IE83664B1 - A stay for a wing and frame construction - Google Patents

Description

Title: A Stay for a Wing and Frame Coiistruction Description of liiveiitioii This invention relates to a stay for a wing and frame construction such as particularly but not exclusively, a window, although the invention may be applied to other wing and frame constructions. ' Stays are known. for example froni prior UK patent 2262308 which are used in pairs to enable the window casement to be moved between a fully closed position in which at least a substantial portion of the window casement is received within a frame and a fully open position in which the window casement extends outwardly of the fraiiie adjaceiit a first side of the frame for veiitilation purposes. Such stays typically include a track which is fixed relative to the frame and a wing aim \VltlCll~~_lS fixed relative to the window casement, a first linkage element pivotally connected to the wing aim and to a first slider which is slidable along the track, and a second linltage element pivotally comiected to the wing aim and to a second slider which is slidable along the track.

In iioimal operation ie. when it is desired to open the window casement foi ventilation purposes, the first slider on each of the pair of stays is restrained I from sliding along the track for example by a sprung catch or the like. To allow the window casement to be opened hilly, so as to allow for egress through the window opening in an C'lnCI‘g,t‘llCy, such stays are conventionally configured I and positioned such that when the window casement is fully open, an edge of the wing lies close to a first sideof the fi'aine.»1Wlieii‘it is desired to clean an exterior surface of the window caseinent, the sprung catch of each ofthe pair of stays may be released, so that the first sliders are released for sliding along their tracks so that window casement can be moved relative to the frame away from the first side ofthe frame.

Various proposals have been put forward to facilitate this operation. In GB 2262308 it is necessary to depress a sprung catch whilst moving the window casement to release the catch, which is a particularly difficult operation as both sprung catches of the pair of stays have to be released before the window casement can be moved to a convenient “easy clean” position for cleaning.

In GB 2301621 there is proposed an arrangementin which the sprung catches of the first sliders are automatically released when the window casement is moved to a fully open position. in each prior proposal, even when the sprung catches are released, it is difficult to move the window casement relative to the frame along the tracks to the easy clean position, because of the need simultaneously to move the window casement along two tracks by substantially the same amount to ensure that the window casement does not become mis-oriented in the frame which can put a considerable strain on the stays. Such difficulty is caused primarily because during window casement movement to the easy clean position from the fully open positionfboth sliders are positioned close to one another along their respective tracts thus providing minimal stability, and both sliders are required to slide.

According to a first aspect ofthe invention we provide a stay for a wing which when in use, is mounted with respect to a frame, the stay enabling the wing to be moved between a fully closed position in which at lease a substantial portion ofthe wing is received within a frame and a fully open position in which the wing extends outwardly of the frame adjacent a first side ofthe frame, the stay including a support member which is fixed relative to the frame and a wing arm which is fixed relative to the wing, at first linkage element pivotally connected to the wing arm and to a first slider which is slidable al,or}g:the support member, and a second linkage element pivotally connected to the wing armrar)d to a second slider which is slidable along the support member, friction means acting L4. between the first slider and the support member so that as the wing is moved from its fully closed position, the second slider preferentially moves to allow the wing to be moved towards the fully open position, the wing being moveable relative to the frame when required to overcome the frictional force ofthe friction means and to permit the first slider to slide along the support member towards the second slider whilst movement ofthe second slide is restrained, and thus to enable the wing to be moved in the frame away from the first side ofthe frame. ln this position, enhanced access to an exterior surface ofthe wing is provided e.g. for cleaning purposes.

Thus utilising stays in accordance with the invention, a window casement may be moved to an easy clean position, without requiring sprung latches or the like to be manipulated to release the first sliders. Simply, the force ofthe friction means ofthe stay or stays, needs to be overcome.

To facilitate overcoming the frictional force ofthe friction means, a restraining means may be provided which may selectively be applied between the second slider and the support member thus to restrain movement ofthe second slider along the support member beyond an intermediate open position so that continued opening movement of the wing beyond the intermediate open position overcomes the frictional force of the friction means so that the first slider slides along the support member.

This provides considerable advantage over the prior art arrangements described ‘above because the wing may be moved away from the first side of the frame without requiring the wing first to be moved to a fully open position. Moreover, when sliding movement ofthe second slider is restrained, the first and second sliders remain spaced apart as the wing is moved away from the first side ofthe frame providing maximum stability for the window casement in the frame as the wing is moved. ln one embodiment the restraining means includes a catch member mounted on thelsupport member, which when the wing is opened to a position intermediate the fully open and fully closed positions, where the second slider is aligned with the catch member, the catch member may be applied to engage the second slider.

