Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters, or shutters hinged at one side thereof, for example, and in particular, window shutters, in order to facilitate the opening, closing and stopping thereof in an open position.

Prior art

In a previous application of the same applicants, i.e. Italian Patent No. 0001323787 and corresponding International Patent Application WO 03/031754, there is described an operating device functioning for this aim, with the advantage of allowing a shutter to be operated without having to lean out of the window. This device is described in the preamble of the attached claim 1. The device essentially consists of a fastening member, to be applied to the shutter, and of an operating lever pivoted on the fastening member. The operating lever has an end opposite to that of the fulcrum, with a descending portion abutting the sill, while a suitable blocking element between the lever and the fastening member constrains the face of the shutter, preventing its closure in case of wind.

Essential for the operation of such device is the fact that the descending portion abutting the sill is very close to the edge of the sill, otherwise the shutter remains unblocked and moves in case of wind. Then, if the sill projects from the operating lever, the latter rests on the sill plane, instead of abutting the sill front, and the device is not applicable.

To adapt the device to the numerous differences between a sill and the other in the previous patent, solutions have been provided, for example with interchangeable spacers on the handle of the lever, without solving the problem.

Another prerogative for the operation of the device is that the same is correctly positioned but in the previous patent adjusting means for the correct positioning lack, and also dangers in the application phase subsist.

Another prerogative for the reliable operation of the device is the presence of retaining means for retaining the operating lever in the locking position, means that is not present in the above mentioned patent.

Exposure of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a movement device for overcoming the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art. This problem is solved by a device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters as indicated in claim 1 and those dependent on it.

Brief description of drawings

These and further advantages are possible with the present invention which will hereinafter be described according to some of its preferred embodiments, all basing on the same inventive concept described above and provided by way of not limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, from the outside, of a first embodiment of the device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention, having a fastening member applied to a shutter and an operating lever in working position between the shutter and a sill;

Figure 2 is a first enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1 seen from the inside;

Figure 3 is a second enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1 in an exploded perspective view and in multiple positions;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device in Figure 1 from the inside, with the operating lever in rest position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a variant of the fastening member of the device in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top perspective view of a variant of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the variant of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1, with the addition of a screwdriver;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, from the outside, of a second embodiment of the device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention, having a fastening member applied to a shutter and an operating lever in working position between the shutter and a sill;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a partially sectional front view of the device in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view, from the outside, of a third embodiment of the device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention, having a fastening member applied to a shutter and an operating lever in working position between the shutter and a sill;

Figures 12 and 13 are cross-section views of the device in Figure 11 in two consecutive working positions;

Figure 14 is a perspective view, from the outside, of a fourth embodiment of the device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention, having a fastening member applied to a shutter and an operating lever in working position between the shutter and a sill;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the device in Figure 14 from the inside with the operating lever in the rest position; and

Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a tool adapted to modify the curvature of the operating lever of the device in Figure 14.

Description of embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figure 1, a device according to a first embodiment comprises a fastening member 200 adapted to be applied to a shutter A of a window or door hinged at one side. The shutter A has an inner face Al. The outer face, opposite to the inner face, is hidden in this figure, as well as in the subsequent ones. The shutter A has also a lateral edge A2 hinged to the window frame by means of hinges C of a conventional type, and a lower edge A3 that is the base of the shutter A.

The fastening member 200 is applied to the shutter A by a shaped plate 2 and screws 3. The shaped plate 2 has an angular extension 4 towards the inside of the edge A2 with a flange 52 and upward in the face Al with a flange 53. The angular extension 4 is adapted to protect the shutter A from the contact of an operating lever 1, which forms the device together with the fastening member 200. According to the first embodiment provided frontally on the shaped plate 2 of the fastening member 200 is a L-shaped hook 50, shown more clearly in Figure 4, which is a perspective view from the inside of the device in Figure 1 with the operating lever in rest position. In Figure 5 shown in perspective view is a variant of the fastening member of the device in Figure 1, where the L-shaped hook is indicated as 500. In addition, provided on the shaped plate 2 of the fastening member 200 is a pivoting point formed by a pair of perforated protrusions 6, 60. The perforated protrusions 6, 60 are equipped with respective holes 7, 70 misaligned for a reason that will be seen below. Formed in the extension 4 is a recess 400 in order to comply with a rib (not shown) of the shutter. The L-shaped hook 500 in the variant of Figure 5 has a protuberance 84 toward the shutter A, while the L-shaped hook 50 in Figure 4 has a protuberance 85 in the opposite side to the shutter A for a purpose explained below.

