Section member assembly for making sliding wing window frames

Abstract: Said assembly comprises a fixed or rigid frame section member (1), including a box-like body, having, on a side thereof, a first guide rail (3) and, on another side thereof, seats for engaging affixing means (4) to provide a firm coupling with the rigid or fixed structure. Laterally of the box-like body there is provided a further body coupled to the box-like body through the interposition of thermal insulation means (6), the further body including at least a second guide rail (10).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a section member assembly for making sliding wing window frames. As is known, great problems are encountered in making section members for sliding wing window frames, because of the constructional complexity of said section members which compels the builder to make a broad range of section members which, as assembled, will provide the desired sliding wing window frame. Another problem of prior section members for the intended use is that these prior section members do not provide a satisfactory thermal insulation because of a metal continuity of the inner surface and outer surface of the section member whilst, if a thermal seal is applied to these prior section members, then the mechanical strength thereof is greatly reduced. The document EP-A-112 199 discloses a section member assembly, in particular a slidable wing window frame which comprises at least four different section members: in other words, this reference provides for the use of fixed frame upright section members, fixed frame cross section members, movable frame upright section members and movable frame cross section members. The document EP-A-317 689 relates to an assembly of section members, in which, however, the individual section members do not have an outer face which is thermally insulated from the inner face. The document EP-A-384 931, on which the preamble of the main claim has been based, relates to the section members in which the sliding guides are applied to the bodies of the section members forming the bottom side of the fixed frame; moreover, in this document, the side of the movable frame provided for housing a sliding truck is different from the other said sides of the movable frame. This document discloses furthermore to use both as a fixed frames and movable frames section members having both a closed box-like body. In particular, each side of the fixed frame or movable frame of this document consists of two like box section members which are spaced by thermally insulating material small blocks: moreover, the fixed frame section member of this document comprises two box-like section members, which will involve a very high weight and space requirements for this fixed frame member. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to provide a section member assembly for making sliding wing window frames which allows the window frame to be made with a single type of section member for the rigid frame, which section member is suitable for making both the window frame cross-members and the window frame upright members, and a single type of section member for the movable or sliding window frame, which is also used both for making the cross and upright members of the movable frame. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide a section member assembly the section members of which can be properly thermally insulated without interrupting the metal material forming said section members thereby holding unaltered the mechanical strength properties thereof. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a section member assembly including a small number of component section members which can be assembled by simple and quick assembling operation. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a section member assembly for making sliding wing window frames, according to the main claim. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed disclosure of the preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rigid frame section member; Figure 2 is another cross-section view illustrating the movable-frame section member; Figure 3 illustrates a head section member which can be engaged with the movable frame; Figure 4 illustrates a mutual engaging section member to be applied to the movable frame; Figure 5 illustrates a glass-plate restraining section member; Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sliding wing window frame, taken substantially at the top edge thereof; Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sliding wing window frame taken substantially at the bottom edge thereof; Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a sliding wing window frame taken substantially through the left upright thereof; Figure 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a sliding wing window frame and specifically showing the coupling between two sliding wings thereof; Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the right upright of a sliding wing window frame; Figure 11 is a vertical cross-section view of a window frame having, in combination, a sliding wing portion and a rigid frame portion; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rigid frame section member provided with three guide rails; DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figure 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings, the section member assembly for making sliding wing window frames according to the present invention comprises a fixed or rigid frame section member, generally indicated at the reference