Spacer having friction means In supporting sheet units, e. g. glass packages in windows, doors or other structure elements spacer elements are used in the form of supporting blocks at bottom part and spacers at side parts and in notch in order to transfer the load in- question in a correct manner from a sheet unit to a window or structure body. The blocks also create a ventilated space between the sheet unit and the surrounding structure element. These also create a possibility to adjust the sheet unit into a correct position in the window, door or struc- ture element, so that it will be correct supported hori- zontally and vertically and in relation to the notch of the sheet unit.

The spacers are mainly sheet formed and have a width which mainly corresponds to the thickness of the glass package.

Different improvements have been made on these supporting- and spacer blocks by that one has formed them with different extensions, protrudings and/or cavities in order to add new qualities and improvements, such as e. g. to give the spacer the quality to keep itself in one and the same position, have the possibility to vary its width, to create ventila- tion possibilities in or around the same or to achieve an automatic fastening of itself during mounting.

Today there are different methods to position spacers in a notch during the mounting work and after the mounting of a sheet unit.

Extensions which protrude from the edge of the spacer and thereafter are squeezed between sheet unit and notch, is one example of a fixing technique which today is used. This method can influence a sealing strip negative, so that it is damaged or will be untight. Further this solution does not suit all window-and door structures. It can be difficult to handle as the protrusions are in the way and easily hook into each other when they are lying packed and will in this way be difficult to pick out from the package. They have also no fastening effect during the mounting work, since the glazing strip which is intended to fasten the extensions during this moment is not mounted in position.

Another method to keep a spacer element in position is that one provides the surface of the block with a bridge forma- tion, which is bulging outwards from the surface of the block and which has its outermost point right between its bridge attachments. This bridge can then be placed in its bridge attachments and along its edges and it can be built up by a thin walled formation which is bulge formed. When the bridge formation is squeezed between the sheet unit and the notch, friction arises between the block and sheet unit which shall keep the block in position.

Such a structure has many drawbacks. A large risk is present that a weakening occurs in the material in the bridge formation. This will be pressed together of the pressure of the sheet unit. After a while the elasticity of the bridge formation is away, the friction is weakened and to the end it will be totally away, so that the spacer no longer can be kept in place and will fall downwards. It then stops to function which means that the sheet unit will be influenced negatively in a way that it can be broken. The bridge formation must have the possibility to move in an aperture when it is pressed together. This makes that it can be turned to the other direction into the aperture and tend to the other direction and move inwards instead of outwards.

Then the bridge formation stops functioning totally. The method described above thus gives a bad friction to be able to function during a long time. Since a bridge formation is exposed to pressure forces during load, it is very sensitive to deformation and alternating repetition of stress during load, which makes that its function easy can be risked. The mounting work of blocks having bridge formations is rendered difficult of that these are very refractory and press against in stead of being flexible during the insertion into the notch so that too much force is needed in order to get them in position which means that the mounting work is exhausting and is time consuming. It also subjects the sheet unit for unnecessary stresses which can damage the same.

An object with the present invention is to eliminate the WO 98/41724 PCT/SE98/00525 drawbacks mentioned in the structures above and to make the mounting work of the sheet units easier and make the same less time consuming and to improve the function of the spacer elements and to make them more careful to the sheet unit.

Thanks to the invention a spacer element is now provided having a supporting element which is similar to a hammock formation which is suspended in at least one place somewhere along its delimiting border such as a hang bridge. On the supporting element protrusions are provided which during influencing of the sheet unit when the spacer element is placed in position, are pressed away from the sheet unit and create pull forces in the supporting element which makes that it will not be too refractory and therefore acts care- fully to the sheet unit. During this influence the support- ing element is bulging most in its middle region but does not lose for this sake its elasticity, which makes that it functions even after a long time of use. According to the invention thus the spacer element has somewhere along its extension at least one aperture, in which said supporting element is provided. In connection with the supporting element at least one connecting place is provided of suitable formation which during influence from the sheet unit and insertion of the spacer element creates a suspension for its fastening. Extensions are provided on the supporting element which during the insertion of said spacer element create friction and pressure against said sheet unit for its fastening.

The invention will now be described more in detail below by aid of some preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view oblique from above of a spacer element having a supporting element with extensions, Fig. 2 shows a schematic section through a door-or window profile having a spacer element and a sheet unit.

