GB2258009A

GB2258009A - Window friction stay.

Info

Publication number: GB2258009A
Application number: GB9114358A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Philip Lanaway
Original assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Current assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Priority date: 1991-07-03
Filing date: 1991-07-03
Publication date: 1993-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-03
Also published as: GB2258009B; GB9114358D0

Abstract

In a window friction stay, tracks 10 are fixed to opposed members of a window frame and a window sash is fixed at opposed edges to respective members 16, forming part of a link arrangement in a conventional manner. At one end each track 10 is closed by a member 30 providing upstanding cam surfaces 36, 38 facing towards respective opposite sides of the track 10. A guide 48 is pivotally mounted on the member 16 by means of a rivet 50 to have limited pivotal movement in either direction. On closing of the window from one side, the guide 48 initially engages with the cam surface 36 by way of a radiussed point 60, and can pivot to then bring a guide surface 56 in to face to face contact with the cam surface 36. Subsequent engagement of a guide face 58 with the other cam surface 38 guides the link arrangement into a correctly aligned closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Window Supports This invention is concerned with apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and closed position in a fixture opening, and is particu- larly concerned with window support apparatus wherein the window is pivotable about either a vertical or a horizontal axis and the axis of pivoting of the window moves away from the window frame, so that when the window is open, both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

Such apparatus conventionally comprises a link arrangement having a first link which mounts the window and which is pivotally mounted on a track having a closure member at. The end. The closure member 1 5 engaged by the respective end of the first link when the arrangement 35 moved to the closed position, the engagement correctly aligning the link arrangement with t.he track and retaining the correct alignment in the closed position.

It has been prevu.ously proposed to provide the closure member with a V-shaped cam surface, with a point ted end on the firs 13 nk, whereby the pointed end makes contact with a respective one of the internal walls of the V-shape when the lank arrangement with the window is moved to the closed position from either side of the track. Such an apparatus as therefore universal and can be used with windows which open to either side of the track, this providing significant advantages to the users of the apparatus who do not therefore need to store different handed arrangements, and consequently do not have the problems of possible incorrect installation.

A ds.sadvantage of such a design is however that, by the nature of the point contact , wear of the pointed end takes p place. As there is also inevitably wear of r 3. vets which anterconnect the links of the arrangement, the manufacturing tolerances 3 n an apparatus of thJs type must be kep very tight, otherwise the 1 ink arrangement can tend to eventually cam out at the closure member.

In an attempt to obviate or mitigate the wear problems, it has been proposed to provide for surfaceto-surface contact between the first link and the closure member. This has been achieved in a variety of ways, but in many cases there have inevitably been produced single-handed apparatus which then leads to the problem of storage and installation as referred to above.

According to the present invention there is prov- .ded apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture open ing, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component and a second member for piVot ally mounting the first member on a third member, the latter being adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the third member comprising a track which has a closure member at one end, the closure mem- ber providing a cam surface, and the first member of the link arrangement providing a movably mounted guide so profiled that, when the link arrangement is moved to the closed position from an open pos 3. t 3 0 n 0 n e 3 t h e r side of the track, the guide initially makes substantially point contact with the cam surfaces before moving into a faceto face relation therewith.

Preferably the closure member provides a pair of cam surfaces and the guide has a pair of guide faces so profiled as to be substantJally complementary t.o the cam surfaces, the guide faces being connected at a location which provides for the substantially point contact.

Preferably also the guide is pivotally mounted on the first member and at the contact location is radiussed about the pivot axis.

The respective end of the first member on which the guide is movably mounted may have an outer edge section radiussed about the pivot axis and positioned alongsa.de the contact locatuon of the gu.de.

Alternatively, the guide may overlie an outer edge of that. end of the first member on which the guide Os movably mounted.

The outer edge of that end of the first member on which the guide is movably mounted may also be profiled to provide end stops limiting pivotal movement of the guide in each direction. Alternatively, the link arrangement includes a fourth member which piVotally mounts the first member on a component which is slodably located in the track, the pivot mounting between the first and the fourth members providing end stops for limiting pivotal movement of the guide in either direc ti 0 n. In esther case, the pivotal movement of the guide is preferably restricted to a maximum of 10 to either side of a central position on the first member.

The guide may be formed of die-cast aluminium or of a moulded plastics material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan v.ew of a window support: apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention and shown in partly open position; Fig. 2 is a underneath plan of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a part.. top plan view of a window support apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention in the partly open position; Fig. 4 is a underneath plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 3;; F 3 g. 5 is a top plan v 3. e w of part of a wu.ndow support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the Invention and again shown in partly open position; F i g. 6 is an underneath plan of the apparatus of Fig. 5; F 3 g. 7 is a to p plan view of part of a window support. apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention again shown in partly open position: and Fig. 8 is an underneath plan of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, a window support apparatus in the form of a friction stay comprises an open topped track 10 having interned upper walls 12, the track 10 being fixed on a lower horizontal part of a window frame (not shown) by means of any suitable fixing devices engaged through apertures 14 in the base of the track 10. A further track (not shown) is inverted and secured to a horizontal upper member of the window frame.

