Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
METHOD AND FASTENING ELEMENT FOR INSTALLING A SUNSHADE TO A
GLAZING PART
Field
The invention relates to a method for installing a sunshade to a glazing part,
the glazing
part comprising a transparent sheet with a first end edge and a second end
edge, and a
first side edge and a second side edge, the side edges being free edges of the
sheet,
and in which method at least one first fastening element is attached close to
the first end
edge of the transparent sheet and at least one second fastening element is
attached
.. close to the second end edge of the transparent sheet, and the sunshade is
suspended
on the said fastening elements. The invention further relates to a fastening
element of a
sunshade with gripping means for attachment to the glazing part and a
fastening body for
attaching to the sunshade.
Background
Blinds are often used as sunshades in glazed balconies to prevent insolation
from ac-
cessing the balcony. Sunshades are attached to the edge profiles in the upper
and lower
edges of the balcony glazing with fastening elements, which have gripping
means for at-
taching to the sunshade and a suspension element for attaching to the edge
profile.
Fastening elements used in the fastening of sunshades are usually metal parts,
which
encircle at least in part the edge profile of the glazing. Dust and dirt are
easily accumulat-
ed to such fastening elements and especially to the gap between the fastener
and edge
profile, which is difficult to remove. The fastening elements are locked into
place usually
by means of a tight fit between the fastening element and edge profile. Due to
the dimen-
sional variances of the edge profiles and fastening elements and the sagging
of the paint
surface of the edge profiles it is often difficult to install the fastening
elements dimen-
sioned for the tight fit.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
2
Summary
It is an object of the invention to introduce a method for attaching the
sunshade to the
glazing part and a fastening element, with which disadvantages and drawbacks
related to
the state of the art can be eliminated.
According to a broad aspect, there is provided a method for installing a
sunshade to a
glazing part comprising a transparent sheet with a first end edge and second
end edge
and a first side edge and second side edge, which first and second side edges
are free
edges of the transparent sheet, the method comprising: providing the sunshade
with a
first guide wire and a second guide wire; attaching a first fastening element
relative to the
first end edge of the transparent sheet and attaching a second fastening
element relative
to the second end edge of the transparent sheet such that to make the sunshade
cover
an entire transparent area of the transparent sheet, wherein the first and
second fas-
tening elements are in contact with edge profiles in the first and second end
edges of the
transparent sheet; suspending the sunshade on the first and second fastening
elements
so that the first and second fastening elements are attached to the first and
second side
edges of the transparent sheet; and attaching the first guide wire to the
first and second
fastening elements attached to the first side edge of the transparent sheet,
and the sec-
ond guide wire to the first and second fastening elements attached to the
second side
edge of the transparent sheet.
According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method for installing a
sunshade
to a glazing part comprising a transparent sheet with a first end edge and
second end
edge and a first side edge and second side edge, which first and second side
edges are
free edges of the sheet, the method comprising: attaching a first fastening
element rela-
tive to the first end edge of the transparent sheet and attaching a second
fastening ele-
ment relative to the second end edge of the transparent sheet such that to
make the sun-
shade cover an entire transparent area of the transparent sheet, wherein the
first and
second fastening elements are in contact with edge profiles in the first and
second end
edges of the transparent sheet; suspending the sunshade on the first and
second fas-
tening elements so that the first and second fastening elements are attached
to the first
and second side edges of the transparent sheet; and attaching the sunshade to
the first
and second fastening elements so that the force applied from the sunshade to
the first
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
3
and second fastening elements increases the force applied from the first and
second fas-
tening elements to the transparent sheet.
According to a further broad aspect, there is provided a method for installing
a sunshade
to a glazing part comprising a transparent sheet with a first end edge and
second end
edge and a first side edge and second side edge, which first and second side
edges are
free edges of the sheet, the method comprising: attaching a first fastening
element rela-
tive to the first end edge of the transparent sheet and attaching a second
fastening ele-
ment relative to the second end edge of the transparent sheet such that to
make the sun-
shade cover an entire transparent area of the transparent sheet, wherein the
first and
second fastening elements are in contact with edge profiles in the first and
second end
edges of the transparent sheet; suspending the sunshade on the first and
second fas-
tening elements so that the first and second fastening elements are attached
to the first
and second side edges of the transparent sheet; attaching the first and second
fastening
elements to the glazing part, in which the first end edge of the transparent
sheet has a
first edge profile; and attaching the first fastening element also to the
first edge profile in
addition to the first side edge.
