DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position.

Locking devices are usually employed for preventing the accidental closing of the external frames, such as shutters, blinds, gratings and glass frames, in residential estates or of another type.

Notoriously, such locking devices are discrete elements with respect to the frame on which they play their function.

In particular, they include some engagement elements, generally called "tiches", externally integrated in the wall at which the shutters of the frame adhere in the opening. Generally, for each shutter of the frame, it is arranged a tich which is restrained to the portion of external wall underlying the lower end of the shutter, when the frame is a window, and to the portion of ' external wall beside the shutter, when the frame is a door or a french window. More particularly, the above-mentioned engagement elements include a base structure, which is integrated in the wall of the

building, at which a locking element, having the peculiarity that it can be locked in rotation relative to the base structure, is integrated, such that the shutter can be held between this element and the wall. This solution of the locking problem of an external frame in the opening position involves, however, some drawbacks .

First of all, these engagement elements need to be fixed to the external wall of the building, and therefore they represent a permanent structure which impairs the beauty of the building itself. Furthermore, they are constantly subjected to atmospheric agents, which compromise, over time, the service life and the proper functioning thereof. Finally, as the engagement elements are positioned on the external wall of the building, for locking or unlocking the frame it is necessary to lean out and, therefore, to work in a position which results uncomfortable, especially when the windows are arranged upwards with respect to the floor, or for people with movements difficulties.

The aim of the present invention is to obviate to the above-mentioned drawbacks with an external frame with a locking device of the frame in the opening position which does not impair the beauty of the building on

which the frames to be locked are mounted. A further aim of the present invention is to provide an 'external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position which ensures high comfortableness and use practicality.

Still an object of the invention is to provide an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position which has a remarkable service life over time. Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position which is easy to carry out and with a limited cost.

These and other objects, which will better result through the following description, are attained, according to the present invention, by an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position according to the appended claims.

It is now reported, by way of indicative example but not. limitation, the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position according to the invention, shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening

position in a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein such device is in a first position;

- figure 2 shows a perspective view of the external frame with locking device of figure 1, wherein such device is in a second position;

- figure 3 shows a section of the external frame with locking device of figure 1, wherein such device is in the first position;

- figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the locking device of figure 1.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, an external frame with locking device of the frame in the opening position according to the invention, generally shown in the enclosed figures with numeral 1, includes a bolt 3 having a first portion 14 and a second portion 15. Such first portion 14 is movably associated with the frame 1 and transversal or, preferably, perpendicular to the second one 15. Advantageously, the first portion 14 of the bolt 3 can be associated with an internal edge 4 of the shutter 3 of the frame 1, or, preferably, internally inserted thereto. Moreover, in this latter case, the first portion 14 of the bolt 3 can be associated with a hinge 7 of the frame 1. The invention can also include a framework 23, which can be fixed to the frame 1, through which the first

portion 14 of the bolt 3 is associable to the frame 1 itself. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in fact, the framework 23 is equipped with a substantially tubular first portion 24, inserted in a proper seat 6 made in the internal edge 4 of the shutter 3 of the frame 1, preferably so as to have the main axis substantially parallel to the lower edge 5 and higher edge of the shutter 3 itself, as it is shown in figures 3 and 4. In a still more preferred embodiment for the advantages provided at the level of production costs, the framework 23 results integrated in the block of ironware of a hinge 7 of the frame 1, as it can be seen in figure 4. The integration of the locking device 2 in the hinge 7 is especially useful when the frame 1 is .equipped with non-solid shutters 3, wherein the portion suitable for housing the device 2 is residual and often restricted only to the . zones of the hinges 7.

According to the invention, the bolt 3 plays the function of locking in the opening position the frame 1 by moving itself from a first non operating position to a second operating position, wherein the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 can be engaged with a fixed element 8 so as to block the shutter 3 of the frame 1 relative to the rotation on the hinge 7. In the present de-

scription, such fixed element 8 represents any opening of a building which can be closed from at least a shutter 3 of a frame 1: specifically, a door, a window or a french window, for example.

The second portion 15 of the bolt 3 can be moved between the two positions above-mentioned by means of at least a translation movement or at least a rotation movement relative to the frame 1 itself. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt 3 substantially has a L-structure (figure 3 and 4) . In this way, in the first non-operating position, the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 is adjacent to the internal edge 4 of the shutter 3 of the frame 1 and has the main axis substantially parallel to the internal edge 4 itself (figure 1) . In the second position, the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 is moved apart from the internal edge 4 of the shutter 3 by means of a translation movement and substantially rotated of 90°, so as to be engaged with the jamb 9 of the fixed element 8 for reference (figure 2) .

The invention can further advantageously include an engagement element 17 which can be fixed to the portion of the jamb 9 which comes into contact with the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 during the locking. The engagement element 17 plays the double function of

ensuring the action of the bolt 3 on the jamb 9, presenting two engagement portions 18 at which the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 can be snap-restrained, and protecting the structure of the jamb 9 itself from any damages following to the pressure action exerted on it by the second portion 15 of the bolt 3.

