GB2416000A

GB2416000A - Window stay incorporating a safety catch

Info

Publication number: GB2416000A
Application number: GB0513854A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Percival Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-07
Filing date: 2005-07-07
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-07
Also published as: GB0513854D0; GB2416000B

Abstract

A window stay (100) for mounting a window sash in a window frame incorporates a safety catch comprising a locking arm (10) pivotally connected to a part (6) of the window stay which moves away from a frame mounting member (3) on opening of the window. The locking arm is releasably couplable to the frame mounting member to restrict the extent of opening of the stay. The locking arm, after release to enable unrestricted opening of the stay, may recouple to the frame mounting member on subsequent closing of the stay so that the extent of opening of the stay is restricted on next opening of the stay, until the locking arm is again released. The stay comprises a long arm 2, a short arm 1 and a link arm 50. One end of the long arm is pivotally mounted to a sliding joint, which allows sliding movement along the frame mounting member sufficiently to allow the stay to open in excess of 90 degrees between the sash and frame mounting members.

Description

1 241 6000 "A WINDOW STAY INCORPORATING A SAFETY CATCH"

FIELD OF INVENTION

My present invention comprises a friction stay for a window which allows for large angles of opening incorporating a safety catch which can selectively restrict the degree of movement of the window.

BACKGROUND

In many cases there is a requirement for a safety catch to limit the extent to which a window can be opened, that can be operated by adults but not easily operated by small children. There are known fittings which are mounted between a window and a window frame such that the extent of movement of the window is limited. These fittings are often mounted on external surfaces of the interior of the window and window frame. Thus the fitting is always visible and can spoil the aesthetics of the window. Further, when mounting the window within the window frame, the fabricator not only needs to install a pair of window stays but also needs to install a restrictor.

There is a further requirement that a window be able to be opened sufficiently to allow for emergency egress of persons out of the window in the case of an emergency such as a fire for example. Persons may open the window and climb out onto the ground below the window or onto a fire escape or similar. The conventional four bar friction window stay does not allow for opening of the window sash to angles of 90 or more as are required for emergency egress. . . . In a window sash which is hung by simple hinges between an edge of the sash and the window frame, when the sash is fully opened substantially the whole of the window..

aperture is available for persons to pass through in an emergency egress situation.. . However with a window in which the sash is hung by friction window stays, often when the window is fully opened the top rail of the window sash partly blocks the windows. e

aperture. It is desirable in the design of any window stay which is to allow for emergences egress to maximise the part of the window aperture which is available for egress when the sash is fully opened.

Finally, it is also often desirable for a window sash to be able to be opened to in excess of 90 , to facilitate relatively easy cleaning of the outside surface of the window pane from the inside of the window aperture by a cleaner for example

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a window stay which goes a substantial way towards meeting all of the above requirements or which at least provides an alternative form of window stay In broad terms the invention comprises a friction window stay for mounting a window sash in a window frame incorporating a safety catch, comprising a short arm including a pivot joint between a frame end of the short arm and a frame mounting member for securing the window stay to the frame of a window and a pivot joint between a sash end of the short arm and a sash mounting member for securing the window stay to the sash of the window, a long arm including a pivot joint between a sash end of the long arm and the sash mounting member and a sliding joint between the frame end of the long arm and the frame mounting member, the long arm-frame mounting member sliding joint being mounted for sliding or travelling movement along the frame mounting member sufficiently to allow the stay to open to in excess of 90 between the sash and frame mounting members, a link arm pivotally connected to the frame mounting member between the short arm-frame mounting member pivot joint and the frame mounting member sliding joint, and to the long arm intermediate of the length of the long arm, a locking arm pivotally connected to a part of the window stay which moves away from Em frame mounting member on opening of the window stay and which locking arm.ls releasably couplable to the frame mounting member to restrict the extent of opening of the stay Preferably the locking arm couples to latching means on the frame mounting memb. - which preferably comprises a lateral extension from the frame mounting member whish slidingly engages with an open-sided slot in the locking arm to restrict the extent of opening Preferably the locking arm, after release to enable unrestricted opening of the stay, recouples to the frame mounting member on subsequent closing of the stay so that the extent of opening of the stay is restricted on next opening of the stay, until the locking arm is again released.

