GB2233705A

GB2233705A - Locking window stay

Info

Publication number: GB2233705A
Application number: GB9013873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Naylor
Original assignee: Crompton Ltd
Current assignee: Crompton Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-21
Filing date: 1990-06-21
Publication date: 1991-01-16
Also published as: GB8914271D0; GB9013873D0

Abstract

A window stay 1 which is cooperable with a retaining clip 5 is adapted to receive captively a member 21 which is movable to provide retaining engagement of the window stay relative to the retaining clip. The member 21 is preferably configured as a snap-in stay-put part received slidably on the stay arm. When slid forward from the position shown the member 21 prevents sideways movement of the stay arm out of engagement with an abutment 7 on the clip 5. The member 21 may comprise a key operated lock 27, 29 which prevents movement of the member and thereby release of the stay arm from the retaining clip. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Locking Window Stay DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a locking window stay.

The traditional construction of a window stay is as an elongate arm of cast or forged metal, having a series of through holes along its length and cooperable with peg like clips secured to the opening sash and/or frame. It has been found that such stays when in the closed position can be jarred free from the pegs so providing a means of access to a building. Clearly for security purposes this is undesirable.

In our British Patent No. 2160581 we describe a window stay and mating clip which are cooperable to give retention of the stay on the clip in its closed position in a manner which requires a positive sideways movement towards the window sash to clear a retaining abutment before allowing release for opening movement.

Such a stay and clip provides security against jarring loose of the fastening and is useful in hindering "sneak thief" entry, etc.

There is a demand for even greater security and requirements are for ground floor opening windows to utilise window stays with a locking facility therefor.

This has been met by additional key operated locking devices fitted between window and frames or in the case of the traditional window stay, providing an alternative threaded peg and a mating key operated nut by which the window stay can be secured to its retaining clip. Such retaining nuts which become separate on release can be mislaid which may mean that in a rush to leave home the window is not as secure as it could be. Of course mislaying keys is another means of leaving a house less secure than it could be, and the need to unlock hinders opening windows for valuable ventilation purposes. Other more elaborate devices include stays having integral locking devices, again with a separate key.

Generally speaking customers are becoming increasingly concerned that the provision of security fittings should not necessarily mean sacrificing aesthetic considerations, and here the separate key operated locking devices fall down.

Another factor to be taken into account are the ordering and stocking problems for builders of new houses in ensuring the right quantities of lockable and non lockable stays are delivered on site and installed correctly in a given house. Clearly separate locking members and keys pose problems of possible loss of parts, before or after installation and from the builders point of view any lockability is only required when the house is finished and required to be secured.

Clearly replacing non locking stays with lockable ones is time consuming with the present options available.

It is an aim of the present invention to arrive at solutions to the above mentioned problems so as to provide a stay which meets security requirements of the consumer whilst accommodating aesthetic considerations and which is easy to operate to provide useful level of security and which more readily suits installers requirements.

Accordingly the present invention provides a window stay and retaining clip assembly which assembly is configurable as a lockable window stay assembly by being adapted to receive captively a member which is or has a part which is movable to provide retaining engagement of the window stay relative to the retaining clip.

A particularly advantageous construction results where the window stay assembly before configuration as a lockable window stay assembly functions as a non-lockable window stay assembly with the clip and arm being constructed to cooperate in the manner of our Patent No. 2160581. This allows such as builders to fit all the same window stays throughout a house and then only when required and where required convert to locking stays - say when carrying out a final completion inspection.

It is particularly advantageous if the configuration can be performed simply by snap-fitting the member into place (e.g. as a snap-in-stay put device), although other positive securing mounting arrangements are not ruled out. As a snap fit by way of cooperating projection and reception parts fitting can be accomplished very quickly.

It is preferred that the member be carried by the window stay, the movement then giving cooperation with the retaining clip. That movement may be provided as a key action and/or by physical movement of the member.

