GB2201999A - Pivot assemblies for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A pivot assembly comprising two components 16, 17 which are connected for relative rotation by a bearing assembly 10, each of said components having an interior face generally normal to a bearing axis 41. A recess 55 is provided in one of said faces and the length of the recess can be selectively restricted by selection of the size of the blocking element 64 so that a retractable retaining plunger 51 has restricted movement in said recess to limit the relative arcuate displacement of said components. A radially expandable bearing member 12 is provided and may be compressed by member 11, 13 by a belt 15 to radially grip relatively rotatable components 16, 17. <IMAGE>

Description

.. 0 1 ' 11--- 1 PIVOT ASSMUES FOR WINDOWS 220 1999 This invention

concerns pivot assemblies, for windows and like openabl,e closure members, which are hereinafter generally referred to as kwindows", for mounting the windows upon frames or like supports.

which are hereinafter generally referred to as "frames"; and means for use in such pivot assemblies.

There are requirements for such pivoted windows to be openable from a closed position to a predetermined small limit; to be further pivotally movable beyond said limit upon release of stop means, preferably of a "child prooC kind; to be releasably retained in a position of nominally maximum pivotal displacement from said closed position; and for such pivotal movements to be damped.

Pivot assemblies are known which incorporate friction-dampers.

For example, there are disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1393671 pivot assemblies, which are referred to generally as "hinges". An improved frictional generating pivot is disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 8705639.

The others of the aforementioned requirements may be met by stays and or catches connecting. or operative to connect, the window and frame independently of the pivot assemblies, arid such stays ---d catches can be sited for maximum resistance to, and mechanical advantage in relation to, the any forces applied thereto by the window, whereas any catch or detent means incorporated into the pivot assemblies must necessarily operate at a considerable mechanical disadvantage due to its proximity to the pivot axis. Various types of pivot assemblies are known which incorporate such catch or detent means, but have various disadvantages such as weakness, lack of durability. vulnerability to malfunction, cost, complexity, or difficulty of operation. In particular, there is the disadvantage that the limited opening aforementioned is set as an angular limit, which for small windows may give an unduly restricted opening and for large windows give an unduly. or even dangerously, wide opening.

1 /1- 2 1 To enable these disadvantages to be reduced or avoided the present invention provides a pivot assembly comprising two components which are connected for relative rotation by a bearing assembly, each of said components having an interior face generally normal to a bearing axis; and characterised in that at least one recess is provided in one of said faces; in that said recess is adapted to receive a blocking element to restrict the length of said recess; and in that the other of said faces is apertured to permit a retractable retaining plunger, or either of two retractable retaining plungers, to extend into said recess depending upon the relative arcuate 10 displacement of said components.

The bearing plate is preferably interposed between said faces and is arranged to retain said blocking element in said recess.

A manually actuable thrust member may be slidably accommodated in a socket which extends from a floor of said recess, the thrust member being movable from a position in which one end face thereof is level with said floor and through said recess for driving said blocking element from the recess.

The present invention further provides a method of making a pivot assembly including forming two components so that each component has an interior face generally normal to a predetermined axis, and so that at least one of the components has a recess in said face and the other of said faces is apertured to receive a retaining plunger; determining a degree of restricted relative angular movement to be permitted between said components; and. if required, selecting and inserting into said recess an appropriately dimensioned blocking element to restrict the length of said recess. whilst assembling said 30 components together with a bearing assembly and at least one retractable retaining plunger. so that the latter can extend into the Ave angular movement between the components recess to restrict relat about the axis of the bearing assembly.

The method permits a single form of pivotal assembly to be constructed to suit a wide range of window sizes, and the selection is 3 1 i I_ Z preferably made from a small plurality, e.g. two or three, of sizes of blocking elements.

In preferred embodiments the bearing assembly is of the kind disclosed in our aforementioned co-pending Application the content of 5 which is incorporated hereinto by reference.

