GB2254651A - Stay - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball joint 4 for connecting a stay arm 2 to a bracket 3 comprises a ball 7 mounted on a stem 9 on the bracket 3 and a socket 8 on the arm 2. The socket 8 has an access opening 17 for insertion of the ball 7 and the socket wall 18a, 18b is deformed around the opening 17 to trap and retain the ball 7 in the socket 8. Clearance between the stem 9 and the marginal edge of the opening 17 is maintained by engagement of a boss 11 on the ball 7 in recess 21 in the socket 8. <IMAGE>

Description

STAY This invention relates to stays and in particular, though not exclusively, to stays for windows of the kind having a fixed frame and a casement hingedly mounted on the frame for opening and closing movement relative to the frame with the stay arranged to secure the casement in the closed position and to hold the casement in at least one open position.

Stays for such windows commonly comprise an elongate arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket for mounting on the casement. To secure the casement closed, the arm conventionally engages a hook plate mounted on the casement or frame remote from the bracket and a peg plate mounted on the frame intermediate the hook plate and bracket. To hold the casement in an open position, the arm engages the peg plate at one or more positions spaced apart lengthwise of the arm.

The arm extends parallel to the plane of the casement in the closed position and, on opening the casement, the arm is swung away from and extends at an angle to such plane. For this swinging movement and also for raising and lowering the arm relative to the hook plate and/or peg plate, the pivot connection between the arm and bracket is arranged to permit angular movement of the arm about two mutually perpendicular axes.

One known pivot connection comprises a ball joint wherein the ball is on the bracket and is received in a socket on the arm. The ball is located and retained by a member secured to the arm and having an access opening through which a stem carrying the ball extends with clearance.

A disadvantage of such known ball joints is that angular movement of the arm relative to the bracket is limited by engagement of the stem with the edges of the opening and, usage over a period of time and/or excessive force applied through the arm can cause breakage of the stem.

A further disadvantage of the known ball joints is that manufacture and assembly is complicated by the use of a member secured to the arm to locate and retain the ball which adds to the cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stay in which the arm and bracket are connected by a ball joint which mitigates the aforementioned disadvantages of the known ball joints.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a stay having an elongate arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket by a ball joint comprising a ball on one of the arm and bracket retained in a socket on the other of the arm and bracket, the ball and socket having cooperating formations arranged to limit angular movement of the arm.

The co-operating formations preferably maintain clearance between a stem carrying the ball and the marginal edge of an access opening in the socket for the stem and/or ball. In this way forces applied to the arm are prevented from acting directly on and stressing the stem.

The formations conveniently comprise a boss or like projection on one of the ball and socket that is received in a recess in the other of the ball and socket.

Preferably, the recess is in the base of the socket and extends parallel to the centre longitudinal axis of the arm, and the boss is on the ball diametrically opposite and coaxial with the stem.

With this arrangement the boss is engage able with opposed ends of the recess to restrict angular movement of the arm about an axis normal to the stem and angular movement of the arm about the stem is permitted in each of the end or limit positions as well as any intermediate position therebetween.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a stay having an elongate arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket by a ball joint comprising a ball on one of the arm and bracket, a socket on the other of the arm and bracket, the socket having an access opening for reception of the ball in the socket with the ball being retained in the socket by deforming the edge of the access opening to trap the ball in the socket.

Retaining the ball in the socket through deformation of the socket itself avoids the separate member previously used for this purpose thereby simplifying manufacture and assembly and reducing costs.

Preferably, the ball is on the bracket and the socket is on the arm.

Advantageously, the arm is of channel-section and the socket is arranged within the channelsection in a pocket constructed and arranged to receive a tool for deforming the edge of the access opening.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view from below and one side showing the ball joint of a casement stay according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the socket portion of the arm shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a part longitudinal section of the ball joint shown in Figure 1 with the arm in a first limit or end position; and Figure 4 is a part longitudinal section similar to Figure 3 showing the arm in a second limit or end position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a window casement stay 1 includes a stay arm 2 generally of inverted channel-section (part only shown) connected at one end to a bracket 3 by a ball joint 4.

