Operating unit for bottom-hung windows

Abstract

 Operating unit for bottom-hung windows (1), the windows (1) comprising: a mobile frame (2) and a fixed frame (3) hinged to each other; control means (4) acting on the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3) for moving the window (1) from the open to the closed configuration; a retaining arm (5) for keeping the mobile frame (2) in the open configuration, connected to the two frames (2,3); an operating unit (6) comprising a rod (7) connected to the control means (4), having two closing elements (8,9) that can be stably coupled to respective striker means (10,11); a corner transmission element (12) associated with the mobile frame (2), connected to the rod (7) and to a drive (13) for connection to a rod segment (14) slidably mounted on the first upright (2c) of the mobile frame (2) and equipped with at least one further closing element (15) that can be coupled to a respective striker element (16).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an operating unit for bottom-hung windows, in particular bottom-hung windows whose frames are made of metal, PVC or the like, wood - PVC, etc.

[0002] At present, bottom-hung windows are used extensively because they meet a wide range of requirements in buildings of all kinds (residential, schools, hospitals, factories and so on).

[0003] Windows of this kind are installed in the parts of a building that are not easy to reach as, for example, is the case of transom windows or fanlights (usually above a door) or that are situated very high up (as, for example, in factory buildings) and are opened preferably using a suitable operator or other tool with hooking means at its top end.

[0004] Typically, a window of this kind has two hinge points between the mobile frame and the fixed frame, on the bottom horizontal edge, a single point by which the mobile frame is closed, usually on the top horizontal edge, as well as two arms for retaining the mobile frame and hinged between the two respective uprights of the mobile frame and of the fixed frame.

[0005] The single closing point, which is usually located half way along the width of the window frame, consists of a well known device which those familiar with the trade refer to as "latch".

[0006] The latch is basically a fastening element, consisting of a pin mounted on suitable supporting means (plates) attached to the mobile frame, and a striker element attached to the fixed frame. The striker element (usually an inclined surface) is normally coaxial with the latch pin which can slide axially (in both directions, thanks to a spring) towards an engagement slot located at the innermost end of the striker element. The outermost end of the latch has a ring handle that can be operated by hand or engaged by a hook or operator.

[0007] With this device, the user can release the closing element which, in this example, is the latch pin, from the engagement slot so that gravity causes the mobile frame to be tilted towards the inside of the room where it is installed. To close the window, the user pushes the mobile frame towards the fixed frame until the pin springs into the slot.

[0008] Although this type of window is widely used, its structure presents several problems that are as yet unsolved.

[0009] The main drawback of this type of window is, indeed, the closing device at a single point.

[0010] The single joining point makes it difficult to close the window satisfactorily because, amongst other things, windows of this kind usually have irregular proportions (very wide and low, very narrow and tall, depending on requirements) and thus the single closing point, which is usually positioned, as mentioned above, half way along the window, cannot provide an efficient seal or sufficient guarantee of security for the entire window.

[0011] In particular, the single closing point offers little resistance to would-be burglars and applies insufficient pressure on the weather strips, especially at the corners furthest away from it, providing an ineffective weather seal (as well as low insulation against noise).

[0012] For this purpose, the Applicant devised a solution (see also European patent EP 1.707.720) where the controlling means comprise operating means (a sliding rod) positioned on the mobile crosspiece and have two or more elements (pins) for closing the mobile frame against the fixed frame, these closing elements being spaced far apart and being able to be securely coupled to each other by means of strikers located on the fixed crosspiece. In addition to the above, cam means are provided to act on the operating means to actuate the mobile frame in such a way that the window is moved automatically from the open to the closed configuration.

[0013] This solution has doubtlessly increased the security of the bottom-hung window unit.

[0014] In some cases, however, the bottom-hung window is installed at a height where it can easily be reached and is thus exposed to a high risk of burglary (as for example in the case of cellar windows or groups of windows in public premises at the low storeys which by law cannot have side-hung sashes that swing open).

[0015] For these situations, the level of security required is higher than that offered by bottom-hung windows with at least two closing points: in particular, it would be necessary to provide two or more additional closing points along the uprights of the frame, away from the upper crosspiece.

[0016] The possibility of applying auxiliary closing points interferes with the retaining arm connected to the uprights of the bottom-hung sash frame at the point which defines the perimetric limit for positioning the abutment elements associated with the operating rods.

