FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closure assembly equipped with a ventilation and locking system, in particular a tilting window or the like, comprising a main frame defining an aperture, a sash arranged to tilt within the main frame between a closed position closing said aperture and at least one open position, a ventilation passage extending through the closure assembly, at least one lock fitting adapted to lock the sash to the main frame in the closed position; the lock fitting comprising a locking mechanism mounted on the sash; further comprising a swivel flap mounted on the sash and able to actuate the locking mechanism through a linking mechanism; the swivel flap being adapted to swivel in an unlocking direction from a locking closed position in which the flap shuts the ventilation passage while the locking mechanism is locked to an unlocking opened position in which the flap is swivelled to unlock the locking mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Such type of closure assembly is found for example in the published German patent application DE1905074A1 which describes a tilting window with a flap actuated locking mechanism. The locking mechanism provides an intermediate locked position allowing the ventilation flap to set in a ventilation position without unlocking the locking mechanism. This device advantageously allows to ventilate a room through the ventilation passage of the window while keeping the window closed and locked. However, a lower edge of the flap is hinged to the sash, and in the ventilation position the inclination of the flap relative to the sash is typically about 30° or less. This configuration restrains the air flow through the ventilation passage, because the air passing through the interior opening of the ventilation passage towards the inside or the outside of the room is deflected by the flap which therefore reduces the air speed and flow. For these reasons, ventilating the room through the ventilation passage, i.e. when the window is closed and locked, is not very efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To mitigate those drawbacks, and in particular to increase the air flow capacity through the ventilation passage, the invention provides in a first aspect a closure assembly of the kind in question, wherein the swivel flap is jointed to the window through at least one dual hinged mechanism comprising a first hinged mechanism and a second hinged mechanism linked to each other, the first hinged mechanism allowing to displace the flap in the unlocking direction and the second hinged mechanism allowing to displace the flap in a ventilation direction from the locking closed position to at least one ventilation position in which the flap opens the ventilation passage while keeping the locking mechanism locked, the second hinged mechanism being structurally different from the first hinged mechanism.

By means of these dispositions, the flap can be displaced in a ventilation direction which is far different from the unlocking direction, contrary to the prior art device of DE1905074A1 for which the ventilation position is obtained by an intermediate displacement of the flap in the unlocking direction. In a closure assembly according to the invention, the displacement of the flap in the ventilation direction is performed in a way advantageously different from the way of the rotary motion in the unlocking direction, and can combine a rotary and a translatory motion in order to displace the flap away from the ventilation passage. This arrangement allows to reverse the inclination of the flap in a ventilation position in comparison with the inclination in the unlocking position.

The reverse inclination of the flap in a ventilation position provides notably a better circulation of fresh air coming from the outside to cool a warm room, because the fresh air circulating downwards from the interior opening of the ventilation passage is not hindered by the flap contrary to the above mentioned prior art device. It also provides a better circulation of warm interior air rising along the window by convection and partly escaping through the ventilation passage when the window is heated by the sun.

Furthermore, by providing the structure of the second hinged mechanism different from the first hinged mechanism, the displacement path of the flap in the ventilation direction can be other than simply symmetrical compared to the displacement path of the flap in the unlocking direction. The second hinged mechanism can be conceived to allow a combined rotary and translatory motion of the flap in the ventilation direction in order to improve the air circulation, whereas the first hinged mechanism can have a simpler structure to allow solely a rotary motion of the flap sufficient to adequately actuate the locking mechanism. A first hinged mechanism having a simple structure is advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs for the dual hinged mechanism.

In embodiments of a closure assembly according to the invention, the closure assembly comprises one or more of the following dispositions :

the first hinged mechanism allows a rotary movement of the flap about a first axis which extends along a bottom longitudinal edge of the flap ;

the second hinged mechanism allows a displacement of the flap away from said ventilation passage while inclining such that a bottom longitudinal edge of the flap sets farther from said ventilation passage than a top longitudinal edge of the flap, a major advantage of this disposition being to provide a ventilation position of the flap which does not hinder the air circulation through the ventilation passage ;

the first hinged mechanism comprises :

a flap hinge member which is secured to the flap ;

a hinge support member which is hinged to the flap hinge member about said first axis and is jointed to the second hinged mechanism ; and