Preferably an end of the locking arm opposite another end of the locking arm at which the locking arm is pivotally connected to a said part of the window stay, is shaped to engage a part of a window frame during a latter part of closing movement of the stay to cause the locking arm to move recouple to the frame mounting member.

Preferably the locking arm is pivotally connected to the sash mounting member.

Preferably the link arm is connected to the frame mounting member and long arm at positions such that the link arm is opened to an angle less than 90 when the stay is fully opened to in excess of 90 .

Preferably the pivot joint between the short arm and the frame mounting member is offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting member. Preferably the pivot joint between the link arm and the frame mounting member is a second offset paint joint which is offset to the same side of the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting.

member, - Preferably the pivot joint between the short arm and the sash mounting member is offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the sash mounting member. Preferably the pivot joint between the link arm and the sash mounting member is a second offset pivot joy.

which offset to the same side of the longitudinal centreline of the sash mounting member.

Preferably the stay incorporates integral means to lock the head of the stay against forced opening, comprising frame engaging means such as a protrusion on the upper end of the sash mounting member which engages sash engaging means such as a recess on the frame mounting member as the stay is closed.

AS a result, when the window is closed the stay is also fully closed i.e. the sash mounting member and long arm are fully aligned. This allows the stay to be used with common standard uPVC window profiles with standard cavity sizes. A1SO7 in initial opening the head of the stay has a downward and then outward movement. This enables the stay to employ a very effective integral head locking mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of friction stay of the invention is illustrated, by way of example and without intending to be limiting, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view of the preferred form window stay of the invention almost fully open, Figure 2 is view of the stay shown in Figure 1 in a closed position, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stay along line H-H of Figure 2 showing the long arm extension engaged in the slot in the frame mounting member, Figure 4 is a view of the stay in a fully open position to allow cleaning of the outside surface of the window pain from the window aperture, Figure 5 is a view of the stay restricted to a partially open angle, and Figure 6 is a view of the stay in a released and partly open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM:... :.

The drawings show a preferred form window stay 100 of the invention which comprises a short arm 1, long arm 2, frame mounting member 3, sash mounting member 6, link arm.

50, and a locking arm 10. Pivot joint 8 which is preferably a friction pivot joint is..: provided between the short arm 1 and sash mounting member 6. Pivot joints 7, 17, 51 arid..

52 which are preferably non-friction pivot joints are provided between the long arm 2 a d.

sash mounting member 6, between the short arm 1 and frame mounting member 3, between the link arm 50 and frame mounting member 3, and between the link arm 50 and long arm 2.

In one embodiment, the frame end of the long arm 2 and the frame mounting member are connected via a slot 30 in the frame mounting member into which an extension from the long arm engages for sliding or travelling movement along the slot sufficiently to allow the stay to open to an excess of 90 between the sash and frame mounting members. The slot extends along the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting member. In this embodiment, the long arm extension 5 is a rivet with a waisted or reduced diameter shank which extends through the slot in the frame mounting member. The shank of the rivet can thus slide along the slot. The frame mounting member is formed as an upside down U-shape to allow movement of the pivot joint 5 as the stay is opened and closed (see lO Figure 3).

In another embodiment, the frame end of the long arm 2 may be pivotally connected to a slider (not shown). In this embodiment, the frame mounting member is formed with a channel cross-section for receiving the slider. The slider is able to travel along the frame mounting member substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame mounting member.

The locking arm 10 is pivotally connected at one end to the sash mounting member. The locking arm and the frame mounting member are connectable via a slot 12 in the locking arm into which a latching means 14 engages for sliding or travelling movement. The latching means 14 is an extension from the frame mounting member. Preferably the slot extends through the locking arm. Alternatively the slot may extend only part way through the locking arm. The slot 12 is along one side of the locking arm and part of the side of the slot is open as shown, so that the slot 12 is an open- sided slot. .. . 25.. . In the preferred embodiment, the latching means is a pin which extends laterally from the frame mounting member. Alternatively the latching means may be a lateral protrusion formed integrally with the frame mounting member. .: As the stay 100 is opened and closed, and while the locking arm is coupled to the framing mounting member, the latching means 14 travels along the length of the slot 12 from the frame end 12a towards the sash end 12b and vice versa. As this occurs the locking arm will pivot about its joint to the sash plate.

