GB2454940A

GB2454940A - Slider having link attached between body portion and top portion

Info

Publication number: GB2454940A
Application number: GB0723128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Andrew Isley
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-26
Filing date: 2007-11-26
Publication date: 2009-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-26
Also published as: GB0723128D0; GB2454940B

Abstract

A slider (13) for moving along a track (3) of a hinge (1) comprises a body portion (15), a top portion (17) and fastening components (21, 23) for attaching the top portion (17) to the body portion (15). The fastening components (21, 23) in use support a link (7, 9) of the hinge 1. This construction may mean that a predetermined distance is provided between the body portion and the top portion (17) for accommodating, in use, the link (7, 9). The fastener may comprise a first part (21) including a stop and a second part (23) including an abutment against which the second part bears. The provision of a top portion or plate above the links (7, 9) and a predefined space for the links (7), (9) may mean that a stronger and more free-running slider mount arrangement is provided. The slider may form part of a hinge comprising links, a vent arm and track (see figure 1).

Description

1 2454940

A SLIDER AND A HINGE INCORPORATING A SLIDER

The present invention relates to hinges, and in particular to sliders for window hinges and the like.

Sliders which travel up and down a track of a window hinge are well known. In a typical hinge or stay, a vent arm is mounted to a support track via a plurality of links and a friction slider. The various components are riveted together with enough free play for the various components to rotate relative to each other about the pivot axes defined by the rivets. Often, the ends of two links are riveted to a single friction slider, which is made of plastics material. The rivets pass through the plastic slider with the head of a rivet within a recess on the bottom of the plastic slider and the splayed opposite end of the rivet accommodated within a recess in the link surface. In this way, a link is held against the slider and can rotate relative thereto during opening and closing of the hinge.

Although prior art sliders of the aforementioned kind have been very successful, a degree of wear can occur between the link and the rivet during use. Also, the strength of the overall arrangement is dictated, at least in part, by the strength of the plastics slider and the hollow rivet which passes therethrough. Hence, there has been a desire for a stronger and more robust slider arrangement. By supporting the links of a hinge in a stronger manner, heavier windows can be safely supported. The present invention aims to satisf' this requirement.

According to the present invention, there is provided a slider for moving along the track of a hinge, the slider comprising a body portion, a top portion and means for attaching the top portion to the body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means is a separate component and, more preferably, includes a solid rivet.

By including a top portion, or top plate, which in use sits over the ends of the links attached to the slider, a much more robust slider arrangement is provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means includes a first part and a second part, the first part incorporating a stop, such as an abutment or shoulder, which limits motion of the second part towards the first part. As a result, the links are provided with sufficient space for them to be securely mounted to the slider yet be freely rotatable about the attaching means. More particularly, the links are not pinched between the component parts, so a more smooth running hinge can result. This is clearly advantageous and results in less wear on the device as a whole.

The top portion or plate preferably includes a recess which accommodates a head of the second part of the attaching means. A neat and attractive product thereby results.

A flange preferably extends radially outwardly from a collar of the second part of the attaching means. If so, the collar bears against the shoulder of the first part of the attaching means and the flange bears against the top portion of the slider.

A bearing surface is preferably provided between the body portion and the top portion for carrying, in use, a link of the hinge. The bearing surface may be formed integrally with the top portion of the slider, but a separate component could be used in theory. In any event, the bearing surface is preferably annular and fits around the attaching means.

As mentioned above, the attaching means preferably includes a solid metal rivet.

The extra strength provided by a solid rivet, particularly when two such rivets are used, makes a significant difference to the overall strength of the link-slider mount, and hence the overall hinge.

To further reinforce the slider, a bottom plate may be provided. The bottom plate is preferably made of metal, and ideally is positioned in a recess in the body portion of the slider. As a result, assuming that the slider body portion is manufactured from plastics material, no metal-to-metal contact will occur within the track of the hinge.

The bottom plate preferably includes a recess which receives a head of the solid metal rivet. Thus, nothing stands proud of the bottom of the plastics body portion.

The top portion of the slider is preferably made from a plastics material, ideally an acetal, thereby acting as a strong bearing with low friction. Thus, as a link rotates about a collar of the top portion, smooth motion results.

In a preferred embodiment, the slider includes a device for adjusting in use the friction between the slider and the track of the hinge.

The present invention further provides a hinge comprising a track, a vent arm, a plurality of links and a slider as claimed herein, wherein the vent arm is attached to the track via the links and the slider. In a particular embodiment, the slider includes two solid metal rivets acting as pivots to receive two links of the stay. The links may be a thrust link and a control link, but other links may be appropriate in certain hinge configurations.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a friction hinge according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the slider mount of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the slider mount shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the slider mount shown in Figures 2 and3.

