GB2174141A

GB2174141A - Improvements in hinges

Info

Publication number: GB2174141A
Application number: GB08510462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Stuart Jack
Original assignee: WALFAB
Current assignee: WALFAB
Priority date: 1985-04-24
Filing date: 1985-04-24
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: GB2174141B; GB8510462D0

Abstract

A bar member of a hinge has a pointed end (13) which is engageable, in the closed position of the bar member, in an angled recess at one end of a track member (1). The recess is formed from an insert (3) of plastics or like material in which is mounted an end stop consisting of a strip of resilient material, such as spring steel, having two limbs (14, 15) which are interconnected by a bowed region (16) which is effective to urge the limbs (14, 15) against respective inclined faces on the insert (3). The transitions between the limbs (14, 15) and the bowed region (16) and the pointed end (13) of the bar member (9) are rounded to ensure that the bar member does not become locked in the closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in hinges This invention relates to hinges and is particularly concerned with hinges for windows.

A hinge of this type is known which comprises a track member, a slide movable along the track member, a strut pivotally connected to the track member in spaced relation to the slide, a link pivotally connected to the slide and a bar member pivotally connected to the link and the strut for movement between a closed position in which the bar member is disposed above the track member and an open position in which the bar member is disposed at an angle to the track member. Such a hinge is disclosed in, for example, British Patent Specification No. 2101199.

The bar member of such hinges usually has a pointed end which is engageable in a V-shaped groove or angled plate provided at the end of the track member when the bar member is in the closed position. The engagement in the conventional hinges is, however, such that the bar member can become locked in the closed position making a window or other closing member fitted with such a hinge difficult to open.

The present invention aims to overcome this problem by providing a hinge having a bar member which does not become locked in its closed position.

According to the invention, there is provided a hinge comprising a track member, a slide movable along the track member, a strut pivotally connected to the track member in spaced relation to the slide, a link pivotally connected to the slide and a bar member pivotally connected to the link and the strut for movement between a closed position in which the bar member is disposed above the track member and an open position in which the bar member is disposed at an angle to the track member, the bar member having a pointed end which is engageable, in the closed position of said bar member, in an angled recess at one end of the track member wherein said recess is so formed that it is adapted to retain said bar member in its closed position without locking the bar member and preventing movement thereof to its open position.

Preferably, the angled recess is formed by a resiliently deformable end stop provided at said one end of the track member.

The resiliently deformable end stop may be formed by a strip of spring steel or similar material which comprises two limbs extending at an anlge to one another and interconnected by a bowed region. This construction permits flexing of the end stop when it is contacted by the pointed end of the bar member but, at the same time, ensures that the bar member is not immovably locked in its closed position.

The end stop is desirably mounted at the end of the track member by means of an insert of plastics or like material having a cut-out to accommodate the intermediate bowed region of the end stop.

The hinge according to the invention may also be provided with a further link connected at one end to the slide and at the other end to the strut.

The strut is desirably mounted on the track member adjacent its other end.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing which shows one embodiment of a hinge according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the hinge comprises a track member 1 provided with holes 2 to enable the track member to be secured to a window or like frame (not shown). The track member is provided with a longitudinal groove in each of its side walls and said grooves may be formed by rolling the edges of a strip of metal or like material from which the track member is made. Aiternatively, the grooves may be formed by extruding the track member.

One end of the track member 1 is fitted with an insert 3 of plastics or like material which is engaged in the grooves at said end of the track member and extends for a short distance from the end of said track member. A strut 4 is pivotally connected to the track member adjacent its other end.

Slidably mounted in the grooves of the track member 1 is a slide 6, a first link 7 being pivotally connected to one end of the slide and a second link 8 being pivotally connected to the other end of the slide. The strut 4 is cranked intermediate its ends to form a cranked portion 5 and the second link 8 is pivotally connected to this cranked portion 5 adjacent the end which adjoins the uncranked portion of the strut 4.

One end of a bar member 9 is pivotally connected to the link 7 and the end of the cranked portion 5 of the strut 4 is connected to the bar member 9 intermediate the ends thereof. The bar member 9 is provided with a series of holes 11 to enable the bar member to be secured to a window or like closable member (not shown). The said one end of the bar member 9 is cranked at 12 and is provided with a pointed end 13.

