The present invention relates to the technical field concerning the manufacture of frames by means of the interconnection of prefabricated profile elements, frames which, by way of non limiting indication, are destined to the construction of windows and doors, and in particular it relates to an apparatus and a method for connecting such profiled elements.
In the technology for constructing window and door frames, the fabrication of the frames by connecting various profiled elements with connecting apparatuses located in correspondence with the vertices of the frame is known.
These connecting apparatuses in general rigidly connect, by force, the paired contiguous profiled elements concurring in the various vertices assuring, in fully tightened conditions, the restoration of the continuity and co-planarity of the exterior surfaces of the connected elements even in the junction areas of the various elements.
To effect these connections the connecting apparatuses require forced connection squares - so-called pulling squares - which allow to exert on each of the profiled elements traction forces which, directed parallel to the relative axis line, thrust the profiled elements against each other in a condition of mutual unity. The forced connection squares are geometrically shaped in such a way as to orient and maintain oriented over time the profiled elements constituting the frame, assuring, in the junction areas and once mounting is complete, continuity of form and co-planarity among the various surfaces of the frame.
Since the profiled elements for the fabrication of the frames are very often provided with planar tongues for which it is necessary to restore continuity of surface and mutual unity in the junction area, the connection apparatuses are often integrated by so-called aligning squares. These are provided with arms projecting from an intermediate body, arms which are housed inside grooves of the profiled elements and which, positioning themselves astride of the junction area, maintain the tongues of the profiled elements concurring in the various vertices of the frame aligned and co-planar.
The installation of the aforesaid alignment squares is conducted inserting the arms into the grooves of the two profiled elements with a translating motion directed longitudinally to the profiled element.
As a consequence thereof, the mounting of the aligning squares needs to be conducted simultaneously with the mounting of the forced connection square, which makes the mounting operation generally difficult and, in some particular cases like those relating to profiled elements with thermal cut, which normally require two aligning squares for each forced connection square, the mounting operation is rather long and laborious.
Moreover, since the arms of the aligning squares are fastened to the related grooves of the profiled elements with sliding coupling, the indispensable play for mounting does not assure the total unity of the tongues which always tend to move relative to one another if stressed to move away in a direction perpendicular to their plane of lay. The construction tolerances of the square and of the profiled elements only increase this possibility of relative motion; hence, the sought continuity and co-planarity in practice are revealed to be quite imperfect.
Yet another drawback, moreover, is represented by the fact that the tightening action performed by the forced connection squares, as a result of the inherent flexibility of the profiled elements, normally made with reduced thickness and of aluminium, does not perfectly reach the connection area of the tongues which is normally far from the forced connection junction. As a result, the approach of the tongues in mutual contact occurs only partially. This is attested by the fact that, if the junction is observed against the light, it is not infrequent to note that, in spite of the full tightening of the forced connection square, some segments of the connection area of the tongues are not in perfect contact.
DE-A-26 56 958 discloses an apparatus and a method for connecting profiled elements comprising respectively the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 10.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks by means of an apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10.
The apparatus according to the invention has the fundamental advantage of allowing the co-planar rigid connection of the tongues with their simultaneous and mutual localised forcing, in a manner wholly independent from the forced connection square.
Such independence allows to accomplish the mounting of the frames for windows and doors with a mounting method which also constitutes the subject of the present invention and which allows the installation of the connecting body at any time and even after the complete tightening of the junction area between the two profiled elements.
All this with the advantage of having rapid and easy mounting in all situations and for all types of profiled element, regardless of their greater or lesser constructive complexity.
The aforesaid connecting apparatus has the additional advantage of being employable also in sectors other than those strictly pertaining to the construction of windows and doors, in that it can be advantageously employed also for the construction of different types of frames such as, for instance, frames for paintings.
The technical features of the invention, according to the aforesaid aims, can be clearly noted from the content of the claims that follow and its advantages shall become more readily apparent from the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent an embodiment provided purely by way of non liming example, in which:
With reference to the accompanying drawings, the reference number 1 globally indicates an apparatus for connecting linear profiled elements 2, positioned in a condition of mutual co-planarity and concurring to form a vertex 14 of a planar frame 20, partially shown.
