FITTING FOR CONNECTING PARALLELLY MOUNTED UNITS

Abstract

 The invention relates to fittings connecting at least two parallelly mounted units, one primary unit and at least one secondary unit, which fittings are constituted of at least two corresponding parts. The fittings are normally used for windows, doors and similar building parts where two parallelly mounted units increase insulation or security. The fitting connects two parallelly mounted units i.e. a primary unit and a secondary unit and comprises at least a first part, a second part and holding means, wherein:
- the first part is attached to and is stationary relative to one parallelly mounted unit and movably supported relative to a second parallelly mounted unit;
- the second part is attached to and is stationary relative to the second parallelly mounted unit and is in moving contact with the first part;
- the first part comprises a piece extending between the primary and secondary parallel mounted units ensuring there is a distance between units after final assembly and during operation, and
- the holding means are configured to maintain the defined distance in two directions,
wherein the holding means are constructed of a magnetic or magnetized material and the contact provided between the first part and the second part during operation is maintained by magnetic force.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to fittings connecting at least two parallelly mounted units, one primary unit and at least one secondary unit, which fittings are constituted of at least two corresponding parts. The fittings are normally used for windows, doors and similar building parts where two parallelly mounted units increase insulation or security.

Prior art

[0002] In the Nordic countries, it is common to use fittings for windows allowing for parallelly mounted windows to be connected in such a way that two windows are coupled together and may be opened and closed simultaneously by only handling the inner window. For the windows to be opened and closed individually e.g. during cleaning, the corresponding fittings may be released from one of the windows thereby decoupling simultaneous movement of the windows.

[0003] A fitting of this type is e.g. known from Finnish Utility Model no. FI 9496 filed on 7 September 2011 which document discloses a fitting having a distance part (2) attached to connecting parts (8, 9) interconnecting an inner and an outer frame (10, 11). The connecting parts (8, 9) are attached to the inner frame (10) and to the outer frame (11) via two hinges (4, 5) making it possible for the fitting to compensate for the changing angle and distance between the inner and outer frame. The distance part (2) comprises or is attached to a support portion (6) having one end (15) positioned significantly away from the central line between the two hinges (4, 5) in such a way that the opening angle (α) of the two frames is determined by the contact between the one end (15) and the inner frame (10). It is possible to vary the length of the support portion (6).

[0004] In general, it is desirable if a fitting is easy to handle i.e. easy to bring from a connected state where the two parallelly mounted units move simultaneously to a disconnected state where the two parallelly mounted units can move independently from each other and back again from the disconnected state to the connected state.

[0005] Also, it is an advantage if the fitting cannot be placed in an error position i.e. the movable parts of the fitting may not be able to slip into positions beyond their normal moving pattern.

The invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a fitting connecting two parallelly mounted units such as sashes or other the like, a primary unit and a secondary unit comprising at least a first part, a second part and holding means, wherein:

• the first part is attached to and is stationary relative to one parallelly mounted unit and movably supported relative to a second parallelly mounted unit;
• the second part is attached to and is stationary relative to the second parallelly mounted unit and is in moving contact with the first part;
• the first part comprises a piece extending between the primary and secondary parallel mounted units ensuring there is a distance between units after final assembly and during operation, and
• the holding means are configured to maintain the defined distance in two directions,

wherein the holding means are constructed of a magnetic or magnetized material and the contact provided between the first part and the second part during operation is maintained by magnetic force.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments, the piece of the first part may be rigid and without hinges and at the end facing the second parallelly mounted unit, the piece may comprise means allowing for the piece to smoothly move along a contact surface of the second part e.g. a sliding surface or a rotating member configured to be moved along the contact surface of the second part.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, the first part may comprise a rotating member configured to be moved along a contact surface of the second part.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments, the first part may comprise a rotating member configured to be moved along a contact surface of the second part which rotating member may be made of a permanently magnetic material and the contact surface may be constituted of or may be partly constituted of or may be attached to a permanently or magnetized material.

[0010] A rotating member according to any of the embodiments of the present invention may have a rotation axis perpendicular to the direction of movement i.e. the direction in which the contact surface extend, which rotation axis is pivotally supported at the end closest to the second part of the piece extending between the primary and secondary parallel mounted units.

[0011] According to one or more embodiments, neither the first part nor the second part comprises moving parts or joints with the possible exception of a rotating member and the attachments for such a rotating member configured to form contact between the first and the second part.

