GB2112849A

GB2112849A - Safety window fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2112849A
Application number: GB08230420A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Mathew Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-31
Filing date: 1982-10-25
Publication date: 1983-07-27
Also published as: GB2112849B

Abstract

A safety window fitting includes a support member 50 attachable to an edge extent of a window, to which is mounted a body member 10 movable both pivotably and slidably via pin 24 and slot 12 relative to the support member 50 between a first, secured, position (Figs. 4 and 5) and a second, open, position. The fitting further includes, adjacent the free end of the body member, co-operating releasable retaining means (30 to 44) so arranged that, with the body member 10 in said first position, the components (30, 38) of said retaining means (30 to 44) co- operate to prevent pivoting movement of the body member 10 away from the window. The pin and slot arrangement requires body member movement just substantially towards and then substantially away from the support member to disengage the retaining means and allow the body member to be pivoted free. A stay arrangement is also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety window fitting This invention relates to window fittings such as are commonly used on casement windows which can pivot open about a vertical or horizontal axis, and is particularly concerned with the provision of such fittings which improve the security of windows in their closed positions.

In the following specification the term 'window fitting' is to be understood as embracing within its scope both the generally elongate stays commonly secured to the lower extents of window frames and the shorter side catches commonly secured to the side extents of window frames.

Standard window fittings have the distinct disadvantage that they can readily be actuated by small children whereby said children can find themselves in the dangerous position of possibly falling through an open window. Further, said fittings can, without great effort, be actuated from the outside to enable illegal entry into the associated building.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, it has been proposed to provide locable fittings which cannot be moved from locked positions without the use of an associated key. However, such fittings are relatively expensive to produce compared with standard fittings because of the provision of the additional locking means and the key, while, in an emergency when immediate opening of the window is necessary, the key may not be immedic.tely available.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a window fitting of relatively simple construction comparable in manufacturing costs with the standard fittings but which improved substantially the security of a window without the use of a keyoperated locking mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a window fitting comprising a support member for attachment to an edge extent of a window, a body member mounted on said support member for guided movement relative thereto between a first position associated with a secured position of the window and a second position associated with a released position of the window, and a retaining mechanism including co-operating components one of which is formed on said body member, the arrangement being such that, with said body member in the first position, the components of the retaining mechanism cooperate to prevent pivoting movement of the body member relative to the support member away from the window, disengagement of said components of the retaining mechanism one from the other to permit pivoting movement of the body member relative to the support member away from the window being achieved by initially moving the body member substantially along the longitudinal axis of the fitting towards the support member to release said body member from its first position relative to the support member and thence moving the body member in substantially the opposite direction away from the support member into said second position relative to the support member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support member has formed therein a slot of substantially J-shape and the body member includes a pivot bar extending transversely of the fitting and through the slot to effect said mounting of the body member to the support member, said slot comprising longer and shorter extents each extending substantially longitudinally of the fitting and interconnected by a generally arcuate portion, the pivot bar being movable along the length of the slot.

With such an arrangement, the first position of the body member is determined by location of the pivot bar in the end of the shorter extent of the slot in the support member remote from the arcuate portion of the slot and the second position of the body member is determined by location of the pivot bar in the end of the longer extent of said slot remote from the arcuate portion thereof.

Preferably the longer extent of the slot in the support member extends outwardly of the support member as it extends away from the body member, the shorter extent of the slot being located inwardly of the longer extent at the end of said longer extent remote from the body member.

The retaining member may comprise an elongate aperture formed in, to extend longitudinally of, the body member and a pin member co-operating with said aperture to prevent, in said first position of the body member relative to the support member, pivoting movement of said body member relative to said support member away from the window.

Conveniently the aperture in the body member is of generally keyhole shape comprising a shank portion extending longitudinally of the body member and terminating in an increased-width portion to the end of the shank portion nearer the support member, the pin member comprising an outer portion for passage through said increasedwidth end portion of the aperture but of width greater than that of the shank portion of the aperture, said pin member being recessed below said outer portion to provide an intermediate portion narrower than said shank portion of the aperture.

With such an arrangement and in the first position of the body member, the intermediate portion of the pin member passes through the shank portion of the aperture whereby pivoting movement of the body member relative to the support member away from the window is prevented by abutment of the outer portion of the pin member with the body member. Movement of the body member from the first position to the second position brings the increased-width end portion of the aperture into alignment with the outer portion of the pin member whereby said body member can then be pivoted away from and off the pin member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the body member comprises an elongate stay one end of which is mounted on the support member, said support member, in turn, being mounted for pivotal movement on a bracket attachable to a lower extent of a window, the elongate aperture being formed in the stay adjacent the free end thereof and the pin member being attachable to a lower extent of a fixed frame surrounding the window.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the fitting comprises a side catch including a support member attachable to a side extent of a window, the pin member being integrally formed with, but longitudinally spaced from the slot in, the support member, the fitting further comprising a bracket attachable to a side extent of a fixed frame surrounding the window in alignment with the pin member and having a bore formed therein for passage therethrough of the pin member on closing of the window, the free end of said pin member thence being received within the elongate aperture in the body member.

