Lifting system for a liftable sliding leaf

Abstract

A lifting system (11) for a liftable sliding leaf (10) comprises a lifting mechanism (16) which can be connected to a top part (12a) of the leaf (10), said lifting mechanism (16) being able to move between a first configuration and a second configuration where the leaf may slide or be locked, and a control member (12), which can be located on the fixed frame of the door and can be connected to the lifting mechanism (16) so as to switch it between the two configurations.

Claims

1. A lifting system (11) for lifting a liftable sliding leaf (10), in such a way that said liftable sliding leaf (10) is slidable in a horizontal direction, the lifting system comprising: a lifting mechanism (16), connectable to the liftable sliding leaf (10), said lifting mechanism (16) being movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, respectively associated with a first condition in which sliding of the liftable sliding leaf (10) is prevented and a second condition in which sliding of the liftable sliding leaf (10) is possible, by respectively lowering and lifting said liftable sliding leaf (10) by means of the movement of said lifting mechanism (16); a control member (12) which can be connected to and acts on the lifting mechanism (16) in such a way as to switch said lifting mechanism (16) between said first and second configurations, said control member (12) being located in a fixed part (9a) of an opening (9) comprising the liftable sliding leaf (10); wherein the lifting mechanism (16) is connectable to a top part (10a) of the liftable sliding leaf (10); wherein the lifting mechanism (16) comprises a tie-rod (18) connected to the control member (12) and connected to the top part (10a) of the liftable sliding leaf (10), said tie-rod (18) being able to exert a thrusting or pulling force on said top part (10a) so as to cause the lowering or lifting of the liftable sliding leaf (10); wherein the tie-rod (18) is connectable to the sliding leaf (10) by means of a linkage (22) able to exert a lifting or lowering torque on the liftable sliding leaf (10), pivoting about a fixed pin (22a) fixed with respect to the opening (9); and wherein the linkage (22) comprises a bracket pivoting about the fixed pin (22a) and having one end connected to the tie-rod (18) and one end connectable to a guide (14), forming an articulated connection so that, when the tie-rod (18) is pulled, the movement can be transmitted to the guide (14) by means of pivoting of the bracket about the pin (22a) so as to lift the guide (14).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tie-rod (18) is connectable to the guide (14) connected to the top part of the liftable sliding leaf so as to allow horizontal sliding of said leaf (10).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tie-rod (18) is movable by means of a slide (20), said slide (20) being connected to the lifting mechanism (16) so as to be movable between said first and second configurations for lifting and lowering the liftable sliding leaf (10).

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein an adjustment mechanism (24) is arranged between the tie-rod (18) and the slide (20), in such a way that the liftable sliding leaf (10) is liftable by a predetermined amount, the adjustment mechanism (24) comprising two adjustment elements (26, 28) movable relative to each other, at least one of the two elements (26) being connected to the tie-rod (18) in such a way as to vary the position of the tie-rod (18) relative to the slide (20).

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one of the two elements (26) connected to the tie-rod (18) is connected to the slide (20) so as to move integrally with said slide (20).

6. A liftable sliding leaf (10) for door or window, associated with a lifting system (11) according to claim 1.

7. A door or window (9), comprising a liftable sliding leaf (10) according to claim 6.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The functional and structural characteristics of some preferred embodiments of a lifting system for a liftable sliding leaf, a liftable sliding leaf associated with this lifting system, and a door or window comprising this liftable sliding leaf, according to the invention, will now be described. Reference is made to the attached drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic front views of a door provided with a sliding leaf in three operating conditions, i.e. a closing position, in which a closing/opening handle is located in a first position, a condition where the opening/closing handle is rotationally operated, and a condition where the leaf is free to slide and the handle is located in a second position;

(3) FIG. 4 is a schematic view which shows a lifting and sliding system for a liftable sliding leaf, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 5 and 6 show in schematic form a detail of FIG. 4, in two embodiments of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 7 is a view, on larger scale, of a detail of FIG. 4;

(6) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a detail of a lifting system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an enlarged part of FIG. 7;

(8) FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a component of a lifting system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(9) FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic views of three operating stages where a sliding leaf is engaged by a closing mechanism fixed to the frame of the door or window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Before explaining in detail a plurality of embodiments of the invention, it should be made clear that the invention is not limited, in terms of its application, to the constructional de-tails and the configuration of the components described in the description below or illustrated the drawings. The invention may assume other embodiments and be implemented or realized in practice in different ways. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology have a descriptive function and should not be regarded as being limiting.

(11) With reference initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, an opening 9 (in the example illustrated, a door or window) comprises a liftable sliding leaf 10 which can be operated between two positions, i.e. open position and closed position. In particular, FIG. 1 shows the closed condition in which the sliding leaf bears against a fixed frame 9a of the door or window 9, and the liftable sliding leaf 10 rests on the ground. In this configuration, the leaf is not free to slide. It should be noted, for example, that in this position a handle 12a (forming part, in the example illustrated, of an operating mechanism which will be defined more clearly below) is situated in a lifted position.

