EP2141314B1

EP2141314B1 - System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels

Info

Publication number: EP2141314B1
Application number: EP20090386017
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dimitrios Tzikas
Original assignee: Hellenic Aluminium Industry Elvial SA
Current assignee: Hellenic Aluminium Industry Elvial SA
Priority date: 2008-07-01
Filing date: 2009-07-01
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-01
Also published as: GR1006515B; EP2141314A1

Description

THE FIELD OF THE ART

The invention is related to the field of the art of systems of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels, commercially available either as a cold or a thermally insulated system, with a sliding profile member symmetrically arranged on either side of an axial plane of symmetry with a plurality of locking means arranged along the vertical lengths and along the upper horizontally extending length of the sliding profile member that ensure an enhanced resistance against attempted burglary if any.

THE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels for doors and windows proposed in the present invention advantageously overcomes the state of the art. A variety of systems of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels for doors and windows are known and commercially available (see for example DE 20 2006 007 259 U ). In these systems the rectangularly framed sliding profile panel is alternatively mounted onto either the supporting basements of trolleys when it is being brought in a stationary condition or slides onto support rollers of the same trolleys when it is being brought in a sliding condition, whereby such translation from said stationary to said sliding condition and vice versa is effected through operation of a handle means that correspondingly brings the rectangularly framed panel in a locked condition and in a freely sliding condition. Lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems for doors and windows find application in those buildings where high standards of air and water sealing and thermal insulation requirements are imposed, such properties being attained through employment of perimetrically arranged rubber sealants instead of the ordinary simple brush members of perimetrical coverage employed in simple sliding door/window systems, that do not secure an acceptable air-tightening and water-sealing, whilst they deteriorate rather quickly and then allow passage of air and water in the interior of buildings if they are not replaced. Moreover simple sliding door/window systems can support only a certain limited weight of the sliding profile panel taking into account the heavy glass panel incorporated therein in order to secure a relatively smooth sliding onto a guiding roller arrangement, such limited weight being of the order of 100 kg. It is obvious that this limit in the functional load that simple ordinary sliding door/window systems can carry limits the possibilities of these systems ensuring high standards in as far as thermal insulation specifications are concerned since the latter impose a requirement of much heavier glass panels. Thus lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems are rendered necessary, since in these systems the rollers can be loaded with an increased load of the order of 150 kg, since sliding is performed onto a stainless steel slide guide member incorporated onto the frame profile member lined along the basement of the door/window opening, thereby allowing employment of the heavy glass panels that provide for the high thermal insulation standards. It is in this category of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels that the system proposed in the present invention is classified. A disadvantage of the lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems for doors and windows of the prior art is that loading of the stainless steel guide member is often eccentric and this is due to a combination of factors, amongst which we should note the asymmetrical cross-section of the sliding profile member employed in the construction of the rectangularly framed sliding profile panel, such asymmetrical configuration resulting in a non-equally divided mass of the profile at the sides of the central axis of the stainless steel guide members onto which panel load should preferentially act. Further the methods and the structural members employed in the connecting process of profile lengths which are joined at the corners thereof to form the rectangularly shaped panels also tend to contribute in the undesirably eccentric loading of the stainless steel guide members. Thus the sliding of the rectangularly framed sliding member panel onto the stainless steel guide members fitted within longitudinally extending specially shaped channels of tower supporting portions of the frame profile member is not smooth and moreover creates serious and particularly unequally divided frictional forces, something that finally leads into the appearance of defective operation because of deformations occuring in the course of time.
