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(11) | EP 2 072 727 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A hinge for metal door or window units |
| (57) Described is a hinge for doors and windows comprising a fixed frame (1) and a mobile
frame (2) whose profiles form respective fastening grooves (C1, C2) each comprised
of a pair (3, 4) of facing upturned L-shaped protrusions or "wings". The hinge (6)
comprises: a first hinge body (7) having a first flap (8) that can be associated with
the groove (C1) in the fixed frame (1); a second hinge body (10) having a second flap
(11) that can be associated with the groove (C2) in the mobile frame (2); a hinge
pin (13) defining the axis of rotation (Z) of the mobile frame (2); first fastening
means (9) and second fastening means (12), each comprising screw elements (14) inserted
into respective holes (15) in each flap (8, 11) and operating on respective stop lock
elements (16) acting on the protrusions (3, 4) and housed in the respective grooves
(C1, C2); each stop lock element comprises a single polygonal plate (16); at the two
distal edges (16a, 16b), on opposite sides of and parallel to the plate (16) and on
the flat opposite surfaces of the plate (16) there is a plurality of protuberances
(18, 19) which, upon screw fastening, penetrate simultaneously both frontally, that
is to say, into the longitudinal sections (3b, 4b), and vertically, that is to say,
into the inside surface of the transversal sections (3a, 4a).
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[0001] This invention relates to a hinge for doors or windows, in particular but not exclusively, doors or windows of medium-large size and hence relatively heavy.
[0002] Hinges for doors and windows of this type currently available on the market can be divided broadly into the following two types:
- "face-mounted hinges", that is to say, hinges applied to doors or windows by means of holes or slots made on the outer front part of the frame profiles (used for exterior doors and windows, for example of the reinforced type);
- traditional hinges, that is to say hinges applicable to frames, especially door frames, with traditional profiles (like those usually used for windows) where there is an internal groove - on both the fixed and mobile frame - for positioning and fastening the respective flap of the hinge body directly to the inside of the mobile frame or fixed frame.
[0003] This specification refers to hinges of the second type, that is, traditional hinges, used on medium-large door or window units.
[0004] Hinges of this type, apart from differences in size, consist basically of components used for doors and windows that are smaller and lighter. The components are essentially the following:
- a first male, or lower, hinge body having a socket and a flap for fastening it to the fixed frame;
- a second female, or upper, hinge body having a respective socket and a flap for fastening it to the mobile frame;
- a hinge pin that can be housed inside the two sockets and defining the axis of rotation of the mobile frame.
[0005] The hinge flaps are fastened to the respective frames by screws that act on one of the following two types of retaining means that push against the inside of the groove and, more specifically, on the inside walls of the groove which is defined by a pair of upturned L-shaped protrusions facing each other:
- a segment (or block) of profile housed in the groove of the respective frame (usually defined by the above mentioned pair of L-shaped protrusions) and opposing the inside surface of the protrusions themselves;
- a plate with a cam profile (substantially rhomboidal in shape) for each screw present on the flap of the respective hinge body and able to be coupled to the screw itself by means of a threaded hole through the centre of it.
[0006] This specification relates to the second type of fastening, which is much simpler than the first type since the plate is pre-fitted to the screw and is inserted into the profile groove substantially from the front. When the screw is turned, the plate also turns, thereby coming into contact with the opposite walls of the groove and generating a force that opposes the screw.
[0007] Tightening the screw further causes the plate to stop turning and to remain fixed, forcing it to move gradually closer to the L-shaped protrusions until it presses hard against the protrusions (and also against the sides of the protrusions) in such a way as to securely lock the hinge flap in place.
[0008] Although on the one hand this system makes assembly relatively quick and easy, on the other hand, it has shortcomings in terms of precision, security and durability, especially in the case of extruded profiles with deep grooves having thermal break features: in practice, the profile includes non-metallic components along the length of the profile (in particular, but not necessarily, bars extending along the central portion of the profile) which undoubtedly improve thermal insulation but may negatively affect bending strength, making the profile parts less resistant to deformation under the weight of the door or window.
[0009] In particular, the protrusions may bend under the pushing force applied by the plate, widening the groove and causing general misalignment of the door or window. In many cases, this misalignment cannot be rectified and eventually leads to fatigue breakage. This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a door and window hinge provided with a fastening system that is at once extremely simple and reliable and that reinforces the protrusions from the inside of the groove but without altering the basic structure of the hinge.
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention achieves this aim with a hinge, in particular a hinge for metal doors and windows comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the appended claims.
