FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR WINDOWS

Abstract: Frame assembly for windows each provided with a frame (4) and a closing member (3) supported by the frame (4) in a freely rotatable manner about at least three hinging axes (22); at least one first body (6) being mounted on the closing member (3) and having an axially symmetrical portion (17), and a second body (5) being mounted integrally on the said frame (4); the said second body (5) having a concave portion (16) housing the said axially symmetrical portion (17) of the said first body (6) in a mating manner and being able to support the said closing member (3) together with the said first body (6); connecting devices (30) which may be selectively actuated being provided in order to couple rotationally the said closing member (3) with the said frame (4) about an axis (22) chosen from at least three hinging axes (22).

Description: Frame assembly for windows Description Technical field The present invention relates to a frame assembly for windows, in which the leaf itself is supported by the frame, so as to be able to be tilted about at least two axes (22) which are inclined with respect to each other. Background art It is known to provide so-called "tilting leaf" windows which may be opened on two different and given sides and which are therefore provided with frame assemblies which are designed for these type of opening movements. In particular, frame assemblies for these windows comprise a first and a second hinge which are arranged on the same side of the surrounding border of the leaf. The first hinge is arranged at a bottom corner of the window and has a fixed portion connected to the frame and a movable portion connected to the leaf. The engagement between the fixed portion and movable portion is achieved by means of a push rod which has its respective axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the pivot pin of the first hinge and projects at the bottom from the base of the leaf so as engage with a substantially parallelepiped seat formed inside bottom cross-piece of the frame. The second hinge is of the so-called "centreless" type and allows opening of the leaf about a horizontal axis, said leaf being referred to as a "tilting" leaf. In this connection the second hinge comprises a pair of rods which allow, alternately, the rotation of the leaf with respect to the pivot pin axis of the first hinge, and the rotation of the leaf with respect to the bottom cross-piece. A first rod is constrained to the fixed frame in a freely sliding manner by means of a sliding block which is joined to a guide arranged between the top portions of the leaf and the fixed frame and to the leaf coaxially with the push rod of the first hinge. This rod is rotationally constrained about the fixed frame by a rocker arm which is coaxial with the push rod of the first hinge when the leaf is in the closed position. Limitation of the tilting movement of the leaf is ensured by the rocker arm and by the length of the sliding-block guide. In order to balance the leaf during its associated tilted opening movement, the fixture is provided with a third hinge which is located on the opposite side to the first and second hinges. The third hinge comprises a push rod which is mounted laterally on the leaf and a seat formed inside the bottom cross-piece of the surrounding border along the vertical of the push rod upon operation of a rotatable handle. This push rod is lowered/raised in order to free the associated seat whenever the handle is operated in order to open the leaf. Obviously, the handle forms part of the frame assembly, as does a closing device, which is contained inside the leaf on the opposite side to the first hinge. As regards that described above, a window in which the leaf and the respective fixed frame are connected together by means of the frame assembly described above is constrained so as to open by rotation about two given axes which are different from each other, in particular a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. This requires that, already during the design stage, the intended use of the room in which the window is located must be identified, in order to avoid obstacles to the free opening of the leaf and errors during the placing of orders for material. It can readily understood that it is not always possible to know beforehand the intended use of all the rooms in a building, in particular if one considers buildings where the rooms are mainly intended for office use and are therefore subject to frequent variations in proportions and dimensions on the basis of changing logistical requirements. In these cases the windows of the type described above are inadequate, and therefore also the respective frame assemblies, since they do not allow the operating modes of the window to which they are applied to be adapted in a flexible manner, but must be replaced every time that it is required to modify the arrangement of the working environments. Disclosure of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide a frame assembly for windows which does not have the drawback described above, making it possible to perform the opening of window leaves about at least three axes of rotation which are different from each other. In particular, the new frame assembly is such as to allow the axis of rotation, and therefore the manner of opening the window, to be changed at any moment without making any modifications either to the frame assembly or to the window. According to the present invention a frame assembly for windows, each provided with a frame and with a closing member supported by the said frame in a freely rotatable manner about at least two different hinging axes, is provided, characterized in that it allows rotations of the said closing member about at least three different hinging axes which are perpendicular to each other in pairs. Preferably, the frame assembly comprises at least one first body mounted on the said closing member and having a spherical portion, and a second body mounted integrally on the said frame; the said second body having a substantially spherical concave portion housing the said spherical portion of the said first body in a mating manner and being able to support the said closing member together with the said first body. The frame assembly also comprises connecting means which may be selectively actuated in order to couple the said closing member with the said frame. These connecting means comprise a first connecting member which is mounted on the closing member and which has a first prismatic cavity for a second connecting member coupled to the frame in an