The present invention regards the building field, in particular doors, windows and frames, and specifically the frames of windows, shutters and their accessory devices. More particularly, the invention refers to a device for locking the wings of shutters or windows, commonly called "shutter latches". This term will often be used below for the sake of brevity, as it has by now become common usage. In general, the invention could also be applied to the entrance doors or French windows/doors of houses, villas or other buildings, so long as they have hinges (e.g. not to doors or French windows/doors of slidable type).

Prior art

In the prior art, the shutter latches are outside the home and are commonly found on the external wall of the building. They comprise a metal support fixed to the wall, bearing a rotatable metal element connected in an articulated manner to said metal support. The metal support is arranged immediately beneath the lower edge of the shutter during opening, such that when the shutter is completely open, until it almost touches the external wall, the rotatable metal element can be rotated upward for temporarily locking the respective wing of the blind in the completely open position (180° rotation).

Such shutter latch of the prior art has numerous disadvantages.

First of all, it is of course entirely unsuited for ensuring people's safety. Secondly, it is difficult to use - also because when it rains, if one must close the shutter it is necessary to lean outside, and inevitably get wet. Furthermore, the shutter latch requires that the external walls are perforated in order to insert the metal supports therein (one per wing) and/or the relative fastening means therein (screws, inserts, rivets, bolts or the like). Hence, in addition to the difficulty and/or complex mounting operation, which could require movable platforms or scaffolds, the conventional shutter latch involves a modification of the appearance of the entire building facade - if one considers the possibly high number of windows that can be present on the building facade.

Above all, in the case of a gutter or other obstacle possibly present on the facade of the building close to the shutter, it would be impossible to attach a conventional shutter latch to the external wall; it would be entirely ineffective, since the wing cannot be brought close to the external wall. Therefore, in such circumstances, it would be desirable to arrange a shutter latch that locked the wing in the position in which it touches the obstacle in question. This would ensure the maximum possible opening of the shutter in this particular situation. In addition, in case of wind, the wing would in any case be immobilized by the obstacle in one rotation direction (the opening direction), and in the opposite rotation direction (closing) by the shutter latch, which in such case would prevent the slamming of the wing on the window frame.

Hence, the present invention proposes to provide a device for locking the wings of the shutters, commonly called "shutter latch", which is adapted to ensure people's safety - since it does not at all require that the user extend outward from the window -, which does not require complex works and modifications to the external aesthetic appearance of the building, which can also be stopped in positions corresponding to angles considerably less than 180° (in the case of external obstacles), and which is simple to use, requiring the application of a small actuation force.

Another object of the invention consists of making a shutter latch with compact size and that is easy to mount.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shutter latch that is immediately adaptable, even to pre-existing shutters. In other words, the system ideated by the inventor of the present invention allows making a piece/device that can be directly assembled on the preexisting shutters, without having to make any preliminary modification to the same. Hence, the invention allows making shutters having the device already incorporated, or allows simply mounting such device at a subsequent time on the shutters already on the market. Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described as merely exemplifying, but not limiting or binding, with reference to a currently preferred embodiment thereof which is represented in the attached figures, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, external front view of a shutter or a window on which a respective device for locking the wings of shutters or the like is mounted, on each wing, according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2a is a front, vertical elevation view of the device of the invention, partially sectioned;

FIGURE 2b is a side, vertical elevation view, partially in section, of the same device of the invention, already frontally shown in Fig. 2a;

FIGURE 2c is the relative plan view of the device, object of the present invention;

FIGURE 2e is the horizontal section of the device, in the plane L-L indicated in Fig. 2a;

FIGURE 3 shows the section with respect to the H-H plane indicated in Fig. 1, with shutter closed and device in neutral or rest position;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view to figure 3, but with the window completely open (180°) and with the device for locking the wing actuated;

FIGURE 5 is the view in the direction indicated by the arrow P of Fig. 4;

FIGURE 6 is still a section with respect to the H-H plane of Fig. 1, with the shutter (or window, or French window/door, etc.) completely open (180°), and in which the possibility of adjusting the device of the invention according to a variable angle "M" is indicated;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view to figure 6, when the variable angle "M" has been selected as equal to a specific angle 'TSf", as a function of the size of an external obstacle (not shown), and the lever of the device is situated in abutment against the fixed section of the frame of the shutter, the latter being partially open.

Description of the preferred embodiment

The present invention will now be described by making reference to the preceding figures which show a particular embodiment thereof, which is neither limiting nor binding.

The following detailed description of a possible embodiment of the invention is only provided in order to place an average man skilled in the art of the field in the condition to comprehend how the invention can be actually actuated - without intending to limit its inventive concept.

It is observed that in the different figures, the same reference numbers always indicate the same components, in order to avoid creating pointless complications or confusion.

