A clutch-controlled hinge for pivotable door and window frames

Abstract: A clutch-controlled hinge for pivot door and window frames (1) comprising a fixed frame (2) and a mobile frame (3) which can rotate about an axis of rotation (X) consists of two half-bodies (5, 6) attached to the fixed frame (2) and the mobile frame (3), with a pin (7) - seat (8) unit for rotation of the mobile frame (3) about the axis (X); each clutch-controlled hinge (4) is equipped with adjustable means (9) for clutch-control of the mobile frame (3) during rotation and means (10) for stably positioning the mobile frame (3), starting from a position in which the door or window frame (1) is closed, between a position in which it is open, with the mobile frame (3) turned at an angle (α) to the fixed frame (2), and a service position, in which the mobile frame (3) is turned at a straight angle to the fixed frame (2); the stable positioning means (10) are positioned and operate along the axis of rotation (X) and comprise reciprocal connecting parts (11) attached to the respective fixed and mobile half-bodies (5, 6) to allow movement and positioning of the mobile frame (3) between the closed position and the open position and vice versa; there are also cam means (12) on the pin (7), which act upon the connecting means (11) in such a way as to allow the mobile frame (3) to pass from the open position to the service position and vice versa.

Description: The present invention relates to a clutch-controlled hinge for pivot door and window frames, in particular for metal door and window frames. Pivot door and window frames comprise a fixed frame and a mobile frame which can be turned (by the user pushing or pulling it) about an axis (normally horizontal, although other types, which turn about vertical or even oblique axes are not excluded) between several positions, starting with a door or window frame configuration which is normally closed and in which the mobile frame is closed against the fixed frame. The mobile frame can normally assume the following positions: a configuration in which the door or window frame is open (door or window frame operating configuration), in which the mobile frame is at a preset angle to the fixed frame (normally around 30 or 45 degrees) and a service position, for "cleaning" the outside of the glass in the mobile frame, in which the mobile frame is turned through a straight angle or almost a straight angle relative to the fixed frame. Clutch-controlled hinge units are used for rotation of the mobile frame. Pairs of said units (called clutch units) are positioned centrally on the door or window frame. Each unit consists of two half-bodies, one mounted on the fixed frame and the other on the mobile frame. Inside the half-bodies, there is a hinge pin integral with one of the half-bodies and engaged in a special seat in the other half-body, so as to form the axis of rotation of the mobile frame, and means which act upon the pin or the half-bodies to allow both the achievement of the above-mentioned mobile frame angled positions and the mobile frame resistance to the pushing or pulling designed to allow rotation of the mobile frame. In a first known solution, these means consist of a simple stop element which can be inserted in a special internal wall in the mobile half-body and operated from the outside of the fixed half-body. In standard operating conditions, the user can move the mobile frame from the closed position to the open position and vice versa, whilst if the internal stop element is released, the mobile frame may be turned through 180° to allow the glass to be cleaned. However, this solution does not have high levels of safety and practicality, since in order to know which configurations the mobile frame can be turned to, the position of the stop element must always be checked and the stop element must be moved according to user requirements. In addition, it should be considered that the mobile frame, especially in the service position, does not have stable constraints, that is to say, it is free to pivot and its position is simply given by the stop on the fixed frame, with consequent inconvenience for the user who must clean the glass. In another known solution, the above-mentioned means for setting the position of the mobile frame comprise a pair of cam follower rods which extend radially relative to the hinge pin of the mobile frame and may be set using an external element located on the fixed half-body equipped with spring means. These rods, when set by the user, make contact with cam profiles on the inner perimetral surface of the mobile half-body. In this way, the rotation of the mobile frame and, therefore, of the mobile half-body, ensures that when the rods have reached the desired angle of opening, they are free to spring radially away from the pin, thanks to the profile of the cams and the springs acting upon the rods, thus locking the mobile frame at the preset angle (in particular, for the service