WO2004009932A1

WO2004009932A1 - Sealing member for a hollow profile

Info

Publication number: WO2004009932A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardus Johannes De Jong
Original assignee: Pooltechnics B.V.
Priority date: 2002-07-18
Filing date: 2003-07-17
Publication date: 2004-01-29
Also published as: NL1021102C2; EP1552084A1; AU2003253512A1

Abstract

A closing device (1) for closing a channel (52) in a hollow profile (40) is described, comprising the combination of a closing body (20) and an auxiliary device (10). The closing body (20) comprises a storage chamber (22) with therein a predefined portion of a hardening substance (30). The auxiliary device (10) comprises a pusher body (12) which is inserted partially in the storage chamber (22) and thus closes the storage chamber (22). On placement into a channel (42), the pusher body (12) is pushed into the storage chamber (22), so that the portion of the hardening substance (30) is pushed out.

Description

TITLE : Closing member for a hollow profile

The present invention relates in general to a closing member for closing channels in a hollow profile. More particularly, the present invention relates to a closing member for closing the lateral ends of hollow slats as used for covering a swimming pool, and the present invention will in the following be explained specifically for this exemplary embodiment, although it is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to this example.

When a swimming pool is not used for some time, it is known to cover the water surface by a cover which can be rolled up, comprising a series of successive hollow slats coupled to each other. Each slat is typically formed as a hollow plastic profile, and comprises one or more channels running in the longitudinal direction of the slat. In a typical exemplary embodiment, a slat has four mutually parallel channels. The slats are formed as an extrusion product with large length, and are made to measure on order. Thus, a slat which is cut to length is open at its ends. When such slat is used on a water surface without further measures, the chances are very high that water enters the hollow channels, so that the slat can fill with water, which is undesirable. In order to prevent this, the slat is closed at its end.

This closing can be done in several ways. In a possible example, a swelling and hardening substance is inserted at the ends of the hollow channels. In another example, a plug is glued in the ends of each channel . These solutions do not offer satisfying results.

The publication EP-B1-0.225.862 describes a closure member which in general is formed as a carrier plate which is provided with a number of piston-shaped members which each fit in a corresponding channel of the slat . Corresponding with each of the piston-shaped members, the carrier plate is provided with a passage opening. The application of this known closure member is as follows.

The closure member is arranged on the end of a slat, each piston-shaped member being inserted in a corresponding channel, such that a closed channel section is defined at the end of each channel, which in transverse directions is confined by the channel wall and which in axial direction is confined by the piston-shaped member on the one hand and the said carrier plate on the other hand. Through each of said passage opening in the carrier plate, a hardening substance is inserted into the said closed spaces of the corresponding channels. After hardening of this substance, the closure member is strongly fixed to the end of the slat, and a certain closing of the internal of the hollow profiles is achieved.

Although this known closure member functions well per se, it has some important disadvantages. A large disadvantage of the known closure member is that it is difficult to automatize the arranging of the closure member in a reliable way, wherein it is an important disadvantage that it is necessary that an arrangement station, where the closure member is arranged on the slat, must be provided with means for supplying and injecting the hardening substance in the said closed spaces.

An important objective of the present invention is to reduce this disadvantage.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, a closure member is provided which is provided with a closable storage chamber. In a preparation phase, a measured portion of a hardening substance is arranged into this storage chamber. This hardening substance can stay in the closed storage chamber without hardening. In this condition, the closure member can be kept for a long time. On arrangement on the end of a slat, the portion of the hardening substance is pushed out of this storage chamber. Thus, it is no longer necessary to provide an arrangement station with separate means for supplying and injecting substance.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following description of a preferred embodiment of a closure member according to the present invention with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which: figure 1A schematically shows a two-part closure member according to the present invention, in the initial condition; figure IB schematically shows a cross-section according to the line B-B of the closure member of figure 1A; figure 2 shows the closure member of the figures 1A-B in the charged condition; figure 3 shows the closure member of the figures 1A-B in the insertion condition; figure 4 shows the closure member of the figures 1A-B in the released condition; and figure 5 illustrates a variant of the closure member.