Thus once the wing has been opened to the intermediate position, the restraining means may be applied with the wing at rest thus avoiding having to move the wing whilst disengaging a sprung catch, a in the prior art arrangements. Provided that the restraining means may be applied when the wing is opened only a small amount, it will be appreciated that the first slider may slide for a considerable distance along the support member towards the second slider, to provide maximum access to the exterior surface of the wing.

Conveniently the restraining means is automatically releasable as the wing is moved back towards its fully closed position.

Any desired friction means which allows the second slider to move preferentially to the first slider during at least initial wing opening to the intermediate position may by employed. For example, the support member or the first slider may have at least one recess and the tirst slider or support member respectively may include at least one projecting element, the projecting element being receivable in the recess and being moved out ofthe recess when sufficient force is applied to the wing to overcome the frictional force.

Although the projecting element may be urged by resilient means into the recess, such that the force ofthe resilient means is overcome when sufficient force is applied, preferably the first slider is resiliently deformable to pennit the projecting formation to be moved out of the recess, as sufficient force is applied. dn each case the support member may include a track having a re-entrant channel along which the first and second sliders may slide. a _According to a second aspect ofthe invention we provide a window or door construction including a frame adapted to be fixed relative to an aperture of a building and a wing mounted with respect to the frame by means ofa pair ofstays according to the first aspect ofthe invention.

The frame may include first and second opposite sides, and third and fourth opposite sides, the stays being provided on the third and fourth opposite sides and the wing being movable in the frame when the first sliders slide along their respective support members so that the wing moves along the third and fourth sides of the frame away from a first side thereof to permit of enhanced accessto an outside surface of the wing between the wing and the first side ofthe frame. ‘ According to a third aspect of the invention a method of operating a wing which is mounted with respect to a frame by a stay according to the first aspect of the invention, for movement ofthe wing relative to the frame, the method including moving the wing from a fully closed position in which at least a substantial portion of the wing is received within the frame and selecting to move the wing either a) directly to a fully open position in which the wing extends outwardly of the frame and provides a maximum opening through the frame. or b) directly to a second position in which enhanced access to an exterior surface of the wing is provided, andmoving the wing to the selected position without moving the wing first to the second position or fully open position respectively.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: — FlGURE l is a perspective illustrative view ofa stay in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view ofthe stay of figure 1 shown in a fully open position.

/Referring to the drawings a stay 10 includes a support member I l which in this example is a re—entrant channel, having a base [4, a pair of longitudinally extending side flanges, l5b, and inturned lips 16a, 16b at the free edges ofthe side flanges l5a, l5b.

The stay 10 further includes tl wing arm l8. and between the support member ll and the wing arm l8. there is a linkage arrangement which permits the wing arm 18 to be moved relative to the support member I l.

A first linkage element or thrust link 20 is pivotally connected at one end to the wing aim l8, adjacent one end of the wing arm l8, and at the other end to a first slider 22 which is slidable along the support member 11 in the re- entrant channel thereof. A second linkage element or control link 23 extends between and is pivotally connected to a generally mid position of, the wing arm 18 and at the other end thereof the control link 23 is pivotally connected to a second slider 24 which also is slidable along the support member 11 in the re- entrant channel thereof.

The linkage arrangement includes a brace element 25 which is pivotally connected at one end to the control link 33‘ and at the other end is pivotally connected to the first slider and a reinforcing link 26 which is pivotally connected at one end to the brace element 25, and at the other end thereof to the wing arm 18, between the points olconnection of the thrust link 20 and the Control link 23 to the wing aim I84 In use, the support member I I is fixed relative to a frame provided for example in an aperture ofa building, whilst the wing arm l8 is fixed relative to a window casement, door or other wing, most typically, a window casement.

The linkage geometry permits the window casement or to be moved between a ’ fully open position as indicated in tigure 2 in which the first slider 22 is positioned towards one end ofthe support member 1 l and the second slider 24 lfas been moved along the support member l 1 towards the first slider 22 to the full extentpennitted by the linkage arrangement.

In such fully open position the \Wll1(l()W casement extends generally at right angles to the frame, and this is a usual position to which the window casement is moved for ventilation purposes. It will be appreciated though that an edge ofa window casement to which the wing arm 18 is fixed, the position of which is indicated by the arrow A, will be located close to an adjacent side ofthe frame, the position ofwhich is indicated by arrow B. Hence there is insufficient space between the window casement edge position A and the frame position B to enable an exterior surface (the position ofwhich is indicated by line S in figure 2) ofthe window casement to be cleaned.

