FRAME IN A COST-EFFECTIVE SET FOR FIXED, ROTATING OR SLIDING OPENING LINK OF A GATE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a prefabricated frame that is quick and easy to assemble, requiring no special tools or prior training, and intended for creating a fixed, pivoting, or sliding gate leaf or similar structure. The present invention also relates to the method of assembling said frame. State of the art

[0002] It is known that, to manufacture a gate leaf, for example from an aluminum alloy, a frame is typically used comprising at least two uprights, a bottom rail, a top rail, possibly an intermediate rail, and infill panels that are either joined or spaced apart. To create the gate leaf, the various elements are assembled either by welding or by screwing and bolting.

[0003] In the first case, it is necessary to perform closed welds at each joint between two elements to prevent corrosion problems, particularly white marks caused primarily by aluminum oxidation. These closed welds are expensive and must be carried out by qualified personnel. Furthermore, the lacquering operation must be performed after the elements have been assembled, making it more difficult to perform due to the size of the door leaf and the difficulty of accessing certain areas.

[0004] In the second case, every other element has, on one of its faces, a machined opening to allow the partial insertion of an adjacent element into that element, and on the opposite face, a housing with at least one hole to accommodate a fastener, such as a screw, to secure the two adjacent elements together. This type of assembly requires, firstly, costly machining operations on two opposite faces of certain elements and, secondly, that the lacquering be carried out after assembly to avoid damaging the lacquer, particularly when inserting the elements into the openings of the adjacent elements. For the same reasons as before, lacquering is therefore a delicate process, and the problem of white marks remains, as will be discussed later.Indeed, in the traditional method, there is no sealing around the openings and obviously no lacquer on the ends of the components inserted into these openings; these ends can therefore oxidize and white marks may appear. Furthermore, the machining requires specialized precision tooling and previously trained personnel.

[0005] Finally, these two known types of assemblies require factory assembly and bulkier packaging for transport, increasing the cost price of the door leaf.

[0006] Document CA 2 320 656 A1 describes a kit frame according to the preamble of claim 1, respectively claim 2, annexed. Summary of the invention

[0007] The aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to offer an economical, easy-to-assemble, and quick-to-install kit frame, requiring no special tools or prior training, and intended in particular for creating a fixed, pivoting, or sliding leaf for a gate or similar structure. Furthermore, this frame is particularly robust and eliminates the appearance of white marks.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, a kit frame is therefore proposed, intended in particular for the production of a fixed, pivoting, or sliding leaf for a gate or the like, said kit frame comprising at least one upright and one crossbar connected together, each upright being a hollow tube equipped with at least: an external envelope, a first flat stiffener extending longitudinally inside said envelope, a first opening made on the envelope and passing through at least the thickness of the latter, and a second opening made in the first stiffener and arranged in the extension of the first opening and having a shape similar to that of said first opening, said kit frame being remarkable in that each cross member has at least one longitudinal end shaped to be inserted in a fitted manner into the first and second associated openings and snapped into said upright.

[0009] According to a first embodiment, said end of each cross member is elastically deformable to be snapped into said first stiffener of the uprights.

[0010] According to a second embodiment, each upright has at least one elastically deformable internal tongue extending longitudinally inside said uprights and being integral with the casing, and said end of each cross member is snapped relative to the free end of said internal tongue.

[0011] Each cross member is a hollow tube equipped with at least an outer envelope, and a notch made transversely on the envelope suitable for cooperating either with the first stiffener of the uprights, or with the free end of the inner tongue, when the end of the crossbar is inserted into the first and second openings of said upright.

[0012] The longitudinal end of each cross member has a first opening and a second opening arranged longitudinally opposite each other from each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope and passing through at least the thickness of the latter.

[0013] The first stiffener preferably includes at least one flange extending inwards from each second opening and being capable of cooperating with the notch in the crossbeams.

[0014] The kit frame advantageously includes a locking device to ensure that a cross member is held in position when clipped into an upright.

[0015] The locking device is suitable for being inserted simultaneously into at least one of the first and second openings of said cross member to prevent, once said cross member has been clicked into place, any coming together of the parts of the envelope of the latter located on either side of the first and second openings.

