GB2417522A

GB2417522A - Hinges

Info

Publication number: GB2417522A
Application number: GB0419090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mathew John Smith
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-26
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-26
Also published as: GB0419090D0; GB2417522B

Abstract

An end point sleeve 21 for an end point 12 of a vent arm 5 of a stay is shaped to engage the end of the vent arm with a friction or interference fit. By engaging the end of the vent arm in a friction or interference fit, manual location and assembly of a hinge is aided. The hinge comprises an end cap 23 mounted on a support track 1, a vent arm 5 attached to the support track and movable between an open position and a closed position and an end point sleeve 21 mounted on the vent arm.

Description

24 1 7522 Hinges This invention relates to end point sleeves for use in

hinges, and in particular to friction stay hinges for supporting a vent between a closed position, in which the vent lies within a fixed frame, and an open position.

A friction stay hinge for a window or the like is known which comprises a track member, a slider movable along the track member, a strut pivotally connected to the track member, in spaced relation to the slider, one or more links pivotally connected to the slider and a vent arm pivotally connected to a link and to the strut for movement between a closed position in which the vent arm is disposed above the track member and an open position in which the vent arm is disposed at an angle to the track member. Such a friction stay hinge is disclosed, for example, in

British Patent Specification No. 2133074.

The track member is normally secured to the frame of a window or the like by means of screws or the like and the vent arm is normally secured to the opening leaf of a window or the like, likewise by means of screws or the like.

The vent arm customarily has an end point which is engageable in a corresponding end cap at one end of the track member when the window is in the closed position. Such an end point and end cap arrangement is known in the prior art and assists in pulling the vent arm into the fixed frame. In a friction stay of this kind, the internal cam surfaces of the cap member can be asymmetrically disposed with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the track, one cam surface being at a greater angle to the axis than the other, the corresponding surfaces on the end point portion of the vent arm being correspondingly inclined.

The vent arm end point and corresponding end cap may be formed from metal.

However, this has the disadvantage of promoting wearing and deformation of the component parts due to the metal to metal contact between them.

This metal to metal contact can be prevented through the use of a plastics end point with a tongue which is riveted to the tip of a metal vent arm end point. The plastics end point provides a plastics contact surface at the tip of the metal vent arm end point which reduces wearing and deformation. Such arrangements are satisfactory in most instances and are well known, for example, as disclosed in

British Patent Specification No. 2133458.

In these vent arm end points, a link is pivotally connected at one end, by a rivet, to the slider. The opposite end of the same link is pivotally connected to the metal vent arm end point by another rivet. The tongue of the plastics end point is positioned parallel to the metal vent arm end point and secured in place by this second rivet which passes through the pivot holes of the vent arm, the tongue of the plastics end point and the link. The assembly of these components requires careful alignment and handling before they are secured with the second rivet. The plastics end point is prevented from rotating about the second rivet by a third rivet, which passes through the vent arm and the tongue of the plastics end point.

The present invention provides an end point sleeve which can alleviate the need for manual location and alignment during assembly. The shape of the end point sleeve also obviates the need for the third rivet in the assembled vent arm hinge although a third rivet can be present if desired. The use of this end point sleeve thus simplifies assembly of the vent arm hinge structure. Furthermore, the end point sleeve of the present invention provides enhanced weather sealing, whilst maintaining high endurance performance.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides an end point sleeve for a vent arm of a stay, the end point sleeve being shaped to engage the end point of a vent arm with a friction or interference fit.

Preferably, the end point sleeve comprises a pair of flanges defining a channel configured for engaging a vent arm. In another embodiment the ends of the channel can be closed to form a recess.

In yet another embodiment, the end point sleeve may be shaped to engage in a friction or interference fit with an asymmetrical tip of a vent arm. This has the advantage of strengthening the vent arm end point.

The end point sleeve may be formed as a unitary component and can be formed from a material which can be die cast or injection moulded. Preferably, the end point sleeve is formed from a plastics material.

In another embodiment the end point sleeve includes means for positive engagement with a vent arm. Preferably, the means for positive engagement includes an aperture that can accommodate a securing means. The term 'securing means' as used herein may be a rivet, nail, screw, bolt, pin or any other suitable mechanical or chemical fastener.

The means for positive engagement may be carried by a tongue. The tongue may be adapted to lie parallel to the vent arm and may also serve to function as a washer when the vent arm is used as a hinge component. In this way, the tongue prevents metal to metal interaction between the hinge components, for example between the vent arm and a link in a friction stay.

In an alternative embodiment the end point sleeve further comprises a spigot or additional rivet for engaging a recess or aperture in a vent arm, during use, to assist in retaining the end point sleeve in a fixed position relative to the vent arm or in aligning the end point sleeve correctly with the vent arm.

