ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TILT&TURN DOOR OR WINDOW FRAMES, COMPRISING A LEVER WITH TWO INDEPENDENT GROOVES

Abstract

 An actuating mechanism (14) for opening and closing of turn-only and tilt&turn door or window frames (9) comprises a swivel arm (20), pivoting about a hinge (18) and hinged to a leaf (11) of the frame (9), a slidable rod (22), connected to movement transmission means (16), and a grooved lever (24), hinged to the leaf (11) and connected to the swivel arm (20), such a grooved lever (24) having a first shaped groove (25) and a second shaped groove (32), wherein the latter has at least one straight portion (32a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (32b), consecutive with respect to the straight portion (25a).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to window and door frames and related components; in particular, the invention relates to an actuating mechanism for opening and closing of turn-only and tilt&turn door or window frames.

Background of the invention

[0002] Solutions are known of doors and windows for use in a duplicity of configurations: one configuration, so-called "turn", allows the leaf to move around a vertical axis, while the second configuration, so-called "tilt", allows an oscillating movement of the leaf about a horizontal axis. The choice of opening the leaf with a turn or a tilt mode can be carried out by manipulating a handle of an operating device, usually of the espagnolette or T-shape type. The handle is generally operable in three working positions: a position in which the door or window is closed and locked, a position in which the window is openable in "turn" mode, and a position in which the door or window is openable in "tilt" mode.

[0003] The control device actuates, depending from the working position of the handle, a linkage which acts on an actuating mechanism connected to both the mounting frame of the window or door and the leaf (more precisely, to the frame).

[0004] However, conventional systems generally force those wishing to open or close the door to exert a manual push on the leaf itself, in addition to the rotation of the handle. This operation could be complicated and uncomfortable, for example to those who suffer from a disability, for whom it would not be possible to reach the handle if placed too high (as is usually the case for traditional doors or windows, in which the handle is placed at about 1.30 m from the ground).

[0005] To assist people with disabilities, and allow them to open and close the leaf, the actuating mechanism and its handle are placed on the lower horizontal side of the leaf. With such a configuration, however, the lever arm of the force exercised on the leaf to open and close it in the so-called "tilt" position is substantially null. In fact, there is no mechanism to assist the person in the opening and closing operations of the leaf.

[0006] Such limitations, understandably, affect the usability of the door or window by persons who suffer, for example, of a disability.

[0007] To overcome this drawback, an actuating mechanism has been disclosed in the prior art, an example of which is represented in FIG. 4, which provides a swivel arm hinged at one end to the door or window frame, and at the opposite end to the leaf. The arm is connected to the leaf by means of a rod, slidably constrained to the arm at one end, and hinged to the leaf at its opposite end. A lever, pivotable about the door leaf, is hinged to the above-mentioned rod, which lever has a shaped groove within which a vertical pin is movable, carried by a sliding rod, the former being moved by the movement transmission means connected to the operating device.

[0008] The pin carried by the sliding rod, moving within the groove, determine the relative position of the swivel arm and the rod (positioned along an upper horizontal edge of the wing). In particular, when the pin is in a proximal position with respect to the end of the lever hinged to the leaf, the swivel arm and the rod are free to mutually rotate, while when the pin is in a distal position with respect to the hinge point of the lever to the leaf, the swivel arm and the sliding rod are constrained to remain in an aligned and superimposed position.

[0009] The main purposes of the lever and the groove are to allow the pin to move away from the hinge point of the lever (in such a way to create a longitudinal lever arm of a clamping force, which maintains the swivel arm and the rod mutually aligned and superimposed), and to allow the opening and closing of the window in a "tilt" position, without the need of a manual thrust applied to the door. This is possible because the groove has an inclined portion on which the pin, in its translation motion, applies a force which, being eccentric with respect to the hinge point of the lever to the leaf, generates a moment able to spread apart the swivel arm with respect to the leaf.

[0010] Thanks to an actuating mechanism so configured, the handle can be placed at the horizontal bottom edge of the frame, thus allowing those suffering from a disability to open and close the window even if it were in a tilt position, without having to push the door by hand.

[0011] However, in such a configuration, the lever arm of the thrust exerted by the pin on the inclined portion of the groove, with respect to the hinge point of the lever to the leaf, is very small. Therefore, in order to have a sufficient moment to open and close the door, it is necessary a very strong thrust by the pin; because the pin is carried by the linkage, which is actuated by the handle, the user must apply on said handle a very large force (the heavier is the leaf, the larger is the force). Therefore, operating an actuating mechanism of the type described above may be uncomfortable and tiring, requiring the user to exert a big physical effort that makes the window frame to be little practical and handy.

