ADJUSTABLE HINGE FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS

Technical field

This invention relates to an adjustable hinge for doors and windows.

In the building sector, the term“doors and windows” generally indicates the combination of the frame to be anchored to the masonry of the building and the movable element, typically a sash of a door or window, which is constrained to the frame by means of suitable hinges.

Background art

The frame has rigid and fixed perimeter structures, anchored to the wall by means of polyurethane foam, screws and dowels, usually through a counter-frame. Each frame acts as a support for one or more movable elements, allowing the opening and closing by means of the above- mentioned hinges.

In order to allow a perfect adjustment of the doors or windows, the hinges are generally adjustable both longitudinally and transversely.

This adjustment makes it possible to compensate for any deformations of the frame and/or of the sash, or even any imperfect installation of the latter.

More specifically, the longitudinal adjustment allows the reciprocal position of the frame and sash to be adapted along the axis of rotation of the hinge, whilst the transversal adjustment allows the reciprocal position of the frame and sash to be adapted on a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hinge. In particular, there are prior art hinges which are adjustable according to three axes at right angles to each other, in which the transversal adjustment allows the reciprocal position of the frame and sash to be adapted along a first direction lying on the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hinge and parallel to the wall on which the sash opens, and along a second direction lying on the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hinge and at a right angle to the wall on which the sash opens.

An example of a hinge adjustable in three axes mutually at right angles is known from Italian patent No. 1 304 490 by the same Applicant. The hinge allows a perfect adjustment of the door or window, however it is rather complex both in terms of production, the costs of which are therefore high, and in terms of assembly and subsequent adjustment.

A further prior art solution by the same Applicant, even if a hinge portion is without a wing, is described in patent document EP 1 672 155, wherein the adjustment of the eccentric pin on the two horizontal axes at right angles to each other occurs by adjusting means.

These adjustment means comprise a plurality of radial notches, uniformly made around a first portion of the pin and close to a circular plate for separating the two portions forming the pin.

These notches can be housed in relative radial grooves formed on the upper end of a body for housing the pin and inside the relative hole for housing the pin, in such a way as to define, in use, several separate positions, for adjusting the second portion of the pin by, lifting of the pin, rotation for adjusting the pin and, therefore, a new housing in the body. However, this type of adjustment has several drawbacks.

The adjustment with notches is of the discrete type and, therefore, in some situations a positioning is obtained which is a compromise and not the proper and correct position of the hinge relative to the door or window.

The adjustment operations always require a lifting and then a lowering of the pin, making these operations lengthy and laborious, since it is necessary to remove/lift also the upper part of the hinge, body with wing. The notches do not always have references which are able to display any maximum and minimum range of the adjustment axes, thereby making the work of the operator difficult. Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the invention is to provide an adjustable hinge for doors and windows which is structurally simple, and therefore easy and inexpensive to make, as well as having quick an d precise adjustment.

Said aim is fully achieved by an adjustable hinge for doors and windows and as characterised in the appended claims.

Brief description of drawings

The main features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of two preferred, non-limiting embodiments of it, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an adjustable hinge for doors and windows made according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates a pair of elements forming part of the hinge of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section view of the hinge of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a scaled-up detail of the hinge of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the detail of Figure 4; - Figure 6 illustrates a further variant embodiment of the solution illustrated in Figure 4.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figure 1 , the reference numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an adjustable hinge for doors and windows.

The hinge 1 comprises a first cylindrical body 2 provided in a cantilever fashion with a first wing 3 for fixing to a frame (not illustrated), and a second cylindrical body 4 provided in a cantilever fashion with a second wing 5 for fixing to a movable sash (not illustrated).

The door or window may consist of a door or a window with one or more sashes. The cylindrical bodies 2 and 4 of the hinge are fixed to respective channels of the frame and of the movable sash of the door or window by means of plates 6 and screws 7.

The cylindrical bodies 2 and 4 are rotatably connected to each other by an articulation pin 8. The pin 8 may be made of different materials depending on the use.

The pin 8 has a first end segment 9 located inside a first seat 10 made in the first cylindrical body (2) and a second end segment 1 1 inserted inside a second seat 12 made in the second cylindrical body 4.

