EP3775447B1

EP3775447B1 - Closing device for sliding doors/windows

Info

Publication number: EP3775447B1
Application number: EP19721118.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Brun
Original assignee: Mypro Research SRL
Current assignee: Mypro Research SRL
Priority date: 2018-04-05
Filing date: 2019-04-01
Publication date: 2022-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-01
Also published as: EP3775447A1; WO2019193480A1; IT201800004242A1

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention concerns a closing device for a sliding door/window. More specifically, the invention concerns a closing device that allows the sliding door/window to be automatically locked when it is in proximity to the jamb and to be easily and effectively released. Further, the invention is related to a closing device that has no projecting parts when the sliding door/window is open.

State of the art

Closing devices for sliding doors/windows having different shapes are known. In most closing devices, when the door/window approaches the jamb, a hook that projects from a part of the door/window or from a part of the jamb is coupled with a corresponding housing.
This solution, however, poses several drawbacks. More specifically, the hook, in order to be released, needs to be lifted from the housing, which requires a circular movement of the hook combined with a thrusting movement exerted on the door/window. Furthermore, this type of closure is not particularly safe, since it is possible to lift the hook by inserting an object between the door/window and the jamb. In addition to the above, when the door/window is open the hook remains projecting from the member where it is positioned, making the door/window look less pleasant and, in some cases, posing the risk of people and/or objects getting caught in the hook when moving in proximity to the latter.
A problem of the known systems, furthermore, is represented by the fact that the sliding door/window 1 may move downwards over time, which causes the door/window and the jamb to become misaligned with respect to each other, thus preventing the correct operation of the closing devices.
Closing devices according to the state of the art are known, for instance, by documents EP 2 589 733 A1 , US 2013/307280 A1 , DE 24 48 300 A1 , US 2014/306467 A1 , DE 10 2006 007690 A1 , DE 10 2008 022019 B3 , EP 3 192 951 A1 , and EP 2 025 856 A2 .
The present invention has been designed taking in consideration the problems described above and one of the objects of an embodiment of the invention is to provide a closing device for a sliding door/window that allows the closing device to be automatically engaged when the door/window approaches the jamb. Furthermore, one of the objects of an embodiment of the invention is to make it possible to open the sliding door/window by performing only one type of movement, preferably only a movement in the opening direction of the sliding door/window. In addition to the above, one of the objects of an embodiment of the invention is to provide a closing device that is simple and economic to manufacture. Moreover, one of the objects of an embodiment of the invention is to provide a closing device that has no exposed parts or parts projecting from the door/window or from the jamb when the door/window is open.

Summary of the invention

One or more of the objects described above is/are achieved by the invention as defined by claim 1. The invention provides a closing device consisting of a removable male locking element positioned on the jamb and a removable female locking element positioned on the sliding door/window, and such that the female locking element comprises an element with variable cross section and several interference elements suited to be positioned between the element with variable cross section and the male locking element, so that, once the male locking element has been introduced in the female locking element, a traction movement exerted on the male locking element locks the latter into the element with variable cross section through the interference elements. In this manner, it becomes advantageously possible to automatically close the sliding door/window, by simply introducing the male locking element in the female locking element, that is, by simply moving the sliding door/window so that it approaches the jamb.
Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, by using magnetic materials for at least part of the male locking element and/or for parts of the closing device in the sliding door/window, it is advantageously possible to position the male locking element into the jamb in a movable manner, so that the male locking element is extracted from the jamb as the door/window approaches the jamb itself, thanks to the magnetic attraction force.
In addition to the above, in some embodiments of the invention, by making the part of the closing device located in the door/window so that it has a fixed portion and a movable portion connected by means of an elastic element and preferably obtained from a single mould, it is advantageously possible to implement the invention in a simple and economic manner suitable for industrial production.
More specifically, an embodiment of the invention may concern a closing device for a sliding door/window, comprising: a first portion suited to be mounted on a jamb, a second portion suited to be mounted on the door/window, wherein the first portion comprises a male locking element, wherein the second portion comprises a female locking element, wherein the female locking element comprises an element with variable cross section inside which the male locking element can be inserted, wherein the female locking element comprises one or more interference elements suited to be positioned between the element with variable cross section and the male locking element, wherein the female locking element comprises a release element configured in such a way as to act on the one or more interference elements.
In some embodiments, the release element can be at least partially positioned between the male locking element and the element with variable cross section. In some embodiments, the release element can comprise one or more seats for the one or more interference elements.
In some embodiments, the second portion can comprise an interference-holding element configured in such a way as to apply a force onto the release element towards the first portion.
In some embodiments, at least a part of the male locking element and/or at least a part of the second portion may comprise magnetic material.
According to the invention, the first portion comprises a return element acting on the male locking element and configured in such a way as to exert a force on the male locking element towards the first portion.
In some embodiments, the second portion may comprise an internal body, the internal body may comprise a movable part, a fixed part and an elastic element connecting the fixed part and the movable part, wherein the movable part can be configured so as to be able to act on the release element.
In some embodiments, the fixed part may comprise a seat for the element with variable cross section.
In some embodiments, the movable part, the fixed part and the elastic element can be made in a single piece.

