Mechanical junction assembly for perimetrical locking device of wings of burglarproof doors and windows made of metallic profiles

Abstract: A mechanical junction assembly between a coupling or transmission member (105) and a rod (107) for driving a perimetrical locking device of a wing of an burglarproof door or window. The coupling or transmission member is formed with an end tongue (111) overlapping the rod (107) and a lug (109) projecting from the tongue (111) for engaging with a hole (110) formed on the rod (107). The junction assembly comprises connection means (113) engaging with the rod (107) and the coupling or transmission member (105) at the side opposite to the overlapping side, whereby, even if the tongue (111) would be deformed and, as a result, the relevant lug (109) would be disengaged, the member (105) and the driving rod (107) are kept connected to each other, the connection means (113) being kept inaccessible below the member (105) and the rod (107).

Description: The present invention relates to the field of the burglarproof doors and windows made of metallic profiles. More precisely, the invention relates to a mechanical junction assembly intended for use with perimetrical locking devices for the wings of this kind of doors and windows according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a junction assembly is known from document FR-A-2280769. Door and window metallic profiles, typically made of aluminium, are formed with recesses for slidably housing devices for locking the wing to the relevant fixed frame. In particular, in the so-called burglarproof doors and windows, this device is designed to define a perimetrical locking, namely with several wing/frame coupling points arranged along the perimeter of the door or windows. With reference to figures 1 to 3, an burglarproof window comprises, according to the known art, a wing 1 fit to close on a fixed frame 2, partially shown in figure 2 only, both of them being made of a metallic profile. A perimetrical locking device 3, slidable in a recess 4 (shown in figure 3) formed along the edges of wing 1, is provided with a plurality of coupling members 5 fit to engage with stop means, not shown, of frame 2. As shown in figure 3 in more detail, the sliding locking movement of device 3 is transmitted to a first coupling element 5a through a cremon bolt 6. From coupling element 5a, the movement is transmitted to the other coupling members 5 through properly profiled rods 7. At the corners of the window device 3 is provided with flexible laminar transmission elements 8 of the known type as well. With particular reference to figure 2, the connection between rods 7 and coupling members 5 is obtained by overlapping an end tongue 11 of member 5 on rod 7, thereby engaging a cylindrical lug 9, integral to end tongue 11, with a hole 10 formed on rod 7. With a similar system rods 7 are connected to the transmission members 8. This junction system has not proven satisfactory from the standpoint of the resistance to burglar attempts from the outside and, therefore, the essential requirement of these types of door and window is not met. As a matter of fact, as can be appreciated from figure 3, as a consequence of an action of forcing and deforming the wing profile, it is possible to have access quite easily to locking device 3. Once this result has been achieved, it is possible to insert a body acting as a lever, for example a screw driver 12, to the aim of disengaging coupling members 5 and rods 7 from each other by forcibly raising end tongue 11 and then disengaging cylindrical lug 9 from hole 10. It is sufficient to cut off few connections only, identified by small circles X, in figure 1 to allow the sliding of the overall locking device 3, by disengaging all the coupling members 5 from the relevant stop means and then allowing the window to be opened. In order to find a solution to the above problem it has been proposed to make recess 4 at the connection zone inaccessible, by means of an U-shaped external covering member fixed to the relevant rod 7 by means of threaded bushes and extending to cover overlapping tongue 11 of member 5. However this solution has shown several significant drawbacks. First, it can not be applied to all the types of profiles. Due to lack of sufficient room near recess 4 in many profiles, the arrangement of a covering for a complete protection of the junction is not allowed. On the other side, a partial covering of the junction is almost useless, because it is still possible to carry out a lock-picking action similar to that described above on the same covering. Once the covering has been deformed, it is possible to have access to the junction and the burglary can be completed. Secondly, to make possible the connection of the protection covering, additional processing must be carried out which make the production more difficult and involve an increase of the relevant costs. Finally, the external covering results in a size increase which can be unwanted from the aesthetical standpoint. The object of the present invention is to solve the above described problem by providing a mechanical junction assembly to be used with perimetrical locking devices for wing of burglarproof doors and windows, in particular placed between the transmission/drive members and the rod for trasmitting the motion of the device, suitable for ensuring an burglarproof safety substantially enhanced with respect to the prior art results. A particular object of the present invention is to provide a junction assembly of the above mentioned type, able to resist to burglary attempts carried out through lever means. Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a junction assembly of the above mentioned type which would not require difficult mechanical processing to be carried out and therefore result in a simple and inexpensive manufacturing and installation of the locking device. A further particular object of the present invention is to provide a junction assembly of the above mentioned type, which would not result in any adverse appearance effect. The above object are achieved with the mechanical junction assembly for perimetrical locking devices of wings of burglarproof doors and windows according to the annexed claim 1. According to the invention, even if the tongue of the coupling/transmission member is deformed and the relevant lug is then raised, the coupling/transmission member and the drive rod are kept firmly connected thanks to connection means. On the other side, in this condition the connection means are shielded below the coupling/transmission member and the rod and then are inaccessible for a further burglary attempt. Therefore, the locking device is kept substantially undamaged and it is not possible to slide the rods to try to release the wing. The junction assembly according to the invention does not give raise to any size increase of the member-rod assembly in which it is installed, whereby it does not negatively affect the exterior appearance and is fully universal, i.e. compatible with any type of pre-existing profile. The connection means comprise a plate with a first protrusion for engaging with the hole of the rod and formed with a central engagement recess for the lug, and a second protrusion for engaging with a seat formed on the coupling/transmission member. Thanks to this solution, any processing requested to manufacture the junction assembly are extremely simple and inexpensive. The connection is directly performed in the device mounting step and does not involve any additional processing. Features and advantages of the mechanical junction assembly for perimetrical locking devices of wings of burglarproof doors or windows made of metallic profile according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplifying, non-limiting embodiment, with reference to the attached drawings wherein: figure 1 shows in a exploded perspective view a window wing made of a metallic profile with a perimetrical locking device according to the known art; figures 2 and 3 show in greater detail, through longitudinal and respectively transverse sectional views (the latter also comprising a part of the fixed window frame), the connection between a coupling member and the rod for driving the motion of the locking device of the wing of figure 1; figure 4 shows, in a exploded perspective view, the junction assembly corresponding to that of figures 2 and 3, but made according to the invention; figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the junction assembly of figure 4; figure 6 is a plan view of the junction assembly of figures 4 and 5, as seen from the part where a connection plate according to the invention is placed. With reference to the figures 4 to 6, the junction assembly according to the invention is mounted in a perimetrical locking device of a wing of an burglarproof door or window, the overall structure of which corresponds to that of the known art, for which reference is made to the introductory part of the description and to the relevant figures 1 to 3. Both a coupling member 105 and a rod 107 for driving the motion of the device are shown as regards the portion of their mutual connection only. Coupling member 105 is formed conventionally with a tongue 111 overlapping rod 107. From tongue 111 there extends a cylindrical lug 109, housing within a hole 110 formed on rod 107. Longitudinal grooves 105a and 107a are formed on coupling member 105 and, respectively, rod 107 on the side opposite to that of their mutual overlapping. According to the invention, the junction assembly further comprises a connection plate 113, having a generally elongated shape, which is mounted in correspondence to the overlapping portion of coupling member 105 and rod 107, within relevant longitudinal grooves 105a and 107a. As shown in the example, plate 113 is formed with a substantially cross-shaped profile, having two side arms 113a extending all together for the width of the member-rod assembly and being arranged within corresponding side housings 105b, formed at the end of member 105. A first and a second protrusion 114 and 115, preferably of a cylindrical shape and aligned along the major axis of plate 113 extend from the side of plate 113 facing the member/rod assembly. First protrusion 114 engages with hole 110 of rod 107 and is formed with a central recess 114a in which lug 109 of tongue 111 is housed. Second protrusion 115 engages with a seat 116 formed on member 105. All the connections involving protrusions 114 and 115 are free fit or slightly tight fit. It is clear