MURA, Sante (Via Canova n.3, Pieve di Soligo, I-31010, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. Driving handle for actuating an openable wing of a frame or sash, particularly of a window, a door or the like, provided to be pivotally swinging in two directions and about two axes that are orthogonal or parallel to each other, said handle being adapted to displace said wing into various setting positions thereof in each one of said pivotally swinging directions and about each one of said pivotally swinging axes, said window or door frame comprising at least an inner framework (12) for holding and supporting the wing (10), a stationary outer case (14) accommodating said inner framework (12), a movable frame (or profile section) (16) provided and housed between said inner framework (12) and said outer case (14), and said actuating operating handle (20), characterized in that said handle (20) is adapted to swing and set said wing (10) into the closed, ventilating and opened positions thereof by swinging it about a vertical axis of rotation or a horizontal axis of rotation extending orthogonally to the vertical one, said wing (10) being adapted to held and supported by first actuating means (24) mounted in the two side flanks (22, 23) of said outer case (14) so as to be able to solely swing about a horizontal axis of rotation, when the wing is swung in the position in which it is oriented in the horizontal direction of rotation; said wing (10) being further adapted to be held and supported by second and third actuating means (29) mounted in the lower and upper sides (27, 28) of said outer case (14), respectively, so as to be able to solely swing about a vertical axis of rotation, when the wing is swung in the position in which it is oriented in the vertical direction of rotation about a vertical axis of rotation; said wing (10) being further adapted to cooperate with fourth actuating means mounted in the corner regions of said outer case (14) and with fifth actuating means (61) mounted on both the side flanks and the lower and upper sides of the window or door frame, so as to retain and lock said wing in position; said handle (20) being finally characterized by motion transmission means (65, 66) applied to and supported by said outer case (14), which cooperate with said first, second, third, fourth and fifth actuating means and are operable by said handle (20) into the various setting positions of said wing (10). 2. Driving handle according to claim 1, characterized in that said first actuating means comprise a first and a second horizontal pin (24), each one of which is mounted in the related side flank (22, 23), said pins being arranged in a position in which they are exactly aligned both with each other and the horizontal axis of rotation of the wing, said horizontal pins (24) being displaceable by said motion transmission means (65) from a retracted position to a position in which they are on the contrary extracted from the related side flank (22, 23), in which said pins (24) are disengaged from and engaged with said wing (10), respectively. 3. Driving handle according to claim 1, characterized in that said second and third actuating means comprise a first and a second vertical pin (29), each one of which is mounted in the respective lower side and upper side (28, 27) of said outer case (14), said pins being arranged in a position in which they are exactly aligned both with each other and the vertical axis of rotation of the wing, said vertical pins (29) being displaceable by said motion transmission means (65) from a retracted position to a position in which they are on the contrary extracted from the related lower and upper sides (28, 27), in which said vertical pins (29) are disengaged from and engaged with said wing (10), respectively. 4. Driving handle according to claim 1, characterized in that said fifth actuating means comprise a number of extending elements (61) adapted to extend in the horizontal and in the vertical direction, respectively, and cooperating with said wing (10), said extending elements (61) being displaceable by said motion transmission means (66) from a retracted position to an extended position, in which they do not act and act against said wing (10), respectively, in the latter case retaining the same wing firmly in position. 5. Driving handle according to claims 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that it is linked with an elongated cylindrical shaft (32) and a contoured ring nut (33) that cooperate with each other and are secured to said outer case (14) with the use of an angle bracket (38), or the like, said cylindrical shaft (32) being linked to an elongated rod (47) that is in turn linked to said angle bracket (38) and actuatable by the hand-grip (30) of said handle (20) in both the axial direction and the two directions of rotation thereof, said cylindrical shaft (32) being comprised of a cylindrical body (49) and a sequence of circular grooves (50) joining into it and having the same outer diameter as said body, said grooves extending at the free end thereof with a short cylindrical stem (51) having a smaller diameter, which in turn joins into a circular head (52) having a diameter that is smaller than the one of said cylindrical body (49) and larger than the one of said cylindrical stem (51), said circular head (52) being provided with an axial recess (53) angularly spaced by an angle of 180° from the position of said hand-grip (30) and said cylindrical body (49) being provided with two side blind bores (54) adapted to accommodate elastic means (spring 55) and two balls 56, and said sequence of circular grooves (50) being formed of a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth circular grooves (69, 70, 71, 72, 73), which are axially spaced by a same extent from each other, wherein said fourth and fifth grooves (72, 73) are provided with two axial recesses (74) angularly spaced by an angle of 90° from each other, thereby creating two sliding paths between a groove and the other one, said third and fifth grooves (71, 73) being provided with respective protruding positive detents (75) angularly spaced from each other, which act as limit stops in the 180°-rotary motion of the handle (20) and the elongated shaft (32), whereas said first and second grooves (69, 70) are not communicating with each other, the first one of them being provided to both lock up or restrain both the last axis about which the wing has been swingably hinged and the sole idling position of the handle, and the second one being provided to allow the handle to be freely displaced into any setting position of the wing, and said third, fourth and fifth grooves (71, 72, 73) being provided with a further axial recess (76) angularly spaced by an angle of 90° from one- of said axial recesses (74), thereby creating a further sliding path between all said grooves, wherein the third groove (71) is aimed at enabling an idling operation of the handle, and the fourth and fifth grooves (72, 73) are aimed at locking the wing swingably hinged about either of the horizontal or vertical axes of rotation thereof, or about both of them. 6. Driving handle according to claim 5, characterized in that said said contoured ring nut (33) is formed of a frusto-conical sleeve (57) delimiting a longitudinal through-bore (58) for the insertion of said elongated shaft (32) and joining into a rectilinear flange (59) on a side thereof, said sleeve (57) being provided with two through-receptacles (63, 64) in a mutually aligned arrangement for a corresponding short key (64', 64") to be inserted therein for cooperating with said sequence of grooves (50), wherein the first such key (64') is adapted to keep said shaft (32) constantly linked with the contoured ring nut (33) owing to its being able to slip into the various sliding paths formed by said third, fourth and fifth grooves (71, 72, 73) of the same shaft, thereby enabling said handle (20) to be displaced into the various actuating positions thereof in a fully safe and reliable manner, and said second key (64") is adapted to slip into the sliding path formed by said first and second grooves (69, 70), so as to in this way bring about a further condition of safety and partial use for the handle thus displaced into such actuating position, and characterized in that said sleeve (57) is shaped in the through-bore (58) provided therein so as to feature a sequence of through-receptacles (60) located in positions coinciding with the positions of said sequence of grooves (50) of said elongated shaft (32). 7. Driving handle according to claim 6, characterized by an indicator for the setting position reached each time by the handle, said indicator being provided in the form of a circular cap (41) provided with a concave curved surface (42), on which there is engraved a nick or similar mark (43) indicative of the setting position reached each time by the handle, such concave surface (42) joining into a short cylindrical part (44) facing an end portion of said shaft (32) and capable of being coupled thereto in a manner as generally known as such in the art. 8. Driving handle according to claim 7, characterized in that said motion transmission means comprise a first and a second set of cables or music-steel straps of a flexible kind (65, 66) that are connected to a first and a second rectilinear rack (34, 36), respectively, which are housed inside said contoured ring nut (33), wherein the first such rack is adapted to selectively actuate said horizontal pins (24) or vertical pins (29) to-and-fro from the retracted position to the extracted position thereof, and vice-versa, and the second such rack is adapted to concurrently actuate said various extending elements (61) to-and-fro from the retracted position to the extracted position thereof, and vice- versa; said first and second rack (34, 36) cooperating with a first and a second gear (35, 37), respectively, which are housed inside said contoured ring nut (33) and mounted on to said elongated rod (47) in a side-by-side arrangement, said first and a second gears (35, 37) being bored radially for a related peg to be inserted therein, said peg protruding outwards relative to the same gears and being adapted to fit into said recess (53) of the shaft (32) so as to cause said first and a second gears (35, 37) to rotatably link up with said shaft (32) in accordance with the setting position which the same shaft is actuated into in the longitudinal direction by said handle (20). 9. Driving handle according to claim 8, characterized in that it is operable into following actuating or setting positions thereof: - a first position in which it is pushed against said outer case (14), and causes said movable frame (16) to link up with said wing (10) owing to said extending elements (61) being extended, when it is turned downwards (six o'clock), and such two component parts to release each other due to said extending elements (61) being retracted, when it is turned by 180° upwards (twelve o'clock). - a second position in which it moved towards the operator and brings about a link-up with the horizontal or vertical pivoting axes, or a condition of mutual inhibition of the same axes, in the intermediate step in which said axes are concurrently inserted, wherein when it is turned downwards (six o'clock) this causes the vertical axis of the wing to be inserted and, when it on the contrary is turned upwards (twelve o'clock), this causes the horizontal axis of the wing to be inserted; - a third position in which it is again drawn towards the operator, but turned downwards at three o'clock or upwards at nine o'clock, in which both horizontal and vertical axes are caused to be inserted, thereby preventing the wing from being able to swing and enabling a controlled and modulatable ventilation effect to take place all along the periphery of the same wing, by varying the extraction of said extending elements (61) towards the wing by a desired extent. 10. Driving handle according to claim 9, characterized in that said ring nut (33) is enveloped in at least a husk (78), which is specially shaped so as to cover and "seal off' the safety key (64') when inserted in position, thereby doing positively away with any risk for such key to be unduly tampered with under possible impairment of a correct operation of the handle. 11. Driving handle according to claim 10, characterized in that said wing (10) may also be formed of a double glazing (79) of a traditional kind defining one of the outer surfaces of the wing, and at least a tempered-glass pane (80), which forms the other outer surface of the wing and is provided in a spaced arrangement relative to said double glazing (79) so as to form, between it and said double glazing, an inner chamber or gap (81) communicating with the ambient in which said pane is each time situated through a peripheral aperture (82) provided to enable a flow of air to circulate through said inner chamber, said inner chamber (81) accommodating also at least one motor-driven or hand-driven lamellar roller blind (83) that can be set into various operating positions thereof from a closed position, in which any light is prevented from passing therethrough, to various opening positions, in which light is allowed to pass to differing extents therethrough, said wing being capable of being swung by 180° about either a horizontal or vertical axis of rotation, so as to be in this way displaced from a first position in which in which said tempered-glass pane (80) is exposed to and in contact with the outside ambient (E), whereas said double glazing (79) is facing and in contact with the inside ambient (I), i.e. the ambient where people is dwelling, to a second position, in which said tempered-glass pane (80) is exposed to and in contact with the inside ambient (I), whereas said double glazing (79) is facing and in contact with the outside ambient (E), and in said first position said tempered-glass pane (80) and the air are heated up, while the inside ambient (I) is prevented from heating up by said double glazing acting as a heat insulating barrier, so that the heated-up air circulates inside said inner chamber (81) to be ultimately released into the outside ambient through said peripheral aperture (82), thereby enabling the inside ambient (I) to undergo a continuous ventilation effect under concurrent conveyance of the heat outwards, in hot- weather days, and in said second position of the wing said tempered-glass pane (80) and the air are heated up, while heat transfer toward the outside ambient (E) is prevented by said double glazing (79), so that the heated-up air is released into the inside ambient (I) through said peripheral aperture (82), in cold-weather days. |