number 1, which is provided with a box-like body 2, from a side thereof there extends, in a single body with said box-like body, a guide rail, indicated at 3. On the opposite side with respect to the rail 3, the box-like body 2 comprises a seat, in which restraining means can be engaged for restraining the rigid frame to a wall of a building, for example. Laterally, the box-like body is provided with a plurality of grooves 5, therein can be engaged an enlarged end portion of small rods 6, providing a thermal baffle member, said rods, at the other end portions thereof, engaging in corresponding grooves 8 formed on a side body 9 having a second guide rail 10 which is parallel to the first rail 3. Moreover, adjoining the rail 10, a lug 11 extends from the side body 9, said lug being so designed as to define a channel configuration. The section member 1, according to one aspect of the present invention, can be used both for making the window frame uprights and for making the window frame cross-members, thereby it is very flexible in use and greatly simplifying the assembling of a sliding wing window frame. More specifically, the assembling of the upright section members and cross-section members is made by small brackets or the like elements, to be engaged with the box-like body 2. With the fixed-frame section member 1, can be engaged a movable or sliding frame section member, generally indicated at the reference number 20, including a central body 21 having a seat 22, therein a glass-plate restraining section member can be engaged (which will be disclosed in a more detailed way hereinafter) and therefrom a leg 23 extends which can be operatively engaged with the rails formed on the rigid frame section members. As shown, at its free end portion, the leg 23 is provided with a seat 24 or recess, therein a small brush 25 can be engaged, said brush 25 being provided for sliding on the rails of the rigid frame section member (see Figure 6). Opposite to the leg 23, further legs 26 and 27 are provided, which are coupled to the central body 21 through insulating material rods, also indicated at the reference number 6. The bottom leg 26 is also provided, at the free end portion thereof, with a brush receiving seat 24, this latter brush being opposite to the brush member engaged in the above mentioned or other seat 24, whilst, on the opposite side thereof, the leg 27 has a seat for a seal member which can be abutted against a plate-like elements or glass plate, engaged in the movable or sliding frame. In the gap between the leg 23 and the leg 26 can be arranged sliding trucks 30 for the movable frame; to that end, the legs are provided, on their inner portions, with teeth 31 for restraining said trucks. Moreover, in the seat 22, a glass restraining member indicated at 40 can be engaged, said member 40 having a substantially L-shape and including an arm 41 which can be snap engaged in the seat 22 and an engaging further arm 42 adapted to operate as a restraining and pressing member for a seal 44 restraining the glass plate in cooperation with the opposite seal member 45 engaged in the seat 28. At the central uprights of the movable frame there are provided head section members (indicated at 50 in Figure 3), which have a L-shaped body with the arm 51 which is snap engaged in the seat 28, in which, in this case, no seal member is arranged, whereas the other arm, indicated at 55, has a tapering thickness and restrains a coupling section member 60, made of a thermally insulating material (shown in Figure 4), which ends with a locking tooth or dog 61 provided for coupling with the engaging section member 60 associated with the other wing of the movable frame thereby providing a closure stop function as well as a coupling barrier function. On the arm 55 there is moreover provided a seat 57 for engaging therein a brush seal member adapted to provide tightness on the front frame section member. In order to connect the rigid frame to the building wall, there is further provided a covering section member 70, which is engaged at the free end portion of the side body 9 and provides thightness against said building wall. Moreover, on the rigid frame section member, and at an opposite position with respect to the lug 11, which defines the mentioned channel member, there is provided a further lug 72, which is directly associated with the box-like body 2. As schematically shown in Figure 12, it is also possible to provide a rigid frame section member including three rails, which is conceptually analogous to the above disclosed section members, with the addition of a further side body, indicated at 80, which is associated with the box-like body, indicated at 2′, symmetrically with respect to the body 9; also in this case, the coupling is performed by using the insulating rods 6. With respect to the bottom cross-members, there are conventionally made therein a plurality of holes for conveying the condensate material, so that said condensate material will pass through the box-like body and the several associated elements to freely discharge outwardly. Moreover, on the portion of section member included between the rails, coating elements 90 can be advantageously provided, said coating elements being made of a thermally insulating material. Moreover, as is shown in Figure 11, the rigid frame section members can be easily and quickly associated with conventional types of rigid frames, thereby providing door and window frames in which it is possible to have either a fixed portion or an openable portion, and a portion of the frame provided with the sliding wing.

