GB2114638A - Corner guide for drive rods for windows, doors or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A corner guide for drive rods for windows or doors which may open by pivotting about alternative axes, has a guide channel 39'' for a flexible drive element disposed on a retaining casing 38'' that comprises a pair of limbs interconnected in such a manner that the angle between them can be varied about a corner zone, the guide channel has two limbs integrally connected by a flexurally deformable arcuate transitional (39''', 44''') zone, and at least one of the limbs (39'', 44'') of the guide channel (39, 44) is adapted for limited longitudinal displacement on the adjacent limb (38'', 45'') of the angular retaining casing (38, 45). The guide channel may be installed in non-rectangular frames. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a corner guide for drive rod fittings for windows, doors or the like This invention relates to a corner guide for drive rod fittings for windows, doors, or the like.

In prior fittings a guide channel is provided to be mounted in the periphery of a window, door or the like in order to accommodate flexible drive elements, such as steel tapes, bands, strips, or the like. The drive elements cause the rigid displacement of rods that can protrude from the window, door or the like, both to extend such rods, and to withdraw the rods. In such prior fittings a corner guide is provided for interconnecting drive elements which are mounted and guided for displacement in two perpendicular directions on the movable part of a window, door or the like.

For example, German Utility Modei 1 7 58 015, illustrates a widespread type of known corner guide of this kind, in which a retaining rail supporting the guide channel is formed from rectangular material of a flat cross-section, e.g.

flat steel in the form of an angular casing comprising two limbs extending at right angles to one another and integrally interconnected by a substantially 900 transitional zone. Corner guides of this kind are used in conjunction with drive rod fittings secured to windows and doors or the like made from wooden or plastics mouldings or extrusions by means of facing rails.

German Auslegeschrift 11 00 502, on the other hand, discloses corner guides in which the guide channel containing the flexible drive elements is secured near to the corner of a movable window or door element and is then covered by an angular casing which is secured independently thereof.

This corner guide is also intended for fitting to windows or doors made up of wooden or plastics mouldings or extrusions.

All of these known corner guides are so designed, structurally and functionally, that their application is restricted to windows or doors in which the limbs of the movable element and the fixed frame are respectively at right angles to one another, i.e. are oriented vertically, on the one hand, and horizontally on the other.

In windows and doors comprising a junction between adjacent fixed frame and movable element limbs that is not a right angle, i.e. more particularly in the case of windows and doors of the kind in which the top fixed frame and movable element limbs occupy a position differing from the horizontal with respect to the vertical fixed frame and movable element limbs, corner guides of the type disclosed by German Auslegeschrift 11 00 502 as mentioned above can be used unde certain conditions, since, the guide channels which accommodate the flexible drive elements are structurally independent of the retaining casing used to cover and/or secure them, so that these parts can, if required, be brought into relative angular positions other than a right angle separately from one another by the application of appropriate force to the limbs.

A corner guide of this kind has the disadvantage that the guide channel for the flexible drive elements and the angular retaining rail have to be handled and shaped independently of one another for the fitting operations.

According to the invention there is provided a corner guide for drive rod fittings for windows, doors, or the lil < e, wherein a guide channel for accommodating flexible drive elements for rigicl displacement in respect of tension and compression is disposed on a retaining casing that comprises a pair of limbs interconnected in such a manner that the angle between them can be varied about a corner zone, said guide channel has two limbs integrally connected by a flexurally deformable arcuate transitional zone, and at least one of the limbs of the guide channel is adapted for limited longitudinal displacement on the adjacent limb of the angular retaining casing.

This construction of a corner guide has the advantage that the limbs of a guide channel, which may be of C-shaped cross-section, and those of the retaining casing can jointly, without difficulty and reliably, be brought into practically any necessary relative angular position by the application of slight manual force, while in addition smooth guidance of the drive element along the guide channel is achievable.

Preferably, the two limbs of the casing are integrally interconnected hut are flexurally deformable in their corner zone.

Advantageously, the two limbs of the retaining casing are pivotally interconnected in their corner zone.

Desirably, the two limbs of the retaining casing each comprise a substantially hollow limb, the guide channel being located within the hollow limb and being enclosed on at least three sides.