[0016] Advantageously, the locking element is a cylindrical bearing suitable for receiving a pivot axis attached to a support arranged to be fixed to a post or wall. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment of a door leaf according to the invention, with reference to the attached figures in which: [ Fig 1 ] is a perspective view of a door leaf formed by a kit frame according to the invention, [ Fig 2 ] is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the leaf along axis II-II' of the figure 1 , [ Fig 3 ] is a partial horizontal cross-sectional view of the leaf along axis III-III' of the figure 1 , [ Fig 4 ] is a partial horizontal cross-sectional view of the leaf along axis IV-IV' of the figure 1 , [ Fig 5 ] is a perspective view of the end of a stile of the door leaf of the figure 4 , [ Fig 6 ] is a perspective view of the end of a crossbar of the door leaf of the figure 4 , [ Fig 7 ] is a front view of an upper corner of the door leaf figure 1 , [ Fig 8] is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the leaf along axis VIII-VIII' of the figure 7 , [ Fig 9 ] is a perspective view of the leaf of the figure 7 without the protective cap. Fig 10 ] is a perspective view of the end of a cross member of a leaf formed by another embodiment of a kit frame according to the invention, [ Fig 11 ] is a perspective view of the end of a stile of the door leaf formed by the other variant of a kit frame construction, [ Fig 12 ] is a perspective view of an upper corner of the leaf formed by the other variant of making a kit frame. Description of the implementation methods

[0018] The following description describes a prefabricated frame according to the invention for constructing a generally rectangular, pivoting gate leaf comprising at least four elements, namely two uprights and two crossbars. The prefabricated frame may also include an intermediate crossbar and vertically arranged infill panels, either joined or spaced apart, for example, on either side of said intermediate crossbar. It is understood that this prefabricated frame may have any other shape, such as square or trapezoidal, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, said prefabricated frame may include only joined infill panels, only spaced infill panels, or no infill panels at all, without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the attached claims.Finally, the said kit frame can be used to make a leaf for a gate or sliding gate or to make a barrier without going out of the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

[0019] Thus, with reference to the figure 1 The kit frame 1 according to the invention comprises at least two substantially vertical uprights 2,3 and two crossbeams 4,5, the latter preferably being horizontal and connecting the two uprights 2,3 respectively in the vicinity of their lower and upper ends. On the figure 1 We have represented a kit frame 1 advantageously comprising infill slats 6, joined and arranged horizontally between the crossbeams 4,5 and joining the two uprights 2,3. As mentioned above, this configuration is in no way limiting.

[0020] The two uprights 2,3, the two cross members 4,5 and the infill panels 6 are preferably made at least in part from extruded profiles of light alloy such as aluminium. For obvious reasons of mechanical strength, said extruded profiles are advantageously partitioned and include a number of ribs, reinforcements and other stiffeners to ensure the proper mechanical strength of said profiles (Cf. figure 3 Or 8 ). Similarly, for obvious reasons of reducing manufacturing costs, the two 4.5 crossbeams are advantageously identical.

[0021] However, it is understood that the various elements constituting the kit frame 1 according to the invention can be made of other materials such as stainless steel or plastics without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

[0022] The various components of the kit frame 1, mentioned above, are shown in more detail on the figures 2 to 9 .

[0023] Thus, the two uprights 2 and 3 are hollow tubes, each equipped with at least: an external envelope 7, a first planar stiffener 8 extending longitudinally inside said envelope 7, and a first opening 9 (Cf. figure 5 ) arranged at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 7, passing through at least the thickness of the latter and being shaped to allow the insertion, into the envelope 7, of one of the ends of one of the cross members 4,5 of the kit frame 1 so that the longitudinal axis of said cross member 4,5 is intersecting, advantageously perpendicular, to the first stiffener 8.

[0024] For this purpose, the first opening 9 of the envelope 7 has a shape corresponding to the cross section of the associated cross member 4.5, but with dimensions very slightly larger to allow the latter to be inserted in a fitted manner.

[0025] Here, "in an adjusted manner" refers to the fact that the dimensions of the first opening 9 are such that they only allow relative movement of the crossbar 4.5 relative to the upright 2.3 in the direction of insertion of the crossbar 4.5.

[0026] The uprights 2,3 further include at least two second openings 10 arranged in the first stiffener 8 and each positioned in line with one of the first openings 9 to allow the insertion, into the envelope 7 and then into the first stiffener 8, of one end of one of the cross members 4,5 of the kit frame 1. To this end, the shape of the second openings 10 is similar to that of the first openings 9. However, the shape of the second openings 10 differs in that the first stiffener 8 includes at least one flange 11 extending inwards into each of the second openings 10 (Cf. figure 5 ).

