EP1441097A1

EP1441097A1 - Turn-tilt mechanism for windows of small dimensions

Info

Publication number: EP1441097A1
Application number: EP04386002A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ioannis Kounelis
Original assignee: Lock Industry Domus Security SA
Current assignee: Lock Industry Domus Security SA
Priority date: 2003-01-14
Filing date: 2004-01-14
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Also published as: GR1004525B

Abstract

A turn-tilt mechanism for windows of extraordinarily small width of the order of 25-35 cm that are not capable to receive mechanisms of the prior art. The achievement of the proposed mechanism is the elimination of the previously employed connection bars of the scissor to the slotted angle bend of the mechanism. The mechanism comprises a slotted angle bend (1) within which moves a motion transmitting steel strap assembly (8) for transferring the movement of an operating handle (27) to the mechanism, an L-shaped end flat metal bar (2) connected to an upper hinge (24) of pivotal connection of the window casement and a link scissor member (3) associated with a supplementary arm (7) for the connection of angle bend (1) and end flat metal bar (2), where member (3) moves so as to alternatively bring parts (1,2) in alignment providing for the window turning operation or set them at an angle providing for window tilting.

Description

THE FIELD OF THE ART

The present invention relates to a mechanism for turn-tilt windows, the mechanism being particularly applicable in windows of small dimensions wherein application of mechanisms of the prior art is not possible. The mechanism of the invention eliminates the employment of motion transmitting connection bars of the scissor to the slotted angle bend within which moves the motion transmitting steel strap, thereby enhancing speed and facilitating assembly of the mechanism.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Turn-tilt windows, i.e. windows that might alternatively operate as traditional rotatably opened windows or tilted to allow a certain predetermined ventilation aperture are broadly used nowadays. As in traditional windows, a pair of hinges is employed to pivot the window casement to the window frame. However, these hinges further to their conventional role of pivoting the window casement along a vertical axis from which it may be turned to an opened or closed position, they also serve as a means of effecting a translation of the window casement to a tilted position by movement of the hinges thereof along a horizontal axis perpendicularly oriented to the aforesaid vertical axis. An operating handle located at the side of the window opposite to the side of pivotal connection thereof to the pair of hinges is used to define the opened or closed or tilted position of the window.
Conventional mechanisms of turn-tilt windows of the prior art, such as those described in US 3,994,093 and GB 2,067,638 are embodied within the upper window casement member and comprise the slotted angle bend within which moves the motion transmitting steel strap, said slotted angle bend located at the same side as the operating handle and comprising a vertically extending leg connected to the operating handle by means of a motion transmitting connection bar cut to a length depending on the height of the window casement and a horizontally extending leg connected to the scissor element at the upper horizontal member of the window casement by means of another motion transmitting connection bar cut to a length depending on the width of the window casement. The abovementioned motion transmitting steel strap movable within the slotted angle bend constitutes the means of transmission of the reciprocating movement of the steel strap in the vertical direction effected by rotation of the operating handle to a reciprocating movement thereof in the horizontal direction transferred to the scissor element of the mechanism. The scissor element located at the upper horizontal member of the window casement is connected to an L-shaped flat metal bar, a vertically extending portion thereof bent at the upper corner of the window casement coming in contact and being fixedly connected to a rotatable collar of the upper hinge whereupon the window is pivotally mounted, thereby defining the aperture being provided by the window being brought into a tilted position. Given the standard dimensions of both the scissor element and the L-shaped flat metal bar, it is the length of the motion transmitting connection bar of the scissor to the slotted angle bend that must be varied in order to account for windows of differing widths. Following cutting to length of the motion transmitting connection bar, the same must be perforated to allow for connecting it onto the scissor at the one side and onto the slotted angle bend at the other side thereof. Such mechanisms of the prior art include a mounting accessory of the scissor element that allows for a marginal limited adjustment of the eventual overall length of the mechanism. However such adjustment capability is very restricted indeed and therefore the only means of adapting the mechanism onto a window of different width is the cutting, perforating and connecting another piece of connection bar of the appropriate length. One has therefore to be particularly careful during the assembly process of the mechanism to avoid such time consuming repeated process.
