WO2024105518A1

WO2024105518A1 - Window/door frame for building walls

Info

Publication number: WO2024105518A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/061368
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianfranco FERRANTI
Original assignee: Graf Industries S.P.A.
Priority date: 2022-11-14
Filing date: 2023-11-10
Publication date: 2024-05-23

Abstract

The window/door frame (1) for building walls comprises: - one perimeter frame (2) which can be attached to one opening of a wall (W) of a building and provided with: - one internal visible face (3) intended to face towards the inside of the building; and - one external visible face (4), opposite the internal visible face (3) and intended to face towards the outside of the building; - one central panel (5) associated with the perimeter frame (2), provided with an internal surface (6) intended to face towards the inside of the building and with an external surface (7), opposite the internal surface (6) and intended to face towards the outside of the building; where the internal visible face (3) comprises an internal edge (9) substantially coplanar to the internal surface (6) and where the internal surface (6) comprises a perimeter edge (10) exposed towards the inside of the building.

Description

WINDOW/DOOR FRAME FOR BUILDING WALLS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a window/door frame for building walls. Background Art

It is well known that there is a particular need in many areas of industrial activity to renew manufactured articles and to search for new ones in order to distinguish them more from those of competitors.

This need is particularly felt in the industry involved in the manufacture of window/door frames for building walls, such as windows and French doors.

The window/door frames of known type comprise a fixed frame, attached to an opening in a building wall, and a movable leaf associated with the fixed frame. In turn, the movable leaf comprises a perimeter frame, provided with an internal visible face, facing the inside of the building, and with an external visible face, facing the outside of the building, within which a central panel, e.g. made of glass, is placed. The central panel is also provided with an internal surface, facing the inside of the building, and with an external surface, facing the outside of the building.

More specifically, the perimeter frame comprises an abutment portion adapted to receive and support the central panel and a set of retaining elements, commonly called “glazing beads”, intended to secure the central panel to the abutment portion.

The retaining elements are opposite the abutment portion with respect to the central panel, which is retained between them.

The abutment portion and the retaining elements, therefore, partly cover the perimeter edge of the external and internal surfaces of the central panel, respectively.

The window/door frames of known type, therefore, do not allow for maximum use of the glazed surface of the central panel and the perimeter frame has a significant visual impact on the overall appearance of the window/door frame, especially in the case of small windows.

In addition to this, a difference in level is defined between the internal surface and the external surface of the central panel with the respective visible faces of the perimeter frame. The presence of the difference in level, in addition to being aesthetically unattractive, results in the accumulation of dirt which further affects the aesthetic appearance of such window/door frames.

This drawback is even more evident in the case of the portion of the window/door frame most visible to a user, namely the part facing the inside of the building.

A window/door frame is known from patent 102002900986240, schematically shown in section in Figure 1 of the attached drawing tables, that partly fixes these drawbacks.

The window/door frame described by 102002900986240, shown in Figure 1 with reference S, comprises a movable leaf M and a fixed frame F attached to a wall of a building.

The movable leaf M comprises a movable frame T provided with a stop wall B, facing the outside of the building (lower part of Figure 1), and with a protruding fin A, perpendicular to the stop wall B, defining a housing for a glass panel V. The glass panel V is attached to the movable frame T by means of the adhesive G placed between the panel itself and the stop wall B and the protruding fin A. In more detail, the protruding fin A develops towards the outside of the building. The role of the protruding fin A is to hold and not to retain the glass panel V.

On the inside (upper part of Figure 1), on the other hand, the movable frame T comprises an abutment portion R facing the inside of the building that abuts the fixed frame F of the window/door frame and that defines the stop wall B.

Thus, the movable frame T has a cross-section of substantially “T-shaped” conformation.

The window/door frame described by 102002900986240 is intended for making glazed facades, wherein the external impact of the window/door frame is minimal compared to the glazed surface.

