WO2011151849A1

WO2011151849A1 - System for lifting and alignment of an openable wing for a window and door frame oscillating in two directions and two axes orthogonal or parallel to each other, adapted to lift and to align such wing into each of the directions and pivotal and oscillating axes

Info

Publication number: WO2011151849A1
Application number: PCT/IT2010/000245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sante Mura
Original assignee: Mura S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-06-04
Filing date: 2010-06-04
Publication date: 2011-12-08

Abstract

Lifting and alignment system for raising and aligning an openable wing (10) of a pivotally swinging frame or sash, particularly of a window, a door or the like, comprising at least an inner framework (12) for holding and supporting the wing (10), a stationary outer case (14), a movable frame (or profile section) (16), and an operating handle (20) capable of being actuated into various operating positions thereof so as to cause said wing (10) to move or swing into the various closed, ventilation and opened positions thereof by swinging it about either a vertical or a horizontal axis of rotation. The system further comprises first actuating means (21) and adapted to support said wing (10) and enable it to solely swing about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof; second and third actuating means (22', 26) adapted to support said wing (10) and enable it to solely swing about the vertical axis of rotation thereof; fourth actuating means (27) mounted in the corner regions of said wing (10) to firmly support the same wing when set in the closed position thereof; and fifth actuating means (28) mounted on both said side flanks (22, 23) and said lower and upper sides (25, 24) and adapted to firmly retain the same wing in position.

Description

SYSTEM FOR LIFTING AND ALIGNMENT OF AN OPENABLE WTNG FOR A

WINDOW AND DOOR FRAME OSCILLATING IN TWO DIRECTIONS AND TWO

AXES ORTHOGONAL OR PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, ADAPTED TO LIFT AND

TO ALIGN SUCH WING INTO EACH OF THE DIRECTIONS AND PIVOTAL AND OSCILLATING AXES

The invention relates to a system for lifting and aligning an openable wing of a window and/or door frame in two directions and about two axes that are orthogonal or parallel to each other, such system being adapted to lift and align such wing into and about each one of said directions and said pivoting and swinging axes. Known from the disclosure in the Italian patent no. 0001321913, filed on 21^st Jan. 2000 to this same Applicant, is a kind of door and window frame comprising a window capable of pivotally swinging in two mutually orthogonal directions, as well as being adjusted into various opening positions in either one of said mutually orthogonal directions. Such pivotally swinging window frame comprises an inner framework for supporting the same window frame, or sash, and an outer case accommodating and holding such inner framework, as well as at least an operating handle acting on the window frame; it further comprises first actuating means associated with the operating handle and adapted to cause said inner framework to selectively displace, along with the related window frame, within said outer case into at least a first, a second and a third operating positions, wherein said inner framework is pivoted to swing about a horizontal rotation axis, a vertical rotation axis and both said horizontal and vertical rotation axes, respectively. The window frame also comprises second actuating means associated with at least a further operating handle and with movable means that are provided between the inner framework and the outer case so as to cooperate with both of them, said second actuating means being adapted to cause said movable means to move into operating positions in which they are pulled up against, i.e. drawn level with and moved away from said inner framework, respectively, and

cooperating with said further handle so as to prevent the latter from being operated or allow the latter to be operated when said inner framework is displaced into any of the operating positions thereof or is in a position in which it is aligned with said outer case, respectively, wherein said further operating handle is capable of being operated into any of the operating positions thereof when said inner framework is aligned with said outer case and said further operating handle causes said movable means to solely move into the position in which they are pulled up against said inner framework.

The support of the window frame in each one of the pivoting and swinging directions and axes is ensured by a first and a second pair of pin sets, which are housed within said outer containment case and are adapted to allow and cause the same window frame to swingably pivot about a horizontal and a vertical axis of rotation, respectively.

For a better understanding of the construction and operating characteristics and features of the above-cited pivotally swinging window frame, reference should in any case be made to the description and the claims included in the above-cited patent specification, which in fact discloses said features and operating characteristics of the window frame in full detail. In practical use, such prior-art system for lifting and aligning an openable wing of a window or door frame has turned out as being quite satisfactory and reliable, actually; however, it has been found to be critical in the presence of window or door wings in excess of given threshold or limit values in either weight or size or in both size and weight. In particular, it should be stressed in this connection that shutting the swinging wing by causing it to rotate about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof requires the operator performing such task to exert a force equalling the weight of the wing in view of raising it by an adequate extent and align it perfectly with the related sets of support pins of the outer containment case, as well as in view of having it resting on appropriate support wheels or rollers attached to the movable means, whereas the rotation of such wing about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof implies a difficulty in imparting the same wing such swinging momentum as to cause it to just raise by the desired extent,, without moving beyond the desired position and without having to repeat the operation to complete the same.

In addition, in the case of wings having such weight and size characteristics, should the clearances between the swingable wing and the related sets of support pins become gradually greater in the course of time, there would be impossible for the same clearances to be adjusted and restored to the original values.

Similarly, as far as shutting the swinging wing by causing it to rotate about the vertical axis of rotation thereof in the above-cited prior-art raising and aligning system is concerned, the presence of support wheels or rollers, if it is instrumental in enabling the actual weight of the wing to be lightened on the one side, decreases the sensitivity of the alignment with said sets of support pins, and vice- versa.

As a result, therefore, it turns practically out that the heavier and the larger is the wing, the more difficult is the corresponding operation thereof.

Furthermore, pivotally swinging such wing about the vertical axis of rotation thereof involves the same drawbacks and disadvantages as the ones encountered when pivotally swinging such wing about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof, while such drawbacks tend to unavoidably get worse in the case that the swingable wing is particularly heavy, with weight values that may sometimes reach up to as many as 200 kg or more.

A main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system for raising and aligning an openable wing of pivotally swinging window and door frames of the above- noted kind, which is effective in enabling the actual effort needed to raise the wing to be reduced, while ensuring an efficient and optimum alignment of the same wing in the case of the latter being pivotally supported and swingable about both a horizontal and a vertical axis of rotation.

