GB2287062A - Friction stay - Google Patents

Abstract

A friction stay comprises a strut 13 extending between a sash arm 11 and a track 15. The stay comprises a breakable or releasable connection formed in the strut 13 or at the pivotal connection between the strut and the track 15 to allow additional opening of the window in an emergency. In the embodiment shown the connection comprises an opening 27 having a restricted mouth 28 formed in an end of the strut 13 which engages with a pivot rod 24 on the track 15. The rod is longitudinally moveable to enable the strut 13 to be disengaged from the rod 24. In a further embodiment (Figs. 1 & 2) the pivot between the strut 13 and the track 15 is formed by a nylon rod 19. The rod 19 is configured such that a longitudinal force, along the strut 13, will break the rod. In further embodiments (not shown) the connection comprises means for frictionally engaging strut portions, or a breakable or releasable sleeve interconnecting two strut portions. <IMAGE>

Description

Stavs This invention relates to hinges in the form of stays such as side hung window stays.

The invention is particularly concerned with a stay comprising an arm for supporting a load (such as a window) a track member, a slider movable along the track member, a strut pivotally connected to the track member and spaced from the slider and a link pivotally connected to the slider, and to the arm, the arm being connected to the link and the strut for movement between a first position in which it overlies the track member and a second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the track member. Such stays will be referred to as "a stay as hereinbefore defined." Many Architects and Local Authorities are now requiring more and more functions from window stays and some of these are, on the face of it, incompatible.Thus currently there is a requirement for a stay having the following functions:1) The stay should have provision for restricting its opening so that a child cannot get out of the window.

2) The restrictor means should be releasable to allow the window to be moved into a position in which both faces of the window can be cleaned.

3) On closing the restrictor should automatically engage.

4) The stay should allow the window to open sufficiently for an adult to use the window as an emergency exit and these means should be preferably independent of the restrictor.

It will be appreciated that the egress provided by feature 4 can also be desirable on limited opening stays which do not have a restriction means.

From one aspect the present invention consists in a stay as hereinbefore defined comprising a breakable or releasable connection formed in the strut or at one other pivot thereof to allow additional opening of the window in an emergency.

In a preferred embodiment the stay will include means for restricting the normal opening of the window and such restricting means may be releasable to allow a wash position for the window to be achieved.

The connection may comprise at least one of the strut pivots which is weaker in lateral shear than the other pivots in the stay. In that case a person attempting to escape from the room will simply attempt to force the window and the strut will break through the pivot allowing the window to be opened wide. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it may appear attractive to tenants of a vandal disposition.

Accordingly, an alternative is to provide a connection which is releasable and preferably resettable. In one embodiment such a connection may comprise an opening, having a restricted mouth, in an end of the strut for receiving the rod or the like, the rod having first and second longitudinally spaced sections of different dimensions, such that the first section cannot pass through the mouth but the second section can, the rod being movable longitudinally to align the second section with the mouth to allow release of the connection. Conveniently, the rod may constitute the pivot of the strut on the track and the rod may be formed with at least one abutment for engaging the strut to define the first and/or second position.The arrangement may be such that the rod is moved into its second position by movement towards the track and to this end it may have a large button-like formation to assist in its depression.

The mouth may be arranged to spread to allow release in the first position if the link is subjected to a longitudinal force, above a predetermined level, away from the track.

This would be to allow a person who is unfamiliar with the system to force the window from the inside, but it could be arranged to require a greater force than the breakable pivot described above.

Alternatively, the connection may be formed in the strut and may include means for frictionally engaging two strut portions so that they can be separated when they experience a force sufficiently high to overcome the friction.

The connection may comprise a breakable or releasable sleeve interconnecting two strut portions.

Although the invention has been described above, it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the follow description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a window stay incorporating a first embodiment of a breakable connection; Figure 2 is the section along the line A-A; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a stay including a releasable connection;and Figure 4 is a section along the line B-B in Figure 3.

