EP2113623A2

EP2113623A2 - Bottom-hung window unit

Info

Publication number: EP2113623A2
Application number: EP09159010A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Lambertini
Original assignee: GSG International SpA
Current assignee: GSG International SpA
Priority date: 2008-04-30
Filing date: 2009-04-29
Publication date: 2009-11-04
Also published as: ITBO20080277A1; EP2113623A3

Abstract

A bottom-hung window unit (1) comprises: a mobile frame (2) and a fixed frame (3) hinged to each other; control means (4) comprising a handle (4m) with a handgrip (4p) and acting on the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3); a retaining arm (5) for keeping the mobile frame (2) in the open configuration, connected to the two frames (2,3); an operating unit (6) comprising a rod (7) connected to the control means (4), and having two closing elements (8,9) for coupling to striker means (10,11); the handgrip (4m) having at least three working positions corresponding to the configuration where the window unit (1) is closed, to the tilted open configuration and to a third ventilation position of the window unit (1); an auxiliary fastening element (12) allows a limited clearance between the mobile frame (2) and the fixed frame (3) so that the window unit (1) is in a position where it is at least partially unsealed.

Description

This invention relates to a multi-configuration bottom-hung window unit, in particular a bottom-hung window unit whose frame is made of metal, PVC or similar materials, wood - PVC, etc.
At present, bottom-hung windows are used extensively because they meet a wide range of requirements in buildings of all kinds (residential, schools, hospitals, factories and so on).
Windows of this kind are installed in the parts of a building that are not easy to reach as, for example, is the case of transom windows or fanlights (usually above a door) or that are situated very high up (as, for example, in factory buildings) and are opened preferably using a suitable operator or other tool with hooking means at its top end.
Typically, a window of this kind has two hinge points between the mobile frame and the fixed frame, on the bottom horizontal edge, a single point by which the mobile frame is closed, usually on the top horizontal edge, as well as two arms for retaining the mobile frame and hinged between the two respective uprights of the mobile frame and of the fixed frame.
The single closing point, which is usually located half way along the width of the window frame, consists of a well known device which those familiar with the trade refer to as "latch".
The latch is basically a fastening element, consisting of a pin mounted on suitable supporting means (plates) attached to the mobile frame, and a striker element attached to the fixed frame. The striker element (usually an inclined surface) is normally coaxial with the latch pin which can slide axially (in both directions, thanks to a spring) towards an engagement slot located at the innermost end of the striker element. The outermost end of the latch has a ring handle that can be operated by hand or engaged by a hook or operator.
With this device, the user can release the closing element which, in this example, is the latch pin, from the engagement slot so that gravity causes the mobile frame to be tilted towards the inside of the room where it is installed. To close the window, the user pushes the mobile frame towards the fixed frame until the pin springs into the slot.
Although this type of window is widely used, its structure presents several problems that are as yet unsolved.
The main drawback of this type of window is, indeed, the closing device at a single point.
The single joining point makes it difficult to close the window satisfactorily because, amongst other things, windows of this kind usually have irregular proportions (very wide and low, very narrow and tall, depending on requirements) and thus the single closing point, which is usually positioned, as mentioned above, half way along the window, cannot provide an efficient seal or sufficient guarantee of security for the entire window.
In particular, the single closing point offers little resistance to would-be burglars and applies insufficient pressure on the weather strips, especially at the corners furthest away from it, providing an ineffective weather seal (as well as low insulation against noise).
For this purpose, the Applicant devised a solution (see also European patent EP 1.707.720 ) where the controlling means comprise operating means (a sliding rod) positioned on the mobile crosspiece and have two or more elements (pins) for closing the mobile frame against the fixed frame, these closing elements being spaced far apart and being able to be securely coupled to each other by means of strikers located on the fixed crosspiece. In addition to the above, cam means are provided to act on the operating means to actuate the mobile frame in such a way that the window is moved automatically from the open to the closed configuration.
This solution has doubtlessly increased the security of the bottom-hung window unit.
In some cases, however, bottom-hung windows must be further improved not only to meet general demand for higher security but also to conform with new regulations regarding ventilation of the rooms where windows of this kind are installed.
The latter requirement arises in particular from the fact that window units currently available on the market provide a very high level of weatherproofing, virtually sealing off a room from the outside environment and thus creating problems of hygiene and safety in the room itself.
In the former case, on the other hand, there are situations where the installation height is such that a bottom-hung window can easily be reached and is not only exposed to a high risk of burglary but also to the need to be opened for room ventilation and safety purposes (as for example in the case of cellar windows or groups of windows in public premises at the low storeys which by law cannot have side-hung sashes that swing open).
