Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for glazed balconies, comprising a corner element and a first and a second side wall element.

Background of the Invention

Glazed balconies are common and typically comprise a frame element composed of horizontal and vertical frame parts. Furthermore, a number of glass sheets are generally displaceable in the lateral direction inside the frame element, at the same time as they obtain guidance from the horizontal frame parts of the frame element. The frame element is usually dimensioned to cover a balcony side. In the glazing of a balcony, many such frame elements are mounted side by side in such a way that the vertical frame part of a first frame element is arranged at an angle to the vertical frame part of an adjoining second frame element. This forms a corner, in which the adjoining vertical frame parts together form a strong and very clearly visible corner column. The corner column is perceived in many cases as somewhat unaesthetic and constitutes a, for the observer, unwelcome interruption to the otherwise generally open visual impression which is given by a glazed balcony. There is therefore a demand for a corner solution which is more appealing to the observer.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a corner element for use in a glazed balcony, in which the awareness of visible corner columns is reduced.

The corner element should be easy to mount and be able to be provided in one piece.

This object is achieved with a system for glazed balconies, comprising a corner element and a first and a second side wall element, wherein the corner element comprises a first and a second side wall portion mutually connected at an angle to one another and having a first and a second free edge respectively, the first free edge being intended to be connected to a free edge of the first side wall element and the second free edge being intended to be connected to a free edge of the second side wall element, wherein the free edge of the first side wall element comprises a stop portion having an extent transversely to the plane of extension of the first side wall element and which stop portion further has a locking member, the free edge of the first side wall portion comprises a stop portion having an extent transversely to the plane of extension of the first side wall element, which stop portion comprises a locking member which is intended to engage with the locking member of the stop portion of the free edge of the first side wall element for locking in a direction along the plane of extension of the first side wall element, the free edge of the second side wall element comprises a first and a second mutually spaced supporting portion, which have an extent along the plane of extension of the second side wall element, wherein one of the first and second supporting portions of the free edge of the second side wall element are detachably arranged to enable insertion and locking of the second free edge of the corner element between the first and second supporting portions.

As a result, a system which allows the provision of a glazed balcony lacking the traditional corner columns is provided. By virtue of the corner element having two side wall portions which are intended to be anchored by their free edges to premounted side wall elements, two vertical connecting portions, which are arranged at a distance from the corner, in which this distance corresponds to the width of the two side wall portions, are formed. The observer will perceive a lighter and more open balcony solution with increased natural light.

The system allows a simple mounting of the corner element, which can be delivered in one piece to the assembly site. In connection with the assembly, the corner element is anchored by cooperation between different edge profiles, without the need for a multitude of loose fastening members in the form of, for example, screws.

By virtue of the fact that one of the first and second supporting portions of the free edge of the second side wall element is detachably arranged, a very smooth mounting of the corner element is allowed, since the latter can be turned in place against one of the supporting portions, which forms a counterstay, whereafter the loosely arranged supporting portion can be mounted in place and thus detain the free edge of the corner element between the two supporting portions.

The free edge of the second side wall element can comprise an extruded profile extending along the edge, wherein the first supporting portion is arranged as a flange projecting from the profile. The flange is hereby formed by the cross section of the extruded profile.

The second supporting portion can be arranged as a locking body which is releasable and lockable relative to the free edge of the second side wall element. This allows the second side wall portion of the corner element to be easily guided in place, whereafter the locking body is put in place in order thereby to hold the free edge of the side wall portion in place in the cavity which is delimited between the two thereby formed supporting portions.

The system can further comprise seals, which are insertable between the free edge of the second side wall portion and the first and second supporting portion respectively of the second side wall element to prevent displacement of the free edge of the second side wall portion in a direction transversely to the plane of extension of the second side wall element. The purpose of the seals is, on the one hand, to take up play and fix the corner element relative to the side wall portions, on the other hand to prevent penetration of dirt and moisture.

The stop portion on the free edge of the first side wall portion is disposed on a locking body arranged on the free edge, which locking body is provided by an extruded profile with a cross section having two flanges projecting from a web, which flanges are arranged to extend on both sides of said free edge, and wherein a cavity is delimited between the free edge of the first side wall portion, said flanges and said web. The locking body helps to anchor the first side wall portion of the corner element relative to the first side wall element. At the same time, the locking body, after its anchorage, permits a continued adjustment of the corner element by virtue of the fact that its side wall portion can be allowed to be moved inside said cavity. The locking member on the stop portion of the free edge of the first side wall portion can be provided by the web of the locking body.

The stop portion on the free edge of the first side wall portion can comprise at least one spacer, which is arranged to bear against the stop portion of the free edge of the first side wall element. The spacer, which can preferably be integrated with the locking body, forms a stop portion relative to the stop portion of the first side wall element and cooperates with the locking members in order to facilitate an orientation of the side wall portion of the corner element to lie substantially in line, and thus substantially parallel with the plane of extension of the first side wall element.