[0012] According to one or more embodiments, the length of the piece may be configured to be adjusted during separation of the fitting.

[0013] According to one or more embodiments, the piece may comprise a rotation axis close to the end extending towards the second part on which rotation axis a wheel, a ball or other round shaped part is mounted and configured to be rolled along the contact surface of the second part.

[0014] According to one or more embodiments, the contact surface of the second part may be provided with a stop at one or both ends.

[0015] According to one or more embodiments, the second part may comprise security means configured to allow the first part to re-enter a contact path defined by the second part.

[0016] According to one or more embodiments, the security means may comprise an inclined surface allowing the first part to slide or role back onto the contact surface of the second part.

[0017] The invention also relates to a window comprising two or more parallel displaced sashes comprising one or more fitting according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

Detailed description of figures

[0018] 

Figure 1 discloses two parallelly mounted units in a frame provided with an upper and a lower fitting.

Figure 2A and 2B discloses two side views of a fitting according to the invention.

Figure 3A, 3B and 3C discloses an upper view of the parallelly mounted units of figure 1 in three different positions: closed, semi-open and completely open.

Dictionary

[0019] 

Parallelly mounted units - When two or more units are parallelly mounted each unit is pivotally mounted around an axis x and the axis' of all the units x₁, x₂, ..., x_n are parallel and placed with a distance d_n between each other. As the axis x are straight lines and parallel, the distance d_n-n+1 between to axis' x_n and x_n+1 is constant at the complete length of the axis' x_n and x_n+1.

Primary unit - the primary unit is the unit to which a handle or similar means for controlling the degree of opening is attached, and when the at least two units are connected by the fitting during ordinary operation at least one secondary unit will follow the movements of the primary unit when a user opens or closes the units by the handle.

During operation - this expression is used for a state of a fitting, where the fitting has been mounted on two units facing each other and the user may open or close the parallelly mounted units together.

During separation - this expression is used for a state of a fitting, where the fitting has been mounted on two units facing each other but where the fitting has been separated i.e. the two parts 8 and 9 of the fitting is not in contact and the two units do not move simultaneously.

Rigid - in the present document a part defined as rigid is understood to maintain its shape during operation, i.e. it is constructed of a material or parts of different material which part or parts during the conditions of normal operation will maintain the shape it had when it was originally mounted at the position it has during operation. The part or parts is not provided with hinges or the like and the part or parts will not bend to a degree where it cannot maintain its functionality.

Moving contact - if two parts are in moving contact is it understood that the two parts are continuously in contact during operation but the contact point or position is moving.

Sash - A frame holding the glass in a window, i.e. the movable part of a window.

Parallelly - in a parallel manner (Merriam-Webster)

Detailed description of invention

[0020] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a window or similar comprising a fitting according to the invention. The window comprises an inner unit 1 and an outer unit 2 which are both pivotally mounted in a frame 4 by hinges 5. As the shown embodiment relates to a window, the units 1 and 2 may also be referred to as sashes. A handle 3 is attached to the inner sash 1 and the handle 3 may be stationary or may provide locking of the inner sash 1 e.g. by twisting the handle 3. As the inner sash is provided with the handle 3, the inner sash 1 is called the primary unit as a user may control opening and closing of both sashes 1, 2 by moving the inner sash 1 by holding the handle 3.

[0021] The hinges 5 define two parallel displaced axis x₁ and x₂ and each sash 1, 2 is pivotally attached to the frame 4 by the hinges. In the shown embodiment, each sash 1,2 is provided with two hinges 5, one hinge at the upper half of the sash and one hinge at the lower half of the sash, however, according to the invention it is not significant whether each sash is provided with one, two or more hinges, the number and size of the hinges 5 are defined by weight and specific construction of each sash.

[0022] In the embodiment of fig. 1, two sets of fittings are mounted between the parallelly mounted sashes 1 and 2, an upper set 10u and a lower set 10l. In the shown embodiment, the fittings are mounted on a wood or metal frame of the sashes.

[0023] In general, two parallelly mounted units may be provided with one, two or more corresponding sets of fittings providing an interconnection between the units, the number of corresponding sets of fittings normally depends on the size of the parallelly mounted units and the weight of the units.

[0024] Figures 2A and 2B disclose an embodiment of a single corresponding set of fittings 10 seen from two angular views, which corresponding set of fittings comprising at least two parts, a first part 9 and a second part 8. The first part 9 is attached to and is stationary relative to one parallelly mounted unit and is during operation movably supported by a second parallelly mounted unit, and the second part 8 is attached to and is stationary relative to the second parallelly mounted unit and is in sliding or moving contact with the first part 9 of the fitting.