[0017] This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing an operating unit for bottom-hung windows with which it is possible to obtain a plurality of closing points, even close to the bottom crosspieces, whether retaining arms are fitted or not.

[0018] According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a window operating unit, in particular, an operating unit for bottom-hung windows, comprising the technical characteristics described in one or more of the appended claims.

[0019] 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 schematic front view of a bottom-hung window equipped with the operating unit according to this invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of the bottom-hung window of Figure 1 in an open configuration;
• Figure 3 is a scaled-up side view of a detail from Figure 2;
• Figures 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, an exploded perspective view, a front perspective view, and a rear perspective view showing two components of the window of Figure 3;
• Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, a front view and a bottom plan view of a slider forming part of the retaining arm of Figures 3 to 6;
• Figure 9 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the window according to the invention.

[0020] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figures 1 and 2, the operating unit according to the invention is used on bottom-hung windows, denoted as a whole by the numeral 1 in the drawings.

[0021] As we shall see, these windows 1 are hinged along the bottom so that they can be opened by tilting towards the inside of the room where they are installed.

[0022] Windows 1 of this kind essentially comprise the following main elements: a mobile frame 2 and a fixed frame 3; control means 4; at least one retaining arm 5; and an operating unit 6.

[0023] More in detail, the mobile frame 2 and the fixed frame 3 are hinged to each other along a respective first (bottom) crosspiece 2a, 3a by means of one or more hinges CR.

[0024] The mobile frame and the fixed frame 2, 3 each have a respective longitudinal groove C2 and C3 in which operating accessories, extending perimetrically, can be fastened.

[0025] The control means 4 (for example a kind of handle) act on the mobile and fixed frames 2, 3 to enable the window 1 to be moved to an open configuration, where at least one second crosspiece 2b of the mobile frame 2 is away from the respective second crosspiece 3b of the fixed frame 3 (see Figure 2), and a closed configuration, where the mobile crosspiece 2b is in contact with the fixed crosspiece 3b (see Figure 1).

[0026] In the accompanying drawings, purely by way of example, the control element 4 is, as mentioned, a kind of handle 4 mounted on the second, upper crosspiece 2b.

[0027] As regards the retaining arm 5, there are usually two of these arms 5, 5' designed to keep the mobile frame 2 in the open configuration (a sort of limit stop).

[0028] The ends of each arm are connected to the mobile frame 2 and to the fixed frame 3 at the respective first uprights 2c, 3c and 2d, 3d and through respective first and second retaining elements 5a, 5b inserted in the grooves C2 and C3.

[0029] The operating unit 6 comprises a rod 7 connected to the control handle 4, slidably mounted in the groove C2 of the mobile frame 2 and having at least two elements 8, 9 for closing the mobile frame 2 on the fixed frame 3. These two elements 8, 9 (for example bosses) can be securely coupled to respective strikers 10, 11 located on the fixed frame 3.

[0030] For example, the rod 7, with the bosses 8, 9 and the strikers 10 and 11 may be located, respectively, on the second mobile crosspiece 2b (the rod 7 and the bosses 8, 9) and on the second fixed crosspiece 3b (the striker means 10, 11).

[0031] The structure and operation of the handle 4, of the bosses 8, 9 and of the striker means 10, 11 are not described or illustrated in detail here since they are fully specified in patent EP 1.707.720 to the same Applicant as this invention.

[0032] As shown also in Figures 3 to 6, the operating unit 6 also comprises at least one corner transmission element 12 and at least one drive 13 located on the first upright 2c.

[0033] More specifically, the corner transmission element 12 is associated with the mobile frame 2 and is connected at one end to the rod 7 and at the other, to the drive 13.

[0034] The transmission element 12 may be equipped with a rigid corner frame by which it is fitted in the groove C2 and with a flexible steel strip slidably housed in the rigid frame and having means for fastening it to the rod 7 at one end and to the drive 13 at the other, to enable transmission of motion.

[0035] The drive 13 allows connection with a rod segment 14 slidably mounted on the first upright 2c of the mobile frame 2 and equipped with at least one further closing element 15 (boss) that can be coupled to a respective striker 16: both are mounted near the first crosspiece 2a, that is to say, at the end of the first upright 2c and are similar in structure to the bosses 8, 9 and strikers 10 and 11 described above.