axially free manner and in a position facing the first cavity of the first member. Said actuating means are intended to actuate axially the second connecting member away from and towards a position of engagement with the said first cavity so as to couple together selectively the frame and the closing member. In one of the preferred embodiments of the said frame assembly, the first body comprises the said first connecting member, and the said second body is part of a stamped plate which closes an opening of the said box-shaped frame; the said actuating means being mounted on the frame inside the said opening and comprising a linear actuator to which the said second connecting member is coupled. It is important to note that the said first and second bodies define as a whole a ball joint which can be selectively converted into a rotational couple or hinge, in which the corresponding pivot is able to perform, during use, the sole function of an axial constraint, while the support functions are performed essentially by the said second body. Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a frame assembly according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a front elevation view, on a larger scale, of a side portion of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a front elevation view, on a larger scale, of a top portion of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a view, on a larger scale and with parts removed for the sake of clarity, of Figure 3 along the line IV-IV; - Figure 5 is a rear elevation view, on a larger scale, of a portion from Figure 1; - Figure 6 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, and with parts removed for the sake of clarity, of a top portion according to Figure 1; and - Figure 7 is a plan view on a smaller scale of a variant of a detail of Figure 1. Detailed description of the preferred embodiment (s) In Figure 1, 1 denotes in its entirety, a frame assembly for windows 2 with a substantially rectangular form, each of which has a leaf 3, or closing member, mounted on a fixed frame 4. One of the special features of this assembly is to allow opening of the leaf 3 in a plurality of manners - described more fully further below - each of which corresponds to rotation of the leaf 3 about a given hinging axis normally corresponding to/parallel with one of the sides of the leaf 3 itself. Another special feature of the assembly 1, which will be described more fully below, consists in the re- definition and superseding of the conventional idea of a window leaf in which the leaf itself is understood as being the combination of a surrounding border hinged with the frame 4 on one side and a flat sheet of glass or other transparent material which is combined with the edges of the surrounding border in a mating manner. In this case, as will be understood better below, the surrounding border is superfluous. For this reason, for the sake of convenience of the description, the terms "sheet" and "leaf" will be regarded as synonyms and these terms will be used interchangeably, except where otherwise indicated. For the same reason, the said number 3 will distinguish equally well the leaf or the sheet which basically forms the closing member 3 of the window 2. It will be noted, moreover, that in the description which follows explicit reference will be made to a window 2 with a rectangular form. This form has been chosen for the sake of convenience of the description and also because the rectangular form is the classic form used ' for windows which are commonly installed in public and private buildings. Obviously the arbitrary nature of this choice may not and must not be regarded as a limitation on the general nature of the considerations made in the description itself. The assembly 1 comprises a plurality of members 5 supporting the leaf 3 and mounted on the frame 4 and, for each member 5, a corresponding mating body 6 rigidly mounted on the leaf 3. In the example according to Figure 1, there are two bodies 6 for each side of the leaf 3, and therefore two members 5 for each of the four sides 8 of the frame 4. It should be noted that this choice is absolutely arbitrary and the number of pairs consisting of member 5/body 6 may and must be defined in relation to the dimension of the side in which these pairs must be installed. The bodies 6 are substantially identical to each other and each of them has a concave portion 6 with a substantially parallelepiped cross-section, able to seat a side edge of the leaf 3 itself by means of which the body 6 is stably connected to the sheet 3. Each body 6 also has a substantially axially symmetrical portion 17 which is located opposite the portion 9 and which may be delimited externally by a substantially cylindrical or substantially spherical surface. In a parallel manner, each member 5 comprises a stamped portion 15 which is mounted integrally on the frame 4 and which has a concave section 16 matching the corresponding axially symmetrical portion 17. As regards that stated above, this section 16 will be substantially cylindrical for substantially cylindrical portions 17 and will be substantially spherical for substantially spherical portions 17. Therefore each pair consisting of axially symmetrical portion 17 and concave section 16 defines a joint 7 with a form which allows at least a relative rotational movement of frame 4 and leaf 3 about a given axis. The concave joining portion 9 has, in addition, a fork element 11 which extends the zone of contact between the body 6 and the leaf 3 itself. The connection between the body 6 and the sheet 3 itself may be obtained by means of a sealing paste distributed inside the portion 9 or by means of at least one pin/screw which engages with a duct formed partly in the fork element 11 and partly in the sheet 3. It should be noted that the stamped portion 15 may be an integral part of a surface 18 which delimits externally the frame 4 itself or may be of the type which can be applied and can therefore close an opening in a side 8 of the frame 4 itself. It will be noted that the joints 7 described with reference to the accompanying figures are of the substantially spherical type. This choice has the aim of simplifying the description, does not represent a limitation on the general nature thereof - also in view of the fact that the ideas expressed with reference to substantially spherical joints 7 may be readily applied to substantially cylindrical joints - and does not require particular specifications. In this case the body 6 is of the prismatic type and may also be obtained by means of extrusion. Still with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the