GB2074227A - Improvements in window or the like stays - Google Patents

Abstract

A window stay for the adjustable mounting of a window sash S into a window frame F comprises a first mounting plate 10 adapted for attachment to the frame F of a window and second mounting plate 11 adapted for attachment to the sash S. Two arms 13, 16 of different lengths are each pivoted at 15 at one end to the second mounting plate 11 with the other end of the longer 13 of the arms being pivoted at 14 to the first mounting plate 10. The other end of the shorter 16 of the arms is coupled to the first mounting plate 10 which is of substantially channel cross-section shape whereby when the stay is closed arms 13, 16 are disposed within the channel and the second mounting plate 11 is disposed outside the channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in window or the like stays This invention relates to a window stay for adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame.

A now common form of a window construction is to have an "overlap" type of sash. In such a construction the outer edge or peripheral flange of the sash extends beyond the inner periphery of the window frame and accordingly it is necessary that the sash be mounted into a window frame by a pair of stays which operate such that during initial opening of the window the sash moves outwardly in order that it clears the frame and remains clear during the entire opening operation. These socalled projected hung windows can be either top hung where the stays are disposed at the vertical sides of the sash and frame or can be side hung where the stays are disposed at the top and bottom (i.e. horizontal) sides of the sash and frame. An example of a stay suitable for projected hung windows can be found in our U.K. Patent Specification 11 63798.

The type of stays which are exemplified by U.K.

Patent Specification 11 63798 are formed by sash and frame mounting plates which are coupled by a par of arms of different lengths. The arms are coupled to the frame and sash mounting plates by pivots which in the case of the stay in Patent Specification 11 63798 are of a wear-resistant friction type.

A development of this type of stay can be found in our European Patent Specification 78300413.8 where the shorter arm is formed by a carriage mounted for sliding movement on the frame mounting plate. The carriage is elongate in form and is pivotally coupled by one end to an end of the sash mounting plate. The carriage is so mounted that when the stay is in the closed position it lies along the frame mounting plate. A pivoting arrangement is provided such that during initial opening of the stay the carriage is angularly displaced whereby it takes up a position where the end of the carriage which is pivotally coupled to the sash mounting plate moves away from the frame mounting plate.Once the full extent of angular displacement has been achieved (i.e. the edge of the sash is clear of the frame) the carriage can slide along the frame mounting plate to facilitate further opening of the window.

This type of stay is found to be a very effective way of mounting a projected top hung window and can also be successfully used with projected side hung windows, however, in the latter application problems can arise when the sash weight is high as the major portion of the weight of the sash is borne by the lowermost stay. The fact that the majority of the weight is borne by the lowermost stay places a high shear load on the carriage when it is angularly displaced to project from the frame mounting plate. This has tended to result in the operation of the stay being impaired.

For example the carriages of the top and bottom stays are prone to bending which leads to "sagging" of the sash. To overcome this problem the stiffness of the carriage can be increased but this only results in an increase in the friction between the carriage and frame mounting plate which is undesirable as the carriage is designed for free sliding movement along the frame mounting plate.

These problems can also be present with other known stays where the lowermost stay must bear the major portion of the weight of the sash. This is particularly so when the stay incorporates a sliding carriage.

In its broadest aspect the present invention provides a window stay for the adjustable mounting of a window sash into a window frame comprising a first mounting plate adapted for attachment to the frame of a window, a second mounting plate adapted for attachment to the sash, two arms of different lengths each pivoted at one end to said second mounting plate, the other end of the longer of said arms being pivoted to said first mounting plate, the other end of the shorter of said arms being coupled to said first mounting plate, said first mounting plate being of substantially channel cross-section shape whereby when the stay is closed said arms are disposed within said channel and said second mounting plate is disposed outside said channel.

In the preferred form of the invention the shorter arm is in the form of an elongate carriage which is mounted for sliding movement along said first mounting plate. The carriage is pivoted by one end to the said other end of the second mounting plate and means are provided such that the carriage is angularly displaced relative to said first mounting plate during initial opening and final closing operations of the stay.

The flange of the first mounting plate which is located between the arms and the second mounting plate when the stay is closed has at least two recessed portions at its free edge to receive the pivot joints coupling the second mounting plate to said arms.

In more fully describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of the stay in an open position, Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 but with the stay in the closed position, Figure 3 is an end view of the stay shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a line A-A of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a side view of the stay as illustrated in Figure 2.

