GB2205897A

GB2205897A - Window stay

Info

Publication number: GB2205897A
Application number: GB08813438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian David Phillips
Original assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Hardware and Systems Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-16
Filing date: 1988-06-07
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-07
Also published as: GB2205897B; GB8714016D0; GB8813438D0

Abstract

A casement window stay has a stay arm 4 pivotally mounted on the casement and engageable with a peg plate and a hook plate 8 to secure the casement 2 closed. The stay arm 4 is of inverted generally channel-section and has a security device 10 comprising a pair of abutments such as the legs 16 of a hairpin spring 11 mounted in the channel and extending lengthwise of the stay arm 4. An upstanding peg 28 of the hook plate 8 is freely received between the legs 16 in the inoperative position of the device 10 and the legs 16 are movable towards each other by cams 24 on a rotatable barrel 20 to locate beneath undercut faces 31 of the peg 28 to prevent upward pivotal movement of the stay arm 4. Both locking and non-locking versions of the stay 1 are disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

STAY This invention relates to stays for windows, doors and the like closures.

Stays are known including a stay arm pivotally connected at one end to a bracket adapted to be mounted on a closure member, a first peg or pin member adapted to be mounted on a frame of the closure member, the stay arm being engageable with the first peg member to hold the closure member at one or more open positions, and a second peg or pin member adapted to be mounted on one of the closure member and frame, the stay arm being engageable with the first and second peg members to hold the closure member closed. Such kind of stays are hereinafter referred to as of the kind specified.

In the known stays of the kind specified, the stay arm acts as a pivotal strut which, when the closure member is closed, lies alongside and substantially parallel to the inner face of the closure member received in a rebate of the frame.

In such known stays the stay arm can be displaced upwards from engagement with one or both peg members to release the stay permitting opening of the closure member either inadvertently from the inside by lifting the stay arm or purposefully from the outside by an action called "rattling".

Various arrangements have already been proposed to prevent such accidental or unauthorised release of the stay when the closure member is closed by restricting upward pivotal movement of the stay arm to disengage one or both of the peg members.

The known arrangements generally require accurate alignment of the stay arm and peg members to obtain the required engagement and to ensure the closure member is a close fit when closed. As a result, installation is often difficult, particularly where the stay is being fitted as a replacement for an existing stay and such alignment and installation may be further complicated by the presence of any resilient weatherstrip.

Some of the known arrangements are latches which hold the stay arm securely on the pegs preventing release of the stay from the outside by rattling the closure member and which have to be purposefully disengaged to release the stay from the inside. Other known arrangements include a lock enabling the stay to be locked by a separate key or the like when the closure member is closed for added security against release of the stay. Such arrangements, especially those which are lockable are often of complex construction and detract from the aesthetic appearance of the stay.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stay which incorporates a security device for securing the stay arm when the closure member is closed which is of simple construction facilitating installation and fitment of the stay.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stay which incorporates a security device for securing the stay arm when the closure member is closed which is substantially concealed so as not to detract significantly from the aesthetic appearance of the stay.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a stay which incorporates a security device for securing the stay arm when the closure member is closed which may be locked if desired by a separate key or the like.

According to the present invention we provide a stay of the kind specified wherein the stay arm has a security device comprising two laterally spaced abutments extending lengthwise of the stay arm between which the second peg member is freely received in an inoperative position of the device and, an actuator arranged to displace the abutments relative to each other to co-operate with the second peg member received therebetween to prevent upward pivotal movement of the stay arm to release the stay in an operative position of the device.

By this invention installation of the invented stay is facilitated by the arrangement in which the second peg member is received between two laterally spaced abutments extending lengthwise of the stay arm which permits a degree of axial adjustment in the position of the second peg member to accommodate fitting tolerances.

Preferably the stay arm is generally of inverted channel-section opening to the underside and the abutments comprise respective legs of a U-shaped member mounted within the channel and retained by a support plate secured to the arm.

Conveniently the support plate has a hole through which the second peg member extends for reception between the opposed legs.

Advantageously the actuator comprises a barrel mounted within the channel for rotation transversely of the arm and having a cam groove in which the free ends of the legs are received to displace the legs towards each other by rotation of the barrel in one sense.

Preferably the U-shaped member comprises a hairpin spring of which the resilience of the legs is such that the legs move apart and return to their original laterally spaced position on rotation of the barrel in the opposed sense.

Conveniently the barrel is rotatably received in aligned cut-outs extending from the lower edge of the side walls of the stay arm and is retained in the channel by the support plate.

