Technical field

[0001] Disclosed herein is a screening system having multiple sliding panels. The system is suitable for use in sliding shower screen doors, and cavity wall doors such as those used in wardrobes and partition doors.

Background art

[0002] Glass sliding doors used as shower screen doors are constructed and installed with three co-operating, and partly overlapping, panels. One outer panel may be fixed. A centre panel and outer panel may be adapted to be opened and closed by sliding along rollers and tracks across an opening to the shower. In order to open or close the sliding panels, a user may move the outer sliding panel. The outer panel actuates the centre panel by means of a series of colliding components. There may be a substantial amount of lost motion and contact or impact noise involved in this movement and the action may require considerable effort on the part of the user.

[0003] Fully framed shower screen panels (glass with aluminium on all four sides) have progressively become semi framed (two or three sides) or frameless (e.g. a panel of 6mm toughened glass). Sliding systems are not configured for frameless glass doors, as they may require components to be secured directly into aluminium extrusions.

[0004] In this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

[0005] The word ‘comprising’ and forms of the word ‘comprising’ as used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Summary

[0006] Disclosed herein is a screening system. The system may comprise a fixed panel, a slave panel disposed adjacent the fixed panel, a hand operated master panel disposed adjacent to the slave panel, the panels being arranged in tandem formation when in a closed position and in stacked formation when in an open position; and a pully system configured to slide the slave panel between the open and closed positions, the pully system comprising; first and second panel supports mounted to a top edge of the slave panel, the first support being spaced from the second support, and a third panel support mounted to a top edge of the master panel; the first, second and third supports each comprising a clamping portion, the clamping portion comprising spaced wings between which the top edge of the respective panels is received and mounted, a body portion connected to the wings, and a top portion extending from the body portion to support the slave and master panels from the top rail; and a pully connected to the body portion of the first, second and third supports, wherein actuation of the master panel causes the pully to slide the slave panel between the open and closed positions. Advantageously, the disclosed system is able to allow frameless or semi-frameless panels to slide sequentially, or in tandem, while avoiding banging and damage during operation is required.

[0007] In some forms, the pully comprises a cord that is connected to the body portion of the first, second and third supports.

[0008] In some forms, the body portion of the first support comprises a first aperture formed therethrough, the body portion of the second support comprises a second aperture formed therethrough, and the body portion of the third support comprises a third aperture formed therethrough.

[0009] In some forms, the cord is received within the first, second and third apertures and looped around the first, second and third supports.

[0010] In some forms, the body portion of the first support comprises first and second grooves on opposing sides of the body portion, the first aperture being disposed between the first and second grooves such that the first groove, second groove and first aperture together are configured to receive and guide the cord in use.

[0011] In some forms, the body portion of the second support comprises third and fourth grooves on opposing sides of the body portion, the second aperture being disposed between the third and fourth grooves such that the third groove, fourth groove and second aperture together are configured to receive and guide the cord in use.

[0012] In some forms, the body portion of the third support comprises fifth and sixth grooves on opposing sides of the body portion, the third aperture being disposed between the fifth and sixth grooves such that the fifth groove, sixth groove and third aperture together are configured to receive and guide the cord in use.

[0013] In some forms, each of the spaced wings of the first, second and third supports comprise a mounting aperture formed therethrough, the mounting apertures being configured to receive a fastener therethrough to mount the supports to the panels.

[0014] In some forms, the system comprises a fixed support mounted to a top edge of the fixed panel, and a sliding panel support mounted to a top edge of the master panel, the fixed and sliding supports being configured to support the fixed and master panels from a top rail.

[0015] In some forms, the fixed and sliding supports each comprise a clamping portion, the clamping portion comprising spaced wings between which the top edge of the respective panels is received and mounted.

[0016] In some forms, the sliding support comprises a top portion extending from the clamping portion to support the master panels from the top rail.

[0017] In some forms, the fixed support comprises a spacer that extends away from the clamping portion of the fixed support and is configured to mount the fixed panel to the top rail.

[0018] In some forms, a longitudinal axis of the spacer forms an acute angle with one of the wings of the clamping portion of the fixed support such that the clamping portion is horizontally and vertically offset from the top rail in use.

