GB2278881A

GB2278881A - Combined butt hinge and telescopic stay

Info

Publication number: GB2278881A
Application number: GB9312113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Harrison; Tracy Dain Fletcher
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-11
Filing date: 1993-06-11
Publication date: 1994-12-14
Also published as: GB9312113D0

Abstract

A butt hinge 1 for supporting an opening wing of a door or window in a surrounding frame has knuckles 7, 8 pivotally connected by a hinge pin 9 and a telescopic stay 21 extending normal to the hinge axis to restrict pivotal movement and hold the wing in closed or any selected one of a range of open positions. The telescopic stay 21 may comprise an arm 22 slidably received in a channel-section track 23. The stay member may comprise a friction device (40, fig. 7) to allow for continuous adjustment or a sprung detent 34 on the arm 22 may engage a series of formations 33 in the channel-section track 23 to hold the wing in the desired position. <IMAGE>

Description

HINGE This invention concerns improvements in or relating to hinges for windows and doors.

In traditional casement windows, the casement is supported on the outer frame by butt hinges and is held in closed or selected open positions by one or more casement stays. The known casement stays have a stay bar pivotally mounted on the casement and a peg plate mounted on the fixed frame for selective engagement with a series of longitudinally spaced apart holes or recesses in the stay bar to locate the casement at the desired open position. In the closed position, the stay bar engages the peg plate and a hook plate mounted on the fixed frame or casement. For extra security in the closed position, the casement may be secured by a casement fastener in addition to the casement stay(s).

Such casement stays and fasteners have to be accurately aligned and are usually factory fitted by the window manufacturer. This is time consuming and adds to costs, especially for large windows having several casements each with one or more casement stays and, where required, a casement fastener. Additionally, factory fitted casement stays and fasteners may be damaged during storage, transport and installation of the window.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge for a window or door comprising first and second hinge members for securing respectively to a vent frame and an outer frame, and restrictor means connecting the first and second hinge members to limit opening movement of the vent frame, the restrictor means being adapted to hold the vent frame at a selected position relative to the outer frame.

By this invention, the hinge incorporates restrictor means to locate and retain the vent frame at a selected position so that fitment of one or more separate casement stays for this purpose may be dispensed with.

Additionally, by incorporating the restrictor means into the hinge, fitment is simplified and less time consuming as compared with fitment of a separate hinge and casement stay. As a result, manufacturing costs may be reduced.

Preferably, the restrictor means is adapted to be positioned in the rebate between the vent frame and fixed frame in the closed position of the vent frame. As a result, the restrictor means is concealed during storage, transport and installation of the window thereby preventing any risk of damage. Furthermore, the appearance of the window is enhanced and security is improved by such concealed location of the restrictor means in the closed position of the vent frame.

Advantageously, the restrictor means comprises a telescopic stay having first and second telescopically engaged members extending normal to the hinge axis, and each stay member is pivotally connected to a respective one of the hinge members.

The stay members may be arranged to provide stepwise or continuous adjustment of the stay length. For example, stepwise adjustment may be provided by a detent device while continuous adjustment may be provided by a friction device.

In a preferred construction, the stay members comprise an arm slidably received in a channel-section track and adapted to engage selectively the track plate at any desired one of a series of longitudinally spaced apart positions. For example, the arm may have a resiliently biassed detent engageable with co-operating formations of the track plate.

The restrictor means is preferably arranged to provide a permanent connection between the hinge members but a releasable connection may be provided for some applications of the hinge.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a window, door or like closure comprising an opening wing mounted in an outer frame by a pair of hinges including at least one hinge according to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the hinges are positioned adjacent to adjoining corners of the wing. The hinges may be different, for example one hinge may be of conventional type, but more preferably both hinges are according to the first aspect of the invention. For opening wings of large size, one or more additional hinges may be provided between said pair of hinges and such additional hinge(s) islare preferably of conventional type.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hinge according to invention shown partially open; FIGURE 2 is an exploded isometric view of the hinge shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section of the telescopic stay of the hinge shown in Figures 1 and 2, the stay being shown retracted; FIGURE 4 is longitudinal section of the telescopic stay, similar to Figure 3, with the stay being shown extended; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the location of one hinge leaf on an opening vent frame of a casement window; FIGURE 6 is a view, partly in section, showing the location of the telescopic stay in the rebate between the opening vent frame and surrounding fixed frame; and FIGURE 7 is an exploded isometric view of an alternative telescopic stay.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a stormproof butt hinge 1 is shown comprising hinge leaves 2,3 pivotally connected by a hinge pin 4.