Brief list of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention are highlighted in the following detailed description of preferred, but non-exclusive embodiments illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers identify the same components. More specifically:

Figure 1 schematically represents a possible situation of use of the closing device 1000 according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic external side view of the closing device 1000;
Figure 3 shows several schematic perspective views of a first portion 1100 of the closing device 1000;
Figure 4 shows several schematic sectional views of a first portion 1100 of the closing device 1000;
Figures 5, 6 and 7 schematically represent a possible method of use of the closing device 1000 according to the invention;
Figure 8 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a second portion 1200 of the closing device 1000;
Figure 9 shows several sectional, side and perspective views of components of the closing device 1000;
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show several schematic sectional views of the internal body 1240 of the closing device 1000.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a possible situation of use of the closing device 1000 according to the invention.
More specifically, as can be seen in Figure 1, the closing device 1000 is suited to be applied to a door/window 1 that slides towards a jamb 2. The door/window 1 may be, for example, a door or a window. Figure 1 schematically shows the position of the closing device 1000 on the side of the door/window 1 in proximity to the jamb 2. More specifically, Figure 1 schematically shows one side of the device 1000 that does not allow the device 1000 to be opened due to the presence of a cylinder 1250, as will be explained in greater detail with reference to the embodiments described below.
Figure 2 shows a schematic external side view of the closing device 1000.
As can be seen in Figure 2, the closing device 1000 schematically comprises a removable first portion 1100 on the jamb 2 of the door/window 1 and a removable second portion 1200 on the door/window 1.
Figure 3 shows several schematic perspective views of the first portion 1100 of the closing device 1000. Figure 4 shows several schematic sectional views of the first portion 1100 of the closing device 1000.
More specifically, the first portion 1100 comprises a body 1130 from which a male locking element 1120 projects. In some embodiments, the male locking element 1120 may be connected in a fixed manner to the body 1130, so that it is always projecting. An alternative embodiment is described here below, which furthermore allows the male locking element 1120 to be moved back into the body 1130 when the door/window 1 is open. It is clear, however, that the invention is not limited to this embodiment and it is also possible to carry out an embodiment in which the male locking element 1120 is permanently projecting from the body 1130.
As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the first portion 1100 comprises also a return element 1110, acting on the male locking element 1120. More specifically, the return element 1110 acts on the male locking element 1120 and is configured in such a way as to exert a force on the male locking element 1120 towards the first portion 1100. In the embodiment illustrated, the return element 1110 consists of a spring that can be connected to the male locking element 1120 or can pass through a part of the same male locking element 1120. It will be clear, however, that the return element 1110 can alternatively consist of any element that makes it possible to exert a force on the male locking element 1120, in such a way as to push it inside the body 1130, if there are no other forces acting on the male locking element 1120 itself. For example, the return element 1110 can consist of suitable magnets.
Furthermore, the connection of the male locking element 1120 to the first portion 1100 through the return element 1110 advantageously allows the male locking element 1120 to move with respect to the first portion 1100 not only in the longitudinal direction of the male locking element 1120, but in any direction inside the hole 1131, whose diameter exceeds that of the male locking element 1120. This configuration advantageously allows the male locking element 1120 to move and centre the corresponding female locking element 1210, even if the door/window 1 and the jamb 2 are not perfectly aligned due, for example, to a movement related to the use of the door/window 1. This configuration can advantageously be obtained by using a spring as return element 1110, wherein said spring makes it possible to ensure both the return of the male locking element 1120 and its relative movement, on a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the male locking element 1120 with respect to the hole 1131. Furthermore, the possible presence of magnetic material in the male locking element 1120 or in parts of the second portion 1200, as is better described below, can advantageously contribute to making it easier for the male locking element 1120 to centre the corresponding female locking element 1210, by conveniently positioning the magnetic material in such a way as to attract the male locking element 1120 towards the female locking element 1210.
