GB2429042A

GB2429042A - Stay including releasable slider that automatically resets for engagement

Info

Publication number: GB2429042A
Application number: GB0516275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Stephen Gardiner
Original assignee: Laird Security Hardware Ltd
Current assignee: Era Security Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-08
Filing date: 2005-08-08
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-08
Also published as: GB2429042B; GB0516275D0

Abstract

A friction stay comprises a base (10) and an arm (13) with the arm (13) connected to the base with a linkage (14, 15, 16). The linkage includes at least one slider (11) that slides along the base (10) and a finger (20) is provided that restricts movement of the slider (11) by engaging a screw (17) carried by the slider. The screw (17) can be retracted to allow the slider (11) to pass the finger (20) and thus allow further movement of the slider (11). Once past the finger (20), the screw (17) can be extended again but, as the slider (11) moves back towards the closed position, the screw (17) depresses the finger (20) to allow the slider (11) to pass the finger (20) to the closed position.

Description

FRICTION STAYS

The invention relates to friction stays.

A friction stay is used to mount a leaf in a frame such as a window leaf in a window frame to guide the movement of the leaf into and out of the frame. A known friction stay comprises an elongate base for connection to the frame and an arm for connection to the leaf. A linkage is connected between the arm and the base to constrain the arm to movement between a closed position in which the arm overlies the base and an open position in which the arm is angled relative to the base and is to one side of the base. The linkage includes a slider held by the base to slide along the base as the arm moves between the open and closed positions.

It is a requirement in such friction stays to provide both limited opening movement of the arm and extended opening movement of the arm.

According to the invention, there is provided a friction stay comprising a elongate base for connection to a frame and an arm for connection to a leaf moveable into and out of the frame and a linkage connected between the arm and the base to constrain the arm to movement between a closed position in which the arm overlies the base and an open position in which the arm is to one side of the base, the linkage including a slider held by the base and sliding along the base as the arm moves between the open and closed positions, the slider engaging the base during movement of the arm to the open position to limit the movement of the slider, said engagement being releasable to allow continued movement of the slide, the slider, as the arm is moved to the closed position following said continued movement of the slider, automatically re-setting for engagement with the base on subsequent opening movement of the arm.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of above of a friction stay showing an arm of the stay at an open position relative to a base of the stay with a first slider of the stay at a first limit of movement and a second slider of the stay at a limit of movement, Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the first and second sliders moved towards a second end of the base, Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the tightening of a screw on the first slider, Figure 4 is a similar view to Figures 1, 2 and 3 but showing the arm moved toward a closed position, Figure 5 is a partial cross-section through the friction stay of Figures 1 to 4 taken through the base of the stay and the first slider and showing a screw carried by the first slider engaging a linger on the base, Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5 but showing the screw in a retracted position and the first slider moved past the finger, Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 but showing the screw extending out of the first slider and Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 but showing the first slider with the extended screw passing the finger.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, the friction stay comprises a base 10 which is formed by an elongate metal member having opposed channels extending along respective parallel side edges of the base 10. The base 10 may be made of metal. The base carries first and second sliders 11, 12. Each slider has side edges that fit into the channels provided by the base 10 so that the first and second sliders 11, 12 are constrained to slide back and forth along the base. The first slider 11 is seen in Figures 5 to 8.

An arm 13 is connected to the base by a linkage formed by a shorter link 14, a longer link 15 and an intermediate link 16. The arm 13 and the links 14, 15 and 16 may be formed from sheet metal. The shorter link 14 is connected between a first end of the arm 1 3 and the first slider 11. The longer link 1 5 is connected to a point on the arm 13 intermediate the ends of the arm 13 and the second slider 12. The intermediate link 16 is connected between a point on the longer link 15 intermediate the ends of the longer link 15 and the first slider 11.

As seen in Figure 5, the first slider carries a screw 1 7 which is moveable by use of a screwdriver 18, shown schematically in Figure 5, between the extended position of Figure 5 and a retracted position shown in Figure 6. In addition, the base 10 has a lower waIl 19 with a resilient finger 20 pressed out of the lower wall 19. As seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the finger extends at an acute angle to the lower wall 19 in a direction towards a first end 21 of the base 10.

l'hc friction stay described above with reference to the drawings operates as follows starting from the position shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the stay in a maximum opening "egress" position. In this position, the screw 17 is in the extended position shown in Figure 5 and engages with the end of the finger 20 to limit movement of the first slider 11 away from the first end 21 of the base 10. The second slider 12 has a maximum spacing from a second end 22 of the base 10.

If the screw 17 is retracted using the screwdriver 18 as shown in Figure 5, the first slider 11 will pass the finger 20 and the first and second sliders can be slid together towards the second end 22 of the base 10. This is shown in Figure 6 moves the arm into a "easy clean" position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

If, in this position, the screw 17 is moved by use of the screwdriver 18 back to the extended position, this will provide a frictional force tending to hold the arm 13 in this position. This is shown in Figures 3 and 7. Ii, from this position, the arm 13 is closed towards the base 10, the second slider 12 will bear against the second end 22 of the base 10. Continued closing movement of the arm 13 will cause the first slider 11 to he forced along the base 10 towards the first end 21 of the base 10. As the extended screw 17 reaches the finger, the screw will resiliently depress the finger 20 (see Figure 8) so allowing the first slider 11 to pass over the finger 20. As the first slider 11 reaches the first end 21 of the base 10, the arm 13 is in a position in which it overlies the base 10.

