GB2287284A

GB2287284A - Window stay

Info

Publication number: GB2287284A
Application number: GB9404668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Philip Lanaway
Original assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Current assignee: DGS HARDWARE Ltd
Priority date: 1994-03-11
Filing date: 1994-03-11
Publication date: 1995-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-11
Also published as: GB9404668D0; GB2287284B

Abstract

A window friction stay has a track 10 for mounting on a window frame, and a link arrangement providing a member 16 which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 and is adapted to connect with a window sash. An end member 32 has one part mounted in the track 10 at spaced fixing locations 36, 38, and has a second upstanding part, one section of which provides a recess with a profiled surface adapted for engagement by a profiled end face 70 on the member 16 in the closed position of the window stay. Another section of the part 40 is adapted to be secured to the window frame. A rivet 54 extends through the end member 32 to secure the parts together, a reinforcing spacer 74 connected to the member 16, and an abutment 56 for engagement by a wear face 82 on the member 16, all these having the effect of increasing the security of the window friction stay, and hence the attached window. <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 a closed position in a fixture opening, and is particularly concerned with window support apparatus wherein the window is pivotable about either a vertical or horizontal axis and the axis of pivoting of the window moves away from the window frame, so that when the window is opened, both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

Such apparatus conventionally comprises a first member which mounts the window, and a link arrangement for pivotally mounting the first member on a track attached to the window frame. The track is normally secured to a respective window frame part by screws extending through mounting holes provided in the base of the track, and the track conventionally has a closure member at one end which is engaged by the respective end of a link when the arrangement is moved to the closed position, the engagement correctly aligning the link arrangement with the track and retaining the correct alignment in the closed position.

Unauthorised entry to premises in which the window is installed often involves an attempt to insert a tool between respective window frame parts in order to displace the closure member from the track and enable the link arrangement to be forcibly moved to its open position.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the security of such window support apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on a second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position, and be secured to an adjacent frame part of the fixture opening, the second part further having a component located therein and fixedly secured to the first part to mount the second part thereon.

Preferably the first part has a first section which is adapted to co-act with the first member in the closed position, and a second section for securing therethrough to said adjacent part of the fixture opening, the component extending through both the first and second sections.

Preferably also the first part is formed of metal, the second part is formed of a non-metallic material, and the component is formed of metal to provide a secure connection and reinforce the second part. The component may be in the form of a metal rivet which is embedded in the material of the second part, and the latter may be formed of a moulded plastics material.

One end of the first member may have a profiled end face, the first section of the end means having a recess for receiving said one end in the closed position of the first member, and an internal surface of the recess being profiled to co-act with the profiled end face.

The present invention also provides 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on a second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent frame part of the fixture opening, each of the first part and the second member providing spaced fixing locations which can align to enable a plurality of fixing means to secure both the end means and the second member to said one part of the fixture opening.

Preferably two spaced fixing locations are provided, and preferably the fixing locations on the end means can align initially with the fixing positions on the second member to enable material of the latter, at the fixing positions, to be extruded into the fixing locations of the end means, thereby securing the latter to the second member and enabling associated fixing means to secure both the end means and the second member to said one part of the fixture opening.

The present invention further provides apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent part of the fixture opening, a third member for pivotally mounting the first member on the second member and a fourth member for pivotally mounting the first member on means which are slidably located on the second member, and means for restraining movement of the first member in a direction along the second member, when the component is in the closed position.

Preferably the second member comprises a track and the restraining means comprises an abutment member and means for securing same to the track at a predetermined spacing from the end means, whereby, on movement into the closed position, one end of the first member interacts with the second part of the end means and the other end of the first member moves into an abutting relation with the abutment member.

The present yet further provides 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured together with the end means to one part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent part of the fixture opening, a third member for pivotally mounting the first member on the second member and a fourth member for pivotally mounting the first member on means which are slidably located on the second member, one end of the first member interacting with the end means, and means for reinforcing said one end of the first member.

Preferably said one end of the first member has a profiled end face, and the second part of the end means has a recess for receiving said one end in the closed position of the first member, an internal surface of the recess being profiled to co-act with the profiled end face.

The reinforcing of said one end of the first member may comprise an elongate spacer between the first member and the fourth member and extending from the pivotal connection therebetween along part of the length of the first member. The spacer may extend beyond said one end of the first member to define the profiled end face and may be formed of a plastics material. The end means may be formed of a plastics material whereby to provide plastics to plastics contact when the first member co-acts with the end means.

An embodiment 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 view of window support apparatus according to the invention and shown in partly open position; Fig. 2 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 1 but with the window support apparatus shown in a closed position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a spacer of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of an end closure member of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a section on A-A of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a section on B-B of Fig. 4.

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

A window sash (not shown) is fixed at each of opposed edges to a respective elongate member 16 forming part of a link arrangement. The member 16, at a location intermediate of its ends is pivotally mounted on one end of an elongate link 18, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the track 10 towards one end thereof. At one end thereof the support member 16 is 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 one end of a further link 24, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the link 18. The latter is 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.

