WO2013150426A1

WO2013150426A1 - Window assembly with multiple opening modes

Info

Publication number: WO2013150426A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/052533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ermenegildo Sossai
Original assignee: Ermenegildo Sossai
Priority date: 2012-04-03
Filing date: 2013-03-29
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: ITPN20120018A1

Abstract

The present invention is relative to a window assembly (1 ) comprising a panel (3) mountable on a frame (2), said frame (2) lying on a plane defined by a wall and being associable to an opening on said wall, said panel (3) being mobile with respect to said frame (2) by means of a driving mechanism (200) between a closed position, in which said panel (3) lies substantially on the same positional plane as said frame (2), and a plurality of open positions, in which said panel (3) lies on different planes with respect to the positional plane of said frame (2). Said driving mechanism (200) comprises for each side of said frame (2) a shaped plate (6) fixable to said frame (2) and cooperating with the shaped head of a pin (7A) protruding from a side surface of said panel (3) and integral with it to guide the movement of said panel (3) from said closed position to said plurality of open positions through a selective locking means (65).

Description

"WINDOW ASSEMBLY WITH MULTIPLE OPENING MODES"

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention refers to a window assembly, in particular for buildings with continuous glazed walls, with multiple opening modes, that is, capable of being set in a plurality of open positions, in addition to the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A well-known practice in the construction field is to erect buildings, particularly for industrial and commercial purposes, having continuous glazed walls, that is, walls formed by a plurality of windows coupled to corresponding frames, generally made of aluminium, that extend along a matrix structure. Some of said windows can be provided with means allowing them to be opened in order to allow the change of air.

For example, a system that in fact is not widely used in continuous walls foresees the installation of the window on side hinges that allow it to swing open in "banderole" fashion.

Another common opening system of known type has hinges that allow the window to protrude outward on an inclined plane with respect to the position of the frame. This case generally contemplates two window open positions, that is, respectively, a first position wherein the lower portion of the window protrudes outward and a second position wherein the upper portion of the window protrudes outward. Said hinges generally consist of an element attached to the window frame and provided with a guide for a head projecting from an end of a sliding element that attaches laterally to the window. Alternately, the same opening mode can be obtained by means of hinges consisting of arms, variously jointed to each other, which however are complex in construction and costly from the point of view of production.

A further known opening system includes hinges that allow the window to be opened in "pantograph" fashion, that is, along planes parallel to the positioning planes of the frame; hinges of this type are usually made up of two Each of said opening systems has advantages but also includes disadvantages. In particular, in the case in which the window is opened to project outward, especially with the opening at the lower end, the optimal airing of the indoor space is not guaranteed. In fact, in buildings with glazed walls it was found that there is the formation of updraughts near the walls, which can be used advantageously to obtain the so-called "chimney effect" and allow the optimum extraction of the air, without having a marked effect on thermal diffusion. However, as has been pointed out, when the window is opened to protrude outward at the lower end, the updraught is intercepted by the window itself and deflected inwardly into the room; this phenomenon can be negative, especially in seasons of warm and humid climate, due to the admission into the internal environment of air at high temperature and humidity.

On the other hand, however, the opening with a protruding lower end also makes it possible to leave the window open even in case of bad weather, without the risk of rainwater getting in and causing floor damage due to wetness.

On the other hand, if the window is opened so as to protrude at the top or in pantograph fashion, the updraughts on the wall create an effect of drawing out the air from inside the room that makes it possible to have a rapid change of air without excessive heat losses. However, in the modes described above, it would not be possible to prevent in any way the entrance of the rainwater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would therefore be desirable, and in fact it is the objective of the present invention, to provide a window assembly with multiple opening modes, that is, openable so as to protrude with both the lower end and with the upper end and/or on a plane parallel to the positional plane of the frame, with simple and intuitive actions on the part of the user, so as to be able to take advantage of all the positive qualities of each opening mode, thus avoiding the disadvantages referred to above.