Preferably, the bearing assembly is arranged to urge the components towards each other to apply clamping pressure to a bearing arrangement interposed between said faces; the bearing arrangement has a plate constrained against movement relative to one of said components, and is arranged to obstruct ingress of foreign matter into the pivot assembly; the components and bearing plate are arranged so that relative movement of the components will vary the amount of area which is rubbed to vary the friction to movement between the components; and the bearing assembly provides frictional resistance to movement of the components and is adjustable to vary said frictional resistance. The pivot assembly preferably incorporates anti-slam means to provide additional resistance to relative motion of said components when said components are in or close to a predetermined position.

In order to avoid unnecessary handing of said components, the bearing plate preferably serves as also to blank off any formations, e.g. an aperture or apertures in one of said faces, which may be redundant in any particular version of the assembly.

An example of pivot assembly and bearing assembly in accordance with the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:- FIGURES 1 and 2 show catch or detent means in two different positions and associated portions of two components of a pivot assembly of the invention; FIGURE 3 shows an internal face of one of said components; FIGURES 4 and 5 show parts of said two components in a predetermined position of limited angular displacement, and in a position of 4 nominally maximum angular displacement; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a blocking element for reducing the permitted angle of said limited displacement; FIGURES 7A. B and C are diagrams showing variations of said permitted angle; and FIGURE 8 shows a bearing or spacer plate.

FIGURE 9 shows an exploded perspective view of a bearing assembly of the pivot assembly; FIGURE 10 shows an alternative bearing member for use in the bearing assembly; and FIGURE 11 shows the bearing assembly and associated portions of the two relatively movable components of the pivot assembly.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 7, the pivot assembly comprises (in addition to a bearing assembly 10 or some other suitable form of bearing defining an axis 41 for relative rotation of two components 16 and 17) catch means 50 to retain a window, firstly, in a position of limited opening and, secondly, in a reversed position.

The catch means comprises first and second retaining plungers 51 and 52 slidably located in respective sockets in the component 16, which sockets lie on opposite sides of the axis 41 and are parallel therewith. The sockets extend from apertures in an internal face 53 of the component to blind recesses (or closed recesses) containing springs 54 which urge the plungers 51 and 52 to project from said face 53 which abuts the plate 19.

The catch means 50 further includes an arcuate recess 55 ún the internal face 56 of the component 17. a stepped socket 57 extending, f rom one end part of a floor 58 of the recess, through the component 17 to an outside face thereof; and a stepped thrust member 59 slidably located in said socket so that in a normal position an end f ace 60 of the member 59 is flush with said floor, and a shank 61 projects from the outside face.

The recess 55 has a shallow extension 62 at its other end to receive a flange 63 of an optional blocking element 64 which serves to 1 i '-restrict the effective length of the recess 55.

In this embodiment, a spacer, separator or bearing plate 19 of a bearing arrangement provides a portion 42 which overlies the extension 62 and flange 63 to retain the blocking element, and which portion 65 5 lies at one end of an aperture 42 which registers with the recess 55. The plate 19 is restrained against movement relative to the member 17.

The member 59 has small radial extension 66 which is normally accommodated in a small radial extension 67 of the socket 57.

Said internal faces 53,56 confront and embrace the bearing arrangement therebetween, or interengage frictionally if no bearing arrangement is provided.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 a nominal plane of me face of a centre pivoted window is indicated by reference numeral 68, and a similar nominal face plane of a frame is indicated by reference numeral 69. In a closed condition of the window, said planes 68 and 69 are nominally coincident.

In use, in said closed condition, the first plunger 51 extends through the aperture 43 and into the recess 55 to abut the end f ace 60. and can travel along said recess as the window is opened (in the direction indicated by arrow A) until it strikes the blocking element 64, if present, as indicated in FIGURES 7A and B) or the end of the recess adjacent the extension 62 as indicated in FIGURE 7C whereby to limit the opening of the window to a predetermined angle B. The value of said angle B may be selected, up to a maximum permitted by the recess, by inserting into the recess a selected size of blocking element to suitably restrict the operative arcuate length of the recess. It is expected that only two sizes will be required to give a selection of three such angles, e.g. 10. 150 and 200 approximately, respectively for large, medium and small windows.