Figure 1A schematically shows a top view of a two-part closure member 1 according to the present invention, and figure IB schematically shows a side view thereof, partly in cross-section. The closure member 1 comprises a closure body 20 and a auxiliary member 10. The closure body 20 comprises a base plate 21, and a storage chamber 22 extending from the base plate 21, confined by a substantially cylindrical storage chamber wall 23 and an end wall 24. The base plate 21 has a passage opening 25 which communicates with the storage chamber 22. At some distance of the base plate 21, the walls 23 and/or the end wall 24 are provided with projecting closure parts 26.

The auxiliary member 10 comprises a pusher body 12 as well as preferably, and as shown, a grip 11 for handling the pusher body 12. The pusher body 12 has an outer contour with a substantially cylindrical shape which is adapted to the inner contour of the storage chamber 22. The shape of the pusher body 12 and the shape of the passage opening 25 in the base plate 21 are adapted to each other such that the pusher body 12 can be arranged into the storage chamber 22 through this opening 25, wherein the edge of the opening 25 sealingly touches the sidewall of the pusher body 12. The pusher body 12 is provided with means, for instance and as shown in the shape of resilient hooks 13, which engage behind the base plate 21 when the pusher body 12 is introduced partly into said storage chamber 22.

In an initial phase, the auxiliary member 10 and the closure body 20 are separate from each other, as illustrated in figure 1. This condition will also be indicated as the initial condition of the closure member 1. The closure member is in this condition for instance directly after the separate manufacturing of the auxiliary member 10 and the closure body 20.

Subsequently, a hardening substance 30 is arranged into the storage chamber 22 of the closure body 20, for instance a glue or sealant or the like, such as will be clear to a person skilled in the art. Then, the pusher body 12 is inserted through the opening 25 and pushed partly into the storage chamber 22, so far that the hooks 13 engage behind the base plate 21 and prevent that the pusher body 12 can be withdrawn from the storage chamber 22. The storage chamber 22 now is closed by the pusher body 12, and is completely filled with sealant 30. The sealant 30 is now completely confined in the storage chamber 22, i.e. completely disconnected from the outer world, such that the sealant 30 will not harden. In this condition, which is illustrated in figure 2, and which in the following will also be indicated as the charged condition of the closure member 1, the closure member 1 can be stored for a long time until use.

The closure body 20 is provided with at least one passage channel 27 in at least one side wall 23, which channel 27 is initially closed by a relatively weak breaking part 52. This breaking part 52 is strong enough to keep the glue 30 confined in the storage chamber 22 during a storage period, wherein the closure member 1 is in the charged condition. In a suitable embodiment, wherein the closure body 20 is made from PVC, the passage channel 27 has a diameter of about 3 mm and the breaking part 52 has a thickness of about 0.2 mm.

Preferably, the charged closure member 1 is stored in a hermetically sealed package, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art and not shown separately for sake of simplicity. Figure 3 illustrates how the closure member according to the present invention is used for closing the end of a hollow profile, for instance a slat of a swimming pool covering. In the figures, the hollow profile is generally indicated with the reference numeral 40. The hollow profile 40 has longitudinal side walls 41 which delimit a longitudinal inner space or channel 42. The end edge of the profile 40 is indicated by the reference numeral 43. The channel 42 is open at the profile end.

In the situation of figure 3, a charged closure member 1 is arranged in the profile 40 to close the channel 42. The base plate 21 of the closure body 20 abuts the end edge 43 of the profile 40, and the storage chamber 22 is within the walls 41 of the profile 40. The cylindrical walls 23 of the storage chamber 22 are at a small radial distance from the walls 41 of the profile 40. The said closure parts 26 fit to the walls 21 of the profile 40. In this condition, which in the following will also be indicated as the insertion condition, an annular space 51 is thus defined between the base plate 21, the side walls 23 of the storage chamber 22, the walls 41 of the profile 40, and the said closure parts 26. This annular space 51 will in the following also be indicated by the phrase filling space.

