FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a hinge, particularly
to support frames.
The present invention also concerns a method to obtain
a pintle or hinge of the female type.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Frames commonly used to make, for example, doors,
windows, dormer windows and skylights, present in
buildings of various types, are equipped, in order to
pass from an open position to a closed position, and
vice versa, with movable parts, which can close, or
alternatively leave open, the compartments, made inside
the walls of the buildings, which house the frames
themselves.
To be more exact, it is very common to use frames in
which the movable parts consist of one or more wings,
which can be opened by means of a rotation imparted
thereto around a pre-determined axis, generally vertical
and coinciding with one end of said wings.
In order to allow this rotation, the wings of the
frames are connected to a framework, or directly to the
wall, by means of hinges of a known type, positioned
between them, which at the same time offer a support to
the wings themselves.
To be more exact, in order to support wings of outside
frames, for example made of wood, plastic material or
otherwise, hinges are commonly used for which
characteristics of strength, simplicity and resistance
are required, and also a pleasant aesthetic appearance
and limited bulk.
To support such outside frames, hinges of a known type
are used, consisting of a first pintle, generally
cylindrical in shape, arranged vertically and equipped
with a first axial cavity open at the upper part in
correspondence with at least one end thereof,
irremovably constrained to the lateral wall of a
compartment present in a wall.
A second pintle is rigidly constrained to the wing,
shaped like the first pintle and therefore equipped with
a second cylindrical cavity of about the same size as
the first cavity, arranged vertically and open at both
ends, which during the assembly step is superimposed
above the first pintle, so that it rests on the upper
face of the latter, the first and second cavities thus
being aligned.
Inside the first and second cavities a pin is inserted
from above, the axial position of which is defined by a
head made at one end thereof and abutting against the
upper wall of the second pintle, the pin constituting
the axis of rotation of the wing when the wing is opened
or closed.
The main disadvantage of this known type of hinge is
that, since the pin is kept inside the first and second
seating only by the action of its own weight, it can be
lifted due to the stresses that take place during the
repeated opening and closing of the wings, until it
comes completely out of the pintles, causing the
disarticulation of the hinge.
Another disadvantage of this known type of hinge is
that, in order to release the wing of the outer frame
from the wall to which it is connected, it is enough to
remove the pin from the pintles, which, not being
impeded by any safety device, makes it easy to break the
frame by any persons who wish to enter by stealth into
the building where the frame is installed.
Another disadvantage is that, since the first and
second pintles are in direct contact, the rubbing
between the respective surfaces gives rise to a movement
of relative rotation that is not very uniform and
subject to sticking, especially in the case where
atmospheric agents have caused phenomena of oxidation on
the pintles.
A second type of hinge for frames is known, similar to
the one described above, from which it differs in that
the pin, in proximity with its end that faces downwards,
has a truncated cone shape: on the cavity made inside
the first pintle a counter-shaped surface is defined,
able to achieve a fixed coupling with said pin, thanks
to the fact that the latter is driven inside the cavity.
A variant of this type of known hinge is obtained by
making a knurling on at least one zone of the lateral
surface of the pin, able to achieve a coupling through
interference between said pin and the cavity made inside
the first pintle.
The main disadvantage of such known type of hinges is
that, in order to achieve the particular coupling
surfaces now shown, it is necessary to perform
supplementary workings, which considerably affect the
cost of said hinges, which in themselves are very
economical.
A further disadvantage is that to make couplings
through interference pre-supposes the application on the
pin of an axial force of considerable entity, for
example imparted by means of a hammer or a mallet, which
can damage the pin or, especially in the case of
interference achieved by means of knurling on the pin,
can cause the pin to be misaligned with respect to the
axis of the cavity of the first pintle, so that in both
cases the rotation of the wing of the frame is impeded,
if not totally prevented.
Another hinge is known which, with respect to the
first type described above, comprises a washer, made of
plastic material, approximately cylindrical in shape and
with a hole in the center, able to be positioned between
the first and the second pintle, and equipped with a
plurality of fins protruding radially towards the inside
of its central hole.
In the zone situated, once the pin has been inserted
into the cavity made in the first pintle, in
correspondence with the radial fins of the washer, the
pin has a throat, inside which the fins are housed,
which thus oppose a possible action intended to loosen
the pin from the first pintle.