When the window is to be opened further, the thrust member L. 9 is displaced manually to force the plunger 51 back into its socket and A 1 6 clear of the plate 19. In this operation the extension serves the dual purpose of preventing the thrust member entering the plunger socket and ensuring engagement with the plunger even if the latter is at the end of the recess adjacent the extension 62, i.e. is not aligned with the shank 61. Thereafter the window may be further moved until the second plunger 52 enters the recess, and during said movement the plungers 51 and 52 slidably engage the plate 19. The second plunger 52 may be similarly retracted by operation of the thrust member.

During movement of the window the separator plate 19 will be rubbed by, and serve as a bearing for, the f ace 53 of the component 16; and said plate 19 and face 53 are not symmetrical about said axis, e.g. are non-circular, and are arranged so that the amount of area of the plate 19 which is engaged by the face 53 will reduce quite quickly when the window is moved through and beyond said position of limited opening. Thus, during a closing movement of the window additional friction will be generated as the window nears or traverses the limited opening position to decelerate the window, and to abate the tendancy for the window to slam shut, caused by the pivot axis being offset from a parallel line through the centre of gravity of the window.

The arrangement of the catch means allows the plungers and the parts of the components 16 and 17 surrounding the plungers to be of relatively solid and massive construction, to endow the catch means with substantial strength for withstanding shear loads applied by any unwanted rotational force applied to the window.

To improve the strength of the frame and window, the components are preferably not merely fastened to one face of the window and frame, but are provided with bodies 70 which can be fastened to side portions of the structural components of the frame and window between the inside and outside faces of the latter, and said bodies may provide flanges to overlie junctions between said faces and the bodies.

1 1 7 In the initially assemblied state of the assembly, the tendancy of the springs to drive the components apart is limited by the flanges on the bearing member, so as to prevent loss of small elements, e.g. plungers or blocking elements. The sockets 18 for the -bearing assembly are preferably identical to allow the bearing assembly to be reversed end-for- end. Alternatively, if the components 16 and 17 are "handed", the conical part 21 and the socket 18 in the component 16 may he omitted, and the clamping part 22 provided integrally by the component 16.

The components and other parts may be made of any suitable materials, but clamp members and the components 16 and 17 are preferably die-castings of a corrosion resistant metal or alloy, the plungers are preferably of steel, and the plate and bearing member are preferably injection mouldings of a wear-resistant plastics material.

To minimise tooling and component costs, the components or parts of the components may be identical, plugs, blanking pieces and/or the separator or bearing plate 19 being used to blank-off redundant formations, e.g. the socket or recess 74 and material saving voids 71.

The plate 19 preferably has a locating projection 73 on one side to engage in the recess or socket 74 or a saving void 71 component 17 to prevent rotation therebetween, and may have a protuberance 72 on the other side which is engaged by or part 75 of the component 16 when the latter is in and close to the position of limited opening e.g. to supplement the additional friction to abate slamming of the window.

Referring to FIGURES 9 to 11, the bearing assembly 10 is preferably of a form which includes a fixed-end clamping member 11, a bearing member 12, which may be a one part member (FIGURE 9) or a twopart member (FIGURE 10), a free-end clamping member 13, a spring washer 14 and clamping means in the form of a bolt 15.

The bearing assembly 10 is incorporated releasably in the pivot assembly, which further comprises the two relatively angularly movable components 16 and 17, and, optionally, the separator bearing plate 19 1 - 8 therebetween, as hereinbefore described.

The clamping member 11 comprises a faceted end part 20 a conical part 21, and a clamping part 22. 7he parts 20 and 21 closely engage in a socket 18 in the component 16 so as to be non-rotatable therein.