Moreover the configurtaion of the stainless steel guide members of the prior art with their conventional semi-circular cross-section in contact with the sliding rollers gives rise to an arc of contact of the order of 180° at the sliding mode of operation, thereby creating extensive frictional forces being exerted on the rollers and the body of the stainless steel guide member that lead to undesirable deformations and eventually render these systems prone to present problems in the course of time, such problems being aggravated and their appearance is accelerated because of the abovementioned problem of additional sliding frictional forces due to the unequally distributed weight of the sliding member panel and because of the undesirably inferior rigidity of this panel due to the aforementioned disadvantageous methods and structural members employed in the joints of sliding profile lengths in the process of making a rectangularly framed panel.
In particular regarding the connections employed in the creation of a rectangularly framed panel, a conventional connecting method of the prior art of the sliding profile member lengths that have previously been cut at an angle of 45° involves the employment of screws being screwed at predetermined positions at the corners of adjacently assembled profile lengths. In this way the precision of fitting of the angularly cut ends of profile lengths is determined by the precision of locating of the tightening screws and it is very likely, particularly with the passage of time, that smaller or bigger gaps appear in the entire or in a portion of the length of abutting profile surfaces and that the screws used in each corner junction of abutting profile surfaces are unequally loaded, thereby leading to insufficiently rigid connection of the abutting profile surfaces and increased difficulty encountered with longitudinal sliding of the rectangularly framed panel. Further the existence of gaps in the junctions of abutting profile surfaces lead to an undesirable loss of the air and water tightness and of the thermal insulation properties of the system. Thus the horizontal linear sliding movement of panels of the prior art is disadvantageous because of the use of screwed joints and of the inherently unstable nature of such connections, that, even if initially achieving an acceptably precise connection in the corners of abutting profile surfaces, such connections tend to loosen rather quickly and lead to the appearance of gaps along the length of connection of these abutting profile surfaces. Moreover, such gaps present preferable areas where adverse weather conditions tend to attack the system and lead to the initiation and rapid progress of local undesirable corrosion of the connected profiles. The alternative method of punched connection of abutting profile surfaces in a mechanical press introduced in the prior art, although providing increased rigidity however does not prove satisfactory because punched connection is effected at only two points and this by definition does not ensure the necessary long service life of enhanced robust and most importantly three-dimensional rigidity, since employing such two point press punching does not ensure rigidity of the points of connection against lateral forces. Finally in this case wherein press punched connection of abutting profile surfaces is employed in combination with a tightening rivet applied at the interior corners of abutting profile surfaces, this was also applied in a small number of points (only four points per corner of abutting profile surfaces) with unfavourably increased production time.
The combination of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art results in an increasing difficulty of the user and the requirement of his exerting an increased force in order to lift and slide the panel with the rotation of the handle means of the system. It is obvious that such difficulties in use render these systems of the prior art inadequate and inappropriate for users of certain categories (old age, handicapped, etc.).
The object of the present invention is to advantageously overcome the abovementioned disadvantages and drawbacks of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels for doors and windows of the prior art and provide a system of aluminium framed panels in which all abovementioned failures are eliminated, the invented system firstly having the capacity of being loaded with a panel of increased weight up to the order of 150 kg, i.e. increased by 50% in relation to the maximally loaded panels of the prior art, such increased weight of the panel further providing an increased security against burglary, whilst it simultaneously offers the possibility of the panel being manufactured in desirably optimal heat-sound insulation standards and still having an increased service life, such invented panel being capable of smoothly and ergonomically operating because it performs sliding with minimisation of the frictional forces generated in between the panel and the horizontally lined frame profile member and thereby requires exertion of a minimal force by the user in order to bring it in sliding condition with the rotation of the system's handle means.
The above mentioned advantageous properties of the system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels for doors and windows of the present invention are made possible through use of the combination of the following characteristics:

