GB2279993A

GB2279993A - Improvements in window hinges

Info

Publication number: GB2279993A
Application number: GB9400015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Crowder
Original assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Current assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Priority date: 1993-07-16
Filing date: 1994-01-04
Publication date: 1995-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-04
Also published as: GB2279993B; GB9400015D0; GB9314770D0

Abstract

A window hinge of the kind in which a pantograph-type linkage (18 to 28) pivotally interconnects between an openable vent and sliders (12, 14, 16) constrained by a base slide (10) for fixing to one side of the window frame which slide has slots 30 for allowing longitudinal adjustment when mounting the slide on the frame, wherein the base slide has a head (32) at one end which is integrally formed with a pin (34) for engaging into a hole in the adjacent second side of the window frame. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Window Hinges This invention relates to a window hinge.

Modern window hinges, especially for PVCU windows, comprise a pantograph-like arrangement having a base slide which fixes to the main frame, a slider movable along the base slide and arms, pivotally connecting between the slider and the opening vent, which enable the vent to pivot about an axis which moves parallel to itself during the opening and closing movements. Such a window hinge is referred to hereinafter as a window hinge of the kind described.

In a hinge of the kind described, the base slide fixes to the main frame by means of two or more fixing screws.

The screws generally pass through slots in the base slide to enable a degree of longitudinal adjustment of the base slide relative to the frame, thereby to enable the vent to be correctly positioned and aligned in the frame.

If an intruder attempts to break open the window, a common practice is to force an implement such as a spade between the frame and the vent with a view to levering the vent out of its opening. Under the shear force thus applied to the base slide fixing screws, it is possible for these screws to break away from the frame.

The base slide is invariably screwed to a first side of the opening in the frame in a position to extend away from one corner of the opening, and in an endeavour to overcome the above-described security problem, it is known to form the end of the base slide as a right-angled bracket, or to fix a right-angled bracket to the end of the base slide, so that the bracket can be screwed to an adjacent second side of the frame perpendicular to the first side.

However, the problem then exists that the base slide loses its capability for longitudinal adjustment.

According to the present invention, there is provided a window hinge of the kind described wherein the base slide secures to one side of the frame with facility for longitudinal adjustment and at one end adjacent a corner of the vent opening the base slide carries a pin or dowel which in use engages into a hole in the adjacent second side of the frame with a depth of engagement greater than the range of longitudinal adjustment of the base slide.

Preferably the base slide is formed at the relevant end with a solid head from which the pin or dowel projects in a direction parallel to the length of the base slide.

Most preferably, the pin or dowel is a relatively close fit in the hole in the frame.

The arrangement according to the invention substantially increases the security of the window since, when an attempt is made to lever the vent out of its opening in the frame, the applied leverage is mainly transmitted to the pin or dowel as a sideways force directed into the body of the frame.

The invention also extends to a window having an opening vent carried by a hinge as above defined, wherein the frame is provided with an aperture adjacent one corner of the vent opening for receiving the pin or dowel on the base slide of the hinge.

In a hinge of the kind described, the arms of the pantograph-like arrangement fold over one another to lie parallel to one another directly over the base slide and slider when the vent is closed. It is known for one of the arms, at the relevant end, to be provided with a pointed termination and for the base slide to be provided with an end cap having a V-shaped recess into which the pointed termination engages in the fully closed position of the vent. This effectively locks the end of the arm to the end cap, which is effectively fixed to the window frame via the base slide.

Nevertheless, the lateral force applied when an attempt is made to lever the vent out of the window opening can cause the pointed termination to spring out of the end cap.

According to a further feature of the invention, the end of the arm is provided with a hook-like termination, the solid head provided on the base slide has a recess for receiving the said termination, and the wall of the recess has a groove into which the hook-like termination is received if the window is laterally displaced due to an attempt to lever the vent out of the window opening.

It is thereby made more difficult to spring the termination of the arm out of the head.

The effectiveness of the arrangement is dependent to some extent on the inherent strength of the arm and the solid head on the base slide. Preferably the arm is made of austeflitic stainless steel and the head, together with an integral pin or dowel, is die cast of metal alloy.