For these situations, a bottom-hung window must offer a security level that is higher than that offered by bottom-hung windows with at least two closing points, and must also offer additional operating functions: in particular, it would be necessary to provide two or more additional closing points along the uprights of the frame, away from the upper crosspiece, as well as the possibility of creating an additional, "micro" ventilation configuration while maintaining a high security level. In other terms, the need is felt for a bottom-hung window unit with structural configurations closer to those typical of traditional windows.
This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a bottom-hung window unit with which it is possible not only to obtain a higher number of closing points, even close to the bottom crosspieces, irrespective of the presence of retaining arms, but also an additional configuration permitting micro-ventilation.
According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a window unit, in particular a multi-configuration bottom-hung window unit comprising the technical characteristics described in one or more of the appended claims.
The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the appended claims and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a multi-configuration bottom-hung window unit according to this invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the bottom-hung window unit of Figure 1 in an open configuration;
Figures 3 and 4 are respective cross sections through the lines III - III and IV - IV shown inFigure 1;
Figure 5 shows a detail A from Figure 3 in a view from A' with some parts cut away to better illustrate others;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, an exploded perspective view, a front perspective view, and a rear perspective view showing two components of the window unit of Figure 2;
Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, a front view and a bottom plan view of a slider forming part of the retaining arm of Figures 6 to 8.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figures 1 and 2, the window unit according to the invention is of the bottom-hung type and is denoted in its entirety by the numeral 1 in the drawings.
As we shall see, these windows 1 are hinged along the bottom so that they can be opened by tilting towards the inside of the room where they are installed.
Windows 1 of this kind essentially comprise the following main elements: a mobile frame 2 and a fixed frame 3; control means 4; at least one retaining arm 5; and an operating unit 6.
More in detail, the mobile frame 2 and the fixed frame 3 are hinged to each other along a respective first, bottom crosspiece 2a, 3a by means of one or more hinges CR (usually two).
The mobile frame and the fixed frame 2, 3 each have a respective longitudinal groove C2 and C3 in which operating accessories, extending perimetrically, can be fastened.
The control means 4, which, as will become clearer as this description continues, comprise a handle 4m, act on the mobile and fixed frames 2, 3 to at least enable the window 1 to be moved to an open configuration, where at least one second crosspiece 2b of the mobile frame 2 is away from the respective second crosspiece 3b of the fixed frame 3 (see Figure 2), and a closed configuration, where the mobile crosspiece 2b is in contact with the fixed crosspiece 3b (see Figure 1).
As regards the retaining arm 5, there are usually two of these arms 5, 5' designed to keep the mobile frame 2 in the open configuration (a sort of limit stop).
The ends of each arm are connected to the mobile frame 2 and to the fixed frame 3 at the respective first uprights 2c, 3c and 2d, 3d and through respective first and second retaining elements 5a, 5b inserted in the grooves C2 and C3.
The operating unit 6 comprises a rod 7 connected to the control handle 4, slidably mounted in the groove C2 of the mobile frame 2 and having at least two elements 8, 9 for closing the mobile frame 2 on the fixed frame 3. These two elements 8, 9 may be in the form of bosses associated with and protruding from the rod 7 (see Figures 3 and 4) and can be securely coupled to respective strikers 10, 11 located on the fixed frame 3. The strikers 10 and 11 are also described in more detail below.
In the embodiment illustrated, the rod 7, with the bosses 8, 9, and the strikers 10 and 11 are located, respectively, on the second mobile crosspiece 2b (the rod 7 and the bosses 8, 9) and on the second fixed crosspiece 3b (the striker means 10, 11).
As illustrated, again in Figures 1 and 2, a part of the control means comprises a handle 4m (for example a cremone bolt handle) equipped with a control handgrip 4p which can be turned to at least three stable working positions corresponding to the configuration where the window 1 is closed (Figure 1), to the tilted open configuration (Figure 2) and to a third, ventilation position where the window 1 is at least partially unsealed (Figure 4).
To be able to obtain this third position, the window is equipped with at least one auxiliary fastening element 12, forming part of the striker means 10, 11 and associated with the second, fixed crosspiece 3b.
When the handgrip 4p moves to the third stable working position, the auxiliary element 12 acts on a corresponding closing element 8, 9 of the mobile frame 2 to create a condition of guided interception between the closing element 8, 9 and the auxiliary element 12 itself in order to allow a limited clearance between the mobile frame 2 and the fixed frame 3 so that the window 1 is in a position where it is at least partially unsealed, that is to say in a micro-ventilation position.
As also illustrated in Figure 2, the window 1 according to the invention further comprises the following, in the operating unit 6:

at least one corner transmission element 13 associated with the mobile frame 2 and connected at one end to the rod 7 and at the other end to
a drive 14 for connection to a rod segment 15 slidably mounted on one of the first uprights 2c, 2d of the mobile frame 2 and equipped with at least one further closing element 16 that can be coupled to a respective striker 17, both positioned near the first, hinged bottom crosspieces 2a, 3a.

The drive 14 also has a portion 14a that is slidably engaged in a slideway 18 made in the first retaining element 5a of the arm 5.
Thanks to all these elements, the handle 4m can be mounted on the first upright 2c at a point below the point where the retaining arm 5 or 5' is connected to the first upright 2c: the heights are referenced to the first, hinged bottom crosspieces 2a, 3a of the mobile and fixed frames 2 and 3.
More in detail, the handle 4m is associated with the first upright 2c of the window 1 and connected, through respective transmission means 4r (for example, a known drive fin connected between two strikers located on the rod segment 15), to the rod segment 15 which, as mentioned, is in turn connected to the drive 14.
Thus, the grip 4p of the handle 4m may be turned to the three stable end configurations corresponding to the tilted open, closed and ventilation configurations of the window 1, applying the control movement directly to the rod segment 15 (see arrows F4m, Figure 2) which in turn transmits the control movement to the drive 14 and, hence, to the corner transmission element 13 which therefore also drives the rod 7 provided with the other opening / closing / ventilation elements of the window 1.
The numeral 19 in Figures 3 to 5 denotes sealing means positioned between the fixed frame 3 and the mobile frame 2, these means 19 (for example, weather strips) being, in the closed configuration, positioned in contact with the respective fixed and mobile frames 3 and 2 in such a way as to define a sealed closure of the window unit 1 (see Figure 3). Then, when the handgrip 4p is turned to the third stable operating position, a condition of guided interception is created between the auxiliary element 12 and the closing element 8, 9 in such a way as to allow a limited clearance between the mobile frame 2 and the fixed frame 3, thereby moving the sealing means 19 away and setting the window 1 to a position where it is at least partially unsealed (see Figure 4).
The above mentioned closing elements may comprise respective bosses 8, 9 (plus the third closing boss 16), associated with the operating rod 7 which enables them to be moved along the groove C2 of the second, mobile crosspiece 2b according to the aforementioned configurations of the handgrip 4p.
The auxiliary fastening element 12 comprises an open cup-shaped body 12a stably associated with the groove C3 of the second, fixed crosspiece 3b and forming a single body with one of the striker elements 10, 11 in the form of a wall for abutting the boss 8, 9 when the window 1 is in the closed position.
Obviously, although a single auxiliary element 12 is described here, the fixed crosspiece 3b may have two or more of these elements on it, combined with the striker means 10, 11, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.
The walls 12b 12c of the cup-shaped body 12a (again, see Figures 3 to 5) are shaped to form a path that constrains the boss 8, 9 in such a way that when the handgrip 4p is moved to the third operating position the mobile frame 2 is set to the further, ventilation configuration, that is to say, slightly spaced from the fixed frame 3.
The cup-shaped body 12a comprises an upper body 12d stably associated with the groove C3 of the second, fixed crosspiece 3b and the cup proper at the bottom, defined by the walls 12b, 12c joined to each other at one end to form a closed socket.
Further, a first section 12e of one the walls 12b, 12c of the cup-shaped body 12a extends at an angle and converges towards the inside of the cup-shaped body 12a itself to form a path for guiding the boss 8, 9 into the cup-shaped body 12a to allow the mobile frame 2 a limited opening movement.
It should be noticed that the distance D between the free ends of the walls 12b and 12c of the cup-shaped body 12a and the fixed striker element 10, 11 is at least greater than one stroke of the boss 8, 9 defining the passage from the closed to the open configuration of the window 1: thus, the cup-shaped body 12a does not interfere with the open configuration of the window 1 whereas further rotation of the handgrip 4p causes the boss 8, 9 to move a little further towards the cup-shaped body 12a to define the ventilation configuration (see arrows F8, in Figure 5).
As mentioned above and as shown also in Figures 2 and from 6 to 8, the operating unit 6 also comprises at least one corner transmission element 13 and at least one drive 14 located on the first upright 2c.
More specifically, the corner transmission element 13 is associated with the mobile frame 2 and is connected at one end to the rod 7 and at the other, to the drive 14.