a) a specially designed sliding profile member, which is absolutely symmetrical and with equally divided weight thereof on either side of an axial plane of symmetry that is oriented parallel to the two side surfaces thereof and passes through the centre of the longitudinal dimension thereof,
b) specially designed angular connecting members introduced at the corners of abutting profile surfaces for the creation of a sliding member panel and in particular the specifically designed process of application thereof through pressing at four predetermined points of each angular connecting members, i.e. at a total of eight points for the pair of angular connecting members employed in each junction abutting profile surfaces. It is through this process that an enhanced three-dimensional rigidity of the formed panel is obtained, wherein the abovementioned interior reinforcing angular connecting members of the invention are offered in alternative smaller and larger widths in order to selectively fit with lift-and-slide panels without or with an intermediate insulating spacer element.
c) a specially designed stainless steel guide member whereupon slides the panel of the invention, such stainless steel guide member comprising laterally extending nerves adapted to fit within a channel provided at a tower supporting portion of the frame profile member an upper surface with a characteristic elliptical configuration that comes in contact with the rollers onto which the panel is slidably mounted. Such configuration of the upper surface of the stainless steel guide member allows for minimizing the arc of contact of the sliding rollers with the guide member and accordingly leads to the restriction of frictions and a longer roller service life ensuring a smooth and unhindered sliding of the panel.
The combination of the abovementioned characteristic features of the sliding profile member of the invention with the medially oriented axial plane of symmetry, with the corner connections of 8 points offering enhanced rigidity and with the appropriately elliptical configuration of the contact surface of the stainless steel guide member provide the further advantageous possibility of reduction of the weight of the sliding profile member and subsequently of the total weight of the rectangularly formed panel without influencing the most excellent profile strength, whilst allowing for further useful increase in the weight of glass panels employed, thereby allowing maximisation of the heat-sound insulating characteristics of the system in advantageous comparison with other lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems of the prior art.
It is therefore a further object of the invention to offer the proposed system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panels at a lower weight and accordingly lower cost, with appropriately high strength standards and at the same time with enhanced insulation standards due to the capacity of selection of heavier glass panels available and with longer service life and smoother sliding in comparison with systems of the prior art, which although being heavier cannot effectively support the sliding panels due to the aforementioned problems encountered with the eccentric loading of the rollers thereof and with the non sufficiently rigid panel connections. Another disadvantage of lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems for doors and windows of the prior art is that they offer a rather inferior security against attempted burglary because they do not provide for the capacity of perimetrical locking at a plurality of points along the vertical and along the horizontal lengths of the sliding profile member onto the associated frame profile member as is the case with the present invention.
A further object of the present invention consequently is to advantageously overcome the prior art by offering a lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel system for doors and windows with a perimetrical locking mechanism providing enhanced protection against unauthorised violation of any kind.
Another object of the invention is the guarantee maximally optimal thermal and sound insulation characteristics of the system that is achieved with the division of each sliding profile member and each frame profile member in two parts, which are interlinked by means of insulating spacer elements and in particular by means of a pair of reinforced polyamide members, the width of which can vary from 14 mm up to 35 mm, such a dimensional range providing adequate insulation characteristics with a variety of associated selected glass panels.
Another object of the invention is to provide the proposed lift-and-slide aluminium framed panel systems for doors and windows with an appropriate collection of rubber sealants that ensure the absolute perimetrical air and water tightness of the system.
In connection to the above an object of the invention is further to disclose an optimally productive process particularly in relation with the press punching step of the proposed angular connecting members employed at the junctions of abutting profile surfaces, such process offering saving of time whilst ensuring enhanced rigidity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective and a sectional view of a sliding profile member without an insulating spacer element in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective and a sectional view of a sliding profile member incorporating an insulating spacer element in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2a shows shows a perspective view of a glass panel retainer profile member and a perspective view of mounting the same onto a sliding profile member incorporating an insulating spacer element.
Fig. 2b shows a cross sectional view of a connecting profile member incorporating an insulating spacer element, such connecting profile member being adapted to link a pair of co-linearly sliding profile members and an arrangement of a pair of sliding profile members each incorporating an insulating spacer element, such sliding profile members being connected by means of the connecting profile member.
Fig. 2c shows a cross sectional view of a connecting profile member without an insulating spacer element, such connecting profile member being adapted to link a pair of co-linearly sliding profile members and an arrangement of a pair of sliding profile members without an insulating spacer element, such sliding profile members being connected by means of the connecting profile member.
Fig. 2d shows a cross sectional view of a rubber sealant profile and an adjacently shown application of the same in the mounting of a sliding profile member onto a supporting tower portion of a frame profile member.
Fig. 2e shows a perspective view of the accessories employed in the mounting process of a sliding profile member incorporating a glass panel onto a supporting tower portion of a frame profile member.
