Patent Description:
More in detail, the anchoring device for doors or windows according to the present invention is intended for use in the building and construction sector, in particular in the sector of doors or windows, for example doors or windows made by assembling members of different materials together (e.g., windows and/or French doors or windows in wood/aluminium, aluminium/wood and PVC). Preferably, the present invention is precisely for doors or windows made of wood-aluminium which comprise a wooden frame and an aluminium covering which is arranged on the outer side of the wooden frame so as to protect it from the weather.

Therefore, the invention is advantageously intended for the field of the production and marketing of anchoring devices for doors or windows, as well as to the field of the production and marketing of accessories and fittings for the aforesaid doors or windows, in particular in applications where it is required to assemble members of the above-mentioned materials to make a door or window.

In general, a door or window is typically used to physically isolate an internal environment, such as a room in a house, from the external environment. That is, a door or window defines a barrier between the aforesaid internal environment and the external environment so as to prevent atmospheric agents (e.g., rain, hail, wind) from entering the internal environment.

This results - during the service life of the door or window - in wear and tear and degradation of the same door or window surface, in particular if the door or window is made of wood.

It is known in the technical field of reference, and in particular in the field of doors or windows, to reduce the wear and tear described above, e.g., to cover the door or window with cornices or the like.

In more detail, a door or window comprises a frame, e.g., made of wood, having an essentially rectangular shape, a covering/cladding cornice, e.g., made of aluminium, and shaped so as to cover/clad the frame, and at least one anchoring device for mechanically connecting the covering/cladding cornice to the aforesaid frame.

The anchoring devices commonly used are known in the technical jargon of the field as clips.

Such clips comprise a main body shaped to be laid on the surface of the frame and fixing means, in particular threaded (e.g., screws or the like), to mechanically connect the main body to the frame itself.

Typically, multiple clips must be used to make a door or window, and in particular, the larger the size of a door or window, the more clips must be used for its assembly.

Operationally, such clips are positioned manually on the surface of a door or window frame at a certain distance, e.g., at regular spacing intervals, and then screwed to the frame, e.g., with the aid of a screwdriver or an automatic tool (e.g., an electric screwdriver or the like).

Therefore, the anchoring devices of known type such as those briefly described above have in practice proved to include drawbacks.

In particular, the main drawback lies in the fact that the anchoring devices of known type are complex to use. In fact, such devices require an accurate positioning on the surface of the frame and a precise spacing of one device from the next. This translates into a considerable expenditure in terms of execution times of such operations, which is reflected in a lower number of doors or windows produced in the unit of time and therefore in a higher production cost of the door or window itself.

A further drawback lies in the fact that the known anchoring devices do not allow to obtain high-precision doors or windows. In fact, the positioning and spacing operations of the aforesaid anchoring devices require the manual dexterity of a specialised operator in order to achieve a precise alignment of the devices so that the covering is then aligned with the door or window. Therefore, the final dimensional quality of the doors or windows produced is closely linked to the manual skills of the operator carrying out the aforesaid operations. This translates into frequent opportunities to make mistakes, which is reflected in doors or windows with a substantially inconsistent and repetitive final shape and size.

A further drawback lies in the fact that the known anchoring devices create an irreversible coupling between frame and cornice. That is, after the door or window is assembled, it is not possible to decouple the cornice from the frame without compromising the structural integrity of the cornice, the frame or both.

A further drawback lies in the fact that the anchoring devices of known type require tools for their assembly. In particular, the connection of such devices to the frame of a door or window is commonly carried out by means of threaded elements. Such elements are screwed using a screwing tool. This makes the devices of known type inconvenient to use and, in some environments, in particular in places where there is no electric power outlet nearby, such devices are unusable.

<CIT> discloses an anchoring device for doors or windows with the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>. <CIT> also discloses an anchoring device for doors or windows.

The object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which allows to overcome, at least in part, the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which is easy and fast to use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which is structurally and functionally completely reliable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which is economically advantageous.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which can be made easily, quickly and at low cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device which can be used in any working environment.

It should be appreciated that this summary introduces a selection of concepts in simplified form, which will be further elaborated on in the detailed description provided below.

