The present invention refers to a device at window shutters of 5 the kind which are turnable on hinges by means of flexible shafts, which are manoevrable from inside the window by means of a handle or a joy stick.

Background of the invention

Through the Swedish patent 361.914 it is earlier known to provide windows with external, insulating shutters. Such window shutters can improve the heat- and sound insulating qualities of the windows considerably. They also make it 15 possible to black out and screen off the sun, provide some protection against intrution and against fire distribution which often occurs through windows. As face elements the insulating window shutters may compete with ordinary, single window shutters with only decorative function.

An obstacle at introduction of insulating window shutters has been the attitude of the loan giving authorities. They state that insulating shutters give "potential energy saving _ possibilities" but give at the same time expression to the apprehension that the shutters preferably would be provided with devices which make it comfortable to manoevre them from the inside.

Mountings intended for manoevering of ordinary, single window shutters are earlier known. On the market there are mountings which consist of an externally located gear device (worm gear) connected, by a bolt through the wall, with an internal crank which makes it possible to manoevre the shutters between closed and open position. The mountings are produced with different bolt length to fit occuring wall thicknesses. The mounting is relatively and is normally performed at the site. These types of mountings are proportionately expensive.

Mountings with installation are estimated to cost as much as the shutters.

The German patent 371.017 shows a method to use a flexible - shaft located inside a tube and intended to be manoevred from the inside of external window shutters. According to the disclosure the flexible shaft is located horizontally through the window frame and the external wall and near the outside of the wall it is directed vertically upwards where it , _n constitutes the hinge of the window shutter. At the inside of the wall the shaft is connected to a twist grip which may be fixed in different positions.

In practice a construction according to the disclosure may not

15work in the intended way. In the first place the shaft will durable and in some extent be exposed to turning strains and in the second place the flexible shafts of the dimensions which are necessary in the present case, has at least a pending radius of 10-15 cm. With a design according to the German patent mentioned the vertical end, of the shaft which is located outside, will be placed in a similar distance from the wall. This difficulty at using a flexible shaft is probably the reason why mountings of this kind have not occured on the market.

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The purpose of the invention and its most important charach-

^• teristics

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages ηWhich is connected to the use of flexible shafts according to above mentioned German patent. According to the invention this can be done by that a substantial part of the bending of the flexible shaft is located inside the outer edge of the frame side part in said guide element, which is arranged in the ^g ram side part of the window and/or the shutter or in an existing space between this and an adjacent wall and, that the outer end of the flexible shaft located outside the frame side part has a straight extension and is firmly connected to the

amountings at the shutters, flexible shaft is excluded and the shutter is located in open position.

Short description of the drawings

5 Figure 1 is a section through a part of a window and an adjacent wall and a window shutter according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a section along the line II-II in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment according to figure 1 , i Where sections of the shutter- and windowframe around the flexible shaft is excluded and the shutter is located in open position.

Figure 4 is a section along the flexible shaft.

-, - Description of embodiments

In the drawings 1 is represented by a window opening in a wall 2, 3 represents a window frame provided with casements 4 and 5 represents an inner reveal. Outside the frame 3 in the window _Q θpening 1 is arranged a second frame S for a single or a couple of window shutters 7 which are turnable on hinges 8. The turning of the window shutters is achieved by means of a flexible shaft 9, the one of which is connected to a mountings 10 at the one vertical end of the shutter 7 and with its ςSecon end it is connected to a handle 11. The external, vertical directed end 12 of the flexible shaft 9 works as driving element to the mounting 10, which is attached to the window shatter 7. The mountings 10 which is fixed on .the shutter includes a case which has an angular shape, in which øthe end 12 of the shaft 9 is inserted. The end 12 of the shaft 9 is designed with a corresponding profile. The shaft 9 and the mountings 10 are designed to turn the shutter 7 while its weight is carried by the hinges 8 which can be of ordinary design . 5

The flexible shaft 9 must be guided in an appropriate way inside a guide element 13, dependent on how the frame 6 of the shutter 7 is located in respect to the window frame 3. and can

be a curved groove, which can be cut out in the side of the frame S and/or 3 which is directed against the wall 2. The dimension of the groove 13 is adapted to a conduit 14 of e.g. plastics, in which the curved shaft 9 is arranged. Instead of a conduit 14 the groove or canal 13 may be located in one in the frame easy retractable or at this connectable prefabricated plastic body. In principle it is possible within the scope of the invention possible to locate the curved canal or groove 13 inside the side parts of the frame, whereby these

10are manufactured in sections which after the working are put together. Another embodiment could be to mould the tube 14 of the shaft 9 during manu acturing of frame profiles of e.g. polyurethan. A further embodiment is to locate the guide element 13 inside an existing adjusting space between the

15window frame and the wall.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 and 2 it is presupposed that the shutters 7 are provided with a special frame 6, in which the curved shaft 9 is located. This design is ^advantageous e.g. by that it makes it possible to mount the flexible shaft and external mountings in ^" connection to the manufacturing of the shutters. At manufacturing of the shutters and the windows at the same time the internal mountings may be mounted in connection to the manufacturing.

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At new constructions or at exchange of windows it is possible to integrate shutters . windows and mountings in one manufactured unit. This gives the possibility to get a better fitting, lower costs and simpler mounting of insulating window

30shutters .

Concerning transmission of power and costs it could be appropriate to use flexible shafts only for that part of the shaft which is required for bending the shaft from horizontal gto vertical direction. The curved shaft is therefore connected to a straight, (rigid), horizontally located shaft neck 16 in a way which is shown in figures 3 and 4. This could be done by a joint 17. Irrespectively of what type of joint used it is

appropriate that it admits some movements and gives a limitation of the position of the straight shaft in axial direction. This being done to make it possible to adjust the manoevre handle to varying reveal depths and wall thicknesses. _ The end positions of the internal part of the manoevre handle 11 to an upper and a lower position could be done by means of e.g. a spring located in the reveal. Of course it is possible to use other types of manoevre elements. The shaft combination may be provided with friction clutch of known design as ₁ -. protection against overload.

To make it possible to lock the window shutter 7 against its frame 6 or other firm part of the window or wall construction, the shaft 9 is designed with some movability in axial

. ₍ .direction (push-pull movements) . The external, vertical directed end 12 of the flexible shaft 9 is thereby movable in to and out of a mountings 18, which e.g. is retracted into the frame 6 of the shutter. The end 12 of the shaft and the casing of the mountings 18 are thereby designed with similar cut

-^profile, e.g. square cut profile. Figure 3 shows this detail in vertical section view with open shutter. The locking of the shutter in closed position may also be executed by known equipments, e.g. by means of a turning arm which is located through the upper and/or lower sections of the window frame.

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The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments with a special frame for the shutters , but a number of embodiments is possible within the scope of the claims. In the shown embodiments the invention is applied to external side-hinged

--.shutters. At an upper and/or lower hinged shutters the flexible shafts are directed horizontally instead of vertically. Of course the invention could be applied for manoevering of ordinary, single as insulating window shutters.

--Within the scope of the invention the lower section of the frame of the shutters could consist of an profile of aluminium with different coordinating functions. Primarilly the profile constitute a stabilizing part of the frame construction. It

may in the same time be designed in such a way that it works as window sheets and gives the possibility to form holding plate to the lower lock plunger in the case the shutters are locked with espagnolette. Finally the profile may form a stop to the shutters and necessary draught preventers.