IE51345B1 - Improvements in friction supporting stays for windows - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to friction supporting stays, for windows, of the kind conprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected tc the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and tc the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar can swing frcm a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track.

In use, two supporting stays of this kind are normally provided at opposite sides of a window, the track of each stay being mounted on the window frame and ths bar being mounted on the window sash. The arrangement is such that as the window pivots on the stays, the axis cf pivoting of the window sash moves away from the window frame so that, when the window is open both sides thereof are accessible from one side of the window frame.

The stays may be disposed at opposite sides of 51315 the upper part of the window so that the window sash pivots about a horizontal axis. Such windows are referred to as top-hung windows. Alternatively, the stays nay be arranged at the top and bottom of the window so that the window pivots about a vertical axis. In this case the window is referred to as side-hung. Where stays of the kind referred to are used in a side-hung arrangement, however, the weight of the window sash tends to cause the brace and strut, and to a lesser extent the link, of each stay to be deflected downwardly. Consequently, as the window is closed, and the bar attached to the window sash moves into the position where it overlies the track, there is a tendency for the downwardly deflected link, brace and strut of the lower stay to bind against the track. This may cause difficulty in closing the window and it may sometimes be necessary to lift the window sash bodily when closing the window so that the link, brace and strut of the lower stay can clear the track. The present invention sets out to provide a form of stay in which this disadvantage is overcome.

Although the tendency for the above-mentioned binding to occur is less in the case of top-hung windows, it can arise and the invention is therefore also applicable to stays for use in such windows.

According to the invention there is provided a friction supporting stay of the kind first referred to above, wherein there is provided on the track a fixed guide element with which said brace or strut engages as the bar is moved into said position overlying the track, the guide element being shaped and arranged to hold saidhrace and/or strut out of binding engagement with the track during the final part of said movement.

Preferably the guide element is formed with an inclined surface which is engaged by said brace or strut, the inclined surface being so disposed as to urge the brace cr strut away from the track as the brace or strut moves further into engagement with said surface. Thus, where the guide element is provided on the lower stay cf a side-hung window arrangement, the element serves to lift the brace or strut clear of the track as tlie window is closed.

The guide element may be provided with two such inclined surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the track. This enables the stay to be moved to the closed position from either side of the track.

The guide element may be separately formed frcm said track and attached thereto. For example, where the track is in the fora of a channel-sectioned element, said guide element may be located within the channel with a portion projecting above the side walls thereof, in the case where the extremities of the side walls of the channel are formed with inwardly turned flanges, the guide element may be formed with grooves to receive said f_anges.

The guide element may conveniently be moulded 513 4 δ from plastics material.

The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a friction supporting stay according to the invention, shewn in a partly opened position, Figure 2 is a section, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken along the line 2 - 2 of Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a section, also on a slightly enlarged scale, taken along the line 5 - 5 of Figure 1.

The supporting stay comprises a charnelsectioned track member 10 having longitudinal inturned flanges 11. The track member is, in use of the stay on a side-hung window, normally secured horizontally to the window frame, two stays being provided af the top and bottom respectively of the window frame. In the case of a tcp-hung window the track members are secured vertically to the window frame at each side of the upper part of the window. Fixing holes 12 are provided in the web 15 of the track member to receive fixing screws. At one end thereof the track member is closed by a plastics nosecap IA which is plugged into the end of the track member and may be staked to the track member by deforming a part of the web, or by means of a rivet. A slider 15 is slideable along the track member, and the detailed construction of the slider will be described later.

An elongate cranked metal strut <6 is pivotally 5134Ξ connected to the track member 10, adjacent one end thereof, by a rivet 17. An elongate trace 18 is pivotally connected at one end, by a rivet 19, to the slider 15 and at the opposite end thereof, by a rivet 20, to a part of the strut 16 intermediate the ends thereof. A link 21 is pivotally connected to the slider 15 by a rivet 22 an a location spaced from the rivet 18. The opposite end of the link 21 is pivotally connected by a rivet 23 to one end of a bar 24, which is in turn pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, by a rivet 25, to the extremity of the strut 16. A cross link 26, shown in chain lines, may be pivotally connected between the brace 18 and the bar 24, parallel to the strut 16, if required.

The bar 24 is,, in use, connected to the bottom member of the window sash frame and fixing holes 27 are provided for this purpose.

In operation, the bar 24 may be swung- from the angled position shown in Figure 1, in which the window is open, to a closed position where the bar 24 overlies the track member 10 and the window is closed.

The dimensions of the elements of the stay, and the positions of the rivets, are so chosen that the strut 16, brace 18 and link 21 also overlie the track member 10 when the window is in the closed position.

One end of the bar 24 is shaped, as indicated at 28, to cooperate with a cam surface 29 on the inside of the r.csecap 14 sc as to give a wedging effect as the stay moves into the closed position.

