GB2190702A

GB2190702A - Stay

Info

Publication number: GB2190702A
Application number: GB08612331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1986-05-21
Filing date: 1986-05-21
Publication date: 1987-11-25
Also published as: GB2190702B; GB8612331D0

Abstract

A stay 1 for controlling opening movement of a sash frame 5 pivotally mounted on a fixed frame 3 comprises a stay bar 9 pivotally connected at one end to the sash frame 5 and pivotally connected at the other end to a shoe slidably mounted in a housing 18 attached to the fixed frame 3 wherein the pivot connection between the stay bar 9 and the sash frame 3 is releasable to allow opening movement of the sash frame 5 beyond that permitted by the stay 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stay This invention relates to stays for windows, doors and the like having a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for movement relative thereto.

Window stays for restricting opening movement of a sash frame to a limit position for safe ventilation are commonly provided in windows installed above ground level, for example in high rise buildings or roofs, where unrestricted opening movement ofthe sash frame would present a considerable safety hazard to the user, especially a small child.

Such stays should, however, be releasable in an emergency, for example on outbreak of a fire, to allow the user to escape if the normal exits are blocked bythefire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stay which meets these requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a stay for windows, doors and the like having aclosure membermounted on afixedframe for movement relative thereto, the stay comprising a stay bar adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to one ofthe closure member and fixed frame and, pivotally connected at the other end to a shoe adapted to be slidably mounted on the other ofthe closure member and fixed frame wherein the pivot connection at said one end ofthe stay bar is releasable.

The invented stay controls movement ofthe closure member between closed and open positions through the sliding movement ofthe shoe atone end ofthe stay bar and the pivot connection at the other end of the stay bar is releasable to permit opening movement of the closure member beyond that permitted by the shoe.

Preferably the stay bar has a slot at said one end in which a fixed pivot pin on the closure member or fixed frame is received for pivotally connecting the components and a lateral entry opening into the slot through which the pivot pin is passed to engage and disengage the slot. Conveniently, the slot and lateral entry are provided by a hook at said one end ofthe stay bar.

Advantageously the stay bar is resiliently biassed to maintain the pivot pin in the slot and is movable against the resilient biassing to align the lateral entry with the pivot pin for passage ofthe pivot pin therethrough.

The resilient biassing is conveniently provided by a return spring acting on the shoe which serves to bias the shoe to the closed position of the closure member. In this way the stay can be released with the closure member closed by lifting the stay bar against its resilient biassing to align the lateral entry and pivot pin and opening the closure member.

Preferably the lateral entry has a guide face engageable with the pivot pin to provide a cam action for moving the stay bar against its resilient biassing and automatically engaging the pivot pin in the slot. The guide face is conveniently provided at the free end of the hook.

The shoe is preferably mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of a recess in a housing adapted for mounting on the other of the closure member and fixed frame and the return spring acts to bias the shoe to one end ofthe recess.

Advantageouslythe shoe includes a resilient detent engageable with the housing to restrict sliding movement of the shoe for securing the closure member in a selected position. Conveniently the detent is slidably received in a slot in the housing and the slot is formed with one or more notches automatically engaged by the detent to restrict sliding movement of the shoe.

Preferably the slot has a notch engaged by the detentfor securing the closure member in the closed position and at least one further notch for securing the closure member in an open position.

The notch for securing the closure member in the closed position is preferably oversize relative to the detentforpermitting limited sliding movement of the shoe to open the closure member to a vent position without releasing the detent.

The detent is conveniently provided on an actuator projecting from the housing and the actuator is manually movable againstthe biassing ofthedetent to release the detent.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a stay according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe stay shown in Figure 1 in combination with awindowshown secured in an open position; Figure 3 is a side view, to a reduced scale, ofthe stay and window shown in Figure 2 with the window shown closed and fully reversed; Figure 4 is a detail side view of the stay and window shown in Figure 2 with the window shown secured in the closed position; Figure5is a detail side view, similarto Figure 4, with the window shown secured in a second open position; and Figure 6is a detail sideview,similarto Figure4, with the stay shown released.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a stay 1 according to the present invention in combination with a window 2 comprising a fixed frame 3 defining a rectangular aperture 4 in which a glazed sash frame5 is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at the mid-point of the sash frame 5 by a pair of hinges 6 disposed on opposed sides ofthe sash frame 5. The fixed frame 3 and sash frame 5 are of timber construction but other materials such as extrusions of metal, alloy, plastics or composites thereof may be used for one or both of thefixed frame 3 and sash frame 5 in known manner.

The hinges 6 are of known type having aligned pivot axes offsetto the inside ofthe window 2 to permit pivotal movement of the sash frame 5 through 180 between closed and reversed positions as shown in Figure 3therebyfacilitating cieaning of both sides of the sash frame 5 from the inside.

To provide a weathertig ht seal with an internal peripheral flange 7 of the fixed frame 3 in the closed position and permit pivotal movement of the sash frame5tothe reversed position,thesash frame 5 has an external peripheral flange 8 having a first part 8a which is contiguous with the inner face of the upper half ofthe sash frame and a second part 8b which is contiguous with the outer face of the lower half of the sash frame 5. The parts 8a, 8b may be provided with weatherstrips (notshown) in known manner.