position). To pass from the open position just described to the service position, or to return from the latter to the open position, the user must reset the cam follower rods in order to allow rotation of the mobile frame. This solution on the one hand allows automatic control of the mobile frame positions, and on the other necessitates a half-body structure with large external dimensions, due to the cam system radial to the mobile frame axis of rotation with cam profiles along the outer arc of the mobile half-body. This may lead to the use of said solution only for very large pivot door and window frames, in order to avoid the presence of clutch units which are disproportionately sized relative to and detract from the appearance of the door or window frames. It is also known from document FR2393912 a clutch-controlled hinge for pivot window frames which comprises a first flange mounted on the fixed frame and a second flange mounted on the mobile frame reciprocally rotating about an axis of rotation. The hinge further comprises a locking device, which presents a bolt mounted inside one of the flanges and engageable in a plurality of housings defined in the other flange, and a clutch control to adjust the friction force between the flanges. The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a clutch-controlled hinge for pivot door and window frames, the hinge having minimal external dimensions, being easily operated by the user and allowing automatic setting of the positions and extremely practical and safe operation. Accordingly, the present invention provides a clutch-controlled hinge for pivot door and window frames comprising a fixed frame and a mobile frame which may be turned about an axis of rotation. The hinge consists of two half-bodies which are attached to the fixed frame and the mobile frame and have a pin - seat unit for rotation of the mobile frame about the axis. Each clutch-controlled hinge is equipped with adjustable means for clutch-control during rotation of the mobile frame and means for stably positioning the mobile frame, starting with a position in which the door or window frame is closed, between an open position, in which the mobile frame is turned at a given angle to the fixed frame, and a service position, in which the mobile frame is turned at a straight angle to the fixed frame. The stable positioning means are positioned and operate along the axis of rotation and comprise reciprocal connecting means attached to the respective fixed and mobile half-bodies, to allow the movement and positioning of the mobile frame between the closed position and the open position, and vice versa. There are also cam means on the pin, which act upon the connecting means in such a way as to allow the mobile frame to pass from the open position to the service position and vice versa. The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above-mentioned aims, are set out in the claims herein and the advantages more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment without limiting the scope of application, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a pivot door or window frame fitted with the clutch-controlled hinge in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are schematic side views of the positions which may be assumed by a mobile frame of the pivot door or window frame using the hinge according to the present invention; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch-controlled hinge in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5a is a perspective view of an additional detail of the hinge illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of the clutch-controlled hinge in accordance with the present invention; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views from A in Figure 6 of the respective positions which may be assumed by the reciprocal connecting parts which are part of the hinge illustrated in the previous figures; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a detail of the hinge illustrated in Figure 6, that is to say, one of the hinge half-bodies; Figures 11 is a perspective view of another detail of the hinge illustrated in Figure 6, that is to say, a flange which is part of the reciprocal connecting parts; Figure 12 is a top plan view with some parts cut away and others in cross-section, of a hinge attached to the pivot door or window frame. With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular Figures 1 to 4, the clutch-controlled hinge disclosed is applied to pivot door or window frames. Said pivot door or window frame, labelled 1 as a whole, comprises a fixed frame 2 and a mobile frame 3 which can turn about an axis of rotation X, when the user operates a handle M manually. In Figures 1 to 4, this axis X is, by way of example and without limiting the scope of application, horizontal, although the hinge may be used on any type of pivot door or window frame, rotating also about other axes of rotation. Between the fixed frame 2 and the mobile frame 3 there is a pair of hinges 4, each comprising two half-bodies 5 and 6, the first 5 attached to the fixed frame 2 and the second 6 attached to the mobile frame 3. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each hinge 4 is fitted with a pin 7 - seat 8 unit which allows rotation of the mobile frame 3 about the axis X, and adjustable means 9 for clutch-control of the mobile frame 3 during rotation (described in more detail below). In addition, each hinge 4 is equipped with means 10 for stably positioning the mobile frame 3, starting from a position in which the door or window frame is closed (see Figure 2), at least between an open position, in which the mobile frame 3 is turned through an angle α relative to the fixed frame 2 (see Figure 3), and a service position, in which the mobile frame 3 is turned at a straight angle relative to the fixed frame 2 (see Figure 4), and vice versa. The service position is normally only used for cleaning the outer surface of the glass in the door or window frame 1. As is clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the stable positioning means 10 are positioned and operate along the horizontal axis of rotation X. More specifically, the stable positioning means 10 comprise reciprocal connecting parts 11 attached to the respective fixed and mobile half-bodies 5 and 6 and designed to allow the movement and positioning of the mobile frame 3 between the closed position and the open position and vice versa. In addition, there are cam means 12 on the pin 7, acting upon the connecting parts 11, when operated from outside, and allowing the mobile frame 3 to move from the open position to the service position and vice versa. The stable positioning means 10 and adjustable clutch-control means 9 are preferably, but without limiting the scope of the invention, present on each of the clutch-controlled hinges 4 used on the pivot door or window frame 1. Figures 5 and 6 also show how the reciprocal connecting parts 11 comprise a circular selector element 14, attached to the pin 7 coaxially and in such a way that it can rotate, forming the above-mentioned seat 8 for rotation of the mobile frame 3, and connected to the mobile half-body 6. This selector element 14 has a plurality of arced through-seats 15 which set the positions and the strokes which can be performed by the mobile frame 3, since the seats 15 are connected to a plurality of front radial projections 16 at preset distances on a contact flange 17 (see also Figure 11) which is connected to the fixed half-body 5, and through the centre of which the hinge pin 7 passes. Control means 13 act upon the selector element 14, parallel with the axis of rotation X. Said means can move the selector element 14 axially between a released position, in which the selector element 14 is distanced from the contact flange 17 (see arrow F13 in Figures 5 and 6) allowing operation of the cam means 12, and a rotating constrained position, in which the selector element 14 is moved towards the flange 17 and the projections 16 are engaged in arced seats 15 by the action of spring back means 18. Figure 11 also clearly shows, by way of example and without limiting the scope of the present invention, how there are three projections 16 (16a, 16b, 16c), evenly distributed along the flange 17, whilst there may be more arced seats 15 than projections 16, extending in an arc large enough to allow the mobile frame 3 opening and closing movements. At least one of these seats 15 forms an opening which can be connected, without a stroke, to that of the projections 16 which, as indicated below, allows stable positioning of the mobile frame 3 in the above-mentioned service position. In practice, the cam means 12 may be operated using the control means 13, which are located on the fixed half-body 5, as described in detail below. The above-mentioned cam means 12 comprise a bearing 19 (see also Figures 7, 8 and 9) in a through-seat 20 made radially on the selector element 14 in such a way that it is positioned close to the hinge pin 7, by adjustable elastic means 21, and a pair of straight races 22a and 22b, opposite one another, made on the pin 7 connected to the fixed half-body 5, and designed so that, when the selector element 14 is in the released position, they allow partial protrusion of the bearing 19 (see arrow F19 in Figures 7 and 9), allowing this released position to be maintained at least for a rotation of the mobile frame 3 equivalent to the passage from the open position to the service position and vice versa (positions illustrated in Figures 7 and 9). The above-mentioned bearing 19 is held in position close to the pin 7 by a spring 21 whose compression can be adjusted using an adjustment grub screw 23 which is connected in such a way that it may be tightened or slackened in the seat 20, and may be adjusted from the outside by means of a through-opening 24 in the mobile half-body 6. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 5, the selector element 14 is attached to the mobile half-body 6 by circumferential toothing 35 on the selector element, which can engage with a matching plurality of seats 36 on the mobile half-body 6. Again in Figure 5, the numeral 18 denotes a spring inserted between the mobile half-body 6 and the selector element 14, forming the spring back means, acting upon the selector element 14 in such a way as to hold the selector element 14 in the position in which it is attached to the flange 17. Returning to the above-mentioned control means 13, these comprise a pushbutton 25, which may be operated manually, located in a seat 26 on the outside of the fixed half-body 5 (see Figures 5 and 6) . The pushbutton 25 has an activation pin 27 which passes through the fixed half-body 5 and the contact flange 17 in such a way that it is opposite the selector element 14, thus, when the pushbutton 25 is pressed, allowing at least the position in which the selector element 14 is released from the flange 17. The pushbutton 25 also has a pair of tabs 28, projecting from the edge of the pushbutton, engaged in slots 29 in the fixed half-body 5 (partially illustrated in Figure 10) and designed to allow stable and sliding connection of the pushbutton 25 in its seat 26. Advantageously, a spring 30 (illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 5) may be inserted between the pushbutton 25 and the fixed half-body 5. The spring allows the pushbutton 25 to return to a home position with the pin 27 distanced from the selector element 14 after engagement of the bearing 19 in the relative race 22a or 22b. Returning to the flange 17, this has a portion with a conical cross-section, extending towards the fixed half-body 5, on which there is a matching braking element 31 made of a material with a high friction coefficient and forming the above-mentioned clutch-control means 9. The flange 17 and this braking element 31 are held together by a cylindrical cover 32 attached to the mobile half-body 6 and housing all of the reciprocal connecting parts 11. Moreover, the flange 17 is attached to the fixed half-body 5 by a cross-shaped axial projection 5s (see Figure 10), which may be attached to the flange 17, which has a matching through-seat 17a. The hinge pin 7 is stably connected to the axial projection 5s. In order to vary the resistance to rotation of the mobile frame 3, the flange 17 and the braking element 31 have adjustment means 33 consisting of at least one pair of screws 33a and 33b which can be adjusted from the outside, thanks to a pair of holes 50 in the pushbutton 25, which can be connected in seats 34 on the flange 17 in such a way that they may be tightened or slackened. This allows the flange 17 and the braking element 31 to be moved towards or away from one another along the axis of rotation X (see arrow F31 in Figures 5 and 6) . As illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 12, each half-body 5 and 6 has an outer extension 37 designed to allow connection, using screw means 38, to the fixed frame 2 and the mobile frame 3 through an opening 39 in the front of the frames. In this way, the half-bodies 5 and 6 are joined on inner profiles of the frames 2 and 3. To improve the appearance and assembly of the half-bodies 5 and 6 on the door or window frame 1, at least one of the half-bodies 5 and 6 of each hinge 4 present can be attached to the corresponding frame 2 and 3 by a connecting plate 40 (see Figure 5a), directly connected to the corresponding frame 2 and 3. This plate 40 has a projecting channel 41 designed to form a bilateral longitudinal guide and connecting extension for a seal 42 common to the fixed and mobile frames 2 and 3. The connecting plate 40 is preferably, but without limiting the scope of the present invention, connected to the fixed half-body 5 which can be attached to the fixed frame 2 (as illustrated in Figure 12). A clutch-controlled hinge structured in this way functions as described below. The user can normally open and close the door or window frame 1 using the handle M (see arrow F in Figure 3), since the hinges 4 operate in conjunction with the flange 17 in contact with the selector 14 which, thanks to the shape of the arced seats 15, allows the mobile frame 3 to turn in both directions, until the projections 16 reach the ends of the arced seats 15. If the mobile frame 3 must be turned to the service position, the user brings the mobile frame to the open position (with angle α normally around 30° or 45°, depending on the type of door or window frame 1), then must press the pushbutton 25 on one or both hinges 4 (if both have the above-mentioned configuration), allowing the selector 14 to move along the axis X, with the consequent movement of the selector away from the flange 17 (see arrow F13 and the connecting part configuration illustrated in Figure 7). This movement brings the selector 14 to a position in which the seat 20 with the bearing 19 is opposite one of the races 22a or 22b on the