Fitting element for a window or a door and assembling method

Abstract: An element for making control mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames with perimetric guide channels (2) in them, comprises a body (3) and at least two tongues (4) connected to the body (3), and designed to engage the guide channels (2) and to be moved from a disengagement position in which they are in line with the body (3) to an engagement position in which they protrude laterally from the body (3). The invention also relates to a method by which a set of elements for making mechanisms used to operate mobile door or window frames can be assembled in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the channel (2) extends.

Description: The present invention relates to an element for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames, the element being of the type comprising the features expressed in the preamble portion of claim 1. It is well known that door and window frames are composed of a fixed section mounted on jambs in a wall delimiting an opening in the wall, and a mobile frame hinged to the fixed frame. In the case of metal frames, the mobile frame comprises a plurality of profiled sections, generally four, forming the edges of the door or window. A handle operated to open the door or window, and one or more locking elements operated by the handle to lock or unlock the window, are connected to the mobile frame. Windows that can be opened in two different ways represent a particular field of application. The first is the traditional way in which the mobile frame turns around a vertical axis. The second way is tilt and turn in which the mobile frame also rotates around a horizontal axis (bottom hung window). In windows of this kind, which can be opened in two ways, selecting elements operated by the handle are connected to the mobile frame for selecting the opening method desired. Besides the locking elements and opening method selecting elements, the prior art also includes elements which connect the handle, locking elements, selecting elements and the frame to each other. In the jargon of the trade, the selecting elements, locking elements and connecting elements are collectively referred to as hardware. Hardware also includes elements such as drive blocks, closure rods, support rods, brackets, corner drives, angular stop arms, strikers or keepers and pawls. This type of hardware can be divided into two different groups: a first group of elements designed to be fitted in a perimetric track made in the edge of the mobile frame and a second group comprising elements designed for connection to the handle, or to elements in the first group inserted in the tracks. The present invention relates to the first group of hardware elements and reference will therefore be made below to only this type of element. The track for the hardware element is composed of a number of suitably shaped guide channels, each extending along an outer edge of the mobile frame. The guide channels are, in turn, formed by two opposing protrusions made in the profile forming the edge of the mobile door or window frame. Each element is composed of a body and at least two tongues protruding laterally from the body and designed to engage the channels. Door and window frames are assembled on site by the installation technician. In the case of metal frames, the mobile frame is constructed from a single profile section with a continuous guide extending along its outer edge. The four pieces making up the edges of the mobile frame are cut from the profile (bar/extrusion) at angles of 45° and then fitted to each other. In this way, the track for the elements, comprising the four straight tracks extending along the four edges of the mobile frame, also extend uninterruptedly around the corners. According to prior art, the first step in assembling the elements is to create insertion areas at the joints between the channels. This is achieved by cutting off a short section from the end of the channels, thereby removing the corresponding protrusions. The elements are then inserted in the various channels in these areas in a direction coinciding with the axis of the corresponding channel. Other examples of elements which can be directly inserted in the channels without cutting off a short section from the same are disclosed and shown by the documents EP-A-0056484, FR-A-2340436, DE-A-3621811, EP-A-0247281 and DE-A-19828034. The method described, however, has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the assembly operations require a great deal of time. The installer must first arrange the various elements in the correct order and then carefully fit each into the small space made, one at a time. Furthermore, since the various elements can only be inserted in the channels one at a time, it is essential that they be inserted in the right order; if the installer makes a mistake, omitting an element or inserting one in the wrong position, the only way to correct the mistake is to remove the element in question from the channel, a well as all those inserted after it. This takes a considerable amount of time and hence increases the cost of assembling the structure. Another disadvantage is that a section of the channels has to be removed in order to make the channels accessible; this operation not only increases the time taken to assemble the frame, but can be tricky in that even a small mistake can damage parts of the frame. Replacing damaged parts of a frame inevitably leads to increased costs. Another difficulty arises when the window constructed in the manner described has to be repaired. In this case, when a damaged element has to be replaced, all the elements between the one to be replaced and the opening giving access to the channel must be removed and then reinserted in the right order, in the same way as when a mistake is made during assembly. Against this background, the present invention has for its basic object to provide an element used to make mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages. Another object of the present invention is to provide an element for making mechanisms used to operate mobile door or window frames which can be installed rapidly. Furthermore, the aim of this invention is to provide an element for making mechanisms used to operate mobile door or window frames which allows assembly mistakes to be remedied quickly and easily and which enables the rapid replacement of parts when repairs are carried out. Yet another aim of this invention is to provide an element for making mechanisms used to operate mobile door or window frames which does not require any additional operation to be carried out on the mobile frame during installation. Another object of this invention is to provide a method for assembling a set of elements for making mechanisms used to operate mobile door or window frames having perimetric guide channels to allow quick and easy installation. The above mentioned aims are essentially achieved by an element for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames as described in claim 1 and by the method for assembling described in claim 3. Further characteristics of the invention and its advantages are apparent from the following detailed description of a number of preferred embodiments, provided purely by way of example and without restriction, of an element for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section of an embodiment of an element for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames while it is being inserted in a guide channel; Figure 2 shows a cross section of the element illustrated in Figure 1 engaged in the channel; With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an element for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames according to the present invention and the numeral 2 denotes a guide channel made in the mobile frame of the door or window. The element 1 comprises a body 3 and at least two tongues 4 connected to the body 3, one on each side, and designed to engage the channel 2. Advantageously, if the element 1 has an elongated shape, more than one pair of tongues 4 can be fitted in different transverse sections of the body 3; alternatively, only two, elongated tongues 4 can be provided. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the body 3 and the tongues 4 are made of a material with elastic properties, to allow the element 1 to be pressed into the channel 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the channel 2 extends. Advantageously, according to the embodiment illustrated, the body 3 and the tongues 4 are all made of the same elastic material thereby enhancing the elastic properties of the element. Notches 5 are also be made in both the body 3 and the tongues 4 for this purpose. The element according to the present invention functions in the following manner. To assemble, the element 1 is placed on one of the guide channels 2, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the channel 2. The tongues are then moved until they engage the protrusions in the channel 2. In particular, when the element 1 is assembled according to said embodiment, it is placed on at least one of the protrusions of the channel 2, and then pressed into the channel 2, simultaneously deforming at least one of the tongues 4. Due to the pressure exerted on the element against the guide channel, the tongues 4 are deformed so that the element can be passed through the opening in the guide channel 2. Once the element 1 has been inserted in the channel 2, the tongues 4 are elastically restored to their original shape and engage the channel 2. This invention has a number of important advantages. By virtue of the characteristics of the element according to this invention allowing it to be inserted in a channel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the channel, the elements can be fitted in the channel in any order regardless of the position required for the mechanism to operate correctly. In this way, elements made according to this invention can be installed rapidly. If the operator makes a mistake when installing the mechanism, the mistake can be corrected easily if the elements made according to this invention have been used. Thus, the elements can be extracted from or inserted into the channel without moving those that have already been fitted correctly. Maintenance operations involving the replacement of one or more elements can be carried out in the same way. Another advantage offered by the installation method according to the present invention, is that the entire mobile frame with the operating mechanisms fitted can be assembled without having to carry out any operation directly on the mobile frame itself. The present invention is also simple to construct and the costs of carrying out the invention are not high.