The transmission element 13 may be equipped with a rigid corner frame by which it is fitted in the groove C2 and with a flexible steel strip slidably housed in the rigid frame and having means for fastening it to the rod 7 at one end and to the drive 14 at the other, to enable transmission of motion.
The drive 14 allows connection with a rod segment 15 slidably mounted on the first upright 2c of the mobile frame 2 and equipped with at least one further closing element 16 (which, as already stated, may be in the form of a boss) that can be coupled to a respective striker 17: both are mounted near the first crosspiece 2a, that is to say, at the end of the first upright 2c and are similar in structure to the bosses 8, 9 and strikers 10 and 11 described above (obviously, without the cup-shaped bodies).
The drive 14 also has a portion 14a that is slidably engaged in a slideway 18 made in the first retaining element 5a of the arm 5.
Obviously, only the parts on the upright on one side of the bottom-hung window according to the invention are described since the upright on the other side of the window may be provided with the same parts as those just described (retaining arm 5' with transmission means 13, drive 14 and respective additional closing points).
As Figures 9 and 10 also show, the first retaining element of the arm 5 is in the form of a slide shoe 20 slidably associated with the groove C2 and equipped with the longitudinal slideway 18 which is open at the bottom end and in which the portion 14a of the drive 14 is slidable
The drive 14 has two ends equipped with respective means 21 and 22 for fastening it to the transmission element 13 and to the rod segment 15, and a central portion joining the two ends, in the form of the strip 14a, smaller in thickness and width and slidable in the longitudinal slideway 18 of the slide shoe 20.
As shown in Figure 2, again by way of example, the drive 14 may be connected at the top to a further rod segment 15a which is in turn connected to the corner transmission element 13 in order to provide a further closing point at the top of the first upright 2c.
In short, the slide shoe 20 and the portion 14a of the drive 14 are slidable relative to each other.
This relative movement occurs substantially at different moments: when the window 1 is set to the open or closed configuration using the handle, it is the drive 14 that moves relative to the slide shoe 20 (see arrow F14) whereas during the tilting movement of the mobile frame 2 towards or away from the fixed frame, it is the slide shoe 20 that slides along the portion 14a (see arrow F20).
Precisely on account of this movement, there may be a block 26 superposed along the portion 14a of the drive 14, partly housed in the groove C2, adjustable along the portion 14a of the drive 14 and designed to define a limit stop element for the slide shoe 20 as the mobile frame 2 passes from the closed to the open configuration.
The block 26 has an open-ended groove 26a at the bottom of it, slidably engaged by the portion 14a of the drive 14 to prevent interference with its operating movement.
Returning now to the slide shoe 20 (see Figures 9 and 10), this has friction adjusting means 23 acting on the slide shoe 20 itself designed to enable the slide shoe 20 to slide more or less easily in the groove C2 when the mobile frame 2 is opened and closed.
More in detail, the adjustment means 23 comprise a grub screw 23g screwed into a hole 24 made at one end of the slide shoe 20.
The grub screw 23g faces and acts on a central opening or slot 25 which separates two top surfaces 20a, 20b of the slide shoe 20: in this way, depending on the extent to which the grub screw 23g is screwed in or out, the two surfaces are moved further apart or closer together so as to increase or decrease contact of the slide shoe 20 with the sides of the groove C2, thus increasing or decreasing the friction of the slide shoe 20 when it slides.
A window unit made in this way thus achieves the above mentioned aims thanks to the possibility of using the handle to set it to three different working configurations, namely, a closed, an open and a room "micro" ventilation configuration.
That means the bottom-hung window according to the invention can be installed in many different places where the use of bottom-hung windows was previously not possible or not advisable.
The presence of a drive which bypasses the slide shoe of the retaining arm is such as to enable operation of a closing point at a position close to the window hinge point.
This feature therefore makes it possible to increase the number of closing points on the bottom-hung window without having to replace or change the components of the window and, above all, without having to vary the structure of the window and of its drive mechanism: the security of the bottom-hung window as a whole is thus considerably increased.
The presence of this drive also makes it possible to mount a handle on an upright of a bottom-hung window at a low, accessible position: this greatly facilitates operation by the user and allows the different window configurations to be set easily and precisely.
The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

