Patent Publication Number: US-8522480-B2

Title: Spring actuated transom window

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/387,780, filed Sep. 29, 2010, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     (NOT APPLICABLE) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a transom window and, more particularly, to an opening transom panel and hinge included in a window assembly with an exemplary application in the transportation industry, such as a motor coach or bus vehicle. The window can be an egress or non-egress style window. Additionally, the window can be a flush style window where the frame is hidden when viewed from outside of the vehicle, or the window could be a style where the frame, or a portion of the frame, is exposed when viewed from outside the vehicle. 
     This type of window is common to the transportation industry in the bus/motor coach applications as well as the railroad car application. Opening transom type windows are also found in residential and commercial building applications. 
     It would be desirable to provide an efficient, compact, and easily manufactured and serviceable hinge for the transom window panels. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The described embodiments relate to an opening transom window including an upper vent glass that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and a lower fixed glass with a hinge therebetween. The hinge is constructed for efficient operation, compactness, ease of manufacture, and serviceability. The hinge includes stop surfaces that define a pivot range for the upper vent glass and a biasing member that functions to bias the upper vent glass toward the closed position when the upper vent glass is in its closed position and toward the open position when the upper vent glass is in its open position. Moreover, the hinge assembly is compact in design, and it is easy to assemble the upper and lower hinges. After inserting the spring member, the hinge cover is positioned for attachment. For servicing, the hinge cover is easily removed, providing access to the internal components. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a hinge for a transom window includes an upper hinge member securable to a vent glass of the transom window, and a lower hinge member securable to a fixed glass of the transom window. A hinge cover is secured between the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member, a spring element acts between the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member. The upper hinge member includes a first pivot member cooperable with a corresponding second pivot member of the lower hinge member, and each of the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member includes a stop surface that limits a pivot range of the upper hinge member relative to the lower hinge member. The upper hinge member further includes a first spring seat on a side of the upper hinge member opposite from the pivot member, and one of the hinge cover and the lower hinge member includes a second spring seat. The spring element is secured between the first spring seat and the second spring seat. The upper hinge member is pivotable relative to the lower hinge member between a closed position and an open position, and in the closed position, the spring element is positioned to bias the upper hinge member toward the closed position, and in the open position, the spring member is displaced over center to bias the upper hinge member toward the open position. 
     Preferably, the first pivot member comprises a rail, and wherein the second pivot member comprises a follower. The hinge cover may include a stop arm extending from a position adjacent the lower hinge member toward the upper hinge member, where a distal end of the stop arm is disposed in a pivot path of the upper hinge member. Each of the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member may include at least one adhesive cavity. The lower hinge member may include a cover seat shaped substantially corresponding to an outside perimeter of the hinge cover, where the hinge cover is positioned in the cover seat. 
     The lower hinge member may include a hinge cover channel, where a portion of the hinge cover is engaged with the hinge cover channel. In this context, the hinge may be provided with a connector securing the portion of the hinge cover engaged with the hinge channel in the hinge channel. In one arrangement, the hinge cover extends over at least a portion of an outermost surface of the lower hinge member 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a transom window includes a transom window frame, a vent glass pivotable between a closed position and an open position, a fixed glass secured to the transom window frame, and the hinge of the described embodiments disposed between the vent glass and the fixed glass. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, a multi-piece hinge pivotably connects a top member and a bottom member. The hinge includes an upper hinge member securable to the top member, a lower hinge member securable to the bottom member and fixable in a frame, a hinge cover secured between the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member, and a spring element acting between the upper hinge member and the lower hinge member. The upper hinge member is pivotable relative to the lower hinge member across a pivot range between a closed position and an open position. The pivot range is limited by a stop assembly. In the closed position, the spring element is positioned to bias the upper hinge member toward the closed position, and in the open position, the spring member is displaced over center to bias the upper hinge member toward the open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of the transom window and hinge with the upper vent glass in its open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of the hinge in the open position; 
         FIG. 3  shows the hinge in its closed position; and 
         FIGS. 4A-V  show alternative variations of the hinge. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a top portion of a transom window  10 . The window  10  includes a transom window frame  12 , an upper vent glass  14  securable to the transom window frame  12  in a closed position, and a lower fixed glass  16  secured to the transom window frame  12 . Reference to “glass” throughout the specification is exemplary and is intended to encompass any and all suitable materials, whether translucent or not. A seal  17  is disposed between the vent glass  14  and the fixed glass  16 . The vent glass  14  is pivotable between a closed position and an open position (open position shown in  FIG. 1 ) via a hinge  18 . As shown, the hinge  18  is disposed between the vent glass  14  and the fixed glass  16 . 
