GB2352756A

GB2352756A - Window frame attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2352756A
Application number: GB0013441A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Carpenter
Original assignee: Mila Hardware Ltd
Current assignee: Mila Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-03
Filing date: 2000-06-05
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-05
Also published as: GB0013441D0; GB2352756B

Abstract

To reduce the movement of a friction stay 176,17 with respect to a window frame 18, a frame attachment 2 comprises a shaped support means for co-operating with the friction stay 16,17. The frame attachment may comprise an H-shaped block defined by two parallel uprights and a central region [4,6,8, Fig 1]. One end of the frame attachment may surround a projecting end lug [22, Fig 2] provided on the stay bar 17 whilst the other end may co-operate with a secondary attachment 28,29 secured to the window panel 24. The rearwardly facing surfaces of the frame attachment may be profiled [10a,11,12a, Fig 1] so as to correspond with profiles on the frame.

Description

2352756 WINDOW FRAME ATTACHMENT The present invention relates to a window

frame attachment and, particularly although not exclusively, relates to a friction stay support.

Casement windows are well known and may, for example, comprise a window pane hinged to a window frame and supported by two friction stays. Normally, one friction stay is at the top of the frame, and the other is at the bottom of the frame, when the hinge axis is vertical. Each of the friction stays comprises a io stationary base section which is permanently secured into the window frame and a hinged, moveable section which carries the window pane during opening and closing. When the hinge axis is horizontal, the friction stays are arranged at opposite sides of the window.

is The object of the invention is to provide additional support to the friction stays, reducing the risk that the stays will roll out of the window frame. This will be of particular benefit in instances where forceful unauthorised entry is attempted. Furthermore, the additional support will assist any casement windows in which it is secured to achieve UK Security Standard BS7950: 1997.

According to the present invention, there is provided a frame aftachment for use with a friction stay, the frame attachment comprising a support means shaped for attachment to a window frame to co-operate with a friction stay to reduce the movement of the friction stay with respect to the window frame.

2S The support means may act, in use, to reduce lateral movement of a stationary portion of the friction stay in the window frame.

Alternatively or additionally, the support means may, in use, act to reduce rotational movement of the stationary base section of the friction stay in the window frame.

2 Preferably, the support mean s prevents, in use, the movement in any direction of the friction stay in the window frame.

Preferably, the support means is arranged for use with casement window 5 frames.

The support means may be arranged for securement to the window frame by any means (e.g. by screws, glue, and nails). The support means may have at least one screw hole.

Preferably, the support means has two screw holes. The support means may be manufactured out of any tough, resilient material. The support means may be manufactured as a zinc casting.

The support means is preferably shaped to surround, and thus secure a portion of the window stay.

The support means may be for use with a window stay having a projecting end lug, the support means being shaped to surround the projecting end lug.

The support means may comprise two upright regions, ends of the regions being arranged in use to receive the projecting end lug therebetween.

Preferably, the upright regions are parallel to one another.

The upright regions may be connected together by a connecting means.

Preferably, the connecting region attaches at a position that is substantially midway along the upright regions. The arrangement of upright and connecting 3o regions may form an H-shaped block.

3 A forwardly facing surface of the H-block may be substantially flat. The H-block may have at least one hole therethrough for accommodating securing screws.

The hole may be centrally aligned through the connecting region. The hole s may be centrally through one of the upright regions.

Preferably, the H-block will have two holes therethrough for accommodating securing screws.

lo A rearwardly facing surface of the H-block may be shaped complementary to that of the internal surface of the window frame.

Rearwardly facing surfaces of the left and right uprights may be complementary with the internal surface of the window frame.

Rearwardly facing surface of at least one of the upright regions may comprise a recessed groove.

rearwardly facing surface of at least one of the upright repairs may comprise a 20 protruding rib.

Preferably, one of the upright regions comprises a recessed groove on its rearwardly facing surface and the other upright region comprises a protruding rib on its rearwardly facing surface.

The frame attachment may be provided in combination with a secondary attachment, for attachment, in use, to a panel cooperating with the frame, the secondary attachment being such that in a closed position of the panel, it cooperates with the frame attachment to resist unauthorised movement of the 30 panel away from the frame.

The panel may comprise a window.

