Stay Arrangement For A Window Or Door Of The Turn-and-tilt Type

Abstract

The top of the panel in a window or door of the turn-and-tilt type is secured to the associated frame by a pivot assembly having a vertical axis and attached to the frame and by an arm whose one end portion is conformingly received in a connector on the pivot assembly. The connector is a channel whose flanges slope obliquely toward each other from the web so as to permit sliding longitudinal movement of the arm, but to prevent transverse movement of the arm out of the channel. Cooperating, partly adjustable abutments limit the longitudinal movement of the arm relative to the connector. The free end of the arm is movably attached to the panel top.

Description

This invention relates to windows and doors of the turn-and-tilt type, and particularly to a stay arrangement for use with such doors or windows.

The doors or windows with which this invention in concerned have panels secured to the associated frames by at least partly disengageable hinges so that the panel may be turned about a vertical axis relative to the frame in the manner of a casement window or swinging door, or alternatively tilted about a horizontal axis, normally extending along the bottom edge of the panel, so as to permit ventilation through the gap between three sides of the panel and corresponding frame elements while still providing a measure of privacy. While friction will normally hold the panel in any turned position, a stay is necessary to limit the tilting movement of the panel. Yet, the stay must not interfere with the alternative turning movement.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide two axially spaced hinges connecting the panel and the frame for turning about a vertical axis, to make the lower hinge disengageable, and to combine the stay arrangement with the upper hinge in such a manner that the weight of the panel is at least partly transmitted to the frame in all open positions of the panel. This arrangement presents problems.

It is necessary that clearances between the frame and panel be held to a minimum for proper closure of the frame opening by the panel. Sagging of door or window panels interferes with conforming engagement of the panel in the frame opening even where simple and rugged hinges are employed. When the hinge or pivot structure simultaneously must perform the function of a stay for the tilted panel, sagging is even more difficult to prevent, and may originate not only in the frame, the panel, or other elements of the building, but also in the stay arrangement itself.

To solve this problem, it has been proposed in German Published application No. 2,115,323 to include in the stay arrangement provisions for varying the radial spacing of the panel from the vertical axis of the associated pivot or hinge assembly so that sagging or other lack of fit of the panel in the frame opening may be compensated for. While the known apparatus is effective, it is relatively complex and correspondingly costly. The radial position of the door or window panel cannot be adjusted in the known device without at least partly disassembling the door or window, and the adjustment can be made only in relatively coarse steps.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stay arrangement of the type described which is very simple in its structure and therefore inexpensive, yet rugged. It is a concomitant object to permit adjustment of the panel position by means of primitive hand tools or even simpler substitutes for such tools without interfering with the assembled condition of the stay arrangement. Yet another object is the provision of a mechanism which permits the stepless radial shifting of the panel position without which a panel originally precisely fitted into its frame cannot be adjusted for sagging or like changes in its condition.

The invention is equally applicable to doors and windows of the tilt-and-turn type described above, and will be discussed hereinbelow with reference to a window. It will be understood, however, that, for the purpose of this invention, door panels and door frames are interchangeable with window panels and window frames, and that any statement made hereinbelow with reference to a window is equally applicable to a door.

In its more specific aspects, the stay arrangement of the invention includes a pivot assembly having a stationary part adapted to be attached to the window frame and a movable part connected to the stationary part for relative movement about an axis. A connector is fixedly attached to the movable part and elongated radially relative to the pivot axis. It is channel-shaped and has a web portion and two flange portions sloping away from the web portion at respective acute angles and toward each other. An elongated arm has one longitudinally terminal portion received in the connector in conforming, longitudinally slidable engagement with the web and flange portions of the connector. Means are provided for securing the other longitudinally terminal portion of the arm to the window panel. Means are further provided for limiting relative longitudinal movement of the arm in the connector.

Either the arm or the connector may be formed with a bore therethrough and the connector is formed with a recess if the bore is in the arm, and vice versa. The bore and recess directly communicate in all operative positions of the pivot assembly. The afore-mentioned limiting means include a pin element, such as a cylindrical rivet, having an axis and received in the bore for pivotal movement about its axis. A plate element is fixedly fastened to one axial end of the pin element and is received in the recess, the dimensions of the plate element and the recess being selected for permitting angular movement of the plate element in the recess during the pivotal movement of the pin element. A projection of the plate element into a plane radial to the axis of the pin element has a geometrical center, and the axis of the pin element is radially spaced from this center.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly exploded, perspective view of a window provided with a stay arrangement of the invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show the stay arrangement of FIG. 1 in sections on the lines II--II and III--III.

Only a small portion of the window panel retained by the stay of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, namely the horizontal top member 40 and the glass pane 41 of the window. The window is of the tilt-and-turn type and is fastened to the partly illustrated window frame 43 by partly releasable hinges along one of the upright sides of the panel (on the right in FIG. 1) and along the horizontal bottom member of the panel in a manner known in itself and not shown. As seen in FIG. 1, the window panel is tilted inward of the house toward the viewer so that a ventilating opening is formed between the window frame and the top and sides of the window panel while the bottom of the panel is hingedly fastened to the window frame.