[0025] According to the shown embodiment neither of the two parts 8, 9 constituting the corresponding set of fittings 10 contain moving parts in form of hinges and bendable or internal sliding parts, only a possible wheel connection may be included in some embodiments. I.e. all permanent parts of the first part and of the second part respectively, are stationary relative to the remaining parts of the first and second part respectively during operation. Before operation, individual parts of the first part 9 may be adjusted relative to each other in order to adapt the length of the first part 9 to the unit in which it is mounted.

[0026] The first part 9 comprises a fastening part 12 provided with a surface 11 facing and during operation fixed to either the primary unit or a secondary unit. The first part 9 further comprises an intermediate piece 14, a contact head 15 and a contact piece 16 and according to the shown embodiment, the total length of the first part 9 may be varied by turning the nuts 13 applied at each end of the intermediate piece 14. A skilled person will recognize that there are many other ways of adjusting the length of such a first part 9.

[0027] In general, the contact piece 15 provides contact with a corresponding second part 8, this contact may either be sliding i.e. the contact surface of first part 9 and the contact surface of the second part 8 slides against each other or the contact may be rotational i.e. one or more wheels are fixed either to the first part 9 or to the second part 8.

[0028] The embodiment shown in figure 2A and 2B has one wheel 16 fixed to the contact part 15 via a rotation axis 17 in such a way that the wheel 16 rotates around the axis 17.

[0029] In general, the second part 8 comprises a contact surface 20 and a fastening surface 21, the contact surface 20 is in sliding or rotational contact with the first part 9 and the fastening surface 21 is facing and being fixed to either the primary unit or a secondary unit during operation.

[0030] The embodiment of the second part shown in figure 2A is provided with security means in form of an inclined surface 22 allowing the first part 9 to slide or role back onto the contact surface 20, if the first part 9 after separation has been pushed into contact with the unit to which the second part 8 is fixed while the first part 9 is placed beyond or outside the length of the contact surface 20.

[0031] The embodiment of fig. 2A is provided with a stop 23 limiting the movements of the first part 9 along the contact surface 20 of the second part 8. In the embodiment shown in figure 2A, the stop 23 comprises a part extending from the contact surface 20 in a direction towards the first part 9 and the unit to which the first part 9 is fixed. The stop 23 is shown as a semi-circular shape, but the stop 23 might also extend from the contact surface 20 e.g. in a right angle. When the contact part 15 of the first part 9 gets into contact with the stop 23, it will not be possible to open the units 1 and 2 further from the frame 4, and a stop 23 may therefore function as a safety feature e.g. preventing young children from opening and falling out a window.

[0032] For two units to move simultaneously when only one unit is provided with means to control both units, it is necessary that the fitting can both pull and push the secondary unit. The fitting 9, 8 must therefore comprise holding means, holding the primary and secondary unit together when e.g. a handle 3 is used to move the primary unit away from a secondary unit.

[0033] According to the present invention, the holding means comprise corresponding magnetic means included in the first part 9 and in the second part 8, i.e. a corresponding set of fittings is kept together and in an operational state by magnetic forces. This application of magnetic means has the advantage that no hinged or otherwise movable connections are introduced into the fitting which makes in more durable and robust. Also, a user will not need to separately release each corresponding set of fitting keeping two units together, applying a force biasing the two units away from each other will be enough to separate the two units and bring them from the operating state where the first and the second part of a fitting are in contact to a separation state where the first and second part of a fitting are separated.

[0034] In the embodiment of fig. 2A and 2B, the magnetic means of the first part 9 comprises a magnetic material in form of a wheel 16 attached to the contact head 15 by a rotation axis 17. Permanent magnets can be provided in all shapes and sizes and a wheel-shaped permanent magnet is therefore considered to be a shelve product and is not as such a part of the invention.

[0035] The magnetic means of the second part 8 is a contact surface 20 made of a magnetic or magnetisable material or having one or more inlays of magnetic or magnetisable material.

[0036] In general, at least one of the magnetic means of the first part 9 or the second part 8 is constituted of a permanent magnet.

[0037] In general, the magnetic means of the first part 9 need not be in form of a wheel, it may be in form of a stationary magnet which slides over the contact surface 20 of the second part 8. According to such an embodiment, the contact surfaces may be provided with a non-stick coating or a coating reducing friction between the two surfaces.