Figure 1 shows the outside of a shutter (or a window) of a house (private home), or possibly of any other public building, industrial structure (factory), etc. For the sake of simplicity, the single tilted elements (slats) of the shutter are not shown, since in reality the invention could also be applied to any external door/window/frame of a building, to a French window/door or to the wings of a window, if they are flush with the external wall. The invention is however mainly conceived for acting as a device for locking actual shutters. Below, therefore, the term "shutter" will almost constantly be used.

Each hinge of the shutter bears (as is well-known) a lower, fixed part 3 with cylindrical form, which is extended to the upper part, forming a pin with diameter lower than that of the base of such lower part 3; said pin receives the (movable) upper part of the shutter hinge, or feminine part, having a tubular form. On this (movable) feminine part of the shutter hinge, the device for locking the wings (or frames) 4 according to the present invention is inserted from the top towards the bottom; such device is indicated with the reference number 2 both in figure 1 and in the other figures. Therefore, the (upper) movable part of the hinge remains hidden inside the device 2 of the invention and therefore is not visible in figure 1. In addition, in figure 1, the two wings 4 of the shutter are of course integral with the relative feminine (movable) part of the hinge.

In figure 1, it is also observed that the device 2 of the invention was mounted on the lower hinges but not on the upper hinges. This was done since the upper hinges are hard to access and above all would not ensure user safety during the actuation of the device 2 of the present invention. Below, with particular reference to figures 2a to 2e, the structure and the components of the shutter latch 2 will be described according to the present invention, in this specific embodiment.

The locking device 2 of the shutter wing 4 comprises a body 6, substantially cylindrical, having a cylindrical cavity 10 therein, with blind hole form, adapted to receive and house the movable part (upper feminine part) 3' therein of the shutter hinge, thus hiding it from an outside observer (see Fig. 1). In order to insert the device 2 of the invention, or better yet its substantially cylindrical body 6 on the movable part 3' of the hinge, the body 6 has (Fig. 2e) a longitudinal opening 13 parallel to the geometrical generatrices of the body 6, so as to allow the passage of the flat element or slat 14 for the integral connection between the movable part 3' of the hinge and the actual body of the shutter wing (frame) 4. It is observed that the thickness of the connection slat 14 (see, for example, Fig. 7) is much lower than the width (in horizontal sense) of the vertical longitudinal opening 13 of the cylindrical body 6. This allows fixing the cylindrical body 6 to the internal part 3' in different relative angular positions, making them integrally fixed together during rotation by screwing the threaded grub screws 11 which pass through respective threaded through holes 15, orthogonal to the cylindrical wall of the body 6 (as Fig. 2a shows, for example).

The threaded holes 15 are through holes, i.e. they extend up to the internal cavity or blind hole 10. In such a manner, the threaded grub screws 11, when screwed, press against the external lateral wall of the feminine part 3' inserted in the blind hole 10 (part 3' not shown in figure 2), allowing the locking together of the components 3', 6 in the desired relative angular position. The desired relative angular locking position therefore varies between two very precise limit values, and the variable angle "M" (Fig. 6) between these limit values substantially corresponds to the width of the opening 13 in horizontal sense (if one ignores the thickness of the connection element 14).

On the upper part ("upper part" referring to the mounting condition of the device 2 on the movable part 3'), the body 6 has a step indentation 16, which forms a flat vertical wall 12 for the support of a lever 8 pivoted flared-head screw 9; this in turn is screwed into a threaded, horizontal and transverse through hole 17 obtained in the upper part of the body 6, where the cylindrical longitudinal cavity 10 is not present. Indeed, in figure 2b, it is observed that the bottom of this blind hole 10 is situated beneath the zone where the threaded hole 17 is made. In addition, the lever 8, preferably made of sheet metal, preferably has a flat and rounded form at the ends, so as to be ergonomic and to not cause injuries to the user, or accidentally to other people, as shown in Fig. 2a and in Fig. 2b.

The neutral - i.e. rest - position of the lever 8 is the vertical position, and this can be rotated in both directions G or G' (Fig. 2a); nevertheless, only one of these directions (the direction G) corresponds to the actual actuation direction of the device 2 of the invention. The other rotation direction (G') is in reality only "fictitious", and it is appropriate to provide for a mechanical stop, not shown, so that the lever cannot be rotated (intentionally or accidentally) in the direction G'. In any case, a friction washer 7 (Fig. 2b) serves to maintain the last position of the lever 8, in order to prevent that it accidentally rotates, e.g. from a neutral vertical position thereof shown in figures 1 , 2a, 2b and 2c, in the direction G or G'. However, as was stated above, it is also preferable to provide for a mechanical stop (not shown in the figures) adapted to prevent the rotation G'.

After having illustrated the fundamental structural aspects of the shutter latch 2 of the present invention, the functioning or use mode will now be described of the device 2 itself with specific reference to figure 3 - 7.