According to the present invention, this aim, along with further ones that shall become apparent in the following description, is reached in a system for raising and aligning an openable wing incorporating the construction features and characteristics as substantially described in this specification, with particular reference to the claims appended hereto. Anyway, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, given by way of not-limitative example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein :

- Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of the window frame provided with the raising and alignment system according to the present invention, wherein the window frame is shown in the closed setting thereof;

- Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in the ventilation arrangement thereof while closed;

- Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in a position reached by pivotally swinging it about a horizontal axis of rotation;

- Fig. 4 shows a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in a position reached by pivotally swinging it about a vertical axis of rotation;

- Fig. 5 shows a perspective front view of a first set of fittings of the system according to the present invention, which are applied on the two side flanks of the window frame, as shown in the assembled state thereof;

- Fig. 6 shows a perspective front view of the set of fittings shown in Figure 5, as shown in the disassembled state thereof;

- Fig. 7 shows a perspective front view of a component part of the set of fittings shown in Figures 5 and 6, however in an alternative version as compared with the one illustrated in said Figures;

- Fig. 8 shows a perspective front view of a second set of fittings of the system according to the present invention, which are applied on the bottom side of the window frame, as shown in the assembled state thereof;

- Fig. 9 shows a perspective front view of the set of fittings shown in Figure 8, however in the disassembled state thereof;

- Fig. 10 shows a perspective front view of a third set of fittings of the system according to the present invention, which are applied on the upper side of the window frame, as shown in the assembled state thereof;

- Fig. 11 shows a perspective front view of the set of fittings shown in Figure 10, however in the disassembled state thereof;

- Fig. 12 shows a perspective front view of a fourth set of fittings of the system according to the present invention, which are applied at one of the corners of the window frame, as shown in the assembled state thereof;

- Fig. 13 shows a perspective front view of the set of fittings shown in Figure 12, however in the disassembled state thereof;

- Fig. 14 shows a perspective front view of a fifth set of fittings of the system according to the present invention, as shown in the assembled state thereof;

- Fig. 15 shows a perspective front view of the set of fittings shown in Figure 14, however in the disassembled state thereof;

- Fig. 16 shows a schematic front view of the window frame system according to the present invention, as shown with all pertaining sets of fittings in the assembled state thereof.

The present invention relates to a system for raising and aligning an openable wing 10 of a pivotally swinging window or door frame 11, particularly a window, a door or the like, adapted to be displaced and adjusted into different swinging positions, and namely into a closed position (see Figure 1), a ventilation position (see Figure 2), a position oriented in a horizontal direction of rotation, i.e. swung about a horizontal axis of rotation (see Figure 3), and a position oriented in a vertical direction of rotation, extending orthogonally to the previously mentioned horizontal direction (see Figure 4), in which the wing 10 is able to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation, with the possibility for it to also rotate about at least another vertical axis of rotation extending parallel to the formerly mentioned vertical axis of rotation.

Known from the disclosure in the Italian patent no. 0001321913, filed on 21^st Jan. 2000 to this same Applicant, is a kind of door and window frame 11, such as a window, a door or the like, which is capable of pivotally swinging in either one of two mutually orthogonal directions, as well as being adjusted into the same closed and opening positions as indicated above, such pivotally swinging window or door frame comprising an inner framework 12 in a quadrangular shape, made of wood, metal, plastics or any other suitable material, enclosing a wing 10 in the form of a glass pane or a pane made of any other suitable, either clear or non-clear material, sized so as to fit into a corresponding aperture provided in the wall of residential or similar buildings, and further comprising a stationary outer case 14 made of materials of the same kind as the ones used for the framework and in the same shape as the wing 10, having a slightly larger size than the framework 12, and accommodated within and fixed along the peripheral edges of the related aperture, as secured at the bottom to the horizontal bottom side 15 of the same aperture (or a horizontally extending sill), said window or door frame finally comprising a movable frame (or profile section) 16, which is fitted and accommodated between the inner framework 12 and the outer case 14 and extends along all peripheral edges of both the framework and the outer case.

The structural conformation of said inner framework 12, the outer case 14 and the movable profile section 16 is not relevant to the purposes of the present invention, so that a description thereof shall be intentionally omitted here. Anyway, details about such component parts may be inferred from the description given in the above-cited Italian patent no. 0001321913, to which reference should therefore be made in view of a better understanding of both these component parts and the other component parts entering the construction of the window or door frame being considered.

On top and the sides thereof, the outer case 14 is enclosed within two corresponding vertical side section bars 17 and 18 and a top horizontal section bar 19 made of wood, plastics or any other suitable material, said section bars being joined at the bottom to the afore-cited horizontal bottom edge (or window sill) 15 and appropriately secured to the aperture provided in the wall of residential buildings.

The pivotally swinging window or door frame under consideration further comprises a handle 20, which in the given example is articulated on the left vertical side flank of the outer case 14 and is associated to the wing raising and aligning system according to the present invention, which shall be described below, and which is accommodated inside the same outer case, to be able to cause the wing 10 to be displaced into the closed and the ventilation positions thereof, as well as to be swung about a horizontal or a vertical axis of rotation into the various opening positions thereof, depending on the positions into which said handle is actuated and set.

Also in this case, the actual structure of and the way in which the operating handle 20 works are not relevant to the purposes of the present invention, so that any further description of this component part of the inventive pivotally swinging door or window frame is intentionally omitted.

Such operating handle, along with the way in which it works, shall in any case be the subject of the description given in a contemporaneous patent application filed by this same Applicant, to which reference should therefore be made for a better understanding.