4 Where the frame attachment comprises an H-shaped block, the secondary attachment may comprise a projection which resists unauthorised movement of the panel away from the frame as a result of the projection engaging 5 between spaced apart upright projections of the H-block.

The invention includes a friction stay in combination with a frame attachment as defined above.

The invention also includes a window or door having at least one friction stay in combination with a frame attachment as defined above.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a friction stay support according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support of Figure I in position in a 20 casement window frame; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of embodiments of frame attachment and secondary attachment, fitted respectively to a window frame and a window.

A friction stay support is shown in Figure 1 as an H-block 2. A left hand upright portion 4 of the H-block 2 is connected to a parallel right hand upright portion 6 of the H-block 2 by a horizontal connecting region 8. The horizontal connecting region 8 is joined to the uprights 4 and 6 midway along their length and is of a wider dimension than that of the uprights.

The forwardly facing surface of the H-block 2 is substantially flat. Two countersunk holes 14 pass through the H-block 2, on of which is aligned centrally through the horizontal connecting region 8, and the other which is centrally aligned through the right hand upright portion 6. Along the length of the rearwardly facing surface of the left-hand side upright, there is provided a recessed groove 10a. Along the inner length of the left hand side upright 4, there is provided an alignment flange 11. Running along the inner length of the left hand side upright 6, there is provided a protruding rib 12a.

Turning to Figure 2, a friction stay can be seen comprising an upper portion 16, and a lower portion 17. The lower portion 17 locates in a groove 18a in a lo casement window frame 18. The lower portion has an end projection in the form of a lug 22 which locates in another groove 18b in the frame 18. The upper portion 16 is hinged and moveable, and the lower portion 17 is stationary and permanently fastened to the casement window frame 18.

The upper portion 16 of the friction stay has a number of apertures 20 passing through it. Screws are passed through these apertures 20 and into the casement frame of a window pane (not shown). The window pane is hinged to the frame and supported by the upper portion 16 of the friction stay.

Along the length of each of the side of the window frame 18 on which no friction stay is secured, there are provided a recessed groove 12b and a spatially separated protruding flange 10b. The width dimensions of the groove 12b and protruding rib 10b are comparable with that of the recessed groove 1 Oa and protruding flange 12a of the H-block 2.

in Figure 2, the H-block 2 can be seen in position the casement window frame 18. The recessed groove 10a of the H-block 2 receives the protruding flange 1 Ob and the frame while the rib 12a of the H-block 2 fits into the grooves 12b of the window frame.

The H-block thus sits securely in the position shown in Figure 2, with the lower part of the H-block straddling the lug 22. The block is retained in position by 6 inserting screws into the holes 14 and into the frame. Thus any tendency for the portion 17 of the stay to roll out of the groove I Sa, for example if there is an unauthorised attempt to force the window, is resisted by the fact that the lug 22 is securely retained in position by the surrounding H-block.

It should be appreciated that at the upper part of the frame 18, there is a similar arrangement (not shown), in mirror image, since a casement window pane is generally supported by two friction stays at the top and bottom of a window, when the hinge axis is vertical, or at the opposite sides of the window, lo when the hinge axis is horizontal.

It would be possible to support the lug 22 with a C-shaped block, but it would then be necessary to manufacture two separate C-shaped components to enable each component to mate with the rib 1 Ob and groove 12b. By using an H-block, only one form of component is required. The lug of the upper stay (not shown) will be straddled by, and thus supported by, the upper parts of the uprights 4 and 6 of the upper H-block.

Although the H-block described above has been primarily designed for use with friction stays for windows, there may be circumstances in which the Hblock can be used to support friction stays for doors.

The arrangement shown in Figure 3 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 2, except that the actual window 24, or at least part of the surround thereof, is shown also. In other words there is a window frame 18 and a friction stay 16,17.

In Figure 2, the friction stay is shown in the closed position, with the window itself removed for clarity, and the upper portion 16 of the friction stay completely overlies the lower portion 17.

7 As shown in Figure 3, the window is open, and the portion 16 is at an angle to the portion 17. A friction block 25 of the friction stay can also be seen. The portion 16 is pivotally connected to the friction block 25 and as the window hinges open and closed in a conventional manner, the friction block 25 moves s back and forth in the portion 17, frictional contact between the block 25 and the portion 17 serving to hold the window in any position to which it is moved.

