U.S. patent application number 13/293589 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for hinge link pivot assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to SECURISTYLE LIMITED. Invention is credited to John F. Lambert.
Application Number | 20120117759 13/293589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36292925 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120117759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lambert; John F. |
May 17, 2012 |
Hinge Link Pivot Assembly
Abstract
A parallel opening hinge includes tracks pivotally connected
crossing links, wherein each pair of crossing links is mounted to
the tracks via a fixed pivot and a movable pivot in each track. A
connector joins two movable pivots in a track such that the movable
pivots move together. Improved opening of a parallel opening vent
can thereby result. A pivot between links of the hinge includes a
fastener holding the links together and a bushing acting on the
fastener to define spacing between the links.
Inventors: |
Lambert; John F.;
(Cheltenham, GB) |
Assignee: |
SECURISTYLE LIMITED
Cheltenham
GB
|
Family ID: |
36292925 |
Appl. No.: |
13/293589 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12293007 |
Sep 15, 2008 |
8087129 |
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PCT/GB2007/000817 |
Mar 12, 2007 |
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13293589 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
16/368 ;
16/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/547 20150115;
E05D 15/00 20130101; Y10T 16/5476 20150115; Y10T 16/544 20150115;
Y10T 16/553 20150115; Y10T 403/32073 20150115; E05D 15/30 20130101;
Y10T 16/5474 20150115; E05D 15/1013 20130101; F16C 11/04 20130101;
E05F 11/24 20130101; Y10T 16/558 20150115; E05Y 2900/148 20130101;
E05D 15/34 20130101; Y10T 16/54 20150115; E05D 15/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
16/368 ;
16/380 |
International
Class: |
E05D 3/12 20060101
E05D003/12; E05D 5/12 20060101 E05D005/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2006 |
GB |
0605364.9 |
Jul 5, 2006 |
GB |
0613380.5 |
Claims
1. A pivot between links of a hinge, the pivot including a fastener
holding the links together and a bush acting on the fastener to
define a spacing between the links.
2. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush includes a
shoulder for abutting a surface of a link.
3. A pivot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surface of the link
is a recessed surface.
4. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush abuts a head of
the fastener.
5. A pivot as claimed in claim 4, wherein the head of the fastener
is accommodated in a recess in one of the links.
6. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastener passes
through the bush.
7. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush is rigid and
acts as a bearing.
8. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush is phopshor
bronze.
9. A pivot as claimed in claim 1, further including a washer
between the links.
10. A hinge comprising: first and second tracks; first and second
links operably connected to the first and second tracks; a pivot
connecting the first link to the second link, wherein the pivot
includes a fastener holding the links together and a bush acting on
the fastener to define a spacing between the links.
11. The hinge as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hinge is operable
with a vent.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/293,007, filed Sep. 15, 2008, which
was filed through a National Phase Entry from International Patent
Application PCT/GB2007/000817, having an international filing date
of Mar. 12, 2007 which itself claims the benefit of GB0605364.9,
filed Mar. 16, 2006 and GB0613380.5, filed Jul. 5, 2006, the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entireties, and all commonly owned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to hinges for vents
and parts therefor, and in particular relates to parallel opening
hinges and improvements thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Parallel opening hinges are well known, as illustrated by
way of example to European Patent No. 0968349 for a vent, the
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
[0004] When a heavy window sash, say perhaps between 100-200
kilograms in weight, is to be supported for opening parallel to a
fixed frame, a number of parallel opening hinges are typically
used. For example, the long sides of the vent may use two or even
more separate parallel hinges and the shorter sides of the vent may
use one or two separate parallel hinges to support and control the
opening of the vent. Although these systems work, it has been noted
that the weight of a sash can cause a certain amount of dropping
and falling out of the upper part of the sash relatively to the
fixed frame. This can result in the vent opening out of parallel
and being unsightly, and is certainly not ideal. Also, due to the
weight of sashes now being carried by parallel hinges, a certain
degree of "crabbing" can occur as a slider moves along a track of a
parallel hinge during opening and/or closing of the vent. Once
again, this is not ideal and essentially spoils the smooth running
of the hinge system whether it is driven by manual operation or an
electric motor. It has also been noted that too much free play in a
central pivot joint between two links of a parallel opening hinge
can also reduce the smooth operation of the hinge system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention improves upon well know hinges and
solves the above described problems by providing a new parallel
opening hinge arrangement and a number of component parts therefor.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a parallel
opening hinge that may comprise a first track, a second track and
at least two pairs of pivotally connected crossing links, wherein
each pair of crossing links is mounted to the tracks via a fixed
pivot and a movable pivot in each track, wherein a connector joins
two movable pivots in a track such that the movable pivots move
together.