In particular, the system for raising and aligning the wing 10 in accordance with the present invention is substantially comprised of:

- a first set of fittings 21, mounted on the two vertical side flanks 22 and 23 of the outer case 14, which extend parallel to and spaced from each other, as this shall be described in greater detail further on, said first set of fittings being provided to support the wing, thereby making it easier for the same wing to be raised from the lowered position thereof to a swinging position enabling it to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation, i.e. in a position that is perfectly aligned with such axis of rotation, so that it is enabled to rotate about the latter, when the wing is displaced both into the ventilation position thereof and the position in which it is oriented, i.e. swung in the horizontal direction of rotation;

- a second set of fittings 22', mounted on the bottom horizontal side 25 of the outer case 14, and provided in a structure that shall be described in greater detail further on, for supporting the pivotally swinging wing to thereby both support it in a more effective manner and enable it to rotate about at least one vertical axis of rotation, in a position that is exactly aligned with the same axis, when the wing is displaced both into the ventilation position thereof and the position in which it is oriented, i.e. swung in the vertical direction of rotation;

- a third set of fittings 26, mounted on the upper horizontal side 24 of the outer case 14, and provided in a structure that shall be described in greater detail further on, for enabling the wing to be swung about a vertical axis of rotation in the same way as described above in connection with the second set of fittings 22';

- a fourth set of fittings 27, mounted at the corner regions of the outer case;

- a fifth set of fittings 28, mounted on both the side flanks and the upper and bottom sides of the window or door frame, so as to enable the swinging wing to be locked in position. With reference to Figures 5-6 and Figure 16, these can be noticed to illustrate the first set of fittings 21 of the system according to the present invention, wherein such fittings are mounted on the left vertical side flank 22 and right vertical side flank 23 of the outer case 14, exactly on the centre line of the respective side flank in correspondence to the horizontal pivoting axis of the swinging wing 10, and are comprised of two sets of mutually symmetrical component members, each one of which is substantially comprised of an elongated vertical block 29 in the shape of a parallelepiped that is made and secured internally to the respective vertical side flank of the outer case 14 as this shall be described in greater detail further on, and in which there is mounted a short horizontal pin 30 for supporting the wing, in a position that is exactly aligned with the horizontal axis of rotation of the same wing, and is further comprised by a short vertical bracket 31, again in the shape of a parallelepiped, which is provided and secured against the opposite vertical side of the wing 10 and cooperates with the above-mentioned vertical block 29 including said horizontal pin 30 in the manner as this shall be described in greater detail further on. As this can be noticed in the illustrations of Figures 5 and 6, which show the first set of fittings 21 in the assembled and disassembled states thereof, respectively, as used to enable the wing to be supported and caused to rotate, i.e. swing about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof, the vertical block 29 provided with the horizontal pin 30 is seen to be provided with two horizontal through-bores 32 and 33 in an arrangement in which they lie above each other and slightly spaced from each other, for them to be able to respectively receive and accommodate said short horizontal pin 30, forming the actual horizontal pivoting axis of rotation about which the wing 10 can be swung, and a short horizontal support member 34 adapted to support the wing 10 when this is displaced from the lowered position to the raised position thereof, in which it is pivotally swung about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof. The above-mentioned journal block 29 is secured with the help of traditional means (not shown) inside the outer case 14. Finally, such journal block 29 is also provided with a further through-bore 35, in a position lying below the above- mentioned through-bore 32 and slightly spaced from the latter, to enable the same block to be secured in place.

The horizontal pin 30 is comprised of a short bushing 36 in a cylindrical shape, or any other suitable geometrical shape, and an elongated pin 37 that is slidably housed both in a corresponding longitudinal through-bore 38 in the bushing 36 and a corresponding longitudinal through-bore 39 in a further short bushing 40 provided to perform the task that shall be described in greater detail further on.

Such bushing 36 is in turn provided with a shank 41 featuring a through-slot 42 provided there to extend over part of the length thereof, the actual task of which shall be described in greater detail further on, and a short head 43 having a greater size than the related shank 41. In the condition in which the bushing 36 is completely inserted in the through-bore 32 of the journal block 29, which, as this has already been described hereinbefore, is secured inside the outer case 14, the above-cited pin 37 is inserted in the related through-bores of both bushings 36 and 40, without protruding from the bushing 40 that faces the opposite vertical side of the wing 10. In turn, the elongated pin 37 is formed to feature a pin portion 44 that is sized so as to be capable of slidably fitting into the corresponding through-bore 38 of the bushing 36, and a terminal portion 45 having a smaller size than the pin portion 44. At the opposite end relative to said terminal pin portion 45, said pin portion 44 is provided with a transversal through-bore 46 extending thereacross in a position corresponding both to the position of the through-slot 42 and the position of a further through-slot 47 provided through the upper side surface 48 of the elongated block 29 over part of the width thereof to perform the task that shall be described in greater detail further on.

On such upper side surface 48 there is furthermore applied an angle plate or bracket 49, which is formed of a vertical planar side 50 and a further vertical planar side 51 extending orthogonally to said side 50, and which is appropriately accommodated inside the outer case 14, wherein said further vertical planar side 51 is arranged so as to slidably rest upon the upper side 48 of the elongated block 29, and the angle plate 49 is attached to one of the two circular music-steel cables or straps 52 and 53 (the cable or strap 52 in the illustrated example), which are provided in a mutually spaced arrangement and appropriately guided in the sliding motion thereof, as housed inside the outer case 14 and capable of being operated by the handle 20, said music-metal cable or strap being also secured to the end portions of the angle plate 49 of the elongated vertical journal block 29 mounted on the right vertical side flank 23 of the outer case 14, and secured in a different position to said journal block, and being finally secured to also two further angle plates of both the second set of fittings and the third set of fittings 22, 26, which shall be described further on, so that setting said handle 20 into different operating positions will cause the two angle plates 49 of the elongated blocks 29 to concurrently slide in the two alternate longitudinal directions and the two further angle plates of the component parts associated to the second and third set of fittings that shall be described further on to concurrently slide in the two alternate transversal directions. Through the planar side 51 of each one of said angle plates 49 there is further provided a through-slot 54 extending over part of the length of the respective angle plate, said slot being shaped so as to feature an inclined middle rectilinear portion 55 which , at the ends thereof, joins into two short longitudinal side portions 56 and 57, and a short peg 58 is inserted both through the through-bore 46 of the elongated pin 37 and orthogonally through the through-slot 42 of the bushing 36, the through-slot 47 of the elongated block 29 and the through-slot 54 of the angle plate 49, so that such peg is able to slidably reciprocate along the above-mentioned through-slots 42, 47 and 54, in accordance with the angle plates 49 being displaced in either one or the other longitudinal direction by the cable or metal strap operated by the handle 20, owing to the fact that, in this case, the peg 58 is forced to necessarily slide along all said through-slots and, during this sliding motion thereof, the same peg causes the elongated pin 37 to in turn slide from a position in which it is retracted into the bushing 36, and therefore the bushing 40 does not interfere with the opposite angle plate 31, to a position in which said elongated pin 37 is extracted from the bushing 36 and the bushing 40 interferes with the angle plate 31.