a latching mechanism adapted to secure the flap onto said hinge support member when the flap is in the locking closed position as well as in a ventilation position ; wherein unlatching the latching mechanism allows the flap to be pivoted about said first axis relative to the hinge support member ; a major advantage of this disposition being that the first hinged mechanism can be latched to avoid an accidental simultaneous operation of the first and second hinged mechanism ;

one dual hinged mechanism is mounted on an upper sash member in the middle of the ventilation passage, and two lock fittings are mounted on the upper sash member on both sides of the dual hinged mechanism ;

the second hinged mechanism comprises :

a supporting casing secured to the sash ;

a first and a second pivoting arms each pivotally mounted on the supporting casing, which are arranged parallel to each other ;

a link arm arranged so as to form with said first and second pivoting arms a sensibly parallelogrammatic hinge structure allowing the link arm to be displaced while remaining at sensibly parallel to a predetermined direction, said link arm comprising an extension part which is jointed to the first hinged mechanism ; the first pivoting arm comprises an extension part which is jointed to an inclination arm jointed to the first hinged mechanism, a major advantage of this disposition being to allow a combined rotary and translatory motion of the flap in the ventilation direction ;

the latching mechanism comprises :

a supporting guide, including a guiding front part arranged on a front face of the swivel flap and a rear part which fits at least partly in a through hole provided in the flap ; and

a latching button arranged to slide on said supporting guide between a latching position and an unlatching position, said latching button including a latching finger which traverses the through hole and is able to move inside the through hole upon sliding of the latching button, one end of the latching finger being provided with a latching hook which protrudes from a rear face of the flap ;

the hinge support member comprising a strike plate, and the latching hook engaging the strike plate when the latching button is in its latching position so as to secure the flap onto the hinge support member ;

the strike plate of the hinge support member is provided with a hole facing said through hole and traversed by the latching finger when the flap is secured to the hinge support member ;

the rear part of the supporting guide is provided with a fixing mean which is used to secure the supporting guide to the swivel flap ;

at least one linking mechanism to actuate a locking mechanism is hinged relative to the top longitudinal edge of the swivel flap and links the flap to the locking mechanism, and said linking mechanism provides a free travel adapted so that the locking mechanism is not actuated by the flap upon operation of the second hinged mechanism, a major advantage of this disposition being to allow a displacement of the top longitudinal edge of the flap away from the ventilation passage while keeping the locking mechanism locked and setting the flap in a ventilation position which improves the air circulation through the ventilation passage.

In a second aspect of the invention, the invention provides a closure assembly of the kind in question, wherein the swivel flap is jointed to the window through a hinged mechanism allowing to displace the flap in a ventilation direction which is distinct from the unlocking direction, from the locking closed position to at least one ventilation position in which the flap opens the ventilation passage while keeping the locking mechanism locked, and wherein the main frame is provided with at least one sealing area which contacts a sealing area of the flap when the flap is in its closed position.

By means of these dispositions, the ventilation passage is defined as the space between a sash frame member on which is mounted the flap and a facing frame member of the main frame, which for a same size of sash window pane allows a substantially wider and possibly slightly larger ventilation passage compared to a common disposition of the prior art in which the ventilation passage is formed by an aperture provided in the sash. Consequently, the flap is also substantially wider than in the prior art dispositions.

In embodiments of a closure assembly according to the second aspect of the invention, the closure assembly comprises one or more of the following dispositions : a top frame component is secured to a top frame member of the main frame, said top frame component comprising a said sealing area and at least one fixation area on which is secured a strike mechanism of a lock fitting ;

two side frame components are secured to two side frame members of the main frame and comprise each a said sealing area.

In a closure assembly according to the above defined second aspect of the invention, the hinged mechanism may include a first hinged mechanism and a second hinged mechanism which are structurally different from each other. However, the first and second hinged mechanisms can also consist of identical structures which are arranged side by side in a symmetrical manner relative to a plane which is parallel to a top surface of the sash member on which the flap is mounted.

