WO2004067889A1

WO2004067889A1 - Relief fitting and hinge set with relief fitting

Info

Publication number: WO2004067889A1
Application number: PCT/DK2004/000054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Kjølhede AGGERHOLM
Original assignee: Rationel Vinduer A/S
Priority date: 2003-01-28
Filing date: 2004-01-26
Publication date: 2004-08-12
Also published as: EP1595046B1; DK1595046T3; DE602004020590D1; ATE428836T1; EP1595046A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a relief fitting for relieving a hinge arrangement mounted between a door or window frame and a corresponding door element or window sash. The present relief element is new and characteristic in that it comprises one or more primary guide holes which are arranged to overlap one or more guide holes on the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through the overlapping holes and down into the underlying door or window frame, whereby said relief fitting also comprises one or more secondary guide holes arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through said secondary holes and down into the underlying door or window frame.

Description

RELIEF FITTING AND HINGE SET WITH RELIEF FITTING

The present invention relates to a relief fitting for relieving a hinge arrangement mounted between a door or window frame and a corresponding door element or a window sash.

STATE OF THE ART

Different types of hinge arrangements are known for connecting a door or window frame to a door case or window sash. The most common type of fitting comprises two plate- shaped supporting components which are connected to each other by way of a moveable common joint, typically a bearing pin, and a male component which bears a corresponding female component. The plate-shaped supporting components are mounted on the frame and case or sash respectively and fastened thereto with screws through pre-drilled holes in the supporting components. Typically 3-4 screws are used per component to ensure the necessary bearing strength of the fitting. The screws are usually located evenly distributed over the supporting component in the longitudinal direction of the frame or case/sash. Laterally the screws are often placed around a continuous line. In order to minimise the distance between the frame rabbet and frame, the supporting component is often mounted in recesses in the frame or case/ ash so that when mounted the supporting component has a surface which more or less flushes with the surface of the frame and/or case/sash. Alternatively the supporting component can be mounted in continuous grooves on the frame and case/sash.

In the case of doors or windows that screen building openings against the outside or for locked doors or windows within a building there might be a risk of burglary attempts, whereby a burglar will typically try to break the door or window open by forcing a crowbar or similar implement between the frame and the case/sash and then try to force the frame out. In such situations, the frame, which is often made of wood or composite material, will typically split close to the line, close to which the screws are located on the supporting component. If the frame splits first, the fitting and thereby the case/sash, will be forced out of the frame opening. The solution to this problem could be to dimension the fittings with larger supporting components and to fasten the supporting components to the frames with more screws. However, this has a number of disadvantages. For already assembled doors or windows replacing the fittings can be difficult and costly as the case/sash and then the fitting itself has to be dismantled. A larger recess must then be made in the frame for the larger fitting component as this is typically sunk into a recess. Finally the new and larger fitting and the frame have to be remounted. Few people will be able to carry out this process themselves why a craftsman will be required.

In the case of doors and windows for new installations it would be necessary to produce and market different fitting sizes for the same door or the same window, depending on the requirements and wishes in relation to the door or window.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a relief fitting which can be used to strengthen and secure existing door -and window constructions, and which can also be used in connection with existing product ranges of hinges used for new door and window constructions.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a relief fitting which can be post-installed on hinges on an existing frame without first having to dismantle the door case or window sash and subsequently the hinge. A private individual will then be able to strengthen existing fittings him/herself.

The present relief fitting is characterised in that it comprises one or more primary guide holes which are arranged to overlap one or more guide holes on the part of the hinge arrangement that is mounted on the door or window frame in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be passed through the overlapping holes and into the underlying door or window frame, and in which said relief fitting also comprises one or more secondary guide holes arranged at a distance away from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame, in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be introduced through said secondary holes and into the underlying door or window frame .

A relief of the hinge arrangement is hereby obtained as forces acting in the plane of the hinge arrangement can be transmitted via the relief fitting to the underlying frame construction, and as the secondary screws are located at a distance from the line around which the primary screws are closely located, the risk that the frame being split during burglary attempts is reduced.

This also means that the relief fitting can be used in connection with hinges on existing doors and windows as well as in new mountings .

By designing the relief fitting with a collar or lug projecting from the underside of the relief fitting a force- transmitting assembly is ensured as the collar or lug can be inserted into a countersunk section of the screw hole on the hinge arrangement. A screw, which is introduced through overlapping guide holes on the hinge arrangement and relief fitting respectively, has with this design both the function of pressing the two components against each other and to act as a force-transmitting element between the hinge and the frame .

