This invention relates to a sash for a sliding door or window, in particular a sash which can slide on at least one track between an open position and a closed position.
Sliding doors and windows of the traditional or lift and slide type are well known, and basically comprise:
In the case of a lift and slide sliding door or window, the operating means allow disengagement of the closing means together with lifting of the sash relative to the carriage (so as to move weather strips located on the sash away from the track) and lowering of the sash at the sash closed position in order to return the weather strips to the position where they seal the door or window.
Current basic structures of a sliding sash for doors or windows combine a frame made of metal or synthetic material for perimetric closing of glazing with an inner insulating chamber.
The sash frame normally comprises four sectors (forming the two uprights and the two crosspieces) fixed together and on which the glazing is applied (having a flat perimetric profile).
The respective ends of the stretches of the frame are usually cut at 45° so that they can be joined (by special, known inner corner devices) to the corresponding end of the contiguous stretch.
Once this frame is complete, a set of machining operations is performed on it (cutting, slotting, boring, recessing, etc.) to create the housings or suitable passages for:
Therefore, a sash structured in this way may not just have a significant overall weight, but also an appearance that is not always acceptable due to the presence of the visible outer frame (depending on the rooms where it is installed) and high production costs, in particular due to the machining necessary for application of accessory elements which are essential for its movement and closing.
This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome these disadvantages by providing a sash for sliding doors or windows that is extremely rational, has reduced overall weight, with improved thermal performance, lower production costs, but that is still as reliable and secure as a conventional sash.
This invention also has for an aim to obtain a sash with improved appearance compared with conventional sashes and which can also be used on all-glass building structures called “curtain walls”.
Yet another aim is to obtain a sash that is easy to assemble and has structural continuity as regards both the seal and the maneuverability of the control and sliding elements, such as carriages in lift and slide sashes.
These aims are achieved by a sash in which the main body for the glazing forms a perimetric housing open towards the outside engaging with rigid profiles forming a frame inside the main body.
Three of these rigid profiles form a zone, open towards the outside, equipped with accessories and in which means for operating and/or driving the main body in use are housed and/or are slidable.
In that way a completely glazed outer surface is obtained.
Each of the three rigid profiles comprises three parts, of which two are sides whose geometry is adaptable to the housing and one is a central head portion comprising a first sealing or insulating element bilaterally associated with the two sides and forming the innermost surface in the housing.
This increases the sash inner/outer thermal seal.
Moreover, the three rigid profiles each form a channel which in use houses an operating rod for the main and accessory elements (for example, handle and carriages) for driving and/or opening and closing the sash in use.
The channel extends parallel with the first insulating element and close to said element which insulates it from the sash insulating chamber above.
A rigid profile associated with the interior of the housing of the main body forming the sash bottom crosspiece houses a pair of sliding carriages, which are partly inserted in the channel and can be connected to the operating rod, the carriages slidably supporting the main body in use.
In this way, “hidden” housing can be obtained for the carriages, without changing the outer appearance of the sash, connecting the carriages to the main operating elements, by means of the rod, to perform the coordinated opening and closing operating movements if necessary (for example, in doors or windows of the “lift and slide” type).
In addition, each of the three rigid profiles forming one upright and two crosspieces of the sash, has its contiguous ends angled in such a way that they can be joined and form a continuous cover for the corner of the frame.
The ends of the profiles are joined by an angled element associated with the corresponding innermost surfaces of the contiguous profiles so that the channel runs uninterruptedly along the three sides.
This allows a secure connection along the three sides between the various control, operating and sliding elements on the sash.
Advantageously, the angled element may be associated in the profile by housing it in a tubular housing present in the first sealing element: in this way the dimensions are reduced and the contact surfaces between the metal elements are interrupted, thus keeping the sash thermal seal coefficient high.
Accordingly, this invention achieves this aim with a sash for doors or windows, in particular a sash for sliding doors or windows comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims and the technical features of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular
This door or window, labelled 101, may comprise, for example, a fixed frame 102, at least one mobile frame or sash 100, one or a pair of carriages 9 and at least one control element M (a handle described in more detail below).
More specifically, the sash 100 is slidable relative to the fixed frame 102 between a closed position (see
In more detail, the sash 100 is slidable horizontally along a fixed track 105 positioned at the base of the fixed frame 101 and, in its fully open position (not illustrated), can (purely by way of example) be superposed over a fixed sash 106 or a sash that is also mobile, opening in the opposite direction to the first sash.
The individual sash 100, of particular interest in this text, will be described singly for the sake of simplicity, without thereby limiting the invention even to two sashes in the same door or window having the same characteristics. The sash 100 basically comprises:
On at least three sides of the main body 1 there are corresponding rigid profiles 6 forming a zone, open towards the outside, equipped with accessories and in which means 8, 9, 10 for operating and/or driving the main body 1 in use are housed and/or are slidable.
