GB2228043A - Friction stay hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

In a friction stay hinge for windows of the type having a track 10, a vent arm 16, a slider 12, a link 13 and a control arm 17 one end of the vent arm 16 is provided with an element, e.g. a circular cross-section pin 29, which comes into wedging engagement with an abutment member 25 on the track as the vent arm moves into the closed position. The pin 29 projects away from the vent arm towards the track 10 and is preferably carried by a cranked section 30 of the vent arm. <IMAGE>

Description

'Improvements in or relating to Hinges" The invention relates to hinges and in particular to friction stay hinges for windows.

The invention relates to a hinge of the kind comprising a track adapted to be fitted to a fixed window frame, a vent arm adapted to be fitted to the movable window vent, a slider slideable along the track, a link pivotally connected at one end to the slider and at its other end to the vent arm, and a control arm pivotally connected at one end to the track, or a part adapted to be fixed in relation thereto, and at its other end to the vent arm, the arrangement being such that the vent arm is movable between a closed position where it extends substantially parallel to the track and an open position where it extends at an angle to the track, such movement being accompanied by movement of the slider along the track.

Normally two such hinges are provided at opposite sides of the window and the geometry of the hinges is such that as the window vent pivots on the hinges the effective pivot axis of the vent moves away from the fixed window frame thus providing access to both sides of the vent.

Frictional restraint is normally provided to movement of the slider along the track, such restraint being adjustable to vary the force necessary to open or close the window. Friction at the pivotal connections can also contribute to the frictional restraint.

In order to provide for positive closing action of the hinges, so that the window vent closes properly against the weatherseal, it is common practice to provide the track with an abutment member, such as a separately formed end cap secured to the track, with which a pointed nose on the end of the vent arm cooperates with a wedging action as the hinge moves into the closed position. However, in practice it is found that the pointed nose portion of the vent arm may foul the end cap, preventing proper closing or opening of the window due, for example, to incorrect installation of the hinges or distortion or excessive tolerances in the components.

The end caps are commonly formed of plastics material and it is also sometimes found that the metal nose of the vent arm digs into the plastics material causing deformation and damage to the end cap leading to the window vent not closing properly. On the other hand, if a metal end cap is used, the nose portion of the metal vent arm may tend to bind against the metal of the end cap and pick up a burr from the surface thereof, unless the two parts are well lubricated.

The present invention sets out to provide an improved structure for ensuring positive and reliable closing action of the hinge.

According to the invention, a hinge of the kind first referred to is characterised in that one end of the vent arm is provided with a location element which is adapted to come into wedging engagement with an abutment member on the track as the vent arm moves into the closed position, said location element being carried by the vent arm at a location spaced from the pivotal connection between the vent arm and the link and projecting away from the vent arm and towards the track when the vent arm is in the closed position.

Since the location element projects away from the vent arm it may be of a length greater than the thickness of the nose portion of the vent arm in the prior art arrangements and thus may provide a larger bearing surface acting on the abutment member on the track. This allows the location element to bear smoothly against the abutment member and the location element may be so shaped as to minimise any risk of it digging into the abutment member or otherwise binding with it.

Preferably the location element is a separately preformed element which is mounted on the vent arm. For example the location element may be in the form of a post mounted on the vent arm. The post may provide an elongate surface extending transversely to the general plane of the vent arm, the surface being arcuate in cross section for smooth wedging action with said abutment member on the track. In a preferred embodiment the post may be substantially circular in cross section.

Preferably the location element is spaced inwardly from that end of the vent arm which is nearer the pivotal connection between the vent arm and the link. By using a location element in accordance with the invention, instead of a nose portion as used in the prior art, the element may be located in the optimum position to give it the required locus of movement, relatively to the abutment member, as the vent arm moves to the closed position.

The portion of the vent arm carrying the location element may be cranked away from the track, in the closed position of the vent arm, to permit an increase in the length of the location element projecting towards the track.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a friction hinge according to the invention, shown in a partly open position, Figure 2 is a side view of the hinge shown in the closed position, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section through the hinge.

Referring to the drawings, the friction hinge comprises a track 10 which, in use, in adapted to be screwed to a fixed window frame. The track 10, which may be formed from aluminium or stainless steel, is generally channel-shaped in cross-section and has along its opposite sides inwardly turned flanges 11. A plastics slider 12 is received within the track 10 so as to be slidable along the track, the side edges of the slider 12 engaging beneath the inturned flanges 11 of the track. A stop 39 is provided on the track 10 to limit the downward movement of the slider 12 along it.

A link 13 is pivotally connected to the slider 12 by means of a pivot 14, and the opposite end of the link is pivotally connected, by a pivot 15, to the upper end of a vent arm 16 which, in use, is screwed to the frame of the movable window vent. A control arm 17 is pivotally connected at its lower end, by a pivot 18, to the lower end of the track 10 and at its upper end is pivotally connected by a pivot 19 to the vent arm 16, intermediate the ends thereof.

A further link or brace 20 is pivotally connected by a pivot 21 to the slider 12 and, at its lower end, is connected by a pivot 22 to the control arm 17, at a location intermediate the pivots 18 and 19.

Friction hinges of this general type are well known and, in use, two such hinges may be connected between the fixed window frame and movable window vent at opposite sides at the upper end thereof. Such an arrangement is normally described at "top-hung".