[0006] By causing the two movable pivots of what are essentially
adjacent parallel hinges to move together, the top part of a sash
is prevented from falling outwards. Indeed, the use of the
connector results in both parallel hinges moving at the same time
to the same extent, thereby resulting in almost perfect parallel
opening of a vent.
[0007] Although the present invention will function with only one
connector acting in one track of a parallel opening hinge
arrangement, improved opening may result if each track of a
parallel opening hinge system has its own connector for joining
movable pivots in its respective track. Furthermore, if more than
two parallel hinges are accommodated in a pair of tracks, a
connector can act between two or more of the movable pivots in each
parallel track.
[0008] In an embodiment of a parallel opening hinge, the movable
pivots are preferably slider blocks which are accommodated within
the track. As will be appreciated, the connector is preferably a
tie bar attached to the movable pivots, wherein the tie bar is
situated and moved within the track. Alternatively, it would be
possible for the connector to be connected to a movable pivot and
pass out of the bottom of the track and along the underside of the
track before re-entering the track to connect to the next movable
pivot.
[0009] If the connector is accommodated within a track, the
connector preferably has slots to accommodate other components,
such as other pivot points and screw mounting heads for example,
within the hinge.
[0010] The connector may be attached to a movable pivot via a
rivet. Alternatively, the connector may be attached to a movable
pivot via a shaped connection, such as a jigsaw type arrangement,
or a snap-fit, for example. Other forms of connection will, of
course, be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art.
[0011] The track preferably has a base and two side walls having
inwardly facing flanges substantially parallel to the base. This is
a typical C-shaped cross-section track known in the prior art. As
will be appreciated, the flanges retain the movable pivots/slider
blocks within the track.
[0012] The present invention further provides a new and improved
mounting block for use in a track of a hinge, the mounting block
being shaped to be received and retained within the track, wherein
the mounting block includes a plurality of roller balls for
abutting the track in use.
[0013] Typical slider blocks were able to move freely along a track
and provided good support for a sash. However, now that much
heavier sashes are being supported, it has been necessary to invent
a new form of mounting block, and this has resulted in the present
invention which uses roller balls.
[0014] Preferably, the mounting block includes at least one
aperture for receiving a pivot pin to connect the block to a link
of a hinge. The block may also include a second aperture for
receiving a connector to link the mounting block to another
mounting block in a parallel opening hinge system as herein
described. Alternatively, some other connection arrangement may be
provided on the mounting block.
[0015] The mounting block preferably includes a body and a skin
overlaying the body to prevent the body from contacting the track
in use. This is particularly useful when the body is manufactured
from metal and the skin is a plastics skin, since not only does the
plastics skin result in less friction between the mounting block
and the track, but the plastics skin can readily incorporate cut
out regions to accommodate the roller balls. Thus, the roller balls
can abut both the metal track and the metal body of the mounting
block, to transfer the weight of the sash directly
therebetween.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the mounting block is
substantially rectangular and the roller balls are located towards
the four corners of the mounting block on the sides of the block
which abut the sides of the track. If appropriate, more than four
roller balls may be incorporated.
[0017] The roller balls are preferably manufactured from metal, but
some other suitable material could alternatively be used.
[0018] The present invention further provides a pivot mount for a
link of a hinge. The pivot mount comprises a support block and a
pivot pin engaging the support block, wherein the pivot pin
includes a cam surface for abutting a link of a hinge in use to
move the link relative to the block.
[0019] By incorporating a pivot mount of this kind in a hinge,
particularly a parallel opening hinge, any dropping of the sash
relative to the fixed frame can be accommodated during installation
by adjusting the cam position to lift the sash. This has been found
to be a surprisingly useful invention.
[0020] The pivot pin preferably has a shaft for engaging the
support block.
