EP2189613B1

EP2189613B1 - Corner joint for door or window frames

Info

Publication number: EP2189613B1
Application number: EP09014394A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Federoni
Original assignee: Felver Casa Srl- Unipersonale
Current assignee: Felver Casa Srl- Unipersonale
Priority date: 2008-11-19
Filing date: 2009-11-18
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-18
Also published as: EP2189613A1; ITVI20080273A1; ATE538281T1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a set of elements suited to make frames or casings (1) for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like; said set comprises a first element (1ti) and a second element (1m), suited to be connected to each other in such a way as to preferably form a substantially right angle. The second element (1m) comprises a seat (1ma) suited to at least partially house a portion (1tis) of the first element. Said seat is open on at least three sides and closed on the remaining three sides.

Description

The present invention concerns the manufacture of doors, windows, door/window panels or the like.
In particular, the present invention concerns the manufacture of panels or doors for wardrobes, lockers or the like. More precisely, the present invention concerns the manufacture of casings or frames used for making doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, in particular door panels for wardrobes or equivalent pieces of furniture.
In greater detail, the present invention concerns a system or set of elements suitable for making doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, for example door panels for wardrobes or equivalent pieces of furniture.
In particular, the present invention concerns a system or set of jambs and cross members suited to make said frames or casings.
The present invention relates in particular to the way in which two of said elements can be connected to each other and fixed to each other in such a way as to form a right angle, thus substantially a 90-degree angle. According to the present invention, said at least two elements can be connected to each other in such a way as to form an L-shaped joint, that is, a joint with a right angle, and/or a T-shaped joint, that is, a joint with at least two right angles, or solutions with angles different from 90-degree angles.
According to the state of the art, there are frames suited to make doors or windows and/or sliding and/or revolving doors for wardrobes or equivalent pieces of furniture. In particular, frames are known which are made of various materials, like for example wood, plastic and aluminium, as well as frames made of combined materials, for example plastic and wood, plastic and aluminium, and aluminium and wood. One of the crucial points in the manufacture of doors or panels of the type mentioned above is represented by the construction of frames featuring suitable stability, lightness, resistance and capable of being assembled with relatively simple operations at competitive prices. In particular, one of the most delicate operations in the construction of a frame for doors, windows or panels is the connection of the different elements that make up the frame. Said elements usually comprise two or more jambs, depending on the dimensions of the door or panel, and two or more cross members; the jambs, that is, the elements of the frame that once the door or panel has been assembled extend in a substantially vertical direction, are connected to the cross members, that is, the elements that once the door or panel has been assembled extend in a substantially horizontal direction, so that said jambs and said cross members, in the case of rectangular or square doors or panels, form substantially right angles, that is, substantially 90-degree angles. It is therefore necessary to make sure that the frame guarantees the necessary stability, thus preventing the same from losing the shape it assumed during assembly when the door or panel is used for the intended application; otherwise, also the door or panel would lose its original shape. In other words, the angles between the different components of the frame must maintain their original amplitude over time. It is also desirable to be able to ensure that the elements of the frame, jambs and cross members, can be constructed with relatively simple and inexpensive processes, and that also the assembly of the frame can be completed in reasonable times, at a low cost and with relatively simple operations that do not require the use of complex and costly machinery. It is also convenient to be able to ensure that the operations for making the components of the frame and for the assembly of the latter allow the use of different types of material, that is, materials with different characteristics in terms of specific weight, resistance, toughness, flexibility, etc.
Different solutions are currently known that are intended to simplify and standardize both the construction of the components of a frame and the assembly of the frame itself.In particular, solutions are known that are suited to guarantee the precision and repeatability of the angles defined by the elements of frames or casings.