Such movement contributes another aspect of the present invention and may be incorporated in a purpose designed locking stay assembly. We prefer to have the member arranged as a sliding fit on the window stay whereby the member can be slid to provide retaining engagement of the window stay with the clip. That provides a means of good security - and additional to the resistance to jarring loosely provided by the preferred form of the clip and arm (ie. conforming to that of our Patent No. 2160581) and yet which easily affords the opportunity to open the window when required without having to seek out a key. Nevertheless, for even greater security where sliding is provided we prefer a key operated lock as well. This is operable after sliding of the member and acts to control movement of the member in the release direction, thereby providing ultimate security.Advantageously in the locked position the member may be physically linked to the stay by operation of the locking means.

Accordingly, another aspect of the invention provides a so called "double locking" feature.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary partial cross-sectional side view of the assembly in its released position; Figure 2 is a fragmentary partially cross-sectional side view of the assembly showing the first and second locking conditions; Figures 3 and 4 are front and end views of the retaining clip; and Figures 5 and 6 are side and end views of the lock member showing snap-fitting provisions.

Referring to the drawings, a window stay assembly comprises a window stay arm 1 with means (not illustrated) for securing pivotably to an openable window sash, and a retaining clip 5 with which the window stay arm is cooperable in its closed position for holding the arm. For this purpose the clip has a downwardly facing abutment 7 directed towards the window sash and which is cooperable with a ledge part 9 of the stay arm bounding a profiled aperture 11 in the stay arm. Thus release of the arm requires sideways movement of the arm toward the sash, for the abutment and ledge to clear, then allowing upward movement of the arm. The clip has an inclined edge 13 leading to the abutment 7 to assist in leading the parts into cooperating engagement. A further upstanding peg part 15 assists in retention and will be described further hereinafter.

The stay arm 1 is apertured at 17 and when it is to function simply as a non-lockable window stay can be fitted with a simple snap-in closure part. When the window stay is to be configured as a lockable window stay, the aperturing 17 serves to receive member 21, which has recessing defined between shoulder 23 and resilient lugs 25 in which material of the arm bounding the aperture 17 is received, thereby providing retaining engagement of the member on the stay arm. The recessing allows sliding in the directions of arrow A, between a release position (to the left in Figure 1) and a blocking position - described further with reference to Figure 2.In the blocking position a body part 20 of the member 21 engages with the retaining clip 5, actually shown as engaging with the upstanding lug part 15 which is a close fit in a recess between opposed shoulders 20a, 20b to thereby obstruct horizontal movement of the arm to clear the aforedescribed abutment. The sliding movement is achieved very simply to provide the first locking condition.

The member 21 further includes a locking barrel 27 having a key operable movable part 29 which in the released position allows the member to be moved to the stay release position, and which in the locking position obstructs movement of the member to its release position. This can be by way of cooperation with the retaining clip 5 but more preferably is by engagement of lug 29 of the lock body with a stop 31 of the window stay arm and thereby prevents movement of the member 21 and release of the stay arm.

The construction is particularly attractive in appearance in that the mechanism is positioned within the hollow cross-section of the stay arm with only the actuating part 33 projecting above the stay arm in the illustrated embodiment.

Claims

1. A window stay and retaining clip assembly which assembly is configurable as a lockable window stay assembly by being adapted to receive captively a member which is or has a part which is movable to provide retaining engagement of the window stay relative to the retaining clip.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the window stay assembly before configuration as a lockable window stay assembly functions as a non-lockable window stay assembly.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the clip and arm are co-operable to give retention of the stay on the clip in its closed position and in a manner which requires positive sideways movement towards the window sash to clear a retaining abutment.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the configuration is performed by snapfitting the member into place (eg. as a snap-in-stay put device).

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the snap fit is by way of cooperating projection and reception parts.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the member is carried by the window stay with the movement then giving cooperation with the retaining clip.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which movement of the movable member or part is provided as a key action and/or by physical movement of the member.

8. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims when configured as a purpose designed locking stay assembly.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the member is arranged as a sliding fit on the window stay whereby the member can be slid to provide retaining engagement of the window stay with the clip.

10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim and further comprising a key operated lock.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 in which the key operated lock is operable after movement of the member and acts to control movement of the member in the release direction.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 or 11 in which in the locked position the member may be physically linked to the stay by operation of the locking means.

13. An assembly constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.