GB2251885A

GB2251885A - Window stays

Info

Publication number: GB2251885A
Application number: GB9027109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Gordon Griffin
Original assignee: Euromond Ltd
Current assignee: Euromond Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-13
Filing date: 1990-12-13
Publication date: 1992-07-22
Also published as: FR2670528A1; FR2670528B1; GB9027109D0; CA2057516A1

Abstract

The invention relates to articulated supports for windows. An articulated support limits the degree of opening of a leaf by forming an arm (11) which is connected between the window and a fixed frame. At one end, the arm (11) is connected to a slide (12) which moves in a channel-shaped member (10) when the window is open and closed and which comes into contact with a stop piece (19) which limits the opening movement of the window. The slide (12) can rotate with respect to the channel-shaped member (10) towards a position in which it can be separated from this member (10) so that the arm (11) can be separated from the channel-shaped member (10), and so that the opening can be opened without restriction. Application to the windows of dwellings.

Description

WINDOW STAYS The invention relates to stays for restricting the opening of a window relative to a fixed frame on which the window is hinged and more particularly to the sides of such stays.

Known window stays comprise a channel which is usually mounted on a fixed frame, and an arm having one end for connection to the hinged window and the other end pivotally connected to a slider which is carried by the channel for sliding movement along the channel as the leaf is opened out of the frame. When the slider reaches the end of the channel no further opening movement is possible.

Such stays are useful for, for example, limiting the opening of a window to an extent such that a person, particularly a child, cannot fall out of the window.

Such restricted opening can, however, be a disadvantage.

For example, in the case of an emergency it may be desirable to be able to open the window more widely so that persons can climb out of the window and escape a fire. Alternatively, it may be desirable to be able to open a window to a greater extent to clean the window or paint the window.

According to the invention, there is provided a window stay for connection between a fixed frame member and a window hinged on the fixed frame member for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, the stay comprising a channel for mounting on one member and an arm having one end for connection to the other member and having an end opposite said one end pivotally connected to a slide carried by the channel and constrained by the channel for sliding movement along the channel in relative opening and closing movement between the members, the channel including a stop which engages the slide to limit the movement of the slide and so limit the relative opening movement, the slide including a part which, in a first position of the slide relative to the channel prevents disengagement of the slide from the channel, the slide being rotatable relative to the channel to a second position in which the member no longer prevents disengagement of the slide from the channel so allowing the arm to be disconnected from the channel to permit unrestricted relative opening of the members.

Thus, by providing a modified form of slide, the arm can be disengaged from the channel.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a slide for a window stay including a channel and an arm, the slide being for engagement with the channel in sliding movement along the channel and being for connection to the arm, the slide including a part for engagement with the channel, in a first position of the slide relative to the channel, to prevent disengagement of the slide from the channel, the slide being rotatable relative to the channel to a second position in which the member no longer prevents disengagement of the slide from the channel so allowing the arm to be disconnected from the channel.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a stay comprising a channel member, a restrictor arm, a slide and a bracket, Figure 2 is an end view of the channel member of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation of the slide of Figure 1, Figure 4 is an end view of the slide of Figures 1 and 3, Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the slide of Figures 1, 3 and 4, and Figure 6 is a side elevation of a section of the channel member of Figure 1 showing the slide and a portion of the restrictor arm and also showing in broken line a tool for lifting an end of the slide.

As best seen in Figure 1, the stay comprises a channel member 10, a restrictor arm 11, a slide 12 and a bracket 13.

The channel member 10 is formed by a base 14, side walls 15 and, inwardly directed flanges 16 extending from the edges of the side walls remote from the base 14. Thus the channel member 10 provides two inwardly directed U-shaped channels 17 (best seen in Figure 2).

Each end of the channel member 10 is provided with a stop 19 and a hole 20. The holes 20 are to allow the channel member to be attached to a fixed window frame (not shown) by screws (not shown). The purpose of the stops 19 will be described below.

The restrictor arm 11 has one end pivotally connected to the bracket 13 to allow the restrictor arm 11 to be connected to a window leaf mounted on the fixed frame by hinges (not shown). For this purpose, the bracket is provided with screw holes 21.

The channel member 10, the restrictor arm 11 and the bracket 13 are of conventional design.

