TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an easy to handle pivoting wing blind positionable in a desired degree of opening. A pivoting wing blind is generally formed by a fixed frame and two shutters or wings that can be solid or constituted by a perimeter frame member and a series of horizontal, fixed or movable, louver boards. BACKGROUND ART

Nowadays, in order to avoid leaving a blind at the mercy of the wind, generally a retaining means being externally fixed to a building wall is used for retaining the wing upon a manual operation of a user. Normally, said retaining means is located far from the window aperture where the blind is situated, with a result that the user has to lean out for reaching the retaining means by his/her hand and move it from a closed to an open position and vice versa.

Further, when one has to open a blind wing wide, for example by a 180 degree rotation to bring the blind wing near an external wall of a building adjacent to a window aperture, he/she must lean out and reach far, and this is troublesome. Difficulties increase for elderly or handicapped people, but also for the others, if the blind is of an armoured kind, i.e., having quite heavy metal wings. There are several patents that disclose devices for handling a blind and adjusting the opening thereof. For example, U.S. Patents No. 802,167 discloses an operating mechanism that has bevel gears in mesh being located on the external side of the wall on which the window blind is mounted. Fastened to either bevel gear is a first shaft extending through the wall, a control handle accessible from the internal side of the wall being mounted on the first shaft. By virtue of the fact that the control handle is slidable by a spring and is provided with a series of equally spaced apart notches circumferentially being engageable with two fixed projections arranged diametrically opposite, the control handle can be locked against rotation with consequent adjustment of the blind wings in their desired openings. The mechanism described in U.S. Patent No. 802,167 allows the blind to be operated without opening the window and leaning out, avoiding the drawbacks of rain and cold. U.S. Patent No. 872,682 also provides improved means for connecting blind wings with the fixed blind frame, whereby the blind wings will not only be operated, but also will be held rigidly in any position they may occupy. U.S. Patent No. 4,182,079 discloses a device for actuating a panel member mounted to a fixed frame for pivoted movement about a predetermined axis comprising an elongated rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis and mounted at an angle of about 45 degree relative to said pivot axis. A carrier finger is rigidly connected to one end of the rod and projects at an angle of about 90 degree thereto. The carrier finger is engageable in a slot in the panel and is operable, upon rotation of the rod about its axis, to effect through both the carrier finger and the slot, rotation of the panel relative to the frame.

AU the above mentioned devices operate a blind from inside a wall on which the same blind is mounted. By virtue of such devices, one is able to turn a blind wing without opening a window and leaning out, avoiding the drawbacks of rain and cold. Further, this is particularly useful arrangement for an elderly or handicapped person. However, such devices are complicated, laborious to be installed and costly in the end. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to allow a blind wing to be positioned in a simple and economic manner without leaning outside of a window aperture to operate manually on wing retaining means. Another object of the present invention is to allow a blind to easily operated without requiring complicated and expensive devices.

Yet, another object of the invention is to manufacture a device being adapted to position a blind in a desired degree of opening, as well as facilitating the opening and closing operations of the blind, i.e., combining in a single device the functions that have been previously performed by two devices.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of components necessary to carry out the functions above mentioned. Still another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of the device. Further, an object of the invention is to facilitate the installation and the use of the device in its different functions.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to make the opening and closing operations of a pivoting wing blind as well as the pivoting wing positioning operations more intuitive, rapid and comfortable. And still further, another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be integrated into the manufacture of new blinds, as well as can be manufactured for installation on blinds already in use. Therefore, in its first aspect the invention provides a pivoting wing blind positionable in a desired degree of opening, including a fixed peripheral frame having consecutive vertical and horizontal sections and at least a wing rotating about a pivoting axis that is parallel to a vertical section of the fixed peripheral frame, the pivoting wing having an internal side on which a latch is mounted in the form of a fixing bar sliding along an axis parallel to the pivoting axis that can engage and disengage a fixing seat, said fixing seat comprising a plurality of holes for the fixing bar, the axes of the holes passing through a circumference being concentric to said pivoting axis. The invention in a second aspect thereof provides an easy to handle pivoting wing blind including at least one wing rotating about at least a pair of hinges on a vertical section of a fixed peripheral frame, the pivoting wing comprising an operating handle in the form of a rod being hinged at its end and mounted on the wing near said vertical frame section so that the rod can be manually turned from a resting position of the operating handle in which the rod is vertical to a work position of the operating handle in which the rod is substantially horizontal and is turned together with the wing in order to make the wing easy to rotate.