In the embodiments illustrated herein there is also a stop element 1140 that, as can be seen in detail in Figure 4, stops the movement of the male locking element 1120 towards the sliding door/window 1 and interacts with the body 1130. It will be clear, however, that the stop element 1140 does not need to be made separately from the male locking element 1120, rather, these two elements can in fact be made in a single component.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 schematically show a possible method of use of the closing device 1000 according to the invention.
More specifically, in Figure 5 the closing device 1000 is in an open position, in which the sliding door/window 1 is approaching the jamb 2. In this phase, as visible in Figure 5, the male locking element 1120 is still inside the first portion 1100 of the closing device 1000.
When the sliding door/window 1 approaches the jamb 2, as schematically illustrated in Figure 6, the male locking element 1120 passes from the position illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 to the position illustrated in Figure 7.
Such a movement can advantageously be obtained by making at least a part of the male locking element 1120 and/or at least a part of the second portion 1200 with a magnetic material. For example, it will be possible to make the male locking element 1120 at least partially with a magnetic material and at least a part of the second portion 1200 with a ferromagnetic material. Again, by way of example, the opposite situation is possible, too, in which at least a part of the second portion 1200 is made with a magnetic material and at least a part of the male locking element 1120 is made with a ferromagnetic material. More generally, the expert in the art will know how to make the male locking element 1120 and/or the second portion 1200 of the closing device 1000 in such a way as to obtain the movement of the male locking element 1120 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In other words, it will be clear that different configurations of use of magnetic material can be employed to attract the male locking element 1120 towards the second portion 1200, preferably towards the female locking element 1210, even more preferably to attract the end of the male locking element 1120 towards the corresponding opening in the female locking element 1210.
It will also be clear that the use of magnetic material that makes it possible to obtain the advantageous operation described herein can be applied in alternative embodiments and not only in the remaining embodiments described. More generally, in any type of embodiment in which the closure is obtained through the movement of a male locking element inside a female locking element it is advantageously possible to use magnetic material in order to obtain the advantages described above.
Once the male locking element 1120 is inserted in the second portion 1200 of the closing device 1000, the same closing device 1000 remains automatically closed. More specifically, as can be seen in Figure 9, the second portion 1200 comprises a female locking element 1210 and the female locking element 1210 comprises an element with variable cross section 1211, inside which it is possible to insert the male locking element 1120, and one or more interference elements 1213 suited to be positioned between the element with variable cross section 1211 and the male locking element 1120. In greater detail, during the insertion of the male locking element 1120 in the element with variable cross section 1211, the interference elements 1213 do not oppose resistance to the male locking element 1120, since they are pushed rightwards with respect to the orientation shown in Figure 9. On the contrary, when one tries to extract the male locking element 1120 from the element with variable cross section 1211, the shape with variable cross section of the inside of the element with variable cross section 1211 is such that the thrusting action exerted by the male locking element 1120 on the interference elements 1213 results in a pressure applied by the male locking element 1120 and by the inside of the element with variable cross section 1211 on the interference elements 1213, so that the extraction of the male locking element 1120 from the element with variable cross section 1211 is not possible any longer.
More specifically, the cross section of the element with variable cross section 1211 decreases towards the direction comprising the inlet hole for the male locking element 1120. The reduction in the cross section of the element with variable cross section 1211 can be obtained in any manner, for example using one or more inclined planes, or curved surfaces, provided in the inner part of the element with variable cross section 1211, in such a way as to reduce the inner cross section of the element 1211 in the direction towards the inlet hole for the male locking element 1120. In some preferred embodiments, the inner cross section of the element with variable cross section 1211 may substantially be in the shape of a truncated cone.
In the embodiment illustrated herein, the interference elements 1213 consist of spheres. It will be clear, however, that any element allowing the male locking element 1120 to be prevented from coming off the element with variable cross section 1211 can be used.
In order to allow the release of the device 1000, the female locking element 1210 comprises also a release element 1212 configured in such a way as to act on the one or more interference elements 1213. More specifically, the release element 1212 can be constituted by any device allowing a force to be applied to the interference elements 1213 in a direction opposite the direction of exit of the male locking element 1120 from the element with variable cross section 1210.
