GB2147353A

GB2147353A - Stay

Info

Publication number: GB2147353A
Application number: GB08326541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Ernest Douglas; Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-04
Filing date: 1983-10-04
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: GB2147353B; IE842510L; GB8326541D0; IE55707B1

Abstract

A stay 1 having a stay arm 2 engageable with a stay pin for securing a window sash in any one of a range of positions relative to a window frame includes a retainer 4 engageable with the arm 2 when the sash is in the closed position to prevent accidental or unauthorised release of the arm 2. The retainer 4 and arm 2 provided with interlocking formations comprising an upstanding peg 19 on the retainer 4 and an opening 16 formed in a socket member 15 mounted on the undersurface of the arm 2. The opening 16 is defined by resilient lips 18 and the peg 19 locates in the opening 16 with a snap action on lowering the arm 2. The peg 19 is retained in the opening 16 by ribs 23 which locate behind and engage the lips 18 to prevent accidental upward displacement of the arm 2. The peg 19 is preferably of rectangular form in plan view and the opening 16 is in the form of an elongate slot extending parallel to the length of the arm so that in the secured position the arm 2 is located against pivotal movement in a horizontal plane about the retainer 4 to prevent unauthorised release of the arm 2 by "rattling" the sash. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stay This invention relates to stays for controlling relative movement between two members and in particular, though not exclusively, to a stay for controlling opening/closing movement of a window sash relative to a window frame.

Known window stays commonly comprise an arm pivotally mounted on the sash and engageable with a pin mounted on the window frame to secure the sash in an open position. Usually the stay is provided with several pin engaging formations spaced relative to one another to enable the sash to be secured in a range of open positions. On closing the sash the arm is pivotted about the pin to draw the sash firmly into the closed position and engaged with a retainer to maintain the sash in the closed position.

The retainer may comprise a second pin which, in the closed position of the sash, is engaged by one of the pin engaging formations on lowering the arm. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it requires very accurate location of the retainer pin to provide the desired alignment with a pin engaging formation on the arm. Alternatively the retainer may comprise a wedge-shaped element which, in the closed position of the sash, is engaged by the side of the arm on lowering the arm.

Whilst this arrangement does not require accurate location of the element and therefore simplifies installation both arrangements suffer from the disadvantage that the arm can be easily disengaged from the retainer to release the stay and permit opening movement of the sash and this can, in certain applications, be undesirable from both safety and security aspects. In particular the arm may be pivotted in a horizontal plane about the retainer by rattling or joggling the sash causing the arm to be displaced upwards.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stay which mitigates the foregoing disadvantages of the known stays.

According to the present invention a stay for controlling relative movement between two members comprises an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on one of the members and a retainer engageable with the arm with the members in juxtaposed relationship to prevent relative movement between the members wherein the arm and retainer are provided with interlocking formations.

By virtue of the interlocking formations the action of disengaging the arm and retainer to release the stay is inhibited thereby rendering the stay less susceptible to accidental or unauthorised release.

The interlocking formations are preferably arranged to engage with a snap action and may comprise a peg on the retainer and an opening in the arm or vice versa. The peg may have one or more integral ribs, ears or lugs to retain the peg in the opening.

The material and/or construction of the peg and/or opening may be such as to enable the peg to be snapped into the opening by resilient spring loading or resilient deformation of the peg and/or opening. For example the free end of the peg may be split and/or the opening may be defined by resilient lips.

In a preferred arrangement the peg is of rectangular form in plan view and the opening is in the form of an elongate slot extending parallel to the length of the arm and having a transverse width slightly greater than the corresponding dimension of the peg so that the arm is located against pivotal movement in a horizontal plane about the retainer and upward displacement of the arm e.g. by rattling or joggling, is restricted. Conveniently the slot has an axial length greater than the corresponding dimension of the peg to provide a degree of tolerance in the positioning of the arm and retainer on installation.

Preferably the stay further includes a stay pin adapted to be mounted on said other member and the arm is provided with a plurality of pin engaging formations spaced relative to one another to enable the members to be secured in a range of positions spaced relative to one another. The pin engaging formations may comprise through holes or blind recesses in the arm in known manner.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stay according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a part section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is an underneath plan view of the stay arm shown in Figure 1 with the socket member detached.

The stay 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is for controlling opening/closing movement of a window sash (not shown) relative to a window frame (not shown) and comprises a stay arm 2, a stay pin 3 and a retainer 4.

The arm 2 is a zinc alloy die-casting of channel-section. One end of the arm 2 is connected to a mounting bracket 5 for pivotal movement in two transversely extending planes (vertical and horizontal). The bracket 5 is provided with two countersunk holes 6 by means of which it is secured to the sash frame (not shown) by screws 7. The undersurface of the arm 2 (Figure 3) is provided with a groove 8 adjacent to the pivot end, four axially spaced recesses 9,10,11 1 2 and a pair of longitudinally spaced pins 1 3,1 4 adjacent to the other end. The pins 13,14 mount a socket member 1 5 which is secured to the arm 2 to be integral therewith. The socket member 1 5 is formed with an elongate slot 1 6 extending parallel to the length of the arm 2.The ends of the slot 1 6 are cut-away as shown at 1 7 to define a pair of opposed resilient lips 1 8.