According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method for installing a
sunshade
to a glazing part comprising a transparent sheet with a first end edge and
second end
edge and a first side edge and second side edge, which first and second side
edges are
free edges of the sheet, the method comprising: attaching a first fastening
element rela-
tive to the first end edge of the transparent sheet and attaching a second
fastening ele-
ment relative to the second end edge of the transparent sheet such that to
make the sun-
shade cover an entire transparent area of the transparent sheet, wherein the
first and
second fastening elements are in contact with edge profiles in the first and
second end
edges of the transparent sheet; suspending the sunshade on the first and
second fas-
tening elements so that the first and second fastening elements are attached
to the first
and second side edges of the transparent sheet; attaching the first and second
fastening
elements to the glazing part, in which the second end edge of the transparent
sheet has
a second edge profile; and attaching the second fastening element to the
second edge
profile in addition to the second side edge.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
4
Typically, in the glazing part installed in place the first and second side
edges are in a
substantially vertical position.
In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the said sunshade
com-
prises at least one guide wire with a first end and a second end. In the
method the first
end of the guide wire is attached to the first fastening element, the second
end of the
guide wire is attached to the second fastening element and the guide wire is
tightened to
an appropriate tightness. Sunshades used in balcony glazing typically have two
guide
wires, the first one of which is located in the first edge of the sunshade and
the other one
in the second edge of the sunshade. In this case the first guide wire is
attached to the
fastening elements to be fastened to the first side edge of the transparent
sheet and the
second guide wire is attached to the fastening elements to be fastened to the
second
side edge of the transparent sheet. The curtain section of the sunshade
providing protec-
tion against insolation is supported to the guide wires so that the sunshade
can be un-
folded into an open position, in which it covers the transparent sheet
substantially entire-
.. ly, and pressed it into a folded position, in which it covers as small a
portion as possible
of the area of the transparent sheet.
In a second advantageous embodiment of the invention the fastening element is
ar-
ranged tightly around a section of the side edge of the transparent sheet. The
fastening
element then stays in place in the edge of the transparent sheet by means of
friction
caused by the tight fit between the transparent sheet and fastening element.
The friction
between the transparent sheet and fastening element can be increased by
arranging a
friction-increasing friction element between the fastening element and the
transparent
sheet. The friction element can be, for example, a flexible friction lamella
arranged onto
the surface of the fastening element settling against the transparent sheet.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the
sunshade is
attached to the fastening element so that the force applied from the sunshade
to the fas-
tening element increases the force applied from the fastening element to the
transparent
sheet. Such an attachment can be realised, for example, so that the sunshade
is at-
tached eccentrically in relation to the vertical travelling through the mass-
centre of the
fastening element, in which case the load generated by the sunshade attempts
to turn the
fastening element attached to the edge of the transparent sheet. The turning
movement
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
5
of the fastening element makes the edge section of the fastening element
surrounding
the side edge of the transparent sheet to press strongly against the surface
of the trans-
parent sheet. The force applied from the sunshade to the fastening element can
be ad-
justed, for example, by tightening the guide wires of the sunshade to an
appropriate
tightness.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the
fastening
element is attached to the side edge of the transparent sheet by glue or a
stick-on label.
