GB2225377A - Stay assembly particularly for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A stay assembly particularly for a window, is formed by two hinged stays (20, 22) connectable between the window leaf (12) and the frame (14). A prop bar (26) is pivotally connected at one end to one stay (22) and at its other end the bar carries a projection (42) which engages in a guideway (44) provided in the other stay (20). The guideway has notches (46) in which the projection is engageable to define various open positions of the window. Each notch is provided with separate entry (56) and exit (58) passages for the projection such that, on closing, the projection must be guided into and out of successive notches before the window can be closed. This prevents slamming of the window. A hooked catch (32) engages the pivot pin at the mounting (28) when the window is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

AN OPENER PARTICULARLY FOR WINDOWS The invention relates to an opener for controlling the hinged movement of a leaf into a fixed frame between an open and closed position and particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a mechanism for opening and closing windows.

The present invention provides an opener for controlling the hinged movement of a leaf between open and closed positions into a fixed frame comprising first and second stays hinged together at respective one ends and having respective other ends attached to the leaf and the frame respectively, one of said stays having a bar pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends thereof, the bar having a projection that co-operates with a guideway in the other of said stays which includes two or more notches in which the projection is successively engageable on opening of the leaf to hold the leaf in respective open positions, each notch being divided into separate entry and exit passages for guiding the projection respectively into and out of engagement with the associated notch, the projection, on lifting of the first stay to open the leaf, being guided by the guideway to successive positions for receipt in the entry passages of the notches and, on closing of the leaf, the projection disengaging from the notch via the exit passage and being positioned adjacent the preceeding entry passage so as to require successive notch disengaging movements to close the leaf.

Thus the present invention provides a mechanism to prevent the sudden slamming of the leaf into the fixed frame by requiring successive notch-engaging movements on closure.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to a particular embodiment thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a horizontally mounted window assembly incorporating an opener, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the window opener of Figure 1 in a closed position, Figure 3 is a plan view of the window opener shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a stay of the window opener shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a side elevation of the stay of the window opener shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a catch of the window opener shown in Figures 1 to 3 and shown from one side, Figure 7 is a side elevation of the window opener catch from the side shown in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the window opener catch of Figure 6 and shown from a side opposite said one side.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the window opener catch from the side shown in Figure 8, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second stay of the window opener shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 11 is a side elevation of the stay of the window opener shown in Figure 10, Figure 12 is a plan view of the stay of the window opener shown in Figure 10, Figure 13 is a further side elevation of the stay of the window opener shown in Figure 10 and shown from a side opposite to that shown in Figure 11, and Figure 14 is a side elevation, partially in cross-section, of a pair of brackets of the window opener shown in Figures 1 to 3 attached to a window leaf and frame and shown in a closed position.

The window assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a window 12 hinged at one edge 16 in a horizontal frame 14. A window opener 18 interconnects an edge of the window 12 opposite the hinged edge 16, and an adjacent portion of the frame 14. The window opener 18 includes first and second stays 20 and 22 hinged together at one end by hinge 24, and includes a prop bar 26. The end of the first stay 20 remote from hinge 24 is pivotally connected to a first bracket 28 by a pin 38, the first bracket 28 in turn being connected to the frame 14 (see Fig. 14). The end portion of the second stay 22 remote from the hinge 24 is cranked and terminates in an eyelet 30 (see Figs. 10 to 13).At the commencement of the cranked portion, the second stay 22 is pivotally connected at 33 to a catch 32 which in turn is pivotally connected at 34 to a second bracket 36 (see Fig. 2) fixed to window 12 (see Fig. 14). The catch 32 and its operation will be described in more detail below.

Referring again to Figure 1, the prop bar 26 is pivotally attached at one end 40 to the second stay 22 intermediate the eyelet 30 and the hinge 24 and is provided with a projection 42 at the other end that co-operates with a guideway 44 in the first stay 20 to limit the opening of the window.

The guideway 44 is formed as a recess in the first stay 20 (see Figs. 4 and 5), the depth of the recess from the outer surface of the stay being varied to provide various guide surfaces (described in more detail below) extending in planes normal to the length of the stay. The guideway 44 includes three notches 46 in which the projection 42 may be engaged to define respective open positions of the window.

