GB2457274A - Window stay with device causing arm to move against a bias into an open position - Google Patents

Abstract

A window stay 1 comprises a first arm receiving body 2 and a second arm receiving body 3 said first body and second body each being operatively linked by opposing end portions of an arm 4. The arm is moveable between a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the arm is operatively linked to both bodies and in the second position the arm is only operatively linked to one body. The window stay is provided with a device, such as a slidable button 10, causing the arm to move against a bias, such as a spring 11, into the second position. One end of the arm may slide in a guide 7 or may comprise a pair of wheels running in a channel. The arm 4 may be provided with a cover (figure 5, 16) that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the arm to prevent the arm against sawing. Unintentional movement of the arm may be prevented by a stop member such as a removable cap for the button 10.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved stay. Although the stay has been developed for use with windows it will be readily apparent that the invention can be used with other similar closures, such as shutters and doors. In this specification such other uses are within the scope of the tenns "stay" and "window stay".

Background Art Known to the Applicant

Window stays were developed to enable a top or side hinged window to be opened a set distance and locked into that opened position thus preventing the wind or the weight of the window (especially if it was hinged from the top) from inadvertently causing the window to close.

Typically, the window stay consists of two components one of which is linked to a window pane and the other of which is linked to a window pane support structuze. Usually a moveable ann integral with one of the components is used to lock the window in its open position. The ability to lock the window in its open position is due to the ann and component being provided with complementary means of engagement to lock the two together to keep the window ajar.

These types of stays could be easily unlocked (even from the outside) to enable the window to be fully opened. However, increasing crime rates caused manufacturers of window stays to develop window stays that could not be opened from the outside but rather could be opened only from the inside of a building the windows of which are fitted to. Furthermore, stays were also developed that could not be disengaged from their respective mating components once fitted at all.

The stays that were developed to only be disengageable from the inside of a building are by their nature difficult to fit and sometimes very difficult to engage/disengage and as a result these types of stays effectively function as stays that are either not disengageable or they are permanently disengaged meaning that they do not act as stays at all. Neither situation is satisfactory.

Amongst window stay manufacturers this is a well recognised problem but as a number of the generally unsatisfactory stays that have been developed meet insurance requirements there has been little incentive to develop improved stays of this type. -2.-

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window stay that tends to alleviate the aforemcntioned problem or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Statement of the Invention

According to the present invention in its broadest aspect, there is provided a window stay comprising a first arm receiving body and a second arm receiving body said first body and second body each being operatively linked by opposing end portions of an arm, the ann being moveable between a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the arm is operatively linked to both bodies and in the second position the ann is only operatively linked to one body, and wherein the window stay is provided with means adapted to cause the ann to move against a bias into the second position.

Preferably the arm is provided with means to enable the exterior surface of the ann to rotate about its longitudinal axis. This has the positive advantage that should a third party attempt to saw through the arm using a hack saw blade, they will fmd it far harder as any movement of the blade across the surface of the arm will cause the ann to rotate thus losing any IS perchase Preferably each body is of complementary design and one is so sized shaped and adapted as to sit within the other. Such a design will enable ease of fitrnent. Once the first body has been fitted, all a fitter need to is mate or marry up the other component so that one sits within the other and the remainder of the window stay can be fitted.

Each body is provided with a pair of apertures for screws that will be used to link each body to the structure that the window stay is to be fitted to. Preferably the apertures of each body in their normal attitude of operation are orthogonal to each other.

Preferably unintentional movement of the ann between first and second positions is prevented by a stop member. This is advantageous as a stop member in the form of a cover or removable cap will tend to prevent accidental actuation to release the stay.

Preferably one end portion of the arm sits within a guide forming part of one of the bodies during relative movement of the two bodies with the ann in the first position.

Preferably the stay mounts a pair of wheels which wheels run in channels forming part of said guide. -3 -

The invention includes within its scope a window stay substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying drawings.

