GB2356018A

GB2356018A - Window stay with restricted opening mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2356018A
Application number: GB0026865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Architectural Product Cotswold; Yurek Adrian Wronski
Original assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Current assignee: Cotswold Architectural Products Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-06
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2001-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-03
Also published as: GB2356018B; GB0026865D0

Abstract

A stay 10 for a window comprises a track 12, a strut 13 pivoted at an end piece 19 a slider 15 and a stop 16 in the track 12. Said end piece 19 further comprises resiliently engagable elements 20 and 21. In normal operation the stay may be opened to a first position limited by the slider 15 abutting stop 16. In an emergency if a force is applied to the stay in excess of a predetermined force, element 20 dis-engages from element 21 allowing the window to open fully pivoting about the slider 15 via a link(13). On closing the window element 20 may be re-engaged with element 21 resetting the device. In a further embodiment an element (eg. 28 fig 3) limits the rotation of strut 13 to the first position thus preventing accidental release of the engagable elements 20 and 21. When a sufficient force is applied to the window the restricting element is overcome allowing the dis-engagement of elements 20 and 21.

Description

2356018 Stays This invention relates to hinges in the form of stays, such

as side-hung window stays.

The invention is particularly concerned with stays comprising an arm for supporting a load (such as a window) track member, a slider moveable along the track member, strut pivotally connected to the track member and spaced from the slider and a link pivotally connected to the slider and to the arm, the arm being pivotally connected to the link and the strut for movement between the first position in which it overlies the track member and the second outward position in which it extends at an angle to the track member. Such stays will be referred to as "a stay as herein before defined".

Many architects and local authorities are now requiring more and more functions from window stays and these include the following:

1. The stays should have a provision for restricting its opening so that a child cannot get out of the window, 2. the restrictor means should be releasable to allow the window to be moved into a position in which both faces of the window can be cleaned - 2 a "wash" position, 3. on closing the restrictor should automatically engagef 4. the stay should allow the window to open sufficiently as an emergency exit and these means should be preferably independent of the restrictor.

To some extent these requirements are on the face of it incompatible. It should also be appreciated that for some arrangements cheaper stays which do not satisfy the window wash requirements are acceptable.

Many proposals have been made for satisfying these requirements and some are illustrated in GB-A 2287062. Those that require either skilled re-setting or replacement of components are becoming less popular due to the cost of maintenance call-outs.

One approach to overcome this problem is to provide a projection in the base of the track over which a slider carrying the strut pivot can be forced and over which it can subsequently return. Whilst this in principle works, there is a danger that the slider will become grooved by repeated passages over the projection, with the result that the forte 3 required to obtain egress opening is reduced, in which case the system begins to cease to serve the purpose for which it is provided.

From one aspect the invention consists in a stay as herein before defined, wherein the strut is pivotally connected to the track member via a fixed element located in the track characterised in that the element is formed by two interengaging portions which can be resettably separated to allow additional emergency opening of the window when the stay experiences an opening force above a pre-determined level.

In this case, one of the portions can conveniently carry the strut pivot and be formed in the form of a slider to run along the track. The other portion is fixed to the track to provide a normal fixed location of the strut pivot.

The interengagement between the portions may comprise a projection having an enlarged head on one portion and an open-mouthed opening on the other, the mouth being normally too narrow to pass the head, the projection in the mouth being shaped such that the mouth can be deflected open to pass the head when the stay experiences an opening force above the pre- 4 determined level.

In another sense the portions may be interengaged by a jigsaw style interconnection.

In either case it will be appreciated that the portions may be re-interengaged by forcing the projection back through the mouth.

In an embodiment intended to prevent interengaging portions coming apart the stay of the invention further includes means or a device for limiting the rotation of the arm to 90 degrees or some lesser figure during normal use.

In one arrangement the device comprises a formation on one part of the hinge which interferes with another part of the hinge as the pre-determined angular limit is approached. Thus, for example, in those hinges wherein there is a further link extending between the slider and the strut and pivotally connected to each of the slider and the strut, the first-mentioned link may carry a formation which engages the further link to limit angular rotation. Alternatively a stop may be provided on the arm to interfere with the link.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and the specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view from above of a window stay mounted in a window frame; Figure 2 is a view from above of an end cap of that stay; Figure 3 is a view of another embodiment of the window stay including a formation on one part of the hinge which interferes with another part of the hinge; and Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment of the stay of Figure 3 further including a stop on the arm intended for limiting rotation of the stay.