The window 2 above-described in which the sash frame 5 is reversible is suitable for use in high rise buildings, roofs or any other situation where access to the outside of the window 2 is restricted. Windows of this type are well known and form no partofthe present invention which is directed to the stay 1 for controlling movement ofthe sash frame 5 relativeto the fixed frame 3.

The stay 1 acts between the fixed frame 3 and the sash frame 5 atthe bottom right hand corner ofthe window 2 and, as described in more detail below, is operable to secure the sash frame 5 in the closed position and a selected one oftwo open positions as well as being releasableto permitthe afore-described reversal of the sash frame 5 for cleaning purposes. The open positions are chosen to provide the required ventilation without risk ofthe user, especially a child, falling outthrough the resultant gap between the fixed frame 3 and sash frame 5.

The stay 1 includes an elongate stay bar 9 having a hook 10 at one end providing a slot 11 and a lateral entry 12 opening into the slot 11 for passage of a fixed pivot pin 13 carried buy a bracket 14 secured to the sash frame 5 by means of screws 15. The free end of the hook 10 is inclined relative to the length ofthe stay bar 9 to provide a guide face 1 for automatically engaging the pivot pin 13 in the slot 11 to connect pivotallythe end of the stay bar 9 to the sash frame 5 in use ofthe stay 1 as described later.

The stay 1 further includes a shoe 17 mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of an elongate hollow rectangular housing 18 secured to the fixed frame 3 by means of screws (not shown). The housing 18 comprises a base member 19 providing a channel-section recess 20 in which the shoe 17 is slidably received and a cover plate 21 releasably secured to the base member 19 to retain the shoe 17 in the recess 20. The cover plate 21 is formed with a slot 22 extending parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the shoe 17 and having three longitudinally spaced apart notches 23,24,25 in one side.

The other end ofthe stay bar 9 remote from the hook 10is pivotally connected to the shoe 17 by a pivot pin 27 extending through a hole 26 in the end of the stay bar and the slot 22 in the cover plate 21 to engage a tapped hole 28 in the shoe 17.

The shoe 17 is biassed to one end of the recess 20 by a return spring 29 acting between the other end of the recess 20 and the shoe 17 and this resilient biassing acts on the stay bar 9 to maintain the fixed pin 13 on the sash frame 5 in the slot 11 atthe hook end ofthe stay bar 9.

Formed intermediate the ends of the shoe 17 is a rectangular cut-out 30 open towards the slot 22 in the cover plate 21 and an elongate opening 31 in a side wall 32 of the base member 19. An actuator 33 extends through the opening 31 and is slidably received in the cut-out 30. The inner end ofthe actuator33is provided with a detent34comprisinga lateral projection received in and slidable lengthwise of the slot 22.

Aspring 35 received in the cut-out 30 acts between the shoe 17 and the inner end of the actuator 33to bias the actuator 33 outwards wherebythe detent 34 is engageable automatically in the longitudinally spaced apart notches 23,24,25 to limit sliding movementofthe shoe 17 and hence movement of the sash frame 5 relative to the fixed frame 3.

The first notch 23 is engaged bythe detent 34 in the closed position of the window 2 shown in Figure 4 in which the stay bar 9 lies alongside and parallel to the housing 18 with the hook end received in a U-shaped holder 36 integral with the housing.

The second and third notches 24 and 25 respectively are engaged bythedetent34in respective open positions of the window 2 shown in Figures 5 and 2 in which the stay bar 9 is inclined relative to the housing 18.

The first notch 23 has a length slightly greaterthan the length ofthe detent 34to permit limited sliding movement of the shoe 17 for restricted opening of the sash frame 5 to a partially open "vent" position (not shown), without disengaging the detent 34. In the "vent" position, a narrow gap is provided between the sash frame 5 and fixed frame 3 which is sufficientforventilation purposes whilst precluding insertion of a hand or tool to release the detent 34.

The second and third notches 24 and 25 respectively each have a length similar to the length of the detent 34 to prevent sliding movement ofthe shoe 17 for securing firmly the sash frame 5 in each ofthe open positions.

As will be appreciated the detent 34 is released from the notches 23,24,25 to permit sliding movement ofthe shoe 17 to select any one ofthe closed and open positions by manually depressing the actuator 33 against the bias of spring 35.

The stay 1 is released to permit opening of the sash frame 5 beyond the open position provided bythe engagement of the detent34 in the third notch 25 by disengaging the fixed pivot pin 13 on the sash frame Sfrom the slot 11 atthe hook end ofthe stay bar9.

This disengagement is achieved in the closed position ofthe sash frame 5 by manually lifting the stay bar 9 against the bias of the return spring 29 by means of a lug 37 provided intermediate the ends of the stay bar9to align the pivot pin 13withthe lateral entry 12 to the slot 11 whereby the pivot pin 13 passes through the entry 12 to disengage the slot 11 on pivotting the sash frame 5 to open the window 2 enabling the sash frame 5 to be pivotted through 180 to the reversed position shown in Figure 3.