In the embodiment illustrated herein, the release element 1212 can be at least partially positioned between the male locking element 1120 and the element with variable cross section 1211. Thanks to this embodiment, transforming a movement of the release element 1212 into a movement of the interference elements 1213 is particularly easy.
Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated herein, the release element 1212 comprises one or more seats 1214 for the one or more interference elements 1213. More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated herein, the seats 1214 are obtained by means of holes which are made in the release element 1212 and whose shape is complementary to at least part of the external shape of the interference elements 1213. In this way, it is possible to insert the interference elements 1213 in the seats 1214, so that the interference elements 1213 are exposed both on the inner surface of the release element 1212 and on the outer surface of the release element 1212. This configuration allows the interference elements 1213 to be in contact with the male locking element 1120 on the inner side of the release element 1212 and to be in contact with element with variable cross section 1211 on the outer side of the release element 1212. In the embodiment illustrated herein there are three seats, however the invention is not limited to this specific number of seats 1214 and interference elements 1213. A number of seats 1214 and interference elements 1213 equal to or greater than three advantageously makes it possible to obtain the release element 1212, the element with variable cross section 1211 and the male locking element 1120 with a substantially circular cross section and at the same time to guarantee that the action of the interference elements 1213 is distributed uniformly on the male locking element 1120 and on the element with variable cross section 1211. This advantageously makes it also possible to prevent the release element 1212 from becoming fixed between the element with variable cross section 1211 and the male locking element 1120.
In some embodiments, for example in the embodiment shown in the figures, the second portion 1200 comprises also an interference-holding element 1220 configured in such a way as to apply a force onto the release element 1212 towards the first portion 1100. In other words, the interference-holding element 1220 makes it possible to apply a force onto the release element 1212 in the direction opposite the direction that must be followed to release the male locking element 1120 from the second portion 1200 of the device 1000. The presence of the interference-holding element 1220, however, is to be considered optional. For example, a similar function can be obtained through the elastic behaviour of the internal body 1240, 1241. In some embodiments, the elements 1220 and 1212 may also be made in a single component, for example using plastic. In the embodiments including the interference-holding element 1220, the same advantageously makes it possible to ensure that the interference elements 1213 remain positioned in such a way as to prevent the male locking element 1120 from being released from the element with variable cross section 1211.
Thus, in order to release the closing device 1000, as is evident from the figures, it is sufficient to move the release element 1212 rightwards. More generically, it is sufficient to move the release element 1212 in the direction of insertion of the male locking element 1120 in the female locking element 1210. In other words, it is sufficient to move the release element 1212 in a direction resulting in reduced interference on the male locking element 1120 by the interference elements 1213. Clearly, the movement of the release element 1212 can be obtained in several ways. Advantageously, the direction of the movement required for the release element 1212 corresponds to the opening direction of the sliding door/window 1. It is thus possible to release the closing device 1000 and open the sliding door/window 1 by applying a single force in a single direction.
A possible embodiment that allows the release element 1212 to move is described in greater detail here below. It will be clear, however, that alternative embodiments allowing a similar movement of the release element 1212 will also be possible.
Figure 8 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a second portion 1200 of the closing device 1000. Figures 10 and 11 show several schematic sectional views of the internal body 1240 of the second portion 1200 of the closing device 1000.
As can be seen in these figures, the second portion 1200 comprises an internal body 1240, 1241 and an external body 1230. In the embodiment illustrated, the internal body 1240, 1241 is made up of two components. It will be clear, however, that the two components can alternatively be joined, making a single component, even if they are not identical to each other.