Each leaf 2,3 has a base flange 5,6 respectively and a knuckle 7,8 respectively bent at right angles to the base flange 2,3. The hinge pin 4 has a head 9 at one end and a cylindrical shank 10 that extends through respective aligned bores 11,12 of the knuckles 7,8 with the free end of the shank 10 being turned over to secure permanently the hinge leaves 2,3.

The base flange 6 of one leaf 3 is formed with three countersunk holes 13 for fixing screws or similar fasteners (not shown) and an integral lug 14 bent at right angles at one end of the flange 6 to extend away from the associated knuckle 8. The lug 14 is formed with a through hole 15 parallel to the hinge axis.

The base flange 5 of the other leaf 2 is formed with a single countersunk hole 16 at one end for a fixing screw or similar fastener (not shown) and an integral leg 17 bent at right angles at the other end to extend away from the associated knuckle 7. The leg 17 is formed with a countersunk hole 18 at the free end for a fixing screw or similar fastener (not shown). Adjacent to the hole 18, the leg 17 has a stepped portion 19 formed with a through hole 20 parallel to the hinge axis.

The hinge leaves 2,3 are connected by restrictor means comprising a telescopic stay 21 extending normal to the hinge axis. The stay 21 comprises an arm 22 of flat rectangular section and a track plate 23 of channel-section in which the arm 22 is slidably received and located by opposed longitudinal lips 24 of the track plate 23.

The arm 22 is pivotally connected to the leaf 3 by a rivet 25 extending through the hole 15 of the lug 14 and an aligned hole 26 at the outer free end of the arm 22.

The track plate 23 is pivotally connected to the leaf 2 by a rivet 27 extending through the hole 20 of the leg 17 and an aligned hole 28 at the end of the track plate 23 remote from the inner end of the arm 22.

Mounted on the inner end of the arm 22 by means of lugs 29 engaging complementary openings 30 in the arm 22 is a curved plate spring 31 facing base wall 32 of the track plate 23.

The track plate 23 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apart transverse recesses 33 in the base wall 32 and the plate spring 31 is provided on the opposed surface with a transverse rib 34.

The stay 21 is telescopically adjustable by sliding movement of the arm 22 within the track plate 23 and the rib 34 is engageable with any selected one of the recesses 33 to fix a desired stay length between the end positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 corresponding to the fully retracted and extended positions of the arm 22 respectively.

In this embodiment, the track.plate 23 has six recesses 33 but this is not essential and the number of recesses 33 may be varied to provide any desired number of positions for fixing the stay length. In a modification (not shown), the recesses 33 may be provided in the arm 22 and the plate spring 31 mounted on the track plate 23.

The arm 22 is formed with an integral tang 35 intermediate its ends and the track plate 23 is formed with an integral tang 36 at the end remote from the hole 28. The tangs 35,36 are arranged to engage in the fully extended position of the arm 22 to retain the inner end of the arm 22 within the track plate 23 thereby preventing separation of the arm 22 from the track plate 23. To assemble the stay 21, the arm 22 is passed through the track plate 23 from the end remote from the tang 36.

With reference now also to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown part of a casement window comprising an inner vent frame 37 and an outer fixed frame 38. The vent frame 37 is mounted by a pair of the above-described hinges 1 (one only shown) positioned at adjacent corners of the window for pivotal movement about either a horizontal axis (top hung) or a vertical axis (side hung).

The leaf 2 of each hinge 1 is secured to the vent frame 37 on two sides adjoining a corner of the vent frame 37 by two screws (not shown) passing through the holes 16, 18 of the base flange 5 and leg 17 respectively.

The leaf 3 of each hinge 1 is secured to the outer frame 38 on one side adjoining a corner of the outer frame 38 opposite the base flange 5 by three screws (not shown) passing through the holes 13 of the base flange 6.

The stay 21 of each hinge 1 extends normal to the hinge axis and, when the window is closed, the stay 21 is positioned opposite the leg 17 in the rebate 39 between the vent frame 37 and the outer frame 38.

