WO1994013914A1

WO1994013914A1 - Stays

Info

Publication number: WO1994013914A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/002574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Gordon Griffin
Original assignee: Euromond Limited
Priority date: 1992-12-17
Filing date: 1993-12-17
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Also published as: GB2273526A; GB2273526B; GB9325901D0

Abstract

A door or window stay is connectable between a closure and a frame to allow the closure to be opened out of and closed into the frame. The stay has an arm (11) connected to a base member (10) by a linkage (12, 13, 14, 60) which controls movement of the arm (11) between closed and open positions. The linkage includes a shorter link (12) pivotally connected to one end of the arm (11) and to the base member (10) and a longer link (14) pivotally connected to the arm (11) intermediate the ends of the arm and pivotally connected to a slide (17) carried by the base member (10). The slide (17) has a spring strip (25; 30) which projects from the end of the base member (10) and engages the base member (10) or a lug (34) on the base member when the arm (11) is partially open. The spring strip (25; 30) can be moved to disengage from the base member (10) or the lug (34) to allow continued opening movement of the arm (11). The shorter link (12) may be connected to a second slider (50) carried by the base member. A catch (51) may be carried on this second slider (50) and be movable to a position in which the catch (51) limits movement of the second slider (50) relative to the base member so limiting movement of the arm (11) away from the overlying position. The catch may be rotatable member with an ear (55) engaging in a slot (57) in the base member (10) - such a catch (51) may be used separately from the spring strip (25; 30).

Description

STAYS

The invention relates to stays and particularly stays for connecting a closure to a frame such as are used in windows and doors.

A typical stay comprises a base member for connection to the frame and an arm for connection to the closure, the arm being connected to the base member by a linkage including longer and shorter links and also including a slide carried by the base member and connected to the linkage to permit pivoting movement of the arm towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base. In use, the linkage constrains the closure to perform both pivotal and translational movement relative to the frame between a position in which the closure is closed into the frame and a position in which the closure is opened out of the frame.

When used particularly in windows, such stays allow the window to be opened very wide. This is useful for maximum ventilation and for cleaning and decorating the window and for egress in an emergency. Such wide opening is, however, a disadvantage because it provides a sufficient gap for children to climb out of the window and this is dangerous. For this reason, a requirement has arisen for a stay which allows only limited opening movement; sufficient to provide ventilation but not sufficient to allow a child to pass through the open window. Such limited opening movement has been provided by connecting the shorter link to the slide and forming the slide with an extension that moves with the slide in the base member and includes ears or lugs which engage co-operating cut-outs in the base member as the arm is moved away from the position in which it is aligned with the base member. Such engagement limits the opening movement. The member can be disengaged from the base member to allow unlimited opening movement, if necessary.

It is a disadvantage of such stays that the limited opening mechanism is not easy to operate. At times it can be partially covered by the linkage and this can make it troublesome to disengage. This is plainly a problem where rapid opening is required in an emergency.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stay for connecting a closure to a frame comprising a base member for connection to the frame and an arm for connection to the closure, the arm being connected to the base member by a linkage which permits pivoting movement of the arm towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base, the linkage including a shorter link pivotally connected at one end to the arm and at an end opposite said one end to the base member and a longer link pivotally connected at one end to said arm intermediate ends of the arm and at an end opposite said one end to a slide guided in sliding movement by said base member, said slide including a member which, when the arm overlies the base, projects from an end of the base, said member, as the arm moves away from said overlying position, engaging the base member to prevent continued movement of the arm, the member being disengageable from the base member to permit further movement of the arm away from the base member.

