Door assembly and method for covering the edge of a door opening

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door assembly comprising guide rails which can be mounted on both sides of a door opening, and a door which can be moved in vertical direction within the area of the door opening and which is provided at its vertical edges with guide members which cooperate with said guide rails, wherein the guide members are attached to the door near the edge thereof by means of fixing elements which extend between the guide rail and the door, and wherein a cover is provided, which cover is mounted along the guide rail and which extends to within the door opening and over said fixing elements in the closed position of the door.

[0002] Such a door assembly is disclosed in FR-A-2 746 841. The cover is mounted on the outer side of the door for protecting the guide members and the fixing elements against environmental dirt.

[0003] The door may comprise a number of panels, extending in horizontal direction, the panels being pivotally interconnected. Within the area of the door opening the panels can move in vertical direction and outside that area the panels may move in an other direction, for example in horizontal direction.

[0004] Doors of this kind can be used for closing larger openings, in particular openings through which vehicles are driven. The guide rail is usually mounted along the vertical edge of the door opening, on the wall in which the opening is present.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to improve the safety of the above described door.

[0006] According to the invention, in the closed position of the door two covers are present, one at each side of the door. Therewith the fixing elements that are moving in the rails are covered at the inner side as well as at the outer side of the door, such that people are prevented from being injured, in particular their fingers.

[0007] EP-A-0 157 198 describes a roller door of the type comprising a relatively thin flexible door leaf, which leaf extends to guide members within the rails. This type of door is inherently safe in this respect, because it is not provided with moving fixing elements extending between the rails and the door. The door assembly described in this document comprises a guiding frame having brushes at both sides of the door for protecting the guide members against environmental dirt.

[0008] Preferably the cover consists at least partially of a flexible material, so that at least part of the cover can yield under elastic deformation of at least a portion of the cover.

[0009] In the closed position of the door, the cover can extend to quite near the door surface with its edge, so that an adequate sealing of the door can be achieved. Therewith avoiding that for example a hand or fingers of a person can contact the guiding parts of the door assembly.

[0010] Preferably, the cover comprises a flexible central portion, seen in cross-sectional view, which is positioned between two parts which are less flexible or inflexible. The cover may be attached by a less flexible or inflexible part, whilst the other less flexible or inflexible part extends to within the door opening. When the part that extends to within the door opening is hit by a vehicle, for example, it will yield, so that it will not be damaged. Thereafter the cover part will return to its original position.

[0011] Preferably, the cover is capable of yielding to the extent that the yielding part of the cover is positioned practically entirely outside the door opening. As a result of this, the door opening will not be reduced in spite of the fact that the cover extends to within the door opening. The entire door opening will remain available, therefore.

[0012] Preferably, the cover is attached to the guide rail. In a preferred embodiment, the cover comprises clamping means by which the cover can be clampingly attached to the guide rail. In a preferred embodiment the clampingly attached cover can easily be attached and detached without using special tools. Thus it is readily possible to detach the cover temporarily, for example in order to provide access to the guide rail or to replace the cover.

[0013] Preferably, the cover is capable of yielding in two directions, for example when the cover is hit by vehicles which drive through the door opening in two directions.

[0014] Preferably, the guide rail is mounted, at least substantially, at the inner side of the wall in which the door opening is formed, and in the closed position of the door the cover is present on the side of the door remote from the wall. The cover can thereby extend to near the door surface with its edge, thus providing an adequate sealing of the door.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment the cover extends beyond said fixing elements in the closed position of the door. The cover may comprise a portion which contacts said fixing elements. By resting against the fixing elements the cover is supported at only some locations by the door. The cover can be held in a predetermined position by such support.

[0016] The invention furthermore relates to a cover which can be provided along guide rails which are mounted on both sides side of a door opening, which cover extends to within said door opening.

[0017] The invention furthermore relates to a method of covering an edge of a door opening, wherein a cover is attached to the guide rail which is mounted along the aforesaid edge for guiding the door, which cover extends to within the door opening.

