bolts comprising said bolt, said sliding means and said guiding means, can be arranged at the second sash and thus constitutes the second sash parts, where said second sash parts are arranged at the corners of a second sash. Said second sash parts can as mentioned above also be arranged inside the beading of the second frame in the corners. The inside arrangement is the most discreet and thus in many cases also the preferred solution, mainly due to the fact that the parts are more or less hidden.

In one embodiment of a building element as well as the hinge and lock system accord- ing to the invention said tower bolts comprises first sash parts for engagement with said second sash parts, i.e. said bolt, when said bolt is in an extended position, where said first sash parts are arranged at the corners on the inside of a frame or first sash. The second sash parts are thus the bolts and the possible guiding means and other parts or means arranged to operate said bolt, that when in an extended position are in con- tact with the first sash parts.

A building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention can in one embodiment comprise that said sliding means on said tower bolts for said locking system are arranged at the second sash with the sliding means facing away from the first sash, making the sliding means accessible from the side of the second sash that typically faces towards the inside of a building, when installed at a building element. This way only the locking system will be accessible when the second sash is in a closed and locked position at the building element. There is thus no risk of activating the hinge system unintended which may cause damage to the second sash or to the building ele- ment/first sash.

A building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention can in one embodiment comprise that said sliding means on said tower bolts for said hinge system are arranged at the second sash with the sliding means facing towards the first sash, making the sliding means only accessible from the side of the second sash that faces towards the first sash, when installed at a building element. This means that the hinge system can only be operated/opened after having operated the locking system. This prevents as also mentioned above that the hinge system is operated unintended instead of the locking system. Typically a second sash comprising the locking means and the hinge means will be installed on the inside of a building element and depending on the design of the locking and hinge system it can be necessary to operate the two systems in a specific order. By arranging the hinge system only accessible from the "inside" of the second sash, i.e. the locking system is the only parts that can be operated, there is no risk that the hinge is operated before the locking system. After having operated the locking system the second sash can be opened and the hinge system can be operated and finally the second sash can be dismounted for e.g. cleaning.

In building elements having high and/or wide sashes, it might be necessary to install one or even more hinge systems/locking systems along the beading of the sash in order to obtain that the sealing between the headings of the sash is compressed properly against the frame or first sash. If the sash is so wide and/or high that extra locking systems are needed they will be arranged with the sliding means facing away from the first sash, making the sliding means accessible from the side of the second sash that typically faces towards the inside of a building, when installed at building element, e.g. a window. When talking about having extra hinge systems arranged, said extra hinge systems can be arranged with the sliding means facing either the same way as the sliding means for the locking system or the same way as the hinge systems mentioned above.

It is clear that a second sash according to the invention can comprise a locking system and a hinge system that are identical as e.g. tower bolt are arranged at the corners and where all the tower bolts are accessible from the same side as there is no difference between the locking system and the hinge system. There is however embodiments that will be discussed below where there are several advantages by having a hinge system and a locking system that is not identical, mainly due to adjustment features.

In an embodiment of a building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention said first sash parts comprises a first insert having a thickness, a height and a length, for installation in a recess at the inside of a frame/first sash, where said first insert comprises a first opening, said first opening being arranged offset in relation to the thickness of said first insert. Said offset opening, typically a longhole, allows the first insert to be installed in two different positions in said recess, in order to adjust the position of the opening in relation to the frame/first sash.

Said opening (longhole) can be designed for interaction with a bolt of a tower bolt from either the locking system or from the hinge system. By arranging the first insert with the offset opening, having the opening offset in a specific direction it is possible to adjust the position of a second sash in relation to the frame or to the first sash, in order to have the second sash rest in a tight fit towards the frame or first sash.

A building element as well as the hinge and lock system according to the invention can also comprise that said first sash parts comprises a second insert having a thickness, a height and a length, said second insert comprises a second opening and a third opening, said second opening being arranged for receiving a bolt of a tower bolt in a hinge system and said third opening being arranged for receiving a bolt of a tower bolt in a locking system. Said second insert can be designed and shaped to fit into the first insert and to have a length that is shorter that the length of the first opening in the first insert. The first insert is adjustable due to non-symmetric design and comprises an offset opening, recess or aperture (the first opening). By turning said first insert it is possible to adjust the position of the first opening before installing the second insert in said opening. The second opening will typically be cylindrical and arranged to receive the bolt of a hinge system that typically also will be cylindrical. The third opening can also be cylindrical but having a longhole-shape allows for adjustment in the lengthwise direction of the second insert in the first insert in order to obtain a tight fit of the second sash in relation to the frame or to the first sash.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the first insert can have an internal friction surface in the bottom and the second insert can also have a corresponding external friction surface on the outside bottom surface for interacting with the internal friction surface of the first part. Said friction surfaces can e.g. comprise a number of corresponding ribs that will lock the second insert in a specific position in the first insert when fixated. Such a fixation can be performed via arranged holes, e.g. countersunk holes, in the bottom part of at least one of the first and second inserts for one or two screws. Installation of the first insert with the offset opening allows for adjustment in one direction, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the glass panes, and positioning of the second insert in the opening in the first insert allows for sideways adjustment, i.e. in the direction of the plane of the panes of glass. The term building element is to be understood as a window, window sections in a building, doors or similar constructions which cover an opening in a wall of the building. Such a building elements usually comprises a frame in which two or more glass panes cover at least a part of the area inside the frame. Alternatively, when a door or a window can be opened and closed a second frame is provided, preferably in hinged manner, in the first frame and the two or more glass panes are then mounted in the second frame to cover at least part of the opening in the second frame.