The invention also provides a ventilation and locking system suitable for being mounted on a closure assembly, comprising :

a swivel flap suitable for being set in a closed position in which the flap shuts a ventilation passage of the closure assembly ;

at least one dual hinged mechanism suitable for jointing said flap to a pivoting sash of the closure assembly ;

at least one lock fitting comprising a locking mechanism actuated by the flap and suitable for being mounted on the sash, said locking mechanism being adapted to unlock the closure assembly when the flap is displaced in an unlocking direction ; wherein said dual hinged mechanism comprises a first hinged mechanism and a second hinged mechanism linked to each other, said first hinged mechanism allowing to displace the flap in said unlocking direction, said second hinged mechanism allowing to displace the flap in a ventilation direction from the closed position of the flap to at least one ventilation position in which the flap opens the ventilation passage while keeping the locking mechanism locked, said second hinged mechanism being structurally different from said first hinged mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, given as a non limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

- FIG. 1 is a perspective oblique front view of a window sash intended for being mounted in a window assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention as represented in the view of FIG. 12 ;

- FIG. 2 is a perspective oblique front and partial view of the window assembly of FIG. 12 in which the ventilation passage is closed by the flap ;

- FIG. 3 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the window assembly in which the ventilation passage is closed by the flap ;

- FIG. 4 is a perspective oblique rear view of a ventilation and locking system comprising the flap together with the dual hinged mechanism and the two lock fittings used in the first embodiment of the invention, the flap being set in its locking closed position ;

- FIG. 5 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the flap and dual hinged mechanism in the position of FIG. 4 ;

- FIG. 6 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the flap together with the latching mechanism in the position of FIG. 4 ;

- FIG. 7 is a perspective oblique rear view of the latching mechanism of FIG. 6 together with the hinge support member of the first hinged mechanism ;

- FIG. 8 is a perspective oblique rear view of the latching button of the latching mechanism of FIG. 7 ;

- FIG. 9 is a perspective oblique rear view of the supporting guide of the latching mechanism of FIG. 7 ; - FIG. 10 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the flap together with the latching mechanism in an unlatching position ;

- FIG. 11 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the ventilation and locking system of FIG. 4, the flap being in its unlocking opened position ;

- FIG. 12 is a perspective oblique view of a window assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention, the sash being in an open position.

- FIG. 13 is a perspective oblique rear and partial view of the flap and dual hinged mechanism in the ventilation position of the flap, together with the sash and the main frame ;

- FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of FIG. 13 without the sash and the main frame ;

- FIG. 15 is a perspective oblique rear view of the ventilation and locking system of FIG. 4, the flap being in a ventilation position ;

- FIG. 16 is a perspective oblique front view of a window main frame intended for being mounted in a window assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention as represented in the view of FIG. 12 ;

- FIG. 17 is a perspective oblique and partial view of the locking mechanism of a lock fitting used in the window assembly of FIG. 12, set in the locked position ;

- FIG. 18 is a perspective oblique view of the strike mechanism of a lock fitting used in the window assembly of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As represented in FIG. 12, in a first embodiment of the invention, the closure assembly 1 is a roof window assembly of the centre pivot type. The centre pivot window comprises a main rectangular frame 100 suitable for being mounted in a corresponding aperture of a roof and inside which a sash 10 comprising a window pane is arranged to tilt. A tilting displacement of the sash over about 180° is allowed by hinge members 4 which are mounted at mid height of the main frame and the sash. On an upper sash member 11 of the sash 10 is mounted a dual hinged mechanism 2 in a middle position.

A ventilation swivel flap 15 is jointed to the window through the dual hinged mechanism 2 and also through the respective linking mechanisms 213 of two locking mechanism 210 which are mounted on the upper sash member 11 on both sides of the dual hinged mechanism 2. The sash is represented in an open position, therefore the swivel flap 15 is in its unlocking opened position. As represented in FIG. 16, the main rectangular frame 100 is formed by an upper frame member 101 and a bottom frame member 103 and two side frame members 102 and 104. Two strike mechanism 220 corresponding to the two locking mechanism 210 are mounted at a bottom side of the upper frame member 101 .

As represented in FIG. 1, the sash 10 comprises a rectangular frame which is formed by the upper sash member 11 and a bottom sash member 13 and two side sash member 12 and 14. The ventilation swivel flap 15 forms a most upper part of the sash 10. A handle 17 in the form of a bar is secured to a front face of the flap 15 to tilt the sash 10 and to actuate the flap. To close and lock the window assembly, the user pushes the handle 17 to tilt and close the sash 10, thereafter the handle 17 is further pushed to pivot the flap 15 until its locking closed position, like with a window of the kind describes in DE1905074A1. Each locking mechanism 210 engages a corresponding strike mechanism 220 which is mounted on a fixation area 105 A of a top frame component 105 secured to the upper frame member 101 (FIG. 3).

