Area of the invention

The present invention relates to an link arm hinge for an outwardly opening window, where the link arm hinge comprises a profiled sliding rail securely attached to a window casing and which is equipped with an internal, movable and elongated support rail equipped with a pin, a lower articulated arm rotatable attached in a lower part of the support rail and to a window frame of the window, and an upper articulated arm stationary and rotatable attached in an upper part of the sliding rail and rotatable attached to the lower articulated arm, wherein the link arm hinge adapted to swing the window from a closed position to an open position, and the link arm hinge further comprises a support catch with a release lever to allow opening of the window from a limited opening to a fully open position. Background of the invention.

A problem with this type of link arm hinges is that the large arm locks when the window is in a horizontal position. The angle of the large lower arm is then at a fairly straight angle and just a little friction caused by dust etc. in the aluminium rails will stop it from gliding. When the support arm, in addition, is attached to this arm, the friction arising becomes worse. Often there is a steel part of the support catch which shall engage in the tracks in the aluminium rail that is under tension and causes friction.

Disclosure of prior art.

Hinges for windows are known. There are known hinges which are comprised of an arm which is attached to a window frame and an arm which is attached to a window casing, and arranged between the two said arms are two intermediate arms. This thereby forms a system of interlinked bars on each side of the window, which is adapted to be opened in an approximately scissor form, and which carries the window frame when this is opened. It is also known to provide a support catch, a so- called child support catch, in the window hinge. In some solutions, the support catch is arranged between the arm that is attached to the window casing and the lowest of the intermediate arms, so that the window cannot be opened beyond a limited opening.

A known support catch can be formed as a sliding hinge attached to the arm in the window casing and can only be moved in a vertical direction. The sliding hinge has an opening which engages with a hook on the lower intermediate arm, so that the window cannot be opened beyond a limited opening without the sliding hinge being passed vertically upwards, whereby the hook disengages with the opening in the sliding hinge.

A disadvantage of the solution as described above is that the forces which are transferred between the casing fastening and the intermediate arms become large and can lead to deformation of both the arms and the support catch when stressed. This can lead to unfortunate situations.

A support catch that acts between the outer arm, i.e. the arm which is attached to the window frame and the casing fastening, i.e. the arm attached to the window casing, is previously known. In this case, the support catch is attached to the outer arm and comprises a hook which detachably engages with the casing fastening.

Of other solutions can be mentioned support catches in a sliding rail attached to the window casing, and which are connected with the articulated arms, where the support catch, which is metal, slides vertically and because of tension enters gaps which are made in the sliding rail, either in the top of flanges on the rail or in the base. This spring tension creates much friction, which results in that the window can lock itself.

Known from NO 161695 B is to arrange a sliding rail in the sides of a window casing, and a sliding rail equipped with a shoe/stopper which is fitted in the guiding groove such that it can glide to restrict the opening of the window to a limited position, for example, a ventilation position, between a closed and a fully open position. However, the stopper has a pair of opposing, laterally protruding pegs which engage in opposing recesses in the flanges to lock the shoe in the longitudinal direction and prevent an opening beyond the limited position. For opening the window beyond the limited position, the stopper is released manually by pressing an actuator.

EP 2085552 A1 shows that it is known to arrange a movable support rail in a sliding track, but in this case also with several laterally arranged locking pegs or ears. Objects of the present invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a link arm hinge where the above mentioned disadvantages are avoided, and where the functioning will be emphasised. This means that there is little risk of the window being stuck because of the arms locking due to large friction in the sliding blocks and because of the friction in the support catch. Summary of the invention

The above objects are achieved by a link arm hinge for an outwardly opening window, where the link arm hinge comprises: a profiled sliding rail securely attached to a window casing and which is equipped with an internal, movable and elongated support rail equipped with a pin; a lower articulated arm rotatable attached in a lower part of the support rail and to a window frame of the window; and an upper articulated arm stationary and rotatable attached in an upper part of the sliding rail and rotatable attached to the lower articulated arm; wherein the link arm hinge is arranged to swing the window from a closed position to an open position ; and that the link arm hinge further comprises a support catch with a release lever which makes it possible to open the window from a limited opening to the open position. The invention is characterized in that a pin of the displaceable support rail is adapted to engage in one or more openings in a bottom of the sliding rail to limit the opening of the window; the release lever is connected to the support rail, which during an external impact is arranged to release the pin from said one or more openings in the bottom of the sliding rail and to allow displacement of the support rail in the sliding rail; and a slider attached to the support rail is adapted to glide in the bottom of the profiled sliding rail to prevent that the pin during displacement in the sliding rail comes into contact with the bottom of the sliding rail. Alternative embodiments are specified in respective dependent claims.

The slider is preferably a plastic spacer.

