GB2201997A

GB2201997A - Window stays

Info

Publication number: GB2201997A
Application number: GB08705641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin William Chapman
Original assignee: Cego Ltd
Current assignee: Cego Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-10
Filing date: 1987-03-10
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-10
Also published as: GB8705641D0; GB2201997B

Abstract

A four bar linkage type window stay has a cap member (26) mounted at one end of a track (2). The cap member (26) defines a recess (24) in which a tapered end (12) of a bar (14) is received in the closed position of the stay. One side of the recess is defined by an upstanding cam edge (64), and the other side by means of a pawl (80) which is pivotably mounted between upper and lower portions of the cap member (26) and is rotated by end (12) into a position in which it retains the end in the cap member, thus holding the window firmly shut. <IMAGE>

Description

WINDOW STAYS The present invention relates to window stays and, more particularly, to friction window stays of the four bar linkage type.

A four bar friction linkage window stay is described in U.S. Patent Specification No. 2784459. This type of stay comprises a slider which is movable along an elongate track which is fixed to the window frame. Two links each have one end pivotally mounted to the slider. The other end of one link is pivotally connected to a bar which is fixed to the frame of the openable window vent. A strut is pivotally mounted to the track and is also pivotally connected to the other end of the other link and to an intermediate point on the bar. In the closed position of the window the bar overlies the track with the links and strut inbetween the track and the bar. The end of the track is normally provided with a cap member into which the end of the bar seats in a closed position.

Such window stays may be mounted to the window frame at either side of the window, in which case the window vent will pivot open about its top edge. The window vent is held in a desired open position by the friction between the slider and the track.

The cap member provided at the end of the track typically comprises two inclined, internal cam surfaces against which an inclined edge of the end of the bar can close with a wedging action in order to bring the vent into its properly closed position. Ideally the end of the bar should be held relatively tightly in the cap member in the closed position of the vent so as to prevent forcing of the window or rattling in adverse weather conditions.

However, if the cap member is designed to hold the end tightly, it may give rise to difficulty in closing the window.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a window stay comprising an elongate track defining a channel, a slider movable along the track channel, first and second links each having one end pivotally mounted to the slider, a bar for mounting to the frame of an openable window vent, the other end of the first link being pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said bar, a strut having one end pivotally mounted to one end of the track, the other end of said strut being pivotally mounted to an intermediate point on the bar, the other end of said second link being pivotally mounted to an intermediate point on said strut, and a retaining cap member mounted to the other end of the track, said cap member defining a recess in which a tapered end of said bar is received, said recess being defined on the side opposite that to which the bar opens by an upstanding edge, and on the other side by means of a pivotable pawl which is shaped and positioned so that it is engaged during closing of the stay by said tapered end of the bar and pivoted into a position in which the pawl retains said end in the cap member.

The use of a pawl reduces the resistance to closing and yet allows the end to be held firmly in the cap member in the closed position.

Preferably the pawl is substantially V-shaped with one longer arm and one shorter arm, the end of the bar 12 being adapted to engage the longer arm during closing and pivot it to a position in which it is received in the cap member forward of the end of the bar in the closed .position of the stay, the shorter arm of the pawl then engaging aginst the inclined edge of the bar. In this way, the end of the bar prevents the pawl pivoting into a position where the end can be forced laterally outwardly from the cap member.

A window stay in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the window stay in a partially opened position; and Figure 2 is a transverse section through the cap member showing its internal structure.

The window stay illustrated in Figure 1 is one of a pair.

The other window stay of the pair is a mirror image of the stay illustrated, otherwise it is identical in all respects. Threfore, only one stay of the pair will be described.

The stay comprises a track 2 which defines an upwardlyopen channel 4 in which a lower guide portion of a slider 6 can be moved longitudinally of the track. First and second links 8, 10, each have one end pivotally connected to the slider 6. The other end of the first link 8 is pivotally connected close to one tapered end 12 of a bar 14 which is provided with fixing points 16 for securing it to the base of a recess in a side of an openable window vent. The bar 14 is also pivotally connected at an intermediate point to one end of a strut 18 which has its other end pivotally connected to the track 2 via a support pad 19. The second link 10 has its end remote from the slider 6 pivotally connected to an intermediate point on the strut 18.