In the scope of the objective indicated above, one purpose of the present invention is to realize a reliable and functional window assembly, that provides guarantees of safety, also taking into account the fact that the weight of some Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a window assembly with multiple opening modes that can be mounted in an extremely easy, fast and effortless manner.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a window assembly with multiple opening modes that is aesthetically pleasing, capable of hiding the linkwork means of the same window from view, in particular in the closed position.

The above-mentioned objective, purposes and advantages, as well as others that will become more evident in the following description, will be achieved with a window assembly 1 with multiple opening modes as defined in claim 1 .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The subsequent claims define further characteristics of a window assembly according to the present invention that will be better illustrated in the description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment disclosed by way of non-limiting examples in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 A is a perspective view of a window assembly according to the present invention;

- figure 1 B illustrates the elements that make up the linkwork mechanism of the window assembly of the present invention;

- figure 1 C illustrates some enlarged components of the linkwork mechanism of the previous figure;

- figure 1 D illustrates other enlarged components of the linkwork mechanism of the window assembly;

- figures 2A, 2B are respectively a perspective view and an enlarged detail of a window assembly according to the present invention in the closed position;

- figures 3A, 3B illustrate an enlarged detail of a window assembly according to the present invention in a phase of the passage from the closed position to a first open position;

- figures 4A, 4B are respectively a perspective view and an enlarged detail of a window assembly according to the present invention when said first - figures 5A, 5B illustrate respectively a perspective view and an enlarged detail of a window assembly according to the present invention in a second open position;

- figure 6A is a perspective view of a window assembly according to the present invention in a third open position;

- figures 7 A and 7B illustrate respectively a window assembly according to the present invention in a cutaway view along plane A-A of figure 2A and an enlarged detail of said window assembly in a phase of the passage from an open position to a closed position;

- figure 7C illustrates an intermediate position of a window assembly according to the present invention during a phase of the passage from an open position to a closed position;

- figure 8 illustrates a variant embodiment of a window assembly according to the present invention;

- figure 9A illustrates the operation of fall-prevention means provided in a window assembly according to the present invention, and

- figure 9B illustrates the operation of the fall-prevention means provided in the variant embodiment of the window assembly of the present invention shown in figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures mentioned above, in particular figure 1 A, number 1 indicates a window assembly, that is, a mobile assembly designed to close a window opening according to the present invention.

Said window assembly 1 comprises a frame 2, preferably metallic, lying on a plane defined by a wall of a building and fixedly associable to an opening on said wall, on which is mounted a panel 3, preferably made of a transparent material such as glass, possibly coupled with suitable means to an interfacing frame 4. Said interfacing frame 4 can perimetrically surround said panel 3 or, alternatively, to give an aesthetic appearance of continuity to the glazed wall, said frame 4 can be arranged on the face of the panel turned toward said frame 2, so as not to be directly visible from outside.

According to a specific characteristic of the window assembly 1 of the ίο a driving mechanism 200, from a closed position, shown in figure 2A, in which said panel 3 is substantially on the same positional plane as the frame 2, and a plurality of open positions, in which said panel lies on different planes with respect to the positional one of the frame 2.

In particular, at least the following open positions can be firmly obtained:

- a first outwardly "protruding" open position, as shown in figure 4A, in which said panel 3 is positioned on a first inclined plane with respect to the positional plane of the frame 2, in particular with the lower-edge portion projecting outwards;

- a second open position arrangement, also referred to as "pantographic support", shown in figure 5A, in which said panel 3 lies on a plane substantially parallel to the positional plane of the frame 2; and finally

- a third outwardly "protruding" open position, shown in figure 8A, in which said panel 3 lies in a second plane that is inclined with respect to the positional plane of the frame 2, in particular with the upper-edge portion projecting outwards.

The passage between said positions takes place in successive phases, in the order indicated above. The movement can be induced by a user, who acts in a conventional manner on a control means 5, such as for example a handle integral with said panel 3, preferably mounted on said frame 4 in the lower portion of the latter. Said handle 5, in addition to acting as a control device, is also used to hold the panel 3 in the closed position by causing the insertion of locking means, such as pins (not shown), inside corresponding seats provided in the frame 2. As an alternative, the movement can be driven by electric means, in ways known to an expert in the field.

