GB2296742A

GB2296742A - Window hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2296742A
Application number: GB9526320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Christopher Webster
Original assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Current assignee: Anglian Windows Ltd
Priority date: 1995-01-06
Filing date: 1995-12-22
Publication date: 1996-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-22
Also published as: GB9526320D0; GB2296742B

Abstract

In a window hinge of the type having a base arm for fixing to the main frame of a window, a vent arm for fixing to a vent frame and an articulated linkage interconnecting the two arms, the vent arm 12 incorporates means for sliding relative to the vent frame 30 with a degree of friction sufficient, after the base arm has been fixed to the main frame, to enable the vent frame to be displaced relative to the main frame into a position which will ensure correct operation of fittings at the edge of the vent frame opposite the hinge, and then hold the vent frame firmly until the arm 12 is permanently secured to the vent frame. The friction means may be a deformable separate block 34 or integral formation (42, Fig 5; 46, Fig 6) at the free end of the vent arm which can be tightened first to achieve the required degree of frictional sliding and then to achieve locking. In a further embodiment, the friction means comprises an integral T-shaped formation (56/58/60, Fig 7) at the free end and a deformable clip (62, Fig 8) at the other end of the vent arm. The hinge enables manufacturing tolerances to be taken up on the hinge side of the vent frame, to ensure correct operation of handle fittings and the like. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Window Hinges This invention relates generally to a window hinge, and in particular a window hinge of the kind having a base arm in use fined to the window frame, a vent arm in use fined to an opening vent, and a pivotal linkage interconnecting the base arm with the vent arm. In this kind of hinge, one link usually slidably attaches to the base arm, the friction between the base arm and the slider being employed to hold the vent in any desired partly open condition.

In the production of window units employing window hinges of the kind described, it is usual to manufacture the main frame of the window and the vent frame, secure the vent arm of the window hinge to the vent frame, and then fix the base arm to the main frame.

The result of this practice is that substantially all tolerances in manufacture of the two frames present themselves at the edge of the window opposite to the hinge or hinges, i.e. at the side of the window where the handle, locks, locking bars, and associated main frame fittings are provided or to be provided. As a result, it can be difficult to ensure that all these fittings properly cooperate with one another in the correct maimer.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this prohlem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a window hinge of the kind described, wherein the vent arm incorporates means for sliding relative to the vent frame with a degree of friction sufficient, after the base arm has been fixed to the main frame, to enable the vent frame to be displaced relative to the main frame into a position which will ensure correct operation of fittings at the edge of the vent frame opposite to the hinge, and then hold the vent frame firmly in the adjusted position until the vent arm is permanently secured to the vent frame.

The friction means may form an integral part of the vent arm, or may constitute one or more fittings provided thereon, or a combination of both.

First, two embodiments of vent stay will be mentioned wherein the friction means is constituted by a fitting attached to the arm.

In one embodiment, the fitting comprises a deformable block, preferably moulded of plastics material, which secures beneath the vent arm and, when the securing means is tightened to a predetermined extent, engages the vent frame with the required degree of friction, the securing means subsequently being tightened to deform the block into locking engagement with the vent frame. In this embodiment, the initial predetermined tightening of the securing means may be effected by means of a suitable limited torque tool.

In another embodiment, the fitting comprises a folded back arm or tab secured to the vent arm to underlie said arm and which can be tightened first to achieve the required degree of frictional sliding and then to achieve locking.

An embodiment in which the friction means forms an integral part of the arm will now be mentioned.

Conventionally, the vent arm locates in a longitudinal recess in the inwardly directed face of the vent frame. This recess is commonly undercut over the lower part of its depth.

in one embodiment employing an integral friction means, the free end of the vent arm is formed with an angled T-shaped portion which includes a cross-piece displaced from the principal plane of the vent arm, which cross-piece can be engaged beneath the lips of the undercut recess in the vent frame. When the main portion of the vent arm is located in the recess above the lips, the cross-piece of the angled T-shaped extension is caused to bear hard against the underside of the lips, also causing the end of the main portion adjoining the angled T-shaped portion to bear hard against the upper side of the lips, thereby generating the required friction to enable the vent frame to be displaced relative to the main frame and then hold the vent frame in the correct position of adjustment until the vent arm is securely fixed in place.

