GB2185780A - Fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

A fitting 1 comprising a stay 5 for securing a casement 4 mounted on a fixed frame 3 in each of a closed (Fig. 1) and a night vent (Fig. 3) position. The stay 5 comprises an bar 6 pivotally mounted 7 at one end on the casement 4 and a peg plate 13 mounted on the frame 3. The plate 13 has an upstanding peg 16 which is movable between first and second operative positions in which the bar 6 is engageable with the peg 16 to secure the casement 4 in its two positions respectively. The bar 6 is secured alongside and substantially parallel to the inner face of the casement 4 by engagement with an upstanding peg 18 of a hook plate 15 mounted on the casement 4 to permit movement of the casement 4 between its two positions without releasing the bar 6. The peg plate may comprise an abutment which is moved to translate the peg in order to open and close the casement. A security device may be provided to prevent upward lifting of the bar 6 in the two positions. Other types of fitting including a casement fastener and an espagnolette fastener are also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fittings This invention relates to fittings for use with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for opening/closing movement relative thereto and in particular, though not exclusively, stays and fasteners for windows, doors and the like.

Generally the known stays and fasteners have an operating member mounted on the closure member for engagement with a fixed abutment mounted on the fixed frame to secure the closure member in a closed position.

It is already known to construct the operating member to permit engagement with the fixed abutment to secure the closure member in a partially open "night vent" position in which the closure member is spaced a small distance from the fixed frame to provide a gap sufficient for ventilation purposes whilst preventing unauthorised access from the outside.

A disadvantage of the known constructions, however, is that, to move the closure member between the closed position and the night vent position, the operating member must be released and re-engaged with the fixed abutment at a different position.

This is undesirable as it complicates the construction and adds to the manufacturing costs of the operating member.

Furthermore, as a deterrent against forced entry, it is becoming increasingly common to provide security devices to prevent unauthorised release of the operating member in the closed position of the closure member and such devices are often rendered inoperative on changing the position of engagement of the operating member and fixed abutment in the night vent position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fitting for use with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame which overcomes at least some of the problems and disadvantages aforementioned.

According to the present invention there is provided a fitting for use with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for opening/closing movement relative thereto, the fitting comprising an abutment adapted for mounting on one of the closure member and fixed frame and an operating member adapted for mounting on the other of the closure member and fixed frame for engagement and disengagement with the abutment, the abutment being movable between first and second operative positions in which the operating member is engageable with the abutment to secure the closure member in closed and night vent positions respectively.

By arranging for the abutment to move between first and second operative positions complex constructions of operating member are avoided.

Conveniently the abutment is slidably mounted in a slot and the opposed ends of the slot provide stops to limit sliding movement of the abutment and define the first and second operative positions.

Advantageously the slot is constructed and arranged to permit sliding movement of the abutment between the first and second operative positions without releasing the operating member.

Advantageously the slot is provided in a base part adapted for attachement to said one of the closure member and fixed frame and guide means is provided for effecting sliding movement of the abutment in the slot.

Conveniently the guide means comprises a guide block supported on the base part for sliding movement transversely with respect to the slot and provided with a formation cooperating with the abutment to slide the abutment lengthwise of the slot on displacement of the block.

Advantageously the base part is hollow and the block is mounted in the base part and connected through an opening in the base part to a manually operable actuator for moving the guide block.

Conveniently the formation comprises a groove in which one end of the abutment is received, the groove having opposed end portions aligned with respective one ends of the slot and connected by a centre portion.

Preferably the end portions extend substantially parallel to one another and transversely with respect to the length of the slot while the centre portion is inclined with respect to the length of the slot.

By this arrangement, the abutment is received in the respective end portions in each of the first and second operative positions and sliding movement of the peg in the slot by a force applied to the abutment in the direction of the length of the slot is prevented.

Alternatively the guide means may comprise a rack on the abutment engageable with a pinion mounted on the base part and connected to an actuator for rotating the pinion to effect sliding movement of the abutment, for example the pinion may be provided on one end of a pivotal lever.

The invention has application to fittings for windows, doors and the like and in particular stays and fasteners.

For example, the operating member may comprise a stay bar and the abutment a peg engageable with a formation in the stay bar in each of the first and second operative positions.