The retainer 4 comprises a flat peg 1 9 of rectangular form in plan view integral with a base member 20 provided with two countersunk holes 21 for fixing the retainer 4 to the sash frame (not shown) by screws 22. As is best shown in Figure 2, the peg 1 9 is arranged to extend in between the lips 1 8 of the slot 1 6 of the socket member 1 5 and is formed with opposed lateraliy projecting ribs 23 which locate behind and engage with the lips 1 8 to interlock the peg 1 9 in the socket member 1 5. The ribs 23 are inwardly tapered towards the free end of the peg as shown at 24 to faciiitate location of the peg 1 9 in the socket member 15.

The transverse width of the slot 1 6 and the corresponding dimension of the peg 1 9 are such that, when the peg 1 9 is engaged with the socket member 15, the arm 2 is located against pivotal movement about the retainer 4 whilst the axial length of the slot 1 6 is greater than the corresponding dimension of the peg 1 9 to provide a degree of tolerance in the positioning of the arm 2 and retainer 4 thereby facilitating installation.

The socket member 1 5 and retainer 4 are moulded of the same plastics material which is chosen to provide the required resilience and strength characteristics such that the peg 1 9 may be inserted into the socket member 1 5 with a snap action to interlock the arm 2 and retainer 4 but can subsequently be removed to release the arm 2 when desired.

In use the arm 2 and retainer 4 are secured to the sash frame (not shown) with the peg 1 9 engaged in the socket member 1 5 as shown in Figure 1. The stay pin 3 is fixed to the window frame (not shown) so that, when the sash is in the closed position, the pin 3 is located in the groove 8 in the undersurface of the arm as shown in Figure 1.To open the sash from the closed position the stay 1 is released by raising the arm 2 to disengage the peg 19 9 from the socket member 1 5 and the sash secured in any one of four open positions by engaging the pin 3 in the corresponding recess 9,10,11,12. On subsequently closing the sash, the pin 3 is located in the groove 8 and the arm 2 pivotted about the pin 3 to draw the sash firmly into the closed position whereupon the arm 2 may be lowered to engage the peg 1 9 in the socket member 1 5 to maintain the sash in the closed position.

It will be apparent-from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a stay 1 in which the interlock between the arm 2 and retainer 4 reduces the risk of accidental or unauthorised release of the stay 1 when the sash frame and window frame are in juxtaposed relationship, i.e. with the sash closed.

It will be understood that the principle of interlocking the stay arm 2 and retainer 4 may be applied to different constructions of stay arm 2. For example the stay arm 2 may have any type and/or number of pin engaging formations.

If desired, a different form of interlock could be provided, for example the required resilience could be provided by a split in the free end of the peg 1 9 while the peg 1 9 could have any suitable formation(s), e.g. ears or lugs, for engagement in the opening 1 6 in the socket member 1 5.

The peg 19 and opening 16 may be of any suitable shape, for example the peg 1 9 could be of round form in plan view and the opening 1 6 circular.

The peg 1 9 could be provided on the arm 2 and the opening 1 6 formed in the retainer 4.

The retainer 4 may be secured to the sash frame as above-described or to the window frame.

The socket member 1 5 may comprise a length of extruded channel-section sized to fit within the channel-section of the arm 2 and provide a wide range of positions for fixing the retainer.

The stay arm 2 and associated interlocking formation, viz. peg 1 9 or opening 16, may be formed separately as above-described or integrally. For example it is envisaged that the arm 2 and its associated formation may be moulded from a suitable plastics material having the required wear, resilience and strength characteristics.

Finally, whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to a window sash/window frame, it will be understood that the invented stay 1 may be used to control relative movement between any two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged movement.

Claims

1. A stay for controlling relative movement between two members comprises an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on one of the members and a retainer engageable with the arm with the members in juxtaposed relationship to prevent relative movement between the members wherein the arm and retainer are provided with interlocking formations.

2. A stay according to claim 1 wherein the interlocking formations are adapted to engage with a snap action.

3. A stay according to claim 2 wherein the interlocking formations comprise a peg and an opening.

4. A stay according to claim 3 wherein the peg is provided with one or more integral rib(s), ear(s), lug(s) or the like for engagement in the opening.

5. A stay according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the free end of the peg is split and/or the opening is defined by one or more resilient lip(s) to provide the snap action.

6. A stay according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the peg is of rectangular form in plan view and the opening is in the form of an elongate slot extending parallel to the length of the arm.

7. A stay according to claim 6 wherein the opening has an axial length greater than the corresponding dimension of the peg.

8. A stay according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the peg is on the retainer and the opening is in the arm.

9. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims further including a stay pin adapted to be mounted on the other of said members and the arm is provided with a plurality of pin engaging formations spaced relative to one another.

10. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the arm and associated interlocking formation are formed separately.

11. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the arm and associated interlocking formation are formed integrally.

1 2. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the interlocking formations are moulded from plastics material.

1 3. A stay for controlling relative movement between two members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A window comprising a fixed frame and a sash mounted for pivotal or hinged movement relative thereto provided with a stay according to any one of the preceding claims.

1 5. A window according to claim 14 wherein the arm and retainer are mounted on the sash.

1 6. A window according to claim 14 wherein the arm is mounted on the sash and the retainer is mounted on the fixed frame.