Figs. 3a and 3b show a perspective and a cross sectional view of a typical frame profile member without an insulating spacer element, incorporating two and three supporting tower portions respectively for receiving an equivalent number of sliding profile members in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figs. 4a and 4b show a perspective and a cross sectional view of a typical frame profile member with an insulating spacer element, incorporating two and three supporting tower portions respectively for receiving an equivalent number of sliding profile members in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a typical arrangement of a pair of parallel sliding profile members mounted onto corresponding tower portions of a frame profile member, wherein both sliding profile members and the frame profile member are in accordance with the aforementioned first preferred embodiment of the invention without an insulating spacer element.
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a typical arrangement of a pair of parallel sliding profile members mounted onto corresponding tower portions of a frame profile member, wherein both sliding profile members and the frame profile member, in accordance with the aforementioned second preferred embodiment of the invention, incorporate an insulating spacer element.
Fig. 7 shows a cross sectional view and Fig. 7a a perspective view of a pair of parallel sliding profile members equipped with glass panels mounted onto corresponding tower portions of a frame profile member, and a further insect blocking screen carrier profile member mounted onto a third frame profile leg extension, wherein both sliding profile members and the frame profile member are in accordance with the aforementioned first preferred embodiment of the invention without an insulating spacer element.
Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view and Fig. 8a a perspective view of a pair of parallel sliding profile members, one equipped with a glass panel and the other with a shutter panel mounted onto corresponding tower portions of a frame profile member, with an intermediate insect blocking screen carrier profile member mounted onto a third frame profile leg extension, wherein both the sliding profile member carrying the glass panel and the frame profile member incorporate an insulating spacer element.
Fig. 9a shows a cross sectional view of a latch profile member being fitted along the axis of mutual contact of a pair of parallel sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element and Fig. 9b presents a cross sectional view of the arrangement of a pair of parallel sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element with the latch profile member of Fig. 9a being fitted along the axis of mutual contact thereof.
Fig. 9c shows a cross sectional view of a latch profile member being fitted along the axis of mutual contact of a pair of parallel sliding profile members that do not incorporate an insulating spacer element and Fig. 9d presents a cross sectional view of the arrangement of such a pair of parallel sliding profile members without an insulating spacer element with the latch profile member of Fig. 9c being fitted along the axis of mutual contact thereof.
Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a frame profile member incorporating an insulating spacer element and a pair of tower portions adapted to support a pair of sliding profile members also with an insulating spacer element, said tower portions being provided with stainless steel slide guide members whereupon slide the support rollers of the sliding profile members.
Fig. 10a shows a perspective view of a detail of the tower portion of the frame profile member of Fig. 10 with the stainless steel slide guide member incorporated within a central channel of the same and an arrangement of roller carrying trolleys being adapted to slide along the aforementioned stainless steel slide guide member.
Fig. 10b shows a perspective view of a detail of a tower portion of a frame profile member in an ordinary sliding door arrangement with a stainless steel slide guide member incorporated within a central channel of the tower portion and an arrangement of roller carrying trolleys being adapted to slide along the aforementioned stainless steel slide guide member.
Fig. 10c shows a cross sectional view of a detail of the tower portion of a frame profile member with a stainless steel slide guide member incorporated within a central channel of the same.
Fig. 10d shows a cross sectional view of a detail of the tower portion of a frame profile member with a stainless steel slide guide member incorporated within a central channel of the same and a support roller of a sliding profile member mounted thereupon, wherein said stainless steel slide guide member is being loaded in the direction of the central axial plane of symmetry of the sliding profile member.
Fig. 10e shows a perspective view of a detail of a vibrating wind sealant made from synthetci rubber EPDM employed in sealing the central bottom portion of the frame profile member, such wind sealant being mounted intermediately between a pair of adjacent tower portions of the frame profile member.
Fig. 11a shows the perimetrical locking arrangement employed in the sliding door/window system of the invention at an open unlocked condition with the sliding profile member lifted upwardly in a sliding mode and Fig. 11b shows the same perimetrical locking arrangement at a closed locked condition with the sliding profile member sitted onto the roller carrying trolleys.
Fig. 12 shows a cross sectional view of the engagement of a forked tongue locking means mounted onto the sliding profile member with a corresponding receiving member mounted onto the frame profile member.
Figs. 12a and 12b show perspective views of the forked tongue locking means mounted onto the sliding profile member and of the corresponding receiving member mounted onto the frame profile member.
Fig. 13 shows a detail of the locking arrangement provided onto the upper horizontal section of the sliding door/window system of the invention incorporating an anti-burgler device and Fig. 13a shows a detail of the cross section taken along line A-A of Fig. 13.
Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the pair of cutting knives employed in the press adapted to form rigid connections with angular connecting members at the corners of the profile members being brought together to form a rectangular panel.
Fig. 14a shows a cross sectional view of a pair of profile members that have been cut at an angle of 45° at the ends thereof, said profile members thereafter being angularly connected with the angular connecting members of the invention.
Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a profile member that has been cut at an angle of 45° at the end thereof and is adapted to receive a pair of angular connecting members provided for connection of the same to an adjacent profile member also cut at an angle of 45° at the end thereof.
Fig. 15a shows a sectional view of a typical sliding profile member of the invention incorporating an insulating spacer element and a pair of perspectively depicted angular connecting members provided for connection of the same to an adjacent sliding profile member.
Figs. 15b and 15c show present a perspective view of a pair of profile members that have been cut at an angle of 45° at the ends thereof, a portion of one profile member having been removed to reveal the interior angular connecting member prior to and after punching thereof by means of the pressing knife means provided on top of the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

