GB2047309A

GB2047309A - Improvements in friction supporting stays for windows

Info

Publication number: GB2047309A
Application number: GB7913940A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-21
Filing date: 1979-04-21
Publication date: 1980-11-26
Also published as: GB2047309B

Abstract

A friction supporting stay, for a window, comprises a track 10, a slider 15 movable along the track, a strut 16 pivotally connected to the track, a brace 18 pivotally connected between the slider and the strut 16, a link 21 pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar 24 pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider 15 moves along the track the bar 24 can swing from a position overlying the track 10 to a position where it is angled with respect to the track. The slider 15 is moulded from synthetic plastics material and has, on the side thereof facing the track 10, a rectangular recess 31 in which a friction pad 32 is snugly received, a grub screw 33 being threadedly received in the slider so as to bear directly on the friction pad. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in friction supporting stays for windows The invention relates to friction supporting stays, for windows, of the kind comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar can swing from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track.

In use, two such supporting stays are normally provided at opposite sides of a window, the track of each stay being mounted on the window frame and the bar being mounted on the window sash.

The arrangement is such that as the window pivots on the stays, about either a vertical or a horizontal axis, the axis of pivoting of the window sash moves away from the window frame so that when the window is open both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

In friction supporting stays of this kind the window sash is frictionally restrained in any angular position to which it is set. This frictional restraint may be provided partly by the friction at the pivotal connections between the various elements, but is largely provided by the frictional engagement between the slider and the track. In some known forms of stay a screw passes in threaded engagement through the slider and engages the surface of the track, so that by adjustment of the screw the frictional engagement between the slider and the track may be varied to adjust the stiffness of the window.However such an arrangement has the disadvantage that the screw tends to score the surface of the track, and with continued use there is wear of both the screw and track (since this is normally metal-to-metal contact) and thus frequent adjustment is necessary to provide the required stiffness of operation of the window. The invention sets out to provide a supporting stay having improved means for adjusting its stiffness.

According to the invention there is provided a friction supporting stay of the kind first referred to above, wherein the slider is moulded from synthetic plastics material and has, on the side thereof facing the track, a recess in which a friction pad is snugly received, a screw being threadedly received in the slider so as to bear directly on the friction pad.

Thus, there is no direct engagement between the screw and the track and the friction pad may be formed from a material, such as nylon, which will experience little wear from the frictional engagement. Also, since the screw does not engage the track directly it is not subjected to forces transverse to its axis as the slider moves along the track. In the known arrangements such transverse force may, in time, tend to cause deformation of the threaded hole in the slider, causing loosening of the screw.

Preferably the screw is a grub screw and the recess and pad are rectangular.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a friction supporting stay, according to the invention, shown in its closed position, Figure 2 is a plan view of the supporting stay shown in a partly open position, and Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the supporting stay comprises a track member 10 having longitudinal inturned flanges 11. The track member is, in use of the stay, normally secured vertically to the window frame, two stays being provided at opposite sides respectively of the window frame. Fixing holes 12 are provided in the web 13 of the track member to receive fixing screws. At its upper end the track member is closed by a plastics shaped nosecap 14 which is plugged into the end of the track member and may be "staked" to the track member by deforming a part of the web, or by means of a rivet.

A slider 1 5 is slideable along the track member, and, as best seen in Figure 3, is stepped as viewed in cross-section so that the longitudinal side portions thereof fit beneath the flanges 11 of the track member and retain the slider within the track member. Thus the slider must be introduced into the track member before the nosecap 14 is fitted.

The detailed construction of the slider will be described later.

An elongate cranked metal strut 1 6 is pivotally connected to the track member 10, adjacent the lower end thereof, by a rivet 1 7. An elongate brace 1 8 is pivotally connected at one end, by a rivet 1 9, to the slider 1 5 and at the opposite end thereof, by a rivet 20, to a part of the strut 1 6 intermediate the ends thereof.A short link 21 is pivotally connected to the slider 15, by a rivet 22 at a location spaced from the rivet 1 9. The opposite end of the link 21 is pivotally connected by a rivet 23 to one end of a bar 24, which is in turn pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, by a rivet 25 to the extremity of the strut 1 6. A crosslink 26, shown in dashed lines, may be pivotally connected between the brace 1 8 and the bar 24, parallel to the strut 16, if required.

The bar 24 is, in use, connected to the slide member of the window sash frame and fixing holes 27 are provided for this purpose.

In operation, the bar 24 may be swung from the angled position shown in Figure 2, in which the window is open, to a closed position shown in Figure 1, where the bar 24 overlies the track member 10 and the window is closed. The dimensions of the elements of the stay, and the positions of the rivets, are so chosen that the strut 16, brace 18 and link 21 also overlie the track member 10 when the window is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 1.

The upper end of the bar 24 is shaped as indicated at 28 to cooperate with a cam surface 29 on the underside of the nosecap 14 so as to give a wedging effect as the stay moves into the closed position.

It will be appreciated that the stay is reversible since the bar 24 may be swung from the angled position shown in Figure 2, where it extends to the righthand side of the track member 10, through the position where it overlies the track member 10, and into a corresponding angled position to the lefthand side of the track member.

Angular displacement of the bar 24 is accompanied by upand-down movement of the slider 1 5 along the track member and the downward movement of the slider 1 5, and hence the angular extent of opening the window, is limited by a stop 30 in the form of a deformed part of the web of the track member.

The window is frictionally retained in any angular position to which it is set largely by the frictional engagement between the slider 1 5 and the track member 10, although there will also be some frictional restraint at the various rivets.

Figure 3 shows the construction of the slider 1 5 whereby the frictional restraint may be adjusted so as to vary the stiffness of the window.

Referring to Figure 3, the main body of the slider 15, which may be formed from acetal resin, is formed on the side thereof facing the web of the track member with a rectangular recess 31 in which is snugly received a rectangular nylon friction pad 32. A brass grub screw 33 is threadedly received in a thickened portion 34 of the body of the slider, which portion projects above the flanges 11 of the track member. The end of the grub screw 33 bears directly on the friction pad 32 so that the frictional engagement between the pad and the web 13 of the track member may be varied by adjustment of the screw 33.

As previously mentioned, such an arrangement causes less wear to the track member, slider and screw than is the case in previously known arrangements where the screw bears directly on the web of the track member.

Claims

1. A friction supporting stay, for a window, comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar can swing from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track, the slider being moulded from synthetic plastics material and having, on the side thereof facing the track, a recess in which a friction pad is snugly received, a screw being threadedly received in the slider so as to bear directly on the friction pad.

2. A stay according to claim 1, wherein the friction pad is formed from nylon.

3. A stay according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess and pad are rectangular.

4. A stay according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the screw is a grub screw.

5. A friction supporting stay, for a window, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.