OPERATING DEVICE FOR A TILT AND TURN DOOR OR WINDOW Technical field

This invention relates to an operating device for a tilt and turn door or window.

Background art

At present, doors or windows which can be opened by turning or tilting always comprise operating accessories which are mounted along the uprights and crosspieces of the fixed and movable frames and which are designed to allow the turned or tilted open configurations upon operation of a handle.

In the specific case of opening the door or window by tilting, these operating accessories allow the upper part of the sash to be moved away from the fixed frame by rotation about a lower horizontal axis defined by the lower hinge (especially structured for the purpose) and thanks to the closing constraints (locking bar) mounted on the bottom crosspiece.

Also for this style of opening, the door or window is equipped, at the top corner of the fixed frame and sash, with an operating element designed to support the top of the sash during its opening by tilting and connected to the upper hinge.

This operating element, of special relevance to this specification, comprises the following:

a slider for transmitting the movement of the handle and housed and slidable inside a groove of the sash crosspiece;

- a selector element connected to the slider, slidable inside the groove of the crosspiece;

- an upper positioning body positioned partly inside the groove of the upper crosspiece and fixable stably to the groove by fastening means; the body is configured to allow free sliding of the transmission slider located (normally) below the body;

- a connecting arm articulated, at a first end, to the movable portion of the upper hinge (for articulation between the fixed frame and the sash) and, at the other end, to the positioning body;

- a link rod which limits the opening angle of the sash in the tilted open configuration and which is articulated at the ends of it to an intermediate point of the arm and to the positioning body.

The connecting arm is fixed to the positioning body with a pin slidable inside a slot of the positioning body so as to allow a controlled roto- translation of the arm during the steps of opening and closing the sash. The operating element structured in this way has four points of connection / articulation which allow the sash to be supported correctly in configurations it can adopt: door or window closed, turned opening, tilted opening together with the portion of upper hinge.

In order to implement the three above-mentioned configurations the connecting arm is equipped with a pair of fixed pins protruding below the arm (located at a predetermined distance or spacing from each other) and a flat stretch. The two pins (and the flat stretch) define components of connection / selection which can be intercepted (when the arm is parallel to the crosspiece of the sash) by the selector element slidable inside the groove and connected to the transmission slider.

The selector element comprises a striker element equipped with a central groove, defined by two side walls, to intercept the pins (or the flat stretch of the arm) during rotation of the handle.

It should be noted that the standard operating sequence of the sash comprises: with door or window closed (grip facing downwards) the striker plate engages with at least the first pin (usually the one closest to the corner of the sash, in the closed configuration); with door or window open in turned configuration (first rotation of the grip for approximately a right angle) the striker plate is pulled by the slider away from the corner of the crosspiece of the sash and intercepts at least the second pin (positioned after the first pin) so as to keep the arm locked above the crosspiece, whilst the sash can rotate about the vertical axis; with door or window open in tilting configuration (further rotation of the grip for another right angle) the striker plate is further pulled away from the corner of the crosspiece to position at the flat stretch of the arm; this position of the striker plate allows the connecting arm to be freed. The possibility of movement (roto-translation) allows the sash to rotate about a lower horizontal axis up to an angle defined by rotation of the arm combined with the translation in the slotted seat of the positioning body and with the corresponding rotation of the limiting link rod.

As well as this standard sequence for operating the positions of the sash there is also a sequence of positions requested, in particular, in some northern markets wherein, due to the low temperatures (especially during winter months), it is preferable to have the tilting mode as first opening configuration.

For this reason, the connecting arms destined to these markets are already modified during production: the structure described previously, that is, the two pins, one after the other suitably spaced by a first centre distance, followed by a flat free space (for the tilting opening of the sash and spaced by a further centre distance from the second pin) are modified by fixing the second pin in the original flat free space which is generated between the two pins by a greater relative centre-to-centre distance between the two pins.

Now, since the pins used are usually fixed by interference inside holes suitably made on the connecting arm, in order to obtain this new sequence, arms are made in a different production line for this type of sequence.