Throughout the following description reference will be made to a single stay in relation to a window sash and mounting frame but it will be appreciated that to mount any sash a pair of such stays are normally employed. The stays can be mounted by their frame mounting plates to either the side members of the frame in a projected top hung application or can be mounted to be top and bottom members of the sash in a projected side hung application though it is the latter situation in which the stay of the present invention is most suited.

The first orframe mounting plate is shown at 10 and the second or sash mounting plate at 11.

Counter bored openings 12 are provided along length of each of plates 10 and 11 for the reception of fastening rivets, screws etc. by which said plate can be fastened to the respective frame F and sash S. Arm 13 is joined by one end thereof at or adjacent one end of plate 10 whilst the other end is coupled to the second plate 11. Assuming the stays shown in the drawings are in the vertical position arm 13 is attached at or adjacent the lower end of plate 10 and inward from the lower end of plate 11.

One or both of the pivot joints 14 by which arm 13 is coupled to plates 10 and 11 is a wear resistant friction joint preferably of the type described in either of our U.K. Patent Specifications 1163798 or 1304830.

Preferably the pivot joints 14 are of the type disclosed in Patent Specification 1304830. In this form the shank of a rivet, which is of circular cross-section, engages through a non-circular opening in plate 10 or 11. The head of the rivet is preferably located in a recess in arrh 13 whilst the tail of the rivet is pressed onto the surface of plate 10 or 11 surrounding the non-circular opening. As can be seen in Figure 5 the opening, in plate 10 and 11 is formed in a dimpled portion 1 Oa and 11 a respectively. The pressed tail of the rivet is thus located in a recess. Due to the tail being pressed onto plates 10 and 11 and into a noncircular opening the rivet cannot rotate.As it is preferred that the rivet be of an aluminium material, as are also plates 10 and 11, it is desirable that no metal-to-metal contact occurs between arm 13 and both the rivet and mounting plates. This is achieved by a wear-resistance selflubricating plastics material such as nylon being provided in the manner disclosed in Patent Specification 1304830. Accordingly, arm 13 can pivot about the rivet but only engages the wearresistant material.

The upper end of plate 11 is coupled by a pivot joint 1 5 to the sliding carriage 1 6. This carriage 1 6 is preferably formed from nylon or other suitable plastics material and thus readily slides along the length of plate 10. Alternatively, carriage 1 6 can be of metal construction with the surfaces thereof in contact with plate 10 being formed by inserts or pads of plastics material (such as nylon). The carriage 1 6 thus moves along plate 10 in a manner which can be termed free sliding. The actual construction and operation of carriage 1 6 is the subject of detailed description in our European Patent Specification 0001487 Al and thus a further description of the carriage and its operation is not required for the purposes of the present specification.

- Frame plate 10 is of substantially channel shape and has a first flange 1 7 which includes openings 12 to permit the flange to be mounted to the frame of a window. The second flange 20 is parallel to flange 1 7 and is coupled thereto by cross member 18. The second flange 20 is of the same width as first flange 1 7. A downwardly depending lip or ridge 21 extends from flange 20 and is disposed directly opposite a similar lip or ridge 21' on flange 17. These ridges 21 and 21' engage with carriage 1 6 in a manner described in our European Patent Specification 0001487 Al and thereby maintain carriage 1 6 in its correct disposition during sliding movement along mounting plate 10.

In the closed position of the stay as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 the arm 13 and carriage 1 6 lie along the mounting plate 10-and are located between flanges 17 and 20. The sash mounting plate 11 is located outside of the channel and lies alongside the outer surface of flange 20. Flange 20 has a recess 22 formed at its upper end (when the stay is viewed as shown in Figure 2) and spaced downwardly therefrom a second recess 23. A third recess 24 is provided at the lower end of frame mounting plate 10 and all three recess 22, 23 and 24 are located above openings 12 in flange 1 7. The lower recess 24 is of such a size and shape-that pivot 14 is not covered so as to permit rivetting during the formation of pivot 14.

In the illustrated form the head of the rivet in pivot 14 is located in arm 1 3 but it will be-appreciated that the head could equally be formed in a recess in flange 17 of mounting plate 10. The same applies with the pivot 14 joining plate 11 to arm 1 3 as the head of the rivet could equally,be situated in a recess in the plate, 11 rather than arm 13.

The upper two recesses 22 and 23 are provided to not only form access to counter bored openings 12 but also to receive the portion of the pivot joints 1 5 and 14 respectively. These pivot joints include in their construction a spacer 25 located between plate 11 and the surface of carriage 1 6 and arm 13 respectively. In the case of the carriage the spacer 25 could be formed as an integral part of the plastics body of the carriage.