The window hinge in accordance with the invention is now exemplified in the following description, making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a hinge in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the corner region of a window frame opening and the adjacent part of the fitted hinge, assuming the vent to be partly open; Figure 3 again shows the corner region of a window frame opening and the adjacent part of the hinge, assuming the vent to be closed; Figure 4 shows the corner region of a window frame opening in cross-section, together with the adjacent part of the hinge, assuming an applied lateral force resulting from an endeavour to lever the vent out of the frame; and Figure 4A is an enlarged detail of the circled area of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a hinge comprising a base slide 10, sliders 12, 14, 16 slidable within a channel 17 in the base slide, and a pantographlike arrangement of arms including a long arm 18 which at one end is adapted to be fixed to a window vent. Arms 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 pivotally interconnnect the long arm 18 with the sliders 12, 14, 16.

The base slide 10 is adapted by means of slots 30 to be fixed to one side 31A of a window frame 31 with a degree of longitudinal adjustment (see also Figures 2 and 3).

In practice, one end of the base slide 10 is positioned adjacent a corner of the window frame opening and, in accordance with the invention, this end of the base slide is provided with a solid head 32, die cast of metal alloy, which has an integral pin 34 for location as a relatively close fit into an aperture 35 provided in the adjacent second side 31B of the window frame 31 (again also see Figures 2 and 3).

The depth of the aperture 35 in the frame and the length of the pin 34 are such that the pin is always engaged securely into the aperture, regardless of any longitudinal adjustment of the base slide necessary to ensure proper fitting of the vent into the window frame opening.

In the closed position of the vent shown in Figure 3, the arms of the hinge lie parallel to one another directly over the base slide 10. In a manner in itself known, the inner end of the long arm 18 has a termination 36 which locks into a recess 37 in the solid head 32 in the closed position of the vent.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, in the present hinge the termination 36 is in the form of a flat hook-like projection which engages into the recess 37, and the side wall of this recess is provided with a groove 38 (see Figure 2).

The effect of this is shown in Figures 4 and 4A, wherein the arrow 40 indicates the effect of a lateral force applied as a result of an attempt to lever the vent out of the window frame.

The applied leverage is principally transmitted to the pin 34 as a sideways force directed into the body of the window frame, thus increasing security because it is substantially more difficult to break the base slide away from the frame.

Additionally, however, there is a risk when a lateral force 40 is applied that the inner end of the long arm 18 will be sprung out of the recess 37 in the head 32. In the present hinge, this risk is substantially reduced because, in the presence of such an applied force, the hook-like projection 36 engages into the groove 38 in the side wall of the recess 37 in the solid head 32, as will be clear from Figures 4 and 4A in particular.

The degree of additional security provided is to an extent dependent on the inherent strength of the parts involved and, in addition to die casting the head 32 of metal alloy, it is preferred to manufacture at least the long arm 18 of austenitic stainless steel.

Claims

1. A window hinge of the kind hereinbefore defined wherein the base slide secures to one side of the frame with facility for longitudinal adjustment and at one end adjacent a corner of the vent opening the base slide carries a pin or dowel which in use engages into a hole in the adjacent second side of the frame with a depth of engagement greater than the range of longitudinal adjustment of the base slide.

2. A window hinge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base slide is formed at the relevant end with a solid head from which the pin or dowel projects in a direction parallel to the length of the base slide.

3. A window hinge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pin or dowel is a relatively close fit in the hole in the frame.

4. A window hinge according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arms of the pantograph-like arrangement fold over one another to lie parallel to one another directly over the base slide and slider when the vent is closed.

5. A window hinge according to claim 4, wherein one of the arms, at the relevant end, is provided with a pointed termination and the base slide is provided with an end cap having a V-shaped recess into which the pointed termination engages in the fully closed position of the vent.

6. A window hinge according to claim 5, wherein the end of the arm is provided with a hook-like termination, the solid head provided on the base slide has a recess for receiving the said termination, and the wall of the recess has a groove into which the hook-like termination is received if the window is laterally displaced due to an attempt to lever the vent out of the window opening.

7. A window hinge as claimed in claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto, in which the solid head is die cast of metal alloy.

8. A window hinge as claimed in claim 5 or any claim appendant thereto, wherein the arm carrying the termination is made of austenitic stainless steel.

9. A window having an opening vent carried by a hinge according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the frame is provided with an aperture adjacent one corner of the vent opening for receiving the pin or dowel on the base slide of the hinge.

10. A window hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 4A of the accompanying drawings.