When the flap 15 is closed as represented in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the window assembly is closed and locked. The flap 15 shuts and seals a ventilation passage 5 which extends between the upper sash member 11 and the top frame component 105. A rear face 15R of the flap 15 is provided with a border sealing area 16 including an upper sealing strip 161 and a bottom sealing strip 162 and two side sealing strips 163 (FIG. 4). The upper sealing strip 161 contacts a sealing area 106 provided on the top frame component 105 of the main frame 100, and the bottom sealing strip 162 contacts a sealing area provided on a top front edge of the upper sash member 11. Each side sealing strip 163 contacts a corresponding sealing area 108 provided on a side frame component 107 which is secured to a side frame member 102 or 104 of the main frame 100 (FIG. 16).

Each lock fitting 200 includes a strike mechanism 220, a locking mechanism 210, and a linking mechanism 213 which links the locking mechanism 210 to the swivel flap 15. Each linking mechanism 213 has a top end hinged relative to a top longitudinal edge 15T of the flap (FIG. 4) and a bottom end hinged relative to an actuation slider 212 of the locking mechanism 210 (FIG. 17). The actuation slider 212 is guided in translation in the locking mechanism and is mechanically linked to latching hooks 211 through a gear and pinion mechanism so that its translation motion entails a rotary motion of the latching hooks. In the locked position of a lock fitting 200, as represented in FIG. 4, each latching hook 211 is rotated so as to engage a corresponding latching roller 222 mounted on a strike mechanism 220 (FIG. 18).

As represented in FIG. 5, the dual hinged mechanism 2 comprising a first hinged mechanism 20 and a second hinged mechanism 30 linked to each other. The first hinged mechanism 20 comprises a flap bottom hinge member 22 which is secured to the flap 15 and a hinge support member 21 which is hinged to the flap bottom hinge member 22 about a first axis Al which extends along a bottom longitudinal edge 15B of the flap. The hinge support member 21 comprises a linking plate 21B which is jointed to the second hinged mechanism 30. The first hinged mechanism 20 further comprises a latching mechanism adapted to secure the flap onto the hinge support member 21 when the flap is in the locking closed position as well as in a ventilation position. Unlatching the latching mechanism allows the flap to be pivoted about the first axis Al relative to the hinge support member 21 (FIG. 11).

The top and bottom longitudinal edges 15T and 15B of the flap are defined in reference to their respective positions relative to the sash 10 on which the swivel flap 15 mounted. The top edge is defined as the distal edge, whereas the bottom edge is defined as the proximal edge. Therefore, depending on the position of the ventilation passage in the closure assembly, the top edge of the flap is not necessarily located higher than the bottom edge.

The second hinged mechanism 30 comprises a supporting casing 300 secured to the sash 10, and a first and a second pivoting arms respectively 31 and 32 which are each pivotally mounted on the supporting casing 300 and are arranged parallel to each other. The mechanism further comprises a link arm 33 arranged so as to form with the first and second pivoting arms 31 and 32 a sensibly parallelogrammatic hinge structure allowing the link arm 33 to be displaced while remaining sensibly parallel to a predetermined direction. The mechanism is further detailed in the description part in relation with FIG. 14 hereafter.

As represented in FIGS. 6 to 10, the latching mechanism comprises a supporting guide 24 including a guiding front part 24B arranged on a front face 15F of the swivel flap 15 and a rear part 24A which fits in a through hole 15H provided in the flap (FIG. 10). The latching mechanism further comprises a latching button 23 arranged to slide on the supporting guide 24 between a latching position and an unlatching position. The latching button 23 includes a latching finger 23A which traverses the through hole 15H of the flap and is able to move inside this through hole upon sliding of the latching button 23. One end of the latching finger 23 A is provided with a latching hook 23E which protrudes from a rear face 15R of the flap.

The hinge support member 21 comprises a strike plate 21A which is engaged by the latching hook 23E when the latching button 23 is in its latching position. The strike plate 21 A is provided with a hole 21H facing the through hole 15H and traversed by the latching finger 23 A when the flap 15 is secured to the hinge support member 21 (FIG. 7). The rear part 24A of the supporting guide 24 is U-shaped in section and comprises a bottom face provided with a hole 24H which serves as a fixing mean adapted to receive a screw to secure the supporting guide 24 to the flap.

