Coating cover profile for an insulation strip of a composite profile for window, door, or facade elements

Abstract

 A cover profile (10) for covering an insulating strip (12) of a composite profile (100) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z) is adapted to be attachable to the insulating strip before and removable from the insulating strip after coating of the composite profile and to withstand coating temperatures in a range from 120°C to 230°C. The cover profile comprises in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal section (z) a base portion (16), a first cover portion (18) and a second cover portion (20) extending from the base portion to form the cover profile, the first cover portion having a first free end (18e) and the second cover portion having a second free end (20e) having a first distance in a neutral position and being resiliently displaceable in a transverse direction (y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z) to clamp the insulating strip.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover profile for covering insulating strips in composite profiles for window, door, or facade elements during coating of the composite profiles.

[0002] Thermally separated composite profiles for window, door or facade elements usually comprise one or more metal profiles to which insulating strips of thermally insulating materials such as PA6 or PA66 or the like are connected. Such composite profiles are often coated, for example, by applying powder coating. For several reasons, the coating is usually applied with the insulating strips already connected to the metal profile members. This is done in order to avoid possible damage to the coating during assembly, e.g., during rolling-in of the insulating strips. Further, it may also be done to avoid a decrease of the thermal insulation provided by the composite profile due to coated inner surfaces of the profile members. In addition, needed shear strength values can be obtained in this manner. Economic considerations may also play a role, for example, the need to apply coating to double the number of pieces when the metal profile members are coated separately, or the effect on the workflow in the companies manufacturing the composite profiles. The profiles are usually handled in pieces of a length between, for example, 3 to 6 meters.

[0003] The insulating strips connecting the profile members are often formed of plastics such as PA66GF25 (PA66 with 25% glass fibre reinforcement) or similar materials. Due to several properties of polyamide and similar materials, it is difficult to achieve a smooth coating on the surface of the insulating strips.

[0004] Accordingly, manufacturers have tried to remove the coating from the insulating strips or prevent the coating from being applied to the same.

[0005] Different methods have been used for removing the coating from the insulating strips. In one method, the insulating strips are covered with a film or tape which is adhered to the insulating strips. In another method, a liquid film is applied to the insulating strips before coating. These films are expensive and difficult to handle.

[0006] DE 10 2008 012 244 Al discloses a cover formed onto one side of an insulating strip. This cover is formed onto the insulating strip with a rated break point and can be removed from the insulating strip after coating by breaking off the cover at the rated break point.

[0007] WO 2008/119535 Al discloses a permanent cover that is attached to a ladder-shaped insulating strip via special clipping means for permanently covering the holes in the insulating strip.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cover and method for improving the coating of composite profiles for window, door, or facade elements that are easier to handle and more economic.

[0009] This object is achieved by a cover profile according to claim 1, a composite profile according to claim 7 or 8, and a method according to claim 11.

[0010] Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0011] An elastic cover profile that can be clipped onto the insulating strip allows an easy to handle and economic prevention of coating of an insulating strip of a composite profile. Due to its elasticity, such a cover can be easily clipped onto the insulating strip before coating and also can be easily removed after coating. Accordingly, the cover is reusable and may be used during plural coating processes of plural composite profiles.

[0012] The removal of the cover profile can be performed, for example, by pulling away one end of the cover profile covering the insulating profile of a coated composite profile. Furthermore, as the elastic cover profile may only require two or more clamping surfaces or contact portions defined on the insulating strip, the insulating strip itself may have an arbitrary geometry in the portion covered by the cover profile. Such a cover profile can also be used for composite profiles with a single metal profile member such as a single aluminium shell as used in block windows/hidden sash-type windows.

[0013] Further features and advantages embodiments are given in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures, where

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a cover profile attached to an insulating strip connected to a single metal profile member according to one embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a cover profile attached to an insulating strip connecting two metal profile members according to another embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the cover profile and insulating strip shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a cover profile attached to an insulating strip according to another embodiment;

Figs. 5A and 5B are cross-sections showing further embodiments of a cover profile attached to a corresponding insulating strip; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section showing a cover profile attached to an insulating strip according to another embodiment.

[0014] In the following, different embodiments are described with reference to the figures. In the figures, like features are provided with like reference numbers.

