GB2335701A

GB2335701A - A reinforced pivot.

Info

Publication number: GB2335701A
Application number: GB9806405A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nishal Pravitha Mar Wijesinghe
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-25
Filing date: 1998-03-25
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-25
Also published as: GB2335701B; GB9806405D0

Abstract

A reinforced pivot consists of a reinforcing element 21 that locates in the track 3 of a window stay support. A stay arm 7 is attached to the element and the track by a fastening 23, and a screw 43 may also be used to fix the assembly to the window frame. A stop 41, accommodated in cut-out 39, may be provided on the element to abut the stay arm. In addition, a plastics bearing 25 may be present to reduce wear on the link and element.

Description

1 A REINFORCED PIVOT 2335701 The present invention relates to pivots, and

in particular to a reinforced pivot for a hinge or stay, such as a four bar hinge. The reinforced pivot can, - however, be used in any other device, as appropriate.

Known four bar hinges have, in general, tended to occupy the cheaper end of the market and, as a result, have tended to be very basic in design. Indeed, a typical four bar hinge for a window simply comprises two elongate brackets attached to each other by means of two links or struts which are pivoted at each end. One of the brackets is for attachment to a fixed frame of a vent and the other of the brackets is for attachement to a sash of the vent. In use, the sash can be moved from a position closing the opening of the vent to a position in which the vent is open.

It is also well known to use a rivet to connect two components of a window hinge together. Since the 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. Such a pivot experiences significant sideways forces during movement of a sash mounted on the hinge. As a result, the prior art rivet has been kept as short as possible, with the link and bracket positioned as close as possible to each other to reduce the forces acting about the pivot.

The present applicant is currently proposing to use a track, possibly with a C-shaped cross-section, as the bracket for attachment to a fixed frame. This would be in accordance with other known types of hinge, such as quadrilateral linkage friction stays, which incorporate a slider within a track. If a track is used, however, the base of the track needs to be raised by indentation towards the link, so that the track is brought close to the link, thereby enabling a rivet to join the two components together. Clearly this adds cost to the product because an extra manufacturing step is needed without providing any potential advantage.

The applicants have therefore devised a novel alternative which provides a distinct advantage, namely improved pivot strength.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reinforced pivot for a hinge, the hinge comprising a track and a link pivotally attached to the 2 track, wherein a fastening device passes between the track and the link through a reinforcing device within the track to attach the link to the track. By including the reinforcing device, which may be a simple metal block which abuts an inside surface of the track, extra strength is provided to the pivot.

Although the track may be formed from a variety of different crosssections, the most common section used for hinges by the present applicant is a C-shaped cross-section. As a result, this is preferred in the present case.

The track preferably defines inwardly facing flanges for assisting in retaining the reinforcing device within the track. These inwardly facing flanges may form part of the C-shaped cross-section of the track.

At least one of the flanges includes a cut-out for accommodating the reinforcing device. This is particularly relevant when the reinforcing device includes a stop for the link. If a stop is included, it will preferably extend through the cut-out above the track for engagement by the link when the hinge is fully open.

From a commercial point of view, cut-outs may be provided in both flanges of the C-shaped cross-section, so that the track is not handed and can be used with both fight and left handed hinges.

The or each cut-out preferably extends from the free edge of the flange to the adjacent side wall of the track, thereby allowing the reinforcing device to abut both side walls of the track when the reinforcing device is situated in the track. Increased reinforcement is thereby provided.

Although the reinforcing device could be manufactured from many materials, steel is one of the most preferred. Further, although not essential, a stop, if included, is preferably formed integrally with the remainder of the reinforcing device.

The fastening device is preferably a rivet which passes through the track and the link.

The reinforcing device may also include an aperture for receiving a fixing device to attach the track (and hence the hinge) to a frame. The fixing device may be a screw which secures the reinforcing device and the track to a fixed frame.

3 A bearing device is preferably provided between the link and the track. By including a bearing device, unwanted wear which may occur between the metal link and the metal track can be avoided.

The bearing device, if included, is preferably manufactured from plastics material, such as nylon. Further, the bearing device preferably includes an integral block to position the device relative to the track. More particularly, the block of the bearing device may be received between the flanges of the track.

The present invention further provides hinges, such as four bar hinges or stays, which incorporate at least one reinforced pivot as described herein.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a pivot of a hinge, the method comprising entering a reinforcing device into a track through a cut-out in a flange of the track, positioning a link adjacent the reinforcing device and securing a fastening device through the reinforcing device between the track and the link. By including a cut-out in the flange, the reinforcing device can be entered directly into position in the track rather than having to be entered into the track from one end and slid along the track to the required position. Simpler assembly is thereby achieved.