In the embodiment illustrated herein, each of the two parts of the internal body 1240, 1241 comprises a movable part 1244 configured so that it can act on the release element 1212, a fixed part 1245 and an elastic element 1246 that connects the movable part 1244 to the fixed part 1245. More specifically, the movable part 1244 acts on the release element 1212 thanks to the matching shape of at least one end of the release element 1212 and of at least part of the movable part 1244 inside which the end of the release element 1212 is inserted. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the end of the release element 1212 is substantially in the shape of a T, however it will be clear that alternative embodiments allowing interaction between the end of the release element 1212 and the movable part 1244 can be implemented, too. Furthermore, in some embodiments, as can be seen in the figures, the seat made in the movable part 1244 for the end of the release element 1212 allows the movable part 1244 to move in the opening direction before the movable part 1244 interacts with the end of the release element 1212, causing the release element 1212 to move and thus the device to open. In other words, the seat made in the movable part 1244 for the end of the release element 1212 can, in some embodiments, provide a certain play at the end of the release element 1212. In other words, in the opening direction of the device, the size of the seat exceeds the size of the end of the release element 1212. This play advantageously makes it possible to ensure that the device 1000 closes in a stable manner even if the position of the door changes and/or if the parts wear out. Furthermore, this advantageously makes it possible to avoid any accidental opening caused by an accidental movement of the movable part 1244, requiring, instead, a slightly longer movement of the movable part 1244, in such a way as to compensate for the play, which indicates the actual intention to open the door/window.
The movement of the movable part 1244 thus affects the end of the release element 1212, resulting in a movement of the release element 1212 and a consequent movement of the interference elements 1213, which releases the male locking element 1120 from the female locking element 1210. More specifically, the fixed part 1245 comprises a seat for the element with variable cross section 1211. Thanks to this embodiment, the relative movement of the movable part 1244 with respect to the fixed part 1245 results in a relative movement between the release element 1212 and the element with variable cross section 1211, thus obtaining the release of the device 1000. The presence of the elastic element 1246 makes it possible to return the movable part 1244 to its initial position once the release of the device 1000 has been completed.
In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the movable part 1244, the fixed part 1245 and the elastic element 1246 are made in a single piece. More specifically, in the embodiments illustrated, these three components are made in a single piece for the part 1240 and in a single piece for the part 1241. The parts 1240 and 1241 are not necessarily identical to each other. However, in advantageous embodiments, they can be made in such a way as to be symmetrical, thus advantageously reducing the number of moulds necessary to produce them. As previously described, however, the parts 1240 and 1241 can potentially be made in a single piece. In this case, there will be only one movable part 1244, only one fixed part 1245 and only one elastic element 1246, made in a single piece. The production of the movable part 1244, of the fixed part 1245 and of the elastic element 1246 in a single piece makes it possible to use one mould only, for example a mould for plastic material. This advantageously allows the invention to be carried out in a simple and economic manner. More specifically, the elastic element 1246 can be obtained by giving the material a shape and a thickness that allow the movement of the movable part 1244 with respect to the fixed part 1245, connected by the elastic element 1246. In the embodiment illustrated, the elastic element 1246 is obtained from four substantially U-shaped elements, positioned between the movable part 1244 and the fixed part 1245. It will be clear, however, that the number and shape of the elements that form the elastic element 1246 are not necessarily limited to those illustrated in the figures.
As can be seen in particular in Figure 8, which illustrates a specific embodiment of the invention, the second portion 1200 comprises the internal body 1240, 1241 made up of two components connected by means of closing plates 1260, 1261 positioned externally with respect to the internal body 1240, 1241 and closed by means of closing elements 1262, for example screws. This configuration makes it possible to join the two parts of the internal body 1240, 1241 in a single element, enclosing the female locking element 1210 inside it.
The internal body 1240, 1241 is positioned between two plates making up the external body 1230. In at least one of the two plates there are coupling elements 1232 that are suited to be inserted in special holes 1242 made in the movable part 1244 of the internal body 1240, 1241. This makes it possible to move the movable part 1244 by moving the plate comprising the coupling elements 1232. In addition, or as an alternative to the above, the plate may comprise a hole 1233 whose shape is complementary to that of a cylinder 1250. Furthermore, the cylinder 1250 fits in a hole 1243 in a matching shape, made in the movable part 1244 of the internal body 1240, 1241. In some embodiments, fixing means 1251 prevent the movement of the internal body 1240 through the action of the cylinder 1250. More specifically, as shown in Figure 12, the fixing means 1251 are connected to the cylinder 1250, which, if necessary, can be rotated by means of a special wrench. The fixed part 1245 of the internal body 1240 comprises a reference element 1248 configured in such a way that it abuts against the fixing means when these are rotated in the closed position