assembly 1 comprises at least one connecting device 20 for at least three sections 8 of the frame 4. The device 20 of each side 8 is brought into a substantially intermediate position between two adjacent bodies 6 and comprises a first connecting element for each of the latter. This first connecting element comprises a diametral cavity 21 which is formed in the body 6 and is visible in Figure 2' on a larger scale. The cavity 21 is parallel to the corresponding section 8. Each body 6 has, passing through it, in a substantially diametral position, an axis 22 and the bodies 6 mounted on the leaf 3 on a common side are aligned with each other so that the respective cavities 21 have their respective axes 22 aligned with each other parallel to the corresponding section 8. For the sake of convenience of the description the bodies 6 arranged on one side of the leaf 3 will be indicated here and below with the term "bodies 6 adjacent to each other", without this causing confusion with the bodies 6 which are arranged otherwise and in particular arranged on sides of the sheet 3 meeting at a given vertex. As regards that described above it may be stated that two bodies 6 adjacent to each other define as a whole a common axis 22 and that the axes 22 corresponding to the sides 8 of the frame 4 are substantially perpendicular to each other in pairs. It should be noted that, referring back again to that described above, the broken line in Figure 2' illustrates a body 6 in which the axially symmetrical portion 17 is substantially cylindrical. Obviously the portion around the axis 22, where the cavity 21 has been formed, remains unchanged, while the fork element 11 is delimited by a substantially rectangular section instead of by an arc of a circumference as in the case of a spherical form. With particular reference to Figure 2, the device 20 comprises, moreover, a second connecting element for each of the bodies 6 adjacent to each other. This second connecting member comprises a hinging pin 23 which is movable along its own longitudinal axis by means of an actuating unit 30 belonging to the assembly 1. The unit 30 is contained inside an internal chamber 10 of the corresponding section 8 by which it is supported by means of the intervening arrangement of a removable wall 31, the cross-section of which has been illustrated for the sake of convenience in Figure 2" shown underneath Figure 2 itself. Still with reference to Figure 2, the actuating unit 30 comprises an actuator 32 which is integral with the wall 31 and is able to actuate a respective stem 33 with a rectilinear movement parallel to the axis 22. This stem 33 has, integral with it, a number of pins 23 which is substantially identical to the number of bodies 6 mounted on the same side of the leaf 3, two as regards that described above. Therefore, during use, the movement of the stem 33 produces the alternate engagement and/or disengagement of the leaf 3 with/from the side 8 of the frame 4. In Figure 2, the unit 30 is of the electrically operated type, as is the actuator 32. It should be noted, however, that the actuator 32 could be replaced by or associated with a known crank, not shown, mounted at the bottom on the stem 33 itself and able to be used in place of or together with the actuator 32, for operation of the unit 30 in the event of absence of the power supply current or malfunctioning of the unit 30 itself. With reference to Figure 2, the actuator 32 and the stem 33 are joined together via an intervening mechanical transmission 34 which helically couples the actuator 32 and stem 33 themselves in a known manner, not shown, inside a protective casing 35 rigidly connected to the wall 31 in a known manner, not illustrated. The helical coupling is obtained by means of an external threading 36 of the stem 33 and, therefore, the operation of the actuator 32 alternately in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction causes operation of the stem 33 parallel to the axis 22 and, obviously, operation of the pins 23 away from and towards the position of engagement with the corresponding cavities 21. Therefore, once the insertion of the pin 23 has been effected, the rotational coupling between leaf 3 and bodies 6 is of the type which can be selectively and freely disengaged. From that described above it clearly emerges that, in each joint 7, the function of supporting the leaf 3 is performed by the set of members 5 engaged by the pins 23 and having the sole function of defining a rotational coupling for constraining the axis of rotation of the leaf 3 in a precisely defined position. Moreover, it can be easily understood that, each time the pins 23 of at least two (not necessarily adjacent) sides of the frame 4 engage with the respective cavities 21, the leaf 3 is locked with respect to the frame 4. It should be noted that each cavity 21 has an inlet 27 which is substantially coaxial with the axis 22 of the corresponding pin 23 and has a decreasing diameter in the direction towards the inside of the body 6. This inlet 27 is therefore conical, this in order to facilitate insertion of the pin 23 inside the cavity 21 also when the mutual position of leaf 3 and frame 4 is approximately in the closed position. For this purpose, engagement with the inlet 27 by a pin 23 causes a gradual movement of the leaf 3 towards the surrounding border 8, which is completed as the pin 23 is inserted inside the cavity 21. The purpose of this form of the cavity 21 is to bring leaf 3 and surrounding border 8 gradually into full contact. It should be noted that when, during use, the leaf 3 is in bearing contact with the frame 4, the axis 22 of the pin is slightly eccentric with respect to the axis of the cavity 21 so that this eccentricity helps produce a thrusting action of the leaf 3 against the frame 4 when insertion has been completed, in order to produce a fluid-tight connection obtained by means of a form-fitting joint between the said leaf and frame. With particular reference to Figure 2", the wall 31 may be obtained by means of cold-bending of a flat sheet in order to produce two lateral edges 37 which are inclined at angles of opposite amplitude with respect a longitudinal central portion. The wall 31 is rigidly connected to the section 8 by means of any type of rigid and selectively disengageable connection, for example by means of gluing of the respective edges 37 to an inner side of the section 8 in question. Obviously, the frame 4 comprises a known cover, not shown, which closes the cavity 10 so that the frame 4 appears externally delimited by a substantially continuous surface. It should be noted that the portion of the stem 33 arranged