GB2147047A

GB2147047A - Stays

Info

Publication number: GB2147047A
Application number: GB08325414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivor Reginald Button
Original assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Current assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Priority date: 1983-09-22
Filing date: 1983-09-22
Publication date: 1985-05-01
Also published as: GB8325414D0

Abstract

A stay 10, for a window, restricts the opening of the window, but in the event of fire can allow increased opening. The stay comprises a base 11, a carrier 14 slidably mounted in the base 11 and a support arm which is mounted on the base 10 by a brace 15 and a link 16. A stop limits the movement of the carrier 14 and comprises an elongate body 21, a stop 22 and a spacer 23. The body 21 is held within the base 10 by means of lateral tags 28. In the event of fire the body can be ripped out of the base by breaking off the tags 28 and the spacer 23 will then pass over the stop 22, by virtue of the channel in its base, and allow the carrier 14 to travel down to the stop 22 in which position the stay is fully opened. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stays This invention relates to stays and in particular, but not exclusively, to projecting stays for windows.

Nowadays many windows, particularly double glazing units, are mounted on openable stays. When such windows are used in upper storeys the extent to which the window may open is frequently limited by local by-laws and/or architectural specifications. Recently, for reasons of safety, it has become the norm to manufacture double glazing units out of toughened class. The combination of these two safety features has lately led to some horrifying accidents where the occupants of an upper room have been unable to escape through a window and would-be rescuers have been unable to break the glass.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stay which reduces the likelihood of such tragedies.

From one aspect the invention consists in a stay comprising an arm for supporting a load, a base, means for mounting the arm on the base such that the arm can be moved between a first position at which it is adjacent or overlies the base and second position in which it extends at an angle to the base, and stop means for preventing movement towards the second position beyond an intermediate position, the stop means being readily releasable in an emergency.

Preferably at least a part of the stop means is broken or destroyed when the stop means is released. The stop means may be released manually, automatically or remotely.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the stop means includes a body engaged on the base by tags, projections or the like; the tags, projections or the like being formed to break off the body when the body is moved away from the base. The base may be formed as a channel section having inwardly facing turned-over lips and the tags may extend laterally of the body which lies in the channel.

The body may be retained against sliding movement on the base by a projection thereon.

A portion of the body may be thinned or shaped to define a space between the body and the base to facilitate iifting of the body away from the base and the base may be cut away adjacent that portion.

The stop means may include a spacer element, for defining the intermediate position.

In this case the element may lie between the body and the mounting means and it may be shaped to pass over any projections on the base when the stop means have been released.

Alternatively, the stop means may comprise a fusable stop or a releasable latch. In this latter case the latch may be hydraulically or electrically operable.

The invention also consists in a window system comprising a plurality of window lights supported on stays as defined above, wherein the stop means can be released in response to a control signal.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, with modifications, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a known stay in its open position; Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of a stay according to the invention in its intermediate position; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stay of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a transverse section along the line IV-IV; and Figure 5 is a transverse section along the line V-V of the stay of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a stay 10, which principally comprises a base 11, which is constituted by a U-section channel having turned-in lips 1 3, a carrier 14 slidably mounted in the base 11 and retained therein by the lips 13, and a support arm 12, which is mounted on the base 10 by a brace 15 and a link 16.

The brace 1 5 extends between, and is pivotally connected to, one end of the base 10 and the mid-joint of the support arm 1 2.

The link 1 6 is pivotally connected to the carrier 1 4 and one end of the support arm 1 2. A further link 1 7 extends between the brace 1 5 and the carrier 14 and is pivotally connected at each end to form a parallel linkage with the support arm 12, the brace 1 5 and the link 17. A strengthening strut 18 extends between the link 1 7 and the support arm 1 2 and is pivotally connected at each end. The support arm 1 2 is formed with holes (not shown) along its length to enable a window light to be screwed to it.

If, for the reasons mentioned above, it is desired to limit the degree of opening of the stay 10 a suitably positioned stop (not shown) is pressed into the web of the base 11 to limit the leftward movement of carrier 14. Thus this stop prevents a window being opened sufficiently to allow escape from an upper room.

Figs. 2 to 5 show one embodiment of the invention. For convenience identical parts in this embodiment have been given the same numbers as those of Fig. 1.

