GB1580515A

GB1580515A - Edge mounting device

Info

Publication number: GB1580515A
Application number: GB1197778A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-24
Filing date: 1978-03-28
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: FR2384979B1; DE2712889A1; FR2384979A1; CH630135A5; DE2712889C2

Abstract

Box profiles (2) are fastened on a vertical wall (1). The two edges (6) of a rubber plate (5) which are bent to form a U project into the box profiles (2). Holes (12) in which balls (13) are trapped are punched in the plate edges (6). The balls are prevented, by the box profiles, from coming out of the holes and thus form a releasable edge thickening on the plate. Forces directed against the web of the U-shaped plate, and thus perpendicularly to the wall, cannot release the edge fastening of the rubber plate in the box profile. This edge fastening is particularly suitable for use with stop seals on ramps, where vehicles are driven up against the ramp. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) AN EDGE MOUNTING DEVICE (71) I, KURT ALTEN, of 14 Ringstrasse, 3015 Wennigsen, Federal Republic of Germany; a German national do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an edge mounting device for flexible sealing panels.

Sealing panels are known which have thickened edge regions which are displaceably located in grooves, the opening of the grooves facing the panel being narrower than the edge regions of the panel.

Edge mounting devices for this type of panel are known. However, in such devices the panels cannot leave the grooves when they are subjected to tensile stress. The thickened edge regions are an integral part of the panels and are pre-formed thereon. Accordingly, in such apparatuses, flat panel members cannot be used.

The present invention seeks to provide an edge mounting device generally of the above type but in which flat panels not having thickened edge regions may be utilised and which permit a reliable detachable mounting of the panel edges to be attained.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an edge mounting device for flexible panels comprising a hollow profile having a slot formed therein, the slot forming a constricted opening to the profile which is wider than the thickness of the edge portion of a panel received therein, the panel being retained in the interior of the profile by retaining members which are detachably located in recesses formed in the edge region of the panel, the dimensions of the retaining members preventing the removal of the edge portion of the panel from the interior of the profile.

Accordingly, it is merely necessary for the panels to have recesses formed therein. Preferably, the recesses are in the form of apertures in which retaining members are located. The retaining members are desirably in the form of roller bodies. The retaining members produce an effective edge thickening of the Panels and makes it possible for the edges of the panels to be inserted into the profiles. The edge mounting so achieved may be disconnected by withdrawal of the panel from the profile.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through an edge mounting device for a flexible panel; Fig. 2 shows the mounting device of Fig. 1, seen m the direction of the arrow II in that figure, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a buffer seal formed by the flexible panel shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a box profile 2 having a lateral flange 3 which is affixed to a vertical wall 1 by means of screws 4.

A flexible panel 5 formed of rubber or plastics material is bent to form a U-shape as shown in Fig. 3. Opposed edges 6 of the panel 5 are located in the profile 2 in a manner which is described hereinafter. In such a case, the panel 5 forms a buffer which can be deformed by, for example, a vehicle moved towards the wall 1 in the direction of the arrow 7, thereby preventing damage to the vehicle. This is useful in known manner during ramp operation or the like devices with vehicles.

The box profiles 2 in which the edge regions 6 of the panel 5 are located each comprise a rectangular cavity 8, the depth of which, when viewed from the direction of the panel, is greater than its width. The profile 2 has an off-set slot 9, the width a of the slot being smaller than the internal width b of the cavity 8. The slot 9 is provided on the face of the profile facing the panel 5. The depth T of the cavity 8 is substantially double the width The width a is selected so as to substantially correspond with the wall thickness of the panel 5. Accordingly, there is only a little clearance between the panel 5 and the walls defining the slot 9. The end face 10 of the panel 5 abuts against the ground or behind the horizontal surface 11 of the cavity 8.

The panel 5 is provided with a plurality of holes 12 of circular cross-section adjacent its lateral edges. These holes may slmply be punched out of the sheet. Steel balls 13 are located in the holes 12 and, as can best be seen in Fig. 1, effectively form a thickening of the edge of the panel 5, this effective wall thickness being greater than the width a and, in fact, the diameter of the balls is substantially equal to the width b. The steel balls 13 are therefore retained in the holes 12 and cannot pass through the slot 9.