All the objects, either singly or in any combination thereof, and others which will result from the following detailed description are achieved, according to the invention, by an anchoring device having the features indicated in the independent claim number <NUM>.

In particular, the aforesaid objects are achieved by an anchoring device <NUM> for doors or windows, in particular intended to connect at least two members or parts of the door or window, comprising a main body <NUM> extending mainly along an axis X to define a connection between a first member <NUM> and a second member <NUM>, wherein the main body <NUM> comprises a shaped portion <NUM> configured to be associated with the first member <NUM> and; an expandable portion <NUM> defining a housing volume <NUM> and configured to be mechanically connected to the second member <NUM>; and wherein the anchoring device <NUM> comprises expansion means <NUM> mechanically associable with the main body <NUM> and configurable between a first position in which the expansion means <NUM> is decoupled from the expandable portion <NUM>, and a second position in which the expansion means <NUM> is inserted in the housing volume <NUM> of the expandable portion <NUM> so as to achieve an expansion of the expandable portion <NUM> and mechanically constrain the main body <NUM> to the second member <NUM>.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of an anchoring device, as illustrated in the appended drawing tables, in which:.

With reference to the drawings, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention with the aim of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles on which the invention is based.

The present invention relates to an anchoring device which, with reference to the appended figures, has been generally indicated by the number <NUM>.

Any modifications or variants which, in the light of the description, are evident to the person skilled in the art must be considered to fall within the scope of protection established by the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Preferably, the device in question is intended to mechanically connect the members of a door or window together, in particular the frame and a cladding/covering element of the same door or window.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> shows an anchoring device <NUM> for doors or windows, in particular intended to connect at least two members of said door or window, which comprises a main body <NUM> extending mainly along an axis X to define a connection between a first member <NUM> and a second member <NUM>.

In more detail, the first member <NUM> is preferably a covering, cladding or similar element (e.g., a cornice made of aluminium or other material), and the second member <NUM> is preferably a frame (e.g., made of wood), preferably rectangular in shape, which preferably internally defines at least one seat, e.g., to accommodate a substantially plate-like element and preferably made of glass.

In particular, the first member <NUM> is preferably made of aluminium.

The second member <NUM> is preferably made of wood.

However, the first member <NUM> and the second member <NUM> can be made of any other material without thereby falling outside the scope of protection of the present invention. The main body <NUM> comprises a shaped portion <NUM> configured to be associated with the first member <NUM> and an expandable portion <NUM> defining a housing volume <NUM>, configured to be mechanically connected to the second member <NUM>.

In more detail, the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> preferably comprises a deformable part <NUM>' which is preferably configured to snap couple to the first member <NUM> so as to achieve a stable coupling.

The shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> also preferably comprises a fixed portion <NUM>" which defines a coupling shaping, relative to a section transverse to the axis X, so as to achieve a stable coupling with the first member <NUM>.

That is, the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is preferably shaped - according to a section transverse to the axis X so as to snap couple to the transverse section of the first member <NUM>.

More in detail, the deformable part <NUM>' preferably defines a chamfer <NUM> which preferably ends with a first tooth 24a, and the fixed portion <NUM>' preferably ends with a second tooth 24b.

Operationally, i.e., during the coupling between the main body <NUM> and the first member <NUM>, the profile of the transverse section of the member <NUM> couples on one side with the fixed portion <NUM>" preferably by means of the aforesaid tooth 24b, and on the opposite side it slides along the chamfer <NUM> of the deformable part <NUM>' according to a direction substantially parallel to the axis Y (i.e., to the connection direction between the main body <NUM> and the member <NUM>).

Advantageously, such sliding along the chamfer <NUM> produces a movement of the deformable part <NUM>' by elastic deformation. As a consequence, the deformation of the deformable part <NUM>' allows it to adapt to the shape of the transverse section of the first member <NUM>, snap coupling onto the member <NUM> itself by means of the aforesaid tooth 24a.

Advantageously, the first tooth 24a and the second tooth 24b preferably define abutment elements such as to render the coupling between the main body <NUM> and the member <NUM> stable and fixed.

