AU2002300001B9

AU2002300001B9 - Dual hinged frame

Info

Publication number: AU2002300001B9
Application number: AU2002300001A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Benny Finocchiaro
Original assignee: BENFRANCA NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BENFRANCA NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-06
Filing date: 2002-07-05
Publication date: 2003-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-05
Also published as: AU2002300001A1; AU2002300001B2; AU2002300001A8

Description

P/00/01 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Benfranca Nominees Pty Ltd PO Box 2139, Darwin NT 0801, Australia Benny Finocchiaro Griffith Hack, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 6th Floor, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

Standard Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "DUAL HINGED FRAME" Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PR6186 filed 6 July 2001 The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 DUAL HINGED FRAME The present invention relates to a closure for a portal in a structure.

Most dwellings include windows that are able to be opened to allow fresh air inside.

Dwellings also have doors that allow entry and exit of the dwelling. In many cases people also wish to have roller shutters that prevent break-ins and/or protect against extreme weather conditions. In order to have a roller shutter installed in front of a window or door the window or door frame must be recessed further into the wall than normal so that the roller shutter is flush against the wall. The result of recessing the window frame further into the wall is that this limits the amount by which the window or door can be opened because it makes contact with the wall in which it is recessed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a closure for a portal, in a structure that overcomes the abovementioned problem. The invention has particular application in the case of the portal being a window or door.

According to the present invention there is provided a closure for a portal in a structure including: a frame for coupling to the structure; an off-set member hingedly coupled to the frame, the off-set member pivotally moveable between a first closed position and a first open position; a panel member hingedly coupled to the off-set member along an edge of the off-set member, the panel member pivotally moveable between a second closed position and a second open position, the panel member adapted to close the portal when the offset member is in the first closed position and the panel member is in the second closed position; and a locking means for locking the off-set member in the closed position, the locking means including an activation means located on the edge of the off-set member, wherein the panel member covers the activation means when it is in the second closed position and uncovers the activation means when it is in the second open position.

F:\piaKeepSpc\p4417 DUAL HINGED FRAME COMP.doc 2/0702 3- Preferably the closure is for a window. Alternatively the closure is for a doorway.

Preferably the frame lines at least one side of the portal. Preferably the frame is rectangular and lines four sides of the portal.

Preferably the off-set member is arranged to space a first hinge for coupling the off-set member to the frame from a second hinge for coupling the panel member to the off-set member such that the first hinge and second hinge are sufficiently spaced to allow the panel member to fully open. Preferably the first hinge is one of a first set of hinges coupling the off-set member to the frame. Preferably the second hinge member is one of a second set of hinges coupling the panel member to the off-set member.

Preferably the off-set member is an elongate member extending along a side of the frame and having a width substantially equal to the spacing between the first hinge and second hinge such that the first hinge and second hinge are sufficiently spaced to allow the panel member to fully open.

In one embodiment the panel member includes a window pane. Preferably the panel member includes a sub-frame. Preferably the sub-frame holds the window pane.

Alternatively the panel member includes a door.

Preferably the locking means is mounted in the off-set means. Preferably the locking means includes a bolt that is housed in the off-set means, the bolt movable to an extended position into a hole in the frame to lock the off-set means in position in a locked configuration and movable to a recessed position where it is withdrawn from the hole to unlock the off-set means in an unlocked configuration.

Preferably the activation means is a lever coupled to the bolt of the locking means.

Preferably the activation lever of the locking means is coupled to the bolt for moving the bolt between its recessed position and the extended position. Preferably the F: piM.pSp.p4W647 DUAL HINGED FRAME COMPdoc 2/07/02 4 activation leaver is recessed in the off-set member.

In order to provide a better understanding, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a closure in accordance with the present invention in a closed configuration; Figure 2 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 1 in a partly opened configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 1 in a fully opened configuration; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the closure of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a closure 10 including a frame 12 mounted to the inside of a portal 11 in a brickwork wall 14 of a building structure. The frame 12 is hingedly coupled to an off-set member 16 by at least one hinge 18. A panel member is hingedly coupled to the off-set member 16 by at least one hinge 22 on an opposite side of the off-set member to hinge 18. In the Figures the closure is a French door. The panel member includes a pane of glass 24.

It can be seen that the frame 12 is recessed from an exterior edge 26 of the wall 14 to allow for a security roller shutter (indicated by mounting 28) to close over the portal 11 provided in the wall 14. The off-set member 16 and the panel member 20 are both shown in closed positions in Figure 1 so that the portal 11 in the brickwork 14 is thus closed.

