CLOSING DEVICE

SYSTEME DE FERMETURE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a device for automatically closing a window or the
like. According to the invention, sensors (5) are provided between the window
(1) and frame (2) for detecting the pivoting and tilting movements of the
window. In addition, a device (3) which pulls the window shut can be switched
on according to the type of opening of the window.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de fermeture permettant la fermeture automatique de fenêtres ou similaires. Il est prévu entre la fenêtre (1) concernée et le cadre (2), des détecteurs servant à détecter des mouvements de pivotement ou de basculement de la fenêtre concernée. Un dispositif de fermeture (3) peut être enclenché en fonction du type d'ouverture de la fenêtre.

Claims

4
Claims
1. An automatic closing device to close a window or similar item (door) that
is mounted in a frame and
can be tilted up or swung out
- with a closing device (3) between the window (1) and the frame (2), with
which the opened
window can be automatically closed, if necessary with a time delay by means of
a timing element,
by means of a drive device (8) and a tension element (17),
- with an activation device (26) for the tilting or swinging open of the
window, characterized in
that sensors (5) that detect the way in which the window is opened [are
provided] between the
window and the frame, and that in this way, the closing device is turned on
depending on the way
that the window is opened (tilting, swinging).
2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the closing device can
be turned on for a window
opened by tilting up by opening the window.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing device can
be tured on for a window
that opens by tilting up and by swinging out by opening the window.
4. A device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the
tension element of the
closing device consists of a draw cord (17).
5. A device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at
least two mechanical sensors
are present and that one of the sensors is located at a corner of the window
that pulls away from the
frame (2) when the window (1) is opened in at least one way.
6. A device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at
least two rods (6) rotating
about the same axis and spring-loaded, that are connected with the closing
device, serve as mechanical
sensors (5), said rods having sensor surfaces (7) at their free ends that
protrude into the gap between
the window and the frame.
7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the rods (6) are
designed to be telescopic and
adjustable in length.

Description

CA 02321067 2000-08-15
Closing,jvlechanis~
This invention involves a device to automatically close a window, door, or
similar object, referred only to as a
window below, according to the type referred to in the main claim. Ail types
of automatic closing devices are
known. For example, there are closing devices that are located between the
door or window and the frame in such a
way that opening and closing can be done only using a mainly electrical drive.
The connection between the frame
and the window is rigid in this case and manual opening or closing is not
possible. Also, automatic closing devices
are known that, after manually opening the object and after a time
predetermined by means of a variably adjustable
timing device, automatically close the window. A known closing mechanism of
this class (AT-B 369 098) can be
taken off if necessary, for example if the window is to be cleaned. Between
the window and the frame there is a
tension means attached to these automatic closing devices that, after the unit
is started, activates a mechanical spring
mechanism and a time switch. The disadvantage to these closing devices is that
a deactivation of the automatic
mechanism is only possible by removing or unlatching the tension means.
Deactivating the automatic mechanism is
necessary, for example if a window that is otherwise only tilted is to be
swung open completely. The result is that
the automatic mechanism in this case has to be manually activated or removed
and may not be correctly re-installed
due to the lack of knowledge of the user. Another disadvantage of the known
closing devices is that the window
cannot be freely opened by hand unhindered since the closing device is
permanently attached between the window
and its frame without the provision for opening the window manually.
In contrast, the automatic closing device according to the invention with the
identifying features of claim 1 has the
advantage in that it can be automatically activated or unlatched, depending on
the way it is opened, namely swinging
out or tilting up. The closing device recognizes the way the window is opened
using sensors and switches on the
closing device only if, for example, the window has been opened by tilting it.
If, on the other hand, it is swung out
opened to the completely open position, the closing device is released and the
window remains opened until it is
manually closed. Thus, the invention solves not only the problem of a simple
design and easy to use automatic
closing mechanism, but also solves the dilemma in known automatic closing
devices between automatic and manual
operation. The automatic mechanism of the closing device turns on only if a
predetermined way the window is
opened requires it. Othenvise, the window can be opened freely by band despite
the closing device.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, for a window that
opens by tilting up, the closing
device can be turned on by opening the window. Especially for windows that are
tilted up, for example to ventilate a
room, there is the danger that the window will be forgotten and no longer
closed. The activated automatic
mechanism of the device according to the invention prevents this.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the closing
device can be turned on by opening
the window for a window that opens by tilting up or for one that opens by
swinging out. The device is set up here
such that both ways of opening, tilting up and swinging out, activate the
automatic closing device. Thus it is
conceivable, depending on the way it is opened, to have the following device
settings according to the invention:
a.) Semi-automatic:
When tilted up, the window is closed by means of the automatic mechanism after
a preset time. When
swung out, the automatic closing device is deactivated.
b.) Permanent off
The closing device is deactivated when the window is opened tilted up as well
as when swung out,
c.) Permanent on:
MODIFIED SHEET

