IE83936B1 - Improvements in or relating to hinges - Google Patents

Description

"Improvements in or relating to hinges" The invention relates to hinges and in particular to Friction hinges for windows.

A common fi-iction hinge for aluminium or UPVC windows comprises a linkage having a track for fitting to the fixed window frame, a vent aim for fitting to the movable window vent, a slider slidable along the track, a link pivotally connected at one end to the slider and at its other end to the vent arm, and a control arm pivotally connected at one end to the track and at its other end to the vent arm. The link arrangement is such that the vent arm is movable between a closed position where it overlies the track and an open position where it extends at an angle to the track, such movement being accompanied by frictionally restrained movement of the slider along the track.

Normally, two such hinges are provided at opposite sides of the window and the geometry of the hinges is such that as the window vent pivots on the hinges the effective pivot axis of the vent is spaced from the fixed window frame. Accordingly, as the window opens, the Frame member of the window vent which is nearest the hinge axis moves inwardly, partly across the window opening, with respect to the adjacent fixed frame member.

This arrangement has the advantage that, when the window is fully open, the person inside the building has access to both sides of the vent for cleaning purposes.

However, the movement of the vent frame member partly across the window opening, and away fi'om the adjacent fixed frame member has the efiect of reducing the size of the main window opening in order to provide a narrow opening to the other side of the vent flame member for access to the outer surface of the vent. is 1 For safety reasons, government regulations may specify minimum dimensions for the access aperture provided by a window when in a fillly opened condition. However, aluminium and UPVC framed window assemblies are commonly provided in only a comparatively limited number of dimensions, partly for aesthetic reasons, but mainly because of the advantages provided by standardisation of window dimensions. Such standardisation reduces costs and facilitates the installation of windows in new buildings as well as their subsequent replacement. Standardisation also facilitates the manufacture and supply of window accessories which may, again, be of a limited number of standard dimensions. ii The situation may, however, arise where a window assembly of a standard dimension, and having friction hinges of the kind referred to above, may not provide an access aperture, when fully open, which is sufficiently large to comply with prevailing regulations. In order to meet this problem, manufacturers of friction link hinges of the may supply a modified "access" hinge where certain links of the hinge may be disengaged from one another to allow wider than normal opening of the window in an emergency. However, such hinges are usually more complex in structure than the standard hinges and more costly to manufacture. Also, in an emergency a person wishing to increase the window opening in order to climb through it must be familiar with the manner in which the hinges may be disengaged to increase the size of the opening, and this may not always be the case. Also, there may be a risk of the hinges becoming accidentally disengaged during normal use, which may be undesirable.

Theoretically, the problem could be solved by mounting the window vent to the fixed frame by traditional butt hinges where the adjacent frame members of the vent and fixed frame remain close to one another as the window is opened. However, it is not practically possible to fit traditional butt hinges to aluminium and UPVC window assemblies of the kinds now commonly in use, due to the configuration of the extruded frame members which are used in such assemblies.

The present invention sets out to provide an improved form of window hinge which may provide, when the window is fully opened, an access aperture through the window which is equivalent to, or only slightly less than, the fiill size of the aperture in the fixed window frame, such hinge being particularly suitable for use with aluminium and UPVC framed window assemblies.

According to the invention there is provided a window hinge comprising a first guide having means for attachment to a fixed window frame, a second guide having means for attachment to a movable window vent, and a link which is engageable with both said guides and is slidable relatively to each guide.

Preferably the link comprises a single substantially rigid element, but the invention does not exclude arrangements where the link is formed in two or more relatively movable parts so as to be extensible. For example, the parts may be longitudinally slidable with respect to one another.

At least one of said guides, and preferably each said guide, comprises a track along which the link slides. Preferably the orientation of the link relative to the guide is determined by its position along said track.

The track may be arcuate, e.g. it may be part-circular. Preferably the link fiictionally engages the track so as to provide frictional restraint to opening and closing of the window vent, in use. The link may be formed from resilient material, such as a resilient plastics, to enhance the fiictional engagement between the link and the guide or guides.

Preferably stop means are provided between the link and the guide or guides to limit the relative sliding movement between the link and the guide or guides in at least one direction. Said means may comprise inter-engageable abutments on the link and guide or guides.