The invention also includes within its scope a window pane or window sack, and window S frame fitted with such a window stay.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates front and sectional views of one embodiment of the present invention in an opened state, Figure 2 illustrates front and sectional views of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 but in a closed state, Figure 3 illustrates a number of isometric views of the component parts of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 & 2, Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of the invention in an opened state, Figure 5 illustrates an alternative type of arm adapted, once fitted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, Figures 6 to 8 shows a perspective view of part of the window stay of Figure 1 with an additional flap, Figure 9 shows a side elevation of an alternative arm construction, and Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an alternative body fonning part of a window stay according to the invention for use with the arm of Figure 9.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 of the present invention shows an elongated window stay 1. The stay 1 is formed from two bodies 2, 3 which may be die cast zinc/alurnithum alloy linked by an ann 4 which may be formed of stainless steel.

The body 2 is a substantially elongate hollow oblong block with a portion removed from it.

The removed portion, in effect, fonns the second (and thus complementary) body 3. When the two bodies 2, 3 connect together, body 3 sits substantially within body 2 and is effectively embraced by the latter, the touching surfaces of the connected bodies being substantially flush with each other as seen in Figure 2. This construction is aesthetically pleasing and allows the construction to be easily fitted, as once the body 2 has been fitted the position of body 3 can be readily ascertained by making or marrying up the bodies 2 and 3.

The end portions of the front face of the body 2 are each provided with an aperture 5 preferably countersunk adapted to receive screws (not shown in this figure). The end portions of a side face of body 3 that are each provided with an aperture 6 again preferably countersunk adapted to receive screws (not shown in Figure 1). Thus the apertures of one body in use are orthogonal to the other body.

The body 3 is provided with an internal elongate guide 7 fonned from a pair of tracks each track being located on opposing internal front and back walls of the body 3 and arranged in a substantially completely overlying relationship. The guide 6 is turned at its lower (in use) end towards the other body 2 so as to exit on the face 8 of body 3 facing body 2. The open end or mouth of the guide 7 ends in a pair of lips, the upper lip ends in an apex 9.

The upper end portion of the body 2 as shown in Figure 1 is provided with a button such as an internally located slidable hollow push button 10. The button 10 is provided with an internal spring 11 that pushes against the top internal surface of the button 10 and an internal surface of a base located just above the upper aperture S. The button 10 is able to move between two positions along the principal axis of the stay 2 by compressing.the spring 11.

The first position is the position shown in Figure 1 and the second being when the button 10 is depressed against the bias of the spring 11 to the point where the top exterior face of the button 10 is substantially flush with the top surface of the body 2 that surrounds the button 10. The button 10 has a slot 12 therein through which a fixing screw or bolt (not shown) passes.

The proximal end portion of the arm 4 is fitted to and integral with the button 10 via a pivot pin 13 which passes orthogonally through the longitudinal axis of the ann 4. The pin 13 is maintained in place as respective ends pass through apertures in the front and back face of the button 10. As a result, the ann 4 is trapped within the button 10 and thus trapped within -.5-the body 2 but it is free to move in an arcuate manner about the pin 13 within the confines defined by the structure of the body 2.

The distal end portion 14 of the aim 4 is provided with a similar pivot pin 15, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pin 13. The ends of the pin 15 are able to engage into the guide 7.

Figure 3 shows that the body 1 is formed from two components that press together and which are subsequently locked together, for example, by blind rivets, or by other methods such as engaging protrusions and depressions.

In use, body 3 is fitted to a window frame via screws that pass through apertures 6. Body 2 is then mated with body 3 and screws are passed through apertures S and into a window sash.

A stop member may be provided to substantially prevent accidental pushing of the button 10.

The stop member is preferably a cover or cap which may be positionable on body 2 over button 10.

In or at an almost closed position the button 10 can be depressed against the bias of the spring 11 pushing the ann 4 down. As this happens the pin 15 contacts the upper lip of the guide 7 and rides over the apex 9 and into the mouth of the guide 7. Substantially simultaneous release of the button 10 causes the pin 15 to further travel within the guide 7 locking the ann 4 to the body 3.