In one embodiment of this invention the barrel is manually rotatable by a key or the like and the key is removable to lock the security device in the operative position. In a preferred arrangement the barrel incorporates a key-operated lock, for example a cylinder lock, for rotating the barrel and locking the barrel against rotation in the operative position of the security device. Such lockable version of the invented stay provides additional security against unauthorised release of the stay from the outside when the closure member is closed.

In another embodiment of the invention the barrel is manually rotatable by a rib or the like projecting outwards of the stay arm for access. In a preferred arrangement the barrel has a respective projecting rib or the like at each end. In this way the stay is not handed and can be reversed for right or left hand fitting.

Preferably the second peg member has opposed undercut faces at or adjacent to the upper end beneath which the respective abutments are located to prevent upward lifting movement of the stay arm to release the stay. By such arrangement the engagement between the peg and abutments is balanced precluding any tendency for the stay arm to twist about the longitudinal axis to disengage the peg to provide improved resistance to any attempt to force the stay.

Advantageously the second peg member is of rectangular shape in plan view with the undercut faces provided on the longer sides. In this way the maximum area is provided for engagement with the abutments to resist any attempt to force the stay.

Preferably the security device is positioned at or adjacent to the free end of the stay arm remote from the bracket and the arm has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart through holes or blind recesses between the bracket and the security device for selective engagement by the first peg member to secure the closure member at selected open positions.

Advantageously the stay arm is engageable with the first peg and second peg members to secure the closure member in a vent position in which the inner face of the closure member is spaced a small distance from the frame. For this the stay arm has two laterally spaced recesses in the underside for respective engagement by the first peg member when the closure member is closed and in the vent position with the second peg member being received between the abutments of the security device in both positions. In this way the stay may be secured against accidental or unauthorised release for both closed and vent positions of the closure member.

Conveniently the first peg member is provided by a peg plate adapted for mounting on the frame and the second peg member is provided by a hook plate adapted for mounting on one of the closure member and frame.

Where the hook plate is adapted to be mounted on the frame it may be separate from or combined with the peg plate.

Preferably the hook plate is adapted for mounting on the closure member as such arrangement provides a mechanical pull-in of the closure member into weathertight engagement with the frame on closing and is particularly beneficial in obtaining a good seal where weathers trips are provided.

Other features and advantages of the invented stay will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of stay according to the present invention as fixed to a casement window shown in the closed condition; FIGURE 2 is an exploded isometric view of part of the stay shown in Figure 1; FIGURES 3 and 4 are underneath plan and side views respectively, partly in section, showing the stay arm and hook plate engaged in a first position of the security device; FIGURES 5 and 6 are underneath plan and side views respectively, partly in section, showing the stay arm and hook plate engaged in a second position of the security device; and FIGURE 7 is an exploded isometric view similar to Figure 2 showing a second embodiment of stay according to the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, a casement stay 1 is shown fixed to a casement window comprising a glazed casement 2 mounted by hinge means (not shown) for pivotal movement about a vertical or horizontal axis relative to a fixed frame 3.

The stay 1 comprises a stay arm 4 of channel section connected at one end by a concealed swivel pivot connection (not shown) to a mounting bracket 5 by means of which it is releasably secured to the casement 2 by screws 6.

A peg plate 7 is releasably secured by screws (not shown) to the fixed frame 3 adjacent to the pivotted end of the stay arm 4. A hook plate 8 is releasably secured by screws 9 to the casement 2 remote from the bracket 5 and aligned with the free end of the stay arm 4 which carries a lockable security device 10.

In Figure 1, the casement 2 is shown closed with the stay arm 4 extending substantially parallel to the inner shut face of the casement 2 and engaging both the peg plate 7 and the hook plate 8. In this way the casement 2 is drawn into weathertight engagement with the rebate of the frame 3 and the stay arm 4 is secured against pivotal movement in a horizontal plane to open the casement 2.

In known manner, the stay arm 4 is formed on the underside with a plurality of axially spaced blind recesses (not shown) for selective engagement by an upstanding peg (not shown) of the peg plate 7 to hold the casement 2 in any one of a range of open positions (not shown).

The security device 10 includes a hairpin spring 11 mounted on an integral boss 12 on the underside of the stay arm 4 within the channel-section.

The spring 11 is retained within the channel by a support plate 13 having through holes 14 at each end for reception of rivets 15 to secure the plate 13 to the stay arm 4. The spring 11 has generally parallel laterally spaced apart legs 16 which extend lengthwise of the stay arm 4 and lie alongside the opposed side walls 17 of the stay arm in an inoperative position of the security device 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4. The legs 16 are connected by an integral bight portion 18 extending around the boss 12 and retained by a lug 19 at the end of the support plate 13 to axially locate the spring 11 within the channel.

