EP0020523A1

EP0020523A1 - Improvements relating to skylights or hatches

Info

Publication number: EP0020523A1
Application number: EP19790901390
Authority: EP
Inventors: Harold Norman Pantlin; Denis Haley
Original assignee: Camper & Nicholsons Marine Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Camper & Nicholsons Marine Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1978-11-02
Filing date: 1980-05-20
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: WO1980000987A1

Abstract

Des claires-voies ou ecoutilles destinees essentiellement aux bateaux comprennent un mecanisme d'arret permettant aux panneaux d'ecoutilles d'etre ouverts, fermes et places dans des positions intermediaires en utilisant seulement une main. Le mecanisme d'arret (25) possede une barre d'arret (26) et un chemin de guidage coule par injection, a section en forme de boite (27), dans lequel est maintenue une extremite coulissante (29) d'une barre (26). Le chemin (27) presente des obstructions espacees p.ex. des nervures (45) situees a certains intervalles sur sa longueur qui font obstacle au mouvement libre de la barre d'arret (26) de maniere a maintenir la claire-voie ou l'ecoutille dans des positions ouvertes choisies. Des fentes (46) amenagees dans le chemin adjacentes aux nervures (45) permettent au chemin de flechir momentanement de maniere a permettre le passage force de l'extremite de la barre d'arret sur les nervures pendant les mouvements d'ouverture et de fermeture. D'autres modes de realisation se caracterisent par des chemins rigides et des extremites de barre d'arret repliables pour passer sur les obstructions du chemin. Dans certains modes de realisation, les chemins et les extremites de la barre d'arret peuvent etre montes en frottement avec un assemblage serre.Skylights or hatches intended primarily for boats include a stop mechanism allowing hatch covers to be opened, closed and placed in intermediate positions using only one hand. The stop mechanism (25) has a stop bar (26) and a guide run cast by injection, with a box-shaped section (27), in which a sliding end (29) of a bar is maintained. (26). The path (27) has space obstructions, eg ribs (45) located at certain intervals along its length which obstruct the free movement of the stop bar (26) so as to maintain the skylight or the hatch in selected open positions. Slots (46) in the path adjacent to the ribs (45) allow the path to flex momentarily to allow forced passage of the end of the stop bar over the ribs during the opening and closing movements. . Other embodiments are characterized by rigid paths and folding bar ends to pass over the obstructions of the path. In certain embodiments, the paths and the ends of the stop bar can be mounted in friction with a tight assembly.

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SKYLIGHTS OR HATCHES".

TECHNICAL FIELD.

The present invention concerns improvements relating to skylights or hatches, more particularly but not exclusively for boats, and to stay mechanisms therefor. BACKGROUND.

Skylights or hatches of the type to which the invention relates include a hingedly-connected base frame and cover, and a stay mechanism for holding the cover in selected partially open positions. Means for latching the cover in a closed position is included and in this position the skylight or hatch is sealed against ingress of water. In the case of a skylight, the cover is a glazed frame.

Several kinds of stay mechanism are known. One stay mechanism employs a telescopic tubular barwhich is extensible and collapsible, and which has its opposite ends pivoted to adjacent sides of the base frame and cover respectively. To secure the cover in a selected open position, the telescopic bar has a screw clamp manually operable by means of a knob integral therewith. For opening the cover fully (through 180° approximately), it is ordinarily necessary to uncouple the two halves of the telescopic bar. The need to recouple the two halves subsequently is obviously inconvenient.

Another stay mechanism has rαx inextensible bar pivoted at one end to the cover aid at the σiher end to a slide. The slide is movable along a slide bar affixed along a side of the base frame. A screw clamp similar to the clamp just described and for the same purpose is provided to clamp the slide in a set position along the slide bar. Instead of a screw clamp, a spring- loaded plunger operable by a knob can be used, the slide bar then having a multiplicity of openings to receive the plunger and hold the cover in a set open position. This alternative construction is more costly than a screw clamp and more susceptible to failure.

The operating knobs of such stay mechanisms form undesirable projections upon which clothing or sails can quite easily catch and tear. The. mechanisms are generally simple if slow to operate. Two hands may be needed: one to hold the cover and the other to secure the stay mechanism. This inconvenience is aggravated if two stay mechanisms are involved as often is the case with a large, heavy skylight or hatch.

In use, the cover may have been set in a slightly open position for ventilating purposes when someone on deck wishes to open the cover fully. However, he may be prevented from reaching the clamp knob if the cover is only just ajar. He then needs assistance from below or must go below himself to release the clamp. Clearly, this can oftentimes be very inconvenient. THE INVENTION.