It has been found that reliable manipulation of the corner guide can be obtained wnen the two limbs of the casing engage the guide channel on a fourth side, at least near its arcuate transitional zone by means of support surfaces. Preferably, at least one of the support surfaces is displaceable relatively to the guide channel.

Conveniently, the limbs of the casing are formed as mouldings e.g. as metal die castings or plastics injection mouldings, while the guide channel consists of a drawn or extruded profiled rail.

Desirably, the pivot axis of the casing extends outside the outer flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone of the guide channel, while relatively displaceable support surfaces on the limbs of the casing are associated at least with the inner flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone.

If a corner guide is used for windows and doors or the like whose movable elements and fixed frames are made up of metal or plastics hollow sections, it is particularly advantageous for the limbs of the casing to be provided with retaining and securing elements situated iaterally adjacent the guide channel, said elements engaging positively in undercut profiled channels on the movable element and/or positively and nonpositively on profiled members defining the same.

The positive engagement elements may be in the form of strips, projections or webs.

Alternatively they may be screw members.

The non-positive engagement elements are preferably screw members.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURES 1 to 3 are simplified schematic elevations of three different types of construction of a window or door including corner guides in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of one example of the corner guide shown at IV in Figures 1 to 3: FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 4:: FIGURE 6 is a similar cross-sectional view to Figure 5 of a somewhat modified embodiment of the corner guide shown in Figure 4; FIGURE 7 is a partially sectional side elevation of another construction of a corner guide; FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIll-VIll of Figure 7; FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 7; and FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 illustrate three different embodiments of "turnand-tilt" windows or doors having corner guides in accordance with this invention. Each window comprises a fixed frame 1 and a window or door element 2 which is movable relatively to the fixed frame 1 selectively about either a lateral vertical axis, indicated 3-3, into a "turned-open" position or about a bottom horizontal axis, indicated 4-4, into a "tilted-open" position. To enable the different open positions to be obtained, the element 2 is pivotally supported on the fixed frame at the point of intersection of the two axes 3-3 and 4-4 by means of a corner joint 5.In order to enable the element 2 to be moved into its "turnedopen" position, a rotational pivot 6 is provided at a top corner of the frame 1 and of the element 2 near to the pivot axis 3-3. In order to enable the window to be moved into its "tilted-open" position, a tilt pivot 7 is provided near the pivot axis 4-4 at a corner of the frame 1 and of the element 2 that is situated opposite the corner joint 5.

The rotational pivot 6 and the tilt pivot 7 are jointly adapted to be actuated by a single-handle turn/tilt fitting 8, the rotational pivot 6 being engaged when the tilt pivot 7 is in the disengaged position, and vice versa.

In the case of windows and/or doors such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the turn/tilt fitting 8 comprises a drive rod 9 which can selectively be moved by an operating handle 10 to actuate locking elements 11 for locking the movable element 2 in its closed position, and also to engage and/or disengage the tilt pivot 7. A top drive rod 1 2 is also provided to enable the rotational pivot 6 to be engaged and disengaged by actuation of the operating handle 1 0. The two drive rods 9 and 12 are interconnected by a corner guide 1 3 provided on the closing side in the top corner of the movable element 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the fitting 8 again comprises a drive rod 9 which is movable by means of an operating handle 10 to actuate locking elements 11 for the movable element 2. The drive rod 9 is connected to another drive rod 1 5 that is provided on the bottom horizontal limb of the movable element 2 via a corner guide 14 provided at the bottom corner of the movable element 2 on the closing side. This arrangement enables engagement and disengagement of the tilt pivot 7. The drive rod 1 5 is in turn connected via a corner guide 1 6 to a drive rod 1 7 in an upright member on the tilt pivot side, of the movable element 2, drive rod 1 7 being in turn connected at its top to a corner guide 18 adapted to engage and disengage the rotational pivot 6.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, a stay device 1 9 provided between a top frame member 1 ' of the frame 1 and a top limb 2' of the movable window element 2. One end of the stay device 19 is pivotably connected by an arm 20 to a point of the fixed frame 1 on the vertical pivot axis 3-3 while its other end pivotally and slidably engages the top limb 2' of the movable window element 2 via an extension 21.

A second point of support for the movable window element 2 on the stay device 1 9 is formed by an additional arm 22 which pivotally engages both the stay arm 20, and the top limb 2' of the movable window element 2. The stay arm 20 and the arm 22 co-operate to form an elliptical link to produce the stay device 1 9.