The mechanism 200 that makes it possible to move said panel 3 with respect to the frame 2 is formed by pairs of elements arranged symmetrically on the sides of the window assembly 1 ; in figure 1 B are illustrated the elements that make up said mechanism 200 arranged on one of the two sides of the window assembly 1 .

Said mechanism 200 comprises substantially a pair of shaped plates 6 fastened to the frame 2 and cooperating with a corresponding pair of first pins damping devices 9, and a pair of support arms 10. Also provided, as explained later in greater detail, are fall-prevention safety means 100.

Each shaped plate 6 is fastened to the sides of the frame 2, preferably in the vicinity of the upper ends; as can be seen in figure 1 C, each one of said shaped plates 6 has substantially a parallelepiped shape and is provided with a first and a second guide groove 8A, 6B, positioned substantially as an upturned "V", which are acted upon selectively by the shaped head 7A of a pin protruding from the corresponding side surface of said panel 3 or of said frame 4, with which it is integral, thanks for example to a fastening plate 70.

Said two guide grooves 6A and 6B are centrally separated by a central portion 60 inside of which is housed a stem, the head of which 62 protrudes from said central portion 60 and is arranged so as to form a leading-in plane having its surface turned toward said first guide groove 6A.

Said stem is axially mobile inside said central portion 60 against a first elastic means (not shown), such as a spring, which, in the absence of externa! biases, holds it in a partially extracted position.

Additionally, said second guide groove 6B is crossed by a selective locking means 65, for example a flat bending spring or a helical compression spring, that allows the head of the pin 7A to translate inside said second groove 8B only in one direction, preventing its passage in the opposite direction.

Advantageously, said shaped plate 6 may also include a holding element 66 mounted so as to swivel around a pin 66A positioned at the external upper edge of said plate 6; in conditions of rest, that is, in the absence of external biases, said holding element 86 lies at the external lateral edge of said shaped plate 6, defining laterally said first guide groove 6A.

A second elastic means 67, in particular a compression helical spring, controls the oscillation of said holding element 86 around the pin 66A, causing it, in the absence of external biases, to maintain the rest position, and, after each oscillation induced by external biases, to resume the initial rest position.

The supporting linkwork assembly 8 includes a pair of first arms 8A, each of which is coupled with a lower end to a lower portion of the frame 2 through a first sliding block 21 , slidable in correspondence of a first countershaped guide 20, such as a screw inserted into a threaded hole inside a block 20A. The opposite end of each of said first arms 8A is pivoted to one side of the panel 3.

On the other hand, the linkwork system 8 also includes a pair of second arms 8B, each of which coupled with one end to a central and lateral portion of said frame 2 through a second sliding block 22, slidable within a second countershaped guide 22A fastened to the frame 2, and cooperating with a damping device 9, said second arm 8B being pivoted with the other end to the corresponding first arm 8A, eccentrically with respect to its centre line.

Said pair of damping devices 9 is provided to control the speed of said panel 3 in the passage between said plurality of opening positions. As can be seen in figure 1 D, each damping device 9 comprises a hollow body 19 connected to the frame 2, cooperating with the lower end 23 of said second sliding block 22 to slow the movement of the panel 3, particularly in the passage between said closed position and said first open position, in which, as will be explained later, the panel 3 is released from said shaped plates 6 and is then induced to translate vertically by gravity.

In particular, the lower end 23 of said second sliding block 22 is shaped like a "fork" and the two prongs are suitable to be slidingly received within said hollow body 19 to counteract spring-loaded means 91 , that are themselves contained within said hollow body 19. Preferably, said spring-loaded means 91 comprise two compression springs, cooperating at one end with adjusting means 92, such as two stop dowels, suitable to provide a correct pretensioning of said springs. Alternatively, said spring-loaded means 91 may include a gas piston having a similar function.