A bottom-hung window unit (1) of the type comprising at least:
- a mobile frame (2) and a fixed frame (3) hinged to each other along a respective first, bottom crosspiece (2a, 3a); the mobile frame (2) and the fixed frame (3) each having a profile forming respective perimetric grooves (C2, C3) in which operating accessories can be fastened;

- control means (4) acting on the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3) and designed to at least allow the window (1) to be moved to an open configuration, where at least one second crosspiece (2b) of the mobile frame (2) is away from the respective second crosspiece (3b) of the fixed frame (3), and a closed configuration, where the second, mobile crosspiece (2b) is in contact with the second, fixed crosspiece (3b);

- at least one retaining arm (5) for keeping the mobile frame (2) in the open configuration, connected at its two ends to the first uprights (2c, 3c) of the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3), respectively, through respective first and second retaining elements (5a, 5b) fitted in the grooves (C2, C3);

- an operating unit (6) comprising a rod (7) controlled by the control means (4), slidably mounted in the groove (C2) in the mobile frame (2) and having at least two elements (8, 9) for closing the mobile frame (2) against the fixed frame (3) and which can be stably coupled to respective striker means (10, 11) mounted on the fixed frame (3), the window (1) being characterized in that it comprises:

- a handle (4m) equipped with a handgrip (4p) forming part of the control means (4) which can be turned to at least three stable working positions corresponding to the window (1) closed position, to the tilted open position and to a third position where the window (1) is at least partially unsealed;

- at least one auxiliary fastening element (12), forming part of one of the striker elements (10, 11), associated with the second, fixed crosspiece (3b), and acting on a corresponding closing element (8, 9) of the mobile frame (2) when the handgrip (4p) is moved to the third stable working position so as to create a condition of guided interception between the closing element (8, 9) and the auxiliary element (12) itself in order to allow a limited clearance between the mobile frame (2) and the fixed frame (3) so that the window (1) is in a position where it is at least partially unsealed.
The window unit according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises:
- at least one corner transmission element (13) associated with the mobile frame (2) and connected at one end to the rod (7) and at the other end to