of the cylinder 1250. Thanks to this configuration, when the cylinder 1250 is in the closed position, as illustrated in the lower part of Figure 12, the fixing means 1251 abut against the reference element 1248, preventing the movement of the cylinder 1250 with respect to the reference element 1248 and thus with respect to the fixed part 1245 of the internal body 1240. Furthermore, since the cylinder 1250 is inserted in the hole 1243 of the movable part 1244, said hole 1243 having a shape that is complementary to that of the cylinder 1250, the movable part 1244 cannot move with respect to the fixed part 1245 in the internal body 1240. In this manner, rotating the cylinder 1250 makes it impossible to open the closing device from the side of the internal body 1240. On the contrary, when the cylinder 1250 is in the position illustrated in the upper part of Figure 12, the fixing means 1251 do not abut against the reference element 1248, thus allowing the relative movement of the movable part 1244 with respect to the fixed part 1245 of the body 1240.
The movement of the movable part 1244 of the internal body 1241, instead, is always possible, thanks to the interaction of the coupling elements 1232 of the corresponding plate of the external body 1230 with the holes 1242 of the movable part 1244. In order to release the closing device, it will thus suffice to act on the handle 1231 of the plate 1230 from the side of the internal body 1241. Opening from the side of the internal body 1240 will be possible only when the cylinder 1250 is in the open position. Advantageously, the direction of the force to be applied to the handle to release the device is the same that causes the opening of the door/window.
In the embodiments including the cylinder 1250, the same cylinder 1250 and its interaction with the hole 1243, instead, make the movement of the movable part 1244 of the internal body 1240 impossible. This different behaviour of the movable parts 1244 in the two parts 1240, 1241 of the internal body makes it possible to define a side from which the door/window can always be opened and a side from which this is possible only depending on the position of the cylinder 1250, even if the two parts 1240 and 1241 are made in such a way as to be symmetrical. It is clear, therefore, that to open the closing device 1000 it will suffice that only one of the parts 1240, 1241 acts on the release element 1212. It is clear that it is not necessary for the two inner parts 1240, 1241 to operate in the two different ways described above and that it will be possible to carry out the device so that both of the inner parts have the same type of operation, for example both with the cylinder 1250 or both without the cylinder 1250.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the opening of the closing device 1000 is thus possible only through one of the two plates of the external body 1230, when this is locked for example through the rotation of the cylinder 1250, which is controlled by means of a wrench, which therefore is particularly advantageous for use in doors/windows used perimetrically in houses and similar buildings. Clearly, the embodiment with the external body 1230 in addition to the internal body 1240, 1241 is not necessary. Since the opening is allowed by the internal body 1240, 1241, in some embodiments it will be possible to open the door/window by acting directly on the internal body 1240, 1241, even if the external body 1230 is not present.
The remaining plate of the external body 1230 is provided with a hole 1234 inside which a button 1235 is partially inserted, wherein said button 1235 cooperates with a further support 1236 positioned on the opposite side of the internal body 1240, 1241 with respect to the position of the plate of the external body 1230. The body of the button 1235 has a shape that is complementary to that of a hole 1247 and its head has a shape that is complementary to that of a hole 1234. By pressing the button 1235, it is thus possible to insert the head in the hole 1234, consequently pushing the part 1236 into the hole 1237. This locks the plate 1230, which in turn prevents the internal body 1240 from moving and consequently the door/window from being opened. In case of emergency, it will however be possible to make the head of the button 1235 exit from the hole 1234, by acting through an emergency access 1237 located in the opposite plate, for example by introducing a small elongated object therein.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 there is also an optional pulling lever 1270. The pulling lever 1270 can be made in several known ways. By making the internal body 1240, 1241 with a mould, it will be advantageously possible to form a housing for the pulling lever 1270, with no need to add further costs for production of the closing device 1000.
Even if in the description provided above the different embodiments have been described independently for the sake of clarity, each with a specific set of characteristics, it will be clear that subsets of characteristics of any embodiment can be implemented in such a way as to obtain a new embodiment. It will also be clear that any number of characteristics of an embodiment can be implemented together with any number of characteristics of one or more further embodiments, in such a way as to obtain a new embodiment. The possible embodiments of the invention, therefore, are not limited to those described above, but include any other embodiment, on condition that it falls within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

