GB2323628A

GB2323628A - Slider for a window stay.

Info

Publication number: GB2323628A
Application number: GB9805615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yurek Adrian Wronski
Original assignee: COTSWOLD ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS Ltd; Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Current assignee: COTSWOLD ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS Ltd; Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-23
Filing date: 1998-03-18
Publication date: 1998-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-18
Also published as: GB9805615D0; GB2323628B; GB9706314D0

Abstract

A slider 10 for a window stay frictionally locates in an channel by means of protruding flexible side walls 13. An aperture 15, divided by a web 18, allows the side walls to flex inwardly, thereby allowing the slider to move in the channel when sufficient force is applied. A modified embodiment may have a membrane (19, Figure 3) to prevent debris from falling through opening 15. In a further embodiment (see Figures 5 and 6), the frictional engagement with the channel is by means of wings (20), arranged on each side of the slider. The slider may be made of plastics material.

Description

Slider This invention relates to a slider for a window stay of the type comprising a channel along which a slider moves and is retained thereby and a linkage for supporting a window for movement between a closed position in which the linkage overlies the channel and an open position in which a part of the linkage extends at an angle to the channel, at least one link of the linkage being connected to the slider. Such a stay will be referred to as "a stay of the type described" in this Specification.

In known stays of the type described, it is usual to utilise a grub screw passing through the slider to vary the friction between the slider and the channel, so that a window mounted on the linkage can be retained in any possible position, which is allowed by the movement of the slider. In certain stays the grub screw is attached to or engages a brake pad, to reduce the likelihood of marking of the channel. The brake pad solution requires a two part moulding and either approach is relatively expensive in the context of these products, where small variations in price can make the difference between a product being commercially viable or not.

From one aspect the invention consists in a slider for a window stay of the type described comprising an elongate body with at least one stay location, enlarged side wall portions at lateral opposed locations on the body, wherein the body is formed to allow the enlarged side wall portions to flex laterally inwardly when the lateral compression on the side wall portions exceeds a predetermined level.

It will be appreciated that when a slider as described above is utilised in a channel in which the side wall portions are sized to be an interference fit with the walls of the channel, the requisite braking will be provided.

However, the allowance for lateral inward flexing, when the lateral compression exceeds a predetermined level, means that the slider will accommodate variations in the width of the channel, due to tolerance etc., without the slider becoming jammed. This arrangement further removes the cost of the grub screw entirely and indeed may produce a slider which requires less material than earlier designs.

In some embodiments, the body is provided with an opening or recess to allow the lateral flexing. Thus the opening or recess may lie generally between the side portions. It has been determined that it is particularly desirable to provide a lateral web extending across the opening or recess. This enables the desired frictional interference to be maintained up to a particular level, whereupon the web will flex into the opening or recess relieving the lateral compression to the necessary extent.

The recess may be closed by cover portion or membrane at a level above the level of the enlarged side portions to avoid any detritus becoming lodged beneath the slider.

In a preferred embodiment each portion is in the form of a tongue or wing extending from the body and separated therefrom by a slot or opening. Four such sidewall portions may be provided arranged in respective pairs adjacent respective ends of the body.

In any of these constructions the slider is conveniently formed as an integral moulding of plastics material.

The invention also includes a stay of the type described having a slider as defined above.

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

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a slider; Figure 2 is a section of the slider of figure 1 along the line A-A; Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views of an alternative embodiment of the slider; and Figures 5 and 6 are corresponding views of a yet further embodiment of the slider.

A slider indicated at 10 comprises an integral elongate plastics body 11, which defines locations 12 for stay links (not shown). Enlarged side wall portions 13 are provided adjacent one end of the body 11 resulting an enlarged lateral width for the body 11 over their extent. This width is selected so that that portion of the body 11 will be an interference fit in the channel of the stay with which the slider 10 is to be used. The remaining, narrower, portion 14 of the body 11 is sized so that it is guided by the channel, but does not frictionally interfere with its side walls.

An opening 15 is provided between the enlarged side portions 13, so that if the side portions 13 experience a lateral compression above a predetermined level, they can flex inwardly locally to the extent necessary to relieve the excess compression.

In the arrangement shown in the Figures, opening 15 is divided into two halves, 16, 17 by a central lateral web 18.

It has been determined that this arrangement enables particularly good control, because the web 18 resists the compression up to the predetermined level and then begins to relieve it by flexing into 16 or 17.

The constructions shown in Figures 3 and 4 is practically identical, except that the opening 15 is covered by a membrane 19, at a level above the side enlarged portions 13, so that the opening 15 effectively becomes a recess. The thickness of the membrane 19 is sufficient to prevent detritus falling down through the opening 15, but is not sufficient to prevent the requisite flexing of the web 18.

In certain cases the sliders of Figures 1 to 4 may require manufacture to very exacting tolerances, if they are not it makes the stay rather "stiff" in use. The construction shown in Figure 5 and 6 accommodates more variation in the manufacture of the channel of the stay.

Here the side portions 13 are constituted by tongues or wings 20 which are extended from the main portion 21 of the body and are separated therefrom by slots or openings 22.

It will be appreciated that the wings 20 can be deflected inwardly, but will be sprung into the position shown in Figure 5. The wings 20 are arranged in respective opposed pairs adjacent either end of the slider 10. This improves the stability of the slider 10. The tongues or wings could be connected to the main portion 21 of the body 11 at each end, but the illustrated arrangement is preferred.

Claims

1. A slider for a window stay of the type described comprising an elongate body with at least one stay location, enlarged side walls portions at lateral opposed locations on the body, wherein the body is formed to allow the enlarged side wall portions to flex laterally inwardly when the lateral compression exceeds a pre-determined level.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is provided with an opening or recess to allow the lateral flexing.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 2 wherein the opening or recess lies generally between the side wall portions.

4. A slider as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein a lateral web extends across the opening or recess.

5. A slider as claimed in any one of claims 2 too 4 wherein the recess is closed by cover portion at a level above the level of the enlarged side portions.

6. A slider as claimed in claim 1 wherein each portion is in the form of a tongue or wing extending from the body and separated therefrom by a slot or opening.

7. A slider as claimed in claim 6 having four sidewall portions arranged in respective pairs adjacent respective ends of the body.

8. A slider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the slider is an integral moulding of plastics material.

9. A slider for a window stay of the type described substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 of the drawings.