EP1566516A2

EP1566516A2 - High security shutter with orientable blades

Info

Publication number: EP1566516A2
Application number: EP04030555A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Andreoli
Original assignee: SIPAR Srl
Current assignee: SIPAR Srl
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2004-12-23
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Also published as: EP1566516A3; ITMI20040286A1

Abstract

A high security shutter (1) with adjustable blades, comprising at least a blade engaged with a corresponding metal profile onto whose opposite ends hubs are inserted, which hubs are guided turnably through holes of the uprights of the shutter frame, and levers for rotatingly actuating the hubs, which levers are operatively connected to the shutter handle (6), having further metal elements with longitudinal development and high mechanical resistance for connection between levers and profile, which elements are arranged through the holes and the hubs.

Description

The present invention relates to a high security shutter with adjustable blades.
In a shutter with adjustable blades as is present on the market today, each adjustable blade comprises an aluminum profile supporting a pane and carried by hubs introduced by pressing its ends and in their turn carried turnably by holes of the uprights of the shutter frame.
Levers operatively connected to the shutter handle are fastened onto an end of said hubs by means of screws.
One of the drawbacks of known solutions consists in that the pressure coupling between profile and hubs progressively tends to get loose, thus resulting in a less effective condition, due to a correct or incorrect use and/or to heat expansions.
Moreover, if subjected to a cross breaking load both as thrust or traction, the profile tends to get out of the hubs, thus breaking them.
Frame uprights and crosspieces are fastened as a rule by means of screws, which during the transport thereof to the building yard and/or during the laying thereof do not ensure the necessary stiffness, so that the frame tends to deform and loses its squaring when resting on imperfect planes, due to its own weight or to anomalous stresses.
Another drawback is due to the structure of uprights, generally made up of a first profile whose open side is closed with a second profile snap fitted therein, since when fastened onto a wall with screws said uprights tend to bend and get wider on the open side of the first profile, thus letting the second profile get out or shift and endangering the solidity of the overall structure.
Furthermore, blades in closing position do not sometimes allow a sufficient contact pressure so as to ensure shutter watertight sealing.
Eventually, required shutter height is not always a multiple of the height of said adjustable blades, which to manufacturers' convenience are carried out with a standard distance, so that an adjustable padding blade with suitable size is inserted into the air gap between the upper crosspiece of the frame and the last standard adjustable blade, which however makes shutter appearance worse.
The technical task of the present invention is therefore to make a high security shutter with adjustable blades that enables to overcome the technical drawbacks of known technique.
In the framework of said technical task, an aim of the invention is to make a high security shutter with adjustable blades offering an improved resistance to burglary and/or breaking and/or cutting.
Another aim of the invention is to make a high security shutter with adjustable blades that is solid, strong and mechanically stable, so as to keep squaring in case of normal or anomalous stresses.
Still another aim of the present invention is to make a high security shutter with adjustable blades and with extremely solid frame uprights, which do not deform even when being fastened onto a wall.
A further aim of the present invention is to provide a high security shutter with adjustable blades that enables to adjust contact pressure between blades, so as to obtain a perfectly watertight shutter in any situation.
Last but not least, an aim of the present invention is to make a high security shutter with adjustable blades that has a pleasant appearance even when a residual air gap of said shutter has to be covered with a blade having non standard size.
The technical task and these and other aims are achieved according to the present invention by making a high security shutter with adjustable blades, comprising at least a blade engaged with a corresponding metal profile onto whose opposite ends hubs are inserted, which hubs are guided turnably through holes of the frame uprights of said shutter, and levers for actuating rotatingly said hubs, which levers are operatively connected to the handle of said shutter, characterized in that it has metal elements with longitudinal development and high mechanical resistance for connection between said levers and said profile, which elements are arranged through said holes and said hubs.
Other characteristics of the present invention are further defined in the following claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description of a preferred though not exclusive embodiment of the high security shutter with adjustable blades according to the invention, shown to a mere illustrative and non-limiting purpose in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show a detail of the opening mechanism of a window according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in three different operating conditions of the handle;
Figure 2 shows a view in lateral elevation of one of the adjustable blades of Figures 1a-1c;
Figure 3 shows a sectioned and detailed top view of the connection of one side of the adjustable blade to the window frame of Figures 1a-1c;
Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the connection between an upright and a crosspiece of the window of Figures 1a-1c;
Figure 5 is a view in lateral elevation of a fixed padding blade of the window of Figures 1a-1c;
Figure 6 is a detailed view in lateral elevation of the shifting mechanism of the adjustable blades of the window of Figs. 1a-1c; and
Figures 7a and 7b show a plan view of double span uprights that can be used for making the frame of the window of Figures 1a-1c, whereas Figure 7c shows a single span upright that can be used for making the frame of the window of Figures 1a-1c.