Closing device (1000) for a sliding door/window (1), comprising:
a first portion (1100) mountable on a jamb (2) of the door/window (1),

a second portion (1200) mountable on the door/window (1),

wherein the first portion (1100) comprises a male locking element (1120),

wherein the second portion (1200) comprises a female locking element (1210),

wherein the female locking element (1210) comprises an element with variable cross section (1211) in which the male locking element (1120) can be inserted,

wherein the female locking element (1210) comprises one or more interference elements (1213) suited to be positioned between the element with variable cross section (1211) and the male locking element (1120),

wherein the female locking element (1210) comprises a release element (1212) configured so as to act on the one or more interference elements (1213),

characterized in that the first portion (1100) comprises a return element (1110) acting on the male locking element (1120) and configured so as to apply a force onto the male locking element (1120) towards the first portion (1100).
Closing device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein the release element (1212) can be at least partially positioned between the male locking element (1120) and the element with variable cross section (1211).
Closing device (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the release element (1212) comprises one or more seats (1214) for the one or more interference elements (1213).
Closing device (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion (1200) comprises an interference-holding element (1220) configured so as to apply a force onto the release element (1212) towards the first portion (1100).
Closing device (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the male locking element (1120) and/or at least a part of the second portion (1200) comprises magnetic material.
Closing device (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion (1200) comprises an internal body (1240, 1241), wherein the internal body (1240, 1241) comprises a movable part (1244), a fixed part (1245) and an elastic element (1246) connecting the movable part (1244) to the fixed part (1245), wherein the movable part (1244) is configured so as to act on the release element (1212).
Closing device (1000) according to claim 6, wherein the fixed part (1245) comprises a seat for the element with variable cross section (1211).
Closing device (1000) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the movable part (1244), the fixed part (1245) and the elastic element (1246) are made in a single piece.