DEVICE FOR THE OPENING/CLOSING OF A WINDOW CASING, WITH A STOP MEMBER FOR THE HUNG SASH IN THE OPEN POSITION

Abstract

 A window casing comprising a fixed frame (1) and a hung sash (2) and an opening/closing device. The device comprises an arm (9) pivotably fixed to the frame (1), and roto-translationally attached to upright (21) of the sash (2). A rod (4) slides along the upright (21) driven by handle (3) and drives latch means (5) in/out of engagement means (6) mounted on the frame (1) . The rod (4) comprises locking means (8, 80) suitable to engage with arm (9) when the rod moves towards locking position, thus blocking the arm (9) from sliding and locking the sash (2) in open position.

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a device for the opening/closing of a window casing with hung sash having limited opening, the device having means for locking the hung sash in the open position.

[0002] In conventional window casings, with hung sash hinged to a fixed frame, it is sometimes necessary to limit the extent to which the hung sash itself opens, so as to prevent a user from leaning out. There is high demand for these provisions in situations where the safety of people must be ensured, such as schools, hospitals, high floors of buildings, offices, etc..

[0003] Among the known solutions for preventing the complete opening of the hung sash there is the use of arms the ends of which are respectively hinged to the upright of the fixed frame and to the corresponding free upright of the hung sash (that which is not hinged to the fixed frame). The hung sash can therefore open by an angle that is determined by the length of the arm.

[0004] Conventional opening/closing devices have numerous drawbacks. Firstly, the arm cannot always by itself ensure the stable locking of the hung sash in open position; for example, sometimes under the action of a strong gust of wind the hung sash is forcefully closed, with consequent danger to the user and at the same time with the risk of the glass of the hung sash breaking.

[0005] Therefore, there are solutions that foresee the use of means for locking the arm, which have the purpose of ensuring that the hung sash is locked in open position.

[0006] Some examples of these solutions are described in documents EP1785562, US2013192027, EP2647784, US2013031840, EP2586943. The devices described in such documents do, however, have some drawbacks. For example, in order to obtain the locking of the hung sash (or of the arm) it is necessary to act on the arm itself with suitable tools or with accessory devices (see for example US2013031840). Furthermore, it is not always possible (even for authorised personnel) to deactivate such arm locking systems in order to disengage the hung sash to allow it to be completely opened in order to make cleaning and maintenance operations of the window casing easier. Even in the case in which the disengagement of the arm from the hung sash is possible, such an operation is often complex and requires trained personnel.

[0007] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for opening/closing window casings with hung sash having limited opening that solves the problems described above.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type that allows easy and safe locking of the hung sash in open position.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a device that is simultaneously structurally simple and easy to use, as well as easy to mount and relatively cheap to make.

[0010] Finally, a further purpose of the device according to the invention is to ensure complete opening of the hung sash when necessary.

[0011] These and other objects are achieved with a device for opening/closing window casings with hung sash having limited opening according to the invention, the essential characteristics of which are defined by the first of the attached claims.

[0012] Further important characteristics are defined by the dependent claims.

[0013] The characteristics and advantages of the device according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

• figures 1a and 1b show, in successive steps, the opening of a hung sash of a window casing on which the device according to the invention is mounted; in particular figure 1 a shows the closed window casing (i.e. with hung sash closed) and figure 1b shows the open window casing (i.e. the hung sash in a maximum opening position allowed);
• figure 1c shows the hung sash in a maximum open position with the activated system for locking the hung sash in such a position;
• figure 2 shows, with a broken line, the window casing, whereas the device for opening/closing the hung sash, as well as a handle of the casing itself, are shown with a full and bold line;
• figure 3a is a front view of an upper member of a rod for opening/closing the hung sash fixedly connected to the mobile upright of the sash, an end of the arm being connected to the upright, through a pin (shown in cross section according to a vertical plane), the arm being represented in a position corresponding to the maximum opening allowed of the hung sash;
• figure 3b is a cross section according to a horizontal plane (indicated in figure 3a with reference symbol III-III) of the device of figure 3a;
• figure 4a is yet another front view analogous in positioning of the hung sash to that of figure 3a, in which however the arm is locked in such a maximum allowed open position of the hung sash;
• figure 4b is a cross section according to a horizontal plane (indicated in figure 4a with reference symbol IV-IV) of the device of figure 4a;
• figure 5a is a front view of the end of the arm fixedly connected to the upright of the hung sash, in which it is possible to see the head of the pin of the previous figures that supports a socket means for a suitable key (not shown);
• figure 5b shows the pin of figure 5a in release position of the arm, i.e. in a position such as to allow the disengagement of the arm itself from the upper portion fixedly connected to the free upright of the hung sash.