Hereafter, the first seat 10 is used to mean the combination of the first seat 10 with a non-friction bushing 17 (described below) on which the first segment 9 of the pin 8 is housed, in such a way as to be interposed between the first segment 9 and the first seat 10.

The segments 8 and 9 are substantially cylindrical, and the seats 10 and 12 are also substantially cylindrical, as is also the anti-friction bushing 17. The end segments 9 and 1 1 extend longitudinally according to directions parallel to and offset from each other and extend at right angles, and facing each other, from an intermediate disc 13, preferably central, of the pin 8.

In particular, the disc 13 has a circular shape. Moreover, preferably, the pin 8 is made as a single piece.

One of the two end segments 9 and 1 1 can be locked in the respective seat 10, 12, whilst the other is freely rotatable in the respective seat 12, 10.

Preferably, the end segment 1 1 , connected to the mobile sash, can be locked in the respective seat 12 by reversible locking means 14, whilst the end segment 9, connected to the fixed frame is freely rotatable in the respective seat 10.

In particular, as illustrated in Figure 3, the end segment 9 has a longitudinal concave end 15, in particular conical, resting on a convex bottom seat 16 of the above-mentioned anti-friction bushing 17 positioned inside the seat 10.

The contact between the end 15 and the seat 16 is limited to a circular crown. This, together with the fact that the bushing 17 is made of technopolymer, advantageously reduces friction and favours a free rotation of the pin 8 inside the bushing 17.

In particular, this combination between the longitudinal hollow end 15 and the seat 16 means that at this point the load (that is, the weight of the sash) is supported and the particular shape reduces the friction in the rotational movement by compensating for the supported load.

The bushing 17, and with it the pin 8, is adjustable in height (Z axis) along the relative longitudinal axis 17a, that is to say, in the longitudinal direction of the seat 10, by means of a screw 18 positioned in contact with the bushing 17 on the opposite side of the seat 16 and screwed to the end of the body 2 which, with the hinge 1 assembled, faces the body 4.

In this way, the relative longitudinal position of the bodies 2 and 4 can be adjusted simply by screwing or unscrewing the screw 18. This adjustment, considering the fact that the position of the body 2 is locked on the door or window, allows the body 4 to be adjusted in height (Z axis) and, therefore, the door or window fixed to it.

The screw 18 is covered by a cap 19, having a mainly aesthetic function.

In addition to the above-mentioned height adjustment there is, in a completely independent manner, a second regulation of the relative position of the bodies 2 and 4 on a plane at a right angle to the axis 17a of the bushing 17 (compensated adjustment of X and Y axes).

This second adjustment is allowed thanks to the coupling eccentricity of the bodies 2 and 4 and derives from the position with which the pin 8 is locked inside the body 4.

For this purpose, the lockable end segment 1 1 has a single element 20 for displaying the adjustment and limiting the eccentricity of the pin 8.

This single element 20 projects radially from the lateral surface 21 of the second end segment 11 of the pin 8. The single element 20 is engaged, in use, in a radial slot 22 (with horizontal extension) made in the second cylindrical body 4 in such a way as to form a radial outlet towards the outside of the relative seat 12 of the second end segment 11.

The adjustment and limiting element 20 is, in use, visible to the operator through the radial slot 22 in order to allow the display of the rotational movement of the pin 8, that is, of its two segments 9 and 1 1 about the corresponding longitudinal axes, keeping the pin 8 completely housed inside the first and second seats 10 and 12 during the adjustment of its angular position.

In other words, this display element allows the operator to immediately have the angular position for adjusting the pin 8 (in view) with reference to the locking seat 12.

This adjustment operation, thanks to the display element, is possible without having to lift the pin 8 from the respective seats 10 and 12 and allows a fine adjustment of the eccentricity of the pin 8.

In addition, as described below, the ends of the slot 22 represent the maximum range of adjustment possible in one direction or the other and, therefore, the position of the display element 20 allows the operator to always have vision of the position adopted by the pin 8.

Therefore, the adjusting element 20 acts as an index of eccentricity of the mutual coupling of the cylindrical bodies 2 and 4.

The element for displaying the adjusting and limiting 20 is formed radially on the lateral surface 21 of the end segment 1 1 which can be locked and faces the radial outlet 22 outside the locking seat 12.