The present invention in a third aspect thereof provides a device for both rotating and retaining at a ^" desired degree of opening a blind wing rotating about a pivoting axis, the device comprising a latch that is mounted on the internal side of the blind wing and is provided with a fixing bar located along a sliding axis parallel to the pivoting axis and can engage and disengage a fixing seat provided with a plurality of engaging openings with vertical axis, the sliding axis of the fixing bar being able to become coincident with the vertical axis of each engaging opening, in order to retain the blind wing in the desired degree of opening, said device being able to facilitate the positioning of the blind wing at that desired degree of opening. In a first embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the latch is manually rotatable so that the axis of the fixing bar is tilted with respect to the pivoting axis of the blind wing, in order to take for its operation a preferably horizontal position.

In a second embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, an operating handle is hinge-mounted with its longitudinal axis in a vertical plane passing through the sliding axis of the latch bar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will be described in several aspects and relevant embodiments thereof with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a pivoting wing blind according a first aspect of the invention in a partially cut perspective view; Figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of an enlarged detail of a retaining device of the blind wing in Figure 1 in two different positions;

Figure 4 shows furthermore enlarged the detail in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 shows a pivoting wing blind according to a second aspect of the invention in a perspective view from inside; Figure 6 shows in a partial perspective view an enlarged detail relevant to an operating handle in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along a line A-A in Figure 5 showing a first arrangement of the operating handle in a pivoting wing;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic section similar to that in Figure 7 of a modification showing a second arrangement of the operating handle in a pivoting wing;

Figure 9 show in a perspective view an assembly of the operating handle in

Figure 5, that can be mounted on a blind pivoting wing;

Figure 10 shows in an exploded perspective view a device for both rotating and retaining at a desired degree of opening a pivoting wing of a blind according to a first embodiment in a third aspect of the present invention;

Figures 11 to 14 show in perspective views the device in Figure 10 in different operation positions, as installed in a pivoting wing of a blind;

Figure 15 shows in a perspective view a first modification of the first embodiment of the device in Figure 10 that is installed to the pivoting wing;

Figure 16 shows in a perspective view a device for both rotating and retaining at a desired degree of opening a pivoting wing of a blind according to a second embodiment in the third aspect of the present invention; Figure 17 shows in a perspective view a first modification of the second embodiment of the device in Figure 16;

Figure 18 shows in a perspective view a modification of the device in Figure 17; and Figure 19 shows in a perspective view a modification of the device in Figure 15.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Reference is made to Figures 1 to 4 where a first aspect of the invention is shown. In particular Figure 1 is a partially cut perspective view of a blind according to the invention that is shown only in a pivoting wing being opened outside. The pivoting wing indicated as 1 is traditionally hinged to a vertical section 2 of a fixed peripheral frame 3 having consecutive vertical and horizontal sections 2, 10 and at least a wing 1 rotating about a pivoting axis z that is parallel to a vertical section 2 of the fixed peripheral frame 3. The pivoting wing 1 comprises a latch 5 on its internal side 4. The latch 5 is mounted on the pivoting wing 1 preferably near the pivoting axis z (best seen in the enlarged view in Figure 2) of the pivoting wing 1. The latch 5, as shown in detail in Figure 4, which is a further enlarged perspective view, comprises a fixing bar 6 slidable along a guide or sleeve 7. The fixing bar 6 is movable along a sliding axis m parallel to the pivoting axis z. The fixing bar 6 can engage and disengage a fixing seat. According to the invention the fixing seat is in the form of a plate 8 comprising a plurality of holes 9 for the fixing bar 6. The holes 9 have parallel vertical axes generally indicated as f passing through a circumference c being concentric to the pivoting axis z. Preferably, the plate 8 is integral to the fixed peripheral frame 3, in particular with a horizontal frame section 10. Alternatively, the plate 8 is connected to the fixed peripheral frame 3 by suitable fastening means. The fixing bar 6, being vertically movable on the pivoting wing 1 along the axis m, is engageable and disengageable with and from a desired hole 9 of the plate. The sleeve 7 is provided with an elongated through-slot 11 having a circumferentially enlarged upper engaging portion 12 beyond a step projection 24. A pin 13 that is integral to the fixing bar 6 is caused to slide inside the elongated slot 11 for locking the pin 13 of the fixing bar 6 in its raised position in the upper portion 12. In this position of the fixing bar 6, the pivoting wing is free to rotate. Out of this position the fixing bar 6 is free to be inserted in a desired hole 9 for retaining the pivoting wing in the desired degree of opening. The number of holes 9 and the spacing between adjacent holes can be chosen so that several retaining positions are allowed in an approximately 180 degree arc between a position near the closed position of the window blind and its complete opening.

