US3505762A

US3505762A - Lifting assembly for opening a hinged cover

Info

Publication number: US3505762A
Application number: US790592A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kiyoshi Sandow; George H Allen
Original assignee: Plasteco Inc
Current assignee: Plasteco Inc
Priority date: 1969-01-13
Filing date: 1969-01-13
Publication date: 1970-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1987-04-14

Description

April 14, 1970 KIYOSHI SANDOW ET AL 3,

LIFTING' ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING A HINGED COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1969 w 2% nAm a E 2 8 5 o @w KG Ma da PM"?! Mum & MaHLewA ATTORNEYS A ril 14, 1970 KIYOSHI' SANDOW ET AL 3,505,752

LIFTING ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING A HINGED COVER Filed Jan. 13, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I I I r l /(/ya Jfi/ Jan a aw Geo/ye A/Asvv INVENTORJ Magda Wham Maflhwl flTTORNE YS A ril 14, 1970 KIYOSHI SANDOW 3,505,7

LIFTING ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING A HINGED COVER Filed Jan. 13, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 g0.sfi/ Janc/ow GEO/:96 h. A//en INVENTORJ A5110 & Matthew! J TTORNE YS United States Patent US. Cl. 49--386 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lifting assembly separate from a skylight cover and a curb, or similar construction, but adapted to be attached thereto for opening or raising the cover relative to the curb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is skylights, heat and smoke vents, and similar installations wherein a cover is adapted to be pivoted to a curb or frame.

Various lifting or opening mechanisms have been used in the past for raising or opening a cover on a curb or other frame. Examples of such prior mechanisms are found in United States Patents Nos. 3,036,406; 2,923,226; 3,017,721; 2,137,751; and 3,251,158. With such structures, the forces of opening, from spring-loading or other wise, are concentrated at the points of connection of the lifting mechanism to the cover and the curb. Since such covers and curbs are often made of relatively light gauge aluminum, the concentration of forces with the prior mechanisms requires the entire curb or cover to be made of increased strength material, or extensive reinforcement of the curb is required.

Additionally, because the prior lifting mechanisms have been fabricated as a part of the cover and curb, rather than being made as a separate assembly, they have limited utility and it has been necessary to fabricate and assemble the lifting mechanism, the cover and the curb in the same plant and with fixed designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lifting assembly which is manufactured as a separate unit for attachment to the skylight, heat and smoke vent, or other installation for use. Such assembly provides for simplified fabrication and a stronger structure than in the prior lifting mechanisms. Further, the assembly of this invention distributes the loads or forces acting on the curb and cover during Opening and closing of the cover, and generally stiffens such curb and cover, to prevent bending or damage to the curb or cover even though they may be made of relatively light gauge aluminum. The lifting assembly may also be mounted on a cover and curb at a remote point from the place of its manufacture, and on covers and curbs of different constructions, because the lifting assembly is a unitary structure which may be readily placed upon and secured to the cover and curb by screws, bolts or other fastening means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 an isometric view of the lifting assembly of the present invention found on a typical skylight or heat and smoke vent, with the cover being in an open position relative to the curb;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the typical skylight or heat and smoke vent with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lifting assembly of this invention looking downwardly along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating in further detail the lifting assembly 3,505,762 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and particularly illustrating the lifting assembly in the closed position corresponding to the positions illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but reduced in size and illustrating the lifting assembly in the partially open position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the modified lifting assembly of FIG. 6, looking downwardly thereon as viewed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the modified lifting assembly of FIGS. 6 and 7, with such assembly illustrated in the partially open position; and

FIG. 9 is an isometric view, illustrating in detail a portion of the pivotal connection and lost motion rneans provided with either lifting assembly of FIGS. 6-8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the form of lifting assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings. Broadly, such lifting assembly A includes a curb attachment means C which is adapted to be mounted on and preferably secured to a curb or curb frame F of conventional construction. Additionally, the lifting assembly A includes a cover attachment means B which is normally connected to the curb attachment means C by a hinge H (FIGS. 3-5). The cover attachment means B is adapted to be mounted upon and preferably secured to a cover D which may be of conventional construction and which normally is formed with a transparent or skylight portion 10 (FIG. 2). A first lift arm 12 is pivotally connected to the cover attachment means B and extends to a resilient means or torque bar assembly R, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. A second lift arm 14 is pivotally connected to the curb attachment means C and is also connected to the resilient means or torque bar assembly R. In use, the apparatus A is moved from the first position or closed position (FIG. 4) wherein the

lift arms

12 and 14 are folded relative to each other to the second position or open position (FIG. 1) wherein the

lift arms

12 and 14 are in substantial alignment with each other by means of the force imparted from the resilient means R, as will be more fully explained.