[0012] According to a solution described for example in prior art document DE 21 51 996 A1, the control mechanism is configured so that the grooved lever is hinged on one end to the leaf, and at the opposite end directly to the swivel arm (preferably through a slidable constraint), so that the sliding of the pin, carried by the slidable rod, within the groove allows a moment to occur. This moment alternately acts on the lever in such a direction as to make said lever to rotate around the hinge point on the leaf: the rotation involves the mutual rotation of the swivel arm with respect to the slidable rod, or makes the former to align and overlap with the latter.

[0013] Therefore, the kinematic mechanism thus realized allows, by rotating even the sole operating device, to actuate the linkage connected to it and to operate the mechanism so that the door is opened and closed without pushing manually the leaf. In this way, the rotation movement of the handle itself simultaneously causes the opening or closing of the leaf, when in a "tilt" position.

[0014] Nevertheless, also in such a configuration, the pin continues to have a relatively short lever arm in order to exert a satisfactory force on the leaf to make the latter switching between, or remaining at, the working positions (tilt or turn positions). Consequently, the clamping force that the pin is able to exert on the groove is very limited, in particular to keep the arm and the leaf mutually aligned ("turn" position).

[0015] This can adversely affect the operative efficiency and integrity of the mechanism.

Summary of the invention

[0016] One object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned problems.

[0017] To achieve this result, the grooved lever has a second groove, in which a further pin can slide, the pin being carried by the slidable rod.

[0018] The second groove is longitudinally more spaced (along the slotted lever) from the hinge point of the grooved lever to the leaf, with respect to the first groove. In this way, when the frame is in a closed condition, the additional pin exerts on the lever a larger locking moment compared to that exerted by the first pin (in addition to assisting the switching movement between tilt and turn configurations, increasing the available force).

[0019] Unlike the above-mentioned solution known in the prior art, an actuating mechanism according to the present invention allows, thanks the addition of the second groove, to have a longer lever arm of the clamping force exerted by the additional pin. This arm being longer, a better locking connection of the arm to the leaf can be guaranteed when in a "turn" operating position.

[0020] The above and other objects and advantages are achieved, according to an aspect of the invention, by an actuating mechanism for the opening and closing of tilt&turn window frames, having the features defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The functional and structural features of some preferred embodiments of an actuating mechanism for opening and closing of tilt and turn doors or windows according to the invention will now be described. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a turn-mode-open window and a tilt-mode-open window, respectively;

- Figures 3A and 3B are schematic perspective views of an operating system for an actuating mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the linkage and some possible positions of the handle are shown, respectively;

- Figure 4 is a schematic top view of an actuating mechanism, according to the prior art;

- Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of an actuating mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 6 and 7 are schematic side and top views, respectively, of the actuating mechanism, in a closed position of the window frame;

- Figure 8 is a schematic top view of a component of the actuating mechanism, in the operative condition shown in Figures 6 and 7;

- Figures 9 and 10 are schematic side and top views, respectively, of the actuating mechanism, in a turn-mode open condition;

- Figure 11 is a schematic top view of a component of the actuating mechanism, in the operative condition shown in Figures 9 and 10;

- Figures 12 and 13 are schematic side and top views, respectively, of the actuating mechanism, in a tilt-mode open condition;

- Figure 14 is a schematic top view of a component of the actuating mechanism, in the operative condition shown in Figures 12 and 13;

- Figures 15 and 16 are a schematic side and top views, respectively, of the actuating mechanism, in the closing phase; and

- Figure 17 is a schematic top view of a component of the actuating mechanism, in the operative condition shown in Figures 15 and 16.

Detailed description

[0022] Before explaining in detail a plurality of embodiments of the invention, it should be clear that the invention is not limited in the application thereof to the constructional details and to the configuration of the components disclosed in the following description or shown in the drawings. The invention can be embodied and implemented or realized practically in different ways. It should be understood that the phraseology and terminology have not descriptive purposes and are not meant to be limitative.

