Profile for sliding windows or doors, method for making the profile, and window or door obtained with the profile

1. A profile for use as a crosspiece for a sliding window or door, said profile comprising:

a first track and a second track, at least one of said tracks being a sliding track, said tracks being parallel with each other, said profile being formed of at least a first section, a second section and a third section, said first and third sections being physically separated and spaced apart from each other, said second section being a connecting and joining element which is located, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile, between said first and third sections and which joins said first section to said third section, said second section:

(a) being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first section; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first section; and

(b) being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the third section; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the third section, so that said second section acts effectively as a thermal break between said first section and said third section;

said sliding track having a cross-sectional configuration, at least a portion of which is effective for engaging and guiding a sliding window or door, said portion of said configuration extending along said first section, along said second section and along said third section so that each of said first, second and third sections is configured to engage and guide a sliding window or door, at least one of the tracks extending through said first section, the portion of the track extending through the first section having a first cross-sectional profile, said first cross-sectional profile comprising a first upstanding arm, a second upstanding arm and a first rod, said arms being physically separated from and spaced apart from each other, said first rod extending between and connecting the arms, the first rod being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm, so that the first rod acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

2. The profile according to claim 1 , wherein said second section is a polyamide section.

3. The profile according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tracks is a polyamide track.

4. The profile according to claim 1 , wherein said first rod is a polyamide rod.

5. The profile according to claim 1 , said first cross-sectional profile further comprising a second rod extending between and connecting the arms, the second rod being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm, so that the second rod acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

6. The profile according to claim 5 , wherein said second rod is a polyamide rod.

7. The profile according to claim 1 , said track which extends through said first section also extending through said third section, the portion of the track extending through said third section also having said first cross-sectional profile.

8. The profile according to claim 7 , said first track extending through said first and third sections, said second track extending through said first and third sections, the portions of the first and second tracks extending through the first and third sections having said first cross-sectional profile.

9. The profile according to claim 1 , said track extending through said first section being said first track, said second track extending through said third section, the portion of the second track extending through the third section also having said first cross-sectional profile.

10. The profile according to claim 1 , said first cross-sectional profile further comprising an inner support in the shape of an inverted U located between said arms, the inner support being of construction material which is different from and more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and the construction material of the second arm, so that the inner support acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

11. The profile according to claim 10 , wherein said inner support is a polyamide inner support.

12. The profile according to claim 10 , wherein the central portion of the inner support has a rounded top.

13. The profile according to claim 10 , wherein the central portion of the inner support has a top made of metal, the top being isolated from the arms.

14. A sliding window or door apparatus comprising:

a frame and a sliding window or door located within said frame, said frame comprising two crosspieces and two stiles, one of said crosspieces being a profile, said profile comprising a first track and a second track, at least one of said tracks being a sliding track, said tracks being parallel with each other, said profile being formed of at least a first section, a second section and a third section, said first and third sections being physically separated and spaced apart from each other, said second section being a connecting and joining element which is located, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile, between said first and third sections and which joins said first section to said third section, said second section:

(a) being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first section; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first section; and

(b) being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the third section; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the third section, so that said second section acts effectively as a thermal break between said first section and said third section;

said sliding track having a cross-sectional configuration, at least a portion of which is effective for engaging and guiding a sliding window or door, said portion of said configuration extending along said first section, along said second section and along said third section so that each of said first, second and third sections is configured to engage and guide a sliding window or door, at least one of the tracks extending through said first section, the portion of the track extending through the first section having a first cross-sectional profile, said first cross-sectional profile comprising a first upstanding arm, a second upstanding arm and a first rod, said arms being physically separated from and spaced apart from each other, said first rod extending between and connecting the arms, the first rod being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm, so that the first rod acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , said sliding window or door being positioned on said second track and being slidable horizontally in said second track, said apparatus further comprising a second window or door positioned on said first track.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said second section is a polyamide section.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said first rod is a polyamide rod.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , said first cross-sectional profile further comprising a second rod extending between and connecting the arms, the second rod being of construction material which:

(i) is different from the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm; and

(ii) is more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and of the second arm, so that the second rod acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said second rod is a polyamide rod.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , said track which extends through said first section also extending through said third section, the portion of the track extending through said third section also having said first cross-sectional profile.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , said first track extending through said first and third sections, said second track extending through said first and third sections, the portions of the first and second tracks extending through the first and third sections having said first cross-sectional profile.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , said track extending through said first section being said first track, said second track extending through said third section, the portion of the second track extending through the third section also having said first cross-sectional profile.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , said first cross-sectional profile further comprising an inner support in the shape of an inverted U located between said arms, the inner support being of construction material which is different from and more heat insulating than the construction material of the first arm and the construction material of the second arm, so that the inner support acts effectively as a thermal break between the first arm and the second arm.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein said inner support is a polyamide inner support.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the central portion of the inner support has a rounded top.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the central portion of the inner support has a top made of metal, the top being isolated from the arms.