FRAME OSCILLATING ΓΝ TWO DIRECTIONS AND TWO AXES ORTHOGONAL
OR PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, ADAPTED TO DISPLACE SUCH WING IN
DIFFERENT REGULATION POSITIONS INTO EACH OF THE DIRECTIONS AND THE PIVOTAL AND OSCILLATING AXES
The invention relates to a handle for the operation of an openable wing of a window and/or door frame pivotally swinging in two directions and about two axes that are orthogonal or parallel to each other, such handle being adapted to displace such wing into various setting positions thereof in and about each one of said directions and said pivoting and swinging axes. Known from the disclosure in the Italian patent no. 0001321913, filed on 21 st Jan. 2000 to this same Applicant, is a kind of door and window frame comprising a window capable of pivotally swinging in two mutually orthogonal directions, as well as being adjusted into various opening positions in either one of said mutually orthogonal directions. Such pivotally swinging window frame comprises an inner framework for supporting the same window frame, or sash, and an outer case accommodating and holding such inner framework, as well as at least an operating handle acting on the window frame; it further comprises first actuating means associated with the operating handle and adapted to cause said inner framework to selectively displace, along with the related window frame, within said outer case into at least a first, a second and a third operating positions, wherein said inner framework is pivoted to swing about a horizontal rotation axis, a vertical rotation axis and both said horizontal and vertical rotation axes, respectively. The window frame also comprises second actuating means associated with at least a further operating handle and with movable means that are provided between the inner framework and the outer case so as to cooperate with both of them, said second actuating means being adapted to cause said movable means to move into operating positions in which they are pulled up against, i.e. drawn level with and moved away from said inner framework, respectively, and cooperating with said further handle so as to prevent the latter from being operated or allow the latter to be operated when said inner framework is displaced into any of the operating positions thereof or is in a position in which it is aligned with said outer case, respectively, wherein said operating handle is capable of being operated into any of the operating positions thereof when said inner framework is aligned with said outer case and said further operating handle causes said movable means to solely move into the position in which they are pulled up against said inner framework.
The support of the window frame in each one of the pivoting and swinging directions and axes is ensured by a first and a second pair of pin sets, which are housed within said outer containment case and are adapted to allow and cause the same window frame to swingably pivot about a horizontal and a vertical axis of rotation, respectively.
For a better understanding of the construction and operating characteristics and features of the above-cited pivotally swinging window frame, reference should in any case be made to the description and the claims included in the above-cited patent specification, which in fact discloses said features and operating characteristics of the window frame in full detail. In practical use, the use of two actuating handles to cause the swingably pivoted window or door frame to be displaced into the various setting positions thereof, although allowing for an overall satisfactory operation of the system, has a major drawback in that it calls for two handles to be unavoidably provided, which have to be each time operated through a whole sequence of handlings that turn out to be rather difficult and complicated, especially when they have to be performed by elderly or disabled people, who may quite easily get confused when going through the various steps involved in actuating the same handles. Furthermore, such handles are rather complicated in the construction structure thereof and also require complicated systems, cooperating with the same handles, to be provided for operating the window or door frame accordingly, under corresponding increase of the construction costs of the whole window or door frame. Further drawbacks connected with the use of two actuating handles for the operation of such swingably pivoted window or door frames derive from the aesthetical appearance of the same window or door frame, which may sometimes be found as not particularly appealing, as well as from the fact that the safety system against wrong operations and handlings, adapted to keep the window or door frame in a safe position and condition, as well as to prevent it from undesirably and dangerously drop off or fall when displaced into the various setting positions thereof, is located along the perimeter of the openable wing and, for it to be maintained in fully efficient working conditions, requires proper adjustments to be continuously carried out due to the effects of the unavoidable expansion of the materials as brought about by variations in the ambient temperature.
A main object of the present invention is therefore to do away with the above-described drawbacks when displacing the wing of a swingably pivoting window or door frame into the various setting positions thereof, by providing a single and sole actuating handle adapted to perform such setting displacements in a simple and quick manner from a single position, thereby eliminating the need for a second handle to be provided and introducing a considerable extent of simplification in the construction and structure of the whole system for actuating the swinging wing into the various setting positions thereof.
According to the present invention, this aim, along with further ones that shall become apparent in the following description, is reached in an actuating handle for an openable wing of a swingably pivoted window or door frame, which incorporates the construction features and characteristics as substantially described in this specification, with particular reference to the claims appended hereto. Anyway, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein .
- Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the window frame provided with the actuating handle according to the present invention, wherein the window frame is shown as set in the closed position thereof;
- Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in the ventilation position thereof while closed;
- Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in a position reached by pivotally swinging it about a horizontal axis of rotation;
- Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of the window frame shown in Figure 1, in the state in which it is set in a position reached by pivotally swinging it about a vertical axis of rotation;
- Fig. 5 is a perspective front, exploded view of all component parts entering the construction of the actuating handle, as shown in the disassembled state thereof;
- Fig. 6 is a plan cross-sectional view of some component parts of the handle;
- Fig. 7 is a side view of the component parts shown in Figure 6, in the various operating positions in which they can be set;
- Fig. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of the various component parts entering the construction of the actuating handle, as shown in the assembled state thereof;
- Fig. 9 shows some component parts of the handle as set in two different operating positions thereof;
- Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are respective front views of the various component parts of the actuating handle, as shown in the disassembled state and set in various operating positions thereof;
- Fig. 13 is a schematic front view of the handle as mounted to the window frame, with the other component parts of the same window frame set in an operating position thereof;
- Fig. 14 is a same view as the one in Fig. 13 of the handle and the component parts as set in another operating position thereof;
- Figs. 15 and 16 are same view as the one in Fig. 13 of the handle and the component parts as set in further operating positions thereof;
- Fig. 17 is a same view as the one in Fig. 13 of the handle and the component parts as set in further operating positions thereof;
- Fig. 18 is a perspective front view of some component parts of the handle in the assembled state thereof, ensuring safe operation of the same handle;
- Fig. 19 is a schematic front view of the wing and window frame to which the inventive handle is mounted, along with some accessory items thereof;
- Fig. 20 is a plan view of the wing and window frame shown in Fig. 19;
- Figs. 21 and 22 are side cross-sectional views of the wing and window frame shown in Fig. 19, as shown with the wing set in two different operating positions;
- Figs. 23 and 24 are same views as the ones in Figs. 21 and 22 of the component parts illustrated there, wherein said parts are in this case illustrated in an enlarged view thereof in view of better showing the mode of working thereof;
- Fig. 25 is a side cross-sectional, enlarged view of a lower portion of the wing and window frame system according to the present invention, in a modified embodiment thereof;
- Fig. 26 is a side cross-sectional, enlarged view of further modified embodiments of a lower portion of the wing and window frame system according to the present invention; - Fig. 27 is a side cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the wing and window frame system according to the present invention, with some accessory items mounted thereto. The present invention relates to an operating handle for the actuation of an openable wing 10 of a pivotally swinging frame 11, particularly of a window, a door or the like, adapted to pivotally swing in two directions and about two axes extending orthogonally or parallel to each other, said handle being adapted to actuate said wing into various setting positions thereof in each one and about each one of said directions and pivotally swinging axes, and namely into a closed position (see Figure 1), a ventilation position (see Figure 2), a position oriented in a horizontal direction of rotation, i.e. swung about a horizontal axis of rotation (see Figure 3), and a position oriented in a vertical direction of rotation, extending orthogonally to the previously mentioned horizontal direction (see Figure 4), in which the wing 10 is able to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation, with the possibility for it to also rotate about at least another vertical axis of rotation extending parallel to the formerly mentioned vertical axis of rotation.
Known from the disclosure in the Italian patent no. 0001321913, filed on 21 st Jan. 2000 to this same Applicant, is a kind of frame 11, such as of a window, a door or the like, which is capable of pivotally swinging in either one of two mutually orthogonal directions, as well as being adjusted into the same closed and opening positions as indicated above, such pivotally swinging window or door frame comprising an inner framework 12 in a quadrangular shape, made of wood, metal, plastics or any other suitable material, enclosing a wing 10 in the form of a glass pane, or a pane made of any other suitable, either clear or non-clear material, sized so as to fit into a corresponding aperture provided in the wall of residential or similar buildings, and further comprising a stationary outer case 14 made of materials of the same kind as the ones used for the framework and in the same shape as the wing 10, having a slightly larger size than the framework 12, and accommodated within and fixed along the peripheral edges of the related aperture, as secured at the bottom to the horizontal bottom side 15 of the same aperture (or a horizontally extending sill), said window or door frame finally comprising a movable frame or profile section 16, which is fitted and accommodated between the inner framework 12 and the outer case 14 and extends along all peripheral edges of both the framework and the outer case.
The structural conformation of said inner framework 12, the outer case 14 and the movable profile section 16 is not relevant to the purposes of the present invention, so that a description thereof shall be intentionally omitted here. Anyway, details about such component parts may be inferred from the description given in the above-cited Italian patent no. 0001321913, to which reference should therefore be made in view of a better understanding of both these component parts and the other component parts entering the construction of the window or door frame being considered.
On top and the sides thereof, the outer case 14 is enclosed within two corresponding vertical side section bars 17 and 18 and a top horizontal section bar 19 made of wood, plastics or any other suitable material, said section bars being joined at the bottom to the afore-cited horizontal bottom edge (or window sill) 15 and appropriately secured to the aperture provided in the wall of residential buildings.
The pivotally swinging window or door frame under consideration further comprises a handle 20, which in the given example is articulated on the left vertical side flank of the outer case 14 and is associated to a variety of component parts housed inside the same outer case, which are described in detail in a patent application contemporaneously filed by this same Applicant with the title "System for lifting and alignment of an openable wing for a window and door frame oscillating in two directions and two axes orthogonal or parallel to each other, adapted to lift and to align such wing into each of the directions and pivotal and oscillating axes", said component parts being actuated by the above-mentioned handle and being further capable of interacting with the wing 10 to cause the latter to be displaced into the closed and the ventilation positions thereof, as well as to be swung about a horizontal or a vertical axis of rotation into the various opening positions thereof, depending on the positions into which said handle is actuated and set. Anyway, instead of being provided in the above-noted position, the operating handle 20 may also be articulated on the right vertical side flank of the outer case 14, while in all cases ensuring the same operability as in the formerly considered embodiment for setting of the openable wing 10 into the various positions thereof.
