GB2095743A - Window stays - Google Patents

Abstract

A window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame. The window stay includes a first mounting plate (10) adapted for attachment to a frame of a window and a second mounting plate (11) adapted for attachment to a sash of a window. An arm (12) is pivoted at one end to the second mounting plate (11) and its other end is pivoted to the first mounting plate (10). The second mounting plate (11) is coupled to a carriage (14), preferably by being coupled directly thereto by a pivot joint (21). A carriage housing (17) extends longitudinally along the first mounting plate (10) and a portion of the carriage (14) is slidingly engaged within the housing. The carriage (14) has a wear resistant surface (14) which is in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of the housing (17). Adjustment means (25, 27) enable the contact pressure between the wear resistant surface and the inner wall surface to be adjusted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in window or the like stays This invention relates to a window stay for adjustable mounting on a window sash into a window frame.

When mounting a window sash in a window frame it is now common practice to use a pair of stays whereby the sash can pivot open or closed about a substantially horizontal axis or, in a casement window, about a substantially vertical axis. One known form of stay construction is to provide a mounting plate for the sash and frame respectively. At or toward one end of the sash mounting plate an arm is pivotally coupled thereto. This arm is pivotally coupled at its other end to the frame mounting plate. The end of the sash mounting plate opposite to that to which the arm is pivotally coupled is in turn pivotally coupled to a carriage which is mounted for frictional sliding movement on the frame mounting plate.Because of the frictional movement of the carriage and, in some constructions of stay, the friction in the pivot joints, this frictional resistance to movement provides the necessary holding force for a window to be retained in any desired position of opening.

Unfortunately the degree of friction which resists free sliding movement of the carriage varies according to the angle of opening and is often more than that required for control of the stay. The amount of force therefore required to open and close the stay can vary depending on theposition from or to which the carriage is moved. In addition wear takes place which in time can either reduce or increase the amount of friction and so make the stay difficult to operate or indeed be ineffective.

Other problems with these stays are known.

Usually a window stay of this type relies not only on the frictional contact between the carriage and mounting plate and the friction in the pivot joints but also on the geometry of the stay. This means that various size stays must be provided for sashes of varying dimensions and weight Accordingly a manufacturer needs to provide a variety of different sized stays to meet the various sizes and weights of sashes. Stays of this type are often incapable of carrying very large and heavy casement sashes. The friction in such stays is not adjustable and this can be a disadvantage as there are many situations where low friction is required whilst in other situations a higher degree of friction is necessary because of the size and weight of sash.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash in a window frame which overcomes some or all of the foregoing problems associated with known sashes where the sash mounting plate is coupled to the frame mounting plate by a frictional sliding carriage.

In its broadest aspect the invention provides a window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame comprising a first mounting plate adapted for attachment to a frame of a window, a second mounting plate adapted for attachment to a sash of a window, an arm which is pivoted at one end to the second mounting plate and the other end to the first mounting plate, a carriage, a carriage housing which extends longitudinally along said first mounting plate and within which a portion of said carriage is slidingly engaged, a coupling between said carriage and said second mounting plate, said carriage having a wear resistant surface which is located within said housing and in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of said housing, adjustment means by which the contact pressure between said wear resistant surface and said inner wall surface can be adjusted.

To more fully describe the invention according to its preferred form reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the stay, Figure 2 is an end view of the stay, and Figure 3 is an exploded view of the carriage, and Figure 4 is an assembled view of the carriage.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 the stay consists of a frame mounting plate 10, a sash mounting plate 11, an arm 12 and a carriage 14. Each of the mounting plates 10 and 11 is provided with openings 13 through which fastenings can pass for mounting of the plates 10 and 11 to a window frame and sash respectively. Arm 12 is coupled at each of its ends to the respective mounting plates 1 0 and 11 by a pivot joint 1 5. In the preferred form of the stay these pivot joints are of a friction type of known construction. For an example of such a pivot joint reference can be made to our New Zealand Patent Specification No. 1 44922.

In the preferred form the frame mounting plate 10 is of extruded construction and is preferably manufactured from an aluminium alloy. The mounting plate comprises a flat elongate mounting portion 1 6 along one edge of which extends a housing 17. The housing is of generally circular cross section as can be clearly seen in Figure 2. A longitudinally extending slot 18 is formed in housing 1 7 and is situated as shown in figure 2 to be in a plane which extends parallel with the flat mounting portion 1 6. Housing 1 7 extends continuously along mounting plate 10 except for a small gapped portion 19 (Figure 1) the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

Carriage 1 4 consists of a flat portion 20 to which the end of sash mounting plate 11 is pivotally coupled by a pivot joint 21. Once again this pivot joint 21 can be of a friction type. Flat portion 20 is preferably of an elongate form and projecting from one long side thereof are a pair of spaced apart annular lugs 22 which are located within housing 17. These lugs 22 are of a diameter which is less than the internal diameter of housing 1 7.

