EP1580372B1

EP1580372B1 - Door or window structure in metal section bar

Info

Publication number: EP1580372B1
Application number: EP05102218A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Bellandi
Original assignee: Euroinvest Srl
Current assignee: Euroinvest SpA
Priority date: 2004-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-21
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-21
Also published as: EP1580372A1; PT1580372E; ES2292056T3; ITFI20040075A1; DE602005002067D1; ATE371078T1; PL1580372T3; DE602005002067T2

Abstract

A door or window structure with frame made in a box-shaped metal section bar (2) and with a handle (10) for actuating an actuation mechanism comprising at least one transmission rod (12) and transmission bars (14) and angle bars (13) connected to locking devices (16) and possibly tilt-and-turn (15) devices, a housing being defined along one side of the section bar for attachment of a panel (3), such as a pane of glass. A channel (4) runs along the opposite side of the section bar and an internal grooved housing (4a) and an external grooved housing (4b) are formed within the channel. The housings (4a, 4b) are defined by two fins (5,6) projecting inwardly one towards the other from the side walls of the channel, the actuation mechanism being housed in the internal and external grooved housings.

Description

The present invention relates in general to the field of doors or windows in metal section bar, in particular in aluminium.
More particularly the invention relates to a movable door or window structure such as a window or a glass door with wing or tilt-and-turn opening made in metal section bar and suitable for being produced industrially on a large scale.
According to the prior art the section of the metal section bar used to make the aforementioned movable structures has in general three adjacent hollow regions: a central closed region whose purpose is that of lightening the weight of the structure, and two side open regions, called internal and external regions, facing the glass side and the frame side respectively. The external hollow region has a cavity defining a channel along the section bar suitable for housing the components of an actuation mechanism which controls the opening, the closure and, in the case of a door or a window with a tilt-and-turn or bottom-hung opening device, tilting of the same.
DE19962152 discloses a metal section bar with a channel along one of its sides wherein there are formed an internal grooved housing and an external grooved housing defined by a pair of fins projecting inwardly one towards the other from the side walls of the channel. In this case the components of the actuation mechanism are placed in these housings. A similar solution is shown in US4739583 .
The actuation mechanism is associated with a handle and comprises in general mobile elements connected thereto and placed in the channel, in particular transmission rods, transmission angle bars, locking devices and, if it is the case, a tilt-and-turn device. The channel has fins projecting one towards the other to prevent withdrawal of the components placed therein.
The handle is generally connected to the transmission rods via a gear transmission system comprising a pinion and a rack. Rotation of the handle corresponds to translation of the transmission rods and of the locking devices.
The mobile elements are assembled in the channel by longitudinal insertion according to a specific sequence. The horizontal sliding components, comprising the tilt-and-turn device, if provided, and the horizontal transmission rod connected thereto, are inserted first, and subsequently the upper and lower (in relation to the handle) vertical components comprising the two vertical transmission rods, the locking devices and the transmission angle bar are inserted in the side where the handle is mounted. The two lower and upper transmission rods are then connected to the gear device actuated by the handle.
Such a rigid insertion sequence is not easily achieved with automatic machines in that the components must be inserted from various directions and have to be positioned at specific points in order to be connected one to the other. Moreover the various components are connected through overlapping of two of their ends with connection by means of a peg.
This system of connection, in itself laborious if performed by hand, would be very difficult or complex if performed with automatic machines.
A further hindrance to automation of the operations of manufacture of a wing of doors or windows lies in that the section of the section bar is not optimised in relation to the bulk of the gear device. On account of this bulk, the device has to be mounted in the central hollow region of the section bar and a cut has to be formed by milling on the base of the channel to allow engaging of the gear with the rack placed in the same channel. Moreover, in the wall of the section bar, at the internal hollow region, at least three holes have to be made for insertion of the pin of the handle and for the attachment screws. The milling and drilling operations described above cannot be performed in any other manner except by that with a rotating tool and therefore with chip formation, which in an automatic production process would constitute an unacceptable production slow-down. Finally, due to the size of the gear device, two separate upper and lower transmission rods, to be connected thereto must be provided, further complicating the overall structure and the assembly operations.
The object of the present invention is to provide a door or window structure in metal section bar which can be produced on a large scale with fully automatic machinery and procedures, and wherein the door or window structure is made with a section bar such as to allow automatic assembly of the actuation mechanism.
According to the present invention a door or window structure of the type mentioned above is provided wherein the various components of the actuation mechanism can be snap-attached one to the other.
This object is achieved with the door or window structure in metal section bar according to the present invention whose features are set forth in claim 1.
According to the present invention the section bar whereby the door or window is made has a housing along one of its sides for the attachment of a panel, such as a pane of glass, and a channel runs along opposite sides thereof wherein an internal grooved housing and an external grooved housing are formed, defined by two fins projecting inwardly one towards the other from the side walls of the channel, the actuation mechanism being housed in said internal and external grooved housings.
Thanks to this configuration the shorter components of the actuation mechanism can be inserted in the internal grooved channel by sliding, making them enter from one end thereof. Instead the longer components, such as the transmission rod and transmission bar, are attached frontally in the external grooved housing and snap-attached to the components placed in the internal grooved housing.
According to another preferable feature of the invention, the handle, and the associated transmission device, are attached to an extension of the section bar outside of the channel and engaged with the transmission rod. In this way the operations of milling foreseen in the prior art are avoided and the necessary holes can be made automatically through punching on the transmission rod and on said extension.
Further features and the advantages of the door or window structure in metal section bar according to the invention will be made clearer by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a door or window structure in metal section bar according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view which shows phases of assembly of the actuation mechanism of the door or window structure according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the door or window structure according to an embodiment of the invention which shows a first embodiment of attachment between rods forming the actuation mechanism;
Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the door or window structure according to an embodiment of the invention which shows a second embodiment of attachment between rods forming the actuation mechanism.
Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the gear device of the actuation mechanism;
Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the handle and the relative gear device;
Figure 7 is a variation of an embodiment of the section of the section bar of the door or window structure according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a door or window structure in metal section bar according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated through a cross section view of one of its portions. The door or window can be a wing of a window or of a glass door, possibly fitted with a tilt-and-turn opening device. Herein below in the present description reference will be made to the generic door or window by the term "wing" to simplify the description.
The wing, denoted generically by 1, is formed by a frame in metal box-shaped section bar 2, on one side of which, i.e. that corresponding to its internal side, a panel, transparent or otherwise, such as a pane of glass 3, is attached in a known way. On the opposite side of the section bar 2 a channel 4 is formed, divided into two grooved housings 4a and 4b by a pair of fins 5 and 6 projecting inwardly one towards the other from the side walls of the channel 4. The channel 4 faces the corresponding section bar of the fixed frame 7 when the wing 1 is closed against it. From the same side of the section bar 2, where the channel 4 is formed, an extension 8 projects, intended to abut on the fixed frame 7 via a seal 8a when the wing is in its closed position.
In Figure 2 the frame 1, by way of an example a frame of a window wing of the type with tilt-and-turn opening, is shown with its actuation mechanism in an exploded view so as to illustrate better its components and the assembly process.
The actuation mechanism comprises a handle 10 fit for engaging in a gear device generically denoted by 11 which is operatively connected to a transmission rod 12 connected to at least one transmission drive angle bar 13 which, in turn, is connected to a drive rod 14 connected to a tilt-and-turn device 15. The transmission rod 12 is also connected to a locking rod 16 ending with a pin 16a which engages in a corresponding housing of the fixed frame 7 when the window is arranged in the bottom-hung opening condition. The locking rod 16, the transmission angle bar 13 and a portion 15a of the tilt-and-turn device 15 are slidingly inserted in the inner grooved housing 4a of the channel 4, as indicated by lines A of Figure 2, while the rods 12 and 14 are engaged frontally in the outer grooved housing 4b with a movement along line B of Figure 2, bringing them to abut on the fins 5 and 6.
The rods placed in the external grooved housing 4b are attached to the components inserted in the internal grooved housing 4a as shown by way of an example in Figure 3 or 4. In a simplified embodiment of the attachment, such as that shown in Figure 3, the element engaged in the internal grooved housing 4a, for example an arm of the angle bar 13, is provided with an appendage 17 which can be snap-engaged in a corresponding housing 18 formed on the rod 12. The appendage has one end in the shape of a tooth in order to be secured to the edge of the housing 18. To facilitate machining the housing 18 can be formed by a circular hole and likewise the appendage 17 can be formed with an overall circular shape, even if with a discontinuous development to provide it with the necessary flexibility.
In the embodiment of the attachment illustrated in Figure 4, which is the preferred one, the appendage 17 is formed by two arms extending from a plate attached in an housing formed in the arm of the angle bar 13 wherefrom a block 19 also extends, centrally to the appendage 17 and projecting from the hole 18, with the function of a closure pin in combination with an abutment plate provided correspondingly on the fixed frame.
Attachment systems equal or equivalent to those illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are provided at each end of the rods 12, 14 and 16, the angle bars 13 and the portion 15a of the tilt-and-turn device 15.
Figures 5 and 6 show in greater detail the gear device and the relative handle for actuation of the transmission rod 12. The latter has, in an intermediate position, a slot 20 wherein a rack 21 engages and abuts on the rod 12 with its ends 21a. In the rack 21 a first pinion 22 engages, integral and coaxial with a second pinion 23 engaged in turn with a third pinion 24 integral with the pin 25 of the handle 10. More particularly, the pin 25 has a quadrilateral section and engages in a corresponding hole 26 formed in the third pinion 24. The handle 10 is attached to the extension 8 of the section bar 2 via screws 27 which engage in corresponding housings 28 of the extension 8, while the pin 25 passes through a hole 29 formed between the two housings 28 on the extension 8 of the section bar 2.
Since the opening mechanisms normally function with sliding of the rod 12 downwards, having moved the gear device on the opposite side in relation to the rod, the double transmission formed by the pinions 22 and 23 is provided to maintain anticlockwise rotation of the handle.
The pinions 22, 23 and 24 are contained in a box 11a of the gear device 11 together with the rack 21 in such a way that the two ends 21a can slide freely outside of the same box. The box 11a is assembled solely by inserting its rear part in the slot 20 of the rod 12: in this way the two ends 21a of the rack 21 are positioned without play and abutting on the rod 12. The box 11a is attached to the extension 8 of the section bar via the screws 27 for attachment of the handle.
It will be noted that, having placed the transmission rod 12 in the external grooved housing 4b of the channel 4 and having engaged the rack 21 in the slot 20, together with the more compact shape of the gear device, it is possible to attach the handle 10 on the extension 8 of the section bar 2 instead of at the central box-shaped portion as required in the solutions according to the prior art. This means a that longitudinal cut on the base of the channel of the section bar is no longer required in order to allow the passage of the pinion engaged in the rack, nor the formation of three holes in the body of the section bar for the passage of the pin of the handle and the housings for the attachment screws. The slot formed in the transmission rod and the three holes of the extension 8 of the section bar can be formed by punching during an automated production cycle.
Moreover, thanks to the new positioning of the handle 10 in relation to the channel 4 of the section bar 2 and the reduced bulk of the gear device 11, the transmission rod can be made in a single piece instead of in the form of two separate small transmission rods as in the prior art, this involving a further simplification in the assembly process.
Clearly the shape of the section of the section bar may vary according to design needs or the various technical decisions relating to fitting of the glass, seals and so on. By way of an example Figure 7 illustrates a different section of the section bar from that illustrated in Figure 1 with which however it has in common the presence of a channel 4 formed by the two internal and external housings 4a and 4b.
Variations and modifications may be made to the door or window structure in metal section bar according to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

