The invention herein pertains to window hardware generally, and particularly pertains to a threaded pivot bar that is laterally adjustable during installation without weakening the corner of an extruded window.
The use of single and double sash, pivotable windows is known in the art. One of the reasons for these windows' increasing popularity is their ease of use and maintenance, particularly as it relates to cleaning. Generally, the window is constructed with one or more sashes each formed by a pair of stiles connected to header and base rails. The sash rides vertically within a pair of opposingly oriented window jambs. Historically, it was only the respective edges of the windows that traveled within the jamb(s), but modern windows have utilized significant hardware to make these windows more user-friendly. Structures known as pivot bars may be attached to the windows that, when properly mated with a component known as a pivot bar shoe, allow a portion of the window to rotate from its substantially vertical posture to a substantially more horizontal configuration, convenient for cleaning activities. While the convenience of these windows as acknowledged, it does not come without certain challenges. The manufacture of the modern window is often performed far from the site of the window's installation, and while many tolerances can be engineered into the window's construction, these tolerances must have limits or the window ceases to function. The conventional approach to installing a pivot bar is to bore a hole in the corner of the window sash sidewall, which facilitates the insertion of the pivot bar member, but which may structurally weaken the window, particularly during inclement weather or when resisting unauthorized entry, two circumstances where it would be highly undesirable for a window to inadvertently rotate into the horizontal posture described above. Even when the window performs as desired, variations in the installation site, particularly the distance between a sash sidewall and the window jamb which generally corresponds to the distance between the pivot bar and the associated shoe, can vary dramatically. There is little that can be done if the pivot bar and shoe don't match up, and replacement windows can cost both time and money.
Thus, in view of the problems and disadvantages associated with prior art pivot bars, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a pivot bar that is adjustable onsite, during the window installation.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a pivot bar that is laterally adjustable relative to the distance between the window jamb and the window sash side wall.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a pivot bar with a receiver defined within the window sash rail.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a pivot bar that is easy to manufacture and simple to install.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pivot bar in the nature of a screw that is rotatably engaged to laterally adjust the head of the screw to ensure proper mating with the associated pivot bar shoe.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a pivot bar screw with an associated pivot bar shoe orienting the screw head towards the rear.
It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a method of installing a pivoting window sash including the steps of defining a receiving channel within the window rail, introducing a screw with an oversized head relative to the shaft configured (i.e. sized and shaped) to mate with a pivot bar shoe installed within a window jamb, rotatably engaging the screw to an orientation with the threads seated within the receiver, and laterally adjusting the screw such that the screw head mates with the pivot bar shoe, whereby the screw and shoe travel vertically within the window jamb and facilitate the rotation of the sash out of the jamb as desirable.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.
The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a pivot bar in the nature of an elongated screw with an oversized head relative to the screw shaft, for example a screw defining a length of five inches (12.7 cm) with a head diameter of three quarters (¾) of an inch (1.91 cm). A receiver is integrally formed in the bottom rail of a window sash, the receiver defined as a channel sized and shaped to frictionally engage with the threaded portion of the screw to structurally support the same. The pivot bar is rotatably engaged to position the threads within the receiver and laterally adjusting the screw such that the screw head mates with the pivot bar shoe associated in the corresponding window jamb, accounting for any measuring variances between the window jamb and the window sash. Specifically, the oversized pivot bar screw head passes laterally beyond the pivot bar shoe and into the void behind the pivot bar shoe, permitting the positioning of the pivot bar shoe brake to be located in the front of the pivot bar shoe as desirable. A method of installing a threaded pivot bar is also included.
For a better understanding of the invention and its method of use, turning now to the drawings,
In the preferred embodiment, pivot bar 12 is defined as a threaded member in the nature of a screw, including threaded portion 15 and head 16. In order to function as a pivot bar, that is to say to facilitate the rotation of window sash 11 in and out of window jambs 17, 17′ from a substantially vertical posture to a decidedly more horizontal posture, threaded portion 15 may be rotated into and through receiver 14. As demonstrated in
Preferred pivot bar 12 also includes a head 16 that is sized and shaped to be received within an associated pivot bar shoe 18 positioned in the window jamb 17 in opposing relation to pivot bar 12 as demonstrated in
While threaded pivot bar 12 functions as described above, it may be preferable to dispose trigger 21 within receiver 14. Trigger 21 preferable defines a central orifice sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of threaded shaft 15 therethrough. Preferred trigger 21 also includes an extending portion with cooperative geometry relative to pivot bar shoe 18 generally, and cam 20 specifically. As would be understood, conventional embodiments of one or both of pivot bar head 16 and cam 20 are annular in nature, and certain circumstances may arise wherein the rotation of pivot bar head 16 does not efficiently translate rotational torque to cam 20, resulting in the desirable pivoting of lower sash 11. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of trigger 21 is a block structure, ideally square in cross-section, that will frictionally engage the inner surface of cam 20 and effectuate the rotational transference from lower sash 11 via pivot bar 12 to pivot show 18 via cam 20. The preferred embodiment of the aforementioned central orifice may similarly be threaded so as to facilitate the lateral adjustability of threaded pivot bar 12.
A method of installing a laterally adjustable pivot bar is also included. The preferred steps include providing a threaded pivot bar 12 comprised of threaded portion 15 and head 16 and a window sash including receiver 14 formed therein. The pivot bar 12 is rotatably engaged to position the threaded portion 15 within the receiver 14 and laterally adjusting the pivot bar such that the screw head 16 mates with the pivot bar shoe 18 associated in the corresponding window jamb 17, accounting for any measuring variances between the window jamb 17 and the window sash 11.
The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
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