An object of the present invention is to devise stay mechanisms which avoid the disadvantages of the prior arrangements mentioned above and which can be substantially more convenient to use.

Another object of the invention is to devise stay mechanisms which avoid the disadvantages of the prior arrangements mentioned above and which can be substantially more convenient to use. Another object of the invention is to devise stay mechanisms that can be manufactured inexpensively e.g. from plastics material.

According to the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a pair of hingedly-connected members and a stay mechanism for staying the members in set relative positions, the mechanism comprising a stay bar captivated to and movable along a track which has at spaced locations therealong means engageable or interlockable with a termination of the stay bar for locating the members in the set positions, either the termination or the track being yieldable thereby allowing the termination to be forcibly disengaged from or forced past the said means to enable the termination to be moved along the track. The invention also provides an assembly comprising a pair of hingedly-connected members and a stay mechanism for staying the members in set relative positions, the mechanism comprising a stay bar captivated to and forcibly movable against frictional resistance along a track, the stay bar having a termination frictionally engaging the track and thereby preventing inadvertent movement between stay bar and track, either the track or the termination being yieldable to permit the termination to be forced along the track when the relative position of the said members is to be changed.

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. IN THE DRAWINGS. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in section of a hatch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the hatch in an open setting;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of part of a hatch stay mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the stay mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the mechanism, seen along the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a transverse cross section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross section on the line VII-VII of Figs. 4 and 5; Figs.8 and 9 are cross sections through the stay mechanism forming a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary part-sectional illustration of a portion of a third stay mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 11 is a view of the stay mechanism shown in Fig. 10, taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary part-sectional illustration of a fourth stay mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 13 is a view of the last stay mechanism taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a cut-away view of a third stay mechanism according to the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

The illustrated hatch or skylight 10 is made substantially wholly from plastics materials and is square or rectangular. It has a base frame 11 adapted to be screwed or bolted around an opening 12 in the deck 13 of a boat. The frame 11 has lugs 14 on one side and a hatch cover 16 is pivoted thereto. The cover 16 can therefore be swung open about the hinge axis 18 through the pivots from the closed position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows the skylight 10 with its cover 16 in one of several open positions to which it can be set. Cover 16 is glazed with a sheet 19 of plastics material such as Perspex (R.T.M.) or glass toughened as appropriate.

The skylight 10 is furnished with securing means, not shown, normally located at the side furthest from the hinge axis 18, for securing the cover closed. The said means can comprise a catch handle pivoted to the cover 16 cooperable with a lip on the base frame 11, and generally similar to a conventional casement catch. When the cover is secured in its closed position the skylight is rendered watertight by sealing means (not shown), compressed between the cover 16 and base frame 11.

If the said securing means is released, the cover 16 can be pushed open from,below decks, or pulled open from upon deck with the aid of a fingergrip 21. The cover can be propped open in several selected positions and can moreover be fully opened by swinging through 180° or thereabouts about hinge axis 18. By way of example, the cover can be propped open in settings wherein the angle between it and the base frame 11 is 30°, 45°, 100° or 135°.

The cover is propped open by a stay mechanism 25. Mechanism 25 is of such a construction that thecover can be stayed in any of the part-open settings, as well as moved from one setting to another, merely by swinging the cover about the axis 18. The operation is one-handed and no clamping devices have to be manipulated.

The mechanism 25 is located at one side of the skylight which extends between the sides furnished with the pivots and the securing means. The mechanism

25 may be duplicated at the opposite side of the skylight. A stay bar 26 and a track 27 comprise mechanism 25. The stay bar 26 is pivoted at one end to a lug 28 integral with the cover 16; its other end is captivated in the track which forms a part of the base frame 11. The track and stay bar could in principle be secured respectively to the cover and the base frame.

The construction of the stay mechanism 25 is clearly visible in Figs. 3 to 7 to which reference is now made. The stay bar 26 has an end portion 29 which is received in a track slot between spaced apart webs of the track 27. The end portion 29 is free to move along the track 27 for most of the length thereof. However, its freedom of movement is fettered at intervals by encroachments which restrict the width of the gap 30 between the webs which form the track slot. Air these encroachments, the width is smaller than the end portion 29. The encroachments are located at fixed positions determined by the cover-to-base frame angles which it is desired the cover should adopt when open. Cooperation between the end portion 29 and the encroachments serves to hold or prop the cover in an open setting. The track is made sufficiently flexible in the region of the encroachments for the end portion 29 to be forced past them to enable the cover position to be varied.