At its other end, the track 10 is closed by a member 32. The latter has a mounting part 34 overlying an end part of the base of the track 10 below the walls 12. The mounting part 34 has a pair of longitudinally spaced circular fixing holes 36, 38.

Each of the holes 36, 38 is positioned coaxially with a small hole initially formed in the base of the track 10 so that, at the position of the small hole, the material of the track 10 can be subsequently extruded into the hole respective 36, 38 thereby connecting the end member 32 to the track 10 and providing the through holes in the track base for securing both the end member 32 and the track 10 to the window frame. Fixing devices in the form of screws or the like can then locate through the holes 36, 38 and the correspondingly aligned holes in the base 10, and can also locate through one or more fixing holes 30 at other spaced locations along the base of the track 10. This arrangement provides a simple means of locating the end member 32 on the track 10 with increased accuracy.

The fact that the end member 32 is effectively secured to the window frame at two spaced locations increases the difficulty for an unauthorised person attempting to force the end member 32 out of the track 10, in order to release the link arrangement for unauthorised opening of the window.

The end member 32 has a two part form, the first part of which, i.e. the mounting part 34, is formed from a metal pressing, and the other part 40 of which is preferably formed of a moulded plastics material such as acetal. The latter is mounted on an end of the mounting part 34 which extends outwardly of the track 10 so as to extend at right angles to the mounting part 34, i.e.

upwardly of the track 10. At its lower end, the part 40 has the same profile as the outer end of the mounting part 34, while the thickness of the part 40 in a direction towards the track 10 is greater than the length of the mounting part 34 which extends outwardly from the end of the track 10. Lower end recesses 41 are provided on the part 40 whereby the latter can overlie respective shoulders 12 of the track 10.

The part 40 is integrally formed with two sections 42, 44, one above the other (see Figs. 3 to 5). The lower section 42, i.e. the section adjacent the track 10, has a through opening 46 to one side thereof, side walls of the opening being defined at said one side by an end wall 48 and at the other side by an internally profiled surface 50 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The second or upper section 44 is formed with a screw hole 52 positioned above the opening 46 in the first section. The plastics material thereby provided to the other side 52 of the opening 46 and to the other side of the screw hole enables a mounting rivet 54 to extend therethrough with a retaining head (not shown) engaging the upper end wall of the section 44 and being secured at the lower end to the mounting part 34. The rivet 54 provides a metal to metal engagement with the part 34 and reinforces the plastics part 40. A fixing screw or the like can engage through the screw hole 52 to secure the end member 32 to the adjacent window frame part.

The further securing of the end member 32 to the adjacent window frame part further increases the difficulty for an unauthorised person attempting to force the end member 32 out of the track 10 in order to release the link arrangement for unauthorised opening of the window. The use of the rivet 54 enables relatively inexpensive plastics materials to be used for the moulding of the part 40 because of the reinforcement provided by the rivet which takes the load resulting from any attempt at a forced release.

An abutment component 56 is mounted on said one end of the track 10 remote from the end member 32, the component 56 being formed of a moulded plastics material and having a mounting part 58 which extends into the track 10 with side shoulders lying below the shoulders 12. The mounting part 58 extends adjacent to the pivot location of the link 18 and provides a through hole 60 which aligns with an elongate hole in the base of the track 10, whereby the abutment component 56 can be fixed with the track 10 onto the lower horizontal part of the window frame by means of an appropriate fixing member engaging through the aligned apertures. The component 56 provides an abutment 62 which stands proud of the track 10 at the end thereof and provides an abutment face 64 for a purpose hereinafter described. To the other side of the abutment 62, the component 56 provides a further through hole 66 for fixing means to pass therethrough and secure the abutment component directly to the window frame part.

The support member 16, at the end thereof towards the end member 32, is formed with a profiled nose 68 defined by an arcuate end face 70 inwardly curved from one side edge to effectively define the extending nose 68 at the other side edge. The nose has a rounded outer end 72. The arcuate end face 70 is shaped to be complementary to the profile of the internal face 50 in the first section 42 of the end member 32, whereby to engage therewith in a conventional manner in the closed position of the link arrangement.

Between the member 16 and the link 20 there is provided a spacer 74 (see Fig. 3) which extends from the pivot location 78 partway along the length of the member 16 away from the nose, and adopts the same end profile as the nose 68. The spacer and the member 16 have aligned apertures 76 spaced from the pivot location for further securing of the spacer 74 to the member 16. The use of the spacer increases the strength of the member 16 at the respective end, and increases the difficulty for an unauthorised person attempting to deform the material of the member 16 when attempting unauthorised opening of the window.In a modification, the spacer may extend beyond the nose 68 of the member 16 and present the nose profiled, whereby to provide plastics to plastics engagement with the internal surface 50 of the end member 32, when the link arrangement is moved to its closed position.

