GB2277125A - Releasable window stay - Google Patents

Abstract

A stay for a casement window is operated by a handle (22). In one position of the handle, the window is latched closed; in another position, it can be opened by a restricted amount, and in a third position it can be fully opened. In the restricted opening mode, an arm (36) limits opening of the window. As the window is opened, a headed pin (38) travels upwardly within a track (40) on the window frame, until it reaches a stop (42). When the window is to be fully opened, the handle is turned to the upward position, which moves the arm (36) downwardly until the pin (38) slips out from underneath the track (40). <IMAGE>

Description

RESTRICTOR FOR WINDOW The present invention relates to a restrictor for a window, for example for a side-hung or a top-hung casement window.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pivoting window incorporating a restrictor, control means for selectively actuating the restrictor, so restricting the amount the window can be opened to a restricted open position, and for deactuating the restrictor, so allowing the window to be fully opened; the restrictor comprising a restrictor arm that, when actuated, extends between the window and a window frame, a first end of the arm being mounted to the window or to the frame via friction pivot means, the restrictor thereby holding the window at any desired partially-open position up to the restricted open position.

The decouplable friction restrictor of the present invention is relatively cheap to fabricate, and is easy for an ultimate purchaser to use. A pivoting window incorporating such a friction resistor does not slam in the wind, and it may be held at any one of an infinite number of opening positions. Unauthorised access from the outside is prevented, as the restrictor cannot be decoupled from the window without the window first being closed. When the window is decoupled from the friction restrictor it can be fully opened, for example for cleaning purposes. The device of the present invention can be used with any type of pivoting window, including vertically hung windows and horizontally hung windows; it may also be used with butt hinges to save money.

Preferably, the window has a manually-operable handle, with the restrictor being adjacent the handle.

In any type of window which incorporates friction to prevent the window from moving from its desired partially open position, for example in the wind, the user has to overcome that friction as the window is being pushed open or pulled closed. Where the friction is provided at the hinge, the force which the user applies when opening or closing the window (at the handle) is a long way from the frictional force (at the hinge) which is resisting the movement. This tends to result in a jerky action, and there may be a tendency for the window to stick. With the present arrangement, the frictional force is very close to the force that the user is using to open or to close the window, with the result that operation of the window is relatively smooth.

The control means for actuating the restrictor may comprise a mechanism which is operated by a manuallyoperable handle, the handle further having means for latching the window shut when it is in the closed position. Thus, the handle may perform two functions: actuating and deactuating the restrictor, and securing the window in the closed position. Preferably, the handle may have three positions: a first position in which the handle is latched in the closed position, a second position in which the restrictor is actuated, and a third position in which the restrictor is deactuated.

Means may be provided for preventing rotation of the handle when the window is open or partially open. This could be a separate mechanism, or part of the handle, part of the restrictor, or part of the hardware which is contained within or attached to the window. Prevention of movement of the handle when the window is open or partially open stops the restrictor from becoming deactuated when the window is partially open, so allowing the window then to opened fully. If this could happen, it would of course be undesirable, not only because of the safety aspects but also because of the security aspects: it would not be possible to leave the window in the restricted open position for fear that an intruder would be able fully to open it simply by turning the handle from the outside.

The restrictor arm, when actuated, may extend between the frame and that edge of the window which is furthest from the hinge by which the window pivots on the frame. Preferably, the second end of the restrictor arm is selectively coupled to the other of the window or the frame, when the arm is actuated; the arm being deactuated by decoupling the second end.

The second end may include a head which is held captive for sliding movement within a track, when the arm is actuated; the arm being deactuated by causing or allowing the head to move out of an open end of the track. The said open end of the track may include mouth or guide means to assist in guiding the head back into the track when the arm is to be recoupled. The track may be generally of C-shape in section.

The first end of the arm may be secured via the friction pivot means to a mounting block on the window or frame, as aforesaid, operation of the control means causing sliding movement of the block on the window or frame respectively, and hence sliding movement of the head within the track. Typically, the mounting block will be movable between selective fixed positions, each position depending upon the position of the handle or other control means by which the restrictor is to be operated. Dependent upon movement of the block, the restrictor arm will move accordingly, and the head will then consequently slide up or down within the track, and indeed even out of the open end of the track if the block moves far enough in the appropriate direction. The head will normally be a loose fit within the track, so that there is negligible friction due to the movement of the head.

The head may abut a stop in the track, or at the end of the track, when the window is in the restricted open position.

The control means may include an espagnolette mechanism, or any other convenient mechanism for actuating and deactuating the restrictor.

The window to which the restrictor is attached may be open-out or open-in. The invention may be carried into practice in a number of ways and one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial sectional view through a restrictor embodying the present invention, with the window in the closed position; Figure 2 shows the restrictor of Figure 1 with the window in the restricted open position; Figure 3 shows the restrictor of Figure 1 with the window in the unrestricted open position; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the essential parts of the restrictor; and Figure 5 is a view in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 4 The particular restrictor shown in the drawings is for use with a side-hung casement window.Figures 1,2 and 3 illustrate the operation of the restrictor, in use, and it should be appreciated that each of those drawings shows an end view of the opening part of the window 12 (away from the hinge) and a partial sectional view of the fixed window frame 10. In the views shown, the axis of the window hinge is vertical, and the hinge itself (which is not shown) lies behind the plane of the paper. The window opens outwards, so that the front or outer surface of the window is on the left hand side of the page in each case.

The frame 10 has an opening 16 and a recess 14, the recess receiving the window when it is in the closed position as shown in Figure 1. In the closed position, the window seals by virtue of the abutment of a sealing flange 18 on the window and the front surface 20 of the window frame 10.

