GB2348462A

GB2348462A - Window stay with releasable stop means

Info

Publication number: GB2348462A
Application number: GB9907282A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yurek Adrian Wronski
Original assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Current assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-31
Filing date: 1999-03-31
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-31
Also published as: GB9907282D0; GB2348462B

Abstract

A window stay 10, comprises an arm 11, a track 12, and a linkage 13 including a slider 17. The slider has an arch portion which will clear a stop 23 in the floor 24 of the track 19, but in normal use this archway is closed of buy a rod 26. A wedge element 29 is slidably disposed within the track 19 for lifting the rod 26 so as to allow the slider to move beyond the stop 23 allowing fuller opening of the stay. When the window is closed the linkage pushes the rod down and moves the wedge back to its original position. When the window is re-opened the rod will catch the stop and the window will only open part way.

Description

Stays This invention relates to hinges in the form of stays, such as are used on windows.

The invention is particulary concerned with the type of stay which comprises an arm for supporting a load, a track member, a slider movable along the track member and a linkage for hingingly connecting the arm to the track and including at least one link member connected to the slider, the arm being moveable on the linkage between a"closed" position in which it overlies the track member and an"open" position in which it extends at an angle to the track member. Such stays will be referred to as"a stay is herein before defined".

There are many proposals for providing releasable catches for limiting the normal movement of the slider, and hence opening of the window, but allowing, on relief of the catch, fuller opening of the window for cleaning or escaped purposes. These designs are intended to be relatively simple for an adult to operate, whilst defeating children and thus protecting the latter from falling out of the window. It is usually desired that the catch re-engages on closing of the window.

Such an arrangement is described in our British Patent No. 2262565B. The design shown in that Patent is in many respects extremely successful, but for at least some uses it has proved insufficiently robust and it is somewhat expensive to assemble.

The present invention consists in a stay as herein before defined wherein the track has a stop projecting into the path of movement of the slider, the slider has a channel dimensioned to allow it to pass over the stop and a catch is mounted in the slider for movement between the first position in which it projects into the channel to engage the stop, and hence restrict movement of the slider along the track, and a second position in which it will clear the stop allowing further movement of the slider characterised in that a wedge element is slidable mounted in the track for engaging a projecting portion of the catch in the first position and for hence lifting the catch to the second position.

In a preferred embodiment the catch comprise a body slidable disposed in a generally vertically extended passage in the slider, which passage debouches into the channel. It is particulary preferred that the passage is vertically extending and the body simply comprises a generally square sectioned rod or the like. In any of these arrangements it is preferred that the weight of the body urges it into its first position, although resilient means could be provided for this purpose. The body may include an inclined surface for co-operating with the wedge element.

The stay may further include resilient means for urging the wedge element into an inoperative position. The resilient means may, for example, be formed as a resilient integral loop, which is fixed relative to the track in a sense in which movement of the wedge towards the body tensions the loop.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stay; Figure 2 is a scrap longitudinal section of the stay in the restrictive position; Figure 3 is a corresponding section showing the catch being released; and Figure 4 is a section along the line A-A in Figure 3.

A stay, which is generally indicated at 10 comprises an arm 11 for supporting a window or other load, a track 12 which is engageable to a frame, a linkage, generally indicated at 13, for hingingly connecting the arm 11 to the track 12 and including link members 14,15 and 16, the last of which is connected to a slider 17 disposed for sliding movement along the track 12. The slider 17 has a first portion 18 which lies entirely within the channel 19 defined by the track 12 and which is pivotally connected to the link 16. It has a second, rearward portion 20, which engages around lips 21 of the channel 19 and extends above them.

The rearward portion 20 is formed in the shape of an arch or bridge to define an underneath channel 22, which is dimensioned to clear a stop 23 that is punched upwardly out of the floor 24 of the track 19. A vertically extending open ended passage 25 is formed in the upper section of the rearward portion 20 and debouches into the channel 22. A square sectioned rod or body 26 is slideably located in the passage 25 and is formed with a side lips 27, which cooperates with corresponding lip 28 on the portion 20 so that the rod 26 cannot be pushed upwardly out of the passageway 25.

Normally the weight of the rod 26 will cause it to drop down onto the floor 24 of the track and hence act as a catch as it engages the stop 23, as shown in Figure 2. In this way the opening of the stay 10 is restricted to open only as far as the position shown in Figure 1.

A wedge element 29 is slideably disposed within the track 19 between the slider 20 and an end stop 30. Movement of the wedge element 29 towards the rod 26 causes the leading edge 31 of the wedge 29 to engage with an inclined surface 32, which is formed on the rod 26 lifting the rod 26 upwardly within the passage 25 until it reaches the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 where it can pass over the stop 23. The stay 10 can then be opened to its fullest extent.

When the stay 10 closes, the rod 26, rides back over the inclined surface 33 of the stop 23 and then drops back into the Figure 2 position.

It is preferred that the wedge element 29 has an extensible strap or loop 34 which acts resiliently on the wedge element 29 to draw it back to its rest position once it is released by the user. This avoids the wedge element 29 preventing the return of the slider 20 and also makes it even more difficult for a child to release.

It should be understood that when the stay 10 is opened to its Figure 10 position, the friction involved in the engagement between the rod 26 and the stop 23 is such that the wedge cannot release the rod 26. Accordingly, if the user wishes to release the rod 26, the stay 10 has to be closed slightly, the wedge element 29 moved forward and then the stay 10 opened fully.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A stay as hereinbefore defined wherein the track has a stop projecting into the path of movement of the slider, the slider has a channel dimensioned to allow it to pass over the stop and a catch is mounted in the slider for movement between a first position in which it projects into the channel to engage the stop, and hence restrict movement of the slider along the track, and a second position in which it will clear the stop allowing further movement of the slider characterised in that a wedge element is slidably mounted in the track for engaging a projecting portion of catch in the first position and for hence lifting the catch to the second position.
2. A stay as claimed wherein in the catch comprises a body slidably disposed in a generally vertically extending passage in the slider, which passage debouches into the channel.
3. A stay as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the weight of the body urges it into its first position.
4. A stay as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the body includes an inclined surface for cooperating with the wedge element.
5. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including resilient means for urging the wedge element into an inoperative pointer.
6. A stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.