When the windcw is moved to the closed position there is a tendency for the brace IS or strut 16 to bind against the track 10. This is particularly so in the case of a side-hung window since the weight of the window sash tends to deflect the brace 18 and strut 16, and to a lesser extent the link 21, downwardly. To overcome any tendency of the parts to bind there is mounted on the track member 10 a raiser block 31, constituting the aforementioned fixed guide element.

The raiser block 31 may be moulded frcm plastics, such as acetal resin, and is located in the channel-sectioned track member 10 between the rivet 17 and a stop 30. The stop 30 is a deformed part of the web of the track member 10 provided to limit the movement of the slider 15 along the track member.

As best seen in Figure 2, the raiser block 31 is formed with grooves 32 in which are received the flanges 11 of the track member 10. The part of the block 31 projecting above the track member 10 is formed with oppositely inclined convexly curved surfaces 34 symmetrically disposed on opposite sides cf the centre line of the block 31· The underside of the block 31 is formed with a recess 35 to clear the aforementioned stop 30 to permit the block to be slid along the track member 10 to the required position. It will be appreciated that by modification of the design of the block 31,however,it may be arranged to be snapped into the track member from above, in the required position, instead cf being slid longitudinally along the track member. 4 5 In operation of the device, as the window is coved to the closed position the undersurface of the strut 16 engages the nearer inclined surface 34 of the block 51 so that the block lifts the strut clear of binding engagement with the track member 10 as the strut comes into a position where it overlies the track member. It will be appreciated that the block 51 might also be so positioned on the track member as to engage the underside of the trace 18 rather than the strut 16.

The slider 15 is also preferably designed so as to reduce the tendency of the parts of the stay to bind on the track member. Referring to Figure 5, the main body of the slider 15, which may also be formed from acetal resin, is formed with longitudinal grooves 56 which receive tbe flanges 11 of the track member 10. Thus, although the major part of the slider is embraced within the track member, an upper portion of the slider extends above the flanges 11 for the full width of the “track member and thereby serves to keep the underside of the link 21 and brace 18 out of engagement with the track member whilst providing added support for these parts.

Formed on the side of the slider facing the web of the track member 10 is a rectangular recess 37 in which is snugly received a rectangular nylon friction pad 38. A brass grub screw 33 is threadedly received in the body of the slider. The end of the grub screw 33 bears directly on the friction pad 38 so that the fricticr.al engagement between the slider and the track member nay be 513 j 5 varied by adjustment of the screw 53.

It will be appreciated that the raiser block 31 may only be required on the bottom stay of the two stays ? supporting a side-hung window. However, it may be convenient to provide both stays with a raiser block so that there is no possibility of the stays being incorrectly located during installation. In the case of a top-hung window a raiser block will, in any case, be provided on each stay.

Claims (11)

1. A friction supporting stay, for windows, comprising a track, a slider movable along the track, a strut pivotally connected to the track, a brace pivotally connected between the slider and the strut, a link pivotally connected to the slider, and a bar pivotally connected to the link and to the strut, the arrangement being such that as the slider moves along the track the bar can swing from a position overlying the track to a position where it is angled with respect to the track, and there being provided on the track a fixed guide element with which said brace or strut engages as the bar is moved into said position overlying the track, the guide element being shaped and arranged to hold said brace and/or strut out of binding engagement with the track during the final part of said movement.

2. A friction stay according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is formed with an inclined surface which is engaged by said brace or strut, the inclined surface being so disposed as to urge the brace or strut away from the track as the brace or strut moves further into engagement with said surface.

3. - A friction stay according to claim 2, wherein the guide element is provided with two inclined surfaces symmetrically disposed with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the track. Δ. fi. fricricn stay according to any of claims 1 to 51315 2, wherein the guide element is separately formed frcm said track and attached thereto.

4. 5. A friction stay according to claim 4, wherein the track is in the form of a channel-sectioned .element, and wherein said guide element is located within the channel with a portion projecting above the side walls thereof.

5. 6. A friction stay according to claim 5, wherein the extremities of the side walls of the channel are formed with inwardly turned flanges ar.d the guide element is formed with grooves to receive said flanges.

6. 7. A friction stay according tc ar.y cf claims 1 to 6, wherein the guide element is moulded from plastics materi al.

7. 8. A friction stay according tc any of claims 1 to I 7, wherein the slider is formed with a portion with which said brace, link or bar engages as the bar is moved into said position overlying the track, said portion being shaped and arranged to hold said brace, link and/or bar out of binding engagement with the track during at least the final part of said movement.

8. 9. A friction stay according to claim 8, wherein the track is in the form of a channel-sectioned element and wherein the slider is formed with portions overlying the edges of the side wails cf the channel.

9. 10. A friction stay according tc claim 9, wherein the side walls cf the channel are formed with inwardly turned flanges ar.d the slider is formed with grooves to 513 4 5 receive said flanges.

10.

11. A friction supporting stay, for window, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.