Always according to the invention, the framework 23 can also show a second portion 25, transversal and, preferably perpendicular to the first one. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, such second portion 25 is advantageously externally associated with the frame 1, preferably so as to result adjuacent to its internal edge 4 for housing the bolt 3 when it is in the first position and is directly associated with the hinge- 7 of the frame 1. Moreover, such second portion 25 shows a substantially plane development, preferably eguipped with a seat 26 for housing the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 _. (figures 2 and 4) or a stop portion for playing the end stop function relative to the rotation of the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 (alternative not shown) .

Accordingly, as it can be seen from figures 3 and 4, also the framework 23 preferably has a L-shape. Advantageously, on the second portion 25 of the framework 23, some fixing means 19 can also be operating,

which ensure the mounting of such portion 25 on the internal edge 4 of the shutter 3. Such means 19 can include, for example, some engagement elements 20, such as screws, which can be placed in the frame 1 by means of through-holes 21 arranged on the second portion 25 of the framework 23.

^• The invention can further include a resilient element 10 for an active drawing back of the bolt 3 which, working under compression, essentially plays the function of pulling the bolt 3 towards the internal edge 4 of the shutter 3 of the frame .1. In this way, the drawing back action carried out by such resilient element 10 allows to ensure the coupling of the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 with the jamb 9 of the fixed element 8 on which the frame 1 is mounted. Preferably, ^' in the first position the bolt 3 tends to undergo a slight biasing action in the moving apart direction of the shutter 3 by the drawing resilient element 10. This allows to render easier to the user the extraction of the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 for reaching the second position.

Generally, the resilient element IO for drawing back is inserted between the seat obtained in the frame 1 or the first portion 24 of the framework 23, depending on the embodiment, and the first portion 14 of the

bolt 3. ^' In a preferred embodiment of the invention, such resilient element 10 for drawing back includes a spring internally inserted in the first tubular portion 24 of the framework 23, so as to contain the first portion 14 of the bolt 3 (figure.4) . The spring is then restrained to the first position 14 of ^' the bolt 3 by means of a connecting element 11, for example a screw, inserted in a proper seat obtained in the free end 14a of the first portion 14, preferably with the help of at least a washer.

A preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a stop element 16 which can be selectively associated with the bolt 3 for holding it in the first position. The above-mentioned stop element 16 is preferably a tongue, rotatably mounted on the frame 1 so as to be engaged with the free end 15a of the second portion 15 of the bolt 3, for holding it in the first position and, therefore, contrasting the outwardly ^' biasing action of the element 10 for drawing back. In the execution variant, which includes the second portion 25 of the framework 23, the tongue is advantageously associated to such portion 25, through the fixing means 19, as it can be particularly noted in figure 4. The functioning of the preferred execution variant of

the present invention, above shown in a mainly structural meaning, is the following. Generally, during the use, it is started with the opening of the shutter 3 of the frame 1 to be locked.. Subsequently, the second portion 15 of the bolt 3 is released from the stop element 16 and translated and rotated of substantially 90°, so as to stop it on the jamb 9 of the door or window of reference, preferably by engaging the bolt 3 with the engagement element 17 arranged on the jamb 9 itself. In order to release the shutter 3 of the frame 1 relative to the rotation and, therefore, to allow the closing thereof, it is sufficient to carry out this operations sequence in an opposite way. Indeed, the employed materials as well as the dimensions could be of any type, depending on the requirements. Furthermore, all the details can be substituted by other technically equivalent elements. The invention attains important advantages. First of all, the frame with locking device shown by the invention is easy and comfortable to use. In fact, as the device is preferably integrated in the internal edge of the frame, particular movements for locking or unlocking the shutter of the frame are not required. In particular, any movement which can result dangerous, such as leaning out, or difficult to carry out,

for example in the case of movement difficulty of who carries out the locking, or when the windows are placed very high relative to the floor of a room, are not needed.

Secondly, the shown invention allows the productive costs control and the possibility of exploiting scale economies during the execution process, especially when the locking device is integrally associated with the hinge of the frame. Furthermore, this latter embodiment allow a further cost reduction at the warehouse level.

Moreover, the shown frame does not involve any negative effect in the beauty of the building on which it is mounted. In fact, the locking device is preferably integrated in the internal edge of the shutter of the frame and, therefore, is unlikely visible both from the outside and the inside. Also the beauty of the jamb is protected when the invention is completed by the engagement element, thanks to its function of jamb protection from the pressure exerted by the bolt. Advantageously, the stop element also allows a greater safety when using the device, since it holds the bolt in position during the locking through its engagement portions. Finally, still thanks to the integration of the locking device in the shutter of the frame, the

device is not directly subjected to the effect of atmospheric agents which would compromise the service life and the proper functioning of the same over time.