By designing the secondary guide hole at an angle as stated in claims 5-7 optimum relief of the hinge arrangement is ensured as the oblique screw crosses several planes perpendicular to the plane of the frame. This reduces the risk of the frame splitting in the event of an attempt being made to press the case/sash out of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings in which:

Fig.l shows a plane view of a first part of a hinge arrangement mounted on a door frame .

Fig.2 shows a sectional view through the hinge arrangement along the line I-I in fig. 1

Fig.3 shows a plane view of a hinge arrangement in an embodiment of the invention.

Fig.4 shows a sectional view through a relief fitting along the line II-II in fig. 3. Fig.5 shows a plane view of the relief fitting mounted on top of a first part of a hinge arrangement.

Fig.6 shows a sectional view through a hinge arrangement with a mounted relief fitting along the line III- III in fig.5. Fig.l shows a plane view of a typical hinge section 1 of a hinge set for use between a door frame 2 and a door or between a window frame and a window sash. The hinge section 1 comprises a supporting component 3 which is fastened into a rabbet with a rabbet edge 22 in the door frame with a number of fastening elements, typically screws (not illustrated). The supporting component 3 is preferably made of a plate- shaped piece of metal.

The supporting component 3 is designed with a number of guide holes which can receive screws . The guide holes are located evenly distributed over the length of the supporting component while in relation to the width of the supporting component they are placed more or less around a continuous central line for the holes (GL-GL) . On the side of the supporting component 3 which is immediately adjacent to the side edge 5 of the door frame 2, there is in connection with the supporting element is a bearing piece 6 for a bearing pin 7 in the form of a male component, which is arranged to couple with a female component (not shown) on a corresponding hinge section of the hinge set. This corresponding hinge section is mounted on the edge of a door or a window sash. The bearing section 6 is shown here as an integral part of the supporting component 3 in that a section 8 projecting from the supporting surface is bent into a circular section which encloses and holds the bearing pin 7. In other forms of embodiment this circular section 6 can be welded to the supporting component.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the supporting component along line I-I in figure 1. The supporting section 3 is located in a recess in the door frame in such a way that the upper side of the supporting component largely flushes with the surface of the rabbet of the door frame 2. This ensures that the edge of the door plate can be moved closely into the rabbet in the door frame to which the supporting component is fastened by a screw. The cross-section along line I-I in figure 1 passes through one of the guide holes 4 through which the screws are fastened to the underlying frame structure. The holes 4 are countersunk so that the head of a screw is concealed (countersunk) in the supporting component 3 when it is tightly screwed to the supporting component 3. In this case, the side 9 of the countersunk section runs from the surface 10 to the lower side 11 of the supporting component, but depending on the thickness of the supporting component and the head of the screw, side 9 can make up a smaller proportion of the entire thickness of the supporting component . Figure 3 shows a plane view of the relief fitting 12 in accordance with the invention. The relief fitting comprises two tongues 13 which are connected by an oblong intermediate section 14. Each of the tongues has a primary guide hole 15 located in the projecting part of the tongue 13 and a secondary guide hole 16 located in the extension of the oblong intermediate section 14.

Figure 4 shows a very schematic sectional view through the relief fitting 12 along line II-II in figure 3. The primary guide hole 15 is formed in such a way that seen from above it has a countersunk section 17 and seen from below it has a projecting conical collar 18. The projecting collar 18 is dimensioned so that it fits down into the countersunk section with which the guide holes 4 on the supporting member 3 are provided. As the sides 9 of the countersunk section and the sides 18 of the projecting collar are in relatively close contact with each other and are held against each other with a screw, a good contact surface is created for the transmission of forces exerted in the plane of the supporting member 3 and relief fitting 12 respectively.

The secondary guide hole 16 is shaped in such a way that a screw when mounted will be at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame. In this embodiment this is achieved in that the half 19 of the circumference of the hole 16 that faces away from the primary guide hole 15 is pressed up slightly. Seen from above the circumference of the hole thereby appears slightly oval. This upward pressed section forms a guide for the angled walls 20 which makes it possible to and assists in introducing a screw at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame. Preferably the angle can be in the range 20-70 degrees, more particularly in the range 30-60 degrees and especially in the range 40-50 degrees. The guide hole 16 can advantageously be designed slightly countersunk seen from above so that a screw head will be more or less countersunk in relation to the surface of the relief fitting 12. Alternatively the relief fitting (12) can be cast in one operation so that both the countersunk section and the projecting collar (18) at the primary guide hole (15) as well as the angled secondary guide hole (16) with a countersunk section are cast directly in one mould. The relief fitting 12 is preferably made as thin as possible so that it can lie relatively low over the surface of the supporting component 3. Typically the relief fitting 12 can be made of metal, but also of composite material or fibre-reinforced plastic material. In certain forms of embodiment the relief fitting 12 can be as thin as 1-2 mm.