The track may comprise two generally parallel spaced guide surfaces between which at least a pan of the link is slidably received. For example, the guide surfaces may comprise spaced grooves directed inwardly towards one another and engageable respectively with spaced outwardly directed flanges formed on the link.

In the case where a track comprising spaced flanges is formed on each guide, the link may be formed, at each side thereof, with a pair of spaced parallel outwardly directed flanges for engagement within the track grooves of the first and second guides respectively.

Each guide may comprise a base plate, each groove on the guide being provided by a generally L-sectioned rail upstanding fiom the base plate.

The following is a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view from above of a friction hinge in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view from above of the frame plate of the hinge, Figure 3 is a section along the Line 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a section along the Line 4-4 of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a section through the link along the Line 5-5 of Figure 7, Figure 6 is a view of the curved link of the hinge from below, Figure 7 is a view of the curved link of the hinge from above, and Figure 8 is a view of the hinge, from below, in the same position as in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, two hinges 10 according to the present invention mount a rectangular window vent I 1 to the side of a corresponding rectangular fixed window frame 12. The vent is side hung, that is to say is supported by upper and lower hinges disposed at the upper and lower ends of a vertical side frame member 13 of the fixed window fi'ame 12, although the hinges may also be used in top hung arrangements.

Figure 1 is a view from above of the lower hinge 14 with the vent 11 in the fully 90° open position.

The frame plate 15 of the lower hinge 14 is screwed to the horizontal bottom flame member 16 of the fixed frame 12 adjacent the corner between the bottom fiame member 16 and the vertical side frame member 13.

The frame plate 15, which may be die cast from suitable metal, is formed with two parallel part-circular flanges 17. As best seen in Figure 4 the flanges 17 are of inverted L-shape in cross-section so as to provide inwardly facing grooves 18 between the flanges 17 and the frame plate 15.

A curved link 19, which may be moulded from acetal plastics slidably engages the flanges 17. The flanges 7 and the link 19 are of the same radius of curvature. As may be seen from Figure 5, in cross-section the link 19 has a central longitudinal web the opposite side edges of which are integrally formed with C—sectioncd formations to provide upper outwardly projecting flanges 21 and spaced parallel lower flanges 22.

The lower flanges 22 of the link 19 are slidably received in the grooves 18 on the frame plate 15.

In order to limit the outward sliding movement of the link 19 along the flanges 17, an end portion of the groove 23 in the underside of the link 19 is filled, as indicated at 24 in Figures 1 and 6, so as to provide an end abutment surface 25 to the groove which engages with an upstanding projection 26 (see Figures 2 and 3) integrally formed on the flame plate 15 between the outer extremities of the flanges 17.

In use, the link 19 is slid into engagement with the flanges 17 on the frame plate before the tirame plate is secured to the fixed window fi'ame. Once the frame plate is in position on the window frame sliding movement of the link 19 along the flanges 17 beyond the position shown in Figure 1 is prevented by engagement of the end wall 15 on the underside of the link with the abutment 26 on the frame plate 15.

The link 19 also slidably engages guide flanges on the underside of a die cast metal vent plate 27 which is screwed to the underside of the lower horizontal rail of the vent frame 11. The construction of the vent plate 27 is best seen in Figure 8 which shows the underside of the vent plate 27.

As may be seen from Figure 8, the underside of the vent plate 27 is integrally formed with spaced curved L-sectioned flanges 28 which are of similar cross.9ection to the flanges 17 shown in Figure 4. In this case the upper side flanges 21 of the link 29 (see Figure 5) engage within the inwardly facing grooves provided by the flanges 28 on the vent plate 27. Again, as may best be seen from Figures 7 and 3, one end of the upper groove 29 in the link 19 is blocked as indicated at 30 in Figure 7 to provide an end wall 31 which engages an abutment 32 on the vent plate 27, between the flanges 28, to limit the sliding movement of the link 19 with respect to the vent plate 27 and prevent it becoming detached from the vent plate.

Referring again to Figure 1, the window vent 11 is supported by the curved sliding links 19 of the lower and upper hinges while permitting the vent 11 to swing outwardly fiom the fixed frame 12 to the open position shown in Figure 1, The effective pivot axis of the hinge, indicated at 33 in Figure 1, is defined by the common centre of curvature of the flanges 17, the link 19 and the flanges 28.