By connecting the longer link to the slide, the stop member can project from the end of the slide so that the stop member is easily visible and operable and can be very readily disengaged from the base member in an emergency to allow opening beyond the limited opening provided when the member engages the base.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a stay for connecting a closure to a frame comprising a base member for connection to the frame and an arm for connection to the closure, the arm being connected to the base member by a linkage which permits pivoting movement of the arm towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base, the linkage including a shorter link pivotally connected at one end to the arm and at an end opposite said one end to the base member and a longer link pivotally connected at one end to said arm intermediate ends of the arm and at an end opposite said one end to a slider guided in sliding movement by said base member, said opposite end of the shorter arm being pivotally connected to a second slider guided in sliding movement by ,said base member and located towards one of said ends of the base member when the arm overlies the base, means being provided on said first mentioned slider to limit movement of said slider and so permit limited movement of said arm away from said overlying position, said means being releasable to allow continued movement of said slider and continued away movement of said arm, and means being provided acting between said second slider and said base member for maintaining said second slider towards said one end of the base member, said means being capable of being rendered inoperative.

In this arrangement, release of the slider of the longer link, with the shorter link slider engaged allows maximum opening for egress. Holding the longer link slider engaged and releasing the shorter stay slider allows opening for cleaning/painting. With both sliders engaged, the limited movement of the longer arm slider allows limited opening preventing egress by children.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a stay for connecting a closure to a frame comprising a base member for connection to the frame and an arm for connection to the closure, the arm being connected to the base member by a linkage which permits pivoting movement of the arm towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base, the linkage including a shorter link pivotally connected at one end to the arm and at an end opposite said one end to the base member and a longer link pivotally connected at one end to said arm intermediate ends of the arm and at an end opposite said one end to the base member, one of said base member connections being via a slider guided in sliding movement by said base member, said slider including a member rotatable between a first position in which the member is positioned for engagement with the base member after limited movement of said arm away from said overlying position and a second position in which the member does not limit said movement of the arm.

The following is a more detailed description of some embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a first stay with an arm of the stay overlying a base member of the stay,

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the arm in a partially open position relative to the base member and with a stop on a spring strip carried by a slide of the stay engaging the base member to prevent continued opening movement of the arm,

Figure 3 is a view of a part of the stay of Figure 2, showing in more detail the engagement between the stop and the base member,

Figure 4 is a view on the line IV-IV of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figures 1 and 2 but showing the arm in a fully open position relative to the base member and the stops disengaged from the base member and received within the base member,

Figure 6 is a plan view from above of a second stay with an arm of the stay in a fully open position relative to the base member of the stay, and showing a latching member disengaged from a stop on the base member, Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 but showing the whole of the stay overlying the base member of the stay,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the stay of Figures 6 and 7 in a disposition shown in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a section on the line IX-IX of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a similar view to Figure 9 but showing the latching member disengaged from the stop on the base member,

Figure 11 is a plan view of a modified form of the stay of Figures 6 to 10 including a second slider carrying a catch, engaged with a base member of the stay, and

Figure 12 is a similar view to Figure 11 but showing the catch released from the base member.

Referring first to Figures 1, 3 and 5, the first stay comprises a base member 10 connected to an arm 11 by a linkage comprising a shorter link 12, an intermediate link 13 and a longer link 14. The base member 10 has a pair of guides 23 extending along respective side edges of the member 10 and formed by two side walls upstanding from respective side edges of the base member 10 and inwardly directed flanges 27 extending parallel to the base member

10 from the upper ends of the side walls.

The shorter link 12 has one end connected to the base at a fixed pivot point 15 and an opposite end pivotally connected adjacent an end of the arm 12 at a pivot point 16. The longer arm 14 has one end pivotally connected to a slider 17 (see Figure 5) carried by the base member 10 for rectilinear sliding movement backwards and forwards along the base member 10, and another end pivotally connected to the arm 11 at a pivot point 18 intermediate the ends of the arm 11.

The intermediate link 13 is connected between a pivot point 19 intermediate the ends of the longer arm 14 and a fixed pivot point 20 on the base member 10 adjacent the pivot point 15 of the shorter arm 12 on the base member

10.

The linkage thus constrains the arm to pivotal and translational movement relative to the base member 10 between the position shown in Figure 1 in which the arm 11 overlies the base member 10, through the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5 where the arm

11 projects almost at right angles to the length of the base member 10. The details of the slider 17 are as follows, with particular reference to Figure 3 and 4.

