IL98049A - Hinge assembly - Google Patents

Description

Hinge assembly ARPAL ALUMINUM LTD. n"sa D1 J>01^K ^QIN C: 8301^ FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns hinge assemblies for use with swingable windows and doors, and aims at improving the tightness of such hinges against air draught.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the following description and claims, swingable doors and windows will be referred to collectively as "swingable closing units" and a door and window frame will be referred to as "frame".

Hinge assemblies of the kind specified comprise one or more aligned first and second bearings attached to an edge of the swingable closing unit and to the frame respectively, an axle journalled therein and a plastic bushing sleeve mounted on the axle to minimize friction and wear between the axle and the bearing rotating thereon.

In order to reduce friction between the bearings rotating relative to each other, there is, moreover, provided between each first and second bearings an annular washer of a soft material such as plastic, mounted on the axle. The provision of such functionally necessary washers, spaces the first and second bearings from each other, thereby increasing the interstice between the two which in consequence is prone to admit air draughts from the outside.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide hinge assemblies of the kind specified with an improved washer adapted to seal the interstice between said first and second bearings and thereby tighten the assembly against air draughts.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hinge assembly of the kind specified comprising at least one first bearing for mounting on. an edge of a swingable closing unit, at least one second bearing for mounting on a frame to which said swingable closing unit is to be hinged in alignment with said first bearing, an axle journalled in said first and second bearings and a washer in the interstices between each pair of first and second bearings, characterized in that the washer comprises an integral, eccentrically projecting tongue designed to penetrate into a cavity of the frame whereby the passage of air through each of said interstices is obstructed.

The shape of the washer tongue may be adapted to particular bearing designs and its. length must be so measured as to penetrate sufficiently into said cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For better understanding the prior art and the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the annexed drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a prior art hinge assembly of the kind specified; -3- 98049/2 Fig. 2 is an elevation of a similar assembly designed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is an elevation of another embodiment of a prior art hinge assembly of the kind specified; Fig. 4 is an elevation of a similar hinge assembly designed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a front view, partly in section, of a hinge assembly according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the hinge assembly of Fig. 5 with the axle and bushing removed; and Fig. 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Attention is first directed to Figs. 1 and 3 which show prior art hinge assemblies of the kind specified. The assembly of Fig. 1 comprises first and second bearings 1 and 2 connected, respectively, to a window sash 3 and a window frame 4 with a rubber seal 5 being secured to the edge of either the window or the frame so as to prevent air draughts when the window is closed. A washer 6 is mounted on the axle (not shown) of the hinge assembly so as to minimize the friction between bearings 1 and 2. However, as shown, the washer 6 stops short of the frame 4 leaving an opening 7 through which an air draught may penetrate.

The prior art hinge assembly of Fig. 3 comprises two first bearings 8 mounted on a window frame 10 and two second bearings 9 mounted on a window sash 11, a rubber seal 12 and three washers 13 mounted on the axle (not shown) of the hinge assembly between each pair of first and second bearings 8 and 9.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and 4 in which the same numerals are used as respectively in Figs. 1 and 3 and which show corresponding hinge assemblies of the kind specified, made in acx»rdance with the present invention. It is seen that here the washers 6' and 13' -fill out completely the interstices between the first and second bearings, leaving no gaps for air draught to penetrate.

The design of a hinge assembly according to the invention of the kind shown in Fig. 2 will now be described with reference to Figs. 5-8.

The hinge assembly here shown comprises a first bearing 15 with an integral bracket 16, a second bearing 17 with an integral bracket 18, an axle 19, a bushing 20, a washer 21 with an integral tongue 22 and first and second sealing caps 23 and 24. For securing the bearings to the edge of a swingable unit and the frame, respectively, there are provided screws 25 and nuts 26.

By referring to Figs. 6-8 it is seen that the first bearing 15 is mounted on a swingable closing unit 28 and the second bearing 17 is mounted on a frame 27. A rubber seal 29 extending above and below the hinge assembly is secured either to frame 27 or swingable closing unit 28 to provide adequate sealing when the swingable closing unit is closed. Axle 19 is snugly inserted within bushing 20 and the latter is snugly inserted in bearing 17 and penetrates loosely into bearing 15 so that the closing unit 28 is freely swingable. The washer 21 is located between bearings 15 and 17 with tongue 22 penetrating into a cavity 30 of frame 28.

As can be seen, the frame 27 and the swingable closing unit 28 are made of hollow profiles, e.g. of aluminium as known per se and the rubber seal 29 is located within a channel 31 in frame 28. As seen in Fig. 7, tongue 22 of washer 21 (not shown in Fig. 8) penetrates into cavity 30 of frame 28 and in this manner the hinge assembly according to the invention is rendered essentially airtight.

It is readily understood that the teachings of the present invention are applicable mutatis mutandis to hinge assemblies which comprise two or more pairs of first and second bearings.

Claims (2)

-5- 98049/2 CLAIMS:

1. A hinge assembly for use- with swingable windows and doors of the kind comprising at least one first bearing for mounting on an edge of a swingable closing unit, at least one second bearing for mounting on a frame, to which said swingable closing unit is to be hinged in alignment with said first bearing, an axle journalled in said first and second bearings, and a washer in the interstice between each pair of first and second bearings, characterized in that the washer comprises an integral tongue designed to penetrate into a cavity of the frame, whereby the passage of air through each of said interstices is abstructed.

2. For use in a hinge assembly according to claim 1, a washer comprising an integral, eccentrically projecting tongue. For the Applicants DR. REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS By: 83014spc.MC/prg/1.5.91