[0018] In order to explain the invention more fully, an exemplary embodiment of a door assembly will be described in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawing.

Figure 1 shows a door assembly mounted in a wall;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is the same sectional view, with the door in the open position.

[0019] The figures are merely schematic representations of the embodiment.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a wall 1 in which a door opening 2 is present. The edge of the door opening 2 is made up of a hollow metal section 3 of square cross-section, which is attached to wall 1 by means not shown.

[0021] The door opening 2 can be closed by a door 4, which consists of a number of pivotally interconnected panels 5 which extend in horizontal direction.

[0022] Mounted on the end of each panel 5 are guide members in the form of a guide wheel 6, which can be moved in a guide rail 7. Guide rail 7 extends vertically along the edge of door opening 2 and bears off towards a horizontal direction perpendicularly to wall 1 near the upper side of door opening 2, so that the panels 5 will first move in upward direction and then in horizontal direction upon opening of the door, as is illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 1.

[0023] Each guide wheel 6 is rotatably mounted on one of the panels 5 of door 4 by means of fixing elements 14.

[0024] As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the vertical part of the guide rail 7 includes a guide portion 8, in which the guide wheel 6 can move, and an attachment portion 9, which can be attached to wall 1 near the edge of the door opening 2. In the illustrated embodiment the attachment portion 9 of guide rail 7 is attached to the metal section 3 that forms the edge of door opening 2 by means of bolts.

[0025] As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, a cover 10 is attached to guide portion 8 of guide rail 7. Cover 10 is shown in cross-sectional view and is made of an extruded polymeric material, with less flexible parts 11, 12 on either side, seen in vertical longitudinal direction, and a more flexible central portion 13 positioned therebetween.

[0026] The less flexible part 12 of cover 10 is clampingly attached to guide rail 7, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Said part 12 is to that end provided with two clamping members 15, 16, which clampingly engage the guide rail 7.

[0027] As is shown in Figure 2, cover 10 extends from guide 7 to beyond the fixing elements 14 by means of which the guide wheel 6 is mounted on panel 5 of door 4. The edge 17 of the less flexible part 11 of cover 10 extends to near the surface 18 of door 4. The less flexible part 11 is furthermore provided with a portion 23 which contacts fixing elements 14. By resting against fixing elements 14 part 11 of the cover is kept in a predetermined position whereby the edge 17 is located at a desired small distance from the surface 18 of the door 4.

[0028] Since the central portion 13 is more flexible, the part 11 of cover 10 is capable of pivoting movement, for example to a position 19 or 20 as illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 3. Said pivoting movement is indicated by arrows 21,22.

[0029] When the door 4 is open, the part 11 of cover 10 extends to within the door opening 2 and would thus reduce the opening if part 11 if it were not for the fact that part 11 can pivot, and that to such an extent that part 11 can be positioned outside the door opening 2, that is, beyond the position which is indicated in Figure 3.

[0030] Figure 2 shows a second cover 25 made of flexible material. Cover 25 is clampingly attached to portion 24 of guide 7. Flexible cover 25 rests against the outer surface of door 4. So, figure 2 shows two covers 10,25, one at each side of the door 4.

[0031] The illustrated embodiment is merely an example, also many other embodiments of the door assembly are possible.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising guide rails (7) which can be mounted on both sides of a door opening (2), and a door (4) which can be moved in vertical direction and which is provided at its vertical edges with guide members (6) which cooperate with said guide rails (7), wherein the guide members (6) are attached to the door (4) near the edge thereof by means of fixing elements (14) which extend between the guide rail (7) and the door (4), and wherein a cover (10;24,25) is provided, which cover (10;24,25) is mounted along the guide rail (7) and which extends to within the door opening (2) and over said fixing elements (14) in the closed position of the door (4), characterized in that in the closed position of the door (4) two covers (10;24,25) are present, one at each side of the door (4).