(12) In FIG. 2, the handle 12a is rotated from the lifted position into a lowered position, in which the sliding leaf is lifted and is therefore separated from the ground. In FIG. 3, in-stead, the leaf is finally disengaged and may slide laterally along a guide 14 to which the leaf 10 is connected along a top part 10a thereof.

(13) As can be seen in FIG. 4, a lifting system 11 able to release the liftable sliding door 10 is operated by a control member 12 located in the fixed part 9a of the door or window 9 (in the example shown, the left-hand part of the fixed frame).

(14) The lifting mechanism 16 is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration—respectively associated with a first condition in which sliding of the liftable sliding leaf 10 is prevented and a second condition in which sliding of the leaf 10 is possible—by lowering and lifting, respectively, the leaf by means of the movement of said lifting mechanism 16. The control member 12 can be connected to and acts on the lifting mechanism 16 so as to switch it between the two configurations.

(15) The lifting mechanism 16 can be connected to the top part 10a of the liftable sliding leaf 10 (in the example shown, is connected to the guide 14, which is in turn connected to the top part 10a of the leaf).

(16) The lifting mechanism 11 can be conveniently associated with a guide of the type described in IT UB20155123 which is considered incorporated in the present description. In fact, a guide according to the prior art is not suitable for slidably supporting from above a liftable leaf.

(17) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lifting mechanism 16 comprises a linkage system connected to the leaf 10. In the example illustrated, the lifting mechanism 16 comprises a tensioning element or tie-rod 18, which is connected to the control member 12 and to the liftable sliding leaf 10, so as to exert a thrusting and/or pulling force on the top part 10a of the leaf 10, causing the lowering or lifting thereof. By activating the control member 12 (for example, by means of rotation of the handle 12a) a force is imparted to the tie-rod 18 so as to cause lifting/lowering of the connected sliding leaf 10.

(18) The tie-rod 18 can be connected to the guide 14 which is connected to the top part of the liftable sliding leaf so as to allow horizontal sliding thereof.

(19) In the example illustrated here, the tie-rod 18 may move by means of a slide 20 which is displaced by the control member 12. The slide 20 is connected to the lifting mechanism 16 so as to be movable between the first and second configurations for lifting and lowering the liftable sliding leaf 10. For example, the rotation of the handle 12a causes activation of the operating mechanism 12 and, by means of a coupling action of the type known per se, this operating mechanism 12 pushes upwards or downwards the slide 20 which, during the sliding movement, also moves the tie-rod 18.

(20) The tie-rod 18 may then be connected to the liftable sliding leaf 10 by means of a linkage or lever mechanism 22 having a fulcrum 22a which is fixed relative to the opening 9 inside which the leaf 10 may be located. The linkage 22 is able to exert a raising or lowering torque on the liftable sliding leaf 10.

(21) In the example illustrated, the linkage 22 comprises a bracket which pivots about the fixed pin 22a and the ends of which are connected respectively to the tie-rod 18 and to the guide 14. With this configuration, an articulated connection is formed such that, when the tie-rod 18 is for example pulled downwards, the movement is transmitted to the guide 14 by means of pivoting of the bracket about the pin 22a, and the guide moves upwards.

(22) In order to allow the guide, which is subject to the lifting force generated by the movement of the tie-rod 18, to move vertically and make contact in a direction parallel to the ground, further secondary linkages 22b may be present, these being distributed along the length of the guide (as is visible for example in FIG. 7). In this way, by arranging in series the various linkages 22, 22b, a parallelogram mechanism is formed and allows the guide 14 and the leaf 10 to be lifted parallel to the ground.

(23) As an alternative to the configuration described above, other pulling and lifting mechanisms may be used, for example jacks, threaded connections, etc., both of the manual and of the semi-automatic or automatic type.

(24) For example, according to an alternative not shown, the slide 20 may be replaced by a worm screw made to rotate by the operating mechanism 12 and connected to a threaded lead nut which may be displaced vertically. The lead nut may be connected to the guide 14 or to some other element fixed to the leaf 10 so that its displacement moves and/or raises the leaf.

(25) Moreover, the secondary linkages 22b may be replaced for example by toothed connections of the ratchet/rack type, where the rack is integral with the fixed support which supports the leaf, and the ratchet is fixed to the latter: in this way, when the guide 14 moves vertically, the ratchet rotates on the rack (or vice versa) until the desired position is reached.

(26) It is possible that the guide 14 may be of the magnetic type or the leaf 10 may be suspended by means of a magnetic interaction between the leaf itself and a fixed support which supports it. In this case, it may be the case that the optimum conditions for operation of the door or window depend on the physical and geometric characteristics of the leaf 10.

(27) In particular, the heavier the leaf, the smaller will be distance at which the magnets fixed respectively to the leaf and the fixed support will be arranged. Therefore, it may not sufficient to lift the leaf by a predetermined amount in order to allow releasing and/or free sliding thereof.