The stay arrangement with which this invention is more particularly concerned includes an arm 1 which is a flat metal bar of rectangular cross section and is normally secured to a pivot assembly 2 fixedly mounted on the window frame 43. Only the two longitudinal ends of the arm 1 are shown. One end of an elongated link 3 is pivoted to the arm 1 near one end of the latter, the free end portion of the arm carrying a fixedly fastened, depending rivet 4. The rivet is slidably received in a guide slot 5 of a bar-shaped fitting 6 fixedly attached to the window top 40 by wood screws 42. The end 5' of the slot 5 remote from the pivot assembly 2 is enlarged for passage therethrough of ahead on the rivet 4, the remainder of the slot being too narrow to permit passage of the rivet head which moves longitudinally in a groove of the window top 40 in a known manner not specifically shown. The other end of the link 3 is hingedly fastened to the fitting 6.

The pivot assembly 2 includes two, coaxial, axially short hinge knuckles 7 fixedly fastened to the window frame 43 and axially separated by a long, cylindrical knuckle 10 rotatable on the vertical pivot pin 9 which passes through the three knuckles. The knuckle 10 carries a vertically elongated bracket 8 of L-shaped cross section which conformingly abuts against the window frame 43 in the closed position of the window panel. In that position of the window panel, the arm 1 and the fitting 6 are superposed in parallel relationship, and that relationship is maintained when the panel is swung in a horizontal plane about the pivot assembly 2 and a lower, releasable pivot, not shown.

The bracket 8 has two integral, vertically elongated sheet metal parts 11, 12 arranged at right angles to each other. The part 12 is located between the window panel and the window frame in the closed window. A connector 14 is fixedly attached to the part 12 of the bracket 8. It has the approximate shape of an elongated channel whose web 15 is horizontal in all operative positions, and whose flanges 16, 16' are obliquely inclined toward each other at respective acute angles to the web 15, so that the open space in the connector 14 tapers upwardly. A rectangular aperture 17 in the web 15 is elongated in the direction of elongation of the connector. An integral portion 18 of the flange 16' constitutes a lug normally bent into the space bounded by the web 15 and the flanges 16, 16'.

The end portion 19 of the arm 1 remote from the rivet 4 has a smaller width than the longitudinal main portion of the arm and has beveled edge faces 20 shaped for conforming, sliding engagement with the flanges 16, 16' of the connector 14 so that the end portion 19 may be slipped into the connector 14 longitudinally, but cannot be moved out of the connector in a transverse direction through the opening between the flanges 16, 16'. The main portion of the arm 1 has wide top and bottom faces 21 and narrow, lateral edge faces 22 which define the uniform, rectangular cross section of the arm 1 over most of its length.

The end portion 19 is shaped by first punching away lateral portions of the bar blank from which the arm 1 is made, and by thereafter shaping the newly cut edges of the end portion 19 under pressure to form the beveled edge faces 20. Flow of the metal under pressure is facilitated by notches 23 formed in the bar blank during the initial cutting operation to provide overflow wells for the metal displaced during the pressing step. The notches 23 thus taper transversely to the arm 1. A somewhat larger recess 24 also is punched into the blank and receives the lug 18 in the assembled device with sufficent clearance to permit limited longitudinal movement of the arm 1 in the connector 14 while preventing longitudinal withdrawal of the arm from the connector, as is evident from FIG. 3.

The top and bottom faces of the end portion 19 are also connected by a bore 25 which is aligned with the aperture 17 in all relative longitudinal positions of the connector 14 and the arm 1 permitted by the lug 18. As is best seen in FIG. 2, the bore 25 receives a rivet 26 in the assembled device. The rivet is received in the bore 25 with a friction fit tight enough to prevent spontaneous rotation of the rivet 26 about its axis. The bottom end of the rivet 26 is fixedly attached off-center to an approximately square plate 27 received in the aperture 17 and dimensioned to permit rotation of the plate 27 in the aperture and of the rivet 26 in the bore 25 by means of a screw driver inserted in a groove 31 on the underside of the plate 27.

The distances between the axis of the rivet 26 and the four narrow sides 29 of the plate 27 are different, and the four rounded corners 30 which connect the sides 29 are also differently spaced from the rivet axis. When the window is tilted in the open position shown, the arm 1 is stressed outward of the connector 14 by the weight of the window panel which depends from the arm. The arm 1 may slide outward of the connector until a selected side 29 or corner 30 of the plate 27 abuts against the transverse face 32 of the web 15 in the aperture 17. When the window is tilted back into the closed position, the precise fit of the window panel in the frame 43 depends on the proper horizontal spacing of the window panel from the axis of the pivot assembly 2. This spacing may be adjusted by turning the plate 27. The adjustment is stepless as is inherent in the shape of the plate 27.