In a next step, the sealant 30 is displaced from the storage chamber 22 to the filling space 51. To this end, the breaking part 52 is made inactive, or removed completely, such that the said passage channel 27 in the side wall 23 will function as a communication channel 27 between the storage chamber 22 and the filling space 51. This can for instance be achieved by pressing the pusher body 12 further into the storage chamber 22. Herein, the pressure within the storage chamber 22 first becomes large to such extent that the breaking part 52 gives way and gives free the communication channel 27 between the storage chamber 22 and the filling space 51. Subsequently, the pusher body 12 will push the sealant 30 out of the storage chamber 22, wherein the sealant 30 flows through the said communication channel 27 and fills the filling space 51. This situation, which in the following will also be indicated as the discharged condition, is illustrated in figure 4.

Now, the sealant 30 will harden in the filling space 51 and does form a solid and sealing connection between the closure body 20 and the profile 40. The condition then achieved will in the following also be indicated as the glued condition.

In the above, the principle of the invention has been explained on the basis of closing a single channel 42 by a single closing body 20. If the profile 40 has multiple channels 42 to be closed (in figure 1A a profile 40 with three channels is shown by way of example) , multiple single closing members 1 can be arranged next to each other. In this case, the phrase "single closing member" means that the closing member has a single closing body 20 as well as a single auxiliary device 10. The phrase "single closing body" 20 means that only a single storage chamber 22 is formed to a base plate 21. The phrase "single auxiliary member" 10 means that only a single pusher body 12 is formed to a grip 11.

However, for application in the case of a profile 40 with multiple channels 42 to be closed, the closing member 1 is preferably implemented in plural, meaning that the closing body 20 and auxiliary device 10 are implemented in multiple. With the phrase "multiple closing body" 20 is meant that the base plate 21 is provided with multiple storage chambers 22, each delimited by respective side walls 23 and a respective end wall 24 and each provided with closing parts 26, wherein the dimensions and positions of the said walls 23 end closing parts 26 are adapted to the dimensions and positions of the multiple channels 42 in the profile 40 lying next to each other. With the phrase "multiple pusher body" 12 is meant that multiple pusher bodies 12 are formed to a single common grip 11, wherein the shape and dimensions of the individual pusher bodies are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the corresponding storage chambers 22 of the closing body 20. Thus, it is possible to close multiple channels 42 of a profile 40 with one single closing body 20 and one single pusher body 12 in one single arranging operation.

In the foregoing, with reference to figures 3 and 4, it has been described elaborately how the closing body 20 is first arranged in the channel 42 and how the sealant 30 is subsequently pushed away from the storage chamber 22 by pushing the pusher body 12 into the chamber 22. In practice, both actions will preferably be combined to a single placement action wherein the charged closing member 1 is handled by taking the grip 11 and pushing into the channel 42 of the profile 40 by an axially directed movement. In this axially directed movement, as explained in the foregoing, the closing body 20 will first enter the channel 42 after which, when the base plate 21 abuts the end 43 of the profile 40 and the axial force on the grip 11 is continued, the closing body 20 is stopped but the pusher body 12 moves further and thus enters the storage chamber 22 and pushes the glue 30 away.

For an efficient use of the sealant 30, it is desirable that as little as possible stays behind in the storage chamber

22. In other words, it is advantageous if as much of the sealant 30 as possible is pushed from the storage chamber 22 by the pusher body 12. To this end, the closing body 12 is preferably configured such that the filling space 51, which is defined on placing the closing body 20 in a profile 40, has a volume which corresponds to the volume of the storage chamber 22 in the charged condition.

Further, form and shape of the pusher body 12 are preferably substantially equal to those of the storage chamber 22; in this context, it is noted that, for sake of clarity, a relatively large gap between the pusher body 12 and the walls

23. 24 of the storage chamber 22 is drawn in the figures.

In the case of a close fit between the pusher body 12 and the walls 23, 24 of the storage chamber 22, in order to still assure that the sealant 30 can reach the communication channel 27, the communication channel 27 is preferably located almost at the end of the side wall 23, i.e. close to the rear wall

24. Further, a groove 14 is preferably arranged in the pusher body 12, of which the position, in the discharge condition of figure 4, corresponds to the position of the communication channel 27.