The free edge of the first side wall element can further comprise a supporting surface which has an extent in the plane of extension of the first side wall element, wherein the locking member on the stop portion of the free edge of the first side wall portion is guidable in the direction away from the supporting surface of the free edge of the first side wall element for locking engagement with the locking member of the stop portion of the free edge of the first side wall element.

The supporting surface helps to give guidance of the first free edge of the first side wall portion in connection with the coupling together of said free edge with the first side wall element.

The system can further comprise a locking wedge, which can be arranged to be inserted in a between the supporting surface of the free edge of the first side element and the locking body. The locking wedge acts to press together the complementary locking members.

The system can further comprise a seal, which is insertable between the free edge of the first side wall portion and the locking body arranged on this free edge. The purpose of the seal is, on the one hand, to take up play and fix the corner element relative to the side wall elements, on the other hand to prevent penetration of dirt and moisture.

The side wall portions of the corner element and the first and second side wall elements, respectively, can comprise portions made of glass or plastic. The free edges on the first and second side wall portions of the corner element can be provided with an extruded edge profile. The extruded edge profile advantageously has an extent along the full length of the side wall portions.

At least one of the side wall portions integral to the corner element can have a width of at least 150 mm, and preferably at least 200 mm.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be more closely described with reference to accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an example of two glazed balconies, arranged one upon the other, comprising a system according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a cross-sectional view of a corner element prior to mounting against a first and second side wall element respectively.

Fig. 3 shows schematically a partial enlargement of the connection region between the corner element and a first side wall element.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a partial enlargement of the connection region between the fully assembled corner element and the first side wall element.

Fig. 5 shows schematically a partial enlargement of the connection region between the corner element and a second side wall element.

Fig. 6 shows schematically a partial enlargement of the connection region between the fully assembled corner element and the second side wall element.

Figs 7a, 7b show an example of components integral to the system for procurement of a transverse cover element.

Description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to fig. 1 , an example is shown of a section comprising two glazed balconies arranged one upon the other and having corner elements 1 according to the present invention. The corner elements 1 are arranged between first and second side wall elements 2, 3. The side wall elements 2, 3 can advantageously comprise load-bearing columns. The corner elements 1 have two side wall portions 4, 5, which preferably have a width of at least 150 mm and, still more preferably, at least 200 mm. This means that an observer of the balcony will perceive a corner without any disturbing corner column. The side wall portions can advantageously support sheets of glass or plastic.

Now with reference to figs 2 and 3, cross-sectional views are shown of a corner element 1 before and during mounting against a first and second side wall element 2, 3 respectively. The corner element 1 comprises a first and a second side wall portion 4, 5 mutually connected at an angle to one another. It will be appreciated that the two side wall portions 4, 5 can be mutually connected in a number of different ways and that the invention shall not in any way be limited to a chosen connecting method. In the illustrated example, the connection is made with the aid of an extruded corner-forming profile 6. This is preferably so narrow that it is perceived as negligible by an observer.

A respective side wall portion 4, 5 has a first and a second free edge 7, 8 respectively. In its simplest embodiment, these free edges 7, 8 can be formed by the edge of a sheet element such as a glass sheet, or, as exemplified below, an extruded profile arranged on and along this edge. By free edge is throughout meant a portion having an enclosure corresponding to up to three mutually adjoining surfaces adjacent to the edge.

The first free edge 7 is intended to be connected to a free edge 9 of the first side wall element 2, and the second free edge 8 is intended to be connected to a free edge 10 of the second side wall element 3. The first and second side wall elements 2, 3 are expediently formed by the walls of the balcony. In conformity with the above, these free edges 9, 10 of the side wall elements 2, 3 are formed by the edge of a sheet element such as a glass sheet, or a load-bearing column. Regardless of type, these are provided along their edges with an extruded profile.

In order to facilitate to the continued description, the corner element 1 will be related to the imaginary plane of extension which is spanned by the first and the second side wall element 2, 3. These planes of extension are illustrated schematically as A, B. The side wall elements 2, 3, as well as the corner element 1 , are described as arranged in their normal use, i.e. arranged vertically.

Now with reference to fig. 3, a partial enlargement is shown of the connection region between the free edge 7 of the first side wall portion 4 of the corner element 1 and the free edge 9 of the first side wall element 2.

The free edge 7 on the first side wall portion 4 of the corner element 1 is formed in the shown embodiment by an extruded edge profile 1 1 , which is arranged to extend along substantially the full length of the first side wall portion 4d and to straddle this. The extruded edge profile 1 1 is held in place with the aid of a seal 12.