Considering the invention more in detail, it should first be understood that the curb or curb frame F and the cover D therewith are merely exemplary and are not disclosed by way of limitation since the apparatus A may be used thereon and on various other types of similar constructions. Typically, the curb or curb frame F is made of aluminum which is extruded or otherwise shaped so as to have a side wall formed in four

sections

15, 16, 17 and 18. As will be well understood, wood framing and additional structure may be incorporated or attached to the curb or curb frame F in any known manner and such curb or curb frame F is disposed in a suitable location such as on a roof, a building or the like. The cover D is provided with a frame which normally includes an internal frame element 20 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and an external frame element 21 which are secured together and which retain the transparent plastic dome or skylight 10 or other similar cover sheet. The

frame elements

20 and 21 are preferably formed of extruded aluminum but they may be' formed of other materials as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. A seal ring 22, preferably formed of rubber, neoprene or other suitable resilient sealing material, is normally disposed on the cover D in any suitable manner as illustrated in FIG. 4 for providing a seal with the curb F and in the case of the presant invention, also with the portions of the cover attachment means C mounted on the curb F, as will be more evident hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiment, the curb attachment means C includes a pair of laterally spaced stiffening elements or curb rods 25, each of which is welded or otherwise adhered to a first wall engaging bracket 26 and a second wall engaging bracket 27. The first wall engaging bracket is channel shaped with a longer leg portion extending into the interior of the curb or frame P so that bracket 26 is adapted to fit over the front curb wall section 15. The second wall engaging bracket 27 is shaped similarly to the first wall engaging bracket 26 and is adapted to be mounted on and to fit over the rear side wall section 17 of the curb F. For the purposes of manufacture and for providing some adjustability during manufacture, the stiffening elements 25 are preferably formed as square tubes which fit upon stub bars 25a to which they are welded or otherwise secured and which are in turn welded or otherwise secured to the

brackets

26 and 27.

The cover attachment means B likewise is formed by a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending stiffening members or cover rods 28, each of which has its ends welded or otherwise secured to a cover bracket 29. and a hinge bracket 30. For purposes of the manufacture, the elements or rods 28 may be hollow square shaped Lubes or similar members which are slidably disposed upon and secured to stub bars 28a (FIG. 4) which are in turn welded to the

brackets

29 and 30.

The bracket 29 is substantially U-shaped so that it fits over the bracket 26 in the closed position (FIG. 4). The hinge bracket 30 is of a similar or substantially similar shape as the cover bracket 29 so that it is adapted to fit over the wall engaging bracket 27 as shown in FIG. 4. The hinge H connects the bracket 27 and the bracket 30 together for relative pivotal movement therebetween in a manner hereafter described. The hinge H is pref- :rably a typical piano type which may be welded or otherwise secured to the

brackets

27 and 30.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper lift arm 12 is disposed in a plane which passes substantially parallel to the vertical planes in which the stiffening elements or rods 28 are disposed. The lift arm 12 is also disposed in a plane passing between such rods 28. The upper end of the lift arm 12 is pivotally connected between the rods 28 by any suitable means, but for spacing purposes, such pivotal connection preferably includes a threaded pivot shaft 31 having nuts 31a on each end. Such pivot shaft passes through the upper end of the lift arm 12 and also the upper ends of the stiffening elements 28 (FIG. 1), with the opening through the lift arm 12 being larger than the diameter of the shaft 31. A sleeve 32 is disposed on each side of the lift arm 12 and each sleeve 32 fits over the shaft 31 so as to provide spacers to maintain the lift arm 12 in the intermediate position between the stiffening elements or rods 28, without interfering with the relative pivotal movement of the arm 12 with respect to the elements 28.

The lower end of the lift arm 14 is mounted between the stiffening elements 25 in a manner similar to the mounting of the upper end of the lift arm 12 between the stiffening elements 28. Thus, a threaded pivot shaft 33 extends through a suitable opening in the lift arm 14 and the curb rods 25 with retaining nuts 33a disposed on the outer ends of the rod 33. Spacer sleeves 34 maintain the lift arm 14 in the intermediate position while permitting it to pivot relative to the stiffening elements or rods 25. The lift arm 14 is thus in a plane which is substantially parallel to and between the vertical planes in which the laterally spaced stiffening elements or curb rods 25 are disposed.

