GB2353821A

GB2353821A - Friction stay with force-resisting mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2353821A
Application number: GB9920849A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive James Smith
Original assignee: Cego Frameware Ltd
Current assignee: Era Security Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-03
Filing date: 1999-09-03
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-03
Also published as: GB9920849D0; GB2353821B

Abstract

In a friction stay having a base member 10 connected to an arm 11 by a linkage 12-14, the base member receives a slider 22 connected to a link 14 and the slider and base member have cooperating parts to resist movement of the slider while the arm is being moved to an open position, e.g. by movement of a second slider 23 connected to the links 12, 13, but which allow the resistance to be overcome for movement of the slider 12, e.g. to an egress position with both sliders 22, 23 adjacent the end 19 of the stay. The slider 22 may have a downwardly angled portion, one of which is bifurcated to cooperate with a dimple 33 on the base member 10.

Description

2353821 FRICTION STAYS The invention relates to ffiction stays.

A known form of friction stay comprises a base member and an arm connected to the base member by a linkage which constrains 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 arni is to one side of the base member and is angled relative to the base member. A slider is carried by the base member for sliding movement 10 along the base member. The linkage includes a link pivotally connected to the slider. Such friction stays are used widely to mount the leaf of a door or window in a frame. The arm is connected to the leaf and the base member is connected to the frame to control the opening and closing movement of the leaf out of and into the frame. s the 15 arm moves relative to the base member, the slider tends to move along the base member. It can be desirable to resist this sliding movement. According to the invention, there is provided a ffiction stay comprising a base member and an arm connected to the base member by a linkage which constrains the arm to 20 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, a slider being carried by the base member for 2 sliding movement therealong, the linkage including a link pivotally connected to the slider, the slider cooperating with the base member to provide a force resisting movement of the slider on movement of the arm to said position in which the arm is to one side of the base member, said resistance force being able to be overcome to allow movement of said slider.

Friction stays are also known where the linkage includes a shorter link connected between the arm and the base member and a longer link connected between the arm and the base member. The longer link is connected to the slider referred to above and the shorter link is connected to a second slider carried by the base member for sliding movement along the base member.

A preferred movement is an "easy clean" movement where the slider remains stationary while the second slider moves. This positions the arm at an angle and between the ends of the base member. Such movement does not allow maximum opening area for egress and so an "egress" movement is also required in which the second slider remains stationary and the slider moves to position the arm at an angle and adjacent an end of the base member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the linkage includes a shorter link connected between the arm and the base member and a longer link connected between the arm and the base member, the longer link being connected to said slider and the 3 shorter link being connected to a second slider carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the resistance force between the slider and the base member holding the slider against movement while the second slider moves, but being able to be overcome to allow movement of the slider.

This allows the first mentioned slider to remain stationary while the second slider moves on movement of the arm but, with the second slider stationary, the first mentioned slider can be released and slide along the base member during movement of the arm to open the arm in egress mode. Alternatively, the arm can be opened in "easy clean" mode and then the slider released to allow both sliders to be moved along the base member into the "egress" mode.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I is a plan view of a ffiction stay showing an arm of the friction stay to one side of a base member of the friction stay and angled relative to the base member, Figure 2 is a plan view from above and a side elevation of a slider of the friction stay of Figure 1, and 4 Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a part of the friction stay of Figure I showing the slider of Figure 2 engaging a dimple on the base member of the friction stay.

Referring first to Figure 1, the ffiction stay comprises a base member 10, an arm 11 and a linkage formed by a shorter link 12, an intermediate link 13 and a longer link 14. These parts are formed from metal strip. The base member 10 has an elongate base wall 15 with parallel side edges. Two side 10 walls 16 project upwardly from respective side edges of the base wall 15. The upper edge of each side wall carries a respective inwardly directed flange 17. Thus, the base wall 15, the side walls 16 and the flanges 17 form between them a pair of parallel inwardly directed guide channels extending along the side edges of the base wall 15. 15 A stop 18 is pressed out of the base wall 15 intermediate the ends of the base member 10. The base member 10 has a first end 19 and a second end 20. The first end 19 carries an end cap 2 1. This end cap may be as described in GB-A-2247914 and so will not 20 be described further. The second end carries a retainer 3 0 which has a tongue 3 1 that is received in the guide channels and a head 32 that engages the associated end 20 of the base member 10. The retainer 30 may be crimped in the base member 10. The retainer 30 provides an end stop.