We will hereinafter present illustrative, preferred embodiments of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 presents a perspective and a sectional view of a sliding profile member 2 without an insulating spacer element in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention and Fig. 2 shows a perspective and a sectional view of a sliding profile member 2 incorporating an insulating spacer element in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the insulating spacer element is a polyamide profile 5a. Fig. 2a shows a perspective view of a glass panel retainer profile member 4 and a perspective view of mounting the same onto a sliding profile member 2 incorporating an insulating spacer element.
Figs. 3a and 3b show a perspective and a cross sectional view of a typical frame profile member 1 without an insulating spacer element in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, such frame profile member 1 incorporating two and three supporting tower portions 1a respectively for receiving an equivalent number of sliding profile members. Figs. 4a and 4b correspondingly show a perspective and a cross sectional view of a typical frame profile member 1 incorporating an insulating spacer element, that is a polyamide profile 5b, further incorporating two and three supporting tower portions respectively for receiving an equivalent number of sliding profile members in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

The frame profile member 1 and sliding profile member 2 can have a desirable overall width in combination with a varying width of the corresponding polyamide profiles 5b and 5a. When an insulating spacer element is employed the frame profile member 1 and sliding profile member 2 are divided in two portions and the polyamide profiles 5a, 5b are mounted intermediately between such two portions. In the sliding profile member 2, polyamide profiles 5a have a varying width and might receive glass panels of varying width illustratively lying within the range of 24-40 mm. Thus a varying coefficient of thermal conductivity may be obtained, such coefficient having a value of 2.16 W/m²K for a polyamide profile with a width of 22 mm and a corresponding glass panel of 24 mm, whilst the coefficient of thermal conductivity will have a value of 1.20 W/m²K for a polyamide profile with a width of 34 mm and a corresponding glass panel of 40 mm.
In the lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels of the invention, the sliding profile member 2 shown in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 2 is seated onto a tower portion 1a of the frame profile member 1 that is correspondingly shown in Figs. 3a-3b or 4a-4b. Each tower portion 1 a of the frame profile member 1 is a rectangular section that projects outwardly from the exterior surface 7a of the parallelepiped section 7 of the frame profile member 1, whose interior surface 7b abuts onto the perimeter of the door/window opening, both in the vertically and in the horizontally extending lengths of the frame profile member 1. A centrally located, longitudinally extending channel 6 is provided onto an upper side of each one of the supporting tower portions 1a that is employed to receive a stainless steel slide guide member 8 onto which are being mounted the rollers 9 of an array of trolleys 35 that slidably support a rectangularly framed sliding profile member panel. The same channel 6 is being employed for mounting of the pin receiving members 10 of the perimetrical locking mechanism employed in the system of the invention.
The sliding profile member 2 is characterized in that it is absolutely symmetrical with respect to a centrally located plane of symmetry (A-A), that extends parallel and equidistantly spaced from the two side surfaces 2a' and 2a" of the sliding profile member 2 and perpendicularly along the longitudinally extending sliding profile member 2, whereby the sliding profile member 2 is absolutely symmetrical on either side of this axial plane of symmetry (A-A) and exhibits an equally distributed load on each side thereof. A pair of chambers 30a adapted to receive interior connecting angular members are formed on either side of the plane of symmetry A-A and a deep channel 40 is provided intermediately between this pair of chambers 30a, wherein channel 40 is equivalently spaced on either side of the axial plane of symmetry A-A and adapted to receive a plurality of accessories perimetrically securing the rectangularly framed sliding profile panel onto the perimetrically installed frame profile member 1 or onto another adjacent rectangularly framed sliding profile panel. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, side surface 2a" of the sliding profile member 2 extends beyond side surface 2a' thereof at a length equivalent to the length of a glass panel retainer profile member 4 adapted to fit within an appropriately shaped recess 4a at the end of side surface 2a' of the sliding profile member 2, whereby, following introduction of the glass panel retainer profile member 4, the two sides 2a' and 2a" become exactly identical in length and the sliding profile member absolutely symmetrical on either side of the axial plane of symmetry A-A. Such mounting of the glass panel retainer profile member 4 onto the aluminium profile member 2 renders a much more rigid construction in comparison with systems of the prior art wherein the corresponding glass panel retainer profile member was unreliably mounted onto the polyamide profile portion.
Underneath channel 40 and chambers 30a that are adapted to receive the interior angular connecting members 30, the interior walls of side surfaces 2a', 2a" of sliding profile member 2 comprise recesses 31a within which fit leveling angular members 31 depicted in Fig. 2e and recesses 32a within which fit rubber sealant profile members 32 that are illustratively depicted in Fig. 2d. The rubber sealant profile member 32 comprises a portion 32' that fits within recesses 32a and a portion 32" that abuts against the upper ends of tower portion 1a of the frame profile member 1 when the sliding profile member panel is brought at a closure condition (e.g. Fig. 2e). The precise, tight fit of rubber sealant profile member 32 onto the ends of tower portion 1a ensures an absolute water and air tight property with a long service life of the system of the invention. On the contrary sliding profile panel systems of the prior art employing brushes tend to loose such air and water tghtness properties as they rapidly deteriorate through sliding movement of the panel. The rubber sealant profile member 32 of the invention is advantageously made from synthetic rubber EPDM and is perimetrically mounted onto the sliding profile member 2. Its shape is such as to allow smooth sliding of the sliding profile framed panel by raising upwardly away from the tower portions 1a of the frame profile member 1.