Obviously, the three profiles 6 are those positioned on the sides forming the front upright on which the handle M is applied and the two crosspieces, bottom and top, whilst the rear upright may even be without the zone equipped with accessories.
The insulating chamber 2, of the known type, is obtained in the known way by interposing between the glazing panels 3 and 4 an insulating shim S with suitable adhesive or structural silicone so as to obtain “double-glazing”.
As can also be seen in
At a structural level, and in a first construction solution illustrated in
As illustrated in
The accessory zone of these three rigid profiles 6 is formed, for each profile, by at least one channel 11 which in use accommodates at least one rod 8 for operating main means 9 and accessory means 10 which drive and/or open and close the sash 100 in use.
As the Figures referred to clearly show, this channel 11 is obtained close to the first insulating element 17, thus separating the accessory zone from the innermost contact points in the chamber 2, to maintain a good sash 100 perimetric thermal seal.
As regards the system for joining the rigid profiles 6, in particular those forming a front upright 103 and the two crosspieces 6m and 105 of the sash 100, these profiles have contiguous ends shaped so that they are angled, allowing them to be joined and to form a continuous cover for the corner of the frame (see in particular
These ends of the profiles 6 are joined by an angled element or bracket 12 associated with the corresponding innermost surfaces of the contiguous profiles 6 so that the channel 11 also runs uninterruptedly along the three sides.
Therefore, in this embodiment the rigid profile 6 forming the inner frame of the sash 100 front upright 103 has the two ends shaped, that is to say, angled, at an angle α equal to 45° so that it connects with the corresponding ends of each of the profiles 6m and 105 forming the top and bottom crosspieces, which also have the same angled shape.
Therefore, basically, each contiguous end of the three profiles 6 is set at a 45° angle to obtain an angled plane for contact with the contiguous angled plane of the corresponding profile 6 and, in use, to form a right angle of the frame (see
These corner zones are also joined by the above-mentioned first insulating element 17 (substantially a seal) forming the profile 6.
This first insulating element 17 comprises a central tubular housing C6 which can accommodate, during assembly, the angled element 12 used to join the profiles 6.
The angled element 12 comprises threaded housings 12b, whilst the first insulating element 17, in the corner zone, comprises through holes 17a (see FIG. 12).
After inserting the stretch of the angled element 12 in the tubular housing C6, a screw 12a is passed, from the outside of the profile 6, into the through hole 17a and tightened in the housing 12b of the angled element 12 to stably join the angled element 12 to the profile 6 by contact with the inner part of the first insulating element 17.
This allows the interruption of inner contact between metal element which could create a heat bridge, but at the same time provides precise, easy and rapid joining of the profiles 6.
Moreover, use of the tubular housing C6 for the join allows the accessory zone working spaces to remain unchanged, including the channel 11 of the profiles 6.
In contrast, the two profiles 6m and 105 have the opposite ends shaped like a right angle for coupling with the fourth profile 6d which forms the rear upright, which is also shaped like a right angle: this is simply for structural reasons, due to the absence, in the rear part and in this non-limiting embodiment, of transmission and operating or closing elements.
As
Each of these plugs 110 may be associated by screw elements, with a second part 110b, in the corresponding channel 11 present at the respective ends of the two profiles 6 forming the sash 100 crosspieces 6m and 105 to obtain corresponding right-angled joints between the three profiles 6d, 6m and 105. Moreover, the plug 110 may be equipped with a sash 100 recess closing, sealing and damping block 110c.
This “inner frame” obtained using the rigid profiles 6 may be hidden so that it cannot be seen from the outside, since along the edges of the glazing panels 3 and 4 receiving the rigid profiles 6 there may be a screening surface 13 whose height H13 is at least equal to the depth of the housing 5.
This screening surface 13 may be obtained directly during production of the main body 1, outside or inside the glazing panels 3, 4.
Examining each rigid profile 6 in more detail, it has at least one bilateral pair of surfaces 14 that can be placed face to face with the inside surface of the glazing panels 3 and 4, and a pair of flanges 15 which can be placed face to face with the edge of the glazing panels 3, 4. Both pairs 14 and 15 are associated with the glazing panels 3 and 4 by the fastening means 7, said surfaces forming the sides 6a and 6b of each profile 6.
In the embodiment illustrated, the fastening means 7 may be in the form of adhesive, for example structural silicone.
Alternatively (see
Obviously, the pair of supporting brackets 16 can in turn be placed face to face with the edge of the glazing panels 3 and 4 and can be associated with the glazing panels 3 and 4 by the fastening means 7.
