WO1996002723A1

WO1996002723A1 - Stay with catch

Info

Publication number: WO1996002723A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard John Rawlinson
Original assignee: Nico Manufacturing Limited
Priority date: 1994-07-19
Filing date: 1995-07-19
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Also published as: HK125697A

Abstract

A stay includes a track (1), at least two sliders (4, 7) mounted for movement along the track; and a catch (9) associated with one of the sliders. The catch when engaged holds the slider against movement along the track. A number of stay members (2, 3, 6) pivotally interconnected to each other and to the sliders support a window or other movable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track. The catch (9) is automatically releasable in response to the opening of the stay to a predetermined position. A further catch may hold the two sliders at a fixed separation as they move along the track.

Description

STAY WITH CATCH

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stay, and particularly, but not exclusively to an egress stay- in a conventional friction stay, a main bar, which in use is normally fixed to a window or other oveable leaf, is pivotally interconnected via other stay members to a track and to at least one slider mounted in the track. In the closed position of the stay the main bar and the other stay members overlie the track. To open the window, the main bar moves pivotally outwards away from the plane of the track and is supported at an angle to the track by the other stay members. Typically the other stay members include a rear link which extends from the main bar to a fixed pivot point towards the bottom of the track, together with other links which are pivotally connected to the slider which moves along the track as the stay is opened.

Conventional stays of this type typically allow opening of a window to an angle of, say, 60° or 70°. However it has increasingly been recognised as being desirable to provide windows which can open to an angle of substantially 90° and which when fully open allow sufficient clearance for someone to escape through the window. EP-B-024980 discloses one example of such an egress hinge. In this design the rear link, which in conventional stays typically has a fixed pivot point on the track, is instead mounted to a second slider which moves up along the track as the stay is opened. The movement of the second slider is limited at its uppermost and lowermost extremes by appropriately positioned fixed stops in the track. The first slider has only a very limited range of movement between fixed stops set in the track. A disadvantage of this type of design is that the outside surface of the window is not readily accessible from inside for cleaning. To overcome this, it has been proposed to use a first (upper) slider, which instead of being retained by fixed stops has a releasable catch. This is disclosed, for example, in US-A-4571776. Normally the catch is engaged and holds the upper slider fixed. However, with the stay in the fully open position, the catch can be released and then both sliders and the whole stay moves down along the track providing a space above the upper slider to allow access to the outside surface of the window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a stay comprising: a track, at least two sliders mounted for movement along the track, a catch associated with one of the sliders, the catch when engaged holding the slider against movement along the track, and a plurality of stay members pivotally interconnected to each other and to the sliders and arranged to support a window or other moveable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track, characterised in that the catch is automatically releasable in response to the opening of the stay to a predetermined position. While the use of a releasable catch on a slider has been recognised as providing greater flexibility in the operation of stays, and in particular, as discussed above, has made it possible to move an egress stay into a configuration which allows cleaning of the outside of the window, with designs known hitherto manual intervention has always been required to release the catch. The present inventors have recognised that manipulating the catch to release will often prove difficult, with access to the catch being at least partially blocked by the other stay members, the window and the frame. In the Anderberg example discussed above, for example a special tool is required before the catch can be released. These problems are further magnified by the fact that the stays are generally used in pairs and so two such catches need to be released simultaneously.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a catch which is released automatically when the stay reaches a predetermined position. This greatly enhances the ease of use of the stay. The invention can also provide enhanced safety. In the case of side hung windows, the present invention avoids the risks associated with the user having to reach up to the uppermost stay on the top of the window.

Preferably the stay further comprises a release member which is moved into engagement with the catch when the other slider reaches a predetermined position along the track, the release member thereby disengaging the catch and freeing the one slider for movement in the track.

The present inventors have found that a particularly effective approach to implementing the catch is to use the relative movement of the two sliders to release the catch by way of a release member. This makes possible a release mechanism which is compact and does not add significantly to the complexity and cost of the stay.

