GB2326189A

GB2326189A - Friction stay

Info

Publication number: GB2326189A
Application number: GB9712164A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Macdonald Fowles; Sam Dilworth
Original assignee: Cego Frameware Ltd
Current assignee: Era Security Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-11
Filing date: 1997-06-11
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-11
Also published as: GB9712164D0; GB2326189B

Abstract

A friction stay has an arm (15) connected to a base member (10) by a linkage. The linkage includes a slider (23) moveable along the base member (10) with the slider (23) carrying an end cap (25) which receives the end (16) of the arm (15) when the arm (15) is closed over the base member (10). The linkage can also include a second slider (24) connected to a longer link (21) with the second slider (24) being fixable at different positions along the base member (10) to allow adjustment of the position of a leaf attached to the arm (15) relative to a frame attached to the base member (10).

Description

FRICTION STAY The invention relates to friction stays.

Friction stays are generally used in pairs in a closure to connect a leaf to a frame so that the leaf can open out of and close into the frame. The leaf/frame combination may be a window or a door.

One form of such friction stay comprises a base member for connection to a frame of a closure and an arm for connection to a leaf for receipt in the frame and a linkage connecting the arm to the base member and constraining the arm to movement in a plane parallel to the base member between a position in which the arm overlies the base member and a position in which the arm is to one side of the base member and is angled relative thereto. The linkage includes a shorter link connected between a point on the arm adjacent the first end of the arm and a slider carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong.

In previous proposals, the arm, when it overlies the base member, is received by an end cap carried by the base member.

The end cap ensures that the arm is correctly orientated relative to the base member in this position and end caps are also known which provide increased security.

It is a problem, however, that the arm can become misaligned with the end cap so that the arm does not engage the end cap reliably when the arm overlies the base member. This affects the proper closing of the leaf.

According to the invention there is provided a friction stay comprising a base member for connection to a frame of a closure, an arm for connection to a leaf for receipt in the frame and a linkage connecting the arm to a base member and constraining the arm to movement in a plane parallel to the base member between a position in which the arm overlies the base member and a position in which the arm is to one side of the base member and is angled relative thereto, the linkage including a shorter link connected between a point on the arm adjacent a first end of the arm and a slider carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the slider carrying and end cap for receiving said first end of the arm when the arm overlies the base member.

By having the end cap on the slider, the first end of the arm and the end cap are always correctly aligned and the first end of the arm is always reliably and correctly received in the end cap when the arm overlies the base member.

There is another problem with known friction stays that arises when it is necessary to adjust the position of the leaf relative to the frame in order to ensure that the leaf fits correctly in the frame when closed into the frame. This is normally achieved by adjusting the position of the leaf relative to the arm to which it is connected. Where, for example, the connection is by screws, the arm may be provided with elongate slots through which the screws extend and by which the relative positions of the arm and the leaf can be adjusted.

There are problems associated with such an arrangement. One problem is that access to the screws can be difficult where, for example, the frame/leaf combination is a window that is fitted at a position where exterior access to the window is not possible or where other window parts (such as sills) restrict access. It is also a problem, that the adjustment that may be required to ensure proper fitting of the leaf into the frame may result in inadequate or no engagement between the arm and the end cap fixed to the base member. This can have adverse consequences upon the proper alignment of the arm when it overlies the base member and can also, in appropriate cases, jeopardise the security of the system.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longer link may be connected to a pivot on the base member, the position of the pivot along the base member being adjustable.

This feature allows the position of the leaf relative to the frame to be adjusted without adjusting the position of the arm relative to the leaf. With the second slider released, the leaf can be moved relative to the frame and then the second slider locked when the parts are correctly positioned.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a friction stay showing an end cap of the friction stay disengaged from a receiver and an arm of a friction stay in an open position, Figure 2 is a view of an end of the friction stay of Figure 1 showing the end cap engaging the receiver and an end of the arm received in the end cap, and Figure 3 is a detailed view of a second slider of the friction stay of Figures 1 and 2 showing the adjustability of the second slider along the base member of the friction stay.

Referring first to Figure 1, the friction stay comprises an elongate base member 10 with spaced elongate side edges, each elongate side edge of the base member 10 is provided with a respective U-shaped channel 11, the channels 11 facing each other across the base member 10. The base member 10 is also provided with two or more fixing holes 12. The base member 10 may be formed from metal.

One end of the base member 10 carries an upstanding receiver plate 13 lying in a plane normal to the length of the base member 10. This plate 13 is provided with a central hole 14.