Due to such design of turn-tilt mechanisms of the prior art with such motion transmitting connection bars, these mechanisms can only be applied to windows that have a width exceeding a minimum value of around 35 cm and application thereof in windows of smaller dimensions is not possible. However, it is often desired, either due to architectural preferences or to limited availability of space, to install turn-tilt mechanisms in windows of small dimensions and more specifically in windows with a width smaller than the abovementioned minimal value of around 35 cm.
The object of the present invention is to effectively overcome the abovementioned drawback of the window turn-tilt mechanisms of the prior art relating to their inability of application in windows having a width less than a minimal value of around 35 cm and provide a turn-tilt mechanism for windows having a width less than the abovementioned minimal value and most preferably having a width within a range of 25-35 cm.
The above main object of the invention is achieved with a turn-tilt mechanism for windows wherein the connection bar employed in the prior art to connect the slotted angle bend located at the upper left comer of the window casement within which moves the motion transmitting steel strap to the scissor element located within the upper member of the window casement is eliminated and connection of the angle bend to the scissor element is performed without any intermediate accessory. This results in an obvious advantage of reduced assembly time, since the technician does not need to perform the time consuming activity of measuring and cutting to length the connection bar, perforating and eventually connecting the same in between the angle bend and the scissor element.
Another object of the invention is to provide for a self adjustment capability of the turn-tilt mechanism for windows proposed in the invention having different widths in the range of 25-35 cm by providing alternative sizes of the end L-shaped flat metal bar connected to the upper hinge of pivotal connection of the window, and further by providing for a marginal final adjustment to length through sliding of the alternatively selected L-shaped flat metal bar prior to fixedly mounting the same onto the mechanism assembly. In the mechanism of the invention the person carrying out the installation can roughly determine the required length of L-shaped flat metal bar and henceforth slide the same to the precisely appropriate position prior to eventually fixedly mounting the same.
A further object of the invention is to propose an overall design of the turn-tilt mechanism adapted to windows of extraordinarily small width ranging from 25-35 cm with fixtures and accessories such as to render manufacturing of the same in a functionally optimum manner at the lowest cost possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein is depicted an illustrative preferred embodiment.
Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of the proposed turn-tilt mechanism of the invention adaptable to windows of extraordinarily small width.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the turn-tilt mechanism of the invention assembled and ready to use.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the turn-tilt mechanism of the invention being brought in a tilted position.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a cross sectional and perspective view respectively of the assembled turn-tilt mechanism of the invention.
Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the entire set of accessories used in association with the turn-tilt mechanism for windows of extraordinarily small width of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow will be described an illustrative, preferred embodiment of the turn-tilt mechanism for windows of extraordinarily small width of the present invention, that is applicable in window casements made from aluminium profile or wood or plastic or any material whatsoever.
The mechanism of the invention indicated by the overall numeral 100 in Fig. 6 comprises three main parts:
a. the slotted angle bend 1 within which moves the motion transmitting steel strap 8 for transferring the movement of the operating handle 27 to the mechanism.
b. the L-shaped end flat metal bar 2 connected to the upper hinge of pivotal connection of the window casement, and
c. a link scissor member 3 associated with a supplementary arm 7 for the connection of abovementioned slotted angle bend 1 and L-shaped end flat metal bar 2, that alternatively aligns parts 1 and 2 to provide for the turning operation of the window to the opened or closed position or sets parts 1 and 2 at a predetermined angle corresponding to the window tilting angle, wherein a roller 12 is employed that is sliding inwards or outwards a channel of a slider plug member 4 located along the horizontal upper member of the window casement to alternatively respectively define the turn or tilt condition of the window casement.
The link scissor member 3 is an elongated bar of rectangular section comprising a central section 3b of a length equivalent to the length of the supplementary arm 7, said central section 3b being elevated with regard to sections 3a and 3c extending on respective sides thereof that lie on the same plane. A pair of holes 16, 17 is provided onto the section 3a of the link scissor member 3 for respectively connecting link scissor member 3 to the angle bend 1 and to the supplementary arm 7. A guide peg 18 is provided on the surface of section 3c of the link scissor member 3 that is slidably inserted into a channel 19 of the end flat metal bar 2, a pair of holes 20 being provided on either side of guide peg 18 wherein are driven a pair of screws 15 by means of which link scissor member 3 is fixedly connected to the end flat metal bar 2.