The glue or stick-on label can extend in the side edge to the one or both
surfaces parallel
to the transparent sheet and/or to the side surface of the transparent sheet.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the
fastening
element is pressed around a section of the side edge of the transparent sheet
by spring
force. The compression achieved by the spring force also increases the
friction force
keeping the fastening element in place. The fastening element can also be
pressed
around a section of the side edge of the transparent sheet by using a
tightening screw. In
this case the tightening screw is arranged to the fastening element so that
its point is
pressed against the surface of the transparent sheet. A compression sheet can
be ar-
ranged between the point of the tightening screw and the surface of the
transparent
sheet, the surface of the compression sheet being pressed against the surface
of the
transparent sheet.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the
fastening
elements are attached to the glazing part, in which the first end edge of the
transparent
sheet has a first edge profile and the first fastening element is attached to
the first edge
profile in addition to the side edge. The second end edge of the transparent
sheet prefer-
ably has a second edge profile and the second fastening element is attached to
the sec-
ond edge profile in addition to the side edge. By means of the attachment to
the edge
profiles it is ensured that the fastening elements cannot glide towards each
other in the
direction of the side edge.
In the fastening element of a sunshade, which is an object of the invention,
there are
gripping means for attaching to the glazing part and a fastening body for
fastening to the
sunshade. Said gripping means comprise a slot formed by a first flank, a
second flank,
and a base connecting the flanks to which slot it is possible to fit the free
side edge of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
6
transparent sheet of the glazing part. The side edges in this presentation
refer to the side
surface perpendicular to the direction of the plane of the transparent sheet
and the nar-
row edge strip parallel to the plane on both sides of the transparent sheet,
which borders
to the side surface. Preferably said fastening body comprises a fastening
projection in the
second flank of the fastening element.
One advantageous embodiment of the fastening element of the invention
comprises a
fastening hole or slot for attaching the guide wire of the sunshade. It is
preferable to ar-
range the fastening hole or slot to the fastening projection. The pulling
force of the guide
wire causes a bending moment to the fastening projection, which attempts to
rotate the
fastening element and especially its one flank. The rotation of the fastening
element in-
creases the compression and friction force acting between the flanks and the
transparent
sheet, which promotes the fastening element to stay in place.
One advantageous embodiment of the fastening element of the invention
comprises an
interface for attaching to the edge rail of the sunshade. In this embodiment
the edge rail
of a sunshade, such as a blind, is attached directly to the interface of the
fastening ele-
ment. The interface may have a shaping, which is compatible with the shaping
of the fas-
tening surface settling against the interface of the edge rail. In this case
the edge rail can
set tightly against the interface and attach to the fastening element by means
of the tight
fit between the interface and the fastening surface. It is preferable to
arrange the inter-
face to the fastening projection.
A second advantageous embodiment of the fastening element of the invention
comprises
further a spring element for moving the first flank and the second flank
towards each oth-
er. The fastening element can further comprise a friction element to be placed
against the
surface of the transparent sheet.
A third advantageous embodiment of the fastening element of the invention
comprises a
tightening screw, the point of which can be moved to the space between the
first flank
and the second flank. The fastening screw can extend through the first or
second flank or
base of the fastening element so that the head of the fastening screw is
visible on the
outer surface of the fastening element. By rotating the fastening screw its
point is pressed
to the gap between the surface of the transparent sheet and the flank and
presses the
first or second flank of the fastening element tightly against the surface of
the transparent
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
6a
sheet. Because of the tightening screw the width of the slot limited by the
first and second
flank can be bigger than the thickness of the transparent sheet, and the same
fastening
element can be attached to transparent sheets of different thicknesses. A
compression
plate can be arranged to the space between the first and second flank, between
the point
of the tightening screw and the transparent sheet so that the surface of the
compression
plate is pressed against the surface of the transparent sheet when rotating
the tightening
screw.
The fastening element of the invention can be a part formed of a thread-type
piece or a
part formed of a sheet-type piece. Preferably the fastening element is made of
some
easily formable, flexible material, such as plastic or metal. The base of the
attachment
element of the invention settles to the gap between the adjacent glazing parts
of the bal-
cony glazing. By limiting the thickness of the base to be less than 5 mm, it
is ensured,
that the bases of the fastening elements do not increase the width of the gap
between the
glazing parts. Although the fastening element is designed to attach in place
particularly to
the free edge of the glazing part, the fastening element may also comprise a
support el-
ement for attaching to the edge profile of the glazing part.
