GB2445754A

GB2445754A - Stay with catch rotatable about longitudinal axis of track

Info

Publication number: GB2445754A
Application number: GB0701172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Crawley Franklin
Original assignee: Nico Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Nico Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-22
Filing date: 2007-01-22
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-22
Also published as: GB2445754B; GB0701172D0

Abstract

A stay comprising a track (1), a slider (2) movable in the track and stay members (3, 4, 5, 6). At least one of the stay members (3, 4, 5, 6) is pivotally mounted to the slider. The stay members include a main bar (3) for attachment to a frame to be supported by the stay, and a catch member (8) rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track between a first position at which the catch (8) member is engaged to prevent the slider moving along the track and a second position at which the catch member (8) is released for movement of the slider. The catch member may be disposed within the track so as to not extend above the slider (2), beneath the base of the track (1), or beyond the sides of the track (1). The track (1) may have a channel section defining a base and sides. The catch member (8) may have a rhomboidal shaped pressing portion and be adapted to be hand-operated, preferably with a single digit.

Description

STAY

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a stay, and in particular to a stay suitable for supporting a window in a frame in such a way that the window can be opened by moving it pivotally out of the plane of the frame on the stay.

Background to the Invention

One example of an earlier stay is disclosed in GB2262308A. This stay includes a track which in use is fixed to a window frame. A first slider is mounted in the track and is movable along the track. Stay members constituted by various struts and braces are pivotally connected to each other and to the first slider. The stay members are arranged so that when the stay is closed they overlay the track and as the window is opened they pivot outward to support the window at an angle to the frame. A catch pivotally connected to the first slider lockingly engages with the track to prevent movement of the first slider along the track so that as the window is opened a second slider pivotally connected to the stay members moves along the track towards the first slider. The catch is releasable from engagement with the track to permit the first and second sliders to move along the track so that the window may be moved to a cleaning" position where both interior and exterior surfaces of the window may be more easily cleaned.

The catch of the stay disclosed in GB2262308A is biased to automatically reset the catch into locking engagement with the track as the window is closed. The catch is spring biased with respect to the slider upon which it is mounted to effect this automatic resetting. The spring bias poses some difficulty for many people, particularly the elderly since a pair of such stays are typically mounted one on each side or end of the window and the catch of both stays must be simultaneously released to allow movement of the sliders to the cleaning" position. Also, since the catch has exposed engagement surfaces there may be a problem in that a user's fingers may become pinched when releasing the catches as the first sliders must be moved along the track a short distance when releasing the catches to prevent re-engagement. Furthermore, there are manufacturing considerations associated with the spring biased catch since the catch maybe difficult to assemble and the spring may relax over time to a point where the catch no longer properly re-engages with the track during opening of the window.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved stay having a catch which overcomes, or at least alleviates, some or all of the above-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a stay comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, stay members at least one of which is pivotally mounted to the slider, the stay members including a main bar for attachment to a frame to be supported by the stay, and a catch member rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track between a first position at which the catch member is engaged to prevent the slider moving along the track and a second position at which the catch member is released for movement of the slider.

The inventors have found that by disposing the catch member rotatable about the axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track it is unnecessary to bias the catch member to the engaged, first position. Whereas the catch of the stay described in GB2262308A must be biased to engage with the track, the catch member of the stay of the present invention can be adapted to be stable in both the engaged and released positions. In this manner, it becomes possible to disengage the catch member without simultaneously moving the slider along the track, unlike the catch described in G82262308A. A user can disengage the catch of the stay on one side or end of a window before disengaging the catch on the other side or end of a window to move the stay to the "cleaning" position. Subsequently the user can re-engage the catch of one of the stays before re-engaging the catch of the other of the stays to return the stays to "normal" opening and closing operation. Since the catch member is not spring biased to the engaged position there is a substantially reduced possibility of the user's fingers being pinched during operation of the catch member. Furthermore, operation of the stay is less likely to degrade over time since no spring is required for the catch member.