In such an embodiment, the body member may comprise a first portion mounted on the support member and a second portion in which is formed said elongate aperture and which is pivotal relative to said first portion.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section of the components of a first window fitting according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the completed fitting of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows an alternative slot in the support member, Fig. 4 is a part vertical section through a further window fitting according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a front view of the fitting of Fig. 4, and Figs. 6a, b, and c are general views of the components of the fittings of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the illustrated window fitting comprises an elongate stay indicated generally at 2 which is pivotally mounted, in a manner to be detailed below, to a support member 4, said support member, in turn, being mounted to a bracket 6 to be pivotal relative to said bracket about a vertical axis 8. Said bracket 6 is adapted to be secured to the lower horizontal extent of a window in the conventional manner.

The support member 4 includes a central, plate-like body portion 10 in which is formed a slot 12 of generally J-shape including a longer extent 14 extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the member 4, and a shorter extent 1 6 below the extent 14 connected to the extent 14 by a generally arcuate portion 18.

The end of the stay 2 mounted to the support member 4 is of bifurcated form comprising a pair of opposed plates 20, 22 between which extends a pivot bar 24. The body portion 10 of the support member 4 is located between the plates 20, 22 with the pivot bar 24 extending through the slot 12 whereby the stay is pivotal in a vertical plane relative to the support member 4 about the horizontal pivot bar 24.

The stay is also movable substantially longitudinally relative to the support member 4 between a first position in which the pivot bar 24 is received in the free end of the slot extent 16, said free end of the extent 1 6 being reduced in width at the point 26 to provide a positive location of the pivot bar 24 in said first position of the stay 2, and a second position in which the pivot bar 24 is received in the free end of the slot extent 14, said free end of the extent 14 being reduced in width at the point 28 to provide a positive location of the pivot bar 24 in said second position of the stay 2.

More particularly, movement of the stay 2 from its first position to its second position is achieved by moving the stay longitudinally to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, raising the pivot bar 24 in the slot 12 and then moving the stay substantially longitudinally to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

A slot 30 of generally key-hole shape is formed in a horizontal base portion 32 of the stay 2 adjacent the free end of said stay, said slot including a longitudinal shank portion 34 and an increased width end portion 36 at the end of the shank portion nearest the support member 4. Said slot 30 co-operates with an upstanding pin member 38 forming part of a fixture 40 adapted to be screwed to the lower extent of a fixed frame surrounding the window to which the fitting is to be attached. The pin member 38 includes an increased diameter outer portion 42 below which is a recessed intermediate portion 44 terminating in a base portion 46 to the fixture 40.

The fixture 40 is secured such that, with the stay 2 in its second position relative to the support member 4, the outer portion 42 of the pin member 38 is aligned with, to extend through, the end portion 36 of the slot 30. In this position, the stay can be pivoted about the bar 24 in the free end of the extent 14 of the slot 12 to move the stay away from the pin member 40 and enable opening of the window.

In order to secure the window in the closed position, the stay is lowered onto the pin member 38 such that the outer portion 42 thereof extends through the end portion 36 of the slot 30. The stay is then moved to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 until the pivot bar 24 is located in the arcuate portion 1 8 of the slot 12 in which position the intermediate portion 44 of the pin member 38 abuts the end of the shank portion 34 of the slot 30 remote from the end portion 36, with the increased diameter outer portion 42 of the pin member above the narrower shank portion 34 of the slot 30. In this position it will be appreciated that co-operation between the pin member 38 and the slot 30 prevents upward movement of the stay 2 away from the fixture 40. The first position of the stay, and therefore the finally secured position of the window, then results from movement of the pivot bar 24 down into the extent 1 6 of the J-slot 12 and movement of the stay 2 to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, into the position of Fig. 2, with the pivot bar held in the free end of the extent 1 6 by the recess 26 and the outer portion 42 still co-operating with the upper surface of the base portion 32 of the stay 2 to retain said stay, and therefore the window, in a 'locked' position.

The movement of the stay between the first and second positions is in fact continuous, the raising and lowering of the pivot bar 24 in the slot 1 2 being assisted by a wedge-type action between the outer portion 42 of the pin member 38 and the upper surface of the base portion 32 of the stay against which it reacts.

Although it is preferable to use a pin member and slot as the releasable retaining means for holding the stay in its secured position, other arrangements, such as a tapering channel section on the fixture 40 and corresponding external shaping of part of the stay 2 adjacent its free end, could be used which enable a push-pull securing action. The cross-section of the stay 2 can be chosen to suit particular requirements, as can the material of which it is made, conveniently for example aluminium or a plastic, while a series of apertures along its length can be provided to cooperate with a further fixed pin member on the frame to hold the window in any one of a number of different open positions.

The precise configuration of the slot 12 can be varied from that shown in Fig. 1, and may include a leaf spring such as 48 to react against the pivot bar 24 and hold it in its first position.