To prevent the edge regions 6 of the panel 5 from moving within the cavity 8, a beadshaped filler member 14 is located in the rear portion of the cavity 8.

The edge or edges 6 of the panel 5 to be secured are inserted into the cavity 8 by feeding the edges in the longitudinal direction of the box profile 2, the holes 12 thus being successively fed with steel balls 13. If the entire length of the edge portion 6 is located within the box profile 2, the panel 5 can not be pulled out by forces acting at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the box profile 2, due to the locking arrangement seen in Fig. 1.

It is highly desirable to use a longitudinally slit box profile 2 for the edge mounting, but other profiles capable of receiving the edge portions 6 and the steel balls 13 may also be used.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An edge mounting device for flexible panels, comprising a hollow profile having a slot formed therein, the slot forming a constricted opening to the profile which is wider than the thickness of the edge portion of a panel received therein, the panel being retained in the interior of the profile by retaining members which are detachably located in recesses formed in the edge region of the panel, the dimensions of the retaining members preventing the removal of the edge portion of the panel from the interior of the profile.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot has a width which is just sufficient to permit the edge portion of the panel to pass therethrough.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the wall thickness or diameter of the retaining member, either with or without the panel, is substantially greater than the internal width of the slot.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wall thickness or diameter of the retaining member, either with or without the panel, corresponds substantially to the internal width of the profile.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the end edge face ofthe pane abuts against the rear face of the profile opposite the slot and the retaining member engages behind a projection in the profile located in the region of the slot.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the slot is offset from the centre of the face of the profile in which it is formed.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the retaining members are roller bodies.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the retaining members are balls.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recesses are in the form of holes extending through the panel.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each recess has a cross-section corresponding substantially to that of each retaining member.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recesses are spaced apart from one another at intervals along the length of at least one edge of the panel.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein filler members are provided in the profile for preventing lateral displacement of the portion of the panel located adjacent the rear surface of the profile.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the depth of the profile viewed from the direction of the panel, is substan tiallydouble the interior width of the profile.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the internal width of the profile is substantially twice the width of the slot.

15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the groove is formed in slotted box profile.

16. An edge mounting device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The width a is selected so as to substantially correspond with the wall thickness of the panel 5. Accordingly, there is only a little clearance between the panel 5 and the walls defining the slot 9. The end face 10 of the panel 5 abuts against the ground or behind the horizontal surface 11 of the cavity 8. The panel 5 is provided with a plurality of holes 12 of circular cross-section adjacent its lateral edges. These holes may slmply be punched out of the sheet. Steel balls 13 are located in the holes 12 and, as can best be seen in Fig. 1, effectively form a thickening of the edge of the panel 5, this effective wall thickness being greater than the width a and, in fact, the diameter of the balls is substantially equal to the width b. The steel balls 13 are therefore retained in the holes 12 and cannot pass through the slot 9. To prevent the edge regions 6 of the panel 5 from moving within the cavity 8, a beadshaped filler member 14 is located in the rear portion of the cavity 8. The edge or edges 6 of the panel 5 to be secured are inserted into the cavity 8 by feeding the edges in the longitudinal direction of the box profile 2, the holes 12 thus being successively fed with steel balls 13. If the entire length of the edge portion 6 is located within the box profile 2, the panel 5 can not be pulled out by forces acting at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the box profile 2, due to the locking arrangement seen in Fig. 1. It is highly desirable to use a longitudinally slit box profile 2 for the edge mounting, but other profiles capable of receiving the edge portions 6 and the steel balls 13 may also be used. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An edge mounting device for flexible panels, comprising a hollow profile having a slot formed therein, the slot forming a constricted opening to the profile which is wider than the thickness of the edge portion of a panel received therein, the panel being retained in the interior of the profile by retaining members which are detachably located in recesses formed in the edge region of the panel, the dimensions of the retaining members preventing the removal of the edge portion of the panel from the interior of the profile.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the retaining members are balls.