Solutions are also known that are suited to simplify the processes required for connecting two elements of a frame so that, once connected to each other, they form angles having a precise amplitude, in particular 90-degree angles. Similarly, other solutions are known that have the purpose to guarantee the stability of a frame, in particular the stability of the connections made between the various components of the same. According to the state of the art, for example, there are solutions intended to connect two components with each other so that the same, once the connection has been completed, define one or more 90-degree angles, which require the use of bonding agents, screws, nails or similar means; another solution is also known, according to which the elements for the assembly of frames are provided with surfaces suited to strike against or in any case come into contact with each other and suitably oriented, in particular in such a way as to orient the two elements to be connected according to predefined directrices. For example, in particular in the case of wooden components, the ends of two elements are cut according to a 45-degree angle, in such a way as to obtain two transversal surfaces on said ends; when said two surfaces are placed in contact with each other, the elements are arranged at right angles in relation to each other and then they can be connected using bonding agents, screws, or similar means. According to other proposed solutions, it is also possible to provide one of the two elements to be connected with a projection, properly oriented and having a defined shape, suited to engage into a seat having a corresponding shape created in the other element. The precision with which said projection and said seat are carried out determines the precision with which the two elements will be oriented in relation to each other. The same applies to simpler solutions, like for example the creation of oblique striking surfaces, in particular at 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the element; only in the case of surfaces that are exactly at 45 degrees the two elements of the frame will be oriented in such a way as to define exactly a 90-degree angle. Other solutions have been proposed and are known in the art, in which different materials are used, like for example plastic or metal; in particular, the increasingly widespread use of these materials instead of wood or the like has led to the need to find different solutions, aimed at ensuring precise, stable and resistant connections, as well as at standardizing and accelerating assembly operations. In particular, in the case of metal section bars, for example aluminium section bars, various solutions have been proposed, ranging from the construction of section bars specifically created for this purpose, to solutions related to the cutting or shaping of said section bars, including solutions for glueing, sealing or even screwing together two section bars so that, once connected, they define angles having a predefined amplitude.
However, notwithstanding the efforts made, the solutions known in the state of the art are still characterized by several problems and/or drawbacks. In particular, in spite of all the efforts made and the undeniable results achieved, it is still difficult to make light and at the same time stable frames, capable of maintaining their original shape, as intended at the moment of assembly, over time; the frame elements tend to detach from each other, with the consequence that the amplitude of the angles between the various components of the frame changes. When, on the other hand, an acceptable degree of stability is achieved, this goes to the detriment of the simplicity of the construction process, and in fact construction times and costs increase. The increase in costs is often due also to the use of section bars with a complex shape, which are therefore difficult to work and assemble. In other cases, the stability of the frame has been obtained by using a large number of additional components, like rivets, screws, bonding agents, etc. Further examples of sets of elements for making windows, doors, frames or the like are known from documents DE 9411775 U1 and US 1436858 . The main object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems that characterize the known solutions.
In particular, it is one object of the present invention to propose a solution that makes it possible to construct frames for doors, windows, door/window panels and the like characterized by high durability and stability. In greater detail, one object of the present invention is to develop a solution that allows the components of a frame to be connected in such a way as to guarantee that the angles according to which said components are connected during assembly of the frame do not vary over time. A further object of the invention is to propose a method for connecting the various components of a frame with predefined angles, by means of a simple process characterized by low costs. It is a further object of the present invention to propose a process that makes it possible to assemble different frames and to use different elements, for example different metal section bars. It is another object of the present invention to propose a solution for connecting the elements of a frame with each other in a stable manner while at the same time limiting the use of additional components like screws, rivets, nails, bonding agents, as well as of more complex processes like sealing or the like.
The present invention is based on the general assumption that the elements of a frame can be connected to each other in a simple and effective manner by properly shaping said elements or components; the invention is also based on the assumption that stable connections between the two components of a frame can be obtained by properly shaping the parts of said components that are intended to come into contact with each other, in particular by properly shaping the striking surfaces of said elements or components. The present invention is also based on the further assumption that stable connections can be obtained by placing several different surfaces of the various components to be connected against each other.
