WO2013056865A1

WO2013056865A1 - Aluminum profile structure for door and window frames

Info

Publication number: WO2013056865A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/064533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno SPONGA; Rodolfo DAL CASTEL; Guido Bortoluzzi
Original assignee: Bortoluzzi Lab S.R.L.
Priority date: 2011-10-17
Filing date: 2012-07-24
Publication date: 2013-04-25
Also published as: ITTV20110042U1

Abstract

An aluminum profile structure (2) for door and window frames which comprises means (5a, 5b) for its pretensioning or for its precompression.

Description

ALUMINUM PROFILE STRUCTURE FOR DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES

The present application relates to an aluminum profile structure for door and window frames, particularly, but not exclusively, for door leaves which can slide with co-planar closure for items of furniture and the like, or indeed for sliding doors which do not have the doors coplanar but overlapping.

Nowadays, as an alternative to normal hinged doors, sliding door solutions are known which can be applied both to wardrobes and furniture in general, and also to door and window frames or to any other application of closing elements that require a reduced space in their open position.

Generally these types of door are constituted by two or more door leaves, each one of which has brackets with rolling means guided by a rail, which is constituted by an upper guide and by a lower guide, respectively applied to the floor and to the ceiling of the compartment to be closed, the rail of one door leaf being adjacent and parallel to the rail of the other door leaf.

The sliding of the door leaves in this type of door thus occurs on parallel and laterally adjacent planes which achieve the closure of the compartment by the alignment or partial overlapping of the edges of one door leaf with the edges of the other door leaf and with the mutually opposite edges of both door leaves against the edges or the jambs of the compartment to be closed.

The unaesthetic quality of sliding doors which when closed are seen arranged on two different planes, although parallel and close together, in particular in furniture where aesthetics assumes considerable importance, has led the technique of the field to seek solutions that provide the co- planarity of the two door leaves, when closed, while also ensuring their overlapping when open.

According to this consolidated technique, co-planarity of the door leaves is obtained during closing, although with different devices of greater or lesser complexity, involving, for each door leaf, a step of entrainment, along the respective parallel rails, and a step of pushing for the translational motion thereof into the adjacent bottom rail, the other end of which already supports and guides the other door leaf with which to align the door leaf in movement.

Thus Italian patent for invention no. 1208152 is known which, in order to achieve co-planarity, uses an entrainment device wherein for each door leaf a pair of sliding guides is provided, by way of adapted brackets and respective sliding elements, such pairs of guides each comprising a rectilinear front guide and a second rear guide with curved end portion, while the first guide is provided with a part that diverges at right angles and is directed toward the second guide, in order to allow the translational motion of corresponding sliding elements of the corresponding door leaf, by simple translational motion of the door leaf to be moved.

This solution has highlighted a drawback which is linked to the weight of the door leaves, which tend to flex the profiles that support them.

Also known is WO2004/090274 in which a solution is explained for sliding doors for furniture and similar furnishing elements, particularly of the type with two door leaves and of reduced height, having co-planar closure and overlapping opening of the door leaves.

In such solution the support and translational motion of each slideable door is provided by way of a corresponding bracket arranged on the edge of the outer side, each bracket being associated with a pair of trolleys that can slide, transversely to the door leaf, because they are supported and guided by a respective trolley which, in its turn, can slide longitudinally along the edge of the compartment to be closed.

The trolley is guided by a rail and by other containment tracks and is conditioned by an idle roller thereof which is engaged in one of the two longitudinal guides or cams, which are supported by and flank the supporting rail for sliding, in order to guide one of the two door leaves to overlap the other, when opening, and guide the same door leaf to align itself with the other, stationary door leaf, when closing.

This solution too has the same drawback that was complained of previously, and that is to say the flexion of the profiles that support the door leaves owing to their weight.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art, by providing a structure that, applied in particular, but not exclusively, to sliding doors, makes it possible to increase the capacity of the aluminum profiles used and thus the capacity of the mechanisms which can slide.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a profile that is easy and quick to install and adjust.

Another object is to provide a profile that offers contained weight and size and thus low production costs.

Another object of the invention is to not substantially modify the aesthetics and the encumbrances of the profile.

Another object is to provide a profile that is structurally simple.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an aluminum profile for door and window frames, characterized in that it comprises means for its pretensioning or for its precompression.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a specific, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a profile according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1 in which the profile has been precompressed by two struts which thus compensate for the curvature, balancing each other out and returning the profile to a non-curved condition;

Figure 3 is a view similar to the previous one in which the profile has been pretensioned using only one strut;

Figure 4 is a view similar to the previous one in which the profile has been pretensioned by two ties which thus compensate for the curvature, balancing each other out and returning the profile to a non-curved condition;

Figure 5 is a view similar to the previous one in which the profile has been pretensioned using one tie;

Figure 6 is a view similar to the previous one in which the profile has been pretensioned using a tie and a strut;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the profile with a tie and a strut;

Figure 8 is a view of a detail of the invention in the version that uses a strut and a tie.

In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an aluminum profile structure 2 for door and window frames, which is usable particularly, but not exclusively, for supporting door leaves which can slide with co-planar closure for items of furniture and the like.

The profile 2 has a base 3 from a lateral end of which protrudes at least one wall 4 within which is provided, along the longitudinal axis, with at least one through hole.

The at least one hole can, alternatively or otherwise, also be provided on other surfaces or walls or parts of the profile 2. One or more struts or ties which can be inserted in the at least one hole go to make up the means of pretensioning or precompression for the profile 2.