Said sheet unit supports on the spacer element so that the supporting element is bent downwards and said extensions have yielded, Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment form of the exten- sions which here are formed as a coil, Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment form of the extensions which in this case are formed as pins, Fig. 5 shows a further alternative embodiment form of the extension which in this case are formed as roofs, Fig. 6 shows a further alternative embodiment form of the extensions which in this case are formed as bulges, Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment form of the extensions which in this case are formed as beams and Fig. 8 shows a spacer element having at least one sup- porting element with extensions and which is sus- pended in seven connecting places.

As more in detail can be seen from the embodiment form illu- strated in fig. 1, the invention comprises a spacer element 2 having a supporting element 1 which is suspended in two connecting places 3 and which is applied somewhere to an aperture 7, e. g. in the form of a slot 7', in said spacer element 2 and preferably at the ends of said supporting element 1. The supporting element 1 preferably has an exten- sion which mainly is parallell to any of the limitation sur- faces 4,5 of the spacer element 2. At least one extension 10 is applied to the supporting element 1 preferably in the form of a number mainly transverse plates 11, the protruding length of which can vary, so that those nearest the connect- ing places 3 on the spacer element 2 are shorter and longer in the middle. By this length variation it will be easier to insert the spacer element 2 in right position according to fig. 2.

As is illustrated in fig. 2 the spacer element 2 has been in- serted into a position between a sheet unit 6 and a bottom notch 12 of a window-or doorframe according to the direction of an arrow 14 to support the sheet unit 6. The supporting element 1 and its extensions 10 in the form of the plates 11 have in this position been pressed backwards and exert a pressure and a friction against the underside 13 of the sheet unit 6, whereby the spacer element 2 is fastened in position.

Since the supporting element 1 is attached to its connecting places 3, the supporting element 1 is subjected to tension forces. Hereby a counter force is created which exercises a continuous pressure via the extensions 10 towards the under- side 13 of the sheet unit 6. The extensions 10 are then lying somewhat bent and will arise and increase hereby the fric- tion, if the spacer element 2 is influenced in a direction opposite the arrow 14.

One also can use the idea of the invention in allowing the spacer element 2 being squeezed against a glazing strip 9 and/or a notch 8 under sealing strips 15. Then the supporting element 1 with its extensions 10 can exert pressure and fric- tion against any of the limiting surfaces of the glazing strip 9 and/or notch 8 and hereby be kept in position.

As can be seen from fig. 3-7, the extensions 10 on the supporting element 1 according to the invention can vary in number, size and formation. Common for the embodiments forms preferred is however, that the extensions 10 preferably are smaller near the connecting places 3 and bigger in the middle of said supporting element 1. The extensions 10 however can be formed in a different way than what is illustrated in the figures mentioned above.

WO 98/41724 PCT/SE98/00525 As is illustrated in fig. 3 the extensions 10 can be made as an integrally formed coil 13'which is fold-formed and yieldable. In the ends the high of the coil 13'is preferable lower than in the middle in order to facilitate the insertion of the spacer element 2 into the notch 12.

As is illustated in fig. 4, the extensions 10 here can consist of pins 16. These are also shorter in the ends of the supporting element 1 and lower in the middle in order to facilitate the mounting of the spacer element 2.

As is illustrated in fig. 5, the extensions 10 in this em- bodiment form consist of roof formed elements 17.

As is illustrated in fig. 6, the extensions 10 in this embodiment form consist of bulge formations 18.

As is illustrated in fig. 7, the extensions 10 in a further embodiment form are made as beam formations 19, which prefer- able are thinner in the ends at the connecting places 3.

As is illustrated in the embodiment form illustrated in fig.

8, one or more supporting elements 1 can be provided anywhere along the limiting surfaces of the spacer element 2 and be optionally formed with one or more connecting places 3. The supporting element 1 has an optional number of extensions 10 having an optional formation.

In order to use the invention one also can imagine that the supporting element 1 only comprises one connecting place 3, which is formed in such a way that it alone is capable to press the extensions 10 outwards against the sheet unit 6 to create enough friction, so that the spacer element 2 is kept in position. This is managed best if the connecting place 3 mainly surrounds the supporting element 1 and is yieldable, so that it can take up movements, the supporting element 1 being in a pressed back position by the bearing pressure of the sheet unit 6 against the extensions 10.

The invention can also be used in allowing the supporting element 1 to be a part of the extensions 10, which is illu- strated in fig. 1-7, so that e. g. the bulge formations 18 in fig. 6 are made by a pressing out of the material of the supporting element 1.