In turn, the horizontal support member 34 of the journal block 29 is substantially comprised of a shank 59, housed in the corresponding through-bore 33 of the same block, and a short head 60 having a greater size than the shank 59, and through such shank and such head there is provided a through-bore 61 extending over the whole length thereof, for a fastening element (not indicated) of the support member 34 and the journal block 29 inside the outer case 14 to be able to be inserted therein, wherein, in the condition in which said support member 34 is mounted in said journal block 29, the head 60 rests against the related outer surface 62 of the same block and protrudes slightly, by an extent

corresponding to the slightly greater size of the head 43 of the bushing 36, towards the opposite vertical side of the wing 10. Such head 60 is partially receding, i.e. flattened out on top, thereby forming a top planar surface 63 for the wing 10 to be able to rest and be duly supported thereupon, as this shall be described in greater detail further on.

Finally, the elongated vertical bracket 31 of the first set of fittings 21, which cooperates with the related vertical journal block 29, is provided with two through-bores 64 and 65 extending thereacross and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the same bracket, so that through said through-bore 64 there can be introduced an end portion of a cylindrical stem 66, the other end portion of which is inserted through the through-bore 67 of an upper bearing 68 that is adapted to slidably rest on the upper surface 63 of the support member 34, and so that the bushing 40 of the vertical journal block 29 will get inserted, or will not get inserted, as the case may be, through said through-bore 65 when the wing 10 is swung about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof.

Shown in Figure 7 is an alternative embodiment of the elongated bracket 31, which in this case is longer than the previously described one, actually, and is provided with a further through-bore 69, which is spaced from the middle through-bore 65 by the same extent as the other through-bore 64, for the insertion of a further cylindrical stem 70 joining with a lower bearing 71 that performs in the same way, i.e. the same task as the previously cited bearing, in order to enable the wing 10 to be tilted by 180° about the horizontal axis relative to the formerly held position.

These bearings 68 and 71 can be adjusted in the distance thereof from the respective support members 34 by having the related cylindrical stems 66 and 70 inserted to a differing extent through the corresponding through-bores 64 and 69 of the bracket 31. Each such bracket 31 is applied with a flank thereof against the vertical side of the wing 10 lying opposite thereto, while inserting such flank in receptacles that are specially provided to this purpose in this vertical side of the same wing. In turn, also the bushing 40 can be adjusted to a differing extent relative to the corresponding through-bore 65 of the elongated bracket 31.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, these illustrate the second set of fittings 22' of the inventive system, wherein this second set of fittings is mounted on the bottom horizontal side 25 of the outer case 14 enclosing the window or door frame, exactly on the centre line of this bottom side, in correspondence to the vertical pivoting axis of the swinging wing 10. Shown in Figures 10 and 11 is on the contrary the third set of fittings 26 of the inventive system, wherein this third set of fittings is mounted on the centre line of the upper horizontal side 24 of the outer case 14, in a position that is exactly aligned with the above-mentioned second set of fittings and coinciding with said vertical pivoting axis of the swinging wing, and is provided in a construction that is exactly symmetrical to that of the above-mentioned second set of fittings, with respect to which it in fact shows only a few modifications of a limited extent, as this shall be described in greater detail further on. Each one of these sets of fittings is substantially comprised of an elongated horizontal block 72 in the shape of a parallelepiped that is made and secured internally to the related base, i.e. upper or bottom side, of the outer case 14 as this shall be described in greater detail further on, and in which there is mounted at least a short vertical pin 73 for supporting the wing, in a position that is exactly aligned with the vertical axis of rotation of the same wing, and is further comprised of an elongated horizontal bracket 74, again in the shape of a parallelepiped, which is provided and secured against the opposite horizontal side of the wing 10 and cooperates with the above-mentioned horizontal block 72 carrying said vertical pin 73 in the manner as this shall be described in greater detail further on. Each such journal block 72 is provided with three through-bores 75, 76 and 77 in a mutually aligned arrangement and slightly spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the same journal block, whereas in the journal block of the second set of fittings 22 such through-bores are provided to receive and accommodate a first raising and support ball 78, wherein said vertical pin 73 forms the pivoting axis about which the wing 10 is able to swing in the vertical direction, and a second raising and support ball 79, wherein said balls 78 and 79 are provided to both raise the wing from the lowered position thereof up to the raised position thereof when such wing is displaced in a position in which it is perfectly aligned with the horizontal axis of rotation so as to be able to rotate, i.e. swing about such axis of rotation, and to support the same wing when it is being brought from the raised position thereof back to the lowered position thereof.

Such journal block 72 is secured in an altogether traditional manner inside the outer case 14. Each one of said balls 78 and 79 is fitted into and accommodated in a corresponding spherical cavity 80 and 81, provided at the upper end portion of the related journal block 72. In turn, the vertical pin 73 is in an elongated shape and is slidably housed in a corresponding vertical and longitudinal through-bore 82 of a short bushing 83, which is in a cylindrical or any other suitable geometrical shape, and which is provided with a shank 84 featuring a through-slot 85 provided there to extend over part of the length thereof, and a short upper head 86 having a greater size than the related shank 84. In the condition in which the bushing 83 is completely inserted in the through-bore 76 of the journal block 72, such head 86 rests against the related upper surface 87 of the block 72 and is slightly protruding towards the bracket 74 lying opposite thereto. In turn, the elongated pin 73 is shaped in the same way as the pin 37 described afore and, in the same way as the latter, is again provided with a pin portion 88, in which there is provided a through-bore 89 extending transversally thereto, and a terminal portion 90 facing the elongated bracket 74. Even in this case, furthermore, the through-bore 89 of the pin 73 lies in a position corresponding to both the position of the through-slot 85 of the bushing 83 and the position of a further through-slot 91, which is provided across the vertical side surface 92 of the journal block 72 to extend over part of the height thereof.