underneath the actuator 32 has a greater length than the section of the stem 33 arranged at the top. This means that, in the vertical sides 8, the engaged/disengaged position of the pins 23 is achieved with an upwards/downwards movement of the pins 23 themselves, while in the horizontal sides this movement is alternately towards the right and towards the left. The reversal of the assembly consisting of actuator 32 and stem 33 in such a way as to reverse the direction of the movement of the pins into the position of engagement with the bodies 6 is a technically equivalent feature of the version described and does not constitute an operational variant of the unit 30. Each of the stamped portions 15 has a respective service hole 39 formed at the bottom and able to be engaged selectively by a pin 23 upon operation of the actuator 32. In this connection, the unit 30 comprises a first-level control unit 40 which is able to cause operation of the actuator 32 and which therefore allows hinging together of pins 23 of a given side and the corresponding bodies 6 and vice versa. For the sake of convenience of illustration, this control unit has been shown in Figure 2 alongside the respective actuator 32. Since each section 8 has the respective device 20, and the corresponding unit 30, the assembly 1 comprises a further higher-level control unit 41 which is associated with the control units 40 of the devices 20 installed in the window 2 itself. The control unit 41 is able, by means of a respective pushbutton panel 42 to co-ordinate operation of the control units 40. Therefore, the choice as to which devices 20 are to be activated, and in particular which units 30 are to be activated, and which are to be deactivated, allows the user to choose the side of the leaf 3 to be constrained during rotation by means of the pushbutton panel 42, and therefore implicitly the opening mode of the window 2 itself. It should be noted that the control unit 42 may be connected to the control unit 41 and/or to one or all the control units 40 by means of an electric cable or by means of any device which operates using infrared-ray technology or in a similar manner, without this adding to or detracting from the present invention. For the sake of convenience of illustration, this pushbutton panel 42 is visible only in Figure 1 alone where it is mounted on the left-hand side 8 in a substantially central position. With reference to Figure 3, the assembly 1 comprises a safety locking device 50 in which a hollow body 50 is mounted on the leaf 3 in a given position, and in particular along a middle portion 52 of the top side 8 of the frame 4. The device 50 also comprises a body 53 which is joined to the middle portion slidably at least in the vertical direction and has an elongated projection 54 shaped in a given manner so as to engage selectively in a rigid and releasable manner with the body 51. With reference to Figure 4, the projection 54 terminates in a head 56 with a substantially se i- spherical shape able to engage inside the body 51. In this connection, the body 51 has a first service hole 57 which is formed underneath the projection 54 and is parallel with the latter. This hole 57 is cylindrical and blind and terminates inside a cavity 58 of the body 51, said cavity 58 being prism-shaped, perpendicular to the hole 57 and formed in the part of the body 51 and facing the portion 52. In Figure 3, the part of the body 51 facing the portion 52 is the top part and is delimited, on the side where the frame 4 is located, by a rear face 61 which reproduces the surface 62 which delimits the portion 52 at the front. It should be noted that the contact between the face 61 and the surface 62 is of the mating type. This face 61 has a guide hole 64 which is coaxial with the cavity 58 and has a small diameter. Moreover, with reference to Figure 3, the body 51 houses a cylindrical shuttle piece 65, or more simply shuttle 65, inside the cavity 58, the diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the shuttle 65 itself, so that it is axially movable freely inside the cavity 58. The shuttle 65 also has, on the side where the face 61 is located, a projection 66 which is shaped in the manner of a pin and able to engage selectively with the hole 64 in the position facing the surface 62. Moreover, the cavity 58 seats, on the opposite side of the face 61 to the shuttle 65, a helical spring 67 which is normally compressed and which keeps the shuttle 65 with the respective pin 66 in contact with the surface 62. The assembly of the shuttle 65 and the spring 67 inside the cavity 58 is made possible by the fact that the body 51 is formed as two parts 68 and 69, the first part being connected directly to the leaf 3 and the second part being mounted on the first part in a rigid manner. For the sake of convenience of the illustration the body 51 has been shown formed as one piece, without explaining in detail the particular assembly of the part 69 on the part 68. The shuttle 65 has a longitudinal cavity 70 which is open on the side of the projection 54. This cavity 70, which originates from the base of the pin 66 and is closed on the side where the spring 67 is located, is delimited on the side where the projection 54 is located by an eyelet 71 with an elongated shape. This eyelet 71 has, on the side where the pin 66 is located, a first portion 72 with a substantially circular shape and diameter A' ; and, on the side where the spring 67 is located, a second portion 73 with a circular shape and diameter A" . The diameter A" is slightly greater than the diameter A of a stem or shank 59 of the projection 54 arranged above the head 56 in Figure 4. Therefore the insertion of the projection 54 inside the cavity 70 is permitted only when, during use, the shuttle 65 is arranged with the first portion 72 facing the hole 57. In this case the projection 54 may enter and leave the cavity 70 freely, but will engage with the second portion 73 of the shuttle 65 only if the respective shank 59 is located at the height of the second portion 53 of the eyelet 57 and therefore the respective head 56 is contained entirely inside the cavity 70. The body 53 is mounted on the portion 52 so as to be slidable away from and towards the body 51 in the direction defined by the shank 59 and therefore away from and towards a position in which the shank 59 itself engages with the hole 57 and the head 56 of the projection 54 engages with the cavity 70. In the case where, during use, the pressure exerted by the frame 4 on the pin 66 diminishes for a reason which will be described more fully below, the contact between the pin 66 and the surface 62 is gradually