With reference to Figures 2 to 4, briefly indicated below will now be the various component parts that are actuated by the operating handle 20, these parts being
substantially comprised of:
- a first set of fittings, mounted on the two vertical side flanks 22 and 23 of the outer case 14, which extend parallel to and spaced from each other, and including each a horizontal pin 24 and a support member (not indicated), wherein the horizontal pins 24 are provided in a position in which they are perfectly aligned both with each other and the horizontal axis of rotation about which the wing is swingably pivoted, whereas the support members are situated above said pins 24 to support the wing 10, thereby making it easier for the same wing to be raised from the lowered position thereof to a swinging position enabling it to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation, i.e. in a position that is perfectly aligned with such axis of rotation, so that it is enabled to rotate about the latter, when the wing is displaced both into the ventilation position thereof and the position in which it is oriented, i.e. swung in the horizontal direction of rotation;
- a second and a third set of fittings, mounted on the bottom and upper horizontal sides 28 and 27 of the outer case 14, which extend parallel to and spaced from each other, and including each a vertical pin 29 and - as the sole bottom side 28 is concerned - two members (not indicated) placed between the vertical pin 29 and provided to raise and support the wing, as well as a possible further vertical pin (not shown), in the case that the wing is desirably required to be pivoted to also swing about a second vertical pivoting and swinging axis extending parallel to the axis defined by the pins 29, wherein said pins 29 are provided in a position in which they are perfectly aligned both with each other and the vertical axis of rotation about which the wing is swingably pivoted, whereas the raising and support members are provided to both raise the wing from the lowered position to the raised position thereof, when the same wing is swung in a position that is exactly aligned with the horizontal axis, so that it is enabled to rotate about such axis of rotation, and to support the same wing when it is swung from the raised position back to the lowered position thereof.
All these component parts are actuated by the operation of the handle 20, in the way that shall be described in greater detail further on, from a retracted position to an extracted position thereof, in which they do not act against the wing 10 and act against the wing 10, respectively;
- a fourth set of fittings, mounted at the corner regions of the outer case 14;
- a fifth set of fittings, comprised of extending elements mounted on both the side flanks and the bottom and upper sides of the window or door frame, so as to enable the swinging wing to be firmly retained in position.
With reference to Figures 5 to 9, these illustrate - in a disassembled state thereof - all component parts entering the construction of the handle 20 according to the present invention, wherein it can be noticed that such component parts are substantially comprised of:
- an elongated hand-grip 30, capable of being grasped and held by a user to displace the handle into the various actuating positions thereof, and joined with a hollow cylindrical body 31 of the same handle; - an elongated cylindrical shaft 32 to selectively actuate the component parts (horizontal and vertical pins, extending elements), which are housed in the outer case 14 and are actuatable by the handle 20, into the various setting positions thereof;
- a specially contoured ring nut 33 provided to receive and accommodate the cylindrical shaft 32 along with further component parts that shall be described further on, as aimed at operating and actuating all component parts in the outer case 14;
- a first rectilinear rack 34 for selectively actuating the horizontal pins 24 or vertical pins 29;
- a first gear 35 cooperating with the first rack 34, for selectively actuating the horizontal pins 24 or vertical pins 29, or a clutch or idling position;
- a second rectilinear rack 36 to concurrently actuate the various extending elements from a retracted position to an extracted, i.e. extended position thereof, in which they release and lock the wing, respectively, and vice-versa;
- a second gear 37 cooperating with the second rack 36 to concurrently actuate the various extending elements from a retracted position to an extracted, i.e. extended position thereof, in which they release and lock the wing, respectively, and vice-versa;
- an angle bracket 38 for securing all component parts of the handle, as assembled in the way that shall be described further on, outside the outer case 14.
In particular, the elongated hand-grip 30 of the handle is shaped so as to feature a fiattened-out and rounded-off portion 39 at an end portion thereof, while the other end portion 40 thereof is curved and bent orthogonally relative to such fiattened-out portion and joins with the hollow cylindrical body 31 (see Figures 5 and 8), so that such hand-grip 30 can be displaced circularly, i.e. rotated in either direction, thereby causing the hollow cylindrical body 31 to correspondingly rotate in the same direction along with the other component parts of the handle that are attached to the same shaft in the way that shall be described further on.
A direction indicator is provided in the form of a circular cap 41 provided with a concave curved surface 42, on which there is engraved a nick 43 indicative of the setting position reached each time by the handle, such concave surface joining into a short cylindrical part 44 facing an end portion 45 of the shaft 32 and capable of being inserted in the
corresponding longitudinal through-bore 46 of said shaft, with which it is able to be removably coupled by means of a joint of a traditional kind (not indicated). The concave surface 42 of the cap 41 is further provided with a middle blind bore (not indicated) for a corresponding thin elongated rod 47 to be able to be received therein, said rod 47 being inserted in and all along the longitudinal through-bore 46 of the shaft 32 and ultimately fitted into said middle bore of the cap 41, while at the other end thereof it is inserted in a corresponding through-bore (not indicated) of the side 48 of the angle bracket 38, in which it is welded, thereby forming a pin for rotatably supporting the direction indicator. In turn, the elongated shaft 32 is substantially comprised of a cylindrical body 49 and a sequence of circular grooves 50 joining into it and having the same outer diameter as said body, said grooves extending at the free end thereof with a short cylindrical stem 51 having a smaller diameter, which in turn joins into a circular head 52 having a diameter that is smaller than the one of the cylindrical body 49 and larger than the one of the cylindrical stem 51, while said longitudinal through-bore 46 being provided to extend over the whole length of the thus formed assembly, said circular head 52 being in addition provided with a recess 53 to the purposes that shall be described further on, which is co-axial relative to the position of the hand-grip 30. To the purposes that shall be described further on, the cylindrical body 49 is furthermore provided with two side blind bores 54 adapted to accommodate a corresponding thrust spring 55 and a related ball 56 (see Figure 5).