The L-shaped end flat metal bar 2 is a member of rectangular section with a leg 21 extending longitudinally along the horizontal upper member of the window casement and being provided with aforementioned channel 19 for connection to the link member 3 in the afore described manner and a vertically extending leg 22 being provided with a pair of holes 23 for connection to the upper hinge 24 of the window assembly.
The angle bend 1 also is an L-shaped bar of rectangular section slotted throughout its entire length with a vertically extending leg 29 and a horizontally extending leg 30 along the upper member of the window casement. A motion transmitting steel strap 8 is introduced within the continuous slot 31 formed throughout the length of angle bend 1, the continuous slot extending between a bottom end 31 a at the vertical side and an upper end 31b at the horizontal side of the angle bend 1. In accordance to a preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of superimposed identical steel strap elements 8 (Fig. 1) are employed, such as to render a desirable resultant stiffness and flexibility of the steel strap assembly. Each one of the aforementioned steel strap elements is provided with an arrangement of lower and upper holes 8a and 8b respectively.
An upper horizontally extending slider plug member 4 is provided with an arrangement of protruding pins 4b for connection within the upper holes 8b of the steel strap assembly 8, whereas a similar arrangement of protruding pins (not shown) is provided on the inner side of an elongated arm 32 of the lower vertically extending slider plug member 5 for connection within the lower holes 8a of the steel strap assembly 8.
The elongated arm 32 of the lower vertically extending slider plug member 5 is slidably inserted within the continuous slot 31 of the angle bend portion 1 through the above mentioned bottom end 31a thereof, whereas a bottom broadened end 34 of the lower vertically extending slider plug member 5 is provided with a protruding button means 35 for connection to the operating handle 27 via an intermediate bar mechanism 26.
The upper slider plug member 4 inserted through the upper end 31b of continuous slot 31 of the angle bend 1 has an elongated arm 33 slidably inserted into slot 31, whereas the broadened end 36 thereof comprises a Π shaped wall 37 defining a channel 38 wherein is inserted the guide roller 12 whilst the window is in the ready to turn to open/close condition. The guide roller 12 is fixedly mounted onto the link scissor member 3 being screwed thereupon by means of bolt means 11 driven into the aperture 28 thereof. The length of channel 38 corresponds to the stroke of the steel strap assembly 8 and accordingly of the upper and lower slider plug means 4 and 5 respectively as the operating handle 27 is rotated in between the position of opening and position of closure of the window, whilst when the operating handle 27 is turned at the tilted condition, roller 12 is extracted from channel 38 and link scissor member 3 is released so as to be capable of bringing the window in the tilted condition.
In order to provide for connection of link scissor member 3 to the slotted angle bend 1, whilst in the same time allowing for the unobstructed passage of the steel strap assembly 8 through the continuous channel 31 of the slotted angle bend 1, a rectilinear plate member 6 (Fig. 1) with an internal channel 6a for the passage of the steel strap assembly 8 is employed, wherein a flexible hairpin shaped member 9 is employed to assist the alignment of the internal channel 6a of the rectilinear plate member 6 with the continuous slot 31 of the angle bend 1 and therefore allow for the unobstructed passage of the steel strap assembly 8. The upper horizontally extending leg 30 of the angle bend 1 is provided with an additional rectilinear member 42 that is mounted near the comer end of the angle bend and comprises a pair of apertures 39 for fixedly mounting thereof onto the upper leg 30 of the angle bend 1 through screws 14 and a longitudinal slot 41 through which passes a connecting pin 10 that holds in place the rectilinear plate member 6 through engagement with the flexible hairpin shaped member 9 thereof, said connecting pin 10 eventually passing through an end aperture 16 of the link scissor member 3 to pivotally connect the latter onto the angle bend member 1. This pivotal connection of link scissor member 3 to the angle bend 1 allows rotation thereof through an arc allowed by the supplementary arm 7 as the window is being brought in the tilted position.