In a preferred embodiment a cut-out is formed in only one side of the track with which the catch member engages. This ensures proper engagement of the catch member with the track within the confines of the track such that fitting and operation of the stay

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is in no way impaired. In an alternative embodiment a cut-out or protrusion may be formed in a base of the track with which the catch member can releasably engage.

Of course, similar to the catch member described in GB2262308A, the catch member is adapted to be hand operated without tools, preferably using a single digit. In a preferred embodiment the catch member has a pressing portion having a substantially truncated rhomboidal, or lozenge", shape wherein lower faces of the pressing portion lie substantially flush with a base of the track in the first and second positions, respectively. Such a shape provides a user with readily accessible upper pressing faces with may be marked lock" and unlock", respectively for ease of operation. The lower faces of the pressing portion may be provided substantially parallel with the upper pressing faces.

In the preferred embodiment the catch member is rotatably supported by the slider wherein the catch member has an axle portion received in an aperture of the slider such that the axle portion is captured between the slider and the track. This provides for ease of manufacture with minimal parts whilst maintaining ease of use for the user.

Preferably, a second slider is provided having at least one of the stay members pivotally mounted thereto and movable along the track during opening of the stay, wherein the slider and the second slider abut when the stay is in a fully open position.

The slider and the second slider may be movable along the track in tandem when the catch member is released. The second slider may be provided either towards a "nose" end of the track, whereat one end of the main bar is received in a nose piece of the stay, or the second slider may be provided at a distal end of the track opposite the nose end.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a stay; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stay of Figure 1 in a partially open position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stay of Figure 1 in a cleaning position; Figure 4 is a part perspective view of the underside of the stay of Figure 1 having the track removed; Figure 5 is a exploded perspective view of the slider and catch of the stay; Figure 6 is a section view taken along line A-A of Figure 1 of the stay having the catch in the locked position; Figure 7 is a section view of the stay having the catch in the unlocked position; Figure 8 is a section view of a second embodiment of the stay having the catch in the locked position; Figure 9 is a section view of the second embodiment of the stay having the catch in the unlocked position; Figure 10 is a section view of a third embodiment of the stay having the catch in the locked position; and, Figure 11 is a section view of the third embodiment of the stay having the catch in the unlocked position.

Detailed Description

A friction stay includes a track 1, a slider 2 mounted in the track I and pivotally connected stay members 3,4,5,6. The stay members are arranged in a conventional manner with forward links 4,5 pivotally mounted on the slider 2, a rear link 6 pivotally connected to a second slider 7 mounted in the track 1, and a main bar 3 pivotally connected to the ends of forward and rear links 4,6 at the ends away from the track 1.

The stay is arranged so that in a closed position the main bar 3 overlies the track I and as the stay is opened the slider 7 moves along the track 1 so that the stay members 4,6 are configured to support the main bar 3 at an angle to the track 1.

The stay includes a catch member 8, which in a locked position engages with a cut-out 9 formed in one side of the track I to prevent movement of the slider 2 along the track I during opening of the stay.

Figure 2 illustrates the stay in a partially open position. The catch member 8 is shown in the locked position engaged with the cut-out 9 formed in the side of the track 1.

During opening of the stay the slider 2 remains fixed with respect to the track 1 whilst the slider 7 moves from adjacent abutment 10 fixed to a distal end of the track 1 towards the slider 2 having the catch member 8. Closing of the stay causes the slider 7 to move rearwardly towards the distal end of the track up to abutment 10.