As it is desirable that the relief fitting 12 is as thin as possible, it is particularly advantageous for the guide hole 15 and the secondary guide hole 16 to be located in relation to each other so that the relief element is exposed to tensile forces in the event of an attempted burglary. This means that it is of particular advantage that the secondary guide hole 16 is located in an area which is partly outside the circumference of the supporting component 3 and partly between the overlapping guide hole 4 on the supporting component 3 and the rabbet edge 22/frame side edge opposite the side to which the supporting component is directly mounted.

The outer edge 21 of the intermediate section 14 between the two projecting tongues 13 is bent approximately 90 degrees downwards. This bent edge 21 is positioned in such a way that it rests exactly on the supporting component 3 when mounted. This partly produces a strengthening effect and partly blocks the split between the relief fitting 12 and supporting component 3.

Figure 5 shows a plane view of the relief element 12 in the assembled condition on the supporting component 3 of the hinge section mounted in the rabbet of the door frame. The two primary guide holes 15 on the relief fitting 12 overlap two of the four guide holes 4 on the supporting component 3. The two secondary guide holes 16 are thereby placed further in towards the rabbet edge 22 and two screws can therefore be inserted through the holes and down into the underlying frame structure at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the frame 2.

Due to its design the relief fitting 12 is easily assembled as the existing hinge does not have to be dismantled. First of all the screws from the two outermost guide holes 4 on the supporting component 3 are removed. The two primary guide holes 15 of the relief fitting 12 are then placed over the guide holes 4 in the supporting component 3 and a screw is inserted through each of the overlapping guide holes. A screw is then inserted into each of the secondary guide holes 16 in the relief fitting 12 so that the screws are mounted at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the frame 2. The relief fitting is thereby mounted.

Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view through the hinge section with mounted relief fittings along the line III-III in figure 5. The primary guide hole 15 on the relief fitting 12 lies above the guide hole 4 on the supporting component 3. The projecting conical collar 18 lies tightly against the countersunk sides 17 of the guide hole 4. A screw 23 is inserted through the secondary guide hole 16 of the relief fitting 12 and due to the design of the hole 16 it is screwed in at an angle of approximately 45 degrees in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame 2.

The invention must not be considered as limited to the forms of embodiment shown in the drawings and described above, but can vary in different ways within the framework of the following requirements.

Thus, it is not a functional requirement that the secondary guide hole 16 in the relief fitting be designed so that a screw is inserted at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame as a situation in which a screw is screwed straight down (perpendicularly) into the frame will also relieve the supporting component. However with the same materials the relief will not be as good as when the screw is angled and there is a greater risk of the frame splitting in the event of force exertion in the plane of the frame.

Neither is it a functional requirement that the primary guide hole 15 on the relief fitting 12 be designed with a projecting conical collar 18 which can come into contact with a countersunk section on the supporting component, as a form of embodiment can also be conceived in which the primary guide hole 15 is produced by simply drilling through the relief fitting 12. In this example of embodiment the force transmission between the relief fitting and the hinge section is via the screw which is inserted through the corresponding guide holes. When the fitting section 1 is exposed to a force in the plane of the fitting section, the forces will try to pull the supporting component 3 and relief fitting 3 apart and in certain cases the screw will become deformed and its thread will be stripped. It is therefore preferable for the relief fitting to be designed with a projecting collar as this will produce a type of locking of the relief fitting 12 to the supporting component 3. In this situation the screw will ensure that the two parts are pressed tightly against each other.

Forms of embodiment can also be conceived in which the primary guide hole 15 and/or the secondary guide hole 16 is designed without a countersunk section for a screw.

The relief fitting is described above as having two sections in which a primary and a secondary guide hole are located, said parts being connected by an oblong intermediate section. It is, however, possible to omit the intermediate section as this in itself is not involved in relieving the hinge from a tensile force exerted on the edge of the frame on which the moveable connection of the hinge is placed, e.g. a force produced during a burglary. The number of separate parts required depends on the extent of the relieving force required in a specific design.