The main disadvantage of this known type of hinge is
that it is difficult to assemble since, in order to make
it possible to insert the pin, the washer must be
positioned exactly coaxial with respect to the first and
second pintle.
A further disadvantage of this known type of hinge is
that it requires a large number of components, which can
easily be lost during assembly or dis-assembly of the
hinge.
Yet another disadvantage is that, since the washer is
positioned between the first and second pintle, and
visible from outside, it can damage the overall
aesthetic appearance of the hinge.
A method is also known to achieve a pintle or hinge of
the female type, which consists in obtaining, by means
of an appropriate machine, an axial hole on a metal
blank which affects part of the length.
Subsequently this blank is removed from the machine
and formed, by means of molding, on a second machine, so
as to obtain the first axial cavity inside the first
pintle.
Should the presence be required, inside the cavity, of
a throat, this is obtained in a known manner by means of
a third machine, for example a milling machine, on the
lateral wall of the cavity.
This known method requires high production costs, due
to the use of several machine tools and the time needed
to move the pieces from one machine to the next.
To be more exact, using a process to remove chip, such
as milling, in order to make the throat, is very
burdensome, both in terms of time, since the machine is
subject to frequent interruptions in its functioning due
to the change of tools, for maintenance or for fine
tuning the processing, and also in economic terms, as
the worn tools have to be replaced frequently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first purpose of the present invention is therefore
to solve the technical problems shown above, eliminating
the disadvantages of the prior art cited and hence
devising an invention which allows to obtain a hinge,
particularly to support frames, which when the wings are
closed prevents the pin from coming off the first
pintle, and which at the same time is easy and quick to
assemble.
Another purpose of the present invention is to embody
a hinge which allows the wings of a frame to rotate
homogeneously and constantly over time, even after long
exposure to atmospheric agents.
Another purpose achieved by the invention is to make a
hinge that is aesthetically pleasing and of limited
size.
Another purpose is to embody a hinge which is
structurally simple, with limited production costs.
The above purposes, and others which will appear more
clearly hereafter, are achieved by a hinge according to
the invention which comprises a first pintle on which a
first axial cavity is made, substantially cylindrical in
shape, open at one end and into which a pin is able to
be axially and at least partly inserted, equipped with
an annular throat, and which is characterized in that it
also comprises clamping means to prevent said pin
becoming axially removed from said axial cavity of said
first pintle, and in that said clamping means comprise
at least an elastically deformable element, which can be
a bushing or a sealing ring, which cooperates both with
an annular seating made in said first cavity, and also
with said annular throat present in said pin.
Said annular seating is advantageously shaped so as to
have a throat formed by two segments, inclined with
respect to each other, which define a substantially V-shaped
transverse section.
If the clamping means consist of a bushing, this is
advantageously shaped so as to have at least an
elastically deformable appendix.
Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect
a method that allows to obtain, with production costs
that are limited with respect to the state of the art, a
pintle or hinge of the female type, having an axial
cavity open at one end thereof, for the rotatable
interconnection to a pin, and shaped so as to
accommodate axial clamping means, positioned between the
pin and the female-type pintle or hinge.
This purpose is achieved by the method according to
the present invention which is characterized in that it
comprises, also in a different sequence, the following
steps:
- cutting a blank from wire;
- forming said blank;
- first cold punching of one end of said blank so as
to obtain an axial pre-hole;
- second cold punching made on said pre-hole so as to
obtain an axial cavity in said female pintle or
hinge, with a diameter less than that of said pre-hole,
to define a stepped zone between said pre-hole
and said axial cavity;
- deformation of said stepped zone so as to obtain an
annular seating with at least a throat that defines
an undercut in said axial cavity.