An additional air tightness effecting module employed in the present invention is the vibrating air-blocking member 33 that is depicted in Fig. 10e and made from synthetic rubber EPDM. The air-blocking member 33 is advantageously employed in sealing the frame profile member 1 lined at the bottom of the door/window opening, such air-blocking profile member 33 being mounted intermediately in between a pair of adjacent tower portions 1a of the frame profile member 1. Air-blocking profile member 33 operates as a dynamically vibrating spring means as the sliding panel seats and slides thereupon effecting a significant air and water sealing. It must be noted that as shown in a detail view of Fig. 2e, the upper ends of each tower portion member 1a comprise guiding protrusions 57 that effect a terminal upper point in the introduction of air-blocking profile member 33 in between adjacent tower portions 1a of the frame profile member 1.
Figs. 7 and 7a show a pair of parallel sliding profile members equipped with glass panels mounted onto corresponding heavy duty tower portions 1a of a frame profile member provided with the appropriate abovementioned channel 6 for mounting of the stainless steel slide guide member 8, whereupon slide the sliding profile member 2 framed panels incorporating glass panels 3. A further light duty tower member 1b is provided for supporting a light sliding profile framed panel 2b, e.g. of an insect blocking screen carrier profile member 2b. Further, Figs. 8 and 8a show an arrangement of a frame profile member 1 provided with a heavy duty tower portion 1a for mounting an ordinary sliding profile member 2 framed panel incorporating glass panel 3, another light duty tower member 1b for supporting a light sliding profile framed panel 2b, e.g. an insect blocking screen and a further similarly light duty tower member 1c for supporting a light sliding profile framed panel 2c whereupon a shutter panel 3' is mounted.
The system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels of the invention may be employed in applications of rectangularly framed sliding profile panels adapted to slide in parallel directions or adapted to co-linearly slide. Fig. 5 shows an illustrative embodiment of rectangularly framed lift-and-slide profile panels without an insulating spacer element adapted to slide in parallel directions, whilst Fig. 6 shows an equivalent illustrative embodiment of rectangularly framed lift-and-slide profile panels with an insulating spacer element adapted to slide in parallel directions, wherein the frame profile member 1 and the sliding profile member 2 in the latter embodiment are divided in two parts through the aforementioned insulating spacer element and in particular by means of the polyamide profile members 5b, 5a respectively.
An assembly of rectangularly framed lift-and-slide profile panels adapted to slide in parallel directions is characterized in that a pair of externally fitted latch profile members 34 is provided at the end of each sliding profile member 2 along the axis of mutual contact of this pair of rectangularly framed panels sliding in parallel directions. These externally fitted latch profile members 34 are mutually engaged to securely lock together the rectangularly framed sliding profile panels sliding in parallel directions at the axis of mutual contact thereof. Fig. 9a shows a typical embodiment of the externally fitted latch profile member 34 adapted to fit in sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element as shown in Fig. 9b, whilst Fig. 9c shows a corresponding embodiment of the same externally fitted latch profile member 34 suitable for sliding profile members without an insulating spacer element as shown in Fig. 9d. In both cases, the externally fitted latch profile member 34 is an angular element with a surface 34a provided with a pair of extending flanges 34a' adapted to fit within recesses 32a of a frontal opening of the sliding profile member 2 and a surface 34b running at the side of the sliding profile member 2 comprising a cavity 32a' adapted to receive a rubber sealant 32 or a tightening brush member 32" and an extension 34c provided with a hooking element and a hooking element receiving recess adapted to receive the corresponding hooking element of the latch profile member 34 of the sliding profile panel sliding in a parallel direction.
An illustrative assembly of co-linearly sliding rectangularly framed lift-and-slide profile panels with and without an insulating spacer element is shown in Figs. 2b and 2c respectively. An externally fitted connecting profile member 14a' is used in association with the lift-and-slide profile panels with an insulating spacer element depicted in Fig. 2b and an externally fitted connecting profile member 14b' is used in association lift-and-slide profile panels without an insulating spacer element as depicted in Fig. 2c. In both cases the externally fitted connecting profile member is provided onto the vertical length of a first one of a pair of sliding profile members 2 along the axis of mutual contact thereof with a second sliding profile member 2, wherein these first and second profile members 2 correspondingly are part of a pair of rectangularly framed co-linearly sliding profile panels. The externally fitted connecting profile member 14a' or 14b' has a cross-like pattern with a pair of opposite extending legs 14a, an extending leg 14b intermediately between the abovementioned extending legs 14a, wherein the extending leg 14b is provided with a pair of protrusions enabling clipping thereof within a pair of end recesses 32a of the first sliding profile member 2 and an extending leg 14d intermediately between extending legs 14a and at the opposite side of the abovementioned extending leg 14b, wherein extending leg 14d is adapted to be inserted within the second sliding profile member and come in contact with the lateral rubber sealants 32 running at the sides thereof. The abovementioned externally fitted connecting profile member 14a' being employed in sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element is divided in two parts separated and connected by means of a polyamide profile member 14c that has a width equivalent to that of the polyamide members employed in the separation and connection of the two parts in which is being divided the sliding profile member 2. As shown in Fig. 2b, locking pin means 10 is fixedly mounted onto the extending leg 14d of the longitudinally extending length of the externally fitted connecting profile member 14a' and the same locking pin means is fitted along the extending leg 14d of the longitudinally extending length of the externally fitted connecting profile member 14b'. The locking pins 10 are similar to those used along the vertical lengths of the sliding profile members 2. A forked tongue type blade 13 as illustratively depicted in Fig. 12a is accordingly installed in the second adjacent sliding profile member 2 that receives the locking pins installed in the first sliding profile member 2 to effect locking of the system of the two co-linearly sliding profile members along the axis of mutual contact thereof.
Irrespective of differentiations in various embodiments of the lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels of the invention, the sliding profile member 2 used as depicted in Fig. 1, 2, 2a presents a series of common characteristics as follows:

