GB2145464A

GB2145464A - Stay

Info

Publication number: GB2145464A
Application number: GB08415525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1983-08-27
Filing date: 1984-06-18
Publication date: 1985-03-27
Also published as: GB2145464B; NO843386L; DK387084D0; SE8404242D0; GB8323134D0; DK387084A; SE8404242L; GB8415525D0

Abstract

A window stay 1 comprises an arm 2 which is received in a square aperture 31 in a retainer 3 and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis between a first position in which the arm 2 is contained in the aperture 31 and slidable therethrough to engage the retainer 3 and, a second position in which the arm 2 may be released from the aperture 31 and separated from the retainer 3. The arm 2 is released from the aperture 31 and separated from the retainer 3 by passing a portion 21 through a narrow slot 32 leading from the aperture 31 to the outer edge of the retainer 3. The arm 2 comprises a square- section handle 19 which is non- rotatable in the aperture 31 and a spigot 6 which is rotatable in the aperture 31 and pivotally and rotatably connected to a mounting bracket 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stay This invention relates to stays for controlling relative movement between two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged move ment, and in particular, though not exclusively, to a stay for controlling opening/clos ing movement of a window sash relative to a window frame.

A common window stay of the above type comprises an arm pivotally mounted on the sash and engageable with a pin mounted on the window frame to secure the sash in an open position. Usually the arm is provided with several pin engaging formations longitudinally spaced relative to one another to enable the sash to be secured in a range of positions from fully closed to fully open.

A disadvantage of this stay is that the arm is released, allowing unrestricted opening movement of the sash, simply by pivotting the arm upwards to disengage the formations from the pin and this can, in certain applications, be undesirable from both safety and security aspects.

Another window stay of the above type disclosed in U.K. Patent Specifications Nos.

1,228,485 and 1,110,454 comprises an arm pivotally and rotatably mounted on the sash and received within and engageable with an aperture in a retainer to secure the sash in an open position. A slot of reduced cross-section leads from the outer edge of the retainer to the aperture and the arm has transverse dimensions in two directions normal to each other which enable the arm to be released from the retainer by a combination of rotation and pivotal movement of the arm thereby reducing the risk of accidental release of the arm.

However, in both these stays such combination of rotation and pivotal movement of the arm is effected whilst the sash is in an open position. As a result, unauthorised release of the arm is still possible and these stays are not suitable for applications where it may be necessary or desirable to leave a sash in a ventilation position.

Additionally, release of the arm whilst in an open position can result in further sudden opening of the sash, for example if the user applies outwards pressure to the sash or the sash is caught by a gust of wind, providing a gap through which a person, especially a child, may pass. These stays therefore still pose a potential safety risk when the window is installed above the ground floor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stay which mitigates the foregoing disadvantage of the known stays.

According to the present invention a stay for controlling relative movement between two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged movement comprises an arm adapted to be mounted on one of the members and a retainer adapted to be secured to the other member, the retainer having an aperture in which the arm is received and the arm being rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of the arm between a first position in which the arm is engageable with the retainer to restrict relative movement between the mem bers and a second position in which the arm is releasable from the retainer to allow unrestricted movement between the members, wherein the arm has a first part which is rotatable in the aperture and a second part which is non-rotatable in the aperture such that, in use, the first part is received in the aperture only when the members are adjacent to each other.

By the present invention, accidental or unauthorised release of the arm to allow unrestricted movement between the members is prevented by ensuring that the required rotation of the arm only occurs when the members are adjacent to each other.

More specifically, in use, when the arm is in its first position and the members are relatively separated, the second part is received in the aperture. Consequently, rotation of the arm to its second position to enable the arm to be released from the retainer is positively prevented until the members are brought together to position the first part in the aperture. Once the members have been brought together access to the stay to effect the necessary rotation of the arm is only possible from the side of the members on which the stay is mounted. Accordingly, unauthorised rotation and release of the stay from the opposite side is prevented.

Additionally, the requirement for the members to be brought together before the arm can be released also significantly reduces the chances of a child successfully releasing the arm from the retainer.