Operation of the window is via a manually graspable handle 22, which is attached to an espagnolette arrangement, whereby rotation of the handle 22 causes vertical movement of a sliding bar 24 within a channel 30 defined by first and second parallel guides 26,28 which are attached to the distal edge of the window. The upper end of the moving bar 24 is attached to a bracket 32, which also moves within the channel 30 as the handle 22 is turned. Attached to the bracket 32 there is a friction screw 34, and attached to the screw there is a restrictor arm 36. The other end of the arm 36 carries a headed pin 38 which is retained captive within a vertical track 40 which is mounted to the side of the window frame. Upward movement of the headed pin 38 within the track 40 is limited by a stop 42.

The features of the restrictor itself may be seen most clearly in Figures 4 and 5 in which the restrictor is shown without the window or window frame. The view of the restrictor in Figure 4 is that which one would see if one were looking out of the plane of the paper in Figures 1 to 3.

The operation of the restrictor will now be described. In the position shown in Figure 1, the window is latched in the closed position, with the handle 22 pointing downwards. The window is held in the closed position by some conventional latching mechanism (not shown) which is operated by the handle in the usual way.

Possible latching mechanisms could include a snib arrangement, or an espagnolette arrangement, for example incorporating the movable bar 24. The restrictor itself does not play any part in maintaining the window closed.

When the window is to be opened, the handle is rotated through 906 to a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 2. This unlatches the window in the usual way (not shown) and allows the user simply to pivot the window open about the hinge (not shown). The arm 36 acts to restrict opening of the window, the pin 38 moving up the track 40 as the window is opened until it abuts the stop 42. The friction screw 34, pressing against the guides 26,28, acts to hold the bracket 32 in any desired position, and consequently to hold the window in any desired intermediate open position between fully closed and the fully open restricted position as shown in Figure 2. The amount of friction can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the friction screw 34.

As the handle is moved from the downward position of Figure 1 to the horizontal position of Figure 2, the bar 24 moves slightly downwards, as indicated by the arrow 44 in Figure 2. In the horizontal position of the handle, a mechanism (not shown) is provided to prevent the handle being turned when the window is open. The mechanism for preventing movement of the handle when the window is open could be part of the handle, part of the restrictor, or part of the hardware on the window itself.

If it is desired to open the window fully, for example for cleaning, the window is first closed, and the handle 22 is then moved to an upward position as shown in Figure 3. As the handle is moved towards this position, the bar 24 moves downwardly, as shown by the arrow 46 in Figure 3, so pulling downwards the bracket 32 and consequently the arm 36 and the headed pin 38. The pin 38 eventually moves down to the bottom of the track 40 and out of it via a lower mouth portion 42. Once the pin has freed itself from the track, the window can be pushed open, as shown in Figure 3, without any restriction. Again, a mechanism (not shown) is provided to prevent the handle from being turned while the window is open.

When the window is again closed, the pin re-engages in the track when the handle is turned back either to the restricted or to the closed position. It will be appreciated that other viable arrangements are possible.

For example, it is not essential that the window is of the espagnolette type; movement of the bracket 32 could be provided in other ways, by any sort of convenient mechanical coupling to the handle. It would also be possible for the restrictor to be operated by a separate control, independently of the handle. With such an arrangement, there would simply be a manually operable control on the window or on the frame whereby the user could cause the friction screw 34 to move between different vertical positions on the window. The restrictor could also be used on windows which are arranged to pivot about a horizontal axis, rather than about a vertical axis.

The friction restrictor described above could be used, with minor modifications (well within the scope of the skilled man) with other types of window, for example bottom-hung, top-hung, tilt and turn, horizontal central pivot, and vertical central pivot. In each case the window could be open-in or open-out.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A pivoting window incorporating a restrictor, control means for selectively actuating the restrictor, so restricting the amount the window can be opened to a restricted open position, and for deactuating the restrictor, so allowing the window to be fully opened; the restrictor comprising a restrictor arm that, when actuated, extends between the window and a window frame, a first end of the arm being mounted to the window or to the frame via friction pivot means, the restrictor thereby holding the window at selected partially-open positions up to the restricted open position.

2. A window as claimed in Claim 1 having a manuallyoperable handle, the restrictor being adjacent the handle.

3. A window as claimed in Claim 1 in which the control means comprises a mechanism which is operated by a manually-operable handle, the handle further having means for latching the window shut when it is in the closed position.

4. A window as claimed in Claim 3 in which the handle has a first position in which the window is latched in the closed position, a second position in which the restrictor is actuated, and a third position in which the restrictor is deactuated.

5. A window as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 including means for preventing rotation of the handle when the window is open or partially open.

6. A window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the restrictor arm, when actuated, extends between the frame and that edge of the window which is furthest from a hinge by which the window pivots on the frame.

7. A window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a second end of the restrictor arm is selectively coupled to the other of the window or the frame, when the arm is actuated; the arm being deactuated by decoupling the second end.

8. A window as claimed in Claim 7 in which the second end includes a head which is held captive for sliding movement within a track, when the arm is actuated; the arm being deactuated by causing or allowing the head to move out of an open end of the track.

9. A window as claimed in Claim 8 in which the first end of the arm is secured via the friction pivot means to a mounting block on the window or frame, as aforesaid, operation of the control means causing sliding movement of the block on the window or frame respectively, and hence sliding movement of the head within the track.

10. A window as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the head abuts a stop in the track when the window is in the restricted open position.

11. A window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the control means includes an espagnolette mechanism.

12. A window as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first end of the arm is mounted to the window.

13. A pivoting window incorporating a restrictor, the restrictor being substantially as specifically herein described with reference to the drawings.