A further diversifying element of the models of the device described above is due to the different extension of the slot formed on the positioning body

(which allows the controlled roto-translation of the arm during the steps for opening and closing the sash).

In effect, depending on the dimensions of the door or window, or the maximum opening angle which can be obtained, or constructional or mechanical needs of the device, or special designs requested by the user, the slot may be made according to different extensions.

Therefore, both the different structure of the arm depending on the type of sequence to be obtained that the different dimensions of the slot result in the need, during the steps for producing the device in its entirety, for different production lines and different storage spaces which are able it include the various models of devices ready for the various market requirements.

This determines an increase in the overall production costs of the device and an increase in storage spaces and costs. Disclosure of the invention

This invention has for an aim to provide an operating device for tilt and turn doors or windows which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide an operating device for tilt and turn doors or windows which is able to satisfy the various model requirements with a single type of device with a high flexibility of operation.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an operating device for tilt and turn doors or windows which is able to modify the opening sequences without replacing the operating components.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an operating device for tilt and turn doors or windows which is able to modify and adapt the opening angles without replacing the existing operating components.

These aims are fully achieved by the operating device for a tilt and turn doors or windows according to this invention, as characterised in the appended claims. More specifically, the operating device according to this invention is for a tilt and turn doors or windows comprising a fixed frame and a movable sash connected to each other along a corresponding vertical upright by a pair of hinges, a lower hinge and an upper hinge, and a control handle positioned on the upright of the sash opposite to that connected to the fixed frame.

The operating device comprises a slider for transmitting the movement of the handle and housed and slidable inside a groove of an upper crosspiece of the sash.

The device also comprises a positioning body fixed in the groove of the upper crosspiece. The body has a slot with a longitudinal operating extension.

The device also comprises a connecting arm articulated, at a first end, to the movable portion of the upper hinge and, at the other end, to the positioning body by means of a pin housed in the slot of the positioning body. The arm has a relative surface provided with two elements protruding towards the groove and a free zone, spaced from each other along the arm.

The device also comprises a selector element connected to the slider, slidable inside the groove of the upper crosspiece for intercepting, according to a sequence predetermined by the relative position of the protruding elements and the free zone, the protruding elements and free zone, in such a way as to define corresponding closed, turning opening and tilted open configurations which can be adopted by the movable sash. According to the invention, the device comprises means for adjusting the stroke of the pin of the connecting arm inside the slot of the positioning body.

In light of this, the adjusting means are positioned on the positioning body and movable between several stable positions inside the slot for modifying the longitudinal operating extension.

The possibility of adjusting the operating extension of the slot of the arm, and thus the angle of opening the sash in the tilted configuration, allows an arm to be made with a slot always having an equal extension which may subsequently be modified by the adjusting means.

This allows single components to be made without doubling production lines of the arms.

Preferably, the device comprises at least one of the protruding elements provided with removable positioning means acting between at least one of the protruding elements and the connecting arm for modifying the position of the protruding element relative to the other protruding element, along the arm, in such a way as to vary the sequence of configurations which can be adopted by the movable sash.

Thanks to this protruding element structure with a position which can be modified it is possible to make an arm with components which are always identical, but with the possibility of deciding only when necessary which sequence of positions to be adopted by the sash (traditional or logic type sequence).

Thanks also to this feature it is possible to increase the flexibility of use of the arm, but making a single model of arm. Brief description of drawings

This and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting example embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a window equipped with the operating device for tilt and turn doors or windows according to this invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the operating device for doors or windows of Figure 1 , in a tilted open position, but in two corresponding and different operating sequences positioned on a connecting arm;

- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the operating device of the preceding drawings; - Figure 4a illustrates a detail C of an alternative version of a component of the operating device;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a detail A from Figure 4.