Preferably the release member extends from the other slider along the track towards the one slider. Preferably the release member is formed integrally with the other slider. Preferably the release member includes a cam surface which engages a corresponding surface of the catch to move the catch out of the engagement as the release member moves upwards towards the one slider. Preferably the catch includes a longitudinal catch member extending from the one slider and arranged to engage a complementary formation in the track. Preferably the catch member is arranged to move laterally generally parallel to the base of the track to engage the complementary formation. Alternatively, the catch member may move in a direction substantially normal to the base of the track. Preferably the catch member is resiliently biased into engagement with the complementary formation.

The complementary formation may comprise a slot in a side wall of the track and the catch member may include a projection which, in the engaged position of the catch, located in the slot. The slot may be in that portion of the side wall which lies parallel to the base of the track and forms the top lip of the track.

Preferably the catch member includes at its extremity away from the slider a projection extending in the longitudinal direction of the track, the projection being engaged by the camming surface of the release member to move the catch member laterally as the other slider reaches the predetermined position. Preferably the stay includes a further catch which engages to restrict the movement of one slider with respect to the other so that their relative separation is substantially fixed as the sliders are moved along the track. This aspect of the invention provides increased safety and convenience of operation for the stay by effectively locking one slider to the other so that, once the catch formerly holding the slider against movement has been released, the two sliders are maintained at a separation which is fixed, give or take any play in the catch, and the stay is thereby kept in a fixed angular position. When, for example, the stay is used to provide an egress stay with an ••easy-clean" feature, this aspect of the invention ensures that while the window is being cleaned it remains fixed in the 90° position.

Preferably the further catch is arranged to engage automatically when the stay has been opened to the said predetermined position.

Preferably the further catch is arranged to be released only when the sliders have been returned to the position in which the first catch associated with one of the sliders re-engages to hold the slider against movement along the track.

A further significant advantage of this aspect of the invention is that it ensures that before the stay is closed the restrictor catch acting between one of the sliders and the track is re-set. The further catch acting between the sliders is only released once the sliders have been pushed home to their original position, and only then can the stay be closed. Preferably the further catch comprises a catch member mounted to one of the sliders and arranged to engage a complementary formation on the other of the sliders. Preferably the catch member is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the said one slider. Preferably the said catch member, prior to engagement with the other slider, engages a complementary formation in the track thereby providing the said first catch for holding the slider against movement along the track. Preferably the other slider includes a release member arranged simultaneously to move the catch member out of engagement with the track and to bring into engagement the catch member and the said complementary formation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a stay comprising: a track, at least one slider mounted for movement along the track, a catch associated with the at least one slider and a plurality of stay members interconnected to each other and to the slider and arranged to support a window or other moveable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track, the catch comprises a short catch member pivotally mounted to an extension of the at least one slider and arranged to engage a complementary formation on the track, the pivot point of the catch being located so that, with the catch engaged, the pivot point is in the region of the complementary formation. This aspect provides a catch of significantly improved mechanical strength while reducing the size and material cost. This is achieved by moving the pivot point far closer to the region of engagement with the track than has been the case hitherto, and using a correspondingly shorter catch member.

Preferably the catch member is arranged to move laterally in the plane generally parallel to the base of the track to engage the complementary formation on the track.

Preferably the catch member includes a re-entrant portion arranged to locate on a projection formed on the extension of the slider to provide a socket-like pivotal mounting. Preferably the slider is formed from a plastics material, and more preferably from nylon.

The use of a socket-like mounting for the catch member further increases the strength of the catch. In particular it allows the use of a plastic slider since the slider does not have to be pierced to provide a conventional pivotal mounting for the catch.

Preferably the catch member includes a lateral projection angled with respect to the longitudinal direction of the track and including an abutment surface generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track formed at the end of the projection furthest away from the pivot point of the catch, in use the abutment surface engaging the said complementary formation on the track.

