GB2228532A

GB2228532A - Window stay-hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2228532A
Application number: GB9003980A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Hardy
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1989-02-25
Filing date: 1990-02-22
Publication date: 1990-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-22
Also published as: GB9003980D0; GB2228530A; GB2228766A; GB2228531A; GB2228530B; GB9003981D0; GB9003979D0; GB9003978D0; GB2228531B; GB2228529A; GB2228532B; GB2228529B; GB9003977D0; GB2228766B

Abstract

A window construction comprises a fixed outer frame (10) of hollow section, metallic reinforcing means (13) incorporated within a central region of the outer frame, a friction supporting stay (12) mounted on a central region of the outer frame, securing moans (15, 20) connecting the stay to the metal reinforcement, and a sash frame (11) mounted on a portion of the stay for opening movement relative to the fixed outer frame. In a preferred arrangement the stay is provided with a mounting member (20) located in a channel formed in the central region of the outer frame, the outer frame being hollow and including a metal reinforcing member (13) located within its interior directly behind the channel, the mounting member being directly secured to the reinforcing member through the base of the channel. <IMAGE>

Description

". 1 Friction Supporting Stays This invention relates to friction

supporting stays or hinges for movably interconnecting components such as the fixed outer frame and movable inner or sash frame of a window construction, and to parts and components of such stays.

Friction supporting stays comprising assemblies of hinged links are known. In use such stays are normally provided at opposite sides or at top and bottom of window constructions, one portion of the stay being mounted on the fixed outer frame of the window and another portion being mounted on the movable inner or sash frame. The arrangement is such that when the window is opened the sash frame undergoes a combined bodily and pivotal movement relative to the main frame such that the sash frame adopts an inclined position relative to the main frame while at the same time the axis of pivotting of the sash frame moves away from the adjacent portion of the main frame. In this way, when the window is open, both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window opening. Conventionally the construction of the supporting stay is such that the sash frame is frictionally restrained in any anugular position between fully open and fully closed positions to which it is set.

:C I- - Previously proposed friction supporting stays of this general kind suffer from a number of disadvantages. These include lack of sufficient strength and high cost of manufacture. A particular problem arises in relation to security and although some previously proposed support stays incorporate interengaging components designed to prevent forcing of a window at the hinged end, these are liable to breakage and existing constructions remain susceptible to forcing and are not sufficiently secure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved friction supporting stay and components for use in the construction of such stays by means of which some or all of the above disadvantages are obviated or mitigated.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a window construction comprising a fixed outer frame of hollow section, metallic reinforcing means incorporated within a central region of the outer frame, a friction supporting stay mounted on a central region of the outer frame, securing means connecting the stay to said metal reinforcement, and a sash frame mounted on a portion of said stay foropening movement relative to said fixed outer frame.

4------ 3 In this way the stay is connected to the strongest Part of the outer frame and is displaced inwardly from the edges thereof, thereby increasing safety and security while producing a generally strong and robust construction. In addition when the sash frame is open the load is carried by the central region of the fixed outer frame rather than an edge region thereof. This reduces twisting stresses on the outer frame compared with previously proposed constructions in which the stay is mounted adjacent an edge of the fixed frame.

Preferably the stay is provided with a main mounting member located in a channel formed in said central region of said outer frame, the outer frame including a metal reinforcing member located within the hollow interior thereof directly behind said channel, and said main mounting member being directly secured to said reinforcing member through the base of said channel.

The main mounting member is preferably of dished form having a raised central region and opposed peripheral flanges.

Preferably also the window construction includes a movable strut connected to said second component, inner and outer links each pivotally connected at one end to said main mounting member by fixed pivotal connections and at their respective opposite ends to said movable strut, and friction means operable to retain the stay in any selected position between fully open and fully closed positions. Preferably the stay includes an intermediate brace member pivotally connected at it opposite ends to said main mounting member and to said movable strut, one of which pivotal connections is also slidable.

Preferably also said intermediate brace member is pivotally connected to said movable strut at a fixed pivot point and is pivotally connected to said main mounting member by a pivotal connection slidably movable in a slot formed in said main mounting member along which said pivotal connection may move during opening and closing movement of the stay.

The dimensions of the components and the positions of the pivot points and sliding connection are preferably chosen such that in the closed position of the stay said movable strut adopts a posi.tion parallel to but displaced from said main mounting member, and said inner and outer links and said brace member adopt positions in which they are all inclined relative to said main mounting member and said movable strut in the same general direction.

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Preferably said intermediate brace member is pivotally connected to said main mounting member by way of said friction means, said friction means being associated with said slot. Advantageously said friction means comprises upper and lower friction members mounted above and beneath the raised central section of said main mounting member and connected by clamping means extending through said slot and operable to permit adjustment of the frictional resistance to sliding movement of said friction means along said slot.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a window construction according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section through the window construction of Fig. 1 on the line II-II in Fig. 1 but with the inner frame in its closed position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the friction supporting stay of Fig. 1 in its closed position; Fig. 4 is a view of the stay in an intermediate position; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the stay in its fully open position; Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7A is a cross-section on the line A-A in Fig.