However, although the document 102002900986240 aims to make a window/door frame in which the external glass surface is fully exposed, it does not fully succeed in its purpose because the movable leaf M, in its closed position, stops on a stop portion P of the fixed frame F, which partly covers the perimeter edge of the external surface of the glass panel V. In addition to this, the movable leaf M also has a seal arranged between the edge of the glass panel V and the protruding fin A and covering the external surface of the panel itself around the perimeter thereof

On the inside, the window/door frame of 102002900986240 looks like a traditional window/door frame, and an even greater difference in level than the thickness of the panel itself is defined between the internal visible face of the movable frame T and the internal surface of the glass panel V.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a window/door frame for building walls which allows minimizing the difference in level between the internal surface of the central panel and the internal visible face of the perimeter frame.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a window/door frame for building walls which allows the internal surface of the central panel to be fully exposed.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a window/door frame for building walls which allows minimizing the visual impact of the perimeter frame on the overall appearance of the window/door frame.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a window/door frame for building walls which allows the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use solution which is also cost-effective.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by this window/door frame for building walls having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a window/door frame for building walls, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame of a known type;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention;

Figures 3 to 5 are views of a window/door frame according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

Figure 6 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention, in accordance with a second embodiment;

Figure 7 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention, in accordance with a third embodiment;

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention, in accordance with a fourth embodiment;

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention, in accordance with a fifth embodiment;

Figure 10 is a schematic sectional representation of a window/door frame according to the invention, in accordance with a sixth embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a window/door frame for building walls.

In the context of this disclosure, the term “window/door frame” refers to a structure that can be attached to an opening on a wall of a building, e.g. a window or French door.

The window/door frame 1 comprises at least one perimeter frame 2 which can be attached to one opening of a wall W of a building.

The perimeter frame 2 is provided with: an internal visible face 3 intended to face towards the inside of the building; and an external visible face 4, opposite the internal visible face 3 and intended to face towards the outside of the building.

In the context of this disclosure, the term “visible face” refers to a surface of the perimeter frame which is intended to remain visible once the window/door frame has been assembled. In actual facts, when the window/door frame is assembled on the wall W of the building, the internal visible face is the surface of the perimeter frame facing the internal side of the wall W, while the external visible face is the surface facing the external side of the wall W.

The window/door frame 1 also comprises at least one central panel 5 associated with the perimeter frame 2.

The central panel 5 is provided with an internal surface 6 intended to face towards the inside of the building and with an external surface 7, opposite the internal surface 6 and intended to face towards the outside of the building.

Preferably, the central panel 5 is a transparent panel. Specifically, the central panel 5 is made at least partly of glass.

Conveniently, the central panel 5 is associated with the perimeter frame 2 by interposition of structural adhesives. In other words, the window/door frame 1 according to the invention does not require any retaining elements, such as the so-called “glazing beads”, but is held in place by structural adhesives.

According to the invention, the internal visible face 3 comprises an internal edge 9 substantially coplanar to the internal surface 6.

In the context of this disclosure, the expression “substantially coplanar” means that between the internal edge 9 of the perimeter frame 2 and the internal surface 6 of the central panel 5 there is no difference in level or there is a maximum difference in level of 2 mm.

In more detail, the internal edge 9 is the edge of the internal visible face 3 that faces towards the central panel 5. The internal edge 9 runs around the entire perimeter of the perimeter frame 2 in a substantially linear maimer.

The central panel 5 is, therefore, “flush” with the internal edge of the internal visible face 3.

In the context of this disclosure, the expression “flush” refers to the fact that the internal edge 9 and the internal edge of the internal visible face 3 are arranged with each other at a small distance of less than 2 mm.

Also in accordance with the invention, the internal surface 6 comprises a perimeter edge 10 exposed towards the inside of the building.

The perimeter edge 10 is a portion of the internal surface 6 that faces towards the perimeter frame 2.

The internal surface 6 is, therefore, completely free. More specifically, the window/door frame 1 has no component covering, even partly, the internal surface 6.

At least in the internal part of the building, therefore, the central panel 5 is fully exposed.

The window/door frame according to the invention is represented schematically in section in Figure 2, where the upper part of such a figure represents the inside of the building, while the lower part represents the outside of the building.

Specifically, in accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the perimeter frame 2 can be attached to the wall W by interposition of a fixed frame 11 and the perimeter frame 2 defines, together with the central panel 5, a movable leaf 12. The movable leaf 12 can be rotatable with respect to the fixed frame 11 or sliding with respect thereto.