Referring now in particular to Figures 5, 6 and 8, it can be noticed that the contoured ring nut 33 is substantially comprised of a frusto-conical sleeve 57 delimiting a longitudinal through-bore 58 and joining into a rectilinear flange 59, through which there extends said through-bore 58, and is provided with an inner receptacle 60 for the first and the second gear 35 and 37 to be accommodated therein, said flange 59 being furthermore adapted to be suitably attached to the side 48 of the angle bracket 38, thereby causing the contoured ring nut to be secured to said angle bracket. Furthermore, such frusto-conical sleeve 57 is provided with two through-receptacles 63 and 64 that are aligned with and angularly spaced from each other, for a corresponding short key 64' and 64" to be inserted therein, wherein the first such key is adapted to link the shaft 32 with the contoured ring nut 33 owing to its being able to slip - in the way that shall be described further on - into the various sliding paths formed by the afore-mentioned sequence of grooves 50 of the same shaft, such key being kept constantly inserted in the related receptacle 63, thereby keeping the shaft 32 constantly linked with the contoured ring nut 33, so as to cause and enable the handle 20 to be displaced into the various operating positions thereof in a fully safe and reliable manner. The second key 64" cited above is used to restrain, in the manner that shall be described in greater detail further on, the last setting, i.e. actuating position reached each time by the handle 20 being displaced, so as to in this way bring about a further condition of safety and partial use for the handle thus displaced into such setting or actuating position.
Furthermore, said inner receptacle 60 of the frusto-conical sleeve 57 is sized so as to be able to also accommodate the balls 56, as pushed by the springs 55, of the elongated shaft 32 when the latter is displaced axially into the corresponding settings, i.e. actuating positions of the handle 20, thereby constantly ensuring a perfect orthogonal condition of the handle displaced into the actuating positions thereof, in which it is turned from 0° to 90° and to 180°, as this shall be described in greater detail further on. Referring now again to Figure 5, it can be noticed that the first and the second rectilinear racks 34 and 36 are provided in a limited length thereof, and operate in independent manner through the respective gear or cog-wheel 35 and 37 meshing therewith by setting the handle 20 into the various actuating positions thereof The end portions of each such rack are connected to a set of circular metal cables or music-steel straps of a flexible kind 65 and 66, which are appropriately guided in the sliding motion thereof, and which are housed inside the outer case 14, wherein the rack 34 is connected to a first set of wire cables or music-steel straps 65 that are attached to the two horizontal pins 24 and the two vertical pins 29, so that said rack sliding in either one of the vertical sliding directions thereof, as induced by the handle 20 being set into a corresponding actuating position, will cause said horizontal pins 24 or vertical pins 29 to switch from one to the other of the retracted or extracted condition thereof, in which they are therefore disengaged from or engaged with the corresponding horizontal or vertical pivoting axis of the wing 10, respectively. In turn, the other rack 36 is connected to a second set of wire cables or music- steel straps 66 that are in turn connected with all said extending elements 61, so that said rack sliding in either one of the vertical sliding directions thereof, as induced by the handle 20 being set into a corresponding actuating position, will cause all said extending elements 61 to concurrently switch from one to the other of the retracted or extended condition thereof, in which they are therefore release or retain the wing 10, respectively.
Referring still to Figure 5, it can be further noticed that the first and second gearwheels 35 and 36 are provided with a respective middle axial bore (not shown) for the elongated rod 47 to pass therethrough, and each such gearwheel is bored radially through the cogged crown thereof for a related peg (not shown) to be able to be inserted therein, such pegs eventually protruding into the respective gearwheels to perform the tasks that shall be described in greater detail further on. In the same Figure there can be noticed that the angle bracket 38 is provided with another side or wing 67 that is bent orthogonally to and giving a greater size than the afore- described side or wing 48 thereof, said further bracket side 67 being provided with through-bores 68 for related screws (not shown), as used to fasten the bracket 38 against the outer surface of the outer case 14 in the related application position, to pass
therethrough.
Finally, the sequence of circular grooves 50 of the elongated shaft 32 is formed (see also Figures 8, 10-12) of five circular grooves 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 similar to each other and having the same depth, which are axially spaced by a same extent from each other, wherein the grooves 69 and 70 are not communicating with each other. Conversely, the fourth and fifth grooves 72 and 73 are provided with two identical axial recesses 74 extending over the whole depth of the same grooves and angularly spaced by an angle of 90° from each other, thereby creating two sliding paths between a groove and the other one. Furthermore, the third and fifth grooves 71 and 73 are provided with respective protruding positive detents 75 angularly spaced from each other, which act as limit stops in the 180°-rotary motion of the handle 20 and the elongated shaft 32, i.e. when said handle 20 and elongated shaft 32 are turned by 180°, and, finally, the third, fourth and fifth grooves 71, 72 and 73 are provided with an axial recess 76 extending over the whole depth of the same grooves and angularly spaced by an angle of 90° from one of the afore-cited recesses 74.
Assembling the various component parts of the handle 20 together is done by fastening the angle bracket 30 on to the outer case 14 in the related application position, and securing the rod 47 to such angle bracket 38 in the way as this has been indicated hereinbefore, and then by inserting the gearwheels 35 and 37 meshing with the related racks 34 and 35 in the middle bore of the contoured ring nut 33, as followed by the insertion of the same contoured ring nut 33 until the flange 59 thereof comes into abutting against the side 48 of the angle bracket 38, to which ii is then secured.
Then, through the through-bore 58 of said contoured ring nut 33 there is fully inserted the cylindrical shaft 32, by having it fitted therethrough with its head 52 first and its cylindrical body 49 thereafter, and such shaft is then linked with the contoured ring nut 33 by inserting the first key 64' in the through-receptacle 63 provided in the same contoured ring nut 33 and, in this condition, the shaft 32 can be displaced to a limited extent to-and-fro in the longitudinal direction by the related hand-grip 30, thereby enabling the recess 53 of the head 52 to selectively couple with the sliding paths 71, 72 and 73 in accordance with the actuating position reached each time.