[0021] The cam surface is preferably circular and offset from the
axis of the shaft of the pivot pin. Further, the diameter of the
circle defining the cam surface is preferably larger than the
diameter of the shaft of the pivot pin, thereby allowing a
significant amount of movement of a sash mounted on the parallel
opening hinge to be achieved. Essentially, rotation of the cam
surface adjusts the position of the track carrying the sash
relative to the remainder of the parallel hinge.
[0022] Preferably, the pivot pin includes a head for retaining a
link on the block, in use. One or more washer may also be used, as
necessary. Further, the head of the pivot pin is preferably shaped
to receive a tool, such as an allen key or screw driver, to rotate
the pivot pin during installation.
[0023] The present invention also provides a hinge for a vent
incorporating a mounting block and/or a pivot mount as described
and claimed herein.
[0024] As mentioned above, the central pivot joint between two
links of a parallel opening hinge can provide a region of too much
free play, which can be detrimental to the functioning of the
parallel opening hinge. Thus, the present invention further
provides a pivot between two links of a hinge, the pivot including
a fastener holding the links together, and bush (also well known as
a bushing) acting on the fastener to define spacing between the
links. By including the bush, which is ideally a good fit through
the links, a pivot arrangement is produced wherein axial free play
along the fastener can be minimised. As a result, smoother
operation of the pivot can result, thereby improving the opening of
a parallel hinge, for example.
[0025] The bush preferably includes a shoulder for abutting a
surface of a link. The surface of the link is preferably a recessed
surface, so that both the shoulder of the bush and the associated
part of the fastener can be accommodated within the recess.
[0026] At the other end of the bush, the bush preferably abuts a
head of the fastener, thereby defining the length of the fastener
during assembly. More preferably, the head of the fastener is
accommodated in a recess in one of the links. Thus, the complete
pivot can be accommodated within the profile of the two adjacent
links.
[0027] The fastener preferably passes through the bush and, if the
fastener is a rivet, is crushed outwardly and over the shoulder of
the bush during assembly.
[0028] The bush is preferably rigid and acts as a bearing for the
two links. Phosphor bronze is a very good bearing material, which
also has good strength and rigidity. Other suitable materials can,
of course, alternatively be used. As will be appreciated, a washer
is ideally used between the two links outside the bush to prevent
wear between the links. Hence, the bush must have sufficient length
to accommodate this washer, which is preferably nylon or other
suitable material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Specific embodiments of the present invention are now
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a parallel opening hinge
according to the present invention in an open position;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge of FIG. 1 in a
closed position;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting block according
to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a parallel
opening hinge with one of the tracks removed to show the mounting
block of FIG. 3 in use;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the parallel opening
hinge of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a pivot mount according to the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pivot pin for use in the
pivot mount shown in FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the pivot mount
shown in FIG. 5; and
[0037] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through a pivot joining
crossing links of a parallel opening hinge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings, a parallel opening hinge system 1 is shown. As will be
seen, the hinge system effectively incorporates two parallel hinge
arrangements in a single product. The new parallel hinge includes a
pair of parallel tracks 3, 5 each having essentially a C-shaped
cross-section with a base and two side walls having inwardly facing
flanges substantially parallel to the base. The hinge 1 further
includes two pairs of crossing links 7, 9, wherein each pair of
crossing links 7, 9 is pivotally connected at a pivot 11 and to
each track 3, 5. The links 7 are attached to track 3 at fixed pivot
points 13 and to track 5 at movable pivot points 15. Similarly, the
links 9 are attached to track 5 at fixed pivot points 17 and to
track 3 at movable pivot points 19. Thus, as the parallel tracks 3,
5 are moved together or apart, the movable pivots 15, 19 travel
along the tracks whereas the fixed pivots 13, 17 remain fixed.
[0039] As will be seen in FIG. 1, the movable pivots 15 are carried
by mounting blocks 21 shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. These
mounting blocks 21 are shaped to be received and retained within
the c-shaped cross-sectioned tracks 3, 5. Between the two mounting
blocks 21 in track 5, for example, a connector or tie rod 23 is
provided for tying the two sliders 21 together, so that they move
as one. The connector 23 is joggled at one end to ride over the
mounting block 21 and be riveted thereto. The connector 23 then
travels along the bottom of the track 5 avoiding pivot 17 by virtue
of a slot 25 in the connector 23 before being connected to mounting
block 21b in track 5. The connection with mounting block 21b can be
a snap fit or a jigsaw type arrangement where the two components
are shaped complementary, for example.