[0011] The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the appended claims and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of a hinge for doors and windows according to the invention applied to the profiles forming part of the door or window unit;
- Figure 2 illustrates the hinge of Figure 2 in a top plan view with some parts in cross section and others cut away to better illustrate certain details;
- Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, a perspective view and a front view, with some parts cut away, of a stop lock plate forming part of the hinge of the previous figures and shown fitted in the groove of a door/window profile;
- Figure 5 is a plan view from above showing the plate of Figures 3 and 4;
- Figures 6 and 7 are respective cross sections through the lines VI - VI and VII - VII shown in Figure 5;
- Figure 8 illustrates a scaled-up detail A of the plate of Figure 5;
- Figure 9 illustrates the plate of Figure 5 in a side view;
- Figure 10 illustrates a scaled-up detail B of the plate of Figure 9.
[0012] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figures 1 and 2, the hinge according to the invention, labelled 6 in its entirety, is applied to medium-large and relatively heavy doors and/or windows installed in large indoor areas (such as shopping centres, for example).
[0013] These doors and windows, of known type, comprise a fixed frame 1 and a mobile frame 2 whose profiles form respective longitudinal fastening grooves C1, C2 each comprised of a pair 3, 4 of facing upturned L-shaped protrusions or "wings" defining an upper longitudinal opening 5 defined by the distance between the transversal sections 3a, 4a of the L.
[0014] The hinge 6 applied to these doors and windows is of partly known type and comprises at least the following:
- a first hinge body 7 having a first cylindrical socket and a first flap 8 that can be associated, through respective first fastening means 9, with the groove C1 of the fixed frame 1;
- a second hinge body 10 having a second cylindrical socket and a second flap 11 that can be associated, through respective second fastening means 12, with the groove C2 of the mobile frame 2;
- a hinge pin 13 that can be housed in the two sockets and defining the axis of rotation Z of the mobile frame 2.
[0015] For convenience of description and illustration, the accompanying drawings show only one part of the two frames 1 and 2 and of the hinge 6 since both the frames and the hinge are composed of two similar parts.
[0016] Again with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the first and second fastening means 9 and 12 each comprise, by way of example, three screw elements 14 inserted into respective holes 15 made in the flaps 8 and 11.
[0017] The screw elements 14 operate on respective stop-lock elements 16 acting on the protrusions 3 and 4 and are housed in the respective grooves C1 and C2 of the fixed and mobile frames 1 and 2.
[0018] Looking more closely at the details, with reference to Figures 3 to 5, each stop-lock element comprises a single flat block or plate 16 which, viewed from above, has a substantially polygonal shape.
[0019] At the two distal edges 16a and 16b, on opposite sides of and parallel to the plate 16 and on the flat opposite surfaces of the plate 16 there is a plurality of protuberances 18, 19 which, upon screw fastening, penetrate simultaneously both frontally, that is to say, into the longitudinal sections 3b, 4b of the protrusions 3, 4, and vertically, that is to say, into the inside surface of the transversal sections 3a, 4a of the protrusions 3, 4.
[0020] In other words, as described in more detail below, the plate 16 is locked in place inside the groove C1 - C2, the protuberances 18 and 19 engaging both sections of the groove and thus fulfilling the twofold function of: stop for the respective hinge body 7 - 10 and lock for joining the protrusions 3, 4 which are thus combined with the plate 16 itself to form a single block.
[0021] With reference also to Figures 6 to 10, each edge 16a and 16b of the plate 16 comprises a plurality of serrations 17 alternated with empty spaces for fastening to the respective groove C1 - C2.
[0022] More specifically, the free outer surface 18 of each serration 17 (which, in practice, defines a part of the protuberances) forms a flat straight surface designed to frontally engage the longitudinal sections 3b, 4b during fastening.
[0023] Each of the serrations comprises a prismatic body 17 having, on the sides of it, respective wedge-shaped protuberances 19 extending asymmetrically, that is to say, one upwards and the other downwards, so that either one or the other cuts vertically into the inside surface of the transversal sections 3a, 4a, irrespective of which way the plate 16 is fitted into the groove C1 - C2, meaning that the position of the plate 16 in the grooves C1 - C2 is reversible (and thus suitable for both right- and left-hand opening doors and windows).
[0024] The structure of the plate 15 is completed by a full central part 16c having respective edge portions 20, 21 extending at an angle in mutually opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis X of extension of the plate 16.
[0025] The plate 16 also has smooth edge portions 22 and 23 (opposite the serrated edges 16a and 16b) adjoining the edge portions 20 and 21 of the central part 16c; each of the edge portions 22 and 23 is inclined at the same angle as the corresponding edge portion 20 and 21 of the central part, thus creating the above mentioned rhomboidal shape enabling the plate 16 to be housed frontally in the respective groove C1 - C2.
[0026] This special geometrical shape enables the plate 16 to be inserted into the groove C1 - C2 substantially at an angle (and thus frontally) and then turned, once inside the groove C1 - C2, so as to bring the edges 16a and 16b into contact with the sections 3b and 4b of the protrusions 3 and 4, thus also enabling part of the central body 16c to be stopped and locked in place against the transversal sections 3a and 4a after fastening.