The slider has a body 21 provided with parallel longitudinally extending guides 22 (see Figure 4) on respective opposite sides thereof which engage in respective slots 23 formed in the base member 10. The slide 17 is thereby constrained to rectilinear sliding movement backwards and forwards along the base member 10. As seen in Figure 5, movement of the slider 17 along the base member 10 is limited by a projection 24 pressed out of the base member 10.

The slider 17 carries a spring strip 25 which projects from the slider 17 and also projects from the end of the base member 10 in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, the spring strip 25 includes two stops 26 which are pressed out of the metal of the spring strip 25.

In the position of the stay shown in Figure 1 in which the arm 11 overlies the base member 10, the spring strip 25 projects its maximum distance from the end of the base member 10. The stops 26 are aligned with flanges 27 forming the guides 23 of the base member 10, but are spaced outwardly of these ends. As the arm 11 is pivoted relative to the base member 10 under the control of the links 12,13,14, the slider 17 slides into the base member- 10 under the control of the longer arm 14 until the stops 26 engage the flanges 27. This is the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. In this position, further opening movement of the arm 11 is not possible. The geometry of the device is chosen such that, when the stay is connected between a closure and a frame, the opening movement of the closure relative to the frame is of a required degree to permit suitable ventilation but to prevent egress of children.

The spring strip 25 can, however, be depressed to move the stops 26 out of alignment with the flanges 27 and into alignment with the slots 23. When in this position, the arm 11 can continue to be swung away from the base member 10 to the position shown in Figure 5, limited by engagement between the slider 17 and the projection 24. In this movement, the spring strip slides within the base member with the stops 26 guided by the slots 23.

Return movement of the arm 11 to the position overlying the base member 10 reverses this operation. In such movement, the spring strip 25 moves to a position in which it projects from the base member 10 and, as it does so, the stops 26 disengage from the slots 23 and resume the position shown in Figure 5 in which they are aligned with the flanges 27. Continued closing movement of the arm 11 to the position shown in Figure 1, spaces stops 26 from the ends of the flanges 27.

It will be appreciated that by altering, for example, the length of the spring strip 25 and the position of the stops 26, the degree of opening movement by the arm 11 necessary before the stops 26 engage the flanges 27, can be adjusted as desired. ,In addition, although the limiting movement is illustrated as being by way of the spring strip provided with stops, any other form of detent may be provided. For example, there could be a catch or a lever mechanism or any other form of releasable detent carried by a member which projects beyond the end of the base member 10 and which limits the opening movement but which is disengageable to allow continued opening movement.

The second stay will now be described with reference to Figures 6 to 10. The second stay has a base member 10. arm 11, shorter link 12, intermediate link 13, longer link 14 and a slider 17 which are substantially identical to the corresponding parts in the stay described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Accordingly, these parts are given the same reference numerals in Figures 1 to 5 and in Figures 6 to 10 and their arrangement, interconnection and operation will not be described in detail.

In the second stay of Figures 6 to 10, the slider 17 carries a latch 30. The latch 30 is made from a resilient material such as spring steel and is attached to the slider 17 at one end. The latch 30 extends from the slider 17 along the length of the base member 10 towards an end of the base member 10. At its end remote from the slider 17, the latch 30 is provided with a tab 31 that curves away from the base member 10 and, intermediate its ends, the latch 30 has a widened portion 31 provided with a central hole 33.

As seen in Figures 9 and 10 in particular, the attachment of the latch 30 to the slider 17 is such that the widened portion 32 lies in a plane which is parallel to but spaced from the flanges 27 forming the guides 23 of the base member 10. This spacing is in a direction away from the base 10 so that latch 30 lies above the base 10.

The body 21 of the base 10 carries at one end a lug 34 which fits between, and extends beyond, the ends of the flanges 27, as best seen in Figures 6,9 and 10. The lug 34 has a base 35 which is fixed to the body 21 by rivets 36 and also has a upper surface formed with two mutually inclined surfaces 37,38. The first inclined surface 37 lies in a plane which is normal to a plane including the direction of movement of the slider 17 and extending normal to the plane of the body 21. This plane of the surface 37 is also inclined relative to the direction of movement of the slider 17 but at a comparatively shallow angle. The inclination is such as to tilt the inclined surface 37 towards the slider 17.