A deformable clip may be provided, at a position along the vent arm remote from its free end, to engage into the undercut recess and hold the main portion of the vent arm in the recess. Such a deformable clip, although preferable, is not essential, because when the assembler is fitting the vent frame into the main frame, the vent frame is of necessity held in a position in which the vent arm is forced down into the recess in the vent frame.

An advantage of the angled T-shaped portion at the free end of the vent arm is that it does not have to be inserted into the recess in the vent frame from the end of the recess. Initially, the cross-piece can be inserted beneath the undercut recess while the vent arm is held at an angle to the vent frame with the cross-piece extending parallel to the recess, the vent arm then being twisted through a right angle to engage the cross-piece beneath the lips, and finally the vent arm being turned towards the vent frame to locate its main portion in the recess, preferably being held in that position by engaging the deformable clip into the undercut recess.

The assembler rapidly becomes accustomed to fitting the vent arm to the vent frame in an initial position from which the extent of final adjustment required is relatively small.

The plane of the cross-piece of the angled T-portion may be parallel to that of the main portion of the vent arm, but preferably there is a small angle between the plane of the cross-piece and the plane of the main portion of the vent arm, such that the long edge of the cross-piece closer to the main portion hears against the underside of the lips of the undercut recess.

In another embodiment employing an integral friction means, the ahove-mentioned arm or tab is integrally formed with the vent arm instead of being separately formed and secured to the arm.

Preferably although not essentially, the fitting is always provided at the free end of the vent arm, i.e. the end of the vent arm nearest to the edge of the vent frame at which the handle and/or lock fittings are provided or to be provided.

Tightening means for the fitting may comprise a screw. When the vent arm is locked in position to the vent frame, it is preferable additionally to employ at least one self-tapping screw which engages through a preformed hole in the vent arm into the vent frame.

As already mentioned, the inwardly directed face of the vent frame is usually provided with a recess in which the vent arm is received and secured, and this recess is commonly undercut. An advantage of the first described embodiment of separatcly formed fitting, namely the moulded deformable plastics block, is that the block can be slid into the undercut recess and the vent arm, which usually does not engage beneath the lips of the undercut slot, secured on top of the block.

The embodiment haing an integral folded back arm or an integral tab requires the vent arm to he slid into the undercut recess in the inwardly-directed face of the vent frame, and this will usually also be the case with the second embodiment.

An embodiment of window hinge in accordance with the invention is now described hy way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure ] shows a typical window hinge of the kind described; Figure 2 shows part of a typical vent frame; Figures 3(a) and 3(b) repectively show the vent arm of the hinge and a friction fitting therefor in the form of a moulded plastics block; Figure 4 shows the vent frame and the vent arm secured thereto; Figures 5 and 6 show further possible embodiments of friction means; Figure 7 is a simplified perspective view of vent arm, incorporating another embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 shows the manner of fitting this vent arm to the vent frame; Figure 9 shows a detail of the same vent arm in side elevation; and Figure 10 is a diagram to assist understanding of the embodiment.

Referring first to Figure ], a typical window hinge of the kind described has a base arm 10 for fixing to the main frame of the window and a vent arm 12 for fixing to an opening vent. The arms 10 and 12 are interconnected by a parallelogram-type linkage comprising arms 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. The arms 14 and 20 connect to a slider 24 which is displaceable along the base arm when the vent is opened and closed, typically with a degree of friction sufficient to hold the vent in any selected partly open condition.

The vent arm 12 has holes 26, 28 hy which it normally secures to the inwardly directed face of the vent frame.

Part of a typical vent frame 30 is shown in Figure 2. The vent arm 12 is normally secured in position in the recess 32 in the inwardly-directed face of the frame. This recess 32 is normally undercut, but the vent arm 12 does not normally underlie the lips, so that it does not have to be entered endwise into the slot.

Figure 3(a) again shows the vent arm 12, in conjunction with a deformable block 34 moulded of plastics material. The block 34 has a body portion 36 and wings 38.