a. The characteristic deep channel 40 provided intermediately between a pair of chambers 30a, which channel 40 is adapted to receive a plurality of locking accessories perimetrically securing the rectangularly framed sliding profile member 2 onto the perimetrically installed frame profile member 1. A pair of protrusions 41 on the lateral walls of channel 40 in association with the overlying polyamide member 5a (Fig. 2) form a drawer within which fits sheet metal plate 43 onto which are being fitted the accessories of the locking mechanism (Fig. 2e). In systems without a thermally insulating spacer element the accessories of the locking mechanism are screwed directly onto the sliding profile member 2 and in particular onto the upper ceiling surface of channel 40.
b. The pair of chambers 30a symmetrically disposed on either side of the axial plane of symmetry A-A, adapted to receive the angular connecting members 30.
c. The pair of oppositely oriented recesses 31a at the lateral interior walls of profile 2 for the reception of leveling angular elements 31.
d. The pair of oppositely oriented recesses 32a at the lateral interior walls of profile 2 for the reception of the rubber sealants 32.

profile member

Fig. 7

glass panels

Figs. 10

10a-10d

slide guide member

Fig. 10c

tower portion

slide guide member

channel

tower portion

frame profile member

Fig. 10a

roller carrying trolleys

slide guide member

link lever

rollers

tower portion

rubber sealants

tower portion

slide guide member

rollers

profile member

slide guide member

Fig. 14

knives

knife

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Fig. 14a

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Fig. 15a

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Fig. 14a

member

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member

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member

knives

recesses

Fig. 15c

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member

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Fig. 12a

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Fig. 12b

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Fig. 12

rotatable handle

Fig. 11a

Fig. 11b

rotatable handle

lever member

plate

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link lever

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link lever

abovementioned trolleys

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Figs. 13, 13a

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polyamide profile members

profile member

polyamide profile members

frame profile member

such polyamide profiles

profile member

frame profile member

Claims

System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels comprising a frame profile member (1) and a sliding profile member (2), said frame profile member (1) comprising a parallelepipedal section (7) with an interior side (7b) abutting onto the perimeter of the door/window opening, both in the vertically and in the horizontally extending lengths of the frame profile member (1), and an exterior side (7a), a plurality of supporting tower portions (1a) of nearly rectangular section extending perpendicularly outwardly said exterior side (7a), a central longitudinally extending channel (6) being provided onto an upper side of each one of said supporting tower portions (1a), a stainless steel slide guide member (8) being provided within said channel (6), an array of trolleys (35) provided with rollers (9) being slidably mounted onto said stainless steel slide guide member (8), said array of trolleys (35) being adapted to support a rectangularly framed panel made through connecting four abutting lengths of said sliding profile member (2), each one of said four lengths having been cut at the corners thereof and joined to adjacent lengths of said sliding profile member (2) through interior connecting angular members (30) to form said rectangularly framed panel, said rectangularly framed panel being brought in either a stationary condition fixedly connected onto supporting basements (9a) of said trolleys (35) or in a sliding condition whereby it slides onto the support rollers (9) of said trolleys (35), wherein such translation from said stationary to said sliding condition and vice versa is effected through operation of a handle means (20) that correspondingly brings said rectangularly framed panel in a locked condition and in a freely sliding condition, characterized in that it comprises in combination:
an axial plane of symmetry (A-A) medially oriented, perpendicularly along the longitudinally extending said sliding profile member (2) and equidistantly spaced from the two side surfaces thereof, said sliding profile member (2) being absolutely symmetrical on either side of said axial plane of symmetry (A-A) and exhibiting an equally distributed load on each side thereof;

four points of punched connection of each one of said interior connecting angular members (30) onto the corresponding corners of said four lengths of said sliding profile member (2) and press punched connection of each pair of said interior angular members (30) at eight points in each corner of the rectangularly framed panel, such 8-point punched connection imparting a three-dimensional enhanced rigidity to the rectangularly framed panel, said interior angular members (30) being alternatively made available at a larger or smaller width to suit sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element or not;

an upper surface (8b) of said stainless steel slide guide member (8) being loaded with said rectangularly framed sliding profile panel extends outwardly said central longitudinally extending channel (6) being provided onto an upper side of said supporting tower portion (1a) of the frame profile member (1) has an elliptical shape and the load of said rectangularly framed sliding profile panel is being exerted axially along the centre of said stainless steel slide guide member (8) passing through said centrally oriented axial plane of symmetry (A-A);

said sliding profile member (2) is provided with a deep channel (40) intermediately between a pair of chambers (30a), said channel (40) being equivalently spaced on either side of said axial plane of symmetry (A-A) and adapted to receive a plurality of accessories perimetrically securing said rectangularly framed sliding profile panel onto the perimetrically installed frame profile member (1), and

