AU671139B2 - An improved window stay - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: WHITCO PTY LTD i GORAN FORD CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

(f 1 0* O~ *a 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Invention Title: AN IMPROVED WINDOW STAY Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PL 4656 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 0o *0 os 0 0 0* 00~ 80 0

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1 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 p.- ,ru;z~ /7 iiiiiir i ii in iii ii m 1 THIS INVENTION relates to an improved window stay and particularly a window stay which improves the ability to hold a sash window in an open position.

Window stays can be classified as devices which can mount a window to a window surround frame in such a manner that the window can be opened in a manner different to that of a sliding window.

The window can be swung or pivoted between an open and closed position and the pivot axis may be horizontal or vertical.

The window stays include a base member which is mountable to the window surround frame, a sash member which is 0 0* mountable to a sash window and further includes a number of 0eWsoe link members which are pivotally connected both to the base a member and sash member.

*oae Two common types of window stays are three-bar stays and four-bar stays. The four-bar stay is considered superior as the window can be pushed outwardly as well as moved between ;.oOO an open and closed position.

It is important that such sash windows, when in the open position, are prevented from unintentionally moving to the closed position. This is especially so with windows that pivot about a horizontal axis outwardly and upwardly *0 swinging windows).

It is known to rivet the link members to the sash member and base member in such a manner that the members are frictionally engaged together. The amount of friction engagement must be predetermined to ensure that the sash i e i I f K I L i i e i :1 3 window does not move under its weight from an open to a closed position but still allows the window to be smoothly operated without requiring undue amounts of force.

Clearly, for sash windows of different sizes and weights, it is necessary to provide window stays where the link member and the base and sash member are riveted together using various degrees of force. This is both unsatisfactory and expensive.

A further disadvantage is that on continued 10 operation of the window stay, metal-to-metal rubbing and wear and tear occurs which usually alters the degree of friction force required to operate the mechanism. Thus, over time, the e e t sash windows are no longer properly held in an open position.

Another disadvantage with existing stays is that the rivets can rotate under high load conditions. Yet a further disadvantage is that the rivets have heads which are proud of the stay which causes difficulties in closing a window.

We have now developed a window stay which can be used for a variety of different types of sashes and which will hold the sash in an open position in a smooth and efficient manner and where wear and tear and metal-to-metal contact is a minimised.

Therefore, in one form the invention resides in a window stay having a base member mountable to a window surround frame, a sash member mountable to a sash window, a link member having two ends and which is pivotally mounted adjacent one end to the base member and pivotally i: ii i:I j 1 3 I i i I ii ri i a 1 d :1;

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I k 't il, 4 mounted adj acent the other end to the sash member and being pivotally mounted through pivot pins, wherein a friction washer is located between a said base member and the link member and between the link member and a head portion of the pivot pin; the pivot pin passing through said washers, the link member *and the base member, the link member having an opening adjacent one free end extending through the member and through which the pivot pin can pass; the opening having a recessed annular shoulder portion sized to accommodate the head of the pi- vot pin and a tapered bore portion adjacent the shoulder- portion.

By having a friction washer located on each side of the link member, the link member may be pivotally connected to the base member or sash member (or both) and there is minimum direct contact or wear and tear between the various members and the sash window can be more :securely held in the open position by the friction washers and can be more smoothly moved between open and closed positions.

The use of individual washers reduces the cost of the plastic coated rivet while allowing different materials to be utilised.

Suitably, only one washer is located on each side of the link member. It is preferred that washers are provided on a pair or more of the pivot pins.

Suitably, the pivot pin comprises a rivet. The rivet has a head portion and a tail portion and can be '.compressed to pivotally secure the link member to the T 'p 4a sash member or base member as the case may be.

The rivet may include a tapered zone between the head portion and tail portion.

Suitably, the window stay is of a four-bar window stay type, although a three-bar stay can also be considered.

o a o 0 e Ro o o n 9 o o o s f i The link member may include an opening to accommodate the pivot pin and the opening is suitably countersunk or conical to accommodate a portion of the head of the pivot pin and to function to self centre the rivet. The opening may include a first portion having a planar end wall and vertical side wall. The end wall may include an opening having a converging side wall.

The base member or sash member may also be provided with an opening to accommodate the pivot pin. This opening j may be configured to prevent or resist rotation of the pivot pin. Suitably, the opening is of a non-cylindrical configuration and suitable configuration is one which may be substantially rectangular when viewed in plan.

The opening may be provided on a raised shoulder portion which may also function to provide a good mating engagement with the washer.

The friction washer may comprise plastics material and a suitable plastics material is nylon.

we The washer may be resiliently compressible such that when compressed between a link member and another member, the base member, sash member or head of the pivot pin), it may exert a force on the member. In this manner, the friction washer may maintain a good friction effect onto the member in question.