Claims: A section member assembly for making sliding window frames, comprising fixed frame upright section members (1), fixed-frame cross section members (1), movable-frame upright section members (20) and movable-frame cross section members (20), said fixed frame section members (1) being designed for engaging with said movable-frame section members (20), wherein said fixed frame section members (1) comprise a first body (2) having, on a side thereof, a first guide rail (3) and, on an opposite side thereof, seats (49) for engaging therein restraining means for restraining said first body to a fixed structure, to a side of said first body (2) there being coupled, through the interposition of thermal insulating means (6), at least a second body (9) provided with at least a second guide rail (10), said fixed-frame upright section members (1) and said fixed-frame cross section members (1) are equal to one another, said first body (2) is a box-like body, said movable-frame upright section members (20) and said movable-frame cross section members (20) are equal to one another, said movable-frame section members (20) comprise a central body (21) having a seat (22) for engaging therein a glass restraining member (40) and therefrom a leg (23) extends which can be operatively engaged with one of said rails (3; 10), with said central body (21) there being associated, through thermal insulating means, opposite legs (26, 27) which can be respectively engaged with one of said rails (3 or 10) and with a plate like element of the movable frame, said glass restraining section member (40) having a substantially L-shape, with an arm thereof engageable in said seat (22) of said central body (21) of the movable frame section member (20) and a leg (42), ending with an enlarged portion, engageable with a sealing gasket (44) of the plate like element opposite to a corresponding seat formed in one (27) of said legs (26, 27) engaging with said plate-like element, characterized in that said second body (9) has an open contour. A section member assembly, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said fixed frame section member (1) is provided, on a side thereof, with a plurality of grooves (5), therein can be removably engaged corresponding enlarged end portions of a plurality of small rods (6) forming said thermal insulating means. A section member assembly, according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said second body (9) is provided with corresponding grooves (8) therein said enlarged end portions of said small rods (6) can be removably engaged. A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixed frame section member (1) comprises a channel defining lug (11) extending from the second body (9) and parallel to the second rail (10). A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leg (23) extending from the central body (21) of the movable frame section member (20) ends with a seat (24) for a sealing brush member (25). A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opposite legs (26,27) comprise a bottom leg (26) ending with a brush receiving seat (24) and a top leg (27) having a seal receiving seat for engaging with the glass plate. A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom leg (26) and said leg (23) define therebetween a region for receiving the sliding trucks (30) of said movable frame, which trucks are restrained by tooth members (31) correspondingly provided on said leg (23) and bottom leg (26). A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said assembly further comprises a head section member (50), having a substantially L-shape body, with an arm (51) thereof ending with a coupling seat for coupling with the seat (28) for the seal of the fixed frame section member (1), and the other arm (55) thereof, having a reduced thickness, which is provided for restraining a coupling section member (60) ending with an engagement tooth portion (61) which can be associated with the corresponding coupling section member of the other movable frame (20). A section member assembly, according to claim 8, characterized in that the head section member (50) is provided, on its reduced thickness arm (55), with a sealing brush receiving seat (57), abutting against the leg of the fixed frame section member (1) and engageable with the building wall. A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said assembly further comprises covering section members (70) which can be associated with the fixed frame section member (1) and engaged with said building wall. A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said assembly further comprises a fixed frame section member including three rails and having a box-like central body (2') with a rail adjoining two side bodies supporting the remaining two rails, said side bodies (9,80) being associated by means of said small rods (6). A section member assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said assembly further comprises a thermally insulating material coating or covering element (90) arranged in the regions included between said rails.

Inventors: GIACOMELLI MARIO, GIACOMELLI, MARIO, GIACOMELLI, MARIO, C/O METRA METALLURGICA
Applicants: METRA METALL TRAFILATI ALLUMIN, METRA METALLURGICA TRAFILATI ALLUMINIO S.P.A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E06B3, E06B1