The window sash (not shown) is fixed at opposed edges to a respective elongate member 16 forming part of a link arrangement. The member 16, at a location inter- mediate of its ends is pivotally mounted on one end of an elongate pivot member 18, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 towards one end thereof. At the end remote from the pivot member 18, the support member 16 us pivotally mounted on one end of a link 20, the other end of the latter being pivotally mounted on a slider 22 which is slidably located in the track 10. The slider 22 also pivotally mounts oe end of a further link 24, the other end of the link 24 being pivotally mounted c on the pivot membr 18.The latter i 5 stepped along its length to provide a raised section 26 on which the link 24 is mounted, so as to provide clearance for the link 24 in the closed position. A further link 28 is pivotally connected between the member 16 and the link 24.

At the end remote from the pivot mounting for the pivot member 18, the track 10 is closed by a member 30.

The latter is of the same width as the track 10, and comprises a first part 32 which is fitted into one end of the track 10, the walls 12 which overlie the part 32 then being crimped to fasten the latter to the track.

The member 30 further includes a part 34 extending at right angles to the part 32 so as to, in use, be upstanding from the track 10, the part 34 being of V-shape to provide two cam surfaces 36, 38 wh 3. ch are angled outwardly from respective sides of the track 10.

The cam surfaces 36, 38 therefore face towards respec- tive opposite sides of the track 10.

In the first embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the link 20 is pivotally mounted on the lower part 40 of the member 16 by way of a rivet 42. The outer end edge of the lower part 40 is profiled to provide a central, part circular section 44 (Fig. 2) a and angled sidle faces 46 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 2). On the axis of the part circular section 44 there is pivotally mounted a guide 48, formed for example of die-cast aluminium or a moulded plastics material, the pivot mounting being effected by means of a rivet 50.The guide 48 has a main body part 52 overlying the section 44 and part of the lower part 40, but has shoulders 54 which can engage with the respective faces 46 to ii mit pivotal movement of the quide 48 in e 3. the r direction, preferably by a maximum of 100 to either side of a central position on the member 16.At its outer edge, the gu 3. de 48 provides a pair of guide surfaces 56, 58 which are angled away from the body part 52 to an apex 60. The angle included by the guide faces 56, 58 is substantially the same as that included by the cam surfaces 36, 38 of the closure member 30 for a purpose hereinafter described. The apex 60 is formed as a radiussed point about the pivot axis defined by the rivet 50.

In use, the support member 16 may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a closed position wherein the support member 16 overlies the pivot member 18 and the links 20, 24, 28, the latter in turn overlying the track 10. It will be appreciated that in a closed position, the window supported by the link arrangement is also closed, whole the window with the 11 nk arrange- ment can be moved to the open position as shown in Fig. 1 or further to enable both sides of the window to be accessible from the one side of the window frame. In moving to the closed position, the guide 48 initially engages with the cam surface 34 by way of the radiussed apex or contact point 60.The pa.votal arrangement of the guide 48 then enables movement of the latter to brig the guide surface 56 z.nto face-to-face contact with the cam surface 36. The link arrangement is guided into a correctly aligned closed posit iori by subsequent engagement of the guide face 58 width the other cam surface 38, until the guide 38 self-centres in the closure member 30. In the closed position, the guide face 56 lies parallel to and alongside the cam surface 36 while the guide face 58 lutes parallel to and alongside the cam surface 38.The window can be retained 3 zn any desired angular position principally due to friction engagement between the slider 22 and the track 10, the slider 22 having any suitable friction configuration.

It will be appreciated that the link arrangement can move to the other side of the track 10. Movement from the open position on that other side to the closed position is guided by the guide face 58 initially contact 3. rig the cam surface 38 of the closure member 30.

Therefore the component is double-handed, enabling storage by a supply of only one design and avoiding problems otherwise encountered with incorrect use of single-handed components.

The initial 'point' contact of the guide faces with the cam surfaces allows increased manufacturing tolerances relative to face-to-face engagement, while the subsequent surface-to-surface contact avoids undue wear of the contact point. The radiussed profile of the latter also assists 3. prevent1.ng undue wear.

In a second embodiment as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where like numerals refer to like parts ir the first embodiment, a guide 62 is pivotally mounted on the lower part 40 of the member 16 and overlies part of the surface thereof but does not overlie the outer edge thereof. The member 16 is pivotally mounted on the link 20 by way of a rivet 64 which is slightly upstanding from the part 40.The guide 62 has an inner edge formed with a substantially semi-circular recess 66 of larger radius than the rivet 64, the recess 66 encompass 1. rig part of the rivet 64, whereby pivotal movement of the guide 62 is restricted in each direction, for example by a maximum of 1 00, by engagement of a respective edge of the recess 66 with the periphery of the pivot 64.