Finally, at the top of said hollow body 19 is provided a second stop means 93 suitable to define the end stop of said sliding block 22; it preferably consists of a screw, inserted axially into a threaded hole located at the upper end portion of said hollow body 19, the head of which projects from said hollow body 19 by an extent adjustable by means of the screw thread. Said screw 93 is positioned so as to be inserted between the two prongs of the forked end 23 of the second sliding means 22, to strike against the saddle portion of the forked end, thus determining the travel stop. comprises a first element 1 1 hinged with a lower end to said panel 3 and inserted telescopically, preferably with frictional resistance, with the other end inside a second element 12 pivoted to said frame 2.

Said pair of third arms 10 has substantially the twofold function of preventing the panel 3 from moving laterally with respect to the position of the frame 2 ("anti side-displacement" function) and, thanks to the friction between said first and said second element 1 1 , 12, of further damping and accompanying the movement of the panel 3 in the passage between the different positions.

In a variant embodiment of the present invention, shown in figure 8, said first element 1 1 and said second element 12, are positioned differently: in fact, said first element 1 1 is hinged at the top end to the panel 3, and is inserted telescopically with the opposite end into said second element 12. In addition, if there is sufficient space between the frame 2 and the panel 3, in place of said first and said second element 1 1 , 12, said third arms 10 can include a cushioning spring or a gas-loaded spring having a similar function.

Preferably, the body of said second element 12 comprises a central slot 13 that extends preferably for almost the entire length of the same element within which a corresponding pin 14 provided on said first element 1 1 can slide, so that the end portions of said central slot 13 determine the lower and upper end stops for the relative movement of said first element 1 1 and said second element 12.

Finally, on said pair of third arms 10 are provided fall-prevention safety means 100: they comprise a safety pin 99, integral with said first element 1 1 and sliding in a lateral groove 98 provided on said second element 12.

Said safety pin 99, during the normal operation of the window assembly 1 , slides, guided by said lateral groove 98, without however reaching the lower end stop. However, it could accidentally happen that said pairs of first and second arms 8A and 8B become detached from the panel 3 and that therefore the latter, completely disconnected from the frame 2, would fall by gravity: in this case, as can be seen in figure 9A, the engagement of said safety pin 99 with the end portion of said lateral groove 98, possibly shaped and reinforced discharged, prevents the panel itself 3 from becoming detached from the frame 2, giving the specialized personnel the time required to take appropriate action to restore it to a safe condition.

A similar operating mode is also provided for the variant embodiment, as shown in figure 9B.

The operation of a window assembly 1 according to the present invention will be illustrated below. Let us assume that, at first, the panel 3 is in a closed position, that is lying substantially on the same plane defined by its supporting frame 2, as shown in figure 2A, In that condition, said control means 5 is positioned so that the locking means are inserted inside said corresponding seats, so as to be able to hold the panel 3 adherent to the frame 2 in a known and conventional manner. Moreover, the arms 8A and 8B forming said supporting linkwork assembly 8 are arranged one on the other in adherence to the frame 2, as also each of said first elements 1 1 is completely inserted into the corresponding second element 12, so that substantially no component of the driving mechanism 200 of the window assembly 1 is visible from outside.

As shown in figure 2B, in the closed position the shaped head of each of the two pins 7A is in an initial standstill position, that is, positioned in contact with the plate 8 substantially at the top point of convergence of said first and said second guide groove 8A and 6B.

To pass from said closed position to said first open position, shown in figure 4A, the user, by operating on said control means 5, disengages the locking means from their seats, releasing the panel 3 from the frame 2; subsequently, by pushing forward the lower end of said panel 3, again using said control means 5, obtains the displacement of said pane! 3 until it reaches said "protruding" open position.

As can be seen in figures 3A and 3B, during such displacement movement, the shaped head of each of the two pins 7A moves on the surface of said shaped plate 6, starting from the initial standstill position and descending by gravity through said first guide groove 6A.