- Figures 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of a part in detail of the device of Figures 3 and 4, in particular a connecting arm superposed on a slider and a selector element, in three different operating configurations;

- Figures 9 to 13 are plan views from above with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of a part in detail of the device of Figures 3 and 4, in particular the selector element and the slider wherein the selector element is in corresponding operating configurations and in different operating sequences which can be actuated on the connecting arm;

- Figures 14 and 15 are exploded perspective views from above and below, respectively, of a detail B in enlarged scale referred to Figure 4;

- Figure 14a is an exploded perspective view of a detail C in enlarged scale referred to Figure 4a;

- Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views of the detail of Figure 14 assembled and in two corresponding end operating positions.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular Figures 1 to 4, the operating device according to the invention (denoted in its entirety by the numeral 100) is used on a tilt and turn door or window 1 . The door or window 1 (see Figure 1 ) comprises a fixed frame 2 and a movable sash 3 connected to each other along a corresponding upright 4 and 5 by a pair of hinges, a lower hinge 6 and an upper hinge 7.

The door or window also comprises a handle control 8 mounted on the upright 9 of the sash 3 opposite to that connected to the fixed frame 2. As indicated below, the handle 8 controls, through transmission components (only partly illustrated), the opening and closing sequences of the door or window 1.

More specifically, the fixed frame 2 and the sash 3 each have a perimeter groove 1 1 in which slide pieces of rod (not illustrated) for connection and transmission of the commands of the handle 8 actuated by the rotation to a predetermined position of its grip 8a.

The operating device 100 comprises (see Figures 2 to 4) a slider 10 for transmitting the movement of the handle 8 housed and slidable inside a groove 1 1 of an upper crosspiece 12 of the sash 3.

The operating device 100 also comprises a positioning body 13 fixed in the groove 1 1 of the upper crosspiece 12.

Moreover, the body 13 has a slot 14 with a longitudinal operating extension L.

The operating device 100 comprises a connecting arm 15 articulated, at a first end, to the movable portion of the upper hinge 7 and, at the other end, to the positioning body 13 by means of a pin 16 housed in the slot 14 of the positioning body 13.

In light of this, the arm 15 has a relative surface provided with at least two elements 17, 18 protruding towards the groove 1 1 and a free zone 19, spaced from each other along the arm 15.

The operating device 100 comprises a selector element 20 connected to the slider 10, slidable inside the groove 1 1 of the upper crosspiece 12 for intercepting, according to a sequence predetermined by the relative position of the protruding elements 17 and 18 and the free zone 19, the protruding elements 17, 18 and free zone 19, in such a way as to define corresponding closed, turning opening and tilted open configurations which can be adopted by the movable sash 3.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the operating device 100 has a connecting rod 42 articulated, at its relative ends, respectively in an intermediate point of the connecting arm 15 and the positioning body 13 for a further limitation of the angle of opening of the movable sash 3, in the tilted configuration.

According to the invention, the device 100 comprises means 32 for adjusting the stroke of the pin 16 of the connecting arm 15 inside the slot 14 of the positioning body 13.

These adjusting means 32 are positioned on the positioning body 13 and movable between several stable positions inside the slot 14 for modifying the longitudinal operating extension L (see Figures 14 to 17).

Thanks to these adjustment means, the connecting arm 15 can be made with a single standard size slot 14 without having to modify or add operating lines (and dedicated moulds) for different solutions with slots of corresponding different extensions.

The pin 16 of the connecting arm 15 slides in the slot 14 during the tilted opening and the return of the movable sash 3 to the closed position.

By modifying the operating extension L of the slot 14 (for example during assembly of the door or window 1 ) it is possible to modify the size of the angle of inclination of the movable sash 3 in the tilted configuration.

Preferably, these adjusting means 32 comprise a template 33 configured to match and superpose the slot 14 with an opening L33 of slotted extension different (preferably less) from the longitudinal operating extension L of the slot.

The template 33 matches the shape of the slot 14 and can be superposed, in use, on the slot 14.

In other words, the template 33 (see Figures 4 and 14) defines a slotted mask with one of its closed ends shaped in the form of an open seat 33a for stably housing the pin 16 of the connecting arm 15 in a pack configuration of the device 100 (that is, in the closed or turned open configuration of the movable sash 3).

The template 33 has a shape, in cross section, designed to be slidably coupled, by superposition, on the corresponding walls of the positioning body 13 defining the slot 14.

In other words, the template 33 is a sort of tray with a slotted opening and supporting edges on the walls of the positioning body 13 which define the slot 14.

In a variant embodiment (see Figures 4a and 14a), these adjusting means 32 comprise a fork-shaped template 330 shaped to match only a portion of the slot 14 and superposable, in use, on the slot 14.

In other words, the template 330 defines a half slot (having the form of a "U") with one closed end shaped in the form of an open seat 33a for stably housing the pin 16 of the connecting arm 15 in a pack configuration of the device 100 (that is, in the closed or turned open configuration of the movable sash 3).

The template 330 has a shape, in cross section, designed to be slidably coupled, by superposition, on the corresponding walls of the positioning body 13 defining the slot 14.

In light of this and for both solutions, the template 33 or 330 has a rod 34 for supporting and connecting, at the relative closed end, with an adjusting slider 35 associated with the positioning body 13 and configured for slidably adjusting the position, when required, of the template 33 inside the slot 14.

Preferably, the slider 35 comprises a relative front portion provided with at least a seat 36 for coupling with a corresponding pin 34a present on the rod 34 of the template 33 or 330, and a rear portion equipped with a toothing 37 facing and which can be coupled, in use, with a counter- toothing 38 made on a surface of the positioning body 13.

Preferably, the slider 35 comprises a pair of seats 36 which can be coupled with corresponding pins 34a present on the rod 34 in order to stabilize the template 33 or 330 and to make the adjustment movement of the latter more precise.

In light of this, the toothing 37 and counter-toothing 38 define a plurality of stable positions the template 33 or 330 inside the slot 14.

Preferably, the positioning body 13 has a second slot 39, made near the other slot 14, and slidably engaged by a removable retaining element 40 of the slider 34 against the surface of the positioning body 13.

In other words, the template 33 or 330 is rested on the slot 14 and made stably integral on the positioning body 13 by connection with the slider 35 which, in turn, is fixed to the body 13 with the connecting element 40 (for example a threaded screw) which may slide inside the second slot 39. The connecting arm 15 is provided with a further slot opening 41 positioned, in a pack configuration of the device 100, above the second slot 39.

The position of the template 33 or 330 and, therefore, the longitudinal operating extension L are modified as follows.

The connecting element 40 is loosened to loosen the coupling between the toothing 37 and the counter-toothing 38.

The template 33 or 330 is slid along the slot 14 (in one of the two directions) until reaching the desired position inside the slot 14 for determining the desired operating extension L.

This sliding, if desired, is in step and in line with the toothing 37 on the counter-toothing 38.

This adjustment is also possible with the device 100 fixed thanks to the presence of the opening 41 which allows the retaining element 40 to be also operated with the arm 15 superposed over the positioning body 13. After performing the adjustment the template 33 or 330 is locked in position by screwing the connecting element 40.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate two limit positions which can be adopted by the template 33 or 330 in the slot 14.

Preferably, the device 100 also comprises at least one, that indicated with the numeral 18, of the protruding elements 17 and 18 provided with removable positioning means 21 acting between at least one, the 18, of the protruding elements 17, 18 and the connecting arm 15 for modifying the position of the protruding element 18 relative to the other protruding element 17, along the arm 15, in such a way as to vary the sequence of configurations which can be adopted by the movable sash 3 (see Figure 5).

In other words, with this solution it is possible to modify the sequence of movement of the openings of the sash, starting from a initial shared closing position (obtained with the protruding element 17 intercepted by the selector element 20).

In a first sequence option, the protruding element 18 is fixed on the connecting arm 15 in succession after the other protruding element 17 (see Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 1 1 ) and the first rotation of the grip 8a (by approximately 90°) of the handle 8 slides the selector element 20 along the groove 1 1 to intercept the protruding element 18 so as to change from the closed configuration to the turning opening configuration of the movable sash 3 (Figures 9 and 10).

A further rotation of the grip 8a (by a further 90°) slides the selector element 20 further along the groove 1 1 to position at the free zone 19 to change from the turned opening to the tilted opening of the movable sash 3 (Figure 1 1 ).

In a second sequence option, the protruding element 18 is moved and fixed on the connecting arm 15 in a position further away from the other protruding element 17, that is, where there was previously the free zone 19 (see Figures 3, 7, 12 and 13): in this case, the first rotation of the grip 8a (by approximately 90°) of the handle 8 slides the selector element 20 along the groove 1 1 to be positioned at the free zone 19 to change from the closed configuration to the tilted opening configuration of the movable sash 3 (Figure 13).

A further rotation of the grip 8a (by a further 90°) slides the selector element 20 further along the groove 1 1 to intercept the protruding element 18 so as to change from the tilted opening to the turned opening of the movable sash 3 (Figure 12).

Therefore, thanks to this flexibility of positioning of the protruding element 18 it is possible to obtain two different operating sequences for the sash 3 movable with a single model of connecting arm 15.

Preferably, the body 13 is configured to allow free sliding of the slider 10 positioned beneath the body 13.

Again preferably, the positioning body 13 is partly housed inside the groove 1 1 of the upper crosspiece 12 and fixed using fastening means - not illustrated - in the position adopted on the crosspiece 12.

It should be noted that the connecting arm 15 is equipped with a fixed protruding element 17 and at least two through holes 22, 23, spaced from each other, forming a housing seat of the other protruding element 18 equipped with the removable positioning means 21 and, respectively, the free zone 19, or vice versa.

Therefore, irrespective of the type of sequence which the operating device 100 must perform, the connecting arm 15 is made with this type of structure.

It should be noted that the protruding element 17 is a pin applied irreversibly on the connecting arm 15, for example, by pressing.

Preferably, the protruding element equipped with the removable positioning means 21 is a pin 18 which can be coupled in one of the through holes 22 or 23 of the arm 15.

In light of this, the pin 18 is with a coupling seat 24 for a part of the above- mentioned positioning means 21 comprising a screwable fixing element 25 which can be coupled in the seat 24 of the pin 18 and which can be positioned, after fixing, in a part of the hole 22, 23 of the connecting arm 15.

Again preferably, the pin 18 comprises a head 26 provided with a pair of opposite radial wings 27 and 28 and with an ascending outer profile starting from the centre of the pin 18.

In light of this, the wings 27 and 28 define another part of the removable positioning elements 21 .

In effect, the pair of wings 27 and 28 of the pin 18 can be coupled in one of the through holes 22, 23 of the positioning arm 15 having a matching pair of radial (and through) recesses 29, 30 for the wings 27 and 28 which can position and stabilise the pin 18 with anti-rotation effect inside the hole 22 and 23.

In light of this, the connecting arm 15 has both the holes 22 and 23 equipped with the pair of radial recesses 29, 30.

In other words, the pin 18 is rapidly inserted from the bottom up in one of the holes 22 or 23, (depending on the selected sequence) through the coupling between wings 27 and 28 and recesses 29 and 30 and locked by the screwing (from above) of the fixing element 25.

Preferably, the selector element 20 has a central groove 31 configured to intercept a single protruding element 17, 18 or free zone 19 once for each movement, in sequence, by the controlling action of the handle 9.

In light of this, (see in particular Figures 9 to 13) the selector element 20 is a slidable plug integral with the slider 10.

The plug is equipped with two vertical walls 20a, 20b defining the central groove 31 .

The groove 31 has an extension L31 , calculated along a direction parallel to the extension the groove 1 1 , sufficient to be able to intercept, for each movement imparted by the grip 8a of the handle 8, a single component present on the connecting arm 15 (protruding elements or free zone).

The preset aims are achieved thanks to the structure of this operating device.

More specifically, the presence of the interchangeable protruding element makes the device flexible for selecting or modifying the sequence of movement and closing of the sash on a single operating arm model.

Moreover, the presence of the template for adjusting the extension of the slot of the positioning body provides structural components of the device which are always equal, but with the possibility of adjusting the width of sliding of the pin of the arm along the slot and, thus, also the extent of opening the sash in the tilted configuration.