The stay 21 of each hinge 1 is length adjustable to accommodate pivotal movement of the vent frame 37 relative to the outer frame 38 and is operable to hold the vent frame 37 in selected closed or open positions by engagement of the raised rib 34 of the plate spring 31 with the appropriate recess 33 of the track plate 23 without the use of one or more separate casement stays as previously required.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown an alternative telescopic stay for the above-described hinge in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

The stay 21 has a track plate 23 of channel-section in which the arm 22 is slidably received. The arm 22 is provided with a flat plate 40 that is pressed against the base wall 32 of the track plate 23 by a grub screw 41.

The plate 40 provides frictional resistance to sliding movement of the arm 22 such that the arm 22 is held at any adjusted position. As a result, the length of the stay 21 can be continuously adjusted between fully extended and retracted positions of the arm 22. The friction may be adjusted, for example to compensate for wear or different loads, by tightening or slackening the grub screw 41 to increase or decrease the pressure applied to the plate 40.

Although the above-described hinges hold the vent frame closed, a casement fastener may be provided to secure the vent frame in the closed position for added security. Such casement fastener may be of any type known to those skilled in the art having a pivotal handle mounted on the vent frame or outer frame for engagement with a keeper on the outer frame or vent frame. Alternatively or additionally, the handle may be arranged to operate an espagnolette or similar mechanism co-operable with several keepers to secure the vent frame at a plurality of positions spaced apart on one or more sides of the vent frame.

The above-described hinge is capable of modification without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the length of the stay may be adjustable in discrete steps with a detent device for fixing the adjusted length of the stay. The detent device may be of any suitable construction and may be arranged to provide any desired number of adjusted positions.

Alternatively, the length of the stay may be continuously adjustable with a friction device for maintaining any adjusted length of the stay. The friction device may be adjustable to vary the friction.

The telescopic stay may be replaced by any other suitable restrictor means connecting the hinge leaves to limit opening movement of the vent frame and hold the vent frame at a selected position.

The telescopic stay or any other restrictor means may provide a permanent connection between the hinge leaves as described or, in certain circumstances, it may desirable to provide a releasable connection to allow unrestricted opening of the vent frame, for example for escape in an emergency.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to stormproof butt hinges as described above and includes other types of hinges. For example, hinges having one or more friction pivot joints to hold the vent frame at a selected position may be provided with the restrictor means of the invention enabling the friction pivot joint(s) to be dispensed with and replaced by simpler, less expensive pivot joints.

It will also be appreciated that the invention is not limited to hinges for windows and includes hinges for doors and like closures in which an opening wing (herein described as a vent frame) is movable relative to an outer frame which may be fixed or itself movable relative to a surrounding fixed frame.

Claims

Claims:

1. A hinge for a window or door comprises first and second hinge members for securing respectively to a vent frame and an outer frame, and restrictor means connecting the first and second hinge members to limit opening movement of the vent frame, the restrictor means being adapted to hold the vent frame at a selected position relative to the outer frame.

2. A hinge according to Claim 1 wherein, in use, the restrictor means is concealed in the closed position of the vent frame.

3. A hinge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein, in use, the restrictor means is positioned in the rebate between the vent frame and fixed frame in the closed position of the vent frame.

4. A hinge according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the restrictor means comprises a telescopic stay.

5. A hinge according to Claim 4 wherein the stay extends normal to the hinge axis.

6. A hinge according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the stay comprises a pair of telescopically engaged members with each member being pivotally connected to a respective one of the hinge members.

7. A hinge according to Claim 6 wherein the stay members have respective formations engageable to prevent separation thereof in a fully extended position of the stay.

8. A hinge according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the stay members comprise an arm slidably received in a channel-section track.

9. A hinge according to any one of Claims 4 to 8 including a detent device for stepwise adjustment of the stay length.

10. A hinge according to Claim 9 as dependent on Claim 8 wherein one stay member has a series of longitudinally spaced formations and the other stay member has a resiliently biased detent engageable with any selected one of the formations.

11. A hinge according to any one of Claims 4 to 8 including a friction device for continuous adjustment of the stay length.

12. A hinge according to Claim 11 wherein the friction device is adjustable to vary the friction.

13. A hinge according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the restrictor means is releasable.

14. A hinge for an opening wing of a door or window comprises first and second hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, and a telescopic stay extending between the hinge members normal to the hinge axis and adapted to hold the wing at a selected position relative to an outer frame.

15. A hinge for a door or window substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A hinge for a door or window substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A window, door or like closure comprising an opening wing mounted in an outer frame by a pair of hinges including at least one hinge according to the first aspect of the invention.