Figure 4 shows the vent arm 12 fitted to the recess 32 in the inwardly-directed face of the vent frame 30 through the intermediary of the deformable block 34, which is seated in the recess 32 beneath the free end of the vent arm and held in position by a securing screw 40, which passes through the hole 26 in the vent arm shown in Figure 1. This screw 40 is initially tightened sufficiently and to a predetermined extent, as by use of a limited torque screwdriver, that the block 34 and vent arm 12 can he displaced longitudinally relative to the vent frame 30, but with a high degree of friction.

Thus, assuming the base arm 10 of the window hinge to be fixed to the main frame of the window, it remains possible to displace the vent frame 30 relative to the main frame so that tolerances arising in manufacture of the two frames are not transferred to the edge of the vent frame opposite to the hinge, where the handle, lock, locking bars, etc. are required relatively precisely to cooperate with fittings provided for the purpose on the main frame. When the vent frame is in its correct position relative to the main frame, the securing screw 40 can he fully tightened to press down on the block and deform the wings 38 so that they lock in the recess 32. A self-tapping screw is also inserted through the hole 28 at the other end of the vent arm to ensure fixing of the vent arm 12 to the vent frame 30 in the correct position.It is thereby ensured that the vent frame handle, lock, locking bars, etc. will reliably, properly and accurately cooperate with the fittings provided on the main frame.

Figure 5 shows one alternative kind of friction fitting for use in place of the friction block 34. This comprises a folded back arm or tab 42 at the free end of the vent arm 12, the arm and tab having aligned holes 44 to receive a securing screw. As a result of tightening the screw, the folded back end of the vent arm 12 is increasingly deformed, first to enable the arm to be secured in a friction-tight condition in which it is possible to adjust the position of the vent frame relative to the main frame, and second to lock the vent arm in the adjusted position of the vent frame.

The embodiment of Figure 6 is functionally similar to that of Figure 5, but the folded back arm or tab 42 is replaced by a separately formed element 46 hooked to the free end of the vent arm 12.

In the embodiments above-described, it is preferred but not essential for the friction fitting to be at the free end of the vent arm. The second and third embodiments have the minor disadvantage that the vent arm requires to be fined endwise into the recess in the inwardly-directed face of the vent frame. These same embodiments have the possible advantage, however, that the friction fitting can more readily be incorporated by the window hinge manufacturer, as distinct from the window frame manufacturer and window assembler.

Another and possibly preferred construction of vent arm 12 is shown in simplified form in Figure 7.

The end 50 of the vent arm 12 is articulated to the other arm of the hinge. At its free end 52, also shown in elevation in Figure 9, the vent arm 12 is formed with an angled T-portion 54 having a cross-piece 56. The angle of the stem 58 connecting the cross-piece 56 to the end 52 of the arm may be ahout 25 to 30 degrees, whilst the plane of the cross-piece 56 preferably but not essentially lies at a small angle, a few degrees, to the plane of the main portion of the arm, such that the long edge 60 of the cross-piece is disposed closer to the plane of the main portion.

The manner in which the vent arm 12 is fitted to a vent frame 30 is shown in Figure 8. First, it should he recalled that conventionally this vent frame 30 is formed on its inwardly directed face with a longitudinal recess 34, undercut over the lower part of its depth. The recess 34 is thus formed with lips 34A beneath which the recess is undercut.

The vent arm 12 is first held at a large angle, e.g. 90 degrees, to the frame 30 with the cross-piece 56 extending parallel to the longitudinal recess 34, as indicated at A in Figure 8. The vent arm 12 is then twisted to engage the cross-piece 56 beneath the lips 34A of the recess. Finally, as indicated at B, the vent arm is turned down towards the frame eventually to attain the position shown at C.

Deformahle clip 62, which may be moulded as part of a plastics piece 64 conventionally provided on the vent arm, can he engaged into the undercut recess 34 to hold the vent arm in position close to the frame.

The condition then existing at the free end of the vent arm 12 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 10, where one lip 34A in the recess 34 is shown in cross-section. The stem 58 of the angled portion is passing between the clips and, on each side of the recess, the long edge of the cross-piece 56 is bearing hard against the underside of the lips 34A, as indicated at 66, whilst in consequence the adjacent end edge of the main portion of the arm 12 is hearing hard against the upper side of the lips, as indicated at 68. There thus exists relatively strong friction resisting longitudinal movement of the vent arm 12 relative to the vent frame 30.