The base member 10 carries a first slider 22 and a second slider 23. The first slider will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Referring first to Figure 2, the first slider 22 is generally rectangular in plan and may be formed from a plastics material. The first slider 22 has parallel longer side edges 24 interconnected at one end by a shorter side edge 25. The end of the slider opposite the side edge 25 is formed with a U-shaped cut-out 26 that provides the slider 22 with a forked end. This forked portion of the slider 22 is angled downwardly relative to the remainder of the slider 22 and this forms a flexible arm with a central recess. The upper surface 27 is provided with a central portion 28 and formed with a boss 29 provided with an internal bore 30 extending through the boss 29 and the first slider 22 to emerge at the lower surface 26 of the first slider 22. The portion of the slider 22 between the raised portion 28 and the side edge 25 is also angled downwardly.

The first slider 22 is dimensioned so that the longer side edges 24 fit in the guide channels formed by the base member 10 so permitting the first slider 22 to slide back and forth along the base member 10. Movement towards the second end 20 is limited by the retainer 30. The two downwardly angled portions of the slider 22 engage the base wall 15 to brace the central portion 28 against the flanges 17 and so prevent 6 movement of the slider 22 in directions normal to the plane of the base wall 15. The base wall 15 of the base member 10 is provided with a projecting dimple 33 formed from the metal of the base member 10. This is best seen in Figures 1 and 3.

The second slider 23 is of conventional design. It is generally rectangular in shape and of a plastics material with longer side edges received in the guide channels formed by the base member 10 and interconnected by shorter side edges. The second slider 23 is provided with a screw 35 that passes through the second slider 23 and bears against the base wall 15 to adjust the sliding ftiction between the second slider 23 and 10 the base member 10. The arm 11 is formed of an elongate strip of metal with parallel side edges. One end of the arm I I is provided with a shaped nose of the kind described in GB-A-2247914 for co-operation with the end cap 2 1. The arm 11 is provided with three fixing holes 15 38. The shorter link 12, the intermediate link 13 and the longer link 14 are also formed from metal strip with parallel side edges. The shorter link 12 is connected at one end to the arm I I adjacent the shaped end by a rivet 37 which forms a pivotal connection between the shorter link 12 and the arm 11. The other end of the shorter link 12 is connected to the second slider by a rivet 39 that forms a pivotal connection 20 between the shorter link 12 and the second slider 23.

7 The longer link 14 is connected to the arm I I intermediate the ends of the an-n I I by a rivet 40 that forms a pivotal connection between the longer link 14 and the arm 11.

The other end of the longer link 14 is connected to the first slider 22 by a rivet 41 passing through a bore 30 in the first slider 22 to form a pivotal connection between the longer link 14 and the first slider 22.

One end of the intermediate link 13 is connected by a rivet 42 to the longer link 14 intermediate the ends of the longer link 14 to form a pivotal connection between the intermediate link 13 and the longer link 14. The other end of the intermediate link 13 is connected by a rivet 43 to the second slider to form a pivotal connection between the intermediate link 13 and the second slider 23.

The friction stay described above with reference to the drawings is designed principally for use in a window, although it may also be used in doors. In a window, a pair of such stays are used to connect respective opposite side edges of a window leaf to a window frame. The base member 10 is connected to the frame by screws passing through fixing holes (not shown) in the base member 10. The arm I I is connected to an adjacent edge of the leaf by screws passing through the fixing holes 38.

The movement of the leaf will now be considered from a position in which the leaf is closed into the associated frame and the arm I I overlies the base member 10.

8 As the leaf is opened out of the frame, the arm I I swings from the position in which it overlies the base member 10 towards the position seen in Figure 1. This causes corresponding movement of the links 12,13,14 but brings the first slider 22 into engagement with the dimple 33 with the dimple 33 passing between the forks until it engages the end of the cut-out 26. This prevents further movement of the first slider 22. Thus it is the second slider 23 that will slide along the base member 10 towards the second end 20 of the base member 10. The first slider 22 remains at rest. This movement can continue until the arm 11 is almost at right angles to the base member 10. The movement of the second slider 23 in this direction is limited by the stop 18.

In this maximum opening position, the leaf is located with both sides of the leaf accessible through the frame. This is often known as the "easy clean" mode. This mode is that normally used for the admission of fresh air and for cleaning the window.