The extruded edge profile 1 1 is in turn provided with a locking body 13. The locking body 13 is formed in the shown embodiment by an extruded profile with a cross section having two flanges 15a, 15b projecting from a web 14. The two flanges 15a, 15b are arranged to extend on either side of the extruded edge profile 1 1 and to loosely straddle this. The locking body 13 is arranged to extend along substantially the full length of the first side wall portion 4.

The cross sectional profile of the locking body 13 is oversized relative to the cross-sectional profile of the extruded edge profile 1 1 , which means that the web 14 and flanges 15a, 15b of the locking body 13 delimit a cavity 16 in which the extruded edge profilel 1 is accommodated in such a way that it is allowed to be guided in the direction of or transversely to the web 14, and is also tilted relative to the web. A forgiving design which allows large tolerances is hereby given.

The web 14 of the locking body 13 is provided with a locking member

17. The locking member 17 is arranged as an L-shaped protrusion for formation of a hook.

The web 14 of the locking body 13 is further provided with two spacers 18 intended to cooperate with the first side wall element 2. Both the locking member 17 and the spacers 18 will be discussed more closely in detail below.

In the shown embodiment, the web 14 of the locking body 13 forms with its locking members 17 and spacers 18 a stop portion 19, which is intended to cooperate with an opposite stop portion 20 on the first side wall element 2.

On its end which is intended to be facing toward and engage with the first side wall portion 4 of the corner element 1 , the first side wall element 2 is provided with an edge profile 21 . The edge profile 21 is expediently formed by one or more extruded profiles.

In the shown embodiment, the edge profile 21 comprises, in the corner which is intended to be facing out from the balcony and in the direction of the stop portion 19 on the first side wall portion 4, provided with a recess 22. The recess 22 forms the stop portion 20, which has an extent substantially transversely to the plane of extension A of the first side wall element 2, and a supporting surface 23, which has an extent substantially along the plane of extension A of the first side wall element 2.

The stop portion 20 comprises a locking member 24, which is complementary with the locking member 17 on the web 14 of the locking body 13. The locking member 24 is thus arranged as an L-shaped protrusion for formation of a hook.

Fig. 4 shows the first side wall portion 4 in a position in which it is arranged and locked against the first side wall element 2. In this position, the first side wall portion 4 with its locking body 13 is arranged such that the stop portion 19 of the locking body bears against the stop portion 20 of the first side wall element 2. This is realized by the locking mutual engagement of the two L-shaped locking members 17, 24. The first side wall portion 4 and the first side wall element 2 are hereby prevented from being parted in a direction along the plane of extension A of the side wall element.

In addition, the spacers 18 of the locking body 13 bear against the stop portion 20 of the side wall element 2. This bearing contact helps to orientate the first side wall portion 4 relative to the first side wall element 2 along the plane of extension A.

In order to complete and fix the assembly of the first side wall portion 4 relative to the first side wall element, a locking wedge 25 is arranged in the gap 26 which is formed between one flange 15b of the locking body 13 and the supporting surface 23 of the edge profile 21 of the first side wall element 2. The locking wedge 25 forces the two locking members 17, 24 into locking engagement with one another. The locking effect can be reinforced by the locking wedge 25 being given a somewhat arched and flexing profile. The locking wedge 25 is preferably formed by an extruded profile having an extent corresponding to the full length of the first side wall element 2.

In order to prevent movement between the locking body 13 and the first side wall portion 4, a seal 26 is disposed in the space between the edge profile 1 1 of the first side wall portion 4 and the second flange 15a of the locking body 13. The seal 26 can be provided, for example, by an extruded rubber seal having an extent corresponding to the full length of the first side wall element 2.

Now with reference to fig. 5, a cross section is shown of the connection region between the second free edge 8 of the corner element 1 and the second side wall element 3.

The free edge 8 on the second side wall portion 5 of the corner element 1 comprises in the shown embodiment an extruded edge profile 27, which is arranged to extend along substantially the full length of the second side wall portion 5 and to straddle this. The extruded edge profile 27 is held in place with the aid of a seal 28.

The second side wall element

On its end which is intended to be facing toward and to engage with the second side wall portion 5 of the corner element 1 , the second side wall element 3 is provided with an edge profile 29. The edge profile 29 is expediently formed by an extruded profile, which is arranged to extend substantially along the full length of the second side wall element 3.

In the shown embodiment, the edge profile 29 comprises a

substantially rectangular cross section, which, in its one corner, is provided with a flange 30. The flange 30 has an extent along the plane of extension B of the second side wall element 3. The flange 30 forms a first supporting portion 31 for cooperation with the edge profile 27.

That surface of the edge profile 29 of the second side wall element 3 which is arranged to extend in a direction transversely to the plane of extension B of the second side wall element comprises in the shown embodiment two locking members 40 in the form of L-shaped protrusions, which form hooks.