Alternatively, the operating member may comprise a pivotal handle and the abutment a keeper engageable with either a formation on the handle or an element operable by the handle.

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 plan view of a fitting according to the present invention in combination with part of a casement window, the fitting comprising a stay and the casement being shown in the closed position; Figure 2 is a part section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing the casement in the night vent position; Figure 4 is a part section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the stay peg plate with the peg shown in a first operative position for securing the casement in the closed position of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5 showing the peg in a second operative position for securing the casement in the night vent position of Figs. 3 and 4;; Figure 7 is an end view, partly in section and to an enlarged scale, of the peg plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the peg plate shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; and Figures 9, 10 and ii are perspective views showing three alternative types of movable abutments suitable for fittings according to the present invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a fitting 1 according to the present invention in combination with a casement window 2 comprising a fixed frame 3 and a glazed casement 4 mounted on the frame 3 by hinges (not shown) for outward movement relative to the frame 3 about a horizontal hinge axis at the top of the casement 4. The frame 3 and casement 4 are both of timber construction but other materials such as metal, plastics and metal/plastics composites may be used in addition to or in place of timber.

The fitting 1 comprises a casement stay 5 having an elongate stay bar 6 pivotally connected at one end to a mounting plate 7 secured by screws (not shown) to the inner face 8 of the casement.

The stay bar 6 is of channel-section defining a longitudinal extending recess 9 in the underside in which a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart sockets 10 are provided.

Mounted in the recess 9 at a position spaced from the pivotal connection towards the free end of the stay bar 6 is a plastics element 11 formed with a slot 12 extending parallel to the length of the stay bar 6.

The stay 5 further includes a peg plate 13 secured by screws (not shown) to the top face 14 of the fixed frame adjacent to the pivotal connection of the stay bar and, a hook plate 15 secured by screws (not shown) to the inner face 8 of the casement at a position spaced from the mounting plate 7 and peg plate 13.

The peg plate 13 has an upstanding peg 16 formed with an annular head 17 which is selectively engageable in and substantially complementary to the sockets 10 in the underside of the stay bar 6 to hold firmly the casement 4 in a closed position (Figs. 1 and 2) or a desired one of a range of open positions (not shown).

The hook plate 15 has an upstanding peg 18 formed with an undercut rectangular head 19 which, in the closed position of the casement 4, is a snap-fit in the slot 12 to hold the stay bar 6 alongside and substantially parallel to the inner shut face 8 of the casement and restrict release of the stay bar 6 by upward pivotal movement thereof.

In accordance with the present invention the peg 16 is slidably mounted on the peg plate 13 for movement between a first operative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the stay bar 6 is engageable with the peg 16 to hold the casement 4 in the closed position and a second operative position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in which the stay bar 6 is engageable with the peg 16 to hold the casement 4 in a partially open "night vent" position.

in the night vent position, the inner face 8 of the casement is spaced a small distance from the opposed face 20 of the fixed frame to provide a narrow gap 21 sufficient for ventilation purposes whilst preventing unauthorised access from the outside to release the stay bar 6.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, the peg plate 13 comprises a hollow rectangular base part 22 formed with a pair of holes 23 in diagonally opposed corners for securing the peg plate 13 to the fixed frame by means of screws (not shown).

An elongate rectilinear slot 24 is provided in the upper surface of the base part 22 and a neck portion 25 of the peg 16 is received in the slot 24 to secure the peg 1 6 to the base part 22 whilst permitting sliding movement of the peg 16 lengthwise of the slot 24.

Mounted in the base part 22 is a guide block 26 having a groove 27 in the upper surface in which a tail portion 28 of the peg 16 is received. The groove 27 has opposed end portions 29, 30 aligned with respective one ends 31, 32 of the slot 24 and connected by a centre portion 33. The end portion 29, 30 extend substantially parallel to one another and transversely with respect to the length of the slot 24 while the centre portion 33 is inclined with respect to the length of the slot 24.

An actuator 34 positioned on the side of the base part 22 is connected to the guide block 26 through an elongate rectangular opening 35 in the side of the base part 22.