The deformable part <NUM>' is made by means of a cantilevered portion of the shaped portion <NUM> and inclined towards the axis Y. Between such a deformable part <NUM>' and the shaped portion <NUM>, there is a hollow inlet which allows the deformable part <NUM>' to flex, exploiting such a free space.

That is, the connection between the first member <NUM> and the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is of the snap-fit type. Advantageously, the connection between the main body <NUM> and the first member <NUM> is simple and quick to use.

Preferably, the deformable part <NUM>' and the fixed portion <NUM>" are symmetrically arranged relative to the axis X.

More in detail, the fixed portion <NUM>" preferably defines a housing seat <NUM> configured to accommodate a head portion <NUM> (introduced in more detail later in the description) of the expansion means (introduced in more detail later in the description) in the second position.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the expandable portion <NUM> extends along an axis Y which is substantially orthogonal to the axis X, between a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>.

In more detail, the expandable portion <NUM> preferably comprises a first portion <NUM>' and a second portion <NUM>", in which the first portion <NUM>' and the second portion <NUM>" are preferably mechanically connected at the first end <NUM> and preferably free at the second end <NUM> in order to deform in the second position of the expansion means <NUM> (introduced in more detail later in the description).

Advantageously, the first and second portions <NUM>', <NUM>" preferably have at least one protuberance, preferably protruding in projection, relative to the axis Y, to achieve a stable coupling of the main body <NUM> with the second member. Preferably, such a protuberance is defined by knurls or serrations on the external surface of such first and second portions <NUM>', <NUM>".

Preferably, the first and second portions <NUM>', <NUM>" have multiple protuberances, in particular arranged preferably uniformly along the axis Y, between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>.

Advantageously, the connection between the expandable portion <NUM> and the second member <NUM> is stable and long-lasting.

Preferably, the first and second portions <NUM>', <NUM>" of the expandable portion <NUM> are preferably substantially equal and preferably opposite each other relative to the axis Y.

Preferably, the expandable portion <NUM> has a shape of its transverse section along the axis Y which is substantially rectangular, preferably square or preferably circular.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the appended <FIG>, the housing volume <NUM> of the expandable portion <NUM> extends substantially along the axis Y and passes through the expandable portion <NUM> and through the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

That is, the housing volume <NUM> extends coaxially to the expandable portion and the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

Preferably, the housing seat <NUM> of the fixed portion <NUM>" is arranged so that the axis Y passes substantially through the centreline of the seat <NUM> itself.

The anchoring device <NUM> further comprises expansion means <NUM> which is mechanically associable with the main body <NUM> and configurable between a first position in which the expansion means <NUM> is decoupled from the expandable portion <NUM>, and a second position in which the expansion means <NUM> is inserted in the housing volume <NUM> of the expandable portion <NUM> so as to achieve an expansion of the expandable portion <NUM> and mechanically constrain the main body <NUM> to the second member <NUM>.

That is, the coupling between the main body <NUM> and the second member <NUM> is of the interference type. In more detail, the expansion means <NUM> in the second position produces a dilation of the expandable portion <NUM> along a substantially radial direction relative to the axis Y, such as to generate a friction force which mechanically constrains the main body <NUM> to the second member <NUM>.

In particular, such a connection does not require further drilling and threading on the second member <NUM>. Advantageously, the above-described connection is stable, simple, quick and long-lasting, and also lacks auxiliary threaded elements.

In more detail, the expansion means <NUM> preferably comprises a head portion <NUM>, and preferably a tail portion <NUM>. The tail portion <NUM> is preferably mechanically connected to the head portion <NUM>, extends along an axis preferably substantially parallel to the axis Y, and is configured to mechanically engage in the housing volume <NUM> of the expandable portion <NUM>.

The tail portion <NUM> has a transverse overall dimension relative to the axis Y which is greater relative to at least part of the housing volume <NUM>.

Preferably, the tail portion <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape, or preferably substantially rectangular, or preferably substantially square.

Preferably, the head portion <NUM> is shaped so that, during the second position, it has an overall dimension, according to a direction parallel to the axis Y, which is preferably less than or equal to the overall dimension defined by the shaped portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> so as preferably not to protrude relative to the shaped portion <NUM>.