The arm 2 and bracket 3 are formed from any suitable materials such as metal, alloy or plastics having any pattern and/or surface finish applied as required. The arm 2 and bracket 3 may also have any desired style and the arm 2 may incorporate a security latching and/or locking device.

The bracket 3 has a pair of lugs 5 formed with holes 6 by means of which the bracket 3 is secured to a casement (not shown) mounted, in known manner, on a fixed frame for hinged or pivotal movement about a vertical or horizontal axis.

The arm 2 has one or more longitudinally spaced apart formations (not shown) for engagement with a peg plate (not shown) on the frame to hold the casement in at least one open position in which the arm 2 extends away from the casement.

In the closed position of the casement, the arm 2 extends parallel to the casement and is secured by twin engagement with the peg plate or the peg plate and a hook plate on the casement or frame.

Such construction and operation of the stay 1 is conventional and forms no part of the present invention and will be understood by those skilled in the art without further description herein.

The ball joint 4 connecting the arm 2 to the bracket 3 comprises a ball 7 received and retained in a socket 8.

The ball 7 is formed integrally with the bracket 3 on a cylindrical stem 9 upstanding from a base 10 of the bracket 3.

Projecting from the ball 7 diametrically opposite and coaxial with the stem 9 is a cylindrical boss 11 having an annular chamfer face 12 at the free end.

The socket 8 is formed integrally with the arm 2 between a transverse web 13 connecting the side walls 14 of the arm 2 and an end wall 15 of the arm 2 having a notch 16 formed therein.

The socket 8 has an access opening 17 to the underside of the arm 2 for insertion of the ball defined by opposed wall portions 18a,18b extending from the end wall 15 on either side of the notch 16 and terminating at a vertical groove 19 formed in the socket on the opposite side of the opening 17.

The socket 8 provides a part spherical bearing surface 20 for the ball 7 and has a blind recess 21 at the bottom extending on the centre longitudinal axis of the arm 2 for reception of the boss 11.

To assemble the ball joint, the ball 7 is inserted through the access opening 17 into the socket 8 and the boss 11 located in the recess 21.

The opposed wall portions 18a,18b are then deformed inwardly by a suitable tool (not shown) to trap and retain the ball 7 in the socket 8 with clearance between the stem 9 and the marginal edge of the access opening 17 and, to provide a bearing surface 22 for the underside of the ball 7.

For this deformation of the access opening 13, the tool is inserted into a pocket 23 around the wall portions 18a,18b and is located against the transverse web 13. Deformation is facilitated by the groove 19 separating the ends of the wall portions 18a,18b.

In use, the arm 2 can be moved angularly relative to the bracket 3 about an axis parallel 0 to the stem 9 through 180 from the position shown in Figure 3. In this way, right or left hand fitting of the stay 1 is permitted and the arm 2 can be swung towards and away from the casement for opening and closing movement thereof.

The arm 2 can also be moved angularly relative to the bracket 3 about an axis normal to the stem 9 and transverse to the length of the arm 2 between the limit positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 corresponding to engagement of the boss 11 with opposed ends 24a,24b of the recess 21. In this way the arm 2 may be lifted from and lowered onto the hook plate and/or peg plate to release and secure respectively the stay 1 in selected closed and open positions of the casement.

As shown in Figure 3, engagement of the boss 11 with one end 24a of the recess 21 holds the arm 2 substantially normal to the stem 9. In this position the stem 9 is positioned centrally of the access opening with clearance between the stem 9 and the marginal edge of the access opening 17.

Lifting movement of the arm 2 from the position shown in Figure 3 is limited by engagement of the boss 11, more particularly the chamfer face 12, with the other end 24b of the recess 21 as shown in Figure 4. In this position the arm 2 extends at an angle of less than 900 relative to the stem 9 and clearance between the stem 9 and the marginal edge of the access opening 17 is maintained assisted by the notch 16 in the end of the arm.

This clearance is maintained for angular movement of the arm 2 about the axis of the stem 9 in both end positions and any intermediate position of the boss 11 in the recess 21.

In addition, in both end positions, forces applied to the arm 2 are transmitted by engagement of the boss 11 with the ends 24a,24b of the recess 21 through the ball 7 to the bearing surface 20.