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The first slider 2 is fixed in relation to the track 1 by engagement of the catch 8 during normal operation of the stay such that the main bar 3 moves between the open and closed positions. However, when the stay is positioned between the partially and fully open positions a user can gain access to the catch member 8 and move this to the unlocked position to release the catch member 8 from engagement with the track 1 The first slider 2 may then be moved rearwardly along the track I to abut the second slider 7 until the second slider 7 abuts the abutment 10 which limits movement of the second slider 7 along the track 1. In this position a window fixed to the main bar 3 lies substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the track 1 at substantially a mid-point along the length of the track 1 as shown in figure 3. In this cleaning position both interior and exterior surfaces of the window may be easily cleaned. Following a cleaning operation the first and second sliders 2,7 may be slid in tandem along the track 1 towards a nose end of the stay, opposite the distal end, until the first slider 2 is positioned such that the catch member 8 may be rocked to the locked position wherein the catch member 8 enters the recess formed by the cut-out 9 in the side of the track 1 to prevent movement of the first slider 2 rearwardly along the track 1. An abutment 11 provides a stop at the nose end of the track I to limit forward travel of the first slider 2. Upon re-engagement of the catch member 8 with the track I closing of the stay causes the second slider 7 to move rearwardly along the track 1 towards the abutment 10 at the distal end of the stay.

The catch member 8 is rotatably supported by the first slider 2, as shown in Figure 4.

The catch member 8 is shown in detail in Figure 5. The catch member 8 comprises a pressing portion 12 having a substantially truncated rhomboidal, or lozenge, shape.

Upper faces of the pressing portion 12, that is those facing away from the base of the track 1, are marked "LOCK" and "UNLOCK", respectively. Lower faces of the pressing portion 12 lie substantially co-planar with the upper faces such that the lower faces lie substantially flush with the base of the track 1 in the engaged first and released second positions, respectively. The catch member 8 has an axial portion 13 received in an aperture 14 of the first slider 2. A stop 15 engages with a recess 16 of the first slider 2 to prevent longitudinal movement of the catch member 8 with respect to the first slider 2. The catch member 8 is therefore held captive between the first slider 2 and the track I but is rotatable between the locked and unlocked positions. S 6

The first and second sliders 2,7 and the catch member 8 may be formed of plastics material whereas the stay members 3,4,5,6, the track 1 and the abutments 10,11 are formed of metal. Of course, any suitable materials may be used for the stay components.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the catch member 8 is rotatably supported by the first slider 2 for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track 1. In the preferred embodiment the catch member 8 is disposed within the confines of the track I and does not extend either above the first slider 2, beneath the track 1 or to either side of the track 1. This facilitates ease of manufacture and fitting of the stay. The pressing portion 12 of the catch member 8 is readily accessible by a user such that the user may apply a force to the pressing portion 12 to rock the catch member 8 between the locked and unlocked positions using a single finger or thumb and certainly without the need for tools such as screwdrivers and the like. Since the catch member 8 is not biased to either the locked or unlocked positions there is no need for the user to simultaneously unlock the catch member 8 whilst also moving the first slider 2 along the track I to ensure the catch member 8 does not re-engage with the cut-out 9 formed in the track 1. The catch member 8 is instead neutrally stable in either the locked or unlocked positions such that the user may unlock the catch member of the stay located on each side, or ends, of the window independently before moving the window to the cleaning position. This ensures that a user's fingers do not become pinched in the stay when releasing the catch member 8. Also, since the catch member B is neutrally stable the present invention overcomes the problems in the prior art of wear of sprung biased catch members and the catch member 8 in accordance with the invention can be expected to operate consistently well dunng its lifetime.

Whilst the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to a catch member 8 engaging with a cut-out 9 formed in one side of the track, as best illustrated in the section views of Figures 6 and 7, other catch constructions are envisaged.

In a second embodiment the stay includes a catch member 8a that engages with a protrusion 17 formed in the base of the track 1 in a locked position as shown in Figure 8. The protrusion may be, for example, a detent punched in the track 1 as shown in Figure 8 but other types and forms of protrusion are anticipated, such as an upstanding rod-like member. The side of the track I has no cut-out 9 in this embodiment. The catch member 8a has a cut-away portion 18, when compared with the catch member 8, such that the catch member 8a does not interfere with the sides of the track I in either the locked or unlocked positions, the unlocked position being shown in Figure 9. However, the protrusion 17 may be provided also in the stay of the preferred embodiment above such that the catch member 8 engages with both the cut-out 9 and the protrusion 17 for greater locking stability.