that, thanks to the arrangement of connection plate 113, the junction assembly according to the invention exhibits the advantageous feature that, even if tongue 111 is forced to disengage lug 109 from hole 110 or, more precisely in this case, from recess 114a of first protrusion 114, coupling member 105 and rod 107 stay firmly secured, thanks to the engagement between protrusions 114, 115 and seats 110, 116 respectively. Furthermore, this engagement cannot be removed by means of other burglary attempts through screw drivers or similar tools, as plate 113 is made inaccessible by the member-rod assembly within the relevant cavity of the profile. The double engagement point provided by protrusions 114 and 115 and the assembly compactness enhanced by side arms 113a of plate 113 strenghtens the junction assembly even apart from the burglarproof properties just pointed out. The overall dimensions of the junction assembly is not changed by the presence of plate 113, whereby it can be advantageous used in any type of profile and with a fully satisfactory aesthetical result. Side arms 113a also allow plate 113 to be engaged even with special profiles having cavities with a central groove at the bottom; in this way the arms prevent the plate from falling down in the groove. With the junction assembly according to the invention the perimetrical locking device is extremely easy to install, without requiring additional operation and components as, for example, the protection covering of the known art. Furthermore, it must be pointed out that the manufacturing is inexpensive thanks to the elementary structure of plate 113 and the simple changes required for the member-rod assembly to be combined with plate 113, essentially consisting in forming seat 116 in member 105 and, possibly, forming side grooves 105b and widening hole 110 of rod 107. In the last respect the above described embodiment of the connection means is advantageous as plate 113 can be obtained through elementary processing of plastic deformation and drilling, but obviously other equivalent embodiments can be selected, with protrusions 114 and 115 of a shape other than the cylindrical one, and even with different engaging means. Moreover, a bush, not shown, can be provided to be inserted within cavity 114a to adapt it to the dimensions of lug 109. Besides the use with aluminium doors and windows the invention can be clearly applied to doors and windows made of other metallic materials, wood or plastic materials, provided that cavities for housing the burglarproof locking device are formed on them. In summary, the junction assembly according to the invention is capable to combine the requirements of a maximum burglarproof safety with those of a simple mounting, wide use possibilities and inexpensiveness, which features are all of the utmost importance both for the manufacturer and the user. Variations and/or modifications can be brought to the mechanical junction assembly for a perimetrical locking device of burglarproof doors and windows wings made of metallic profile according to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A mechanical junction assembly comprising a coupling or transmission member (105), a rod (107) for driving a perimetrical locking device of a wing of an burglarproof door or window, said coupling or transmission member (105) being formed with a end tongue (111) overlapping said rod (107) and a lug (109) projecting from said tongue (111) for engaging with a hole (110) formed in said rod (107), said junction assembly being characterized in that it comprises also connection means (113) engaging with said rod (107) and with said coupling or transmission member (105) at the side opposite to the overlapping side, said connection means (113) comprising a plate (113) with a first protrusion (114) for engaging with said hole (110) of said rod (107), said first protrusion (114) being formed with a central recess (114a) for engagement with said lug (109), and a second protrusion (115) for engaging with a seat (116) formed in said coupling or transmission member (105) whereby, even if said tongue (111) would be deformed and, as a result, said lug (109) would be disengaged, said coupling or transmission member (105) and said driving rod (107) are kept connected to each other, said connection means (113) being kept inaccessible below said coupling or transmission member (105) and said rod (107). Junction assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plate (113) has a generally elongated shape and extends within longitudinal grooves (105a, 107a) formed in said member and said rod at the side opposite to the overlapping side. Junction assembly according to claim 2, wherein said plate (113) is substantially cross shaped, defining side arms (113a) housed within grooves (105b) formed transversally in said coupling/transmission member. Junction assembly according to any of the previous claims, wherein said protrusions (114, 115) are aligned along the major axis of said plate. Junction assembly according to any of the previous claims, wherein said protrusions (114, 115) have a cylindrical shape.

Inventors: BELLANDI PAOLO, BELLANDI, PAOLO
Applicants: EUROINVEST S R L, EUROINVEST S.R.L.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E05C9
IPC codes: E05C9