The operating lever 1 of the device according to the first embodiment comprises two lever portions 100, 101, consecutively connected to one another by an orthogonal pin 51 and a respective seat 90 and adjusted in their inclination by means of an adjustment member 8 adapted to fix the relative position of the lever portions 100, 101. The adjustment member 8 is preferably a frontal joint obtained with two opposed sectors 80, 81 with straight teeth conjugated mutually by a tightening of a threaded coupling, as shown in Figure 2 that is a first enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1 seen from the inside. This threaded coupling could be formed by a screw 9 and a nut 10, with its axis perpendicular to the operating lever 1, or parallel to that of the orthogonal pin 51. As shown in Figure 3, which is a second enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1 in an exploded perspective view and in multiple positions, the screw 9 is inserted in a hole 82 of the lever portion 101 and through one arched slot 83 formed in the consecutive end of the lever portion 100 and fastened with the nut 10 under it. Another means of threaded coupling, for example a quick-clamp means, may be possible. In its end opposite to the adjustment member 8 the lever portion 100 has a descending tract 11, i.e. facing downwards, intended to abut frontally the sill D. Suitably, for a better hold, the tract 11 could be knurled. The lever portion 101 has a slot 12 engaged by the L-shaped hook 50 of the shaped plate 2. The protuberance 85 is above the lever portion 101 in the slot 12 and also in the variant in Figure 5 the protuberance 84 would work for the same purpose for retaining the operating lever 1 also in case of strong wind.

The lever portion 101 has a shape that is not symmetrically tapered toward the end opposite to the adjustment member 8 where it has an end portion 13 provided with a hole 14. The end portion 13 is sandwiched between the perforated protrusions 6, 60 of the shaped plate 2 by a pin 15, advantageously a rivet, passing through the holes 7, 70 of the perforated protrusions 6, 60 and the hole 14 of the end portion 13 of the lever portion 101. The operating lever 1 is thus pivoted at a fulcrum located near the end of the shaped plate 2 distal to the lateral edge A2 of the shutter A. In operation, in order to keep the door fully open, it is enough to adjust via the adjustment member 8 the inclination angle of the two lever portions 100 and 101 so that, when the operating lever 1 is blocked to the fastening member 200 by engagement of the L-shaped hook 50 with the slot 12 of the lever portion 101, the tract 11 facing downward of the lever portion 100 abuts the sill D in its front section. In order to close the shutter, thanks to the slack fit of the end portion 13 of the lever portion 101 with the perforated protrusions 6, 60 of the fastening member 200, the operating lever 1 can be raised so that it is released from the fastening member 200, substantially removing the slot 12 from the engagement with the L-shaped hook 50. In this way, the operating lever 1 is in the position shown in Figure 4.

As mentioned above, the L-shaped hook 50 has the protuberance 85 engaged with the slot 12 facing the side opposite to the shutter, while its variant 500, shown in Figure 5, has the engagement protrusion 84 directed toward the shutter. It should be evident, however, that in operation they are substantially equivalent. These protuberances are particularly useful for retaining the operating lever 1 in the blocked position, in order to prevent it to slide out when the material, with which the operating lever is made, is relatively flexible as for example plastic material, or in case of particularly strong gusts of wind, whatever the material used.

By virtue of the coaxial arrangement of the disc portions with straight teeth, the lever portion 100 can be folded and fixed in the different grades of position and, regardless of the ledge of the window sill, the tract 11 can be positioned correctly at the edge of the sill D, with the shutter A opened.

Conveniently, the existence of two pivot points, namely the pin 51 in the seat 90 and the screw 9 with the nut 10, strengthens the connection between the two lever portions 100, 101 of the operating lever 1. This is useful when the device is made of plastic material that is less resistant than the metallic one, but can be shaped variously.