The lower end 12a of the lift arm 12 is disposed adjacent the resilient means R and is welded or is otherwise secured to one torque bar 40 formed of steel or similar torque resisting material. The end 12a may be formed in numerous ways, but as illustrated, such end 12a is formed by a solid stub element 41 which fits into the tubular lift arm 12 and is secured thereto by a bolt 42 and a nut 42a therewith which extends through the arm 12 and the stub element 41. The stub element 41 has an opening 41a therethrough (FIG. 4) through which torque the rod 40 extends, and the stub element 41 is securely welded to the torque bar 40 in proximity to such opening 41a so that any movements of the lift arm 12 are transmitted directly to the torque arm 40.

A second torque arm 45 is also a part of the resilient means R and it is connected to the upper end 14a of the lift arm 14. The upper end 14a may be formed in numerous ways, but preferably it is formed substantially in the same manner as 12a, the details of which are illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, the end 14a is formed by providing a tubular portion at the end of the lift arm 14 for receiving a solid bar element 46 which is connected to the end 14a by means of a bolt 46 having a nut 46a thereon, with the bolt extending through the arm 14 and the stub element 46. The stub element 46 has an opening 46a therethrough and through which the torque bar 45 extends. The stub element 46 is welded or is otherwise secured to the torque bar 45 adjacent its opening 46a so that movements of the lift arm 14 are transmitted to the torque bar 45.

The outer ends of the torque bars 40 and 45 are secured together by end plates 48, each of which is welded to each of the ends of the torque bars 40 and 45 so that when the

lift arms

12 and 14 are moved from the open position (FIG. 1) to the closed position (FIG. 4) torque is imparted to both of the torque arms or bars 40 and 45. The effect of placing the torque bars 40 and 45 under such torque force is to load the assembly A so as to exert an opening force tending to move the

lift arms

12 and 14 from the close position FIG. 4 to the open position of FIG. 1.

It should be understood that the end plates 48 need not be at the very ends of torque bars 40 and 45 but they should serve to prevent a rotation of the outer portions of

such bars

40 and 45 when a rotative force is imparted to the inner portions thereof by the movements of the

lift arms

12 and 14 in the manner previously explained. To stabilize such torque bars 40 and 45 as torque is imparted thereto, stabilizing elements 50, which are secured together by a connecting plate 51 are slidably mounted on the

rods

40 and 45. The

rods

40 and 45 are free to rotate in openings through such plates 50 so that the plates 50 merely serve to keep the

rods

40 and 45 in alignment with each other as the torque force is imparted thereto from the

lift arms

12 and 14.

In the uSe of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l-S, the assembly A is prefabricated at any point, whether in the same plant where the fabrication of the curb F and the cover D takes place or at a location remote therefrom. The assembly A may be used with various shapes and configurations of skylight constructions and heat and smoke vents, as well as simi ar installations. Basically, the assembly A is adapted to be disposed on a curb such as the curb F and also connected to a cover such as the cover B, with the opening of the cover B being effected automatically upon a release of a latch (not shown) or other suitable means holding the the cover D in a closed position.

Thus, with the assembly A brought to the location of the curb F, the assembly A is disposed on the curb F by mounting the

brackets

26 and 27 as shown in FIG. 1 to the front side wall 15 and the rear side wall 17 of such curb F. Retaining screws (not shown) may be passed through the

brackets

26 and 27 into the side walls of the curb F for additional securing of the curb attachment means C to the curb F.

The cover attachment means B is secured to the cover D by attaching the cover D. with screws 58 (FIG. 4) which extend through the

cover frame elements

21, 20 and into the hinge bracket 30 at one side and into the cover bracket 29 at the other side. Instead of the screws 58, it will be appreciated that the cover D may be welded or otherwise affixed to the cover attachment means B at the

brackets

29 and 30. The hinge H may be the sole means provided for the pivoting of the cover D relative to the curb F or an additional hinge means (not shown) between the cover D and the curb F may be also provided.

With the attachment of the lifting assembly A thus effected, the resilient means R is in the position shown in FIG. 1 and the

arms

12 and 14 to serve to hold the cover D in an open position. By pushing downward y on the inner ends of the

lift arms

12 and 14 in proximity to the resilient means R, or by pushing downwardly on the cover D to close same, torque is imparted to the torque bars 40 and 45 since they are twisted as the

arms

12 and 14 move from the open position to the closed position of FIG. 4. When the cover D has been moved to the fully closed position, the cover D is held by any suitable latch such as the type shown in the co-pending United States patent application Ser. No. 659,946 filed Aug. 11, 1967.