The invention will be illustrated with reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a representation of a four-bar window j a *J stay; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a pivot mounting according to the invention; Figure 3 is an assembled view of the mounting of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows details of the rivet.

Referring to the figures, and especially Figure 1, there is shown a window stay 10 comprising a base member 11 which can be mounted to a window surround frame, a sash member 12 which can be mounted to a sash window 13 and a pair of link members 14, 15 having two ends, each end of which is pivotally mounted to the base member and the sash member. In practice, a pair of window stays are provided, one on each side of the sash window.

i Referring to Figure 2, link member 14 is provided with an opening 16 adjacent one end thereof. Opening 16 is stepped and includes a planar shoulder 16A and a tapered bore 16B. Opening 16 is dimensioned to accept a pivot pin in the -o form of a rivet 17 having a head 18, tail 19 and a tapered 2Q*'o zone 19A. Head 18 and opening 16 are dimensioned such that when fitted together they form a substantially flush and neat appearance. Base member 11 is also provided with an opening which is rectangular in configuration to prevent or restrict movement of pivot pin 17 when fastened to base member 11. Opening 20 is raised from base member 11 through a raised collar portion 21 to provide a mating surface for washer 22.

Link member 14 is separated from base member 11 i through friction washer 22 which comprises a nylon annulus.

i 7 Furthermore, rivet head 18 is separated from direct metal-to-metal contact with link member 14 through friction washer 23 which is also a nylon annulus.

Friction washer 23 is dimensioned both in area and thickness to allow it to conform to the recessed or countersunk configuration of opening 16 upon insertion of pivot pin 17. This feature minimises misalignment of the rivet and washer thereby minimising metal to metal contact.

Figure 3 shown the assembled pivot arrangement. In this arrangement, the rivet is passed through the aligned apertures and then swaged over or otherwise deformed in the normal manner to securely pivotally couple link member 14 to base member 11. The pair of friction washers 22 and 23 allow smooth pivotal movement between members 14 and 11 but at the S1, same time will prevent the members from moving under their own member has an annular shoulder which extends about the upper periphery of washer 22 to prevent the washer from exhibiting too much lateral creep or deformation.

In the arrangement according the invention, there is no metal-to-metal contact between pivot pin 17, base member 11 and link member 14. This reduces wear and tear of the components. The friction washers 22, 23 are resiliently compressible and therefore will function to prevent undesired 4 movement of link member 14, even with slight variations in the length of pivot pin 17.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described n meal-o-meal ontct btwen pvot in 7, ase embr 1 tL andlik mmbr 1. hi reucs waran ter f te i L. y^

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7 8 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (11)

1. A window stay having a base member mountable to a window surround frame, a sash member mountable to a sash window, a link member having two ends and which is pivotally mounted adjacent one end to the base member and pivotally mounted adjacent the other end to the sash member and being pivotally mounted through pivot pins, wherein a friction washer is located between a said base member and the link member and between the link member and a head portion of the pivot pin; the pivot pin passing through said washers, the link member and the base member, the link member having an opening adjacent one free end extending through the member and through 15 which the pivot pin can pass; the opening having a recessed annular shoulder portion sized to accommodate the head of the pivot pin and a tapered bore portion adjacent the shoulder portion.

2. Th3 stay of Claim 1 wherein the head portion of pivot pin is adapted to sit within the shoulder position, and the pivot pin has a tapered portion below the head portion which is adapted to locate within the tapered bore portion of the opening in the link member.

3. The stay of Claim 2 wherein the friction washer located between the link member and the head portion of the pivot pin is forced into the recessed annular shoulder portion and at least partially into the tapered bore portion.

4. The stay of any one of the preceding claims 4 .4 o o a e 0 0 I 0 0 00 o o a o 0 C 6 ooo a 00b6 €ooor o B 000 0 0 0 0 0 j L. i- wherein the said member has an opening which is rectangular in cross-section and the pivot pin is deformed over the edges of the opening to prevent rotation of the pivot pin.

5. The stay of Claim 4 wherein the opening on said member is on a raised collar portion.

6. The stay of any one of the preceding claims wherein the washers are nylon.

7. A stay wherein each pivot mounting is as claimed in any one of Claims 1 6.

8. A 4-bar window stay as claimed in any of Claims 1 7.

9. A window assembly incorporating a stay as claimed in any one of Claims 1 8. 15

10. A stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. CS O Cr 1 6 MU 0 1 4 B, 4,

11 ABSTRACT A window stay has pivot joints formed with a pair of friction washers which minimise metal-ta-metal contact. ~1 '4 '1 t~ C I. C 44 C CC ~C 1. a C t~ C 4 C a'" C .bat *a &a Ct C a 4 LI Ci. a a ja t CLII, a a at t a IL C I, C 'Li, Jt-