It should be clear that the size of the latch 5 and of the plate 8 and their constituting material can be chosen during the design process according to the kind of blind and fixed peripheral frame in accordance with the scope of the enclosed claims.

With reference to Figures 5 to 9 a second aspect of the invention is shown. Same reference numerals are used to designated equal or similar parts to those in the first aspect of the invention depicted in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a blind according to the invention shown from inside a building, with a left-hand wing being closed and a right-hand wing being opened. In the embodiment depicted the blind wings are shown of the kind having a perimeter frame member and a series of horizontal louver boards. Each wing indicated as 1 is traditionally hinged to a vertical section 2 of a fixed peripheral frame 3 having consecutive vertical and horizontal sections 2, 10 and at least a wing 1 rotating about a pivoting axis z that is parallel to a vertical section 2 of the fixed peripheral frame 3 by a pair of hinges 25, 25. Referring to Figure 6 that is a partial enlarged perspective view in Figure 5, the pivoting wing 1 comprises an operating handle 61 on its perimeter frame member 50. The operating handle 61 comprises a rod 71 that is hinged to a pin 90 in its upper end 80. The pin 90 is fixed in a recess 100 being made in the pivoting wing 1 near the fixed peripheral frame vertical section 2. In particular, in Figures 6 and 7 (Figure 7 being a partial cross-section view along a line A-A in Figure 5) the recess 100 is made in an external side of the perimeter frame member 50, that, when the wing is closed, is opposite to the fixed peripheral frame vertical section 2. In Figure 6, the rod 71 is shown by a broken line when it is turned by 90 degrees upward by a user's hand.

Shown in Figure 8, which is a diagrammatic cross-section similar to that one in Figure 7, is a modification of the blind according to the second aspect of the invention, hi this modification, the recess where the operating handle 61 is housed is made in an internal side of the perimeter frame member 50, i.e. facing the inside of the house when the pivoting wing 1 is completely closed. Also this arrangement makes easy the blind aperture, especially when its opening is begun. In the operation of the operating handle being used in the blind according to the second aspect of the invention, when the blind has to be opened, the wing can be easily opened up to 90 degrees, i.e. in an arrangement of the wing perpendicular to the wall, also without the arrangement of the operating handle depicted in Figure 8. Further opening of the wing up to 180 degrees from the initial position, is made very easy if the rod 71 of the operating handle 61 is turned by 90 degrees upward in 71' (as shown in

Figure 6 by a broken line) and retained by a finger. The rod 71' remains coplanar to the pivoting wing 1, but directed toward the inside of the apartment. In such a way, a simple horizontal rotation along 90 degree toward outside of the rod 71' that is connected to the wing 1 brings the wing 1 to its complete opening. Obviously, the longer the rod, the greater the moment acting on the wing 1 for opening it wide, and thus the smaller the force to be applied by the user. The rod 71 can be raised manually to a horizontal position in 71', i.e. perpendicular to the fixed peripheral frame vertical section 2 and this in turn makes it very easy to move the wing not only in its opening but also in its closing. In fact, when the blind wing 1 is completely opened, it is sufficient to turn the rod 71, that is positioned vertical inside the recess 100, up to its horizontal position 7 T ₃ the rotation being performed in a vertical plane, and then to turn the rod together with the wing 1 along 90 degrees in a horizontal plane toward inside.