Even in this case there is provided an angle plate 93, which is applied against the vertical side surface 92 of the journal block 72 and is formed of a vertical planar side 94 and a horizontal planar side 95 extending orthogonally to said vertical side, and which is appropriately accommodated inside the outer case 14, wherein said vertical planar side 94 of the angle plate 93 is arranged so as to slidably rest against said vertical side surface, and the angle plate 93 is attached to the afore-described cable or music-steel strap 52, which is also secured to the angle plates 49 of the elongated vertical journal blocks 29 secured to the vertical side flanks of the outer case 14, and carrying the pins 37 of the horizontal axis of rotation of the wing 10, and is finally secured to the corresponding angle plate mounted on the upper journal block 72 and supporting the upper pin 73 of the vertical axis of rotation of the same wing. Also these angle plates 93 are shaped, as in the case of the previously described angle plates 49, so as to feature a through-slot 96 provided through the vertical side 94 thereof for a related peg 97 to be able to be inserted therein and slide therealong, wherein such peg is also slidably inserted in the through-slot 91 of the vertical side surface 92 of the journal block 72, the through-slot 85 of the bushing 83 and the through-bore 89 of the elongated pin 73, so that said peg 97 is forced to necessarily slide, as in the previously described case, along all said through-slots 96, 91 and 85 in accordance with the angle plates 93 being displaced in either one or the other transversal direction by the corresponding operation of the handle 20, and during this sliding motion thereof the same peg 97 causes the elongated pin 73 to in turn slide from a position in which it is retracted into the bushing 83 and is not protruding therefrom, and as a result does not interfere with the opposite bracket 74, to a position in which said elongated pin 73 is extracted from the bushing 83 and interferes with said bracket 74.

In turn, each one of the elongated horizontal brackets 74 of the sets of fittings 22' and 26 is adapted to be applied with the inner side 98 thereof against the opposing side (not indicated) of the wing 10 by inserting such inner side of the bracket in receptacles that are specially provided to this purpose in said side of the wing. The lower bracket 74 is provided in the transversal direction with at least three through-bores 99, 100 and 101 that are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the same bracket by such an extent as described further on, and in said through-bores there are inserted corresponding bushings 102, 103 and 104, which are exactly alike, wherein the bushings 102 and 104 are provided with a lower- recessed hemispherical receptacle or cavity (not indicated) for the corresponding support balls 78 and 79 mounted on the journal block 72 to be able to be accommodated therein, and can be adjusted in the distance thereof from the corresponding balls by having them inserted to differing extents in the related through-bores 99 and 101 of the bracket 74, whereas a through-bore (not indicated) is provided to extend over the whole length of the bushing 103 for the elongated pin 73, which is housed also in the corresponding bushing 83 inserted in the middle through-bore 76 of the journal block 72, to be inserted and supported therein, wherein also this bushing 103 can be adjusted in the distance thereof relative to the corresponding elongated pin 73 by having it inserted to differing extents in the through-bore 100 of the bracket 74.

Illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 there is now the third set of fittings 26, which is again comprised of a journal block 72 and a bracket 74, similar to the previously described ones except for the balls 78 and 79, which are not provided in this case, and is further comprised of an angle plate 106 similar to the afore described one and again connected to a cable or music-metal strap 52 as described above, so as to be able to work in the same way as described above, wherein the side through-bores 75 and 77 of the journal block 72 are in this case used to secure the latter in position.

Figures 12 and 13 can be noticed to illustrate the fourth set of fittings 27, which is due for mounting on the corner regions of the outer case 14 and is substantially comprised of a single angle block 107, which is made and shaped so as to be able to accommodate all component parts of the window or door frame, and is provided with two perforated angle plates 108 and 109, i.e. a horizontal and a vertical one, respectively, which are arranged orthogonally to each other and are adapted to be secured in the window or door frame by means of fastening elements of a traditional kind (not indicated), and with a side curved recess 110, featuring as wide as possible a curvature radius, for the two afore-described cables or music-metal, straps to be accommodated therein, so as to allow such cables or straps, as the case may be, to slidably reciprocate, i.e. slide in either one or the other sliding direction thereof under the different operating conditions of the swinging wing, wherein such cables or music-metal straps are kept inserted in the recess 110 by means of a retaining member 111 of a traditional kind, which is also able to promote the sliding motion thereof.

These angle blocks 107 are such as to enable a full shutting and sealing effect to be obtained at each corner region of the outer framework and further enable any water that may possibly seep through the sides of the framework to be conveyed outside by causing it to flow through an inner cavity in each block, wherein it flows in through an inflow aperture 112 and flows out through a lower outflow aperture 112', to be ultimately collected and conveyed outside by a drip cap with related valve (not shown).

Finally, shown in Figures 14 and 15 there is the fifth set of fittings 28, which is comprised of a set of so-called extending elements 113 in a mutually spaced arrangement, which are situated both on the side flanks and the bottom and top side of the sash, in a position lying between the journal blocks 29 carrying the horizontal pins 30 and the related angle blocks 107 (in the side flanks), as well as in a position lying between the journal blocks 72 carrying the vertical pins 73 and the related angle blocks 107 (in the bottom and top side of the sash).

Each such extending element 113 is comprised of a support block 114 that is secured in the outer case 14 in a manner as generally known as such in the art, and an angle bracket 1 15, which is shaped in the same way and performs the same tasks as the other angle plates or brackets described hereinbefore, and which is in particular connected to the other cable or music-metal strap 53, said support block being provided with two side through-bores 116 and 117 for the fastening elements (not indicated) used to fasten it to the outer case 14 to be able to be inserted therein, and a middle through-bore 118, in which there is slidably accommodated a specially shaped elongated body 119 provided with two blind bores 120 and a protruding head 121, with a groove 122 extending peripherally, in which there is mounted an elastic ring 123. These blind bores 120 of the elongated body 1 19 come to be arranged in a position coinciding with a through-slot 124 extending in the vertical side surface of the support block 114 over part of the height thereof and provided to perform the task that shall be described further on.