[0015] The composite profile 100 shown in Fig. 1 extends in a longitudinal direction z and corresponds to a profile which may be used for block windows or hidden sash-type windows. Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of the composite profile 100, wherein a cover profile 10 is attached to an insulating strip 12 connected to a metal profile member 14 by rolling-in in a known manner. The metal profile member 14 may be an aluminium profile of the composite profile 100 for use in window, door, or facade elements. The metal profile member 14 has a rolling-in groove 14g and a rolling-in hammer 14h for connecting the insulating strip 12 to the metal profile member 14 by rolling-in. The metal profile member 14 has various surfaces to which a powder coating is to be applied. Such coating may be applied in a known manner at temperatures in the range from, for example, 150°C to 230°C, and will not be described in detail. In other examples, the coating temperature may be, for example, in the range from 175°C to 225°, in particular, 180°C, 185°C, 190°C, 195°C, 200°C, 205°C, 210°C, 215°C, or 220°C. Each of these individual temperature values may be either an upper or a lower limit of a corresponding temperature range for the coating.

[0016] The insulating strip 12 extends in the longitudinal direction z and may have an arbitrary geometry in the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. In the shown embodiment, it is a single-sided connected strip with functional elements such as a glazing bead groove 12g with a hook-shaped edge 12a, a guide channel 12r and protrusions 12p and 12t and a swallow tail-shaped edge 12s formed on the insulating strip 12 as a rolling-in projection 12s to be inserted in the groove 14g of the metal profile member 14. The insulating strip 12 has a first longitudinal edge formed by the projection 12s and a second longitudinal edge formed by the edge 12a separated by a distance in a first transverse direction x perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The insulating strip 12 is connected to the metal profile member 14 by pressing the rolling-in hammer 14h of the metal profile member 14 against the projection 12s to fit the same by rolling-in. The insulating strip 12 protrudes from the metal profile member 14.

[0017] The composite profile 100 including the metal profile member 14 and the insulating strip 12 connected to the same generally have a length in the longitudinal direction z of several meters (usually 6m) before being cut to appropriate lengths during manufacturing and assembly of window, door, or facade elements. The coating of the metal profile member 14 is performed with the insulating strip 12. The cover profile 10 is attached to the insulating strip 12 before coating to prevent coating of the insulating strip or at least of the portion of the same that can be seen.

[0018] The cover profile 10 comprises a base portion 16 and two cover portions 18, 20 extending from the base portion 16. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the cover profile 10 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section in the cross-section (plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The cover portions 18, 20 form the legs of the U-shape and have clipping arms 18a, 20a that have free ends 18e, 20e and are resiliently connected to the base portion 16 via intermediate portions 18b and 20b. The cover profile 10 is formed of a resilient material such as, for example, a polymer which may be glass reinforced. Preferably, the cover profile 10 is made of PA6 or PA66 or a compound containing the same. The cover profile may comprise 15% to 50% glass fibres, preferably 25% glass fibres. The material of the cover profile 10 is adapted to withstand the temperatures during powder coating of the composite profile 100. Such coating temperatures typically are in the range from 120°C to 250°C.

[0019] The U-shape of the cover profile 10, in combination with the resilient material forming the cover profile, allows for an elastic movement of the cover portions 18, 20 relative to the base portion 16 of the cover profile 10. In other words, in a state in which the cover profile 10 is not attached to the insulating strip 12 (neutral state), the cover profile 10 has a shape with the free ends 18e, 20e of the cover portions 18, 20 separated by a first distance. This first distance is set such that it is smaller than the distance in the attached state of the cover profile shown in Fig. 1.

[0020] The cover profile 10 is attached to the insulating strip 12 by clipping-on in the following manner. The cover portions 18, 20 are displaced outwards and away from each other with respect to their neutral position such that a restoring force acts on the portions of the insulating strip 12 that are in contact with the legs 18, 20. Accordingly, the cover profile 10 is clamped onto the insulating strip 12 and does not come off unless a force which exceeds the forces applied to the insulating strip 12 by the cover portions 18, 20 is used to remove the cover profile 10.

[0021] While the above-described clamping mechanism may be sufficient to attach the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12, to allow for an ever more secure attachment of the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12, engagement portions 22a, 22b are provided on the cover profile 10 for engaging with the functional elements such as a groove 12b between the protrusion 12p and the body of the insulating strip 12 or the hook-shaped edge (nose) 12a forming the second edge of the insulating strip 12. The engagement portions 22a, 22b are resilient hooks. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the hook 22b is formed near the free end 18e of the cover portion 18, and the hook 22a is formed on the intermediate portion 20b. In this manner, the attachment of the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12 is more reliable, and a shifting or coming-off of the cover profile 10 during coating can be prevented even more reliably.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the cover profile 10 may be formed such that it only covers those parts of the insulating profile that are visible after assembly of the profile. In other words, the side wall 12c of the insulating strip 12 opposite to the protrusion 12e is only partially covered by the cover portion 20, to an extent that allows the clamping of the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12 in the above-described manner. As this portion of the surface 12c is not visible after assembly, it is not necessary to completely cover the same during coating.

