Patent Publication Number: US-7913456-B2

Title: Method for mounting a control assembly for doors and windows

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of European patent application number 07425450.9, filed Jul. 23, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for mounting a control assembly for doors and windows. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for mounting a control assembly comprising a control handle, a transmission device having a rotating input member and an output member that is movable in rectilinear direction, and a rod mounted slidably in a groove of a metallic section bar comprised in the frame of the door or window. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In traditional solutions, mounting such control assemblies requires cutting the transmission rods to measure and forming, on the rods, holes for coupling with the transmission device. 
     Cutting the rods to measure and forming the coupling holes entails the possibility of errors and introduce mounting play which could compromise the correct operation of the mechanism associated with the control assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an improved solution for mounting a control assembly for doors or windows of the type defined above, which enables to simplify the mounting operations and, at the same time, to improve mounting precision. 
     According to the present invention, the object is achieved by a method for mounting a control assembly for doors or windows, in which the door or window comprises a frame including a metallic section bar having an outer wall and a longitudinal groove with an undercut section and an open edge contained in a plane that is orthogonal to the outer face. The control assembly comprises a handle having a base, a rotatable grip and a rotatable control pin rotatably connected to the grip. The control assembly further comprises a transmission device having an input member able to be coupled with the control pin of the handle and at least one carriage movable in a rectilinear direction and connected to the input member by a mechanism able to transform the rotary motion of the input member into a rectilinear motion of the carriage. Additionally, the control assembly comprises a rod able to slidably engage the groove and a connecting member able to be fastened to the rod. The method includes the step of positioning the rod in the groove with the connecting member positioned slidably on the rod. The method also includes the step of applying the transmission device to the section bar. The method further includes the step of mutually connecting the carriage and the connecting member so that the connecting member is fixed to the carriage in a longitudinal direction of the groove. In addition, the method includes the step of fastening the connecting member to the rod after mutually connecting the carriage and the connecting member. 
     As shall become readily apparent in the remainder of the description, the method according to the present invention provides for the use of a single rod associated with the transmission device and does not require cutting the rod to measure or the prior formation of coupling holes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention shall now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non limiting example, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 through 5  are perspective views showing the mounting sequence of a control assembly for windows or doors according to a first embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are sections according to the line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the transmission device indicated by the arrow VIII in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 9  is a section according to the line IX-IX of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 10  is a section according to the line X-X of  FIG. 9 , 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of a control device according to the present invention, and 
         FIGS. 12 to 21  show the mounting sequence of the control device shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the number  10  designates a segment of a metallic section bar comprised in a movable frame of a door or window. 
     The number  12  designates a control assembly for controlling the opening and the closing of the door or window, that is to be mounted on the section bar  10  in the manner described below. The control assembly  12  comprises a handle  14 , a transmission device  16 , a rod  18  and a connecting member  20 . 
     The section bar  10  is constituted by metallic material, e.g. aluminium or alloys thereof, and it is obtained by extrusion, profiling or the like. In cross section, the section bar  10  has a closed box portion  22  having an outer wall  24  provided with an integral wing  26  which projects in overhand from the closed box portion  22 . In the wing  26  are formed three through holes  28  whose function shall become readily apparent hereafter. The section bar  10  further comprises a groove  30  with undercut cross section, which extends in a longitudinal direction. The groove  30  has an open edge contained in an orthogonal plane relative to the wing  26 . 
     The handle  14  comprises a base  32  and a rotatable grip  34 . The base  32  carries a control pin  36  with square section rotatably connected to the grip  34  and projecting from the base  32  from the opposite side relative to the grip  34 . 
     The rod  18  is so shaped as to couple slidably within the groove  30 . The rod  18  is preferably formed as described in detail in European patent application 06 425 583 by the same applicant. In particular, the rod  18  comprises two parallel lateral grooves  38  separated from each other by a continuous central portion having a longitudinal wall  40 . Underneath the longitudinal wall  40  is formed a central longitudinal groove  42  open in opposite direction relative to the two lateral grooves  38 . 
     The connecting member  20  is provided with coupling portions  44  that slidably engage the lateral grooves  38  of the rod  18 . The connecting member  20  comprises a threaded portion  46  that is engaged by a screw  48  that is destined to fasten the connecting member  20  to the rod  18  in a selected relative position. As is described in detail in the European patent application 06 425 583 mentioned previously, the screw  48  of the connecting member  20  forms a through hole in the longitudinal wall  40  of the rod  18  when the screw  48  is fully tightened in the threaded portion  46  of the connecting member  20 . The tip of the screw  48  shears a corresponding portion of the wall  40 , forming a through hole which is used for the definitive fastening between the connecting body  20  and the rod  18  in the selected relative position. The connecting member  20  is also provided with a seat  78  whose function shall be readily apparent hereafter. 