When the leaf is positioned in the easy-clean position, the aperture through the frame provided for emergency egress may not be sufficiently large. In order to increase the size of the opening, the leaf is opened as described above and then pushed in a direction parallel to the length of the base member 10 towards the first end 19 of the base member 10. This is sufficient to overcome the resistance force between the first slider 22 and the dimple 33 so flexing upwardly the arm on the first slider 22 so that the ann rides over the dimple 33. This causes the first slider 22 and the second slider 23 to slide together along the base member until the second slider 23 reaches the first 9 end 19 of the base member 10. In this position, the leaf provides maximum aperture for egress.

The leaf can be closed back into the frame either from the maximum egress position or from the easy-clean position. The leaf is simply swung back into the frame and the arm I I swings back to the position in which it overlies the base member 10. As it does so, the shaped nose of the arm I I engages the end cap 21 and ensures correct alignment of the arm I I over the base member 10 in a closed position. Thearmon the first slider 22 simply rides back over the dimple 33.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the first slider 22 can be varied in a number of ways. The arm 11 can be moved to the "easy clean" position by holding the second slider 23 as the arin 11 is opened from the closed position. This will produce a force that will disengage the first slider 22 from the dimple 33.

Alternatively, the second slider 23 may be pushed manually so that it disengages from the dimple 33. The cooperating parts need not be a flexible arm and a dimple; they could be any parts that provide a resistance to movement of the first slider 22, with the resistance being able to be overcome.

The arrangement of the first slider 22 may be used in any slider in any sort of friction stay. It may be useful in friction stays other than those with two sliders.

The ffiction stay described above with reference to the drawings will, as described above, be used as one of a pair of stays to mount a leaf in a frame. The other friction stay of the pair could be a friction stay of a different construction. For example, the other stay could be of the type disclosed in GB-A-2273526 where the stay has two sliders with both sliders being able to be latched to and unlatched from the base member. When the slider associated with the longer link is latched and the other slider unlatched, the leaf will open in easy clean mode. When the longer arm slider is unlatched and the other slider latched, the leaf opens in egress mode. The friction stay described above with reference to the drawings will follow the motion of such a stay by opening in corresponding easy clean and egress modes - the force on the sash from the latching stay in the egress mode overcoming the retaining force of the dimple 33.

Claims

I I CLAIMS

A friction stay comprising a base member and an arm connected to the base member by a linkage which constrains 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, a slider being carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the linkage including a link pivotally connected to the slider, the slider cooperating with the base member to provide a force resisting movement of the slider on movement of the arin to said position in which the arm is to one side of the base member, said resistance force being able to be overcome to allow movement of said slider.
2. A friction stay according to claim 1 wherein the linkage includes a shorter link connected between the arm and the base member and a longer link connected between the arm and the base member, the longer link being connected to said slider and the shorter link being connected to a second slider carried by the base member for sliding movement therealong, the resistance force between the slider and the base member holding the slider against movement while the second slider moves, but being able to be overcome to allow movement of the slider.

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3. A friction stay according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the slider includes a first cooperating part and the base member includes a second cooperating part, the first and second cooperating parts providing said resistance force.
4. A friction stay according to claim 3 wherein one cooperating part is rigid and the other cooperating part is flexible, engagement of said parts providing said resistance force but the flexible part being able to flex out of engagement with said rigid part to allow movement of the slider.
5. A ftiction stay according to claim 3 wherein the rigid part is associated with the base member and the flexible part is associated with the slider.
6. A ffiction stay according to claim 5 wherein the flexible part comprises a flexible arm.
7. A friction stay according to claim 6 wherein the slider is formed from a plastics material and the flexible arm is formed in one-piece with the slider.
8. A friction stay according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the rigid part comprises a projection formed on the base member.

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9. A friction stay according to claim 8 wherein the base member is of metal and the projection is a dimple punched from the metal of the base member.
10. A friction stay according to claim 8 or claim 9 when dependent on claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the base member includes a base wall lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of movement of the arm, the projection being formed on said base wall, the arm engaging with the projection to provide said resistance force.
11. A friction stay according to claim 10 wherein the arm includes a recess which receives the projection, the projection flexing the arm to disengage from the recess when said resistance is overcome.
12. A friction stay according to claim I wherein the arm, at an end thereof remote from the slider, is forked, the projection being received in said fork as the arm moves to said position in which the arm is to one side of the base member and engaging an end of said fork to provide said resistance force.
13. A ftiction stay according to claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein the linkage includes an intermediate link connected between the second slider and the longer link.
14. A friction stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.