In particular, making several different surfaces, oriented along different planes, strike against each other means increasing the stability of the connection. Furthermore, the opposition between the different surfaces in contact makes it possible to position in advance the elements to be connected during the assembly steps; this prevents or at least limits the need to use special equipment to keep the elements in the correct position during assembly. Instead, the elements to be connected will assume their mutual final position already during assembly, with no need to use said equipment. According to the spirit of the present invention, it has also been considered that the different striking surfaces counteract the mutual movement of the different components also once the assembly has been completed, thus guaranteeing the desired stability. As a consequence of the above, another advantage is a limited use of additional components. The present invention, furthermore, also derives from the consideration that suitable counteracting surfaces can be obtained in a simple and effective way on different types of elements, in particular on section bars that have different shapes and are made with different materials.
According to a first embodiment, the subject of the invention is a set of elements according to claim 1, that is, a set of elements suited to make casings or frames for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, said set comprising at least one first element and one second element, said first and second elements being elongated in shape and suited to be connected to each other in such a way as to form a substantially and preferably right angle, said second element comprising a seat suited to house at least partially a portion of said first element, said seat being open on three sides and closed on the remaining three sides. In fact, it has been proven that a seat according to claim 1 makes it possible to counteract the mutual movement of said first and second elements in at least one direction.At the same time, however, the fact that said seat is open on three sides allows the first element to be freely positioned along the second element, while seats that are closed on four or more sides make it possible to arrange the two elements to be connected only in mutually predefined positions. Furthermore, the creation of a longitudinal seat open on three sides is simplified and possible on elements having different shapes, in particular on section bars having different shapes. Further embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the dependent claims.
Further disclosed in the present application is a process for making elements suited to be assembled to form a frame for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like. According to said process, starting from a section bar with a predefined shape and removing suitable portions of said section bar, it is possible to obtain an element comprising several striking surfaces suited to come into contact with corresponding striking surfaces of a second element of the frame to be connected to said first element. Said striking surfaces counteract the mutual undesired movement of the two elements connected to each other, both when they are connected during the assembly of the frame and when the frame is used.
According to a further embodiment, the elements to be connected to each other have a substantially elongated shape and each of them is provided with a main body and portions that extend from said main body; the sizes of the main body and of the portions extending from it are selected in such a way as to guarantee the coincidence of the external surfaces of the two elements once the assembly and the connection have been carried out, that is, so that the external surfaces lie on coincident planes.
Further advantages, objects and characteristics, as well as further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims and will be illustrated in the following description with reference to the enclosed drawings; in the drawings, equivalent or corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a frame for doors, windows or door/window panels of the type that can be manufactured using the present invention;
Figure la shows a perspective view of two assembly elements according to a first embodiment;
Figure 1b shows a perspective view of the two elements of Figure 1a, once the assembly has been completed;

Figure 2a shows two assembly elements according to a further embodiment;
Figure 2b shows the elements of Figure 2a connected to each other;
Figure 2c schematically shows further details of the elements carried out according to the present invention;

Although the present invention is described below with reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings. On the contrary, the embodments described and illustrated herein clarify some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims. Only fig. 2c shows an embodiment which complies with the invention as defined in claim 1. The present invention has proved particularly advantageous when applied to the manufacture of frames for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, for example doors of wardrobes or equivalent pieces of furniture. Furthermore, the present invention has proved particularly advantageous when applied to the construction or assembly of aluminium frames; therefore, the description below will focus on the components and the assembly of aluminium frames for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, as well as on the explanation of the advantages deriving from the use of aluminium section bars. It should be pointed out, however, that the present invention is not limited to the construction of said frames, in particular of said frames for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, or to the use of section bars. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied in any situation in which two elongated elements like two bars, two box-shaped elements or two section bars, etc. must be connected to each other in such a way as to form one or more angles with predefined amplitude, in particular one or more preferably right angles.
A frame of the type as described above is described below with reference to Figure 1.