[0038] Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate an embodiment of a window or a similar device in three different positions obtained during operation. In the shown embodiment, the first part 9 is fixed to the secondary unit or sash 2 and the second part 8 is fixed to the primary unit or sash 1 being provided with a handle 3.

[0039] In fig. 3A the device is closed and the first part 9 of the fitting extends perpendicular towards the contact surface 20 of the second part 8.

[0040] In fig. 3B the device is half-open and the first part 9 of the fitting still extends perpendicular towards the contact surface of the second part 8. I.e. the angle between the first part 9 and the second part 8 has not changed, to compensate for the displacement of the primary unit 1 relative to the secondary unit 2, the first part 9 slides or roll long the contact surface 20.

[0041] In fig. 3C the device is as open as it can be while the fitting is in operation. Further sliding or rolling of the first part 9 along the contact surface 20 is prevented by the stop 23 of the second part 8.

[0042] In general, a fitting connecting two parallelly mounted units 1, 2, a primary unit 1 and a secondary unit 2 may comprises at least two parts 8, 9 and holding means (16, 20), wherein a first part 9 is attached to and is stationary relative to one parallelly mounted unit 2 and movably supported relative to a second parallelly mounted unit 1; a second part 8 is attached to and is stationary relative to the second parallelly mounted unit 1 and is in moving contact with the first part (9) of the fitting. The first part 9 comprises a piece 12, 14, 15 extending between the primary and secondary parallel mounted units 1, 2 ensuring there is a distance between them after final assembly and during operation, and the holding means 16, 20 are configured to maintain the defined distance in two directions, wherein the piece 12, 14, 15 of the first part 9 is rigid and without hinges and at the end facing the second parallelly mounted unit, the piece 12, 14, 15 comprises a sliding surface or a rotating member 16 configured to be moved along a contact surface 20 of the second part 8.

Claims

1. A fitting connecting two parallelly mounted units (1, 2), a primary unit (1) and a secondary unit (2), the fitting comprises at least a first part (9), a second part (8) and holding means (16, 20), wherein:

- the first part (9) is attached to and is stationary relative to one parallelly mounted unit (2) and movably supported relative to one second parallelly mounted unit (1);

- the second part (8) is attached to and is stationary relative to the second parallelly mounted unit (1) and is in moving contact with the first part (9);

- the first part (9) comprises a piece (12, 14, 15) extending between the primary and secondary parallelly mounted units (1, 2) configured to ensure there is a distance between the parallelly mounted units (1, 2) after final assembly and during operation, and

- the holding means (16, 20) are configured to maintain the defined distance in two directions,

characterized in that the holding means (16, 20) are constructed of a magnetic or magnetized material and the contact provided between the first part (9) and the second part (8) during operation is maintained by magnetic force.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the piece (12, 14, 15) of the first part (9) is rigid and without hinges and at the end facing the second parallelly mounted unit, the piece (12, 14, 15) comprises a sliding surface or a rotating member (16) configured to be moved along a contact surface (20) of the second part (8).

3. A fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first part (9) comprises a rotating member (16) configured to be moved along a contact surface (20) of the second part (8).

4. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part (9) comprises a rotating member (16) configured to be moved along a contact surface (20) of the second part (8) which rotating member (16) is made of a permanently magnetic material and the contact surface (20) is constituted of or is partly constituted of or is attached to a permanently or magnetized material.

5. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein neither the first part (9) nor the second part (8) comprises moving parts or joints with the possible exception of a rotating member (16) and the attachments (17) for such a rotating member (16) creating contact between the first and the second part.

6. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of the piece (12, 14, 15) is configured to be adjusted during separation of the fitting.

7. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the piece (12, 14, 14) comprises a rotation axis (17) close to the end extending towards the second part (8) on which rotation axis (17) a wheel, a ball or other round shaped part is mounted and configured to be rolled along the contact surface (20) of the second part (8).

8. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact surface (20) of the second part (8) is provided with a stop (23) at one or both ends.

9. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the second part (8) comprises security means (22) allowing the first part (9) to re-enter a contact path defined by the second part (8).

10. A fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the security means (22) comprises an inclined surface allowing the first part (9) to slide or role back onto the contact surface (20) of the second part (8).

11. A window comprising two or more parallel displaced sashes comprising one or more fitting according to one of the claims 1-10.

Drawing