In the foregoing, it is described that the sealant 30 will not harden in the storage chamber 22, but will harden in the filling space 51. Depending on the composition of the sealant used, the hardening process can take place under influence of already a small quantity of air, which can reach the sealant via small gaps between closing body 20 and profile 40. It has appeared that in many cases it is sufficient if the closing body 20 does not fit exactly in the profile. Preferably, however, an air access channel with predefined dimensions is provided to guarantee the supply of sufficient air to the sealant 30 in the filling space 51. Such air supply channel is preferably so small that the sealant is prevented from flowing out of the filling space 51.

In figure 4, such air supply channel 55 is shown in the base plate 21, at such location that the air supply channel 55 communicates with the filling space 51. The figure 4 also shows that the grip 11 can comprise an opening 56 which communicates with this air supply channel 55.

An additional advantage of such construction is that one can now visually check the good sealing.

Further, it is possible that a capsule 57 is placed in the storage chamber 22, which capsule is filled with a harder 58 (illustrated in figure 2) . This capsule 57 is constructed such that it gives way in use, for instance because the pusher body 12 breaks the capsule 57. With this, several advantages are achieved. In the first place, it is now possible to use a two-component sealant. In the second place, the sealant- component outside the capsule 57 will not or not easily harden without contact with the harder 58, such that the storage time of the closing member 1 in its charged condition can be longer. In the third place, the sealant then does not depend on the supply of air for the hardening process .

In a possible embodiment, the sealant 30 is a viscous mass which fills the storage chamber substantially completely, such that the storage chamber is free of air. Only when the sealant is pushed from the storage chamber by means of the pusher body, the sealant comes into contact with air and the hardening process starts. In that case, it is advantageous if the sealant has a composition such that it hardens quickly already in the case of contact with a small quantity of air. Particularly in the case of such sealant, the problem occurs that filling the storage chamber with sealant and closing the storage chamber, such that the sealant does not come into contact with air, is a difficult process. When small residual quantities of air are closed into the storage chamber on filling, the chance exists that the sealant hardens in the storage time, i.e. the time which lapses between filling of the storage chamber and use of the closing body. Conversely, the maximum storage time of the closing body is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment which does not have these problems, the sealant 30 is located in a capsule 60. Such capsules filled with a suitable sealant, which are completely air-free and have a long storage time, are known per se and are commercially available, such that it is not necessary to describe the construction of such capsules in more detail .

The capsule 60 can have a suitable shape, for instance a ball shape, or the shape of a pill or flattened disc. The capsules can easily be handled, and filling of the storage chamber can easily take place without special precautionary measurements being necessary. The capsule fills the storage chamber only partly, as illustrated in figure 5, such that the storage chamber also contains a portion of air which may be useful in the later hardening process.

The storage chamber can be filled with a single, relatively large capsule, but it is also possible that the storage chamber is filled with multiple, relatively small capsules .

The capsule is preferably designed to give way under pressure. The use of the closing member is substantially equal to the use described before: on placement of the closing member in a hollow profile, the pusher body 12 is pushed into the storage chamber 22, in which case the capsule 60 is pressed to break and the sealant 30 is released. On further pushing of the pusher body 12, the sealant 30 is pushed from the storage chamber 22.

If desired, the pusher body 12 can be specially shaped at its end, for instance be provided with a sharp end, in order to facilitate breaking the capsule.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments discussed in the above, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. For instance, it is possible that the rear wall 24 and/or the closing parts 26 have a beveled profile, in order to facilitate insertion into a channel 42.

Further, the closing parts 26 are shown in the figures as having a circular contour, such that the ring-shaped filling space 51 has an equal axial length at each angular position. However, it is also possible that the closing parts 26 are beveled, such that the ring-shaped filling space 51 has a maximal axial length at the communication channel 27 and has a minimal axial length 180° opposite.

Further, it has been described in the foregoing as example that the breaking part 52 gives way by increasing the pressure in the sealant 30. It will be clear that the breaking part 52 can also give way in different ways, for instance by using mechanical tools which prick through the breaking part 52.