- a drive (14) for connection to a rod segment (15) slidably mounted on the first vertical member (2c) of the mobile frame (2) and equipped with at least one further closing element (16) that can be coupled to a respective striker (17) positioned near the first, bottom crosspieces (2a, 3a); a portion (14a) of the drive (14) being slidably engaged in a slideway (18) made in the first retaining element (5a) of the arm (5).
The window unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (4m) is mounted on the first upright (2c) at a point below the point where the retaining arm (5) is connected to the first upright (2c) relative to the first, hinged bottom crosspieces (2a, 3a) of the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3).
The window unit according to claims 1 and 2,
characterized in that the handle (4m) is associated with the first upright (2c) of the window (1) and is connected, through respective transmission means (4r), to the rod segment which is in turn connected to the drive; the handle (4m) being mobile to the three stable end configurations corresponding to the open, closed and partially unsealed configurations of the window (1), through direct action on the rod segment (15).
The window unit according to claim 1, including sealing means (19) positioned between the fixed frame (3) and the mobile frame (2), in contact with the fixed frame (3) and with the mobile frame (2) in such a way as to seal the window (1) when it is in the closed configuration, characterized in that moving the handgrip (4p) into the third stable working position permits guided interception of at least one of the closing elements (8, 9) by the auxiliary element (12) in such a way as to space the mobile frame (2) from the fixed frame (3) to a limited extent so as to move the sealing means (19) apart slightly in order to set the window unit (1) to an at least partially unsealed condition.
The window unit according to claim 1, where the closing element comprises a boss (8, 9) associated with the operating rod (7) designed to allow it to move along the groove (C2) of the second, mobile crosspiece (2b) according to the configurations of the handgrip (4p), characterized in that the auxiliary fastening element (12) comprises an open cup-shaped body (12a) stably associated with the groove (C3) of the second fixed crosspiece (3b); the walls (12b, 12c) of the cup-shaped body (12a) being shaped to form a path that constrains the boss (8, 9) in such way that when the handgrip (4p) is moved to the third operating position, the mobile frame (2) is set to the further, ventilation configuration, that is slightly spaced from the fixed frame (3).
The window unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the cup-shaped body (12a) comprises an upper body (12d) stably associated with the groove (C3) of the second, fixed crosspiece (3b) and the cup proper at the bottom, defined by the walls (12b, 12c) joined to each other at one end to form a closed socket; a first section (12e) of one the walls (12b, 12c) of the cup-shaped body (12a) extending at an angle and converging towards the inside of the cup-shaped body (12a) itself to form a path for guiding the boss (8, 9) into the cup-shaped body (12a) to allow the mobile frame (2) a limited opening movement.
The window unit according to claims 1 and 2,
characterized in that the first element (5a) for retaining the at least one arm (5) is in the form of a slide shoe (20) slidably associated with the groove (C2) and provided with the longitudinal slideway (18), which is open at the bottom and in which the portion (14a) of the drive (14) is slidable.
The window unit according to claims 2 and 8,
characterized in that the drive (14) has two ends equipped with means (21, 22) for fastening it to the transmission element (13) and to the rod segment (15), respectively, and a central portion joining the two ends, in the form of a strip (14a), smaller in thickness and width and slidable in the longitudinal slideway (18) of the slide shoe (20).
The window unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the slide shoe (20) and the portion (14a) of the drive (14) are slidable relative to each other, the slide shoe (20) having friction adjusting means (23) acting on the slide shoe (20) itself and designed to enable the slide shoe (20) to slide more or less easily in the groove (C2).
The window unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjustment means (23) comprise a grub screw (23g) screwed into a through hole (24) made at one end of the slide shoe (20); the grub screw (23g) facing and acting on a central opening or slot (25) which separates two top surfaces (20a, 20b) of the slide shoe (20) in such a way as to move them further apart or closer together, depending on the extent to which it is screwed in or out, so as to increase or decrease contact of the slide shoe (20) with the sides of the groove (C2), thus increasing or decreasing the friction of the slide shoe (20) when it slides.
The window unit according to claim 10, characterized in that along the portion (14a) of the drive (14) there is a superposed block (26), partly housed in the groove (C2), adjustable along the portion (14a) of the drive (14) and designed to define a limit stop element for the slide shoe (20) as the mobile frame (2) passes from the closed to the open configuration.
The window unit according to claim 12, characterized in that the block (26) has an open-ended groove (26) at the bottom of it, slidably engaged by the portion (14a) of the drive (14).