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 hinge incorporating a reinforced pivot according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the reinforced pivot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the reinforced pivot, but with the bearing device removed for clarity; Figure 4 shows a reinforcing device being entered into a track during assembly of a reinforced pivot according to the present invention; and Figures 5a and 5b are respectively a plan view and a side view of the reinforcing device for use in a pivot according to the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a four bar hinge 1 comprises a C-shaped cross-section track 3 which acts as a mounting bracket for attaching the hinge 1 4 to a fixed frame (not shown), a vent arm 5 for attachment to a sash (not shown) of a vent and a pair of links 7,9 each pivotally attached to each of the track 3 and the vent arm 5. The links 7,9 are pivotally attached to the vent arm 5 by simple rivets 11,13.

Although the link 9 may be attached to the track 3 using a reinforced pivot according to the present invention, this is not essential and the. link 9 can be attached to the track 3 by a rivet 15 in a known way with a bearing surface 17 provided between the link 9 and the track 3.

Turning now to the reinforced pivot 19 according to the present invention, this joins the link 7 to the track 3 as shown in the figures. More particularly, the reinforced pivot 19 comprises the track 3, a reinforcing device 21, the link 7 and a fastening device 23 such as a rivet which passes through the track 3, the reinforcing device 21 and the link 7 to join the link 7 to the track 3. In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, a bearing device 25 is also provided between the link 7 and the track 3 to prevent unnecessary wear between the link 7 and the track 3. Once again, the bearing device 25, which comprises a sheet 27 of plastics material with an integral block 29 for positioning the bearing device 25 relative to the track 3, is held in position by the rivet 23 which passes through an aperture 31 in the plastics sheet 27.

As can be seen clearly in Figure 2, the track 3 has a C-shaped cross section with a base 33, side walls 35 and inwardly extending flanges 37. A cut out 39 is provided in each flange 37 to accommodate a stop 41 of the reinfo rcing device 21, In use, the stop 41 extends above the track 3 and provides an abutment A against which a portion B of the link 7 abuts when the hinge 1 is fully open as shown in Figure 1.

To enter the reinforcing device 21 into the track 3, the reinforcing device 21 approaches the track 3 as shown in Figure 4 such that a portion of the reinforcing device 21 is received under a flange 37 of the track 3 and the stop 41 is accommodated within a cut-out 39. When in position, the reinforcing device 21 abuts both sides walls 35 of the track 3, thereby providing a rigid and secure reinforcement for the rivet 23.

As will be appreciated, assembly of the reinforced pivot 19 according to the present invention is extremely simple because the reinforcing device 21 can be entered into the track 3 at its desired position, rather than needing to be slid from one end of the track into position. Further, the beadrig device 25 and the link 7 can simply be positioned above the track 3 overlying the reinforcing device 21 such that the rivet 23 can be applied through each of the components to hold them in position. A screw 43 can then be applied through an oval aperture 45 in the reinforcing device 21 and a circular aperture 47 in the base 33 of the track 3 to attach the hinge 1 to a fixed frame (not shown).

By including the reinforcing device 21 in the track 3 with the stop 41 extending through the cut-out 39, an extremely secure mount is provided for the dvet 23. Further, due to the stop passing though the cut-out 39 and the reinforcing device 21 bearing against both sides walls 35 of the track 3, the stop 41 can accommodate significant loads applied to the link 7 when the hinge 1 is fully open. Indeed, much of the tortional force applied to the link 7 is transferred by the stop 41 to the reinforcing device 21, and hence to the side walls 35 of the track 3. The inclusion of the screw 43 securing the reinforcing device 21 to the fixed frame also assists in transferring any loads to the fixed frame.

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.

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Claims

1. A reinforced pivot for a hinge, the hinge comprising a track and a link pivotally attached to the track, wherein a fastening device passes between the track and the link through a reinforcing device within the track to attach the link to the track.

2. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track has a C-shaped crosssection.

3. A pivot as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the track defines inwardly facing flanges for retaining the reinforcing device within the track.

4. A pivot as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the flanges includes a cut- out for accommodating the reinforcing device.

5. A pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing device includes a stop for the link.

6. A pivot as claimed in claim 5, wherein the link abuts the stop when the hinge is fully open.

7. A pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing device is manufactured from metal.

8. A pivot as claimed in claim 7, wherein the metal is steel.

9. A pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening device is a rivet which passes through the track and the link.

10. A pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing device includes an aperture for receiving a fixing device to attach the track to a fixed frame.

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11. A pivot as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a bearing device between the link and the track.

s

12. A pivot as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bearing device is manufactured from plastics material.

13. A pivot as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the bearing device includes an integral block to position the device relative to the track.

14. A reinforced pivot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A hinge including at least one reinforced pivot according to any preceding claim.

16. A hinge as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hinge is a four bar hinge.

17. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with referdrice to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of assembling a pivot of a hinge, the method comprising: entering a reinforcing device into a track through a cut-out in a flange of the track, 25 positioning a link adjacent the reinforcing device and securing a fastening device through the reinforcing device between the track and the link.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the track has a C-shaped 30 cross-section.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the fastening device is a rivet.

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21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein a bearing device is held by the fastening device between the link and the track.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the reinforcing device includes a stop against which the link bears when the hinge is fully open.

23. A method of assembling a pivot of a hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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