The second point of support for the movable window element 2 on the stay device 1 9 may also be formed in some other known way.

In the illustrated embodiments of turn/tilt windows or doors, the rotational pivot 6 between the movable window element 2 and the fixed frame 1 is provided at one end of the stay device 19. In order to move the movable window element 2 into its "turned-open" position, the stay arm 20 is locked, in a known manner, in a position parallel to the top limb 2' of the movable window element 2 near to the vertical pivot axis 3-3 either by the drive rod 12 (Figures 1 and 2) or by the corner guide 18 (Figure 3). On the other hand, to move the movable window element 2 into its "tilted open" position, about the bottom horizontal pivot axis 21 4, the arm 20 of the device 1 9 is disengaged, again in known manner, from the top limb 2' of the movable window element 2 near to the vertical pivot axis 3-3 so that it can assume an inclined position between the limb 2' of the movable window element 2 and the associated limb 1' of the fixed frame 1. In this condition, the stay means 19 limits the range of tilting of the movable window element 2, on the one hand via the extension 21 of the arm 20, and on the other hand via the additional arm 22.

As will be described further below, the corner guides of the present invention enable both windows and doors of generally conventional construction, i.e. with the fixed frame members and the movable element members at right angles to one another, and, using the same fitting components, windows and doors in which at least the top limb 1' of a frame member 1 and the movable window element limb 2' have an inclined configuration deviating from the horizontal, as shown by the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, to be opened in turn and tilt fashion.

Windows and doors of this kind are required, for example, for fitting directly below inclined roofs, more particularly on the gable side of roof flats.

For this purpose it is important to provide corner guides which can be adapted without difficulty to accommodate different angular positions between the vertical members of the movable window element and the top member 2' thereof.

Figures 4 to 10 show different embodiments of corner guides such as the guides 13 and 18 described for Figures'1 to 3.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 6, a corner guide 13 has an angular casing 38, formed from flat material, having two limbs 38', 38" at an angle to one another. A guide channel 39 for receiving a flexible drive element, for example, of spring steel strips or the like, is secured to the inside of the angular casing 38. The guide channel 39 has a substentially C-shaped cross-section, and consists of two straight limbs 39' and 39", aligned with the limbs 38', 38" of the casing, integrally connected via an arcuate central portion 39"'.

Both the angular casing 38 and the guide channel 39 are constructed of a flexurally deformable material. For example, the angular casing 38 may be of flat steel and the guide channel 39 of brass so that the limbs 38' and 38" of the angular casing 38, and the limbs 39' and 39" of the guide channel 39, are jointly variable in respect of their angular position relative to one another by the application of manual force.

Since (a) the transition 38"' between the limbs 38' and 38" of the angular casing 38 has sharp edges and (b) the transition 39"' between the limbs 39', 39" of the guide channel 39 are arcuate, the joint angular movement of the limbs 38', 39' and 38", 39" of the corner guide 13 is facilitated by making at least the retaining connection between one limb, e.g. limb 38", of the angular casing 38, and the adjacent limb, e.g. limb 39" of the guide channel 39, longitudinally displaceable, at least to some extent, with respect to each other. For example, as shown in Figure 5, this can be achieved by providing a connecting rivet 41 which is secured to the channel 39 and which passes through an elongate slot in the frame 38.Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6, tablike portions 42 punched out of the wall of the guide channel 39 may engage in elongate slots 43 formed with sufficient length in the angular casing 38, the protruding ends of the tab-like portions being bent over the casing in the form of claws.

In the case of the corner guide 13 shown in Figures 4 to 6, the corner zone 38"' of the angular facing 38 and the arcuate central portion 39"' of the guide channel 39 both undergo plastic deformation when it is required to vary the relative angular position between their limbs 38', 39' and 38", 39".

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a corner guide 13 in which only an arcuate middle portion 44"' of a guide channel 44 undergoes plastic flexural deformation, while the two limbs 45' and 45" of an angular casing 45 supporting the guide channel 44 are pivotally connected, via a pivot 45"' extending normally to the main plane of the corner guide 1 3.