Claims

1. Closing body (20) for closing a channel (42) in a hollow profile (40) , comprising: at least one closable storage chamber (22) , introducible into a channel (42) , for storing a predefined portion of a hardening substance (30) .

2. Closing body according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber (22) is confined by a substantially axially directed storage chamber wall (23) and an end wall (24) , and wherein the walls (23) and/or the end wall (24) are provided with one or more projecting sealing parts (26) .

3. Closing body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one passage channel (27) is arranged in at least one side wall

(23) , which preferably is closed by a relatively weak breaking part (52) .

4. Closing body according to claim 3, wherein the communication channel (27) is preferably located almost at the end of the side wall (23) , close to the rear wall (24) .

5. Closing body according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a capsule (57) filled with a harder (58) , arranged in the storage chamber (22) .

6. Closing body according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a base plate (21) carrying the storage chamber (22) , with a passage opening (25) which communicates with the storage chamber (22) .

7. Closing body according to claim 6, wherein the base plate (21) is provided with multiple storage chambers (22) , each confined by respective side walls (23) and a respective end wall (24) and each provided with sealing parts (26) .

8. Closing body according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the base plate (21) is provided with an air supply channel (55) .

9. Auxiliary device (10) for use in cooperation with a closing body (20) according to any of the previous claims, comprising at least one pusher body (12) which is suitable to be inserted into a storage chamber (22) in order to substantially push the substance (30) there from.

10. Auxiliary device according to claim 9, for use in cooperation with a closing body (20) according to claim 6, wherein the form of the pusher body (12) and the form of the passage opening (25) in the base plate (21) are adapted to each other such that the pusher body (12) can be arranged into the storage chamber (22) through this opening (25) , wherein the edge of the opening (25) sealingly fits to the side wall of the pusher body (12) .

11. Auxiliary device according to claim 10, provided with lock means (13) such as for instance hooks or the like, in order to counteract a withdrawing of the pusher body (12) from the storage chamber (22) .

12. Auxiliary device according to any of claims 9-11, for use in cooperation with a closing body (20) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pusher body (12) is provided with a groove

(14) which, when the pusher body (12) is inserted into the storage chamber (22) , can communicate with the communication channel (27) .

13. Auxiliary device according to any of claims 9-12, further comprising a grip (11) carrying the pusher body (12) .

14. Auxiliary device according to claim 13, for use in cooperation with a closing body (20) according to claim 7, wherein the grip (11) is provided with multiple pusher bodies

(12) , wherein the form and dimensions of the individual pusher bodies are adapted to the form and dimensions of the corresponding storage chambers (22) of the multiple closing body (20) .

15. Auxiliary device, according to claim 13 or 14, for use in cooperation with a closing body (20) according to claim 8, wherein the grip (11) is provided with an opening (56) which can communicate with the said air supply channel (55) .

16. Closing device (1) for closing channels in a hollow profile, comprising the combination of a closing body (20) according to any of claims 1-8 and an auxiliary device (10) according to any of claims 9-15.

17. Closing device according to claim 16, wherein the form and dimension of the pusher body (12) are always substantially equal to those of the corresponding storage chamber (22) .

18. Closing device according to claim 16 or 17, wherein a portion of a hardening substance (30) is arranged in a storage chamber (22) , which storage chamber (22) is closed by a corresponding pusher body (12) .

19. Closing device according to claim 18, wherein the hardening substance (30) is a viscous mass which fills the storage chamber (22) substantially completely.

20. Closing device according to claim 18, wherein the hardening substance (30) is located in a capsule (60) which fills the storage chamber (22) only partly.

21. Closing device according to claim 20, wherein the capsule (60) is designed to give way under pressure.

22. Method for closing a channel (42) in a hollow profile (40) , comprising the steps of: placing the filled storage chamber (22) of a charged closing device (1) in front of the channel (42) ; exerting pressure on the corresponding pusher body (12) in order to push the filled storage chamber (22) into the channel

(42) ; and exerting pressure on the corresponding pusher body (12) in order to push this pusher body (12) into the storage chamber (22) in order to push the substance (30) out there from.