The second inclined surface 38 shares a common end edge 40 with the first inclined surf.ace 37 and is at the end of the surface 37 remote from the slider 17. The second inclined surface 38 extends downwardly towards the body 21 and lies in a plane normal to the plane of the hole 33. Thus, in section, as seen in figures 9 and 10, the surface 37,38 define respectively the hypotenuse and one side of an imaginary right-angled triangle lying in a plane including the direction of movement of the slider 17 and extending normal to the plane of the hole.

In use, two stays of the kind described above with reference to Figures 6 to 10 of the drawings are connected between respective opposite vertical side edges of a window leaf and a fixed frame with the base 10 on the frame. Each stay is connected so that the end of the base opposite the latch 30 is adjacent a corner of the frame and the leaf with the latch 30 thus being spaced from the corner for ease of access and operation. Each stay operates as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. When the arm 11 is in^* the open position shown in Figures 6 and 10, the latch 30 is spaced from the lug 34 and overlies the base member 10.

As the arm 11 closes over the base member 10, the latch 30 approaches the lug 34 until the tab 31 engages the first inclined surface 37 which acts to flex the latch 30 upwardly so that the tab 31, is guided by the surface 37 and rides up over the inclined surface 37 until the edge 40 between the surfaces 37,38 enters the hole 33 in the widened portion 32 of the latch 30. At this point, the latch 30 snaps back into its normal orientation as shown in Figures 7 and 9 with the lug 34 projecing into the hole 33.

The length of the hole 33 is such that when the latch 30 reaches the position shown in figure 9, the arm 11 is not fully closed over the base member 10. Accordingly, closing movement of the arm 11 continues until the Figure 7 position is reached in which the arm 11 is in register with the base member 10. Due to the disposition of the links 12,13 and 14, the slider 17 moves axially only a short distance during this final closing movement of the arm 11, so that consequent relative movement between the hole 33 and the lug 34 is easily accommodated by the length of the hole 33.

The angular position of the arm 11 relative to the base 10 when the hole 33 of the latch 30 just engages behind the surface 33, is chosen to correspond to a required partially open position of the door or window leaf attached to the arm 11. The partially open position is sufficient to provide ventilation but insufficient to allow, for example, a child ,to fall through the opening. Accordingly, the leaf is restrained to movement between a closed and this partially open position by engagement of the surface 38 of the lug 34 with the end of the hole 33 so that the hole 33 forms a stop preventing continued opening movement of the arm. It is plainly a significant safety feature.

If, for any purpose such as cleaning, painting or for emergency exit, the leaf is to be opened to its widest possible extent, the tab 31 is lifted in the direction of the arrow 39 in Figure 9 to disengage the lug 34 from the hole 33. The arm 11 can then be opened to the position shown in Figure 6 with the latch 30 moving to the position shown in Figure 10.

On reverse closing of the arm 11, the latch 30 will re-engage with the lug 34 as described above. It will be appreciated that the engagement need not be by latch 30 and lug 34 as described above. For example, the latch 30 could carry a pin which engages in a slot on the base as the arm level is closed over the base 10 with the length of the slot limiting the opening movement. In this arrangement, lifting the latch would disengage the pin from the slot and allow unlimited opening movement.

The latch need not flex in a plane normal to the plane of the base so again it could f],ex in a plane parallel to the plane of the base 10.

The disengagement of latch 30 and the lug 33 need not be by flexing the latch. The lug 34 could comprise a manually depressable member which, when depressed, allows the latch 30 to disengage and so allows unlimited opening movement of the arm 11.