The position of the fulcrum of the operating lever 1 is such that its rotation is on a plane which is substantially horizontal; thereby the lever has a driving end in a useful position, in which it can be grasped and handled to close, open and block the shutter A.

Between the flattened terminal end 13, of the operating lever 1 and the perforated protrusions 6, 60 there is a clearance such as to allow the rotation of the operating lever 1 around a fulcrum 600, as well as a limited rotation of the operating lever 1 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the face Al of the shutter A, in order to allow both the operating lever 1 and the respective descending tract 11 which acts as a holding element 5 to lift and to lower. The operating lever in the rest position is inclined so that its descending tract 11 remains suspended from the plane of the sill D.

In order to close the shutter A, a user grasps the lever portion 100 and, before pulling it, he/she lifts it up by releasing the operating lever 1 from the L-shaped hook 50 or 500 of the fastening member 200. Then he places the operating lever 1 in the angular extension 4 of the shaped plate 2, which works as protection of the shutter, and then pulls the lever to himself/herself, to fold it finally on the face Al of the shutter A now closed. Inversely, in order to open, the user can grasp the operating lever 1 from the lever portion 100 and, after pushing the shutter A up to the wall, can lower the operating lever 1 by introducing the slot 12 into the L-shaped hook 50 or 500. At the same time the descending tract 11 of the lever portion 100, is positioned in abutment on the lower edge of the opening, i.e. of the sill D, and the hinge C of the shutter A is blocked in the open position.

By virtue of the adjustment member 8, the operating lever 1, and therefore the device according to the invention, can be adapted to window sills of any protrusion. Another advantage lies in the fact that the device can, in a more simple and safe way, be installed in the correct position automatically: that is perfectly on the flat and in the right position, thanks to the angular extension 4 of the shaped plate 2, with double jamb both with the inside face Al of the shutter and on its side edge A2.

Furthermore, the installation of the device is safe because the holding element 5 is applied screwing first the two screws 3 on the side edge A2 of the shutter A.

Reference is made now to figures 6 and 7 which are a top and a bottom perspective view, respectively, of a variant of the operating lever of the device in Figure 1. In these figures the same reference numerals are used to indicate equal or similar parts which are not further described.

The operating lever according to this variant, generally indicated as 16, is formed by two lever portions 160, 161 delimited from one another by a cutout 17. This cutout 17 is substantially shaped as a Greek p. Inserted between the opposite sides 20, 21 of the cutout 17 is an adjusting screw 18, best shown in Figure 7. The adjusting screw can be turned by means of a screwdriver G and stopped with a nut 19 so as to conform the operating lever to the protrusion of the sill by means of the mutual removal or approach of the opposite sides 20, 21 of the cutout 17.

Reference is made now to Figure 8 which is a perspective view, from the outside, of a second embodiment of the device for handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention. The device has a fastening member 201 and an operating lever 22. Also for this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to indicate equal or similar parts. The fastening member 201 has a shaped plate 202 from which both a slotted projection 23 in the vicinity of the lateral edge A2 of the shutter, and a pair of projections 24, 25 in the vicinity of the free end of the shaped plate 202 protrude. The slotted projection 23 forms the holding element 5 of the operating lever 22 while the pair of projections 24, 25 form the fulcrum 700 of the same operating lever. The shaped plate 202 is fixed by means of the screws 3 to the shutter. The operating lever 22 is formed by two lever portions 26, 27 joined by an adjustment member 28. Since the lever portions 26, 27 are flattened, the adjustment member 28 is shaped as a frontal joint obtained with opposed disks 29, 30 having facing radial straight teeth 31, 31. The discs engage with one another by means of a screw 9. This is best seen in Figure 9 which is an enlarged detail of the operating lever of the device in Figure 8.

The lever portion 26 is curved in its end downwards in a descending tract 11 designed to abut the sill D of the window. The lever portion 27 also has a downward projection indicated as 32, intended to engage with the slotted projection 23 of the fastening member 201. In addition, the lever portion 27 is shaped at its end with a portion T best shown in Figure 10 which is partially sectional front view of the device in Figure 8.