It is an advantage of the invention that the sunshade can be attached to the
glazing part
fast and easily without the use of tools. The dimensional variances and
sagging of paint
in the edge profiles of the glazing part do not prevent or make difficult the
installation of
the sunshade.
It is a further advantage of the invention that in the method the attached
sunshade does
not cause dirtying of the edge profile of the glazing section or hinder the
cleansing of the
edge profile.
It is further an advantage of the invention that no visible traces remain in
the glazing part
from the attachment of the fastener, which would deteriorate the appearance of
the glaz-
ing part.
Brief description of the drawings
The invention will next be explained in detail, referring to the enclosed
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an exemplary illustration of a glazing part, to which a sunshade
has been in-
stalled using the method of the invention;
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
6b
Figure 2 illustrates a corner of the glazing part of Figure 1 as partial
enlargement;
Figure 3 is an exemplary illustration of an advantageous embodiment of the
fastening
element of the invention;
Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a second advantageous embodiment of the fastening
ele-
ment of the invention;
Figure 5 illustrates a third advantageous embodiment of the fastening element
of the in-
vention; and
Figures 6a and 6b illustrate a fourth advantageous embodiment of the fastening
element
of the invention.
Detailed description of embodiments
Variants, examples and preferred embodiments of the invention are described
hereinbe-
low. In Figure 1 there is illustrated a glazing part for balcony glazing, to
which a sunshade
has been installed by using the method of the invention. The glazing part
comprises a
rectangular transparent sheet 10 with two parallel side edges, the first side
edge 16 and
the second side edge 18, and two parallel end edges, the first end edge 12 and
the sec-
ond end edge 14. The transparent sheets used in balcony glazing are typically
made of
hardened glass with a thickness of 4 ¨ 6 mm, but also other materials and
sheet thick-
nesses are possible. The first end edge of the transparent sheet has the first
edge profile
13 and the second end edge has the second edge profile 15. The edge profiles
are alu-
minium profiles, which have a groove to which the end edge of the transparent
sheet 10
has been fitted. The ends of the edge profiles are provided with plastic end
pieces 38.
The side edges 16, 18 of the transparent sheet are free edges, in other words
edges with
no edge profile.
In the method of the invention fastening elements 20, 22 are attached to the
glaz-
ing part, the sunshade 100 being suspended on the fastening elements. The
first
fastening elements 20 are attached to the first and second side edge 16, 18 of
the transparent sheet 10, as close to the first end edge 12 as possible. In
practice
the first fastening elements are attached to the side edges so that they are
settled
in contact with the first edge profile 13. The second fastening element 22 are
at-
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-27
CA 02906721 2015-09-30
7
tached to the first and second side edge 16, 18 of the transparent sheet 10,
as
close to the second end edge 14 as possible. In practice the second fastening
el-
ements are installed to contact the second edge profile 15. After the
fastening el-
ements have been installed in place, the guide wires 24 belonging to the
sunshade
are attached to the first fastening element 20 from their first end and to the
second
fastening element 22 from their second end, and tightened. The sunshade
typically
has two guide wires so that the first guide wire is attached to the fastening
ele-
ments attached to the first side edge 16 of the transparent sheet and the
second
guide wire is attached to the fastening elements attached to the second side
edge
.. 18 of the transparent sheet. The curtain section of the sunshade offering
protec-
tion from insolation comprises an upper rail 102, a lower rail 104 and between
them a curtain 106 folded into zig-zag form. The upper and lower rail can be
moved on the guide wires up and down so that the area of the region covered by
the curtain 106 changes.