At its outer edge the guide 62 is formed with guide surfaces 68, 70 meet 3. rig at a radiussed apex 72, the faces 68, 70 having the same relative angles as the guide faces in ..he first embod1ment. The outer end edge of the part 40 has sides angled towards a central apex 74 of the same radz.us as the apex 72 to locate flush alongside t.he latter.

In use, the guide 62 of this embodiment functions similarly to the guide 48 of the first embodiment. In addition however, the side-by-side relation of the guide 62 with the end edge of the member 16 enables the latter to take the thrust resulting from contact with the closure member 30, and thus further assists in preventing wear of the guide 62.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 where again li k e numerals refer to like parts with the first embodz- ment, a guz.de 76 is pivotally mounted on the lower part 40 of the member 16 by way of a rivet 78. The outer end edge of the part 40 is recessed at either side to provide an extending nose 80 having an outer edge 82 radussed on the pivot axis, and side abutment faces 83.

The guide 76 partly overlies the lower part 40 and has a recessed part wherein is positioned the nose 80. The recessed part provides a shoulder 84 at either side of the nose 80 and the shoulders 84 respectively engage with the abutment faces 83 to limit the pivotal movement of the guide 76, preferably by a maximum of 10 3 in each direction.

The guide 76 provides guide faces 86, 88 of 5303 - lar profile to the guide faces of the previous embodi- ments meeting at a radiussed apex 90, with the recessed part of the guide 76 exposing the radi ussed edge of the nose 80 flush alongside the radiussed apex 90.

In use, the guide 76 cooperates with the closure member 30 as in the previous embodiments, with the exposed radiussed edge of the nose 80 taking the thrust resulting from engagement with the closure member 30 and thus avoiding wear of the nose 76. The latter may be made from a moulded plastics material.

In the fourth embodiment as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, where again like numerals refer to 1 ike parts with the first embodiment, the member 16 does not have a stepped part, a guide 92 being pivotally mounted on the end of the member 16 between the latter and the link 20 by means of a rivet 94.

The guide 92 is substantially similar to the guide of the second embodiment, having a recess in z.ts inner edge (not shown) partly embracing the rivet 94, such that engagement of the recess edges with the latter limits pivotal movement of the guide 92, preferably by a maximum of 100 in each direction. The guide 92 further provides guide faces 96, 98 similar to the guide faces of the previous embodiments, with a central apex 100 radiussed on the p 3. vot axis. The end edge of the member 16 is angled from each side towards a central apex 102 which is again n radiussed on the pivot axis and lazes flush alongside the apex 100.

In use the guide 92 cooperates with the closure member 30 in a manner similar to that described in relation to the previous embodiments, and again the radiussed apex 102 can take the thrust of the engagement to prevent undue wear on the guide 92.

Various modifications may be made without depart ing from the invention. For example, the configuration of the components of the 1 ink arrangement and of the guide and closure members, and the profiles of the cam surfaces and the guide faces, may differ from that described ad shown.

Whilst endeavour 3 rig in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of parts.cular a.mportance e it should be understood that the Applicant claims protect 3 on in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, the apparatus comprising a link arrangement having a first member for mounting the component and a second member for pivotally mounting the first member on a third member, the latter being adapted to be secured to the fixture opening, the third member comprising a track which has a closure member at one end, the closure member providing a cam surface, and the first member of the link arrangement providing a movably mounted guide so profiled that, when the link arrangement is moved to the closed position from an open position on either side of the track, the guide initially makes substantially point contact with the cam surfaces before moving into a faceto-face relation therewith.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the closure member provides a pair of cam surfaces and the guide has a pair of guide faces so profiled as to be substantially complementary to the cam surfaces, the guide faces being connected at a location which provides for the substantially point contact.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide is pivotally mounted on the first member.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein an outer edge of that end of the first member on which the guide is movably mounted is profiled to provide end stops limiting pivotal movement of the guide in each direction.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the profiled outer edge provides a central, part circular section and angled side frames, and the guide has a main body part overlying the control section and shoulders engagable with the angled side faces, the latter forming the end steps.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the link arrangement includes a fourth member which pivotally mounts the first member on a component which is slidably located in the track, the pivot mounting between the first and the fourth members providing end stops for limiting pivotal movement of the guide in either direction.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the pivot mounting comprises a rivet, and the guide has a recess of larger radius than the rivet, the recess encompassing part of the rivet whereby the latter forms the end stops.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the pivotal movement of the guide is restricted to a maximum of 10 to either side of a central position on the first member.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 8, wherein the guide at the contact location is radiussed about the pivot axis.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the respective end of the first member on which the guide is movably mounted has an outer edge section radiussed about the pivot axis and positioned alongside the contact location of the guide.

11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the guide overlies an outer edge of that end of the first member on which the guide is movably mounted.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the guide is formed of the die-cast aluminium.

13. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the guide is formed of a moulded plastics material.

14. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.