These spacers 25 ensure that plate 11 is disposed away from carriage 1 6 and arm 13 respectively so that there is sufficient clearance for flange 20 to fit between the carriage 16 and arm 13 on the one hand and sash mounting plate 11 on the other hand. The relative positions of the carriage 16, arm 13, plate 11 and flange 20 are more clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the.drawings.

By referring more specifically to Figure 5 of the drawings it will be seen that the carriage 1 6 is in contact with not only flange 17 but also with flange 20. This means that even when the stay is in the open position as illustrated in Figure 1 the carriage is sandwiched between flanges 1 7 and 20. This sandwiching of the carriage between the flanges increases the load carrying capacity of the carriage to the extent that in projected side hung applications the upper stay is capable of carrying its share of the weight of the sash.

The cover effect provided by flange 20 permits grease or other lubricating material-to be applied in the space between flanges 1 7 and 20 and connecting flange 1 8 to assist the free sliding movement of carriage 16. As the lubricating material is located within the confines of flanges 1 7, 18 and 20 it is not wide open to the ingress of dirt, grit etc. Flange 20 also covers any scratch marks or the like which may be formed on the inner surface of flange 1 7 caused by the sliding movement of the carriage along that surface.

The invention thus provides a window stay which incorporates a sliding carriage usable in either projected side or top hung applications. The enveloping effect provided by flanges 17 and 20 increase the load carrying capacity of stay especially in projected side hung applications where the uppermost stay is able to carry its share of the weight of the window sash.

The stay is open to modification without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the sash mounting plate 11 can be of an angled cross-section as shown in Figure 4 where a flange 11 a is illustrated in dotted detail. This additional flange 11 a provides greater strength than a flat plate of the type previously described however, if it is made of a full length, i.e.

substantially the length of frame mounting plate 10, it neatly covers the opening in the channel between flanges 1 7 and 20. This cover provided by flange 11 a effectively excludes dust and dirt from the lubricated carriage and channel whilst the window is closed.

Claims (10)

1. A window stay for the adjustable mounting of a window sash (S) into a window frame (F) comprising a first mounting plate (10) adapted for attachment to the frame (F) of a window, a second mounting plate (11) adapted for attachment to the sash (S), two arms (13) of different lengths each pivoted (14) at one end to said second mounting plate (11), the other end of the longer (1 3) of said arms being pivoted (14 and 15) to said first mounting plate (10), the other end of the shorter (16) of said arms being coupled to said first mounting plate (10), said first mounting plate (10) being of substantially channel cross-section shape whereby when the stay is closed said arms (13, 16) are disposed within said channel and said second mounting plate (11) is disposed outside said channel.

2. A window stay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shorter arm is in the form of an elongate carriage (16) which is mounted for sliding movement along said first mounting plate (10).

3. A window stay as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carriage (16) is pivoted (1 5) by one end to the said other end of the second mounting plate (11) and means are provided such that the carriage (16) is angularly displaced relative to said first mounting plate (10) during initial opening and final closing operations of the stay.

4. A window stay as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the distance between the flanges (17, 20) of the channel shaped first mounting plate (10) is only slightly greater than the thickness of the carriage (16) located therebetween, thereby permitting free sliding movement of said carriage.

5. A window stay as claimed in claim 4 wherein each flange (17, 20) incorporates a guide means (21 21) extending longitudinally therealong, said guide means cooperating with said carriage (16) to maintain said carriage in position with the first mounting plate (10) during its sliding movement therealong.

6. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flange (20) of the first mounting plate which is located between the arms (13,16) and the second mounting plate (11) when the stay is closed has at least two recessed portions (22, 23) at its free edge to receive the pivot joints (14, 15) coupling the second mounting plate to said arms.

7. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot joints (14) coupling the arms to said second mounting plate (11) and the longer arm to said first mounting plate (10) are friction joints of the type which are formed by a rivet joining the components of the joint, the head of the rivet being located in a recess and the tail locked against rotational movement, there being wear resistance selflubricating plastics material, such as nylon, incorporated in the joint to prevent contact between the arm and mounting plate and the head of the rivet and adjacent shank portion from the arm or mounting plate as the case may be, said plastics material being under pressure created by said rivet.

8. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second mounting plate (11) is of angular cross-section with one flange thereof adapted for mounting to a sash (S) and the other flange (11 a) to extend at substantially right angles to the sash such that when the stay is in the closed position said other flange (11 a) spans across the opening in the channel shaped first mounting plate (10).

9. A window stay as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first and second mounting plates (10, 11) are of substantially the same length.

10. A window stay substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.