A first of said openings may be formed as an elongated slit, in which a lower area of the opening is adapted to accommodate at least a part of the slider and an upper area of the opening is adapted to accommodate at least part of the pin.

The upper area of the opening can be formed, at least in part, corresponding to the configuration of the pin.

Between the lower area and the upper area in the slit of the first opening, side edges can be provided on both sides of the sliding rail and which the slider can glide on during displacement of the support rail in the sliding rail.

A second of said openings is provided at a distance from the first opening, and can be formed corresponding to the configuration of the pin.

When the pin is in engagement with the second opening the slide is preferably accommodated in the upper area in the slit of the first opening.

The release lever can have an approximate S-shape, where a first part, at least partially, projects out of the sliding rail and is arranged for applying said external impact, and a second hook-shaped part which is inserted into an upper slit in the support rail, whereby the release lever is arranged to lift the pin out of said openings.

The release lever can also include a support catch which, when rotating, is adapted to lock the release lever.

The upper articulated arm can be stationarily attached and attached such that it can rotate to the sliding rail by means of a top fitting which is inserted and secured in the profiled sliding rail.

The top fitting can comprise a top fastener, which by means of a rivet is attached to the upper articulated arm, and which is inserted in the profiled sliding rail, in that the top fastener is locked firmly in the sliding rail of a locking piece which is threaded onto and surrounds and retains the top link arm hinge.

The top fastener shall further comprise screw holes for securing the sliding rail to the window casing.

Further, the locking piece can be made of plastic, and the top fastener can be made of metal.

The top fastener can further comprise a number of underlying collars, and the locking piece can comprise a number of legs, as the legs of the locking piece, during insertion, lock the collar of the top fastener in the sliding rail.

Description of the figures

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows part of a window equipped with a link arm hinge according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a link arm hinge according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows the link arm hinge subdivided into separate parts.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged section of the area marked A.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged section of the area marked B.

Figure 6 shows a smaller area with a support catch that is part of the link arm hinge according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a smaller area with a top fastener that is part of the link arm hinge according to the invention, seen partly from the side.

Figure 8 shows a smaller area with a top fastener that is part of the link arm hinge according to the invention, seen partly from below. Description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, an innovative embodiment of components and new materials solutions are provided. A completely different principle for assembly of the link arm hinge is made and provides a greatly reduced friction on the support catch with the help of, for one thing, plastic components in the gliding surfaces.

Figures 1 and 2 shows a link arm hinge 20 according to the invention, comprising a profiled sliding rail 22 which is securely attached to a window casing 12 of an outwardly opening window 10. The sliding rail 22 is preferably formed with a U-shape with inner side edges, where the opening in the U-form faces out from the window casing 12. The sliding rail is preferably made from aluminium. A support catch 40 with a support rail 28 (as shown in figures 3 and 5) is arranged in the sliding rail 22, and which is movable in the sliding rail 22. Furthermore, a first part of a lower articulated arm 24 is attached such that it can rotate in a lower part of the movable support rail 28 and with a second part secured to a window frame 14 of the window 10. An upper articulated arm 26 is in a first part stationarily attached and attached in an upper part of the sliding rail 22 such that it can rotate and in a lower part attached such that it can rotate to the lower articulated arm 24, preferably in an area below the second part of the lower articulated arm 24 which is attached to the window frame 14. With the help of the link arm hinge 20, the window 10 can be swung from a closed position to an open position, in that the articulated arms 24,26 move in a scissor pattern and where the first part of the lower articulated arm 24 is moved up and down in the sliding rail 22. The support catch 40 makes opening of the window possible from a limited opening to the fully open position.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged section of the area marked A in figure 3, and which shows an enlarged figure of a top fitting 60 for attachment of the upper articulated arm 26 to the sliding rail 22. Figure 5 shows an enlarged section of the area marked B in figure 3, which shows an enlarged figure of the support catch 40 with the support rail 28. Both these parts are included in the link arm hinge according to the invention and shall be explained in more detail in the following. The support catch 40, also called a child support catch, comprises the following main components; the elongated support rail 28 which is movable in the profiled sliding rail 22, a release lever 48 attached to the upper part of the support rail 28, a pin or rivet 42 which can engage with openings 44,46 in the sliding rail 22, and the slider 50 which is positioned slightly below the pin 42. The slider 50 is preferably a plastic spacer which is adapted to glide in the bottom of the profiled sliding rail 22, and alternatively several sliders can be used on the support rail 28. The purpose of the slider 50 attached to the support rail 28 is to prevent the pin 42 from coming in contact with the bottom of sliding rail 22 during displacement in the sliding rail 22, so as to avoid the problem of friction between the parts and which can otherwise cause the window becoming more difficult to open. This results in there being much less friction in the movement of the entire link arm hinge throughout the whole sliding movement when opening and closing the window.