The friction stay also includes an arm 15. The arm 15 is formed from a strip of metal with flat upper and lower surfaces and parallel side edges. The arm 15 has a first end 16 and a second end 17. The first end 16 is shaped with an angled end edge 18 that forms a projection 19 to one side of the arm 15.

A shorter link 20 is pivotally connected to the arm 15 towards the first end 16. A longer link 21 is pivotally connected to the arm 15 intermediate the first end 16 and the second end 17. A third intermediate length link 21 is pivotally connected to the long link 21 between the ends of the longer link 21.

The base member 10 carries first and second sliders 23,24.

Each slider 23,24 has side edges that engage respective channels 11 on the base member 10 so that the first and second sliders 23,24 can slide to and fro along the base member 10 guided by the channels 11. The shorter and the intermediate links 20,22 are pivotally connected to the first slider 23 and the longer link 21 is pivotally connected to the second slider 24.

The first slider 23 is formed integrally with an end cap 25.

Although formed integrally as shown, it will be appreciated that the end cap 25 may be formed separately from the first slider 23 and subsequently connected to the first slider 23.

The end cap 25 projects upwardly from the base member 10 in a plane generally normal to the length of the base member 10 and to the direction of movement of the first slider 23 as indicated by the arrows 26 in Figure 1. The end cap 25 is provided with a central aperture 34 having side walls, one of which is seen at 27 in Figure 1 and an upper wall 28. The end cap has an end face 29 lying in a plane normal to the length of the base member 10 and to the direction of movement of the first slider 23. This end wall is provided with a tapering pin 30. The pin 30 projects in a direction normal to the plane of the end face 29. It may be formed integrally with the end cap 25 or formed separately from the end cap 25 and then connected to the end cap 25. The pin 30 is aligned with the hole 14 in the receiver plate 13.

The first slider 23 carries a grub screw 31 by which the frictional engagement between the first slider 23 and the base member 10 can be adjusted, even to the point of preventing relative movement between the parts.

The first slider 23 may be made of a plastics material.

The second slider 24 carries the screw 32 by which the second slider 24 may be locked against sliding movement relative to the base member 10 or released for sliding movement relative to the base member 10. This is best seen in Figure 3. The second slider 24 may be made from a plastics material.

The arrangement is such that, with the second slider 24 locked by the screw 32 to the base member 10, the arm 15 is constrained to movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the base member 10 between the position shown in Figure 1 where the arm 15 is to one side of the base member 10 and is angled relative to the base member 10 and a position in which the arm 15 overlies the base member 10. As the arm 15 moves between these positions, the first slider 23 slides to and fro along the base member 10 between the position shown in Figure 1 and the position shown in Figure 2. In the Figure 2 position, which shows the arm 15 almost overlying the base member 10, the pin 30 on the end cap 25 is received in the hole in the receiver plate 13 and the shaped first end 16 of the arm 15 is received in the aperture in the end cap 25. As seen in Figure 2, this aperture is so shaped as to surround closely the first end 16 of the arm 15 to resist both lateral movement of the first end 16 of the arm 15 and up and down movement of the first end 16 of the arm 15.

If the screw 32 on the second slider 24 is unscrewed, the first slider 23 and the second slider 24 can be slid together along the base member 10. Provided such movement does not exceed the length of the pin 30, the pin 30 will continue to be retained in the receiver plate 13 during such movement.

The stay described above with reference to the drawings is intended to be used as one of a pair of stays to connect a window leaf to a window frame. The arms 15 of these stays are connected to respective opposite edges of the leaf and the base members 10 of the stays are connected to associated opposite edges of the frame. The connection is by means of screws passing through the fixing holes 12 in the base member 10 and through fixing holes 33 in the arm 15.

It is important that the leaf fits correctly into the frame.

This is achieved by releasing the screws 32 in the second sliders 24 and then adjusting the position of the leaf relative to the frame. As this is done, the first slider 23 and the second slider 24 slide relative to the base member 10.

When the leaf is correctly positioned, the grub screws 32 are tightened to lock the second sliders 24 to the associated base members 10. In this way, the leaf is mounted for movement between a closed position when it is received within the frame and the arm 15 overlies the base member 10, and an open position in which the leaf is swung out of the frame and the arm 15 is positioned as shown in Figure 1.

When the leaf is closed into the frame, the first end 16 of the arm 15 is received in the end cap 25 as described above.