[0040] Also not shown in FIG. 1, a similar connector 23 can be used
between the movable pivots 19 in track 3.
[0041] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting block 21 is shown
in more detail.
[0042] As will be appreciated, a metal body portion 27 is shaped to
be received in a c-section track 3, 5 and is partially encased in
plastics skin 29. This arrangement is not dissimilar to that
described and claimed in the present applicant's UK patent 2281098.
The difference here, however, is that the plastics skin 29 has four
cut out regions 31 for receiving metal roller balls 33. The roller
balls 33 are sized to be received in a space between the flanges
and the base of track 3, 5. The roller ball 33 stand slightly proud
of the plastics skin 29, thereby abutting and running along the
tracks 3, 5. Smoother running of the mounting blocks along the
tracks 3, 5 thereby results. More roller balls 33 could, of course,
be used in additional cut outs 31, if necessary.
[0043] Each mounting block 21 includes two apertures, 35, 37. One
aperture is used to accommodate the pivots 15, and the other
aperture is used to connect to the connector 23. Thus, the two
mounting blocks 21a, 21b face each other in track 5 with their free
apertures facing each other as shown in FIG. 1.
[0044] Moving on to a further inventive aspect of the present
parallel opening hinge system, a pivot mount is shown in FIGS. 6
and 7. The pivot mount of FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area
surrounding pivot 17 in FIG. 1. As will be seen, a pivot pin 41
retains a link 9 on a support block 43, which is fixed within track
5. The support block 43 is fixed to the track 5 by means of a rivet
45 seen more easily in FIG. 1. The pivot pin 41 is fixed to the
support block 43, but free to rotate relative thereto about a shaft
47. The pivot pin 41 also includes a cam surface 49 for rebutting
an aperture (not shown) in the link 9. Ahead 51 is provided on the
pivot pin to retain the link 9 connected to the support block 43.
The head 51 includes a recess 53 for accommodating an allen key or
the like to rotate the pivot pin 41 relative to the support block
43.
[0045] During installation of a parallel hinge according to the
present invention, the sash mounted on the track 5 may drop
slightly due to its weight and become non-parallel to the fixed
frame, and thereby look unsightly. To overcome this, an allen key
can be applied to the recess 53 in the head 51 of each pivot mount
to rotate the pivot pin 41 about shaft 49, thereby bringing the cam
surface 49 to bear against the link 9. Relative motion of the link
9 and support block 43, and hence track 5 and the sash thereby
results, lifting (or lowering) the sash as required. Essentially
perfect parallel positioning and alignment of the sash relative to
the fixed frame can thereby result.
[0046] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the pivot 11 between the
crossing links 7, 9 comprises a rivet 55, a bush 57 (also known as
a bushing) and a nylon washer 59.
[0047] As will be seen, the rivet has a head 61 accommodated within
a recess 63 in link 9 and the fastener passes through the bush 57.
The other link 7 also includes a recess 65 for accommodating a
shoulder 67 of the bush 57 and the free end 69 of the rivet 55 when
crushed over the shoulder 67 of the bush 55. Following crushing of
the rivet 55, the rivet is accommodated within the combined
thickness of the two links 7, 9 and the washer 59. Further, due to
the shoulder 67 of the bush 57 bearing against a surface 71 in the
recess 65 of link 7, the location of the bush 57 is defined and the
active length of the rivet 55 is fixed due to the axial length of
the bush 57. With this in mind, as will be seen in FIG. 8, the free
end of the bush 57 abuts the head 61 of the rivet 55, so the
distance between the two links 7, 9 can be predefined by choosing
the length of the bush 57. The thickness of the nylon washer 59 can
also be selected to ensure that the two links 7, 9 are able to
rotate freely about the phosphor bronze bush 57 with little axial
free play along the rivet 55. An improved pivot joint having less
friction is thereby produced, which results in the opening and
closing forces of the vent being reduced. Larger and heavier vents
can therefore be manually operated.
[0048] As will be appreciated, there are a number of novel and
inventive features described herein which, when used in a hinge,
such as a parallel opening hinge, will result in significantly
improved opening and usage of the hinge.
[0049] 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 as claimed.
* * * * *