[0023] After coating, the cover profile 10 can be easily removed by pulling away the cover portion 20 at one end of the composite profile until the hook 22a is disengaged and lifting off the cover profile 10. This may be done manually or with the use of appropriate tools. The cover profile 10 is configured such that, on the one hand, it allows for a secure clamping of the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12 and, on the other hand, it allows for an easy removal of the cover profile 10 after coating without using excessive force such that the cover profile 10 or the insulating strip 12 may be damaged.

[0024] The design of the cover profile 10 is formed to correspond to that of the insulating strip 12, enabling the clipping of the cover profile 10 to the insulating strip 12 without modifying the strip design. In attaching the cover profile 10 to the strip, the suitable functional elements of the strip, such as gasket support, an operating rod groove, a screw channel, a glazing bead groove, or a gasket groove, may be used.

[0025] In the above-described embodiment, the cover profile 10 has been used to cover an insulating strip 12 attached to a single metal profile member 14 and protruding from the same. However, as will be described below, it is also possible to use such a clip-on cover profile on an insulating strip connecting two metal profile members.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a composite profile 200 extending in the longitudinal direction z comprising a first metal profile member 214 and a second metal profile member 215. The metal profile members 214, 215 are connected via two insulating strips, a first insulating strip 212 and a second insulating strip 213, by rolling-in in a known manner. The second insulating strip 213 and its cover 210 are identical to the first insulating strip 212 and its cover 210, which will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3.

[0027] The first insulating strip 212 has two gasket supports 212g, 212h formed on a side 212d of a body 212c of the first insulating strip 212. On the opposite ends of the body 212c in a first transverse direction x, swallow tail-shaped edges 212s for a rolling-in connection to the metal profiles 214, 215 are provided. The gasket supports 212h and 212g comprise one groove 212a, 212b each on their sides facing away from the respective other one of the gasket supports.

[0028] The cover profile 210 has a U-shaped cross-section in the cross-section (plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The cover profile 210 comprises a base portion 216 from which resilient cover portions formed as clipping arms 218, 220 with free ends 218e, 220e extend. Engagement portions 222a, 222b in the form of protrusions 222a, 222b are formed on the cover portions 218, 220. The cover profile 210 may be made of the same materials as discussed above with respect to the cover profile 10 of Fig. 1.

[0029] The cover profile 210 is clipped onto the insulating strip 212 by moving apart the cover portions 218, 220 and bringing the engagement portions 222a, 222b into engagement with the grooves 212a, 212b formed in the gasket supports 212g, 212h such that the free ends 218e, 220e are bent slightly outwards and rest on the insulating strip 12. Due to the resilient displacement of the cover portions 218, 220 relative to the base portion 216, the same are pressed against the gasket supports 212h, 212g protruding from the insulating strip 212 and serve to clamp the cover profile 210 to the insulating strip 212. In this manner, the same effects as described above in connection with the first embodiment can be obtained. The cover profile 210 fully covers the side 212d of the insulating strip 12. After coating, the cover profile 210 may be removed from the insulating strip 212 by pulling off.

[0030] Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a cover profile 210 attached to another embodiment of an insulating strip 212 for use in a composite profile such as the one shown in Fig. 2. The embodiments shown in Fig. 4 are similar to the embodiments shown in Fig. 3, such that only their differences will be described.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a closed chamber 213 is formed on the side 212d of the insulating strip 212. The closed chamber 213 has opposing side walls 213a, 213b extending from the body 212c. Grooves 212a, 212b are formed in the outer surface of each of the side walls 213a, 213b of the closed chamber 213.

[0032] The cover profile 210 is similar to the cover profile 210 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, except that the engagement portions 222a, 222b are formed as hooks 222a, 222b on the free ends 218e, 220e of the cover portions 218, 220. The cover profile 210 is attached to the insulating strip 212 in a manner similar to the manner described above with respect to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, with the hooks 222a, 222b being brought into engagement with the grooves 212a, 212b and pressed against the side walls 213a, 213b of the closed chamber 213, thereby clamping the cover profile 210 to the insulating strip 212. In this manner, the same effects as described above in connection with the other embodiments can be obtained.