[0019] In some forms, each of the spaced wings of the sliding support comprises a mounting aperture formed therethrough, the mounting apertures being configured to receive a fastener therethrough to mount the support to the master panel.

[0020] In some forms, one of the spaced wings of the fixed support comprises a mounting aperture formed therethrough, the mounting aperture being configured to receive a fastener therethrough to mount the support to the master panel.

[0021] In some forms, the wings of each of the first, second, third and sliding panel supports comprises a recess within which the mounting aperture is disposed, the recess being configured to receive a cover to cover the fastener. [0022] In some forms, the top portion of each of the first, second, third and sliding panel supports comprises a projecting portion that extends away from the wings of each of the panel supports, the projecting portion comprising a support aperture formed therethrough.

[0023] In some forms, the system further comprises first, second, third and fourth, rollers, the first and second rollers being received within the support aperture of the sliding and first panel supports respectively, and configured to enable the master panel to slide along the top rail, the third and fourth rollers being received within the support aperture of the second and third panel supports respectively, and configured to enable the slave panel to slide along the top rail.

[0024] In some forms, the support aperture of each of the projecting portions of the first, second, third and sliding panel supports is configured to allow the height of the mounted panels to be adjustable with respect to the top rail.

[0025] In some forms, the support aperture of each of the projecting portions of the first, second, third and sliding panel supports extends between first and second ends of the projecting portion, the first end being disposed towards the clamping portion of the panel support and the second end being disposed towards a top surface of the projecting portion.

[0026] In some forms, the system further comprises a fixed base support mounted to a bottom corner of the fixed panel, first and second base supports mounted to the opposing bottom corners of the slave panel, and third and fourth base supports mounted to the opposing corners of the master panel.

[0027] In some forms, each of the first, second, third and fourth base supports comprises; a mounting portion within which the bottom comer of the respective panels is able to be mounted; and a support portion configured to connect the base support to a base rail to support the panels respectively, the support portion extending substantially perpendicular to the mounting portion.

[0028] In some forms, the support potion of each of the first, second, third and fourth base supports comprises a hook portion that is configured to connect the support portion to the base rail.

[0029] In some forms, a spacer of the fixed base support is longer than the support portions of the first and second base supports, and the support portion of the first and second base supports is longer than the support portion of the third and fourth base supports such that the panels are able to be arranged in stacked formation when in the open position. [0030] In some forms, each of the first, second, third and fourth base supports each comprise a collector that is disposed above the support portion and extends away from the mounting portion, the collector of the third and fourth base supports being configured to engage the first and second base supports respectively when the master panel slides towards the open position to thereby slide the slave panel towards the open position.

[0031] In some forms, the collector of the second base support is configured to engage the fixed base supports to inhibit further sliding of the slave and master panels when in the open position.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0032] Various embodiments/aspects of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the following figures.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a front view of a screening system according to the present disclosure;

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a side view of a top portion of the screening system shown in Fig. 1;

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a top view of a top portion of the screening system shown in Fig. 1;

[0036] Fig. 4 shows another top view of a top portion of the screening system shown in Fig. i;

[0037] Fig. 5 shows a side view of a top portion of the screening system shown in Fig. 1;

[0038] Fig. 6 shows cross sectional views through the top connection between the fixed, slave and master panels of the screening system shown in Fig. 1 with the panels in the stacked position;

[0039] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view (7a) from the top of a panel support of the screening system of Fig. 1, and a perspective view (7b) of the same panel support from below.

[0040] Fig. 8 provides side view (8a) and a front view (8b) of the panel support shown in Fig.

7;

[0041] Fig. 9 provides a perspective view (9a) of the fixed panel support of the system shown in Fig. 1, and a perspective view (9a) of the top left corner of the fixed panel and top right corner of the slave panel of the system shown in Fig. 1; [0042] Fig. 10 shows cross-sectional views through the lower portion of the screening system shown in Fig. 1; and

[0043] Fig. 11 provides a perspective view (11a) of the base support of the screening system shown in Fig. 1, and a side view (1 lb) of the same base support.