A door or window structure with frame in box-shaped metal section bar (2) comprising an actuating mechanism and a handle (10) for actuating said actuating mechanism, which comprises at least one transmission rod (12) , transmission drive angle bars (13) and drive rods (14) connected to locking devices (16) and possibly to tilt-and-turn devices (15), a housing being defined along one side of said section bar (2) for the attachment of a panel (3), such as a pane of glass, wherein a channel (4) of said section bar (2) runs along its opposite side in which an internal grooved housing (4a) and an external grooved housing (4b) are formed, defined by two fins (5, 6) projecting inwardly one towards the other from the side walls of said channel (4), said actuation mechanism being housed in said internal and external grooved housings (4a, 4b), said door or window structure being characterized in that said transmission drive angle bars (13) and locking rods (16) forming part of said locking devices (16) and a portion (15a) of said possibly tilt-and-turn devices (15) are housed slidingly in said internal grooved housing (4a), while said at least one transmission rod (12) and the drive rods (14) are attached frontally in said external grooved housing (4b) and snap-attached to said transmission drive angle bars (13), to said locking rods (16) and said portion (15a) of said possibly tilt-and-turn devices (15) placed in the internal grooved housing (4a).
The door or window structure according to claim 1, wherein snap connection means (17) are provided between said drive rods (14) and transmission rod (12) placed in the external housing (4b) and said transmission angle bars (13), said locking rods (16) and said portion (15a) placed in said internal housing (4a), said snap connection means (17) being actuable by pressure.
The door or window structure according to claim 2, wherein said snap connection means (17) comprise pins (17) with an enlarged free end extending perpendicularly from the ends of the locking rods (16), of the portion (15a) and of the transmission angle bars (13) placed in said internal grooved housing (4a), and corresponding housings (18) formed at the ends of said transmission rod (12) and the drive rods (14) fit for snap-engaging the enlarged ends of said pins.
The door or window structure according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said section bar comprises an extension (8) perpendicularly projecting from the same side, along which said channel is formed, said handle engaging (10) in a transmission device (11) connected to said transmission rod (12), so that a certain angular movement of said handle (10) corresponds to a predefined sliding of said rod (12), said transmission device (11) and said handle (10) being attached to the two opposite faces of said extension (8).
The door or window structure according to claim 4, wherein said transmission device (11) comprises a rack (21) and gear device (22, 23, 24), said rack (21) being integral with said transmission rod (12), said gear device comprising a wheel mechanism with a first pinion (22) engaged in said rack (21) and integral with an intermediate pinion (23) meshing with a third pinion (24) integral with said handle (10).
The door or window structure according to claim 5, wherein a longitudinal slot (20) is formed in said transmission rod (12) with which said rack (21) is engaged.