Referring to Figure 2 it can be seen that the panel member 20 and the off-set member 3 0 have been pivoted about hinge 18 so as to effectively open the door by F:\p\.W.p\Sp.\p4647 DUAL INGED FLQ4E COMPdA 27/02 5 In Figure 3 the panel member has been pivoted about hinge 22 so that the window is effectively opened 180°. Due to the off-set member, the panel member 20, and thus the panel 24, is spaced from the frame by approximately the width of the off-set member 16 so that the panel member 20 can be fully opened, despite the recessing of the frame 12 within the portal 11. Also shown are seals 15 and 17 for preventing the ingress of water/breeze when the door is closed.

Referring to Figure 4, it is desirable to lock the off-set member in its closed position while the door (panel member 20) is closed. A locking means 30 is therefore provided to lock the off-set member 16 in a closed position. The locking means 30 is in the form of a bolt 32 that is extendable through a hole in the base 34 of the off-set member so that it mates with a hole or recess 36 of the frame 12. This prevents the off-set member from pivoting about the hinge 18. The bolt 32 is connected to a pivotable lever 38 that moves the bolt 32 between an unlocked position (shown with a solid line) and a locked position (shown with a dashed line). An end piece 40 extends between a pair of guides 42 that guide the movement of the bolt 32. Further guide 44 is provided close the bottom of the bolt 32. The door may also be provided with a lock in the conventional manner.

The lever 38 is located on and recessed within the longitudinal edge of the off-set member coupled to the door. When the door is closed, it coves the lever, and when the door is opened relative to the off-set member, the lever is revealed.

The method and operation of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The closure 10 (in this case a French door) is installed in a portal 11 within the wall 14 of a building structure. It will be appreciated that other forms of closure can be provided, such as a normal door or a window. The frame 12 of the closure is fixed to the wall 14 so that it is recessed from an exterior edge 26 of the wall 14 to provide space for a security shutter 28. To open the door, a lock (if provided on the panel member in the conventional manner) is first opened. The panel member 20 may then be swung open, F:.ViA\KG Sp.'pf4M17 DUAL MINGED FAIAM COMP do 217072 pivoting about the hinge 22 so that it is open by approximately 90°. The lever of the locking means 30 is then revealed. It may then be unlocked by moving the lever 38 to an unlocked position (as shown in Figure The off-set member (and the panel member) may then be swung by about 90°. This will result in the door 24 being swung a total of approximately 180° as represented by Figure 3. The door is thus opened without obstructing the view or airflow.

To close the door, the off-set member 16 is swung from its open position to its closed position. The locking means 30 is then engaged by moving the lever 38 to a locked position (shown dashed in Figure 4) which thus bolts the off-set member in position.

The door 24 may therefore be swung from its open position to its closed position and then locked, if desired. This will also cover the lever 38 of the locking means A skilled addressee will appreciate that the present invention provides the advantage of being able to fully open a closure, such as a window or door, even though it is recesses within a portal through a wall.

Modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the basic inventive concept. Such modifications may include the actual form or size of the closure and the relative positioning of the off-set member. Such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is it be determined from the foregoing description.

F:WpiW.\sp.sp4647 DUAL HINGED FRAME COWPP do2 07/2

Claims

1. A closure for a portal in a structure including: a frame for coupling to the structure; an off-set member hingedly coupled to the frame, the off-set member pivotally moveable between a first closed position and a first open position; a panel member hingedly coupled to the off-set member along an edge of the off-set member, the panel member pivotally moveable between a second closed position and a second open position, the panel member adapted to close the portal when the off- set member is in the first closed position and the panel member is in the second closed position; and a locking means for locking the off-set member in the closed position, the locking means including an activation means located on the edge of the off-set member, wherein the panel member covers the activation means when it is in the second closed position and uncovers the activation means when it is in the second open position.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the frame lines at least one side of the portal.

3. A closure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the off-set member is arranged to space a first hinge for coupling the off-set member to the frame from a second hinge for coupling the panel member to the off-set member such that the first hinge and second hinge are sufficiently spaced to allow the panel member to fully open.

4. A closure according to claim 3, wherein the off-set member is an elongate member extending along a side of the frame and having a width substantially equal to the spacing between the first hinge and second hinge. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking means is mounted in the off-set means.

F: pkNtp\Spmp46417 DUAL HINGED FRAME.- COME 2/07/02 8

6. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking means includes a bolt that is housed in the off-set means, the bolt movable to an extended position into a hole in the frame to lock the off-set means in position in a locked configuration and movable to a recessed position where it is withdrawn from the hole to unlock the off-set means in an unlocked configuration.

7. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the activation means is a lever coupled to the bolt of the locking means.

8. A closure according to any one of claims I to 7, wherein the activation lever of the locking means is coupled to the bolt for moving the bolt between its recessed position and the extended position.

9. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the activation leaver is recessed in the off-set member. Dated this 2 d day of July 2002 BENFRANCA NOMINEES PTY LTD By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia F\p K.Mp'cp4647 7 DUAL HINGED FRAME COMPdo 2/02