Located between lugs 22 is a sleeve 23. This sleeve is formed of a resilient wear resistant material which is preferably nylon. Sleeve 23 is of an external diameter which is substantially the same as the internal diameter of housing 17. A second wear resistant material sleeve 24, preferably of nylon construction, is located on carriage 1 4 and is positioned with one end abutting one lug 22 to be coaxial with the first mentioned sleeve 23 and both of lugs 22.

A screw threaded pin 25 extends through lugs 22 and sleeves 23 and 24 to maintain the sleeves in position on carriage 1 4. The free end of threaded pin 25 is engaged in the threaded bore 26 of an adjustment member 27. The end of the adjustment member 27 opposite to that in which pin 25 is engaged incorporates a pair of axial openings 28. These axial openings 28 are positioned at 90 to one another.

With the window stay opened to the position illustrated in Figure 1 the adjustment member 27 is located in such a position that axial openings 28 are accessible through gapped portion 1 9. The adjustment member 27 can thus be rotated thereby applying an axial pressure to the nylon sleeve 24. This causes the effective diameter of sleeve 24 to increase and thus the surface of the sleeves is pressed into contact with inner wall surface of housing 1 7. The contact between sleeve 24 and the inner wall surface of housing 1 7 provides the frictional contact necessary to ensure that the carriage 14 moves with a controlled frictional movement along mounting plate 10.

Sleeve 24 thus forms a friction sleeve whilst sleeve 23 forms a control sleeve. Depending on the adjustment of adjustment member 27 the frictional contact can be increased or decreased depending on the frictional requirements. These frictional requirements will depend largely on the size and weight of the sash being carried by the stay.

The invention therefore provides a window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame which has a high friction capability without the carriage jamming within the housing.

The friction can be adjusted to meet a wide range of carrying capacities, however, by suitable adjustment of the friction sleeve 24 the stay is still usuable in those situations where low friction is required.

Because of the adjustability of the stay a manufacturer needs to provide only a limited stock of different size stays though it is envisaged that for most applications a stay of one size will be suitable for a wide variety of sizes and weights of sashes.

The construction of the stay is such that controlled adjustment of a window sash can be achieved even in the first few degrees of opening.

The sash is also capable of carrying very large and heavy side hung casement sashes. In view of the housing in which the sliding portion of the carriage is located being such that the sliding portion is effectively totaily enclosed the stay is particularly suitable for use in coastal areas where known stays sufferfrom the buildup of dirt and grit on the sliding surfaces. The enclosed nature of the sliding portion of the carriage 14 also results in a very low wear factor.

The stay is open to modification. For example the pivot joints can be of a non-friction type in which case the stay would rely in operation on the frictional contact of the carriage with the housing.

As a further modification the sash mounting plate could be coupled to the carriage by an arm which is of considerably shorter length than the first arm.

Claims (10)

1. A window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame comprising a first mounting plate adapted for attachment to a frame of a window, a second mounting plate adapted for attachment to a sash of a window, an arm which is pivoted at one end to the second mounting plate and the other end to the first mounting plate, a carriage, a carriage housing which extends longitudinally along said first mounting plate and within which a portion of said carriage is slidingly engaged, a coupling between said carriage and said second mounting plate, said carriage having a wear resistant surface which is located within said housing and in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of said housing, adjustment means by which the contact pressure between said wear resistant surface and said inner wall surface can be adjusted.

2. A window stay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second mounting plate is pivotally coupled direct to said carriage.

3. A window stay as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing defines a passageway along which said portion of the carriage can slide, there being a longitudinal opening in said housing through which a mounting portion of said carriage extends into which said second mounting plate is coupled.

4. A window stay as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wear resistant surface is provided by a friction element on said carriage and having a peripheral surface which is in said sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the passageway.

5. A window stay as claimed in claim 4 wherein the friction element is of tubular form and said adjustment means is operable to apply an axial pressure to the friction element to cause deformation thereof and thereby increase said contact pressure.

6. A window stay as claimed in claim 5 wherein a tubular guide member is located by location means on said carriage and is coaxial with said friction element, the adjustment means being a member extending through said location means, guide member and friction element and having an axially adjustable engagement member, said friction element being located between a said location means and said engagement member.

7. A window stay as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engagement member is a screw threaded tubular element mounted on a complementary screw threaded end of the adjustment member.

8. A window stay as claimed in claim 7 wherein the carriage housing has an opening therein whereby access to the engagement member can be achieved to enable said engagement member to be rotated on the adjustment member for applying or releasing axial pressure on the friction element.

9. A window stay as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the location means is a pair of spaced apart lugs each having an opening therein which is coaxial with the other and said guide member and friction element.

10. A window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.