A stay generally indicated at 10 comprises, as is wellknown, an arm 11 for carrying a window (not shown), a link 12, a strut 13, a brace 14, a track member 15, and a slider 16. The link 12 is pivotally connected to the arm 11 and the slider 16, whilst the strut 13 extends between the track 15 and the arm 11 and is pivotally connected to each. A restrictor means is generally indicated at 17 for limiting the movement of the slider 16 along the track 15 and hence limiting the available opening of the window. The restrictor can be released by depression of the element 18 to allow the stay to move into a "cleaning" position.

As can best be seen in Figure 2 the pivot between the strut 13 and the track 15 is formed by a nylon rod 19 which sits in a vertical aperture 20 defined by a end piece 21 fixed to the track 15. The rod 19 is surrounded by the end 22 of the strut 13.

If an adult wishes to exit through the window they will instinctively force the window away from the track 15 causing a substantial longitudinal outward force along the strut 13, and the end 22 will simply break through the rod 19 allowing the window, mounted on the arm 11, to open fully. Other forms of "weakened" pivot could be used, e.g.

a suitable scored metal rod.

Turning to Figure 3, an alternate arrangement is shown which provides a releasable and resettable connection, rather than a breakable one. In this instance the pivot 23, between the strut 13 and the track 15 is constituted by a rod 24, typically of metal, which has first and second portions 25, 26 of different diameters. The end 22 of the strut 13 is formed with an opening 27 having a restricted mouth 28, the opening is of sufficient diameter to receive the first section 25, but the mouth 27 is narrow enough not to let the first section 25 pass through it once it is located in the opening 27.

During normal use the stay is assembled in this way with the first section 25 of the rod 24 located in the opening 27 and the rod 24 provides the pivot around which the strut 13 can move. If the stay is to be released, the rod 24 is depressed towards the track 15 by pushing on its enlarge button-like upper end 29 so that the second, reduced diameter, portion 26 lies within the opening 27. This portion is sized to pass through the mouth 28 and so when the window is pushed the strut 13 will simply disengage.

The connection can be re-made by locating the strut 13 whilst the rod 24 is depressed and then raising the rod 24 to re-introduce the first portion 24 into the opening 27.

The rod 24 may have respective upper and lower abutments 24a and 24b to define the two positions of 24 by engaging against the respective surfaces of the strut 13.

Preferably the end 22 is formed with fork-like arms 30 which define the mouth 28. These arms 30 are formed such that in the event of the window being forced from the inside, they will part sufficiently to allow the first portion to escape through the mouth 28, and hence release the strut 13.

It will be appreciated that the stays will normally be used in pairs and when the stay is at the top of the window the rod 24 will be moved upwardly rather than downwardly.

Other arrangements involving releasable connections actually formed in the strut 13 have already been described, but these are not necessarily so easily configured.

Claims (14)

1. A stay as hereinbefore defined comprising a breakable or releasable connection formed in the strut or at one other pivot thereof to allow additional opening of the window in an emergency.

2. A stay as claimed in claim 1 further including means for restricting the normal opening of the window.

3. A stay as claimed in claim 2 wherein the restricting means are releasable to allow a 'wash' position for the window to be achieved.

4. A stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connection comprises at least one of the strut pivots which is weaker in lateral shear than the other pivots in the stay.

5. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the connection is releasable.

6. A stay as claimed in claim 5 wherein the connection comprises an opening, having a restricted mouth, in an end of the strut, for receiving a rod or the like, the rod having first and second longitudinally spaced sections of different dimensions, such that the first section cannot pass through the mouth but the second section can, the rod being movable longitudinally to align the second section with the mouth to allow release of the connection.

7. A stay as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rod constitutes the pivot of the strut on the track.

8. A stay as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the rod is formed with at least one abutment for engaging the strut to define the first and/or second position.

9. A stay as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the rod is moved into its second position by movement towards the track.

10. A stay as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the mouth will spread to allow release in the first position if the strut is subjected to a longitudinal force, above a predetermined level, away from the track.

11. A stay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection is formed in the strut.

12. A stay as claimed in claim 11 wherein the connection includes means for frictionally engaging strut portions.

13. A stay as claimed in claim 11 wherein the connection comprises a breakable or releasable sleeve interconnecting two strut portions.

14. A stay as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.