In this preferred embodiment, the end portion 29 of the stay bar 26 has two oppositely-extending cylindrical projections and is T-shaped. The track 27 here comprises two injection moulded plastics material rails 31, 32 e.g. of nylon which are mirror images of one another. Each rail is approximately U-shaped in cross-section and has a base web 33, a confronting top web 34 and an upstanding interconnecting web 36. The base webs 33 abut at 37 and are longer than webs 34 which are spaced apart by a gap 38 wider than stem 40 of the end portion.

The track formed by the rails 31, 32 has an internal transverse dimension between the confronting faces 36 not smaller than the distance between the ends of the projections 41 of the T-shaped portion 29. The gap or track slot 30 is at least as wide as the diameter of the projections 41 for most of its length. To avoid sloppiness, the end portion 29 may make light contact with the confronting surfaces of webs 33, 34 and webs 36. At spaced locations along the track the rails feature the aforesaid encroachments. There are four such locations in this example, only three being visible in Figs. 4 and 5. They are so positioned as to enable the opened cover 16 to be stayed at the angles noted hereinbefore. The encroachments consist of transversely-aligned ribs 45 on webs 33, 34. The ribs 45 on webs 33 project upwardly toward ribs 46 depending from webs 34. As shown, at each of the four locations each web has two adjacent ribs. As can be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the ribs 45 are V-shaped but other shapes e.g. part-cylindrical may be contemplated. The space between the apices of confronting ribs 45 is smaller than the diameter of projections 41. Despite this, it is possible for the projections to be forced past the encroachments, the track having been adapted to facilitate their passage past the encroachments.

The adaptation in question allows the confronting webs 33, 34 momentarily to flex and spread apart to. increase the space between the apices of the ribs 45. Flexure is attained by reducing the rigidity of rails 31 , 32 by means of elongated slots 46 in their webs 36 in the vicinity of the encroachments.

At corresponding intervals along their lengths the rails 31, 32 have semi-circular notches and concentric tapering recesses which define a series of countersunk openings 48. Through these openings 48 the rails can be secured with screws or rivets to a recessed flange 50 formed in the side 51 of the base frame 11. The flange 50 has an upstanding lip 52 and the two abutting rails are held snugly between this lip and an upstanding wall 53 of the side 51. Coinciding with each set of encroachments is a hollow 55 formed in the flange 50. The shape of each hollow is basically immaterial. If of arcuate shape as shown, its greatest depth should preferably be directly beneath the encroachments 45. In operation, suppose the skylight 10 has its cover in the closed position with the securing means released. The T-shaped end portion 29 of the stay bar 26 is assumed to be in the right hand end of the track 25 viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. Upon gently pushing the cover 16 upwards from below, or gently pulling it upwards from on deck, the end portion 29 will slide along the track until it encounters the first, right hand set of encroachments. The encroachments will resist movement of the end portion but the latter can be forced past them, i.e. the first two aligned ribs 45, into the space between them and the next adjacent pair of aligned ribs. Passage of the end portion past the first ribs 45 is accompanied by momentary flexing of the webs 33, 34 which are displaced apart from one another. Displacement of web 34 is shown diagram-matically by the dotted line 58 and adjacent arrow. Displacement of web 33 in the opposite direction is permitted thanks to the hollow 55 in flange 50. Owing to inherent resilience of the rails 31, 32 they snap back to their original unflexed conditions once the end portion passes the first ribs 45. When the end portion 29 is located between the adjacent pairs of ribs, the cover 16 can safely be released, for it is then securely stayed in the first open position (30°). By pushing or pulling upwardly on the cover 16, the end portion 29 can be caused to ride past the second set of ribs 45 until it encounters another set of encroachments by means of which the cover can be stayed in a wider open. setting. The cover 16 can be fully opened by causing the end portion to pass the encroachments near the left hand end of the track. The end portion is in the end of the track when the skylight is opened through 180°. It will be realised that in practice, the user can swing the cover to any desired open setting without deliberately or inadvertently pausing at intermediate opening settings.

Merely by pushing or pulling down on the cover 16, a closing of the skylight is attained. Passage of the end portion 29 past the encroachments is again accompanied by flexure of the webs 33, 34.