The first slider 22 is made ofa resiliently deformable material such as a suitable plastic, and is provided with a weakened region indicatedat 30 in an end thereof. Each of the side flanges 15a, 15b ofthe support track 1 l, or at least one ofthe side flanges l5a, 15b, is provided with a projecting element which extends inwardly ofthe re-entrant channel and is received in a corresponding recess in the or the respective side edge ofthe list slider 22. The projecting element or elements may conveniently be provided by stamping and/or perforating the side flange or flanges 15a, 15b. e The recess or recesses in the side edges ofthe first slider 22 may be provided during moulding.

The projecting element or elements and the recess or recesses provide friction between the first slider 22 and the support member l l which, as the window casement is opened for ventilation purposes, which will tent to cause the second slider 24 preferentially to move along the support member I l towards the fully open position.

However, this frictional force may be overcome by providing sufficient force to the window casement when it is desired to move the window casement to a position for easy cleaning ofthe exterior surface S thereof, as the first slider 22 will defomi resiliently to allow the projecting formation of formations to move out ofthe or the respective recess when desired. This there is no catch or the like which restrains movement ofthe first slider 22 along the support member 1 I, but such movement is deterred by the frictional force being applied being grater than the force required to move the second slider 24 along'the support member I l.

The stay IO includes ‘il iestiaiiiiiig nieaiis 32 which is provided on the support member 11 towards the end thereof remote from the tirst slider 22. The i‘estraining ineairs includes a resilient catch inenrber 34 which is secured relative to the support member I l at one end thereof, as indicated at 35. The other end of the resilient catch nreinber 34 includes a projecting formation 36 which biased away froin the support niember 11 by the material and/or construction ofthe resilient catch member 34. The resilient catch member 34 is adapted to co-operate with the second slider 24 when the second slider 24 is appropriately aligned with the resilient catch member 34, once the window casement has been opened a small amount to a position intermediate the fully open position indicated in tigiire 2, and 2-1 frilly closed position in which the window casement is received in the frame with the wing arm 18 at least partially overlying the support member I I lhus the second slider 24 may be held and prevented fioin nroving along the support member l l as the window casement continues to be opened beyond the intermediateposition.

The second slider 24 has a ieeeiviiig forination 38, into which, when a part of the receiving formation 38 is aligned with the corresponding projecting formation 36 of the restrairiing inernber 34. may receive the projecting formation 36, when the resilient member 34 is depressed to move the projecting forgmation 36 towards the receiving formation 38. The part of the receiving formation 38 is very slightly sinaller than the width of the projecting formation 36, and thus the projecting formation 37 has to be forcibly received in the receivirig formation 38, which nray be permitted due to the inherent resilience of the material from which the second slider 24 is made.

With the formations 36, thus engaged, it will be appreciated that as the window casement continues torbe opened beyond the intermediate position, the frictional force imposed on the first slider 22 by the friction means will be overcome and as a result the first slider 22 will slide along the support member towards the second slider 24. Thus an increasing space will be provided between the position A of the edge of the xx indow casement, and the position [3 of the side of the frame, so that rcatly access to the exterior surface S of the window casement is provided.

Moreover, over the rnajorrty of the ntovernent of the window casement whilst the second slider 24 movement is restrained, the first 22 and second 24 sliders will be spaced apart to a maxitnnm degree thus providing maximum stabilisation for the witidow casement. i When it is desired to close the window easement, or at least to return the window casement to a normal ventilating position, the window casement is closed. The first slider 22 will thus return to the position where the friction means may act between the first slider 22 and the support member 11. At the same time, or as this position is reached. the second slider 24 will be constrained to tnove in an oppositedirection ttntil a wide part of the receiving formation is moved into aligrrtrtctit Will] the projecting formation 36 or the restraining member 34, and as 21 result. the projecting member 36 may be removed from the receiving forrnation 38 by virtue of the resilient biasing of the member 34, and so the resilient tneniber 34 will be released, thus allowing the second slider 24 to slide along the support member ll in preference to the first slider 22 during any subsequent opening of the window casement for ventilation purposes.

In the example shown in the drawings, the control link 23 includes a nib element 40. When the window casement is moved to the ititerrnediate position the projecting formation 30 of the resilient member 34 and the receiving ‘formation, 38 of the second slider 24 are in co-operation, as the window casement is continued to be moved with second slider 24 sliding movement restrained, the nib element 40 will o“\/erlie a tongue 41 of the projecting formation 36 of the resilient member 34 to prevent the inadvertent disengagement ofthe projecting formation 36 and the receiving formation 38 of the second slider 24 eg. as the window casement position is adjusted at the other side thereofto enable the projecting and receiving formation 36, 38 ofthe opposite stay to be brought into alignment. Otherwise the nib element 40 will not interfere with the normal sliding movement ofthe second slider 24.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

For example, an alternative friction means to that described may be provided for ensuring that the second slider 24 moves in preference to the first slider 22 during normal opening ofthe window casement, for ventilation purposes, such as a rubbing block or the like mounted in the channel ofthe support member I 1, or a projecting element provided in the base l2 ofthe channel.