Said throat advantageously comprises two segments,
inclined with respect to each other, which define a
substantially V-shaped transverse section of said
annular seating.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention
will be clear from the detailed description of two
particular but non-exclusive forms of embodiment, given
as an unrestricted example in the attached drawings
wherein:
- fig. 1 shows a perspective and partly exploded view of
some elements of a hinge according to the
invention;
- fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a complete
hinge, according to the invention, in a first
form of embodiment;
- fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a first detail of
the hinge in fig. 2;
- fig. 4 shows an enlarged longitudinal section of a
second detail of the hinge in fig. 2;
- fig. 5 shows an enlarged longitudinal section of a
detail of the female pintle of the hinge in
fig. 2;
- fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a variant of the
detail in fig. 3;
- fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section view of a second
form of embodiment of the hinge according to
the invention;
- fig. 8 shows a lateral view of a blank to achieve the
female pintle of the hinge in fig. 2;
- fig. 9 shows a sectioned lateral view of the blank in
fig. 8 after a first punching;
- fig. 10 shows, in a view similar to that in fig. 9, the
blank of fig. 8 after a second punching;
- fig. 11 shows, in a view similar to that in fig. 9, the
blank of fig. 8 after a deformation that
defines an annular seating.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
In the examples of embodiment that follow, individual
characteristics given in relation to specific examples
can in reality be exchanged for other, different
characteristics, existing in other embodiments.
Moreover, it should be noted that everything that in
the course of the procedure to obtain the patent should
be revealed to be already known, shall be understood not
to be claimed by the claims and the object of a
disclaimer.
With reference to figures 1 and 2, a hinge 1 according
to the invention comprising an attachment element 2, for
example cylindrical in shape, able to be constrained to
a wall, not shown in the drawings, in proximity with or
inside an opening, made in the wall and constituting the
compartment for example for a door or window.
The attachment element 2 is able to be partly inserted
inside said wall, so that one end 2a protrudes
therefrom, approximately orthogonally.
In correspondence with the end 2a, the attachment
element 2 supports a first pintle 3, of the female type,
constrained thereto, for example cylindrical in shape,
whose axis is arranged approximately orthogonally with
respect to that of the attachment element 2.
The first pintle 3 can have, as an alternative to the
cylindrical shape, any prismatic shape whatsoever, for
example with a square, rectangular, elliptical base or
other.
Axially to the first pintle 3 a first cavity 4 is
made, cylindrical, open in correspondence with one upper
end 5 of the first pintle 3.
In correspondence with the upper end 5, the lateral
surface of the first cavity 4 has an annular seating 6,
whose profile comprises a first plane segment 7 (figs. 4
and 5), including a slight inclination, for example
equal to about 15°, with respect to a diametric plane,
the height of said first segment increasing as it is
radially distanced from the axis X of the first cavity
4.
The profile of the annular seating 6 also comprises a
second segment 8, plane, consecutive to the first
segment 7 and including a slight inclination, for
example equal to about 15°, with respect to the axis X of
the first cavity 4, and arranged in the direction of the
narrowing of the annular seating 6, from the bottom
upwards, along the axial direction.
The annular seating 6 therefore comprises a throat,
which defines an undercut formed by the two segments 7
and 8, inclined with respect to each other and arranged
so that the transverse section of the annular seating 6
is substantially V-shaped.
The second segment 8 is then connected at the upper
part to a second surface 10, defining a third segment
11, plane, consecutive to said second segment 8 and
inclined by about 45° with respect to the axis X of the
first cavity 4.
The third segment 11 is then connected to a first
upper surface 9, plane, of the first pintle 3.
The hinge 1 also comprises a bushing 12, with a
circular shape (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), able to be
associated in snap-in manner above the first pintle 3.
The bushing 12 comprises an abutment body 13 (figs. 3
and 4), substantially T-shaped, defining a head 13a,
plane, and at the lower part of which a third annular
surface 14 (fig. 4) is defined, able to abut against the
first upper surface 9 of the first pintle 3, so as to
define the positioning of the bushing 12.
In correspondence with the head 13a a hole 12a is
made, with a diameter substantially equal to that of the
first cavity 4.
From the head 13a a shank 13b protrudes at the lower
part, having on the outside a fourth surface 15, with a
profile consisting of a fourth segment 16, inclined with
respect to the third annular surface 14 by an angle
equal to that defined by the third segment 11, so that
said fourth surface 15 corresponds with the second
surface 10, defined on the first pintle 3, when the
bushing 12 is coupled on the latter.
The hole 12a, made axially on the bushing 12, has in
correspondence with the head 13a a diameter about equal
to that of the first cavity 4, made inside the first
pintle 3.