If the supporting component 3 is not placed in a recess in the rabbet of the frame but mounted directly on the frame rabbet or in a continuous groove, the relief fitting may have a cross-section with a height difference between the primary and secondary guide hole, corresponding to the height of the supporting component. The transition between the two parts can be step-shaped with one step or a curved transition.

The part projecting from the underside of the relief fitting which can be placed in the countersunk section in the supporting section of the hinge is described above as being in the form of a collar. However, the projecting part can also be in the form of parts of a circumference such as flaps, pins or similar projection sections as long as they are of sufficient strength to transmit forces acting in the plane of the relief fitting and supporting component respectively.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Relief fitting (12) for relieving a hinge arrangement mounted between a door or window frame and a corresponding door case or window sash, characterised in that it comprises one or more guide holes (15) which are arranged to overlap one or more guide holes (4) on the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame, in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through the overlapping holes and down into the underlying door or window frame, and whereby said relief fitting (12) also comprises one or more secondary guide holes

(16) arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement that is mounted on the door or window frame, in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through said secondary holes (16) and down into the underlying door or window frame .

2. Relief fitting (12) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the areas around the primary guide holes (15) on the part of the relief fitting (12) which is arranged to overlap the guide holes (4) on the hinge arrangement, are designed with a projecting section, e.g. in the form of a collar (18) or a flap, which engages in a force-transmitting manner in a countersunk section of the holes (4) on the hinge arrangement.

3. Relief fitting (12) in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the projecting section is designed as a conically-shaped collar (18) .

4. Relief fitting (12) in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the projecting collar (18) is produced by pressing down the material around the primary guide hole (15) in such a way that seen from the upper side of the relief fitting (12) a countersunk section for the head of a screw is created.

5. Relief fitting in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the secondary guide holes (16) which are arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame, are designed in such a way that the fastening elements which are inserted into the holes are angled in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame .

6. Relief fitting in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a part (19) of the circumference of the secondary guide hole (16) facing away from the primary guide holes (15) is pressed up slightly so that the side walls (20) of the holes form an angled guide for the fastening elements .

7. Relief fitting in accordance with claim 6 characterised in that the angle is preferably in the range 20-70 degrees, more particularly in the range 30-60 degrees and especially in the range 40-50 degrees.

8. Hinge set comprising a hinge arrangement comprising a first supporting section (3), a second supporting section and a movable connection between the first and second supporting section, and a relief fitting (12) in accordance with any of claims 1-7, characterised in that the relief fitting comprises one or more primary guide holes (15) which are arranged to overlap one or more guide holes (4) in the part of the supporting part (3) of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on a door or window frame in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through the overlapping guide holes and down into the underlying door or window frame, and which also comprises one or more secondary guide holes (16) arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the first supporting part (3) which is mounted on the door or window frame, in such a way that one or more fastening elements can be inserted through said secondary guide holes (16) and down into the underlying door or window frame .

9. Hinge set comprising of a hinge arrangement and relief fitting (12) in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the areas around the primary guide holes (15) on the part of the relief fitting which is arranged to overlap guide holes on the hinge arrangement is designed with a projecting section, e.g. in the form of a collar (18) or flap, which is arranged to fit into a countersunk section of the guide holes (4) on the supporting component (3) of the hinge arrangement.

10. Hinge set comprising of a hinge arrangement and relief fitting in accordance with claim 8 and 9, characterised in that the secondary guide holes (16) which are arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame is designed in such a way that a fastening device inserted into the hole is angled in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

11. Hinge set comprising of a hinge arrangement and relief fitting (12) in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that the angle is preferably in the range 20-70 degrees, more particularly in the range 30-60 degrees and especially in the range 40-50 degrees.

12. Use of the relief fitting (12) in accordance with claim 1 for relieving hinge arrangements mounted between a door or window frame and a door or a window.

13. Method of relieving a hinge arrangement with a relief fitting (12) in accordance with any of claims 1-7, characterised in that one or more screws are unscrewed from the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame, that the relief fitting is placed partially over the hinge arrangement so that at least one guide hole (4) on the hinge arrangement (12) and at least one primary guide hole (15) on the relief fitting (12) overlap, that at least one fastening device is inserted through the overlapping holes and fastened in the underlying door or window frame, that at least one fastening device is inserted through a secondary guide hole (16) arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame and fastened to the underlying door or window frame.

14. Method of relieving a hinge arrangement with a relief fitting in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that the fastening elements which are inserted through guide holes arranged at a distance from the circumference of the part of the hinge arrangement which is mounted on the door or window frame are fastened in the underlying door or window frame" at an angle in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame .