GB2243867A

GB2243867A - Window stay-hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2243867A
Application number: GB9010400A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Philip Lanaway
Original assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Current assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Priority date: 1990-05-09
Filing date: 1990-05-09
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-09
Also published as: GB9010400D0; GB2243867B

Abstract

In a window support in the form of a friction stay hinge with an open topped track 10, a link arrangement and a slider 22 movable in the track, at one end the track 10 is closed by a member 30 providing a pair of offset cam surfaces 32, 34 facing towards respective sides of the track 10 and complementary angled faces 36, 38 are provided at the end of a support member 16 of the link arrangement, facing towards opposite sides thereof. In use, the member 16 may be swung from an open position of the window to either side of the track 10 into a closed position overlying the latter, such movement being guided by a respective end face 38, 40 initially contacting a respective cam surface 34, 32, a surface to surface contact thereby taking place. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Window Supports This invention is concerned with apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and closed position in a fixture opening, and is particularly concerned with window support apparatus wherein the window is pivotable about either a vertical or a horizontal axis and the axis of pivoting of the window moves away from the window frame, so that when the window is open, both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

Such apparatus conventionally comprises a link arrangement having a first link which mounts the window and which is pivotally mounted on a track having a closure member at one end. The closure member is engaged by the respective end of the first link when the arrangement is moved to the closed position, the engagement correctly aligning the link arrangement with the track and retaining the correct alignment in the closed position.

It has been previously proposed to provide the closure member with a V-shaped cam surface, with a pointed end on the first link, whereby the pointed end makes contact with a respective one of the internal walls of the V-shape when the link arrangement with the window is moved to the closed position from either side of the track. Such an apparatus is therefore universal and can be used with windows which open to either side of the track, this providing significant advantages to the users of the apparatus who do not therefore need to store different handed arrangements, and consequently do not have the problems of possible incorrect installation.

A disadvantage of such a design is however that, by the nature of the point contact, wear of the pointed end takes place. As there is also inevitably wear of rivets which interconnect the links of the arrangement, the manufacturing tolerances in an apparatus of this type must be kept very tight, otherwise the link arrangement can tend to eventually cam out at the closure member.

In an attempt to obviate or mitigate the wear problems, it has been proposed to provide for surface-to-surface contact between the first link and the closure member. This has been achieved in a variety of ways, but in each case there has inevitably been produced a single handed apparatus which then leads to the problem of storage and installation as referred to above.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component and a second member for pivotally mounting the first member on a third member, the latter being adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the third member comprising a track which has a closure member at one end, the closure member providing a pair of cam surfaces angularly offset from one another, and the first member of the link arrangement providing a pair of guide surfaces so profiled that, when the link arrangement is moved to the closed position from an open position on either side of the track, a respective one of the guide surfaces engages in face-to-face relation with a corresponding one of the cam surfaces.

Preferably each of the cam surfaces of the closure member faces towards a respective side of the track, and the cam surfaces may be disposed one above the other on the track.

Each of the cam surfaces may extend at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the track and at least the lower cam surface may be radiussed.

Preferably also the first member has one end face angled relative to the longitudinal dimension thereof to provide one of the guide surfaces, and has an additional part mounted at said one end, the additional part having a corresponding end face angled relative to the longitudinal dimension of the first member to provide the other of the guide surfaces. Each of the latter may extend at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the first member and face towards a respective side thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a plan view of a window support apparatus shown in partly open position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from one side of the apparatus in the partly open position of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the window support apparatus of Fig. 1 in a closed position; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus from the other side.

Referring to the drawings, a window support apparatus in the form of a friction stay comprises an open topped track 10 having inturned upper walls 12, the track 10 being fixed on a lower horizontal part of a window frame (not shown) by means of any suitable fixing devices engaged through apertures 14 in the base of the track 10. A further track (not shown) is inverted and secured to a horizontal upper member of the window frame.