With reference to the figures, a hinge (1) comprises a support track (3), a vent arm (5), a thrust link (7), a control link (9) and a third link (11). A slider (13) carries an end of the thrust link (7), whilst the other end of the thrust link (7) is pivotally attached to an end of the vent arm (5). The slider (13) also carries an end of the control link (9), the other end of which is pivotally attached to a mid point of the third link (11). The ends of the third link (11) are pivotally attached to the support track (3) and the vent arm (5).

The slider (13) comprises a body portion (15), a top portion (17), a support plate (19) and means for attaching (21, 23) the various components together. The body portion (15) also includes a groove (24) on either side to engage flanges (26) of the track (3) and a device (25) (well known) for adjusting the friction between the slider (13) and the support track (3), during use.

The body portion (15) of the slider (13) includes a recess (27) for accommodating the support plate (19). The top portion (17) of the slider includes a plate portion (29) and a pair of integral annular bearing portions (31) which are sized to fit through circular openings (33) in the links (7, 9).

Each of the body portion (15) and the support plate (19) have a pair of apertures (35, 37) corresponding to the apertures (33) in the links (7, 9) for receiving the attaching means (21, 23). The attaching means more particularly comprise a first part (21) and a second part (23), the first part (21) being a solid metal rivet for passing through the various apertures (37, 35, 33) from below the support plate (19) and being received in the second part (23) which is seated in the top portion (17). A head (39) of the first part (21) of the attaching means is accommodated in a recess (not shown) in the bottom of the support plate (19). A collar (41) of the second part (23) of the attaching means abuts against a shoulder (43) to define the distance between the head (39) of the first part and a flange (45) extending radially from the top of the collar (41) of the second part (23). The flange (45) abuts against another shoulder (47) formed in a recess in the top plate (29).

During assembly, the various components are positioned as described and shown, and the free end of the solid rivet (21) is spun over so that it spreads and grips the second part (23) of the attaching means. The first (21) and second part (23) of the attaching means are fixed together with their overall length defined and fixed by the length of the collar (41) of the second part (23) and the position of the shoulder (43) of the first part (21). The spaces in between the two ends of the attaching means are predetermined to accommodate the thicknesses of the body portion (15), the links (7, 9) and the top plate (29).

As will be seen from Figure 4, the thrust link (7) is thicker than the control link (9), so the top plate (29) is designed to be thicker adjacent the control link (9) than adjacent the thrust link (7).

Due to the predetermined length of the attaching means as discussed above, the spacings can be arranged such that the links (7, 9) are not pinched between the top plate (29) and the body portion (15) of the slider (13). Further, since the top portion (17) is manufactured from acetal, which has low friction coefficient, motion of the links (7, 9) about their pivots is very smooth and almost friction free. Also, by using solid metal components for the first parts of the attaching means, an extremely strong and reliable slider mount arrangement is achieved. The inclusion of the top portion (17) also assists considerably in preventing the links (7, 9) from bending away from the slider body portion (15), thereby reducing the stresses on the rivets themselves.

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 a scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slider for moving along a track of a hinge, the slider comprising a body portion, a top portion and means for attaching the top portion to the body portion, wherein the attaching means in use supports a link between the top portion and the body portion.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching means provides a predefined distance between the body portion and the top portion for accommodating, in use, the link of the hinge.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attaching means includes a first part and a second part, the first part incorporating a stop which limits motion of the second part towards the first part.

4. A slider as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first part includes an abutment against which the second part bears.

5. A slider as claimed in claim 4, wherein the abutment is a shoulder on the first part and the second part includes a collar extending towards the shoulder.

6. A slider as claimed in claim 5, wherein a flange extends radially outwardly from the collar to bear against the top portion.

7. A slider as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the top portion is recessed to accommodate the second part of the attaching means.

8. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a bearing surface is provided between the body portion and the top portion for acting, in use, on a link of the hinge.

9. A slider as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bearing surface is formed integrally with the top portion.

10. A slider as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the bearing surface is annular and fits around the attaching means.

11. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attaching means includes a solid rivet.

12. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body portion includes a bottom plate.

13. A slider as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bottom plate is metal and positioned in a recess in the body portion.

14. A slider as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the bottom plate includes a recess which recesses a head of the attaching means.

15. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two attaching means are provided to position and hold the top portion relative to the body portion.

16. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attaching means are made of metal.

17. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the top portion is made of plastics material.

18. A slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body portion accomn)odates a device for adjusting, in use, the friction between the slider and the track of the hinge

19. A slider substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

20. A hinge comprising a track, a vent ann, a plurality of links and a slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vent arm is attached to the track via the links and the slider.

21. A hinge as claimed in claim 20, wherein two links are pivotally mounted on the slider.

22. A hinge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.