In a third embodiment the stay includes a catch member 8b that engages with a cut-out 19 formed in the base of the track 1, as shown in Figure 10. The catch member 8b has an engagement lug 20 that enters the cut-out 19 in the locked position. The side of the track 1 has no cut-out 9 in this embodiment. The catch member 8b has a cut-away portion 18, when compared with the catch member 8, such that the catch member 8b does not interfere with the sides of the track 1 in either the locked or unlocked positions, the unlocked position being shown in Figure 11. However, the cut-out 19 and the engagement lug 20 may be provided also in the stay of the preferred embodiment above such that the catch member 8 engages with both the cut-out 9 and the cut-out 19 for greater locking stability.

Whilst in the embodiments shown and described above the catch member 8, 8a, 8b is disposed on the forward first slider 2, it could equally be disposed on the second slider 7 where an appropriate corresponding cut-out or protrusion is formed in the track 1 towards the distal end of the stay. In such a configuration, the first slider 2 would move during normal operation of the stay between open and closed positions and release of the catch member of the second slider 7 would allow movement of the first and second sliders 2, 7. In this alternative configuration it may be necessary to provide an extension portion on the second slider 7 rather than on the first slider 2 between the catch member 8, 8a, 8b and the pivotal connection positions to the stay members.

Claims

1. A stay comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, stay members at least one of which is pivotally mounted to the slider, the stay members including a main bar for attachment to a frame to be supported by the stay, and a catch member rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track between a first position at which the catch member is engaged to prevent the slider moving along the track and a second position at which the catch member is released for movement of the slider.

2. A stay according to claim 1, wherein the catch member is adapted to operably engage with a cut-out or protrusion formed in the track.

3. A stay according to claim 2, wherein the cut-out or protrusion is formed in only one side of the track.

4. A stay according to claim 2, wherein the cut-out or protrusion is formed in a base of the track.

5. A stay according to any preceding claim, wherein the catch member is adapted to be hand-operated without tools, preferably using a single digit.

6. A stay according to claim 5, wherein the catch member has a pressing portion.

7. A stay according to claim 6, wherein the pressing portion has a substantially truncated rhomboidal shape.

8. A stay according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein faces of the pressing portion lie substantially flush with a base of the track in the first and second positions, respectively.

9. A stay according to any preceding claim, wherein the catch member is rotatably supported by the slider.

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10. A stay according to claim 9, wherein the catch member has an axle portion received in an aperture of the slider.

11. A stay according to claim 10, wherein the axle portion is captured between the slider and the track.

12. A stay according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second slider having at least one of the stay members pivotally mounted thereto and movable along the track during opening of the stay.

13. A stay according to claim 12, wherein the slider and the second slider abut when the stay is in a fully open position.

14. A stay according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the slider and the second slider are movable along the track in tandem when the catch member is released.

15. A stay substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * S.. * . *S.S * . a

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15. A stay substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. iO

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A stay comprising a track having a channel section defining a base and sides, a slider disposed within and movable along the channel section track, stay members at least one of which is pivotally mounted to the slider, the stay members including a main bar for attachment to a frame to be supported by the stay, and a catch member rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track between a first position at which the catch member is engaged to prevent the slider moving along the track and a second position at which the catch member is released for movement of the slider, wherein the catch member is disposed within the track so as to not extend above the slider, beneath the base of the track, or beyond the sides of the track.

3. A stay according to claim 2, wherein the cut-out or protrusion is formed in only one of the sides of the track.

4. A stay according to claim 2, wherein the cut-out or protrusion is formed in the base of the track.

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7. A stay according to claim 6, wherein the pressing portion has a rhomboidal *...

shape. * *

8. A stay according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein faces of the pressing portion lie substantially flush with the base of the track in the first and second positions, S.....

respectively.

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