5; Fig. 7B is a cross-section on the line B-B in Fig.

8; and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of stay.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a portion of a window construction comprising a fixed outer frame 10 and a movable inner or sash frame 11 movably interconnected by means of a friction supporting stay 12. Two such stays are normally provided at opposite locations on the fixed outer frame, that is at opposite sides in the case of a horizontally or top "hinged" window and at top and bottom of the main frame in the case of a vertically or side "hinged" window. It should be appreciated however that a feature of supporting stays of the kind with which the present invention is concerned is that the inner or sash frame is not hinged 1 in the traditional sense since the axis about which it pivots during opening and closing movement moves relative to the main frame.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the main frame 10 of the window comprises a hollow extruded plastics component strengthened internally by means of a metal reinforcing member 13. The inwardly directed surface of the main frame component 10 incorporates inner and outer tracks 14A and 14B the inner one of which is located directly above the metal reinforcement 13 and separated therefrom by a single web of plastics material. The friction stay 12 incorporates a main mounting member 20 which is located within the inner recess 14A and is secured in place by screws 15 (Fig. 2) extending through the mounting member and the base of the track 14A into engagement with the metal reinforcement 13. In this way the friction stay is directly connected to the strongest component of the frame 10.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 8 of the drawings, the friction stay incorporates a main mounting member 20 provided with spaced holes 21 by means of which it may be secured to the frame 10 as described above. A movable strut 22 is connected to the mounting member 20 by means of inner and outer links 23 and 24. The inner link 23 is relatively short in length and is pivotally 8 connected at one end to the mounting member 20 by a pivot connection 23A. The other end of the link 23 is connected to one end of strut 22 by a pivotal connection 23B. Likewise one end of the outer link 24 is connected to the main mounting member 20 adjacent its other end by a pivotal connection 24A. The other end of the link 24 is connected to the strut 22 by a pivotal connection 24B intermediate the ends of strut 22.

An intermediate brace member 25 is pivotally connected by a pivotal connection 27 at one end to a friction assembly 29 slidably moveable along a slot 26 formed in the main mounting member between the pivotal connections 23A and 24A. The brace member 25 is pivotally connected at its other end to the pivotal connection 23B between the inner link 23 and the strut 22. During movement of the linkage between the closed position shown in Fig. 3 and the fully open position shown in Fig. 5 the end of the brace member 25 which is connected to the main mounting member 20 slides along the slot 26.

As seen in Fig. 3 when the friction stay is in its closed position the strut 22 lies essentially parallel to the main mounting member 20 and the links 23,24 and brace member 25 adopt inclined positions extending between the strut 22 and mounting member 20 in the same z 1 11 general direction of inclination. In this position the end of the brace member 25 which is connected to the main mounting member 20 is located at the left hand end of the slot 26 as seen in the drawings. As the linkage moves from the closed position of Fig. 3 towards the open position of Fig. 5 the pivotal connection 27 slides along the slot 26 to the right, finally occupying the position shown in Fig. 5. In the course of this movement the inner link 23 swings from the inclined position shown in Fig. 3 in a generally clockwise direction to a fully open position in which it extends substantially at right angles to the main mounting member 20. These movements lift the strut 22 away from the main mounting member 20 to a position in which it i aligned with the link 23 and displaced to the right compared with its location when the stay is in the closed position.

Referring now to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the main mounting member 20 is of dished form comprising a raised central section 30 and opposed peripheral flanges 31A and 31B. A friction assembly 29 is 1.ocated on the mounting member 20 in the region of the slot 26 and comprises upper and lower friction elements 32A and 32B which straddle the central section 30 and have sloping edge portions which engage the upper and lower sloping surfaces 33A,33B which interconnect the raised central portion 30 and the flanges 31A,31B of the mounting member. The friction members 32A and 32B are adjustably clamped together by a clamping member 34 extending through the slot 26, and in this way the frictional resistance to sliding movement of the components 32A and 32B relative to the main mounting member may be regulated. The inner end of the brace member 25 is pivotally connected to the component 32A of the friction assembly 29 which therefore determines the resistance to sliding movement of the brace member along the slot 26. This, together with the frictional resistance at the various pivotal connections between the components, determines the frictional force which resists movement and which holds the stay in angularly adjusted positions between its fully open and fully closed positions.

The pivotal connections between the various members of the linkage are preferably effected by means of a rivet secured to one member and rotating in a complementary bush secured to the other member, the head of the bush being of non-circular shape and located in a. corresponding shaped recess in the associated member whereby to restrain the bush against rotation. The construction is shown in Fig. 2 as applied to the pivotal connection between the inner end of the brace 25 and the friction assembly 29, the rivet being indicated at 28A and the bush at 28B. In this way wear is - 1 1 - confined to the rivet and bush and does not tend to enlarge the hole in the brace or other link itself, thereby maintaining tightness of the linkage despite extended use.