In the case in which said holding element 86 is present, the shaped head of said pin 7A, during the passage along said first guide groove 6A, induces the means 67, thereby accompanying the downward movement of the panel 3 and the exit of the pin 7A from the first guide groove 6A. As soon as the shaped head of said pin 7A passes the end portion of said holding element 66, said pin is immediately induced to return to the rest position thanks to the action of said second spring-loaded means 67,

Advantageously, in addition to making the window opening movement smoother, this prevents the possibility of the shaped head of the pin 7A travelling backward on said first guide groove 6A; moreover, said selective locking means 65 prevents the head of the pin 7A from travelling in said second guide groove 6B.

At the same time, the downward movement of the panel 3 will be accompanied by said supporting linkwork assembly 8: in fact, said pairs of first and second arms 8A, 8B, whose ends slide respectively on first and second sliding blocks 21 , 22, follow the movement of the panel 3, articulating with each other.

In particular, the movement of said second sliding block 22 within said second countershaped guide 22A will be progressively dampened by said damping device 9, to the point in which the saddle of the fork-like end 23 of said second sliding block 22 strikes against said second stop means 93, when said first open position (figure 4A) is reached; at the same time, said first sliding block 21 slides within said first contershaped guide 21 A until it impacts at the bottom against said first stop means 20.

In this condition, said first elements 1 1 slip progressively out of said second elements 12 forming said pair of third damping arms 10, accompanying the movement of the panel 3.

Said first open position is firmly reached when the shaped head of said pin 7A, after having travelled for the full length of said first guide groove 6A, is positioned so as to bear against the inclined plane defined by the head 62 of said stem, as shown in figure 4B.

From this first open position it is possible to pass to said second open position, as shown in figure 5A, in which said panel 3 rests on a plane substantially parallel to the positional plane of the frame 2; to do so, the user using said control means 5.

In response to this movement, and thanks to further frictiona!!y sliding out of said first element 1 1 from said second element 12 of said pair of third damping arms 10, the upper portion of said panel 3 moves outward and consequently, the shaped head of said pin 7A moves away from said shaped plate 6, as can be seen in figure 5B. Said first and second sliding blocks 21 , 22 remain substantially in the same position they held in said first open position.

To pass to said third open position, shown in figure 6A, it is sufficient for the user to move again the lower part of the panel 3 closer to the frame 2, using said control means 5. In this case, too, the displacement causes a further frictional sliding out of the elements 1 1 , 12 of said pair of third damping arms 10. Said third open position is firmly reached when the lower portion of said panel 3 bears against the lower part of the frame 2 and the pin 14 provided on said first element 1 1 reaches the end portion of said central slot 13, thereby determining the lower end stop of the relative movement between said first element 1 1 and said second element 12.

Finally, the panel 3 can return to the initial closed position, starting from said third open position, through the passage in reverse sequence to said second open position and to said first open position. In fact, the user, moving resolutely the lower portion of said panel 3 outward thanks to said control means, returns said panel 3 to a position in which the head of said pin 7A reaches again the surface of said shaped plate 8.

However, to obtain the closure of the window assembly 1 , the movement must be rather quick and resolute, so as to induce said head 7A to impact against the inclined head 62 of said stem with a sufficient speed to cause the latter to return inside said central portion 60, bearing against said first elastic means. As shown in figures 7A and 7B, this allows the shaped head of the pin 7A to travel to the base of said second guide groove 6B and, with the user making a re-entry motion, it runs along said groove and passes said selective locking means 65, to return again to the initial stop position shown in figure 2B.

As shown in figure 7C, during the closing phase the panel 3 can firmly take up at least one "intermediate" opening position similar to said first opening, friction generated between the shaped head of the pin 7A and the side surface of said centra! portion 60 in the passage through said second groove 6B in opposition to said selective locking means 65.

It is finally pointed out that the directional terms as are used here to describe the present invention, such as "above, below, vertical, horizontal, lower and upper", as also any other similar directional terms, must be interpreted with reference to a window assembly 1 if arranged in the normal installation position.

From the foregoing description, it is thus evident how the present invention achieves the initially foreseen purposes and advantages.