The illustrated apparatus is assembled by first attaching the knuckles 7 to a stile of the window frame 43, inserting the knuckle 10 attached to the connector 14 between the knuckles 7 and driving the pin 9 home. The lug 18 is straight at this stage of the assembly operation so that it does not interfere with insertion of the arm 1 into the connector 14 until the end portion 19 is fully received between the flanges 16,16' whereupon the lug 18 is bent into the recess 24 of the arm 1.

The plate 27 carrying the rivet 26 is introduced from below into the aperture 17 until the rivet 26 is inserted in the bore 25. The rivet thereafter is expanded so as axially to secure the plate 27 and to impede rotation of the rivet and the plate. The link 3 and fitting 6 are preferably assembled with the arm 1 prior to insertion of the latter in the connector 14, and assembly is completed by attaching the fitting 6 to the window top 40 by means of the screws 42.

During the tilting of the window panel about an axis along its bottom edge, the arm 1 swivels about the axis of the pivot assembly 2, the rivet 4 moves longitudinally into the narrow end of the slot 5, and the link 3 moves hingedly relative to the arm 1 and the fitting 6. During turning movement of the window panel about the axis of the pivot assembly 2, the arm 1 is superposed on the fitting 6, and there is no relative movement of the arm 1 and the fitting. The weight of the window panel is at least partly transmitted to the window frame 43 by the rivet 4, the link 3, the arm 1, and the pivot assembly 2 whenever the window is open in the tilted or turned position.

The groove 31 in the plate 27 is readily accessible when the window panel is in the tilted, open position, and the proper relative position of the window panel and the window frame may thus be adjusted by means of a screwdriver or the like tool without disassembling the stay arrangement. Adjustment is usually necessary from time to time to compensate for sagging of elements of the window assembly or settling of the building of which the illustrated window is a part.

The recess 24 and the lug 18 are dimensioned so that the lug cannot travel over the full length of the recess 24 as long as the plate 27 is in its operating position. Abutting engagement between the lug 18 and a transverse face of the arm 1 in the recess 24 prevents excessive tilting of the window panel if the plate 27 should be damaged or lost.

A square plate 27 with rounded corners 30 is most conveniently formed, but the plate may be circular or elliptic, or of elongated rectangular shape, for example, without change in its function as long as the axis of the cylindrical rivet 26 is radially offset from the geometrical center of the plate, that is, eccentric relative to an orthogonal projection of the plate 27 in a plane radial relative to the axis. The term "plate member," as employed in this specification, will be understood not to be limited to a structure having two parallel major faces, but to embrace enlarged heads on the rivet or pin element 26 which are shaped otherwise. Other variations will readily suggest themselves.

It should be understood, therefore, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A stay arrangement for a window or door panel pivotally movable relative to an associated frame comprising:

a. a pivot assembly having a stationary part adapted to be attached to said frame, and a movable part connected to said stationary part for relative movement about an axis;

b. a connector member fixedly attached to said movable part and elongated radially relative to said axis, said connector member being channel-shaped and having a web portion and two flange portions sloping away from said web portion at respective acute angles and toward each other;

c. an elongated arm member, one longitudinally terminal portion of said arm member being received in said connector member in conforming, longitudinally slidable engagement with said web and flange portions;

d. securing means for securing the other longitudinally terminal portion of said arm member to said panel; and

e. limiting means for limiting relative longitudinal movement of said arm member in said connector member.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arm member is a flat bar having top and bottom faces and lateral edge faces narrower than said top and bottom faces, said edge faces being beveled for conforming engagement with said flange portions, each edge face being formed with at least one laterally open notch.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said notch tapers in a lateral direction.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said members is formed with a bore therethrough, and the other member is formed with a recess therein, said bore and said recess communicating in all operative positions of said pivot assembly, said limiting means including a pin element having an axis and received in said bore for pivotal movement about said axis thereof, and an enlarged head element fixedly fastened to one axial end of said pin element, said head element being received in said recess and dimensioned for angular movement in said recess during said pivotal movement, an orthogonal projection of said head element in a plane radial relative to the axis of the pin element having a geometrical center, and said axis of the pin element being radially spaced from said center.

5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said projection has the shape of a quadrangle having rounded corners.

6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said head element includes tool engaging means engageable by a tool for rotation of said plate element about the axis of said pin element.

7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said one member is said arm member.

8. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said limiting means further include a lug on said connector member, said arm member being formed with a recess, said lug being received in said recess with clearance in the direction of elongation of said arm member.

9. A window or door comprising, in combination:

a. a frame member defining one side of an opening

b. a panel dimensioned for being received in said opening; and

c. the stay arrangement set forth in claim 1,

1. said stationary part being fixedly fastened to said frame members, and

2. said securing means securing said other longitudinally terminal portion of said arm member to said panel.