In the preferred embodiment, the locking arm is pivotally connected to the sash mounting member at the long arm-sash mounting member pivot joint. However, the locking arm may be pivotally connected at any point along the sash mounting member or to any other arm of the stay, for example the link arm, depending on the geometry of the stay. The locking arm is preferably connected to the sash plate on the same side as the long arm.

Alternatively, the locking arm may be connected on the opposite side of the long arm depending on the cavity available between the frame and sash of the window.

In addition, the link arm 50 is provided between the frame mounting member 3 and long arm 2 and connected to the frame mounting member 3 by a pivot joint 51 and to the long arm 2 by a pivot joint 52.

Referring to Figure 5 in initial opening movement of the stay from closed, when the locking arm 10 is engaged with the latch pin 14, movement of the long arm 2 away from the frame mounting member 3 causes relative movement of the latching means 14 from the frame end of the slot 12a of the locking arm along the slot until it reaches the sash end 12b of the locking arm slot causing the stay to be restricted to a partially open angle (shown in Figure 5). To enable further opening of the stay from this restricted position, it is first necessary to slightly close the stay and uncouple the locking arm. The slight closing movement will cause relative movement of the latching means 14 back towards the sash end 12b of the slot of locking arm 10. Then the locking arm may be manually released by pushing the locking arm towards the short arm in the direction of arrow A to the position shown in dashed lines in Figure 5, to disengage the locking arm from the latching means 14. This allows the stay to then be opened further, as shown in Figuris.6:.

and 1, and to its fullest extent if required as shown in Figure 4. It will be difficult for, small children to do this as the interaction of the latching means and locking arm acts as a safety catch which restricts the extent to which the window is opened until the stay Is ..

manually released as described above. ...

The stay 100 may be opened past the normally open position shown in Figure l.to. .

facilitate cleaning of the outside surface of the window pane from the inside of the window aperture, to the position shown in Figure 4. The window may be opened further by the user grabbing each side of the window sash and pushing the stay end of the sash away from the window aperture and simultaneously pulling the other end of the sash towards the window aperture. This causes the sash mounting member and short arm to toggle. Further opening of the window causes the frame end of the long arm to move back along the frame mounting member. During this movement the link arm 50 will be open to angles less than 90 to guide the sliding movement of the frame end of the long arm. A notch is provided in the short arm to prevent the sash of the window striking the stay during this movement. In closing of the stay, the closing movement of the long arm 2 towards the name mounting member 3 causes sliding movement of the frame end of the long arm away from the pivot joint 51. In opening and closing of the stay the link arm 50 will pivot about the pivot joint 51 guiding sliding movement of the end of the long arm 2.

In the final closing movement of the stay from opened, the frame end of the locking arm will strike the window frame. An edge 16 of the frame end of the locking arm is curved so that as the window is closed further, the interaction between the edge of the locking arm and the frame (not shown) causes the locking arm to rotate. During the final part of this movement, the latching means will slide along the slot towards the sash end of the locking arm causing the locking arm to rotate back to its original closed position, as shown in Figure 2.

In some installations, the position of the stay relative to the frame will be such that the locking arm will not strike the frame. In these installations, the latching means will strike the slot in the locking arm causing the locking arm to rotate back to its starting position.

The locking arm is therefore automatically re-engaged with the latching means upon closing of the stay. When the stay is next opened, the stay will only be able to move to its restricted position as described above. .

...DTD: 25.' . .

The degree of sliding movement of the frame end of the long arm along the frame mounting member is sufficient to allow the stay to open to an angle in excess of 9 between the sash mounting member 6 and the frame mounting member 3, and preferably.: of the order of 110 for example. At the same time, the link arm 50 is connected.at. a.

positions on the long arm 2 and frame mounting member 3 that when the window stay. is. .

Open to its fullest extent, so that the sash mounting member 6 extends at an angle in excess of 90 (and up to 110 or more is preferred) relative to the frame mounting member 3, the link arm 50 is not open to an angle above 90 relative to the frame mounting member 3, and preferably is opened to an angle less than 90 . This provides for reliable opening and ' 1 closing movement of the stay and arms thereof. With the stay of the invention the stay can open to angles in excess of 90 and up to 110 for example.