     The transmission device  16  transforms the rotary movement of the control pin  36  of the handle  14  into a rectilinear motion of the rod  18  in the direction of the groove  30 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the transmission device  16  comprises a casing formed by two metallic bodies  50 ,  52  fastened to each other. The first body  50  has a hole  54  whereat is rotatably mounted an input member  56  having a square hole  58  which couples with the control pin  36  of the handle  14 . The input member  56  has a toothing  60  that meshes with a first rack  62  formed on a first carriage  64 . The first carriage  64  has a pivot  66  whereon is slidably mounted a gear wheel  68  with axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the input member  56 . The gear wheel  68  simultaneously meshes with a second rack  70  formed on the first body  50  and with a third rack  72  formed on a second carriage  74 . The second carriage  74  has an integral output member  76  formed by a protuberance which is destined to engage the complementary seat  78  ( FIG. 1 ) formed in the connecting member  20 . 
     The described mechanism enables to multiply the work travel of the second carriage  74  relative to that of the first carriage  64 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , the rotation movement of the input member  56  causes, thanks to the meshing with the first rack  62 , a movement of the first carriage  6  in rectilinear direction  4 . The gear wheel  68  moves in rectilinear direction together with the first carriage  64 . By effect of the meshing of the gear wheel  68  with the fixed rack  70  and with the rack  72  integral with the second carriage  74 , a multiplication of the rectilinear travel of the second carriage  74  is obtained. 
     The method for mounting the control assembly  12  on the section bar  10  shall now be described with reference to the  FIGS. 2 through 7 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in a first step the connecting member  20  is applied in slidable manner on the rod  18 . In this step, the connecting member  20  is not definitively fastened to the rod  18  and is free to slide relative to the rod  18  in longitudinal direction. The rod  18  with the connecting member  20  is inserted into the groove  30  of the section bar  10  in the direction indicated in the arrow  80  in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the subsequent step, the transmission device  16  is applied on the inner face of the wing  26  in the direction indicated by the arrow  82  in  FIG. 3 . The transmission device  16  is positioned in such a way that the output member  76  ( FIG. 8 ) of the transmission device  16  is inserted into the corresponding seat  78  of the connecting member  20 . The second body  52  of the transmission device  16  has a through hole  84  which is positioned at the threaded portion  46  of the connecting member  20 . The hole  54  ( FIG. 8 ) of the transmission device  16  is positioned at the central hole  28  of the wing  26 . 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the handle  14  is applied on the outer side of the wing  26 . The control pin  36  is inserted into the central hole  28  and is coupled with the input member  56  of the transmission device  16 . The base  32  of the handle  14  is provided with holes for two fastening screws  86  which are inserted into the two lateral holes  28  of the wing  26 . The screws  86  engage respective threaded holes formed in the first body  50  of the transmission device  16 . The handle  14  is fastened to the transmission device  16  and to the section bar  10  by screwing the screws  86 . 
     At this point, the connecting member  20  is integral with the second carriage  74  of the transmission device  16  for movements in longitudinal direction thanks to the engagement between the output member  76  and the complementary seat  78 . The rod  18  and the connecting member  20  are, however, free to move relative to one another in longitudinal direction. In this condition, the connecting member  20  is fastened to the rod  18 . Said fastening is carried out by completely tightening the screw  48  that engages the threaded portion  46  of the connecting member  20 . Screw  48  is tightened by acting with a spanner (not shown) through the through hole  84  of the transmission member  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 . As described in detail in the aforementioned European patent application no. 06 425 583, when the screw  48  is tightened completely, a through hole  85  is formed in the longitudinal wall  40  of the rod  18 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . At this point, the mounting of the control assembly  12  is complete. 
     A particularly advantageous characteristic of the present invention is that a single rod  18  is provided, associated with the transmission device  16 . Mounting the control assembly  12  does not require cutting the rod  18  to measure or forming fastening holes on the rod before the mounting operation. The hole for fastening the rod  18  to the connecting body  20  is formed by completely tightening the screw  48  after the rod has been placed in the desired position with respect to the connecting member  20  and to the transmission device  16 . The method according to the present invention therefore enables to eliminate play and mounting inaccuracies because the definitive fastening of the rod to the connecting member is performed after the rod is positioned in the correct manner. 
       FIG. 11  shows a second embodiment of a control assembly  12 . Details corresponding to those described previously are indicated with the same numerical references. 