Adjacent the first notch 46 (in the direction of opening) is a blind end groove 64 which receives the projection 42 when the window is closed. An upper wall 45 of this groove 64 is continued over the notches 46 and then curves down into the last notch 46 (in the direction of opening) to define an outer periphery around a base 43 of the guideway 44. Each notch 46 is formed by a projection engaging concave surface 47 and a back surface 48 meeting at an apex 39, the back surface 48 extending to the base 43.

A guide is provided in each notch 46 and comprises first, second and third guide surfaces 50, 52, 60 and a nose 54. The first guide surface 50 extends from the apex 39 of the associated notch 46, as a convex continuation of the back surface 48. The height of the outer edge of the surface 50 above the base 43 is smaller than the height of the notch back surface 48.

The second guide surface 52 extends from the end of the associated first guide surface 50 in a slightly convex curve into the associated notch 46 terminating at the base of the projection-engaging concave surface 47. The height of the second guide surface 52 above the base 43 is greater than the height of the first guide surface 50 but less than the height of the notch back surface 48.

The first and second guide surfaces 50, 52 and the projection-engaging concave surface 47 enclose an area 49 which is raised above the level of the base 43. The height of this area 49 is the height of the first guide surface 50 and the third guide surface 60 extends from this area 49 to the height of the second guide surface and runs generally parallel to the second guide surface 52, so that the second and third guide surfaces 52, 60 face in opposite directions.

The nose 54 is formed at the meeting ends of the first, second and third guide surfaces 50, 52 and 60 by respective portions of these surfaces of increased height above the base 43 such that the nose 54 is of generally triangular cross-section.

The three first guide surfaces 50 together with the upper wall 45 define a groove 62 extending over the three notches 46. Each second guide surface 52 forms, with the back surface 48 of the adjacent notch 46 (or the downwardly curved portion of the upper wall 45, in the case of the last notch 46), an entry passage 56 for the associated notch 46. Each third guide surface 60 forms, with the associated projection-engaging concave surface 47, an exit passage 58 for the associated notch 46. It will be seen that, relative to the length of the first stay 26, the angle of the exit passages 58 is greater than the angle of the entry passages 56, se that the entry and exit passages 56, 58 of each notch 46 are in a V-configuration. It will also be seen that each first guide surface 50 effectively extends across the upper end of the associated exit passage 58.

Thus each notch 46 is provided with separate entry 56 and exit 58 passages for guiding the projection 42 respectively into and out of engagement with the associated notch.

When the window 12 is closed, the projection 42 provided on the prop bar 26 is located at an initial position in the blind end portion 64 of the groove 62 as shown in Figure 5. As the window 12 is opened by raising eyelet 30, the prop bar 26 pivots on the second stay 22 and the projection 42 is moved from this initial position. The first guide surfaces 50 guide the projection 42 along the groove 62 to successive positions for receipt in the entry passages 56 of the notches 46 - the first surfaces 50 preventing the projection 42 entering the exit passages 58. When the window 12 has been opened to the desired extent, the eyelet 30 is released or lowered and the weight of the window 12 causes the projection 42 to engage in the notch 46 to which the projection 42 is adjacent, via the associated entry passage 56.If the projection is not immediately adjacent an entry passage 46, it will initially contact a first guide surface 50 which will guide the projection 42 into the preceeding notch 46.

With the projection 42 engaged in this way the window is held in an open position. If the notch engaged is not the last notch 42, the window may be opened further by raising the stay 22 to move the projection to any of the other notches 42.

To close the window 12 the eyelet 30 is raised slightly. The projection 42 is constrained to leave the notch 46 via the associated exit passage 58 whereafter the projection 42 engages the upper wall 45, which prevents further upward movement. The eyelet 30 is then lowered and, due to the angle of the stay 22, the projection 42 is guided by the second guide surface 52 of the preceeding notch 46 into engagement with the preceeding notch 46 via the associated entry passage 56. By raising and lowering the eyelet 30 a sufficient number of times, the projection 42 is engaged with and disengaged from successive notches 46 until the projection reaches the blind end portion 64 of the groove 62 so allowing the stays to pivot together and the opener to assume the initial position shown in Figure 5 where the window 12 is fully closed.

Each nose 54 prevents the projection 42 accidentally dropping past the end of the associated first guide surface 50 and ensures positive entry into the associated entry passage 56 and exit from the associated exit passage 58.

Thus the co-operation between the projection 42 and the guideway 44 provides an anti-slam mechanism prohibiting the sudden closure of the window 12 from a fully open position . If the window is suddenly raised by the wind, the most that will happen is that the projection will be moved to the preceeding notch 46. In this way damage to the window 12 and or to the frame 14 and stay assembly 18 may be prevented.

