WO2000004267A1

WO2000004267A1 - Closure mount

Info

Publication number: WO2000004267A1
Application number: PCT/SG1999/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pin Yeow Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-14
Filing date: 1999-07-09
Publication date: 2000-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2001-01-14
Also published as: AU4951199A

Abstract

Apparatus for mounting a closure, such as a window (2) for example, to a support rail (4). It enables the closure to both pivot and slide relative to the rail (4). The apparatus comprises a first mount (6) for pivotally fitting the closure to, the first mount (6) being slidable on the rail (4), and a strut (10) with one end adapted to pivotally fit to the closure and the other end adapted to be pivotally and slidably fitted to the rail (4).

Description

CLOSURE MOUNT

This invention relates to apparatus for mounting a closure, such as a window for example, to a support. More particularly, it relates to slidably mounting a closure.

The present invention provides apparatus for mounting a closure on a support rail comprising a first mount for pivotally fitting said closure to, the first mount being adapted to slidably fit onto said support rail, and a strut with one end adapted to pivotally fit to said closure and the other end adapted to be pivotally and slidably fitted to said support rail.

The apparatus is more versatile than mounting configurations currently available. Whilst closures such as windows or doors are often fitted such that they slide or pivot to open, the apparatus of the invention enables a closure to both slide and pivot in a stable manner.

Preferably, the strut comprises a second mount pivotally mounted at the other end thereof, the second mount being adapted to slidably fit onto said support rail.

The first and/or second mounts may be selectively lockable to the support. Thus the closure can be securely held in a desired orientation.

Preferably, the first and second mounts are coupled together by a telescopic coupling.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounts are releasably fastenable to each other. The apparatus and closure may then be readily moved along the support as a unit.

The invention also provides a combination of a closure and an apparatus as described above wherein the one end of the strut is pivotably and slidably fitted to the closure. This reduces the strut length required to allow the closure to pivot to a given position. Preferably, the closure comprises at least one recess in an edge adjacent the apparatus such that when the closure is in a closed position, the apparatus is received in the at least one recess and is flush with the surface of the closure.

Two or more such combinations may be provided on the same support rail, with adjacent combinations selectively lockable to each other. Accordingly, the combinations may be used together to close an opening, or each pivoted and slid to one end of the opening as required.

Alternatively, a plurality of combinations which are mounted on respective support rails and arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, the closures on adjacent support rails being selectively lockable to each other.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a window and mounting apparatus combination according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the combination of Figure 1 in the closed position;

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view along line A-

A of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the combination of Figure 1 to show different orientations thereof;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a strut-to-window joint of the combination of Figure 1;

Figures β and 7 are cross-sectional views of alternative configurations of the joint of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a locking arrangement for mounts 6 and 8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view of an alternative locking arrangement to that of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of three combinations mounted on the same rail; Figure 11 is a perspective view of two combinations mounted on adjacent parallel rails;

Figures 12 and 13 show a lock for fastening the combinations of Figure 11 together;

Figure 14 is a plan view of three combinations mounted on parallel adjacent rails;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a second example of a window and mounting apparatus combination with the window in an open position;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the combination of

Figure 15 with the window in a closed position;

Figure 17 is a detailed view of a region A of Figure 15;

Figure 18 is a front view of the combination of Figure

15 with the window in the closed position; and

Figure 19 is a top view of the combination of Figure 15 with the window in the closed position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a window 2 fitted onto two support rails 4 by mounting apparatus. The window is in an open orientation in Figure 1 and closed in Figure 2. Each mounting apparatus comprises a first mount 6 to which the window is pivotally attached, a second mount 8 and a strut 10 which joins the second mount 8 to the window 2. Each of the mounts 6 and 8 can slide along the respective rail 4 in the directions indicated by the arrows D. Each strut 10 is pivotally attached to the respective second mount 8 and the window 2 and is received in a slot 12 in the window 2 along which it can slide. The mounts 6, 8 may fit onto existing rails 4 previously used with conventional sliding windows if appropriate .

In the closed position of Figure 2, the window 2 may slide along the rail 4 in the same manner as a conventional sliding window. Recesses 15 and the slot 12 formed in the window 2 are arranged to receive the mounts 6, 8 and the strut 10, respectively, so they are flush with the face of the window frame. Means are provided on the first mount 6 (and may also be provided on the second mount 8) to lock it into a particular position on the rail 4. The window 2 can then be pivoted relative thereto, moving the second mount 8 towards the first mount 6. The strut 10 provides stability when the window is open as shown in Figure 1.

The mounts include wheels which sit on the rails 4 to facilitate their sliding movement. Preferably two wheels are provided in each mount to give more stability than a single wheel. Figure 3 shows the position of a wheel 14 provided on mount 8.

