GB2259947A

GB2259947A - Stay with catch

Info

Publication number: GB2259947A
Application number: GB9220565A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Rawlinson
Original assignee: Nico Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Nico Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-30
Filing date: 1992-09-29
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-29
Also published as: GB9220565D0; GB9120757D0; GB2259947B

Abstract

A stay comprises a track, a slider which in use moves along the track, and stay members pivotally mounted to the slider. A releasable catch 8 acts between the slider and the track which when engaged prevents the slider moving forwards beyond a predetermined position thereby preventing the stay opening beyond a corresponding predetermined angular position. The releasable catch comprises means 15 formed on the inside edge of the upper portion of a side wall of the track and arranged to be engaged by a complementary formation 12 carried by the slider, engagement between the complementary formation 12 and the inside edge of the track holding the releasable catch 8 against release at the predetermined angular position but freeing the releasable catch 8 when the slider is moved back away from the predetermined angular position. <IMAGE>

Description

STAY This present invention relates to a stay suitable for supporting a window in a frame in such a way that the window can be opened by moving it pivotally out of the plane of the frame on the stay.

The present applicant's pending unpublished international application PCT/GB91/00656 describes and claims a stay which includes an outer frame fixing member in the form of a track which in use is fixed to the widow frame. A slider is mounted in the track and the different struts and braces making up the stay are pivotally connected to each other and to the slider or to different points on the track. A releasable catch is provided which acts between the slider and the track. When the catch is engaged it prevents the slider moving beyond a predetermined position in the track and so prevents the stay opening beyond a corresponding predetermined angular position.

While the stay described and claimed in the abovecited application offers significant advantages over prior art stays such as that disclosed in GB-B-2083131 the specific embodiments described in that application are found not to be suitable for use with certain frame profiles.

According to the present invention a stay comprises a track, a slider which in use moves along the track, stay members pivotally mounted to the slider, releasable means acting between the slider and the track which when engaged prevent the slider moving beyond a predetermined position thereby preventing the stay opening beyond a corresponding predetermined angular position, and means formed on the inside edge of the upper portion of a side wall of the track and arranged to be engaged by a complementary formation on the slider, engagement between the complementary formation and the said means on the inside edge of the track holding the releasable means against release at the predetermined angular position but freeing the releasable means when the slider is moved back away from the predetermined angular position.

As with the stay described in the present applicant's above-cited international application, the stay of the present invention by incorporating releasable means such as a catch or stop which acts between the slider and the track makes it possible to prevent movement of the stay beyond a fixed angular position whilst still allowing unimpeded operation of the stay over its full angular range once the catch is released. It is found that a catch or stop acting between the slider and the track offers improved resistance to opening of the stay and by selecting an appropriate position along the length of the track for the catch or stop it can be made effective at any desired angle.

Over and above the advantages of the stay described in the international application, the stay of the present invention offers the further advantage that releasing the stay is made effectively a double-handed operation. This reduces the possibility of the stay being accidently released, and in particular helps to make the stay "childproof". These advantages are achieved by the use of the complementary formations on the slider and on the inside edge of the upper portion of the side wall of the track, that is the part of the side wall which lies parallel to the base of the track. A catch arrangement formed in this position operates without requiring any part of the catch to extend significantly beyond the outer edge of the track.

It is a further important advantage that the stay then is suitable for use with narrow frame profiles.

One example of a stay in accordance with this invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1A is a plan view of a stay Figure 1B is a side view of the side wall of the stay of Figure lA; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the stay; and Figure 3 is an end view of the release member A friction stay includes a track 1, a slider 2 mounted in the track 1, and pivotally connected stay members 3,4,5,6. The stay members are arranged in a conventional fashion with forward links 4,5 pivotally mounted on the slider 2, a rear link 6 pivotally connected to a fixed point towards one end of the track 1, and a main bar 3 pivotally connected to the ends of the forward and rear links 4,5,6, at the ends away from the track 1.