With reference to the figures mentioned above, said figures show a high security shutter, for instance a window, with adjustable blades, globally referred to with number 1.
Window 1 comprises a frame 2 made up of crosspieces 3 connected to uprights 4 supporting adjustable blades 5.
Adjustable blades 5 are operatively connected to handle 6 by means of an actuating mechanism turning the reversible rotation of handle 6 into a reversible rotation of adjustable blades 5, from a closing position in which adjustable blades 5 are arranged in coplanar position inside the lying plane of frame 2 and with their top in contact with the base of the following adjustable blade 5, to an opening position in which adjustable blades 5 are arranged parallel to one another and extend transversally outside the lying plane of frame 2.
Each adjustable blade 5 is engaged by pressing with a corresponding metal profile 7, onto whose opposite ends hubs 8 guided turnably through corresponding holes 9 of uprights 4 are inserted.
In the space between each end of profile 7 and the side facing adjacent upright 4, each hub 8 extends basically along the longitudinal extension of profile 7, so as to create as a whole together with profile 7 an element extending transversally without interruptions between uprights 4.
Hubs 8 are connected to one end of corresponding levers 10, whose other end is hinged to rods sliding longitudinally inside corresponding uprights 4.
Rod 11 placed inside upright 4 carrying handle 6 receives its shifting movement from an engagement tooth 12 actuated by handle 6 and drags indirectly rod 11 placed in the other upright 11, the latter rod being connected through adjustable blades 5 to hubs 8 and levers 10.
Both rods 11 thus execute a simultaneous shift having the same size, which enables to synchronize the rotation of all adjustable blades 5.
Window 1 comprises metal elements 13 developing longitudinally and having a high mechanical resistance for connection between levers 10 of each adjustable blade 5 and the corresponding metal profile 7, said elements being arranged through hubs 8 and corresponding holes 9.
Metal elements 13 comprise self-threading screws, preferably made of hardened steel and preferably screwed onto opposite ends of an eyelet 14 of profile 7 having longitudinal development and half-circular section.
Eyelet 14 of profile 7 has inside a cut preventing rotating bar 15 extending between said self-threading screws.
Said cut preventing rotating bar 15 is again made of hardened steel.
Each profile 7 has such a tubular shape as to resist in an excellent manner to breaking, and comprises an outer portion 16 extending mainly in a basically orthogonal direction with respect to the side of blade 5 pointing outside, and an inner portion 17 extending mainly in a basically parallel direction with respect to the side of blade 5 pointing inside, and in particular outer portion 16 basically overlaps the outline of the outer side of blade 5, whereas inner portion 17 extends basically outside the bottom edge of blade 5.
Eyelet 14 is obtained in particular inside outer portion 16 of profile 7.
Inner portion 17 of profile 7 has a housing seat 18 of a seal 19 abutting against the inner side of the top end of adjacent blade 5 when blades 5 are in closing position, so as to create a watertight condition.
Moreover, profile 7 has an inclined surface for water draining, if necessary slightly curved, having its origin in housing seat 18 of seal 19 and protruding from the outer side of blade 5.
In the shifting mechanism for blades 5, rod 11 placed inside upright 4 carrying handle 6 is engaged in an adjustable position with a connection block 20, engaging firmly with engagement tooth 12.
Said rod 11 has at least a longitudinal slot 22 engaging in adjustable position with block 20.
In particular, in order to regulate contact pressure between blades 5 and corresponding seals 19, before fastening rod 11 to block 20, said rod 11 is manually led to the desired position corresponding to blades 5 closing with a desired contact pressure, and then said rod 11 is fastened to block 20 through screws 23 joining holes 24 of block 20 to corresponding longitudinal slots 22 in the desired position for rod 11.
Preferably, on the side of rod 11 opposite the one engaging with block 20 there is a stiffening plate 25, opposed to block 20.
Stiffening plate 25 is fastened to rod 11 through the same screws joining rod 11 to block 20.
Advantageously, in window 1 the connection between uprights 4 and crosspieces 3 is carried out by means of angular plates 26.
In particular, the figures show by way of example the level side 27 of an angular plate 26 having parallel edges engaged into parallel troughs of guide 28 obtained along the outer side of the upper face of crosspiece 3, whereas the other level side 29 of angular plate 26 is fastened to the inner side of the face of upright 4 facing profile 7 by means of screws 57 engaging with longitudinal eyelets 58 obtained as one piece in the inner section of crosspiece 3.
Window 1 can make use of single span or double span uprights 4 in case of a very broad horizontal air gap of the window opening.
Single span upright 4 as shown in Figure 7c is made up of a first U-shaped profile 31 having engagement seats 34 obtained along its longitudinal edges, and of a second flat profile 32 closing the open side of first profile 31, having along its longitudinal edges engagement teeth 33 engaged with guides 34 through relative longitudinal sliding.
Double span upright 4 as shown in Figure 7a is made up of a first U-shaped profile 35 having first engagement seats 36 obtained along its longitudinal edges, of a second U-shaped profile 37, preferably identical to first profile 35, having second engagement seats 38 obtained along its longitudinal edges, and of a third flat profile 39 closing the open side of first and second profiles 35 and 37, having along its longitudinal edges two engagement teeth 40 and 41 engaged with first and second engagement seats 36 and 38 through relative longitudinal sliding.
Double span upright 4 as shown in Figure 7b is made up of a first U-shaped profile 42 having first engagement seats 43 obtained along its longitudinal edges, of a second U-shaped profile 44, preferably identical to first profile 42, having second engagement seats 45 obtained along its longitudinal edges, and of a third and fourth flat profile 46 and 47 closing the open side of first and second profiles 42 and 44, having along their longitudinal edges first engagement teeth 48 and 49 engaged with first and second engagement seats 43 and 45 through relative longitudinal sliding, and having further second cross teeth 50 and 51 for mutual engagement.
Preferably, third and fourth profile 46 and 47 are identical and have on each of their faces second cross teeth 50 and 51 arranged in two pairs of teeth with different on-centers, so that second teeth 50 with smaller on-center of third profile 46 can engage with second teeth 51 with greater on-center of fourth profile 47, and on the other side second teeth 50 with greater on-center of third profile 46 can engage with second teeth 51 with smaller on-center of fourth profile 47.
Uprights 4 can thus be perfectly reversible.
Window 1 eventually enables closing of the horizontal air gap that might be present between last adjustable blade 5 and upper crosspiece 3 of the frame, thus ensuring a pleasant appearance.
In particular, a fixed blade 52 is used, which is housed between a guide 53 obtained on the outer side of the lower face of upper crosspiece 3, and a U-shaped guide 54 having an outer abutment side for seal 19 of profile 7 of adjacent adjustable blade 5.
Guide 53 has eventually on the ends of its base holes 55 so as to be fastened by means of screws 56 to frame uprights 4.
The high security shutter with adjustable blades thus conceived can undergo several changes and variants, all of which fall within the inventive idea; furthermore, all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.
In practice any material and any size, depending on needs and on the state of the art, can be used.