Claims: An element (1) for making mechanisms to operate mobile door or window frames having perimetric guide channels (2) in them, the element (1) being of the type comprising: a body (3) comprising a central portion and an end engaged to the central portion; at least two tongues (4) connected to the body (3) and extending from the central portion of this latter along opposite directions so that to be designed to engage the guide channels (2), the tongues (4) being equal and made of an elastically deformable material so that the element (1) can be pressed into one of the channels (2) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the channel (2) extends; a first and second notch (5) each located between the central portion of the body (3) and the respective tongue (4), each notch (5) being operative between a first condition, wherein it is spread, and a second condition, wherein it is closed, characterized in that : the body (3) and the tongues (4) are made of an elastically deformable material and the end portion of the body (3) presents, in a cross-section, transversal sizes lower than the transversal sizes of the central portion; the first and the second notch (5) are positioned in correspondence of an upper surface of the respective tongue (4) so that to face to the guide channels' opening, opposite to a bottom of such guide channels (2), when the element (1) engages the guide channels (2); the element (1) also comprises a third notch (5) located in a bottom surface of the central portion faced to the bottom of the guide channels (2), the third notch (5) being operative between a first condition wherein the first and the second notch (5) are spread and the third notch (5) is closed, and a second condition, wherein the first and the second notch (5) are closed and the third notch (5) is spread. A mobile frame for a door or window with perimetric guide channels (2) made in the edge of it to accommodate operating mechanisms, each constituted by an element (1) of the type comprising a body (3) and at least two tongues (4) connected to the body (3) and designed to engage the guide channels (2), the frame being characterised in that each element (1) has the characteristics according to claim 1. A method for assembling a set of elements comprising the features expressed in claim 1, the method being characterized in that it comprises the step of: placing each element (1) of the set on one of the channels (2) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the channel (2); moving the tongues (4) of each element (1) in such a way that they engage the protrusions of the channels (2); characterized in that the step of placing each element (1) on the respective channel (2) comprises the step of pressing the structure of the respective element (1) to insert the tongues (4) of this latter within the protrusions of the respective channel (2), the pressing step comprising an inserting operation in which the element (1) is elastically deformed, between an inserting position, wherein the first and the second notch (5) are closed, and the third notch (5) is spred, and an inserted position, wherein the first and the second notch (5) are spred and the third notch (5) is closed.

Inventors: LAMBERTINI MARCO, LAMBERTINI, MARCO
Applicants: GSG INT SPA, GSG INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E05C9
IPC codes: E05C9