2. A door assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (10;24,25) consists at least partially of a flexible material, so that at least part (11;25) of the cover (10;24,25) can yield under elastic deformation of at least a portion (13) of the cover (10;24,25).

3. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10) comprises a flexible central portion (13), seen in cross-sectional view.

4. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10;24,25) is capable of yielding to the extent that the respective part (11) of the cover (10;24,25) is positioned practically entirely outside the door opening (2).

5. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10;24,25) comprises clamping means (15, 16) by which the cover (10;24,25) can be clampingly attached to the guide rail (7).

6. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10;24,25) is capable of yielding in two directions.

7. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (7) is mounted on the inner side of the wall (1) in which the door opening (2) is formed, and in the closed position of the door (4) the cover (10) is present on the side of the door (4) remote from the wall (1).

8. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10) extends beyond said fixing elements (14) in the closed position of the door (4).

9. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10) comprises a portion (23) which contacts said fixing elements (14).

10. A method of covering an edge (3) of a door opening (2) to which guide rails (7) are mounted on both sides along the edge thereof for guiding a door (4), which door is provided at its vertical edges with guide members (6) that cooperate with said guide rails (7), wherein the guide members (6) are attached to the door (4) near the edge thereof by means of fixing elements (14) which extend between the guide rail (7) and the door (4), and wherein a cover (10;25) is attached to the guide rail (7), which cover (10;25) extends to within the door opening (2) and over said fixing elements (14) in the closed position of the door (4), characterized in that two covers (10;25) are attached to the guide rail (7), one at each side of the door (4).

Ansprüche

1. Türanordnung, umfassend Führungsschienen (7), die auf beiden Seiten einer Türöffnung (2) montierbar sind, und eine Tür (4), die in vertikaler Richtung bewegbar ist und an ihren vertikalen Kanten mit Führungselementen (6) versehen ist, die mit genannten Führungsschienen (7) zusammenwirken, worin die Führungselemente (6) an der Tür (4) in der Nähe von deren Kante mittels Befestigungselementen (14) angebracht sind, die sich zwischen der Führungsschiene (7) und der Tür (4) erstrecken, und worin eine Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) vorgesehen ist, wobei die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) entlang der Führungsschiene (7) montiert ist und sich in der Türöffnung (2) und über genannten Befestigungselementen (14) in der geschlossenen Position der Tür (4) erstreckt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß in der geschlossenen Position der Tür (4) zwei Abdeckungen (10; 24, 25), eine auf jeder Seite der Tür (4) vorhanden sind.

2. Türanordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) zumindest teilweise aus einem flexiblen Material besteht, so daß zumindest ein Teil (11; 25) der Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) bei elastischer Verformung von zumindest einem Abschnitt (13) der Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) nachgeben kann.

3. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10) einen flexiblen zentralen Abschnitt (13), in Querschnittsansicht, umfaßt.

4. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) in einem Maß nachgeben kann, daß der jeweilige Teil (11) der Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) praktisch vollständig außerhalb der Türöffnung (2) positioniert ist.

5. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) Klemmmittel (15, 16) umfaßt, mittels derer die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) an der Führungsschiene (7) klemmend angebracht werden kann.

6. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10; 24, 25) in zwei Richtungen nachgeben kann.

7. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Führungsschiene (7) an der Innenseite der Wand (1) montiert ist, in der die Türöffnung (2) ausgebildet ist, und in der geschlossenen Position der Tür (4) die Abdeckung (10) auf der Seite der Tür (4) fern von der Wand (1) vorhanden ist.

8. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich die Abdeckung (10) über genannten Befestigungselementen (14) in der geschlossenen Position der Tür (4) erstreckt.

9. Türanordnung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckung (10) einen Abschnitt (23) umfaßt, der die Befestigungselemente (14) berührt.