[0023] Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a door and window frame 9 is shown (in this example, a window), in two operating conditions, a so-called "turn" operating condition, in which a leaf 11 of the frame is pivotable about a lateral vertical axis A, and a second operating condition, so-called "tilt" condition, in which the leaf 11 of the window frame 9 is pivotable about a horizontal lower axis B, respectively. Generally, the frame 9 comprises a frame 10 for fixing the window frame to a wall (not illustrated), and a casing 11a of the leaf on which an operating device 12 is mounted.

[0024] The operation of the window in tilt or turn configurations is carried out through an actuating mechanism 14, which connects the frame 10 to the casing 11a.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3A, a rotation imparted to the operating device 12 (in the illustrated example, an espagnolette handle) actuates movement transmission means or linkage 16, through which it is possible to act on the actuating mechanism 14, so to control the operation thereof in closing conditions, and tilt-mode and turn-mode opening conditions. As already mentioned, the handle 12 can be placed in different positions (as shown, for example, in Figure 3B, in which three possible positions of the handle on the leaf are illustrated).

[0026] As already mentioned, the rotation imparted to the control device 12 actuates the linkage 16, which is connectable to a slidable rod 22, so as to cause the latter to reciprocate along a top edge of the casing 11a of the leaf 11. The leaf is also connectable to the mounting frame 10 via a swivel arm 20, hingeable by means of a first junction 20a to a hinge 18 (known per se, which can be in view, retractable etc.) fixed to the fixing frame 10, and through a second junction 20b to the leaf 11. Advantageously, the first and second junctions 20a, 20b of the swivel arm 20 are located on opposite ends of said arm.

[0027] The swivel arm 20 is also connectable to the leaf 11 by means of a grooved lever 24, hingeable to the leaf 11 by means of a third junction 24a, and connected to the swivel arm 20 by means of a first pin 24b, which is conveniently slidable along a first groove or rectilinear slot 20d present on said swivel arm 20. Conveniently, the third junction 24a and the first pin 24b are at opposite ends of said grooved lever 24.

[0028] The grooved lever 24 has a first shaped groove 25, within which a second pin 30, carried by the slidable rod 22, is movable.

[0029] The first shaped groove 25 has at least one straight portion 25a, extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever 24, and an inclined portion 25b, consecutive with respect to said straight portion 25a and preferably extended towards the leaf 11. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inclined portion 25b ends with a terminal stop edge 25c, against which the second pin 30 abuts in the "tilt" operating condition of the door and window frame 9. Optionally, for example in the case of an ambidextrous handle (not shown), the first shaped groove 25 may comprise, further to a first portion configured as described above (i.e., with a straight portion and an inclined portion), also a second portion (having in turn a straight portion and an inclined portion) which is symmetrical to the first portion with respect to a longitudinal axis of the grooved lever 24.

[0030] Throughout the present description and in the claims, the terms and expressions indicating positions and orientations, such as "longitudinal" and "inclined", shall be referred to the largest dimension of the single components of the actuating mechanism (for example, the swivel arm 20 is extended longitudinally in the direction of the length thereof).

[0031] The grooved lever 24 has a second shaped groove 32, in which a third pin 34 carried by the slidable rod 22 is slidable.

[0032] The second shaped groove 32 is longitudinally more spaced (along the grooved lever 24) from the third junction 24a (where the grooved lever 24 is hinged to the leaf 11), with respect to the first shaped groove 25. In this way, when the door and window frame 9 is in a closed condition, the third pin 34 exerts on the grooved lever 24 a larger locking moment compared to that exerted by the second pin 30, the lever arm of the locking force being longer (i.e., the longitudinal distance between pins 30, 34 and the third junction 24a).

[0033] The second shaped groove 32 has at least one straight portion 32a, extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever 24, and an inclined portion 32b, consecutive with respect to said straight portion 32a and preferably extended towards the leaf 11.

[0034] Advantageously, the inclined portion 32b is open at one end, so as to allow the third pin 34 to insert and disengage with respect to the second shaped groove 32, during the rotation of the grooved lever 24. Furthermore, according to an optional embodiment not shown, the third pin 34 can be retractable, in such a way to move downwards when the solid edges of the grooved lever 24 slide over it (for example, being pressed downwards by such edges), and lifting within the second shaped groove 32 (for example, by means of a biasing elastic means), thus engaging such a second groove.