This aspect of the invention relating to the use of a short pivotally mounted catch member is not limited in application to egress stays, but may be used generally wherever a catch is required. It may be used for example in a restrictor catch mechanism such as that described and claimed in the present applicant's British patent GB-B- 2243403.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Stays embodying the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a partially open egress stay;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stay of Figure 1 when closed;

Figure 3 shows a detail of the stay of Figure 1;

Figures 4a and 4b show details of the catch mounted on the slider;

Figure 5 shows the release member;

Figures 6a and 6b are plan and cross-sectional views respectively of details of a first alternative embodiment;

Figures 7a-c are partially sectioned plan views and a side elevation showing details of the catch of a second alternative embodiment;

Figure 8 is a plan view of an upper portion of the stay of Figures 7a and 7b;

Figures 9a-9c are plan views of an egress stay with a restrictor catch;

Figures 10a and 10b show a first alternative catch design;

Figures 11a and lib show a second alternative catch design; Figures 12a and 12b show a third alternative catch design;

Figures 13a and 13b show a fourth alternative catch design;

Figures 14a and 14b show a fifth alternative catch design;

Figures 15a and 15b show a sixth alternative catch design; and

Figure 16 shows a stay normally configured for easy cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES An egress stay comprises a track 1, which in use is fixed to a window frame and a main bar 2 which in use is fixed to the window. A rear link 3 is pivotally connected at one end to the main bar 2 and at the other end to a lower slider 4. A forward link 5 and further link 6 are pivotally mounted on an upper slider 7. The other end of the forward link 5 is connected to the main bar 2 towards the nose 8 of the main bar 2. The end of the further link 6 away from the slider 7 is connected to a pivot point part way along the rear link 3.

A catch member 9 is pivotally mounted on the slider 7. It includes a lateral projection 10, which, with the stay closed or partially open as in Figure 1, engages in a slot

11 in the side wall of the track and by so doing holds the slider 7 against movement in the track.

The catch member 9, in this example, is pressed and cut in one piece from stainless steel. In addition to the lateral projection 10 it includes a longitudinal tongue 12 the end of which is bent over to provide an angled tip. It further includes a small tag 13. A coil spring 14 located within the slider 7 bears against the tag 13 to bias the catch member into engagement with the slot in the track.

Both of the sliders may be formed from a plastics material such as Nylon and may include screws for adjustment of the friction.

In use, as the stay is opened the lower slider 4 moves upwards towards the upper slider 7 until the fully opened position shown in Figure 3 is reached. The lower slider includes an integrally formed longitudinal projection 15 generally complementary in shape to the tongue on the end of the catch member. As the lower slider moves upwards a camming surface 16 on the end of the projection 15, engages the tip of the tongue 12 and begins to displace the tongue

12 laterally. Further upwards movement of the slider 4 then moves the catch member 12 to a position in which the projection 10 clears the slot 11 in the track, thereby releasing the catch. In this fully open position the friction of the sliders in the track is sufficient to hold the window open against movement as the result of accidental buffeting. However, since the catch has been released, the user can, by bearing on the window, slide the stay members and sliders along the track, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, to gain access to the outer surface of the window mounted on the bar.

In general a pair of such stays is used and the operation of fully opening the window is effective to release simultaneously the catches on both stays.

After the window has been cleaned, the stay is closed by bearing on the window moving the main bar inwards towards the track. As this is done the sliders move apart towards their respective ends of the track. As the lower slider moves downwards it encounters a portion of the track which has been crimped by pressing the upper lip of the track downwards so as to increase the friction encountered by the lower slider in that portion of the track. Therefore when it reaches this position the lower slider tends to stop moving and further closing movement of the stay pushes the upper slider fully home to the position in which the catch resets with the projection entering the slot under the bias from the spring. Then with the upper slider fixed by the catch, the lower slider moves further downwards until the stay reaches its fully closed position.