eliminated, the compressive load 67 decreases and the spring 67 is able to lengthen, pushing the shuttle 65 towards the face 61 and therefore the pin 66 inside the guide hole 64. When the shuttle 65 is in this position and the head 56 is inside the cavity 70, the head 56 is closed at the top by the eyelet 71. Therefore, in this situation, the bodies 51 and 53 are locked with respect to each other. It should be pointed out that the longitudinal dimension L of the pin 66 is greater than or equal to the longitudinal extension of the second portion 73, which in the case in question is equal to the diameter A", while it is less than the longitudinal extension of the first portion 72, which is equal to the diameter A' . Moreover, release of the two bodies 51 and 53 may be obtained only by pushing the pin 66 backwards. Therefore it is possible to state that the device 50 is a safety locking device since the spring 67 automatically keeps the shuttle 65 in contact with the face 61 and therefore it is impossible to free the two bodies 51 and 53 from each other without compressing the spring 67. This compression may be obtained, during use, by moving the leaf 3 towards the frame 4. It should be noted, in particular, that when, during use, this approach movement is activated, the pin 66 comes into contact with the portion 52 which pushes the shuttle 65 backwards, which in turn compresses the spring 67. At this point, the relative position of eyelet 71 and projection 54 in the direction of the pin 66 becomes such that the projection 54 may be extracted from the cavity 70/58 along the hole 57, by means of a movement away from each other. In this connection, the assembly 1 also has an actuating device 80 which is visible in Figures 4, 5 and 6. This device 80 is supported by the frame 4 at the rear of the portion 52, protected by a known casing, not shown, so as to allow a complete view of the device 80. The device 80 comprises a unit 81 for actuating the body 53 away from and towards the body 51, and a unit 82 for controlling the position of the body 53, able to move it away from and towards a closed position in which the leaf 3 is in contact with the frame 4. With reference to Figure 5, the unit 81 has a guide 83 which slidably supports an elongated body 84 made of sheet metal folded in an L shape and extending parallel to the top side 8 of the frame 4. This body 84 has at the bottom two brackets 85 and 86, the first of which supports an electric motor 88 of the unit 81, which is connected electrically to a control unit similar to the control unit 40, and for this reason denoted by the same number, and which is controlled electronically by the latter. The second bracket 86 supports a free end of a threaded stem 89 which is rigidly joined to the known drive shaft of the motor 88 itself. The stem 89 has an internally screw nut 90 provided with an external casing having a projection 91 which engages with a straight slit 92 formed in the bottom of the body 84, parallel to the stem 89 itself and visible only in Figure 5. Therefore, during use, rotation of the stem 89 produces a displacement of the projection 91 along the stem 89 itself. The body 84 supports slidably a box-shaped element 93 which is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, is also made of folded sheet metal and has two opposite side faces 94 which are connected together by two cross-pieces suitably known and not numbered for the sake of simplicity. The box-shaped element 93 is rigidly connected to the projection 91 by means of the slit 92 and can therefore be actuated with a rectilinear movement along the guide 83 by means of the motor 88. The box-shaped element 93 has, on each of the respective side faces 94, a pair of S-shaped slits 95 which are parallel to each other and arranged at the same height with respect to the bottom of the element 84. The face 94, on the side where the leaf 3 is located, has an additional slit 96 between the corresponding slits 95. The slit 96 has a profile which is substantially identical to one of the slits 95 and is arranged staggered with respect to the latter. With reference to Figure 4, the unit 81 comprises, moreover, a box 100 which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and engages precisely with the element 93. The box 80 has, on the respective side faces, pins 101 which are aligned with each other. Each pin 101 engages with a corresponding S-shaped slit 95, and a bush 102 supported by the box 100 itself on the side where the leaf 3 is located engages with the slit 96. This bush 102 passes through the middle portion 52 of the frame 4 in the region of a slit 105 which is transverse to the stem 69 and is therefore vertical (Figure 6) . The bush 102, moreover, is able to lock the box 100 translationwise with respect to the stem 89. As regards the above, operation of the element 93 by the motor 88 in a direction parallel to the stem 89 causes solely the movement of the box 100 along the slits 95 and therefore, as a result thereof, the bush 102 is able to move along the slit 105. The unit 82 is contained inside the box 100 and is therefore movable with a rectilinear or transverse movement with respect to the stem 89. With particular reference to Figure 4, the unit 82 comprises a gear motor 110 of the known type, which can be actuated electrically and controlled electronically by the corresponding control unit 40 to which it is electrically connected. It should be noted that, in order to simplify Figure 4, only a bottom portion of the gear motor 110 is visible. The unit 82 also comprises a drum 111 which is connected mechanically in a known manner, not illustrated, to the gear motor 110, and a chain 112 for toothed transmission, which is partially wound around the drum 111 and has a free end which passes through the bush 102 and is connected to the body 53. The drum 111 has its axis of rotation 113 transverse to the stem 89, so that the chain 112 is extendable in a plane substantially transverse to the leaf 3 and able to have a rigid behaviour in the direction of the shank 59 of the projection 54. Therefore, the chain 112, owing to its particular arrangement, supports the body 53, is able to move it vertically through the portion 52 away from and towards a position of engagement with the body 51, is able to exert forces in a direction parallel to the shank 59, in addition to and obviously transmitting normal forces if subjected to normal forces, as in the case where the chain 112 is subject to a pulling force by the vertical component which acts on the leaf 3. With regard to that described above, the device 80 is able to act as an element for activating the safety