Figure 2 illustrates in an exemplary way the upper corner of the glazing part
shown
in Figure 1, i.e. the corner formed by the first end edge and the first side
edge 16
of the transparent sheet 10. In the Figure there is shown the attachment of
the first
fastening element 20 to the first side edge of the transparent sheet 10. The
fas-
tening element has a first flank 26, a second flank 28, and a base 30
connecting
said flanks. The flanks and the base form a slot, the width of which is
substantially
equal to the thickness of the transparent sheet 10. In the edge of the second
flank
there is provided a tongue, which is folded substantially to a right angle
from the
plane of the second flank so that it forms a fastening projection 32. The
corners of
the fastening projection are bevelled, and close to its end there is the hole
40 for
attaching a guide wire 24 of the sunshade 100. The fastening element has been
formed by shaping a thin metal sheet into U-form and by turning the tongue
formed to the flank of the second branch of U outwards as the fastening
projection
32. The thickness of the metal sheet can be approximately 0.5 ¨ 1.0 mm.
The fastening element is attached in place to the transparent sheet 10 by
fitting
the first side edge 16 to the slot of the fastening element so that the first
flank 26 of
the fastening element is settled on the first side of the sheet, the second
flank 28 is
settled to the second side of the sheet, and the base 30 is pressed against
the
edge surface of the first side edge of the sheet. The width of the base 30,
i.e. the
distance between the first and second flank, has been selected so that it is
sub-
stantially equal to the thickness of the transparent sheet 10. The fastening
element
has been made of a metal sheet behaving in a spring-like manner into such a
CA 02906721 2015-09-30
,
8
shape that in the free state the flanks 26, 28 turn towards each other. Upon
in-
stalling the fastening element, the flanks thus have to be folded apart from
each
other so that spring force is stored to the fastening element. In the
fastening ele-
ment 20 installed in place, the spring force presses the flanks 26, 28 tightly
against
the surface of the transparent sheet so that friction force is generated
between the
flanks and the surface of the transparent sheet, preventing the movement of
the
fastening element.
In Figure 2 there is illustrated the attachment of one fastening element 20 to
the
side edge of the transparent sheet 10 as close to the first end edge of the
trans-
parent sheet 10 as possible. In practice this means that the edges of the
flanks 26,
28 of the fastening element 20 are placed to the edge profile 13 in the first
end
edge of the transparent sheet. The remaining fastening elements are attached
to
the side edges in similar manner. After the attachment of the fastening
elements,
guide wires 24 of the sunshade 100 are attached to them, after which the
installa-
tion work of the sunshades is complete.
In Figure 3 there is shown in an exemplary manner an advantageous embodiment
of the fastening element 20a used in a method of the invention, attached to
the
first side edge of the transparent sheet 10.The embodiment in Figure 3 is
substan-
tially of the same shape as in Figure 2, i.e. it has the first flank 26, the
base 30, the
second flank 28 and the fastening projection 32 turning from the point of the
sec-
ond flank to an angle. This embodiment has been prepared by casting from flexi-
ble plastic material, and the material thicknesses of its parts are
substantially big-
ger than in Figure 2. The distance between the flanks has been chosen so that
the
side edge 16 of the transparent sheet 10 settles between the flanks with a
tight fit.
The fastening element stays in place in the side edge due to the compression
and
friction forces generated by the tight fit.
Figures 4a and 4b illustrate in an exemplary manner a second advantageous em-
bodiment of the fastening element 20b used in the method of the invention.
Figure
4a illustrates the embodiment as a separate part and in Figure 4b the
embodiment
is shown installed in place to the glazing part. The embodiment shown in the
Fig-
ures is substantially of a similar shape as in Figure 3, i.e. it has the first
flank 26,
the base 30, the second flank 28, and the fastening projection 32 turning to
an an-
gle from the second flank. This embodiment has been made by casting from flexi-
ble plastic material, and the distance between the flanks has been chosen so
that
the side edge 16 of the transparent sheet 10 settles between the flanks with a
tight
fit. In this embodiment the base 30 extends above the plane defined the flank
edg-
CA 02906721 2015-09-30
,
9
es, and the base has two support elements 42 parallel to the flanks. The size
and
shape of the support elements has been chosen so that they can be fitted to
the
cavities 17 opening to the end surface of the first edge profile 13 in the
first end
edge 12 of the transparent sheet 10 (Figure 4b). The base can be made so big
that it substantially covers the entire end surface of the edge profile. In
this case
there is no need for a separate end piece at the end of the edge profile.