     As in the embodiment described above, the control assembly  12  comprises a handle  14 , a transmission device  16 , a rod  18  and a connecting member  20 . The control assembly  12  of this second embodiment further comprises a spacer element  88  and a bushing  90 . 
     In this second embodiment, the transmission device  16  is housed within the box body  22  of the section bar  10 . Therefore, in the bottom wall of the groove  30  is obtained an opening  91  which enables to insert the transmission device  16  into the box portion  22 . The three holes  28  are formed in the outer wall  24  of the section bar  10  at the box portion  22 . 
     The transmission device  16  has a different shape relative to that of the previous described device, but it functions in identical fashion. As in the embodiment described above, the transmission device  16  comprises an enclosure formed by two bodies  50 ,  52 , an input member  56  provided with a square hole, a first carriage  64  and a second carriage  74 . In this case as well, the first and the second carriage  64 ,  74  are associated to a rack transmission mechanism which multiplies the translation travel of the second carriage  74 . The second carriage  74  is provided with a threaded hole  92  which is engaged by a screw  94  that extends through a through hole  95  of the connecting member  20 . The screw  94  serves the same function as the output member  76  of the transmission device described previously. The enclosure of the transmission device  16  is provided with two appendages  96  which bear on the opposite shorter sides of the opening  91  to support the transmission device  16  in the inner cavity of the boxy portion  22 . 
     An additional difference with respect to the embodiment described above is that in this second embodiment it is necessary to form in the rod  18  a through opening  98  elongated in longitudinal direction, whose function shall become readily apparent below. 
     The method for mounting this second embodiment of the control assembly  12  is shown in  FIGS. 12 through 21 . 
     With reference, initially, to  FIG. 12 , the spacer  88  is inserted through the opening  91  into the cavity of the box portion  22  of the section bar  10 . The spacer  88  is provided with three through holes  100  which are positioned at the holes  28  formed in the outer wall  24  of the section bar  10 . With reference to  FIG. 13 , the bushing  90  is inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow  102  in the central hole  28  of the section bar  10  and in the central hole  100  of the spacer  88 . The bushing  90  is provided with elastically deformable teeth which engage in snap-in manner the spacer  88 , retaining it in position. 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the transmission device  16  is inserted through the opening  91  of the section bar  10 .  FIG. 15  shows the transmission device  16  housed within the cavity of the box portion  22 . It can be noted that the transmission device  16  is almost entirely contained within the cavity of the box body  22 . The only parts of the transmission device  16  that project beyond the bottom wall of the groove  30  are the appendages  96 . 
     Also with reference to  FIG. 15 , the connecting member  20  is applied in slidable manner on the rod  18 , similarly to the manner described with reference to the first embodiment. The screw  48  whose purpose is to fasten the connecting member  20  to the rod  18  is not fully screwed, so the connecting member  20  is free to slide on the rod in longitudinal direction. 
     In the subsequent step, shown in  FIG. 16 , the rod  18  is inserted into the groove  30  of the section bar  10 , above the transmission device  16 . The connecting member  20  is always free to slide relative to the rod  18 . When the rod  18  is mounted into the groove  30 , the elongated opening  98  is situated at the hole  92  of the transmission device  16 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the connecting member  20  is made to slide on the rod  18  in the direction indicated by the arrow  106 , until bringing the through hole  95  of the connecting member  20  to the elongated opening  98  and to the hole  92  provided on the carriage  74  of the transmission member  16 . Then, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the screw  94  is screwed by means of a spanner  108 . As a result of the tightening of the screw  94 , the connecting body  20  is integral with the second carriage  74  of the transmission member  16 . However, the rod  18  is not yet fastened to the connecting member  20  because the screw  94  extends with play through the elongated opening  98 . 
     In the relative position obtained, the connecting member  20  is then fastened to the rod  18 . Said fastening is carried out by completely tightening the screw  48  by means of a spanner  110 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . When the screw  48  is tightened completely, a through hole is formed in the longitudinal wall  40  of the rod  18 , similarly to what is described with reference to the previous embodiment. 
     Lastly, as shown in  FIG. 21 , the handle  14  is mounted on the outer wall  24  of the section bar  10 . The control pin  36  of the handle  14  is inserted into the bushing  90  and the square hole of the input member  56  of the transmission device  16 . The fastening screws  86  of the handle  14  are inserted through the lateral holes of the outer wall  24  and of the spacer  88  ( FIG. 20 ). The screws  86  engage respective threaded holes  112  ( FIG. 20 ) formed in the enclosure of the transmission device  16 . In this second embodiment, the mounting of the handle  14  can also be carried out after transporting the frame to the installation site. This reduces the bulk of the frames during transport to the installation site and eliminates the risk of damaging the handle during transport. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.