The aperture in the retainer is of noncircular cross-section, preferably square, and the second part of the arm is also of noncircular cross-section, preferably complementary to the aperture. Consequently, the second part is slidable through the aperture but is prevented from rotating in the aperture. The first part of the arm is preferably cylindrical having a diameter less than the minimum transverse dimension of the aperture to allow the aforesaid rotation of the first part in the aperture.

The first and second positions of the arm conveniently correspond to rotation of the arm through 90 .

Preferably the second part of the arm and the retainer are provided with interengageable formations which locate the arm relative to the retainer.

In use, in the first position of the arm, the formations are engageable to secure the mem bers at a limit position, e.g. a ventilation position.

The interengageable formations may comprise a groove in the second part in which a side, preferably the bottom side, of the aperture is received. Advantageously, the second part has a plurality of grooves longitudinally spaced relative to each other whereby the members may be secured at any one of several limit positions.

Preferably the retainer has a through slot extending from a side, preferably the top side, of the aperture to the outer edge of the retainer and the arm has a portion of reduced cross-section which may be passed through the slot to release the arm when the arm is in its second position and which cannot be passed through the slot when the arm is in its first position. Preferably the portion of reduced cross-section is provided on the second part of the arm.

The first and second parts of the arm are preferably pivotally connected so that in the first position of the arm the parts are coaxial and in the second position of the arm the parts extend normal to each other.

Advantageously, in the second position of the arm, the second part may be pivotted between a release position in which the portion of reduced cross-section is aligned with the slot and a rest position in which it is out of alignment with the slot.

Preferably the release and rest positions of the second part correspond to pivotal movement of the second part through 180 .

In use, in the second position of the arm, the second part extends vertically downwards in the rest position and is pivotted to extend vertically upwards in the release position. Consequently, in the second position of the arm, the second part pivots automatically under gravity to the rest position and has to be positively moved to the release position. In this way accidental or unauthorised release of the arm when in its second position is prevented.

In a preferred construction the first and second parts comprise a spigot and a handle respectively.

The spigot has a cylindrical body connected at one end to a spherical head by a neck of reduced cross-section. The head is received within a socket portion of a mounting bracket by means of which the arm is secured to said one member. The head and socket portion define ball and socket surfaces which permit both rotation of the arm between the first and second positions and pivotal movement of the arm to engage/disengage the interengageable formations on the second part and the retainer.

The handle has a projection at one end pivotally connected to the other end of the spigot body and providing the portion of reduced cross-section. The other end of the handle is curved or otherwise profiled to provide a grip portion and to prevent the handle passing completely through the aperture.

The spigot or at least the neck is preferably made from or includes an insert of saw-proof material such as hardened steel or ceramics thereby reducing the risk of the arm being released by sawing through the neck of the spigot.

The handle is conveniently formed by transversely cutting an extrusion of the appro priate profile. Alternatively, the handle may be a die-casting.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stay according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stay arm shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a window incorporating the stay shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the stay arm in the rest position; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, with the stay arm released; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to Figures 3 and 4, with the stay arm engaging the retainer to secure the sash in the limit position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a stay 1 comprising an arm 2 and a retainer 3 for controlling opening/closing movement of a window sash 4 relative to a window frame 5.

Arm 2 includes a spigot 6 connected to a mounting bracket 7 provided with two countersunk holes 8 by means of which it is secured to the sash frame by screws 9 (Figures 3,4 and 5). The spigot 6 has a cylindrical body 10, one end of which is bifurcated to provide a pair of opposed lugs 11 and, the other end of which is connected to a spherical head 1 2 by a neck 1 3 of reduced crosssection relative to the body.

The head 1 2 is received within a socket portion 14 of the mounting bracket 7 and the neck 1 3 projects through an opening 1 5 in the socket portion 14. A plastics retaining washer 1 6 secured to the bracket 7 at the base of the socket portion 1 4 locates the head 1 2 in the socket portion 14.

The head 12 and socket portion 1 4 define complementary ball and socket surfaces 1 7 and 1 8 respectively which permit omnidirectional pivotal movement of the spigot 6 relative to the bracket 7 and rotation of the spigot 6 through 360 relative to the bracket 7 about the longitudinal axis of the spigot.