Further the pin 30 is received in the hole 14 in the receiver plate 13. The effect of this is to lock the first end 16 of the arm 15 to the base member 10. This is a security feature which helps prevent forced entry through the leaf by inserting a lever between the arm 15 and the base member 10 and then lifting and rotating the arm. In order to improve this security, the pin 30 may be received in a suitable keeper in the frame. This keeper may, for example, define a hole for receipt of the pin 30.

The grub screw 31 in the first slider 23 can be used to adjust the frictional contact between the first slider 23 and the base member 10 so that the arm 15 will stay in any desired open position.

It will be appreciated that there are a large number of modifications that can be made to the arrangement described above with reference to the drawings.

The second slider 24 could be omitted and the longer link 21 be connected to the base member 10 via a fixed pivot. In this case, significant benefit is still obtained since the location of the end cap 25 on the first slider 23 ensures that the first end 16 of the arm 15 always engages the end cap 25 in the correct orientation when the arm 15 overlies the base member 10. When the end cap 25 is on the base member, misalignment can occur which results in improper closing of the leaf into the frame.

The use of the pin 30 and the receiver plate 13 is also optional. Further, these parts may be reversed with the pin being provided on the plate 13 and the end cap 25 being provided with a hole.

The receiver plate 13 can be dispensed with. The pin 30 on the end cap 25 may engage direct in a keeper in the frame.

Alternatively, a projection on the frame may engage in a hole in the end cap.

The pin 30 need not be tapering; it could be of constant cross-section along its length.

A plate 13 can be formed integrally with the base member 10.

The linkage connecting the arm 15 to the base member 10 need not be as described above with reference to the drawings. Any suitable linkage can be used.

The end cap 25 is shown surrounding the first end 16 of the arm 15. This need not be the case. The end cap may simply engage the side edges of the arm 15 when the arm 15 overlies the base member 10. The first end 16 of the arm 15 need not be shaped as shown; it could have any suitable shape.

Claims

1. A friction stay comprising a base member for connection to a frame of a closure, an arm for connection to a leaf for receipt in the frame and a linkage connecting the arm to a base member and constraining the arm to movement in a plane parallel to the base member between a position in which the arm overlies the base member and a position in which the arm is to one side of the base member and is angled relative thereto, the linkage including a shorter link connected between a point on the arm adjacent a first end of the arm and a slider carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the slider carrying and end cap for receiving said first end of the arm when the arm overlies the base member.

2. A stay according to claim 1, wherein the longer link is connected to a pivot on the base member, the position of the pivot along the base member being adjustable.

3. A stay according to claim 2, wherein the longer link is pivotally connected to a second slider, carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the second slider being capable of being fixed relative to the base member at positions therealong.

4. A stay according to claim 3, wherein the second slider carries means selectively operable to lock the second slider to the base member.

5. A stay according to claim 4, wherein the selectively operable means comprise a screw extending through the second slider for engagement with the base member.

6. A stay according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second slider includes means for connecting the second slider to a leaf.

7. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the end cap constrains the first end of the arm against lateral movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the base member.

8. A stay according to claim 7, wherein the end cap includes an aperture within which the first end of the arm is received when the arm overlies the base member to constrain the arm against said lateral movement and to constrain said arm against movement in directions normal to the plane of said lateral movement.

9. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the end cap is formed integrally with the associated slider.

10. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein means are provided for engaging the end cap with the base member when the arm overlies the base member.

11. A stay according to claim 10, wherein said means resists movement of the end cap in a plane normal the direction of sliding movement of the slider.

12. A stay according to claim 11, wherein the end cap includes a member that engages a co-operating part on the base member.

13. A stay according to claim 12, wherein said end cap member comprises a projection and the base member part is a hole.

14. A stay according to claim 13, wherein the base member includes a plate projecting from and end of the base member, said hole being provided in said plate.

15. A stay according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the end cap has an end face lying in a plane normal to the direction of movement of the associated slider, the projection comprising a pin projecting from said end face in a direction normal to the end face.

16. A stay according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein said means permit engagement of the end cap with a frame.

17. A stay according to claim 16, when dependent on claim 13, wherein said projection is arranged to engage in a frame when the arm overlies the base member.

18. A stay according to claim 17 and further comprising a keeper for connection to a frame for receiving said projection when the arm overlies the base member.

19. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein means are provided for adjusting the frictional contact between the first-mentioned slider and the case members.

20. A friction stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.