The present invention is not limited to use with catches engaging laterally with a slot in the track. It is known to use catches which move in the direction normal to the base of the track engage, for example, a hole or other formation in the base of the track, or alternatively to engage a cut-out or other formation in the lips formed on the edge of the track, overlying and generally parallel to the base of the track. A catch of this latter sort is used in the egress stay disclosed in GB-B-2262308. Figure 6a and 6b show details of such a catch substituted for the laterally moving catch of the stay of Figure 1, and modified in accordance with the present invention. The catch member 9 extends from the first slider 7. It includes laterally extending ears or lugs 91,92 which, when the catch is engaged, locate in cut-outs 21,22 in the lips 23,24 of the track 1. The catch is spring-biased upwards into engagement with the cut-outs in the track, as further described in the above-cited patent. The catch is modified according to the present invention by the provision of a downwardly angled cam surface 93 at the end of the catch member away from the slider 7. The extension 15' on the lower slider 4 is undercut to provide a corresponding opposing cam surface 15'a.

The construction of the stay is otherwise the same as described above with respect to Figure 1. In use, as the stay is moved into the fully open position, extension 15' engages the cam surface 93 on the catch member 9 and as the slider 4 moves further towards the upper slider 7 engagement of the cam surfaces 93 and 15'a pulls the catch member downwards towards the base of the track, moving the ears 91,92 out of engagement with the cut-outs 21,22 and thereby releasing the catch.

Figures 7a-c show a modified embodiment with interlocking sliders. In this Figure, slide B corresponds to the upper slider of Figure 1, and slide A to the lower slider. A catch member is pivotally mounted on slide B by way of a socket S which locates on a circular extension E of the slider. In this example, the slides A, B are formed from nylon and the catch member is die-cast from Mazak, a zinc alloy. In normal operation of the stay, the catch member is positioned as shown in Figure 7b, with a lateral projection 10' engaging a slot 11' in the side wall of the track. The catch member is spring biased by a compression spring CS. Alternatively, a torsion spring TS might be used, as shown in Figure 7a. In alternative designs, including those where the sliders are not interlocking, the use of a slider formed e.g. of nylon, together with a socketed short catch member of, e.g., Mazak, is still preferred as giving increased strength.

Figure 8 shows the upper portion of the stay as the stay is moving towards its fully open position with the lower slider A approaching but not yet engaging the upper slider B. As the stay is moved further into the fully open position, the lower slider A moves into engagement with the upper slider B. The lower slider is undercut in the region below the level of the upper wall portion of the track to provide a release member including a wedging surface W_a. The upper slider B is similarly undercut to accommodate the catch member and to provide the extension E for mounting the catch member. As the stay is fully opened, the wedging surface W_A on slide A engages a corresponding surface W_L on the catch. This moves the catch on its pivotal mounting so as to withdraw the projection 10' from engagement with the slot 11'. At the same time, the nose of the catch member N is brought into engagement with a re-entrant portion R_A on the slide A thereby interlocking slide B and slide A to restrict their relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the track.

Slide B, the catch and slide A can then be moved as a whole down the track thereby providing clearance for access to the window or other moveable leaf mounted on the main bar. The inter-engagement of the sliders serves to hold the stay against angular movement.

Once cleaning has been finished, then the user pushes the sliders home back to the position shown in Figure 7b in which the projection 10' on the catch again engages the slot and the nose of the catch is lifted out of engagement with slide A, so that slide A is free to slide back down the track as the stay is closed.

Figures 9a-c show a restricted egress stay configuration. The opening of the stay is limited to e.g. 4 inches by projection RP. Upon release of the restrictor catch, full opening can be achieved for egress. When the stay is fully open, cleaning can also take place due to both catches interlocking, freeing upper slider catch and making travel of both sliders along the track possible. In this example, catches are provided for both slides. The catch for the upper slider functions as described above to hold the upper slide fixed in normal operation, but to allow it to be released for cleaning of the window.

The catch on the lower slider serves to engage on a formation located towards the lower end of the track to restrict the opening of the stay to a partially open position, in the manner described in our above-cited earlier British patent.