Preferably, the display element 20 is defined by a radial protrusion 23 of the lateral surface 21 of the end segment 1 1 which can be locked.

It should be noted that the protrusion 23 is in a position spaced from the disc 13 for separating the two segments 9 and 1 1.

Preferably, the radial protrusion 23 is in the form of a bar.

In particular, according to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the radial protrusion 23, in the shape of a bar, is flat in shape like a wing or fin 24, and is made in a single piece with the pin 8. In particular, the protrusion 23 is preferably located in a substantially median position along the segment 11.

In order to be able to insert the segment 11 inside the seat 12, the latter has at least one longitudinal groove 25 through which the protrusion 23, for example the fin 24, can slide.

The longitudinal groove 25 is made at least along the portion of seat of the cylindrical body 4 in which the segment 1 1 of the pin 8 is inserted during assembly (which will also act in the case of removal).

With reference to Figures 4 and 6, the groove 25 can be made in different sizes.

The groove 25 illustrated in Figure 4 has a dimension equal to the dimensions of the fin 24.

The groove 25 shown in Figure 6 has a dimension greater than the dimensions of the fin 24.

In this solution, the groove 25 has the shape of a circular arc and is larger than the fin 24.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the radial protrusion 23, in the shape of a bar, is defined by a pin 26 fixed inside a hole 27 made in the end segment 1 1. The pin 26 can have a substantially cylindrical shape, as illustrated in Figure 5, or it may have a flattened shape. In this case, too, the protrusion 23 is preferably located in a substantially median position along the segment 1 1. In this case, however, as illustrated in Figure 5 and as described in more detail below, the groove 25 may be absent.

In both cases, the radial slot 22 faces a hollow portion 28 of the body 4 in which the locking seat 12 is formed. The hollow portion 28 is defined by an open sector of the body 4 which radially communicates the locking seat 12 with the outside. This open sector, obtained for example by removal of material, can extend to the full height, that is to say, it may affect the body 4 entirely between its two longitudinal ends, or, as illustrated in detail in Figures 4 and 5, may only relate to an intermediate longitudinal portion, substantially central, of the body 4 to define two segments which are partly separate of the cylindrical body 4.

Alternatively, the slot 22 may be obtained in a limited upper or lower portion of the body 4.

In any case, the hollow portion 28 is delimited laterally by two walls 29, each defining a respective end of stroke limit for rotation of the radial protrusion 23, that is to say, the pin 8 inside the seat 12.

The subtended angle between the walls 29 can be 180° as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, or different depending on the adjustment range to be guaranteed to the pin 8.

In fact, in other words, the hollow portion 28 can be engaged by the protrusion 23 in such a way that it allows an angular adjustment of the pin 8 in the locking seat 12 between two limit positions of adjustment.

The upper free end of the segment 11 of the pin 8 can also be provided with a graduated scale (not illustrated) to assist the operator in the operations for adjusting the position of the pin 8 to be subsequently locked in the seat 12 using the above-mentioned locking means 14, which in this instance are preferably made in the form of a pair of grub screws 30 to be screwed into respective holes 31 of the body 4 until intercepting and locking by interference the end segment 1 1 of the pin 8.

If present, the groove 25 acts as a guide for inserting the pin 8 in the seat 12 in a“zero” position, as well as a reference for the“zero” position, for example in the absence of a graduated scale (X and Y axes), in the solution illustrated in Figure 4.

The rotation of the segment 1 1 (that is, of the entire pin 8) inside the seat 12 for adjusting it may be performed by acting directly on the protrusion 23 with the pin 8 completely housed in the two seats 10 and 12.

Alternatively, the head of the pin 8 can be operated, for example by means of a Allen key, by engaging a cavity made on the above-mentioned shaped upper end 32 of the segment 1 1.

The body 4 may be covered by a cartridge 33 having a mainly aesthetic function. The cartridge 33 is applicable to a bottom wall 34 coupled and integral with the pin 8 and has a lateral wall 35 and a top end cap 36.

A hinge structured in this way able to achieve the preset aims, by the presence of an opening on the hinge body and a protruding element on the pin, in such a way as not to affect the base structure of the hinge.

The possibility of adjusting“in view” allows the desired positions of the sash relative to the frame to be obtained quickly during both the initial installation and subsequently without having to lift the pin and at least one body of the hinge.