The frame 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises two side jambs 1m and a plurality of cross members, in particular a first upper cross member 1ts, a lower cross member 1ti and a plurality of intermediate cross members It. It is clear from the following description that the number of cross members as well as the number of side jambs may vary according to the final dimensions of the frame; in particular, more than two jambs, for example two side jambs 1m and one or more intermediate jambs can be provided, said side and intermediate jambs being connected to one another by a variable number of cross members 1t, 1ti. Figure 1 clearly shows that the jambs and the cross members are connected to each other in such a way as to form one or more substantially right angles a', a" and a"'.
A first embodiment is described here below with reference to Figure 1a; in particular, the description illustrates how at least one side jamb 1m and one lower member 1ti of the type shown in Figure 1 are connected to each other. In Figure 1a, the components shown in Figure 1 are identified by the same reference numbers.
Figure 1b shows a side jamb 1m and a lower cross member 1ti mutually positioned in such a way as to form at least one right angle; for example, the side jamb 1m of Figure 1b may correspond to the right jamb shown in Figure 1a, the lower cross member 1ti may correspond to the lower cross member shown in Figure 1.
It is clear, however, that the following description can be applied also to the connection of other jambs and/or cross members of Figure 1, for example to the connection of the side jamb 1m with an intermediate cross member 1t of Figure 1, or even to the transversal connection of the left side jamb 1m of Figure 1 with any one of the upper, lower or intermediate cross members 1ts, 1ti, 1t of Figure 1.
Both the element or side jamb 1m and the lower cross member 1ti of Figure 1a are elongated in shape; Figure 1a thus relates to the ends of said side element or jamb 1m and said lower cross member 1ti.
The lower cross member 1ti comprises a main body 1tip with predefined thickness H. A terminal portion 1tis whose thickness h is inferior to the thickness H of the main body 1 tip extends from the same main body 1tip.
The lower cross member 1ti thus comprises a substantially flat upper main surface I ss as well as a first front surface 1sf2.
The terminal portion 1tis projecting from the main body 1tip comprises a lower surface 1si opposite the upper surface 1ss and substantially parallel to it. Furthermore, the main body 1tip comprises a second front surface 1sf1 that intersects the lower surface 1si of the terminal portion 1tis in such a way as to form with it a substantially right angle.
The terminal portion 1tis protects from the main body 1tip of a length Lm.
Also the second element or side jamb 1m shown in Figure 1a comprises a main body 1mp with an upper surface 1ms.
A secondary body 1mb extends from said main body 1mp and comprises a first wall 1ms1 extending from the main body 1mp substantially at right angles and a second wall 1ms2 substantially parallel to the upper surface 1ms of the main body 1mp and therefore forming a substantially right angle with the first wall 1ms1. The main body 1mp and the walls 1ms1 and 1ms2 thus define a seat 1ma that in the example shown in Figure 1a extends over the whole length LL of the side jamb 1m. It will be apparent here below that the length of the seat 1ma, that is, its extension in the direction of the total length LL of the element 1m can be selected as desired. Therefore, the seat 1ma is delimited by the surface 1ms of the main body 1mp, by the surface 1msf of the wall 1ms1 and by the surface 1msi of the wall 1ms2. It is thus clear that the seat 1ma is open on three sides and closed on the remaining three sides, in particular at least on the three sides defined by the walls 1ms2 and 1ms1 and by the main body 1mp.
The mutual connection or positioning of the two elements 1m and 1ti of Figure 1a takes place according to the broken line arrow of Figure 1a and in particular as shown in Figure 1b, in which the characteristics or components already described with reference to previous figures are identified by the same reference numbers.