The supplementary arm 7 comprises a pair of end apertures 7a and 7b. A connecting pin 13a passes through the above aperture 7a and accordingly through the aperture 17 of section 3a of the link scissor member 3 to effect a pivotal connection of the supplementary arm 7 to the link scissor member 3. On the other hand, a connecting pin 13b passes through the above aperture 7b and through an end aperture 40 of the horizontally extending leg 30 of the angle bend 1 to effect a pivotal connection of the supplementary arm 7 to the angle bend 1. Movement of the supplementary arm 7 around the aforementioned connecting pins 13a, 13b defining the pivotal connection thereof result in translation of the mechanism of the invention from the ready to open/close position depicted in Fig. 5 wherein the angle bend 1 is in alignment with the always aligned combination of the link scissor member 3 and end flat metal bar 2 to the ready to tilt position depicted in Fig. 3 wherein the angle bend 1 forms an angle with the always aligned combination of the link scissor member 3 and end flat metal bar 2, such angle corresponding to the angle at which the window casement is being tilted.
It is noted that various changes and amendments may be made in the above described illustrative preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Mechanism for turn-tilt windows that might alternatively operate as traditional rotatably opened windows or tilted to allow a certain predetermined ventilation aperture, a pair of hinges (24, 25) being employed to pivot the window casement to a vertically extending member of the window frame, wherein these hinges further to their conventional role of pivoting the window casement along a vertical axis from which it may be turned to an opened or closed position, they also serve as a means of effecting a translation of the window casement to a tilted position by movement of the bottom hinge (25) along a horizontal axis perpendicularly oriented to the aforesaid vertical axis and by extension of the upper hinge (24) to follow such inclined orientation of the window casement, an operating handle (27) being located at the side of the window opposite to the side of pivotal connection thereof to said pair of hinges, said operating handle (27) being rotatable in three alternative positions respectively defining the opened, closed and tilted position of the window casement, said mechanism comprising a slotted angle bend (1) within which moves a motion transmitting steel strap (8) for transferring the movement of said operating handle (27) to the mechanism, an L-shaped end flat metal bar (2) connected to said upper hinge (24) of pivotal connection of the window casement, and a link scissor member (3) associated with a supplementary arm (7) for the connection of said slotted angle bend (1) and L-shaped end flat metal bar (2), said link scissor member (3) being fixedly mounted in alignment with an upper horizontally extending leg (21) of said end flat metal bar (2) and being alternatively brought in alignment with said angle bend (1) to provide for the turning operation of the window to the opened or closed position or is being set at a predetermined angle with said angle bend (1) to provide for the tilting operation of the window, said mechanism being characterized by that it is applicable to windows of extraordinarily small width, less than a minimal value of around 35 cm of turn-tilt mechanisms of the prior art, wherein the connection bar employed in the prior art to connect said angle bend (1) within which moves the motion transmitting steel strap (8) to the link scissor element (3) located within the upper member of the window casement is eliminated and connection of the angle bend (1) to the link scissor member (3) is performed without any intermediate accessory, a guide roller (12) being employed that is sliding inwards or outwards a channel (38) of a slider plug member (4) located along the horizontal upper member of the window casement and connected to said motion transmitting steel strap (8) to alternatively respectively define the turn to open/close or tilt condition of the window casement.
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 1, characterized by that it is applicable in windows having a width less than a minimal value of 35 cm and preferably having a width within a range of 25-35 cm.
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 1, characterized by that said link scissor member (3) is an elongated bar of rectangular section comprising a central section (3b) of a length equivalent to the length of the supplementary arm (7), said central section (3b) being elevated with regard to sections (3a) and (3c) extending on respective sides thereof that lie on the same plane, wherein a pair of holes (16,17) is provided onto said section (3a) of the link scissor member (3) for respectively connecting link scissor member (3) to the angle bend (1) and to the supplementary arm (7), whilst a guide peg (18) is provided on the surface of said section (3c) of the link scissor member (3) said guide peg (18) being slidably inserted into a channel (19) of said end flat metal bar (2), a pair of holes (20) being provided on either side of said guide peg (18) wherein are driven a pair of screws (15) by means of which said link scissor member (3) is fixedly connected to said end flat metal bar (2).