The opposite end of the restrictor arm 11 is connected to the slide 12 which in turn is carried by the channel member 10. The slide 12 is of a flexible material and includes a body 22 of generally rectangular shape and of the same width as the channel member 10 so that the edges of the undersurface 23 of the body 22 can slide on the outer surfaces of the flanges 16. A leg 24 projects from the undersurface 22, passes between the flanges 17 and carries at its end a shoe 25. The shoe 25 is generally rectangular in shape with its longer dimension arranged normal to the length of the channel member 10 so that opposed ends of the shoe 25 project into respective channels 17. In this way, the slide 12 can slide along the channel member 10 limited in this movement only by engagement with the stops 20.The slide 12 cannot be disengaged from the channel because of the engagement between the shoe 25 and the channels 17.

The side edges 26 of the shoe 25 are spaced by a distance that is less than the gap between the inner edges of the flanges 16.

A boss 27 also projects from the undersurface 22 of the body 21 at a position spaced from the leg 24, and this boss 27 fits between the inner edges of the flanges 15 to prevent rotation of the slide 12 about the leg 24.

In use, the channel member 10 is mounted on the fixed frame and the bracket 13 is connected to a leaf which can be opened out of and closed into the fixed frame. The arm 11 limits the degree of opening movement of the leaf by engagement of the shoe 25 with one of the stops 20.

In order to allow unrestricted opening of the leaf, the end of the body 22 carrying the boss 27 is flexed upwardly by use, for example, of an L-shaped tool 28 of the kind shown in broken line in Figure 6, to lift the boss 27 out of the channel member 10. The body 22 can then be rotated through 900 until the side edges 26 of the shoe 23 are parallel to the guides 15. In this position, the shoe 21 can be lifted out of the channel member 10, so releasing the arm 11 from its connection with the channel member 10 and allowing unrestricted opening of the leaf.

The shoe 23 can be re-engaged by a reverse action. It will be appreciated that this allows easy release of the arm 11 in an emergency, but not such easy release that it can be effected by a child, so giving a degree of security.

It will be appreciated that a slide of the kind described above with reference to the drawings could be fitted to any known restrictor stay of suitable type.

Claims

1. A stay for connection between a fixed frame member and a closure member pivotally mounted on the frame for movement into and out of the frame member, the stay comprising a channel mountable on one member and an arm pivotally connected at one end to a slide movable in the channel to limit the relative opening movement of the members and for pivotal connection at the other end to the other member, the slide being disengagable from the channel for unlimited relative opening movement of the members.

2. A window stay for connection between a fixed frame member and a window hinged on the fixed frame member for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, the stay comprising a channel for mounting on one member and an arm having one end for connection to the other member and having an end opposite said one end pivotally connected to a slide carried by the channel and constrained by the channel for sliding movement along the channel in relative opening and closing movement between the members, the channel including a stop which engages the slide to limit the movement of the slide and so limit the relative opening movement, the slide including a part which, in a first position of the slide relative to the channel prevents disengagement of the slide from the channel, the slide being rotatable relative to the channel to a second position in which the member no longer prevents disengagement of the slide from the channel so allowing the arm to be disconnected from the channel to permit unrestricted relative opening of the members.

3. A stay according to claim 1 wherein the slide is rotatable relative to the channel from a position in which the slide engages the channel for sliding movement therealong to said disengagable position.

4. A stay according to claim 3 wherein the channel includes a pair of parallel guides, the slide including a shoe that has opposed portions each engaging in a respective guide, rotation of the slide disengaging said portions from the respective guides.

5. A stay according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the slide includes a body which is elongate in a direction parallel to the length of the channel, the body being flexible so that an end portion can be bent away from the channel to be manually gripped to rotate the slide.

6. A stay according to claim 5 wherein the slide includes a body which is of generally rectangular shape in plan with the longer dimension thereof parallel to the length of the channel and which slides on the channel, the body slide including a leg depending from the body and carrying at an end thereof remote from the body a shoe which is generally rectangular in plan with the longer dimension thereof extending normal to the length of the channel, end portions of the shoe engaging in respective parallel guides provided on the channel, rotation of the flexible body rotating the shoe so that the end portions disengage from the guides until the shoe lies with the length thereof parallel to the length of the channel to allow disengagement of the slide from the channel.

7. A stay according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the body includes a boss which projects from the body into the channel to prevent rotation of the body relative to the channel, flexing of the body disengaging the boss from the channel to allow rotation of the slide.

8. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the channel includes a stop which is engaged by the slide during said relative opening movement of the members to limit the opening movement.

9. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a bracket is pivotally mounted on said other end of the arm, the bracket being for connection to said other member.

10. A stay according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the arm is pivotally connected directly to the slide.

11. A stay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A stay according to claims 1 and 5 and to any claim appendant thereto in combination with a generally L-shaped tool having one limb for engagement between the channel and the slide and the other limb operable to lower one end of the slide away from the channel to flex the slide for rotation.

13. A stay and tool combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.