The second side wall element 3 further comprises a second supporting portion 32. The second supporting portion 32 is arranged to extend in a direction substantially along the plane of extension B of the second side wall element 3. In the shown embodiment, the second supporting portion 32 is provided by a locking body 33 which is releasable and lockable relative to the edge profile 29 of the second side wall element 3.

In the shown embodiment, the locking body 33 is arranged in the form of an extruded profile having a substantially rectangular cross section. The locking body 33 comprises two locking members 34 in the form of L-shaped protrusions, which form hooks. The locking members 34 are complementary with the locking member 40 located on the edge profile 29 of the second side wall element 3.

Now with reference to fig. 6, the side wall portion 5 of the corner element 1 is shown mounted and fixed against the second side wall element 3. The locking body 33 is mounted and locked against the edge profile 29 of the second side wall element 3 by engagement of the locking members 34 with the locking members 40. As a result, first and second mutually spaced supporting portions 30, 32 are formed. These have an extent along the plane of extension B of the second side wall element 3. The supporting portions 30, 32, together with the edge profile 29 of the second side wall element 3, together delimit an oversized cavity 35 for receiving the free edge 8 on the second side wall portion 5 of the corner element 1 . This means that the free edge 8 is allowed to be tilted and displaced along and transversely to the plane of extension B of the second side wall element 3 in order to hereby be able to allow for the usually large tolerances which are found in new

constructions.

Seals 37 are arranged in the gaps 36 which are formed between the two supporting portions 30, 32 and the edge profile 27 of the second side wall portion 5.

With reference to figs 4 and 6, the seals 26, 37, and the locking wedge 25, are expediently mounted last of all, after the corner element has been positioned in place relative to the side wall elements 2, 3 and has been aligned such that the side wall portions 4, 5 of the corner element are substantially parallel with the plane of extension A, B of the side wall elements 2, 3. This adjustment is facilitated by the oversized cavities 16, 35 which are delimited between the edge profiles 1 1 , 27 of the two side wall portions 4, 5 of the corner element and the edge profiles 21 , 29 on the two side wall elements 2, 3.

The oversized cavities 16, 35 allow displacement and adjustment of the side wall portions 4, 5 of the corner element 1 in many directions and at least along and transversely to the plane of extension A, B of the side wall elements.

The system according to the invention can further comprise a corner- forming cover plate 50, see fig. 1 , which is intended to be arranged along two mutually opposing end portions 51 of the short sides of the corner element 1 . The cover plate 50 is intended to be fitted after the corner elements 1 have been mounted in place.

With reference to figs 7a and 7b, a cross section taken vertically transversely to the cover plate 50 in the connection to the short end 51 of a corner element 1 is shown. The connection has the same design in both the top edge and the bottom edge of the cover plate 50.

The short end 51 of the corner element comprises along the relevant section an edge profile 52 having two flanges 53a, 53b extending along the plane of extension C of the corner element. The two flanges 53a, 53b are arranged at a distance apart and delimit between them a cavity 54.

The cavity 54 accommodates a locking member 55 in the form of an extruded profile, which forms a first and a second flange 56a, 56b mutually connected by a web 57. The web 57 forms a depression 58, which rests on a hook-shaped portion 60 on the lower flange 53a. The locking member 55 can hence be rocked between the two positions shown in fig. 7a and 7b respectively, by rotation about the hook-shaped portion 60.

In fig. 7a, the locking member 55 is rocked into a position in which the cover plate 50 has been permitted to be inserted between the locking member 55 and the second flange 53b. In fig. 7b, a seal 59 has been inserted between the cover plate 50 and the second flange 56b of the locking member 55, whereby the locking member 55 is rocked about the hook-shaped portion 60 on the lower flange 53a of the edge profile. The cover plate 50 is now firmly anchored in the cavity 54 and has an extent which coincides with the plane of extension C of the corner element.

The description above is based on the fact that all edge profiles and seals are formed by extruded profiles having a length which substantially corresponds to the full length of the side wall portions and of the side wall elements respectively. It will be appreciated, however, that the system according to the invention can also be applied where all or certain of the profiles are divided into smaller parts.

It will be appreciated that the number of spacers and their configuration can be altered within the scope of the invention. The spacers can be provided, with maintained function, by the stop portion of the first side wall element, instead of by the stop portion of the locking body.

In the description above, the locking body 33 of the second side wall element 3 forms a detachable supporting portion 32 to enable insertion and locking of the second free edge of the corner element between the first and second supporting portions 31 , 32. It will be appreciated that this can also be arranged differently, for example by arrangement of the opposite flange 30 as a detachable supporting surface.

In the above description, the corner element has been described as a right-angled corner. It will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to other geometries, such as radial or prismatically shaped geometries.