The clamping member 13 comprises an axially short end part 23 having a dished end face 24, and a clamping part 22.

- Each clamping part 22 comprises a hub 25 and a set of four wedge projections 26. Each wedge projection 26 extends and tapers, in the axial direction, at an included angle of about 200 to a nose 27 which projects beyond the hub and has a rounded leading edge 28; and has two wedge surfaces 29, subtending said edge 28, which, for most of their axial length, have a substantially constant width. The axial length of each projection is about 1 1/2 times its maximum circumferential thickness.

The bearing member 12 is hollow and provides two angularly offset oppositely directed sets of wedge recesses 30, which recesses extend about 2/3 of the axial length of the member so that the sets overlap in the median portion 31 of the member 12. Each wedge recess 30 is bounded by wedge faces 32 which have a substantially constant width so that the radial thickness of the member 12 between an internal curved surface 33 and a peripheral surface 34 is substantially constant throughout its axial length except beyond one end of said surface 34 whereat radially outwardly directed flanges 35 are provided. The interior of the member 12 is dimensioned to accept the hubs 25.

The bolt 15 extends through the washer and members 12 and 13 to engage in an axial internally threaded socket 36 in the member 11. and is rotatable to apply an axial clamping force to the bearing assembly.

The members 12 and 13 are accommodated in a further socket 18 in the component 17 so that the internal surface of the socket is engaged by the peripheral surface 34, and an end face on a shoulder 37 of the socket is confronted or engaged by the flanges 35 to urge the component 17 towards the component 16.

tR 1 " 4 1 k 9 In general, the bolt 15 may be rotated to cause the bearing member 12 to apply radially outwards directed friction inducing force on the socket 18, by moving the member 13 closer to the member 11 thereby driving the wedge projections into the wedge recesses to urge the bearing member to expand radially in a substantially symmetrical manner so that said friction inducing force is applied evenly throughout the axial extent of said surface 34.

The geometrical relationship between the bearing assembly and the sockets 18 is preferably such that, when new, a sufficient friction generating force is generated only when at least one third of the axial lengths of the projections and recesses are interengaged, so that said noses are in, or proximal to the median portion 31, so as to leave portions 38 of the recesses unoccupied. The bearing member is preferably formed so that said portions 38 are non-divergent in the axial direction.

In those cases wherein the socket 18 has a sufficient conical taper, the interengagement between the socket and surface 34 will urge the components together, so that. said flanges 35 may be spaced apart from the shoulder 37 when said sufficient force is initially generated, but prior thereto the flanges will still retain the components 16 and 17 together on the bearing assembly, e.g. after manufacture and during transportation of the pivot assembly.

However, where said conical taper is extremely slight or non existent, the geometrical relationship may be arranged so that the flanges exert an axial thrust on the shoulder.

In use, as the bearing member wears, the projections can be forced further into the recesses to maintain said sufficient force until a normal limit is reached.

Said limit may be determined by contact between end faces 39 and 40 of the parts 22 and member 12, which faces are substantially normal to said axis. However, to give a reserve of expansion of the bearing member, said faces 39 and/or the faces 40 may be inclined to the axis A 1 -1 X as indicated by faces 39A and 40A; but using said reserve may destroy or wear away the flanges 35. and may give rise to an uneven distribution of said friction inducing force; and the hubs may be dimensioned to come into mutual contact at the limit of said reserve.

In all forms, the geometrical arrangement is preferably such that, at least when the normal limit is being approached, the flanges abut the shoulder so that the components embrace the plate 19 to supplement the friction provided by the bearing member.

The invention includes and provides an assembly having any novel feature, function, part or arrangement disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings, or any novel combination of such features, functions, parts or arrangements.

The terms and details used and disclosed herein are by way of example, the invention is not confined thereto, and includes within its scope any functional equivalent thereof, or modification thereof. For example, in the catch means one component may provide the recess 55 and a second possibly smaller recess 74, and the other component may have only one plunger engageable in either recess dependent upon the positions of the components. The thrust member may be omitted, and its function assumed by a manually actuable shank provided on the or each plunger, which shank may extend through the spring and through an outer face of the component.

