GB2320053A

GB2320053A - A friction pivot for a hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2320053A
Application number: GB9625100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Martin Baker
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-03
Filing date: 1996-12-03
Publication date: 1998-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-03
Also published as: GB9625100D0; GB2320053B

Abstract

A friction pivot 19 of a hinge 1, comprising a friction pad 25 between a link 7,9 of the hinge 1 and a support 3, a pivot member 11,15 acting between the link 7,9 and the support 3 to urge the link 7,9 into contact with the friction pad 25 and biasing means 21 which, following rotation of the link 7,9 about the pivot member 11,15 and resulting wear of the friction pad 25, continue to bias the link 7,9 into contact with the friction pad 25. Such a friction pivot continues to apply friction between a link 7,9 and a support 3 of a window hinge 1, for example, even after significant wear of the friction pad 25. The biassing means may be provided by resilient deformation of the support base 21 or a spring may be incorporated in the pivot member.

Description

HINGES This invention relates to hinges, and in particular to a friction pivot for a window hinge or the like.

It is well known to use a rivet to connect two components of a window hinge together. Since these components, in use, move relative to each other, with one component rotating about the pivot axis, it is also common practice to include a plastics washer between the two components. However, as a result of usage of the window hinge, the plastics washer begins to wear and the connection between the two component parts of the hinge can become loose. Furthermore, any friction between the component parts and the washer, which may be used to assist in positioning one of the components relative to the other, will begin to reduce as the washer is worn away.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a friction pivot which is a significant improvement over the known prior art as described above. In particular, a friction pivot according to the present invention continues to apply friction between the component parts mounted on the pivot even after significant usage of the window hinge.

More particulary, the present invention provides a friction pivot of a hinge, comprising a friction pad between a link of the hinge and a support, a pivot member acting between the link and the support to urge the link into contact with the friction pad and biasing means which, following rotation of the link about the pivot member and resulting wear of the friction pad, continue to bias the link into contact with the friction pad. As a result, friction continues to exist which acts against rotation of the link relative to the support, even after significant usage of the hinge.

In a preferred embodiment, a plastics washer acts between the pivot member and the link. This plastics washer may act between a head of the pivot member, which is preferably a rivet, and/or between the shaft of the pivot member and the link. If this latter option is the case, the plastics washer will have a cylindrical portion which surrounds a portion of the pivot member.

Preferably the support is resilient and acts as the biasing means. Other biasing means may, however, be used, if desired. For example, some form of resilient spring device may be incorporated in the pivot member which results in the link being continually biased into contact with the friction pad.

Preferably the support is a C-section channel. If so, the friction pad preferably bears against inwardly extending flanges of the channel. Other forms of support may, however, be used, although it is envisaged that the support will need to include a region where a portion of the friction pad is spaced from the support, so that biasing means can act to urge the link into contact with the friction pad.

In a preferred embodiment, the friction pad includes means for positioning the pad on the support. Such positioning means may comprise location lugs or a pair of walls which extend substantially perpendicularly to the friction pad. If this is the case, the friction pad can be manufactured by extrusion.

In any event, the friction pad is preferably manufactured from plastics material. A particularly preferred plastics material is acetal resin.

The support is preferably manufactured from metal, more preferably steel.

Although the present invention is applicable to any form of friction pivot, it is particularly applicable to friction pivots of window hinges. More particularly, the pivot can be used in a friction stay of the four bar type which has fixed pivot points on a support track.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a four bar stay incorporating two friction pivots according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line AA shown in Figure 1 of a friction pivot according to the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a four bar stay 1 comprises a support bar 3, a vent arm 5, a first link 7 and a third link 9. The first link 7 is pivotally attached by rivets 11,13 to the support bar 3 and the vent arm 5, and the third link 9 is similarly pivotally attached by rivets 15,17.

As shown in Figure 1, the four bar stay 1 (or hinge) is in an open position with the vent arm 5 spaced from and inclined to the support bar 3. Following closing of the hinge 1, the vent arm 5 is substantially aligned with and overlays the support bar 3 to close a window (not shown) mounted on the vent arm 5. Due to friction between the first link 7 and/or third link 9 and the support bar 3 and/or vent arm 5, the vent arm 5 can be held fairly firmly in an open position. In the prior art cases, however, this friction reduces following use of the hinge 1 and can result in the hinge 1 becoming loose, such that the vent arm 5 cannot be held firmly in an open position. The present invention overcomes this problem by virtue of friction pivots 19 between the support bar 3 and the first and third links 7,9, as shown more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings.

With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, the friction pivots 19 incorporate a stainless steel pivot member or rivet 11,15 which acts between a link 7,9 and a base 21 of the support bar 3. Further, the support bar 3 has a substantially C-shaped cross-section with a pair of inwardly extending flanges 23 which support a friction pad 25. The friction pad 25 is held in position on the support bar 3 by means of lugs or walls 27 which extend substantially parallel to the axis of the support bar 3 and substantially perpendicular to the friction pad 25, and engage in the opening between the flanges 23 of the support bar 3.

The rivet 11,15 passes through apertures in the link 7,9 and the friction pad 25, with the head 29 of the rivet retaining a plastics washer 31 between the head 29 and the link 7,9. By including the washer 31, wear between the head 29 of the rivet 11,15 and the link 7,9 is reduced.

During manufacturing of the friction pivot 19, pressure is applied to the rivet 11,15 such that the base 21 and/or the flanges 23 and/or the side walls of the support bar 3 are caused to deform resiliently. In the case of the base 21, this deformation is towards the link 7,9. Due to the resilience of the support bar 3, the head 29 of the rivet 11,15 is continuously urged, during use of the hinge, towards the base 21, thereby continually biasing the link 7,9 into contact with the friction pad 25. Thus, following use of the hinge 1, which results in wear of the friction pad 25, a significant degree of friction between the link 7,9 and the friction pad 25 will remain. This is a significant improvement over the prior art pivot mounts, because the hinge 1 will not become loose as has been found to be the case with some prior art arrangements.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A friction pivot of a hinge, comprising a friction pad between a link of the hinge and a support, a pivot member acting between the link and the support to urge the link into contact with the friction pad and biasing means which, following rotation of the link about the pivot member and resulting wear of the friction pad, continue to bias the link into contact with the friction pad.

2. A friction pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plastics washer acts between the pivot member and the link.

3. A friction pivot as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pivot member is a rivet.

4. A friction pivot as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plastics washer is held between a head of the rivet and the link.

5. A friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is resilient and acts as the biasing means.

6. A friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is a C-section channel.

7. A friction pivot as claimed in claim 6, wherein the friction pad bears against inwardly extending flanges of the support.

8. A friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the friction pad includes means for positioning the pad on the support.

9. A friction pivot as claimed in claim 8, wherein the positioning means comprise a pair of walls which extend substantially perpendicularly to the friction pad.

10. A friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the friction pad is manufactured from plastics material.

11. A friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is manufactured from metal.

12. A friction pivot of a hinge, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A hinge for a window, comprising a friction pivot as claimed in any preceding claim.

14. A hinge as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hinge is a four bar stay.