However, such hinges may also be connected between the upper and lower frame members of the window vent and the fixed window frame, in which case the window is referred to as "side-hung".

When the window is closed, the components of each hinge are generally in line, as shown in Figure 2, with the vent arm 16 overlying the track 10. Figure 1 shows the position of the hinge after the window has been opened through an angle. It will be seen that as the vent arm 16, and hence the window vent, swings away from the track 10, the slider 12 moves downwardly in the track. Consequently the window vent swings downwardly as well as angularly away from the fixed window frame.

The window vent may be brought to a position where it is substantially horizontal and thus provides access, for cleaning, to both sides of the window glass.

Frictional restraint to opening of the window is provided by the frictional engagement of the slider 12 within the track 10. This may be adjusted, in known manner, by adjustment of a screw 23 which passes through the slider 12 and bears against the surface of the track.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable to effect positive control of the movement of the window vent to the closed position to ensure that the vent positively and firmly engages the weatherseal on the fixed window frame. To achieve this, there is provided at the upper end of the track 10 a plastics shaped cap member 24 which is plugged into the end of the track 10 and may be staked to the track 10 by deforming a part of the metal of the track into engagement with the cap member. Alternatively, the cap member 24 may be riveted to the track 10.

The cap member 24 is integrally formed with a projecting abutment 25 on the underside of which are two symmetrically arranged angled surfaces 26 and 27 which meet at an apex 28 lying on the central longitudinal axis of the track 10.

For co-operation with the abutment 25, there is mounted on the upper end of the vent arm 16, between the end of the vent arm and the pivot 15, a location element in the form of a pin 29. The pin 29 is formed separately from the vent arm 16 and has a smaller diameter portion which passes through a hole in the vent arm 16 (as best seen in Figure 3) and is deformed to secure the pin 29 to the vent arm 16.

As best seen in Figure 3, the pin 29 is elongate and of circular cross section and projects towards the track 10.

As the vent arm 16 moves towards the closed position, the pin 29 engages the inclined surface 27 of the abutment 25 with a wedging action, which guides the vent arm 16 positively and firmly into the final closed position, where the pin 29 engages in the apex 28 between the inclined surfaces of the abutment, so that the window vent seals positively and firmly against the weatherseal on the window frame.

Although, for convenience, the pin 29 is preferably of circular cross section, it will be appreciated that a location element of another cross sectional configuration might be used. Any configuration is suitable which provides a surface for smooth wedging engagement with the inclined surfaces on the cap member 24.

Although an abutment having two inclined surfaces as shown is preferred, other forms of abutment member may be employed. For example, as described in my co-pending Application No. 8829879.9, there may be provided an abutment member in the form of a roller or fixed pin, preferably of circular cross section. In this case the location element on the vent arm 16 would require to be suitably shaped in cross-section so as to provide the necessary wedging action when it engages the roller or pin on the upper end of the track 10.

It will be noted that the upper end portion of the vent arm 16 is cranked outwardly, as indicated at 30. This brings the end cranked portion clear of the overhang of the abutment 25 so that the vent arm itself does not foul the abutment. This arrangement also permits an increase in the extent to which the abutment 25 projects from the track, and hence permits an increase in the length of the pin 29 which in turn increases the area of engagement between the pin 29 and the abutment 25. This reduces the risk of the pin 29 flicking out of engagement with the abutment as a result of deformation of the components of the hinge in use.

Although the pin 29 and inclined surfaces 26 and 27 are shown as being disposed on the central longitudinal axis of the vent arm 16 and track 10 respectively, asymmetric arrangements are also possible in which the pin 29 is offset to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the vent arm 16 and the apex 28 between the surfaces 26 and 27 is also offset accordingly. In this case the surface 26 may be disposed at a much smaller angle to the longitudinal axis of the track 10 and, in an extreme arrangement, it might be parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Claims (7)

1. A hinge comprising a track adapted to be fitted to a fixed window frame, a vent arm adapted to be fitted to the movable window vent, a slider slideable along the track, a link pivotally connected at one end to the slider and at its other end to the vent arm, and a control arm pivotally connected at one end to the track, or a part adapted to be fixed in relation thereto, and at its other end to the vent arm, the arrangement being such that the vent arm is movable between a closed position where it extends substantially parallel to the track and an open position where it extends at an angle to the track, such movement being accompanied by movement of the slider along the track, one end of the vent arm being provided with a location element which is adapted to come into wedging engagement with an abutment member on the track as the vent arm moves into the closed position, said location element projecting away from the vent arm and towards the track when the vent arm is in the closed position, and being carried by the vent arm at a location between the pivotal connection between the vent arm and the link and the end of the vent arm which is nearer said pivotal connection.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1, wherein the location element is a separately preformed element which is mounted on the vent arm.

3. A hinge according to Claim 2, wherein the location element is in the form of a post mounted on the vent arm.

4. A hinge according to Claim 3, wherein the post provides an elongate surface extending transversely to the general plane of the vent arm, the surface being arcuate in cross section for smooth wedging action with said abutment member on the track.

5. A hinge according to Claim 4, wherein the post is substantially circular in cross section.

6. A hinge according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the portion of the vent arm carrying the location element is cranked away from the track, in the closed position of the vent arm, to permit an increase in the length of the location element projecting towards the track.

7. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.