pin 7, with consequent partial protrusion of the bearing 19 (see arrow F19), thanks to the force of the spring 21, which is inserted between the pin 7 and the selector 14, locking the latter in the position in which it is distanced from the flange 17. At this point, the user can turn the mobile frame 3 completely, since the selector 14 is free to turn without constraint from the projections 16, until it reaches the service position (i.e.: turning through an angle of 180°, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 9). As is also illustrated in Figure 8, the rotation of the selector 14 (see arrow F14) also sets the angular movement of the bearing 19 relative to the pin 7 and, therefore, to the race 22a or 22b. This lowers the bearing 19 (see arrow 19a), partly thanks to the profile of the race 22a or 22b, to the point at which the bearing 19 returns within the seat 20, with the consequent movement of the selector 14 towards the flange 17 and engagement of the projections 16 in the seats 15 as is schematically illustrated in Figure 9. At this point, the mobile frame 3 is locked in the service position and the user can clean the outside of the glass with the mobile frame stably positioned at an angle of 180° to the fixed frame. To return to the door or window frame open and closed positions, the user follows the above-mentioned procedure, but rotating in the opposite direction, until the selector is moved towards the flange again with the above-mentioned mobile frame opening angle α. A hinge of this type, therefore, fulfils the stated aims, thanks to an actuating system which is extremely practical and safe, but also allows the user to move the mobile frame to a stable service or cleaning position rapidly and without excessive force. All of this uses smaller elements, with acceptable costs and, thanks to the movement along the axis of rotation, with noticeably smaller external dimensions, allowing use of the hinge on door or window frames of any size. The use of the connecting plate with the joint channel for the seal also allows more rapid hinge fitting on the door or window frame.

Claims: A clutch-controlled hinge for pivot door and window frames, the door and window frames (1) being of the type comprising a fixed frame (2) and a mobile frame (3) and turning about an axis of rotation (X); there being between the fixed frame (2) and the mobile frame (3) a pair of hinges (4), each comprising two half-bodies (5, 6), the first (5) attached to the fixed frame (2) and the second (6) attached to the mobile frame (3), having a pin (7) - seat (8) unit for rotation of the mobile frame (3) about the axis (X); at least one of the clutch-controlled hinges (4) having adjustable means (9) for clutch control of the mobile frame (3) rotation and means (10) for stably positioning the mobile frame (3), starting from a position in which the door or window frame (1) is closed, at least between an open position, in which the mobile frame (3) is turned through an angle (α) to the fixed frame (2), and a service position, in which the mobile frame (3) is turned through a straight angle to the fixed frame (2) and vice versa, the hinge being characterised in that the stable positioning means (10) are positioned and operate along the axis of rotation (X) and comprise reciprocal connecting parts (11) attached to the respective fixed and mobile half-bodies (5, 6), being designed to allow the mobile frame (3) to be moved and positioned between the closed position and the open position and vice versa; there being cam means (12) on the pin (7) and acting upon the connecting parts (11), when operated from the outside, in such a way as to allow the mobile frame (3) to pass from the open position to the service position and vice versa. The hinge according to claim 1, characterised in that the stable positioning means (10) and the adjustable clutch-control means (9) are present on each of the clutch-controlled hinges (4) on the door or window frame (1). The hinge according to claim 1 , characterised in that the cam means (12) may be operated using control means (13) located on one of the half-bodies (5, 6). The hinge according to claim 3, characterised in that the reciprocal connecting parts (11) comprise a circular selector element (14), attached to the pin (7) coaxially and in such a way that it can rotate, forming the seat (8) for rotation of the mobile frame (3), and connected to the mobile half-body (6); the selector element (14) having a plurality of arced through-seats (15) which set the positions and the strokes which can be performed by the mobile frame (3), the arced seats being connected to a plurality of front radial projections (16) at preset distances on a contact flange (17) which is connected to the fixed half-body (5), through the centre of which the hinge pin (7) passes; the control means (13) acting parallel with the axis of rotation (X) and designed to move the selector element (14) axially between a released position, in which