     Details of the hinge  18  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The hinge  18  includes an upper hinge member  20  secured to the vent glass  14  and a lower hinge member  22  secured to the fixed glass  16 . The lower hinge member  22  is secured to the frame  12  via suitable connectors  23 . A hinge cover  24  is secured between the upper hinge member  20  and a lower hinge member  22 . A spring element  26  acts between the upper hinge member  20  and the lower hinge member  22 , in some embodiments, via the hinge cover  24 . 
     The upper hinge member  20  includes a first pivot member  28  that is cooperable with a corresponding second pivot member  30  of the lower hinge member  22 . As shown, the first pivot member  28  preferably comprises a rail, such as a cylindrical rail, and the second pivot member  30  preferably comprises a follower. Each of the upper hinge member  20  and the lower hinge member  22  includes a stop surface  32  that limits a pivot range of the upper hinge member  20  relative to the lower hinge member  22 . In  FIG. 2 , the stop surface  32  of the upper hinge member  20  extends beneath the first pivot member  28  and engages a neck portion of the lower hinge member  22  beneath the corresponding second pivot member  30  of the lower hinge member  22 . 
     The upper hinge member  20  also includes a first spring seat  34  on a side of the upper hinge member  20  opposite from the pivot member  28 . The hinge cover  24  includes a second spring seat  36 , an opposite side of which (outside perimeter) is engaged with a cover seat  37  of the lower hinge member  22 . The cover seat  37  is shaped substantially corresponding to the outside perimeter of the hinge cover  24  adjacent the second spring seat  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hinge cover  24  is positioned in the cover seat  37 . The spring element  26  is secured between the first spring seat  34  and the second spring seat  36 . In the closed position (shown in  FIG. 3 ), the spring element  26  is positioned to bias the upper hinge member  20  toward the closed position. In the open position, the spring member  26  is displaced over center to bias the upper hinge member  20  toward the open position. 
     The hinge cover  24  also includes a stop arm  38  extending from a position adjacent the lower hinge member  22  toward the upper hinge member  20 . The distal end of the stop arm  38  is disposed in a pivot path of the upper hinge member  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the open position, the upper hinge member  20  engages the distal end of the stop arm  38 . 
     Each of the upper hinge member  20  and the lower hinge member  22  may include at least one adhesive cavity  40  for receiving an adhesive. In preferred embodiments, the hinge members  20 ,  22  are secured to the respective glass members via an adhesive. Alternatively or additionally, the hinge members  20 ,  22  may be provided with channels for receiving the glass members. 
     The upper and lower hinge members  20 ,  22  are preferably formed of aluminum or plastic, but other materials such as steel, stainless steel, or other formable material, may be suitable. The hinge members  20 ,  22  are preferably extruded, although other forming processes may be used. 
       FIGS. 4B-V  show alternative variations of the hinge  18  ( FIG. 4A  corresponds to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and is included for ease of comparison). Each variation includes the upper hinge member  20 , the lower hinge member  22 , the hinge cover  24 , and the spring member  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 4B-L , the hinge cover  24  may extend over the lower hinge member  22  to various degrees. The hinge cover  24  is shown being actively secured to the lower hinge member  22  via a fastener  42  such as a screw or the like. In some variations, the lower hinge member  22  is provided with a channel or pocket  46  in which a portion of the hinge cover  24  is received (see  FIGS. 4H-V ). The design is serviceable in the field by removal of a limited number of fasteners thereby allowing replacement of the vent/glass, seals, or spring(s). The design facilitates better outboard drainage in the event that water was to enter between the upper and lower hinge members. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.