Both opening and closing is possible entirely by one hand. The stay mechanism has been designed to rationalise manufacture of skylights of different sizes which will require stay bars 26 and tracks 27 of different lengths. Conveniently, the stay bar comprises a plurality of interconnected sections. For instance, it can feature moulded plastics curved end sections interconnected by a tube of length suiting the desired skylight size. Manufacture of the rails 31, 32 is straightforward since they are identical. Injection moulding tooling can be in three serially interconnected parts, the end parts being identical for skylights of different sizes and the middle part being of lengths suiting the different skylights. Each identical end section can produce a track portion including three screw-attachment points 48, two sets of encroachments 45 and two slots 46. The middle section is moulded without encroachments. Each rail will therefore enable the cover 16 to be propped open in four partly-open settings.

The stay mechanism can be modified in various ways of which the following are merely exemplary.

Local flexure could be obtained by having the webs 33, 34 thinner adjacent the encroachments 45 than elsewhere, instead of providing slots 36.

The encroachments could be provided on webs 33 or 34 alone. Passage of end portion 29 past the encroachments could be achieved if only webs 34 flexed, in which case the hollows 55 could be omitted.

Encroachments could be arranged to coact with stem 40 rather than projections 41, in which case the latter merely serve to render end portion 29 captive to the track. To coact with the stem, encroachments formed by ribs on the confronting web edges 60 replace the illustrated ribs, the ribs then restricting the width of the track slot formed by gap 38. With this arrangement, special adaptation of the rails to promote flexure may be unnecessary, depending upon the inherent resilience of the rails. Such additional flexibility as may be considered desirable could be attained by slots in webs 34 adjacent the ribs. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the said locations has pairs of ribs between which projections 41 can reside. In some instances, it may suffice to provide only one rib, for example, at the two locations at the right hand end of the track 27. Once the projections 41 have been moved to the left past either of their (single) ribs, the weight of the cover 16 acting on the stay bar 26 will keep the end portion 29 pressed against the appropriate rib. The latter prevents the cover dropping closed.

If desired, one rail could be omitted. For instance, referring to Fig. 3, rail 31 could be dispense with, the end portion 29 of a suitably-adapted stay bar being slidable in a gap between rail 32 and the confronting wall 53. The stay bar need have only one projection in this case, and hence its end portion 29 may be L-shaped. As in the alternative construction just described, the encroachments could coact with the stem 40 in which case they will be ribs on edge 60 indicated in Fig. 3. The track and stay bar are preferably made wholly or in part from plastics materials, but if desired they could be fabricated from metals.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In this embodiment, adjustability of the stay mechanism is continuously variable. Track 100 is again composed of two abutting generally U-shaped sections 101 and 102 which are mirror images of one another, sections 101 and 102 being once more resiliently flexible or yieldable. Track 100 affords a track slot 104 to accommodate the T-shaped end of stay bar 105 and a longitudinally-extending gap 106 affords clearance for stem 108 of the stay bar. The transverse portion 109 of the stay bar tapers outwardly of the stem towards its remote ends, e.g. at 5° to a central axis through the portion 109.

The sections 101 and 102 are so made that smooth, upwardly-facing surfaces of webs 110 incline upwardly from the central (mirror) plane of the track. The inclination is such as to substantially match the tapered form of stay bar portion 109. The opposite, downwardly-facing surfaces of webs 112 are smooth and co-planar, however, and the track 100 has no localised encroachments. Measured vertically, the track slot 104 is smaller than the transverse portion 109. Nevertheless, it is possible to force the said portion 109 into and along the track, thanks to the yieldability thereof.

Wherever it is located along the track, the transverse portion 109 locally causes the track to distort or yield. This is shown in Fig. 9 which shows that webs 112 have to be upwardly deflected by portion 109.

The arrangement of the parts is such that friction between the transverse portion 109 and the confronting surfaces of webs 110, 112 serves to hold the stay bar (and hence an associated hatch cover or equivalent) in a set position anywhere along the length of the track. By applying sufficient force to the stay bar 105, the frictional resistance to movement can be overcome. Portion 109 can then be shifted along the track slot 104, the track yielding to allow the webs 112 to deflect upwardly as the portion 109 moves along.

It will be realised that when the hatch cover or equivalent is nearly closed or almost fully open, the weight thereof has a greater tendency to push or pull the stay bar portion 109 along the slot 104 than when the cover is near its half-open (90°) position. The frictional resistance to movement must be adequate to cope with this tendency. It may be desirable for the track slot 104, measured vertically, to be narrower at its ends than at its middle. The slot could have a progressively-changing vertical dimension to providea progressively increasing interference with the transverse portion 109 as the latter is moved away from the middle of the track.