Finally, in the mouth of the through-bore 43 of the shaft 32 there is inserted the cylindrical body 31 of the hand-grip 30, in which there will have been fitted the cap 41 of the direction indicator.
With reference to Figures 8-12 and 14-17, the description will now be given of the way in which the handle 20 operates and the actuating positions into which the same handle can be displaced, i.e. turned, so as to use the wing 10 in the various operating positions thereof. When the handle 20 is displaced into the position in which it is pushed towards the outer case 14, away from the operator, it causes the movable frame 16 to link up with the wing 10 when the same handle is turned downwards (at six o'clock, see Figure 8), and such two component parts to release each other when it is turned by 180° upwards (at twelve o'clock, see Figure 10).
In this condition, the key 64' inserted in the related receptacle 63 comes to be located in the groove 71 of the shaft 32.
When the handle 20 is displaced in the position in which it is moved away from the outer case 14, towards the operator, it brings about a link-up with the horizontal or vertical pivoting axes. In this condition, the key 64" inserted in the related receptacle 64 comes to be located in the groove 73 of the shaft 32 (see Figure 10).
The effect of mutual inhibition of the horizontal and vertical axes, in the intermediate step in which both axes are inserted concurrently, is brought about by the key 64" inserted in the related receptacle 64 linking-up with, i.e. engaging the groove 72 (see Figures 11 and 17c).
When the handle is displaced upwards (at twelve o'clock), it is the horizontal swinging axis of the wing 10 that is inserted (see Figure 15b). In the closed position of the wing 10 (see Figure 17c), all vertical pins 29 and horizontal pins 24 are extracted, so that the same wing is hinged about both vertical and horizontal axes thereof, and also all extending elements 61 are extended and pushing against the same wing, in a condition in which these extending elements constantly keep in the extended state thereof and enable the wing to be pivotally hinged solely about the vertical axis (see Figure 15a), under sole extraction of the vertical pins 29, or solely about the horizontal axis (see Figure 15b), under sole extraction of the horizontal pins 24, and such condition is brought about by causing two pins to be extracted, while at the same time causing the other two pins to retract. As soon as the wing is pivotally hinged about one of such axes, all extending elements 61 are retracted so as to allow the wing to keep hinged about the selected axis.
In the case that the handle is mounted on the right side of the outer case, instead of its being mounted on the left side as described hitherto, the handle is provided with all component parts thereof made and shaped in the same way as the afore-described ones, except for the axial recess 53 that is located by an angle of 45° to the right relative to the position of the corresponding recess 53 of the circular head 52 of the shaft 32.
Figure 18 is shown to illustrate the ring nut 33 as mounted on the cylindrical shaft (not visible), wherein on such ring nut there has been applied a kind of husk 78, which is specially shaped so as to cover and "seal off' the safety key (not shown) when inserted in position, thereby doing positively away with any risk for such key to be unduly tampered with under possible impairment of a correct operation of the handle 20. Referring now to Figures 19 to 22, which illustrate the openable wing 10 of the window frame 11, which - as enclosed in the inner framework 12 - is adapted to be swung into the various afore- described setting positions thereof by the actuation of the inventive handle, it can be noticed that the same wing is formed of a double glazing 79 of a traditional kind defining one of the outer surfaces of the wing, and at least a tempered-glass pane 80, which forms the other outer surface of the wing and is provided in a spaced arrangement relative to the double glazing 79 so as to form, between it and said double glazing, an inner chamber or gap 81 communicating with the ambient in which said pane is each time situated through a peripheral aperture 82 provided to enable a flow of air to circulate through said inner chamber 81, in the direction B from the bottom upwards, for the reasons that shall be described in greater detail further on. This inner chamber 81, furthermore, is able to also accommodate at least one motor-driven lamellar roller blind 83 of a traditional kind, which may for example be formed of a plurality of overlapping lamellae or thin strips 84 arranged to be concurrently actuated by a motor (not shown) or by hand into various extended or retracted positions thereof, under correspondingly varying inclination thereof, from a closed position, in which such strips are mutually overlapping to thereby prevent any light from passing therethrough, to various opening positions, in which light is allowed to pass to differing extents therethrough. Finally, the thus provided wing can be swung by 180° about either a horizontal or vertical axis of rotation, so as to be in this way displaced from one to the other of the positions illustrated in Figures 19 to 22. When the wing is swung into the position shown in Figure 21, in which the tempered-glass pane 80 is exposed to and in contact with the outside ambient E, whereas the double glazing 79 is facing and in contact with the inside ambient I, i.e. the ambient where people is dwelling, the light passes through the outer tempered-glass pane and the inner double glazing, thus causing said tempered-glass pane to be heated up along with the air contained in the inner chamber 81, whereas -it is on the contrary unable to heat the air in the inside ambient I since it is prevented therefrom by the double glazing acting as a heat insulating barrier, and in this condition the air contained in the inner chamber 81, and passing through the peripheral aperture 82, heats up gradually and moves upwards by circulating in the direction B, while the heated-up air is then released again into the outside ambient E by passing through the upper aperture 82 of the wing, and the thus obtained continuous circulation of the air through the inner chamber 81 causes the same chamber to undergo a continuous ventilation effect with the heat being continuously conveyed outwards, thereby preventing the inside ambient I from heating up, wherein the heat-insulating effect of the double glazing 79 is practically boosted and the dwelling temperature in the inside ambient is improved, while such ventilation condition is obtained in summer days even in the case that a motor-driven roller blind 83 is provided inside the inner chamber 81, since such blind would solely perform as a light screen. On the other hand, when the wing is set in the position shown in Figure 22, in which the tempered-glass pane 80 is exposed to and in contact with the inside ambient I, whereas the double glazing 79 is facing and in contact with the outside ambient E, the light passes through the outward facing double glazing and the inward facing tempered-glass pane, thus causing the air contained in the inner chamber 81 to be heated up along with said tempered-glass pane 80, and in this condition the air contained in the inner chamber 81 heats up gradually and moves upwards by circulating in the same the direction B, while the heated-up air is then released again into the inside ambient I by passing through the upper aperture 82 of the wing, thereby gradually heating up the same inside ambient thanks also to the presence of the double glazing 79 that prevents heat from being transferred into the outside ambient E, owing to heat-barrier effect thereof, and such room heating effect is obtained in winter or cold days even in the case that a motor-driven roller blind 83 is provided inside the inner chamber 81, since such blind performs the twofold function of boosting the heating effect of the inside ambient I and promoting the passage of the light inwards, owing to the possibility for the strips forming the roller blind to be adjusted accordingly. Shown in Figures 23 and 24 are all component parts of the openable wing, i.e. the same parts shown in the preceding Figures 21 and 22, but illustrated in an enlarged view thereof this time, so that it can among other things be best seen that each such wing is furthermore provided with a fly screen or mosquito net 85, which is attached around the peripheral aperture 82 on the outward facing E of the same wing.