The stay is arranged so that in a closed position the main bar 3 overlies the track 1 and as the stay is opened the slider 2 moves along the track 1 so that the stay members 4,5,6 are configured to support the main bar 3 at an angle to the track 1.

The stay includes a self-setting catch mechanism which engages when the stay reaches a predetermined angular position to hold the stay against movement beyond that position. The catch mechanism includes a thin elongate bar 7 formed as part of the slider 2 and pivotally mounted to a main portion of the slider 2. The bar 7, which is cut and pressed from a single piece of steel includes part way along its length a lateral projection 8 positioned to engage a slot S1 formed in the upstanding portion of a side wall 9 of the track. A release member 11 is formed on the end of the bar away from the main portion of the slider 2.

The release member 11 overlies the other side wall 10 of the track and extends outwards beyond the side wall. It includes an upturned portion 13 at its outer end.

A downwardly extending tag 12 is formed on the other end of the release member. As described in further detail below this engages a cut-away portion 14 formed on the inner edge of the upper portion of the side wall 9 so as to hold the catch against release at the predetermined angular position.

When the stay is in the closed position with the stay members overlying the track 2 the lateral projection 8 and the downwardly extending tag 12 are located within the slot and the cut-away portion respectively, abutting the rear edges of the slot and the cut-away portion. As the stay is opened the slider moves forwards until the lateral projection abuts the forward edge of the slot in the side wall 9. Engagement between the projection and the slot then holds the slider against further movement. In that position, the downwardly extending tag 12 engages the forward edge of the cut away portion. That forward edge is undercut so that a rearwardly facing spur 15 projects behind the inside edge of the tag. Engagement between the tag and the spur then holds the release member against outwards movement, so preventing the catch from being released.

To release the catch for further forward movement of the stay, the stay is first relieved, that is moved back partially towards its closed position. The tag then clears the spur, freeing the release member for outwards movement which in turn moves the lateral projection out of engagement with the slot in the side wall. The stay can then be opened fully.

In the present example a further catch position is provided for the fully opened position. As with the first catch position a slot S2 is provided in the side wall together with a corresponding portion cut away from the inside edge of the upper portion of the side wall. As the bar reaches the slot the lateral projections is biased into engagement with it. By contrast with the first catch position, the cut-away portion is provided with a forward facing spur 16 on its rear edge. Accordingly for the tag to clear the spur to allow release of the catch, it is necessary to move the stay further towards the open position rather than, as at the first catch position, partially closing it.

The spring bias for the catch is provided by a coil spring 17 acting between the main portion of the slider and the bar.

The lateral projection 8 has a generally square profile that is both its rear and forward edges are generally at right angles to the edges of the slot.

Claims

1. A stay comprising a track, a slider which in use moves along the track, stay members pivotally mounted to the slider, releasable means acting between the slider and the track which when engaged prevent the slider moving forwards beyond a predetermined position thereby preventing the stay opening beyond a corresponding predetermined angular position, the releasable means comprising means formed on the inside edge of the upper portion of a side wall of the track and arranged to be engaged by a complementary formation carried by the slider, engagement between the complementary formation and the said means on the inside edge of the track holding the releasable means against release at the predetermined angular position but freeing the releasable means when the slider is moved back away from the predetermined angular position.

2. A stay according to claim 1, in which the said means formed on the inside edge comprises a cut away portion, an edge of the cut away portion transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track being undercut to provide a reawardly facing spur which, in use, is engaged by the complementary formation carried by the slider.

3. A stay according to claim 1 or 2, in which the releasable means include a release member which extends transversely across the track and which is moved by the user to release the catch, the complementary formation being formed on the side of the release member nearer the said side wall of the track.

4. A stay according to claim 3, in which the complementary formation comprises a tag which projects downwardly towards the bottom of the track.

5. A stay according to any proceeding claim, in which the complementary formation is formed in an elongate resiliently biased member mounted to the slider.

6. A stay substantially as described with respect to the accompanying drawings.