Improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to aluminium or fibre-glass frames for shutters and blinds

Abstract

 This invention relates to profiles for making outer frames to install in door/window apertures comprising: a slightly convex casing for embellishing the aperture; the casing is attached to a chamber of larger dimensions than the existing profiles, which make it possible to fit half of a hinge on the visible surface, by means of screws or similar means; on the internal surface of the frame there is a shaped element that acts as rebate with the shutter frame; all the visible surfaces are smooth and are very much like natural wood. The shutter frame comprises: a hollow profile, which acts as rebate with the external surface of the outer frame; this element is contiguous to a chamber with a rectangular cross-section, on the opposite surface of which, compared to the outer frame, there are elements for fixing the louvres or panels, according to the type of shutter, while on the external surface of the rectangular chamber the other part of the hinge is fitted.

Description

Technical field

[0001] This invention relates to frames for shutters or blinds, in which all visible surfaces are perfectly smooth and free of projections and grooves, when closed or open.

Background of art

[0002] It is a known fact that doors and windows may be made of various materials: wood, fibreglass, aluminium, iron, PVC.

[0003] It is equally known that materials other than wood, less expensive, maintenance-free and more weather resistant are being used more and more.

[0004] These alternative materials, however, offer limited design opportunities and the shutters and blinds made with them are not very attractive, with their angular flat shapes and the presence of a large number of projections and grooves; certainly a far cry from the warm and timeless look of shutters and blinds made of wood, which they attempt to replicate.

[0005] With regard to the use of alternative materials, therefore, research aims at developing profiles that can resemble wood, as closely as possible, while at the same time enhancing their mechanical resistance properties, especially at the points where the hinges are attached, and reducing the number of components necessary to make the shutters, blinds, etc. and their frames, to streamline warehouse operations and cut processing costs in general. Another aim is to simplify assembly and installation operations, as far as possible, with regard to the hinges, for example, which are sometimes supplied by the manufacturer separately, and by reducing brickwork to a minimum.

[0006] In particular, shutters, blinds, etc., generally comprise, (i) an outer frame for fastening to the door/window aperture, and (ii) an inner frame for the shutters, blinds, etc..

[0007] The outer frame for the door/window aperture consists of a profile comprising: a flat or concave casing for embellishing the aperture; a box-type structure with a rectangular cross-section, with the exterior surface approx. 25 mm wide, an internal chamber less than 10 mm wide, and an interior surface approx. 45 mm wide, which acts as the rebate for the interior of the shutter frame; along the sides of the box-type structure and the external part of the interior surface there run longitudinal tongues, which act as tracks for the tongue and groove interlocking joint system involving the pivoted part of the hinge and for introducing the seals; the frame of the shutter, blind, etc. is an L-shape profile (on the side towards the frame installed in the door/window aperture and towards the hinges), with an internal chamber of approx. 25 mm, and a C-shape on the side where the louvres are introduced, with more or less chamfered edges, while along the sides facing the frame there run longitudinal tongues for interlocking the hinges and for the seals.

[0008] Excepting certain differences in the chamfered edges, the position of the tongues and other minor details, most of the profiles employed for making frames and shutters conform to this brief description, which may be practical, but nevertheless features certain technical and aesthetical shortcomings.

[0009] With regard to the former, it is a rather disagreeable fact that one cannot mount different hinges of the two-part type that interlock with the longitudinal tongues, which, moreover, are also highly time-consuming because they come in boxes containing the separate parts and must first be coupled before proceeding with the assembly.

[0010] With regard to the latter shortcoming, the presence of a great deal of projections on the visible surfaces of these profiles hardly enhances their attractiveness, especially when the shutters are open; furthermore, the possibility of using only interlocking hinges introduced in the internal tongues increases the differences with traditional wooden shutters, in which the hinges are fitted on the external surface of the frame.

Disclosure of invention

[0011] The present invention relates to improvements to frames for shutters and blinds capable of remedying the above-mentioned shortcomings.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the profiles employed for making the outer frame installed in the door/window aperture comprise: a slightly convex casing for embellishing the aperture; a box-type structure, with a larger chamber than those commonly used, which enables the hinges to be fastened on the visible surface with screws or the like; on the internal surface of the outer frame there is a shaped element acting as rebate with the shutter frame; all the visible surfaces are smooth and very much resemble the surface of a wooden frame. The shutter frame comprises: a hollow profile, which acts as rebate with the external surface of the outer frame; this element is contiguous to a box-shaped structure with a rectangular cross-section, along whose surface opposite to the outer frame run the tongues for fastening the louvres or panels, according to the type of shutter. The other half of the hinge is fastened to the external surface of the box-type rectangular structure.

Brief description of drawings

[0013] A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of the outer and shutter frames, in the preferred embodiment, with the shutter closed.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the outer and shutter frames, in the preferred embodiment, with the shutter open.