In fact, the inventors hereof proposed a window assembly 1 that is capable of passing smoothly from a closed position to a plurality of open positions with simple and intuitive actions on the part of the user, in such a manner as to be able to take advantage of all the positive peculiarities of each opening mode.

Moreover, said window assembly 1 is provided with anti-fall safety means that make it particularly safe, even in the case of the pane! 3 becoming accidentally disconnected from the support frame 2.

A window assembly according to the present invention is also aesthetically appealing since, thanks to a specifically designed and very compact driving mechanism 200, the different devices that allow the movement of the pane! relative to the frame are concealed from view when said pane! is in the closed position.

It is also pointed out that the window assembly of the invention can be mounted in an extremely easy, fast and effortless manner.

Naturally, the invention is amenable to many modifications or variants without thereby departing from the scope of patent protection of the present invention as defined by any of the enclosed claims.

Moreover, the materials used to achieve the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, can be the most suitable to meet the specific requirements.

Claims

1. Window assembly (1 ) comprising a panel (3) mountable to a frame (2), said frame (2) lying on a plane defined by a wall and being associable to an opening of said wall, said panel (3) being movable with respect to said frame (2) by a driving mechanism (200) between a closed position, wherein said panel (3) lies substantially on the same plane of said frame (2), and a plurality of opening positions, wherein said panel (3) lies on different planes with respect to said frame (2), characterized in that

for each side of said frame (2) said driving mechanism (200) comprises a shaped plate (6) fixable to said frame (2) and cooperating with a shaped head of a pin (7A) projecting from a side surface of said panel (3) and integral therewith to guide the passage of said panel (3) between said closed position and said plurality of open positions, said shaped plate (6) comprising a first and a second guide grooves (6A, 6B) arranged substantially as an inverted-V, said shaped head selectively interacting with said first and said second guide grooves (6A, 6B) by means of a selective locking means (65).

2. Window assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said selective locking means (65) comprises a flat spring arranged transversely to said second guide groove (6B) so that to allow the shaped head of said pin (7A) to move on said second groove (6B) in a single direction, preventing the passage in the opposite direction.

3. Window assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and said second guide grooves (6A, 6B) are centrally separated by a central portion (60) housing a stem, the head (62) of said stem protruding from said central portion (60) and being adapted to cooperate with the shaped head of said pin (7A), said stem being axially movable within said central portion (60) against first elastic means.

4. Window assembly (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said shaped plates (6) further comprises a holding member (66) rotatably mounted around a pin (66A) against second elastic means (67), said holding member (66) being provided at the side edge of said shaped plate (6) so as to laterally define said first guide groove (6A). driving mechanism (200) further comprises a supporting linkage assembly (8) for said panel (3), on each side of said frame (2) said supporting linkage assembly (8) being provided with:

- a first arm (8A) coupled with one end to a lower portion of said frame (2) by a first sliding block (21 ), slidably moveable within of a first counter- shaped guide (21 A) fixed to said frame (2), and with the opposite end to a side of said panel (3),

- a second arm (8B) coupled with one end to said frame (2) through a second sliding block (22) slidably moveable within a second counter- shaped guide (22A) fixed to said frame (2) and cooperating with a damping device (9), and with the opposite end to said first arm (8A).

6. Window assembly (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein said damping device (9) is adapted to cooperate at one end (23) with said second sliding block (22) for dampening the movement of said panel (3) when moving through said plurality of opening positions.

7. Window assembly (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said driving mechanism (200) further comprises for each side of the frame (2) a third arm (10) formed by a first member (1 1 ) associated with one end to said panel (3) and telescopically insertable into a second member (12) associated with said frame (2) to prevent said panel (3) from moving laterally with respect to the position of said frame (2) and to further dampen the movement of said panel (3) when moving through said plurality of opening positions.

8. Window assembly (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein anti-fall safety means (100) is provided, said safety means (100) comprising for each side of said frame (2) a safety pin (99) integral with said first member (1 1 ) and cooperating with a groove (98) provided on said second element (12) to prevent accidental detachment of said panel (3) from said frame (2).