A modification of the stay of Figures 6 to 10 is shown in Figures 11 and 12. The stay of Figures 11 and 12 has many parts in common with the stay of Figures 6 to 10. These common parts will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

The main difference between the stay of Figures 6 to 10 and the stay of Figures 11 and 12 is that, in the latter stay, the pivots 15, 20, of the shorter link 12, and the intermediate link 13 are carried on a second slider 50 which is constrained for rectilinear sliding movement in the base member 10. The second slider 50 carries a catch indicated generally at 51. As seen in Figure 11, the second slider is normally towards the end of the base member 10 opposite the latch 30.

The catch comprises a cylindrical body 52 mounted for rotation and located towards .an end of the second slider 50; the rotation being about an axis normal to the plane of the base 10. The cylindrical body 52 has a slot 53 at its upper end (at the upper surface 54 of the second slider 50) . Two ears 55 project from diametrically opposite sides of the body 52. They are urged to a position in which they lie across the base 10 by a coil spring 56 acting between the body 52 and the second slider 50.

A second difference is that a connecting link 60 extends between the longer link 14 and the arm 11 and being pivotally connected to both.

When the stay of Figures 11 and 12 is mounted between a window and a frame as described above with reference to Figures 6 to 10 and the window is closed into the frame, (so that the arm 11 overlies the base member 10) the catch 51 is adjacent two slots 57 cut in respective side walls 58 of the base 10 (seen in scrap view in Figure 12). In this position, the ears 55 are urged by the spring 56 into engagement with the slots 57 to lock the second slider 50 to the base 10. This is shown at the right-hand end of Figure 12.

In this position, shown in Figure 11, the latch 30 described above with reference to Figures 6 to 10 can then be operated as described above to give limited opening (without releasing the latch 30) or greater opening (by releasing the latch 30). In the case of limited opening, the consequent movement of the second slider 50 relative to the base 10 is accommodated by movement of the ears 55 in the associated slots 57. The greater opening is limited by engagement of the latch slider 17 with the second slider 50 and includes rotation of the leaf about an axis adjacent the corner adjacent the end of the base 10 opposite the latch 30. This means that the maximum possible area of the window is open for ease of access and egress. The second slider 50, however, maintains a position towards the end of the base member 10 opposite the latch 30. Alternative increased opening can be achieved by turning the catch 51 by a screwdriver inserted into the slot 53 to release the ears 55 from the base 10. The second slider 50 can then be slid along the base 10 towards the latch 30, by opening movement of the arm, to increase the opening of the window.

In general, this opening will be effected with the latch 30 engaged, so this movement of the second slider 50 will continue until the second slider 50 engages the latch slider 17.

This will produce movement of the leaf which includes rotation about an axis adjacent the end of the base 10 carrying the latch 30. Thus, as well as rotating, the leaf will perform a downward translational movement. This will leave both sides of the leaf readily accessible for, for example, painting or^* cleaning. It also limits the opening presented by the window and so reduces the possibility of a person falling out of the window. If the latch 30 is disengaged and the latch slider 17 in the position shown in Figure 12, the second slider 50 will permit opening movement until it engages the latch slider 17. When the window is closed back into the frame, the spring 56 will cause the ears 55 automatically to engage the base 10 and so lock the second slider 50 to the base 10.

It will be appreciated that the catch may not be formed as described above; it could take any suitable form. It need not require a screwdriver for operation; it could have a manually operable lever. It need not be self-engaging; it could require manual engagement with the base 10. There need not be lost motion between the catch and the base 10; the catch could simply lock/unlock the associated slider 50 to the base. For example, the slots 57 could be reduced in length so that the ears 55 cannot move along the slots 57.

The catch 51 and the second slider 50 could be used independently of the latch 30 or any other latch. The configuration of the links need not be exactly as described above, the arrangement could be used with any other suitable link arrangement. It may also, for example, be applied to the stay of Figures 1 to 5 or any other stay with two sliders and means for locking the two sliders to the stay and releasing the two sliders from the stay (i.e. the latch on the first slider need not project from an end of the stay) .