When the workshop assembler is fitting the window vent into the main frame of the window, the hinge is secured to the vent frame at the vent arm, as above described. The hinge is then fixed, generally by screws, to the main frame. The assembler is now able to displace the vent frame relative to the main frame, as hy firmly tapping the vent frame, overcoming the friction generated at the position where the angled T-portion is engaged with the vent frame (the deformable clip slides relatively easily). The vent frame is displaced and adjusted in position so that the handle and lock fittings will correctly cooperate and operate with associated fittings on the main frame, at the side of the vent frame remote from the side at which the vent frame is hinged. Manufacturing tolerances are thus taken up on the hinge side, instead of at the handle and lock side, as is usual when the vent arm is permanently secured to the vent frame as the first assembly step.

The high friction at the angled T-section holds the vent frame in its correct position of adjustment until the vent arm is subsequently screwed to the vent frame, when the assembler is satisfied with the relative position of the vent frame and main frame. In Figures 7 and 8, the screw hole or holes provided in the vent arm to facilitate its final fixing to the vent frame are omitted. However, due to the strong frictional engagement of the free end of the vent arm with the vent frame, one screw fixing towards the end 50 of the vent arm is often a sufficient permanent fixing.

Claims

1. A window hinge of the kind described, wherein the vent arm incorporates means for sliding relative to the vent frame with a degree of friction sufficient, after the base arm has heen fixed to the main frame, to enable the vent frame to be displaced relative to the main frame into a position which will ensure correct operation of fittings at the edge of the vent frame opposite to the hinge, and then held the vent frame firmly in the adjusted position until the vent arm is permanently secured to the vent frame.

2. A window hinge according to claim 1, wherein the friction means is provided at the free end of the vent arm.

3. A window hinge according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the friction means is a fitting separately formed from the vent arm.

4. A window hinge according to claim 3, wherein the fitting comprises a deformable block which secures beneath the vent arm and, when the securing means is tightened to a predetermined extent, engages the vent frame with the required degree of friction, the securing means subsequently being tightened to deform the block into locking engagement with the vent frame.

5. A window hinge according to claim 3, wherein the fitting comprises a folded hack arm or tab secured to the vent arm to underlie said arm and which can be tightened first to achieve the required degree of frictional sliding and then to achieve locking.

6. A window hinge according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the friction means is integrally formed with the vent arm.

7. A window hinge according to claim 6, wherein the friction means comprises a folded hack arm or tab integral with the vent arm and underlying said vent arm, tightenahle first to achieve the required degree of frictional sliding and then to achieve final locking.

8. A window hinge according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein tightening means for the friction means comprises a screw.

9. A window hinge according to any of claims 1 to 8, including at least one selftapping screw which engages through a preformed hole in the vent arm into the vent frame.

10. A window hinge according to any of claims 1 to 9, in combination with a window frame provided with an undercut recess in which the vent arm is inserted and secured.

I1. A combination according to claims 4 and 10, wherein the plastics block engages into the undercut recess.

12. A combination according to claim 10 and claim 5 or claim 7, wherein the underlying arm or tab engages into the undercut recess.

13. A combination according to claims 6 and 10, wherein the integral friction means comprises, on the free end of the vent arm, an angled T-shaped portion which includes a cross-piece displaced from the principal plane of the vent arm, which cross-piece can he engaged beneath the lips of the undercut recess in the vent frame.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein, when the main portion of the vent arm is located in the recess ahove the lips, the cross-piece of the angled T shaped extension is caused to hear hard against the underside of the lips, also causing the end of the main portion adjoining the angled T-shaped portion to bear hard against the upper side of the lips, thereby generating the required friction to enable the vent frame to be displaced relative to the main frame and then hold the vent frame in the correct position of adjustment until the vent arm is securely fixed in place.

15. A combination according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein a deformable clip is provided, at a position along the vent arm remote from its free end, to engage into the undercut recess and hold the main portion of the vent arm in the recess.

16. A combination according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the plane of the cross-piece of the angled T-portion makes a small angle with the plane of the main portion of the vent arm, such that the long edge of the cross-piece closer to the main portion hears against the underside of the lips of the undercut recess.

17. A window hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 or Figure 6 or Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.