Detailed description

[0044] Disclosed herein is a screening system. The embodiment of the system described herein is a shower screen that includes three panels, two of which slide. As will be evident to the skilled addressee, the system could be applied to other screen arrangements with, for example, more than two sliding panels. The screening system will initially be described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2, which provide front views of the screening system in the form of a sliding shower screen system 1.

[0045] The shower screen 1 includes several panels that together form a sliding shower screen arrangement. The first panel is a fixed panel 3 that is in a fixed in position (i.e. does not slide) with respect to the other panels. A slave panel 5 is adjacent the fixed panel 3. The system also includes a hand operated master panel 7 adjacent the slave panel 5. The panels are arranged in tandem formation, as is shown in Fig. 1, when in a closed position (i.e. the shower screen is closed and therefore screens a person in the shower), and in stacked formation when in an open position (i.e. the shower screen is open such that a person is able to access the shower).

[0046] The shower screen system also includes several panel supports that mount the panels to a support structure. A fixed panel support 11 is mounted to a top edge 13 of the fixed panel 3. The top edge 13 of the fixed panel 3 is mounted to the top rail 17 via a fixed support 11. The fixed panel is also glazed to the side frame 18 of the system at the top and bottom of the panel. As will be evident to the skilled addressee, other mounting mechanisms may be implemented to mount the fixed panel 3 to the top rail 17, side frame 18 and bottom rail of the system.

[0047] A sliding panel support 14 is mounted to a top edge 15 of the master panel 7. In the detailed embodiment, the panel supports are mounted to the top corners of the panels to which they are secured. The fixed 11 and sliding 14 supports are configured to support the fixed 3 and master 7 panels from a top rail 17.

[0048] The shower screen system 1 also includes a pully system configured to slide the slave panel 5 between the open and closed positions. The pulley system will now be described with reference to Figs. 2-6. Fig. 2 provides a perspective view from the top of the shower screen system with the master 7 and slave 5 panels positioned between the opened and closed positions. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a top portion of the shower screen system with the master 7 and slave 5 panels positioned between the open and closed positions. Fig. 4 provides another perspective view from the top of the shower screen with just the master panel 7 shown. Fig. 5 provides another perspective view from the side of the shower screen with the master 7, slave 5 and fixed 3 panels in the closed position.

[0049] The pulley system includes first 19 and second 21 panel supports mounted to a top edge 23 of the slave panel 5. The first support 19 is spaced from the second support 21. In the detailed embodiment, the panels supports 19, 21 are mounted at opposing top comers of the slave panel 5. A third panel support 25 is mounted to the top edge 15 of the master panel 7. The third support 25 is spaced from the sliding support 14. In the detailed embodiment, the panels supports 25, 14 are mounted at opposing top corners of the master panel 7.

[0050] Figs. 6a and 6b provide two cross-sectional views through the connection between the fixed 3, slave 5 and master 7 panels at the top corner of the panels when in the stacked arrangement. The fixed 3, slave 5 and master 7 panels are horizontally offset from one another to allow each panel to slide (in a relative sense) with respect to one another and to form the stacked arrangement. The slave panel 5 is positioned between the fixed 3 and master 7 panels.

[0051] The panel supports will now be described in details with respect to Figs. 7-8. Fig. 7a provides a top perspective view of the first, second and third panel supports that are positioned at the top right corner of the master and slave panels. Fig. 7b provides a perspective view of the same panel supports from below. Fig. 8a provides side view of the same panel supports. Fig. 8b provides a front view of the same panel supports. In Figs. 7a-b, similar features of the supports are marked the same (i.e. where the same feature is present on the 'top left' and 'top right' supports). In the detailed embodiment, the structure of the first 19, second 21, third 25 and sliding 14 supports is as shown in Figs. 7-8. As will be evident to the skilled addressee, the first 19, second 21 and third 25 panel supports may be structurally distinct from the fixed 11 and sliding 14 supports (in particular, the fixed 11 and sliding 14 panel supports do not require components of the pully system, as is described in detail below). In fact, in the detailed embodiment, the fixed support 11 has a distinct structure that will be described further below. [0052] A reference to 'panel supports' below is a reference to the first 19, second 21, third 25 and sliding 14 panel supports described above. The panel supports each include a clamping portion 27. The clamping portion 27 includes spaced wings 29, 31 between which the top edge of the respective panel is received and mounted. The panel supports also include a body portion 33 connected to the wings 29, 31, and a top portion 35 extending from the body portion 33 to support the panels from the top rail 15 (see Fig. 1). The body portion 33 of the panel supports includes an aperture 39 formed therethrough.