The actuator 34 is manually operable, for example by finger pressure applied to the op posed ends of the actuator which are suitably shaped for the purpose, to slide the guide block 26 transversely with respect to the slot 24 thereby effecting simultaneously sliding movement of the peg 16 lengthwise of the slot 24 through the engagement of the tail portion 28 of the peg 16 in the groove 27 of the guide block 26.

The opposed ends 31, 32 of the slot 24 provide stops engageable by the neck portion 25 of the peg to limit sliding movement of the peg 16 and define first and second operative positions of the peg 16 in which the tail portion 28 of the peg 16 is located in the respective aligned transversely extending end portion 29, 30 of the groove 27 in the guide block 26.

As a result, in each operative position, sliding movement of the peg 16 in the slot 24 by a force applied to the peg 16 in the direction of the length of the slot 24 is prevented and sliding movement may only be effected through operation of the actuator 34.

In use, the peg plate 13 is mounted on the top face 14 of the fixed frame 3 with the slot 24 extending normal to the vertical plane P of the fixed frame 3 and the actuator 34 facing inwardly for operation by the user from the inside.

As a result, the peg 16 is displaced parallel to the direction of opening/closing movement of the casement 4 on operation of the actuator 34 and the stay bar 6 is engageable with the upstanding pegs 16 and 18 of the peg plate 13 and hook plate 15 respectively to hold the stay bar 6 alongside and substantially parallel to the inner face 8 of the casement 4 in both operative positions of the peg 16 in which the casement 4 is secured in the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the night vent position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

By holding the stay bar 6 in the same position relative to the inner face 8 of the casement in both operative positions of the peg 16, movement of the casement 4 between the closed and night vent positions may be effected by manual operation of the actuator 34 to move the peg 16 whilst maintaining the engagement of the stay bar 6 with the upstanding pegs 16 and 18 of the peg plate 13 and hook plate 15, i.e. without releasing the stay bar 6.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described which may be modified in a number of ways, for example the stay bar may be of any known construction having either sockets in the underside or through holes for engagement by the peg plate peg. The sockets may be formed integrally with the stay bar or in an element attached to the underside of the stay bar, for example a plastics moulded element.

The upstanding peg of the peg plate may have a formation, such as a tongue, which engages the inner face of the casement in each of the closed and night-vent positions.

Such engagement provides an additional pressure point which assists in firmly locating the casement and preventing rattling or vibration of the casement, especially in the night vent position.

The upstanding peg of the hook plate may have any suitable shape for engagement in the underside of the stay bar in the closed and night vent position of the casement.

A security device may be provided to prevent upward lifting movement of the stay bar in the closed and night vent positions, for example the hook plate may be replaced by the security device disclosed in our co-pending U.K. Patent Application No. 85.30976.

The rectilinear slot in the base part may be replaced by a slot of curved, dog-leg or similar non-linear shape whereby the peg is displaced sideways on sliding between the first and second operative positions thereby altering the position of engagement between the peg and the stay bar. Such change in the position of engagement can be accommodated without releasing the stay bar by engaging the peg in an oversize recess in the underside of the stay bar and may be used to provide an interlock between the peg and stay bar to prevent upward lifting movement of the stay bar, for example in the night vent position.

The abutment may be mounted for movement between the first and second operative positions by any suitable guide means, for example a rack and pinion mechanism of which the rack is provided on the abutment and the pinion is rotatable by a manually operable actuator.

The casement may be mounted for hinging or pivotal movement relative to the fixed frame about a horizontal axis at the top or bottom of the casement or about a vertical axis at one side of the casement.

Where the casement is mounted for hinging or pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the bottom of the casement moves in an arc relative to the fixed frame and to accommodate such movement and permit movement of the peg plate peg between the first and second operative positions without releasing the stay bar, the peg may be slidably mounted in a curved slot.

The stay bar, peg plate and hook plate may each be made of any suitable metal or plastics materials or composites thereof to which any surface finish may be applied as required for any given application.

It will be understood that while the invention has been particularly described with reference to a casement stay, the invention has application to stays for doors and the like as well as to other fittings for windows, doors and the like in which the closure member (the casement, door or the like) is mounted for hinging movement about a horizontal or vertical axis and is secured in a closed position relative to the fixed frame by the engagement of an operating member on one of the closure member and fixed frame with an abutment on the other of the closure member and fixed frame.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate three alternative types of movable abutment suitable for use with such other fittings. Where appropriate like reference numeals are used to indicate parts corresponding the embodiment abovedescribed.