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first stiffener 8 comprises two flanges 11 arranged opposite each other and extending inwards into each of the second openings 10.

[0028] The uprights 2,3 advantageously include at least one groove 12 formed by at least one longitudinal slot 13 joining the first openings 9 provided at the longitudinal ends of the envelope 7, said groove 12 being suitable to receive at least part of the filling blades 6, advantageously their longitudinal ends.

[0029] Furthermore, advantageously, the uprights 2 and 3 also respectively comprise a second planar stiffener 14 extending longitudinally inside said envelope 7 between the first opening 9 and the first stiffener 8 and parallel to the latter. In this configuration, the first opening 9 provided at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 7 passes not only through the thickness of the latter, but also through the thickness of said second stiffener 14. Similarly, with this second stiffener 14, the groove 12 is then formed by said longitudinal slot 13 and by at least a part of said second stiffener 14 (Cf. figure 3 ).

[0030] The 4.5 cross members are hollow tubes, each advantageously equipped with at least: an external envelope 15, a planar stiffener 16 extending longitudinally inside said envelope 15 and having a slot 17 extending longitudinally from each of its ends, a first opening 18 and a second opening 19 arranged longitudinally opposite each other from each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 15 and passing through at least the thickness of the latter, the slot 17 and the first and second openings 18,19 being shaped so that their longitudinal axes are coplanar, and a notch 20 (Cf. figure 6 ) arranged transversely at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 15 able to cooperate with the rim 11 of the first stiffener 8 of the uprights 2,3 when the ends of the crossbeams 4,5 are inserted into the first opening 9 of said uprights 2,3.

[0031] It is understood that the 4.5 cross members of small dimensions may not include a 16 plane stiffener without going out of the scope of the present invention.

[0032] According to an advantageous embodiment, the cross members 4,5 comprise two notches 20 arranged transversely opposite each other so that the plane containing their longitudinal axes is secant, preferably perpendicular, to the plane containing the longitudinal axes of said slots 17 and the first and second openings 18,19 of the uprights 2,3.

[0033] Furthermore, the 4.5 cross members advantageously include two 16-plane stiffeners parallel to each other.

[0034] Furthermore, the cross members 4,5 advantageously include a groove 21 formed by at least one longitudinal slot 22 joining their first two openings 18 and / or their second two openings 19, said groove 21 being suitable to receive at least part of the infill strips 6, advantageously their longitudinal ends.

[0035] It is clear that the slots 17 and the first and second openings 18, 19 give each longitudinal end of the crossbeams 4, 5 an elasticity that allows the parts of the casing 15 located on either side of said slots 17 and the first and second openings 18, 19 to move closer together and then return to their initial position. Thus, with this configuration, each end of one of the crossbeams 4, 5 is inserted into the first opening 9 of the casing 7 of one of the uprights 2, 3, and then snapped into place relative to the first stiffener 8 of the latter.For the snap-fit, each end of one of the cross members 4,5 is inserted into the second associated opening 10 provided in said first stiffener 8, the parts of the cover 15 of said cross member 4,5 located on either side of the slots 17 and of the first and second openings 18,19 will then move closer together, until each edge 11 of said second opening 10 of the first stiffener 8 comes to engage in the associated notch 20 of the cover 15 of the cross member 4,5, said parts of the cover 15 of the latter then returning to their initial position.

[0036] It is clear that the snap-fit ​​assembly of each cross member 4,5 onto the upright 2,3 here refers to the fact that once its longitudinal end is inserted into the first and second openings 9,10 and then snapped into place, the cross member 4,5 is locked in position relative to said upright 2,3 without the need for any other element. Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​assembly of each cross member onto the upright here refers to the fact that a portion of the cross member 4,5 and / or the upright 2,3 will deform or move elastically when said cross member 2,3 is inserted into the first and second openings 9,10 of the upright 2,3, and will then return to its initial shape or position in such a way as to ensure that the cross member 4,5 is locked in position relative to the upright 2,3.

[0037] To facilitate insertion into one of the uprights 2,3, each end of the crossbeams 4,5 is advantageously at least partially beveled.

