TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application generally relates to doors. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to doors and doorframes. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to doors and doorframes for enclosed spaces, such as soundproof spaces.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein being representative of the state of the art.

[0003] Proper door closing, and sealing, is important in several different applications. Examples of such applications include in particular soundproof spaces, such as phone booths or conference rooms, in which the proper door closing is important for soundproofing.

[0004] The doorframe of a soundproof space is not always a part of a larger wall, and the door used needs to be sturdy due to soundproofing. This often may lead to a large weight of the door. In particular, as glass doors are often used, the weight of the door may cause a risk of the doorframe being bent which in turn may cause challenges in sealing and closing the door.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a stiffening arrangement and method, e.g. for doorframes of soundproof spaces, that overcomes or at least mitigates the above-mentioned challenges.

SUMMARY

[0006] Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

[0007] According to a first example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stiffening arrangement, comprising

a body element;

a doorframe configured to be attached to the body element; wherein the arrangement further comprises a stiffening element configured to be attached between the body element and the doorframe and configured to cause a tension to the body element.

[0008] The stiffening arrangement may comprise at least one stiffening plate.

[0009] The stiffening arrangement may be attached between the body element and the doorframe with attaching elements or by gluing, welding or fusing.

[0010] The attaching elements may comprise bolts, pegs, nuts and/or screws.

[0011] The body element, the doorframe and the stiffening element may comprise holes for the attaching elements.

[0012] The holes of the body element and/or the doorframe may not be aligned with the holes of the attaching elements.

[0013] The number of the attaching elements and the corresponding holes may be at least three.

[0014] According to a second example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soundproof space, comprising the stiffening arrangement according to the first example aspect of the present invention.

[0015] According to a third example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stiffening method comprising attaching a stiffening element between a body element and a doorframe; wherein the stiffening element is configured cause a tension to the body element.

[0016] Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a principle view of a soundproof space for example in which embodiments of the invention are used;

Fig. 2 shows a principle side view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic back view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged schematic side view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged schematic front view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a stiffening method according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention and its potential advantages are understood by referring to Figs. 1 through 6 of the drawings. In this document, like reference signs denote like parts or steps.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a principle view of a soundproof space 100, e.g. a conference booth, a phone booth a working module and/or a sleeping module, for example in which embodiments of the invention are used. Fig. 1 shows a soundproof space with a body element 10, a doorframe 20 attached to the body element element 10 and a door 30 attached to the doorframe 20 in a conventional manner. The body element 10, in an embodiment, comprises materials such as wood and metall. In an embodiment, the body element 10 has several layers of material or materials, such as sound stopping or soundproofing layers. In an embodiment, the body element 10 comprises the entire frame of the soundproof space. In an embodiment, the body element 10 comprises a part of for example a wall in which a door is to be provided.

[0020] The doorframe 20 comprises material such as metal or wood. In an embodiment, the frame 10 has several layers of material or materials. The door 30, in an embodiment comprises transparent material such as glass or plastic. In a further embodiment, the door 30 comprises further material, such as wood or metal. In an embodiment, the door 30 has several layers of material or materials.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a principle side view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a view from the side of corner A of Fig. 1 . Fig. 2 shows the body element 10 and the doorframe 20 with a stiffening element 40 attached therebetween in a manner described hereinafter. The stiffening element 40 is configured to cause a tension to the body element 10 of the soundproof space in such a way as to compensate the bending forces caused by the weight of the door 30 that are incident on the doorframe 20 and therethrough on the body element 10. In an embodiment, the stiffening element 40 bends the upper corner of the body element 10 on the hinge side of the doorframe 20 in a sideways direction away from the doorframe in such a way as to compensate the bending forces caused by the weight of the door 30 that are incident on the doorframe 20 and therethrough on the body element 10. In an embodiment, the stiffening element 40 comprises at least one plate. In an embodiment, the at least one plate comprises a material such as metal - for example steel - plastic, ceramics, organic material and/ or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the thickness of the stiffening element 40 is from 0,5 mm to 10 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a schematic back view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 illustrates the positioning of the stiffening element 40 between the body element 10 and the doorframe 20. In the depicted example embodiment, the stiffening element 40 comprises two plates 40a, 40b on each side of the doorframe 20. The plates 40a, 40b are attached to the body element 10 and to the doorframe 40 in a manner described hereinafter. In the example embodiment shown, the form of each plate 40a, 40b substantially corresponds to the form of the doorframe 20 and the plates 40a, 40b have a shape resembling an inverted letter L, so that the plates 40a, 40b meet in the middle of the upper part of the doorframe 20 and their ends are positioned at the corners of the doorframe 20 at the lower end thereof. The example shown substantially corresponds to the maximum size of the stiffening element 40, which is not visible outside the edges of the body element 10 and the doorframe 20. The stiffening element continues over any seams on the body 10 and/or the doorframe, in a situation in which the body 10 and/or the doorframe 20 has a modular structure with seams.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the stiffening element 40 comprises a single plate. In a still further element, the stiffening element 40 comprises more than two separate plates. In an embodiment, the doorframe 20 and or the body element 10 comprises a groove or an indentation configured to accommodate the stiffening element 40, so that the stiffening element does not increase the outside dimensions of the space to which the doorframe is attached.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows an enlarged schematic side view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 shows the body element 10, the doorframe 20 and the door 30. The stiffening element 40 is attached between the body element 10 and the doorframe 20. In an embodiment, the stiffening element is attached with attaching elements 50. In an embodiment the attaching elements 50 comprise elements such as bolts, pegs, nuts and/or screws. The stiffening element 40 comprises holes 42 through which the attaching elements 50 are inserted. In an embodiment, the attaching elements 50, or a part of the attaching elements, are integrated with or attached to the stiffening element 40. In a still further embodiment, the attaching elements 50, or a part of the attaching elements 50, are integrated with or attached to the body element 10 and/or the doorframe 20. In an embodiment, the body element 10 and the doorframe 20 are attached to each other with further means, either directly through the stiffening element or one or the other being attached to the stiffening element 40 with further means.