The construction and operation of the catch 32 will now be described, with particular reference to Figures 2 and 6 to 9.

The catch 32 is formed in one piece and has a body portion 33, provided with a hook 31, and a triangular flange 35. The body portion 33 is provided with a hole, by which it is pivotally connected to the associated bracket 36, see Fig. 2. The flange 35 is also provided with a hole, by which it is pivotally connected to the second stay 22 adjacent the end of the cranked portion. A projecting stop 66 is provided adjacent the hook 31 for a purpose to be described below.

The pin 38 forming the pivot between the first stay 20 and the associated bracket 28 projects beyond the pivot for engagement with the hook 31.

In the closed position of the opener shown in Figure 2, the hook 31 engages the projecting pin 38. The stop 66 is spaced from the second stay 22. An extension 70 on the first stay 20 prevents the opener pivoting relative to the brackets 28, 36 when in this position.

As the second stay 22 is lifted using the eyelet 30, the second stay 22 lifts the catch 32 so causing the catch 32 to pivot about the pivot 34 on the bracket 36. This pivotal movement disengages the hook 31 from the projecting pin 38 so releasing the second stay 22 for continued pivotal movement. After the hook 31 has disengaged, the stop 66 engages with the stay 22 to prevent further relative pivoting between the catch 32 and the second stay 22.

On closing, a reverse action takes place. As the window closes, the catch 32 is permitted to pivot relatively to the bracket 36 and the stay 22 in such a sense that the hook 31 re-engages with the projecting pin 38.

As may be best seen from Figure 3 the stay assembly 18 possesses a minimal internal projection, the maximum internal projection being at the eyelet 30 of the second stay 22. This enables the eyelet 30 to be engageable with a hook mounted on a pole or other suitable means without interfering with the catch 32 or the locking pin 38 and thus the stay assembly 18 may be operated even when installed in a roof window or when it is otherwise out of direct manual reach.

The opener described above with reference to the drawings incorporates a guideway in a first stay comprising three notches. It will be apparent however, that the guideway may comprise more or fewer notches. Similarly the guideway need not have a base, it could extend through the stay so as to become an opening. It will also be obvious that the projection may be in the form of by a roller and that the guideway may be provided in the second stay and the prop bar pivotally attached to the first stay. The stay assembly described above with reference to the drawings is fitted to a horizontally pivotal window, but it will be apparent that the assembly could equally well be used with a window mounted in other orientations or to control the hinged movement of any leaf within a fixed frame.

Claims (6)

1. An opener for controlling the hinged movement of a leaf between open and closed positions into a fixed frame comprising first and second stays hinged together at respective one ends and having respective other ends attached to the leaf and the frame respectively, one of said stays having a bar pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends thereof, the bar having a projection that co-operates with a guideway in the other of said stays which guideway includes two or more notches in which the projection is successively engageable on opening of the leaf to hold the leaf in respective open positions, each notch being divided into separate entry and exit passages for guiding the projection respectively into and out of engagement with the associated notch, the projection, on lifting of the first stay to open the leaf, being guided by the guideway to successive positions for receipt in the entry passages of the notches and, on closing of the leaf, the projection disengaging from the notch via the exit passage and being positioned adjacent the preceeding entry passage so as to require successive notch disengaging movements to close the leaf.

2. An opener according to claim 1 wherein, relative to the length of the first stay, the angle of each entry passage is greater than the angle of the associated exit passage.

3. An opener according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, for each notch, a first guide surface is provided by the guideway extending across the associated exit passage to guide the projection, on opening of the leaf, over -the associated exit passage to successive positions for receipt in the entry passages.

4. An opener according to claim 3 wherein, for each notch, second and third guide surfaces extend from adjacent the end of each first guide surface into the associated notch, the second and third guide surfaces facing in opposite directions, the second guide surface defining the entry passage and the third guide surface defining the exit passage.

5. An opener according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first stay is pivotally connected to a catch which in turn is separately pivotally connectable to the frame, the catch in the closed position, engaging a pin on the second stay to prevent lifting of the leaf, and, on lifting of the first stay to open the leaf, the catch pivoting relative to the first stay and the frame to disengage from the pin and release the first stay for continued opening movement.

6. An opener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accomanying drawings.