EP1462598A1

EP1462598A1 - Hinge for metal window and door frames

Info

Publication number: EP1462598A1
Application number: EP03425187A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michele Loperfido
Original assignee: Master SRL
Current assignee: Master SRL
Priority date: 2003-03-25
Filing date: 2003-03-25
Publication date: 2004-09-29

Abstract

A hinge (1) for metal window and door frames is disclosed that has an engagement end (7) and an abutment surface (11) on a frame section bar (9), with a seat (13) for passing a screw (15) associated with a fastening plaque (16); the engagement end (7) has an internal straight surface (7a) for operatively contacting the plaque (16), that has a side section shaped with four segments and is equipped, at one end (16a), with a contact surface that is slanted when resting by an angle (A) with respect to the surface (7a) and is operatively parallel with the surface (7a); the plaque (16) further comprises, at its other opposite end (16b), a projection that penetrates and engages the section bar (9) for an unmovable fastening of the hinge (1) onto the section bar (9).

Description

The present invention refers to an improved hinge for window and door frames.
As is known, the installation of hinges for window and door casings and frames provides that part of the hinge itself is secured to the mobile wings and the other pivot part is integral with the fixed frame.
The prior art already shows arrangements aimed to replace the basic technique of laying window and door frames; such arrangements (such as for example document IT-A-89-67139) allow replacing the classic securing of hinge parts to respective counterparts, that only provides for the adoption of screws respectively biting onto fixed wing and frame, with hinges equipped with locking systems equipped with suitable floating anchored plaques adapted to grip the window and door frame section bar.
Such arrangements however have kinematisms aimed for blocking the hinge onto the window and door frame section bar that are far from reaching maximum efficiency, above all when they are used for laying windows and door frames whose sizes and weight are high.
Moreover, many prior art documents (IT-A-89-67139, IT-A-1248219, EP-A-0 504 115) propose arrangements that provide either for a working with tools or anyway for arranging particular shapes on some functional parts composing the hinge body in order to create the particular cam movements and kinematisms that can be replaced by straight and more efficient solutions by adopting simpler and less costly production processes, and obtaining components with maximum functionality and sturdiness.
Object of the present invention is solving the above prior-art problems, by providing a hinge for metal window and door frames that allows obtaining a more efficient locking action of the hinge itself onto the window and door frame section bar by adopting plaques that are able to perform a greater gripping action onto the section bar itself. This allows adopting the hinge of the present invention also for installing window and door frames with great weight and sizes without impairing the sealing and simple laying characteristics pertaining to the hinge itself.
A further object of the present invention is providing a hinge for window and door frames that is particularly easy to use (laying and fastening) free from particular cams and bends or kinematisms.
Another object of the present invention is providing a sturdy and solid hinge for window and door frames adapted for a greater capacity and weight for a good proportionality and linearity of sections due to the lack of slots and depletions that tend to weaken the hinge body sections.
A further object of the present invention is providing a hinge for metal window and door frames that can be realised more easily and cheaply than the prior art hinges.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained by a hinge for metal window and door frames as claimed in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are claimed in the dependent Claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the hinge for window and door frames of the present invention in a first engagement step on a section bar being part of a metal window and door frame;
Figure 2 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the hinge for window and door frames of the present invention in a second engagement step on a section bar being part of a metal window and door frame;
Figure 2 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the hinge for window and door frames of the present invention in a third engagement step on a section bar being part of a metal window and door frame;
Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the end of the hinge plaque in Fig. 1 in its rest position;
Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the plaque end in its working position; and
Figure 6 shows a detail of Fig. 3 pointing out the penetration action between metals of the plaque part with the "T"-shaped wing of the window and door frame section bar, with the effect of a better grip.