The bushing 12 also comprises, below the shank 13b, an
elastically deformable appendix 17, also with an annular
conformation, whose outer profile is defined, along its
outer surface, by a fifth segment 18, plane, consecutive
to the fourth segment 16 and slightly inclined, by an
angle for example equal to about 10° when the appendix 17
is inactive, in its non-deformed configuration, with
respect to the axis X of the bushing 12, in the
direction of the widening of the bushing 12 proceeding
from the top downwards along the axis X of the latter.
Advantageously, the angle formed by the fifth segment
18 with respect to the axis of the bushing 12, when the
appendix 17 is in its non-deformed configuration, is
less than the angle formed by the second rectilinear
segment 8 with respect to the axis of the first cavity
4.
The outer profile of the elastically deformable
appendix 17 is defined at the lower part by a sixth
segment 19, plane, consecutive to the fifth segment 18
and including an inclination, with respect to a
horizontal direction, equal to that defined by the first
segment 7.
The inner profile of the appendix 17, starting from
the lower end contiguous to the sixth segment 19,
consists of a seventh segment 20, plane, approximately
parallel to the axis X of the bushing 12, and of an
eighth segment 21, consecutive to the seventh segment 20
and slightly inclined with respect thereto, facing from
the bottom upwards in the direction of distancing from
the axis X of the bushing 12.
The seventh segment 20 is located, with the appendix
in its non-deformed configuration, at a distance from
the axis X of the bushing 12 less than the radius of the
first cylindrical cavity 4, defining, in correspondence
with the elastic appendix 17, a section 22 that is
smaller than that of the hole 12a.
In order to obtain a desired deformability of the
appendix 17, the bushing 12 can be made for example of
plastic material.
A plurality of axial slits 12b (fig. 6), affecting the
elastic appendix 17 and possible part of the shank 13b,
can be made on the bushing 12, so as to further increase
the elasticity of the elastic appendix 17.
There can be for example four slits 12b, positioned
off-set circumferentially by about 90° one from the
other.
In order to improve the functionality of the hinge 1,
or for particular constructional requirements, one or
more of the edges of the profile of said bushing 12,
corresponding to the joining points of two consecutive
segments, can be rounded or bevelled.
The hinge 1 also comprises a pin 23 (figs. 1 and 2),
with a substantially cylindrical conformation including
at the lower part a first zone 24, which extends from a
first lower end 23a of the pin 23 for a length at least
equal to the depth of the first cavity 4 present on the
first pintle 3, and with a diameter a little less than
that of the first cavity 4, so that it can be inserted
therein with minimum play.
Adjacent to the first zone 24 of the pin 23 there is a
second zone 26 which can have a diameter greater than
that of the first zone 24, and possibly be connected
thereto by means of a flare 27.
On the first zone 24, in proximity with the connection
to the second zone 26, an annular throat 25 is made,
with a smaller diameter than that of the first zone 24,
and about equal to that of the reduced section 22
present on the bushing 12 in correspondence with the
elastically deformable appendix 17.
Advantageously, the annular throat 25 is made at a
distance from the first end 23a of the pin 23 about
equal to that between the annular seating 6 made on the
first cavity 4 and the bottom of the first cavity; in
this way, when the pin 23 is inserted inside the first
pintle 3, the annular throat 25 is positioned in
correspondence with the annular seating 6.
The hinge 1 also comprises a second pintle 28, able to
be removably constrained to a wing of a frame, not shown
in the drawings. The second pintle 28 is, for example,
cylindrical in shape and is provided axially with a
second, through cavity 29, with a diameter a little more
than that of the second zone 26 of the pin 23, so that
the latter can be inserted therein with play. Moreover,
the second pintle 28 has a substantially plane lower
surface 31, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
The hinge 1 according to the invention is assembled by
associating in snap-in manner the bushing 12 with the
first pintle 3, in correspondence with the upper end 5
of the latter.
The bushing 12 is inserted by means of a direct action
along the axis X of the first cavity 4, so that its
appendix 17 is positioned in correspondence with the
annular seating 6.
During the axial movement of the bushing 12 with
respect to the first cavity 4, the elastically
deformable appendix 17 interacts with the third segment
11 (fig. 4) of the annular seating 6, which imposes on
the appendix 17 a deformation sufficient to allow the
bushing 12 to pass and the appendix 17 to be housed
inside the annular seating 6.