Claims

1. A stay for connecting a- closure to a frame comprising a base member (10) for connection to the frame and having two ends, and an arm (11) for connection to the closure, the arm (11) being connected to the base member (10) by a linkage (12,13,14,60) which permits pivoting movement of the arm towards and away from a position in which the arm (11) overlies the base (10), the linkage including a shorter link (12) pivotally ςonnected at one end to the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to the base member (10) and a longer link (14) pivotally connected at one end to said arm (11) intermediate ends of the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to a slider (17) guided in sliding movement by said base member (10), said opposite end of the shorter arm (12) being pivotally connected to a second slider (50) guided in sliding movement by said base member (10) and located towards one of said ends of the base member (10) when the arm (11) overlies the base, means (25,30) being provided on said first mentioned slider (17) to limit movement of said slider (17) and so permit limited movement of said arm (11) away from said overlying position said means (25;30) being releasable to allow continued movement of said slider (17) and continued away movement of said arm (11) and means (51) being provided acting between said second slider (50) and said base member (10) for maintaining said second slider (50) towards said one end of the base member (10), said means (51) being capable of being rendered inoperative.

2. A stay according to claim 1 wherein the means acting between said second slider and said base member comprise means (51) carried by the second slider (50) and engageable with the base member (10) after the arm (11) performs said limited movement away from said overlying position to prevent movement of said second slider (50) away from said position towards said one end of the base member (10).

3. A stay according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means acting between said second slider and the base member comprises a catch (51) carried by the second slider (50) and engageable with the base member (10).

4. A stay according to claim 3 wherein the catch (51) includes means (52,55) engageable mechanically with the base member (10), said means (52,55) being selectively disengageable.

5. A stay according to claim 4 where said mechanical means comprise a member (52,55) rotatable between a first position in which the member (52,55) is positioned for engagement with the base member (11) and a second position in which the member (52,55) is not engageable with the base member (10) .

6. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said means on said first mentioned slider (17) includes a member (25;30) which, when the arm (11) overlies the base member (10), projects from said other of said ends of the base member (10), said member (25;30), as the arm (11) moves away from said overlying position, engaging the base member (10) to prevent continued movement of the arm (11), the member (25;30) being operable to disengage the member (25;30) from the base member (10) to permit further movement of the arm (11) away from the base member (10).

7. A stay for connecting a closure to a frame comprising a base member (10) for connection to the frame and an arm (11) for connection to the closure, the arm (11) being connected to the base member (10) by a linkage (12,13,14,60) which permits pivoting movement of the arm (11) towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base member (10), the linkage including a shorter link (12) pivotally connected at one end to the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to the base member (10) and a longer link (14) pivotally connected at one end to said arm (11) intermediate ends of the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to a slider (17) guided in a sliding movement by said base member (10), said slider (17) including a member (25;30) which, when the arm (11) overlies the base member (10), projects from an end of the base member (10), said member (25;30), as the arm (11) moves away from said overlying position, engaging the base member (10) to prevent continued movement of the arm (11), the member (25;30) being operable to disengage the member (25;30) from the base member (10) to permit further movement of the arm (11) away from the base member (10).

8. A stay according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the member comprises a strip (25;30), the strip (25;30), when projecting from said end of the base member (10), urging said member (25;30) into a position in which the member (25;30) engages the base member (10) as the arm (11) is moved away from said overlying position, the strip (25;30) being flexible to disengage the member (25;30) from the base member (10) .

9. A stay according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the engagement between the member (25) and the base member (10) comprises engagement between the member (25) and an end surface (27) of the base member (10).

10. A stay according to claim 8 and claim 9 wherein the base member (10) includes an elongate member having parallel side edges and side walls upstanding along each edge of the member (10) with a flange (27) projecting from each side wall over the elongate member to form a pair of parallel guides (23) for guiding the slider (17) in said sliding movement, the strip (25) urging the member (25) into alignment with an end of at least one of the flanges (27) so that, as the arm (11) is moved ^• away from said overlying position, the member (25) engages said at least one flange end.

11. A stay according to claim 10 wherein flexing of the strip (25) aligns the member witlr at least one of the guides (23) so that continued opening movement of the arm (22) away from the base member (10) causes the member (25) to enter said at least one guide (23) and move along said at least one guide (23).