Trial and error will reveal how deep slot 104 must be relative to portion 109 for adequate frictional resistance, as well as how thick webs 102 need to be for adequate flexibility. If desired, the upstanding side walls of sections 101, 102 could be so dimensioned as to provide for or assist deflection of webs 102. Moreover, greater or lesser frictional resistance is attainable by varying the transverse portion 109.

In the foregoing embodiments, the respectiv tracks or rails are yieldable. Rigid rails could be employed instead, if the stay bar termination were collapsibly yieldable. Embodiments having rigid rails and collapsible terminations will now be described. In the first of these embodiments, see Figs. 10 and 11, the stay bar 26' has a termination 29' received in a track slot between spaced apart webs of a rigid plastics track 27'. The termination 29' is free to move along the track 27' for most of the length thereof.

However, as in the first described embodiment, its freedom of movement is fettered at intervals by encroachments which restrict the width of the gap between the webs forming the track slot, and which enable the hatch cover to be propped open in predetermined open positions. The termination 29' is made sufficiently yieldable or flexible for it to be forced past the encroachments to enable the cover position to be varied.

The stay bar 26' is L-shaped and its termination 29' is movable between longitudinally-extending, parallel webs 130, 131 of the track 27 . The webs project from a track base portion 132 which is attachable to the frame 11 in any convenient manner. The webs 130, 131 have inturned flanges 133,.134 remote from the base portion 132, the flanges having confronting edges 135, 136 defining a longitudinally-extending clearance gap for stay bar end 137. The gap is smaller than the termination 29' which is fast to the stay bar end 137, so that the termination 29' and stay bar 26' are captivated to the track.

The termination 29' is a resilient radially-yieldable roller journalled on an axle formed by stay bar end 137. The roller is secured to the axle between abutments 138 of any convenient form such as circlips received in grooves in the axle.

The resilient, radially-yieldable roller can be formed of a deformable, natural or synthetic elastomeric material. It could, however, be formed of a material such as nylon. If necessary to achieve adequate yieldability, the roller can incorporate a plurality of passages 140 e.g. centred on a circle concentric with the roller as shown in Fig. 11. The passages extend axially wholly or partway across the roller. The passages can be cylindrical bores, but other shapes are possible. Thus, the. passages can be sector shaped, as indicated at 142 in Fig. 11. Yieldability is achieved thanks to flexure of the thin intervening webs 143.

The encroachments can take any convenient form. For example, if the track 27' is made from moulded plastics material, the encroachments could be moulded inwardly-projecting ribs. As shown here, however, the encroachments consist of pins 145 received in arcuate recesses 146 formed in internal surface 147 of web 130, part of each pin depending below said internal surface to be contacted by the periphery of the roller termination 29'. The ends of the pins 145 enter holes in the base portion 132 and in the flange 133, and as shown the pins constitute the shanks of rivets.

If desired, the pins 145 could be the shanks of bolts which might be used to secure track 27' to the frame 11.

The encroachments could instead project above web 131, and encroachments associated with both webs 130 and 131 could be provided if desired.

In use, the roller can move freely until it encounters an encroachment. If sufficient force is applied indirectly to the roller via the hatch cover 16 and stay bar 26', the roller can be forced past the encroachment, the roller being deformed and partially collapsed temporarily in so doing. As in the first-described embodiment, it is preferred to arrange the encroachments in adjacent pairs so that it is possible for the roller to lodge between them as shown in Fig. 11. When so positioned, the stay bar will effectively hold the hatch cover 16 positively against inadvertent displacement in both opening and closing directions. If such a level of security against displacement is unimportant, then the encroachments need not be paired.

Also, for a hatch having a slightly-open or ventilating setting, a single encroachment may be provided adjacent one end of the track 27' . After opening the hatch slightly, and having forced the roller past the encroachment, the cover can then be released, leaving the roller held abutting the encroachment by the weight of the slightly open cover, the encroachment preventing the cover dropping shut of its own accord.