In other words, the movable leaf 12 allows the window/door frame 1 to open/close.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, not shown in detail in the figures, the window/door frame 1 is of the fixed type, and the perimeter frame 2 is attached directly to the wall W of the building.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the perimeter frame 2 comprises a plurality of profiled elements joined together at their relevant ends. In such a case, the visible faces 3, 4 of the perimeter frame 2 are given by the set of the relevant visible faces of the individual profiled elements.

Alternatively, the perimeter frame 2 can be made in a single body piece.

The internal visible face 3 comprises a substantially flat main surface 13 and defining the internal edge 9.

In the context of this disclosure, the term “substantially flat” means that the main surface 13 lies on a plane and can be smooth or have a textured decorative effect, such as wood effect, featuring a series of reliefs and depressions.

Still in accordance with the first embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the central panel 5 is of the type of a triple glazing unit and comprises an internal pane 51, defining the internal surface 6, an intermediate pane and an external pane 52, defining the external surface 7, spaced from each other by means of relevant spacers 23, respectively.

The main surface 13 is substantially coplanar to the internal surface 6.

Thus, the internal surface 6 and the main surface 13 lie on the same plane. In other words, such an embodiment solution requires that the internal surface 6 be coplanar not only with the internal edge 9 but also with the entire main surface 13.

In addition, the internal visible face 3 comprises a secondary surface 14 contiguous to the main surface 13 opposite the internal edge 9. The secondary surface 14 may itself be substantially flat (Figure 2) or curved (Figures 3-5 and 8-10).

Conveniently, the perimeter frame 2 comprises at least one abutment surface 15 substantially parallel to the external surface 7 and adapted to receive and support the central panel 5.

In more detail, the abutment surface 15 is spaced apart from the central panel 5 and the latter is attached thereto by means of the structural adhesives 8.

In addition, the window/door frame 1 also comprises at least one gasket element 24 associated with the abutment surface 15 and adapted to adhere to the external surface 7 of the central panel 5.

The perimeter frame 2 comprises an abutment portion 16 defining the abutment surface 15, wherein the abutment portion 16 is arranged towards the outside of the building and defines at least partly the external visible face 4.

Thus, in the external part, the central panel 5 is partly covered by the perimeter frame. Specifically, the external surface 7 comprises a relevant perimeter edge which is covered by the abutment portion 16.

In addition, the perimeter frame 2 comprises at least one central surface 17 substantially transverse to the abutment surface 15 and defining the internal edge 9 with the internal visible face 3.

The central surface 17 is a surface of the perimeter frame 2 that, in use, faces towards the central panel 5.

The central surface 17 is substantially perpendicular to the abutment surface 15 and develops between the abutment surface itself and the internal edge 9.

The central surface 17 defines a housing for the central panel 5 with the abutment surface 15.

Conveniently, the central surface 17 is substantially flat so that the central panel 5 may be easily positioned during the assembly phases.

In addition, the central surface 17 is spaced apart from the central panel 5 and the latter is attached thereto by means of the structural adhesives 8.

The window/door frame 1 also comprises sealing means 18 positioned between the central panel 5 and the central surface 17.

In fact, as a result of the assembly, a crack may form between the central panel 5 and the central surface 17. The sealing means 18 allow this crack to be filled and prevent possible dirt from accumulating.

In more detail, the sealing means 18 are arranged between the internal edge 9 and the central panel 5.

Advantageously, the sealing means 18 comprise at least one self-leveling filler material. In other words, the sealing means 18 do not result in the formation of protruding or recessed parts with respect to the internal surface 6.

The perimeter frame 2 comprises a central portion 19 defining the central surface 17 and at least part of the internal visible face 3 and of the external visible face 4. The central portion 19 also defines a lateral surface 20 which is adapted to operate in conjunction with a respective surface of the fixed frame 11, in a closure configuration.

As can be easily appreciated and shown in detail in Figures 3 to 5, the lateral surface 20 has an irregular pattern, as does the corresponding surface of the fixed frame 11, and is provided with a series of reliefs and depressions adapted to ensure the thermal insulation of the window/door frame 1.