The window sash (not shown) is fixed at opposed edges to a respective elongate member 16 forming part of a link arrangement. The member 16, at a location intermediate of its ends is pivotally mounted on one end of an elongate pivot member 18, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 towards one end thereof. At the end remote from the pivot member 18, the support member 16 is pivotally mounted on one end of a link 20, the other end of the latter being pivotally mounted on a slider 22 which is slidably located in the track 10. The slider 22 also pivotally mounts one end of a further link 24, the other end of the link 24 being pivotally mounted on the pivot member 18. The latter is stepped along its length to provide a raised section 26 on which the link 24 is mounted, so as to provide clearance for the link 24 in the closed position.

At the end remote from the pivot mounting for the pivot member 18, the track 10 is closed by a member 30. The latter is mounted on the track 10 by any suitable means and overlies the track end, being of the same width as the track 10.

On the side facing towards the track, the closure member 30 is profiled to present a pair of cam surfaces 32,34, the former extending across the track 10 immediately thereabove, and the latter also extending across the track 10 but above the cam surface 32. The cam surface 32 is radiussed to be slightly convex inwardly of the track 10, while the surface 34 is generally planar. Each of the cam surfaces 32,34 extends at an angle of substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the track 10 with the surface 32 facing towards one side of the track and the surface 34 facing towards the other side, whereby the surfaces 32,34 are at substantially right angles to one another.

The end of the support member 16 which extends towards the closure member 30 is formed with an angled end face 36 which extends at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the support member 16. An additional component 38 is mounted at the same end of the support member 16 below the latter and between the latter and the link 20. The component 38 also has an angled end face 40 substantially complementary to the cam surface 32 and at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the support member 16. The end faces 36,40 face towards opposite sides of the support member 16 and extend across one another forming a substantially right angle therebetween.

In use, the support member 16 may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a closed position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the support member 16 overlies the pivot member 18 and the links 20,24, the latter in turn overlying the track 10.

It will be appreciated that in the closed position=the window supported by the link arrangement is also closed, while the window with the link arrangement can be moved to the open position as shown in Fig. 1 or further to enable both sides of the window to be accessible from the one side of the window frame. The angular extent of opening the window is limited by a stop 42 formed in the base of the track 10. In moving to the closed position the end face 36 of the support member 16 engages in a face-to-face relation with the cam surface 34 and thereby guides the link arrangement into a correctly aligned closed position, in which the end face 36 extends parallel with and alongside the cam surface 34 while the end face 40 lies parallel to and alongside the cam surface 32.The window can be retained in any desired angular position principally due to friction engagement between the slider 22 and the track 10, the slider 22 having any suitable friction configuration.

It will be appreciated that the link arrangement can move to the other side of the track 10. Movement from the open position on that other side to the closed position is guided by the end face 40 initially contacting the cam surface 32 of the closure member 30. Therefore the component is doublehanded, enabling storage by a supplier of only one design and avoiding problems otherwise encountered with incorrect use of single-handed components.

The surface-to-surface contact of the end faces of the support member 16 with the cam surfaces of the closure member 30 avoids undue wear and thus allows increased manufacturing tolerances without risking camming out at the end closure member.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the components of the link arrangement and the construction of the operative end of the support member, as well as the construction of the end closure member, and profiles of the cam surface and the guide surface, may differ from that described and shown.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component and a second member for pivotally mounting the first member on a third member, the latter being adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the third member comprising a track which has a closure member at one end, the closure member providing a pair of cam surfaces angularly offset from one another, and the first member of the link arrangement providing a pair of guide surfaces so profiled that, when the link arrangement is moved to the closed position from an open position on either side of the track, a respective one of the guide surfaces engages in face-to-face relation with a corresponding one of the cam surfaces.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the cam surfaces of the closure member faces towards a respective side of the track.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cam surfaces are disposed one above the other on the track.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least the lower cam surface is radiussed.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the cam surfaces extends at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the track.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first member has one end face angled relative to the longitudinal dimension thereof to provide one of the guide surfaces, and has an additional part mounted at said one end, the additional part having a corresponding end face angled relative to the longitudinal dimension of the first member to provide the other of the guide surfaces.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the guide surfaces extends at substantially 450 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the first member and faces towards a respective side thereof.

8. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a. fixture opening, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.