The purpose of cranking the strut 4 and bar member 9 is to enable these components to overlie one another and the links 7 and 8 when the hinge is moved to the closed position. The drawing shows the hinge in the open position. When a window or like member to which the hinge is fitted is moved to the closed position, the bar member 9 is moved towards the track member 1 and, at the same time, the slide 6 is moved down the track member towards the insert 3. In the fully closed position of the hinge, the strut 4 and the links 7 and 8 overlie the track member 1 directly, the cranked portion 5 of the strut 4 overlies the link 8 and the bar member 9 overlies the cranked portion 5 of the strut 4 as well as covering the links 7 and 8 and part of the strut 4.In this connection, it should be noted that the strut 4 is cranked outwardly, that is in a direction away from the track member 1 when the hinge is in the closed position, while the bar member 9 is cranked inwardly, that is to say that the cranked end 12 is closer to the track member 1 than the remainder of the bar member 9 when the hinge is in the closed position.

An end stop is mounted in the insert 3 at the said one end of the track member 1. The end stop comprises a pair of limbs 14 and 15 which extend at an angle to one another and which are interconnected by a central bowed region 16 which is accommodated in a slot 17 provided in the insert 3.

The end stop is made of a resilient material, such as spring steel, and the bowed region 16 is so arranged that it urges the limbs 14 and 15 against respective inclined faces provided on the insert 3.

As the hinge is moved to the closed position, the downwards movement of the slide 6 and concomitant pivoting of the link 7 is effective to move the pointed end 13 of the bar member 9 towards the end stop until the left hand side of said pointed end (as viewed in the drawing) engages the limb 14 of the end stop. Further closing movement of the hinge causes the pointed end 13 to move along the limb 14 until, in the closed position of the hinge, the tip of the pointed end 13 is located opposite the bowed region 16 while its flanks engage both of the limbs 14 and 15 of the end strip.

It has been found that, with prior constructions, the pointed end of the bar tends to lock in the end stop and prevent the hinge from opening. However, this problem is avoided in the hinge according to the invention which is shown in the drawing by providing the end stop with the bowed region 16 and by providing rounded transitions between this region and the limbs 14 and 15. Thus, when the hinge shown in the drawing is moved to its open position, the tip of the pointed end 13 is initially moved across the bowed region 16 so that its tip engages the limb 15. The rounded transition between the bowed region 16 and limb 15, and the resilient material of the end stop, ensures that this can take place with little or no resistance. Further movement of the hinge in the opening direction causes the pointed end 13 to slide along the limb 15 until the slide 6 has been moved along the track member away from the insert 3 to such an extent that the pointed end 13 of the bar member 9 is moved out of contact with the end stop.

Smooth operation is further enhanced if the tip of the pointed end 13 of the bar member 9 is rounded as shown in the drawing.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, although the hinge according to the invention is primarily intended for use on windows, the hinge is not restricted to such use but may be fitted to any suitable hingable member.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising a track member, a slide movable along the track member, a strut pivotally connected to the track member in spaced relation to the slide, a link pivotally connected to the slide and a bar member pivotally connected to the link and the strut for movement between a closed position in which the bar member is disposed above the track member and an open position in which the bar member is disposed at an angle to the track member, the bar member having a pointed end which is engageable, in the closed position of said bar member, in an angled recess at one end of the track member wherein said recess is so formed that it is adapted to retain said bar member in its closed position without locking the bar member and preventing movement thereof to its open position.

2. A hinge according to claim 1, wherein the angled recess is formed by a resiliently deformable end stop provided at said one end of the track member.

3. A hinge according to claim 2, wherein the resiliently deformable end stop is formed by a strip of spring steel or similar material which comprises two limbs extending at an angle to one another and interconnected by a bowed region.

4. A hinge according to claim 3, wherein the end stop is mounted at the said one end of the track member by means of an insert of plastics or like material having a recess or cut-out to accommodate the intermediate bowed region of the end stop.

5. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein a further link is provided which is connected at one end to the slide and at the other end to the strut.

6. A hinge according to claim 5, wherein the strut is cranked intermediate its ends to form a cranked portion one end of which is pivotally connected to the bar member, the said further link being connected to the other end of the cranked portion adjacent to the uncranked portion of the strut.

7. A hinge according to claim 6, wherein the said one end of the cranked portion of the strut is connected to the bar member intermediate the ends thereof.

8. A hinge according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the said further link is pivotally connected to the slide at one end thereof and the firstmentioned link is pivotally connected to the other end of the slide.

9. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the pointed end of the bar member is cranked with respect to the remainder of said bar member.

10. A hinge according to claim 9, wherein the link is pivotally connected to the cranked portion of the bar member adjacent the pointed end thereof.

11. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the strut is pivotally mounted on the track member adjacent the other end thereof.

12. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the track member is provided with a plurality of holes to enable it to be the secured to a window or like frame.

13. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the track member is provided with side walls each having a respective longitudinal groove adapted to receive a respective side edge portion of the slide.

14. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the bar member is provided with a plurality of holes to enable it to be secured to a window or like closable member.

15. A hinge according to any preceding claim, wherein the pointed end of the bar member has a rounded point.

16. A hinge substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.