The wings 34, 35 of the T-shaped portion are tilted. The upper wing 34 fits with ample clearance into a slot of the upper projection 24, while the lower wing 35 is freely rotatable in a hole of the lower projection 25. Thus this allows the upward rotation of the operating lever 22 so as to release it from the holding element 501 of the fastening member 201, thereby permitting the closure of the shutter. As in the first embodiment, the angle of inclination between the lever portions 26, 27 is regulated by the front coupling of the adjustment member 28.

Reference is made now to Figure 11 which is a perspective view, from the outside, of a third embodiment of the device handling and stopping pivotable shutters according to the invention, having a fastening member applied to a shutter and an operating lever in working position between the shutter and a sill. Both the fastening member 203 and the operating lever 36 are made from strips preferably of metal material. In particular, the shaped plate 204 of the fastening member 203* which is inverted L-shaped with ends terminating with aesthetic motifs, is retained by means of arms 37, 38 to the side edge A2 of the shutter A. As in the embodiment of Figure 8, the shaped plate 204 has a slotted projection 23 in the vicinity of the lateral edge A2 of the shutter A and a pair of projections 24, 25 in proximity to its free end. Unlike the second embodiment, the operating lever 36 is formed in one piece suitably shaped with folds 39, 39, where the lever is lightened with holes 40, 40 to fit the projection of the sill D. The holes allow to bend more easily the operating lever 36. The operation remains the same as that of the other embodiments, with the Holes 39, in the portion adjacent the handle, such as to moderately weaken the lever 36 at certain points in order to be able to bend to the inside or outside with relative ease and in suitable points and then functioning as the adjustment means; and the Fold 40 horizontally oriented inwards and outwards and in correspondence of said holes 39, functioning as guide on a bending action correctly oriented; as for the fact that in the points in which are present the lever body is more weak, where it can be easily folded to the inside or outside according to said need. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, which are cross-section views of the device in Figure 11, but also in Figure 8, in two successive working positions, the projection 32 has a protrusion 55 curved outwardly in such a way as to abut under the slotted projection 23, in order to retain the operating lever 36, with a result that a holding element 501 is formed. As shown in Figures 12 and 13 the control lever 36 is lowered according to the arrow H so that its projection 32 is inserted in the slot 41 made in the slotted projection 23. The arrow L indicates that the operating lever 36 while working can depart from the shutter A as much as the slot 41 allows it, but it remains engaged in the slotted projection 23, thanks to the curved protrusion 55.

Reference is made now to Figures 14 and 15 which show a fourth embodiment of the device in working position between the shutter and a sill and in rest position, respectively.

The fastening member 205 is made from strips of metallic material and has a shape similar to that one of the first embodiment, of which the same reference numbers are used for the L-shaped hook 50 and for the pair of protrusions in the end portion opposite to the side edge A2 of the shutter A indicated with 6 and 60, respectively. The fastening member 205 has a flange 54 on the lateral edge of the shutter and a flange 56 on the lower edge of the same. Unlike the other embodiments, the operating lever 42 is made with a rod shaped in a similar manner to the operating lever 36 of the third embodiment. The rod has a tract 11 for engagement with the sill D and in the opposite end a hook 43 adapted to be inserted with its terminal part, as described in the embodiment in Figure 8, in the slots of the perforated protrusions 6, 60 of the fastening member 205, being held back by the lower protrusion 60 by means not shown. In addition, the rod of the operating lever 42 has lightening holes 44, 44 useful to its deformation being these indentations 44, suitable oriented, respectively, in the inside and in the outside so as to function also as a guide for an orthogonal bending and correct. To this purpose is provided with folding means of a folding hand tool shown in Figure 16, which is a perspective view showing a tool adapted to modify the curvature of the rod of the operating lever 42. This tool is made with a threaded T-shaped element 45 terminating with an end 46 support the rod. On the core of the threaded T-shaped element 45 there is a nut 47 to which two claws indicated as 48 are welded symmetrically. The curvature of the rod is changed by acting on the T-shaped element 45 after placing the rod between the claws 48, 48 of the tool, using the lightening holes 44, 44.

All embodiments described above are subject to variants. Features of an embodiment can be moved to another. For example, each type of operating lever is associable to each type of fulcrum. For the devices described above one skilled in the art, in order to satisfy further and contingent needs, may effect several further modifications and variants, all however comprised within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.