The strut 18 and the bar 14 are stepped at portions 20 and 22 respectively so that when the slider 6 is moved to its uppermost (relative to Figure 1) position, the bar 14 can be closed up to the track 2 so that its end 12 is received and retained by a cap member 26 fitted at the end of the track 2. In this closed position the bar 14 overlies the strut 18 and the links 8 and 10 above the channel 4.

The track is an elongate member made of metal, preferably aluminium. The channel 4 is defined by upwardly extending and inturned edges of a base. The track 2 is fixed to the window frame by means of countersunk screws which pass through fitting holes in the base of the track.

The cap member 26 may be made of a glass reinforced plastics, preferably nylon, member or a stainless steel pressing. The cap member 26 is secured to the track 2 by means (not shown), for example, a tongue projecting into the channel 4 may be formed integrally with the cap member 26 so that the cap member can be fixed to the channel by means of a mounting screw passing through corresponding holes in the tongue and base of the track and into the window frame. The cap member 26 has upper and lower wall portions which lie parallel to the plane of the track and define between them a recess 24 in which the tapered end 12 of the bar 14 is received in the closed position of the stay.The upper and lower portions are joined at the side opposite that to which the bar opens by an upstanding edge 64 which serves as a cam member engaging with the tip of the tapered end 12 during closing and with the straight edge of the end 12 of the bar 14 in the closed position.

The upper and lower portions are joined on the opposite side of the recess 24 by a transverse pin 82 which passes through a bore in a pawl 86 so that the pawl 86 can freely pivot about the axis of the pin 82. The pawl 86 is generally V-shaped and has a longer arm 84 and a shorter arm 86. The pawl is mounted so that it normally adopts the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 with the longer arm closest to the edge 64. The shaft of the pin 82 which passes through the body of the pawl 86 is eccentric to the parts of the pin which engage the upper and lower portions of the cap member 26, so that rotation of the pin in its mountings in the cap member adjusts the position of the pawl. This adjustment allows the best fit between the end 12 and the cap member to be achieved.

The end 12 of the bar 14 engages the longer arm 84 as the end 12 is bought into the cap member 26. The engagement of the end 12 with the arm 84 causes the pawl to pivot to the position shown in the chain line in Figure 2. In this position the edge of the second arm 86 acts on the inclined edge of the tapered end 12 of the bar 14 so as to resist forced opening of the stay. The positioning of the longer arm in this closed position forward of the end 12 serves to prevent the shorter arm pivoting out of engagement with the inclined edge.

In use, as the window is closed, the slider 6 moves upwardly as shown in Figure 1. When the end 12 reaches the cap member, it engages the inside edge of the arm 84 as the end moves into the recess 24 and pivots the pawl clockwise. The tip engages the cam edge 64 as it moves into the completely closed position. When the bar reaches its closed position parallel to the track the straight edge of the end 12 lies adjacent the cam edge 64 and the pawl 80 prevents the end 12 from being forced outwardly from the recess 24.

Claims

1. A window stay comprising an elongate track defining a channel, a slider movable along the track channel, first and second links each having one end pivotally mounted to the slider, a bar for mounting to the frame of an openable window vent, the other end of the first link being pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said bar, a strut having one end pivotally mounted to one end of the track, the other end of said strut being pivotally mounted to an intermediate point on the bar, the other end of said second link being pivotally mounted to an intermediate point on said strut, and a retaining cap member mounted to the other end of the track, said cap member defining a recess in which a tapered end of said bar is received, said recess being defined on the side opposite that to which the bar opens by an upstanding edge, and on the other side by means of a pivotable pawl which is shaped and positioned so that it is engaged during closing of the stay by said tapered \s end of the bar and pivoted into a position in which the pawl retains said end in the cap member.

2. A window stay according to claim 1, wherein the cap member is made of glass reinforced plastics or stainless steel.

3. A window stay according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap member is secured to the track by means of a tongue which projects into the track channel.

4. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pawl is substantially V-shaped with one longer arm and one shorter arm, the end of the bar being adapted to engage the longer arm during closing and pivot it to a position in which it is received in the cap member forward of the end of the bar in the closed position of the stay, the shorter arm of the pawl then engaging against the inclined edge of the bar.

5. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pawl is mounted by means of a pin with at least one end fixedly mounted in the cap member, a portion of the pin to which the pawl is mounted being eccentric relative to the axis of said end mounted in the cap member in order to allow adjustment of the position of the pawl by rotation of the pin in its mounting.

6. A window stay substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.