[0025] The body element 10 comprises holes, or indentations, 12 into which one end of the attaching elements is inserted into and attached to. In an example embodiment the attaching elements are attached to the holes with method such as form-fitting, friction fitting, gluing, welding, fusing, screwing and/or with threads. Similarly, the doorframe 20 comprises holes, or indentations, 22 into which one end of the attaching elements is inserted into and attached to. In an example embodiment the attaching elements are attached to the holes 12,22 with a method such as form fitting, friction fitting, gluing, welding, fusing, screwing and/or with threads. In a further embodiment, the stiffening element 40 is attached to the body element 10 and/or the doorframe 20 with means not requiring holes such as by gluing, welding or fusing.

[0026] The holes 42 of the stiffening element 40 are not aligned with the holes 12 of the body element 10 and/or with the holes 22 of the doorframe 20. As the stiffening element 40 is in the correct position, the holes 42 are not in alignment with the holes 12 and/or the holes 22, as shown in Fig. 5 showing an enlarged schematic front view of a stiffening arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, in such a way that the attaching elements 50 when in place cause the body element 10 to be pretensioned in such a way as to compensate the forces caused by the weight and/or movement of the door 30. In an embodiment, the number of the attaching elements 50, and the number of the corresponding holes 12,22,42 is at least three in order to provide for the pretension to compensate the forces aforementioned. In an embodiment, in which the stiffening element 40 comprises several plates, the number of the attaching elements 50, and the number of the corresponding holes 12,22,42 is at least three for each plate. In an example, first holes 12,22,42 are aligned, second holes 12,22,42 are 2mm in non-alignment in a direction depending on direction in which stiffening, i.e. tension compensation is need, and third holes 12,22,42 are 3mm in non-alignment.

[0027] Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a stiffening method according to an embodiment of the invention. At 610, the stiffening element 40 is positioned at the proper position, first either against the body element 10 or the doorframe 20. In an embodiment, the stiffening element 40 is positioned at grooves or indentations machined at the surface of the doorframe 20 or the body element 10. At 620 the stiffening element is attached between the body element 10 and the doorframe 20 using the attaching elements 50 by pushing them through the holes 42 of the stiffening element and into the holes 12,22 of the doorframe or the body element and then through the holes 12,22 of the other. Prior to the attaching elements 50 being applied, the body element 10 is pretensioned to the form it should stay in in order to compensate the forces caused by the weight of the door. At 630, as the stiffening element 40 is attached between the body element 10 and the doorframe 20, the body element 10 remains tensioned in order to compensate forces caused by the door 20.

[0028] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is providing an improved closing of the door, as bending and change of form of the whole soundproof space is reduced or removed. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is providing an improved sealing of the door. A still further technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is providing an improved soundproofing. A still further technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is providing a simple and cost effective arrangement for improving the stiffness of the structure.

[0029] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0030] It is also noted herein that while the foregoing describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.