The movable support rail 28 is as mentioned elongated in form and equipped with a pin 42, where at least the part of the support rail 28 which is equipped with the pin 42 is biased, preferably by means of the release lever 48, so that the pin 42 will tend to engage with the respective openings 44,46 in the sliding rail 22 as it passes over the openings, thereby limiting the opening of the window 10. The release lever 48 associated with the support rail 28 will, during an external impact (applied by an individual), free the pin 42 from the respective openings 44,46 and thus allow displacement of the support rail 28 in the sliding rail 22. When the pin 42 is in the first opening 44, i.e. the bottom opening, the window 10 will be in a first ventilation position, and when the pin 42 is in the second opening 46, i.e. the upper opening, the window 1 0 will be in a second ventilation position. When the pin 42 is moved beyond the upper opening 46, the window 10 can be completely swung out and possibly fully around. Figure 6 shows the support function in more detail. The openings 44,46 are provided in the bottom of the sliding rail 22 and face the window casing 12. The two illustrated openings 44,46 are separate from one another. The lower opening 44 is preferably formed elongated as a slit, in which a lower part 44b of the opening 44 is adapted to accommodate at least a part of the slider 50 and an upper area 44a of the opening 44 is adapted to accommodate at least one part of the pin 42. The purpose with the slider 50 going down in a part of the opening 44 at the same time as the pin engages is that the slider 50 shall not hinder the engagement of the pin. When the support rail 28 with the pin 42 is moved further along in the sliding rail 22 so that the pin 42 is in engagement with the upper opening 46, the corresponding slider 50 could be accommodated in the upper area 44a of the lower opening 44.

In order to facilitate movement of the slider 50, side edges 52 on preferably both sides of the sliding rail 22 are provided between the lower part 44b and the upper part 44a in the slit of the first opening 44, and which the slider 50 can glide on during the displacement of the support rail 28 in the sliding rail 22.

The second of said openings 46 is, as mentioned, provided at a distance from the first opening 44, and is formed corresponding to the design of the pin 42. The release lever 48 can have a shape similar to an S-shape, wherein a first part 48a at least partially extends out of the sliding rail 22, i.e. towards the window opening. It is this part which applies the external impact. The release lever 48 further includes a second hook-shaped part 48b which is inserted into an upper slit 56 or a groove in an end of the support rail 28. When force is applied to the release lever 48, it will then lift the pin 42 out of said openings 44,46. The release lever 48 can further include a support lock 54 which, during rotation, is adapted to lock the release lever 48. This can be done in that the side edges of the support lock 54 engage with the side edges of the sliding rail 22. During opening of the window, the pin 42 is pushed up in the upper area 44a of the opening 44 by itself due to the movement of the support rail 28, which provides a child support catch with minimum opening. The window can be closed without pressing anything. Pressing in the end 48a of the release lever 48 moves the pin 42 upwards to the second opening 46, which also provides a fixed ventilation position, but with a somewhat larger opening. The release lever 48 must be pressed in to close the window or to open it further. Figures 7 and 8 show in more detail a top fitting 60 which is included in the link arm hinge 20 according to the invention, where a part of the sliding rail 22 is cut away for illustration purposes. The top fitting 60 is, as mentioned, also illustrated in figures 3 and 4. It is preferably in the production of the link arm hinge that this feature is an advantage, and which results in a simplification in the assembly. The upper articulated arm 26 is, as mentioned, stationarily attached and attached to the sliding rail 22 such that it can rotate, and this can be done using the top fitting 60 which is inserted and fastened in the profiled sliding rail 22. As can be seen in figure 4, one threads a top fastener 62 in from the end of the U-shaped sliding rail in aluminium. The top fastener 62 is already riveted to the articulated arm 26. One threads the top fitting 60 in and then a locking piece 66 in plastic comes in from the end of the sliding rail and snaps around the top fastener 62 and locks the top fastener securely. The rivet 64 or the collar below the top fastener 62 is then in the hole/slit of the sliding rail 22.

The top fastener 62 can further comprise a number of underlying collars 68, for example, two as shown in figures 7 and 8, and the locking piece 66 can have a number of legs 70, for example, two as shown in figure 4, so that, during insertion, the legs 70 of the locking piece lock the collar 68 of the top fastener in or against the sliding rail 22. The collars 68 of the top fastener 62 are pressed preferably against the bottom of the sliding rail 22. The top fastener 62 can further include screw holes 72 for securing the sliding rail 22 to the window casing 12. The screw holes 72 can run through the collar 68 of the top fastener. In a preferred embodiment, the locking piece 66 is made of plastic, and the top fastener 62 is made of metal.