The spigot 6 is formed from hardened steel to prevent release of the arm 2 by sawing through the neck 13, for example to effect unauthorised entry. Other saw-proof materials such as ceramics may be used for the spigot or alternatively, the neck 1 3 of the spigot may be formed from the saw-proof material and attached to the body 10 and head 12 by any suitable means.

The stay arm 2 further includes a handle 1 9 of square cross-section having a transverse width equal to the diameter of the spigot body 10. One end of the handle is curved to form a grip portion 20. The other end of the handle is provided with an axial projection 21 having transverse dimensions in two directions normal to each other which are respectively equal to and substantially less than the corresponding dimensions of the adjacent end of the handle 19.

The projection 21 is secured between the spigot lugs 11 by means of a pin 22 extending through aligned holes 23,24 in the lugs and projection to permit pivotal movement of the handle 1 9 relative to the spigot 6. The handle 1 9 is also provided with a transverse groove 25 extending normal to the pivot axis of the handle.

The handle 1 9 is a zinc die-casting but may be formed by transversely cutting an extrusion, e.g. of aluminium or aluminium alloy, of the appropriate cross-section.

The retainer 3 comprises a flat plate 26 having an integral attachment flange 27 along one side. The flange 27 is provided with two countersunk holes 28 by means of which the retainer is secured to a stile 29 of the window frame 5 by screws 30 (Figures 3,4 and 5).

The plate 26 has a central aperture 31 in which the arm 2 is received and a through slot 32 extending from one side of the aperture 31 to the outer edge of the plate 26. The aperture 31 is of square cross-section complementary to the handle 1 9. The inner end of the slot 32 has a transverse cross-section complementary to the narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21. The outer end of the slot 32 is outwardly tapered to provide a guide or lead-in 33 for the projection 21.

Operation of the stay 1 will now be described in more detail with particular reference to Figures 3,4 and 5.

Starting from the fully closed position of the sash 4 shown in Figure 3, the spigot body 10 projects through the aperture 31 in the retainer plate 26 and the handle 1 9 is in a rest position in which it is normal to the spigot body 10 and extends vertically downwards under gravity. The narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21 is out of alignment with the slot 32 which extends vertically upwards from the top side of the aperture 31.

To release the stay arm 2 from the retainer 3 as shown in Figure 4, the handle 1 9 is pivotted through 180 to a release position in which it is normal to the spigot body 10 and extends vertically upwards. The narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21 is now aligned with the slot 32. As a result, on opening the sash 4, the projection 21 passes freely through the slot 32 to release the stay arm 2 from the retainer 3 and allow unrestricted opening movement of the sash 4.

The stay arm 2 is retained in the release position by frictional engagement between the washer 16 and the spigot head 1 2 so that the stay arm 2 is in position for relocation in the retainer aperture 31 by a reverse of the above-described operation. Relocation is assisted by the tapered lead-in 33 at the outer end of the slot 32.

To move the sash 4 from the closed position of Figure 3 to a limit position as shown in Figure 5, the handle 1 9 is first pivotted through 90 to a horizontal position in which it is coaxial with the spigot 6. The handle 1 9 and spigot 6 are then rotated through 90 to a position in which the narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21 is again out of alignment with the slot 32 and the groove 25 in the handle 1 9 is parallel to the bottom side of the aperture 31. As a result, on opening the sash 4, the handle 1 9 slides through the aperture 31 and the sash is secured at the limit position by pivotting the arm 2 to engage the bottom side of the aperture 31 in the groove 25.

The sash 4 is released by pivotting the arm 2 to disengage the bottom side of the aperture 31 from the groove 25 and, further opening of the sash 4 is restricted by the engagement of the curved grip portion 20 with the retainer plate 26. The arm 2 is therefore prevented from passing completely through the aperture 31 to release the arm 2 from the retainer 3. Furthermore, since the handle 19 is non-rotatable in the aperture 31, the arm 2 cannot be released from the retainer 3 by rotation of the arm to align the narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21 with the slot 32.