[0035] Optionally, the swivel arm 20 is further connectable to the leaf 11 via a connecting rod 28, hinged to the leaf 11 by means of a fourth junction 28a and connected to the swivel arm 20 via a fourth pin 28b. The connecting rod 28 may be hinged to the swivel arm 20 through the fourth pin 28b or, optionally, can be slidable or pivotable along a second rectilinear groove or slot present in said swivel arm 20 (according to an embodiment not shown). Advantageously, the forth junction 28a and the fourth pin 28b are at opposite ends of said rod 28. The connecting rod 28 could assist, for example, the lever 24 in supporting the weight of the leaf 11.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, in a condition of divergence between the swivel arm 20 and the leaf 11, the grooved lever 24 and the connecting rod 28 rotate around the respective third and fourth junctions 24a, 28a in a convergent manner (i.e., the first pin 24b, integral with the grooved lever 24, and the fourth pin 28b, integral with the connecting rod 28, approach to each other in the direction of the length of the swivel arm 20).

[0037] Figures 6, 7 and 8 show a condition where the leaf 11 is closed (i.e., the leaf is substantially coplanar with the frame 10). In such a condition the swivel arm 20, the grooved lever 24, the connecting rod 28 and the slidable rod 22 are aligned, integral and superimposed, the grooved lever 24 and the connecting rod 28 being in a vertically intermediate position between the swivel arm 20 and the slidable rod 22. The slidable rod 22 is in a retracted condition, thus the second and third pins 30, 34 are at an end-of-stroke position (distal with respect to the third junction 24a) along the respective first and second shaped grooves 25, 32. A fith pin 20e, integral to the swivel arm 20, preferably engages a cursor 36 carried by the slidable rod 22.

[0038] Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a condition where the leaf 11 is openable in a turn-mode (i.e., the leaf is pivotable about a lateral vertical axis A). In such a condition the swivel arm 20, the grooved lever 24, the connecting rod 28 and the slidable rod 22 remain integral and overlapped, pivoting around the vertical axis A. The slidable rod 22, by means of the linkage 16 operated by the rotation of the handle 12, translate along the edge of the leaf, moving away from the hinge 18. The second and third pins 30, 34, dragged by the slidable rod 22, travel all along the respective straight portions 25a, 32a of the first and second shaped grooves 25, 32, approaching to the third junction 24a where the grooved lever 24 is hinged to the leaf 11. The fifth pin 20e disengages the cursor 36.

[0039] Figures 12, 13 and 14 show a condition where the leaf 11 is openable in a tilt-mode (i.e., the leaf is pivotable about a lower horizontal axis B). In such a condition the swivel arm 20 and the slidable rod 22 spread relative to one another, the slidable rod 22 pivoting (with the leaf 11) around the second junction 20b with respect to the swivel arm 20. The slidable rod 22, by means of the linkage 16 operated by a further rotation of the operating device 12, translate along the edge of the leaf, moving further away from the hinge 18. The second and third pins 30, 34, dragged by the slidable rod 22, travel all along the respective inclined portions 25b, 32b of the first and second shaped grooves 25, 32, unlocking the rotation of the grooved lever 24 and the rod 28. Said grooved lever 24 and rod 28 pivot mutually converging, the first pin 24b being free of sliding along the respective first rectilinear groove 20d on the swivel arm 20.

[0040] In such an operating condition, in particular, the second pin 30 exerts a thrust against the edges of the respective inclined portion 25b of the first shaped groove 25: such a thrust, being eccentric with respect to the third junction 24a, imparts a moment around said third portion 24a, determining the opening of the leaf 11. At the end of the stroke of the slidable rod 22, the second pin 30 abuts against the terminal stop edge 25c of the first shaped groove 25. The third pin 34 goes out of the second shaped groove 32, through the respective inclined portion 32b, disengaging the grooved lever 24.

[0041] Eventually, Figures 15 to 17 show a closing phase of the door and window frame 9, wherein the leaf 11 approaches the frame 10. In such a condition, the swivel arm 20 and the slidable rod 22 tend to re-align again, the slidable rod 22 pivoting (integral to the leaf 11) around the second junction 20b with respect to the swivel arm 20. The slidable rod 22, by means of the linkage 16 operated by the rotation of the handle contrariwise with respect to the previous rotations, is push again along the edge of the leaf, approaching to the hinge 18. The second and third pins 30, 34, dragged by the slidable rod 22, travel back along the respective inclined portions 25b, 32b of the first and second shaped grooves 25, 32, until the rotation of the grooved lever 24 and the connecting rod 28 is locked in an aligned condition with respect to the swivel arm 20 and the slidable rod 22. Said grooved lever 24 and connecting rod 28 pivot in a mutually diverging way, the respective first and forth pins 24b, 28b moving away relative to one another along the swivel arm 20.