Shown in Figure 25 is on the contrary the above-cited wing in a modified embodiment thereof. In particular, illustrated in this Figure is the lower portion of said wing 10 and the window or door frame incorporating the above-described double glazing 79 and tempered- glass pane 80. In this Figure there can further be noticed the inner framework 12 of the wing with the related peripheral sealing gasket 86, the contoured stationary outer case 14 mounted to the wall aperture 87 of the building and enclosing the movable frame (or profile section) 16, with a related peripheral sealing gasket 88 extending therebetween, said movable frame being displaceable - as this has already been described hereinbefore - in the directions indicated by the arrows C and D relative to the inner framework 12 of the wing, and being further supported and guided along a corresponding peripheral profile section 89 secured inside the outer case 14 by means of a peripheral shroud 90, which delimitates - between it and the horizontal wall 91 of the outer case 14 - a first peripheral cavity 92, which is adapted to receive and accommodate the cables or music-metal straps (not shown) used to actuate the extending elements 61, and a second peripheral cavity 93, which is slightly spaced from the first one and is adapted to receive and accommodate the cables or music-metal straps used to actuate the pins forming the horizontal and vertical pivoting axes. Furthermore, a joint covering bead 94 is applied externally along the entire perimeter of the outer .case 14. Further possible modified embodiments of the above-cited wing are shown in Figure 26, illustrating in particular the lower portion of said wing 10 and the related window or door frame. In the embodiment shown in Figure 26 a), the wing is formed of two glass panes 95 and 96 arranged parallel to and spaced from each other by a certain extent, as well as attached to the peripheral framework 12 under interposition of a peripheral sealing gasket (not indicated), whereas the movable frame 16 is sensibly similar to the one described with reference to Figure 25, and is mounted in the outer case 14 in the same way, and in the embodiment shown in Figure 26 b) the wing is again formed of two glass panes 95 and 96 arranged parallel to and spaced from each other, however by a smaller extent than in the case shown in Figure 26 a), and attached again to a peripheral framework 12 having the same size as the above-described one, under interposition of a peripheral sealing gasket 86, while the movable frame 16 is again similar to and mounted in the outer case in the same way as the one described with reference to Figure 26 a). In this case, then, the portion of peripheral framework 12 that protrudes relative to the opposed glass pane 96 is covered externally by means of a guard bead 97 , that is curved externally, adapted to fit all along said protruding portion of the framework, and adapted to enhance the aesthetical appeal of the same wing. In turn, also the joint covering bead 94 is covered by a further guard bead 98 made of the same material and with the same decorative effect as the afore-cited bead 97. In the embodiment shown in Figure 26 c), the wing is similar to the one shown in Figure 25, i.e. is again formed of a tempered-glass pane 80 and a double glazing 79, while the movable frame 16, the outer case 14 and all other parts associated therewith are the same as the ones described with reference to Figure 25. In the remaining embodiments of the wing shown in Figures 26 d) and 26 e), said movable frame 16, outer case 14 and other parts associated therewith are again identical to the ones described with reference to Figure 26 c), while the wing itself is again formed of two glass panes 95 and 96 arranged parallel to and spaced from each other by the same extent, which in the first case shown in Figure 26 d) are positioned in the same way as the ones shown in Figure 26 b), while in the second case shown in Figure 26 e) they are positioned along the centre line of the peripheral framework 12. In the first case, then, there is again provided a sealing guard bead 99 applied to and along the protruding portion of said peripheral framework 12 for the same reasons as cited above, and aesthetically harmonized with the joint covering bead 94, whereas in the second case said peripheral framework 12 is covered on both sides thereof by related sealing guard beads 100 and 101 that are identical and symmetrical to each other, as well as aesthetically harmonized with the joint covering bead 94. All these component parts are interchangeable with each other. By having now reference to Figure 27, which illustrates a further modified embodiment of the wing, there can be noticed that to the lower portion of the outer case 14 of the wing there is secured a peripheral profile section 102 identical to the afore-described peripheral profile section 89, which is also adapted to support and guide the movable frame 16 (not shown in the Figure), and further acts as a peripheral case-like member enclosing the afore-described first, second, third, fourth and fifth sets of fittings of the window or door frame, and inside said peripheral profile section 102, in contact with said sets of fittings and selectively cooperating therewith, there is housed an angle slide 103 provided with a vertical leg 104 and a horizontal leg 105 and actuated by the related cables or music-steel straps, which are housed in the cavities 92 and 93.