Starting from the limit position shown in Figure 5, to release the arm 2 from the retainer 3 and allow unrestricted opening movement of the sash 4, the arm 2 must first be pivotted to disengage the bottom side of the aperture 31 from the groove 25 and then retracted to close the sash 4 and position the spigot 6 in the aperture 31. The arm 2 may then be rotated and the handle 1 9 pivotted to the release position in which the narrower transverse dimension of the projection 21 is aligned with the slot 32 as described previously.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a stay in which the stay arm is engageable with the retainer to secure the sash at a limit position from which, accidental or unauthorised release of the arm from the retainer to allow unrestricted opening movement of the sash is prevented by requiring the sash to be returned from the limit position to the closed position before the arm can be moved to the release position.

It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described which may be modified in a number of ways, for example the handle may have a plurality of grooves longitudinally spaced relative to each other enabling the sash to be secured at any one of several limit positions.

The handle and aperture may have any suitable non-circular cross-sections, for example rectangular or oval, which enable the handle to slide through the aperture but prevent rotation of the handle in the aperture.

The spigot body may have any cross-section which permits rotation in the aperture. Simi larly the slot and projection may be of any appropriate shape.

Finally, although the invention has been described with particular reference to its application to a window sash and frame it will be appreciated that the stay may be used to control relative movement between any two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged movement, for example a door and fixed frame.

Claims

1. A stay for controlling relative movement between two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged movement comprises an arm adapted to be mounted on one of the members and a retainer adapted to be secured to the other member, the retainer having an aperture in which the arm is received and the arm being rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of the arm between a first position in which the arm is engageable with the retainer to restrict relative movement between the members and a second position in which the arm is releasable from the retainer to allow unrestricted movement between the members, wherein the arm has a first part which is rotatable in the aperture and a second part which is non-rotatable in the aperture such that, in use, the first part is received in the aperture only when the members are adjacent to each other.

2. A stay according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is of non-circular cross-section and the second part is of complementary crosssection.

3. A stay according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first part is cylindrical having a diameter less than the minimum transverse dimension of the aperture.

4. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second positions correspond to rotation of the arm through 90 .

5. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second part and retainer are provided with interengageable formations.

6. A stay according to claim 5 wherein the formations comprise a groove in the second part in which a side of the aperture is received.

7. A stay according to claim 6 wherein the second part has a plurality of grooves longitudinally spaced relative to each other.

8. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retainer has a through slot extending from the aperture to the edge of the retainer and the arm has a portion which, in the second position of the arm, may be passed through the slot to release the arm.

9. A stay according to claim 8 wherein said portion is provided on the second part of the arm.

10. A stay according to claim 9 wherein the second part is pivotal relative to the first part.

11. A stay according to claim 10 wherein the first and second parts are coaxial in the first position of the arm and normal to each other in the second position of the arm.

1 2. A stay according to claim 11 wherein, in the second position of the arm, the second part is pivotal between a rest position in which said portion is out of alignment with the slot and a release position in which said portion is aligned with the slot.

1 3. A stay according to claim 1 2 wherein the rest and release positions correspond to pivotal movement of the second part through 180 .

1 4. A stay according to claim 1 2 or claim 1 3 wherein in use, in the second position of the arm, the second part is biassed to the rest position.

1 5. A stay according to any one of the preceding claims including a mounting bracket for the arm, the bracket and arm being arranged to permit both rotation and pivotal movement of the arm relative to the bracket.

1 6. A stay according to claim 1 5 wherein the first part comprises a spigot having a cylindrical body connected at one end to a spherical head by a neck of reduced crosssection.

1 7. A stay according to claim 1 6 wherein the head is received within a socket portion of the bracket, the head and socket portion defining complementary ball and socket surfaces.

18. A stay according to claim 16 or claim 1 7 wherein at least the spigot neck is made from a saw-proof material.

1 9. A stay according to any one of claims 1 6 to 18 wherein the second part comprises a handle having a projection at one end pivotally connected to the other end of the spigot body.

20. A stay according to claim 1 9 wherein the other end of the handle provides a grip portion profiled to prevent passage of the handle through the aperture.

21. A stay according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the handle is formed by transversely cutting an extrusion of the appropriate cross-section.

22. A stay for controlling relative movement between two members mounted for relative pivotal or hinged movement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A window incorporating a stay according to any one of the preceding claims for controlling opening/closing movement of a sash relative to a fixed frame.

24. A window according to claim 23 wherein the arm is mounted on the sash and the retainer is mounted on the frame.