To release the ann 4 from the body 2 the window is closed so that body 3 sets into body 2 and the button 10 depressed. The bodies 2 and 3 can then be moved apart with the pin 15 not entering the guide 7.

Figure 5 shows a variant of the arm 4 shown in the other drawings. This particular ann 16 is hollow and acts as a sleeve which fits over the existing arm 4 making the exterior surface of the arm 4 rotatable about its principal axis.

In embodiments not illustrated, the body 3 and the arm 4 could be provided with complementary means of engagement to lock the stay into an open position and typically these means could take the form of detents. The guide 7 could be fitted with a number of detents to enable the pin 15 to sit within or ride over and thus lock the stay 1 into a particular open position.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 8, the upper (in use) end 17 of the body 3 has a flap IS hinged therein, for eample, by providing a pair of stubs 19 which engage into suitable apertures or depressions in the side walls of body 3. With the flap 18 in the position shown in Figure 6 the aperture 6 is blocked by the flap which makes it more difficult to access a screw in S aperture 6 with the window open. The risk of the end of the ann 4 exiting the guide 7 is also reduced with the flap 18 in the position shown in Figure 8 where it covers slot end 19 (as seen in Figure 4).

In Figure 9 the arm 4 carries a pair of wheels 20. The arm is connected to the wheels, for example, by means of connection to an axle 21 carrying wheels 20, in a manner such that the arm 4 can rotate with respect to both the axle 21 and the body part 2. Alternatively a construction such as described with respect to Figure 5 could be used. Body part 3 is modified to provide a pair of channels 24 in which the wheels 20 run. The ann 4 passes outwardly through a gap 25 between channels 24. Thus the arm 4 and wheels 20 form a type of aircraft undercarriage construction. Each end of the channels 24 needs to closed in a robust manner to prevent the wheels 20 coming free of the body part 3 in use. This could be achieved by folding up the material of the base of body part 3 or fixing a closure into each end of body part 3 in a substantially permanent manner. This embodiment is used in a substantially similar manner to the other embodiments but the provision of the wheels 20 within respective channels 24 and the provision of the ann between channels 24 makes it difficult to spread body part 3. The stay can be used vith hinged doors substantially as for windows and can also be used with sliding doors by fixing the main body 2 to the door frame at a suitable position, such as just above the lock on the sliding door and fixing the body 3 to the sliding door.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (11)

1. Claims: 1. A window stay comprising a first ann receiving body and a second arm receiving body said first body and second body each being operatively linked by opposing end portions of an arm, the ann being moveable between a first position and a second S position, whereby in the first position the arm is operatively linked to both bodies and in the second position the ann is only operatively linked to one body, and wherein the window stay is provided with means adapted to cause the ann to move against a bias into the second position.
2. 2. A window stay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ann is provided with means to enable the exterior surface of the arm to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
3. 3. A window stay as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each body is of complementary design and one is so sized shaped and adapted as to sit within the other.
4. 4. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each body is provided with a pair of apertures for screws that will be used to link each body to the structure that the window stay is to be fitted to.
5. 5. A window stay as claimed in claim 4 wherein the apertures of each body in their normal attitude of operation are orthogonal to each other.
6. 6. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein unintentional movement of the ann between first and second positions is prevented by a stop member.
7. 7. A window stay as claimed in claim 6 wherein the stop member is in the form of a cover or removable cap.
8. 8. A window stay as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one end portion of the arm sits within a guide forming part of one of the bodies during relative movement of the two bodies with the ann in the first position.
9. 9. A window stay as claimed in claim S wherein the stay mounts a pair of wheels which wheels run in channels forming part of said guide. -a-
10. 10. A window stay substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying drawings.
11. 11. A window pane or window sack, and window frame fitted with such a window stay according to any one of claims 1 to 9.