In this example, the restrictor catch is provided with an extension R at its end which extends both laterally and vertically (i.e. in the plane normal to the base of the track) . When the restrictor engages, this extension locates in and engages on a cut-out 40 formed in the upper portion U of the side wall of the track, that is the portion parallel to the base of the track. By providing this additional point of engagement between the catch and the track, the catch is strengthened. The cut-out and the extension R are angled so that the slider has to be relieved, moving back down the track, before the restrictor can be released. This makes the operation double handed, as described and claimed in our British Patent No. 2259947. In this example, the extended portion of the upper slide, that is the egress slider, is provided with an extension which, when the sliders are brought together, overlaps the projection of the restrictor slide and serves to hold the catch member on the restrictor slide out of engagement with the formations in the track while the stay is in the "easy-clean position".

Figure 9a shows the configuration of the sliders at the position where the restrictor catch is engaged to hold the stay partially open. To open the stay further, the extension R is pushed or pulled out of engagement with the restrictor slot RS in the upper portion U of the side wall of the track. This at the same time takes the restrictor projection RP out of engagement with its respective slot 41 in the upstanding portion of the side wall of the track. The stay can then be further opened and the restrictor slider moved up the track until the position shown in Figure 9b is reached. Here as described for the first embodiment above, a wedging surface on the lower slider engages a corresponding surface on the catch member so as to release that catch. The egress slide and restrictor slide are then interlocked and can be moved together down the track as shown in Figure 9c.

In the embodiments so far described, the stay is configured so that in normal operation it provides egress and when the catch is released it can be moved along the track to provide access for cleaning. Figure 16 shows an alternative arrangement in which the stay is normally configured for easy cleaning but when the catch is released can be moved to provide clearance for egress. It can be seem that this is achieved by having the rear slider normally fixed by the catch, rather than the forward slider nearer the nose cap as in the previous embodiments. In other respects the functioning of the stay is as described for the earlier embodiments.

Figures 10 to 15 show a number of alternative catch mechanisms. These are generally applicable to a variety of stay designs, including both normally-easy-clean and normally-egress stays.

In the catch shown in Figures 10a and 10b, a cam 111 is fixed to a square drive at the pivot point of front bar 110 on slider 113. A parallel knurl engages the front bar to the front pivot and the cam 111 is riveted on the underside. A pawl 112 is housed within the body of the slider and is spring biased in the direction transverse to the length of the track. With the catch engaged, the pawl enters a slot in the side wall of the track in the region referenced S and so holds the slider against movement. As the stay is opened the cam 110 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, and at the fully open position engages the pawl 112 and draws it out of the slot in the track thereby releasing the catch.

Figures 11a and lib show the catch mechanism of Figure

11 operating instead on the other pivot of the slider. As before, movement of the cam 111' lifts the pawl 112' out of engagement with a slot to release the slider for movement along the track.

In the catch of Figures 12a and 12b, a release member 131 on the other slider is moved up along the track towards the slider including the catch until it engages a spring 132. The spring is retained within a reentrant portion 133 of the slider 134. The ends of the spring 135, 136 are resiliently biased outwards and normally engage in slots in the side wall of the track, thereby holding the slider against movement. As the release member 131 engages the spring 132 it pushes it back into the reentrant portion and deforms it, moving the ends out of engagement with the slots. This frees the slider for movement. At the same time, the ends of the spring engage the detents 137, 138 thereby interlocking the two sliders to hold them at a fixed relative separation as they are moved down the track.

The catch of Figure 13 uses a rotating catch member

141 which is resiliently biased, e.g. by a torsion spring.

With the catch engaged a spur 142 on the catch member engages a slot, referenced S, in the side wall of the channel. As the other slider moves up a projection 143 engages another spur 144 on the catch member, and so rotates the catch member. This withdraws the first spur 142 from the slot and this frees the slider. In the stay of Figure 14, the catch is provided by a locking button 151 carried in the slider and which is normally located in a hole 152 in the base of the track 152. When located in the hole it holds the slider against movement. The button is spring-biased to lift out of the hole, but can only do so when, at the predetermined position, the bar 154 clears the button. The slider is then freed to move. When the stay is closed, the bar 154 passes over the button and pushes it down into the hole 151.

Figures 15a and 15b show a variation on the catch of Figure 14, in which the button 151' is shaped and located so that it is freed from the hole depending on the position of the other bar 161.