First of all, considering figures 3 and 4, these show the standard use mode, i.e. the most common, of the device 2 of the invention. Figures 3 and 4 are section views relative to the plane H-H (observation direction H-H) of Fig. 1. Figure 3 shows a wing 4 (or better yet the section of the wing 4) of the shutter in closed position, while figure 4 shows the same wing in completely open position (i.e. rotated 180° towards the outside). The fixed frame 5 is fixed to the wall 19, in which the side 20" is the external side (external wall or facade of the building), while the side 20' is the inner wall of the building. It follows that, as already shown in Fig. 1, the device 2 always remains on the outside.

It is also observed that the blind hole 10 is made in an eccentric manner with respect to the e vertical symmetry axis of the body 6, as also results from figures 2c and 2e (eccentricity =

F).

In figure 4, it is seen that the lever 8 was rotated by the user in the direction G, until it reaches the horizontal operating position abutting against the fixed frame 5. In this position, the wing 4 of the shutter remains locked by the shutter latch 2, since a gust of wind tending to rotate the body 6 in a clockwise sense - such body 6 integral (via the threaded grub screws 11) with the movable part 3' of the hinge - is opposed by the lever 8, on which a reaction force moment acts of equal and opposite magnitude. From figures 3 and 4, considering the opening movement of the wing 4, it is observed that the lever 8 must remain in neutral vertical position when the wing 4 is closed, since its accidental rotation in the direction G would block the opening of the wing 4 itself. Therefore, the aforesaid friction washer 7 is used, whose functionality should be periodically examined. Another system, in place of the friction washer 7, could be constituted by small locking spheres, pre-loaded with spring, which are snap-inserted in the holes made on the lever 8 when they reach these holes (not shown in the figures).

In summary, it is observed that the user, in order to lock the shutter in completely open position, will only have to rotate the lever 8 until its position indicated in Fig. 4. The lever 8 is therefore placed on the lower hinge and/or on another intermediate lower hinge (if several hinges are present per wing), so that the user is not at all at risk in reaching the lever 8 with his arm and in manually rotating it. In addition, the mounting of the device 2 on the shutter can be readily performed, as is clear from the previous description, and does not require any intervention on the external wall.

In addition, it is interesting to observe that the device of the invention is rather versatile, i.e. it is adapted to multiple situations.

One of these situations is shown in figures 6 and 7.

In such figures, the section H-H is shown in the case of complete opening of the wing 4 (180°, Fig. 6), and of a partial opening (angle smaller than 180°, Fig. 7). First, considering figure 6, it is observed that with respect to figure 4, the substantially cylindrical body 6 of the shutter latch 2 of the present invention can be locked (by the threaded grub screws 11) in a relative position with variable angle M, slightly rotated in counter-clockwise sense with respect to the movable feminine part 3' of the wing 4, in a manner such that the abutment position on the fixed frame 5 of the lever 8 (rotated towards the work position in the direction G) no longer corresponds to the completely open position (180°); rather, for example, it corresponds to the partially open position 'TSf" illustrated in Fig. 7, if one selects the variable angle "M" to be equal to a specific angle "N". (In order to adjust the relative angular position between the components 3' and 6, i.e. 3' and 2, it is recalled that the opening 13 is used whose width is quite larger than the thickness of the connection slat 14). As shown in figure 7, it is therefore possible to lock the wing 4 in an open position in which it is retained on one side by the lever 8 and on the other side by an obstacle (e.g. a gutter) which prevents the shutter 4 from opening an angle greater than 180° - N, where "N" is the angle selected between the wing 4 and the external wall 20", following the adjustment of the variable angle M (M = N).

Now that a particular embodiment of the object of the present invention has been described, together with its functioning, several achievement details will be discussed.

First of all, more than one tightening grub screws 11 are preferably provided for, in order to ensure a correct distribution of the forces and thus not damage the movable part 3'.

The dimensions of the body 6 are adapted to the hinge. Its external diameter is approximately comprised between about 12 mm and 25 mm, while the height could be comprised between about 6 cm and 15 cm. The material of the device 2 of the invention could be steel, preferably stainless steel, or aluminum, of any color. Preferably, at least one device 2 is mounted per wing. The invention is ideal for all the shutters made of aluminum, steel, wood, PVC, as well as for any door, window, French window/door, window shutter and frame in general, equipped with normal hinge and which opens towards the outside. The invention is applicable in different embodiments thereof. For example, the base of the body 6 could also be integral with the movable hinge 3', while the upper part of the body 6, bearing the lever 8, could be rotatable around the symmetry axis of the body 6 itself, and could be lockable in different discrete positions, corresponding to the desired adjustment angles. Hence, the adjustment of the variable angle "M" could be "discrete" rather than "continuous". The essential thing is that there is a rotatable element that is lockable in different positions, with respect to the movable upper part 3 ' (usually of feminine type) of the hinge.