As will be seen particularly clearly from Figure 8, the limb 45' of casing 45 consists of two mouldings 46 and 47, each having an angular cross-section, formed by integral flanges 46', 46" and 47', 47" respectively, the flanges 46' and 47' being aligned in parallel and connected for example by riveting (148) or screw connection (not shown).

The other flanges 46" and 47" of the two mouldings 46 and 47 extend in spaced apart relationship parallel to the main plane of the corner guide 13. The outside of the free longitudinal edge each of the flanges 46" and 47" is provided with integrally formed strips, projections or webs 46"' and 471" respectively, while the inside edge of each is provided with a projection 48, 49 which constricts the free space formed between the flanges 46", 47" of the mouldings 46 and 47 at least in zones.

As shown in Figure 9, the limb 45" of the casing 45 is also made up of two angular crosssection mouldings, 50 and 51, connected, for example, by screws 1 52 or by riveting, by flanges 50' and 51'. The other flanges 50" and 51" of the mouldings 50 and 51 again extend in spacedapart relationship parallel to the main plane of the corner guide 13. These flanges 50" and 51" also have inward projections 52 and 53, at least in certain zones, to constrict the free space inside -the limb 45" as will be clear from Figure 9.

The arrangement and construction of the pivot 45"' between the two limbs 45' and 45" of the casing 45 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 10. The flanges 46" and 47" of the two mouldings 46 and 47 that form the limb 45' are each provided with bearing boss 54', 54" at their ends associated with the apex of the casing 45, each said bearing boss being cranked out of the plane ofthe flanges 46" and 47" by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the flange material. Each of the bearing bosses 54' and 54" contains a bearing hole 55', 55", the centre-line of which is situated on the same plane as the inner surface of the flange 46' limiting the free space in the limb 45'.

Each of the flanges 50" and 51", is also provided, at the apex end of the limb 45" of the angular casing 45, with a bearing boss 56', 56", that is co-planar with the flange and has a projecting pivot stud 57', 57" on the outside in each case. This pivot stud projects in the same plane as the inside of the flange 46' restricting the free space in the limb 45'.

The pivot studs 57' and 57" of the bearing bosses 56' and 56" are adapted to engage the bearing holes 55' and 55" of the bearing bosses 54' and 54" and, if required, to be subjected to slight distortion in order to secure their positions, before the mouldings 46 and 47 and, the mouldings 50 and 51 are connected by the riveted or screwed connections 148, 1 52.

Before the mouldings46 and 47. 50 and 51 are connected, the guide channel 44 is inserted between them. The guide channel 44 comprises two limbs 44' and 44" integrally connected by an arcuate central portion 44"', and is adapted to accommodate flexible drive elements 58 so that they are displaceable with tensile and compressive rigidity. The position of the guide channel limb 44' within the limb 45' of the angular casing 45 is fixed by the strips, webs or projections 48, 49, while a corresponding fixing of the position of the guide channel limb 44" within the limb 45" of the angular casing 45 is provided by the projections 52 and 53.The arcuate transitional zone 44"' of the guide channel 44 occupies such a position inside the angular casing 45 that the axis of the pivot 45"' extending transversely of the main plane of the angular casing 45 always extends outside the outer flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone 44"'.

The minimum adjustable angle -- e.g. 900 - for the angular casing 45 is defined by abutment surfaces 59 and 60 which, as best seen in Figure 7, are situated near the pivot 45"' on the flanges 46" and 47"; 50" and 51" of the limbs 45' and 45" respectively. On the other hand, the rnaximum adjustable angle -- e.g, 1 500 -- of the angular casing 45 is defined by abutment surfaces 61 and 62 on the flanges 46' and 50' of the limbs 45' and 45", as will also be seen from Figure 7.

In the region of the inner flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone 44"", the guide channel 44 co-operates with rigid support surfaces 63 and 64 which are disposed rigidly inside the limbs 45' and 45" and which may be formed integrally and rigidly, as transversely extending profiled webs in each case, on the inside of the flanges 46" and 50" of the limbs 45' and 45" respectively.

The contour of the support surfaces 63 and 64 facing the inner flexural one of the arcuate transitional zone 44"' of the guide channel 44 corresponds to the minimum bending radius of the inner flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone 44"', i.e. the radius obtained when the limbs 45' and 45" of the angular casing 45 occupy the minimum angular position, e.g. 900, with respect to one another.