In intermediate and fully open positions of the friction stay the weight of the movable sash frame of the window is carried principally by the outer link 24. This link is constructed from a metal strip rolled to a flattened form as shown in Fig. 7A or to a more open form as shown in Fig. 7B which substantially increases the strength of the link and hence its load carrying capacity. The Fig. 7A form is employed in the stay of Figs. 3 to 5 and the Fig. 7B form in the stay of Fig. 8. Alternatively the link may be formed from a flattened metal tube. The overall strength of the assembly is also considerably enhanced both by the direct connection of the mounting member to the metal reinforcement within the main frame and by the generally central location of the mounting member on the frame. Both these features resist the heavy loads imposed on the supporting stay, particularly when used in a horizontal position where the weight of the sash frame is carried directly on the strut 22.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of stay for use with a larger window. The arrangement of the various links is similar to the stay of Figs. 3 to 5, but the position of the pivot points and slot on the main mounting member 20 differ and the outer link 24 is connected to a point close to the outer end of the strut 22. As a result of these modifications the stay does not open to the same extent as that of Figs. 3 to 5, but only to the extent shown in Fig. 8. In other respects however the construction of the stay of Fig. 8 is essentially the same as that of Figs. 3 to 5.

The constructions described are particularly advantageous as regards security against unauthorised opening. Unauthorised forcing of the window is generally attempted either at the "hinge" side of the sash frame or at the opposite side. By virtue of the arrangement of the components of the stay it is not possible for either end of the strut 22 to be forced towards the main mounting member 20 as has been possible with some previously proposed friction supporting stays. In contrast with previously proposed stays where forcing tended to cause pivoting about a single point, forcing of a window fitted with the stay constructions described attempts to produce pivoting about two spaced axes simultaneously which causes the linkage to lock. The construction is therefore highly resistant to levering open by unauthorised parties.

13 - A further advantage arising from the manner of operation of the linkage is that seal wear and damage are reduced or eliminated. A number of previously proposed stay constructions tend to slide across and tear the rubber weather seals in the "hinge" region on closing of the sash frame. The constructions described above eliminate this problem as the sash frame moves directly on to the seals in the final part of its closing movement and does not slide across and hence tear them.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the manner in which the main supporting member is constructed and the frictional resistance to movement effected may be altered, and the lengths and pivotal connection positions of the various links may be varied to suit different requirements such as the size, shape and extent of opening of windows which are required. Moreover while the invention has been described primarily with reference to friction supporting stays for use in connection with windows, such stays may be used in other situations where it is desired to pivotally and bodily move one component relative to another.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims

1. A window construction comprising a fixed outer frame of hollow section, metallic reinforcing means incorporated within a central region of the outer frame, a friction supporting stay mounted on a central region of the outer frame, securing means connecting the stay to said metal reinforcement, and a sash frame mounted on a portion of said stay for opening movement relative to said fixed outer frame.

2. A window construction according to claim 1 wherein said stay is provided with a main mounting member located in a channel formed in said central region of said outer frame, the outer frame including a metal reinforcing member located within the hollow interior thereof directly behind said channel, and said main mounting member being directly secured to said reinforcing member through the base of said channel.

3. A window construction according to claim 2 wherein said main mounting member is of dished form having a raised central region and opposed peripheral flanges.

4. A window construction according to claim 2 or 3 including a movable strut connected to said second b 16 - component, inner and outer links each pivotally connected at one end to said main mounting member by fixed pivotal connections and at their respective opposite ends to said movable strut, and friction means operable to retain the stay in any selected position between fully open and fully closed positions.

5. A window construction according to claim 4 including an intermediate brace member pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said main mounting member and to said movable strut, one of which pivotal connections is also slidable.

6. A window construction according to claim 5 wherein said intermediate brace member is pivotally connected to said movable strut at a fixed pivot point and is pivotally connected to said main mounting member by a pivotal connection slidably movable in a slot formed in said main mounting member along which said pivotal connection may move during opening and closing movement of the stay.

7. A window construction according to claims 5 and 6 wherein said intermediate brace member is pivotally connected to said main mounting member by way of said friction means, said friction means being associated with said slot.

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8. A window construction according to claim 7 wherein said friction means comprises upper and lower friction members mounted above and beneath the raised central section of said main mounting member and connected by clamping means extending through said slot and operable to permit adjustment of the frictional resistance to sliding movement of said friction means along said slot.

9. A window construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

Published 1990 atThe Patent Office. State House. 6671 High HoIbnrn. London WC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfrom The PatentOffice Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD- Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent. Con. 1'87