[0036] The drive 13 also has a portion 13a that is slidably engaged in a slideway 17 made in the first retaining element 5a of the arm 5.

[0037] Obviously, only the parts on the upright on one side of the bottom-hung window according to the invention are described since the upright on the other side of the window may be provided with the same parts as those just described (retaining arm 5' with transmission means 12, drive 13 and respective additional closing points).

[0038] As Figures 7 and 8 also show, the first retaining element of the arm 5 is in the form of a slide shoe 18 slidably associated with the groove C2 and equipped with the longitudinal slideway 17 which is open at the bottom end and in which the portion 13a of the drive 13 is slidable.

[0039] The drive 13 has two ends equipped with respective means 19 and 20 for fastening it to the transmission element 12 and to the rod segment 14, and a central portion joining the two ends, in the form of the strip 13a, smaller in thickness and width and slidable in the longitudinal slideway 17 of the slide shoe 18.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, again by way of example, the drive 13 may be connected at the top to a further rod segment 14a which is in turn connected to the corner transmission element 12 in order to provide a further closing point at the top of the first upright 2c.

[0041] In short, the slide shoe 18 and the portion 13a of the drive 13 are slidable relative to each other.

[0042] This relative movement occurs substantially at different moments: when the window 1 is set to the open or closed configuration using the handle, it is the drive 13 that moves relative to the slide shoe 18 (see arrow F13) whereas during the tilting movement of the mobile frame 2 towards or away from the fixed frame, it is the slide shoe 18 that slides along the portion 13a (see arrow F18).

[0043] Precisely on account of this movement, there may be a block 25 superposed along the portion 13a of the drive 13, partly housed in the groove C2, adjustable along the portion 13a of the drive 13 and designed to define a limit stop element for the slide shoe 18 as mobile frame 2 passes from the closed to the open configuration.

[0044] The block 25 has an open-ended groove 25a at the bottom of it, slidably engaged by the portion 13a of the drive 13 to prevent interference with its operating movement.

[0045] Returning now to the slide shoe 18 (see Figures 7 and 8), this has friction adjusting means 21 acting on the slide shoe 18 itself designed to enable the slide shoe 18 to slide more or less easily in the groove C2 when the mobile frame 2 is opened and closed.

[0046] More in detail, the adjustment means 21 comprise a grub screw 22 screwed into a hole 23 made at one end of the slide shoe 18.

[0047] The grub screw 22 faces and acts on a central opening or slot 24 which separates two top surfaces 18a, 18b of the slide shoe 18: in this way, depending on the extent to which the grub screw 22 is screwed in or out, the two surfaces are moved further apart or closer together so as to increase or decrease contact of the slide shoe 18 with the sides of the groove C2, thus increasing or decreasing the friction of the slide shoe 18 when it slides.

[0048] Figure 9 shows how this technical feature of the drive 13 allows the window 1 to be configured according to a further constructional architecture. In the case illustrated, the control element 4 may be in the form of a customary cremone handle 4m mounted on the first upright 2c of the window 1.

[0049] The handle 4m is connected, through respective transmission means 4r (for example, a known drive fin connected between two strikers located on the rod segment 14), to the rod segment 14 which, as mentioned, is in turn connected to the drive 13.

[0050] Thus, the grip 4p of the handle 4m may be turned to stable end configurations corresponding to the open and closed end configurations of the window 1, applying the control movement directly to the rod segment 14 (see arrows F4m, Figure 9) which in turn transmits the control movement to the drive 13 and, hence, to the corner transmission element 12 which therefore also drives the rod 7 provided with the other closing elements of the window 1.

[0051] It should be noticed that the handle 4m is mounted on the first upright 2c at a point below the point where the retaining arm 5 or 5' is connected to the first upright 2c relative to the hinged crosspieces 2a, 3a of the mobile and fixed frames 2 and 3.

[0052] An operating unit made as described above fully achieves the aforementioned aims thanks to a drive which bypasses the slide shoe of the retaining arm and in such a way as to enable operation of a closing point at a position close to the window hinge point.

[0053] This feature makes it possible to increase the number of closing points on the bottom-hung window without having to replace or change the components of the window and, above all, without having to vary the structure of the window and of its drive mechanism: the security of the bottom-hung window as a whole is thus considerably increased.

[0054] The presence of the drive makes it possible to fit a traditional handle on the upright of the window frame at a convenient position for the user.

[0055] The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. An operating unit for bottom-hung windows (1), the windows (1) being of the type comprising at least:

- a mobile frame (2) and a fixed frame (3) hinged to each other along a respective first crosspiece (2a, 3a); the mobile frame (2) and the fixed frame (3) each having a profile forming respective perimetric grooves (C2, C3) in which operating accessories can be fastened;

- control means (4) acting on the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3) and designed to allow the window (1) to be moved to an open configuration, where at least one second crosspiece (2b) of the mobile frame (2) is away from the respective second crosspiece (3b) of the fixed frame (3), and a closed configuration, where the mobile crosspiece (2b) is in contact with the fixed crosspiece (3b);

- at least one retaining arm (5) for keeping the mobile frame (2) in the open configuration, connected at its two ends to the first uprights (2c, 3c) of the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3), respectively, through respective first and second retaining elements (5a, 5b) fitted in the grooves (C2, C3);

- an operating unit (6) comprising a rod (7) controlled by the control means (4), slidably mounted in the groove (C2) in the mobile frame (2) and having at least two elements (8, 9) for closing the mobile frame (2) against the fixed frame (3) and which can be stably coupled to respective striker means (10, 11) mounted on the fixed frame (3), the operating unit (6) being characterized in that it further comprises:

- at least one corner transmission element (12) associated with the mobile frame (2) and connected at one end to the rod (7) and at the other end to

- a drive (13) for connection to a rod segment (14) slidably mounted on the first vertical member (2c) of the mobile frame (2) and equipped with at least one further closing element (15) that can be coupled to a respective striker (16) positioned near the first crosspiece (2a); a portion (13a) of the drive (13) being slidably engaged in a slideway (17) made in the first retaining element (5a) of the arm (5).

2. The operating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first element for retaining the at least one arm (5) is in the form of a slide shoe (18) slidably associated with the groove (C2) and provided with the longitudinal slideway (17), which is open at the bottom and in which the portion (13a) of the drive (13) is slidable.

3. The operating unit according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the drive (13) has two ends equipped with means (19, 20) for fastening it to the transmission element (12) and to the rod segment (14), respectively, and a central portion joining the two ends, in the form of a strip (13a), smaller in thickness and width and slidable in the longitudinal slideway (17) of the slide shoe (18).

4. The unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide shoe (18) and the portion (13a) of the drive (13) are slidable relative to each other, the slide shoe (18) having friction adjusting means (21) acting on the slide shoe (18) itself and designed to enable the slide shoe (18) to slide more or less easily in the groove (C2).

5. The unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment means (21) comprise a grub screw (22) screwed into a through hole (23) made at one end of the slide shoe (18); the grub screw (22) facing and acting on a central opening or slot (24) which separates two top surfaces (18a, 18b) of the slide shoe (18) in such a way as to move them further apart or closer together, depending on the extent to which it is screwed in or out, so as to increase or decrease contact of the slide shoe (18) with the sides of the groove (C2), thus increasing or decreasing the friction of the slide shoe (18) when it slides.

6. The unit according to claim 4, characterized in that along the portion (13a) of the drive (13) there is a superposed block (25), partly housed in the groove (C2), adjustable along the portion (13a) of the drive (13) and designed to define a limit stop element for the slide shoe (18) as the mobile frame (2) passes from the closed to the open configuration.

7. The unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the block (25) has an open-ended groove (25a) at the bottom of it, slidably engaged by the portion (13a) of the drive (13).

8. The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (4) comprises a handle (4m), associated with the first upright (2c) of the window

(1) and is connected, through respective transmission means (4r), to the rod segment (14), which is in turn connected to the drive (13); the handle (4m) having a handgrip (4p) that can be turned to two stable end configurations corresponding to the open and closed configurations of the window (1), through direct action on the rod segment (14).

9. The unit according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that the handle (4m) is mounted on the first upright (2c) at a point below the point where the retaining arm (5) is connected to the first upright (2c) relative to the first, hinged crosspieces (2a, 3a) of the mobile frame (2) and fixed frame (3).

Drawing