[0053] A pully 37 is connected to the body portion 33 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports (see Fig. 2). Actuation of the master panel 7 causes the pully 37 to slide the slave panel 5 between the open and closed positions. In the detailed embodiment, the pully is in the form of a cord 37 that is connected to the body portion 33 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports.

[0054] The cord 37 is received within the apertures 39 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports and looped around the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports. The body portion 33 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports include first 41 and second 43 grooves on opposing sides of the body portion 33. The first groove 41 is offset and substantially parallel to the second groove 43. The aperture 39 within the body portion 33 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports is disposed between the first 41 and second 43 grooves. In the detailed embodiment, the aperture 39 is centrally located within each of the first 41 and second 43 grooves. The first groove 41, second groove 43 and aperture 39 are configured to receive and guide the cord 37 in use. The aperture 39 disposed in the body portion 33 of the first 19, second 21 and third 25 supports extends substantially perpendicular to the first groove 41 and second groove 43.

[0055] In the detailed embodiment, the spaced wings 29, 31 of each of the panel supports include a mounting aperture 45 formed therethrough. The mounting apertures 45 are configured to receive a fastener (e.g. a brass screw) therethrough to mount the supports to the panels. The spaced wings, body and top portion arrangement advantageously enables the supports and associated pully system to be mounted to frameless panels (e.g. frameless glass panels) without having an unattractive aesthetic appearance on the otherwise frameless panels. The wings 29, 31 of each of the panel support includes a recess 47 within which the mounting aperture 45 is disposed. The recess is configured to receive a cover (not shown) to cover the fastener. In the detailed embodiment, the recess 47 is square in shape and covers much of the outer face of both wings. The cover further enhances the aesthetic appearance of the panel supports for use with frameless panels.

[0056] The top portion 35 of each of the panel supports includes a projecting portion 49 that extends away from the wings of each of the panel supports. One purpose of the top portion 35 is to enable the panels to be slidably mounted to the top rail 17. The top portion 35 extends along a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane that is co-incident with one of the two wings 29, 31 (wing 31 in the detailed embodiment).

[0057] The projecting portion 49 includes a support aperture 51 formed therethrough. In the detailed embodiment, the support aperture 51 is an elongated slot that allows for the height of the supported panel to be adjusted with respect to the top rail 17. In other words, the support aperture 51 of each of the projecting portions 35 of the panel supports extends between first 55 and second 57 ends of the projecting portion 35, the first end 55 being disposed towards the clamping portion of the panel support and the second end being disposed towards a top surface 59 of the projecting portion 35. In the detailed embodiment, the support apertures 51 are disposed in a recess of the top portion 35 in much the same manner as the mounting apertures 45 and covered with a cover for aesthetic purposes.

[0058] The screening system includes rollers 53 (see Fig. 2). The rollers are received within the support aperture of the sliding panel supports (i.e. those mounted to the master 7 and slave 5 panels). The rollers are configured to enable the master 7 and slave 5 panel to slide along the top rail 17 (e.g. to roll along a track within the top rail 17).

[0059] The fixed panel support will now be described in detail with respect to Fig. 9. Fig. 9a provides a perspective view of the fixed panel support 11. Fig. 9b provides a perspective view of the top left corner of the fixed panel 3 and top right corner of the slave panel 5. Similar to the first, second and third panel supports, the fixed support 11 includes a clamping portion 127 with spaced wings 129, 131 that are configured to receive the panel 3 therebetween the clamp the panel 3 to the support 11. The fixed support 11 also includes a spacer 133 that is configured to mount the support 11 to the rail 17. The elongate spacer 133 extends between first 135 and second 137 ends. The first end 135 of the spacer 133 is horizontally offset from the clamping portion 127. In other words, a longitudinal axis of the spacer 133 forms an acute angle with the wing 129. This enables the fixed panel 3 to be horizontally offset from the rail 17 by a predetermined distance. As is shown in Fig. 9b, the spacer 133 of the fixed support 11 enables the slave panel 5 to sit inside the fixed panel 3. This arrangement enables the first support 19 of the slave panel 5 to be positioned on a plane that is between the rail 17 and the fixed panel 3. The positioning of the spacer 133 of the fixed support 11 is also arranged to inhibit movement of the first support 19, in that the spacer 133 impedes translation of the first support 19 in use.