The next illustrated embodiment, Figs. 12 and 13, has a stay bar ending in a T-shaped configuration. It will be realised that the last described embodiment could be modified if required to possess such a configuration. The bar 26" has a transverse bar portion 150 mounting a pair of resilient, collapsibly-yieldable terminations 151 slidable along the track 27" which again is of a channel section. In this case, the track 27" is composed of two mating portions 153, 154 e.g. moulded from plastics material. Each track portion has two parallel, spaced-apart webs 156, 157 interconnected by a third web 158, and is generally U-shaped. Webs 157 abut one another along the length of the track when mounted on the frame 11. Webs 156, however, are narrower than webs 157 and their confronting edges 160 are spaced apart to define a longitudinally-extending gap affording clearance for the stay bar stem 161. At spaced locations along the track 27",

.determined by the desired opening angles, the webs 156 are recessed, in this case by V-shaped notches 162. These notches coact with the terminations 151 to retain the stay bar in set positions, and thereby to secure the hatch cover in predetermined open settings. The terminations are resiliently yieldable and are made for instance from nylon. Each member has an upper and lower surface for sliding contact with the webs 156, 157, and its upper surface has a V-shaped projection 164 capable of interfitting with the notches 162. Inwardly of the projection there may be an opening 165 to permit the member partially to collapse. Broadly speaking, the shape of the opening 165 is immaterial; by way of example it is illustrated as an elongated slot. Depending upon the inherent yieldability of the material from which members 151 are made, it may be possible to dispense with the openings 165.

In use, the members 151 secure the hatch cover in the set positions when their projections 164 are received in the notches 162. The members are then in a relaxed condition. To move the hatch cover from a set position, the projections 164 of the members 151 have to be dislodged from the notches 162. This requiresthe members to yield and collapse inwardly upon themselves. Collapsing is facilitated by a wedging action developed between the V-shaped notches 162 and projections 164 when sufficient force lengthwise of the track is exerted on the members. The members 151 remain in their collapsed state -seen at the left of Fig. 6 - whenever their projections 164 are out of registry with the notches.

Clearly, the web 157 could be notched instead of web 156, and indeed both webs could be notched, the member 151, then having projections on both its upper and lower surfaces. If desired, the embodiment just described could have an L-shaped stay bar end similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11; it would then possess but one termination 151. The track would then have a shape generally similar to the track 27' . The further embodiment, unlike the previous embodiments, has both the stay bar and the track pivoted to the hingedly-connected hatch members 11 and 16. In this embodiment, shown in Fig. 14, the stay mechanism is of telescoping construction. The track member is a tube 170 having a lug

171 at one end for pivotal attachment to one of the hingedly-connected hatch members. At its other end, the tube 170 has a centrally apertured bearing member 172. The stay bar 173 enters the tube through the bearing member 172. Located between the fixed abutments 174, e.g. circlips, adjacent its inner end 175, stay bar 173 has an enlarged, generally cylindrical termination 177. The termination is made from resilient, radially-yieldable material, and has an o.d. approximately equal to the i.d. of the tube.

At spaced locations along its length, the tube 170 has encroachments which restrict its i.d. The encroachments 178 are in the form of circumferential rolled indentations, but could take other forms. The positions of the encroachments are once again governed by the desired staying angles.

The termination 177 is peripherally grooved, its groove 179 having a contour matching that of the encroachment. It will be realised that the stay bar can be slid easily along the tube until its termination 177 engages an encroachment 178. Thanks to its yieldability, the termination can be forced into the illustrated position in which the groove 179 and encroachment 178 interfit to secure the stay bar in one of the preset staying positions. Again, thanks to its yieldability, the termination can be forced out of engagement with the encroachment.

The termination could be of laminar construction, and have a middle section sandwiched between opposite end sections which is more compliant than the latter sections. There would be no need for such a termination to be grooved. When the middle section is engaged with one of the encroachments, the less compliant end sections disposed one to either side of the encroachment will resist inadvertent movement of the termination lengthwise of the track.

Instead of the encircling encroachment 178, the tube could have an encircling groove formation formed e.g. by rolling an outwardly-projecting rib in the tube wall. The termination 177 will then feature an encircling, outwardly-projecting rib capable of entering the groove formation of the tube.

It will be appreciated that any of the stay mechanisms herein described could be used wherever it is required to position hingedly-connected members in set positions. They could thus be used to stay windows and doors, e.g. top-hung cupboard doors, the doors of vehicles and bonnet and boot lids as well as skylights or hatches.