12. A stay according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the strip (25) comprises a metal strip extending from the slider along the length of the base member (10) and lying generally parallel to the elongate member, the strip (25) being formed with at least one ear (26) pressed out of the metal strip (25) and located along a side edge of the strip at a position spaced from an end of the strip remote from the slider (17), said at least one ear (26) forming a stop for engagement with the base member (10).

13. A stay according to claim 12 wherein two stops are provided, each formed by a respective ear (26) pressed out of a respective side edge of the strip (25) and each engaging a respective flange end (27) as the arm (11) is moved away from the base member (10).

14. A stay according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the metal strip (25) is connected to the slider (17) at an end opposite said remote end, a portion of the strip (25) between the slider and said at least one ear (26) being flexible, a remaining portion of the strip (25) to said remote end being curved in planes normal to the length thereof so that said remainder is more rigid than the flexible portion, the curved portion being manually grippable to flex the strip (25) about said flexible portion to move said at least one ear (26) into alignment with the associated guide (23) .

15. A stay according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the engagement between the member (30) and the base member (10) comprises engagement between the member (30) and an engagement member (34) carried by the base member (10).

16. A stay according to claim 15 wherein said engagement member comprises a lug (34), the member (30) engaging said lug (34) after limited movement of said arm (11) away from the overlying position.

17. A stay according to claim 16 wherein the member (30) includes a hole (33) which when the arm (11) overlies the base member (10), receives the lug (34), the hole (33) allowing lost motion between the lug (34) and the member (30) during said limited movement of the arm (11) from and to the overlying position.

18. A stay according to claim 17 wherein the member comprises a spring strip (30) including said hole (33), the spring strip (30) being deflected by said lug (30) as the arm (11) moves towards said overlying position until the lug (34) is received in said hole (33), the spring strip (30) being manually flexible to allow disengagement of the lug (34) from the hole (33) and thus allow movement of said arm (11) away from the overlying position and beyond said limited movement.

19. A stay according to claim 18 wherein said lug (34) includes a guide surface (37) which as the arm (11) is moved towards said overlying position from a position beyond said limited movement, flexes said spring strip (30) so that the spring strip (30) rides over the lug (34) until the lug (34) engages in said hole (33).

20. A stay according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the lug (34) includes a second surface (38) lying in a plane normal to the plane of said hole (33), said surface engaging the spring strip (30) to limit said movement of the arm (11) .

21. A stay according to claim 19 and claim 20 wherein guide surface (37) and the second surface (38) are formed successively on the lug (34), with a common edge (40) therebetween.

22. A stay according to any one of claims 7 to 21 wherein the pivot point of the shorter link (12) on the base member (10) is fixed relative to the base member.

23. A stay for connecting a closure to a frame comprising a base member (10) for connection to the frame and an arm (11) for connection to the closure, the arm (11) being connected to the base member (10) by a linkage (12,13,14,60) which permits pivoting movement of the arm (11) towards and away from a position in which the arm overlies the base member (10), the linkage including a shorter link (12) pivotally connected at one end to the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to the base member (10) and a longer link (14) pivotally connected at one end to said arm (11) intermediate ends of the arm (11) and at an end opposite said one end to the base member (10), one of said base member connections being via a slider (17;50) guided in a sliding movement by said base member (10), said slider (17;50) including a member (51) rotatable between a first position in which the member is positioned for engagement with the base member (10) after said limited movement of said arm (11) away from said overlying position and a second position in which the member (51) does not limit said movement of the arm.

24. A stay according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein said rotatable member (51) is spring biased towards said engaged position so that, as the arm (11) moves to overlie the base member (10), the catch moves automatically to said position for engagement with the base member (10).

25. A stay according to claim 23 wherein the base member includes at least one slot (57), the rotatable member including an ear (55) which in said engaged position is movable in said slot (57) during said limited movement and engageable with said base member (10) after said limited movement to prevent further movement of the arm (11) away from said overlying position, the ear (55) being movable out of said slot (57) by rotation of said member (51).