[0014] With reference to the above figures, the window casing, according to a known configuration, comprises a fixed frame 1 to which a mobile hung sash 2 is connected in a pivoting manner. In particular, the mobile hung sash 2 is hinged to a first vertical upright 10 of the fixed frame by means of two known hinges 20; with respect to the fixed frame therefore, the hung sash has an opening/closing movement according to a vertical axis X defined by the hinges themselves.

[0015] In the typical solution of a casing with hung sash having limited opening, moreover, the hung sash, and in particular a free upright 21 thereof (i.e. the upright not hinged) is also constrained to a second upright 11 of the fixed frame, as will be seen more clearly hereafter.

[0016] Going into greater detail, with reference to figure 2, the casing comprises an opening or closing device of the hung sash. In particular, the device, associated with a handle 3 of the casing, comprises a rod 4 that may for example be flat (with rectangular cross section) which, under the action of the rotation movement of the handle, translates upwards or downwards (according to a direction X' parallel to the axis of rotation X, compatibly with the opening or closing movement of the hung sash itself) in abutment on a face 21 a of the free upright 21 of the hung sash.

[0017] The rod supports latches 5 at its free ends; the translation movement of the rod thus allows the latches to be freed or engaged in respective engagement means 6 fixedly connected to the upright 11 of the fixed frame, according to a per sé known solution.

[0018] Going into even more detail, and with particular reference now to figures 3a and 4a, the device comprises a flat body 7 fixedly connected to the free upright 21. An upper member of the rod 4 is slidably engaged with the body 7. In particular, the body 7 has a cross section (according to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation X of the hung sash) that is substantially C-shaped, i.e. it comprises a flat wall 70 that is arranged facing and parallel to the face 21 a of the free upright. The upper member of the rod is thus housed in the seat 7a defined between the body, namely between its flat wall 70, and the face of the upright.

[0019] In a preferred solution, the upper member of the rod is in the form of an elongated plate 8, connected to the rod by means of coupling pins and arranged so as to constitute an extension of the rod itself. The plate 8 is thus set in movement by the rod, therefore responds to the commands of the handle 3. Furthermore, at its free end, the elongated plate 8 supports one of the two latches 5.

[0020] Turning back to the body 7, on the flat wall 70, in essentially centred position, a through slot 71 is formed having a vertical segment 71a arranged according to the direction of translation of the rod 4 and at least one divergent or slanting or elbow-shaped segment 71b arranged at an end of the vertical segment. In the solution illustrated in the figures, the slot has two elbow-shaped segments (so as to be substantially C-shaped) to allow the reversibility of the device, i.e. assembly both on window casings with hung sash opening to the right or left (i.e. depending on the upright where the hinging is made). For a similar reason, the elongated plate 8 also supports a further latch 5' at its end for connecting with the rod. Such a further latch is indeed unused in the casing configuration shown in the figures, but it is arranged to allow the reversibility of the device, in the case in which it is necessary to mount on a casing with opening in the opposite direction.

[0021] An end 9a of an arm 9 is slidably engaged in the slot 71, the arm having the function of limiting the opening of the hung sash; to this purpose, the opposite end of the arm is connected in a pivoting manner to the upright 11 of the fixed frame. The arm 9 therefore connects the free upright 21 of the hung sash to that 11 of the fixed frame, limiting the rotation movement of the hung sash and thus preventing the total opening thereof. With reference also to figures 3b and 4b, the engagement between the end of the arm and the slot is carried out by means of a pin 90, supported at the end 9a and directed perpendicularly to the direction X' of translation of the rod. The sliding of the pin 90 in the slot is determined by the opening/closing movement of the hung sash itself, a movement that involves the simultaneous roto-translation movement of the arm that indeed results in the pure translation of the pin in the slot 71 of the body 7.

[0022] In order to prevent the pin 90 from slipping out from the slot, it has an enlarged head 900 with a substantially rectangular profile that houses in the seat 7a, between the elongated plate 8 and the flat wall 70; the larger side of the enlarged head has a size that exceed the width of the slot 71, so that the pin cannot come out from the slot itself. In normal operating conditions, as shown in the figures, the pin 90 is mounted in the slot so that the rectangular head rests with its larger side in an arrangement substantially perpendicular to the main development of the slot. The smaller side of the enlarged head, on the other hand, has dimensions comparable to or smaller than the width of the slot, but this aspect will be discussed in detail further on.

[0023] The plate 8 has abutment means such as at least one protrusion 80 that rises along an edge of the plate itself in the seat defined by the body 7. The protrusion rises from the plate by a height such as to substantially reach the inner surface of the flat wall 70. In the example illustrated in the figures, there are two protrusions 80, to ensure the reversibility of the device, i.e. the applicability to window casings opening to the right or left. In particular, the protrusions are on the plate in a position displaced towards its ends, between the latch 5 and the further latch 5'.