A cylindrical barrel 20 extends transversely of the stay arm 4 with its opposed ends rotatably received in aligned cut-outs 21 extending from the lower edge of the opposed side walls 17 of the stay arm 4 and is retained within the channel-section by the support plate 13.

The barrel 20 is axially located by respective collars 22 at each end and is formed intermediate the ends with a cam groove 23 in which the free ends of the legs 16 are received for guiding the legs 16 towards and away from each other on rotation of the barrel 20 in opposed senses.

The cam groove 23 is of limited extent in the circumferential direction and the opposed sides 24 of the groove are relatively convergent in the circumferential direction from one end to the other and terminate in a narrow slot 25 having parallel sides.

The legs 16 are located at the wider end of the groove 23 in the inoperative position of the device and are moved towards each other and located in the slot 25 in an operative position of the device shown in Figures 5 and 6 on rotation of the barrel 20 in one sense and move apart and return to the original spaced apart position on rotation of the barrel 20 in the opposed sense.

Mounted in the barrel 20 is a cylinder lock 26 having an axial key-way 27 for reception of a key (not shown) by means of which the barrel 20 is rotatable between the inoperative, and operative positions of the device 10 with the key being removable to lock the barrel 20 against rotation in the operative position.

The hook plate 8 has an upstanding peg 28 of generally rectangular shape in plan view which, in use, extends through a rectangular opening 29 in the support plate 13 and is freely received between the spaced apart legs 16 of the spring 11 in the inoperative position of the security device 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In this position, the casement 2 is held closed by engagement of the stay arm, 4 with the upstanding pegs of the peg plate 7 and hook plate 8 but the stay arm 4 can be displaced upwards by lifting from the inside or rattling the casement 2 from the outside to release the stay 1 enabling the casement 2 to be opened.

The peg 28 has opposed chamfer faces 30 which extend from the upper end facilitating location of the peg 28 in the opening 29 and which terminate in undercut faces 31. The undercut faces 31 extend generally parallel to the legs 16 of the spring 11 and the shut face of the casement 2 when engaged in the opening 29 in the inoperative position of the device 10 and the barrel 20 is rotatable by the key. to move the legs 16 towards each other to locate beneath the undercut faces 31 of the peg 28 in the operative position of the device 10 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In this position, upward displacement of the stay arm 4 is prevented by engagement between the legs 16 of the spring 11 and the undercut faces 31 of the peg 28 thereby precluding accidental release of the stay 1 from the inside by lifting the stay arm 4 or unauthorised release from the outside by rattling the casement 2. In addition, the free ends of the legs 16 are located in the narrow slot 25 of which the opposed parallel sides prevent the inherent resilience of the legs 16 rotating the barrel 20 in the opposed sense thereby ensuring that the engagement between the legs 16 and undercut faces 31 is maintained until the barrel is manually rotated by the key.

The key is removable in the operative position to lock the barrel 20 against rotation thereby locking the stay 1 to lock the casement 2 closed if desired. The device 10 is returned to the inoperative position to enable the stay 1 to be released to open the casement 2 by re-inserting the key and manually rotating the barrel 20 in the opposite sense allowing the legs 16, guided by the engagement of the free ends in the cam groove 23, to move apart to disengage the undercut faces 31 of the peg 28.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invented stay shown in Figure 7, the stay is generally similar to the first embodiment above-described and like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In this second embodiment, the key-operated cylinder lock for rotating and locking the barrel 20 is omitted and replaced by a respective integral rib 32 at each end of the barrel 20 projecting outwards of the stay arm 4 for access. By this symmetrical arrangement of the barrel 20 the stay 1 is not handed and can be reversed for right or left hand fitting. The ribs 32 enable the user to rotate manually the barrel 20 to move the legs 16 of the spring 11 towards each other to engage beneath the undercut faces 31 of the peg 28 to prevent upward displacement of the stay arm 4 as above described for the first embodiment.In this way accidental release of the stay 1 from the inside by lifting the stay arm 4 or unauthorised release from the outside by rattling the casement 2 in the operative position of the security device 10 is prevented but the barrel 20 cannot be locked in the operative position to prevent unauthorised rotation of the barrel 20 to return the device to the inoperative position.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the legs 16 of the spring 11 provide two abutments between which the hook plate peg 28 is received and which are relatively movable towards and away from each other under the control of an actuator provided by the barrel 20 to engage and disengage the peg 28. By such arrangement the required interaction between the legs 16 and the peg 28 is assured by alignment of the peg 28 with the opening 29 in the support plate 13. As a result, a degree of axial adjustment in the position of the peg 28 to accommodate fitting tolerances is provided thereby facilitating installation.