Once the coupling of the bushing 12 is complete, and
the appendix 17 therefore having returned to its non-deformed
configuration, the sixth segment 19 of the
profile of the appendix 17 is in contact with the first
segment 7 of the profile of the annular seating 6; the
appendix 17 protrudes for a part inside the first cavity
4, while the fourth segment 16 and the fifth annular
surface 15 abut respectively against the third segment
11 and the first upper surface 9 defined on the first
pintle 3, in proximity with its upper end 5.
The fifth segment 18, which constitutes the outer
profile of the appendix 17, on the contrary is detached
from the second segment 8 of the profile of the annular
seating 6, so that between the bushing 12 and the
annular seating 6 an interspace 30 is defined, which
develops in an annular direction.
The lower end of the fifth segment 18, once the
appendix 17 has been inserted into the annular seating
6, occupies a position that is radially more external
with respect to the upper edge of the annular seating,
consisting of the connection end between the second
segment 8 and the third segment 11, so that the bushing
12 cannot be disconnected from the first pintle without
the appendix 17 being subjected to a deformation equal
to that achieved during its insertion.
The first pintle 3, on which the bushing 12 has been
coupled, can therefore be constrained to a wall, by
means of the attachment element 2, in correspondence or
in proximity with the compartment of a window or door,
so that the axis X of the first cavity 4 is arranged
vertically, the aperture of said cavity facing upwards.
The pin 23 can therefore be inserted, in
correspondence with its first zone 24, inside the first
cavity 4, through the hole 12a present on the head 13a
of the bushing 12.
During this axial movement, the pin 23, which in its
first zone 24 has a greater diameter with respect to
that of the reduced section 22 of the hole 12a, located
in correspondence with the appendix 17, induces an
elastic deformation of the appendix, during which, by
sliding on the first segment 7 of the profile of the
annular seating 6, the appendix is subjected to a
substantially radial translation.
This radial translation is made possible by the
presence of the interspace 30, which is occupied during
the insertion of the pin 23 by the radially outermost
portion of the appendix 17.
Once the first end 23a of the pin 23 has come into
contact with the bottom of the first cavity 4 (fig. 2),
the annular throat 25 is in correspondence with the
appendix 17, so that the latter can re-acquire its non-deformed
configuration, the inner part of its profile
occupying the annular throat 25, so as to constitute
clamping means to prevent the axial loosening of the pin
23.
The diameter of the annular throat 25 can also be
slightly more than that of the reduced section 22 of the
hole 12a, so that the appendix 17 maintains, once the
pin 23 has been completely inserted, a slight residual
deformation.
Finally, the second pintle 28 is positioned above the
first pintle 3, so that the second zone 26 of the pin 23
is housed inside the second cavity 29 and the lower
surface 31 rests on the head 13a of the bushing 12,
clamping it.
The wing of the frame, connected to the second pintle
28, is hence supported by the first pintle 3, by means
of the bushing 12, and is free to rotate with respect to
the pin 23, in order to achieve the opening and closing
movement of said frame.
The bushing 12 can advantageously be made of plastic
material, equipped with good resistance to wear and with
low friction coefficients, so as to render the rotation
of the second pintle 28 homogeneous and free from
jamming, even after long use or in the event of exposure
to atmospheric agents.
The assembly of the hinge 1 as described above is very
simple, especially because the bushing 12 is univocally
positioned on the first pintle 3 and hence automatically
centered thereon; as a consequence the insertion of the
pin 23 is very easy.
Moreover, the fact that the bushing 12 is constrained
to the first pintle 3 prevents it from being lost.
Finally, the bushing 12 is almost completely contained
inside the first pintle 3, so that the overall size of
the hinge 1 is kept limited; the invention is therefore
aesthetically pleasing.
Should any axial forces act on the pin 23, facing in
the direction of extraction of said pin 23 from the
first cavity 4, and due for example to actions generated
by repeated opening and closing of the frame, or due to
interventions from outside, the appendix 17 of the
bushing 12 opposes the removal of the pin together with
the pressure generated on the head 13a of the second
pintle 28.
An axial movement of the pin 23, facing upwards,
entails an action in the same direction by the first
zone 24 of the pin 23, in correspondence with the
lateral wall of the annular throat 25 arranged below, on
the portion of the sixth segment 19 of the profile of
the appendix 17 protruding inside the annular throat 25
itself.