In the specific embodiment shown, preferably two holes 5a and 5b are indicated, which are provided proximate to the ends 6a and 6b of the wall 4 and in which two struts or two ties are thus insertable.

The solution can however also work with only one hole and with only one strut or only one tie.

Thus two bars 7 go to make up the means of pretensioning for the profile 2, which are preferably made of steel and are each inserted in the holes 5a and 5b so that they can slide in them.

The length of the bars 7 can be less than or greater than the length of the holes 5a and 5b and the bars 7 can be used as struts or ties.

If the length of the bars is less than that of the holes 5a and 5b, they are used as struts. In this case, the ends of the holes 5a and 5b are internally threaded for interconnection with two pairs of reverse-threaded compression grub screws 8a and 8b and 9a and 9b, each of which interact with the facing ends of the bars 7, previously inserted in the holes 5a and 5b.

The screwing of the two pairs of compression grub screws 8a and 8b and 9a and 9b causes the compression of the steel bars 7, which thus make it possible to achieve a pretensioning of the aluminum profile 2 which acts as a beam for supporting and sliding of the door and of the mechanisms that enable the movement thereof.

One or more ties can be used in the aluminum profile 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

If only one tie is used, the profile 2 will tend to arch upward.

This rise will then be compensated by the weight of the doors applied to the mechanism.

A second solution lies in providing a second tie which is adapted to eliminate the rise caused by the first. In this case the profile 2 is put under equal tension on the lower and upper parts thus preventing the arching thereof.

The profile 2 will remain flat until the load applied (the doors) is such as to defeat the given pretensioning load.

If the length of the bars is greater than that of the holes 5a and 5b, the bars are used as ties. In this case, the holes 5a and 5b are internally smooth and the ends of the bars 7 are externally threaded.

If two bars 7 are used, their ends interact with reverse-threaded nuts 10a and 10b and 11a and l ib, with the possible interposition of at least one washer 12.

By putting the steel bars 7 under tension the aluminum profile 2 is brought to a state of precompression.

Moreover, in place of the compression grub screws 8a and 8b and 9a and 9b and of the nuts 10a and 10b and 11a and l ib, other systems for locking the ends of the steel bars 7 can be used, such as for example interference pins or glued pins and, for traction, interference bushings or glued bushings.

In practice it has been found that the invention has fully achieved the intended aim and objects, an aluminum profile structure having been obtained which, applied in particular to sliding doors, makes it possible to increase the capacity thereof and of the sliding mechanisms used.

Moreover the invention is easy and quick to install and adjust and has contained weight and size and thus low production costs.

Finally the invention does not modify the aesthetics and encumbrances of the profile and is structurally simple.

Obviously the materials used as well as the dimensions constituting the individual components of the invention can be more relevant according to specific requirements.

The various means for effecting certain different functions shall not in any way coexist only in the illustrated embodiment, but may be present per se in many embodiments, even if not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or similar may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. TV2011U000042 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An aluminum profile structure (2) for door and window frames, characterized in that it comprises means (5a, 5b) for its pretensioning or for its precompression.

2. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said profile

(2) has a base (3) from a lateral end of which protrudes at least one wall (4) within which is provided, along the longitudinal axis, at least one through hole.

3. The structure according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said at least one hole is provided on other surfaces or walls or parts of said profile (2).

4. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more struts or ties which can be inserted in said at least one hole go to make up said means of pretensioning or precompression for said profile (2).

5. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means of pretensioning or precompression for said profile (2) comprise two holes (5a and 5b) which are provided proximate to the edges (6a and 6b) of said wall (4), two struts or two ties being insertable in said two holes (5a and 5b).

6. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means of pretensioning or precompression for said profile (2) comprise a single hole (5a or 5b) which is formed proximate to the edges (6a or 6b) of said wall (4), a strut or a tie being insertable in said single hole (5a or 5b).

7. The structure according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that said strut or tie is constituted by at least one bar (7).

8. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that two bars (7) go to make up said means of pretensioning or precompression for said profile (2), which are made of steel and are each inserted in said holes (5a and 5b) so that they can slide in them.

9. The structure according to claims 1, 7 or 8, characterized in that the length of said at least one bar (7) is less than or greater than the length of said holes (5a and/or 5b) and the bar (7) is used as a strut or tie.

10. The structure according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that said bars (7) have a shorter length than that of said holes (5a and 5b) and are used as struts.

11. The structure according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that said ends of said holes (5a and 5b) are internally threaded for interconnection with two pairs of reverse-threaded compression grub screws (8a and 8b) and (9a and 9b) each of which interact with the facing ends of said bars (7), previously inserted in said holes (5a and 5b).

12. The structure according to claims 1 and 11 , characterized in that the screwing of said two pairs of compression grub screws (8a and 8b) and (9a and 9b) causes the compression of said steel bars (7), which thus make it possible to achieve a pretensioning of said aluminum profile (2) which acts as a beam for supporting and sliding of the door and of the mechanisms that enable the movement thereof.

13. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one bar (7) has a length which is greater than that of said at least one hole (5a or 5b), and is used as a tie.

14. The structure according to claims 1 and 13, characterized in that said at least one hole (5a or 5b) is internally smooth while the end of said at least one bar (7) is externally threaded.

15. The structure according to claims 1 and 14, characterized in that it comprises two bars (7) the ends of which interact with reverse-threaded nuts (10a and 10b) and (11a and l ib), with the possible interposition of at least one washer (12).

16. The structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means of pretensioning or precompression for said profile (2) comprise systems for locking said ends of said bars (7) such as interference pins or glued pins, or interference bushings or glued bushings.