The system is also applicable in other constructions, e.g .furniture as mentioned further below, where there is a need for a hinge for opening and closing and/or locking a window or door and/or a locking mechanism for locking said window or door in said construction.

Description of the Drawing

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a part of a double window comprising a first sash and a second sash. Fig. 2 shows a part of a second sash comprising a hinge system.

Fig. 3 shows the unassembled parts as seen in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a first insert.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of a first insert as seen in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a second insert.

Fig. 7 shows a cross section of a second insert as seen in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a support bracket for the first and second insert.

Fig. 9 shows a support bracket comprising a first and second insert arranged as a part of a hinge system,

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the first and second inserts,

Fig. 11 shows an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the hinge and lock system, and

Fig. 12 shows a cross sectional view of the bolt and the side cover in the hinge and lock system when used as a hinge. In the following text, the figures will be described one by one, and the different parts and positions seen in the figures will be numbered with the same numbers in the different figures. Not all parts and positions indicated in a specific figure will necessarily be discussed together with that figure.

Position number list

1 Window

2 Handle

3 First sash/outer sash

4 Second sash/inner sash

5 Pane of glass

6 Beading of second sash

7 Rabbet in the first sash

8 Locking and/or hinge system

9 Bolt

10 Sliding means

11 Sealing and fixation means towards a pane of glass

12 Sealing towards the first sash

13 Screw for j oining the beading

14 Guiding means for the bolt

15 Screw for the sliding means

16 Cut out

17 Cover plate

18 Side cover

19 End cover

20 First insert

21 Length

22 Height

23 Thickness

24 First opening/1 onghole

25 Friction surface

26 Installation holes 27 Second insert

28 Second opening

29 Third opening

30 Countersunk installation hole

31 Support bracket

32 Opening in support bracket for a first insert

33 Circumferential grooves in bolt

34 Tap on interior surface of side cover

Detailed Description of the Invention

In the following the hinge and locking system of the present invention will be described in relation to a window, although it is clear that the locking system is also applicable in other building elements, such as door etc., as discussed above.

In fig. 1 a part of a double window 1 comprising a handle 2, a first sash 3 and a second sash 4 is seen. Both of the sashes 3, 4 comprises panes of glass 5 and the second sash 4 has a narrow beading 6 arranged at the circumference of the glass 5 and is arranged in a rabbet in the first sash 3. In fig. 1 the first sash 3 is a more or less traditional sash of a top hung window 1 and the second sash 4 is arranged on the inside of the window 1 at the rim of the first sash 3. The second sash 4 could however be arranged at the frame of a window also.

Fig. 2 shows a part of a second sash 4 comprising a locking system and/or a hinge system 8 arranged inside the vertical part of said narrow beading 6. In principle the locking and/or hinge system 8 is a tower bolt build into the beading 6, where the bolt 8 is operated by the sliding means 10 between a retracted position and an extended position as seen in this figure. By moving the sliding means 10 in a downwards direction the bolt will be retracted in order to unlock the connection to a counter part in the frame or in the first sash 3.

Fig. 3 shows the unassembled parts as seen in fig. 2. Both the vertical and the horizontal parts of the beading 6 comprises sealing and fixation means 11 towards a pane of glass 5 and sealing means 12 towards the first sash as seen in fig. 1. Said sealing means 11, 12 will typically be made from a suitable kind of elastomer e.g. from a silicone rubber. The beading 6 as seen is extruded profiles with internal ribs that allows joining of the vertical and the horizontal parts by a screw 13. The tower bolt arrangement comprises the bolt 9, the sliding means 10 and guiding means 14. The guiding means 14 is made from two parts assembled around the bolt 9 before the assembly 9, 14 is positioned inside the vertical part of the beading 6. After positioning of the guiding means 14 and the bolt 9 the sliding means 10 is installed using a screw 15. The sliding means 10 is installed in a cut out 16 in the beading 6. In order to be able to install the locking and/or hinge system 8 having accessible sliding means 10 from any side the beading has similar cut outs on both sides. One of the cut outs 16 will accommodate the sliding means 10 and a cover plate 17 and the other cut out 16 will be used during installation of the screw 15 and afterwards it will be covered by a side cover 18. Finally the vertical part of the beading 6 will have an end cover 19 installed to cover the opening into the profile and to act as a bearing at the corners of the second sash 4 facing downwards and towards the first sash 3 or towards the frame 2.