The guiding front part 24B of the supporting guide 24 has two opposite guiding grooves 24G each comprising two longitudinally spaced notches 26. The latching button 23 includes a front part 23B which is provided with inner protruding parts 23C adapted to slide into the guiding grooves 24G in order to guide the latching button 23. On each of two opposite protruding parts 23C is arranged a spring member 25 having a bump portion able to fit in a notch 26 is order to provide a slight locking of the latching button 23 in both latching and unlatching positions.

To unlatch the latching mechanism, the latching button 23 must be pushed to slide downwards until it sets in its unlatching position represented in FIG. 10. The latching hook 23E disengages from the strike plate 21 A and is able to pass through the hole 21H of the strike plate. The swivel flap can therefore be pivoted in the unlocking direction Dl until it reaches its unlocking opened position, as represented in FIG. 11. Upon rotation of the flap, each linking mechanism 213 pulls the actuation slider 212 of the corresponding locking mechanism 210, which rotates simultaneously the pair of latching hooks 211 of the locking mechanism so as to disengage the pair of hooks 211 from the pair of latching rollers 222 of the corresponding strike mechanism 220. The sash 10 is therefore unlocked from the main frame 100 and can be tilted to open the window 1, as represented in FIG. 12.

Coming back to the closed position of the flap 15, i.e. when the window assembly is closed and locked as represented in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the second hinged mechanism 30 allows the flap 15 to be displaced in a ventilation direction as represented in FIG. 13. The flap can be set in a most open ventilation position corresponding to a full spreading displacement of the parallelogrammatic hinge structure of the second hinged mechanism 30 reaching a spread abutment position (FIGS. 13 and 14). The flap can be set also in any intermediate ventilation position (not shown) corresponding to a partial spreading displacement of the parallelogrammatic hinge structure, in order to regulate the air flow capacity..

The parallelogrammatic hinge structure allows a principal part 33A of the link arm 33 to remain sensibly parallel to the direction of the line P1-P2, i.e. the line joining two stationary pivot points PI and P2 of respectively the first and the second pivoting arms 31 and 32 (FIG. 14). The link arm 33 is hinged to the pivoting arms 31 and 32 at two mobile pivot points P3 and P4 which correspond to both ends of the principal part 33A. It is not necessary that the line P3-P4 joining the mobile pivot points P3 and P4 remains strictly parallel to the line P1-P2. An approximately parallelogrammatic hinge structure which would present a slight angle between the two lines P1-P2 and P3-P4 is acceptable.

The link arm 33 comprises an extension part 33B which is jointed to the linking plate 21B of the first hinged mechanism 20 at a pivot point P7. The first pivoting arm 31 comprises an extension part 3 IB which is jointed to an inclination arm 34 at a pivot point P5 corresponding to a bottom end of the first pivoting arm 31. The inclination arm 34 is jointed to the linking plate 21B of the first hinged mechanism 20 at a pivot point P6.

Between its locking closed position and a ventilation position, the swivel flap performs a combined rotatory and translatory displacement which has a rotatory component D2 in a way opposite the unlocking rotary way Dl and a translatory component T2 which further displaces the flap away from the ventilation passage 5 (FIG. 13). The translatory component T2 is performed by the parallelogrammatic hinge structure through the link arm 33 which is globally displaced like following a translation.

The rotatory component D2 is performed through the extension part 3 IB of the first pivoting arm 31, the greater being the length of this extension part 3 IB the greater is the angular amplitude of the rotatory motion. Indeed, upon rotation of the first pivoting arm 31, the pivot point P5 rotates around the pivot point P4 following an arc of circle, which entails through the inclination arm 34 a rotary motion of the pivot point P6 relative to the pivot point P7, therefore changing the angle between the line P6-P7 and the stationary line P1-P2. The inclination of the hinge support member 21 being determined by the line P6-P7, the flap supported by the hinge support member 21 therefore swivels relative to the sash 11 through the second hinged mechanism 30.