The stay 10 is broadly similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the stop which limits the movement of carrier 14 is replaced by a stop means 20. The stop means 20 comprises an elongate body 21, a stop 22, pressed out in the bottom of the base 11 and a spacer 23.

As can be readily seen the spacer abuts against one end 24 of the body 21 to form a stop at 25 for the carrier 14 and hence defines the extent to which the stay can open.

Different lengths of spacers can be provided to allow different degrees of opening.

The body 21 is tapered at its other end 26 and has a channel 27 extending along part of its underside. Its one end 24 is closed off and lateral tags 28 are formed at that end to lie beneath turned-over lips 1 3. An opening 29 is punched out in the lips 1 3 adjacent the tapered end 26 of the body to allow finger access to that end.

In normal use the tags 28 retain the body 21 within the base 11 and thus limit the movement of the spacer 23 and the carrier 14. In the event of a fire, or other emergency, the occupants of a room merely need to open the window to obtain access to the base 11 and then insert their finger into the opening 29. They can then grasp the tapered end 26 and lift the body 21 sharply upwardly so that the tags 28 are ripped from the body by the lips 1 3. With the body 21 removed from the base 11 the spacer 23 is then free to travel along the base 11 and can pass over the stop 22 because its central portion 30 is arched as shown in Fig.4.

Thus the window can then be opened to the fullest extent of the stay and sufficient room to escape is provided.

It is obviously possible to construct a system wherein the body may be removed from the base 11 without breaking off the tags 28, for example by providing suitable openings in the lips 13 and in some instances this may be desirable. However, the system described above is preferred because it allows easy operation in use, whilst deterring release of the mechanism for non-emergency uses. The absence of the body is also a quickly noticeable if a child should tamper with the device.

To enhance use of the stop means 20, both the body 21 and spacer 23 may be coloured red and may have a simple operating instruction written on them.

In certain iocations, such as old peoples homes, mental hospitals and childrens homes, such a system may be inappropriate and the body 21 may be replaced by an electromagnetic, or other remotely controlable latching system which would allow, for example, all the stays to be unlatched on a particular fioor in a particular building in the event of a fire.

For example, a control signal could be generated by a smoke detector, fire alarm or master control switch.

In an alternative construction the body 21 may be omitted and the stop 22 may be arranged to melt on experiencing excess heat or may be breakable -when struck by a blow.

It is to be understood that although certain aspects of the invention have been defined above, the invention also includes any other inventive combination of the features set out either in those definitions of invention or in the device specifically described. Whilst the main object of the invention has been described, it is to be understood that the invention can include devices which do not fulfil that object.

Claims

1. A stay comprising an arm for supporting a load, a base, means for mounting the arm on the base such that the arm can be moved between a first position at which it is adjacent or overlies the base and second position in which it extends at an angle to the base, and stop means for preventing movement towards the second position beyond an intermediate position, the stop means being readily releasable in an emergency.

2. A stay as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a part of the stop means is broken or destroyed when the stop means is released.

3. A stay as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the stop means are manually releasable.

4. A stay as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the stop means are automatically or remotely releasable.

5. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stop means include a body engaged on the base by tags, projections or the like; the tags, projections or the like, being formed to break off the body when the body is moved away from the base.

6. A stay as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base is formed as a channel section having inward facing turned-over lips, and the tags extended laterally of the body which lies in the channel.

7. A stay as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the body is retained against sliding movement on the base by a projection on the base.

8. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein a portion of the body is thinned or shaped to define a space between the body and the base to facilitate lifting of the body away from the base.

9. A stay as claimed in claim 8 wherein the base is cut-away adjacent the portion.

10. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stop means includes a spacer element for defining the intermediate position.

11. A stay as claimed in claim 10 as dependent on any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the element lies between the body and the mounting means.

12. A stay as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the spacer is shaped to pass over any obstructions on the base when the stop means have been released.

1 3. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the stop means comprise a fusible stop.

14. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the stop means comprise a releasable latch.

1 5. A stay as claimed in claim 14 wherein the latch is hydraulically or electrically operable.

1 6. A window system comprising a plurality of window lights supported on stays as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stop means can be released in response to a control signal.

1 7. A window system as claimed in claim 1 6 wherein the control signal is generated by a smoke detector, fire alarm or the like.

1 8. A stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.