At its other end, the member 16 has mounted thereon an abutment 80 formed of a plastics material which is secured to the member 32 and extends outwardly of the end thereof, whereby to provide a wear face 82 and a plastics to plastics engagement with the abutment face 64 of the abutment component 56 when the link arrangement is closed.

In use, the track 10 is fixed on the lower horizontal part of the window frame by means of screws engaging through the various apertures and the aligned apertures in the base of the track 10.

The support member 16 may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the closed position in Fig. 2 wherein the member 16 overlies the pivot member 18 and the links 20, 24, 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, while the window with the link arrangement 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. When moving to the closed position, the nose 68 of the support member 16 enters the closure member 32 and interacts with the profiled surface 50 to correctly position the window against the window frame in a conventional manner.

In the closed position, the wear face 82 of the abutment 80 locates against the abutment face 64 of the abutment 62. The provision of the abutment 50 substantially increases the difficulty of an unauthorised person attempting to displace the closure member 32 from the track 10 so as to release the link arrangement for movement. The abutment 62 prevents forced movement of the member 16 away from the closure member 32 which could otherwise facilitate movement of the link arrangement.

In the event of an inaccurate fitting of the window stay, or wear of the window seals, the sealing of the window may be, or become, less effective than is desired. In order to move the window into closer engagement with the window frame, which also enhances security, the abutment 62 may be of a different configuration, whereby to be adjustable in position relative to the closure member 32. Appropriate adjustment can oblige the slider 22 to move towards the closure member 32, and the consequent increased pressure of the nose 68 against the surface 50 causes additional lateral movement of the support member 16 in the direction of closing, and therefore additional pressure of the window against the window frame to improve sealing.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the configuration of the end closure member may differ from that described and shown. In particular, the opening in the first section of the closure member need not be a through opening. Further, the metal rivet through the end closure member may be exposed at the internal face for metal to metal engagement with the nose on the link member, if desired. Reinfcrcement of the closure member may be effected by another other suitable arrangement, and other configurations of the reinforcing spacer and the abutment arrangement may be utilised. It has also to be appreciated that the different aspects of the invention may be utilised with designs of link arrangement other than that described and shown.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position, and be secured to an adjacent frame part of the fixture opening, the second part further having a component located therein and fixedly secured to the first part to mount the second part thereon.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first part has a first section which is adapted to co-act with the first member in the closed position, and a second section for securing therethrough to said adjacent part of the fixture opening, the component extending through both the first and second sections.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first part is formed of metal, the second part is formed of a non-metallic material, and the component is formed of metal to provide a secure connection and reinforce the second part.

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the component is in the form of a metal rivet which is embedded in the material of the second part.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the second part is formed of a moulded plastics material.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein ne end of the first member has a profiled end face, the end means having a recess for receiving said one end in the closed position of the first member, and an internal surface of the recess being profiled to co-act with the profiled end face.

7. 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent frame part of the fixture opening, each of the first part and the second member providing spaced fixing locations which can align to enable a plurality of fixing means to secure both the end means and the second member to said one frame part of the fixture opening.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein two spaced fixing locations are provided.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the fixing locations on the end means can align initially with the fixing positions on the second member to enable material of the latter, at the fixing positions, to be extruded into the fixing locations of the end means, thereby securing the latter to the second member and enabling associated fixing means to secure both the end means and the second member to said one frame part of the fixture opening.

10. Apparatus for supporting a component for movement between an open and a closed position in a fixture opening, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured with the end means to one frame part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member, and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent part of the fixture opening, a third member for pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, a fourth member for pivotally mounting the first member on means which are slidably located on the second member, and means for restraining movement of the first member in a direction along the second member, when the component is in the closed position.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the second member comprises a track and the restraining means comprises an abutment member and means for securing same to the track at a predetermined spacing from the end means, whereby, on movement into the closed position, one end of the first member interacts with the second part of the end means and the other end of the first member moves into an abutting relation with the abutment member.

12. 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, a second member providing end means and adapted to be secured together with the end means to one part of the fixture opening, means pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, the end means having a first part for securing to the second member and a second part adapted to both co-act with the first member in the closed position and be secured to an adjacent part of the fixture opening, a third member for pivotally mounting the first member on the second member, a fourth member for pivotally mounting the first member on means which are slidably located on the second member, one end of the first member interacting with the end means, and means for reinforcing said one end of the first member.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said one end of the first member has a profiled end face, and the second part of the end means has a recess for receiving said one end in the closed position of the first member, an internal surface of the recess being profiled to co-act with the profiled end face.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the reinforcing means of said one end of the first member comprises an elongate spacer between the first member and the fourth member and extending from the pivotal connection therebetween along part of the length of the first member.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, when dependent on Claim 13, wherein the spacer extends beyond said one end of the first member to define the profiled end face.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the spacer is formed of a plastics material.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the end means is formed of a plastics material whereby to provide plastics to plastics contact when the first member co-acts with the end means.

18. 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.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.