Furthermore, the security device 10 comprised of the hairpin spring 11 and barrel 20 is of simple construction facilitating assembly within the channelsection of the stay arm 4. Additionally, the security device 10 is substantially concealed within the channel-section of the stay arm 4 so as not to detract significantly from the aesthetic appearance of the stay 1.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described. For example, in the locking version of the stay, any suitable lockable arrangement operable by a key or the like may be utilised while in the non-locking version the barrel may have ribs or the like at each end or at one end only and such rib(s) may be of any suitable construction.

The two relatively movable abutments may be provided by any suitable U-shaped member.

Alternatively the abutment-s may be provided by separate members secured to the opposed sides of the stay arm.

The cam groove in the barrel may be of any suitable shape and length in the circumferential direction.

The upstanding peg of the hook plate may be of circular, oval or other suitable shape in plan view with opposed undercut faces for co-operating with the abutments.

The hook plate may be adapted for mounting on the casement as described or on the frame. Where the hook plate is mounted on the frame, it may be separate from or combined with the peg plate.

The stay arm may have blind recesses in the underside for engagement with the peg plate peg as described or through holes for reception of the peg plate peg to secure the closure member at any selected open position.

In addition to securing the closure member closed, the stay arm may be engageable with the peg plate peg and the hook plate peg to secure the closure member in a partially open or vent position in which the inner face of the casement is spaced a small distance from the frame rebate to leave a narrow gap sufficient for ventilation purposes but insufficient for access of a hand or tool from the outside to release the stay.

Finally it will be appreciated that the invented stay has application to doors as well as windows and the like closures and may be made of metal, alloy, plastics or any combination thereof to which any suitable surface finish may be applied as desired.

Claims

Claims:

1. A stay of the kind specified wherein the stay arm has a security device comprising two laterally spaced abutments extending lengthwise of the stay arm between which the second peg member is freely received in an inoperative position of the device and, an actuator arranged to displace the abutments relative to each other to co-operate with the second peg member received therebetween to prevent upward pivotal movement of the stay arm to release the stay in an operative position of the device.

2. A stay according to Claim 1 wherein the stay arm is generally of inverted channel-section opening to the underside and the abutments comprise respective legs of a U-shaped member mounted within the channel and retained by a support plate secured to the arm.

3. A stay according to Claim 2 wherein the support plate has a hole through which the second peg member extends for reception between the opposed legs.

4. A stay according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the actuator comprises a barrel mounted within the channel for rotation transversely of the arm and having a cam groove in which the free ends of the legs are received to displace the legs towards each other by rotation of the barrel in one sense.

5. A stay according to Claim 4 wherein the U-shaped member comprises a hairpin spring of which the resilience of the legs is such that the legs move apart and return to their original laterally spaced position on rotation of the barrel in the opposed sense.

6. A stay according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the barrel is rotatably received in aligned cut-outs extending from the lower edge of the side walls of the stay arm and is retained in the channel by the support plate.

7. A stay according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the barrel is manually rotatable by a key or the like and the key is removable to lock the security device in the operative position.

8. A stay according to Claim 7 wherein the barrel incorporates a key-operated lock, for example a cylinder lock, for rotating the barrel and locking the barrel against rotation in the operative position of the security device.

9. A stay according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the barrel is manually rotatable by a rib or the like projecting outwards of the stay arm for access.

10. A stay according to Claim 9 wherein the barrel has a respective projecting rib or the like at each end.

11. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the second peg member has opposed undercut faces at or adjacent to the upper end beneath which the respective abutments are located to prevent upward lifting movement of the stay arm to release the stay.

12. A stay according to Claim 11 wherein the second peg member is of rectangular shape in plan view with the undercut faces provided on the longer sides.

13. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the security device is positioned at or adjacent to the free end of the stay arm remote from the bracket and the arm has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart through holes or blind recesses between the bracket and the security device for selective engagement by the first peg member to secure the closure member at selected open positions.

14. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the stay arm is engageable with the first peg and second peg members to secure the closure member in a vent position in which the inner face of the closure member is spaced a small distance from the frame.

15. A stay according to Claim 14 wherein the stay arm has two laterally spaced recesses in the underside for respective engagement by the first peg member when the closure member is closed and in the vent position with the second peg member being received between the abutments of the security device in both positiOns.

16. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the first peg member is provided by a peg plate adapted for mounting on the frame and the second peg member is provided by a hook plate adapted for mounting on one of the closure member and frame.

17. A stay of the kind specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A stay of the kind specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A stay for windows, doors and the like closures comprises a stay arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on a closure member and provided with a security device comprising two laterally spaced abutments extending lengthwise of the stay arm and an actuator arranged to displace the abutments relative to each other to cooperate with a peg member received therebetween to prevent pivotal movement of the stay arm to release the stay.