In Fig. 9, there is shown a movable abutment comprising a wedge-shaped keeper 36 for use with an operating member comprising a pivotal handle (not shown) of a fastener in which a nose or tongue on or opening in the handle is engageable with the keeper to secure the closure member.

In Fig. 10, there is shown a movable abutment comprising a slotted keeper 37 for use with an operating member comprising a longitudinally displaceable bolt (not shown) or an espagnolette fastener in which the bolt is engageable in the slot 38 to secure the closure member.

In Fig. 11, there is shown a movable abutment comprising a rectangular keeper 39 for use with an operating member comprising a striker (not shown) provided by a pivotal handle of a fastener or a bolt of an espagnolette fastener to secure the closure member.

In each of Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the keeper 36, 37 or 39 is mounted in the slot 24 in the base 22 and is slidable lengthwise of the slot 24 in similar manner to the peg 16 of the peg plate 13 above-described on operation of the actuator 34 to provide movement of the abutment between the first and second operative position for engagement with the operating member to secure the closure member in the closed and night vent positions respectively.

Claims (21)

1. A fitting for use with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for opening/closing movement relative thereto, the fitting compris ing an abutment adapted for mounting on one of the closure member and fixed frame and an operating member adapted for mounting on the other of the closure member and fixed frame for engagement and disengagment with the abutment, the abutment being movable between first and second operative positions in which the operating member is engageable with the abutment to secure the closure mem ber in closed and night vent positions respectively.

2. A fitting according to Claim 1 wherein the abutment is mounted for movement in a direction which permits movement of the abutment between the first and second positions without releasing the operating member.

3. A fitting according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the abutment is slidably mounted in a slot in a base part adapted for attachment to said one of the closure member and fixed frame.

4. A fitting according to Claim 3 wherein the opposed ends of the slot provide stops to limit sliding movement of the abutment and define the first and second operative positions.

5. A fitting according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the slot is constructed and arranged to permit sliding movement of the abutment between the first and second operative positions without releasing the operating member.

6. A fitting according to any one of Claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein the base part includes guide means for controlling sliding movement of the abutment between the first and second operative positions.

7. A fitting according to Claim 6 wherein the guide means comprises a guide block slidably supported on the base part and provided with a formation co-operating with the abutment to slide the abutment lengthwise of the slot on displacement of the block.

8. A fitting according to Claim 7 wherein the base part is hollow and the block is mounted in the base part and connected through an opening in the base part to a manually operable actuator for moving the guide block.

9. A fitting according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the formation comprises a groove in which one end of the abutment is received, the groove having opposed end portions aligned with respective one ends of the slot and connected by a centre portion.

10. A fitting according to Claim 9 wherein the end portions extend substantially parallel to one another and transversely with respect to the length of the slot while the centre portion is inclined with respect to the length of the slot.

11. A fitting according to Claim 6 wherein the guide means comprises a rack on the abutment engageable with a pinion mounted on the base part and connected to an actuator for rotating the pinion to effect sliding movement of the abutment.

12. A fitting according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the operating member comprises an elongate stay bar and the abutment comprises a peg engageable with the stay bar in each of the first and second operative positions.

13. A fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the operating member comprises a pivotal handle and the abutment a keeper engageable with either part of the handle or an element operable by the handle.

14. A fitting for use with a closure mem ber mounted on a fixed frame for open ing/closing movement relative thereto substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 of the accompanying draw ings.

15. A fitting for use with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for opening/closing movement relative thereto substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings as modified by any one of Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A fitting according to any one of the preceding Claims in combination with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for opening/closing movement relative thereto.

17. The combination according to Claim 16 wherein the closure member is mounted for hinged or pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

18. The combination according to Claim 16 wherein the closure member is mounted for hinged or pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

19. The combination according to any one of Claims 16 to 18 wherein the operating member is mounted on the closure member and the abutment is mounted on the fixed frame.

20. The combination according to any one of Claims 16 to 19 wherein the closure member comprises a casement.

21. The combination according to any one of Claims 16 to 19 wherein the closure member comprises a door.