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to the above claims 1-3, characterized by that said end flat metal bar (2) is an L-shaped member of rectangular section comprising a leg (21) extending longitudinally along the horizontal upper member of the window casement and being provided with said channel (19) for connection to said link scissor member (3) and a vertically extending leg (22) being provided with a pair of holes (23) for connection to said upper hinge (24) of the window assembly, wherein in order to provide for installation of the turn-tilt mechanism in windows having different widths within the range of 25-35 cm, said end flat metal bar (2) is provided in two or more alternative sizes, wherein the person carrying out the installation can roughly determine the required length of L-shaped flat metal bar (2), whilst a further marginal final adjustment to length is performed through sliding of said guide peg (18) slidably inserted into said channel (19) of the alternatively selected L-shaped flat metal bar (2) to the precisely appropriate position prior to eventually fixedly mounting the same by driving said pair of screws (15) into said pair of holes (20) being provided on either side of said guide peg (18) thereby effecting fixed connection of said end flat metal bar (2) to said link scissor member (3).
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 1, characterized by that said angle bend (1) is an L-shaped bar of rectangular section slotted throughout its entire length with a vertically extending leg (29) connected via intermediate member (26) to said operating handle (27) and a horizontally extending leg (30) along the upper member of the window casement connected to said link scissor member (3) and said supplementary arm (7), wherein a continuous slot (31) is formed throughout the length of said angle bend (1) within both said legs (29,30) thereof with said motion transmitting steel strap (8) being introduced within said continuous slot (31) extending between a bottom end (31a) at the vertical side and an upper end (31b) at the horizontal side of the angle bend (1), wherein said steel strap assembly (8) is provided with an arrangement of lower and upper holes (8a) and (8b) at the two ends thereof respectively for connection to protruding pins of a vertically extending slider plug member (5) and of a horizontally extending slider plug member (4).
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 5, characterized by that said slider plug member (5) comprising an elongated arm (32) slidably inserted within said continuous slot (31) of the angle bend (1) through said bottom end (31a) thereof, whereas a broadened end (34) of the vertically extending slider plug member (5) is provided with a protruding button means (35) for connection to said operating handle (27) via said intermediate member (26), and by that said slider plug member (4) comprising an elongated arm (33) slidably inserted through said upper end (31b) within said continuous slot (31) of the angle bend (1), whereas a broadened end (36) thereof comprises an Π shaped wall (37) defining a longitudinal channel (38) wherein is inserted said guide roller (12) whilst the window is in the ready to turn to open/close condition, said guide roller (12) being fixedly mounted onto said link scissor member (3), wherein the length of said channel (38) corresponds to the stroke of said steel strap assembly (8) and accordingly to the stroke of said upper and lower slider plug members (4, 5) as the operating handle (27) is rotated in between the position of opening and position of closure of the window, whilst when the operating handle (27) is turned at the tilted condition, said guide roller (12) is extracted from said channel (38) and link scissor member (3) is released so as to be capable of bringing the window in the tilted condition.
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 6, characterized by that with a scope of providing for connection of said link scissor member (3) to said slotted angle bend (1), whilst in the same time allowing for the unobstructed passage of said steel strap assembly (8) through the continuous channel (31) of the slotted angle bend 1 from the bottom end (31a) to the upper end (31b) thereof, a rectilinear plate member (6) with an internal channel (6a) for the passage of the steel strap assembly (8) is employed, wherein a flexible hairpin shaped member (9) is employed to assist the horizontal alignment of said internal channel (6a) of the rectilinear plate member (6) with the continuous slot (31) of the angle bend (1) and therefore allow for the unobstructed passage of the steel strap assembly (8).
Mechanism for turn-tilt windows according to claim 7, characterized by that in order to render a desirable resultant stiffness and flexibility of the steel strap assembly (8) a plurality of superimposed identical steel strap elements (8) are employed.