An operating handle of the kind above described can be manufactured also separately and mounted on already existing blinds. In this case, with reference to Figure 9 where the same reference numerals in Figure 6 are used, the operating handle 61 can constitute a fitting made in the form of a rod 71 free to rotate about a pin being fixed between opposed side walls 110, 120 in a box-shaped casing 130. The box-shaped casing 130 can be mounted on a wing where desired, either in a recess in the vertical perimeter frame member or on the surface of said vertical perimeter frame member. The box-shaped casing 130 comprises a rear wall 140, and an upper wall and a bottom wall, if any, (not depicted). The opposite side walls HO ₅ 120 can extend frontally in a portion that is bent at right angles outside and is provided with fastening means to secure the box-shaped casing 130 to the wing adjacent to said recess made by traditional means. Then, it should be understood that the second aspect of the invention is not limited to a newly manufactured blind being provided with an operating handle, but also includes the sole operating handle easily installable to already existing wings. With reference to Figures 10 to 19 a third aspect of the invention is shown. Same reference numerals are used to designated equal or similar parts to those in the first and second aspect of the invention depicted in Figures 1 to 9. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a device for both rotating and retaining at a desired degree of opening a pivoting wing of a blind according to a first embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention.

The device comprises a latch generally indicated as 5 including a fixing bar 6, preferably cylindrical, with a length depending on the position in which the latch 5 is fixed on the wing. The fixing bar 6 is mounted to slide along a guide in the form of a sleeve 7 having a cross-section corresponding to that of the fixing bar 6 so that the fixing bar 6 is allowed to slide longitudinally along an axis m of the latch 5 and to rotate about the same axis m according to an arrow N. The sleeve 7 is provided with an elongated through-slot 1 1 having a circumferentially enlarged upper engaging portion 12 beyond a step projection 24. A pin 13 that is integral with the fixing bar 6 is caused to slide inside the elongated slot. The pin, which is provided with an external grip pawl 14, is screwed, for example, in a threaded hole 21 of the fixing bar 6. Therefore, the sliding of the fixing bar 6 inside the sleeve 7 is limited by the movement of the pin 13 inside the elongated slot 11. The lengthwise dimensions of both the fixing bar and the slot are chosen so that an end 60 of the fixing bar can engage and disengage, by moving, with respect to a plate 8. The plate 8 is preferably provided with holes 9 having an axis f. When the latch 5 is fixed on the internal side of a blind wing 1 as shown in Figures 11 to 14, which are perspective views of its installation of the device in Figure 10 on the blind wing I ₃ the fixing bar 6 is parallel to the pivoting axis z of the wing and its vertical axis m can become coincident, in the rotation of the blind wing 1, in turn, with the axes f of the respective holes 9 ofthe plate 8.

Suitably, in order to improve the ability of retaining the blind wing 1 by the latch 5, during the closing operation, the fixing bar 6 passes through a ring 22 that is also fastened to the blind wing 1 e.g. by screws so that the through-hole 23 of the ring 22 is coaxial to the vertical axis m of the fixing bar 6. According to the first embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, the latch 5 is hinged about a horizontal axis x that is orthogonal to the vertical axis m of the fixing bar 6. As shown by way of example in Figure 10, this way of pivotally mounting about the horizontal axis x can be performed by an U-shaped supporting member 18 having profile wings provided with coaxial holes 19 for a rivet 17. The rivet 17 passes also through coaxial holes 16 made in the upper end 15 of the sleeve 7 acting as a guide for the fixing bar 6. The profile core of the supporting member 18 is provided with holes 20 to fix the supporting member 18 to the pivoting blind wing 1. When the fixing bar 6 disengages the plate 8 but also the ring 22, the latch 5 can rotate upward in the direction of an arrow P. Main operating positions of the device according to the present invention are shown in detail below with reference to Figures 11 to 14.

The latch 5 is mounted on the internal side 4 of a blind's pivoting wing 1 that can be opened outside. The pivoting wing 1 is mounted by hinges 25 to a fixed frame indicated as 3. The fixed frame 3 has vertical sections 2 and horizontal sections 10. The bored plate 8 is inserted in the horizontal section 10. Alternatively, the bored plate 8 can be integral with the same horizontal section 10. The supporting member 18 of the latch 5 is mounted in such a manner that, when the fixing bar 6 is in its lowest position, the bar end 60 engages the plate 8, and, when the fixing bar 6 is in its highest position, the bar end 60 disengages the plate 8 and is free to rotate upward.