Due to the rotatory component D2 of the displacement of the flap in the ventilation direction, the flap inclines such that its bottom longitudinal edge 15B sets farther from the ventilation passage 5 than its top longitudinal edge 15T. The translatory component T2 of displacement of the flap is such that the distance between a bottom face of the top frame member 101 and the top edge 15T of the flap increases, contributing to increase the air circulation passing between the top edge 15T of the flap and the main frame 100.

In any ventilation position, the locking mechanism 210 is kept locked thanks to the conception of a linking mechanism 213 which provides a free travel adapted so that the locking mechanism 210 is not actuated by the flap 15 upon operation of the second hinged mechanism 30. A linking mechanism 213 comprises top and bottom driving rods respectively 213 A and 213B which are hinged to each other at an intermediate hinge axis A3 (FIG. 17). The top driving rod 213A is hinged to a flap top hinge member 36 at a top hinge axis A2 parallel and close to the top longitudinal edge 15T of the flap. The bottom driving rod 213B is hinged to the actuation slider 212 at a bottom hinge axis A4 parallel to the top and the intermediate hinge axis respectively A2 and A3. The driving rods 213 A and 213B are arranged so that in the locking closed position of the flap, the top driving rod 213A is substantially parallel to the flap whereas the bottom driving rod 213B forms an angle with the flap, the three hinge axis A2, A3 and A4 being therefore not arranged in a same plane (FIGS. 4 and 17).

Starting from the position of a locking mechanism 210 as represented in FIG. 4, the free travel corresponds to the displacement of the top and bottom driving rods 213 A and 213B until the three hinge axis A2, A3 and A4 of the linking mechanism 213 become coplanar. When the coplanar axis condition is satisfied, which corresponds to an intermediate inclined position of the flap when rotating in the unlocking direction Dl, the linking mechanism 213 cannot be further elongated, therefore allowing a further rotation of the flap to unlock the locking mechanism as represented in FIG. 11.

Upon displacement of the flap to any ventilation position, the elongation of each linking mechanism 213 remains within the free travel range, i.e. the three hinge axis A2, A3 and A4 of the linking mechanism 213 remain not coplanar. In this manner, the corresponding locking mechanism 210 is kept locked as represented in FIG. 15.

A closure assembly according to the invention is not limited to a centre pivot window, it can be also for example a hung window or a pivoting door equipped with a combined ventilation and locking system. Furthermore, in a closure assembly according to a first aspect of the invention, the swivel flap when set in its closed position is not necessarily in sealing contact with the main frame of the closure assembly, since it can be provided a ventilation passage defined by an aperture through the sash between two top frame members of the sash in the same manner as for many existing centre pivot roof window.

In a second embodiment of the invention not shown herein, the second hinged mechanism of the dual hinged mechanism is simplified to provide simply a rotary motion of the flap, i.e. without significant translatory component. Therefore, the top edge of the flap is not displaced away from the ventilation passage when rotating the flap in the ventilation direction. This disposition may decrease the air flow capacity compared to the first embodiment of the invention described herein, since it impedes an air circulation between the top edge of the flap and the main frame. However, the air circulation is still improved compared to the disposition of the ventilation flap in prior art devices of the kind described in DE1905074A1. This second embodiment may therefore provide an economic alternative to the first embodiment of the invention, in particular if a high air flow capacity is not needed.

The first hinged mechanism of the dual hinged mechanism is not necessarily limited to a device providing a sole rotary motion of the flap. It could be provided a device combining a rotary and a translatory motion when displacing the flap in the unlocking direction.

The ventilation and locking system of a closure assembly according to the invention is not limited to the disposition of a single and central dual hinged mechanism shown with the first embodiment. In a third embodiment of the invention not shown herein, the ventilation and locking system comprises a single lock fitting mounted in the middle of the ventilation passage and two dual hinged mechanisms mounted on both sides of the lock fitting.

A dual hinged mechanism may be linked to the flap through a mechanism which does not comprise a latching button or analogue device to be operated by the user before pulling the flap handle in the unlocking direction. For example, a system with at least one permanent magnet may be provided to magnetically maintain the flap against a front surface of a hinge support member analogue to the member 21 previously described, when the flap is closed or pivoted in the ventilation direction. The magnetic attraction force shall be set so that the user can separate the flap from the front surface of the hinge support member with a reasonable pulling effort in order to pivot the flap in the unlocking direction.

As will be appreciated, the present invention does not limit itself to the embodiments described here above purely as examples; the invention also extends to other embodiments covered by the claims.