With reference to the Figures, it is possible to note that the hinge 1 according to the present invention is composed of a hinge body 3 from which a base 5 extends that is composed of an engagement end 7 in a window and door frame section bar 9 and of an abutment surface 11 on the window and door frame section bar 9 itself.
The base 5 is equipped with at least one seat 13; the number of seats with which the base 5 can be equipped depends on sizes and weights of the window and door frames to be supported. Each seat 13 is respectively adapted for passing a screw 15; for strongly securing the base 5 onto the window and door frame section bar 9, such screw 15 engages, at its end opposite to its head, a corresponding plaque 16, through a threaded hole, complying with the screw 15 threading, with which the plaque 16 itself is equipped. Contrary to what has been proposed by the prior art, that provides for the adoption of slots or shapes inside the hinge body base having concave profiles with dubious functionality, that weaken resisting sections and that have higher manufacturing costs with respect to the hinge of the present invention, the end 7 of the base 5 instead has an internal straight surface 7a; such internal straight surface has a slant that allows the free pendulum-like oscillation of the plaque 16 during the insertion and laying step, in addition to an optimum operating grip with the corresponding surface 16a of the plaque 16 facing thereto, having removed, during the fastening step, composite kinematisms among many components and surfaces (cam and countercam, slots, etc.) and having replaced them with the simple "return to its seat" of the plaque 16, consequent to the as well simple operation of screwing the screw 15 into its seat 13.
Such plaque 16 has as its first feature the fact of having a side section shaped with four segments so that it has an end 16a equipped with a slanted contact surfaces that, when locking, is arranged, according to a direction D1 with angle A, in parallel with the internal straight surface 7a of the engagement end 7. The above angle A is the necessary pre-load for locking the plaque 16 with the window and door frame wing by means of the other end 16b with a sharp edge.
As can be well seen in the Figures, in the preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment shown, the shaped side section has a central length that is parallel to the section bar 9, the end 16a connected on one side to the central length in a slanted way with respect to the surface 7a (Fig. 4), a length that is perpendicular to the central length and is connected thereto on the opposite side with respect to the end 16a, and the opposite end 16b connected to the perpendicular length in a slanted way and with a sharp edge, so that it can grip a corresponding "T"-shaped part of the section bar 9.
Moreover the plaque 16 has the further feature of having, on its other opposite end 16b, a projection adapted, consequently to the tightening action of the screw 15 onto the plaque 16, before engaging and afterwards also penetrating into the window and door frame section bar 9, to guarantee the unmovable fastening of the hinge 1 onto the window and door frame section bar 9.
With reference to Fig. 1, it is possible to note that, in this first installation step of the hinge 1 according to the present invention onto its respective window and door frame section bar 9, the coupling with play between the screw 15 and its own seat 13 allows the plaque 16 to oscillate independently from the movements of the hinge body 3. Such oscillation can be controlled by operating with a screwdriver on the screw 15 head. During this first assembling step, the engagement end 7 of the base 5 is placed in order to engage the related profile of the section bar 9. As clearly appears from Fig. 1, no particular outline is necessary to allow the correct application of the hinge 1 onto the window and door frame section bar 9.
With reference to Fig. 2, it is possible to see the hinge 1 of the present invention in its final installation position. In such position, the parts of the base 5 of the hinge 1 adapted for abutting onto the section bar 9, such as the engagement end 7 and the abutment surface 11, are in their functional position, abutting onto corresponding planes of the section bar 9, that are part of the reference plance for applying any type of hinge (also the one with plaques to be inserted first) in the most common window and door frame profiles. With reference to the abutment planes, it must be stated that also the plane 9a, corresponding to the engagement end 7, could be used, but in some cases it is engaged by sealing gaskets that are restrained into the adjacent seat 9b.
With reference to Fig. 3, it is possible to see the hinge 1 of the present invention in the locking step of the section bar 9. Such locking occurs by tightening the screw 15 that generates a screw-nut screw effect onto the plaque 16 that, through its simple and free translation towards the base 5 of the hinge body 3, first engages and then penetrates, with its suitably-shaped end 16b, into the section bar 9 material, due to the simple effect of a lever with fulcrum in the contact area between 7a and 16a.
As can be seen from what is stated above, the shape of the plaque 16 is given both by a suitable management of available spaces, and by the chance of increasing its structural stiffness (in fact it is commonly obtained from a band of steel). The correct final position is guaranteed by the countersunk-head screw 15, that is constrained in the seat 13 suitably obtained in the hinge body 5 and by an opposite abutment to the locking point, in this case the edge of the inclined plane on the plaque 16 side.

Claims

Hinge (1) for metal window and door frames equipped with a hinge body (3) from which a base (5) extends, said base (5) being composed of an engagement end (7) into a window and door frame section bar (9) and of an abutment surface (11) onto the window and door frame section bar (9), said base (5) being equipped with at least one seat (13) for passing a corresponding screw (15) associated at an opposite end thereof with a corresponding plaque (16) for a stable fastening of the base (5) to the window and door frame section bar (9), characterised in that:

said engagement end (7) has an internal straight surface (7a) for operatively contacting said plaque (16); and

said plaque (16) has a side section shaped with four segments and is equipped, at one end (16a), with a contact surface, said contact surface of said end (16a) in its rest position being slanted by a certain angle (A) with respect to said internal straight surface (7a) of said engagement end (7), said contact surface of said end (16a) in its operating tightening position being parallel with respect to said internal straight surface (7a) of said engagement end (7), said plate (16) being further equipped, at its other opposite end (16b), with a projection adapted to penetrate and engage said window and door frame section bar (9) for an unmovable fastening of said hinge (1) onto said window and door frame section bar (9).
Hinge (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said side shaped section of the plate (16) has a central length parallel to the section bar (9), the end (16a) connected on one side to the central length of the surface (7a), a perpendicular length to the central length and connected thereto on the opposite side with respect to the end (16a), and the opposite end (16b) connected to the perpendicular length in a slanted way and in such a way as to grip a corresponding "T"-shaped part of the section bar (9) .
Hinge (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said projection of said end (16b) has an engagement lip with a sharp edge.
Hinge (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said projection of said end (16b) has an engagement lip with a sharp and toothed edge.
Hinge (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said angle (A) is the necessary pre-load for locking said plaque (16) with the window and door frame (9) wing by means of said other sharp-edged end (16b).
Hinge (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said internal straight surface (7a) of said hinge (1) has a slant that allows the free pendulum-like oscillation of said plaque (16) during the insertion and laying step, in addition to providing an operating grip with the corresponding surface (16a) of said plaque (16) facing thereto.
Hinge (1) according to any one of the previous Claims, characterised in that the locking of said hinge (1) onto said section bar (9) occurs by tightening said screw (15) that generates a screw-nut screw effect on said plaque (16), said plaque (16), through its own free translation towards the base (5) of the hinge body (3), firstly engaging and then penetrating, through said shaped end (16b), into the section bar (9) material, due to an effect of lever with fulcrum in the contact area between said surfaces (7a, 16a).