It is clear from Figure 1b that the terminal portion 1tis of the element 1ti projecting from the main body 1tip is at least partially inserted in the seat 1ma of the side jamb 1m. In this way, the lower surface 1si of the terminal portion 1tis comes into contact with the upper surface 1ms of the side jamb 1m. In the same way, the front surface 1sf1 of the main body 1tip comes into contact with the surface 1msf1 of the main body 1mp of the element 1m. In the example shown in Figure 1b, the front surface 1sf2 of the projecting portion 1tis of the cross member 1ti does not come into contact with the surface 1msf of the first wall 1ms1 of the side jamb 1m. In any case, it is possible to select the length Lm of the terminal portion 1tis and the width 1mt of the main body 1mp so that the two surfaces 1sf2 and 1msf come into contact with each other. In Figure 1b, the arrow A highlights one of the advantages offered by the two elements 1ti and 1m represented therein; in fact it is clear that the wall 1ms2 prevents the accidental rotation of the cross member 1ti in the direction of the arrow A. Increased stability of the connection is thus obtained, due to the opposition between the terminal portion 1tis and the seat 1ma of the side jamb 1m, in particular of its wall 1ms2. The distance d between the surface 1msi and the surface 1ms of the side jamb 1m is selected so that it substantially coincides with the thickness h of the terminal portion 1tis. In this way, by inserting said terminal portion 1tis in the seat 1ma it is possible to obtain the counteracting effect between said portion and at least said surfaces 1ms and 1msi, counteracting effect that further increases the stability of the connection. A further advantage offered by the set of elements 1m and 1ti represented in Figures 1a and 1b relates to the fact that, being the seat 1ma open on three sides, the cross member 1ti can be positioned as desired along the whole length LL of the side jamb 1m, contrary to what happens with solutions according to which the cross member 1ti can be arranged only in predefined positions, in particular in those positions in which a seat closed on more than three sides has been previously created
A further embodiment is described here below with reference to Figures 2a and 2b; as usual, the characteristics or component parts shown in Figures 2a and 2b and previously described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers.
The embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b differs from the one shown in Figures 1a and 1b substantially in that the terminal portion 1tis projecting from the main body 1tip comprises two sub-portions, in particular one first sub-portion with thickness h' and one second sub-portion with thickness h inferior to h'. In this way, the terminal portion 1tis comprises two front striking surfaces, in particular one surface 1sf2' and one surface 1sf2.As in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 1a and 1b, the cross member 1ti of Figure 2a comprises a main body 1tip with thickness H>h' which therefore in turn comprises a front striking surface 1sf1. Figure 2b clearly shows that the sub-portion with thickness h of the terminal portion 1tis is inserted in the seat 1ma in such a way as to prevent the accidental and undesired rotation of the cross member 1ti in the direction schematically shown by the arrow A.
Furthermore, the stability of the connection, also in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, can be increased or improved by properly choosing the thicknesses and the lengths, in particular the sizes of the parts intended to come into contact with each other.
The distance between the surfaces 1ms and 1msi can for example be selected so that it is equal to the thickness h or slightly exceeds it. In the same way, the length Lm can be selected in such a way as to allow contact between the front surfaces 1sf2 and 1msf and/or between the surfaces 1f2 and the surface 2ms of the wall 1ms2.The contact between the surfaces 1sf2 and 1msf is obtained in particular by selecting the length Lm so that it substantially corresponds to the length 1mt. The embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b offers the further advantage that, if the thicknesses h' and h are selected so that the difference h'-h corresponds to the thickness hx of the wall 1ms2, the upper surface 1ss of the cross member 1ti will thus lie on the same plane as the surface 1mss of the wall lms2. In this way, the application of completing elements to the frame 1 will be simplified, as the same frame will not present any steps and/or obstacles. In the same way, if the thickness H of the main body 1tip, the thickness h' of the sub-portion projecting from said main body and the thickness of the main body 1mp of the side jamb 1m are properly selected, also the lower surfaces of the cross member 1ti and of the side jamb 1m opposite the surfaces 1ss and 1mss will lie substantially on the same plane and therefore it will be possible to avoid the presence of steps or obstacles that might complicate the application of additional elements like strips, panels or the like to the frame.
