DESCRIPTION Technical field

The present invention relates to a profile for the frame of an opening element such as a window, a door, or the like, of the type described in the preamble of the principal claim; a frame of an opening element comprising this profile; and an opening element comprising this frame. Prior art

In the technical field of the construction of opening elements, there is a known method of producing a frame composed of a plurality of wooden profiles joined together at each corner of the frame. Such opening elements may be typically, although not exclusively, fitted in the outer walls of buildings, and therefore have at least one surface exposed to atmospheric agents such as rain, moisture and snow.

Over time, the action of these atmospheric agents, and particularly the absorption of moisture by the wood fibres, causes a progressive deterioration of the opening elements, which therefore require periodic maintenance or replacement.

A further problem is the risk of damage due to impact or other mechanical stresses on the inner or outer surfaces, which also necessitates maintenance or replacement. In order to avoid or reduce the effects of the aforementioned problems, it is common practice to coat the surfaces of the opening elements with protective varnishes or to apply protective sheets of plastic or metallic material to the exposed surfaces, thus reducing the contact between the wooden parts and the atmospheric agents.

However, this solution is not optimal, since it does not completely protect the wooden layers of the frame from contact with moisture, because the moisture can still pass over the edges of the protective surface sheets.

Description of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a profile for the frame of an opening element such as a window, a door, or the like, which is structurally and functionally designed to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the aforesaid prior art.

Another object is to provide a frame for opening elements and an opening element comprising this frame.

These and other objects which will be described more fully below are achieved by means of a profile, a frame and an opening element made in accordance with the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description of a preferred example of embodiment thereof, illustrated, for the purposes of guidance and without restrictive intent, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a portion of a frame of an opening element according to the present invention;

- Figures 2-6 show corresponding sectional views of a profile for a frame of an opening element according to the present invention, made with different profile configurations. Preferred embodiment of the invention

With reference to the attached drawings, a frame 6 of an opening element 100 in the form of a window of rectangular shape comprises a plurality of profiles 5 joined together. For this purpose, a dovetail joint is provided between each pair of consecutive profiles 5, at each corner of the frame 6. Each profile 5 comprises an inner structure 20, composed of a plurality of layers 7, 8 and 9 which are brought together, made from solid wood or other wood material and produced with dimensions such that the layers can be superimposed on each other and joined by bonding, interlocking, or other known fastening systems. In the example shown in the drawings, three layers 7, 8 and 9 are provided, namely the outer, central and inner layers. The outer layer 7 and inner layer 9 can face, respectively, towards the outside and the inside of a building when the window 100 is fitted. The outer layer 7 of the window 100 is therefore exposed to the action of atmospheric agents (such as rain, moisture and snow). The layers 7, 8 and 9 are shaped so as to have two sides 21a, b forming, respectively, the inner and outer sides, which face, respectively, towards the glass of the window 100 and in the opposite direction. Along the outer side 21b there are formed two rectangular channels 10, spaced apart from each other, which extend along the whole length of the profile 5, and can have the cables of alarm systems, if present, passing through them, or can promote the adhesion of polyurethane foam used to fix the frame 6 to a counter-frame (not shown). In another variant embodiment of the invention (not shown), the profile 5 can also be made in one piece.

The layers 7 and 9 comprise, respectively, a first outer flat surface 23 and a second inner flat surface 24, which are on opposite sides of the central layer 8 and are substantially perpendicular to the sides 21a, b. The profile 5 also comprises a first outer covering 13 and a second inner covering 14, positioned on the flat surfaces 23 and 24 respectively. The coverings 13 and 14 can impart a predetermined appearance to the flat surfaces 23 and 24. The coverings 13 and 14 are composed of sheets of plastic material, such as PVC, or metal, such as aluminium, or of other kinds. In particular, the inner covering 14, which can face the inside of a building when the window 100 is fitted in position, is made from sliced wood or from synthetic material processed so as to have an appearance similar or identical to that of wood. In a variant embodiment of the invention (not shown), the profile 5 comprises only the covering 13 or only the covering 14.

The profile 5 also comprises two layers 12 of water-repellent material, interposed, respectively, between the outer surface 23 and the outer covering 13, and between the inner surface 24 and the inner covering 14. In a variant embodiment of the invention (not shown), the profile 5 comprises a single water-repellent layer 12, positioned in contact with the surface 23 or the surface 24.

The water-repellent layer 12 typically has a thickness in the range from 2 to 5 mm and is made from high or medium density fibreboard (known in the art as HDF and MDF respectively). In other variant embodiments, the water-repellent layer 12 is made from other materials having the same functional characteristics, such as plastics or metals.

A method for manufacturing the profile 5 comprises the following steps: preparing the flat surfaces 23 and 24, - preparing a layer 12 of water-repellent material, bonding the layer 12 on to one or both of the flat surfaces 23 and 24, bonding one of the coverings 13 and 14 on to the layer 12. The coverings 13 and 14 extend beyond the layers of water-repellent material 12, being directly applied to the layers 7 and 9 of the structure 20 on the sides 21a, b and particularly on the visible areas of the latter. The partial concealment of the sides 21a, b by the coverings 13 and 14 improves the functional characteristics of the profile 5, by extending the protection from atmospheric agents to the sides 21a, b, and also improves the appearance, by concealing the solid wood structure 20. In order to achieve this, portions of the covering 13 or 14 may also be present on the central layer 8 (Figure 3).

Because of the water-repellent barrier created by the layer 12, the frame 6 made in this way prevents contact between the wooden layers 7, 8 and 9 and the atmospheric agents (rain, moisture, snow, etc.), thus preventing water absorption and the consequent damage which this contact would cause, particularly at the corners of the frame 6, where even the smallest defects in the joints would allow moisture to pass under the coverings 13 and 14. The wooden layers are also protected from any impact or other mechanical stresses, which are absorbed by the water-repellent layer 12 made from MDF, HDF or other water-repellent material. Consequently, there is a considerable increase in the life of the opening element before its maintenance or replacement is necessary. Thus the invention resolves the stated problem.