[0033] Figs. 5A and 5B show two further embodiments of cover profiles 210, respectively, attached to two further embodiments of insulating strips 212.

[0034] In the embodiments shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, protruding fins 213 are formed on the side 212d of the insulating strip 212. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5A, protrusions 213a, 213b are formed on the opposing side walls of the fin 213. The protrusions 213a, 213b are formed near the side 212d of the insulating strip 212 to form grooves 212a, 212b. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5B, in addition to the fin 213, gasket supports 212g, 212h similar to those shown in Fig. 3 are formed on the side 212d of the insulating strip 212.

[0035] The cover profile shown in Fig. 5A has an open Delta-shaped cross-section in the cross-section (plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The cover portions 218, 220 form the sides of the Delta-shape. Extended engagement portions 222a, 222b are formed on the free ends 218e, 220e and extend to the center of the Delta-shape such that they are separated by a small distance, forming the base of the open Delta-shape. The cover profile 210 is attached to the insulating strip 212 in a manner similar to the manner described above with respect to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, with the extended engagement portions 222a, 222b being brought into engagement with the grooves 212a, 212b formed on the fin 213.

[0036] The cover profile shown in Fig. 5B has a V-shaped cross-section in the cross-section (plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The cover portions 218, 220 form the legs of the V-shape. Hooks 222a, 222b are formed on the free ends 218e, 220e of the cover portions 218, 220, similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. The cover profile 210 is attached to the insulating strip 212 by bringing the hooks 222a, 222b into engagement with the grooves 212a, 212b formed in the gasket supports 212g, 212h.

[0037] In the embodiments shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the cover profiles 210 substantially cover the sides 212d of the insulating strips 212, and the same effects as described above with respect to the other embodiments can be obtained.

[0038] Fig. 6 shows another embodiment that is a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5A.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the protrusions of the fin 213 are omitted, and small grooves 212a, 212b are formed in the side walls 213a, 213b of the fin 213. The cover profile 210 has an open T-shaped cross-section in the cross-section (plane) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction z. The base portion 216 and the cover portions 218, 220 form the open base of the open T-shape. Small projections 222a, 222b are formed on the inner sides of the cover portions 218, 220 facing each other. Extended cover portions 218x, 220x extend outwards from the free ends 218e, 220e of the cover portions 218, 220. The cover profile 210 is attached to the insulating strip 212 by being clamped onto the fin 213 extending from the insulating strip 212. In the clamped-on state, the extended cover portions 218x, 220x cover the side 212d of the insulating strip 212. In this manner, the same effects as described above with respect to the other embodiments can be obtained.

[0040] While the embodiments described above comprise engagement portions formed on the respective cover profiles, in principal, such engagement portions may be omitted, as the clamping effect of the cover profile on the insulating strip can be obtained by the resilient displacement of the corresponding legs and the resulting restoring forces. However, in general, a more reliable clamping of the cover profile to the insulating strip can be achieved when at least one such engagement portion is present, in particular, when the cover profile is attached to a side surface of an insulating strip as shown in Figures 2 to 6.

[0041] In addition, the cover profiles may be secured to the insulating strip by providing a screw or a bolt through the cover profile and the insulating strip, or by providing two screws or bolts close to the ends of the composite profile. Further, the cover profile may additionally be secured to the insulating strip with an adhesive film or glue provided between the same.

[0042] As used herein, the term "base portion" refers, e.g., to the portion of the cover profile connecting the cover portions engaging with the insulating strip. The term "base portion" also covers a boundary (section) in which the cover portions are directly connected to each other.

[0043] It is explicitly stated that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention independent of the composition of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, in particular as limits of value ranges.

Claims

1. A cover profile (10; 210) for covering an insulating strip (12; 212) of a composite profile (100; 200) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z), the cover profile being adapted to be attachable to the insulating strip before and removable from the insulating strip after coating of the composite profile and to withstand coating temperatures in a range from 150°C to 230°C, comprising in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal section (z)
a base portion (16; 216),
a first cover portion (18; 218) and a second cover portion (20; 220) extending from the base portion to form the cover profile, the first cover portion having a first free end (18e; 218e) and the second cover portion having a second free end (20e; 220e) having a first distance in a neutral position and being resiliently displaceable in a transverse direction (y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z) to clamp the insulating strip.