[0060] The screening system will now be described in further detail with respect to Fig. 10 and 11. Figs. 10a and 10b two cross-sectional views through the lower portion of the screening system. The screening system includes base supports mounted to opposing bottom corners of each of the panels. Figs. 10a and 10b show a first base support 61 mounted to the master panel 7, a second base support 63 mounted to the slave panel 5, and a fixed base support 65 mounted to the master panel fixed panel. In the detailed embodiment, third and fourth base supports (not shown) are mounted respectively to the opposing bottom corners (relative to the position of the first 61 and second 63 base supports) of the master 7 and slave 5 panels. The first 61, second 63, third and fourth base supports will be referred to below as 'the base supports'. In the detailed embodiment, the fixed base support 65 is the same as the fixed support 11 that is positioned at the top portion of the fixed panel 3.

[0061] Fig. 11a provides a perspective view of the base supports. Fig. 1 lb provides a side view of the base supports. Each of the base support includes a mounting portion 67 within which the bottom comer of the respective panels is able to be mounted. Each base support also includes a spacer portion 69 configured to connect the base support to a base rail 71 (see Fig.

10) to support the lower portion of each of the panels. The spacer portion 69 extending substantially perpendicular to the mounting portion 67.

[0062] The spacer potion 69 of each base supports comprises a hook portion 73 that is configured to connect the spacer portion 69 to the base rail 73. The support portion of the base supports connected to the fixed panel 3 is longer than the support portion of the slave panel 5 such that the fixed panel protrudes forwardly of the slave panel. The support portion of the base supports connected to the slave panel 5 is longer than the support portion of the master panel 7 such that the slave panel 5 protrudes forwardly of the master panel 7. This enables the panels to form a stacked configuration in the open position and retracts sliding movement of the panels with respect to one another.

[0063] In the detailed embodiment, the base supports include a collector 75 that is disposed above the spacer portion 69 and extends away from the mounting portion 67 (e.g. the collector 75 is positioned above the elongate portion of the spacer portion 69 and protrudes away from the mounting portion 67 in substantially the same direction as the elongate portion of the support portion 69). The collectors are configured to engage the base support of an adjacent panel when the master panel 7 slides towards the open position to thereby slide the slave panel 5 towards the open position and prevent sliding movement in one direction when the panels are in the open position. As will be evident to the skilled addressee, a collector may not be included on each of the base supports. The base supports also include an aperture 77 formed through the inner wing 79 of the clamping portion 67 (the inner wing being disposed between the outer wing 81 of the clamping portion 67 and the spacer portion 69). The aperture 77 is configured to receive a fastener (e.g. a grub screw) therein to mount the base supports to the panels.

[0064] Advantageously, the clamping arrangement of the system disclosed herein allows for the sliding panels to be, for example, 6mm frameless glass. It also reduces the number of holes that would otherwise need to be drilled into the glass panels, thereby reducing complexity, manufacture and installation costs.

[0065] A reduction in the number of holes required in the slave and fixed panel glass enables speed of manufacture by the supplier. It allows for a significant cost reduction to the fabricator. By not having a hole in the glass, the method for securing the glass is much faster when a grub screw holds the glass in position via compression. This in turn allows the fabricator to expedite both inhouse manufacture and onsite installation, therefore saving time and money.

[0066] The disclosed compression clamp allows for a nylon cord pulley system so that the sliding door panels operate in tandem without colliding. The sequential opening and closing of the shower screen enables the frameless glass doors to open and close without impact. This arrangement improves safety and decreases noise associated with using a stacked panel arrangement.