Fig. 4 shows a first insert 20 for installation in either a rabbet 7 in a frame or in a first sash 3. The first insert 20 has a length 21, a height 22 and a thickness 23 and further it has a first opening/longhole 24 that is offset e.g. one, two or three millimetres in a non- symmetric manner in the thickness direction.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of a first insert 20 as seen in fig. 4, where also the internal friction surface 25 and the installation holes 26 is seen. Fig. 6 shows a second insert 27 having an outside shape corresponding to the shape of the first opening/longhole 24 in the first insert 20 except that the length is shorter allowing the second insert 27 to be adjusted in the lengthwise direction of the first opening/longhole 24. The second insert 27 comprises a second opening 28 and a third opening 29. The second opening 28 has a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of the bolt 9 as seen in fig. 2 and 3 and is designed to act together with a bolt 9 as a hinge system 8. The second opening 28 has a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of the bolt 9 as seen in fig. 2 and 3 and is designed to act together with a bolt 9 as a locking and/or hinge system 8 primarily as a hinge. The third opening 29 has a shape of a long hole being capable of accommodating a bolt 9 as seen in fig. 2 and 3 and is designed to act together with such a bolt 9 as a locking and/or hinge system 8 primarily as a lock. The longhole shape of the third opening 29 allows the bolt of a locking system 8 to be extended into the third opening 29 no matter how the second insert 27 at the opposite hinge system 8 is adjusted to fit the first sash 3. In other words the longhole shape of the third opening 29 allows a certain tolerance to be taken up.

Fig. 7 shows a cross section of a second insert 27 as seen in fig. 6, where an external friction surface 25 is seen that is designed to interact with the internal friction surface 25 seen in fig. 5. Also the countersunk installation holes 30 are seen. By applying one or two not seen screws in said countersunk installation hole and through the installation holes 26 in the first insert the two inserts 20, 27 is fixated to the first sash of the window 1. In fig. 8 a support bracket 31 for the first and second insert 20, 27 are seen. The support bracket 31 is intended for installation in a rabbet 7 in the first sash 3, or alternatively in the frame, where a second sash 4 has to be installed. The support bracket 31 has an opening 32 for a first insert 20 and fulfils the purpose of supporting the first insert 20 along its outer edge.

Fig. 9 shows a support bracket 31 comprising a first and second insert 20, 27 arranged as a part of a locking or hinge system 8.

As an alternative to providing the friction surfaces 25 on the bottom of the second in- sert 27 and in the bottom of the first opening/longhole 24, the friction surfaces 25' can be provided on the sidewalls in the first opening/longhole 24 and on the outer wall of the second insert 27 as shown in fig. 10.

Figs. 11-12 show an alternative embodiment of the hinge and locking system shown in figs. 2-3. Identical reference signs are used for elements already discussed above and will not be discussed again in detail. The tower bolts 9', 9" each comprise one or two grooves 34 which are cut adjacent to the hole for the screw 15 in the circumference of the tower bolt 9', 9". When the lock/hinge system is used as a hinge, the tower bolt is locked by inserting the side cover 18' . The cover 18' comprises taps 33 on the inside surface thereof, which engage with the one of the grooves 34 of the tower bolt 9" and thus locks the tower bolt 9" from sliding in its longitudinal direction. At fig. 10 the tower bolt 9' acts as a lock, because the side cover 18 does not comprise the taps 33 on its inner surface. Instead the sliding means 10 are installed using the screw 15 as discussed above.

Fig. 12 shows a cross section through the hinge system when used in the hinge func- tion. A side cover 18' is installed in each of the cut-outs 16 on the opposing sides of the beading 6. The tap 33 on the inside surface of the side covers 18' engages the groove 34 and thus locks the tower bolt 9" from sliding in its longitudinal direction.

Although the present invention is described above with reference to a window, it is understood that the hinge and locking system is also applicable for use in e.g. doors, or as hinges and/or locks for doors in furniture. The tower bolts and guiding means, including sliding means or means for locking the bolt from sliding, are then arranged in the beading of a door and, correspondingly, the support bracket and the inserts are arranged at or in a door frame or the body of the furniture, e.g. a closet.