As may be seen from Figure 1 the geometry of the hinges is such that the vent 11 barely projects into the aperture defined by the frame members 13 of the fixed frame when the window vent is in the fully open position, thus providing an access aperture which is virtually of the same dimensions as the aperture in the fixed frame 12. This enables the access aperture required by regulations to be achieved with standard sizes of fixed window frame. When the window is in the closed position with the vent 11 lying within the fixed frame 12, the sash plate 27 overlies the frame plate 15 with the link 19 between them.

In order to increase the ‘frictional engagement between the link 19 and the flanges and 28, the link 19 may be moulded with a slight longitudinal twist. Bumps may also be formed in the surface of the link. Alternatively or additionally, there may be received in the web 20 of the link 29 a grub screw which bears against a small rectangular fiiction pad which is received in a rectangular recess on one side of the web 20 so that by turning the grub screw the pressure on the friction pad against the adjacent surface of the frame plate 15 or vent plate 27 may be adjusted.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the three parts 15, 19, 17 of each hinge, each face of the link 19 may be integrally formed with a small spring leg which snaps over a small abutment on the frame plate or vent plate as the link is first introduced into the flanges on the plate. The link 19 is thereby retained in engagement with the frame plate and vent plate so that its sliding movement is limited to movement between the abutments 26 and 32 and the small abutments with which the sprung legs engage.

Instead of the link being moulded and the two plates 15 and 27 being die cast, as described above, the link might be die cast and the two plates injection moulded.

However, the invention is not limited to the components being formed from any particular material or manufactured by any particular process.

The hinge construction in accordance with the present invention and as described T above may not only be stronger than the rnulti-link friction hinges of the kind previously described, but may also be cheaper to manufacture, comprising fewer parts and involving much less assembly work.

Although the sample shown has only a single one—piece link connected between the vent plate and frame plate, arrangements are also possible where the link comprises two or more extensible parts, for example two or more parts which are in slidable engagement with one another. Such axrangement may be advantageous where the space available to receive the links when the window is in the closed position is limited.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS:

1. A window hinge comprising a first guide having means for attachment to a fixed window frame, a second guide having means for attachment to a movable window vent, and a link which is engageable with both said guides and is slidable relatively to each guide, characterised in that each guide is carried on a respective base plate which is substantially co-planar with the guide and extends laterally thereof, which base plates are substantially parallel to one another and move into overlapping relationship to one another when the hinge is brought to its closed position.

2. A window hinge according to Claim 1, wherein the link comprises a single substantially rigid element.

3. A window hinge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one of said guides, and preferably each said guide, comprises a track along which the link slides.

4. A window hinge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each of said guides comprises a track along which the link slides.

5. A window hinge according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the orientation of the link relative to the or each guide is determined by its position along said track or tracks.

6. A window hinge according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the or each track is arcuate, e.g. it may be part-circular.

7. A window hinge according to Claim 6, wherein the or each track is part-circular.

8. A window hinge according to any of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the link frictionally engages the or each track so as to provide frictional restraint to opening and closing of the window vent, in use. ll

9. A window hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the link and/or at least one of the guides is formed from resilient material, to enhance the frictional engagement between the link and the guide or guides.

10. A window hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein stop means are provided between the link and at least one of said guides to limit the relative sliding movement between the link and the guide in at least one direction.

11. A window hinge according to Claim 10, wherein said stop means comprise inter- engageable abutments on the link and guide.

12. A window hinge according to any of Claims 3 to 11, wherein the or each track comprises two generally parallel spaced guide surfaces between which at least a part of the link is slidably received.

13. A window hinge according to Claim 12, wherein the guide surfaces comprise spaced grooves directed inwardly towards one another and engageable respectively with spaced outwardly directed flanges formed on the link.

14. A window hinge according _to Claim 13, wherein the link is formed, at each side thereof with a pair of spaced parallel outwardly directed flanges for engagement within the track grooves of the first and second guides respectively.

15. A window hinge according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein each groove on the guide is provided by a generally L sectioned rail upstanding from the base plate.

16. A window hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.