[0024] The head 900 on the short sides has a curved profile to assist the alignment and the consequent engagement with the protrusion 80, as will be seen shortly. The protrusion itself, for the same purpose, has a rounded edge that assists the aforementioned engagement decreasing the risk of jamming by mechanical interference.

[0025] Concerning the operation of the device, starting from the closed position of the casing, a first rotation of the handle 3 corresponds to the translation of the rod 4 and the consequent displacement of the plate 8. The translation of the rod leads to the disengagement of the pins 5 from the respective engagement means 6 and the simultaneous possibility of opening the hung sash 2. The opening movement of the hung sash results in a roto-translation movement of the lever and therefore the displacement of the pin 90 in the straight segment 71 a of the slot 71.

[0026] The maximum open position of the hung sash corresponds to the insertion position of the pin in the elbow-shaped divergent segment 71 b (figure 3a). In order to stably lock the pin in such a position and thus prevent the movement of the arm, i.e. an accidental closing movement of the hung sash, the handle is actuated again by exerting a second rotation movement on it in the opposite direction. Such a rotation of the handle leads to the translation of the rod 4 and therefore of the plate 8 in the opposite direction (see the arrow in figure 4a). Such a translation will not result in a movement of the pin 90, because the hung sash is stationary in the maximum open position. As shown in figure 4a, the translation of the plate 8 takes place until the protrusion 80 and the pin 90 become aligned. In this position, the protrusion makes a lateral abutment with respect to the enlarged head 900 of the pin. Such a transversal abutment action, which can advantageously be obtained with light forcing or thrusting in the direction of the fixed frame, locks the pin in the elbow segment 71 b, preventing it from accidentally slipping out even under the action of an external thrust on the hung sash (as may be applied by the action of the wind).

[0027] In order to unlock the pin 90 and thus allow the hung sash to close, the handle 3 is actuated once again to move the rod 4 downwards and free the pin from the urge imposed by the protrusion 80; after this the hung sash closes and finally the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, to engage the pins 5 in the respective engagement means and lock the casing.

[0028] Now coming to figures 5a and 5b and with reference to what has been mentioned above concerning the enlarged head of the pin 90, the disengagement system of the pin from the slot will now be described, this disengagement allowing for the disconnection of the arm and therefore the total opening of the hung sash.

[0029] As can be seen in figure 5a, the base of the pin, i.e. the end opposite the enlarged head 900, has a socket means 901, in this specific embodiment in the form of two holes arranged spaced apart. Through the action of a suitable key in the socket means it is possible to rotate the pin by 90°, so as to align the enlarged head with the slot, i.e. so as to arrange the longer side of the enlarged head parallel with the sliding direction X' of the rod. Since, as mentioned, the shorter side is of comparable dimensions (in width) to the slot itself, the pin can thus be pulled out, therefore obtaining the disengagement of the end of the lever from the free upright of the hung sash.

[0030] The opening/closing device of the hung sash according to the invention is thus extremely simple from a constructive point of view, as well as being easy to use. In particular, the locking of the hung sash in open position is achieved by simply actuating the handle, without the need to intervene on the lever with special tools or other accessories. For the user, therefore, this results in a substantial ease of use.

[0031] Furthermore, thanks to the disengagement system of the lever, the hung sash can be completely opened, so as to ensure easy access to the part of the hung sash exposed to the outside, both for cleaning and for maintenance. Given the simplicity of the device, the disengagement of the lever is obtained quickly and simply, without the need to intervene extensively on the device, for example by dismounting some components.

[0032] The disengagement is then carried out with simple tools (like for example the aforementioned key), so that it is easy even for untrained personnel, like for example workers for the cleaning service.

[0033] When speaking of rotary connection to the ends of the arm 9, reference was made to the principal nature of the coupling as a rotation with a single degree of freedom about a fixed axis, being it possible that other smaller components of displacement occur to the axis (for example components of precession and as a result of mechanical clearances), components which can in any case be present to avoid or restrain deformations of the arm. It will also be obvious that by varying the position in height of the point of attachment of the arm to the fixed frame it will be possible, for a same length of the arm itself, to adjust the size of the maximum opening angle of the hung sash.