Thus there is provided a window stay which is as cheap to produce as existing stays and is, in external appearance, very similar in shape and construction to conventional stays but which incorporates an effective lockability without the use of complex locks or keys.

Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate a side catch for a window which embodies the same principle of operation as the stay of Figs. 1 to 3 and in which equivalent components are similarly referenced. The side catch can be used in conjunction with or in place of a lockable stay.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the side catch includes a support member 50 for attachment to a vertical side extent of a window, the member 50 having integrally formed therewith a plate-like body portion 10 in which is provided a J-slot 12 comprising longer and shorter extents 1 4, 1 6 interconnected by an arcuate portion 1 8. Also integrally formed with the support member 50 is a pin member 38 having an increased diameter outer portion 42 and a recessed intermediate portion 44.

The body member or handle of the catch is indicated generally at 52 and includes a bifurcated first portion 54 incorporating a pivot bar 24 for passage through the slot 1 2 in the support member and a second portion 56 pivotal relative to the first portion 54 about a horizontal axis 58 extending perpendicularly to the pivot bar 24. Said second portion 56 has a key-hole slot 30 formed therein for co-operation with the pin member 38 in the manner of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3.

The catch further includes a fixture or bracket 60 for attachment to a side extent of the fixed frame surrounding the window, said bracket including a bore 62 in alignment with, for passage therethrough, of the pin member 38.

Operation of the catch is as follows. On closing the window, the pin member 38 passes through the bore 62 in the bracket 60 and the handle 52 of the catch, which is in its second position relative to the support member 50- i.e. with the pivot bar 24 in the free end of the longer extent 14 of the slot 12 - is pivoted towards the bracket 60 so that the outer portion 42 of the pin member 38 is received within the end portion 36 of the slot 30. The handle 52 is then moved upwards and downwards in the manner of the stay 2 to effect the secured position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The surface of the bracket 60 is tapered at 64 for engagement by the undersurface of the second portion 56 of the handle to facilitate manoeuvring of the pivot bar 24 along the slot 12. As with the stay 2, the opening and closing movements of the handle 52 can be done continuously.

Again modifications and variation from the illustrated arrangement will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A window fitting comprising a support member for attachment to an edge extent of a window, a body member mounted on said support member for guided movement relative thereto between a first position associated with a secured position of the window and a second position associated with a released position of the window, and a retaining mechanism including cooperating components one of which is formed on said body member, the arrangement being such that, with said body member in the first position, the components of the retaining mechanism cooperate to prevent pivoting movement of the body member relative to the support member away from the window, disengagement of said components of the retaining mechanism one from the other to permit movement of the body member relative to the support member away from the window being achieved by initially moving the body member substantially along the longitudinal axis of the fitting towards the support member to release said body member from its first position relative to the support member and thence moving the body member in substantially the opposite direction away from the support member into said second position relative to the support member.

2. A window fitting as claimed in claim 1 in which the support member has formed therein a slot of generally J shape, and the body member includes a pivot bar extending transversely of the fitting and through the slot to effect said mounting of the body member to the support member, said slot comprising longer and shorter extents each extending substantially longitudinally of the fitting and interconnected by a generally arcuate portion, the pivot bar being movable along the length of the slot.

3. A window fitting as claimed in claim 2 in which the longer extent of the slot in the support member extends outwardly of the support member as it extends away from the body member, the shorter extent of said slot being located inwardly of the longer extent at the end of said longer extent remote from the body member.

4. A window fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the retaining mechanism comprises an elongate aperture formed in, to extend longitudinally of, the body member and a pin member co-operating with said aperture to prevent, in said first position of the body member relative to the support member, pivoting movement of said body member relative to said support member away from the window.

5. A window fitting as claimed in claim 4 in which the aperture in the body member if of generally keyhole shape comprising a shank portion extending longitudinally of the body member and terminating in an increased-width portion to the end of the shank portion nearer the support member, the pin member comprising an outer portion for passage through said increasedwidth end portion of the aperture but of width greater than that of said shank portion of the aperture, said pin member being recessed below said outer portion to provide an intermediate portion narrower than said shank portion of the aperture.

6. A window fitting as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the body member comprises an elongate stay one end of which is mounted on the support member, said support member, in turn, being mounted for pivotal movement on a bracket attachable to a lower extent of a window, the elongate aperture being formed in the stay adjacent the free end thereof and the pin member being attachable to a lower extent of a fixed frame surrounding the window.

7. A window fitting as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 and comprising a side catch in which the support member is attachable to a side extent of a window, the pin member being integrally formed with, but longitudinally spaced from the slot in, the support member, the fitting further comprising a bracket attachable to a side extent of a fixed frame surrounding the window in alignment with the pin member and having a bore formed therein for passage therethrough of the pin member on closing of the window, the free end of said pin member thence being received within the elongate aperture in the body member.

8. A window fitting as claimed in claim 7 in which the body member comprises a first portion mounted on the support member and a second portion in which is formed said elongate aperture and which is pivotal relative to said first portion.

9. A window fitting substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.