[0042] In such an operative condition, in particular, the second pin 30 exerts a thrust against the edges of the respective inclined portion 25b of the first shaped groove 25. In this circumstance, the thrust exerted by the second pin 30 will act in an opposite direction with respect to the thrust exerted during the tilt-mode opening phase of the leaf. Such a thrust, being eccentric with respect to the third junction 24a, imparts a moment around said third junction 24a, determining the closure of the leaf. At the end of the stroke of the slidable rod 22, the second and third pins 30, 34 come back in the position shown in Figure 8.

[0043] Thanks to the thrust exerted by the second pin 30 on the first shaped groove 25 (which thrust is generated by the translation of the slidable rod 22), it is possible to open and close the leaf, even during the tilt operative mode, by rotating even only the handle 12, i.e., without pushing manually the leaf. At the same time, the moment generated by the third pin 34 acting on the second shaped groove 32 may contribute to increase the opening/closing force, and guarantees an optimal locking action between the swivel arm and the slidable rod/leaf.

[0044] As will be apparent to the skilled in the art, what is disclosed above applies both to the case of a frame suitable to work in a tilt&turn mode (i.e., allowing the user to choose how to open the leaf), and the sole tilt configuration (in which case, steps shown in Figures 9 to 11 may be totally or partially bypassed).
The advantage achieved is to increase the locking/unlocking force acting on the grooved lever so as to allow and maintain the alignment/disengagement between the arm and the slidable rod. This allows to strengthen and improve the switching mechanism between tilt and turn operation of a door and window frame.

[0045] Various aspects and embodiments of the actuating mechanism according to the invention have been described. It is understood that each embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be varied within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An actuating mechanism (14) for opening and closing of turn-only and tilt&turn door or window frames (9), comprising:

- a swivel arm (20), pivotable about a hinge (18) by a first junction (20a), and hingeable to a leaf (11) of the frame (9) by a second junction (20b);

- a slidable rod (22), connectable to movement transmission means (16) actuated by an operating device (12), said sliding rod being mountable along an upper horizontal edge of the leaf (11); and

- a grooved lever (24), hingeable to the leaf (11) by a third joint (24a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) by a first pin (24b), said grooved lever (24) having a first shaped groove (25) in which a second pin (30), carried by the slide (22), is slidable, said first shaped groove (25) having at least one straight portion (25a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (25b), consecutive with respect to said straight portion (25a);

characterized in that the grooved lever (24) has a second shaped groove (32) in which a third pin (34) carried by the slidable rod (22) is slidable, said second shaped groove (32) having at least one straight portion (32a), extended in the direction of the length of the grooved lever (24), and an inclined portion (32b), consecutive with respect to said straight portion (25a).

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the swivel arm (20) is further connectable to the leaf (11) via a connecting rod (28), hinged to the leaf (11) by means of a fourth junction (28a) and connected to the swivel arm (20) via a fourth pin (28b).

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the grooved lever (24) and the connecting rod (28), in a condition of divergence between the swivel arm (20) and the leaf (11), rotate around the respective third and fourth junctions (24a, 28a) in a convergent manner, the respective first and fourth pin (24b, 28b) approaching in the direction of the length of the swivel arm (20).

4. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said swivel arm (20) has at least a first rectilinear groove (20d) extending along the length of the swivel arm (20), and the first pin (24b), connecting the grooved lever (24) to the swivel arm (20), is slidable in said respective first rectilinear groove (20d) of the swivel arm (20).

5. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined portion (25b) of the first shaped groove (25) extends from the straight portion (25a) of said first shaped groove (25) towards the leaf (11).

6. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined portion (25b) has a terminal stop edge (25c), against which the second pin (30) abuts.

7. A turn-only or tilt&turn door or window frame (9), comprising:

- a rectangular shaped frame (11a) with a horizontal upper side, a horizontal lower side and two vertical sides that connect the upper and lower sides;

- an operating device (12), mounted on the horizontal lower side or on one of the two vertical sides in proximity of the horizontal lower side of the frame (11a);

- an actuating mechanism (14) according to one of the preceding claims; and

- movement transmission means (16) connected to the operating device (12) and to the actuating mechanism (14).

Drawing