First, in order to describe more in detail the operation of the device according to the third aspect of the present invention, reference is made to Figure 11. The wing 1 is shown a slightly open, in a locked angular position since the fixing bar 6 is in its lowest position that is defined by the pin 13 at the bottom of the elongated through-slot 11. As the fixing bar 6 is positioned with its axis m coincident with the axis f of a hole 9 of the bored plate 8, the fixing bar 6 engages the bored plate 8. In Figure 12 the fixing bar 6 is in its highest position in a stable position because the pin 13 is retained in the enlarged upper engaging portion 12 of the slot 11. Therefore, the blind wing 1 is free to be opened. For making the opening easy, which is particularly useful above all for an elderly person and in case of armoured blinds, it is sufficient to turn upward the latch 5 about the supporting member 18. The rotation is performed in a vertical plane that is orthogonal to the vertical surface of the wing (Figure 13).

By gripping the fixing bar 6 in its free end a great moment is created with respect to the pivoting axis z of the blind wing 1, especially when the fixing bar 6 is in its horizontal position. Thereby the effort applied to the blind wing 1 for its opening is greatly reduced. When the blind wing 1 is opened at the desired angle, the latch is caused to rotate down by gravity, and then the fixing bar inside is rotated after being slightly raised in such a way that the pin 13 goes beyond the step projection 24. Then, the fixing bar 6 is lowered, is passed through the ring 22 for engaging the hole 9 of the bored plate 8 for the lock at the desired aperture (Figure 14). With reference to Figure 15, which is a perspective view similar to that in Figures 11 to 14, a modification of the first embodiment of the third aspect of the invention is shown therein, where equal or similar reference numerals are used to indicate equal or similar parts in Figures 11 to 14. The structure of the device is slightly modified so that the rotation of the latch 50 is performed in a vertical plane that is parallel, instead of orthogonal, to the vertical surface of the wing. It is clear that, by virtue of this arrangement, the operation for handling the blind wing 1 can be performed only when the wing is opened at 90 degrees, but in this case the operation of the latch 50 occurs just when it is most useful, i.e., in the successive arc of 90 degrees, for the complete opening of the pivoting wing 1. Referring to the perspective view in Figure 16, a second embodiment of the device according to the third aspect of the present invention is therein shown. Also in Figure 16 same numerals are used to indicate same parts in the preceding figures. An assembly of latch 500 and handle 70 is mounted in such a manner that the longitudinal axis n of the handle 70 is rotatable in a vertical plane passing through the axis m of the fixing bar 6 of the latch 500, such a vertical plane lying in a plane perpendicular to the vertical surface of the pivoting wing 1. In order to retain in position the wing in the desired degree of opening, the fixing bar 6 of the latch 500 is moved to the closing position shown in Figure 16. In order to operate the wing, it is sufficient to turn the handle 70 downward against an added friction that is created in the pivot to achieve a stable equilibrium for the handle also in the vertical position. After opening the latch, the handle 70 is opened to move the wing to the desired degree of opening.

A modification of the second embodiment of the third aspect of the invention is shown in Figure 17. Therein the latch is arranged so that the longitudinal axis n of the handle 70 is rotatable in a vertical plane passing through the axis m of the fixing bar 6 of the latch 500, with the vertical plane lying in a plane parallel to the vertical surface of the pivoting wing 1. In this second embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, as seen, the two operating and retaining functions are not operated only by the latch like in the first embodiment of the third aspect, but by a latch and an operating handle both being part of a single assembly that can be readily manufactured and installed and used.

The number of holes 9 and the distance between a hole and the adjacent one can be chosen in such a manner as to allow a range of fixed degrees of opening in arc of about 180 degrees. It should be understood that, instead of holes in the plate 8, notches can be provided on the periphery of the plate as shown in Figure 18 so that engaging apertures are referred to more in general in the claims. With reference to Figures 18 and 19 perspective views of a modification of the device in Figure 17 and a modification of the device in Figure 15 respectively, are shown. A device whose latch 501 is fixed to a housing having reduced walls, with a latch bar 62 being inside is shown in Figure 18. A device whose latch 502 has a shaped handle 63 inside which a fixing bar 600 is slidable is shown in Figure 19 to pass through a bored little plate and fit in holes 9 of the bored plate 8.

On one hand, the modification of the device in Figure 18 has such a feature that the device is reduced in its structure since a side wall thereof is lacking. On the other hand, the modification in Figure 19 is characterised in that the bored little plate 26 is an integral part of the same device and is separately attached to the blind wing 1.