When the latch is released, whether manually or due to the presence of sufficient heat as in the structure disclosed in the aforesaid patent application, the torque forces which are placed in the torque bars 40 and 45 upon a closing of the cover D thereby act to urge the

lift arms

12 and 14 apart from the position of FIG. 4 and thus an automatic lifting force is imparted to the cover D to open same to the position shown in FIG. 1. The initial opening action is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the lift arm 12 has initially moved upwardly due to the torque forces in the torque bars 40 and 45 so as to pivot the cover D about the hinge H and such other hinge as may be provided between the cover D and the curb F.

In FIGS. 6-9, a modified lifting assembly A-1 is illustrated in conjunction with a curb F and a cover D which are the same as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The curb attachment means C in FIGS. 6-8 is illustrated as being essentially the same as the curb attachment C of FIGS. 1 and 3-5 and therefore identical numerals and letters are used for corresponding parts in FIGS. 1 and 6 with respect to such curb attachment means C. Likewise, the cover attachment means B of FIG. 6 corresponds with the cover attachment means B of FIGS. 1 and 3-5 and therefore, the corresponding parts in FIGS 1 and 6 have corresponding numerals and letters for identification.

The lift arm 112 of FIG. 6 corresponds with the lift arm 12, except for the pivotal connection between its upper end and the cover attachment means B, the details of which will be explained hereinafter. In FIG. 6, the lift assembly A-l includes a pair of lift arms 114, which together correspond with the single lift arm 14 of FIG. 1. The lift arms 114 are secured pivotally to the bracket 26 rather than to the stiffening elements or curb rods 25 (FIG. 7). Such pivotal connection of the lift arms 114 may be provided in any suitable manner, but as illustrated in FIG. 7, spaced lugs 133 extend outwardly from the bracket 26 and are welded or otherwise secured thereto for receiving the ends of each of the lift arms 114. Pivot pins 134 extend through each of the spaced lugs 133 and through the lower ends of the arms 114 for permitting pivotal movements of the arms 114 about such pins 134 and therefore relative to the bracket 26. It will be understood that the same type of pivotal mounting as illustrated in FIG. 3 may be used for the mounting of the lift arm-s 114 in FIG. 7 since the type of such mounting is optional.

A resilient means R-l is provided in the modified apparatus A-l to take the place of the resilient means R of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the

resilient means R-l consists of a double coil spring 140 which is suitably mounted in connection with the adjacent ends of the

lift arms

112 and 114 so as to tighten the spring 140 in torsion when it has been moved to the closed position (FIG. 8) for thereafter exerting an opening force to move the lift arms to the open or aligned positions (FIG. 6).

The double coil spring 140 is preferably a continuous spring having bent ends 140a which are disposed on the upper edges of the lift arms 114. The spring 140 also has an intermediate bight 14012 which fits over the upper edge of the lift arm 112. The coiled portions of the spring 140 are disposed on each side of the lift arm 112 and are loosely disposed about tubes 141 on each side of the lift arm 112 between the lift arms 114. A bolt or pin 145 extends through suitable openings in the upper ends of the arms 114 and the lower end of the arm 112 and also through the sleeves 141. Thus, with such spring construction, when the cover C is moved from the open position (FIG. 6) to the closed position (FIG. 8) the

arms

112 and 114 are forced downwardly and the spring 140 is coiled more tight y so as to place it under torsion or which acts to move the cover D upwardly when the cover D is released from its closed position. Any suitable latch mechanism such as suggested in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIGS 1-5 may be utilized for holding the cover D in the closed position with respect to the curb F.

Although the upper end of the lift arm 112 may be pivotally connected to the stiffening elements or cover rods 28 in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 1 for connecting lift arm 12 to the elements 28, it is preferable to utilize a pivotal lost motion device which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Thus, the upper end of the lift arm 112 has a sliding pivot pin 131 disposed in a longitudinal slot 112b for movement longitudinally from the extreme upper end of 112c of such slot 11% to a stop plate or plates 132, each of which preferably has a notch 132a therein for receiving the pin 131 in its lower most position. A coil spring is slidably disposed in the slot 112 with its lower end in abutment with the end surface 112d of the slot 11211 and with its other end in engagement with the pivot end 131. Thus, the pin 131 may move from the end 1120 toward the stop plates 132 by compressing the spring 80. As a result of such construction, there is a period of lost motion or delayed transmission of the lifting force from the means R-1 to the lift arms 114 when the cover D is moved from the fully closed position to the open position. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm 112. has moved upwardly from the closed position a slight amount and the pin 131. has moved to the left and has partially compressed the spring 80 prior to the ends 114a of the lift arms 114 leaving their rest tabs 27a, upon which they are positioned when the cover D is fully closed on the curb F. Continued upward movement of the cover D from the position shown in FIG. 8 results in the spring 80 returning the pin 131 to the end of 1120 and an upward movement of the lift arms 114 as the spring 140 continues to unwind during its lifting action. Such lost motion or delayed transmission of the lifting force to the lift arms 114 results in an initial upward movement of the cover D prior to an upward movement of the lifting assembly A-l itself; thus, prior to the spring R-l lifting both the cover D and the weight of the assembly A-l, the cover D already has some momentum so as to effect a more rapid lifting action of the cover D.