an assembly of securing angular blades of a perimetrical locking mechanism, and of an anti-burgler wedge-shaped device.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim1, characterized in that it is adapted for use in a pair of rectangularly framed sliding profile panels adapted to slide in parallel directions, a pair of externally fitted latch profile members (34) being provided on the vertical lengths of said sliding profile members (2) along the axis of mutual contact of said pair of rectangularly framed panels sliding in parallel directions, said externally fitted latch profile members (34) being mutually engaged to securely lock together said rectangularly framed sliding profile panels sliding in parallel directions at the axis of mutual contact thereof, each one of said externally fitted latch profile members (34) being an angular element with a surface (34a) provided with a pair of extending flanges (34a') adapted to fit within recesses (32a) of a frontal opening of the sliding profile member (2) and a surface (34b) running at the side of said sliding profile member (2) comprising a cavity (32a') adapted to receive a rubber sealant (32) or a tightening brush member and an extension (34c) provided with a hooking element and a hooking element receiving recess adapted to receive the hooking element of the latch profile members (34) of the sliding profile panel sliding in a parallel direction.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is adapted for use in a plurality of rectangularly framed co-linearly sliding profile panels, an externally fitted connecting profile member (14a', 14b') being provided onto a first one of said sliding profile members (2) along the axis of mutual contact thereof with a second sliding profile member (2), said first and second profile members (2) correspondingly being part of a pair of rectangularly framed co-linearly sliding profile panels, said externally fitted connecting profile member (14a') being employed in sliding profile members incorporating an insulating spacer element and said connecting profile member (14b') being employed in sliding profile members without an insulating spacer element, each said externally fitted connecting profile member (14a', 14b') having a cross-like pattern with a pair of opposite extending legs (14a), an extending leg (14b) intermediately between said extending legs (14a), said extending leg (14b) being provided with a pair of protrusions enabling clipping thereof within a pair of end recesses (32a) of said first sliding profile member (2) and an extending leg (14d) intermediately between said extending legs (14a) and at the opposite side of said extending leg (14b), said extending leg (14d) being adapted to be inserted within said second sliding profile member (2) and come in contact with the lateral rubber sealants (32) running at the sides thereof.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that said centrally located longitudinally extending channel (6) of each said tower portion (1a) of the frame profile member (1) is adapted to receive said stainless steel slide guide member (8) along the bottom horizontal basement level of said system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels, whilst, along the vertically extending lengths of said frame profile member (1), said channel (6) is adapted to receive an arrangement of receiving members comprising locking pins (10) of forked tongue locking means (13) installed onto the vertical lengths of said sliding profile member (2) and along the top upper horizontal level of said system of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels said channel (6) is adapted to receive anti-burgler rotatably fitted members (54) that inhibit raising said rectangularly framed sliding member panel upwardly as long as said perimetrical locking mechanism is in locked condition.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that said sliding profile member (2) is formed with a pair of parallel external side surfaces (2a', 2a"), said side surface (2a") extending beyond said side surface (2a') at a length equivalent to the length of a glass panel retainer profile member (4) adapted to fit within an appropriately shaped recess (4a) at the end of said side surface (2a') of the sliding profile member (2).
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that said stainless steel slide guide member (8) is a U section with a pair of symmetrically arranged laterally extending nerves (8a) tightly fitted within said channel (6) of the tower portion (1a) of the frame profile member (1), said elliptically shaped upper surface (8b) of said stainless steel slide guide member (8) extending upwardly said symmetrically arranged laterally extending nerves (8a) and outwardly said channel (6) and providing a curved sector substantially less than 180° for the frictional contact thereupon of said support rollers (9) of a rectangularly framed sliding member panel.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that a pair of said angular connecting members (30) is used in each corner junction of a pair of sliding profile member abutting surfaces, each angular connecting member (30) being a rectilinear element comprising a pair of equivalently shaped legs, said legs being appropriately sized so as to fit within the chambers (30a) of said abutting surfaces of sliding profile members and symmetrically disposed on either side of the plane of abutment of the pair of sliding profile members, each one of said legs of each angular connecting member (30) comprising surfaces (46) arranged to face towards a pair of cutting knives (50) during a punching connection process, each of said surfaces (46) being provided with a pair of recesses (45) correspondingly facing a pair of cutting pointed edges (50a) of said cutting knives (50), whereby a cutting stroke results in said cutting pointed edges (50a) of said cutting knives (50) effecting cutting of metal strips (47) off the walls of said chambers (30a) within which said angular connecting members (30) have been introduced, said strips (47) being tightly fitted under an angle of 45° within said recesses (45), thereby exerting thereupon forces leading to a tight abutment of the sliding profile members being connected with a three-dimensionally enhanced rigidity.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism installed perimetrically around a rectangularly framed panel comprises a fork tongue shaped member (13) arranged along the vertical length of the sliding profile member (2) and an appropriate arrangement of pin receiving members (10) arranged onto the corresponding vertical length of frame profile member (1) or onto a corresponding vertical length of a co-linearly sliding profile member (2), said locking mechanism being alternatively set at a locked or unlocked condition through rotation of a rotatable handle (20) that in the same time correspondingly locks or unlocks said anti-burgler wedge-shaped device installed at the horizontally extending top of the rectangularly framed panel.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to Claim 8, characterized in that said rotatable handle (20) is connected to a lever member (55) connected onto a plate (53) that constitutes a lateral extension of a vertically extending driving link lever (39), said fork tongue shaped member (13) arranged along said vertically extending driving link lever (39), said vertically extending driving link lever (39) being connected to a bottom angular member (37), said bottom angular member (370 being connected to said link lever (36) connected with said trolleys (35) slidably arranged along said frame profile member (1) lined along the bottom of the door/window opening, and to a top angular member (38) connected to said anti-burgler wedge-shaped device installed at the horizontally extending top of the rectangularly framed panel, wherein rotation of said handle (20) to a sliding position results in said angular member (37) exerting action on said link lever (36) to allow said rollers (9) to slide along said frame profile member (1) lined along the bottom of the door/window opening and move said rectangularly framed panel being fixedly mounted onto basements (9a) of said trolleys (35) and in said angular member (38) exerting an action onto said anti-burgler wedge-shaped device and disengaging it to allow free sliding of the rectangularly framed panel, whilst rotation of said handle (20) to a locked position results in said angular member (37) exerting action on said link lever (36) so as to inhibit said rollers (9) to slide along said frame profile member (1) thereby maintaining said rectangularly framed panel at a stationary position and in said angular member (38) exerting an action onto said anti-burgler wedge-shaped device with a scope of engaging it thereby inhibiting upwardly raising of the rectangularly framed panel.
System of lift-and-slide aluminium framed door/window panels according to anyone of the above Claims 1-9, characterized in that said frame profile member (1) and said sliding profile member (2) are divided in two parts each and provided with an intermediate thermally insulating spacer element that comprises polyamide profile members (5a) for the sliding profile member (2) and polyamide profile members (5b) for the frame profile member (1), said polyamide profiles (5a, 5b) connecting the two parts of said sliding profile member (2) and said frame profile member (1) respectively.