the selector element (14) is distanced from the contact flange (17) allowing operation of the cam means (12), and a rotating constrained position, in which the selector element (14) is moved towards the flange (17) and the projections (16) are engaged in the arced seats (15) by the action of spring back means (18) . The hinge according to claim 4, characterised in that the cam means (12) comprise a bearing (19) in a through-seat (20) made radially on the selector element (14) in such a way that it is positioned close to the hinge pin (7), using adjustable elastic means (21), and a pair of straight races (22a, 22b), being opposite one another on the pin (7) and designed so that, when the selector element (14) is in the released position, they allow partial protrusion of the bearing (19), allowing this released position to be maintained at least for a rotation of the mobile frame (3) equivalent to the passage from the open position to the service position and vice versa. The hinge according to claim 5, characterised in that the bearing (19) is held in position close to the pin (7) by a spring (21) whose compression can be adjusted using an adjustment grub screw (23), the latter being connected in such a way that it may be tightened or slackened in the seat (20), and may be adjusted from the outside by means of a through-opening (24) in a mobile half-body (6). The hinge according to claim 4, characterised in that the control means (13) comprise a pushbutton (25) which may be operated manually, being located in a seat (26) on the outside of the fixed half-body (5), the pushbutton (25) having an actuating pin (27) which passes through the fixed half-body (5) and the contact flange (17) in such a way that it is opposite the selector element (14) and, when the pushbutton (25) is pressed, allows at least the position in which the selector element (14) is released; the pushbutton (25) having a pair of projecting tabs (28) which engage in slots (29) in the fixed half-body (5) and being designed to allow stable and sliding connection of the pushbutton (25) in its seat (26). The hinge according to claim 7 , characterised in that a spring (30) is inserted between the pushbutton (25) and the fixed half-body (5), the spring allowing the pushbutton (25) to return to a home position with the pin (27) distanced from the selector element (14). The hinge according to claim 4 , characterised in that the flange (17) has a portion with a conical cross-section, extending towards the fixed half-body (5) and on which there is a matching braking element (31) made of a material with a high friction coefficient and forming the above-mentioned clutch-control means (9); the flange (17) and braking element (31) being held together by a cylindrical cover (32) attached to the mobile half-body (6) and housing all of the reciprocal connecting parts (11). The hinge according to claim 9 , characterised in that the flange (17) and braking element (31) have means (33) for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the mobile frame (3), said means consisting of at least one pair of screws (33a, 33b) which can be adjusted from the outside and can be connected in seats (34) on the flange (17) in such a way that they may be tightened or slackened, thus allowing the flange (17) and the braking element (31) to be moved towards or away from one another along the axis of rotation (X). The hinge according to claims 4 to 6 , characterised in that the selector element (14) is attached to the mobile half-body (6) by circumferential toothing (35) on the selector element which can engage with a matching plurality of seats (36) on the mobile half-body (6); there being a spring (18) inserted between the mobile half-body (6) and the selector element (14), forming the spring back means, acting upon the selector element (14) in such a way as to hold the selector element (14) in the attached position. The hinge according to claim 1, in which each half-body (5, 6) has an outer extension (37) designed to allow connection, using screw means (38), to the fixed frame (2) and the mobile frame (3) through an opening (39) in the front of the frames, allowing the half-bodies (5, 6) to be joined on inner profiles of the frames (2, 3), the hinge being characterised in that at least one of the half-bodies (5, 6) of each hinge (4) can be attached to the corresponding frame (2, 3) using a connecting plate (40), the latter being directly connected to the corresponding frame (2, 3) and having a projecting channel (41) designed to form a bilateral longitudinal guide and connecting extension for a seal (42) common to the fixed frame (2) and the mobile frame (3). The hinge according to claim 12 , characterised in that the connecting plate (40) is connected to the fixed half-body (5) which can be attached to the fixed frame (2).

Inventors: LAMBERTINI MARCO, LAMBERTINI, MARCO
Applicants: GSG INT SPA, GSG INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E05D7
IPC codes: E05D7, E05D11