It should be noted that the pivotal mounting and lost motion device illustrated in FIG. f the drawings could be utilized in the form of the invention illustrated in the FIGS. 15 if so desired.

7 What is claimed is: 1. A lifting assembly adapted to be mounted on a cover and a curb, comprising:

(a) curb attachment means adapted to be mounted on and extend from one portion of said curb to another portion thereof;

(b) cover attachment means adapted to be mounted on and extend from one portion of said cover to another;

(c) a first lift arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to said cover attachment means;

(d) a second lift arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to said curb attachment means; and

(e) resilient means operably connected to said first lift arm and said second lift arm for imparting a force to said lift arms for moving same from a closed position in which said lift arms are folded relative to each other to an open position in which said lift arms are disposed substantially in alignment with each other.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) hinge means connecting said cur-b attachment means to said cover attachment means for a pivotal movement thereof relative to each other when said resilient means operates to move said lift arms from said first position to said second position.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said curb attachment means includes:

cover attachment means includes:

(a) a cover bracket for attaching to said cover;

(b) a hinge bracket for pivotally attaching to said curb attachment means; and

(c) a cover stiffening element extending between and secured to said cover bracket and said hinge bracket.-

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said curb attachment means includes:

( 1) a first wall-engaging bracket for engaging said one portion of said curb side wall; (2) a second wall-engaging bracket for engaging said another portion of said curb side wall; and (3) a curb stiffening element extending between and secured to said first and second wall-engaging brackets; (b) said cover attachment means includes:

(1) a cover bracket for attaching to said cover; (2) a hinge bracket for pivotally attaching to said second wall-engaging bracket; and (3) a cover stifi'ening element extending between and secured to said cover bracket and said hinge bracket; and (c) a hinge pivotally attaching said hinge bracket to said second wall-engaging bracket. 6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said resilient means includes a pair of torque bars substantially perpendicular to said lift arms; (b) means securing one of said torque bars to the other end of said first lift arm so that torque is applied to such torque bar upon a pivotal movement of said first lift arm from said second position towards said first position; and

(c) means securing another of said torque bars to the other end of said second lift arm so that torque is applied to such torque bar upon a pivotal movement of said first lift arm from said second position towards said first position.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, wh rein:

(a) said torque bars are substantially parallel to each other; and

(b) means is provided for maintaining said torque bars substantially parallel as torque is applied thereto by the pivotal movements of said lift arms.

8. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said curb attachment means includes:

(1) a first wall-engaging bracket for engaging said one portion of said curb side wall;

(2) a second wall-engaging bracket for engaging said another portion of said curb side wall; and

(3) a pair of laterally spaced curb rods extending between and secured to said first and second wall-engaging brackets;

(b) said cover attachment means includes:

(1) a cover bracket for attaching to said cover;

(2) a hinge bracket for pivotally attaching to said second wall-engaging bracket; and

(3) a pair of laterally spaced cover rods extending between and secured to said cover bracket and said hinge bracket;

(c) a hinge pivotally attaching said hinge bracket to said second wall-engaging bracket;

(d) means mounting and pivitally connecting said first lift arm in a plane substantially parallel to and between vertical planes in which said curb rods are disposed; and

(e) means mounting and pivotally connecting said second lift arm in a plane substantially parallel to and between vertical planes in which said cover rods are disposed.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the other ends of said first and second lift arms are pivotally connected together; and

(b) said resilient means includes a spring which is under compression when said lift arms are in said first position.

10. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) pivotal connection means between said one end of said first lift arm and said cover attachment means for providing pivotal movement therebetween; and

(b) resilient means with said pivotal connection means for providing delayed transmission of the raising of said first lift arm to said second lift arm when they are urged apart by said resilient means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,751 11/1938 Davis 52-19 2,769,213 11/1956 Stetson 49-386 3,399,500 9/1968 Shapiro 52l FOREIGN PATENTS 636,854 2/1962 Canada.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.