Whereas the linkage geometry described lends itself particularly for use in a stay in accordance with the invention, other linkage geometries are no doubt possible.

The stay l0 described would of course be one ofa pair of stays which preferably are both stays in accordance with the invention. The stays may preferably be provided at the top and bottom ofa window casement or other wing, so that the wing opens and closes normally about a generally upright axis or axes. The frame may thus have four sides. with a pair ofthe stays 10 provided at each of two opposite sides (e.g. the top and bottom). and access to the exterior surface S ofthe wing for cleaning purposes for example, being obtained between one ofthe remaining frame sides closest to the upright axis or axes, and the adjacent edge ofthe window casement or wing.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A stay for a wing which when in use, is mounted with respect to a frame, the stay enabling the wing to be moved between a fully closed position in which at least a substantial portion ofthe wing is received within a frame and a fully open position in which the wing extends outwardly ofthe frame adjacent a first side of the frame, the stayincluding a support member which is fixed relative to the frame and a wing arm which is fixed relative to the wing, a first linkage element pivotally connected to the wing arm and to a first slider which is slidable along the support member, and a second linkage element pivotally connected to the wing arm and to a second slider which is slidable along the support member, T friction means acting between the first slider and the support member so that as the wing is moved from its fully closed position, the second slider preferentially moves to allow the wing to be moved towards the fully open position. the wing being movable relative to the frame when required, to overcome the frictional force of the friction means and to permit the first slider to slide along the support member towards the second slider whilst movement ofthe second slider is restrained, and thus to enable the wing to be moved in the frame away from the first side ofthe frame to a position in which enhanced access to an exterior surface of the wing is provided. A stay according to claim l characterised in that a restraining means is provided which may selectively be applied between the second slider and the support member thus to restrain movement of the second slider along the support member : beyond an intermediate open position so that continued opening movement of the wing overcomes the frictional force of the friction means so that the first slider slides along the support member. A stay according to claim 2 characterised in that the restraining means includes a catch member mounted on the support member, which, when the wing is opened to a position intermediate the fully open and fully closed positions, where the second slider is aligned with the catch member, the catch member may be applied to engage the second slider. A stay according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that the restraining means is automatically releasable as the wing is moved towards its fully closed position. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the friction means includes in the support member or the first slider at least one recess and the first slider or support member respectively includes at least one projecting - element, the projecting element being receivable in the recess and being moved out ofthe recess when sufficient force is applied to the wing to overcome the frictional force. A stay according to claim 5 characterised in that the first slider is resiliently deformable to permit the projecting formation to be moved out ofthe recess, as sufficient force is applied. A stay according to any one ofthe preceding claims characterised in that the support member includes a track including a re-entrant channel along which the ',first and second sliders may slide. A stay according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the wing is I moveable selectively from a fully closed position in which at least a substantial ’ portion ofthe wing is received within a frame, either a) directly to a fully open position in which the wing extends outwardly of the frame and provides a maximum opening throughthe frame, or b) directly to a second position -in which enhanced access to an exterior surface of the wing is provided, in each case the wing being moveable to the selected position without the wing first being moved to the second position or fully open position respectively. 9. A window or door construction including a frame adapted to be fixed relative to an aperture ofa building and a wing mounted with respect to the frame by means ofa pair of stays according to any one ofthe preceding claims. IO. A construction according to claim 9 characterised in that the frame includes first and second opposite sides, and third and fourth opposite sides, the stays being provided on the third and fourth opposite sides, and the wing being movable in the frame when the first sliders slide along their respective support members so that the wing moves along the third and fourth sides ofthe frame away from a first ’ side thereof to permit of enhanced access to an outside surface of the wing between the wing and the first side ofthe frame. . A method of operating a wing whichis mounted with respect to a frame by a stay according to any one ofclaims l to 8, for movement ofthe wing relative to the frame, the method including moving the wing from a fully closed position in which at least a substantial portion ofthe wing is received within the frame and selecting to move the wing either 21) directly to a fully open position in which the wing extends outwardly ofthe frame and provides a maximum opening through , the frame, or b) directly to a second position in which enhanced access to an exterior surface ofthe wing is provided, and moving the wing to the selected position without moving the wing first to the second position or fully open position respectively. 12‘ A stay for a wing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to claims 1 to 8 and as shown in the accompanyingdrawings. I3. A method ofoperating a wing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to claim I 1 and the accompanying drawings. TOMKINS & CO.