[0034] The present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments. It should be understood that there can be other embodiments that derive from the same inventive concept, within the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for the opening/closing of a window casing, the casing comprising a fixed frame (1) and a hung sash (2) connected to said fixed frame (1) pivotally around an axis of rotation (X), the hung sash having a free upright (21) parallel to and spaced apart from said axis of rotation (X), the device comprising: engagement means (6) mounted on said fixed frame (1); a rod (4) adapted to slide in a reciprocating manner along according to a sliding direction (X') along said free upright (21), between an insertion position and an unlock position, said positions corresponding to the locking and the unlocking of the sash (2) with respect to the frame (1) in a closing arrangement of the casing, through respectively the engagement and disengagement of latch means (5) associated with the rod (4) with said engagement means (6); a handle (3) to drive the sliding of said rod (4) between said insertion and unlock positions; an arm (9) that limits the rotation of said hung sash (2) with respect to said fixed frame (1) during the opening movement, opposite ends of said arm being respectively connected with a pivotal coupling to said fixed frame (1) and with a roto-translatory coupling to said free upright (21), the roto-translatory movement including a translation in the sliding direction (X') of the rod (4) from two end positions one of which corresponds to the stop of the hung sash in the configuration of maximum opening with respect to the fixed frame; said device being characterised in that it comprises locking means (8, 80) for locking the position of said arm (9) with respect to said hung sash (2) in the end position corresponding to the maximum opening configuration, said locking means being linked with said rod (4) and driven by it, and being adapted to engage with said arm (9) to obtain its lock in response of a sliding movement of said rod (4) towards said insertion position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the roto-translatory coupling between said arm (9) and said free upright (21) comprises a pin (90) integral with the arm (9) and a slot (71) formed in said free upright (21), said slot comprising a main straight segment (71 a) extending along said sliding direction (X') and at least one end segment (71 b) diverging from said main segment, said pin (90) being adapted to become arranged at a run stop in said end segment (71 b) when the hung sash is in its maximum opening configuration, said locking means further comprising an end member (8) fixed with the rod, said end member (8) comprising at least one abutment element (80) adapted to become aligned transversally, i.e. according to a direction orthogonal to said sliding direction (X'), with said pin (90) to mechanically interfere with the same pin to prevent it from coming out of said divergent end segment (71 b) thus avoiding a resulting accidental closing of the hung sash when the rod (4) is in said insertion position.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said slot (71) is formed in a flat body (7) connected to said free upright (21) and defining in cooperation with the upright itself a seat (7a) adapted to slidingly house, in a mutually superimposed fashion, said end member (8) and an enlarged head (900) of said pin (90).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said end member comprises an elongated plate (8), an end of which is connected to said rod (4) to define an extension of the rod itself, said at least one abutment element (80) comprising at least one protrusion (80) projecting at a longitudinal side edge of said plate towards said enlarged head (900) and adapted to avoid a transversal movement of the head within said seat (7a) when said pin (90) is housed in said divergent segment (71 b).

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said enlarged head (900) comprises at least one curved outline adapted to assist the alignment and the engagement with the protrusion (80), the latter comprising in turn a rounded edge adapted to assist the alignment and the engagement with said enlarged head (900).

6. The device according to any of the claims from 2 to 5, wherein said end member (8) comprises a latch element (5) for locking with said engagement means (6), said latch element being supported at a free end of said member, opposite with respect to an end of connection with said rod (4).

7. The device according any of the claims from 3 to 6, wherein said flat body (7) is connected to a surface (21 a) of said free upright of said hung sash, a flat wall (70) of said body being in parallel and spaced fashion with respect to said surface, said wall defining in cooperation with said surface said seat (7a), said slot (71) being formed in said flat wall.

8. The device according to any of the claims from 2 to 7, wherein said divergent segment (71 b) of said slot (71) is a segment slanting with respect to said main straight segment (71a).

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said slot comprises two slanting end segments (71 b) that extend at respective opposite ends of said main straight segment (71 a), thereby defining a generally C-shaped slot.

10. The device according to any of the claims from 2 to 9, wherein said member (8) comprises two ends of connection, two abutment elements (80) and two latch elements (5), only one of said ends of connection, od said abutment elements and of said latch elements being operative in a working condition, the member (8) being however adapted to be mounted in a casing both with right-wise opening or left-wise opening.

11. The device according to any of the claims from 2 to 10, wherein said enlarged head (900) of said pin (90) provides a main side exceeding in length the width of said slot (71), and a smaller side comparable or smaller than the width of the slot, so that when the main side of the head is aligned with the main straight segment (71a) of said slot, the pin can be disengaged from said slot (71) and consequently from said upright.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein socket means (901) are formed in a base of said pin opposite to said enlarged head (900), said socket means (901) being adapted to be engaged with a tool to drive a rotation of said pin (90) and thus an alignment of said main side with respect to said straight main segment (71a) of the slot, to extract the pin (90) from the slot (71) and permit the complete opening of the hung sash (2).

Drawing