locking device 50 by means of Gontrol of the position of the body 53 with respect to the body 51 and the length of the chain portion 112 extracted from the box 100 via the bush 102. It should be noted that the leaf 3 supports only the bodies 6, while the frame 4 supports all the support members 5 and all the actuating, adjusting and control devices which determine the mode of opening the leaf 3 with respect to the frame 4 and the stability of the angular position of the leaf 3 with respect to the frame 4. The assembly 1 which has been described comprises two bodies 6 for each of the sides 8 around. whiGh the window 2 is to be opened, i.e. in the case in question the two lateral sides and the bottom side. It should be noted that there are no reasons preventing the assembly of the device 80 along any one of the sides 8 of the f ame 8 of the window 2. This device may be used to control opening and closing of the leaf 3 provided that the pins 23 which correspond to the members 5 mounted on the frame 4 on the opposite side. to that of the body 53 are in the position of engagement with the corresponding bodies 6. In principle, independently of complications of a mechanical, cost-related or dimensional nature, it is possible to envisage each frame assembly 1 comprising a device 100 for each side of the frame 4. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the frame assembly 1 allows the axis of rotation of the leaf 3, and therefore the mode of opening the window 2, to be changed at any moment, by suitably choosing from among at least three hinging axes 22 which are different from each and perpendicular to each other in pairs, without undertaking any modification either to the frame assembly 1 or to the window 2 itself. The use of frame assembly 1 may be easily understood form that described above and does not require further explanations . It should be noted, in particular, that the form- fitting joints 7 define together a ball joint 115 which can be converted into a rotational couple where the hinging element performs the sole function of an axial constraint, while the support functions are performed essentially by the member (s) 5 and, basically, by the joints 7. It should be noted, moreover, that the co-ordination of the units 20, the device 80 mounted on the frame 4 along the respective sides 8 and the locking device 50 allows the selection, in each case, of the axis 22 about which the leaf 3 may be rotationally and instantaneously coupled. Obviously, the presence of the safety locking device 50 and the actuating device 80 on the frame 4 along the portion 52 does not exclude the possibility that a coupling device may also be installed on the top side 8 of the frame . It is merely required to position suitably the two devices 50 and 80 with respect to each other so that there is no interference between shuttle 65 and the assembly consisting of bush 102 and chain 112. Owing to the presence of the control units 40 and 41, the assembly 1 is particularly suitable for remote actuation and/or control and therefore is particularly suitable for applications in buildings which have so- called "curtain walls", namely glass walls which are typical of skyscrapers similar to the known Sears Tower in Chicago. This functional feature of the assembly 1 is particularly important since it allows leaves to be opened and closed about inclined axes. It should be pointed out that the operations of assembly and disassembly of the leaf 3 with respect to the frame 4 are facilitated in particular, it being sufficient to perform engagement/disengagement of all the bodies 6 by the respective pins 23, deactivate the device 50 and separate/bring into contact the bodies 6 from/with the respective concave sections 16. Subsequently, in the event of assembly, the movement of the pins 23 into the respective position of engagement with the cavities 21 will retain the leaf 3 in the closed position, which operation may be completed by activating also the device 50. Finally it is obvious that modifications and variations may be made to the frame assembly 1 described and illustrated here without departing from the protective scope of the present invention. In the frame assembly 1 described above it is particularly obvious that the supporting and hinge functions are provided by two different mechanical elements and that supporting is performed by a portion of the frame 4, without the need for using external members which, in the case of the hinges normally used for fixtures, is performed by the element which is mounted on the leaf and incorporates the hinging pin. It can be easily understood that installation of the device 50 allows control of opening with respect to the opposite side of the leaf 3 and that the presence of the control units 40, 41 and the pushbutton panel 42 simplifies management of the frame assembly 1 which may also be managed by a remote user. It should be noted, moreover, that the gradual disengagement of all the pins 23 by means of the actuators 32 of the actuating units 30 mounted on the sides of the frame 4 allows particularly easy removal of the leaf 3 also in view of the reduced weight of the leaf 3 itself which, as mentioned, is devoid of the conventional surrounding border. It should be noted that, in the case where the bodies 6 were to be connected to the sheet 3 by means of a threaded connection or the like, the sheet 3 itself could have a plurality of transverse holes located in a given position. Furthermore, according to a variant illustrated in Figure 7, the sheet 3 could be replaced by a sheet 150 made of composite material and having a central portion 151 which is substantially transparent and delimited peripherally by an edge 152 with a uniform thickness and given height, made of plastic material. The central portion 151 and the edge 152 would be rigidly connected together for example by means of gluing or by means of a hot-application chemical process and, irrespective of the capacity for light filtration of the edge 152 itself and the technology used to obtain this connection, the material of the edge 152 should be easy to perforate, for example using helical drilling bits or similar tools which can be used on portable drilling equipment. This mechanical characteristic of the material of the edge 152 would allow the joining holes for the bodies 6 to be provided at the factory or also on the assembly site, with the frame 4 already installed, and therefore would allow the installation time to be reduced since the formation of the holes could be carried out immediately after taking the measurements in order to determine both the cross- section and the interaxial distance thereof.