As a result, stressing of the stem 9 and the wall portions 18a,18b of the opening 17 at the pocket is prevented so that the life of the joint 4 is improved.

In addition to limiting pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the length of the arm 2, the boss 11 also permits rocking of the arm 2 about its longitudinal axis limited by engagement with the opposed sidewalls 25a,25b of the recess 21 to improve freedom of movement of the arm 2 for certain applications whilst maintaining the clearance between the stem 9 and access opening 17 for all adjusted positions of the arm 2.

As will now be understood, the invention provides a stay with a ball joint in which angular movement of the stay arm is not limited by engagement of the stem with the edges of the access opening and which can be assembled without any additional members secured to the arm to retain the ball in the socket.

It will further be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment abovedescribed. For example, the ball may be on the arm and the socket in the bracket. The boss may be provided in the socket and the recess in the ball. The boss and recess may be replaced by any other suitable co-operating formations.

The arm and bracket may each be made of metal or alloy or plastics or combinations thereof having any desired style or pattern and/or surface finish applied thereto.

The co-operating formations for limiting angular movement of the stay arm and the deformation of the socket to retain the ball may be used in combination as described or separately and ball joints having one or both features are envisaged and within the scope of this invention.

Finally, it will be understood that the ball joint has application to all types of stays for windows, doors or the like closures in which an elongate arm is pivotally connected to a bracket and includes both locking and non-locking versions of any of such stays.

Claims (20)

Claims:

1. A stay having an elongate arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket by a ball joint comprising a ball on one of the arm and bracket, a socket on the other of the arm and bracket, the socket having an access opening for reception of the ball in the socket with the ball being retained in the socket by deforming the edge of the access opening to trap the ball in the socket.

2. A stay according to Claim 1 wherein the ball and socket have co-operating formations arranged to limit angular movement of the arm relative to the bracket other than by engagement of a stem carrying the ball with the marginal edge of the access opening.

3. A stay according to Claim 2 wherein the cooperating formations comprise a boss or like projection on the ball received in a recess in the socket.

4. A stay according to Claim 3 wherein the ball is on tne bracket and the socket is on the arm.

5. A stay according to Claim 4 wherein the recess extends on the centre longitudinal axis of the arm and the boss is coaxial with and diametrically opposite the stem.

6. A stay according to Claim 5 wherein the boss is engageable with opposed ends of the recess to limit angular movement of the arm about an axis normal to the stem and transverse to the length of the arm.

7. A stay according to Claim 6 wherein, in one end position, the arm extends generally noimal to the stem and, in the other end position, the arm extends at an angle of less than 900 relative to the stem.

8. A stay according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein forces applied to the arm in either end position are transmitted through the ball to a bearing surface adjacent one end of the recess.

9. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the deformed edge of the access opening forms a bearing surface for the ball.

10. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wall of the socket defining the access opening is located in a pocket in the underside of the arm for reception and location of a tool used to deform the edge of the opening to trap the ball in the socket.

11. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the arm is formed with a notch on one side of the access opening.

12. A stay having an elongate arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket by a ball and socket joint wherein the ball and socket have cooperating formations arranged to limit angular movement of the arm.

13. A stay according to Claim 12 wherein the cooperating formations maintain clearance between a stem carrying the ball and the marginal edge of an access opening in the socket for the stem and/or ball.

14. A stay according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the socket is on the arm and the ball is on the bracket.

15. A stay according to Claim 14 wherein the cooperating formations comprise a recess in the socket and a boss or like projection on the ball received in the recess.

16. A stay according to Claim 15 wherein the recess extends on the centre longitudinal axis of the arm and the boss is engageable with opposed ends of the recess to limit angular movement of the arm about an axis transverse to the length of the arm.

17. A stay according to Claim 16 wherein the boss is engageable with opposed sides of the recess to limit angular movement of the arm about an axis parallel to the length of the arm.

18. A stay according to any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the socket has a spherical bearing surface for the ball adjacent to the recess.

19. A stay according to Claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A stay according to Claim 12 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.