These alternative catch mechanisms are described by way of example, and further automatically released catch designs may be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A stay comprising: a track (1) , at least two sliders (4,7) mounted for movement along the track; a catch (9) associated with one of the sliders, the catch when engaged holding the slider against movement along the track, and a plurality of stay members (2,3,6) pivotally interconnected to each other and to the sliders and arranged to support a window or other movable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track, characterised in that the catch (9) is automatically releasable in response to the opening of the stay to a predetermined position.

2. A stay according to claim 1, further characterised by a further catch which engages to restrict the movement of one slider with respect to the other so that their relative separation is substantially fixed as the sliders are moved along the track.

3. A stay according to claim 2, in which the further catch is arranged to engage automatically when the stay has been opened to the said predetermined position.

4. A stay according to claim 2 or 3, in which the further catch is arranged to be released only when the sliders have been returned to the position in which the first catch associated with one of the sliders re-engages to hold the slider against movement along the track.

5. A stay according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the further catch comprises a catch member mounted to one of the sliders and arranged to engage a complementary formation on the other of the sliders.

6. A stay according to claim 5, in which the catch member is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the said one slider.

7. A stay according to claim 5 or 6, in which the said catch member, prior to engagement with the other slider, engages a complementary formation in the track thereby providing the said first catch for holding the slider against movement along the track.

8. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a release member which is moved into engagement with the catch when the other slider reaches a predetermined position along the track, the release member thereby disengaging the catch and freeing the one slider for movement in the track.

9. A stay according to claim 8 when dependent upon claim 6 or 7, in which the release member is arranged to bring the catch member into engagement with the said complementary formation on the other of the sliders at the same time as it moves the catch member out of engagement with the track.

10. A stay according to claim 8 or 9, in which the release member extends from the other slider along the track towards the one slider.

11. A stay according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the release member is formed integrally with the other slider.

12. A stay according to any one of claims 8 to 11, in which the release member includes a cam surface which engages a corresponding surface of the catch to move the catch out of engagement as the release member moves towards the one slider.

13. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the catch includes a longitudinal catch member extending from the one slider and arranged to engage a complementary formation in the track.

14. A stay according to claim 13, in which the catch member is arranged to move laterally generally parallel to the base of the track to engage the complementary formation.

15. A stay according to claim 13, in which the catch member moves in a direction substantially normal to the base of the track.

16. A stay according to any one of claims 13 to 15, in which the catch member is resiliently biased into engagement with the complementary formation.

17. A stay according to any one of claims 13 to 16, in which the complementary formation comprises a slot in a side wall of the track, and the catch member includes a projection which, in the engaged position of the catch, locates in the slot.

18. A stay according to any one of claims 13 to 17, in which the catch member includes at its extremity away from the slider a projection extending in the longitudinal direction of the track, the projection being engaged by the camming surface of the release member to move the catch member laterally as the other slider reaches the predetermined position.

19. A stay according to any one of claims 13 to 18, in which the catch member is a short catch member pivotally mounted to an extension of the one slider and having a pivot point located so that, with the catch engaged, the pivot point is in the region of the complementary formation in the track.

20. A stay according to claim 19, in which the short catch member includes a re-entrant portion arranged to locate on a projection formed on the extension of the slider to provide a socket-like pivotal mounting.

21. A stay according to claim 19 or 20, in which the catch member includes a lateral projection angled with respect to the longitudinal direction of the track and including an abutment surface generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track formed at the end of the projection furthest away from the pivot point of the catch, in use the abutment surface engaging the said complementary formation on the track.

22. A stay comprising a track, at least one slider mounted for movement along the track, a catch associated with the at least one slider and a plurality of stay members interconnected to each other and to the slider and arranged to support a window or other moveable leaf for pivotal movement out of the plane of the track, characterised by a short catch member pivotally mounted to an extension of the at least one slider and arranged to engage a complementary formation on the track, the pivot point of the catch being located so that, with the catch engaged, the pivot point is in the region of the complementary formation.