Thus stressed, however, the bushing 12 opposes
resistance to a vertical movement, because its appendix
17, in order to pass over the upper edge of the annular
seating 6, would have to be subject to a radial
deformation directed towards the axis X of the bushing
12, which is however prevented precisely by the presence
of the pin 23, which is in this way forced to remain
inside the first cavity 4, at least until the force
acting in the direction of extraction is so intense as
to cause the appendix 17 to yield.
A further obstacle to a vertical motion of the bushing
12 also derives from the weight of the wing of the frame
supported by the hinge 1, which acts on the head 13a by
means of the second pintle 28.
A second form of embodiment of the hinge according to
the invention, shown in fig. 7 and indicated in its
entirety by the reference number 101, differs from the
embodiment described above in that it comprises, instead
of the bushing 12, a sealing ring 135, open, that is,
cut, and with a circular or polygonal section,
preferably made of metal material. The sealing ring 135
can also be of the closed type and made of deformable
material, such as rubber or plastic. The sealing ring
135 is located between the annular seating 106 and the
annular throat 125, made on the pin 123.
The sealing ring 135 constitutes a clamping means
against the removal of the pin 123 from the pintle 103
since, as it is retained inside the annular throat 125,
it acts, with a part protruding towards the inside of
the annular throat 125, on the lateral wall of said
annular throat arranged at the lower part.
The method to achieve the pintle, but also a hinge, of
the female type, which is also the object of the present
invention, comprises a first step that consists in
cutting, from a metal drawn piece, preferably with a
circular section, a blank 52 (fig. 8).
On the blank 52 a cold forming is then performed, so
as to obtain an axial pre-hole 54 in correspondence with
one end 53 of the blank 52.
The forming of the pre-hole 54 is achieved by means of
a first punching process, for which a first punch is
used, of a known type and appropriately shaped. This
first punching allows part of the material that
constitutes the blank 52 to rise vertically, all around
it.
The first forming step thus achieves a slight increase
in the height of the blank 52, due to the plastic
deformation imposed, which however does not yet
correspond to the definitive height.
This height is obtained by means of a second punching,
made on the pre-hole 54 by means of a second punch, also
of a known type and suitably shaped. This second
punching gives rise to the plastic displacement of
material from the central zone of the blank 52 towards
the upper and outer zones.
The material thus deformed rises vertically, so as to
define the axial cavity 4 (fig. 10), which now has the
definitive depth.
The axial cavity 4 has a diameter of less than that of
the pre-hole 54, so that, in proximity with the upper
end of the axial cavity 4, a stepped zone 57 is defined.
The method then provides to deform the stepped zone
57, by using a third, suitably shaped punch which
plastically displaces the material, determining the
creation of the annular seating 6 (fig. 11), which
comprises the undercut throat defined by the segments 7
and 8 (fig. 5), and having a V-shaped transverse
section. Consequently the upper flare is formed that
defines the third segment 11.
The method as described heretofore therefore allows to
obtain a pintle, or a hinge, of the female type, that
has all the characteristics of use proper to female
hinges of a known type, with a suitably shaped annular
seating, but with the advantage that it is obtained in a
cold molding cycle, in a same machine, as previously
specified, and hence without requiring the piece to be
picked up in the various working sequences, nor any
processing of chip removal.
In this way a pintle or hinge of the female type can
be obtained at a lower cost with respect to that of the
state of the art as cited.
We have thus shown and described how the invention has
achieved the pre-set purposes, as a hinge has been
devised, particularly to support frames, that is easy
and quick to assemble and that allows to keep the pin
inside its first pintle.
A further purpose obtained is that of achieving an
invention that allows the rotation of the wings of a
frame that is homogeneous and constant in time, even
when it is exposed to the action of atmospheric agents.
Another purpose obtained by the invention is that it
achieves an aesthetically pleasing hinge, of limited
size.
Naturally the materials used, and the sizes of the
individual components of the invention can be more
pertinent according to specific requirements.
The different means to effect certain different
functions certainly shall not coexist only in the form
of embodiment shown here, but can be present in many
other embodiments, even not shown.
The characteristics indicated as advantageous,
appropriate or suchlike, may not be present or may be
replaced by equivalents.