On the other hand, the support surfaces 63 and 64 may be relatively displaceable with respect to the guide channel 44 on pivoting of the limbs 45' and 45" of the angular casing 45 with respect to one another, so that they can be adjusted to provide optimum support for the flexural deformation of the channel 44 in the region of the arcuate transitional zone 44"'.

The mouldings 46,47 and 50,51 that form the two limbs 45' and 45" of the angular casing 45 may be metal die-castings or plastic injection mouldings. Alternatively, they can be punched as flexural components from sheet-metal. The guide channel 44, which has a basically C-shaped crosssection, for receiving the drive elements 58, however, is particularly advantageously made as an extruded or roiled brass section members The corner guide shown in Figures 7 to 10 is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with windows and doors or the like whose movable elements and fixed frames are made up of metal or plastics hollow sections and have guide channels 65, which in these conditions are undercut, in order to accommodate drive elements for longitudinal displacement.The limb 45' of the angular casing together with its strips, projections or webs 46"' and 47"' integrally formed on the outside, can be positively inserted in these guide channels 65, and then be clamped therein nonpositively or positively, e.g. by way of screw elements 66. The other limb 45" of the angular casing 45, on the other hand, can be pivoted about the pivot 45"' into the area of the opening of the guide channel 65 and then be fixed therein by a clamping member 67 of hat-shaped crosssection, which can, for example, be pushed over an extension tongue 68 at the free end of the limb 45" and, if required, be fixed in position by a screw member.

In conclusion it should be noted that one of the limbs 44' and 44" of the guide channel 44 is braced against longitudinal displacement in the associated limb 45' and 45" of the angular casing 45, while the other limbs of the guide channel 44 and the angular casing inter-engage so as to be longitudinally displaceable relatively to one another.

Claims (22)

1. A corner guide for drive rod fittings for windows, doors, or the like, wherein a guide channel for accommodating flexible drive elements for rigid displacement in respect of tension and compression is disposed on a retaining casing that comprises a pair of limbs interconnected in such a manner that the angle between them can be varied about a corner zone.

said guide channel has two limbs integrally connected by a flexurally deformable arcuate transitional zone, and at least one of the limbs of the guide channel is adapted for limited longitudinal displacement on the adjacent limb of the angular retaining casing.

2. A corner guide according.to claim 1. wherein the two limbs of the casing are integrally interconnected but are flexurally deformable in their corner zone.

3. A corner guide according to claim 1 , wherein the two limbs of the retaining casing are pivotally interconnected in their corner zone.

4. A corner guide according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the two limbs of the retaining casing each comprise a substantially hollow limb, the guide channel being located within the hollow limb and being enclosed on at least three sides.

5. A corner guide according to claim 4, wherein the two limbs of the casing engage the guide channel on a fourth side, at least near its arcuate transitional zone by means of support surfaces.

6. A corner guide according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the support surfaces is displaceable relatively to the guide channel.

7. A corner guide according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the limbs of the casing are formed as mouldings, while the guide channel consists of a drawn or extruded profiled rail.

8. A corner guide according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 7, wherein the pivot axis of the casing extends outside the outer flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone of the guide channel, while relatively displaceable support surfaces on the limbs of the casing are associated at least with an inner flexural zone of the arcuate transitional zone.

9. A corner guide according to any one of claims 1 to 8, adapted for use with windows and doors or the like whose movable elements and fixed frames are made up of metal or plastics hollow sections, wherein the limbs of the casing are provided with retaining and securing elements situated laterally adjacent the guide channel, said elements engaging positively in undercut profiled channels on the movable element and/or positively and -non-positively on profiled members defining the same.

10. A corner guide according to claim 9, wherein the positive engagement elements consist of strips, projections or webs.

11. A corner guide according to claim 9, wherein the positive engagement elements are screw members.

12. A corner guide according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the non-positive engagement elements are screw members.

13. A corner guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible drive elements are steel tapes, bands, strips, or the like.

14. A corner guide substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A corner guide substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A corner guide substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A corner guide substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in; Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A window, door or the like, incorporating a corner guide according to any one of the preceding claims.

1 9. A window, door or the like substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A window, door or the like substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A window, door or the like substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.