Preferably the pivot joint 17 between the short arm and the frame mounting member is offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting member. The link arm-frame mounting member pivot joint 51 is also offset to the same side of the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting member. Preferably the pivot joint 8 between the short arm and the sash mounting member is offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the sash mounting member. The long arm-sash mounting member pivot joint 7 is also offset to the same side of the longitudinal centreline of the sash mounting member. When the stay is closed as shown in Figure 2, the frame mounting member and sash mounting member are aligned. The short arm 1 extends at an angle from the short arm-sash mounting member joint 8 to the short-arm frame mounting member joint 17. The offset pivots allow the sash mounting member and frame mounting member to be aligned in their closed positions while maintaining an angle between the short arm and the frame mounting member and between the link arm and the frame mounting member.

Stays of the invention preferably incorporate a preferred form of head locking mechanism as will now be described. The top end of the sash mounting member 6 is formed with frame engaging means in the form of a protrusion 73. A recess 74 is formed in an integral enlarged head 75 of the frame mounting member 3. When the window stay is closed, the sash mounting member 6 will move such that the protrusion 73 engages into the recess 74.

When the stay is fully closed and the protrusion 73 is fully engaged into the recess 74,.0 head of the window is locked and cannot be opened by force or prising open between.the top of the window sash and the window frame. The locking mechanism can again only be opened by proper opening of the window by pushing on the bottom of the sash from within.

The foregoing describes the window stay of my invention. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A friction window stay for mounting a window sash in a window

frame incorporating a safety catch, comprising a short arm including a pivot joint between a frame end of the short arm and a frame mounting member for securing the window stay to the frame of a window and a pivot joint between a sash end of the short arm and a sash mounting member for securing the window stay to the sash of the window, a long arm including a pivot joint between a sash end of the long arm and the sash mounting member and a sliding joint between the frame end of the long arm and the frame mounting member, the long arm-frame mounting member sliding joint being mounted for sliding or travelling movement along the frame mounting member sufficiently to allow the stay to open to in excess of 90 between the sash and frame mounting members, a link arm pivotally connected to the frame mounting member between the short arm-frame mounting member pivot joint and the frame mounting member sliding joint, and to the long arm intermediate of the length of the long arm, and a locking arm pivotally connected to a part of the window stay which moves away from the frame mounting member on opening of the window stay, and which locking arm is releasably couplable to the frame mounting member to restrict the extent of opening of the stay.
2. A window stay according to claim 1 wherein the locking arm is releasably couplable to latching means comprising a lateral extension from frame mounting member.
3. A window stay according to claim 2 wherein the locking arm comprises an open- sided slot along one side of the locking arm into which the lateral extension from the frame mounting member engages when the locking arm is coupled to the frame mounting member to restrict the extent of opening of the stay.
4. A window stay according to one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the locking arm, after release to enable unrestricted opening of the stay, recouples to the frame mounting member on subsequent closing of the stay so that the extent of opening of the stay is.

restricted on next opening of the stay, until the locking arm is again released.
5. A window stay according to claim 4 wherein an end of the locking arm opposite another end of the locking arm at which the locking arm is pivotally connected to said part of the window stay, is shaped to engage a part of a window frame during a latter part of closing movement of the stay to cause the locking arm to move and recouple to the frame mounting member.
6. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein to enable release the locking arm the stay must first be closed from the maximum extent of restricted opening of the stay with the locking arm coupled to the frame mounting member.
7. A window stay according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the locking arm is pivotally connected to the sash mounting member.
8. A window stay according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the link arm is connected to the frame mounting member and long arm at positions such that the link arm is opened to an angle less than 90 when the stay is fully opened to in excess of 90 .
9. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot joint between the short the arm and the frame member is offset to one side of the longitudinal cenkeline of the frame mounting member.
10. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot joint between the link arm and the frame mounting member is offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the frame mounting member.
1 1. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the long firm sliding joint slides sufficiently to allow the stay to open to 110 between the sash.n frame mounting members or more.
12. A window stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stay incorporates integral means to lock the stay against forced opening comprising frame engaging means on an end of the sash mounting member which engages sash engaging.

means on the frame mounting member as the stay is closed.
13. A window stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.