That is, the head portion <NUM> in the second position does not protrude beyond the overall dimension defined by the shaped portion <NUM>. Thereby, the head portion does not hinder or obstruct the coupling between the main body <NUM> and the first member <NUM>.

The head portion <NUM> further has, preferably, an enlarged portion according to a direction transverse to the axis Y, relative to the tail portion <NUM>, to preferably define a mechanical abutment in the second position.

That is, the tail portion <NUM> penetrates the housing volume <NUM> of the expandable portion <NUM> by a predetermined amount and preferably equal to the length of the tail portion <NUM> itself.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the main body <NUM> and the expansion means <NUM> are preferably made of polymeric material.

Advantageously, the main body <NUM> and the expansion means <NUM> are preferably made by means of a moulding process, such as injection moulding in particular. Thereby, the main body <NUM> and the expansion means <NUM> are obtained in a simple manner, in particular in the case in which such a main body <NUM> and such expansion means <NUM> define complex shapes.

Furthermore, for high production volumes, the main body <NUM> and the expansion means <NUM> are economically obtained.

It is further an object of the present invention a door or window <NUM> comprising a frame defining the second member <NUM> and a covering of at least part of the frame defining the first member <NUM>.

The door or window <NUM> also preferably comprises at least one anchoring device <NUM> for doors or windows, preferably of the type described above and of which the same numerical references will be retained for the sake of descriptive simplicity.

In more detail, the anchoring device <NUM> is arranged between the first member <NUM> and the second member <NUM> to mechanically connect them together.

Advantageously, the second member <NUM> preferably defines at least one groove <NUM> preferably extending at least partially along the axis X and preferably configured to accommodate the expandable portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

Preferably, the groove <NUM> has a shape of the transverse section along the axis Y which is substantially counter-shaped to the section of the expandable portion <NUM> along the axis Y.

Preferably, the groove <NUM> has a substantially rectangular shape of the transverse section along the axis Y.

In more detail, the groove <NUM> preferably defines a seat which acts as a mechanical abutment for positioning the main body <NUM> on the second member <NUM> (e.g., on the frame). Thereby, the main body <NUM> is mechanically connected to the groove <NUM> without the need to carry out complex and time-consuming measurement operations of the positioning of main body <NUM> itself on the frame.

That is, the groove <NUM> defines a unique reference for the connection of main body <NUM> on the frame. Operationally, an operator inserts the expandable portion <NUM> of the main body <NUM> into the groove <NUM> without performing any type of additional operation. This allows to minimise the possibility of an operator making errors in the positioning of the main body <NUM> on the second member <NUM>.

Advantageously, the mechanical connection between the main body <NUM> and the second member <NUM> does not require the use of threaded elements, such as in particular screws or the like; and therefore of screwing tools. In particular, the anchoring device, and in particular the expandable portion, lacks screws. This allows to obtain a quick and easy mechanical connection.

It is clear from the above that the anchoring device for doors or windows according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that:.

Claim 1:
An anchoring device (<NUM>) for doors or windows, in particular intended to connect at least two members of said door or window, comprising a main body (<NUM>) extending mainly along an axis X to define a connection between a first member (<NUM>) and a second member (<NUM>);
wherein said main body (<NUM>) comprises:
- a shaped portion (<NUM>) configured to be associated with said first member (<NUM>) and;
- an expandable portion (<NUM>) defining a housing volume (<NUM>) and configured to be mechanically connected to said second member (<NUM>);
and wherein said anchoring device (<NUM>) comprises expansion means (<NUM>) which is mechanically associable with said main body (<NUM>) and configurable between a first position in which said expansion means (<NUM>) is decoupled from said expandable portion (<NUM>), and a second position in which said expansion means (<NUM>) is inserted in said housing volume (<NUM>) of said expandable portion (<NUM>) so as to achieve an expansion of said expandable portion (<NUM>) and mechanically constrain said main body (<NUM>) to said second member (<NUM>);
characterised in that said expandable portion (<NUM>) extends along an axis Y substantially orthogonal to said axis X, between a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>),
and in that said housing volume (<NUM>) of said expandable portion (<NUM>) extends substantially along said axis Y and passes through said expandable portion (<NUM>) and said shaped portion (<NUM>) of said main body (<NUM>).