The perimeter frame 2 also comprises a coupling portion 21 defining a coupling surface 22 facing, in use, towards a corresponding internal face of said wall W. More in detail, the coupling surface 22 is adapted to abut against a corresponding internal face of the fixed frame 11.

The coupling portion 21 is arranged towards the inside of the building and defines at least part of the internal visible face 3.

Specifically, the coupling surface 22 is opposite the internal visible face 3.

The abutment portion 16 and the coupling portion 21 are opposite each other with respect to the central portion 19 and opposite each other with respect to a plane substantially parallel to the surfaces 6, 7 of the central panel 5.

In other words, the section of the perimeter frame 2 has an “S”/”Z”-shaped conformation.

Figures 6 to 10 show additional embodiments that differ from the first embodiment in the following characteristics.

First of all, in accordance with the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, the central panel 5 is schematically represented as an individual panel. Furthermore, these solutions provide that only the internal edge 9 and the internal surface 6 are coplanar.

Specifically, in accordance with the second embodiment shown in Figure 6, the main surface 13 is inclined with respect to the internal surface 6. In accordance with the third embodiment shown in Figure 7, on the other hand, the main surface 13 is curved.

The embodiments shown in Figures 8 to 10, on the other hand, differ from the first embodiment in that the central panel 5 is a double pane formed by the internal pane 51 and by the external pane 52, which are spaced apart by means of the spacer 23.

Furthermore, such embodiment solutions require that the central panel 5 be arranged substantially in contact with the abutment surface 15. For this purpose, the gasket 24 is mounted on a surface of the abutment portion 16 which is transverse to the central panel 5.

In accordance with the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 8, the structural adhesives 28 comprise a self-leveling structural adhesive. In this way, the resulting surface positioned between the internal edge 9 and the perimeter edge 10 is substantially planar. In other words, the structural adhesive 28 does not result in the formation of protruding or recessed parts with respect to the internal surface 6.

A fifth embodiment is shown in Figure 9, which differs from the previous one in the following characteristics.

In this case, the window/door frame 1 comprises interlocking means 25, 26 positioned between the perimeter frame 2 and the central panel 5. The interlocking means operate in conjunction with the structural adhesives 28 to keep the central panel 5 in the relevant housing.

In detail, the interlocking means 25, 26 comprise at least a first protruding portion 25 defined on the perimeter frame 2 and at least a second protruding portion 26 defined on the central panel 5.

The first protruding portion 25 and the second protruding portion 26 determine a ratchet coupling between them. In actual facts, the first protruding portion 25 promotes the insertion of the central panel 5 but prevents the same from being removed.

The first protruding portion 25 is defined at an intermediate position of the central portion 19.

The first protruding portion 25 comprises: at least one insertion surface 27 inclined with respect to the central surface 17 and adapted to operate in conjunction with the second protruding portion 26 to enable the insertion of the central panel 5 into the perimeter frame 2; and at least one blocking surface 29 substantially parallel to the abutment surface 15 and adapted to operate in conjunction with the second protruding portion 26 to prevent the central panel 5 from being removed from the perimeter frame 2.

The second protruding portion 26 comprises at least one stop surface 30 substantially parallel to the internal surface 6 and arranged stopped on the blocking surface 29.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the second protruding portion 26 is defined at least partly on the spacer 23. Thus, the spacer 23 has a substantially “L”-shaped section.

Thus, the central panel 5 comprises at least one transverse surface 31 that defines a cavity with the central surface 17 and with the insertion surface 27. The structural adhesives 28 are arranged within such a cavity.

The window/door frame 1 also comprises at least one covering element 32 partly inserted within the structural adhesives 28 and adapted to close the cavity.

The covering element 32 has an exposed surface 33 positioned between the main surface 13 and the internal surface 6, wherein the exposed surface 33 is substantially coplanar to the internal surface 6.

Figure 10 shows a sixth embodiment, which differs from the previous one in that the first protruding portion 25 is defined on the central portion 19, where the main surface 13 is located.

In detail, the insertion surface 27 is substantially contiguous with the main surface 13 and defines the internal edge 9.