The return spring 29 automatically lowers the stay bar 9 on releasing the stay bar 9 so that, on subsequently pivotting the sash frame Sto close the window 2, the guide face 16 provided at the free end of the hook loins aligned with and engaged by the fixed pivot pin 13 on the sash frame 5 producing a cam action which automatically raises the stay bar9 against the bias of the return spring 29 enabling the pivot pin 13 to pass through the lateral entry 12 whereupon the stay bar9 is automatically lowered bythe return spring 29to engage and maintainthe pivot pin 13 in the slot 11.

As will be appreciated from a comparison of Figures4and 5, manual displacement ofthestay bar 9 against the bias ofthe return spring 29to disengage the fixed pivot pin 13 from the slot 11 is permitted in the closed or substantially closed position ofthesash frame 5 in which thestay bar9 lies alongside and substantially parallel to the inner face of the sash frame 5 but is prevented in the open positions in which the stay bar 9 extends at an angle to the inner face of the sash frame 5. As a resultthe stay 1 provides safety and security against accidental or unauthorised release in the open positions ofthe sash frame 5.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described, for examplethe numberandspacingofthenotches 23,24,25 engaged by the detent 34 to secure the sash frame 5 may be selected to provide any desired range and combination ofclosed,ventand open positions.

The length ofthe stay bar9 and the range ofsliding movement ofthe shoe 17 may be selected to provide any desired opening movement ofthe sash frame 5.

The shoe 17 and recess 20 may be of any suitable shape permitting sliding movement ofthe shoe 17.

Theshoe 17 may be slidably mounted on the sash frame 5 and thefixed pivot pin 13 mounted on the fixed frame 3 for engagement and disengagement with the hook end of the stay bar 9.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the invented stay has application to all types and constructions of closure member mounted on a fixed frame for hinged or pivotal movement about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis, for example the stay may be used with side, top or bottom hung sash frames as well as doors and the like.

Claims

1. A stay for windows, doors and like having a closure member mounted on afixed frame for movement relative thereto, the stay comprising a stay bar adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to one ofthe closure member and fixed frame and, pivotally connected at the other end to a shoe adapted to be slidably mounted on the other ofthe closure member and fixed frame wherein the pivot connection at said one end ofthe stay bar is releasable.

2. Astay according to claim 1 wherein, in use,the pivot connection at said one end ofthe stay bar is releasable when the closure member is closed or substantially closed.

3. Astayaccordingtoclaim 1 orclaim 2wherein the stay bar has a slot at said one end in which a fixed pivot pin on the closure member or fixed frame is received for pivotally connecting the components and a lateral entry opening into the slot for passage ofthe pivot pin to engage and disengage the slot.

4. Astayaccordingtoclaim 3whereintheslot and lateral entry are provided buy a hook at said one end ofthe stay bar.

5. A stay according to claim 3 or claim 4wherein the stay bar is resiliently biassed to maintain the pivot pin in the slot.

6. A stay according to claim 5 wherein the lateral entry has a guide face engageable with the pivot pin to move the stay bar against the resilient biassing to position automatically the pivot pin in the slot.

7. Astay according to claim 6 wherein the resilient biassing is provided by a return spring acting on the shoe.

8. A stay according to claim 7 wherein the shoe is mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of a recess in a housing adapted for mounting on the other of the closure member and fixed frame and the return spring acts to bias the shoe to one end ofthe recess.

9. Astayaccordingto claim Bwhereintheshoe includes a resilient detent engageable with the housing to restrict sliding movement ofthe shoe.

10. A stay according to claim 9 wherein the detent is slidably received in a slot in the housing and the slot isformed with a notch for engagement by the detent to restrict sliding movement ofthe shoe.

11. Astayaccordingto claim 10 wherein, in use, the notch is engaged by the detentto secure the closure member closed.

12. Astay according to claim 11 whereinthe notch is oversize relativetothe detentto permit opening of the closure member to a vent position without releasing the detent.

13. A stay according to any one of claims 10to 12 wherein the slot has at least one further notch which, in use, is engaged by the detent to secure the closure member in an open position.

14. Astay according to anyone of ciaims 9to 13 wherein the detent is provided by a spring loaded actuator mounted in the shoe and arranged to project from the housing.

15. Astayforwindows, doors and the like having aclosure member mounted on afixedframefor movement relative thereto substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A stay according to any one ofthe preceding claims in combination with a closure member mounted on a fixed frame for movement relative thereto.

17. Thecombination according to claim 16 wherein the releasable pivotal connection is provided between said one end of the stay barand the closure member.

18. The combination according to claim 16 or claim 17wherein the closure membercomprises a sash frame.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein the sash frame is mounted on the fixed frame buy a pair of hinges positioned on opposed sides ofthe sash frame which permit pivotal movementof the sash frame through 180 .

20. The combination according to claim 16 or claim 17wherein the closure membercomprises a door.