Through the vertical planar side 125 of each angle plate 115 there is further provided a through-slot 126 extending along part of the length thereof, said slot being provided so as to enable a related peg 127 to be inserted and slide therein, said peg being also inserted in the through-slot 124 of the vertical side surface of the support block 114 and one of the blind bores 120 of the extending element 1 13, so that such peg 127 is forced to necessarily slide, as this has been described hereinbefore, along all said through-slots 124 and 126, in accordance with said angle plates 1 15 being caused to displace in either one or the other transversal direction by the operation of the handle 20, and during this sliding motion thereof, the same peg 127 causes the related extending element 113 to in turn slide so as to move the swinging wing into the ventilation, closed and opened positions thereof.

Quite apparent from the above disclosure will at this point be the way in which the lifting and alignment system for an openable wing 10 of a window or door frame according to the present invention works, actually, wherein it can be readily understood that such openable wing can be swung into the various above-described positions thereof by simply operating the handle 20 into corresponding various operating or actuating positions thereof. In particular, when the handle 20 is operated so as to cause the wing 10 to swing into the closed position thereof, as shown in Figure 1, such handle practically causes the extending elements 113 to concurrently slide into the extracted position thereof, in which the movable frame 16 is pressed against the wing 10, thereby locking it firmly in position, and

- in such condition - the bottom and top sides of the same wing are engaged and firmly retained in position not only by the extending elements 113, but also the lower and upper vertical pins 73 fitted into the related bushings 83. In this condition, moreover, the vertical sides of the wing are in turn engaged and firmly retained in position not only by the related side extending elements 113, but also the bearings 68 resting against corresponding recessed receptacles (not indicated) provided in the upper surfaces 63 of the related side support members 34, whereas the bushings 40 are not engaging the bracket, i.e. angle plate 31. When the handle 20 is operated so as to cause the wing 10 to move into the ventilation position thereof, as shown in Figure 2, in which the outer case 14 is moved outwards and separated from the inner framework 12, thereby defining and delimiting a peripheral gap 129 communicating with the outside atmosphere therebetween, the operation of said handle further causes all above-described extending elements to slide into a variable extracted position thereof, and also causes the horizontal pins 37 and the vertical pins 73 to move into engaging the corresponding bushings 40 and 83. When the handle is then operated so as to cause the wing 10 to swing about the vertical axis of rotation thereof (see Figure 4), all above-described extending elements are caused to slide into the retracted position thereof, thereby releasing the wing 10, while the two vertical pins 73 keep further inserted in the corresponding bushings 83. In this condition, then, the wing 10 is supported to a greater extent by the second set of fittings 22' and the bracket 74 and to a lesser extent

- so as just required to solely ensure the correct alignment of the wing - by the first set of fittings 21 and the bracket 31. When the handle 20 is operated so as to cause the wing 10 to swing about a horizontal axis of rotation thereof (see Figure 3), such vertical pins 73 are on the contrary caused to retract into the bushing 83.

In this condition, the horizontal axes are exactly aligned with and inserted relative to the respective brackets 31, while the bearings 68 are resting against the recessed receptacle provided in the upper surface 63 of the related side support members 34. By pushing the wing 10 along the edge, a lever effect is brought about that enables the wing 10 to undergo a first quick raising motion by the action of the rotary bearings, while the bushing 40 moves then to rest on the pin 37, and - in this position - the wing is solely supported by the horizontal pins. When the wing 10 is moved again close to or against the outer case 14, it is again raised by the action of the bearings sliding on the support members, until it comes to lie in position in the recess of the upper surface 63, in which it is then perfectly aligned with the movable frame 16 and - in this condition - also the supports, i.e. bushings 102 and 104 are aligned with the balls 78 and 79, wherein all these handlings can be performed and occur under a considerably reduced effort as compared with the effort that would on the contrary be required in the absence of the various above-described fittings and provisions. As a result, the operations for alternately raising and aligning the wing about both horizontal and vertical axes are practically servo-assisted.

Thanks to the support of the wing 10 ensured in the manner as described above, shifting, i.e. changing from the vertical pins over to the horizontal ones and, as a result, having the wing pivotally hinged in either one of the swinging axes thereof, can in all cases take place in an optimum manner under no appreciable effort, wherein the same wing will in all cases be moved into positions in which it is perfectly aligned with the related swinging axis. If required, and operating in the same way as described above, the present system also enables the wing 10 to be caused to pivotally swing about at least another vertical axis of rotation (not indicated), which is incorporated in the second sets of fittings 22', and is arranged parallel to and shifted apart from the afore-described vertical swinging axis, wherein the horizontal swinging axis would in this case be eliminated, while the handle 20 can in turn be mounted also on the other side of the outer case 14, i.e. on the right side of said outer case with reference to the afore-described examples of embodiment.

Claims

1. Lifting and alignment system for raising and aligning an openable wing of a frame or sash, particularly of a window, a door or the like, provided to be pivotally swinging in two directions and about two axes that are orthogonal or parallel to each other, said system being adapted to raise and align said wing in each one of said pivotally swinging directions and about each one of said pivotally swinging axes, the window or door frame comprising at least an inner framework (12) for holding and supporting the wing (10), a stationary outer case (14) accommodating said inner framework (12), a movable frame (or profile section) (16) provided and housed between said inner framework (12) and said outer case (14), and an operating handle (20) capable of being actuated into various operating positions thereof so as to cause said wing (10) to move or swing into the various setting positions thereof, characterized in that said wing (10) is adapted to be adjusted and set into closed, ventilating and opened positions thereof by swinging it about a vertical axis of rotation or a horizontal axis of rotation extending orthogonally to the vertical one, characterized by first actuating means (21) mounted on the two side vertical flanks (22, 23) of said outer case (14), and adapted to support said wing (10) and enable it to solely swing about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof when the same wing is set both in the ventilation position thereof and in the position in which it is swung in the horizontal direction of rotation; by second and third actuating means (22', 26) mounted on the horizontal lower side (25) and horizontal upper side (24), respectively, of said outer case (14), and adapted to support said wing (10) and enable it to solely swing about the vertical axis of rotation thereof when the same wing is set both in the ventilation position thereof and in the position in which it is swung in the vertical direction of rotation; by fourth actuating means (27) mounted in the corner regions of said outer case (14) and adapted to firmly and reliably support said wing (10) when the same wing is set in its closed position; and by fifth actuating means (28) mounted on both said side flanks (22, 23) and said lower and upper sides (25, 24) and adapted to firmly retain the same wing in position.

2. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first actuating means (21) comprise each an elongated vertical block (29) in the shape of a parallelepiped that is secured internally to the respective vertical side flank of said outer case (14), in which there is mounted a short horizontal pin (30) for supporting said wing (10), in a position that is exactly aligned with the horizontal axis of rotation of the same wing, and further comprise each an elongated vertical bracket (31), again in the shape of a parallelepiped, which is provided and secured against the opposite vertical side of said wing (10) and cooperates with said journal block (29), said journal block (29) being provided with a first, a second and a third horizontal and transversal through-bores (32, 33, 35) in an arrangement in which they lie above each other and slightly spaced from each other, said first through-bore (32) being adapted to receive and accommodate said horizontal pin (30) forming the actual horizontal pivoting axis of rotation about which the wing (10) can be swung; said second through-bore (33) being adapted to receive and accommodate a short horizontal support member (34) adapted to support said wing (10) when the latter is displaced from the lowered position to the raised position thereof, in which it is pivotally swung about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof; and said third through-bore (35) being adapted to allow means to pass therethrough for securing said journal block (29) in position; and characterized in that said elongated vertical bracket (31) is provided with a first and a second through-bores (64, 65) extending thereacross and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the same bracket, through which there are introduced a stem (66) supporting an upper bearing (68) cooperating with said support member (34), and a bushing (40) supporting said horizontal pin (30).

3. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal pin (30) is comprised of a short bushing (36) in a cylindrical shape, or any other suitable geometrical shape, and an elongated pin (37) that is slidably housed in a corresponding longitudinal through-bore (38) in said bushing (36), said bushing (36) being provided with a shank (41) featuring a through-slot (42) provided there to extend over part of the length thereof, and a short head (43) having a greater size than the related shank (41), so that when said bushing (36) is completely inserted in said through-bore (32) of said elongated journal block (29), said head (43) is slightly protruding towards the opposite vertical side of said wing (10); and characterized in that said related elongated pin (37) is formed to feature a pin portion (44) that is sized so as to be capable of slidably fitting into the corresponding through-bore (38) of the bushing (36), and a terminal portion (45) having a smaller size than said pin portion (44), which is arranged to face said elongated bracket (31) so as to be able to cooperate therewith, said pin portion (44) being provided at its end facing away from said terminal pin portion (45) with a transversal through-bore (46) extending thereacross in a position corresponding both to the position of said through- slot (42) and the position of a further through-slot (47) provided through the upper side surface (48) of said elongated block (29) over part of the width thereof.

4. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 3, characterized by an angle plate (49) placed on said upper side surface (48) of said elongated block (29) and formed of a vertical planar side (50) and a further vertical planar side (51) extending orthogonally to said side (50), said angle plate (49) being appropriately accommodated inside said outer case (14), wherein said further vertical planar side (51) is arranged so as to slidably rest upon said upper side (48) and said angle plate (49) is connected to one (52) of the two circular cables or music-steel straps (52, 53), which are appropriately guided in the sliding motion thereof, as housed inside said outer case (14), and are capable of being operated by said handle (20), and which are also connected to the remaining angle plate (49) of the elongated journal block (29) mounted on the other vertical side flank (23) of said outer case (14), as well as to two further angle plates of both said second and third actuating means (22', 26), so that setting said handle (20) into different operating positions causes said two angle plates (49) to concurrently slide in the two alternate longitudinal directions thereof and said two further angle plates to concurrently slide in the two alternate transversal directions thereof, said angle plates (49) being each provided with a through-slot (54) extending over part of the length of said further planar vertical side (51), and characterized in that a short peg (58) is inserted for each angle plate (49) both through said through-bore (46) of said elongated pin (37) and orthogonally through said through-slot (42) of the related bushing (36), said through-slot (47) of the related elongated block (29) and said through-slot (54) of the related angle plate (49), so that said peg (58) is able to slidably reciprocate along the related through-slots (42, 47, 54) in accordance with said angle plates (49) being displaced in either one or the other longitudinal direction by said cables or music-metal straps (52) operated by said handle (20), and during this sliding motion thereof, the same peg (58) causes the related elongated pin (37) to in turn slide from a position in which it is retracted into the corresponding bushing (36) and does not protrude therefrom, and therefore is not able to act against said bracket (31) lying opposite thereto, to a position in which said elongated pin (37) is extracted from said bushing (36) and acts against said bracket (31).

5. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 4, characterized in that said horizontal support member (34) of each journal block (29) is comprised of a shank (59), housed in the corresponding second through-bore (33) of the same block, and a short head (60) having a greater size than said shank (59), and through said shank (59) and said head (60) there is provided a through-bore (61) extending over the whole length thereof, for fastening means used to secure said support member (34) and said journal block (29) inside said outer case (14) to be able to be inserted therein, so that, in the condition in which said support member (34) is mounted in said journal block (29), the head (60) rests against the related outer surface (62) of the same block and protrudes slightly, by an extent corresponding to the slightly greater size of said head (43) of the bushing (36), towards the opposite vertical side of said wing (10), said head (60) being partially flattened out on top, thereby forming a top planar surface (63) for the corresponding bearing (68) of the related elongated bracket (31) to be able to rest and be duly supported thereupon when said wing (10) is swung into the raised position thereof

6. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 5, characterized in that said elongated bracket (31) is provided with a further through-bore (69) for the insertion of a further stem (70) joining with another bearing (71), which is adapted to rest upon and be supported by said upper surface (63) when said wing (10) is tilted by 180° about the horizontal axis.

7. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 5, characterized in that said second and third actuating means (22', 26) comprise each an elongated horizontal block (72) in the shape of a parallelepiped secured on to the centre line of the respective lower side (25) and upper side (24) of said outer case (14) in correspondence to the vertical pivoting axis of said wing (10), and further comprise an elongated horizontal bracket (74), again in the shape of a parallelepiped, which is secured against the opposite horizontal side of the wing (10) and cooperates with the related elongated block (72), in each one of said elongated blocks (72) there being mounted a short vertical pin (73) for supporting said wing (10), in a position that is exactly aligned with the vertical axis of rotation of the same wing, each such block (72) being provided with three vertical through-bores (75, 76, 77), wherein said through-bores in the lower block are provided to receive and accommodate a first raising and support ball (78), said vertical pin (73) and a second raising and support ball (79), respectively, and said through-bores in the upper block are provided to receive and accommodate said vertical pin (73) in the middle through-bore and fastening means in the side through-bores, said first and second raising and support balls (78, 79) being accommodated within corresponding spherical recesses (80, 81) in said lower block (72) and adapted to both raise the wing (10) from the lowered position thereof up to the raised position thereof when such wing is displaced in a position that is perfectly aligned with the horizontal axis of rotation, so as to be able to swing about such axis of rotation, and to support the same wing when it is being brought from the raised position thereof back to the lowered position thereof.

8. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 7, characterized in that each one of said brackets (74) is provided with three through-bores (99, 100, 101), of which the side through-bores in the lower bracket are used to support related bushings (102, 104) provided with a spherical recess for the corresponding said first and second balls (78, 79) to be able to be accommodated therein, and the side through-bores in the upper bracket are used to hold said bracket and the upper block (72) firmly in position, whereas the middle through-bores in both brackets (74) are provided to enable a bushing (103) for supporting said vertical pin (73) to be inserted therein.

9. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 8, characterized in that said vertical pin (73) is slidably housed in a corresponding vertical and longitudinal through-bore (82) of a short bushing (83), which is provided with a shank (84) featuring a through-slot (85) provided there to extend over part of the length thereof, and a short upper head (86) having a greater size than the related shank (84), so that, in the condition in which said bushing (83) is completely inserted in said through-bore (76) of said journal block (72), said head (86) rests against the related upper surface of the same block and is slightly protruding towards the bracket (74) lying opposite thereto, said vertical pin (73) being provided with a pin portion (88), in which there is provided a through-bore (89) extending transversally thereto, and a terminal portion (90) facing said elongated bracket (74), said through-bore (89) lying in a position corresponding to both the position of said through-slot (85) and the position of a further through-slot (91), which is provided across the vertical side surface of said journal block (72) to extend over part of the height thereof.

10. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 9, characterized by an angle plate (93, 106), which is applied against the vertical side surface of said journal block (72) and is formed of a vertical planar side (94) and a horizontal planar side (95) extending

orthogonally to said vertical side, and which is appropriately accommodated inside said outer case (14), wherein said vertical planar side (94) is arranged so as to slidably rest against said vertical side surface, and said angle plate (93, 106) is connected to one (52) of said cables or music-steel straps (52, 53), so that operating said handle (20) into different operating positions thereof causes the angle plates (93, 106) of the lower block and the upper block to concurrently slide in the two alternate transversal directions, said angle plates (93, 106) being each provided with a through-slot (96) provided through the related vertical side (94) thereof, and the through-slots (96) of said two angle plates (93, 106) being adapted to enable a related peg (97) to be inserted therein and slide therealong, such peg being also slidably inserted in the related through-slot (91) of said journal block (72), said through-slot (85) of the related bushing (83) and said through-bore (89) of the related elongated pin (73), so that said peg (97) is forced to necessarily slide along said through- slots (96, 91, 85) in accordance with said angle plates (93, 106) being displaced in either one or the other transversal direction by the corresponding operation of said handle (20), and during this sliding motion thereof the same peg causes said elongated pin (73) to slide from a position in which it is retracted into said bushing (83) and is not protruding therefrom, and as a result does not act against said bracket (74) lying opposite thereto, to a position in which said elongated pin is on the contrary extracted from said bushing (83) and acts against said bracket (74).

11. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 8, characterized in that said fourth actuating means (27) comprise each a single angle block (107) provided with two perforated angle plates (108, 109), i.e. a horizontal and a vertical one, respectively, which are arranged orthogonally to each other, and a side curved recess (110) for said two cables or music-metal straps (52, 53) to be accommodated therein, so as to allow such cables or straps, as the case may be, to sidably reciprocate, i.e. slide in either one or the other sliding direction thereof under the different actuation conditions of the swinging wing (10), said angle block (107) being such as to enable any water that may possibly seep through the sides of the frame to be conveyed outside by causing it to flow through an inflow aperture (112) and then through a lower outflow aperture (112'), to be ultimately collected and conveyed outside by a drip cap with related valve.

12. Lifting and alignment system according to claim 11, characterized in that said fifth actuating means (28) comprise a set of extending elements (113) in a mutually spaced arrangement, which are situated both on the side flanks and the bottom and top side of the frame, in a position lying between said journal blocks (29) carrying the horizontal pins (30) and the related angle blocks (107) in the side flanks, as well as in a position lying between said journal blocks (72) carrying the vertical pins 73 and the related angle blocks (107) in the bottom and top side of the frame, each such extending element (113) being comprised of a support block (114), which is secured in the outer case (14), and an angle bracket (11 ), which is connected to the other cable or music-metal strap (53), said support block (114) being provided with two side through-bores (116, 117) for the related fastening elements to be inserted therein, and a middle through-bore (118), in which there is slidably accommodated a specially shaped elongated body (119) provided with two blind bores (120) and a protruding head (121), with a peripherally extending groove (122) in which there is mounted an elastic ring (123), said blind bores (120) being provided so as to come to be arranged in a position coinciding with a through-slot (124) extending through the vertical side surface of said support block (114) over part of the height thereof, said angle plate (115) being provided through the vertical planar side (125) thereof with a through- slot (126) for a related peg (127) to be inserted and slide therein, said peg being also inserted in the through-slot (124) of said support block (114) and one of said blind bores (120), so that such peg (127) is forced to necessarily slide along said through-slots (124, 126), in accordance with said angle plates (115) being caused to displace in either one or the other transversal direction by the operation of the handle (20), and during this sliding motion thereof the same peg (127) causes the related extending element (113) to in turn slide so as to move the swinging wing into the ventilation, closed and opened positions thereof.