In this case, the cavity defined by the insertion surface 27 and the transverse surface 31 is free. The window/door frame 1 is, therefore, free of structural adhesives 28.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is emphasized that the window/door frame for building walls according to the invention allows minimizing the difference in level between the internal surface of the central panel and the internal visible face of the perimeter frame.

In addition, this window/door frame for building walls makes it possible to minimize the visual impact of the perimeter frame on the overall appearance of the window/door frame. In fact, the absence of the retaining elements, such as the glazing beads, makes it possible to reduce the surface extent of the perimeter frame.

At the same time, the present window/door frame makes it possible to increase the free area of the central panel and fully expose the internal surface of the same.

Claims

1) Window/door frame (1) for building walls, comprising: at least one perimeter frame (2) which can be attached to one opening of a wall (W) of a building and provided with: at least one internal visible face (3) intended to face towards the inside of said building; and at least one external visible face (4), opposite said internal visible face (3) and intended to face towards the outside of said building; at least one central panel (5) associated with said perimeter frame (2), provided with an internal surface (6) intended to face towards the inside of said building and with an external surface (7), opposite said internal surface (6) and intended to face towards the outside of said building; characterized by the fact that said internal visible face (3) comprises an internal edge (9) substantially coplanar to said internal surface (6) and by the fact that said internal surface (6) comprises a perimeter edge (10) exposed towards the inside of said building.

2) Window/door frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said internal visible face (3) comprises a main surface (13) substantially flat and defining said internal edge (9), said main surface (13) being substantially coplanar to said internal surface (6).

3) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said perimeter frame (2) comprises at least one abutment surface (15) substantially parallel to said external surface (7) and adapted to receive and support said central panel (5).

4) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said perimeter frame (2) comprises an abutment portion (16) defining said abutment surface (15), wherein said abutment portion (16) is arranged towards the outside of said building and defines at least partly said external visible face (4).

5) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said central panel (5) is associated with said perimeter frame (2) by interposition of structural adhesives (8).

6) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said perimeter frame (2) comprises at least one central surface (17) substantially transverse to said abutment surface (15) and defining, with said internal visible face (3), said internal edge (9).

7) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises sealing means (18) positioned between said central panel (5) and said central surface (17).

8) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sealing means (18) comprise at least one selfleveling filler material.

9) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said perimeter frame (2) comprises a coupling portion (21) defining a coupling surface (22) facing, in use, towards a corresponding internal face of said wall (W), wherein said coupling portion (21) is arranged towards the inside of said building and defines at least part of said internal visible face (3).

10) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said perimeter frame (2) comprises a central portion (19) defining said central surface (17) and at least part of said internal visible face (3) and of said external visible face (4) and by the fact that said abutment portion (16) and said coupling portion (21) are opposite each other with respect to said central portion (19) and opposite with respect to a plane substantially parallel to said surfaces (6, 7) of said central panel (5).

11) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact it comprises interlocking means (25, 26) positioned between said perimeter frame (2) and said central panel (5), said interlocking means (25, 26) comprising at least a first protruding portion (25) defined on said perimeter frame (2) and at least a second protruding portion (26) defined on said central panel (5).

12) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first protruding portion (25) comprises: at least one insertion surface (27) inclined with respect to said central surface (17) and adapted to operate in conjunction with said second protruding portion (26) to enable the insertion of said central panel (5) into said perimeter frame (2); and at least one blocking surface (29) substantially parallel to said abutment surface (15) and adapted to operate in conjunction with said second protruding portion (26) to prevent said central panel (5) to be removed from said perimeter frame (2).

13) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said second protruding portion (26) comprises at least one stop surface (30) substantially parallel to said internal surface (6) and arranged stopped on said blocking surface (29).

14) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said central panel (5) comprises at least one transverse surface (31) defining, with at least said insertion surface (27), a cavity, said structural adhesives (28) being arranged within said cavity.

15) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one covering element (32) partly inserted within said structural adhesives (28) and adapted to close said cavity.

16) Window/door frame (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact said covering element (32) has an exposed surface (33) positioned between said main surface (13) and said internal surface (6), wherein said exposed surface (33) is substantially coplanar to said internal surface (6).