The bearing arrangement may comprise a plurality of bearing plates, e.g. the plate 19 on the component 17 and a second, similar, plate 19a (indicated partially in broken lines in FIGURE 5) on the component 16. The plate or plates 19 and 19A may be positionally retained by a wall at the periphery of said internal face 53.56 e.g. as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6 by reference numeral 19B, which wall 19B has a height slightly less than the thickness of the respective bearing plate.

Where the bearing arrangement is omitted the face 53 may serve to retain the blocking element in the recess, e. g. the face 53 may n 1 1 i 11 include surfaces provided by upstanding webs 71A in the voids 71, as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6.

The invention includes a window assembly in which a window is mounted on a frame by means of a pair of the pivot assemblies.

1 i 12

Claims (18)

1. A pivot assembly comprising two components which are connected for relative rotation by a bearing assembly, each of said components having an interior face generally normal to a bearing axis; and characterised in that at least one recess is provided in one of said faces; in that said recess is adapted to receive a blocking element to restrict the length of said recess; and in that the other of said faces is apertured to permit a retractable retaining plunger, or either of two retractable retaining plungers, to extend into said recess depending upon the relative arcuate displacement of said components.

2. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a bearing arrangement is interposed between said faces.

3. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the bearing arrangement retains said blocking element in said recess.

4. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the bearing assembly is arranged to urge the components towards each other to apply clamping pressure to the bearing arrangement.

5. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the bearing arrangement comprises a plate which is constrained against movement relative to one of said components, and is arranged to obstruct ingress of foreign matter into the pivot assembly.

6. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 are arranged so that relative movement of the components will vary the amount of area of the components or the bearing arrangement which is rubbed during movement of the components, to vary the friction therebetween.

7. A pivot assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein a manually actuable thrust member is slidably accommodated in a socket which extends from a floor of said recess, the thrust member being movable from a position in which one end face thereof is level with 3 1 13 said floor and through said recess for driving said blocking element from the recess.

8. A pivot assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the bearing assembly provides frictional resistance to movement of the 5 components and is adjustable to vary said frictional resistance.

9. A pivot assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 having antislam means to provide additional resistance to relative motion of said components when said components are in or close to a predetermined position.

10. A pivot assembly generally as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURES 4 to 8 or FIGURES 4 to 8 as modified by any one of FIGURES 10A, 10B or 10C of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making a pivot assembly including forming two components so that each component has an interior face generally normal to a predetermined axis, and so that at least one of the components has a recess in said face and the other of said faces is apertured to receive a retaining plunger; determining a degree of restricted relative angular movement to be permitted between said components; and, if required, selecting and inserting into said recess an appropriately dimensioned blocking element to restrict the length of said recess, whilst assembling said components together with a bearing assembly and at least one retractable retaining plunger, so that the latter can extend into the recess to restrict relative angular movement between the components about the axis of the bearing assembly.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said one of said faces is arranged to retain the blocking element in the recess in the other of said faces.

13. A method of making a pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 11 wherein a bearing arrangement is interposed between the components for retaining the blocking element in the recess.

14 14. A method of making a pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein a thrust member is arranged in said one component so as to be manually displaceable to move the retaining plunger out of said recess to permit further angular relative movements of the components.

C

15. A method of making a pivot assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGURES 7. 8, 10A, 10B and 10C of the accompanying drawings.

16. A pivot assembly made by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1011 to 15.

17. A window assembly comprising a window pivotally connected to a frame by a pair of pivot assemblies as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 or Claim 16.

is

18. A window assembly as claimed in Claim 17 wherein said components comprise bodies fastened to side portions of structural components of the frame and window between inside and outside faces of the latter.

1 Published 1988 at The Patent Ofnce, State House, 86P71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained frLom The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD, Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con- 1187.