Claims: Claims 1. Frame assembly (1) for windows (2) each provided with a frame (4) and a closing member (3) mounted on the said frame (4) in a freely rotatable manner about at least two different hinging axes (22) , characterized in that it allows rotations of the said closing member (3) about at least three different hinging axes (22) which are perpendicular to each other in pairs. 2. Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one body (6) mounted on the said closing member (3) and having an axially symmetrical portion (17) and a second body (5) rigidly mounted on the said frame (4) ; the said second body (5) having a concave portion (16) mating with the said axially symmetrical portion (17) of the said first body (6) ; the said second body (5) therefore being able to support the said closing member (3) by means of the said first body (6) . 3. Assembly according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said axially symmetrical portion (17) and concave portion (16) are substantially cylindrical. 4. Assembly according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said first body may be obtained by means of extrusion. 5. Assembly according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said axially symmetrical portion (17) and concave portion (17) are substantially spherical. 6. Assembly according to Claim 3 or 5, characterized in that it comprises connecting means (20) comprising at least one actuating unit (30) which can be selectively actuated so as to couple rotationally the said closing member (3) with the said frame (4) about an axis chosen from a plurality of hinging axes (22) . 7. Assembly according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said connecting means (20) comprise a first connecting member (21) mounted on the said closing member (3) ; the said first connecting member (21) comprising a first prism-shaped cavity for a second connecting member (23) joined to the said frame (4) in an axially free manner and in a position facing the said first cavity (21) ; the said actuating means (30) comprising at least one first actuating member (32) able to actuate axially the said second connecting member (23) away from and towards a position of engagement with the said first cavity (21) so as to couple together selectively the said frame (4) and closing member (3) in a rotational manner. 8. Assembly according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the said first body (6) comprises the said first connecting member (21) and in that the said member (5) forms part of stamped plate (15) which closes a compartment (10) of the said frame (4); the said actuating means (30) being mounted on the frame (4) and comprising an elongated element (33) to which at least one said second connecting member (23) is coupled. 9. Assembly according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the said frame (4) is of the box-shaped type; the said first body (6) comprising the said first connecting member (21) and in that the said second body forms part of a stamped plate which closes a compartment (10) of the said box-shaped frame (4) ; the said actuating means (30) being mounted on the frame (4) inside the said compartment (10) and comprising an elongated element (33) to which at least one said second connecting member (23) is coupled. 10. Assembly according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the said second connecting member (23) comprises a hinging pin (23) coupled to the said elongated element (33) by means of the intervening arrangement of a mechanical transmission (34) which can be actuated by the said actuating member (32) ; the said pin (23) being able to form, together with the said first connecting member (21), a rotational coupling between the said frame (4) and the said closing member (3) , which can be freely and selectively disengaged. 11. Assembly according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said pin (23) is eccentric with respect to the said first cavity (21) and in that the said first body (6) has, on the side where the said pin (23) is located, a conical receiving portion (27), the cross-section of which decreases in the direction from the outside towards the inside of the said first body (6)) in order to displace the said closing member (3) towards the said frame (4) when, during use, the said pin (23) is actuated into the respective position of engagement with the said first cavity (21) . 12. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a safety locking device (50) comprising a third body (51) mounted on the said closing member (3) and a fourth body (53) mounted on the said frame (4) along a respective given side (8); the said third body (51) housing a shuttle body (51) inside a respective second cavity (58) oriented transversely with respect to the said side (8) ; the said fourth body (53) having a respective first projection (54) directed towards the said third body (51) ; the said third body (51) having a service hole (57) which is transverse to the said second cavity (58) and is able to be engaged by the said first projection (54) ; the said shuttle body (65) having a longitudinal seat (70) facing the said fourth body (53) and facing the said hole (57) via respective first and second openings (72, 73) ; said first and second openings (72, 73) communicating with each other and having a cross-section of different and given amplitude (A',A"); elastic means (67) being provided inside the said second cavity (58) for moving the said shuttle body (65) between a first retracted position and a second advanced position away from and towards the said side (8) ; the said first opening (72) being in a position facing the said hole (57) and the said first projection (54) when, during use, the said shuttle (65) is in the respective said first retracted position; and the said second opening (73) being in a position facing the said hole (57) and the said first projection (54) when, during use, the said shuttle (65) is in the respective said second advanced position. 