In Figure 5 there is illustrated in an exemplary manner a third embodiment of
the
fastening element 20c used in the method of the invention, attached to the
first
side edge 16 of the transparent sheet 10. The embodiment in Figure 5 has the
first
flank 26, the base 30, the second flank 28, and the fastening projection 32
turning
from the point of the second flank to an angle, i.e. it has the same
functional ele-
ments as the embodiments in Figures 2 and 3. This embodiment has been made
by shaping a metal wire behaving in a spring-like manner into the shape shown
in
Figure 5. Therefore, its appearance deviates distinctly from the previously
shown
embodiments. The distance between the flanks formed of the metal wire has been
selected so that the side edge 16 of the transparent sheet 10 settles between
the
flanks with a tight fit. The fastening element stays in place in the side edge
be-
cause of the compression and friction force generated by the tight fit.
Figures 6a and 6b illustrate in an exemplary manner an advantageous fourth em-
bodiment 20d of the fastening element used in the method of the invention.
Figure
6a illustrates the fastening element as a separate part and Figure 6b
illustrates the
fastening element installed in place to the glazing element of the balcony
glazing.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 6a and 6b there is the first flank 26, the
base
30, the second flank 28 and the fastening projection 32 turning to an angle
from
the second flank. The embodiment of the fastening element has been made by
casting from plastic material. The distance between the flanks has been chosen
so
that the side edge 16 of the transparent sheet 10 can be placed loosely
between
the flanks, i.e. the distance between the flanks is clearly bigger than the
thickness
of the transparent sheet (Figure 6b). The first flank 26 has a threaded
through-hole
52, to which a plastic tightening screw 50 is fitted. The point of the
tightening
screw extends to the gap between the first and second flank, and the head of
the
tightening screw can be seen outside the fastening element through the hole
52.
The fastening element is fitted in place to the side edge 16 of the
transparent
sheet 10 so that the side edge is settled between the flanks. Attaching the
fas-
tening element in place is effected by tightening the tightening screw so that
the
point of the tightening screw is pressed against the surface of the
transparent
CA 02906721 2015-09-30
sheet. The fastening element stays in place in the side edge due to the
compres-
sion and friction force generated by the fastening screw between the second
flank
28 and the transparent sheet 10.
An elongated neck 54 is shaped to the second surface of the fastening
projection
5 32, the cross-sectional shape of which is substantially similar to that
of the groove
in the edge rail 110 of the sunshade 100 to be attached to the fastening
element.
The edge rail of the sunshade can thus be attached to the fastening element
simp-
ly by fitting the necks of the fastening elements to the groove in the edge
rail in the
way illustrated in Figure 6b. The surface of the fastening element facing the
neck
10 thus forms an interface, to which the sunshade can be attached without
separate
fastening bodies. The sunshade can be, for example, a blind comprising several
laths 112 hanging on wires from the edge rail 110.
The embodiment illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b comprises both the tightening
screw 50 for attaching the fastening element to the transparent sheet 10 and
the
interface for attaching the edge rail of the sunshade. It is evident that
these fea-
tures are not dependent from each other, i.e. embodiments comprising only one
of
the above-mentioned features can be made of the fastening element 20d.
The fastening elements illustrated in Figures 2 ¨ 6 can be provided with one
or
several friction elements, which in the fastening element installed in place
settle
against the surface of the transparent sheet. Natural places for the friction
ele-
ments are the surfaces of the first and second flank and base settling against
the
surface of the transparent sheet. The friction element can, for example,
comprise
friction lamellas or bulges, which prevent the friction element from gliding
along the
surface of the transparent sheet. Further, to ensure the attachment of the fas-
tening element, glue or self-adhesive stickers can be used on the contact
surface
between the fastening element and the transparent sheet. Figures 2 ¨ 6 only de-
scribe the first fastening elements and their structure. The second fastening
ele-
ments have a similar or corresponding structure as the first fastening
elements.
Some advantageous embodiments of the method and fastening element of the
invention have been described above. The invention is not restricted to the
solu-
tions described above, but the inventional idea can be applied in different
ways
within the scope defined by the patent claims.