10. Verfahren zum Abdecken einer Kante (3) einer Türöffnung (2), an der Führungsschienen (7) auf beiden Seiten entlang von deren Kante zur Führung einer Tür (4) montiert sind, wobei die Tür an ihren vertikalen Kanten mit Führungselementen (6) versehen ist, die mit den Führungsschienen (7) zusammenwirken, worin die Füluungselemente (6) an der Tür (4) in der Nähe von deren Kante mittels Befestigungselemente (14) angebracht werden, die sich zwischen der Führungsschiene (7) und der Tür (4) erstrecken, und worin eine Abdeckung (10; 25) an Führungsschiene (7) angebracht wird, wobei sich die Abdeckung (10; 25) zum Inneren der Türöffnung (2) und über den Befestigungselementen (14) in der geschlossenen Position der Tür (4) erstreckt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwei Abdeckungen (10; 25) an der Führungsschiene (7), eine auf jeder Seite der Tür (4), angebracht werden.

Revendications

1. Ensemble à porte comprenant des rails de guidage (7) qui peuvent être montés des deux côtés d'une ouverture (2) de porte, et une porte (4) qui peut être déplacée en direction verticale et qui est munie, à ses bords verticaux, d'organes de guidage (6) qui coopèrent avec les rails de guidage (7), dans lequel les organes de guidage (6) sont fixés à la porte (4) près de son bord par des éléments de fixation (14) qui s'étendent entre le rail de guidage (7) et la porte (4), et dans lequel un couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) est incorporé, ce couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) étant monté le long du rail de guidage (7) et s'étendant vers l'intérieur de l'ouverture (2) de porte et au-dessus des éléments de fixation (14) dans la position de fermeture de la porte (4), caractérisé en ce que, dans la position de fermeture de la porte (4), deux couvercles (10 ; 24, 25) sont présents, un de chaque côté de la porte (4).

2. Ensemble à porte selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) est constitué au moins partiellement d'un matériau souple, si bien qu'une partie au moins (11 ; 25) du couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) peut fléchir par déformation élastique d'une partie au moins (13) du couvercle (10 ; 24, 25).

3. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10) comporte une partie centrale souple (13), vue en coupe.

4. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) peut fléchir dans la mesure où la partie respective (11) du couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) est disposée pratiquement entièrement à l'extérieur de l'ouverture de porte (2).

5. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) comprend un dispositif d'agrafage (15, 16) par lequel le couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) peut être fixé par agrafage sur le rail de guidage (7).

6. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10 ; 24, 25) peut fléchir dans deux directions.

7. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le rail de guidage (7) est monté à la face interne du mur (1) dans lequel est formée l'ouverture (2) de porte, et, dans la position de fermeture de la porte (4), le couvercle (10) est présent du côté de la porte (4) éloigné du mur (1).

8. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10) s'étend au-delà des éléments de fixation (14) dans la position de fermeture de la porte (4).

9. Ensemble à porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (10) comporte une partie (23) qui est au contact des éléments de fixation (14).

10. Procédé de couverture d'un bord (3) d'une ouverture (2) de porte sur laquelle des rails de guidage (7) sont montés des deux côtés le long du bord pour le guidage d'une porte (4), la porte étant munie, à ses bords verticaux, d'organes de guidage (6) qui coopèrent avec les rails de guidage (7), dans lequel les organes de guidage (6) sont fixés à la porte (4) près de son bord par des éléments de fixation (14) qui s'étendent entre le rail de guidage (7) et la porte (4), et dans lequel un couvercle (10 ; 25) est fixé au rail de guidage (7), ce couvercle (10 ; 25) s'étendant vers l'intérieur de l'ouverture (2) de porte et au-dessus des éléments de fixation (14) dans la position de fermeture de la porte (4), caractérisé en ce que deux couvercles (10 ; 25) sont fixés au rail de guidage (7), un de chaque côté de la porte (4).

Drawing