The invention also provides a hinge comprising an end cap mounted on a support track, a vent arm attached to the support track which is movable between an open position and a closed position and an end point sleeve as described above mounted on the vent arm. In this regard, the end cap and end point sleeve may be asymmetric. Furthermore, the vent arm may define an asymmetric end which is covered by the end point sleeve.

Preferably, the hinge is a friction stay, although many different types of hinge or stay may use and benefit from an end point sleeve according to the present invention.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a friction stay, shown in a partly open position; Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of an end point sleeve according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an assembled end point sleeve according to the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a hinge according to the present invention comprises a support track (1), a slider (3) and a vent arm (5), attached to the support track by a plurality of links (7, 19).

The support track comprises a channel sectioned track member. The track member is, in use of the stay, normally secured to a window frame, two stays being provided at opposite sides respectively of the window frame.

The slider (3) is slidable along the track member.

A first link (7) is pivotally connected to the slider (3) by a rivet (9). The opposite end of the first link (7) is pivotally connected by a rivet (11) to an end point (12) of the vent arm (5), which is in turn pivotally connected, intermediate to its ends, by a strut (15) to the extremity of the support track (1).

In operation, the vent arm (5) may be swung from the angled position shown in FIG. 1, in which the window is open, to a closed position where the vent arm overlies the track member (1) and the window is closed. The dimensions of the elements of the stay, and the positions of the rivets, are so chosen that the strut (15), a brace (17) and a second link (19) also overlie the track member (1) when the window is in a closed position.

The vent arm end point (12) has mounted thereon, by means of the rivet (11), an end point sleeve (21) which co-operates with a cap member (23) as the window is closed.

As the vent arm (5) moves to the closed position, the end point sleeve (21) engages the cap member (23) with a wedging action. The asymmetric arrangement of the end point sleeve (21) and cap member (23) ensures that the vent arm end point (12) enters the angle in the cap member even though the elements of the stay may be deflected due to the weight of a window mounted on the vent arm (5).

The present invention provides an end point sleeve as shown more clearly in figures 2 and 3. With reference to figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the end point sleeve (21) is shaped so as to form a channel (25) between flange (27) and tongue (29). This channel is shaped to correspond to the vent arm end point (12) and can engage with the vent arm end point (12) in a friction fit. In this way, the end point sleeve (21) can be easily manipulated and held in the correct position on the vent arm end point (12). The end point sleeve (21) is secured to the vent arm end point (12) by a rivet (11) which passes through an aperture (not shown) in the end point sleeve tongue (29). In this way, the tongue (29) acts both as means for assisting attachment of the end point sleeve to the vent arm end point and as a washer for preventing metal to metal contact between the vent arm (5) and the first link (7). Thus, the end point sleeve is riveted to the vent arm end point by the same rivet which also pivotally connects the vent arm to the first link.

As can be seen from figure 2, the shape of the channel (25) renders rotation about rivet (11) impossible.

The end point sleeve (21) is asymmetric for engaging with a corresponding asymmetric end cap (23) on the end of the support track (1). Such end points and caps are well known in the art and help to pull in a vent as it closes. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in figures 2 and 3, the vent arm (5) has an asymmetric metal end point (12) which is covered by the end point sleeve (21).

Accordingly, the present invention provides an end point sleeve which facilitates hinge assembly when compared to the end points of the prior art.

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. An end point sleeve for an end point of a vent arm of a stay, the sleeve being shaped to engage, in use, the end of a vent arm with a friction or interference fit.

2. An end point sleeve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for positive engagement with a vent arm.

3. An end point sleeve as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for positive engagement includes an aperture that can accommodate a securing means.

4. An end point sleeve as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the means for positive engagement is carried by a tongue adapted to lie parallel to a vent arm.

5. An end point sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a flange and a tongue defining a channel configured for engaging a vent arm.

6. An end point sleeve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ends of the channel are 1 5 closed.

7. An end point sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, which is shaped to engage in a friction or interference fit with an asymmetrical vent arm end point.

8. An end point sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, which is formed from a plastics material.

9. An end point sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, which is moulded.

10.An end point sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a spigot for engaging a recess or aperture in a vent arm, during use, to assist in retaining the end point sleeve in a fixed position relative to the vent arm.

11.A hinge comprising an end cap mounted on a support track, a vent arm attached to the support track and movable between an open position and a closed position and an end point sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim mounted on the vent arm.

12.A hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein the end cap and end point sleeve are asymmetric.

13. A hinge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the vent arm defines an asymmetric end which is covered by the end point sleeve.

14. A hinge as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, which is a friction stay.

15. An end point sleeve substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A hinge substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.