Figure 4 illustrates the operation of slot 12 in the window 2. In the closed position (horizontal in Figure 4) the strut 10 is in the plane of the window and attached thereto at point 0 on the window. When the window is moved to an open position (vertical in Figure 4) the end of the strut 10 must move a distance y from point 0. Accordingly the strut is arranged to slide along slot 12. The joint between the strut 10 and slot 12 is shown in Figures 5 to 7. The strut includes a pivot 16. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the strut 10 may run along the slot 12 on rollers 18 which are rotatable about a vertical axis 20, or wheels 22 which are rotatable about horizontal axes 24. Additional struts 17 may be included to increase the support provided by the strut 10.

Figures 8 and 9 show alternative arrangements for releasably fastening the first and second mounts 6, 8 together. In the arrangement of Figure 8, the shaft of bolt 26 latches into slot 28 to fasten the mounts together. As illustrated in Figure 9, a lever 30 pivotally mounted on the second mount 8 may engage a recess 32 formed in the first mount 6. The lock can be subsequently released by pushing the lever 30 in the direction of arrow E. The lever 30 may be biased towards the recess by tension springs 34.

Figure 10 illustrates three window and mounting apparatus combinations mounted on common rails 4 (shown by dashed lines) . Thus, the windows 2 can be moved to one end of the opening defined between the rails 4 to minimise obstruction thereof. Two window and mounting apparatus combinations mounted on adjacent parallel rails 4 are shown in Figure 11. Locks 36 are provided to selectively lock adjacent windows together. As can be seen in Figures 12 and 13, rotation of lock 36 engages arm 38 with the adjacent window.

The configuration shown in Figure 14 is similar to that of Figure 10 except the combinations are mounted on parallel respective rails 4. This enables the windows to be moved more closely together than the Figure 10 arrangement.

A second example of a window and mounting apparatus combination 50 is shown in Figures 15 to 19. The combination 50 includes top and bottom first mounts 56 and top and bottom second mounts 58 coupled together by a telescopic coupling 40. The coupling together of the first and second mounts 56 and 58 enhances the rigidity of the combination 50 compared with the combination shown in Figures 1 to 14 and described above. The top and bottom first mounts 56 are formed from two horizontal members respectively extending from the top and bottom of a vertical member 57. The mounts 56 and 58 slide along the rail 4 at the top and bottom of the mounting apparatus. The rail 4 at the top is not shown for reasons of clarity. The window is shown in an open position in Figure 15 and a closed position in Figure 16. Preferably a hand- operated latch 62 for a user to open and close the window 2 is provided at the edge of the window 2. Two identical recesses 64 are provided at the top and bottom the window 2 respectively to receive the first mount 56, the second mount 58 and the telescopic coupling 40 when the window 2 is closed.

The combination 50 is similar to the combination shown in Figures 1 to 14, and identical components have the same reference numerals.

A detailed view of the telescopic coupling 40, the first mount 56 and the second mount 58 to which the strut 10 is pivotally attached is shown in Figure 17. End 59 of the second mount 58 is mounted inside the telescopic coupling member 40, and end 55 of the telescopic coupling member 40 is mounted inside the first mount 56. When the window moves to an open position, the mount 58 slides into the coupling member 40, which in turn slides into the mount 56. Figure 17 shows that the member 40 is slidably coupled to the mounts 56, 58 by two pairs of rollers 44, 61. The pair of rollers 44 are mounted inside the member 40 to engage with a ridge 60 on the second mount 58 and the rollers 61 are mounted inside the first mount 56 to engage with a ridge 63 on the member 40.

Figure 18 illustrates a front view of the window and mounting apparatus combination 50 in a closed position. Similar to the closed position of Figure 2 described hereinabove, the window 2 may slide along the rail 4. A top view of the window and mounting apparatus combination 50 in the closed position is shown in Figure 19.

Although described above in combination with a window, the mounting apparatus is suitable for use with a wide range of other closures, such as doors or panels for a cabinet, for example .

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a closure on a support rail comprising a first mount for pivotally fitting said closure to, the first mount being adapted to slidably fit onto said support rail, and a strut with one end adapted to pivotally fit to said closure and the other end adapted to be pivotally and slidably fitted to said support rail.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first mount is selectively lockable to said support rail.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the strut comprises a second mount pivotally mounted at the other end thereof, the second mount being adapted to slidably fit onto said support rail.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the second mount is selectively lockable to said support rail.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the mounts are releasably fastenable to each other.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 5 , wherein the first and the second mounts are telescopically coupled to each other.

7. A combination of a closure and an apparatus according to any of the preceding claim wherein the one end of the strut is pivotally and slidably fitted to the closure.

8. A combination according to Claim 7 wherein the closure comprises at least one recess in an edge adjacent the apparatus such that when the closure is in a closed position, the apparatus is received in the at least one recess and is flush with the surface of the closure.

9. A combination according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the combination is selectively lockable to another closure mounted on said support rail .

10. A plurality of combinations according to Claim 9 which are mounted on respective support rails and arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, the closures on adjacent support rails being selectively lockable to each other.