The types and functional features of the rigid profiles 6 may vary according to the technical requirements of the door or window in which the sash 100 must be mounted.
In
In particular, this housing C6 is used for applying the bracket 12 for associating the ends of the profiles 6.
In the case already referred to, see
As already indicated, main and accessory elements are those elements, such as the carriages 9 (visible in
As is known, said elements are directly or indirectly connected to the rod 8 to allow sash 100 opening-closing and driving operations.
In
Returning to the rigid profiles 6, each is bilaterally provided with first protrusions or flanges 18 designed to be coupled to second, external sealing means 19 running parallel with the glazing panels 3, 4, and protruding outside the glazing panels 3, 4.
In addition, the rigid profiles 6 may be provided with second protrusions or flanges 20 designed to be coupled to third sealing means 21 which face the internal space formed by the second protrusions or flanges 20 themselves. This also allows a seal at the sides in contact with the fixed frame 102.
At these second flanges 20 there are flat corner elements 111 which can engage in respective housings in each of the second protrusions or flanges 20, at three corners formed by the respective contiguous profiles 6.
Said corner elements 111 are positioned on opposite sides of each angled joining element 12, thus allowing both improved alignment of the profiles during assembly and a better thermal seal at the corner of the sash 100.
As shown in
A cover plate 23 can be fitted to the recess 22, said plate being equipped with at least one through hole 24 for stably housing the control handle M that can be connected to the operating and/or drive means 8, 9, 10 present in the respective rigid profile 6.
The size of the plate 23 is greater than the size of the recess 22 so that the plate can be associated with the glazing panel 3 or 4 using structural silicone or another adhesive.
In addition, the plate 23 may be provided with two or more different housings on its surface depending on the type of handle M to be applied (traditional handle, Cremone bolt, presence of opening for key lock barrel visible in
As is also clearly visible in
In this embodiment there is a corner joining and closing element 25 which can be associated at each corner formed by the main body 1.
Each of these corner elements 25 is provided with at least one groove 26 for connecting the accessory zone present in the contiguous rigid profiles 6.
Use of these corner elements 25 ensures that the length L6 of each rigid profile 6 is less than the total length L1 of the respective side of the main body 1.
Located in the free zone of the main body 1 housing 5, at each end of the side, there is a corner element 25, defining a dimension LT substantially equal to the length L1 of the side of the main body 1.
To maintain a good seal, in this embodiment the second, external sealing means 19 extend beyond the respective ends of the rigid profiles 6 in such a way that they can be fitted to respective housings or flanges 25a on the corner joining elements 25.
In particular, in this case there are three extensions 27 which, in use, are positioned: two at the flanges 15 or 16 of the respective rigid profile 6, and in contact both with the flanges and with the joining zone between the flanges and the edge of the glazing panels 3 and 4; the third extension, in contrast being central in the embodiment in
In this case, the corner elements 25 may be associated by adhesive or structural silicone to stabilise the join.
Therefore, a sash structured in this way is assembled starting with a main body 1 provided with the two glazing panels 3 and 4 with the respective insulating chamber 2, housing 5, screening edges 13, and at least one recess 22.
The required rigid profiles 6 are then applied in the housing 5 of the main body 1 and stably joined by means of the elements described above.
At this point, depending on the door or window fitter's requirements, the necessary accessories are applied in the profiles.
As shown in
Stretches of rod 8 accommodated in the channel 11 along the three profiles 6m, 103 and 105, which allow connection of the various operating and sliding elements.
A handle operating unit 120 designed to make the stretches of rod 8 slide in both directions on command when the handle M is operated.
Front closing catches 121 positioned along the front upright 103.
Corner drives 122 at the corners formed by the upright 103 and by the crosspieces 6m and 105.
Anti-lifting plugs 123 along the top crosspiece 105.
The carriages 9 connected to the channel 11 along the bottom crosspiece 6m and connected to each other by stretches of rod 8 to allow, on command when the handle M is operated, sash 100 lifting for opening and lowering for closing.
Once fully assembled, the sash can be delivered to the door or window fitter who then simply has to mount the fixed frame in the room where it will be located and insert the mobile frame already equipped with all of the elements, for example as described above.
Therefore, a sliding sash structured in this way fulfils the preset aims thanks to the presence of a main body equipped with a perimetric housing which avoids the need for an external supporting frame, a sort of “self-supporting” double-glazing unit thanks to the application of the perimetric rigid profiles.
The all-glass structure, with the exception of the screening edges, allows significant advantages:
The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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BO2009A000112 | Feb 2009 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB2010/050844 | 2/26/2010 | WO | 00 | 8/10/2011 |