2. The cover profile according to claim 1, further comprising at least one engagement portion (22a, 22b; 222a, 222b) adapted to engage with at least one functional element (12a, 12p; 212g, 212h; 213) formed on the insulating strip (12; 212).

3. The cover profile according to claim 2, wherein the at least one engagement portion is a resilient latching element (22a, 22b; 222a, 222b) formed on the base portion (16; 216) or on the first cover portion (18; 218) or the second cover portion (20; 220) and to correspond to the functional element (12a, 12p; 212g, 212h; 213) to be adapted to engage with the same.

4. The cover profile according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first hook (22a, 22b; 222a, 222b) formed on the first free end (18e; 218e) or the second free end (20e; 220e) and adapted to engage with a corresponding groove (12b; 212a, 212b) formed in the insulating strip (12; 212).

5. The cover profile according to claim 4, further comprising a second hook (222a, 222b) formed on the other one of the first free end (218e) and the second free end (220e) and adapted to engage with a corresponding groove (212a, 212b) formed in the insulating strip (212).

6. The cover profile according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover profile (10; 210), in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal section (z), has a U-shape or a V-shape or a an open T-shape or an open Delta-shape.

7. A composite profile (100) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z), comprising
a metal profile member (14), and
an insulating strip (12) having a first longitudinal edge (12s) and a second longitudinal edge (12a) separated by a distance in a first transverse direction (x) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z), the first longitudinal edge (12s) being fixedly connected to the metal profile member (14) and the second longitudinal edge (12a) being free,
further comprising
a cover profile (10) having a base portion (16), a first cover portion (18) and a second cover portion (20) extending from the base portion to form the cover profile, the first cover portion having a first free end (18e) and the second cover portion having a second free end (20e) having a first distance in a neutral position, wherein
the cover profile (10) is detachably attached to the insulating strip (12) such that the first free end (18e) and the second free end (20e) are resiliently displaced in a second transverse direction (y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z) to clamp the insulating strip and covers at least the second longitudinal edge (12a) and one side (12c) of the insulating strip (12) extending between the second longitudinal edge (12a) and the first longitudinal edge (12s).

8. A composite profile (200) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z), comprising
a first metal profile member (214);
a second metal profile member (215); and
an insulating strip (212) having a first longitudinal edge (212s) and a second longitudinal edge (212s) separated by a distance in a first transverse direction (x) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z), the first longitudinal edge (212s) being fixedly connected to the first metal profile member (214) and the second longitudinal edge (212s) being fixedly connected to the second metal profile member (215),
further comprising
a cover profile (210) having a base portion (216), a first cover portion (218) and a second cover portion (220) extending from the base portion to form the cover profile, the first cover portion having a first free end (218e) and the second cover portion having a second free end (220e) having a first distance in a neutral position, wherein
the cover profile (210) is detachably attached to the insulating strip (212) such that the first free end (218e) and the second free end (220e) are resiliently displaced in the first transverse direction (x) to clamp the insulating strip and covers at least a part of the surface (212d) of the insulating strip (212) extending between the first edge (212s) and the second edge (212s).

9. The composite profile according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the insulating strip (12; 212) comprises at least one functional element (12a, 12p; 212g, 212h; 213) formed on the insulating strip (12; 212), and the cover profile (210) comprises at least one engagement portion (22a, 22b; 222a, 222b) engaged with the at least one functional element formed on the insulating strip.

10. The composite profile according to claim 9, wherein the at least one functional element (12a, 12p; 212g, 212h; 213) is at least one of a gasket support, an operating rod groove, a screw channel, a glazing bead groove, and a gasket groove.

11. A method for covering an insulating strip (12; 212) of composite profiles (100; 200) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z) during coating of the composite profiles, comprising the steps of:

a) clamping a resilient cover profile (10; 210) onto the insulating strip (12; 212) of a first composite profile to at least partially cover a surface of the insulating strip, the cover profile being adapted to withstand coating temperatures in the range from 120°C to 250°C;

b) coating the composite profile (100; 200); and

c) removing the cover profile (10; 210) after the coating.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including repeating the steps a) to c) with a further composite profile (100; 200) instead of the first composite profile while reusing the cover profile (10; 210).

13. Use of a cover profile according to any one of claims 1 to 6 to cover an insulating strip (12; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612) of a composite profile (100; 200) for window, door, or facade elements extending in a longitudinal direction (z) during coating of the composite profile.

Drawing