Claims

A high security shutter structure with adjustable blades, comprising at least a blade engaged with a corresponding metal profile onto whose opposite ends hubs are inserted, which hubs are guided turnably through holes of the uprights of the frame of said shutter, and levers for rotatingly actuating said hubs, which levers are operatively connected to the handle of said shutter, characterized in that it has metal elements with longitudinal development and high mechanical resistance for connection between said levers and said profile, which elements are arranged through said holes and said hubs.
The shutter structure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said metal elements for connection between said levers and said profile comprise self-threading screws.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said self-threading screws are made of hardened steel.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said self-threading screws are screwed onto the opposite ends of an eyelet of said profile having longitudinal development and half-circular section.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said eyelet has inside a cut preventing bar extending between said self-threading screws.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the gap between said profile and said uprights, said hubs extend basically along the longitudinal extension of said profile.
The shutter structure according.to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profile comprises an outer portion extending mainly in a basically orthogonal direction with respect to the side of said blade facing outside, and an inner portion extending mainly in a basically parallel direction with respect to the side of said blade facing inside, said outer portion basically overlapping the outline of said outer side of said blade and said inner portion extending basically outside the bottom edge of said blade.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said eyelet is placed in said outer portion of said profile.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profile has a tubular shape.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner portion of said profile has a housing seat of a watertight seal abutting against the inner side of the top end of the adjacent blade when said blades are in closing position.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profile has an inclined draining surface for water originating from said housing seat of said seal and protrudes from the outer side of said blade.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least an angular plate for connection between at least one upright and one crosspiece of said frame.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said angular plate has a first level side having parallel edges engaged in parallel nuts of a corresponding guide obtained along an outer face of said crosspiece, and a second level side fastened to said upright by means of screws engaging with corresponding longitudinal eyelets obtained as one piece from the inner section of said crosspiece.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a fixed blade arranged between an adjacent adjustable blade of said adjustable blades and an adjacent crosspiece of said frame, said fixed blade being housed between a guide obtained from said adjacent crosspiece and a U-shaped guide acting as abutment for said adjacent adjustable blade when said adjustable blades are closed.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said U-shaped guide of said fixed blade has at least one hole for fastening to said uprights of said frame.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said levers is hinged to a rod developing longitudinally parallel and inside a corresponding one of said uprights of said frame, and engaged in adjustable position with a block firmly engaging with an engagement tooth shifted by said handle.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rod has at least a longitudinal slot for engagement in adjustable position with said block.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stiffening plate opposed to said block is arranged on the side of said rod opposite the engagement side of said block.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said uprights is made up of two identical U-shaped profiles mortised to each other by means of a further basically flat profile closing their open side.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said uprights is made up of two U-shaped profiles mortised to each other by means of two further identical basically flat profiles closing the open side of said U-shaped profiles and in their turn mortised to each other.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said U-shaped profiles have engagement seats obtained along their longitudinal edges, and said flat profile has along its longitudinal edges engagement teeth engaged with said seats by relative longitudinal sliding.
The shutter structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said U-shaped profiles have engagement seats obtained along their longitudinal edges, and said flat profiles have along their longitudinal edges first engagement teeth engaged with said seats by relative longitudinal sliding and second cross teeth for mutual engagement.
The shutter structure as described, shown and claimed.