13. Assembly according to Claim 12, characterized in that the said first projection (54) has a stem (59) directed towards the said third body (51) ; the said stem (59) terminating in a head (56) having transverse dimensions smaller than the said first opening (72) and greater than the said second opening (73) so as to be able to penetrate inside the said longitudinal seat (70) by means of the first opening (72) when the shuttle body (65) is arranged inside the respective first retracted position and remain fixed inside the longitudinal seat (70) itself when the shuttle body (65) is arranged in the respective second advanced position, providing an integral connection between the said third and fourth bodies (51, 53) . 14. Assembly according to Claim 13, characterized in that the said safety locking device (50) comprises means (66) for deforming the spring (67), able to displace selectively the said shuttle body (65) between the said first and second positions. 15. Assembly according to Claim 14, characterized in that the said deforming means comprise a second axial projection (66) of the said shuttle body (65) ; the said second projection (66) being directed towards the said frame (4) and having an axial extension L greater than or equal to the longitudinal extension A" of the said second opening (73) and smaller than the longitudinal extension A' of the said first opening (72) . 16. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pair consisting of axially symmetrical portion (17) and concave portion (16) defines a ball joint (7) able to support the said closing member (3) and being able to be converted selectively into a hinge by means of a said hinging member (23) . 17. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an actuating device (80) supported by the said frame (4) in order to control the position of the said closing member (3) with respect to the said frame (4) . 18. Assembly according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the said actuating device (80) comprises an actuating unit (81) able to move the said fourth body (53) away from and towards the said third body (51) and a unit (82) for controlling the position of the said fourth body (53) in order to move the said fourth body (53) away from and towards a closed position in which the said closing member (3) is in contact with the frame (4) itself. 19. Assembly according to Claim 18, characterized in that the said unit (81) has a guide (83) which slidably supports a fifth body (84), extending parallel to a side (8) of the said frame (4) ; a box-shaped element (93) with a substantially parallelepiped shape being mounted on the said guide (83) and being able to be actuated with a rectilinear movement on the said guide (83) by means of linear actuating means (88) which are supported by the guide (83) itself; the said box-shaped element (83) housing a hollow elongated body in respective S-shaped slits (95) which are parallel with each other and arranged at the same height with respect to the base of the said fifth body (84) in order to convert a translatory movement of the said box-shaped element (93) along the said guide member (83) into a transverse movement of the said hollow body (100) in the direction of movement of the said fourth body (53) towards the said third body (51) . 20. Assembly according to Claim 19, characterized in that the said fourth body (53) is mounted on the said hollow body (100) by means of the intervening arrangement of an elongated element (112) which has a rigidity and capacity to exert force in the direction of movement of the said fourth body (53) towards the said third body (51) . 21. Assembly according to Claim 20, characterized in that the said elongated member (112) comprises a chain (112) for tooth transmissions. 22. Window comprising a frame assembly which is substantially identical to the assembly described with reference to any one of Claims 1-20, characterized in that the said closing member (3) is rotatable about at least three axes (22) which are perpendicular to each other in pairs. 23. Window according to Claim 22, characterized in that it comprises a sheet (3, 150) of transparent material and in that the said first bodies (6) are mounted directly on the said sheet (3, 150) without the intervening arrangement of other bodies. 24. Window according to Claim 23, characterized in that the said closing member (3) comprises exclusively the said sheet (3, 150) . 25. Window according to any one of Claims 23 or 24, characterized in that the said sheet (50) is made of composite material. 26. Window according to Claim 25, characterized in that the said sheet (150) has a substantially transparent central portion (151) which is delimited by a lateral edge (152) made of material which can be perforated by helical drill bits or equivalent tools. 27. Frame assembly for windows, as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures . 28. Window, as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.

Inventors: AVVANZINI PAOLO, AVVANZINI UGO, PAVIA DAVIDE, PRETONI STEFANO, STORTONI MIRKO, AVVANZINI, PAOLO, AVVANZINI, UGO, PAVIA, DAVIDE, PRETONI, STEFANO, STORTONI, MIRKO
Applicants: AVVANZINI PAOLO, AVVANZINI UGO, ERRETI SRL, PAVIA DAVIDE, PRETONI STEFANO, STORTONI MIRKO, AVVANZINI, PAOLO, AVVANZINI, UGO, ERRETI S.R.L., PAVIA, DAVIDE, PRETONI, STEFANO, STORTONI, MIRKO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E05F15
IPC codes: E05D15, E05F15