[0038] To ensure that a cross member 4,5 is held in position when clipped into a post 2,3, the kit frame 1 includes a locking member 23 that can be inserted simultaneously into at least one of the first and second openings 18,19 of said cross member 4,5 and into the slot 17 of the stiffener 16 of the latter, in order to prevent, once said cross member 4,5 has been clipped into position, any coming together of the parts of the casing 17 of the latter located on either side of the slots 17 and the first and second openings 18,19. This locking member 23 is advantageously a cylindrical bearing adapted to receive a pivot axis 24 integral with a support 25 arranged to be fixed on a post or wall not shown, to allow, if necessary, the pivoting of the leaf formed by the kit frame 1 according to the invention (See . figures 7 and 8). Said support 9 is advantageously protected by a removable cap 26. To hold the locking member 23 in place, at least one of the first and second openings 18, 19 of said cross member 4, 5 and the slot 17 of the stiffener 16 thereof have a cutout 27 whose shape corresponds to the cross section of said locking member 23.

[0039] The infill panels 6 are inserted into the groove 12 of the uprights 2, 3 and / or the groove 21 of the crossbeams 4, 5 of the prefabricated frame 1 according to the invention. In the case of infill panels 6 that are not contiguous, spacer elements, not shown, are inserted into the groove 12 of the uprights 2, 3 or the groove 21 of the crossbeams 4, 5, in the gaps between the infill panels 6.

[0040] According to another embodiment represented in Figures 10 to 12, the kit frame 50 is similar to the kit frame 1 according to the invention described above, and comprises at least two substantially vertical uprights 51 and two cross members 52, the latter being preferably horizontal and connecting the two uprights 51 respectively in the vicinity of their lower and upper ends.

[0041] Thus, the two uprights 51 are hollow tubes, each equipped with at least: an external envelope 53, a first planar stiffener 54 extending longitudinally inside said envelope 53, and a first opening 55 (Cf. figure 11) arranged at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 53, passing through at least the thickness of the latter and being shaped to allow the insertion, into the envelope 53, of one of the ends of one of the cross members 52 of the kit frame 50 so that the longitudinal axis of said cross member 52 is intersecting, advantageously perpendicular, to the first stiffener 54.

[0042] For this purpose, the first opening 55 of the envelope 53 has a shape corresponding to the cross section of the associated cross member 52, but with dimensions very slightly larger to allow the latter to be inserted in a fitted manner.

[0043] The uprights 51 further include at least two second openings 56 arranged in the first stiffener 54 and each positioned in line with one of the first openings 55 to allow the insertion, in the envelope 53 and then in the first stiffener 54, of one end of one of the cross members 52 of the kit frame 50. To do this, the shape of the second openings 56 is similar to that of the first openings 55.

[0044] Furthermore, advantageously, the uprights 51 also each include a second flat stiffener 57 extending longitudinally inside said casing 53 between the first opening 55 and the first stiffener 54, and parallel to the latter. In this configuration, the first opening 55, located at each longitudinal end of the casing 53, passes not only through the thickness of the casing itself, but also through the thickness of said second stiffener 57.

[0045] Furthermore, the uprights 51 differ from the uprights 2,3 of the kit frame 1 described previously in that they have at least at each of their longitudinal ends at least one internal elastically deformable tongue 58 extending longitudinally inside said uprights 51 and being integral with the envelope 53. Advantageously, the uprights 51 have two internal tongues 58 arranged transversely opposite each other between the first and second stiffeners 54,57.

[0046] The crossbeams 52 are hollow tubes, each equipped with at least: an outer envelope 59, and a notch 60 (Cf. Figure 10 ) arranged transversely at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope 59 able to cooperate with the free end of the internal tongue 58 of one of the uprights 51 when the ends of the crossbars 52 are inserted into the first opening 55 of said upright 51.

[0047] According to an advantageous embodiment, the crossbeams 52 include two notches 60 arranged transversely opposite each other.

[0048] Furthermore, the cross members 52 comprise at least one and advantageously two stiffeners 61 parallel planes extending longitudinally inside said envelope 59.

[0049] It is clear that each internal tab 58 is such that elasticity allows its free end to move towards the casing 53 of the associated upright 51, and then return to its initial position. Thus, with this configuration, each end of one of the cross members 52 is inserted into the first opening 55 of the casing 53 of one of the uprights 51, and then clicked into place relative to each internal tab 58 of the latter. For the clicking, the free end of each internal tab 58 will move towards the casing 53 of the upright 51, until said free end of each internal tab 58 engages in the associated notch 61 of the casing 59 of the cross member 52, each internal tab 58 then returning to its initial position (Cf. figure 12 ).