The profiled elements 2 have open cross section, substantially shaped as a "C" (Figures 1 and 3) and comprise planar faces 2a, wherefrom depart longitudinal, parallel, mutually opposite edges 6 folded to a right angle relative to the planar faces 2a.
In the construction of the frame 20, the profiled elements 2 are connected by the connecting apparatus 1 in a condition of mutual unity and in co-planar alignment of their faces 2a and of their longitudinal edges 6, and in direct mutual contrast in correspondence with a junction line 4 which, in the example of the figures, is inclined by 45 ° relative to the profiled elements 2.
The connecting apparatus 1 essentially comprises a connecting body 3 provided with anchoring elements 5 and so shaped as to be associated to the profiled elements 2, astride a junction 4, in contact with the planar faces 2a and with a motion directed transversely to the related plane of lay.
More in particular, the connecting body 3 is embodied by a metal plate with angular shape which can be housed between the longitudinal edges 6 of the profiled elements 2 concurring in the junction 4 and is provided with a raised, continuous edge 15, positioned along an external part of its own contour, able to be associated in contact with one of the longitudinal borders 6 of the profiled elements 2 to operate in the manner that will be explained farther on in the description.
The connecting body 3 is further provided with two seats 11, embodied by holes traversing the plate, situated in proximity to a part of the contour of the connecting body 3 opposite the provided one of the edge 15.
The aforesaid seats 11 are destined to support the anchoring elements 5 pivotingly about axes of rotation 13 transversely directed to the connecting body 3 itself.
The anchoring elements 5 comprise, each, a cylindrical pivot 10, able to rotate in the seat 11 of the connecting body 3, which, at one end, integrally bears a small planar plate 8 oriented transversely to the pivot 10 itself, and, at the other end, is provided with actuating means to rotate the plate 8, embodied in particular by a hexagonal slot 12, coaxial to the pivot 10 (Figure 2), for the engagement of an actuating tool.
The small plate 8 has eccentric profile relative to the axis of rotation 13 of the pivot 10, and is provided with a free end 7, so dimensioned as to be able to project from the contour of the plate, arc-shaped and preferably provided with prominent teeth 9 destined to be associated to opposite longitudinal edges 6 of the profiled elements 2, wherein the free end 7 can progressively be inserted as a consequence of the rotation of the pivot 10.
The anchoring elements 5 are fastened to the connecting body 3 preferably in a permanent manner; this being obtainable in several ways, whereof the most immediate and simplest provides for the riveting onto the seat 11 of the end of the pivot 10 bearing the slot 12 for the actuating tool.
In use (Figure 4), after mutually approaching the profiled elements 2, in direct contact along the junction line 4, the connecting apparatus 1 is introduced between the longitudinal edges 6 of the profiled elements 2, with movement directed transversely to the planar faces 2a of the profiled elements 2 and approached to the profiled elements 2 with the connecting body 3 positioned in contact with the related planar faces 2a.
Starting from this initial condition wherein the connecting body 3 and the profiled elements 2 are freely movable relative to each other, acting with the actuating tool on the slot 12 of the anchoring element 5 the latter are made to rotate - arrow 16 - from its own inoperative position wherein the connecting body 3 and the profiled elements 2 are freely movable relative to each other, to an initial operative position wherein the anchoring elements 5 engage with the edges 6 of the planar profiled elements 2, in opposition to the reaction of the connecting body 3 which acts against the opposite edges 6 of the profiled elements 2 - arrow 17.
In the course of the rotation of the small plates 8 of the anchoring elements 5 and following the engagement of the teeth 9, which sink into the material of the edges 6 of the profiled elements 2, the profiled elements 2 are driven in relative sliding motion relative to the connecting body 3.
Acting alternatively on one and on the other anchoring element 5 with evidently opposite rotatory motions, the profiled elements 2 are pressed against each other along the junction line 4 until completely eliminating any contact defect along the junction line 4 and to its final operative position wherein the small plates 8 of the anchoring elements 5 are permanently inserted in the related edges 6 and the profiled elements 2 and the connecting body 3 become mutually integral in mutual co-planarity and forcing conditions.
The apparatus according to the invention fully achieves the aims indicated above; it is suitable for evident industrial application.