CA 02321067 2000-08-15
2
The window is closed using the closing device when the window is opened tilted
up as welt as swung
out.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tension
element consists of a draw cord. By
opening the window, the draw cord is pulled out. At the same time, a drive
device, for example a mechanical spring,
is turned on after a time delay by means of a timing element. After a certain
time has elapsed, the drive device starts
and pulls the window shut using the draw cord. This is for the case where the
way the window is opened initiates the
automatic mechanism.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least two
mechanical sensors are present,
wherein one of the sensors is located at the corner of the window that pelts
away from the frame for at least one
opening type of the window. In this way, it is very simple for the sensors to
record which way it is opened and
activate or not activate the closing device according to the setting.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least two
rods that rotate about the same axis
and are spring-loaded, and which are connected to the closing device, serve as
mechanical sensors. These sensors
have sensor surfaces at their free end that protrude into the gap between the
window and the frame. The pre-
tensioned sensor surfaces deflect away from their initial position when the
window is pulled away from the frame.
These types of mechanical sensors have the advantage in that they function
independent of the power supply lines
and can be manufactured cheaply and simply.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rods of the
sensors are designed to be
telescoping and adjustable in length. In this way, a device according to the
invention can also be used equally well in
windows of different sizes.
Other advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in
the following description, the
illustration and the claims.
An embodiment example of the subject of the invention is shown in the
illustration and is described in more detail
below. Shown are:
Fig. 1 a view from the top of a closing device according to the invention,
Fig. 2 a simplified representation of a closing device according to the
invention, attached to a window.
Fig. 1 shows a closing device according to the invention from the top. Two
mechanical sensors 5 are attached to the
closing device 3. The sensors consist of rods 6 that rotate about the same
axis and are held by springs.
Attached to the ends of these rods are sensor surfaces ?. The rods 6 can be
shifted lengthwise for the purpose of
adjusting the device to various window sizes. The closing device 3 consists of
a drive unit 8 and a draw cord, not
shown in the illustration, which is fastened to the window at draw cord anchor
9 and to the frame. Also, various base
settings of the device, such as "semi-automatic", permanent on" and "permanent
off can be set at the closing device
using the function selector switch 11.
Fig. 2 shows a simplified representation of a closing device according to the
invention attached to a window. The
device is attached to the frame 2 of a window 1 such that the sensor surfaces
? fastened to the rods 6 protrude into
the gap between the window 1 and the frame 2. Whtn the window 1 is opened
using the window handle 4, the
sensor surfaces fastened to the spring-tensioned rods 6 describe a rotation,
which then provides information to the
closing device 3 as to the way in which the window 1 is opened. This either
turns on or does not turn on the
automatic closing device 3 accordingly.
MODIFIED SHEET

CA 02321067 2000-08-15
3
Reference List
1 Window
Window frame
Closing device
Window handle
Mechanicalsensor
ø Rod
Z Sensor surface
$ Drive device
Q Tension element anchor
11 Function selector switch
MODIFIED SHEET

Representative Drawing