[0027] With reference to Figures 5 to 10, the plate 16 has three threaded through holes 24 designed to be engaged by the above mentioned screw fastening elements 14.
[0028] Each of the holes 24 has an open, threaded cylindrical extension 25 protruding from one of the surfaces of the plate 16: the extension 25 provides an added threaded surface for fastening with the screws 14.
[0029] In short, therefore, the hinge bodies 7 and 10, each provided with a plate 16, are placed on the respective grooves C1 and C2 (see Figure 1) after inserting the plates 16 into the respective grooves C1 - C2.
[0030] Next, the installer slides the hinge body 7 and 10 to the point chosen for fitting the hinge and can start tightening at least one of the screw elements 14. In the example illustrated in this specification, tightening begins with the middle screw element 14, the one that most easily imparts rotation to the respective plate 16 by just a few degrees (arrow F1, Figures 3 and 4) so as to cause the two edges 16a and 16b with the serrations 17 to lock against the inside surfaces of the two longitudinal sections 3b, 4b of the protrusions 3 and 4 which are thus penetrated by the outer front surface 18 of the serrations 17 themselves.
[0031] Subsequent tightening of the screw elements 14 raises the plate 16 (arrow F2, Figure 2) until the protuberances 19 come into contact with and penetrate into the transversal sections 3a and 4a of the protrusions 3 and 4.
[0032] A hinge made as described above fully achieves the aforementioned aims thanks to the special structure of the stop-lock elements.
[0033] The serrations have a sort of "double profile" for cutting into the protrusions and creating a solid hinge structure that holds the entire half-part more securely and increases its grip inside the groove both laterally and perpendicularly: this is achieved by the firm grip of the serrations which penetrate the sides of the groove and reduce the risk of the individual parts of the protrusions bending or yielding.
1. A hinge for doors and windows comprising a fixed frame (1) and a mobile frame (2)
whose profiles form respective longitudinal fastening grooves (C1, C2) each comprised
of a pair (3, 4) of facing upturned L-shaped protrusions or "wings" defining an upper
longitudinal opening (5) defined by the facing transversal sections (3a, 4a) of the
L; the hinge (6) comprising at least:
- a first hinge body (7) having a first cylindrical socket and a first flap (8) that can be associated, through respective first fastening means (9), with the groove (C1) of the fixed frame (1);
- a second hinge body (10) having a second cylindrical socket and a second flap (11) that can be associated, through respective second fastening means (12), with the groove (C2) of the mobile frame (2);
- a hinge pin (13) that can be housed in the two sockets and defining the axis of rotation (Z) of the mobile frame (2); the first fastening means (9) and second fastening means (12) each comprising at least one pair of screw elements (14) inserted into respective holes (15) in each flap (8, 11) and operating on respective stop lock elements (16) acting on the protrusions (3, 4) and housed in the respective grooves (C1, C2) in the fixed frame (1) and mobile frame (2); the hinge (6) being characterized in that each stop lock element comprises a flat block or plate (16) having a substantially polygonal shape, viewed from above; there being, at the two distal edges (16a, 16b), on opposite sides of and parallel to the plate (16) and on the flat opposite surfaces of the plate (16), a plurality of protuberances (18, 19) which, upon screw fastening, penetrate simultaneously both frontally, that is to say, into the longitudinal sections (3b, 4b) of the protrusions (3, 4), and vertically, that is to say, into the inside surface of the transversal sections (3a, 4a) of the protrusions (3, 4).
2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that each edge (16a, 16b) of the plate (16) comprises a plurality of serrations (17),
alternated with empty spaces, for fastening to the respective groove (C1, C2); the
free outer surface (18) of each serration (17) forming a flat straight surface designed
to frontally cut into the longitudinal sections (3b, 4b) and defining a part of the
penetrating protuberances.
3. The hinge according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each serration comprises a prismatic body (17) having, on the sides of it, respective
wedge-shaped protuberances (19) extending asymmetrically, that is to say, one upwards
and the other downwards, so that either one or the other cuts vertically into the
transversal sections (3a, 4a), irrespective of which way the plate (16) is fitted
into the groove (C1, C2), meaning that the position of the plate (16) in the grooves
(C1, C2) is reversible.
4. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (16) has a full central part (16c) having respective edge portions (20,
21) extending at an angle in mutually opposite directions relative to a longitudinal
axis (X) of extension of the plate (16).
5. The hinge according to claim 4, characterized in that the plate (16) also has smooth edge portions (22, 23) adjoining the edge portions
(20, 21) of the central part (16c) and extending at the same angle as the corresponding
edge portion (20, 21) of the central part.
6. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (16) has at least two threaded through holes (24) designed to be engaged
by the screw fastening elements (14).
7. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (16) has at least two threaded through holes (24) designed to be engaged
by the screw fastening elements (14); each hole (24) having an open, threaded cylindrical
extension (25) protruding from one of the surfaces of the plate (16).