Reverse opening movement of the arm 1 3 initially moves the first slider 11 away from the first end 21 of the base 10 until the extended screw 17 contacts the finger 20 when continued opening movement of the arm 13 will cause the second slider 12 to move away from the second end of the base 10 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 5.

In use, the friction stay described above with reference to the drawings is used to mount a leaf such as a window leaf in a frame such as a window frame. A pair of such stays are used acting between respective opposite edges of the frame and leaf.

The base 10 of each friction stay is connected to the frame and the arm 13 is connected to the leaf. The leaf can thus be moved from the "egress" position where the stay is in the configuration shown in Figure 1 and where maximum opening area is provided through the frame for "egress", to the "easy clean" position shown in Figures 2 and 3 where easy access to both sides of glazing carried by the leaf is allowed.

It will be appreciated that there are a number of variations that can be made to the friction stay described above with reference to the drawings. First, the finger 20 is only one of a number of arrangements that can give the required action. All that is necessary is that the first slider II engages the base 10 during movement of the arm 13 to the open position to provide first opening movement with the engagement being releasable to allow continued movement of the first slider 11 and thus a second opening movement of the arm 13, with the first slider 11, as the arm 13 is moved to the closed position from the extended open position, automatically resetting for engagement with the base 10 on a subsequent opening movement in the arm 13. This might be provided by a wedge shaped member mounted on the lower wall 19 of the base 10. It could be provided by a shape resiliently mounted member.

it will also be appreciated that there need not be a first slider 11 and a second slider 12. There could be only one slider 11 with the longer link 15 being riveted direct to the base 10. Iii this case, the effect of the finger 20 would be to allow limited opening movement of the arm followed by additional opening movement of the arm 13 to the easy clean" position. This might be useful for preventing children climbing out of a window.

Claims

1. A friction stay comprising a elongate base for connection to a frame and an arm for conncction to a leaf moveable into and out of the frame and a linkage connected between the arm and the base to constrain the arm to movement between a closed position in which the arm overlics the base and an open position in which the arm is to one side of the base, the linkage including a slider held by the base and sliding along the base as the arm moves between the open and closed positions, the slider engaging the base during movement of the arm to the open position to limit the movement of the slider, said engagement being releasable to allow continued movement of the slider, the slider, as the arm is moved to the closed position said continued movement of the slider, automatically re- setting for engagement with the base on subsequent opening movement of the arm.

2. A stay according to claim 1 wherein the slider and the base include cooperating respective first and second parts that engage to limit the opening movement of the slider, one of said parts being moveable and between an operative position in which the part engages the other part to limit movement of the slider to an inoperative position to release said engagement and allow the slider to pass the other part.

3. A stay according to claim 2 wherein, on closing movement of the slider, 1'ollowing said continued movement, the first part, when in said operative position passes said second part without halting movement of the slider.

4. A stay according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said one part is said first part carried by the slider.

5. A stay according to claim 4 wherein said first part comprises a screw that can be rotated between an operative extended position for engagement with the second part and a retracted inoperative position in which the second part does not engage the screw.

6. A stay according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the second part comprises a stop that engages the first part when in said operative position as the arm is moved to said open position hut which does not prevent the first part in said operative position passing the stop as said arm is moved to the closed position following said continued movement.

7. A stay according to claim 6 wherein the stop is resilient so that, as the arm is moved towards the closed position following said continued movement of the slider and with the first part in the operative position, the first part moves said stop against said resilience to allow the slider to pass the stop, the stop resuming a position to engage the first part after the slider has passed the stop.

8. A stay according to claim 7 wherein the base includes a lower wall over which the slider passes between a first end of' the slider when the arm is in the closed position and a second end of the slider when the arm is in an open position, the stop comprising a finger projecting at an acute angle from said lower wall towards first end, the first part in said extended position engaging the end of the finger as the arm moves from said closed position to said open position but the first part in said extended position resiliently depressing said finger as the arm moves from the open to the closed position after said continued movement.

9. A stay according to claim 8 wherein the base is formed from metal and the finger is formed the metal of the lower wall of the base.

10. A stay according to any one of' claims I to 9 wherein the linkage includes a longer link, a shorter link and an intermediate link, the longer link being connected between the arm and the base, the shorter link being connected between the arm and the slider and the intermediate link being connected between the longer link and the slider.

11. A stay according to claim 10 wherein the longer link includes a second slider held by the base and sliding along the base, after the first mentioned slider has engaged the base, to allow continued opening movement of the arm.

12. A stay according to claim 10 wherein, on disengagement of the first mentioned slide from the base, the first mentioned slider and the second slider are movable together along the base.

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