[0050] To facilitate insertion into one of the uprights 51, each end of the crossbeams 52 is advantageously at least partially beveled.

[0051] The uprights 51 and cross members 52 of the kit frame 50 may also include grooves, not shown in the figures, to receive at least part of the infill panels.

[0052] The prefabricated frame 1 according to the invention, which is defined by the attached claims, finds particular application in the construction of a swing or sliding gate leaf consisting of two uprights and at least two crossbars, the first and second openings being located only at the longitudinal ends of the uprights. However, this prefabricated frame 1 can also be used to create barrier elements to be fixed to the ground or the top of a low wall, for example, comprising only one upright and one crossbar. In this latter case, only one of the longitudinal ends of the crossbar is clipped into the upright, the first and second openings not necessarily being located at one of the longitudinal ends of the upright.

[0053] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of 1.50 kit frames conforming to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

1. Frame kit (1) intended in particular to produce a fixed or pivoting or sliding door for a gate or similar, said frame kit (1) comprising at least a stile (2, 3) and a cross-member (4, 5) connected to each other, each stile (2, 3) being a hollow tube provided with at least: - an outer envelope (7), - a first flat stiffener (8) extending longitudinally inside said envelope (7), - a first opening (9) arranged on the envelope (7) and passing through at least the thickness of the latter, and - a second opening (10) arranged in the first stiffener (8) and disposed as an extension of the first opening (9) and having a shape similar to that of said first opening (9), each cross-member (4, 5) including at least one longitudinal end shaped to be inserted in a fitted manner into the associated first and second openings (9, 10) and snapped in with respect to said stile (2, 3), said frame kit (1) being characterised in that said end of each cross-member (4, 5) is elastically deformable to be snapped in with respect to said first stiffener (8) of the stiles (2, 3), and in that each cross-member (4, 5) is a hollow tube provided with at least: - an outer envelope (15), and - a notch (20) arranged transversely on the envelope (15) capable of cooperating with said first stiffener (8) of the stiles (2, 3), when the end of the cross-member (4, 5) is inserted into the first and second openings (9, 10) of said stile (2, 3).

2. Frame kit (50) intended in particular to produce a fixed or pivoting or sliding door for a gate or similar, said frame kit (50) comprising at least one stile (51) and a cross-member (52) connected to each other, each stile (51) being a hollow tube provided with at least: - an outer envelope (53), - a first flat stiffener (54) extending longitudinally inside said envelope (53), - a first opening (55) arranged on the envelope (53) and passing through at least the thickness of the latter, and - a second opening (57) arranged in the first stiffener (54) and disposed as an extension of the first opening (55) and having a shape similar to that of said first opening (55), each cross-member (52) including at least one longitudinal end shaped to be inserted in a fitted manner into the associated first and second openings (55, 57) and snapped in with respect to said stile (51), said frame kit (50) being characterised in that each stile (51) includes at least one elastically deformable inner tab (58) extending longitudinally inside said stiles (51) and being rigidly connected to the envelope (53), and in that each cross-member (52) is a hollow tube provided with at least: - an outer envelope (59), and - a notch (60) arranged transversely on the envelope (59) capable of cooperating with the free end of the inner tab (58), when the end of the cross-member (52) is inserted into the first and second openings (55, 57) of said stile (51), said end of each cross-member (52) being snapped in with respect to the free end of said inner tab (58).

3. Frame kit (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the longitudinal end of each cross-member (4, 5) includes a first opening (18) and a second opening (19) arranged longitudinally facing each other from each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope (15) and passing through at least the thickness of the latter.

4. Frame kit(l) according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterised in that the first stiffener (8) comprises at least one flange (11) extending towards the inside of each of the second openings (10) and being capable of cooperating with the notch (20) of the cross-member (4, 5).

5. Frame kit(l) according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, characterised in that it includes a blocking member (23) to guarantee the retention in position of a cross-member (4, 5) snapped into a stile (2, 3).

6. Frame kit (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the blocking member (23) is capable of being inserted simultaneously into at least one of the first and second openings (18, 19) of said cross-member (4, 5) to prevent, once said cross-member (4, 5) has been snapped in, any movement closer together of the parts of the envelope (15) of the latter located on either side of the first and second openings (18, 19).

7. Frame kit (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the blocking member (23) is a cylindrical bushing capable of receiving a pivot axis (24) rigidly connected to a support (25) arranged to be fastened onto a pole or wall.