A stay is generally indicated at 10 and includes a hinge mechanism generally indicated at 11 and a track 12. The hinge mechanism includes a strut 13 which is pivotally connected to the track 11 at 14 and a slider 15 which slides along the track 12 during normal opening operation of the stay 10, until the slider 15 engages a stop 16 in the track bed 17.

6 This limits the normal opening of the window diagrammatically indicated at 18.

The strut pivot 14 is formed on an end piece 19 which is engaged in one end of the track member 11.

The end piece 19 is formed of two portions 20 and 21. Portion 20 carries the pivot 14 and is in the form of a further slider, whilst portion 21 is fixed to the track member 11 by a rivet 22.

In normal use the portions 20 and 21 are interengaged so that the pivot 14 is effectively fixed relative to the track member 11. The interengagement, which is described below, is formed so that if the stay 10, directly or indirectly via the window, experiences an opening force above a pre determined level, the portions 20, 21 can be separated allowing further full opening of the stay mechanism 10 as indicated in the second position of the window support arm 23 that is indicated at A.

In the particular embodiment, portion 20 has an enlarged rounded head 24 that engages in an opening in the fixed portion 21. The opening 25, has a restricted mouth 26 that in normal use prevents withdrawal of the head. However, when an opening force above the pre-determined level is reached, the 7 legs 27 defining the mouth can be deflected allowing opening of the mouth whereby the head is released and the portion 20 can slide along the track away from the fixed portion 21 allowing the egress opening of the window.

Subsequent testing has revealed that with certain embodiments of the fixed element, the interengaging portions can come part if the arm, which supports the load, is able to rotate through more than 90 degrees relative to its first position, in which it overlies the track member.

Embodiments of such arrangements are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. In Figure 3, it will be seen that the stay 10 includes a first link 28 pivotally connected to the slider 15 and the window support arm 28 and is pivotally connected to each. A further link extends from the slider 15 to the strut 13 and again is pivotally connected to each.

The presence of both these links or arms 28, 30 is well known in the art and usually they have simply rounded ends, as indeed are shown in Figure 4.

However, it will be noted that in Figure 3 the end 31 of link 28 which is attached to the slider 15 is 8 formed with a flat 32.

As can be seen in Figure 3 as the stay 10 is opened the links 28 and 30 rotate relative to each other until the edge of the link 30 engages against s the flat 32. This serves to lock up the stay 10 and so prevent further rotation of the arm 29 beyond the predetermined limit - in this case 88 degrees.

However, if the inner edge of the window 18 is struck as indicated on A with sufficient force the complete stay 10 can be translated to the left causing the emergency separation of portions 20, 21.

It will be appreciated that other embodiments of this arrangement could be used. For instance one or more of the pivots could be spring loaded to produce sufficient resistance to prevent over opening of the window in normal circumstances or an extendable tie could be included between two elements of the stay.

In that case increasing friction in this tie could normally limited the opening of the stay. Another preferred arrangement is shown in Figure 4 where a stop 33 is provided on the arm 29 and it limits rotation of the stay 10 when the link 13 engages it.

9

Claims

1. A stay as hereinbefore defined, wherein the strut is pivotally connected to the track member via a fixed element located in the track characterised in that the element is formed by two interengaging portions which can be resettably separated to allow additional emergency opening of the window when the stay experiences an opening force above a predetermined level.

2. A stay according to Claim 1, wherein one of the portions carries the strut pivot and is in the form of a slider to run along the track.

3. A stay according to Claim 2, wherein the other portion is fixed to the track to provide a normal fixed location of the strut pivot.

4. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the interengagement between the portions comprises a projection having an enlarged head on one portion and an open-mouthed opening on the other, the mouth being normally too narrow to pass the head, the projection in the mouth being shaped such that the mouth can be deflected open to pass the head when the stay experiences an opening force above the predetermined level.

5. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the portions are engaged by a jigsaw style interconnection.

6. A stay according to any one of the preceding Claims, further including means or a device for limiting the rotation of the arm to 90 degrees or some lesser figure during normal use.

7. A stay according to Claim 6, wherein the device comprises a formation on one part of the hinge which interferes with another part of the hinge as a predetermined angular limit is approached.

8. A stay according to Claim 7, wherein those hinges where there is a further link extending between the slider and the strut and pivotally connected to each of the slider and the strut, the first-mentioned link carrying a formation which engages with the further link to limit angular rotation.

9. A stay according to Claim 7, wherein a stop is provided on the arm to interfere with the link.

10. A stay as substantially hereinbefore described with reference Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.