Fig. 3 shows a view from the outside of the outer and shutter frames, with the shutter open and a larger hinge.

Fig. 4 shows a view from the outside of the outer and shutter frames, with the shutter closed and a larger hinge.

Fig. 5 shows a view from the inside of the outer and shutter frames, with the shutter closed and a larger hinges.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show a cross-section of the outer and shutter frames, as modified for the "Anuba" type hinges, in which the external profile is of greater length.

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 show a cross-section of the outer and shutter frames, as in figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, adapted for the "Anuba" type hinges, in which the external profile is of medium size.

Description of the preferred embodiment

[0014] Referring to the drawing, in the preferred embodiment of this invention the outer frame consists of: a casing (1) for embellishing the door/window aperture in which the outer frame is installed, a chamber (2) wide enough to allow the fastening of part of the hinge (3); a second chamber (4) deep enough to partially compensate the thickness created by the externally fitted hinge (3); a groove (5) in which to fit the seal (6). The shutter frame - which comes with the previously described outer frame - comprises: a chamber (7) thick enough to compensate the thickness created by the externally fitted hinge (3) and on the internal surface of which there is a groove (8) for fitting a seal, if necessary; a chamber (9) on the outside of which is fastened the second part (10) of the hinge (3), a C-shape section (11) for fitting the louvres or panels, according to the type of shutter.

[0015] Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which the hinge is of the type with a pivot of the type that projects beyond the frame, fitted in the case of a multi-leaf shutter; in this case also the frame is particularly advantageous because - thanks to the width of the chamber (2) - the external hinge can be fitted in a part of the frame that is particularly resistant to the mechanical stress caused by, (i) the weight of the shutters and, (ii) especially in the case of multi-leaf shutters, the opening and closing of the shutters.

[0016] From the description and attached drawing, it can clearly be seen how the profile allows the manufacturing of shutters with all the visible surfaces - in either the closed or open position - perfectly smooth and free of the projections and grooves that, on the contrary, characterize existing profiles, and thus with a very close resemblance to natural wood shutters.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment the best dimensions for the chamber (2) - on the external side of which the part of the hinge (3) is fitted - are 30 mm in width and 45 mm in depth, while for the chambers (4,7) - which allow for an accurate closing of the outer and shutter frames - the best dimensions are 25 mm in width and 15 mm in depth; obviously, these measurements are not binding and may be changed as required.

[0018] Figs. 6 to 10 show a cross-section of the frame and shutter with a slightly modified profile to allow the fitting of "Anuba" type hinges, which are very economic and thus allow a further cutting of costs.

[0019] Figs. 11 to 13 feature an embodiment in which the casing (12) that embellishes the door/window aperture is of greater length. As previously mentioned, the advantages of the frame for shutters, blinds, etc. hereunder are the capacity to externally fit the hinges, in points where the outer frame afford a very high resistance; using ready hinges that are fast and easy to assemble; using the common shutter leaves also for installing the shutters directly into the wall also with the outer frame, thus streamlining warehouse operations.

[0020] The principles of the invention are described hereinabove by describing the construction and operation of a preferred and other embodiment. It is to be remembered that this exemplary embodiment can be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to frames made of aluminium of fibreglass for exterior shutters and blinds, made up of an outer frame, which is a profile comprising: a casing (1) for embellishing the door/window aperture into which the frame is installed; a chamber (2) wide enough to enable the fitting of a part of the hinge (3); a second chamber (4) deep enough to partially compensate the thickness created by the externally fitted hinge (3); a groove (5) in which to fit the seal (6);

2. The improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to frames made of aluminium of fibreglass for exterior shutters and blinds described in claim 1, wherein the shutter frame fitted to the outer frame comprises: a chamber (7) thick enough to fully compensate the thickness created by the externally fitted hinge (3), and on the internal surface of which there is a groove (8) for the seal; a chamber (9) on the external surface of which is fitted the second part (10) of the hinge (3); a C-shaped section (11) for fitting the louvres or panels, according to the type of shutter.

3. The improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to frames made of aluminium of fibreglass for exterior shutters and blinds described in the foregoing claims, wherein the width of the chamber (2) - on the external surface of which the hinge (3) is fitted - is 30 mm and it is 45 mm in depth, while the chambers (4,7) that allow for the accurate closing of the outer and shutter frames are 25 mm in width and 15 mm in depth.

4. The improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to frames made of aluminium of fibreglass for exterior shutters and blinds described in the foregoing claims, wherein the profile cross-section has been slightly changed to allow the fitting of "Anuba" type hinges.

5. The improvements to doors and windows and, in particular, to frames made of aluminium of fibreglass for exterior shutters and blinds described in the foregoing claims, wherein the external profile (12) is of greater length.

Drawing