Figure 2c shows an embodiment according to the present invention as defined in the claims. According to this embodiment, the wall 1ms2 of the side jamb 1m comprises a projection 1x that extends from the surface 1msi and thus towards the main body 1mp. In the same way, the terminal portion 1tis comprises a second projection 1y that extends from the surface 1ss. The mutual action of the projections 1x and ly further prevents the projection 1tis from accidentally coming out of the seat 1ma. The solution shown in Figure 2c can be applied to any one of the two embodiments described above, in particular to the one shown in Figures 1a and 1b and the one shown in Figures 2a and 2b. Variants of the solution shown in Figure 2c are also possible, for example variants in which only one projection, 1x or 1y, is provided.

Claims

Set of elements suited to make casings or frames (1) for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, said set of elements comprising at least one first element e.g. a lower cross member (1ti), and one second element, e.g. a side jamb (1m), said first and second element being suited to be connected to each other in such a way as to form a substantially right angle, said second element comprising a seat (1ma) suited to house at least partially a terminal portion (1tis) of said first element comprising a flat main surface (1ss) said seat (1ma) being open on at least three sides and closed on the remaining three sides; wherein said second element comprises a longitudinal main body (1mp) with a flat surface (1ms) and a longitudinal secondary body (1mb) that extends from said flat surface (1ms) and wherein said seat (1ma) is obtained in said secondary body (1mb); wherein said secondary body (1mb) of said second element comprises a first wall (1ms1) that extends from said flat surface (1ms) of said main body (1mp) and one second wall (1ms2) that extends from said first wall (1ms1); wherein said seat (1ma) is delimited by said flat surface (1ms) of said main body (1mp), by a second flat surface (1msf) of said first wall (1ms1) adjacent to said first flat surface (1ms) and forming with it a substantially right angle, and by a third flat surface (1msi) of said second wall (1ms2) substantially parallel to said surface (1ms) and adjacent to said second surface (1msf) and forming with it a substantially right angle;
characterized in that said wall (1ms2) comprises counteracting means (1x) suited to engage with said terminal portion (1tis) of said first element in such a way as to prevent it from accidentally coming out of said seat (1ma), and in that said counteracting means (1x) comprise a projection which extends from said third flat surfaces (1ms;) toward said flat main surface (1ss) of said terminal portion (1tis) of said first element so as to come into contact with said flat main surface (1ss) once said terminal portion (1tis) of said first element has been at least partially inserted into said seat (1ma).
Set of elements according to claim from 1) characterized in that said seat (1ma) extends longitudinally over the whole length of said second element.
Set of elements according to any of the claims from 1) to 2), characterized in that said terminal portion (1tis) of said first element extends from the main body (1tip) of said first element in the direction of the length of said first element.
Set of elements according to claim 3), characterized in that said terminal portion (1tis) comprises at least one terminal sub-portion whose thickness (h) substantially corresponds to the distance (d) between said third and first surface (1msi, 1msf) of said second element.
Set of elements according to claim 4), characterized in that said terminal portion (1tis) comprises a second sub-portion whose thickness (h') exceeds said thickness (h) and extending between said main body (1tip) and said first sub-portion with thickness (h).
Set of elements according to any of the claims 4) or 5), characterized in that said first sub-portion with thickness (h) comprises counteracting elements (1y) suited to cooperate with said counteracting elements (1x) of said second element in such a way as to prevent the accidental detachment of said first element from said second element, and in that said counteracting elements (1y) comprise a projection that extends from said surface (1ss).
Set of elements according to any of the claims 5) or 6), characterized in that the thickness (hx) of said second wall (1msr) of said second element substantially corresponds to the difference between said thicknesses (h) and (h').
Set of elements according to any of the claims from 4) to 7), characterized in that said difference (H-h') between the thickness of said main body (1tip) of said first element and the thickness (h') of said second sub-portion of said first element substantially corresponds to the thickness (hp) of said main body (1mp) of said second element.
Set of elements according to any of the claims from 1) to 8), characterized in that at least one of said first and second element is obtained from an aluminium section.
Frame (1) for doors, windows, door/window panels or the like, comprising a first element and a second element fixed to each other in such a way as to form a substantially right angle, characterized in that said first element and said second element are carried out according to one of the claims from 1) to 9).