The H-block 2 can also be seen, secured to the frame 18. The lower arms of the H-block straddle one end of the friction stay portion 17 and assist in lo securing it in position, even against attempts at unauthorised entry.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper portions 26 and 27 of the H-block 2 do not form any useful purpose. They are provided so that an identical component can be used at the upper end of the, frame 18, so there is no need to manufacture two separate components.

We have now appreciated that the upper portions 26 and 27 can be put to additional use, by fitting to the window 24 a secondary component comprising a base member 28 from which projects a tapered tongue 29.

When the window is closed, the friction block 25 slides to the end of the component 17 and the tongue 29 locates securely between the uprights 26 and 27. Thus any attempt to [ever the window 24 away from the frame is further resisted by the fact that the tongue 29 is embraced by the uprights 26 and 27.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

8 All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually 5 exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated lo otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

9

Claims

1 A frame attachment for use with a friction stay, the frame attachment comprising a support means shaped for attachment to a window frame to cooperate with a friction stay to reduce the movement of the friction stay with respect to the window frame.

2. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 1 in which the support means acts in use, to reduce lateral movement of a stationary portion of the friction stay in the window frame.

3. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the support means acts, in use, to reduce rotational movement of the stationary base section of the friction stay in the window frame. 15

4. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support means prevents, in use, the movement in any direction of the friction stay in the window frame. 2o

5. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support means is arranged for use with casement window frames.

6. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in 25 which the support means is shaped to surround, and thus secure a portion of the window stay.

7. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 6, in which the support means is for use with a window stay having a projecting end lug, the support 30 means being shaped to surround the projecting end lug.

8. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 7, in which the support means comprises two upright regions, ends of the regions being a rranged in use to receive the projecting end lug therebetween.

9.A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 8, in which the upright regions are parallel to one another.

10. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 9, in which the upright regions are connected together by connecting means.

11. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 10, in which the connecting region attaches at a position that is substantially midway along the upright regions.

12. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 11, in which the arrangement of upright and connecting regions form an H-shaped block.

13. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 12, in which rearwardly facing surfaces of the left and right uprights may be complementary with the internal surface of the window frame.

14. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 13, in which the rearwardly tacing surface of at least one of the upright regions comprises a recessed groove.

15. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, in which the rearwardly facing surfaces of at least of the upright repairs comprises a recessed groove.

16. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 12, in which one of the upright regions comprises a recessed groove on its rearwardly facing surface and the other upright region comprises a protruding rib on its rearwardly facing surface.

17. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a secondary attachment for attachment, in use, to a panel cooperating with the frame, the secondary attachment being such that in a closed position of the panel, it cooperates with the frame attachment to resist unauthorised movement of the panel away from the frame.

18. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 17, when dependent upon any one of Claims 12 to 16, in which the secondary attachment comprises a projection which resists unauthorised movement of the panel away from the frame as a result of the projection engaging between spaced apart upright projections of the H-block.

19. A frame attachment constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A friction stay in combination with a frame attachment as described in any one of the preceding claims.

21. A window or door having at least one friction stay as claimed in Claim 20.

21.. A window or door having at least one friction stay as claimed in Claim 20.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 12, CLAIMS 1 A frame attachment for use with a friction stay, the frame attachment comprising a support means shaped for attachment to a window frame to co-operate with a friction stay to reduce the movement of the friction stay with respect to the window frame.

3. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the support means acts, in use, to reduce rotational movement of the stationary base section of the friction stay in the window frame. is 4. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support means prevents, in use, the movement in any direction of the friction stay in the window frame. 2o 5. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support means is arranged for use with casement window frames. 6. A frame attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in 25 which the support means is shaped to surround, and thus secure a portion of the window stay. 7. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 6, in which the support means is for use with a window stay having a projecting end lug, the support 30 means being shaped to surround the projecting end lug.

8. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 7, in which the support means comprises two upright regions, ends of the regions being arranged in use to receive the projecting end lug therebetween.

9. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 8, in which the upright regions are parallel to one another.

14. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 13, in which the rearwardly facing surface of at least one of the upright regions comprises a recessed groove.

15. A frame attachment as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, in which the rearwardly facing surface of at least one of the upright regions comprises a protruding rib.