A further embodiment of the invention is continuously variable so that the hingedly-connected parts can be stayed in any partially-open setting. This embodiment, which is akin to the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9, can utilise a channel-sectioned or tubular track member which does not feature any encroachments, notches, ribs or grooves at intervals along its length. The stay bar this time has a resilient, yieldably-collapsible termination which can be generally akin to terminations 151 or 177 and which is in a frictional, force-fitting relationship with the track. The termination is sufficiently yieldable to allow it to be forced along the track to attain any desired hatch open setting. To counteract the tendency for the stay bar to slide along the track when a hatch cover is nearly closed or almost fully open, the frictional resistance to movement can be made to change along the length of the track. For example, the track space which receives the termination could contract in the region of the or each end, thereof to develop frictional resistance characteristics which prevent inadvertent slippage. For an assembly capable of opening through 180°, the said space can contract towards each end of the track from the middle thereof. For an assembly capable of opening only through 90°, the space can contract progressively towards that end of the track towards which the termination moves during an assembly-closing operation. The embodiments described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 and 10 to 13 can equally make use of frictional resistance to motion in order to attain continuously-variable staying between the set positive-holding positions defined by means of the encroachments45, 145, 178 or notches 162.

Claims

Claims:

1. A skylight or hatch assembly comprising a pair of hingedly-connected members and a stay mechanism for staying the members in set relative positions, the mechanism comprising a stay bar secured to one of said members and captivated to and movable along a track which is secured. to the other of said members, characterised in that the track (27, 27', 27", 100 or 170) has at spaced locations therealong means (45, 145, 162 or 178) engageable or interlockable with a termination (29, 29' , 151 or 177) of the stay bar (26, 26', 26" or 173) for locating the members (11, 16) in the set positions, either the termination or the track being yieldable to allow the termination to be forcibly disengaged from or forced past the said means to enable the termination to be moved along the track.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the track (27) has encroachments(45) forming the said means spaced apart along the track and restricting the width thereof to fetter movement of the termination (29) the track being capable of flexing at or adjacent the encroachments (45) to permit the termination (29) to be forced past the encroachments.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the track (27', 27" or 170) is substantially rigid and the termination (29', 151 or 177) is resiliently collapsible, its collapsibility allowing it to be forced past the said means (145, 162 or 178) of the track.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or

3, characterised in that the track (27 etc.) is a generally U-shaped member (32) secured to the said other (11) of said hingedly-connected members and open towards a wall portion (53) thereof, the track being spaced from the wall to accommodate the stay bar (26 etc.), two confronting webs (33, 34) of the track member defining a track slot which captively receives the termination (29, etc.) and at least one of the webs having projections (e.g. 45) forming encroachments which constitute the said means engageable with the termination.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the termination is provided on a lateral extension (41) of the stay bar, and the stay bar has an adjacent stem (40) accommodated between the track member and the wall (53).

6. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the track (27 etc.) is a generally U-shaped member (32) secured to the said other (11) of said hingedly-connected members and open towards a wall (53) thereof, the track being spaced from the wall, the upper (34) of two confronting webs (33, 34) of the track having projections forming encroaphments, which constitute the said means engageable with the termination, on its edge adjacent the wall (53).

7. An assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the stay bar end has a lateral . extension (41) located between the webs (33, 34) and captivating the stay bar to the track member, a stem portion (40) of the stay bar adjacent the extension constituting the termination which is accommodated between the wall (53) and the upper web (34).

8. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the track (27 or 27") comprises two generally U-shaped rail members (31, 32 or 153, 154) open towards one another and having abutting base webs (33 or 157), and spaced apart top webs (34 or 156) confronting the base webs, a stem (40 or 161) of the stay bar (26 or 26") extending through the gap between the spaced-apart top webs (34, 156), and lateral extensions (41 or 150) at the end of the stem being received between the confronting base and top webs.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, characterised in that edges (60) of the top webs (34) bordering the said gap have projections thereon forming encroachments serving as the said locating means for engaging the stay bar (26), the said termination being constituted by the stem portion (40) located in the gap.

10. An assembly according to claim 8, characterised in that either the top webs (34, 156) or the base webs (33, 157) or both have projections .

(45, 145) encroaching into the interiors of the U-shaped rails (31 , 32) and forming the said locating means for engaging the stay bar (26,26') the projections coacting with a termination provided on at least one of the lateral extensions (41, 137).

11. An assembly according to claim 10, characterised in that each of the base and top webs (33 and 34) in use flexes when the termination (41) is forced past the encroachments (45), the rails (31, 32) being mounted with their bases (33) contacting a flange (50) of said hingedly-connected member (11), and further characterised in that the flange (50) has hollows (55) beneath the encroachments (45) to allow flexure of the base webs (33).

12. An assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the track (27) is of reduced section adjacent each of the said spaced locations to render the track flexible thereat.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, characterised by the track being slotted to provide the reduced sections.

14. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at each of the spaced locations there is a pair of adjacent encroachments (45 or 145) forming the said means to prevent inadvertent movement of the termination (29 or 29') in either direction along the track.

15. An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the termination (29', 151) is an enlarged element on an end portion of the stay bar (26', 26") and is received between longitudinally-extending confronting webs (130, 131 or 156, 157) of the track (27' , 27" ) the webs constituting or having inturned flanges (133, 134) defining a clearance slot for the stay bar, the slot being smaller than the termination and serving to captivate the termination and stay bar to the track.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, characterised in that the stay bar (26") has oppositely-extending transverse end portions (150) mounting a pair of identical terminations (151).

17. An assembly according to claim 16, characterised in that the track (27', 27") is of hollow box section having a central clearance slot along one side for the stay bar.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, characterised in that the hollow box section is formed of two mating, track parts (153, 154) each of substantially U-shape, each part having two confronting webs (156, 157) between which one of the two terminations (151) is received and one web (156) being narrower than the other (157) the said slot being formed between the adjacent narrower webs (156) when the track (27") is assembled from the track parts (153, 154) with the wider webs (157) abutting.

19. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterised by the or each termination (29') being a radially-collapsibly roller journalled on the stay bar end (137).

20. An assembly according to claim 19, characterised by the roller having a plurality of passages therein (140 or 142) to enhance its yieldability.

21. An assembly according to claim 19, characterised in that the track (27') is furnished with encroachments (145) projecting into the space between the confronting track webs (130, 131) to limit the width of the space to less than the normal, non-yielded diameter of said roller.

22. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that said termination is a slide member (151) having a projection (164) cooperable with the said locating means to secure the stay bar (26") against an inadvertent movement along the track (27").

23. An assembly according to claim 22, characterised in that the said means comprises encroachments projecting into the space between the confronting track webs (156, 157).

24. An assembly according to claim 22, characterised in that the said means comprises a recess (162) in the track (27") at each of the said locations therealong which the projection (164) of the termination can enter to secure the stay bar.

25. An assembly according to claim 24, characterised in that the recess (162) and the projection (164) are each generally V-shaped.

26. An assembly according to claim 22, characterised in that the slide member (151) has an opening (165) inwardly of the projection (164) to facilitate collapsing of the slide member and thereby to facilitate disengagement of the projection from the said means.

27. An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the stay mechanism is a telescoping arrangement consisting of a tube (170), forming the track, and the stay bar (173) the end of which is received in the tube, the opposite ends of the arrangement being pivoted to the hingedly-connected members (11, 16).

28. An assembly according to claim 27, characterised in that the stay bar end has a collapsibly yieldable termination (177) having an encircling groove (179) to interfit with the said means which comprises encircling groove formations (178) in the tube (170).

29. An assembly according to claim 27, characterised in that the stay bar end has a collapsibly yieldable laminated termination (177) which, considered lengthwise of the stay bar (173), includes three Contiguous yieldable layers, the middle layer being more compliant than its neighbours.

30. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said termination (29, 29',

151) is in frictional engagement with the track (27, 27', 27") in the regions between the said locations, the frictional engagement being such as to retain the termination in any intermediate position against in advertent movement.

31. A skylight or hatch assembly comprising a pair of hingedly-connected members and a stay mechanism for staying the members in set relative positions, the mechanism comprising a stay bar and a track therefor, characterised in that the stay bar is captivated to and forcibly movable along the track, the stay bar having a termination frictionally engaging the track and thereby preventing inadvertent movement between stay bar and track either the track or the termination being yieldable to permit the termination to be forced along the track when the relative position of the said members is to be changed.

32. An assembly according to claim 31, characterised by the frictional resistance to movement changing lengthwise of the track.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, characterised in that the track provides a space, accommodating the termination, which progressively changes in size to change the said frictional resistance.

34. An assembly according to claim 33, characterised by the said space being smaller at one or both the ends of the track than at the middle thereof.

35. An assembly according to any of claims 31 to 34, characterised in that the track (100) has confronting webs. (110, 112) and is flexible whereby the webs can be forced apart as the termination is moved lengthwise of the track.

36. An assembly according to any of claims 31 to 34, characterised in that the track (27") has confronting webs (156, 157) embracing the termination and is substantially rigid, the termination (151) being a resiliently collapsible slide member fasir with the stay bar (26").

37. A stay mechanism for hingedly-connectedskylight or hatch assemblies for boats, said mechanism being as recited in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 or 31 to 34.