(28) In other words, it is necessary to provide a system which, depending on the type, the volume, the weight, etc. of the leaf 10, allows the lifting movement of the leaf 10 to be set in an optimum manner, depending for example on the angular travel of the handle 12a; this, in order to move the leaf closer towards or away from the fixed support by the optimum distance for generating the appropriate force of magnetic interaction.

(29) In the case, for example, of a magnetic guide, or in any other situation where there may be the need for a system for setting the amount by which the leaf 10 must be lifted, it is convenient to arrange an adjustment mechanism 24 between the tie-rod 18 and the slide 20 so that the sliding leaf 10 is lifted by a predetermined amount (for example, the amount which ensures the distance between the magnets needed to develop a sufficient force for lifting and/or keeping the leaf suspended on the guide). Therefore, once the lifting force to be applied to the specific leaf has been estimated, the lifting mechanism may be set during installation of the fixture and optionally adjusted subsequently in order to eliminate play, etc.

(30) Conveniently, the adjustment mechanism 24 comprises two adjustment elements 26, 28 which are movable relative to each other, at least one of the two elements 26 being connected to the tie-rod 18, so as to vary the position of the tie-rod 18 with respect to the slide 20.

(31) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the two movable adjustment elements 26, 28 are connected to a ratchet/rack system, in which the ratchet or pinion or toothed wheel 28 is conveniently movable integrally with the slide 20 and the rack 26 is fixed to the tie-rod 18. Actuation of the ratchet 28 causes the rack 26 to move upwards or downwards, moving also the tie-rod 18. The tie-rod 18 is, in other words, moved closer or further away from the handle 12a. In this way, the overall travel of the tie-rod 18 relative to the leaf 10 is modified and consequently, for the same travel movement of the handle 12a, a different travel of the tie-rod 18 (and a different lifting movement of the leaf 10) may be obtained in each case.

(32) Conveniently, a pivoting stop 30 may mesh with the toothed profile of the rack 26 so as to allow sliding thereof in one direction, but not in the opposite direction.

(33) Moreover, once the rack 26 has been suitably positioned, it may be rigidly fixed to the slide 20, for example by means of the engagement of two toothed profiles 32a, 32b, forming part of a locking mechanism 32. More specifically, the toothed profile 32a may be moved closer until it meshes with the toothed profile 32b, the former being integral with the slide 20 and the latter being formed in the rack 26. However, other possible configurations of the locking mechanism are possible within the scope of the present invention, for example engagement by means of retaining means, screws, welds, etc.

(34) Likewise, the system for engaging together ratchet and rack may be replaced by any other suitable mechanism, such as a female screw mechanism, an endless screw jack, etc.

(35) Optionally, the lifting mechanism 11 may comprise one or more devices for compensating the opening and closing forces, which are known per se and visible for example in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

(36) Conveniently, the lifting mechanism 11 may be associated with one or more locking devices 36, which are mounted on the fixed frame 9a of the door 9. These locking devices 36, which are visible in particular in FIGS. 5, 6 and 11A to 11C, may comprise a projecting element 36a having for example the form of a hook or a shaped projection designed to be inserted (in the example shown) inside a through-slot 36b formed in the sliding leaf 10.

(37) FIGS. 11A to 11C show three stages where the leaf may be fixed and fastened to the frame 9a by means of these locking devices 36a. In particular, FIG. 11A shows a stage where the leaf 10 is moved towards the fixed frame 9a of the door or window 9. When the leaf 10 is free to slide laterally on the guide 14, the projecting element 36a and the slot 36b are aligned with each other. This allows, as can be seen in FIG. 11B, the projecting element 36a to be engaged and to pass through the slot 36b. At this point, as can be seen in FIG. 11C, the leaf is lowered and rested on the ground and the projecting element 36a is conveniently inserted inside a narrow portion of the slot 36b, thus creating a connection which prevents the relative movement of the leaf with respect to the frame. In the example illustrated, locking is possible since the end of the projecting element 36a has a cross-section larger than the narrow portion of the slot 36b.

(38) However, other locking elements and solutions are also included within the scope of the present invention, for example it is possible to contemplate using a hook which is inserted inside an eyelet, or other solutions which may be considered by the person skilled in the art.

(39) The advantage achieved is that of providing a solution which combines the advantages of a top sliding system for a conventional sliding door and leaf (namely avoiding the raised profiles on the ground or cleaning and/or maintenance of the tracks on the floor), with the possibility of obtaining a liftable leaf which, in the closed position, compresses for example the seals and increases the performance and working life of the fixture.

(40) Different aspects and embodiments of a lifting system for a liftable sliding leaf, a liftable sliding leaf associated with this lifting system, and a door or window comprising this liftable sliding leaf, according to the invention, have been described. It is understood that each embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment. The invention, moreover, is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be varied within the scope defined by the accompanying claims.